China has backed Sri Lanka in its opposition to the setting up of a human rights panel by the United Nations to look into alleged rights abuses during the ethnic war, saying the government was capable of handling it.
The director was seen in a relaxed mood after a 45-minute meeting over the Sudan's Darfur conflict, with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon at the United Nations Headquarters.
The 20-page report on the island nation covering the period from November 2006 to September 2007, notes that 'both parties have failed to cease the abduction, recruitment and use of children.'
The council's appeal came in a presidential statement at the end of a day-long discussion on crimes against women.
Myanmar's Foreign Minister Nyan Win, in a letter sent to Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on Friday, confirmed his nation had agreed to the visit by Paolo Sergio Pinheiro, the S-G's Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar. The announcement comes as Ibrahim Gambari, UN's Special Envoy for Myanmar, continued his consultations with the troubled country's neighbours and regional partners ahead of a planned return trip to Myanmar next month.
A successful election is the central element of the country's democratisation process, the UN stressed.
The mission will also review all technical aspects of the electoral process for an assembly to decide on the constitutional future of the country.
The rich world continues to give lectures on energy conservation. But what is it doing itself?
The three-member international commission that the United Nations plans to appoint to probe the assassination of former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto will be a fact-finding panel and will not carry out any criminal investigation. In a letter to the Security Council released on Thursday, Secretary-General Ban ki Moon said the life of the commission will be of six months. "You will note that the commission's mandate would be of a limited duration (a maximum of six months).
Jamaat-ud-Dawah, the frontal organisation of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba, which is blamed for the Mumbai attacks, has written to the United Nations claiming that it was not associated with the Al-Qaeda and Taliban and that the Security Council's sanctions on it were 'unjustified'.
The UN says that if permission is granted by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, and if a lull in fighting permits, the convoy will cross the frontline on Thursday noon, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson said.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who arrived in Japan on Monday to attend the G-8 summit, met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to discuss various issues listed on the summit's agenda, including the climate change which tops it.
The US asked the Sri Lankan government to "take advantage" of the opportunity and accept an offer of a UN team that is probing alleged human rights abuses in the final months of the war with the Liberation Tigers of the Tamil Eelam. The UN on Tuesday announced that Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon had set up a three-member panel to look into alleged human rights violations during the final stages of the war against the LTTE in Sri Lanka.
Russia's envoy to the UN and President of the Council for October Vitaly Churkin announced that after the sixth straw poll, Guterres has emerged as the "clear favourite" even as hopes for a woman to succeed Ban Ki-moon as the world's top diplomat suffered a major setback.
The UN Security Council joined the call made by UN Chief Ban Ki-moon for a thorough and independent investigation into the apparent downing of a Malaysian passenger plane in Ukraine, stressing that all parties should grant immediate access to the investigators.
The Paris climate change agreement is a victory for climate justice, India has said.
"Italy is willing to try the marines at home, but in the meantime we ask for their freedom," said Interior Minister Angelino Alfano was quoted as saying by ANSA news agency.
Sri Lanka on Friday announced withdrawal of its nominee Jayantha Dhanapala from the race for the post of next United Nations Secretary-General following his consistent bad performance in the last three straw polls.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during which he referred to raising of the Kashmir issue by his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif while implying that the global body was not the right forum to discuss it.
The UN secretary-general appealed to the member states to attend the Rome summit scheduled for early June at the highest level to work out the strategies to address and overcome the crisis caused by the fast rising prices of food. Ban Ki-moon, who is sending personal invitation to all heads of state and government, called on the world leaders to come with fresh ideas, stressing that it is time for "real commitment and real action."
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday left for New York where she is going to participate in the International Yoga Day event being organised by the Indian Mission at the United Nations.
Across the world rallies were held to draw attention to climate change ahead of a United Nations summit in New York.
India strongly condemned the 'barbaric' terror attack by the Taliban on a school in Pakistan that killed 141 people, mostly children, as United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council called for perpetrators of the blood-curdling attack to be brought to justice.
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday pledged to respond with "restraint and responsibility" to the situation at the Line of Control, saying there is a need for more diplomacy to achieve peace.
Ban Ki-moon calls on the governments of India and Pakistan to address their "outstanding issues, including regarding Kashmir, peacefully through diplomacy and dialogue". The statement added that Ban's good offices are available to India and Pakistan, if "accepted by both sides".
Appalled by the brutal rape and murder of two teenaged girls in India, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has demanded action against sexual violence and appealed to the society to reject the destructive attitude of "boys will be boys".
The United Nations is available to mediate between India and Pakistan if the two neighbours request such assistance in resolving the Kashmir issue, a spokesperson for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said.
The 15-nation UN Security Council had last week voted for Guterres by acclamation and forwarded his name to the General Assembly.
United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon has appointed Atul Khare of India as assistant secretary-general for peacekeeping operations.
Sri Lanka has refused to cooperate with a United Nations investigation into alleged war crimes during the final phase of the country's civil war, saying it will not subject itself to the jurisdiction of the top rights body.
In the wake of tensions in Kashmir following the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon is closely following the situation in the region and stresses on the need for dialogue to help to overcome difficulties, his spokesperson said.
President will lead a five-member delegation to the memorial service.
India handed over a letter to the president of the Security Council, formally withdrawing Tharoor's candidature, officials said.
They were sharing a stage and took part in a gala dinner at the opening of the VII Summit of the Americas.
As India and Pakistan clashed in the Security Council over relevance of the United Nations observer group at the Line of Control, a spokesperson for UN chief Ban Ki-moon said the force can be terminated only by a decision of the 15-nation body.
The United Nations said on Friday it has received documents from Syrian government on joining the chemical weapons convention, which outlaws their production and use.
Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson stressed the need for men to get involved in halting violence against women.
Indian Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag will attend an inaugural United Nations conference on peacekeeping operations
Ms Swaraj was a conscientious woman who understood suffering and pathos and attempted in her inimitable way to mitigate them, recalls Rup Narayan Das.
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