United Nations, Oct 18 : India has asked the UN General Assembly to help forge consensus on moving towards non-discriminatory universal nuclear disarmament at a time when the concept is gaining momentum.

India’s delegate to UN Vishvjit P Singh said at the Assembly’s Committee on Disarmament and International Security that New Delhi has consistently attached highest priority to nuclear disarmament.

Kathmandu, Oct 18 : UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will visit Nepal at the end of this month.

Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had formally extended an invitation to Ban Ki-moon when he met the latter on the sidelines of just concluded UN General Assembly.

According to the UN News Center, Ban Ki-moon''s tour itinerary includes stops in the Philippines, India, Nepal and Bangladesh.

During his Nepal visit, Ban Ki-moon will meet President Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, other officials and members of the Constituent Assembly.

New York - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Friday called on the European Union to provide leadership in programmes fighting global warming through ambitious energy and climate change policy.

The EU is scheduled to meet in December under the French presidency to adopt more measures to cut down the bloc's carbon dioxide emissions, the main gas responsible for global warming. The EU agreed last year to reduce emissions by 20 per cent by 2020, to below 1990 levels.

New York - The United Nations General Assembly on Friday elected Japan, Uganda, Turkey, Austria and Mexico to seats on the UN Security Council.

It will be the 10th term for the economically strong Japan.

The five new members will begin their two-year terms on January 1, 2009, replacing Indonesia, South Africa, Belgium, Italy and Panama.

For developing countries, membership to the 15-nation council brings international prestige and authority as the council is the the top political body responsible for the maintenance of peace and security around the world. They will share the limelight with the permanent members who have veto power - The United States, Russia, China, Britain and France.

New York - The United Nations General Assembly on Friday elected five countries to serve two-year terms on the UN Security Council, the top political body responsible for the maintenance of peace and security around the world.

Japan, Uganda, Mexico, Turkey and Austria won the required two- thirds majority of votes in the 192-nation assembly. They will begin their terms on January 1, 2009.

New York - The current economic uncertainties gripping the world may drive an estimated 100 million people into poverty, the United Nations said Friday, also the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

An estimated 1.4 billion people currently live in extreme poverty. Spiralling food and energy prices may worsen living conditions for millions more, the UN said.

"Our efforts to eradicate poverty must pay close attention to respect for human rights and the dignity of all," UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said.