HEADLINES AT A GLANCE: February 7-16, 2015 from UN News Centre

16 February 2016

ISIL ‘losing appeal’ in Iraq, but threat should not be underestimated – UN envoy
Zika: UN health agency launches global response strategy; Member States briefed on outbreak
Peacekeeping ‘a tool to advance political, not military, solutions’ – UN deputy chief
UN agency reaches thousands of people in Chad and Cameroon displaced by Boko Haram violence
Syria: UN mediator intends to resume Geneva talks next week
UN mission in Central African Republic aims to ensure victims of alleged abuse receive help
At Security Council, UN relief chief spotlights need to end ‘human catastrophe’ in Yemen
Ban praises ‘mega’ sport events for potential to advance peace and human rights
China’s clampdown on lawyers and activists draws concern of UN human rights chief
UN mourns death of former Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Syria: UN ‘gravely concerned’ over repeated attacks on hospitals, school

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15 February 2016

UN experts urge Nigeria to make areas freed from Boko Haram 'truly safe' for returnees
Conflicts and violence take 'huge toll' on children in 2015 – UN envoy
UNICEF chief 'appalled' by reports of attacks on hospitals, schools in northern Syria
UN rights expert urges UK and Sweden to serve 'good example,' end arbitrary detention of Assange
World's most vulnerable must benefit from promise and ideals of UN Charter – Ban
UN envoy for Libya welcomes 'major breakthrough' on formation of unity government
Haiti: UN welcomes election of provisional President
UNESCO and Italy to create task force for cultural heritage conservation in crises
UN agency delivers added food supplies to besieged area inside Yemen's Taiz city

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14 February 2016

Syria: for first time in months, UN agency delivers aid to residents of Yarmouk camp
Afghan casualties hit record high 11,000 in 2015 – UN report

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13 February 2016

Engagement with communities can help address factors underlying violent extremism – UN chief
Ahead of polls, Ban calls on all Central Africans, including candidates, to ensure credible elections

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12 February 2016

FEATURE: Hailed as ‘role models,’ all-female Indian police unit departs UN mission in Liberia
Europe's restrictive measures draw UN concern as refugee and migrant influx continues
Mali: UN condems attack against Mission base that kills five peacekeepers
'Rise to the challenges' to shape a common future, UN chief tells McGill students
'Status quo' not sustainable, UN and Middle East partners warn
Ban sends Security Council first report of joint UN body probing chemical weapons in Syria
Ahead of elections in Central African Republic, UN urges focus on children's needs
El Niño set to have a devastating impact on southern Africa's harvests and food security
On World Radio Day, UN officials urge use of radio as 'lifeline' in human progress
Syria: UN-backed task force seeks aid access to besieged areas 'without delay'
'Child soldiers are boys and girls we collectively failed to protect' – UN envoy

11 February 2016
Syria: diplomats agree ‘cessation of hostilities;’ UN rights chief warns of dire situation in Aleppo
Ban appoints Senegalese General as UN Force Commander for Central African Republic
UN agencies boost efforts to prevent further spread of Lassa fever in Benin
Ban deplores twin suicide bomb attack on camp for displaced persons in northeast Nigeria
In Canada, Ban applauds country's commitment to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees
UN presses donors to continue vital support for Malian refugees in Mauritania
'They are our strongest allies,' UN political chief says, urging efforts to engage terrorism victims
'The world needs science and science needs women,' says UN on new International Day
New UN report reveals devastating human toll of disasters in 'hottest year on record'

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10 February 2016

INTERVIEW: UN information technology chief believes all girls should aspire to be ‘geeks’
Climate outlook ‘particularly concerning’ in southern Africa due to El Niño - UN agency
As budget advisory panel turns 70, Ban lauds 'strong collaboration' on reaching UN's goals
UN health agency delivers medical aid inside Yemen's Taiz city after blocked entry
Low on funds, UN and partners race ahead of rains to tackle needs in South Sudan
Central African Republic: UN report urges steps to end impunity for rights abuses
Ban warns illicit drugs impede sustainable development, calls for every solution to be weighed
UN agriculture agency warns of threat to food security from overuse of antibiotics

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9 February 2016

UN agency provides food to Syrians fleeing Aleppo fighting
Zika: UN agriculture agency provides expertise to help curb spread of virus
Ban welcomes proposal for first binding limits on airlines' carbon emissions
UN officials call for strengthened global partnerships to combat human trafficking
World Humanitarian Summit must be 'turning point' in cooperation to tackle crises – UN chief
'Unity and action' needed to counter expanding threat from ISIL, Security Council told
Security Council boosts number of corrections officers for UN mission in Central African Republic
After 30 years of conflict, Sri Lanka still in 'early stages of renewal' – UN rights chief
'Dismal' human rights situation in Belarus unchanged after election, UN expert warns
Haiti: UN agency says weather and drought to blame as food insecurity doubles

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8 February 2016

Unprecedented food crisis looms over strife-torn South Sudan, UN agencies warn
Syria: UN relief chief calls on Government to halt attacks displacing 30,000 civilians
Special UN event mobilizes action towards ending female genital mutilation within 15 years
Seasoned official appointed to coordinate UN efforts to curb sexual abuse by peacekeepers
Ban condemns arson attack on West Bank synagogue, urges respect for sanctity of all holy sites
This must be 'year of traction' to propel 2030 development Agenda, says UN chief
In Somalia, food security and malnutrition situation is 'alarming' – UN report
All sides in Syria killing thousands of detainees in crimes against humanity, UN reports

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7 February 2016

Haiti: Ban welcomes agreement reached towards 'swift' conclusion of ongoing electoral cycle
Condemning DPR Korea's missile launch, Security Council to pursue 'significant measures' in response
UN chief calls on DPR Korea to halt 'provocative actions' following missile launch

New UN ‘bedside tool’ will help prevent and reduce maternal and newborn deaths worldwide

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced a new checklist for healthcare workers that will help reduce maternal and newborn deaths with “a single and practical bedside tool” designed to make a difference for women and infants in various settings around the world. “Worldwide, the majority of maternal and newborn deaths occur around the time of birth, typically within the first 24 hours after childbirth,” WHO said in its announcement. “Most of these deaths are preventable,” the agency stressed. The agency’s new Safe Childbirth Checklist and Implementation Guide targets the major causes of maternal and newborn complications and deaths, including post-partum haemorrhage, infection, obstructed labour, preeclampsia and birth asphyxia.“Far too many women and children are still dying in childbirth from preventable causes often linked to poor quality of care,” according to Dr. Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO Assistant Director-General, Health Systems and Innovation. “The WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist will help health care workers follow the essential care standards for every birth.”WHO said of the more than 130 million births occurring each year, an estimated 303,000 result in the mother’s death, 2.6 million in stillbirth, and another 2.7 million in a newborn’s death within the first 28 days. The majority of these deaths occur in low-resource settings, often lacking skilled birth attendants, it said.The checklist “synthesizes existing evidence-based WHO guidelines and recommendations into a single and practical bedside tool targeted at improving adherence to best practices, including adequate communication around the time of delivery,” the agency said.WHO said the checklist was first piloted for usability in nine countries in Africa and Asia.In September, all countries agreed to a new set of Sustainable Development Goals, which include targets to substantially reduce global maternal and newborn deaths.To advance this agenda, WHO and partners also launched a new Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health 2016-2030, a roadmap for countries on what evidence-based investments and actions are required to end the preventable deaths of women, children and adolescents’ and to improve their overall health and well-being.The checklist was developed and tested in partnership with Ariadne Labs, a joint centre of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=52732#.Vmc3kF7eums

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Yemen: peace talks to start next week among warring parties, regional actors, says UN envoy

“We strongly believe that the only way to end the suffering of the Yemeni people and to rebuild confidence, trust, and mutual respect is through peaceful and inclusive dialogue,” the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, told reporters in Geneva.The Special Envoy said that both the Government of Yemen, the Houthis and other relevant parties have committed to participate in the talks, which he will chair and will also include eight negotiators and four advisors for each delegation. The talks are also set to secure improvements in the humanitarian situation and a return to a peaceful and orderly political transition.He added that the aim is to develop a plan for the implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions, including a measure adopted in April 2015 which demanded that all parties, in particular the Houthis, immediately and unconditionally end violence and refrain from further unilateral actions that threatened the political transition.According to the Special Envoy, implementing the relevant texts will bring the country back to a peaceful and orderly transition based on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Initiative and the outcomes of the national dialogue.Mr. Ould Cheikh Ahmed thanked all the participating stakeholders of the discussions for their conciliatory and courageous attitude and their commitment to bring a lasting peace to Yemen, and added that he was “very optimistic” of the parties reaching a permanent ceasefire.“I call upon the parties to engage in good faith in search of a durable political solution for Yemen which meets the legitimate aspirations of Yemeni people for peace, stability, and prosperity,” he stressed, adding that making peace requires “a lot of courage, personal sacrifice and tenacity.” Mr. Ould Cheikh Ahmed said that he had been strongly encouraging the parties to work on confidence building measures, including implementing a ceasefire, releasing prisoners, and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian supplies that would constitute positive steps in the efforts to lessen tensions and ease the path to a peaceful settlement to the conflict in Yemen. “On behalf of the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, I call on the parties to adhere to a ceasefire effective 15 December in order to create an environment conducive to peace talks, save lives and give hope to the Yemeni people,” the Special Envoy concluded.

Libya: UN envoy urges endorsement of political agreement as way forward for ‘peace in unity’

“The country needs peace in unity, it is divided now,” Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Martin Kobler told Aljazeera International on 6 December. The Agreement is supported by the majorities of both House of Representatives and the General National Congress. According to UNMSIL, Mr. Kobler urged even those who still opposed the Agreement to support it as an opening to unite the country, fight the scourge of terrorism and address the deteriorating economic situation in Libya.“It is now time for a rapid endorsement of the Libyan Political Agreement. The train has left the station,” said the UN envoy. An upcoming global conference in Rome aimed to unify Libya will be co-chaired by Italy, the United States and the UN and server as an opportunity to demonstrate the determination of the international community on the way forward on the basis of the Political Agreement.
Libya has been plagued by factional fighting since the 2011 revolution, with the situation continuing to deteriorate in recent months amid significant political fragmentation and violence. Following broad consultations facilitated by the Secretary-General’s former Special Representative for Libya, Bernardino León, it was announced in mid-October that a national unity government could be proposed. The names of candidates for the government's top council were put forward but the deal stalled when some parties failed to sign off. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=52748#.Vmcz217eums

HEADLINES AT A GLANCE Dec 2-7, 2015 from UN News Centre

7 December 2015

COP21: saving energy 'triple win,' Ban says, as $5 billion Africa plan launched at climate summit

UN agency deploys artificial fish habitats along Somali coast to boost sustainable fishing

On world Civil Aviation Day, UN agency calls for safer skies, more efficient procedures

Latin America faces huge task to reverse discrimination against Afro-descendants – UN rights chief

Amid ‘relentless’ violence and destruction in Syria, UN deputy relief chief urges greater civilian protection

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Katy Perry calls for action on climate change in a special weather report

Yemen: peace talks to start next week among warring parties, regional actors, says UN envoy

Libya: UN envoy urges endorsement of political agreement as way forward for ‘peace in unity’

Desperate farm families in eastern Ukraine forced into ‘difficult choices’ to survive – UN agency

Confronting conflicts, disasters, UN launches largest ever humanitarian appeal at $20.1 billion

COP21: ‘We have the unique opportunity to define our own destiny,’ Ban tells UN climate summit

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6 December 2015

Paying tribute to victims of Paris attacks, UN chief says ‘today, I too am Parisian’

Afghanistan: UN mission condemns alleged shelling by national army which killed 9 civilians

Chad: Ban condemns triple suicide attacks, urges region to address scourge of Boko Haram

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5 December 2015

COP21: UN chief says ‘today is about action by all sectors of society’

Power of volunteerism can help build more sustainable world, says Ban on International Day

COP21: Ban announces ‘Climate Action 2016’ partnership to maintain momentum after UN climate conference

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4 December 2015

Celebrity chefs serve up free meals from discarded food – UN environment agency

COP21: UN-backed platforms show greenhouse gas emission reductions surpass global emissions of iron and steel sector

Southeast Asian countries pledge cooperation on Bay of Bengal mixed migration – UN refugee agency

As Ethiopia battles devastating drought, UN sends in emergency health team

Ensuring fundamental freedoms vital to peaceful elections in Venezuela – UN rights experts

Fresh fighting in South Sudan forces thousands to flee into remote eastern DR Congo

New UN ‘bedside tool’ will help prevent and reduce maternal and newborn deaths worldwide

Reports of abuses by Iraqi, Kurdish forces against Sunni Arabs increasing, UN rights office says

At end of International Year of Soils, UN chief appeals for reverse in rate of soil degradation

COP21: in Paris, mayors and celebrities join UN launch of report on boosting investment towards climate smart cities

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3 December 2015

COP21: UN joins France and private sector partners for action on electro-mobility

Ban appoints senior officials for key roles in UN Agenda 2030 advisory board and peace operations

COP21: digital map launched by UNICEF helps young people tell their climate change stories

Ban delivers favourable report card on early-stage talks at Paris climate summit

Fundamental change needed to address women’s health in conflicts, disasters – UN

Food prices fall in November amid ‘robust’ global inventories – UN agency

UN refugee agency concerned by violence at Greek border, calls for improved security

Children under five account for one third of deaths from foodborne diseases – new UN report

Yemen: Ban calls for prompt investigation after Saudi-led airstrikes destroy another health clinic

On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, UN urges inclusion, access for people of all abilities

COP21: UN emphasizes crucial impact of young and future generations to tackle climate change

2 December 2015

UN seeks to enlist citizens of world as foot soldiers in battle against hate speech
Ban calls for international aid for African communities attacked by Boko Haram
Yemen faces dire health crisis with major funding gap and 15.2 million lacking care, UN warns
South Sudan at critical juncture, UN peacekeeping chief warns; calls for more ‘blue helmets’
New UN report warns of ‘abhorrent violations’ against children in war-torn Iraq
UN Middle East envoy calls for swift action on unresolved West Bank arson attack case
As massive El Niño strengthens, UN emergency fund supports millions in affected countries
COP21: on 'Resilience Day,' UN and partners launch initiatives to protect millions of people
On Slavery Abolition Day, Ban warns of enslavement, trafficking risks for refugees, migrants

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COP21: New UN agency tool shows how climate action shapes risk of hunger ‘for better or worse’

1 December 2015 – A powerful online research tool launched today in Paris at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) offers a window on the world’s global future to the 2080s, according to the UN World Food Programme (WFP).
“What the tool shows us is that we must reduce emissions and we must also invest in adaptation,” Ertharin Cousin, the Executive Director of WFP, told the UN News Service in an interview following the launch of the new map at a COP21 press briefing.
“Reducing emissions without investing in adaptation will not allow us to deliver the durable, sustainable results over the next century to ensure that we can provide the prosperity and peace that the 2030 Agenda [for Sustainable Development] so boldly supports,” she added.
Ms. Cousin further highlighted that the map paints a stark picture of how climate disasters drive hunger: “In Paris, we must decide between a future world where ending hunger is achievable – or one where we and every future generation continue this losing struggle responding to the scourge of global hunger,” she said.
In less than two weeks, Member States are expected to adopt a new universal climate change agreement intended to limit the global temperature rise to below two degrees Celsius. Experts have reported that a rise beyond this level will cause irreversible damage to the planet by exacerbating droughts, floods, food and water shortages, affecting the most vulnerable countries first.
According to WFP, the new research tool – called the Food Insecurity and Climate Change Vulnerability map – examines how over time climate change may increase hunger vulnerability across the globe. Depending on the outcome of the Paris negotiations, the agency says future generations will inherit a world with less vulnerability than today, or a world significantly more vulnerable to food insecurity.
Produced with the Met Office Hadley Centre, it illustrates how strong adaptation and mitigation efforts can prevent the worst impacts of climate change on hunger globally and help make people less vulnerable to food insecurity. But it also shows how failure to adapt along with increases in greenhouse gas emissions, could increase the vulnerability of millions of people to hunger and malnutrition.
“Helping vulnerable people adapt and build their resilience to climate related disruptions requires identifying sufficient and predictable funding, while simultaneously investing in a low carbon future,” Ms. Cousin said. “Only if leaders get it right in Paris will we end hunger by 2030 and provide future generations with the opportunity to enjoy sustainable and durable global food security.”
The map incorporates five years of research between WFP’s food security experts and world-renowned scientists from the Met Office Hadley Centre. It shows how climate change affects food security vulnerability in least developed countries today, and through sophisticated projections, the extent to which it will do so in the future, depending on climate action.
Users can select a time – present day, 2050s and 2080s – and view vulnerability to climate-induced hunger (low at white, high at deep red) according to adaptation efforts and levels of emissions.
“Our joint research shows how climate change can affect the scale and geography of food insecurity, and how adaptation and mitigation can address the challenges of future food insecurity in developing and least-developed countries,” said Kirsty Lewis, a Climate Security Science Manager at the Met Office, in a press release.
In the meantime, WFP recalled that climate disasters affect hungry and vulnerable people disproportionately, and that such disasters increase hunger by destroying land, livestock, crops and food supplies, making it harder for people to access markets and food networks.

 http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=52701#.Vl_ENV7eums

UN Headlines from Nov 23 to Dec 1, 2015 from United Nations News Centre

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1 December 2015

Veteran Australian rights official appointed deputy UN human rights chief
Ban condemns ‘heinous’ terrorist attacks in Baghdad
Sudan: unilateral sanctions hit innocent harder than political elites, warns UN rights expert
UNICEF calls for end to attacks on civilian infrastructure after air strike cuts water supplies to Aleppo
Renowned recording artist P!nk named newest UNICEF Ambassador
Iraq: ‘vicious circle of violence’ claims nearly 500 civilian lives in November, UN mission reports
Thousands of stateless people granted nationality in Thailand – UN refugee agency
Flow of refugee and migrant children into Greece doubles, UN agencies report
COP21: UN spotlights need to protect forests and agriculture to improve livelihoods, feed the world
UN agency launches appeal to protect Palestinian refugees from winter’s harsh weather
Palau becomes first Pacific nation to join global pact to curb illicit fishing to protect biodiversity
UN marks World AIDS Day with ‘new hope’ as momentum builds to break epidemic by 2030
COP21: Ban tells African leaders they have ‘enormous stake’ in success of climate conference
COP21: New UN agency tool shows how climate action shapes risk of hunger ‘for better or worse’

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30 November 2015

COP21: UN chief launches initiative to build climate resilience of world’s most vulnerable countries
In Central African Republic, Pope Francis calls for peace among Christians and Muslims – UN
UN health agency urges expanding antiretroviral therapy to all people living with HIV
Ban welcomes peaceful elections in Burkina Faso, salutes strong participation of women at polls
Some 3.2 billion people now online, but number still falls short of Internet target – UN report
DR Congo: Ban condemns attack on UN base, calls for perpetrators to be brought to justice
Human cost of Iraq crisis is ‘devastating,’ UN deputy relief chief warns, urging increased humanitarian aid
Racism will not disappear from football stadiums ‘by magic,’ warns UNESCO report
‘Hidden epidemic’ of HIV hitting adolescents in Asia-Pacific region, UN agencies warn
Nepal: millions of children at risk this winter due to severe shortage of essential supplies, UNICEF warns
More than a million children need urgent assistance in conflict-torn Central African Republic – UNICEF
COP21: Ban tells world leaders ‘a political moment like this may not come again’

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29 November 2015

COP21: on eve of UN climate conference, Ban says 'time for action is now'
Burkina Faso: with elections under way, Ban calls on all parties to ensure peaceful polls

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28 November 2015

UN strongly condemns attack on base in northern Mali that kills two 'blue helmets' and a civilian contractor
In Malta, Ban urges Commonwealth leaders to join UN in 'final push' to wipe out polio 

27 November 2015

West Africa cannot recover from Ebola epidemic on its own – senior UN health official
Ban appoints senior UN officials as Chef de Cabinet and Deputy Chef de Cabinet ad interim
Rashid Khalikov, veteran UN official from Russia, named to senior humanitarian position
Ban takes call for action on climate change to Commonwealth summit in Malta
Greece: UN labour agency outlines roadmap for tackling unemployment and weak economy
Sudan: Ban condemns deadly attack in Abyei, urges swift action to bring perpetrators to justice
Top UN human rights official calls for more safety after political opponent killing in Venezuela
UN agencies weigh in on climate change impacts ahead of Paris conference
Situation of children in South Sudan is deteriorating, UN agency warns
Ban appoints experienced Australian national as new UN disaster risk reduction chief
Use Pope’s visit to restore peace, UN refugee agency tells Central African Republic’s warring sides
Indigenous people need support to reinforce resilience against climate change – UNESCO
UN agencies concerned about worsening humanitarian conditions of displaced Iraqis in Kurdistan
Adolescent deaths from AIDS have tripled since 2000, warns new UNICEF study

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26 November 2015

Surge in climate change-related disasters poses growing threat to food security – UN
Pope Francis calls for strong climate agreement during visit to UN office in Nairobi
UN nuclear watchdog's work impacting lives worldwide, says agency chief
'Nothing has changed' – UN expert on DPR Korea says two years after key human rights report
Child brides in Africa could more than double to 310 million by 2050 – UNICEF

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25 November 2015

“If we take action now, we can address climate change and build a sustainable future” – Janos Pasztor
UN rights office alarmed by Nepal’s violation on use of force towards protestors
Ukraine: UN humanitarian agencies step up aid deliveries as bitter winter takes hold
Africa’s Sahel region can become hotbed for terrorist recruitment, UN official warns
Ban tells world why he cares 'so deeply' about climate change
Burundi: UN rights chief deplores suspension of human rights groups, warns of ‘civil war’
New UN guidelines seek to make genetic diversity part of climate change adaptation
On eve of Paris climate summit, UN weather agency delivers 'bad news' for planet, cites record heat
Retail company provides $10 million in funds for refugees through UN agency partnership
UN agencies release updated guidelines for countries on pesticide legislation and labelling
UN urges 'zero tolerance at the highest levels of leadership' to end violence against women and girls

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24 November 2015

Mali: UN civilian staffer killed in attack, Ban reaffirms commitment to peace efforts
Egypt: Ban condemns latest terrorist attacks, calls for holistic approach to scourge
World Bank unveils $16 billion business plan to boost climate resilience, adaptation in Africa
Central Yemeni city of Taiz under virtual siege, 200,000 need water, food – UN relief chief
Syria: UN envoy meets opposition groups on effort to broker ceasefire, political transition
‘Orange the World’ campaign kicks off efforts to end violence against women and girls – UN
Ban concerned over downing of Russian plane by Turkish Air Force, urges measures to lower tensions
New European border restrictions on refugees, migrants violate human rights, Ban warns
UNAIDS: millions receiving HIV treatment globally through accelerated and focused response
UN: more than 21 million people in Yemen need basic humanitarian aid
Children will bear the brunt of climate change – UNICEF report
Tunisia: UN condemns deadly attack on bus carrying presidential guards

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23 November 2015

Ban appoints veteran British political, peacebuilding adviser to head UN assistance mission in Somalia
Recent floods damage supply routes, vital infrastructure in Somalia, UN relief wing warns
Mali: UN Police help Mali Government probe of deadly terrorist attack
Cambodia: political crackdown reaching a 'dangerous tipping point' warns UN rights expert
Armed robbery of UN-partner compound in South Sudan condemned by senior relief official
Amid violence, 'glaring lack of hope,' UN deputy chief urges action to break Israeli-Palestinian impasse
UN seeks common European strategy on health care for refugee and migrant influx
Nigeria must halt evictions threatening tens of thousands with homelessness – UN expert
UN agency partners with IKEA to raise funds to ‘brighten lives' for refugees
UN report finds 90 per cent of disasters are weather-related