By Jaya Ramachandran ROME (IDN) — A new report by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that “life-saving aid” to families on the brink of famine is being cut off in several countries by fighting and blockades. Of serious concern, says the report, are 23 ‘hunger hotspots’ […]
Doubts Whether the World Meteorological Organization Will be Reformed
Viewpoint by Maurizio Guerrero* Passblue NEW YORK (IDN) — Back in June 2019, the World Meteorological Organization embarked on an ambitious effort to streamline its internal operations, cut expenses by two percent and realign the organization with “21st-century realities, priorities and dynamics.”
Indian Farmers Continue to Innovate with Their Protests
By Arun Srivastava* NEW DELHI (IDN) — World history is full of narratives of peasant struggles and uprising. India also has seen many of them which had different perspectives and dimensions. Early peasant movements were usually against feudal and semi-feudal societies and resulted in violent uprisings.
Western and Central African Countries Need to Empower Youth
By Ekua Nuama Bentil, Yoko Nagashima, Himdat Bayusuf, Jamil Salmi, Assane Dieng & Venkatesh Sundararaman* WASHINGON, D.C. (IDN) — The Western and Central Africa (WCA) region is home to an estimated half a billion people and more than 40% of the population is under the age of 15, as shown by the data from the […]
Urgent Need for Youth Empowerment in Western and Central African Countries
Viewpoint by Ekua Nuama Bentil, Yoko Nagashima, Himdat Bayusuf, Jamil Salmi, Assane Dieng & Venkatesh Sundararaman* WASHINGON, D.C. (IDN) — The Western and Central Africa (WCA) region is home to an estimated half a billion people and more than 40% of the population is under the age of 15, as shown by the data from […]
Indian Farmers’ Protests Continue to be Innovative
By Arun Srivastava* NEW DELHI (IDN) — World history is full of narratives of peasant struggles and uprising. India also has seen many of them which had different perspectives and dimensions. Early peasant movements were usually against feudal and semi-feudal societies and resulted in violent uprisings.
UN Experts Call for Lifesaving Help for Venezuela Cancer Patients Hit by US Sanctions
By Jamshed Baruah GENEVA (IDN) — Independent UN rights experts are concerned that Venezuelan cancer patients could die because they have been caught up in excessively strict application of U.S. sanctions aimed at Venezuela and the state-owned oil company Petroleum of Venezuela (PDVSA).
New Big Tobacco Products Threaten Global Progress on The Fight Against Tobacco
Viewpoint by Matthew L. Myers, President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids WASHINGTON, D.C. (IDN) — In 2020, 3.6 million kids in the United States used electronic cigarettes, including 1 in 5 high school students. A growing percentage of them did so frequently or daily, a sure sign of addiction. With 83% of youth e-cigarette users using […]
OPEC Fund Loans Uganda to Enhance Productivity for Smallholder Farmers
Newsbrief by Reinhard Jacobsen VIENNA (IDN) — More than 120,000 smallholder households in Uganda’s northern and north-eastern regions engaged in the production and marketing of oil seeds (groundnuts, sunflower, sesame and soy) are expected to benefit from US$30 million loan agreement the OPEC Fund for International Development has signed with Uganda.
UN Urges Action as COVID Leaves Millions Vulnerable
By Caroline Mwanga NEW YORK (IDN) — The COVID pandemic has pushed no less than 124 million more people into extreme poverty. “Many millions” have been left vulnerable to the scourge. Half of victims in low-income countries are children, noted UN Secretary General António Guterres noted just ahead of the World Day Against Trafficking in […]