Spero News

UN crime watchdog helps Iran set up unit to combat money-laundering from drugs trade

Iran has teamed with the United Nations anti-crime agency to set up a financial intelligence unit tasked with tackling the spread of money-laundering in the country, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) announced today.

Joint UN-African Union envoy to Darfur talks peace with armed rebel movements

The newly appointed head of the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur, known as UNAMID, today met with members from key rebel militia as part of a series of talks on the prospects for a durable peace in the war-scarred region in western Sudan.

UN seeks to restore Haiti?s weather services to prevent further disasters

With the rainy season and its flood risks due in April and hurricanes shortly after, Haiti urgently needs operational meteorological services to forestall further disasters after last month?s devastating earthquake, the United Nations weather agency reported today.

UN health agency stresses good hygiene to prevent cholera spread in Benin

Officials from the United Nations health agency and the Beninese Government are urging the West African nation?s citizens to be extra vigilant in observing good hygiene amid a recent cholera outbreak that has already claimed several lives.

Latrine shortage could worsen public health in Haiti, UN agency says

Sanitation has become a pressing need in Haiti and the lack of it could pose health problems for the nearly 1 million people living in temporary settlements ahead of the rainy season, United Nations officials warned today.

Curbing sexual violence in conflict is ?mission irresistible? for new UN envoy

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon?s newly appointed Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict promised today a more coherent and effective battle against the scourge, citing recent mass rapes in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and calling her new task "mission irresistible."

Sri Lanka: UN chief urges due process for arrested opposition leader

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on authorities in Sri Lanka to ensure the rights and safety of the defeated presidential candidate and former army chief who was arrested yesterday, and said he intends to speak to the country?s President Mahinda Rajapaksa to discuss the issue.

U.S. Denies Missile Issue Blocking New START Treaty

The White House today denied that differences with Moscow on the U.S. antimissile shield in Europe were blocking an agreement on a new strategic nuclear weapons reduction treaty with Russia.

Afghanistan Considers Conscript Army, To Mixed Reviews

Looking to instill discipline, experience, and honor in the country's youth, Afghan President Hamid Karzai has announced he is considering replacing Afghanistan's volunteer army with one with manned by conscripts.

Montenegrin Policeman Honored For Refusing To Deport Muslims

A former Montenegrin policeman has been chosen to receive an award for his refusal to participate in the deportation of Bosnian Muslims during the Bosnian war, RFE/RL's Balkan Service reports.

Armenian President Urges Turkey To Act On Historic Protocols

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian today urged Turkey to act on its fence-mending agreements with Yerevan, warning that a continued delay could roll back the "historic" rapprochement between the two countries, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports.

Armenian Ruling Coalition, Opposition Divided Over Ombudsman

Representatives of Armenia's main pro-government and opposition parties have offered different assessments of Human Rights Ombudsman Armen Harutiunian's job performance, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports.

U.S. Ambassador Reassures Moldova Over Missile Shield Plans

The U.S. ambassador to Moldova said today that a planned antimissile shield in neighboring Romania would only enhance the region's security and have absolutely no negative impact on Moldova, RFE/RL's Moldovan Service reports.

French-Russian Warship Deal Making Waves Among NATO Allies

The French government's decision this week to sell a technologically advanced battleship to Russia has put NATO in a spot. The prospect of Western-built assault ships flying Russian colors has especially unsettled some of NATO's new eastern allies, which see their large neighbor as more of a threat ...

Ban, General Assembly call for Olympic Truce ahead of Vancouver Games

The United Nations is calling for the traditional age-old truce during the XXI Winter Olympics which open in Vancouver, Canada, this Friday, urging warring parties to lay down their arms as the Games? ancient Greek founders did some 2,700 years ago.

Pacific island nations at UN meeting call on world to fulfil aid commitments

Fourteen island developing nations in the Pacific Ocean wrapped up a United Nations-backed meeting today with a call to the global community to honour its commitments to help them weather the fallout from global economic crises and recent natural disasters.

UN seeks to restore Haiti?s quake-shattered weather services to prevent further disasters

Humanitarian crisis for Pakistan?s displaced far from over - UN official

The top United Nations humanitarian official in Pakistan has called on the international community not to forget the vulnerable civilians displaced in the country?s northwest, urging donors to contribute to a $537 million appeal launched to meet immediate relief needs.

In Kenya, UN partners with MTV to dramatize stories of love - and HIV infection

The United Nations and MTV are reaching out to young Kenyans to highlight that HIV is not a death sentence though a new three-part television series exploring the lives and love of a group of friends in Nairobi.

South Africa: Foreign nationals attacked with "impunity"