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Belgian authorities today transferred Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, charged by the International Criminal Court (ICC) with multiple counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder and rape, to the Court’s detention centre in The Hague.

Notwithstanding global economic uncertainties, international tourism grew 5 per cent during the first four months of this year, compared to the same period in 2007, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (WTO) announced today.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today highlighted the opportunity presented by the Beijing Olympic Games to promote friendship and peace, as he toured the site where athletes and fans from around the world will gather in just over one month’s time.

Land degradation is on the rise in many parts of the world, with direct consequences for an estimated 1.5 billion people – or a quarter of the world’s population – the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said today, calling for renewed attention to tackle the issue.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) today called on the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized nations to prioritize population issues in its discussions of climate change and food security.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said today it is stepping up efforts to assist Haiti, where the rise in food prices has compounded the suffering of millions and led to deadly riots earlier this year.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has deplored the deadly violence that has erupted in Mongolia following last weekend’s parliamentary elections, calling on all parties to engage in dialogue to resolve the current crisis.

United Nations relief agencies have sounded the alarm today about the humanitarian situation in six countries across the Horn of Africa, where a combination of drought conditions and soaring food prices has left more than 14 million people in urgent need of food aid.

Reform of the United Nations, the global food crisis and rising energy prices were among the highlights of discussions today between General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim and senior Italian officials in Rome, where Mr. Kerim has begun the fourth leg of a five-country official tour.

The United Nations health agency has started preparations for the expected return of tens of thousands of displaced people to their homes in the disputed central Sudanese town of Abyei.