Latest News

A senior United Nations official today called for “credible and effective international intervention” to break the impasse in peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, noting that a negotiated solution would help stabilize a Middle East currently in ferment.

The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Timor-Leste for another year so that it can continue to assist the fledgling nation consolidate peace, democracy and the rule of law, as well as support the preparations for the parliamentary and presidential elections planned for 2012.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged greater cooperation between the United Nations body dealing with decolonization, the administering countries and the remaining 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories so that the people of these territories can exercise their right to self-determination.

A transition to a low-carbon “green economy” is crucial for sustainable development, environment ministers from across the world stressed today, concluding the gathering of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The United Nations Conference on Disarmament (CD), the world’s sole multilateral forum on the issue, must move ahead vigorously on a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear devices or risk slipping into irrelevance, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned today.

The United Nations labour chief today added his voice to the chorus condemning Libya’s leaders for the deadly violence against mass protests, stressing that the North African country is a further example of the risks to those who fail to heed widespread unemployment and poverty.

An estimated 75 per cent of the world’s coral reefs are threatened by local human activity, including over-fishing, coastal development and pollution, and global pressures such as climate change, warming seas and rising ocean acidification, according to a United Nations-backed report unveiled today.

The United Nations independent expert on human rights in Haiti, Michel Forst, today urged candidates in the country’s upcoming presidential run-off election to spearhead the fight against impunity and champion greater respect of human rights.

The United Nations Human Rights Council announced today that it will hold a special session on Friday to discuss the situation in Libya, as calls continue to mount for an end to the use of force against protesters and a peaceful resolution of the crisis in the North African nation.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has promised to continue supporting the Government of Pakistan in its efforts to rebuild infrastructure and restore the social services and livelihoods destroyed by last year’s massive floods.