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Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today affirmed support for inter-Korean dialogue, following the Republic of Korea’s offer to hold talks with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on reopening the Kaesong Industrial Complex, which he considers a valuable bridge between the two countries.

With the globally agreed target of reversing the incidence rate of malaria by 2015 now in sight, top United Nations officials today urged the international community to stay committed to protecting people from this preventable disease and to scale up key interventions such as the provision of insecticide-treated mosquito nets.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed peaceful general elections in Paraguay that attracted wide participation, reiterating the United Nations’ willingness to work with the newly elected authorities and people in the South American country.

With reports that the minaret of one of Syria’s most famous mosques was reduced to rubble in Aleppo today, the head of the United Nations cultural organization expressed her deep distress over continuing destruction of the ancient city of Aleppo, designated a World Heritage site.

As the General Assembly met today to consider how best to help Africa in its efforts to promote peace and development, top United Nations officials highlighted the gains made so far and called for greater engagement to consolidate progress as well as advance even further.

The Security Council today approved a 12,600-strong United Nations peacekeeping operation to take over from the African-led mission in Mali on 1 July and authorized the blue helmets “to use all necessary means” to carry out security-related stabilization tasks, protect civilians, UN staff and cultural artefacts, and create the conditions for the provision of humanitarian aid.

Maintaining that Cote d’Ivoire was still vulnerable to instability fuelled by available weapons, the United Nations Security Council today extended its arms embargo on the West African country as well as financial and travel sanctions on those who threaten the peace, until 30 April 2014.

The Security Council today extended for another year the mandate of the United Nations mission tasked with monitoring the ceasefire in Western Sahara and organizing a referendum on self-determination for the people of the territory.

A senior United Nations official today voiced deep concern about reports of widespread violations committed by the Séléka rebel coalition against children in the Central African Republic (CAR), including killing, sexual violence and recruitment into armed groups.