Provision of decent jobs and access to social services are two things African countries will need if the continent is to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the 2015 deadline. That assessment comes from the UN Development Programme (UNDP) which on Monday launched a report reviewing Africa's progress on the eight MDGs. Dianne Penn [...]
The already sluggish global economy is showing signs of further weakness, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which blames the Eurozone crisis and slower than expected growth in emerging economies. The IMF's World Economic Outlook Update projects the global economy will grow 3.5 percent this year, which is down 0.1 percentage points from the [...]
United Nations observers who examined the Syrian village of Treimseh on Sunday said that, based on what they saw and on witness accounts, the attack there on July 12 was targeted at army defectors and activists. Staff from the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) observed over 50 houses that were burned and/ or destroyed [...]
The humanitarian response for Syria is facing a critical shortage of funds, as the conflict in Syria escalates, says John Ging. Mr. Ging, Director of the Coordination and Response Division at the UN humanitarian agency, OCHA, told correspondents in Geneva following the fourth Syrian humanitarian forum that the conflict is having a devastating impact on [...]
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday begins the first leg of a 10-day trip that will take him to China and South-eastern Europe. While in the capital, Beijing, Mr. Ban will meet with the country's leadership and take part in the 5th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, according to his spokesman Martin Nesirky. [...]
With the summer games opening in London this month, Olympic fever is building around the world. Athletes and fans are gearing up for two weeks of sport, fellowship and record-breaking achievements. The 2012 Olympics are also historic as three countries—Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Brunei—are sending women athletes to the games for the first time. Dianne [...]
Sub-Saharan Africa must provide universal access to decent jobs and social services if it is to achieve decisive development progress, according to a newly released report. Assessing Progress in Africa Towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), is published annually by the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and [...]
Africa needs global solidarity to create jobs, generate growth and stop preventable deaths, according to the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General. Jan Eliasson told the 19th Summit of the African Union in Addis Ababa Sunday that the UN is committed to helping and stressed the importance of close and active cooperation. He also said that critical [...]
A new global awareness campaign on the impact of organized crime has been launched by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). With a turnover estimated to be around US$ 870 billion a year, organized criminal networks profit from the sale of illegal goods wherever there is a demand. Charles Appel reports. The aim [...]
The humanitarian response to the Syrian crisis is likely to grind to a halt due to a critical shortage of funding, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA. The appeal for funds to assist Syrians displaced inside the country and those who have fled into neighbouring nations is only 20 [...]
