New York - The UN General Assembly should establish better ties with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in order to resolve some of the problems deriving from the global financial crisis, the top UN economist said Thursday.

Nobel Prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz called for reform in the relationship among the three institutions so that the assembly can assume a leading role in monitoring financial organizations and their decisions that will have impacts on economic growth, unemployment and poverty.

New York - The UN General Assembly president criticized governments on Thursday for failing their responsibility in building up a strong economy to protect their people's living conditions.

A one-day debate on the world economic crisis began at UN headquarters in New York with Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, leader of the 192-nation body, saying that the complex economic crisis has exposed failure by the dominant markets.

New Delhi, Oct 30 : UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon will arrive here on a two-day visit today.

He is expected to hold talks on the current global financial crisis and climate change with Indian leaders.

Issues like the situation in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal will also be considered during the meeting between the two sides.

During his visit, the Secretary General will meet President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Dr. Mahmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition LK Advani.

New York - The UN General Assembly voted 185-3 on Wednesday to renew its annual demand that the United States end its trade embargo against Cuba.

The United States, Israel and Palau voted against the resolution adopted by the 192-nation assembly. Resolutions passed in previous years have not swayed Washington, which considers those decisions non-binding despite the overwhelming support by UN members.

New York - The intensified fighting in North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo involved human shields and could create a "humanitarian crisis of catastrophic dimensions," UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday.

The fighting between rebel troops and government soldiers could bring "dire consequences" in the region, Ban said.

Ban called on governments that have influence on the forces on the ground to try to restore an effective ceasefire and prevent further casualties among the civilian population.

New York - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed Wednesday "deep sadness" at the deaths and destruction caused by an earthquake in Pakistan's Baluchistan region, and offered UN assistance for the victims and families.

A spokesperson said Ban extended "his deepest condolences to the families of those who have been killed, injured or made homeless by the earthquake."

"The UN stands ready to lend its assistance to efforts to respond to humanitarian needs created by the disaster, including by using existing resources and providing grants from emergency funds, and to mobilize international support for that response, if required," Ban said.