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As the world marks the 10th anniversary of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action today, the United Nations Secretary-General pointed to a decade of much progress in efforts towards eradicating the threat of anti-personnel landmines.

The head of the United Nations office dealing with disaster risk mitigation has today underlined her concerns about the future development of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the face of extreme weather events.

The United Nations has condemned the terrorist attack carried out by Al Shabaab in Garissa, Kenya, in the strongest terms, with the Security Council members stressing their “outrage” at what the President of the General Assembly called a “heinous” attack.

In response to questions raised concerning developments in Bangladesh, the Spokesman for the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, said that Mr. Ban welcomed the de-escalation of violence in Bangladesh in the past weeks.

The United Nations Secretary-General today expressed his disappointment at the failure to hold the Sudanese pre-dialogue meeting in Addis Ababa because of the decision by the ruling National Congress Party and its allies not to attend the meeting.

The United Nations Security Council today adopted a resolution authorizing the third phase of a drawdown of the UN peacekeeping mission in Liberia to 3,590 military personnel and 1,515 police personnel, and deciding that the Mission’s mandate would no longer include electoral support.

Extremely concerned for the safety of civilians caught in the midst of “fierce fighting” in Yemen, the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator called today on all parties involved to meet their obligations under international law and do their utmost to protect the ordinary women, children and men who are suffering the consequences of the conflict.

The top United Nations human rights official has expressed alarm at the Government of Thailand’s decision to bestow wide-ranging powers upon General Prayuth Chan-ocha – the leader of the military coup that deposed Thailand’s elected Government in 2014 and, currently, the country’s Prime Minister.

An inquiry launched in February to determine the facts surrounding a violent demonstration in Gao, Mali, in front of the regional headquarters of the United Nations mission in the country has submitted its report, according to a statement made today by the Secretary-General’s spokesperson.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today congratulated the team of international negotiators and Iran on achieving a political framework that paves the way for an historic comprehensive joint plan of action on Iran’s nuclear programme to be achieved by 30 June.