Kazakhstan peacemakers to avoid missions causing mixed public reaction
They do not include missions that may cause mixed reaction of our major partners or the society: Kazakhstan Defense Ministry
Canada pulls out of UN drought convention
Canada said Thursday it is pulling out of a UN convention that fights drought, mostly in Africa, becoming the only nation to walk away from a pact that Ottawa says is a waste of money.
Iran, N. Korea, Syria block arms trade treaty
Iran, North Korea and Syria on Thursday held up agreement on the first global treaty on the $80 billion a year conventional arms trade.
UN chief says chemical weapon use would be 'outrageous'
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon "remains convinced that the use of chemical weapons by any party (in Syria) under any circumstances would constitute an outrageous crime".
Ban says Syria nearing 'complete destruction'
International governments must act quickly to stop Syria's "complete destruction," UN leader Ban Ki-Moon warned Monday as the conflict entered a third year.
N. Korea says US 'nuclear blackmail' will drive arms race
North Korea said Monday that "nuclear blackmail" by the United States would drive more countries to follow its lead and build their own atomic weapon.
Muslim states agree to 'historic' UN statement on women
Muslim and western nations on Friday overcame deep divisions to agree a historic United Nations declaration setting out a code of conduct for combatting violence against women.
Yemen to launch tough talks on reconciliation
Yemen, the only country where an Arab Spring revolt led to a negotiated settlement, is to launch a UN-backed national dialogue on Monday aimed at drawing the state's divisive players towards a reconciliation.
Saudi death from SARS-like virus: WHO
A SARS-like virus that has struck in Britain and the Middle East has claimed a new victim in Saudi Arabia, bringing the global toll from the mystery illness to nine.
Downturn threatens Europe's life expectancy gains: WHO
Gains in life expectancy across Europe could be reversed if cash-strapped governments cut health budgets.
233 million women lacking contraception in 2015: study
An estimated 233 million women in their fertile years will lack access to modern contraception by 2015, up from 221 million in 2010.
Kazakhstan to contribute to UN peacekeeping missions
Kazakhstan’s Defense Ministry is working to prepare a peacekeeping unit and developing a legal framework to enable Kazakhstan’s citizens to participate in UN missions.
N. Korea scraps peace pacts as sanctions toughened
An enraged North Korea responded to new UN sanctions with fresh threats of nuclear war on Friday, vowing to scrap peace pacts with South Korea as it upped the ante yet again after its recent atomic test.
Ruthless crime gangs driving global wildlife trade
Ruthless and heavily armed "criminal syndicates" linked to drug smugglers and militias are running the global wildlife trade and turning their guns on the park rangers tasked with protecting endangered species.
US, China to increase nuclear sanctions on N. Korea
The United States and China will on Thursday seek to tighten the UN sanctions screws on North Korea after its widely condemned nuclear bomb test last month.
Syria rebels seize UN peacekeepers, take key city
Negotiations were under way with Syrian rebels who seized 21 UN peacekeepers in the Golan Heights ceasefire zone between Syria and Israel, as rebels took total control of the key northern city of Raqa.
Amano wins second IAEA term, this time easily
It is a testament to Yukiya Amano's success as head of the UN atomic agency that unlike his appointment in 2009, securing a second term was a formality.
Vatican, Iran resist UN effort fighting violence on women
The Vatican, Iran and other religious states are resisting efforts by a UN conference, which started Monday, to demand tougher global standards to prevent violence against women and children.
Sudan attacks in Darfur breach sanctions: UN
Sudan breached UN sanctions by using warplanes and rockets bought from Belarus and Russia in the Darfur conflict, according to UN experts who have called for a tightened embargo.
Movement in nuclear talks, but onus on Iran: UN chief
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Friday that the ball remained in Iran's court over its contested nuclear programme, though he was encouraged by new feelers being put out by Tehran and the West.