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New York: The peace process in the war-wracked Darfur region of Sudan has reached a “critical point,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, calling on both the Government and rebel groups to accelerate efforts to reach a compromise.

New York: United Nations humanitarian officials are working with authorities in the Philippines to prepare for what scientists believe to be the imminent eruption of Mount Mayon, an active volcano within close reach of tens of thousands of people.

New York: The Security Council called on the Government of the Central African Republic (CAR) to ensure a speedy and inclusive political dialogue and swift security sector reform as the conflict-plagued country prepares for elections in 2010, urging the world community to provide necessary support.

New York: In a 10-month rampage of killings, rape and mutilation in neighbouring countries that may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, the rebel Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), has killed some 1,300 civilians, abducted 1,400 more, including hundreds of children and women, and displaced nearly 300,000 others, the United Nations reported.

New York: The United Nations warned that insecurity and corruption continue to disrupt humanitarian efforts to the most vulnerable groups in Afghanistan, hindering delivery of food and other forms of aid this winter.

Director-General Pascal Lamy, on 21 December 2009, said that “during the (Copenhagen) conference the issue of border measures was raised. The WTO membership, like the UN Members in Copenhagen, is divided on this matter. But what I can say is that the more we move toward a multilateral framework on climate change, the more unilateral trade measures will be difficult to explain”.

New Delhi: The fourth round of tripartite talks on Gokhaland issue failed to come to an agreement in the absence of a consensus and the organisation spearheading the movement for a separate state has sought political dialogue at the next round of talks within 45 days.

New York: The United Nations human rights office has called for restraint in the wake of clashes between police and protestors on the first day of nationwide strike called by Maoists.

Politics and economy are inter-dependent but it is not always that a new ministry has to simultaneously face political and economic challenges. Haryana's Congress ministry is confronted with both the challenges.

The 193-nation Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change (Dec.7-18) failed to come up with what the world had long expected, a legally binding Treaty, or even a Declaration with promise of Kyoto Protocol-II being drawn up in 2010. But its near collapse was averted with a five-nation “Copenhagen Accord” brokered by President Barack Obama - his probable first victory in the international arena - taking along China, the largest polluter, India, Brazil and South Africa.