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Supermodel and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador Gisele Bündchen has visited Kenya to experience firsthand the reality of energy poverty and to see how lives are being transformed in the East African country by making sustainable energy accessible to those not connected to the national grid.

A number of health facilities in South Sudan’s troubled state of Jonglei were damaged and subsequently closed following inter-ethnic clashes in the area in recent weeks, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) reported today.

The Security Council today encouraged the Government, political parties and people of Guinea-Bissau to respect the country’s legal institutions during the transition following the death of President Malam Bacai Sanhá and ensure peaceful, timely and fair presidential elections.

The United Nations will maintain its “strong and unwavering” commitment to Lebanon, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon pledged today as he began an official visit to the country.

The United Nations human rights chief today urged a bold effort by Nigeria’s political and religious leaders to halt the spiralling sectarian violence unleashed by a series of recent attacks by the Boko Haram group.

Global food prices declined in December, but the overall annual average was the highest ever on record, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported today.

As Haiti marks the second anniversary of the massive earthquake that claimed the lives of more than 200,000 people and devastated an already poverty-stricken country, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged continued international support for recovery and rebuilding.

The price of opium in Afghanistan rose dramatically last year, according to a joint survey by the United Nations and the Government that was released today, which also shows that the farm-gate income from the narcotic probably amounted to over $1.4 billion, equivalent to nine per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

The collective efforts by the United Nations and the African Union in peace and security matters are having an important impact on the continent, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the Security Council today, while stressing the need to further strengthen this vital partnership.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will depart New York today for an official visit to Lebanon, where he will meet with the country’s leaders and with United Nations peacekeepers serving in the country, according to his spokesperson.