Ban hails US Secretary of State Clinton for her work towards female empowerment

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon paid tribute today to the long-running efforts of United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to advocate for the rights of women, saying her leadership on the issue should serve as an inspiration to others.

UN-backed Middle East Quartet condemns Israeli plans to expand settlements

The United Nations-supported diplomatic group seeking to promote peace in the Middle East today condemned Israeli moves to expand settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory of East Jerusalem.

General Assembly President holds talks with Korean officials in Seoul

The President of the General Assembly today met with the President of the Republic of Korea and other senior officials in Seoul to discuss pressing issues at the top of the United Nations agenda, including poverty, relief efforts in earthquake-stricken Haiti and Chile and climate change.

Despite rhetoric, Israel and Lebanon aspire to peace, says UN official

In spite of the inflammatory rhetoric heightening tensions between Israel and Lebanon, a senior United Nations official today said that both sides do hope for an end to hostilities.

Ban to visit Haiti on Sunday as post-quake relief efforts reach two-month mark

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will make a one-day visit to Haiti on Sunday, his second to the Caribbean country since the 12 January earthquake, his spokesperson announced today.

Lack of funding threatens humanitarian efforts in Zimbabwe, says UN

Aid agencies in Zimbabwe are appealing to donors to support the $378 million appeal launched last December to support humanitarian and early recovery efforts in the country, the United Nations humanitarian wing reported today.

Today on New Scientist: 12 March 2010

All today’s stories on newscientist.com at a glance, including: better living through green chemistry, getting electric cars onto the power grid, and why ‘Terminator’ asteroids could re-form after being nuked

Does the pill help women live longer? Yes and no

A study shows the contraceptive pill could be helping women live longer, but not that it has more pros than cons, says Jessica Hamzelou

Chile: UNICEF to reach out to 1 million quake victims

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is providing emergency education and water services for 1 million Chilean children and their families in the wake of the powerful earthquake that struck the South American nation on 27 February.

UN expert group urges Nigeria to address core issues behind repeated violence

The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is calling on Nigerian authorities to tackle the underlying causes of repeated outbreaks of deadly ethnic and religious violence near the northern city of Jos.