News headlines in 2017, page 6

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 08 (IPS) - International commitment and cooperation is critical to reap the benefits and overcome the challenges of migration, stressed a leading official at the conclusion of a UN meeting.

NEW YORK, Dec 08 (IPS) - Since the end of the Cold War, the UN Security Council has dramatically increased its activity and authority. Though the Council has exercised unprecedented global power, it has remained a very insular, secretive and undemocratic body, dominated by its five Permanent Members, armed with their notorious vetoes and benefiting from perpetuity in office.

COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh, Dec 08 (IPS) - Under pouring rain, hundreds of young and expectant mothers stand in line. With her bare feet and the bottom of her dress covered in mud, Rashida is one of them, clutching her emaciated infant. She lost her husband on the treacherous trek from Myanmar to Bangladesh, and with nowhere to go and her resources exhausted, rain-drenched and standing in this long, muddy line for food and medicine for her child is her only hope.

SUVA, Fiji, Dec 08 (IPS) - A recent meeting in Rome between our Pacific leaders and UN Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO) highlighted the urgency of food security in our region given the reality of climate change affecting our agriculture and aquaculture.

SUVA, Fiji, Dec 07 (IPS) - Cancun, Mexico, of white sand beaches and spring break-style nightlife, was, this past June, the unusual backdrop for a regional gathering on human rights and democracy.

ROME, Dec 07 (IPS) - US President Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital does not represent only a ‘kiss of death' to the two-State solution, but also a strong blow in the face of 57 Muslim countries, let alone igniting fire in this easily inflammable region, providing more false arguments to criminal terrorist groups to escalate their brutal attacks, in addition to taking a step further in Washington's new conflict with Iran and the ‘restructuring' of the Middle East.

COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh, Dec 07 (IPS) - Afia* lines up her bucket every morning in the refugee camp for water delivery from humanitarian relief workers. On one particularly sweltering day, she kept four water pitchers in a row with gaps between them, hoping to insert another empty container in the space when the water arrived.

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 07 (IPS) - The Pacific islands have long remained victims of nuclear crimes – but the perpetrators, three of the world's major powers with permanent seats in the UN Security Council, never paid for their deadly sins.

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 07 (IPS) - The four Pacific Island nations who are amongst the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) may be falling behind in meeting energy access targets because they are too busy devoting resources towards climate change.

Dec 06 (IPS) - Hate speech in the media or social networks in Venezuela is now punishable with prison sentences of up to 20 years, according to a new law issued by the opposition-controlled National Constituent Assembly (ANC).