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Tunis protester killed in clashes with police

Agence France-PresseMay 19, 2013 22:30

A protester was hit by gunfire and killed on Sunday in the Tunisian capital during clashes between police and hardline Islamists, a hospital official said. Mounira Ben Ghazi, a senior supervisor at Mongi Slim hospital, named the dead man as Moez Dahmani, in comments made to Express-FM radio station. Dahmani, who was born in 1986, died of gunshot wounds, Ben Ghazi said. An interior ministry spokesman confirmed the death of a protester in comments broadcast on Hannibal TV but gave no further details.

UN picks ex-Kenyan minister to lead development unit

Agence France-PresseMay 16, 2013 13:15

UN chief Ban Ki-moon has nominated former Kenyan minister and member of parliament Mukhisa Kituyi to lead the UN's trade and development body when the current chief steps down at the end of August. "United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has nominated Mukhisa Kituyi of Kenya to serve as Secretary-General of UNCTAD for a term of four years beginning September 1, 2013," the UN agency said in a statement.

Brahimi to stay on as Syria envoy after Russia-US bid

Agence France-PresseMay 11, 2013 17:15

Lakhdar Brahimi has withdrawn a threat to resign as UN-Arab League envoy on the Syria conflict after Russia and the United States launched a joint political initiative, officials said Thursday. UN leader Ban Ki-moon "has asked the joint special envoy to stay on and he has accepted to stay on," UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson told reporters, praising the US-Russia effort to organize a conference on the two-year-old conflict.

UNESCO chief visits 2 biosphere reserves in Nicaragua

Agencia EFEMay 9, 2013 15:57

Managua, May 9 (EFE).- UNESCO director-general Irina Bokova inspected two of the three biosphere reserves in Nicaragua to get a firsthand look at their condition, first lady Rosario Murillo said. Bokova, who arrived in the Central American country for an official visit on Wednesday, flew over the Rio San Juan and Ometepe Island biosphere reserves. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, official was accompanied on the inspection tour Wednesday by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Juana Argeñal.

UN says trade in environment-friendly products to almost triple to $2.2 trillion by 2020

The Canadian PressMay 8, 2013 09:37

GENEVA - The U.N.'s environment agency says the global market for low-carbon and environment-friendly goods and services is projected to almost triple to $2.2 trillion by 2020. The U.N. Environment Program says trade in organic food and beverages is likely to reach $105 billion by 2015, up from $62.9 billion in 2011. Seafood farmed according to certified sustainability standards is forecast to rise to $1.25 billion from $300 million in 2008.

Tanzania brushes off Congo rebel threats ahead of new UN mission

Thomson ReutersMay 7, 2013 11:07

By Fumbuka Ng'wanakilala DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - Rebels behind a year-long insurgency in Democratic Republic of Congo have warned Tanzania they will target its soldiers if they join a U.N. mission to the region aimed at neutralizing armed groups, a Tanzanian cabinet minister said on Saturday. Foreign Minister Bernard Membe dismissed threats of "mass killings" and said the 1,000 soldiers, part of a new 3,000-strong intervention force, would respond to any aggression from the M23 rebel group.

EU pledges 44 million euros aid at Somalia conference

Agence France-PresseMay 7, 2013 09:00

The European Union on Tuesday pledged to give 44 million euros ($58 million) in aid to Somalia, at a conference in London aimed at stopping the impoverished country slipping back into lawlessness. The EU Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs said the funding would be used to build up the justice system and police force in Somalia, which has been blighted by conflict for more than two decades. "In Somalia, like anywhere else, there can be no development without security," Piebalgs said in a statement.

UN urges Bangladesh to close unsafe factories

Agence France-PresseMay 4, 2013 11:45

The UN's labour agency urged Bangladesh to close unsafe factories as search teams on Saturday pulled more bodies from the wreckage of the nation's worst industrial disaster, pushing the death toll to at least 550. The collapse of the eight-storey garment factory complex outside Dhaka last week was the latest in a string of catastrophes to befall the $20 billion textile industry, which accounts for 80 percent of Bangladesh's exports.

AFP World News Agenda

Agence France-PresseApril 30, 2013 17:30

What's happening around the world Wednesday: -- TOP STORIES -- + Worldwide protests to mark May Day + Fed statement on monetary policy VARIOUS DATELINES: Full coverage of worldwide May Day protests, as Greece's two main unions hold a general strike over continued austerity and workers in Dhaka rally after a week after factory collapse killed at least 388 people (MAY1-DEMOS)

ILO sends special mission to Bangladesh after deadly collapse

Agencia EFEApril 29, 2013 20:30

Geneva, Apr 29 (EFE).- The International Labor Organization announced Monday that it will sent a high-level mission to Bangladesh to support the efforts of the parties involved in the collapse of a building housing textile factories producing garments for Western multinationals. The disaster at the Rana Plaza Building left at least 381 people dead. The mission, which will depart from Geneva in the coming days, will be headed by the ILO deputy director-general for Field Operations, Gilbert Houngbo.