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New York: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed today’s inauguration of a democratically elected President in Niger, describing it as a “landmark achievement” in restoring constitutional order in the poor West African nation.

New York: The United Nations today marked the 50th anniversary of the first manned flight in outer space by Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin with a special session of the General Assembly and the opening of an exhibit to commemorate one of the greatest triumphs in human history.

New York: The United Nations development chief has highlighted the importance of ensuring both economic and political inclusion, stating that one need not look further than the Arab street to witness what happens when people have been left behind.

New York: As United States lawmakers remain embroiled in a heated budget debate, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today stressed the need for continued support from the largest contributor to the United Nations system so that the world body can carry on with its important work.

New York: A judge at the International Criminal Court (ICC) today warned suspects accused of being involved in post-election violence in Kenya three years ago that arrest warrants could be issued against them if they instigated further unrest through inflammatory speech.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission visited Mozambique during March 23–April 7, 2011 to conduct the 2011 Article IV consultation discussions and the second review under a three-year Policy Support Instrument (PSI) which was approved in June 2010. Policy discussions were held with the Minister of Finance, Hon. Manuel Chang; the Minister of Planning and Development, Hon. Aiuba Cuereneia; the Governor of the Bank of Mozambique, Hon. Ernesto Gouveia Gove; and other senior government officials. The mission held meetings with representatives of Parliament, the private sector, development partners and civil society, including labor unions and think tanks. It also traveled to the Northern Province of Tete where it met provincial authorities, the local private sector, and civil society. It also visited large mining projects and the Cahora-Bassa hydropower plant.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission visited Ouagadougou during March 24–April 7, 2011 to conduct discussions for the second review of performance under the program supported by the IMF under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement. The mission met with Mr. Lucien Bembamba, Minister of Economy and Finance; Mr. Francois Zoundi, Deputy Minister in charge of Budget; Mr. Bolo Sanou, the National Director of the Central Bank of West African States; and other senior officials. The team also met with representatives of the private sector, and the donor community.

New York: The United Nations cultural agency announced today that it is awarding its annual Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture to Sudanese actor and theatre director Ali Mahdi Nouri and French professor Cherif Khaznadar.

New York: An Iranian journalist who has been in jail since his country’s disputed presidential elections in mid-2009 and has campaigned for greater civil rights has won a prestigious United Nations prize dedicated to promoting press freedom.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission, led by Norbert Funke, visited Senegal during March 24–April 6, 2011 to conduct the first review under the new three-year Policy Support Instrument (PSI) approved in December 2010. The mission met with the ministers in charge of economy and finance, international cooperation, infrastructure and energy, the National Director of the BCEAO, other government officials, and representatives of the private sector and development partners.