Planned Settlement Expansion by Israel, Could Compromise Moscow Quartet Meeting

Israel’s Interior Ministry announced that it has approved plans to build 1,600 new homes in East Jerusalem, a move condemned by the international community, including the United States.

Pakistan | UN Condemns Murder of Aid Workers

Six aid workers with World Vision International were killed in a deadly attack on its office in Mansehra district of Pakistan. The aid workers were assisting survivors related to the deadly earthquake of October 2005.

Corruption in United Nations Food Aid Program is Being Investigated in Somalia

The World Food Programme announced that it will submit to an independent investigation into its operations in Somalia. A United Nations monitoring group reported their suspicion that aid is being diverted to criminal organizations, terrorist groups, and even UN workers.

Ban encourages all Nigerians to work together to overcome current challenges

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today encouraged all Nigerians to continue supporting Acting President Goodluck Jonathan – who was chosen to lead the country while President Umaru Yar’Adua recovers from illness – and the Government in overcoming its current challenges.

Killing of Nepalese media group head sparks UN alarm

The United Nations human rights office in Nepal today expressed its deep concern over the killing of the head of a media group, the latest in a string of murders of journalists in the Asian nation.

UN envoy on children and armed conflict kicks off visit to Afghanistan

A senior United Nations official today began a visit to Afghanistan to look into the situation of war-affected children, in particular the recruitment of child soldiers.

Radhika Coomaraswamy, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, is on a seven-day visit at the invitation of the Afghan Government.

UNESCO offers assistance in wake of deadly Moroccan minaret collapse

The head of the United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (UNESCO) today offered the agency’s support following a deadly minaret collapse in Meknes, a World Heritage site, in central Morocco.

Social justice more important than ever in global economic crisis, Ban says

Social justice based on the values of fairness, equality and respect for diversity is more important than ever amid a global financial and economic crisis that has significantly increased unemployment and poverty and is straining social integration, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.

Ban closely following developments in Niger after reported coup

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is closely following developments in Niger, where renegade soldiers reportedly stormed the presidential palace earlier today and the whereabouts of the West African nation’s leader remains unclear.

UNAIDS chief begins visit to Southern Africa with stop in Swaziland

The head of the United Nations Joint Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) has called for a greater national response to the disease in Swaziland, which has the highest rate of HIV prevalence in the world, with more than one in every four people infected.

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé has begun his visit to Southern Africa with a two-day stop in Swaziland to see first-hand the progress and challenges in fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS in a country where the infection rate is 26 per cent.

Darfur: Ban and UN-African Union mission condemn attack on peacekeepers

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the joint United Nations-African Union mission in Sudan’s strife-torn Darfur region have deplored an attack carried out yesterday outside of the South Darfur capital of Nyala that wounded seven Pakistani peacekeepers.

Governments agree to protect endangered sharks under UN-backed treaty

A landmark agreement to protect shark species threatened with extinction was reached today by over 100 countries signed up to a United Nations-supported wildlife treaty, according to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

UN-African Union envoy urges calm following Darfur violence

The head of the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur today issued a call for maximum restraint by all parties following the eruption of deadly violence which has displaced thousands in the troubled Sudanese region in recent days.

TIA | Fresh surge in deadly violence in Somali capital sparks alarm from UN official

The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia expressed grave concern today at the latest spike in violence in the capital, Mogadishu, which has killed at least 80 civilians and forced more than 8,000 others to flee their homes since the start of the month.

UN goes for gold on development goals during Winter Olympics in Vancouver

With the Winter Olympics kicking off today in Vancouver, a senior United Nations official is spotlighting the important role that sport can play in promoting development, as the finish line looms for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Ban unveils new high-level panel to spur action on climate change

The leaders of the United Kingdom and Ethiopia will head up a new high-level group launched by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today, intended to mobilize financing swiftly to help developing countries combat climate change.

Teachers and students increasingly under attack, UNESCO warns

A new report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has found that politically and ideologically motivated attacks against teachers, students and schools are on the rise, calling for greater community involvement to reduce such incidents.

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