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Marking the Day of Vesak, commemorating the birth, enlightenment and passing of Buddha, Secretary-General Kofi Annan today stressed the interdependence of all peoples of the world, stating that the ideals celebrated on this day – understanding, the pursuit of harmony and the promotion of peace – are close to those of the United Nations itself.

Deliveries of lifesaving radioactive isotopes to hospitals across the globe are too often held-up or blocked during international transport, with patients potentially missing critical medical treatment or diagnosis due to skittish airlines or national regulations, experts have warned a United Nations-sponsored meeting convened to tackle the issue.

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan arrived in Vienna, Austria, today, to deliver the keynote address to tomorrow’s opening session of the Fourth Summit of the Heads and State and Government of the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean.

A website of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) focussing on unprotected children and a soap opera produced by the UN refugee agency promoting tolerance in Côte d’Ivoire, directed by a Rwandan refugee, have won top prizes in their categories in festivals in New York and Abidjan, respectively.

Ethiopia is holding opposition figures under laws that may violate its constitution, Somalia urgently needs international attention, and despite assertions by Sudan’s Government, displaced women in that country’s Darfur region are still being raped on a large scale, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour said today.

The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) announced today that 13 pharmaceutical companies have agreed to comply with its recommendation to phase out single-drug artemisinin medicines for oral treatment of malaria, as the agency says its use hastens the development of resistance to the drug in malaria parasites.

United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan’s Personal Representative for Southern Lebanon today expressed concern at the recent increase in violations of Lebanese airspace by Israeli aircraft after a period of relative calm in the area.

The Hyogo Prefecture of Japan, scene of a massive earthquake in 1995, has contributed $850,000 to the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) which provides cash grants in response to humanitarian crises.

The new United Nations ethics office will not merely police staff compliance with rules of conduct, but will, more importantly, educate them on their obligations, helping to create an ethical environment in order to maximize effectiveness and minimize the risk of conflicts of interest, Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s special adviser on the issue said today.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Government of South Africa launched a campaign today to inform Angolan refugees that 2006 will be the last year the agency will assist those who wish to repatriate from South Africa.