UN News stories

24 stories found over the past 45 days
Radio programmes that address global issues honoured by UN/New York Festivals Awards

18 June 2013 – A message of hope from a boy on the war-torn streets of Kabul, a profile of Danish efforts to help the elderly live the way they choose and an investigative story on the cruel reality of human trafficking are the winners of this year’s awards for outstanding radio programming presented by the United Nations as part of the 2013 New York Festivals Awards.

Afghanistan: UN concerned over appointment of new human rights commissioners

18 June 2013 – The United Nations human rights Office today expressed concern over President Hâmid Karzai’s appointment of five new commissioners to the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), stressing that selection processes must follow agreed international standards.

Afghanistan: Ban condemns deadly attack near Kabul’s Supreme Court building

13 June 2013 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged an immediate halt to attacks targeting civilians in Afghanistan following a suicide attack near the Supreme Court building in the capital city.

World population projected to reach 9.6 billion by 2050 – UN report

13 June 2013 – The current world population of 7.2 billion is projected to increase by 1 billion over the next 12 years and reach 9.6 billion by 2050, according to a United Nations report launched today, which points out that growth will be mainly in developing countries, with more than half in Africa.

UN food agency warns against fungal threat that could hamper global wheat output

13 June 2013 – The United Nations food agency today called on “wheat belt” countries to step up monitoring and prevention for wheat rusts – fungal diseases that could affect yields across North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, which account for more than 30 per cent of global output of the crop.

UN mission deplores deadly attack against Afghan government workers

11 June 2013 – The United Nations mission in Afghanistan strongly condemned today’s attack against government employees in the capital, Kabul, which killed at least 17 civilians and injured 40 – the latest incident amid a worsening security environment in the country.

Ban appoints Kobler as envoy in DR Congo

10 June 2013 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Martin Kobler of Germany to head the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

UN announces largest ever humanitarian appeal for conflict-torn Syria

07 June 2013 – The United Nations today launched a $4.4 billion humanitarian appeal – the largest aid request in the Organization's history – to assist the growing number of people suffering the effects of the crisis in Syria, which began two years ago with peaceful demonstrations but has since turned into a bloody conflict.

UN food operations boosted by Italian funding

06 June 2013 – The United Nations food agency today received a boost for its efforts to eradicate hunger and malnutrition, sustainable production and poverty eradication in rural areas, with a $7.9 million announced donation from Italy.

Back from Afghanistan, Pakistan, senior UN official urges additional humanitarian funds

05 June 2013 – Additional funding is needed for Afghanistan and Pakistan if the United Nations humanitarian community and its partners are to deliver lifesaving services and assist the South Asian countries in developing their potentials, a senior United Nations relief official said following a visit to the region.