Spanish actor Antonio Banderas’ latest role: UNDP Goodwill Ambassador

Spanish actor Antonio Banderas is joining tennis superstar Maria Sharapova, soccer legend Zinédine Zidane and others as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), it was announced today.

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

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).

Ban mourns death of deputy head of UN peacekeeping mission in Timor-Leste

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today mourned the death of his deputy envoy in Timor-Leste who passed away last night, paying tribute to his dedication to helping the people of the fledgling nation consolidate sustainable peace and stability.

Timor-Leste: UN peacekeeping mission mourns death of deputy leader

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Timor-Leste today announced the death of its deputy chief, paying tribute to his dedication to helping the people of the fledgling nation consolidate peace.

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.

UN holds memorial for staff killed in Haiti earthquake

United Nations staff and family members of the 101 personnel who perished in the Haiti earthquake are gathering in New York today for a ceremony to honour the victims and to commemorate the single greatest loss the world body has suffered in its history.

Ban urges students to find common ground at UN forum on bioethics

Bioethics increasingly has implications for many areas of people’s lives and it is important to identify common ground around which controversial discussions can take place, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told hundreds of students today in New York.

Students can play vital role in mobilizing action on global issues - Ban

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon highlighted the vital role played by young people in tackling the many global challenges of the day, as he sought to enlist students at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) to support the goals and mission of the United Nations.

New text could propel Security Council reform negotiations, says UN chair

The official overseeing negotiations on reforming the United Nations Security Council says that Member States will contribute by Friday to a text that will focus the next round of discussions and could help wrap up a process that has been ongoing for 17 years.