SOLAR POWER GIFT BRINGS RAY OF SUNSHINE TO INDIA’S RURAL POOR

MANGALORE (India)/ BASEL (Switzerland), 9 January (UNEP) -- Poor families in India are being given a New Year renewable energy lifeline as a result of a donation by one of the world’s leading solar power companies.

PRESS STATEMENT BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ON SIERRA LEONE

Following is the press statement on Sierra Leone delivered by Security Council President Heraldo Muñoz (Chile):

Council members heard an update from Assistant Secretary-General Annabi on developments since the Secretary-General’s latest report on the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL).

STAFF UNION COMMITTEE MOURNS FALLEN IN ‘ANNUS HORRIBILIS’ 2003

NEW YORK, 8 January (UN Staff Union) -- The United Nations Staff Council Standing Committee on the Security and Independence of the International Civil Service mourns the many United Nations staff members who paid with their lives while serving the Organization in an “Annus Horribilis” marked by the horrific attack in Baghdad on 19 August.

CHAIRPERSONS AND VICE-CHAIRPERSONS OF SECURITY COUNCIL

SUBSIDIARY BODIES ELECTED FOR 2004

HIGHER WORLD TOBACCO USE EXPECTED BY 2010 -- GROWTH RATE SLOWING DOWN

Number of Smokers Growing –- Production Shifting to Developing Countries

(Reissued as received.)

ROME, 8 January (FAO) -- World tobacco demand is expected to increase until the year 2010 due to population and income growth, but at lower rates than in the past, according to a new study published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today.

Committee on the Rights of the Child

BACKGROUND RELEASE

COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD TO HOLD THIRTY-FIFTH SESSION IN GENEVA

FROM 12 TO 30 JANUARY 2004

Reports from Indonesia, Guyana, Armenia, Germany,

Netherlands, India, Papua New Guinea, Slovenia, Japan to be Considered

(Reissued as received.)

Background Release

WOMEN’S ANTI‑DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE HOLDS THIRTIETH SESSION

IN NEW YORK, 12 - 30 JANUARY

CEDAW to Review Reports of Eight States Parties

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) will hold its twenty-thirtieth session at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 12 to 30 January 2004.

UNITED NATIONS LAUNCHES APPEAL FOR IRAN EARTHQUAKE

CEDAW CHAIRPERSON APPLAUDS NEW AFGHAN CONSTITUTION

The following statement was issued by Ms. Feride Acar, Chairperson of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW):

SECRETARY-GENERAL ENCOURAGED BY DEVELOPMENTS ON KOREAN PENINSULA

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