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The UN humanitarian chief urges the UN Security Council to impose more pressure on all sides involved in the Syrian conflict to allow greater access for the provision of assistance. Valerie Amos said the Security Council should put its full political weight on both the government and opposition parties to ensure that previous calls for access are realized. The UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator added that 9 point 3 million people currently need assistance to survive. The figure stood at 6 point 8 million in September. Amos also said that 6 point 5 million people are now internally displaced. On October 7, the United Nations estimated that over four million more people would be forced out of their homes in 2014 due to the escalation of the conflict. The UN said two million Syrians are expected to seek refuge outside the country, while another 2.25 million will be internally displaced next year.

UN human rights experts express serious concern about US drone attacks resulting in civilian casualties in Yemen. The UN special rapporteur on extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary executions says Yemen cannot accept violations of people\\\'s right to life. This, as the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture also says that deadly attacks on illegitimate targets amount to cruel or degrading treatment. According to the world body, 16 civilians were killed when two separate wedding processions were targeted by US drones in Yemen on December 12. The UN says the victims were mistakenly identified as al-Qaeda members. The US think tank, New America Foundation says about a hundred drone strikes have killed some 9-hundred people in Yemen since 2002.

[17 May 2012] 'UN must take action on Bahrain' - English The UN Human Rights Council will discuss Bahrain's human rights record in its upcoming Universal Periodic Review on May 21st in Geneva. Interview with Paul Wolf, human rights and international lawyer, Washington

[06 Aug 2012] Russia calls UN resolution on Syria one sided - English Russia has condemned the latest resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly, saying it is one-sided and shows blatant support for the armed opposition. Moscow says it will only undermine peace efforts in Syria

[09 Sept 2013] UN Secretary General called for creation of UN supervised zones in Syria - English

A UN panel has urged Myanmar to stop Buddhist violence against Rohingya Muslims but the resolution has seen opposition from an unlikely source: The party of Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Chee. In its resolution, the UN General Assembly\'s human rights committee has called on Myanmar to give the Rohingya minority equal access to citizenship. But the demand apparently didn\'t sit well with the West\'s democracy icon Suu Chee, whose party accused the UN of interfering in Myanmar\'s internal affairs. Buddhist violence against Rohingya which is said to have the state backing has become routine in Myanmar. It\'s left hundreds dead and sent another 240-thousand fleeing their homes. But Suu Chee has had little to say about Rohingya rights. And she even declined to meet with the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation delegation visiting Myanmar this week to look into the plight of Muslims.

Myanmar rejects a UN resolution that urges it to give the Rohingya Muslims equal access to citizenship. Myanmar also accused the UN of violating its sovereignty. On Tuesday, the UN General Assembly\'s human rights committee called on Myanmar to stop Buddhist violence against the Muslim minority. But the demand drew strong opposition from the West\'s democracy icon Aung San Suu Chee \'s party. Buddhist violence against Rohingya Muslims, which is said to have the state backing, has become routine in Myanmar. It\'s left hundreds dead and sent another 2-hundred 40-thousand fleeing their homes.

The UN General Assembly has unanimously adopted a resolution on nuclear disarmament which includes proposals by the Iranian president. The UN called on nuclear-armed states to make more efforts to reduce and ultimately eliminate all types of atomic weapons. Last month, the world body\'s Disarmament Commission voted on a draft resolution proposed by the Non-Aligned Movement, which included President Hassan Rouhani\'s suggestions. During the last UN General Assembly meetings, the Iranian president laid down his proposals on nuclear disarmament, which were welcomed by many countries. An urgent formation of a convention on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons; holding a high-level international conference on nuclear disarmament no later than 20-18; and declaring September 26 as the International Day for the total elimination of nukes were among Rouhani\'s suggestions in that draft.

The UN secretary-general has deplored the use of chemical weapons in Syria and has called on the international community to sanction those responsible for the chemical attacks. Ban Ki-moon\'s statement came a day after a UN report concluded that banned chemical weapons were used at least five times before Damascus agreed to dismantle its arsenal. However, the report did not lay blame for the attacks. The report said evidence indicated chemical weapons were probably used in Khan al-Assal outside Aleppo on March 19 against soldiers and civilians. The government and opposition accused each other of using chemical weapons at Khan al-Assal, and the report said none of the parties in Syria denied their use in the village. Swedish expert Ake Sellstrom, who led the UN investigation team that compiled the report, reminded reporters that the mandate did not allow him to point the finger at anyone.

Iranian president\'s proposal for a global campaign against violence and extremism has been approved by the United Nations. Iran\'s UN ambassador Mohammad Khazaee said the UN General Assembly approved unanimously the draft resolution put forth by Iran for \"A world against violence and extremism\" - known as WAVE. He also noted that the resolution is aimed at promoting global interactions to eradicate violence across the world. Iranian diplomats have for months been negotiating with other UN members to finalize the draft document. In his speech to the UN General Assembly earlier this year, President Rouhani said that the world should unite against violence and extremism.

Three Indian peacekeepers are confirmed dead in an attack on a UN base in South Sudan. India\'s UN envoy says the peacekeepers were targeted and killed during an attack by a group of ethnic youths on the base in Jonglei state. The attackers were apparently chasing civilians who had taken refuge in the base. The attack on the UN base came after troops loyal to fugitive former vice president Riek Machar seized the town of Bor late Wednesday. Hundreds of people have been killed in South Sudan since violence broke out in the country on Sunday.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has launched a new effort to include Iran in the upcoming Syria peace talks in Geneva. Ban Ki-moon said that Iran needs to contribute to peace in Syria along with others in the region. He also called the division about Iranian participation unfortunate. The remarks came two days after the UN-Arab League envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, released a list of participants for the January talks. Morocco, Algeria, South Africa, India, and Indonesia are some of the countries invited to the conference. Brahimi said that Iran is not on the list because of US opposition. Russia, which insists on Iran\\\'s participation, has criticized the US position, calling it illogical. The UN chief, however, has expressed hope that the question of Iran\\\'s participation can be resolved soon.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon withdraws his invitation to Iran to join the upcoming Geneva two peace conferences on Syria. The UN was under intense pressure from the U-S to rescind the invite. Ban invited Iran to the conference on Monday saying Iran needs to be part of the solution to the Syrian crisis. Tehran also said it was ready to play a constructive role at the talks. But the US, Britain, Saudi Arabia and the foreign backed opposition were strongly opposed to Iran\'s participation. The U-S State Department said the UN must take back its invitation unless Tehran publicly backs the 2012 agreement on a transition government in Syria. And the so-called Syrian National Coalition threatened to withdraw from the Geneva Two conference. However, Russia said it would be an unforgivable mistake to exclude Iran from the talks. Tehran repeated that it would take part without any preconditions.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says the US took advantage of the 'suspicious' September 11 attacks to justify its occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq. President Ahmadinejad said while some 3,000 were killed on the September 11 incident, "for which we are all very saddened," hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and millions wounded and displaced up to now, as the conflicts continue to rage and expand. While raising several questions about the source and nature of the 9/11 attacks, the president asked even if we grant credence to the US government's view that "a complex terrorist group was able to cross all layers of US intelligence and security" to wage the attacks, "is it rational to launch a classic war through widespread deployment of troops that led to the death of hundreds of thousands of people to counter a terrorist group?" The Iranian president also blasted the Israeli regime for its siege of Palestinian lands and their repeated aggressions against the people of Gaza and Lebanon with blessings from their Western backers. "The oppressed people of Palestine have lived under the rule of an occupying regime for 60 years, been deprived of freedom, security and the right to self-determination, while the occupiers are given recognition," he said. "On a daily basis," he added, "the houses are being destroyed over the heads of innocent women and children. People are deprived of water, food and medicine in their own homeland. The Zionists have imposed five all-out wars on the neighboring countries and on the Palestinian people." President Ahmadinejad also highlighted the Israeli attack against the Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla and killing and injuring civilians onboard, calling it "a blatant defiance of all international norms." The president emphasized that while the Tel Aviv regime "regularly threatens the countries in the region" and conducts "publicly announced assassination of Palestinian figures," it enjoys the "absolute support of some western countries." Whereas, he added, "Palestinian defender and those opposing this regime are pressured, labeled as terrorists and anti Semites." The Iranian president then insisted that all solutions "are doomed to fail" if the rights of Palestinian people are not accounted for, calling for the return of the Palestinian refugees to their home land and the establishment of a Palestinian sovereignty and government based on a popular vote. President Ahmadinejad referred to the recent burning of the holy Qur'an in the US as an "ugly and inhumane act" against the Divine Book of Islam's prophet that calls for "worshipping the one God, justice, compassion toward people, development and progress, reflection and thinking, defending the oppressed and resisting against the oppressors." He then stressed that the Qur'an was burned "to burn all these truths and good judgments." However, he added, "the truth could not be burned." On the Iranian nuclear issue, President Ahmadinejad reiterated Iran's readiness to resume talks based on the Tehran Nuclear Declaration, censuring the unjust imposition of anti-Iran sanctions by the UN Security Council. Noting the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) allows member states to use nuclear energy without limits while prohibiting the development and stockpiling of nuclear weapons, the president underlined that some permanent members of the UN Security Council have nonetheless "equated nuclear energy with the nuclear bomb, and have distanced this energy from the reach of most nations by establishing monopolies and pressuring the IAEA." Consequently, he said, "Not only the nuclear disarmament has not been realized, but also nuclear bombs have been proliferated in some regions, including by the occupying and intimidating Zionist regime." Dr. Ahmadinejad went on to make the proposition that the year 2011 be proclaimed the year of nuclear disarmament and "Nuclear Energy for all, Nuclear Weapons for None." On Iran's nuclear issue the Iranian president referred to the Tehran Declaration on a fuel swap deal as "a hugely constructive step in confidence building efforts" and said that it was facilitated through the good will of Turkish, Brazilian and Iranian governments. He reiterated that although the declaration received "inappropriate reaction" by some governments and followed by an "unlawful resolution," it still remains valid. "We have observed the regulations of the IAEA more than our commitments," he observed. "Yet, we have never submitted to illegally imposed pressures nor will we ever do so." The president also slammed UN's "ineptitude" and "unjust structure," stressing that major power has been "monopolized" in the Security Council (UNSC) due to the veto privilege while the main pillar of the organization, the General Assembly, "is marginalized." Noting that in the past decades at least one of the permanent members of the UNSC has been a party to conflicts, Dr. Ahmadinejad said, "The veto advantage grants impunity to aggression and occupation; how could, therefore, one expect competence while both the judge and the prosecutor are a party to the dispute?" "Had Iran enjoyed veto privilege, would the Security Council and the IAEA Director General have taken the same position in the nuclear issue?" The Iranian president then insisted that the veto privilege "be revoked" altogether and the General Assembly becomes the "highest body" in the United Nations. At the beginning of his remarks, President Ahmadinejad expressed great sympathy with the people and government of flood-stricken Pakistan and urged the world to pldege adequate aid and support for the flood victims.

[18 June 2012] UN suspends mission in Syria - English The United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) that was established by Security Council resolution 2043 as part of the Joint Special Envoy's Six-Point Proposal suspended its activities due to the several attacks that targeted its members. Press TV's Rahshan Saglam reports from Damascus.

Investment or austerity? UN questions on sustainable development - English

La historia de un soldado que quiere ir a un santuario en un pueblo llamado Barzeku, e intenta por todos los medios poder llegar hasta allí. En el camino de Barzeku, pasan muchas cosas extrañas y el soldado conoce a diferentes personas que le cambiarán la vida. Movie - A piece of Bread - Spanish

[22 Mar 2013] UN to probe Aleppo chemical attack Ban - English

Iran\'s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman has condemned a report by the UN special Human Rights Rapporteur on the country\'s rights situation as politicized and biased. Marzieh Afkham said such reports should not be used as a criterion to judge the human rights situation in Iran. Afkham was reacting to the latest report by the UN Rapporteur Ahmad Shahid which accused Tehran of failing to make significant improvements on the human rights front. The Iranian foreign ministry spokeswoman said the report lacks legitimacy, as it is based on information provided by terrorist groups. Afkham also described Iran as the anchor of stability and religious democracy in a region which suffers from extremism and terrorism.

UN officials are calling on Israel to end the blockade of the Gaza Strip. They\'re warning that the situation in the Palestinian territory may get even worse. The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees says the Israeli blockade has paralyzed Gaza\'s construction industry. Robert Turner also said that the demolition of tunnels used by Gazans to transfer goods and construction materials to the enclave has put U-N projects on hold. This, after Egyptian authorities also stepped up the destruction of the tunnels in recent months. Meanwhile, another U-N official, James Rawley has also waned about the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory over a lack of fuel there. Gaza\'s fuel crisis has led to the closure of its main power plant in recent months. Israel imposed its all-out land, aerial, and naval blockade on Gaza in June 2007 after the victory of Hamas in elections there.

The UN chief is warning that violence is spreading in South Sudan as fighting between rival army factions continues unabated. Ban Ki-moon says he\'s deeply concerned about the situation in the country and that the crisis should be dealt with through dialog. Meanwhile, a UN official says at least 19 people are killed in fresh clashes in Bor, the capital of Jonglei state. The army now says it has lost control of the city. Tensions are also rising in other part of the country. South Sudan has been witnessing deadly violence after President Salva Kiir accused former vice president Riek Machar of trying to launch a coup. Machar who was sacked in July has denied the accusations. Based on U-N figures, up to 500 people have been killed and 800 others wounded since the violence broke out on Sunday.

The UN human rights office says a soaring number of executions in northern Syria could amount to war crimes. In a statement released on Thursday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has warned militants and armed opposition groups that such executions violate international humanitarian law. Pillay said her office has received reports of a series of mass executions of civilians and soldiers in Aleppo, Idlib and Raqqah by militants, especially by al-Qaeda affiliates, fighting the Syrian government. Pillay says exact numbers are hard to verify, but many civilians and soldiers in the custody of militants have been executed since the beginning of this year.

The UN human rights office says a soaring number of executions in northern Syria could amount to war crimes. In a statement released on Thursday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has warned militants and armed opposition groups that such executions violate international humanitarian law. Pillay said her office has received reports of a series of mass executions of civilians and soldiers in Aleppo, Idlib and Raqqah by militants, especially by al-Qaeda affiliates, fighting the Syrian government. Pillay says exact numbers are hard to verify, but many civilians and soldiers in the custody of militants have been executed since the beginning of this year.

Russia and China have skipped a UN Security Council meeting called to discuss a draft resolution that would impose more sanctions on Syria unless the government gives unrestricted access to deliver aid. The resolution was drafted by Australia, Jordan, and Luxembourg. Russia\'s UN envoy, Vitaly Churkin, vowed to veto the proposed measure if necessary, saying that the resolution would increase tension in Syria and disrupt the current humanitarian efforts. The Russian ambassador added that the measure would endanger the Geneva-two negotiations being held in Switzerland.

Syria has demanded a stern and urgent UN condemnation of the massacre of Alawite villagers committed on Sunday by foreign-backed insurgents. The Syrian Foreign Ministry has written a letter to the UN secretary general and the chairman of the Security Council detailing the bloodshed. Officials say more than 50 people --including women and children -- were killed in the attack on the village of Ma\'an in Hama province. Damascus has called for the condemnation of both the militants and their international backers. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has also acknowledged that the massacre happened. The tragedy occurred hours before the launch of the second round of peace talks in Geneva. On Monday, the government delegation began the talks with a draft statement on the massacre. Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi said that the foreign-backed opposition should have condemned the incident out of patriotic and moral duty.

[24 Mar 2014] Nowruz holiday honored with UN ceremony - English

[22 Apr 2014] UN committee takes no action on Iran envoy dispute - English

[28 Apr 2014] UN chief alarmed by mass death sentences in Egypt - English