CNN: "The two main rebel movements in Sudan's conflict-ridden western Darfur region have signed an agreement to stop all acts of enmities and friction between their supporters to maintain unity in the strife-torn province.
The United Nations has called Darfur the world's worst humanitarian crisis and said it has claimed 70,000 lives and 1.5 million people are now homeless after having fled their homes since February 2003."
Selected summary of United Nations related news and events
Can Peace Take Root in War-weary Burundi?
Global Compact Members Disclose Actions Supporting
Good Corporate Citizenship Timbuktu Crossed off Heritage Danger List Clinton Boosts Interest in Tsunami Relief Africa World Heritage Sites Named
Good Corporate Citizenship Timbuktu Crossed off Heritage Danger List Clinton Boosts Interest in Tsunami Relief Africa World Heritage Sites Named
BBC NEWS: "The United Nations is to set up a task force to investigate the effects of climate change on regions like the Himalayas.
The decision came at the annual meeting of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (Unesco) World Heritage Committee, which declared that climate change does pose a threat to natural and cultural heritage sites."
Selected summary of United Nations related news and events
UN Mission, UNICEF voice outrage at 'horrific' killing of children in Iraq
Tsunami areas must 'build back better' - Clinton
UN Officials Stress Need to Curb Portable Missiles, Other Light Arms
Used in Terror Afghanistan: UN Expert on Violence Against Women Meets with Female Prisoners Annan announces new initiative to bridge gap between Islamic, Western worlds
Used in Terror Afghanistan: UN Expert on Violence Against Women Meets with Female Prisoners Annan announces new initiative to bridge gap between Islamic, Western worlds
A sampling of United Nations related blog commentary
Move The UN: "The US House has decided to reduce and withold (House Backs Withholding Dues to Spur U.N. Changes By Mike Allen and Colum Lynch, Washington Post Staff Writers, Saturday, June 18, 2005) its funding till the UN is reformed. And today's headline in the BBC News website is US opposes UN Council reform plan. US is calling for just 2 new permanent seats, one being Japan, but with no veto powers. The G4 proposal put forward by Brazil, Germany, India and Japan, which is to add the G4 proposers with 2 additional members from the African continent, is what the US is rejecting!! Hypocrisy is at its height here."
Moderate Voice: "It sounds like John Bolton is indeed destined to be a recess appointment after all. What continues to be fascinating is this implicit argument that John Bolton is the ONLY PERSON in the GOP who can fill that slot and achieve the administration's goals. In the huge pool of GOP talent - diplomats, law professors, political scientists, and businessmen - only John Bolton will do? Even though some in the GOP itself don't want John Bolton, it MUST be John Bolton?"
Outside the Beltway: "Embattled UN Ambassador nominee John Bolton may take a recess appointment after all.... Unless the White House calculates that there is no getting around acrimony over the Supreme Court nomination(s), stoking the flames over what will, in the long run, be an insignificant appointment makes little sense. The Supreme Court picks the president makes may serve a quarter century or more; his UN Ambassador will be forgotten before his successor finishes his oath."
Washington Note: "Officials in the White House, the State Department and in the Senate close to the Senate-White House fight over Bolton's nomination to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations report to TWN that they were caught off guard by the Washington Post article by Charles Babington and Dafna Linzer suggesting both that Bolton would accept a recess appointment -- and that if the Senate failed to confirm him the President would give Bolton such an appointment. Most officials on the Democratic side of the equation think that not only Bolton's confirmation -- but his actual nomination -- are dead. Republican voices close to this battle think that Bolton's nomination is withering badly and in critical condition, barely surviving on life support."
Textually: "The United Nations is working toward a world agreement on the scrapping of metal-intensive mobile phones that could impact the cost of making them, reports Reuters: "The U.N., the scrap industry and mobile phone makers and operators, such as Nokia and Vodafone, are working together as part of the U.N. Basel Convention on the control and disposal of waste. It could expand agreements already in place in Europe, North America and Japan in the lead up to a key conference in Africa next year."
Unpaid Punditry Corps: "Easy question, should President Bush recess appoint John Bolton as the Ambassador to the United Nations? It would be an appointment good through the end of 2006. In the past I have been pretty clear that I believe John Bolton is the right guy at the right time. Personally, I would love to see this happen, the Senate has stalled on this long enough."
Selected summary of United Nations related news and events
UN Officials Commemorate 10th Anniversary of Srebrenica Massacre
Aid less as nations get richer
"Natural Capital" Investment or Higher Costs and Lower Profits
Climate Change Prompts First Mt. Everest Climber to Act
UN's WFP Calls for More Aid Without Ties
True Number of Conflict Deaths Worldwide is Vastly Underreported, Report Says
China Calls for Empowering Women to Fight Rise in HIV Infections
Jeffrey Sachs: "When world leaders gather at the United Nations summit in September, they can build quickly on the Gleneagles achievements. They should insist that donor countries that still lack a timetable to 0.7 per cent announce one in order to complete the financing package for Africa and other poor regions; that the IMF, World Bank, and other international organisations set their work plans according to the Millennium Development Goals; and that the new donor commitments to double aid start now. The leaders should be guided by the spirit of London that was on display last week, which showed that hope and generosity are the greatest bulwarks against terror and hate."