SOME 38 COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE FACING ‘SERIOUS FOOD SHORTAGES’, FAO REPORTS

ROME, 15 October (FAO) -- As of August 2003, the number of countries facing serious food shortages throughout the world stands at 38, with 23 in Africa, eight in Asia, five in Latin America and two in Europe.  In many of these countries, food shortages are being compounded by the effect of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on food production, marketing and transport.

Security Council

4841^st Meeting (AM)

IN DAY-LONG SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING, PALESTINE OBSERVER SAYS ISRAELI

SECURITY WALL INVOLVES DE FACTO ANNEXATION OF OCCUPIED LAND

Fifty-eighth General Assembly

Fifth Committee

5^th Meeting (AM)

IMPORTANCE OF TIMELY, FULL PAYMENT OF UN CONTRIBUTIONS, ‘CAPACITY TO PAY’

PRINCIPLE REAFFIRMED, AS FIFTH COMMITTEE TAKES UP SCALE OF ASSESSMENTS

NEW WEB SITE OFFERS STUDENTS AND ACADEMICS FREE OR LOW-COST

ACCESS TO AGRICULTURE, SCIENCE, DATA

ROME, 14 October (FAO) -- Students, researchers and academics in some of the world's poorest countries will gain free or low-cost access to a wealth of scientific literature under a new initiative announced today by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and a range of public and private sector partners.

Fifty-eighth General Assembly

Plenary

30^th & 31^st Meetings (AM & PM)

SECURITY COUNCIL SHOULD ENLARGE MEMBERSHIP, REVIEW VETO POWER TO INCREASE

LEGITIMACY, EFFICIENCY, GENERAL ASSEMBLY TOLD

Fifty-eighth General Assembly

First Committee

8^th Meeting (PM)

THREAT POSED BY NON-COMPLIANCE WITH NON-PROLIFERATION REGIME

FOCUS OF DEBATE IN DISARMAMENT COMMITTEE

The threat posed by non-compliance with the global nuclear non-proliferation regime and the reasons underlying recent, well-publicized cases dominated debate this afternoon in the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security).

Fifty-eighth General Assembly

Fourth Committee

7^th Meeting (AM)

FOURTH COMMITTEE REASSERTS SELF-DETERMINATION AS RIGHT

FOR PEOPLES IN NON-SELF-GOVERNING TERRITORIES

Text Says No Other Principle in Decolonization; Action Also Taken

After Debate on Work of United Nations Committee on Effects of Atomic Radiation

SECRETARY-GENERAL HAILS INAUGURATION OF NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL

GOVERNMENT AS ‘TURNING POINT’ FOR LIBERIA

Following is the message of Secretary-GeneralKofi Annan on the inauguration of the National Transitional Government of Liberia, as delivered today in Monrovia by Jacques Paul Klein, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Liberia:

SECRETARY-GENERAL ‘GRAVELY CONCERNED’ BY CONTINUING VIOLENCE IN BOLIVIA,

CALLS FOR MAXIMUM RESTRAINT BY GOVERNMENT, OPPOSITION

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

Security Council

4842^nd Meeting (Night)

SECURITY COUNCIL FAILS TO ADOPT DRAFT RESOLUTION DECLARING ILLEGAL

ISRAELI CONSTRUCTION OF WALL IN OCCUPIED TERRITORIES

Vote Is 10 in Favour to 1 Against (United States),

With 4 Abstentions (Bulgaria, Cameroon, Germany, United Kingdom)