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Marking the Global Day of Action on Military Spending, the United Nations independent expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order called on all governments to boost transparency and cuts in military expenditures, and increase investments in nutrition, health, environmental protection and other major sustainable development challenges.

United Nations child rights experts today hailed a new treaty that allows children to complain directly to the world body about alleged violations of their rights.

In the wake of the violent clashes that have swept eastern Ukraine over the past 24 hours as pro- and anti-Government demonstrators have faced off in the region, a senior United Nations political official warned the Security Council this evening that the crisis will only deepen unless intensive efforts are made by all sides to de-escalate the situation.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the findings of a long-awaited United Nations report on the mitigation of climate change released earlier today in Berlin and urged all countries “to act swiftly and boldly” to reach a “global, ambitious and legal [climate] agreement in 2015.”

Welcoming today's announcement of the first batch of results in Afghanistan's Presidential elections as a further step towards completing the electoral process, the United Nations Assistance Mission in the country (UNAMA) has noted that these results represent only a small proportion of the millions of ballots cast in the poll.

Expressing deep concern about the crisis in South Sudan and its impact on civilians, the top United Nations humanitarian official joined today with her counterparts from the United States and the European Union to urge more support for the war-torn country's people, who have been severely affected by conflict, displacement and food insecurity.

“A city is not just an accident, but the result of coherent vision and aims,” stated Leon Crier, pioneer architect, urban planner and visionary, as he spoke to participants at a discussion on Urban Equity in development – Cities for Life organized by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (Habitat).

The necessity for international cooperation in space and the universal utility of duct tape were among insights revealed when the United Nations sent a former astronaut into cyberspace today to inspire young people to explore new frontiers on the anniversary of the first human space flight.

With preparations supported by the United Nations, voters in Guinea-Bissau head to the polls this Sunday in presidential and parliamentary elections many hope will bring stability to the tiny West African nation.

From farming to forestry and fisheries, agriculture greenhouse emissions have nearly doubled over the past 50 years and may increase by another 30 per cent by 2050, according to new estimates out today from the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).