Afghanistan leads global hashish production, UN report finds
Afghanistan, the world’s biggest producer of opium, is now also the global leader when it comes to the production of hashish, according to a new United Nations survey released today.
UN envoy to Afghanistan deplores deadly attack against German aid agency
The top United Nations official in Afghanistan has condemned an attack by gunmen against a German aid agency in the east of the country that killed a local engineer and severely injured an international aid worker.
UN official joins condemnation of deadly subway bombings in Moscow
The United Nations refugee chief has added his voice to the chorus of international condemnation at this week’s suicide bombings in the Moscow subway system, describing the twin attacks as “an appalling and heartless crime.”
Outbreak of Rift Valley fever affecting humans in South Africa – UN agency
Dozens of farmers, veterinarians and farm workers have been infected with Rift Valley fever in South Africa, and at least two people have died, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) reported today.
ICC gives green light for probe into Kenya’s post-election violence
The International Criminal Court (ICC) today granted the prosecutor’s request to investigate crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Kenya in post-election ethnic violence two years ago, when some 1,000 people were killed and 300,000 others forced to flee their homes.
More parties to UN climate change body commit to limit emissions
The United Nations announced today that 75 nations have submitted their pledges to cut or limit emissions of greenhouse gases by 2020, following last year’s climate change conference in Copenhagen.
World descends upon UN Headquarters to show support for Haiti
United Nations Headquarters in New York was bursting at the seams today as delegates from countries large and small attended a donors’ conference to show solidarity with Haiti in the wake of January’s catastrophic earthquake and help lay the foundations for the country’s long-term recovery and reconstruction.
Ban names new top UN envoy for Haiti as it seeks to rebuild following quake
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today named Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Edmond Mulet as his Special Representative in Haiti in succession to Hédi Annabi, who died in the earthquake that devastated the impoverished Caribbean country in January.
Security Council congratulates Iraqis on successful elections
The Security Council today congratulated the people and Government of Iraq on a successful parliamentary election, and said it looked forward to the certification by the Supreme Court of the results announced last week.
Ban names new head for UN mission in Chad and Central African Republic
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today named a veteran United Nations official as his Acting Special Representative for the UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT), which was set up over two years ago amid increasing unrest, partly due to the war in neighbouring Sudan’s Darfur region.