UN News

Selected summary of United Nations related news and events Millennium Development Goals Have Unprecedented Support, Annan Says UN Releases 'Blueprint' for Fight Against Bird Flu in Asia G8 Leaders Told It Pays to Protect Forests UN Special Forces Launch Blitz in Eastern DRC

"Secretary-General Kofi Annan has announced the creation of a fund to promote democratric institutions and practices around the world - an idea first proposed by the United States. The United Nations said Tuesday that since many members have offered to contribute, Annan wanted to set up the fund this summer so interested countries could make donations by September. That's when Annan has invited world leaders to a summit to tackle U.N. reform and agree on measures to meet U.N. development goals, including cutting extreme poverty by half by 2015." [More]

Selected summary of United Nations related news and events
Nearly 3,000 refugees from Central African Republic have
gathered in a makeshift site at the Chadian village of Betel while
they await relocation to an existing camp. © UNHCR/G.Le Breton

Refugee Relocation Operation in Southern Chad Rushes to Beat the Rainy Season Sachs Says Africa Must Pin Down Rich on Pledges Global UN Strategy Directed at Bird Flu Australian Park Administration, Mexican Conservationist Win UN-Backed Awards

Selected summary of United Nations related news and events Chronic Hunger in Africa Threatens Peace and Stability,
WFP Chief Warns Pirates Hijack Tsunami Aid Ship Cote d'Ivoire Foes Renew Commitment to Disarm Thousands March in Congo to Demand Government Quit UK Under Fire over Afghan Opium

Great site to check out: The Better World Campaign

WP: "In today's world, no state can protect itself alone," said Mary Robinson, former U.N. high commissioner for human rights and president of Ireland, in a speech at Grace Cathedral. "A transparent and accountable United Nations is in the United States' interest. We know the U.N. needs reform, but it also needs resources."

Selected summary of United Nations related news and events UN warns about Afghan instability Torture Reported With Growing Frequency Worldwide - UN experts UNICEF to Help Zimbabweans Displaced in Crackdown U.N. to Boost Troop Levels in Ivory Coast Looted Iraqi Art Funds Terrorism UN Agency Hails Indonesian Women's Bid for Greater Role
in Tsunami Recovery Sri Lanka: A Silent Witness to Destruction and Progress

Wall Street Journal Op-Ed By UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan "This Sunday marks the 60th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Charter in 1945. Debate about "reform" of the U.N. has been raging almost from that moment on. This is because -- especially but not only in the United States -- idealism and aspiration for the U.N. have always outstripped its actual performance. For 60 years Americans -- conservative and liberal alike -- have expected much from the U.N. Too often, we have failed to meet those expectations. In Washington, the debate now centers on two documents which appeared last week: the report of the bipartisan Task Force led by former Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Senator George Mitchell, and the Henry J. Hyde United Nations Reform Act, adopted by the House of Representatives." Read More (subscription required)

"The archives at the UN hold a wide range of photographs from around the world.
A UN Staff Photographer provides a personal anecdote to go along with each picture."
[View more]