United Nations

Civilian casualties in Afghanistan touched a record high in the first half of 2015, according to UN figures released on August 5, revealing a fragile security situation six months after the NATO combat mission ended.

Russia has submitted an official request to the United Nations to extend its continental shelf by 1.2 million square kilometers towards the Arctic. The Russians support their claims based on scientific studies carried out over the past years.

Pakistan on August 4 executed a man convicted of killing a child, brushing aside a storm of protests from rights groups that his confession had been extracted by torture and he was a minor at the time of the crime.

New population forecasts from the UN point to a global population spurt from 7.3 billion to 9.7 billion in 2050 – 100 million more than estimated by the UN’s last report two years ago. More than half this growth comes from Africa that is set to double its population rate. In Europe, the average age will rise from 30 to 36 in 2050 and 42 in 2100.

The University of the Aegean, based in Mytilene, is examining a program that would allow Syrian refugees to enrol into tertiary education through fast-track procedures.

Tuesday marks 20 years since the start of Croatia's military operation "Storm" that led to expulsion of more than 200,000 ethnic Serbs from that country.

Monsoons have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people across Asia as rescue workers tried to access remote areas in India, Myanmar and Pakistan in the wake of floods and landslides. Indian authorities estimate 120 people have been killed in recent days, while more than a million have been displaced as heavy rains made the situation even worse.

Croatia's Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic has confirmed that she will run for UN Secretary-General.

According to British daily The Independent, Pusic has a good chance of being elected to succeed Ban Ki-moon, whose term in office as UN Secretary-General expires in December 2016.

Migrants trying to sail from Turkey to Greece are increasingly reporting being attacked by gunmen trying to prevent them from reaching Europe, according to multiple sources.

The UN Refugee agency on Friday refered to increasing attacks of migrants trying to sail from Turkey to Greece by people trying to prevent them from reaching Europe. An international NGO that did not wish to be named has launched an investigation into the shooting claims after several witnesses reported such attacks.