News headlines in 2015, page 44

UNITED NATIONS, Jul 24 (IPS) - On Friday, 67 student essay winners from 42 different countries convened at the United Nations General Assembly to present their essays at the Many Languages, One World Global Youth Forum.

NEW YORK, Jul 24 (IPS) - The United Arab Emirates is cracking down on hate crimes with tough legislation that prescribes up to 10 years in prison or the death penalty if convicted of "takfirism" or Sunni Muslim extremism, according to the text of the decree distributed by the official WAM news agency.

PARIS, Jul 24 (IPS) - "We received a garden as our home, and we must not turn it into a wilderness for our children."

SANTIAGO, Jul 24 (IPS) - The already precarious situation of pensioners in Chile will get even worse if a controversial initiative is approved. Under the new plan, the elderly would mortgage their homes to increase their meagre pensions, most of which come from prívate pension funds, and which average 230 dollars a month.

UNITED NATIONS, Jul 24 (IPS) - Caught in the grips of a summer heat-wave, in a season that is seeing record-high temperatures worldwide, residents of the war-torn city of Aleppo in northern Syria are facing off against yet another enemy: thirst.

UNITED NATIONS, Jul 23 (IPS) - The nuclear agreement concluded last week between Iran and six big powers, the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany, is threatening to trigger a new Middle East military build-up – not with nuclear weapons but with conventional arms, including fighter planes, combat helicopters, warships, missiles, battle tanks and heavy artillery.

WASHINGTON, Jul 23 (IPS) - Two reports released in quick succession by the international rights group Human Rights Watch have highlighted the plight of China's minority Uyghur population and shed light on their continuing struggle to find a safe haven elsewhere in the region.

NEW YORK, Jul 23 (IPS) - As the Islamic State, known variously as ISIS, ISIL and Daesh, consolidates its hold over parts of Iraq and Syria to the degree that it has in many ways become a functioning state, the U.S. public remains divided over any intervention involving ground troops, a new survey shows.

ADDIS ABABA, Jul 23 (IPS) - The United Nations is the only universal forum that connects systemic issues to the global partnership for development. The latter recognises North-South cooperation based on historical responsibility and varying levels of development and capacity among member states of the U.N.