By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — The longstanding US-Saudi alliance—political, economic and military—which dates back to 1931, is in deep trouble. US President Joe Biden has warned Saudi Arabia that it would face “consequences” after OPEC Plus, the oil cartel led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, announced plans for a cut in oil production—an […]
Despite the Recession Threat, 100 million Can Still Be Lifted Out of Poverty
By UN News NEW YORK (IDN) — A flagship UN poverty study released on October 17, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, finds that significant poverty reduction is possible, and new ways of calculating the problem can help humanitarians and governments better target aid.
Digital Finance Can Drive Women’s Economic Empowerment in Africa
From Africa Renewal By Economic Commission for Africa UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — A new report reveals persistent barriers in the digital finance sector that limit women’s economic empowerment in Africa while recommending policy responses to overcome them. Commissioned by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the latest edition of the biennial African Women’s […]
WFP Starts Afresh in DR Congo’s Violence-Torn Northeast
By Benjamin Anguandia, WFP KINSHASA (IDN) — Kesereka, who prefers to go by Sadi, accepts a stack of cash from a World Food Programme (WFP) officer in a small room in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s northeastern town of Mabalako. He counts it carefully, folding it neatly, so it fits in his small pocket.
GMOs that Promote Poverty and Dependency Gain Foothold in Kenya
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — Kenya has officially entered into the cultivation and use of Genetically Modified Organisms—known as GMOs—that have been banned in 26 countries. This month, Kenyan authorities announced plans to lift the country’s ban on genetically modified crops, in part to deal with a record drought that […]
Landlocked Lesotho Votes A Revolution for Prosperity
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — A recently organized party led by a millionaire diamond magnate looks set to win Lesotho’s parliamentary election, having secured enough for a simple majority, according to preliminary results from the election commission. By Sunday afternoon, results from the October 7 vote were in for 49 […]
NASA Study Finds Climate Extremes Affect Landslides in Surprising Ways
A NASA News Feature WASHINGTON, D.C. (IDN) — Climate change is driving more volatile precipitation patterns around the world—very dry stretches punctuated by storms that drop large amounts of rain or snow in a short amount of time. While wetter and drier spells may have certain effects that are easy to predict, such as on […]
UN Expert Calls for Unconditional Support to Victims of Fukushima Disaster
By Jaya Ramachandran GENEVA (IDN) — The Japanese government should give unqualified, human rights and needs-based support to the more than 30,000 people still displaced 11 years after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. That approach must also apply to reconstruction in affected areas, said Cecilia Jiménez-Damary, UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally […]
Warmongering Biggest Threat to Achieving SDGs
By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — Welcome to our 13th issue of Sustainable Development Observer, which focuses on warmongering and sustainable development goals, prompted by an event I covered for IDN-InDepthNews from Kazakhstan—the 7th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions—a gathering of over 300 religious leaders representing the Islamic, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu and […]
Iran Overwhelmed by “Women-Life-Liberty!” Cries
Viewpoint by René Wadlow, President, Association of World Citizens GENEVA (IDN) — The cry “Women-Life-Liberty!” is going up in many different parts of the Islamic Republic of Iran. It is not possible to know in advance how strong the protests will be and what will be specific reforms demanded. However, the Government is worried. On […]