SUSTAINABILITY

Security Council to Hold Emergency Session on World Food Security Impacted by Russian Invasion of Ukraine

By Thalif Deen

UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — The United States, which is holding the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council this month, has summoned an “emergency session” of the Council on May 19 to focus largely on world food security in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken told reporters May 15 the United States and Western allies are coming together to address “some of the broader consequences that are flowing from Russia’s aggression, primarily the global food shortages and rising food prices”.

: Thalif Deen; UN INSIDER; 17 May 2022

Schoolgirl, Murdered for Blasphemy, Is Latest Victim of Nigerian Religious Strife

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) — Religious conflicts have escalated dramatically in recent years. Throughout the 1950-1996 periods, these conflicts constituted 33% to 47% of all conflicts.

Few continents are exempt from this picture of faith-based conflict and today Nigerians are grappling with a troubling theological issue following the stoning death of a Christian college student, allegedly for committing blasphemy on a social media site.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 16 May 2022

Photo: Indigenous communities in South Africa sue, protest off-shore oil and gas exploration. Source: MONGABAY

Big Oil and Gold Miners Get The ‘Unwelcome Mat’ From African Grassroots Groups

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) — Oil companies and gold mines in Africa are facing increasingly fierce challenges from grassroots community organizations trying to address serious climate concerns.

Shell Oil, to give an example, was hit with legal challenges as both the company and individual Board members faced opposition from Friends of the Earth.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 16 May 2022

Economic Gender Equality Falls Short—Despite Investments in Girls’ Education

By Thalif Deen

UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — A new study concludes that investments in girls’ education have failed to deliver economic equality for women.

The researchers found that while such investments have delivered many other benefits—including better health outcomes for women and their families—the economic returns are often disappointing.

: Thalif Deen; SUSTAINABILITY; Gender Equality; 15 May 2022

Commonwealth Joins the UN in Combating Corruption in Africa

By Kester Kenn Klomegah*

MOSCOW l KIGALI (IDN) — The 12th Regional Conference of Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa convened in Kigali, Rwanda, from May 3-7 under the theme: ‘Combating Corruption for Good Governance and Sustainable Development in Africa’.

The Conference was jointly organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Government of Rwanda and brought together members of the Association of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa, senior government officials, relevant international organisations, policymakers, and development partners to address key priorities toward the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 16.

: Kester Kenn Klomegah; SUSTAINABILITY; Peace & Justice; 15 May 2022

Photo: Nepal’s reliance on India for electricity has continued even as the country has been exploring options to export power to the southern neighbour. Source: The Kathmandu Post

Nepal Hammered by One of the Worst Power Crises in India

By Lekhanath Pandey

This article was issued by NEWSCLICK and is being republished courtesy of that German public, state-owned international broadcaster.

KATHMANDU (IDN) — Nepal's industrial sector has been hit hard by power cuts in recent weeks, with many small, medium as well as large firms forced to shut down operations due to a lack of electricity.

: Asia Editor; THE WORLD; South Asia; 14 May 2022

Photo: In January 2021, India's wheat exports were worth $80 million, which reached $304 million in January 2022. India's exports increased by a whopping 387 per cent in April-Jun 2022 YoY. Source: BusinessToday.in

India Explains Decision to Curb Wheat Exports

By Jutta Wolf

BERLIN | NEW DELHI (IDN) — In the wake of Russia blocking Ukraine’s exports, on May 13 India decided to restrict wheat exports. Explaining the decision, the Government’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) said the export curb will control food prices, and strengthen the food security of India and countries facing a deficit.

: Jutta Wolf; THE WORLD; South Asia; 14 May 2022

Photo: Bongbong Marcos presidential campaign in Makati. CC BY-SA 4.0

Philippines: Marcos Win Exposes Weakness of Democratic Processes

By Kalinga Seneviratne

SYDNEY (IDN) — The landslide victory in the May 9 presidential polls in the Philippines by Ferdinand Marcos jr the son of the former dictator of the same name who was forced to flee the country with his family (that includes his young son) in 1986 by a “peoples’ power” revolution throws another spanner into the adage that democracy gives people a voice to choose people to serve them and the nation.

: Kalinga Seneviratne; THE WORLD; Asia-Pacific; 14 May 2022

Photo: The World Food Programme (WFP) resumed its operations in the Tigray region of Ethiopia after fighting had halted its emergency response. WFP/Rein Skullerud

European Union Sued for Not Responding to Eritrea’s Rights Violations

By Robert Johnson

BRUSSELS (IDN) — The Foundation Human Rights for Eritreans, a Netherlands based organization, has decided to sue the European Union and international bodies for failing to respond to human rights abuses by the Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki and his associates.

At the press conference on May 10, the Foundation’s lawyer, Emiel Jurjens from Kennedy van der Laan made the announcement of legal action by the Foundation on the Responsibility of Eritrea for Grave Human Rights Violations, the details of which can be found here.

: Robert Johnson; THE WORLD; Horn of Africa; 13 May 2022

Photo: The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2019. Source: SPIEF’22

Intl. Economic Forum in St. Petersburg Despite the Russia-Ukraine Crisis

By Kester Kenn Klomegah*

MOSCOW (IDN) — Despite the Russia-Ukraine crisis going on from bad to worse, with a visible geopolitical impact, the historic city of St. Petersburg is gearing up for the mid-June International Economic Forum. Titled "New Opportunities in a New World", it will take place from June 15–18 in the ExpoForum Convention and Exhibition Centre.