Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas is going to the U.N. General Assembly Thursday with huge support for his bid to upgrade the status of the Palestinian Authority from an entity to a non-member state. The General Assembly will vote on the mesaure that is opposed by the United States and Israel. About 60 countries are co-sponsoring […]
Abbas Seeks UN Statehood for Palestinian Territory
Posted November 29th, 2012 at 5:20 am (UTC-5)
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Support Mounting for Upgraded UN Status for Palestinians
Posted November 28th, 2012 at 12:55 pm (UTC-5)
Several more European countries say they are backing a Palestinian Authority bid to secure a diplomatic upgrade at the United Nations. Spain, Denmark and Switzerland announced their intentions Wednesday to vote in favor of the motion. France announced its support Tuesday. Russia and China have also indicated they will support the Palestinian request. If granted, […]
UN Climate Talks Focus on Kyoto, New Global Pact
Posted November 26th, 2012 at 4:05 am (UTC-5)
Representatives from nearly 200 nations have begun two weeks of talks aimed at agreements on how to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Delegates at the U.N. climate change conference in Doha, Qatar will chiefly tackle extending the Kyoto Protocol. The pact, which expires this year, binds developed countries to cut emissions by 5 percent below 1990 […]
UN Raises Awareness of Violence Against Women
Posted November 25th, 2012 at 7:20 am (UTC-5)
Sunday marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which was first designated by the UN General Assembly in December of 1999. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement calling on all governments to make good on their pledges to end all forms of violence against women and girls in all parts […]
UN Slams Russia on Torture
Posted November 24th, 2012 at 12:35 am (UTC-5)
The U.N. Committee Against Torture has strongly criticized Russia for failing to investigate widespread allegations of torture and intimidation, and reprisals against human rights activists and journalists. In a report presented Friday at the committee’s 49th session in Geneva, a panel of 10 independent experts said they are seeing very few effective investigations that lead […]
Burmese Leader to Consider Rights for Rohingya Minority
Posted November 17th, 2012 at 4:05 am (UTC-5)
Burma’s president has pledged to consider new rights for the stateless Rohingya minority ahead of a landmark visit by U.S. President Barack Obama. In a letter to the United Nations Friday, Thein Sein condemned what he called “senseless violence” in western Rakhine state between local Buddhists and Muslim Rohingya. The Burmese leader said he would […]
UN Rights Chief Urges China to Address Tibetan Grievances
Posted November 2nd, 2012 at 6:50 am (UTC-5)
The United Nations’ top human rights official has urged China to address the many grievances in Tibetan areas that have led to a growing number of deadly protests. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said in a statement Friday that social stability in Tibet will never be achieved through heavy security measures and […]
UN’s Ban Joins S.Korean Rapper Psy in ‘Gangnam’ Dance
Posted October 25th, 2012 at 12:15 am (UTC-5)
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon joined South Korean rap phenomenon Psy in his trademark “Gangnam Style” dance moves Tuesday at U.N. headquarters. Speaking to reporters, Mr. Ban said he was “a bit jealous” of his countryman, lamenting that Psy’s meteoric rise to global popularity means he is no longer “the most famous Korean in […]
German Court Convicts 10 Somalis of Piracy
Posted October 19th, 2012 at 6:00 pm (UTC-5)
The U.N. Security Council says it plans to impose sanctions on the leaders of a Congolese rebel group and others who have violated an arms embargo on the country. The council also expressed its “deep concern” over reports that the Congolese militia group known as M23 is receiving help from neighboring countries. U.N. experts have […]
UN Passes Mali Resolution
Posted October 12th, 2012 at 5:00 pm (UTC-5)
The U.N. Security Council has passed a resolution clearing the way for the deployment of foreign troops to the troubled nation of Mali. The unanimous resolution gives West African nations 45 days to offer details of a plan for military intervention. Mali’s interim government has requested forces to help drive out Islamist militant groups that […]
