Cypriot leaders discuss European Union in latest round of UN-backed talks

European Union (EU) issues were the focus today of the latest round in the United Nations-backed process of reunification talks between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders, one of the last meetings before an expected break for elections in the north.

Madagascar: UN scheme aims to give youth employment a boost

A year after political violence rocked Madagascar, the United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty is helping to generate employment for the Indian Ocean nation’s young people while supporting small businesses.

UN war crimes tribunal for former Yugoslavia needs more time, says Ban

The United Nations war crimes tribunal set up in the wake of the Balkan conflicts in the 1990s will need more time to complete its work after originally being scheduled to wind down at the end of this year, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.

UN official calls for some G8 funds to be directed towards Haitian recovery

The head of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today called for some of the $20 billion pledged last year by the world’s biggest economies to help farmers in poor countries buffeted by the global recession to be directed towards Haiti as it recovers from January’s catastrophic earthquake.

Water scarcity becoming a critical issue for the Arab world - UN report

Climate change, food insecurity, decreasing water availability and unemployment are among the multiple challenges facing the Arab region, according to a new assessment by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) which calls for rational and sustainable use of resources and inclusion of the environment issues in decision making.

UN expert on genocide prevention travels to West Africa

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Adviser on the prevention of genocide is travelling to West Africa to identify how national and sub-regional bodies can help prevent the scourge.

Ban calls for accelerated progress towards development targets

With five years to go before the 2015 deadline to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says progress has been uneven and without an accelerated action plan several Goals are likely to be missed in many countries. | LIVE WEBCAST

Today on New Scientist: 16 March 2010

All today’s stories on newscientist.com at a glance, including: the war on Africa’s horror worms, why Venus and Earth might be in a long-distance relationship, and the importance of being vague

After unrest in East Jerusalem, Ban calls for calm

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today appealed for restraint from all sides after clashes erupted in East Jerusalem today, pledging to push for a resumption of direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians in a bid to find a solution to the long-running conflict.

Secretary-General appoints US adviser and diplomat as new head of UNICEF

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today appointed the United States foreign policy adviser, diplomat and academic Anthony Lake as the next Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).