UNFPA & Indonesia to Host Global Youth Forum in Bali

About 900 youth leaders, government and civil society representatives from almost every country in the world, representing about 43% of the world’s population under age 25, will convene in Bali to participate in the “ ICPD Beyond 2014” Global Youth Forum to develop official recommendations for the United Nation’s development agenda. The meeting is scheduled to take place December 4-6.

Guyana Seeks to Shield Gold Miners from Mercury Ban

As regional delegates meet to discuss a legally binding ban on the use of mercury this week, Guyanese officials are arguing that an exception should be made for the South American country’s lucrative gold mining sector until an acceptable alternative is found.

Nepal Unprepared for Imminent Earthquakes

Nepal now ranks 11^th on a list of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries, yet it remains one of the least disaster-prepared nations globally. Two major earthquakes in the last two years, one on Sep. 18, 2011 and the other on Oct. 5 of this year, have failed to spur the government into action.

Shrinking Ozone Hole, Growing Hopes

Argentine scientists agree that there are signs of recovery of the ozone layer that protects life on earth by filtering out the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation, but they are cautious about saying that the problem is on its way to a solution.

Chile in the Vanguard of Monitoring AIDS Therapy

In Chile, not only do all people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS receive treatment, but the country also has advanced mechanisms for monitoring outcomes of the antiretroviral therapy.

Pakistan Attacks Pneumonia With Free Vaccine

Medical practitioners at the National Institute of Child Health (NICH), a leading government-run children’s hospital in Karachi, hope that this will be the last winter they have to treat a stream of children suffering from pneumonia.

Water in the Post-2015 Development Agenda

Will there be a new global water goal in the post-2015 development agenda: something the Millennium Development Goals lacked?

Global Response Needed To Raise The Awareness About Autism

Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations, hosted a special high level event Monday to raise awareness of autism and developmental disabilities.

UN Women Executive Director launches new initiative to end violence against women

Michelle Bachelet, Executive Director of UN Women, is calling for bold action and decisive leadership to galvanize efforts to end the pandemic of violence against women and girls.

Colombians Hope for Peace, But Are Sceptical

Scepticism, fear of expressing an opinion and a dash of hope make up the cocktail of responses from Colombians asked about the possibility of the decades-old civil war finally coming to an end as a result of the peace talks between the government and the FARC guerrillas, which began Monday in Havana.

Linking Muslim Charity to MDGs

Although there has been great progress in many areas towards achieving the U.N.’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), many in the Muslim world remain sheltered from their positive effects.

Hunger Strike Is Over, but Kurdish Unrest Is Not

There was a sigh of relief in Ankara as Abdullah Ocalan, leader of the outlawed Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), on Sunday put an end to the 68-day hunger strike of 682 Kurdish prisoners and nine members of the Turkish Parliament.

Philosophy Could Be Key To World Challenges

World Philosophy Day, which promotes the exercise of critical thought and freedom of expression, can be viewed as an original and powerful way, among others, to face challenges of peace and development.

Investment Policy Framework for Sustainable Development

Global investment, trends, prospects, and policy challenges were the themes discussed in the briefing on “UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2012”, organized by the New York Office of the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

New Support Measures Portal for LDCs

The Secretariat of the Committee for Development Policy (CDP), which reviews the membership of least developed countries (LDCs) every three years, last week presented a redesigned version of the Support Measures Portal for LDCs.

Nanotechnology Could Lighten Venezuela’s Oil Footprint

Venezuela is studying the use of nanotechnology as a means of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases caused by the oil industry. Nanotechnology operates at the sub-microscopic scale: a nanometre is a unit of measure equal to one billionth of a metre.

Qatar Launches Global Initiative on Education

Sheikha Moza bint Nasser of Qatar Wednesday launched a global initiative aimed at delivering “ real progress” towards the goal of bringing quality primary education to the world’s children.

General assembly calls for end to U.S. embargo against Cuba

The 193-member General Assembly Tuesday adopted a resolution calling for an end to the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba. This was the 21^st consecutive year the Assembly had voted against the embargo.

Trinidad’s Broadcasters Rebel over Govt Airtime Demands

Nearly three years after it came to power promising to uphold press freedom, Trinidad and Tobago’s coalition government is under fire for demanding free airtime from local broadcasters.

World Toilet Day to Focus on Feminine Hygiene Management

World Toilet Day, which is commemorated on November 19, will culminate with a 50-day long advocacy march across India for the Nirmal Bharat Great WASH Yatra, focusing on the emerging issue of “menstrual hygiene management”.

Honduran Police Protest Crackdown on Corruption

Police officers in Honduras are protesting regulatory measures and aptitude tests implemented as part of reforms aimed at purging the police force of corruption and growing links to organised crime.