Vrindavan, in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, is called the "City of Widows." Upper-caste Hindu widows who are disowned by their families go there to live. Young and old spend their remaining years singing hymns in temples in exchange for food, and a small daily stipend of coins. As Madhur Singh reports from Vrindavan, despite efforts by the government and aid organizations, most of the women subsist in abysmal conditions.

Palestinians are continuing to cross into Egypt for a second day to stock up on food, fuel and household supplies that have been scarce in the Gaza Strip since Israel imposed a blockade on the territory last week.

Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith is on his way to the United States where it is understood he will discuss Australia's withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

“The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said Tuesday that developing countries must play an active role alongside global partnerships to further cut child mortality and raise overall care.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on donors to respond quickly and generously to a $3.8 billion United Nations humanitarian appeal, stressing that for the poorest of the poor, early funding means the difference between life and death.

Former U.N. secretary-general Kofi Annan is in Kenya to begin talks aimed at resolving the bitter political dispute between President Mwai Kibaki and opposition challenger Raila Odinga. Underscoring the urgent need for a solution, opposition supporters and the police clashed again in Nairobi. VOA Correspondent Alisha Ryu has details from Kenya's capital.

Russia's foreign minister says a new draft U.N. resolution on Iran over its disputed nuclear activities does not call for any tough sanctions.

Following a day of debate, the U.N. Security Council could not agree on language for a statement condemning the deterioration of the situation in the Gaza Strip. From U.N. headquarters in New York, VOA's Margaret Besheer has more.

More than 130 migrants from Somalia, many fleeing violence in their homeland, died over the weekend when their boats capsized off Yemen as weather and the brutality of people-smugglers continued to exact a grievous toll, the United Nations refugee agency reported today.

The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) heads to the Central African Republic (CAR) – where he is investigating allegations of massive war crimes – later this week to meet with victims of violence, representatives of civil society and senior Government officials.

Riding high on its achievements, the Delhi Metro has added another feather in its cap when it became the first railway project in the world to be registered by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The United Nation has stated 2009 as International Year of Astronomy to motivate worldwide interest in astronomy and science especially among young people under the theme "The Universe, yours to discover,".