News headlines in 2016, page 49

ROME, Jun 29 (IPS) - Thus far, 2016 has proved fatal for the thousands of migrants crossing the Mediterranean in a bid to find safety in Italy. Alarmingly, between January and March, a spiralling death toll was recorded among refugees and migrants attempting to reach Italy by boat from North Africa.

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 29 (IPS) - Millions of children still die before reaching their fifth birthday every year, according to the 2016 State of The World's Children Report released here Tuesday by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 29 (IPS) - Bolivia, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan and Sweden were elected on Tuesday to serve on the UN Security Council (UNSC) as non-permanent members, while Italy and Netherlands have split the remaining contested seat.

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 28 (IPS) - Currently only six percent of humanitarian aid worldwide comes in the form of cash handouts, yet many aid organisations believe that cash transfers should be seen as the rule, not the exception.

FAISALABAD, Pakistan, Jun 28 (IPS) - Nabela Zainab no longer chokes and coughs when she cooks a meal, thanks to the new biogas-fueled two-burner stove in her kitchen.

PORTLAND, Oregon, Jun 28 (IPS) - For many years, as a reporter, including for IPS, I wrote about the dominance of a giant, corporate-funded lobbying organization called ALEC (the American Legislative Exchange Council), on public policy in the U.S.

HOLGUÍN, Cuba, Jun 28 (IPS) - Five gargantuan modern irrigation machines water the state farm of La Yuraguana covering 138 hectares in the northeastern province of Holguín, the third largest province in Cuba. However, "sometimes they cannot even be switched on, due to the low water level," said farm manager Edilberto Pupo.

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 27 (IPS) - Despite their contribution to social justice, civil society organisations came under "serious attack" in 109 countries in 2015, according to a new report published by CIVICUS Monday.

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 27 (IPS) - There has never been a time more dangerous to be a journalist than today. On an average week, one journalist gets killed, according to UNESCO, and the pace of these attacks keeps increasing.

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 27 (IPS) - The much-ballyhooed British exit (Brexit) from the 28-member European Union (EU) is likely to have political ramifications at the United Nations – both in the short and the long term.