On International Day, UN promotes online literacy in digital world

8 September 2017 – New technologies open opportunities to improve lives and connect globally, but they can also marginalize those who are illiterate and lack other essential skills needed to navigate them, a senior United Nations official today said, highlighting that some 750 million adults worldwide are not literate.

Traditionally, literacy has been considered a set of reading, writing and counting skillsapplied in a certain context. Digitally-mediated knowledge societies are changing what it means to be literate, calling for new and higher-level literacy skills, said the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, in her message for International Literacy Day.

UN political chief urges Security Council to 'remain united, take appropriate action' on DPR Korea

4 September 2017 – The top United Nations political official today urged the Security Council to remain united and take appropriate action against Sunday's nuclear explosive test conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The latest serious developments require a comprehensive response in order to break the cycle of provocations from the DPRK, said Jeffrey Feltman, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, in an emergency Council meeting, noting that such a response must include wise and bold diplomacy to be effective.

Mr. Feltman, however, stressed the importance of responding to humanitarian needs regardless of the political situation as the people of the DPRK rely on the international community to provide humanitarian assistance.

Guterres says UN ready to support relief efforts in South Asia countries hit by floods, landslides

1 September 2017 – Saddened by the loss of life and the devastation caused by widespread floods and landslides due to torrential monsoon rains in Bangladesh, India and Nepal, Secretary-General António Guterres said today that the United Nations is ready to support ongoing relief efforts.

In a statement issued by a UN spokesperson, the Secretary-General extended his condolences to the Governments and the people of Bangladesh, India and Nepal and saluted the respective Governments' leadership in responding to the needs of those affected.

Peace is… beautiful

15 August 2017 — The fourth event of the Peace is… series hosted by the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations took place on Friday in the lobby of the General Assembly Building at United Nations Headquarters in New York. The event, entitled Peace is… beautiful, celebrated friendship and the 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Remarks by the Permanent Representatives of Japan and the Philippines to the United Nations opened the event. Professor Noritaka Noda of the Ikenobo Society of Floral Art then gave a demonstration of Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement. While working on his arrangement, Professor Noda elaborated on the centuries-old art of creating these arrangements, including the symbolic meaning. Following his demonstration, Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives of ASEAN joined him in creating Ikebana arrangements, as did the audience.

At start of World Water Week, UN Assembly President says water and sanitation goals need 'major push'

28 August 2017 – Encouraging global action to support clean water and sanitation, United Nations General Assembly President Peter Thomson today underscored that when it comes to the environment, everything is connected.

None should imagine that the state of sanitation and coral reefs are anything but directly connected, Mr. Thomson said, delivering the keynote address at special event in Stockholm to start World Water Week. It makes no sense to consider terrestrial environmental issues, fresh water challenges or climate change in isolation.

He urged the international community to take an inclusive, integrated approach, and put to use all skills, idea and energies.

UN rights office gathering info on air strikes in Yemen; urges protection of civilians

25 August 2017 – Reiterating that attacks targeting civilians are prohibited under international law, the United Nations human rights office today confirmed dozens of casualties in airstrikes on villages near the capital, Sana'a.

Briefing journalists in Geneva, a spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioners for Human Rights (OHCHR), Liz Throssell, said one of the airstrikes on 23 August hit the Istirahat Al Shahab hotel in Bayt Al Athri in Arhab district, destroying the second floor and seriously damaging the rest of the building.

So far we have been able to confirm that 33 civilians were killed and another 25 injured in the attack, Ms. Throssell said of the attack, which is being blamed on Coalition Forces.

Gulf College celebrates the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development

Gulf College, through its Centre for Languages and Cultural Studies, beamed with pride as it undertook to uphold its mandate as a member of the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) in celebrating the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development on 21 May 2017. The theme Exploring the World of Innovation and Entrepreneurship through Multiculturalism helped focus good practices that encourage cultural pluralism and discourage all expressions of extremism and fanaticism, highlighting instead the values and principles that bring people together.

Dream big, but be well grounded, be kind.- Sri Sri

A few years ago, I came to the United States with my life packed in two suitcases, no cell phone, no money and no familial support. Recently, I was privileged and honored to be selected as a Peer Mentor for the 2017 Summer Youth Assembly at United Nations Headquarters in New York, representing the World Experiences Foundation and the United Nations Association of Oklahoma City. On arrival at the United Nations, when I first entered the historic General Assembly Hall, I took a few minutes to sit down, close my eyes and take a few deep breaths—to stop and smell the roses, as it were.

Halal tourism: Promoting high-quality service

In considering developments in the tourism industry especially in the past 20 years, including the diversity of tourism services and special interest tourism, we find that tourists are looking for new destinations and using new services aligned with their religious beliefs and values. Halal tourism is one such example; and health, physical fitness and mental health are some of its central concerns—tangible effects enriching the soul and spirit as well as comfort of travelers.

Halal tourism is also worthy of attention because a substantial part of tourism markets and destinations is located in the Islamic world. Moreover, 11% of international tourists are Muslims, which has led non-Muslim countries to offer Halal tourism services in order to better position themselves to gain a share of the $200 billion market of Muslim tourists.

Thousands flee as Iraqi forces advance on ISIL-held Tal Afar – UN

21 August 2017 – The top United Nations humanitarian official in Iraq has warned against the consequences of displacement as thousands of civilians are expected to flee from Tal Afar and surrounding communities during the Iraqi military operation to retake these areas from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) terrorist group.

Thousands of people are fleeing Tal Afar for safety, said Lise Grande, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, in a press release issued yesterday. Families are trekking for 10 to 20 hours in extreme heat to reach mustering points. They are arriving exhausted and dehydrated.

Strengthening the UN's Research Uptake

The United Nations system faces a constant demand for evidence-based research which can be met by researchers in the academic and think tank community. Nevertheless, the implementation of this cooperation often faces considerable obstacles.

Bridging this research-policy gap and promoting ways to enhance the cooperation between the UN and the academic community was at the center of a two-day roundtable event hosted by the UN University and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. Titled 'Strengthening the UN's Research Uptake', the event assembled senior representatives from UN research and policy units and more than 50 leading research organizations in the Palais des Nations in Geneva in April 2016.

UNAI Global Hub on Sustainability and Model UN-New Silk Way discussed collaboration opportunities for the Silk Road countries

18 August 2017- The Global Hub UNAI on Sustainability Al Farabi Kazakh National University has contributed to the workshop of the Model UN - New Silk Way Program discussing collaboration opportunities for the Silk Road countries on 21 July 2017.  The workshop was organized by the Model UN - New Silk Way program for the international and national students – participants of the Silk Road Summer School in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Youth Voices on Substance Abuse: A Guide to Empowerment and Action

18 August 2017 - The Youth Voices on Substance Abuse: A Guide to Empowerment and Action program engaged over one hundred upstate New York high school students in studies of key human rights documents, like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Sustainable Development Goals, followed by readings and classroom discussions exploring the causes and results of potentially addictive substance use.

Working with their teachers, with informed health and policy experts, and with resources and guidance by project organizer Gertrude Noden, from Words Into Deeds and Global Education Motivators, participants developed fact-based perspectives, then designed outreach projects to raise awareness among their peers and also provide direct support for local service organizations.

Many Languages, One World® Winners Attend Global Youth Forum in NYC & Boston

11 August 2017 – ELS Educational Services, in partnership with the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI), invited 60 student essay contest winners from around the world to attend the Many Languages, One World Global Youth Forum in New York City, NY, and the Global Youth Symposium at Northeastern University in Boston, Mass. from 16-26 July, 2017.

Bullying Survey 2017: Cyberbullying impacts young people's real lives

Ditch the Label -- an international anti-bullying charity working across the UK, US and Mexico that participated in a recent United Nations Academic Impact co-organized 'Prevention Forum' (https://academicimpact.un.org/content/prevention-forum-participants-disc...)—has just published the findings of the largest ever UK study of bullying.

The charity surveyed 10,020 young people between the ages of 12 and 20, in partnership with schools and colleges across the UK, to gather data and to gain insight into the extent of bullying behaviour among young people and the impact on their lives.

The focus for this year's research was technology and the lives that young people live online, covering areas such as cyberbullying, online abuse, online behaviours, online personas and social media addiction.