Latest headlines
World’s poorest can bank on UN support, Secretary-General says
07 October 2008 – The world’s poorest people can count on the United Nations and its Member States to support them, despite the current crisis engulfing financial markets, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today. FULL STORY>>
Sounding ‘alarm bells,’ Ban calls for more aid to landlocked poor countries
02 October 2008 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on the international community to show the same generosity in helping the world’s 31 landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) overcome their trade-hobbling isolation as it did last week when it pledged significant new funding to help poor States in general achieve development goals. FULL STORY>>
Citing major threats, Ban urges collective responsibility to protect UN staff
01 October 2008 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for collective responsibility and closer collaboration between the United Nations and Member States to protect the Organization’s staff, who, along with humanitarian workers, are facing increasingly serious threats to their safety in many parts of the world. FULL STORY>>
On International Day, Ban urges greater efforts to ensure rights of older persons
01 October 2008 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for ensuring the dignity and well-being of older persons, noting that despite the commitment of States to eliminate discrimination against this vital segment of society, their rights are being violated every day. FULL STORY>>
Security situation in Afghanistan ‘markedly’ worse, reports Secretary-General
29 September 2008 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for a change of pace and direction in Afghanistan, where the worsening security situation is hampering the efforts of the Government, the United Nations and international partners to rebuild the strife-torn nation. FULL STORY>>
India: Ban deplores recent string of bomb attacks against civilians
27 September 2008 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced his deep concern over recent bombings in Indian cities that target civilian areas, after a blast today at a market in the capital, Delhi, killed a 13-year-old boy and injured many others. FULL STORY>>
Security Council, Ban deplore deadly terrorist bombing in Syrian capital
27 September 2008 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council have strongly condemned today’s terrorist bombing on the outskirts of the Syrian capital, Damascus, which has reportedly claimed the lives of at least 17 civilians. FULL STORY>>
Myanmar: Ban reviews latest developments with ‘Group of Friends’
27 September 2008 – Members of a group of nations helping Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his efforts to spur change in Myanmar today encouraged the Government of the Asian country to work more closely with the UN to deal with issues of concern, including the release of the long-detained political prisoner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. FULL STORY>>
Secretary-General signs up to global call to arms to defeat poverty
25 September 2008 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today joined celebrities, dignitaries and anti-poverty activists from around the world in signing his name on a glass wall outside United Nations Headquarters in New York as part of a global initiative to raise pressure on governments to accelerate their efforts to end poverty. FULL STORY>>
Education vital for achieving other anti-poverty targets, Ban stresses
25 September 2008 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today highlighted the key role of education for reaching the globally agreed set of eight targets for slashing poverty, illiteracy and other socio-economic ills by 2015, known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). FULL STORY>>
Rising extremism warrants global response, says Secretary-General
24 September 2008 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has stressed the need for forging common solutions to shared problems, in particular the growing threat of extremism, which like many of today’s challenges affects all countries, large and small. FULL STORY>>
Myanmar: Ban welcomes release of political prisoners, looks forward to further action
24 September 2008 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has once again called for the release of all political prisoners in Myanmar, following yesterday’s “welcome” move by the Government in freeing several detainees as part of an amnesty procedure. FULL STORY>>
Global advertising leaders and Ban join forces to fight climate change
22 September 2008 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and nearly two dozen global advertising giants have launched a partnership to support United Nations-led efforts to reach agreement on slashing greenhouse gas emissions at a major international conference next year in Copenhagen. FULL STORY>>
Security Council, Ban deplore terrorist attack outside US embassy in Yemen
17 September 2008 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council have strongly condemned today’s terrorist bombing outside the United States embassy in the Yemeni capital, Sana’a, which has killed at least 16 people and wounded many others. FULL STORY>>
Achieving UN development goals by 2015 still feasible, says Secretary-General
16 September 2008 – The United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), eight anti-poverty targets agreed upon by world leaders in 2000, are still on course to be achieved by their 2015 deadline, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today. FULL STORY>>
Secretary-General arrives at UN after solar-powered commute
12 September 2008 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived at work at United Nations Headquarters this morning in environmental style, taking the “Solartaxi” – a fully solar-powered car – from his home in New York to the Secretariat building. FULL STORY>>
Secretary-General calls for tangible political progress in Myanmar
11 September 2008 – Myanmar has not experienced the political progress as anticipated and its Government should take real measures towards setting up a more inclusive political process that promotes human rights, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today. FULL STORY>>
Georgia: Ban considers dispatching fact-finding mission
11 September 2008 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the possibility of dispatching a United Nations fact-finding mission to Georgia, where nearly 160,000 people were uprooted by the conflict that rocked the Caucasus nation last month. FULL STORY>>
Practical steps needed to help victims of terrorism, Ban says
09 September 2008 – United Nations Member States must take practical steps to implement their commitments to promote and protect the rights of terrorism victims so that they can help create a global culture against the scourge, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a historic forum today. FULL STORY>>
Peacebuilding Fund has made great strides since its creation, Ban says
03 September 2008 – The United Nations Peacebuilding Fund has swiftly become a unique and dynamic tool to help countries emerging from conflict avoid slipping back into war, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a report published today. FULL STORY>>
At ceremony for Baghdad victims, Ban renews pledge to protect UN staff worldwide
01 September 2008 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today reiterated his pledge to protect United Nations staff around the world, as he met in Geneva with the families of the victims and survivors of the deadly 2003 terrorist attack on the world body's headquarters in Iraq. FULL STORY>>
On 20th anniversary, Ban hails Nobel prize-winning UN climate panel
31 August 2008 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today paid tribute to the accomplishments of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), co-recipient of last year's Nobel Peace Prize, as he marked its 20th anniversary. FULL STORY>>
Secretary-General convenes senior UN staff retreat in Italy
29 August 2008 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon opened a retreat today in Turin, Italy, for dozens of senior United Nations officials to discuss how the Organization can best tackle key global challenges, including climate change, the food crisis, human rights and staff safety. FULL STORY>>
India: Ban expresses sadness for deaths and damage caused by floods
29 August 2008 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed his sadness upon hearing of the death and property damage caused by devastating flooding – the worst in five decades – in Bihar state, in India's north-east. FULL STORY>>
Secretary-General praises Asian forum for resolving disputes peacefully
25 August 2008 – The Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building in Asia (CICA), which brings the region’s nations together to discuss wide-ranging issues, has a key role to play in addressing threats to peace and development, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today. FULL STORY>>
Five senior UN officials sworn in today by Secretary-General
25 August 2008 – Five high-ranking United Nations officials took their oaths of office today at a swearing-in ceremony in New York before heading to Turin for a two-day retreat for senior managers at the end of the week. FULL STORY>>