United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned Myanmar authorities that they must deliver on a "free and fair" election in 2010. The statement came Monday as Ban briefed the U.N
U.N. chief urges Myanmar to hold ‘fair’ election
Tag Archives: united-nations
Fresh fighting erupts in Somalia
Fresh fighting erupted Sunday between Somalia’s transitional government forces and Islamist rebels, continuing a wave of violence that a top United Nations official called a "grave violation of human rights" that could possibly amount to war crimes. The 37-year-old Canadian, who was born in Italy and made his name as a fighter based in New Jersey, was staying in the north-eastern seaside resort of Porto de Galihnas. Police are investigating, with several media reports suggesting foul play.
U.N. moves to help thousands displaced by Benin floods
United Nations humanitarian agencies are preparing to assist 20,000 people displaced by heavy rainfall and flooding in the west African nation of Benin.
Uganda seeks to ban female circumcision
In many cases it’s a woman that grips the blade — maybe clean, maybe dirty — that cuts a girl’s path to womanhood. The cutter, who works for a fee, can pursue any number of surgical options for the young girl’s rite of passage. She can remove the girl’s clitoris entirely, narrow her vagina with stitches, or make other excisions of the girl’s genitalia.
Report: Ahmadinejad says he wants public talks with Obama
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he wants to engage President Obama in "negotiations" before international media, a semi-official Iranian news outlet reported on Saturday.
Myanmar denies U.N. chief a visit with Suu Kyi
United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon was denied permission to see Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, reporters traveling with the secretary-general said Saturday. Ban told reporters about the denial after he met with Than Shwe, leader of Myanmar’s military junta. Ban is in Myanmar at the invitation of the ruling military junta for talks that are expected to include the detention of Suu Kyi, as well as the detention of other political prisoners
U.N. nuclear watchdog agency elects new head
The United Nations nuclear watchdog agency elected Yukiya Amano as its new director general Thursday, it announced. Amano, of Japan, will replace the current director general, Mohammed ElBaradei, as head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, in November.
Monsoon season compounds refugees’ troubles
"Refugees are the most vulnerable people on Earth. They are fighting to survive." — Angelina Jolie, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees goodwill ambassador The world’s population at the end of last year included 42 million displaced people, 80 percent of them in developing nations, according to a report this week by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Many of these refugees are living in minimal standards for shelter and are exposed daily to the harshest elements of weather, the report says
Carter decries destruction in Gaza
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said Tuesday on a visit to Gaza that he had to "hold back tears" when he saw the destruction caused by the deadly campaign Israel waged against Gaza militants in January
Defiant North Korea ‘to weaponize plutonium’
North Korea said Saturday it would strengthen its nuclear capabilities, a defiant protest against the U.N. Security Council’s move to tighten sanctions against it. North Korea officials said they were enriching uranium and would weaponize all plutonium, according to KCNA, the state-run North Korean news agency.