Migiro addresses pilot countries of ‘One UN’ reform programme

Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro today opened a gathering in the Rwandan capital that brings together the eight pilot countries taking part in the United Nations initiative that seeks to better coordinate development activities at the country level and avoid duplication.

ICC opens hearing on war crimes charges against Darfurian rebel

The International Criminal Court (ICC) today began a hearing into whether to confirm war crimes charges against a rebel leader accused of having directed the deadly September 2007 attack against peacekeepers in the war-ravaged Sudanese region of Darfur.

UN goodwill ambassador Mia Farrow visits bomb-blasted children in Gaza, Israel

United Nations (UNICEF) Goodwill Ambassador Mia Farrow ended a six-day mission to the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel over the weekend, in which she focused on the suffering of children traumatized by conflict.

UN investigates as more explosions reported in southern Lebanon

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has launched an investigation into explosions that occurred during the weekend in the southern part of the country, the second incident of its kind in less than a week.

Guinea: UN advances plans for international probe into deadly crackdown

Plans moved ahead today for an international commission of inquiry into last month’s violent crackdown on unarmed demonstrators in Guinea, in which at least 150 people were killed and many others raped, as a senior United Nations political official continued his talks in the region.

Rapes and attacks on civilians continue in eastern DR Congo, UN reports

Night-time attacks on civilians and rape by armed men remain widespread in a strife-torn region of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where nearly 5,400 cases of rape were reported in the first six months of the year, United Nations officials said today.

Exoplanet haul delights astronomers, disappoints reporters

A large haul of new exoplanets revealed today bumps up the known number of alien worlds to more than 400 - but the first alien Earth is still to come

ICC opens confirmation hearing on war crimes charges against Darfurian rebel

The International Criminal Court (ICC) today began a hearing into whether to confirm war crimes charges against a rebel leader accused of having directed the deadly September 2007 attack against peacekeepers in the war-ravaged Sudanese region of Darfur.

Ban welcomes release of aid workers held captive in Darfur for months

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today joined other United Nations officials in welcoming the release of two female aid workers who were abducted in the war-torn western Sudanese region of Darfur over three months ago.

UN chief deplores deadly terrorist attack in Iran

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned yesterday’s deadly terrorist attacks in Iran which killed dozens of people and injured many more.