UN News Centre - Top Stories http://www.un.org/news A world of news from the world organization. en-us Copyright 2009, UN News Centre UN News Centre http://www.un.org/News/dh/latest/media/nslogo.gif http://www.un.org/news 140 Latest from the UN News Service Ban voices sympathy to family after UN staffer’s remains found in Lebanon http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33040&Cr=UN+staff&Cr1=security Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed his sympathies to the family of Alec Collett, a staff member of the United Nations agency assisting Palestinian refugees who disappeared 24 years ago and whose remains have now been found in Lebanon. Sri Lanka: top UN official welcomes recent releases of displaced from camps http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33043&Cr=holmes&Cr1=sri+lanka Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST The top United Nations humanitarian official, who just returned from a three-day visit to Sri Lanka, today praised the swift discharge in recent weeks of many of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) who had been confined to makeshift camps for several months. Kidnappings, attacks threaten to undercut UN-AU efforts in Darfur - Ban http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33041&Cr=unamid&Cr1= Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST Increased threats to international staff in Darfur, including "extremely alarming" kidnappings, ongoing military action by Chad, Sudan and rebels, and Government limits on peacekeepers’ movements continue to hamper efforts to stabilize the Sudanese area torn apart by nearly seven years of war, says a new report by the United Nations chief. UN still concerned over access to civilians displaced by Yemen conflict http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33039&Cr=yemen&Cr1= Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST United Nations agencies and their partners are continuing to assist civilians uprooted by fighting in northern Yemen, but warned today that access to internally displaced persons (IDPs) that are not staying in camps is still a concern. New UN energy report says 1.5 billion people worldwide live in darkness http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33049&Cr=energy&Cr1= Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST With the United Nations climate change summit in Copenhagen just 13 days away, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) has highlighted the need to ensure that the energy needs of developing countries are central to any new climate agreement, after a new report found that almost a quarter of the world’s 6 billion people live without electricity. Number of researchers rising globally but women still in minority - UN report http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33036&Cr=unesco&Cr1= Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST Although the number of researchers working in developing countries over the last five years has increased by 50 per cent, women only occupy a very small percentage of these positions in some regions, according to a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) report released today. International Criminal Court trial of two former Congolese leaders opens tomorrow http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33038&Cr=democratic&Cr1=congo Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST The trial against two former Congolese rebel leaders for crimes allegedly committed by their militias in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 2003 is set to begin tomorrow in The Hague at the International Criminal Court. No improvement in Palestinian access to Israeli-occupied West Bank land, UN reports http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33044&Cr=palestin&Cr1= Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST Israel continued to increase freedom of movement for Palestinians between most urban centres in the West Bank over the past six months, but access to land has not significantly improved, with 60 per cent of the area remaining largely off-limits for use and development, according to a new United Nations report released today. Senior UN appointees applauded for ensuring UN fulfils its mandate on the ground http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33048&Cr=secretary-general&Cr1=envoy Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today praised the work of his personal representatives and special envoys for directing the life-saving and rebuilding work of the United Nations around the world. Bosnia needs continued support amid political impasse, Security Council told http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33050&Cr=bosnia&Cr1= Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST Bosnia and Herzegovina needs continued international support in its bid for Euro-Atlantic integration, despite the political impasse it is currently facing, the United Nations Security Council was told today. Military action alone will not defeat scourge of piracy, Secretary-General says http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33047&Cr=piracy&Cr1= Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has paid tribute to all those who serve on the front lines of the battle against piracy off the coast of Somalia, while stressing that this scourge will not be defeated by military means alone. Paper football signed by UN chief fetches over $200,000 at charity auction http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33045&Cr=palestin&Cr1= Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST A street football from the slums of Nairobi, Kenya, made from paper, wrapped in plastic bags and tied with string - and signed by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon - was the top scorer at a United Nations-backed gala auction in Dubai last night that raised nearly $1 million for Palestinian youth.