Israel cancels UNESCO mission to Jerusalem

Israel cancels UNESCO mission to Jerusalem

Israel on Monday announced it was cancelling a United Nations delegation scheduled to begin an investigative mission in Jerusalem's Old City, due to Palestinian "politicisation" of the mission.

20.5.2013
Tensions

Ban concerned about provocations after latest DPR Korea missile test

Ban Ki-moon has voiced his concern about provocations and tensions on the Korean Peninsula following reports that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) launched short-range guided missiles into the sea on Saturday.

20.5.2013
Maputo

UN chief starts Mozambique visit

Ban Ki-moon today emphasized the importance of countries stepping up their efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) before their 2015 deadline and stressed developing countries like Mozambique have the most to benefit from accelerated action.

17.5.2013
OUNTSO

UNSC condemns temporary detention of peacekeepers, looting in Golan

Members of the Security Council have ‘strongly condemned’ the looting of a UN observation post in the Golan Heights and the temporary detention of three peacekeepers, the third such incident in the past two months.

17.5.2013
RCA

UN envoy urges Security Council to bolster security

A neutral security force is urgently needed to help restore the stability and counter the absence of law and order in the Central African Republic (CAR), a United Nations envoy told the Security Council, while also calling on the body to consider sanctions against rebel groups for gross violations of human rights.

17.5.2013
Pressing issues

UN, EU urge Lebanon to form new gov't

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly, and EU Ambassador to Lebanon Angelina Eichhorst on Friday urged Lebanon to form a new government as soon as possible.

17.5.2013
Active position

Putin urges int'l community to unite around UN

Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday called on the international community to unite around the United Nations to secure peace in the world, the Kremlin press service reported.

In FOCUS

17.5.2013
Brussels

UN welcomes donors’ €3.25 billion pledge to help rebuild Mali

The United Nations today welcomed the international community’s pledge of €3.25 billion to support a recovery plan for Mali, which is emerging from a recent crisis that saw its northern territory overtaken by extremists and hundreds of thousands of people uprooted by conflict.

13.5.2013
High level meeting

Togo leader slams rich countries over aid cuts

The president of Togo, one of the world's poorest countries, on Monday slammed rich nations who have cut development aid saying it contributes to the spread of terrorism.

13.5.2013
Dignity and peace

Amid growing threats across Africa, Ban urges ‘holistic approach’ to fight terrorism

From the Horn of Africa in the east and across the Sahel to the west, terrorism continues to pose a threat to the continent’s peace, security and development, Ban Ki-moon said today as he warned that Africa was facing a rise in the presence of extremist groups and terrorist entities.

17.5.2013
OHCHR

Nigerian rebels could face war crimes charges for ‘population cleansing’

Members of Boko Haram and other extremist groups in Nigeria could face war crimes charges for deliberate acts leading to ethnic and religious cleansing, the top United Nations human rights official said today.

17.5.2013
MINUSMA

UN chief appoints head of peacekeeping mission in Mali

Ban Ki-moon today appointed Albert Gerard Koenders of the Netherlands as the head of the recently approved United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali.

13.5.2013
Prisoners of conscience

UN experts urge Iranian authorities to free jailed Baha’i community leaders

A group of independent United Nations experts today reiterated its call on Iranian authorities for the immediate release of seven Baha’i community leaders imprisoned five years ago this month with 20-year sentences – the longest of any current prisoners of conscience.