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Prices of major food commodities declined for the fourth year in a row in 2015 according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), averaging 19.1 per cent below their previous-year's levels, while the agency also reported today that the dwindling global economy has triggered sharp price falls from metals to energy markets.

The United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (CAR) reported today that the top UN official in the country has met with 28 of the 30 presidential candidates in the capital, Bangui, just days after the first round of presidential and legislative elections.

Calling on Thailand to criminalize enforced disappearance in its laws in line with international standards, the top United Nations human rights official today urged the Government to take decisive and sustained steps to investigate the whereabouts of at least 82 people listed as disappeared.

The United Nations envoy in Libya, who last month has helped usher in a UN-brokered political agreement for a national government in the strife-torn country, has said an attack by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) on oil installations highlights the need for immediate implementation of the accord.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) today condemned a spate of bombings in civilian areas of Kabul by the Taliban in the first few days of the New Year.

The United Nations at all levels today deplored the underground nuclear test announced by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon calling it “deeply troubling” and the UN Security Council vowing to immediately begin considering the “significant measures” it had vowed to take in the event of another nuclear test by the country.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced today the appointment of Karen AbuZayd of the United States as Special Adviser for an upcoming UN summit on managing large-scale movements of migrants and refugees.

For the second time in two weeks United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has again voiced concern at political developments in Haiti over the ongoing electoral process, urging the authorities and all political actors to resolve outstanding issues as soon as possible.

Two senior United Nations officials arrived in Saudi Arabia today to discuss the effects of regional tensions on the Syrian crisis as well as ways to ensure stability and security for neighbouring countries.

The United Nations is investigating new allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse and other misconduct by peacekeepers in the Central African Republic (CAR), this time by forces under the world body’s flag, the top UN official there said today, as further steps are being put in place to combat the scourge.