Global News Post: United Nations

Syria: UN-Arab League Envoy Calls for Transitional Government with Full Powers

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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Lakhdar Brahimi, Joint
Special Representative of the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> UN and the League of Arab States for <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Syria</st1:place></st1:country-region>. UN
Photo/Mark Garten<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">UN News---Calling for “real change” in
Syria, the Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the League of
Arab States for the war-torn country, Lakhdar Brahimi, said today a Syrian
transitional government with full executive powers “must be” created until
elections can be held.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Speaking in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Damascus</st1:place></st1:city>, Mr. Brahimi also elaborated on the
idea of deploying an international peacekeeping force to the country to monitor
a hoped-for peace deal that would end violence that has killed tens of thousands
of Syrians.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“The change required is not cosmetic,” Mr.
Brahimi told journalists in the Syrian capital at the end of a five-day trip to
the country, during which he met with President Bashar al-Assad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Syria</st1:country-region></st1:place> and the Syrian people need,
want and look forward to real change. And the meaning of this is clear to all,”
he added.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Mr. Brahimi’s call reflects a plan that
emerged six months ago from an international meeting in <st1:city w:st="on">Geneva</st1:city>
on <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Syria</st1:place></st1:country-region>
for the establishment of a national unity government for the country, which has
been gripped by violence since protests that began against Mr. al-Assad 21
months ago turned into a revolt amid a crackdown by authorities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Since the unveiling of the so-called “<st1:city w:st="on">Geneva</st1:city> communiqué,” forces opposed to Mr. Assad have
gained territory as well as a number of military installations in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Syria</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s north,
media reports say. Anti-Assad forces are also reported to be expanding their
presence in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Damascus</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Mr. Brahimi said that a failure by the
Syrians themselves to find a solution to the conflict meant that the
international community needed to step up its collective efforts to help them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“The solution is in bringing closer Syrian
points of views,” he said. “If the Syrians are incapable of doing this on their
own, then the international community, their neighbours and everyone else must
assist them in doing so, and assist them in doing good.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The UN-Arab league envoy will be in <st1:city w:st="on">Moscow</st1:city> this Saturday for talks, and said he plans to hold
additional meetings with <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United
  States</st1:place></st1:country-region> and Russian officials after two
earlier rounds of talks with top officials of those countries earlier this
month.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“These two countries have influence and a
global responsibility, which qualifies them to help in searching for solutions
that we look forward to in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Syria</st1:place></st1:country-region>,”
Mr. Brahimi said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The official noted that statistics no longer
conveyed the full horror of what was unfolding in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Syria</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“The truth is, when one mentions figures,
they appear cold,” he said. “When one says there are (four) million internally
displaced (people), what does it mean?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Mr. Brahimi warned that current projections
placed the number of people driven by the conflict to other countries in the
region as refugees would exceed one million by the middle of next year, up from
half a million registered refugees now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“The situation is bad and is worsening (and)
the Syrian people are suffering unbearably…” he said. “Those who can have mercy
on the Syrian people should do so.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">In calling for a transition government, the
Joint Special Representative signalled that there could be no compromise over
its level of powers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“What must be established is a government
with full executive powers…” he said. “All the powers of government should be
with this government.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">While he also said that the transitional period
should not be allowed to lead to the collapse of the state or its institutions,
he left open the possibility that the eventual elections could be for a
reformed leadership structure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“These elections will be presidential if it
is agreed that the system will remain presidential, as is currently the case,
or parliamentary elections if there is agreement that the system in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Syria</st1:country-region></st1:place>
is to be changed to a parliamentary system,” Mr. Brahimi said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The envoy said peacekeepers were needed to
provide “strong observation” of a peace deal, but insisted that such a
deployment would not constitute an international occupation of the country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“These are not foreign forces; they only
come with the agreement of the parties,” he said. “When we reach a stage of
speaking about peacekeeping forces, it means that there is an agreement, and,
thankfully, the parties have agreed that they need these forces.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Mr. Brahimi’s talks in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Syria</st1:country-region> marked his third visit to the country
since becoming the international <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Syria</st1:place></st1:country-region> envoy in August. He said he
told not only Mr. Assad, but also opposition groups he met both “inside and
outside” the country, of his proposals for peace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“The talks are still ongoing,” he said,
adding that Syrians have to resolve their differences, but with “a lot of help
from the outside.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Mr. Brahimi has also been engaged in a
series of other meetings in the region and elsewhere as part of his efforts to
bring about a negotiated, political solution to end to the fighting in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Syria</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He has previously stated that a peace process
could be based on the <st1:city w:st="on">Geneva</st1:city> communiqué, which
was issued after a meeting in the Swiss city of the so-called Action Group for <st1:country-region w:st="on">Syria</st1:country-region> in late June and which lays out key steps
in a process to end the violence in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Syria</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Amongst other items, the <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Geneva</st1:place></st1:city> communiqué called for the
establishment of a transitional governing body, with full executive powers and
made up by members of the present Government and the opposition and other
groups, as part of agreed principles and guidelines for a Syrian-led political
transition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The Action Group is made up of the
Secretaries-General of the UN and the Arab League; the Foreign Ministers of the
five permanent members of the Security Council – China, France, Russia, the
United Kingdom and the United States – as well as the Turkish Foreign Minister;
the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security
Policy; and the Foreign Ministers of Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar, in their
respective roles related to the Arab League.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Syria: UN-Arab League Envoy Calls for Transitional Government with Full Powers

Lakhdar Brahimi, Joint Special Representative of the UN and the League of Arab States for Syria . UN Photo/Mark Garten UN ...

Ensure Disabled Persons Enjoy Their Rights - Ban

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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">  <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">TEHRAN</span></st1:place></st1:city><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> (NNN-IRNA) -- UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon in his message on the International Day of Persons with
Disabilities, December 3, 2012, called on all people to ensure that persons
with disabilities enjoy their rights and realize their great potential. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">According to a press release issued by the
UN Information Center (UNIC), the full text of his message reads: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"This year’s Paralympic Games were a
reminder of the immense potential of persons with disabilities to soar and to
inspire. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">One girl wrote to a Paralympic gold-medal
champion, “Watching as you overcome the difficulties of life, reaching for new
victories and new heights in sports, I derive strength and inspiration.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"Persons with disabilities have a
significant positive impact on society, and their contributions can be even
greater if we remove barriers to their participation. With more than one
billion persons with disabilities in our world today, this is more important
than ever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"Our challenge is to provide all people
with the equality of access they need and deserve. Ultimately, this will create
a better world for all. As negotiators at this year’s “<st1:place w:st="on">Rio</st1:place>
20” United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development agreed, accessibility
is critical to achieve the future we want. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"Together, we must strive to achieve
the goals of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities: to eliminate discrimination and exclusion, and to create
societies that value diversity and inclusion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"In order to spur action to bridge the
gap between well-meaning commitments and long-overdue actions, the United
Nations General Assembly will hold a high-level meeting on disability and
development next year. This gathering will take place as the international
community works to forge a post-2015 development agenda, presenting an
opportunity to ensure that the rights, concerns and contributions of persons
with disabilities are fully taken into account. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"This International Day of Persons with
Disabilities marks the official opening of preparations for the high-level
meeting. Let us make the most of our commemoration by working to ensure that
persons with disabilities enjoy their rights and realize their great
potential." -- NNN-IRNA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Ensure Disabled Persons Enjoy Their Rights - Ban

TEHRAN (NNN-IRNA) -- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in his message on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Dece...

On International Day, UN Urges Greater Focus on Scientific Development for Peace

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<i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 8pt;">World
Science Day for Peace and Development 2012.</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 8pt;">Illustration: UNESCO</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">UN
News – Marking the World Science Day for Peace and Development, the head of the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today
called for a greater global focus on scientific development, noting that only
through science would humanity find the answers to its seemingly
“insurmountable” challenges.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“Science
is our best asset for supporting inclusive and equitable development, and for
building global sustainability at a time of uncertainty, and faced with
biophysical limits of the planet,” said UNESCO's Director-General, Irina
Bokova, in a message to mark the Day, the theme for which this year is 'Science
for Global Sustainability Interconnectedness, Collaboration, Transformation.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“We
must also place science at the service of all, while observing the fundamental
rights of the individual,” Ms. Bokova added. “Above all, we must open a new
chapter in scientific integration.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Established
by the UNESCO General Conference in 2001 with the purpose of renewing a global
commitment to science as a tool to benefit society, the World Day also seeks to
raise public awareness of science's importance and to bridge the gap between
science and societies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">In
her message, Ms. Bokova noted that an increasingly complex and interconnected
global community required more cooperative and better integrated approaches
combining the progress made in separate scientific fields.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“Innovation
and social transformation depend on our capacity to combine disciplines and
create synergies among all sciences,” she stated, adding that “sustainability
will come through multidisciplinarity.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">UNESCO
has been playing a leading role in promoting trandisciplinarity as a
cornerstone of the world body's global push on sustainability and, ten years
after the first World Science Day for Peace and Development, the UN official
emphasized that the agency remained committed to its mission.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“It
is this spirit that I call today on government, civil society, public and
private actors, well beyond scientific circles, to mobilize so as to release
the full potential of all sciences for development and peace, which are
inseparable and essential for the future that we want,” Ms. Bokova said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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On International Day, UN Urges Greater Focus on Scientific Development for Peace

World Science Day for Peace and Development 2012. Illustration: UNESCO UN News – Marking the World Science Day for Peace and ...

Secretary-General Ban congratulates US President Barack Obama on re-election

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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4rgm2kGgsY8kOph3QVYaavmBRKQrBA_Ed0ToaEkdENe6hFGGWeRxR8b4KUN4VOwM7caNDGe9q9jGWtSd-TmoNBnRWaBWIN0pWrkSKK1KnVtPkfG4TCxMo7xWFBf6SyVhUVANq9mYPiw/s1600/527645-ki-moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4rgm2kGgsY8kOph3QVYaavmBRKQrBA_Ed0ToaEkdENe6hFGGWeRxR8b4KUN4VOwM7caNDGe9q9jGWtSd-TmoNBnRWaBWIN0pWrkSKK1KnVtPkfG4TCxMo7xWFBf6SyVhUVANq9mYPiw/s640/527645-ki-moon.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 8pt;">Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 8pt;">US President Barack Obama at<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 8pt;">UN Headquarters in September 2012.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 8pt;">UN Photo/Mark Garten</span></i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">UN
News – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warmly congratulates
President Barack Obama on his re-election as President of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place>, a spokesperson for
the world body's head said overnight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“The
Secretary-General looks forward to continuing to work with President Obama and
his administration in the spirit of the enduring partnership between the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>
and the United Nations,” Mr. Ban's spokesperson added in a statement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">According
to media reports, while some results have yet to be finalized, President Obama
defeated his opponent, Mitt Romney, with 303 Electoral College votes compared
to Mr. Romney's 206 Electoral College votes. Under the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place> presidential voting system, a
candidate needs to secure at least 270 Electoral College votes to secure
victory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“Many
challenges lie ahead – from ending the bloodshed in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Syria</st1:country-region>,
to getting the <st1:place w:st="on">Middle East</st1:place> peace process back
on track, to promoting sustainable development and tackling the challenges
posed by climate change,” the spokesperson noted. “All will require strong
multilateral cooperation.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“The
Secretary-General and the United Nations will continue to count on the active
engagement of the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United
  States</st1:place></st1:country-region> on these and other crucial issues as
it strives to meet the hopes and expectations of people around the world,” he
added.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>

Secretary-General Ban congratulates US President Barack Obama on re-election

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with US President Barack Obama at UN Headquarters in September 2012. UN Photo/Mark Garten U...

Over Two Billion People Now Connected To Internet But Digital Divide Remains Wide – UN

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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-g8120xryHm-5F8al7ZKR3r1bURsGMnV92N7HV4GDIjNPQMLGWthZJj-E4FL1tC_R8cFUqDJWAvu5v1a3UdA4vZ5Lgwcexx06MexjLx29pFGDrOLvrKIr_MOXOAtRsM_bmiJzjkDOTM/s1600/522906-hongbo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-g8120xryHm-5F8al7ZKR3r1bURsGMnV92N7HV4GDIjNPQMLGWthZJj-E4FL1tC_R8cFUqDJWAvu5v1a3UdA4vZ5Lgwcexx06MexjLx29pFGDrOLvrKIr_MOXOAtRsM_bmiJzjkDOTM/s400/522906-hongbo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 10pt;">Under-Secretary-General for Economic and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 10pt;">Social Affairs Wu Hongbo. UN Photo/Devra Berkowitz</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">UN
News – While citing the rapid development and growth of the Internet, a top
United Nations official today urged greater efforts to bridge the ongoing
digital divide and ensure that everyone around the world can harness its
benefits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">There
were 2.3 billion Internet users worldwide at the end of 2011, the UN Under-Secretary-General
for Economic and Social Affairs, Wu Hongbo, said in his address to the Internet
Governance Forum (IGF), which opened in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Baku</st1:city>,
 <st1:country-region w:st="on">Azerbaijan</st1:country-region></st1:place>. In
addition, mobile broadband reached more than 1 billion subscriptions, while the
use of fixed broadband was estimated at 590 million subscriptions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“While
this progress is surely significant, we have a long way to go in our collective
efforts to bridge the digital divide,” he told participants, noting that only a
quarter of inhabitants in the developing world were online by the end of 2011.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“This
low number of Internet users in developing countries calls for increased
efforts in shaping and implementing appropriate policies to assist everyone to
harness the benefits of the Internet, and advance sustainable development,”
stated Mr. Wu.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“This
is a task for all of us,” he added. “The Internet Governance Forum is an
important venue for raising awareness, initiating discussions, identifying ways
to address the digital divide, and informing the policy-making processes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
IGF was convened by the UN Secretary-General in 2006, as a multi-stakeholder
forum for policy dialogue related to Internet governance issues. It includes
the participation of governments, intergovernmental organizations, business
representatives, the technical community, civil society organizations, as well
as any individual Internet user interested in Internet governance issues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
theme for this year’s Forum is ‘Internet Governance for Sustainable Human, Economic
and Social Development’ and reflects the increasing role of the Internet in the
evolution of the various aspects of development, across all countries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“Clearly,
the Internet is an important tool for development,” Mr. Wu stated. “It is
utilized in multiple sectors, including health, education, agriculture and
industry, disaster relief, and environmental protection, among so many others.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He
noted that worldwide communication is now faster and easier than ever. Telemedicine
and e-learning are available to people in remote areas, and mobile technologies
are empowering millions of women in developing countries, creating
entrepreneurial opportunities. The use of information and communication
technologies (ICTs) in providing vital government services is also on the rise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">This
week’s meeting comes less than a month before the start of the World Conference
on International Telecommunications (WCIT-12), which runs from 3 to 14 December
in <st1:city w:st="on">Dubai</st1:city>, in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United Arab Emirates</st1:place></st1:country-region>, and will
review the International Telecommunication Regulations (ITRs) that date back to
1988.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“The
current ITRs set the stage for the mobile revolution and the information
society – and we are confident that the 2012 ITRs will help usher in the
knowledge society,” the Secretary-General of the UN International
Telecommunication Union (ITU), Hamadoun Touré, told participants at the Forum. “Simply
put, WCIT-12 is about putting ICTs in the hands of all the world’s people.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Concerning
WCIT and the Internet, Mr. Touré described as “ridiculous” misleading stories
about the ITU or the UN ‘taking over the Internet.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“ITU
continues to play its role in the realm of the Internet, as we have done since
the Internet’s inception – for example through ITU-brokered and ITU-approved
global standards for the critical transport layers of the Internet and Internet
access technologies,” he said. “But this does not mean that ITU wants to ‘take
over the Internet’ or ‘control the Internet’ – indeed, I don’t even know what
that might or would really mean, in practical terms.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>

Over Two Billion People Now Connected To Internet But Digital Divide Remains Wide – UN

Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Wu Hongbo. UN Photo/Devra Berkowitz UN News – While citing the rapid deve...

Present Structure of UN Security Council Serves No One: INDIA

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">UNITED
NATIONS (NNN-PTI) -- <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region>
has said the UN Security Council in its present structure is "completely
out of tune" with global realities and serves "no one's
purpose", asserting that an expansion in the 15-member body should have
permanent representation from Asia, Africa and <st1:place w:st="on">Latin
 America</st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">India</span></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">, which assumed this month's Presidency of
the Security Council ahead of the expiry of its two-year term as a non-permanent
member on December 31, said the UN body has remained "polarised and
politically divided" on key issues like <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Syria</st1:place></st1:country-region> and this strengthens the need
for its reform.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"The
Security Council as it is presently structured is not reflective of
contemporary realities, it is completely out of tune with what is happening in
the world," India's Permanent Representative to the UN Hardeep Singh Puri
told reporters, outlining the Council's monthly agenda.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"In
order to give the Council effectiveness there is need to enlarge its size. <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s point
of view is that the Security Council needs to be more transparent," he
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Puri
said the Council, in its present structure, "serves no one's
purpose", adding that an increase in its membership should have provisions
for permanent representation from Africa, Latin America, Caribbean and <st1:place w:st="on">Asia</st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He
said there could be consensus around modestly expanding the Council to
increasing the number of members to about 25.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">On
the use of veto, Puri said while the provision should be retained, there needs
to be a discussion on the precise conditions and circumstances under which veto
should be used by countries. "There could be a veto restraint
agreement."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He
said some of the Council's permanent members would find it "extremely
difficult to justify their place on a new high table."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Expansion
of the Council does not mean "some permanent members should come off the
high table but they need to bring on board other countries which carry weight,
participate in the Council's work and will lend credibility to its image and
functioning," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Puri
pointed out that non-permanent members of the Council are at a
"disadvantage" since by the time they come to grips with a particular
issue, it is time for their rotation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"It
is very well known that permanent members woo the incoming non-permanent
members not in terms of using their margin of persuasion to change their views
but in order to get their support on the more difficult issues before the
Council," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Asked
about countries like <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pakistan</st1:place></st1:country-region>
seeking permanent membership, Puri said if the South Asian country wants to be
a permanent member it should put its candidature forward and then let 193
members of the General Assembly decide by vote.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Responding
to the question on <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pakistan</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
Puri said "some of the countries are so preoccupied with other things that
permanent membership of the Council is not even in their own reckoning but they
are acting as spoilers and I think we need to smoke that out."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Puri
said time has come to realise that expansion of the Council will not come from
within the Security Council but from traction within the General Assembly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Several
outreach programmes are being undertaken which would lay the basis for putting
forward a more concrete proposal on expansion and reform.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"Countries
are clear in their minds which nations deserve to be permanent members and
which do not. Countries which do not have confidence themselves to become
permanent members resort to tactical ploys to confuse the process," he
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Referring
to the working methods of the Council, Puri said work of the UNSC severely
impacts not only the 15 members but also the 193 member nations of the General
Assembly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"The
five permanent members think the Security Council working methods are their
exclusive prerogative. Things take a long time to change but change always
comes," he added.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He
said <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>
has written to member states to send inputs on how the working methods of the
Council can be improved and it seeks to put together a concept paper which will
incorporate these inputs and serve as a basis for comprehensive discussion on
the issue. --NNN-PTI<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>

Present Structure of UN Security Council Serves No One: INDIA

UNITED NATIONS (NNN-PTI) -- India has said the UN Security Council in its present structure is "completely out of tune" with...

India to Showcase Askash Tablet at UN

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">UNITED
NATIONS (NNN-PTI) -- <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
which assumed this month's rotating Presidency of the Security Council, will
showcase its low-cost Aakash tablet at the United Nations, highlighting the
country's innovation involved in the "most competitively priced"
tablet computer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">India</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">'s Permanent Representative to the UN
Hardeep Singh Puri said a presentation on the tablet will be held on Nov 28 at
the world body's headquarters here to which UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
will be invited.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Suneet
Singh Tuli, CEO of Canada-based Datawind, which had won the Indian government's
tender for making and supplying the tablets, will also be present on the
occasion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Aakash
has been "described as the most competitively priced tablet computer by an
Indian-origin entrepreneur," Puri said at a news conference on Friday to
outline the Council's monthly agenda under <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s presidency.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He
said while the tablet would be called "frugal innovation" in UN
terminology, it is a "competitively priced innovation."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Later
talking to PTI, Puri said the Indian mission to the UN took the initiative to
showcase the tablet at the world body and other UN member states as well as
mediapersons will be invited to the event.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Tuli
would make a presentation to the UN audience on Aakash, which was launched in
October last year by the Indian government to make available computing devices
to students at subsidised rates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
Indian mission intends to distribute a limited number of Aakash tablets to some
member states.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Datawind
had won the tender in 2010 to supply one lakh Aakash tablets for a price of
around USD 49 per unit. The project had run into controversy following the
Indian<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Institute</span></st1:placetype><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Technology</st1:placename></span></st1:place><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> at Rajasthan rejecting the devices
manufactured by Datawind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">A
new version of the tablet PC, featuring one Ghz processor, four-hour battery
time, capacitive screen and Android 4.0 operating system, is expected to be
launched in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>
on November 11.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
Indian mission will also organise a cultural event at the UN on November 26
featuring the Shahi qawwals, who will be flying in from northern city of <st1:city w:st="on">Ajmer</st1:city> for a Sufi music concert at UN on occasion of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s
presidency. -- NNN-PT<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>

India to Showcase Askash Tablet at UN

UNITED NATIONS (NNN-PTI) -- India , which assumed this month's rotating Presidency of the Security Council, will showcase its low-c...

UN Secretary-General Offers Condolences in Wake of Death and Damage Caused by Hurricane Sandy

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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 10.0pt;">A woman walks through a
flooded market in<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Port au Prince. Photo: <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Logan</st1:place></st1:city> Abassi/MINUSTAH<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">UN
News – Pledging the full support of the United Nations in rebuilding efforts, Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon offers his condolences to the millions of people who have been
severely affected by Hurricane Sandy – above all those who lost loved ones or
their homes across a wide arc of destruction encompassing the United States and
the Caribbean region, his spokesperson said today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“The
Secretary-General has written to President Obama, and has spoken to the
Presidents of Haiti and the <st1:country-region w:st="on">Dominican Republic</st1:country-region>
and Mayor Bloomberg of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York City</st1:place></st1:city>,
to express his solidarity at this time of crisis and to pledge the assistance
of the United Nations, if requested, in the recovery effort,” the spokesperson
said in a note to the media.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“He
also intends to speak with other Caribbean leaders and with the Governors of <st1:state w:st="on">New York</st1:state> and <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New
  Jersey</st1:place></st1:state>,” the spokesperson added. “The Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has mobilized to provide maximum
possible assistance.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Described
in some media reports as a “once in a generation” storm, Hurricane Sandy has
reportedly killed more than 120 people, and caused billions of dollars in
damage, in addition to crippling New York City.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Earlier
today, an OCHA official said that over a million people in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Haiti</st1:country-region> are facing food insecurity as a result of
the hurricane, which ploughed through the Caribbean nation before wreaking
havoc along the east coast of the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region> earlier this week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Hurricane
<st1:city w:st="on">Sandy</st1:city>’s arrival, and its effects, in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York City</st1:place></st1:city>, where the
United Nations is headquartered, led to the world body’s offices being closed
for an unprecedented three days straight, with most meetings cancelled, before
re-opening today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
UN complex also sustained damage due to high wind and flooding, which affected
communications and other infrastructure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“Despite
disruptions, all essential operations went ahead, including a meeting of the
Security Council, and contacts with peacekeeping and other missions around the
world were maintained without interruption,” the spokesperson noted, adding
that UN Headquarters is expected to be back at full capacity “shortly.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“The
Secretary-General notes that when the host country is hit by a natural disaster,
the UN family suffers as well. Like our neighbours in the metropolitan area, UN
staff members have been affected in various ways by the storm,” the
spokesperson stated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He
further highlighted the Secretary-General’s thanks to UN staff for pressing ahead
with their work even as they tend to their families' needs, and the UN chief’s
encouragement of staff to contribute to relief efforts by volunteering or
making financial donations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“At
this time of crisis, the Secretary-General’s thoughts and prayers are with all
those in need. He pledges the full support of the United Nations in rebuilding
today, strengthening global disaster risk reduction, and preparing the world
for a safer tomorrow,” the spokesperson said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>

UN Secretary-General Offers Condolences in Wake of Death and Damage Caused by Hurricane Sandy

A woman walks through a flooded market in Port au Prince. Photo: Logan Abassi/MINUSTAH UN News – Pledging the full suppo...

UN General Assembly: India to Focus on Terrorism, Global Economy, UNSC Reforms

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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">UNITED
NATIONS (NNN-PTI) -- Ahead of the annual session of the United Nations General
Assembly, India on Monday said its focus at the high-level meeting will be
terrorism, UN Security Council reforms, managing the global financial system,
Palestine and piracy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Over
120 world leaders will gather at the United Nations for the 67th session of the
General Assembly, with the theme of this year's general debate being
'Adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations by peaceful
means.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">External
Affairs Minister S M Krishna is scheduled to reach New York on Sept 27 and will
address the world body on Oct 1. He will also attend a number of meetings
including those of the G4, BRICS, G77 and the Commonwealth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sources
said Krishna is also likely to hold bilateral meetings with US Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton as well as with leaders from China and Egypt. They said
it is "unlikely" that a meeting will take place between Krishna and
his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Krishna
had visited Islamabad for a three-day visit earlier in September. Sources said
they do not foresee another meeting in New York between the two.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Outlining
India's focus for the UNGA, the country's Permanent Representative to the UN
Hardeep Singh Puri told PTI that focus would be on the evolving situation in
the Middle East including Palestine, the hot spots in Africa like Sudan, South
Sudan, Somalia and piracy, which, he said, is "becoming an increasing nuisance
from India's point of view."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Puri
said the other major preoccupation for India has been the issue of Security
Council reform, a "tough and lonely battle" for which "you have
to fight each day in order to keep the process alive."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He
said India was able to get a reference to Security Council reform included in
the outcome document for a high-level meeting on 'Rule of Law', which will take
place on Monday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He
said for India, key issues would also include managing the global economy and
the financial system, securing stable food and energy supplies, challenges of
economic development, poverty alleviation and sustainable development.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Puri
said the theme of this year's general debate is appropriate as the last few
months have witnessed a "recourse to punitive and coercive measures in
Libya and use of all necessary means, which is an euphemism for military action
by NATO."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">During
the GA session, high-level meetings have been organised on pressing global
issues including Rule of Law, sustainable energy for all, peace building, the
situation in the Middle East and countering nuclear terrorism. -- NNN-PTI<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>

UN General Assembly: India to Focus on Terrorism, Global Economy, UNSC Reforms

UNITED NATIONS (NNN-PTI) -- Ahead of the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly, India on Monday said its focus at...

India among Bottom 5 Nations in Child Mortality: UN

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hRrvsM4jxpQ" width="640"></iframe><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">UNITED NATIONS (NNN-UNI) -- The pace of childhood death rates has declined sharply in recent decades - with an estimated 6.9 million children dying before their fifth birthday last year, compared to around 12 million in 1990 and India figured among the nations that still suffer acutely.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia still account for more than 80 per cent of global under-five deaths. Their disparity with other regions is becoming more marked as regions such as Eastern Asia and Northern Africa have cut child deaths by more than two-thirds since 1990, according to a new UN report.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Half of all under-five deaths occurred in five countries: India, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pakistan and China, according to the report, which also found that India and Nigeria account for more than a third of all under-five deaths worldwide.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">The report released here Friday asked for greater strides to meet international goals in order to save infants and young children.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">"Proven solutions need to be expanded to accelerate progress on child survival faster and farther," said the report of the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Formed in 2004, the group is made up of the UN Children's Fund, the World Health Organization, the Population Division of the UN Department of Development and Social Affairs (DESA) and the World Bank.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Its activities include sharing data on child mortality and improving methods for child mortality estimation reporting on progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, a set of eight goals agreed upon by world leaders in 2000 to slash extreme poverty and other global ills.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">The group said gains in child survival, though significant, are still insufficient to achieve the fourth MDG, which calls for reducing the global under-five mortality by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Only six of the world's ten regions are on track to reach the target. Worldwide, an estimated 19,000 children died every day in 2011, with around 40 per cent in the first month of life and most from preventable causes. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">The report calls for systematic action to reduce neonatal mortality. "Highly cost-effective interventions are feasible even at the community level," said the group, which advocates expanding preventative and curative interventions that target the main causes of infant mortality.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Globally, it noted, the leading causes of death among children under five are pneumonia, pre-term birth complications, diarrhoea, complications during birth and malaria. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">The report said rates of child mortality have fallen in all regions of the world in the last two decades - down by at least 50 per cent in Eastern Asia, Northern Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Southeastern Asia and Western Asia. -- NNN-UNI<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

India among Bottom 5 Nations in Child Mortality: UN

UNITED NATIONS (NNN-UNI) -- The pace of childhood death rates has declined sharply in recent decades - with an estimated 6.9 million ch...

Rise in Argentina’s Maize Exports to Ease Pressure in International Food Markets – UN

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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva (left) with <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Norberto Yauhar, Minister of Agriculture, Argentina.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Photo: FAO/Alessia Pierdomenico</span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">UN News – Argentina’s announcement that it would export an additional 2.75 million tonnes of maize this year will help ease tight international markets, the United Nations food agency said today, adding that while this is a welcome measure, countries must remain vigilante to avoid a global food crisis.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the announcement was made by Argentina’s Minister of Agriculture, Norberto Yauhar, who had just met with FAO’s Director-General, José Graziano da Silva, at the UN agency’s headquarters in Rome, Italy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“This goes to show that there is no threat of a global food crisis at present, although we must continue to be vigilant and monitor the situation closely,” Mr. Graziano da Silva said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Argentina is the world’s second biggest exporter of maize, and was responsible roughly for 15 per cent of the world’s maize exports in the last three years. The increase will bring the amount of maize from the 2011-2012 harvest to a total of 16.45 million tonnes, FAO stated in a news release.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This summer’s drought in the United States – the worst in over 50 years – fuelled fears of a food crisis when the FAO Food Price Index, which measures the prices of 55 food commodities, including meat, dairy, sugar, and cereals, surged by six per cent in July. However, food prices have remained steady in the past month.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">During their meeting, Mr. Yauhar and Mr. Graziano da Silva noted that the world is now better placed to cope with higher food prices than during the crisis of 2007-2008, partly because of mechanisms likes the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS), which contributes to increasing market transparency and reducing price volatility.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Mechanisms like AMIS, which was established in 2011 by the Group of 20 (G20) leading economies, make it possible for countries to coordinate action and respond faster to volatile food price situations, Mr. Graziano da Silva said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The two men noted that there was better coordination within the UN system to address food security issues and stressed that it was important for countries to work together through international mechanisms rather than taking unilateral action, according to FAO. They also underlined that financial markets and trade should be regulated to avoid speculation on prices, which contribute to their volatility.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Mr. Graziano da Silva also emphasized the need for the international donor community to increase its immediate and long-term support to poor countries, which are significantly affected by changes in the prices of the food basket.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">According to the UN World Food Programme (WFP) – which provides food relief in humanitarian emergencies such as war and natural disasters – every 10 per cent increase in the price of its food basket means finding an additional $200 million a year to buy the same amount of food.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Rise in Argentina’s Maize Exports to Ease Pressure in International Food Markets – UN

FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva (left) with Norberto Yauhar, Minister of Agriculture, Argentina. Photo: FAO/Alessia Pierdome...

Youth Unemployment Expected to Worsen with Spread of Euro Crisis – UN Labour Agency

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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0hIsn-0Iq2eEn7MrxhtmaApoTEtPuzcmRVL2Y9vlNCEHWWdKVJC-QODHneP8AItBW8N4iCBY0RVWCWRy41elAl8tdd5RkS3kGohI27c9LDO-sWVSO_DKRu3jEQ_bIWzgrvqpDxsRafo/s1600/05-23-2012youngpeople.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0hIsn-0Iq2eEn7MrxhtmaApoTEtPuzcmRVL2Y9vlNCEHWWdKVJC-QODHneP8AItBW8N4iCBY0RVWCWRy41elAl8tdd5RkS3kGohI27c9LDO-sWVSO_DKRu3jEQ_bIWzgrvqpDxsRafo/s640/05-23-2012youngpeople.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Photo © UN News</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">UN News </span></span><span class="fullstory"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">–</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jobless rates among young people will get even worse globally as the spill-over of the euro crisis spreads from advanced to emerging economies, according to a United Nations paper issued today.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 16.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">“Ironically, only in developed economies are youth unemployment rates expected to fall in the coming years, but this follows the largest increase in youth unemployment among all regions since the start of the crisis,”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>said </b>Ekkehard Ernst, the lead author of the UN International Labour Organization (<b>ILO</b>)’s paper, entitled<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Global Employment Outlook: Bleak Labour Market Prospects for Youth</span></b></em>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: 16.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 16.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The paper forecasts the youth unemployment rate in developed economies dropping gradually, from 17.5 per cent this year to 15.6 per cent in 2017 – far higher than the rate of 12.5 per cent registered in 2007, before the crisis struck.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: 16.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 16.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Much of the projected decline in the jobless rate is not due to improvements in the labour market, but rather to large numbers of young people dropping out of the labour force altogether due to discouragement, ILO noted in a news release, adding that these discouraged youth are not counted among the unemployed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: 16.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 16.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">According to ILO, young people are three times more likely to be unemployed than adults, and over 75 million youth worldwide are looking for work. The labour agency has previously warned of a “scarred” generation of young workers facing a dangerous mix of high unemployment, increased inactivity and precarious work in developed countries, as well as persistently high working poverty in the developing world.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: 16.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><br />
</span></div><div style="background: #EEEEEE; line-height: 16.8pt; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: #000066; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Global and Regional Figures</span></strong><span style="color: #000066; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="background: #EEEEEE; color: #000066; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 3.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">projected decline in youth unemployment in the developed      economies</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span>region      is not expected to be enough to pull the global rate downwards.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: #EEEEEE; color: #000066; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 3.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The paper says the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">global youth unemployment rate will reach 12.9 per cent by      2017</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span>–      up 0.2 percentage points from forecasts for 2012.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: #EEEEEE; color: #000066; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 3.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">impact of the euro crisis is expected to expand well beyond      Europe</span></strong>, affecting economies in East Asia and Latin America      as exports to advanced economies have faltered.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: #EEEEEE; color: #000066; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 3.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">North Africa and the Middle East, youth unemployment rates are      projected to remain above 25 per cent</span></strong>over the next years      and might even rise further in parts of these regions.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: #EEEEEE; color: #000066; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 3.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Youth unemployment rates are      forecast to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">rise from 9.5 per cent this year to 10.4      per cent in 2017 in East Asia</span></strong>, with little change      projected in Latin America and the Caribbean and in Sub-Saharan Africa.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div style="line-height: 16.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The ILO paper notes that the global youth unemployment rate will reach 12.9 per cent by 2017 – up 0.2 percentage points from forecasts for 2012. Youth unemployment is projected to be highest in North Africa and the Middle East, with a 25 per cent rate forecast over the next years.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: 16.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 16.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The labour agency notes that even in countries with early signs of a jobs recovery and where new vacancies are opening up, many unemployed youth still find it difficult to land a job. For example, a construction worker whose job was lost during the housing bust might not have the skills needed in sectors that are hiring.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: 16.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 16.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">“This leads to discouragement and rising NEET rates (“neither in employment, education or training”) among young people,” said Mr. Ernst, who also heads ILO’s Employment Trends Unit. “Schemes using employment guarantees and an emphasis on training could help get jobseekers off the street and into useful activities, providing a safeguard against further economic stress.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: 16.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><br />
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<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">    <td style="background: #F0F0EB; padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">    <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Youth    unemployment rates forecasts<o:p></o:p></span></b></div></td>    <td style="background: #F0F0EB; padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">    <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">2012</span></strong><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div></td>    <td style="background: #F0F0EB; padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">    <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">2017</span></strong><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div></td>   </tr>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Global</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td>   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">12.7   %<o:p></o:p></span></div></td>   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">12.9   %<o:p></o:p></span></div></td>  </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Central and South   Eastern Europe</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td>   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">16.9   %<o:p></o:p></span></div></td>   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">17   %<o:p></o:p></span></div></td>  </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Developed   economies</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td>   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">17.5   %<o:p></o:p></span></div></td>   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">15.6   %<o:p></o:p></span></div></td>  </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">East Asia </span></strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td>   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> 9.5   %<o:p></o:p></span></div></td>   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">10.4   %<o:p></o:p></span></div></td>  </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Latin America   & the Caribbean</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td>   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">14.6   %<o:p></o:p></span></div></td>   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">14.7   %<o:p></o:p></span></div></td>  </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;">   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Middle East</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td>   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">26.4   %<o:p></o:p></span></div></td>   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">28.4   %<o:p></o:p></span></div></td>  </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7;">   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">North Africa</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td>   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">27.5   %<o:p></o:p></span></div></td>   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">26.7   %<o:p></o:p></span></div></td>  </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 8;">   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">South Asia</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td>   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">9.6   %<o:p></o:p></span></div></td>   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">9.8   %<o:p></o:p></span></div></td>  </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 9;">   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">South East Asia   & the Pacific </span></strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td>   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">13.1   % <o:p></o:p></span></div></td>   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">14.2   %<o:p></o:p></span></div></td>  </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 10; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Sub-Saharan   Africa</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td>   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">12   %<o:p></o:p></span></div></td>   <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">   <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 2.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">11.8   %<o:p></o:p></span></div></td>  </tr>
</tbody></table><div style="line-height: 16.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">According to the paper, such youth guarantees can come at very limited cost, less than half a per cent of gross domestic product among European countries.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: 16.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 16.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">“In times of constrained public finances, this may seem like a large additional burden, but it will be less than the additional costs that come from young unemployed people permanently losing touch with the labour market,” the paper states.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: 16.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 16.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">At its annual conference in June this year, ILO adopted a resolution calling for immediate, targeted and renewed action to tackle the youth employment crisis. The resolution provides a portfolio of tried and tested measures in five areas: macro-economic policies, employability, labour market policies, youth entrepreneurship and rights. It underscores the need for balance, coherence and complementarity across policy measures.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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Youth Unemployment Expected to Worsen with Spread of Euro Crisis – UN Labour Agency

Photo © UN News UN News – Jobless rates among young people will get even worse globally as the spill-over of the euro crisis spread...