Secretary-General discusses range of global issues with France&#39s Foreign Minister

Sat, 19 May 2012 00:00:00 EST

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met today with the Foreign Minister of France, Laurent Fabius, for talks which covered a range of issues on the global agenda.

UN envoy in Somalia concerned over violent clashes in Hargeisa

Sat, 19 May 2012 00:00:00 EST

The United Nations envoy in Somalia, Augustine P. Mahiga, today expressed concern over recent violent clashes in the northern city of Hargeisa, located in Somaliland, between Somaliland security forces and citizens which allegedly resulted in the deaths on both sides.

UN and Libya announce joint initiative to improve food security

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 EST

The United Nations food agency and Libya today signed an agreement to collaborate in a joint programme that seeks to increase food production while protecting the country’s natural resources.

UN legal counsel urges new law graduates to remain committed to cause of justice

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 EST

The top lawyer of the United Nations today exhorted new law graduates of New York University (NYU) to help usher in a new era of accountability across the world and never to allow cynicism to erode their commitment to the cause of justice.

Security Council imposes travel ban on Guinea-Bissau coup leaders

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 EST

The Security Council today imposed a travel ban against five military officers who seized power from the civilian government in Guinea-Bissau last month, and urged Member States to ensure that the sanctioned individuals do not enter or transit through their territories.

UNESCO chief denounces murders of two Pakistani journalists

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 EST

The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom today denounced the murders of two Pakistani journalists and expressed alarm over the continued deteriorating security of journalists in the country.

Sustainable development must inform global economic revival efforts - Ban

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 EST

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today that efforts to revive the global economy must be based on a long-term vision of sustainable and inclusive development, stressing that the current financial difficulties make it imperative that the world seeks balanced growth for future generations.

UN expert calls on Latvia to ensure economic measures benefit vulnerable groups

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 EST

Latvian authorities must ensure that vulnerable groups are not disproportionately affected by austerity measures and other economic policies, a United Nations independent expert said today.

UN envoy to take part in regional meeting on Mali, Guinea-Bissau political crises

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 EST

As part of the United Nations’ ongoing efforts to ensure the full restoration of constitutional rule in Mali and Guinea-Bissau, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for West Africa, Said Djinnit, will participate in an upcoming regional meeting on the political crises in the two countries.

Internet governance must ensure access for everyone - UN expert

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 EST

As a powerful global information resource, the Internet must be accessible to everyone and measures to ensure this must be taken, a United Nations independent expert said today.

Presence of observers in Syria has ‘calming effect’ in areas deployed - UN official

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 EST

Amid ongoing violence in parts of Syria, the presence of UN military observers on the ground has had an overall calming effect in their areas of deployment in the Middle Eastern country, the head of the UN observer force said today.

Record number of African refugees migrating to Yemen - UN

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 EST

A record number of African migrants fled to Yemen this year, with 43,000 people having reached the Middle Eastern country in only four months, the United Nations refugee agency said today, adding that it is concerned with the rise in insecurity and trafficking in the region.