Press Release

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS MEHR KHAN WILLIAMS OF PAKISTAN

DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

The Secretary-General today announced the appointment of Mehr Khan Williams as Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights.  The appointment is at the Assistant-Secretary-General level.

Security Council                                           

Bureau of Palestinian rights committee issues statement concerning

hunger strike in Israeli detention facilities

The Bureau of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People issued the following statement concerning the hunger strike of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention facilities on 24 August:

UN Appeals for More Funds to Meet Most Urgent Humanitarian Needs in Sudan

KHARTOUM/GENEVA, 25 August (OCHA) -- The UN today warned that $434 million out of $722 million are still required to respond to Sudan’s most urgent humanitarian needs through the end of the year. 

New UNEP report warns of threats to unique Arctic ecosystem

(Reissued as received.)

STAVANGER/NAIROBI, 24 August (UNEP) -- Overfishing of cod and haddock, nuclear waste storage, the invasion of the red king crab and a projected six-fold increase in oil and gas transportation are some of the issues threatening the unique Barents Sea Arctic ecosystem, scientists are warning.

Secretary-General calls on Israel to cease west bank settlement expansion

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

PRESS STATEMENT ON SUDAN BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is today’s press statement on the Sudan by Security Council President Andrey Denisov (Russian Federation):

On 24 August, members of the Security Council received a briefing from Assistant Secretary-General, Tuliameni Kalomoh, on the situation in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Security Council                                           

Note to Correspondents

UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL THAROOR TO LAUNCH US OPEN TENNIS TOURNAMENT

DRAW CEREMONY, WEDNESDAY, 25 AUGUST

Under-Secretary-General for Communication and Public Information, Shashi Tharoor will launch the United States Open Tennis Tournament Draw ceremony at an event to be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, 25 August in the Dag Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium.

Annual DPI/NGO Conference to Focus On Millennium Development Goals; 8-10 september