Members of the Security Council today (2 August) showcased their disagreement over the future of the United Nations observer mission in Syria as the chief of UN peacekeeping warned that on the ground, the "spiral of violence is still increasing". UNTV
United Nations officials have hailed the overwhelming approval this week of a Provisional Constitution for Somalia by the representative body convened for that purpose, as a key step toward ending the country's long transition to stable governance. UNPOS
The Joint Special Envoy for Syria, Kofi Annan, said that he will not continue his mission after the end of his present mandate. CH UNTV
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres accompanied by the United States Assistant Secretary for Population Refugees and Migration, Anne Richard, visited the Damba refugee camp in Burkina Faso to show support for a region that can barely feed its own people. UNHCR
French Ambassador Gérard Araud, this month's president of the UN Security Council said today (2 August) that he believed the UN Observer Mission in Syria "will just disappear on the 19th of August." UNTV
The International Monetary Fund said the United States (US) economy continued its tepid recovery.IMF
Russia has recovered from the global economic crisis, growing at more than four percent through 2010-11 on the back of high oil prices. Growth is set to continue at about four percent in 2012, assuming oil prices of eighty dollars a barrel. This means the economy is running at close to capacity, putting it at [...]