Angela Kane, Under-Secretary-General for Management, painted a “mixed picture” of the United Nations financial health in the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today, saying that, while 2008 had seen progress, a negative trend had emerged in 2009, with a growing number of States not fully meeting their financial obligations, an evolving situation whose outcome would depend largely on actions taken by Governments.

The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues this morning opened its eighth annual session aimed at finding ways to further implement the landmark 2007 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, which gained momentum last month when the Australian Government officially endorsed the accord after previously voting against it.

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban ki-moon:

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message for the C40 Large Cities Climate Summit in Seoul today, 18 May:

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks at the signing ceremony for the Women Empowerment Project in Manama, Bahrain on 17 May:

Following is the text of UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro’s remarks as delivered to the opening of the Eighth Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York today, 18 May:

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s opening remarks at a ceremony launching the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction in Bahrain on 17 May:

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

In a resumed organizational session today, the Economic and Social Council adopted one draft decision and filled vacancies in 21 of its subsidiary bodies, with only two requiring votes.