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☆ Middle class wiped out: Half of Myanmar’s people forced into poverty by civil war, UN report finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Once considered among the most promising economies in Southeast Asia with a growing middle class, Myanmar is now suffering from soaring levels of poverty as a devastating civil war drives tens of millions further into destitution, according to a new United Nations report. Poverty has not only doubled but people are also more deeply poor, the report found. Wignaraja said Myanmar’s middle class is “literally disappearing.”“A 50% collapse of the middle class over two and a half years is quite astounding for this country, but for any country,” she said. The value of Myanmar’s local currency, the kyat, has plummeted, along with rising costs for food and other basic necessities. “We call on all stakeholders — inside and outside Myanmar — to take action and preserve vulnerable households from slipping into irreversible poverty and despair.”

Persons: Aung, Suu Kyi, ”, Kanni Wignaraja, Wignaraja, Achim Steiner Organizations: CNN, United Nations, UN Development Program, UNDP, Asian Development Bank, Bank, Asia Locations: Southeast Asia, Myanmar, destitution, Suu, Yangon, Mandalay

☆ Opinion: How my Nigerian grandfather made my Hollywood career possible
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Opinion Uzo Aduba | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

When each of his eight daughters married, instead of taking a dowry, my grandfather took just a single, symbolic dollar from the groom’s family. I think of my grandfather as Women’s History Month ends and contemplate how his break with tradition changed the history of women in my own family. He might even have played a role in helping change the trajectory for women in Nigeria. I also think about my grandfather whenever I cradle my infant daughter, who my husband and I welcomed into the world in November. For millions of women around the world, outsourcing care for their children or other household duties is not an option.

Persons: Aduba, Suzanne “, Warren, Uzo Aduba Robert Maxwell, —, didn’t, ”, JoJo Whilden Organizations: Netflix, United Nations Development Programme, CNN, Nigeria —, UN, UNDP Locations: Nigeria, Orange, United States, Hollywood

☆ Nikolaj Coster-Waldau on the UN’s 'Weather Kids' climate action campaign
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Tania Bryer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailNikolaj Coster-Waldau on the UN’s 'Weather Kids' climate action campaignThe United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched its new “Weather Kids” campaign to help mobilize climate action for future generations. CNBC’s Tania Bryer spoke to actor and UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, about what he hopes it will achieve.

Persons: Nikolaj Coster, Waldau, CNBC’s Tania Bryer Organizations: United Nations Development Programme, UNDP Goodwill

CNN —An oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden is on fire after a missile attack by Yemen’s Houthi militants, in the latest incident linked to the Iran-backed group in the key shipping route. US Central Command said the ship had issued a distress call and reported damage after militants fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen. The USS Carney, a guided missile destroyer, and other coalition ships responded “and are rendering assistance,” Central Command said. Earlier in the day, the USS Carney had shot down a Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile that targeted the US warship, according to US Central Command. Houthi forces stormed the capital Sanaa in 2014, and toppled the internationally recognized and Saudi-backed government, triggering a civil war.

Persons: Yemen’s, ”, Carney, Biden, Abdul Malek al, Houthi Organizations: CNN, US Central Command, ”, Command, Resource Management, US, United Nations Development Programme Locations: Gulf, Aden, Iran, British, Yemen, Britain, Israel, Gaza, America, Africa, Suez, Saudi

☆ Watch CNBC's full interview wiith Michelle Yeoh
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Tania Bryer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWatch CNBC's full interview wiith Michelle YeohSpeaking exclusively to CNBC's Tania Bryer, actress, producer and UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, Michelle Yeoh, reveals what it means to be awarded a Crystal Award at the 2024 World Economic Forum, how she chooses the charitable causes that matter to her, and how her historic Academy Award win for Best Actress changed her life.

Persons: wiith Michelle Yeoh, CNBC's Tania Bryer, Michelle Yeoh Organizations: UNDP Goodwill, Academy

☆ Red Sea crisis: Who are the Houthis and why are they attacking ships?
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-19 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels are stepping up their strikes on ships in the Red Sea, which they say are revenge against Israel for its military campaign in Gaza. While the Houthis may not be able to pose a serious threat to Israel, their technology can wreak havoc in the Red Sea. Video Ad Feedback Video shows moment Houthi rebels storm cargo ship in the Red Sea 02:30 - Source: CNNWhy are the Houthis attacking ships in the Red Sea? A number of countries have taken steps to try and push back Houthi aggression in the Red Sea region. The United Nations Security Council has meanwhile approved a resolution calling on Yemen’s Houthi rebel group to “cease its brazen” attacks in the Red Sea.

Persons: CNN —, Israel, Biden, Allah, Hussein, ”, Zaidis, Khaled Abdullah, aren’t, Israel –, Carney, Yemen’s, Joe Biden, ” Biden, “, Houthis “, ” Sare’e, Mohammed al, Al Jazeera Organizations: CNN, CNN — Yemen’s, United, Hamas, Reuters, UN, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Office, Humanitarian Affairs, Center for Strategic, International Studies, US, Maersk, Lloyd, CMA CGM, Evergreen, United Arab Emirates, Prosperity, United Nations Security Locations: CNN — Yemen’s Iran, Red, Gaza, United States, United Kingdom, Yemen, Iran, Islam, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Sanaa, Iran’s, Israel, Islamic Republic, Hezbollah, Lebanon, Tehran, Eilat, Suez, Egypt, Hapag, Africa, Russia, China, Britain, Palestine

[1/8] Waste from international clothing brands is stored before being used to fuel kilns at a brick factory on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 17, 2023. It found pre-consumer garment waste including fabric, plastic, rubber, and other materials from the brands was being burned at seven factories. The factories were burning garment waste to save on fuel costs, it said. Brick factory workers reported regular migraines, nosebleeds, and other illnesses, the UK report said. LPP said it was unaware its textile waste was being burned in brick kilns, and has contacted its agents responsible for placing orders in Cambodia.

Persons: Lululemon, Co's, Betty, Tilley Endurables, Armour, Lidl, LICADHO, LPP, Tilley, Clare Baldwin, Helen Reid, Katherine Masters Organizations: Cambodian League, Promotion, of Human, REUTERS Acquire, Adidas, Walmart, The Cambodian League, of Human Rights, Reuters, UNDP, Royal Holloway, University of London, Navy, Lidl Stiftung, Reebok, Venus, World, Cambodian Ministry of Environment, Sarom Trading, Thomson Locations: Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Cambodian, Kandal

☆ Gaza war inflicts catastrophic damage on infrastructure and economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

In all, it said at least 45% of Gaza's housing units had reportedly been damaged or destroyed. It was impossible to independently verify the numbers, but Reuters reporters in Gaza say the destruction is on a huge scale. OCHA said 55 ambulances in Gaza had been damaged, with critical shortages reported of drugs and blood products. The socio-economic situation of Gaza was already dire before the war, with the poverty rate estimated to have reached 61% in 2020. They also forecast that the war would cost Gaza between 4% and 12% of gross domestic product in 2023.

Persons: OCHA, Khan Younis, Crispian Balmer, Giles Elgood, Gareth Jones Organizations: United Nations Office, Humanitarian Affairs, Gaza's Ministry of Health, Palestinian, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, REUTERS Acquire, UNRWA, United Nations Economic, Social Commission, Western, United Nations Development Programme, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israeli, Beit Hanoun, Palestinian, ISRAEL, Khan, Israel, Western Asia

☆ Israel is tightening its control of northern Gaza. But there is no clear post-war strategy in sight
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Abu Dhabi, UAE CNN —The Israeli military is tightening its grip on northern Gaza, as its war on the Hamas militant group is showing no signs of abating. Almost six weeks into the conflict, however, Israel is yet to offer a clear post-war plan for the territory. The Israeli military raided Gaza’s largest hospital, Al-Shifa, on Wednesday after claiming that Hamas had built a command center beneath the sprawling medical complex. The United States has warned against Israel re-occupying Gaza, and has stressed a future role there for the Palestinian Authority (PA). Video Ad Feedback Netanyahu appeared to rule out giving the Palestinian Authority control of post-war Gaza.

Persons: Yoav Gallant, Israel, Khan Younis, Fatima Shbair, ” Frank Lowenstein, Barack Obama, “, ” Lowenstein, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, “ Israel, ”, Daniel Levy, CNN’s Dana Bash, Levy, I’m, ” Levy, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, CNN Kobi Michael, Mahmoud Abbas, –, Abbas, Fadel Senna, Lina Khatib, ” Khatib, CNN’s Becky Anderson, Michael of INSS, Lowenstein Organizations: UAE CNN, Israeli, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Al, Palestinian, CNN, United Nations Office, Humanitarian Affairs, of Housing, United, Palestinian Authority, Palestinian Health Ministry, West Bank, Institute for National Security Studies, Palestinian Center, Policy, Research, West Bank . Lowenstein, Regional, Getty, United Arab Emirates, SOAS, East Institute, PLO, Palestine Liberation Organization, Israel’s Ministry, Strategic Affairs, UN Conference, Trade, Development, UNCTAD, UN, Programme, Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute, UNDP, UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Israel Locations: Abu Dhabi, UAE, Gaza, Israel, Gaza City, Gaza’s, Al, Khan, “, London, New York, United States, Ramallah, Tel Aviv, ”, Israeli, AFP, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab, Palestinian, Palestine

Mendoza, a former fighter for the now-disbanded Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas, dragged her children back inside the house. In interviews with Reuters, those people recounted how the attacks left conservation projects adrift, with conservationists withdrawing from environmental protection works because of fear of more violence. Municipal data from local environmental authorities and the Colombian Institute of Meteorology (IDEAM) also showed that in the year after each killing, deforestation at a local level was worse than national trends. Santofimio's killing brought his hard-fought conservation project to a halt. In the tree nursery, which stopped work after Santofimio's killing, saplings bask in the dappled sunlight beneath protective nets.

Persons: Duberney Lopez, Jorge Santofimio, PUERTO, Leidy Mendoza, Mendoza, Jorge !, they'd, Susana Muhamad, Muhamad, Colombia's, –, Armando Aroca, Santofimio, Lopez, Kevin Murakami, Comuccom, Aroca, Javier Franciso Parra, Francisco couldn't, Andres Felipe Garcia, Cormacarena, Parra, Garcia, Luisz Martinez, Martinez, La, KfW, Roberto Gomez, Gonzalo Cardona, Sara Ines Lara, Oliver Griffin, Julia Symmes Cobb, Katy Daigle, Claudia Parsons Organizations: Revolutionary Armed Forces, Colombian, Villagers, Reuters, Environment Ministry, Global, Colombian Institute of Meteorology, Comuccom, International Narcotics, Law, Affairs, U.S, National Liberation Army, UN, Programme, Meta, UNDP, Progress, World Wildlife Fund, Security, USAID, Thomson Locations: Colombia, PUERTO GUZMAN, Putumayo, Bogota, La, Meta, La Macarena, Amazonia, Puerto Guzman

☆ UN report warns war has already set Gaza and West Bank economy back more than a decade
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | David Shortell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Israel’s war on Hamas could set the Palestinian economy in Gaza and the West Bank back decades, according to a new analysis by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Key economic measurements, including employment rates and GDP, have all plunged across Gaza and the West Bank, according to the UNDP analysis. The past month of conflict has erased 61 percent of employment in Gaza and 24 percent of employment in the West Bank, the report warns. After one month of fighting, the number of people living in poverty in Gaza and the West Bank increased by nearly 20 percent, the UNDP report says. If the fighting were to continue through a second month, the Palestinian economy would be set back 19 years’ worth of development, Al Dardari said.

Persons: CNN —, Abdallah Al Dardari, Al Dardari, “ I’ve, ”, Ashraf Amra, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Israel Organizations: CNN, West Bank, United Nations Development Programme, Palestinian Ministry of Health, UNDP, Bureau, Arab, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, Getty, World Bank, Human Rights Watch, United Nations Office, Humanitarian Affairs, ”, Israeli Locations: Gaza, Israel, Ramallah, Palestinian, Deir al Balah, Anadolu, Egypt, Palestine

FILE PHOTO-Volker Turk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, attends the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland February 27, 2023. Hanoi police on Sept. 15 detained Ngo Thi To Nhien, Executive Director of the Vietnam Initiative for Energy Transition (VIET), an independent think tank focused on green energy policy, Reuters reported last week citing a charity and a source. Nhien had worked for the World Bank, with the United Nations Development Programme and the United States aid agency (USAID), according to her profile on LinkedIn. She "has participated in international and national events, including consultations organized by UNDP on the topic of energy transition," the UNDP in Vietnam confirmed in an email message to Reuters. Phil Robertson, Deputy Asia Director at Human Rights Watch, said Manh had a strong alibi which was disregarded.

Persons: Volker Turk, Denis Balibouse, U.N, Joe Biden, Ngo Thi, Nhien, Le Van Manh, Phil Robertson, Manh, Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio, Michael Perry Organizations: United Nations, Human Rights, REUTERS, Rights, Vietnam Initiative for Energy, Reuters, UN, World Bank, USAID, LinkedIn, UNDP, European, Asia, Thomson Locations: Geneva, Switzerland, Rights HANOI, Hanoi, United States, Vietnam

☆ UN Worried About Vietnam Arrest of Energy Expert After Biden's Visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Francesco GuarascioHANOI (Reuters) - The U.N. human rights office has expressed concern about the arrest of a Vietnamese green energy expert, who had collaborated with U.N. and U.S. agencies, just days after President Joe Biden signed business and human rights deals with Hanoi on a visit. Hanoi police on Sept. 15 detained Ngo Thi To Nhien, Executive Director of the Vietnam Initiative for Energy Transition (VIET), an independent think tank focused on green energy policy, Reuters reported last week citing a charity and a source. She "has participated in international and national events, including consultations organized by UNDP on the topic of energy transition," the UNDP in Vietnam confirmed in an email message to Reuters. Vietnam's government has not issued any public statement about Nhien's arrest, and did not reply to requests for comment. Phil Robertson, Deputy Asia Director at Human Rights Watch, said Manh had a strong alibi which was disregarded.

Persons: Francesco Guarascio HANOI, U.N, Joe Biden, Ngo Thi, Nhien, Le Van Manh, Phil Robertson, Manh, Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio, Michael Perry Organizations: Vietnam Initiative for Energy, Reuters, UN, Human Rights, World Bank, United Nations, USAID, LinkedIn, UNDP, European, Asia Locations: Hanoi, United States, Vietnam

☆ Counting the cost of contagion fears from Africa coups
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Libgeorge Marc Jones | Marc Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Gabon coup leader General Brice Oligui Nguema is sworn in as interim president during his swearing-in ceremony, in Libreville, Gabon, September 4, 2023. The putsch not only sent Gabon's bonds tumbling 10%, but also hit those issued by a number of other countries including neighbouring Cameroon, as jittery investors scanned for who might be next. The apparent coup trend is adding to other major concerns deterring many investors from Africa - a wave of debt crises, tense geopolitics and an extreme vulnerability to climate change. "Nearly all markets in that region are paying some price in terms of rising cost of debt," said Sergey Dergachev, portfolio manager at Union Investment. There have been scores of coups and attempted coups in recent decades including in Thailand, Ecuador, Egypt and Turkey.

Persons: General Brice Oligui Nguema, Stringer, Sergey Dergachev, Paul Biya, Macky Sall, Denis Sassou Nguesso, Eamon Aghdasi, Fitch, Moody's, Thailand's, Ravi Bhatia, Bongo, Simon Quijano, Evans, Libby George, Marc Jones, Karin Strohecker, Emelia Sithole Organizations: REUTERS, UNDP, Union Investment, Investors, Reuters, General Assembly, Burkina, P Global, Reuters Graphics, Monetary Fund, Central, CFA, Peace, Thomson Locations: Gabon, Libreville, Africa Mali, Guinea, Africa, Cameroon, Mali, Thailand, Ecuador, Egypt, Turkey, crackdowns, Senegal, Congo Republic, New York, Niger, Burkina Faso, Kenya

☆ Somalia's first all-women newsroom spotlights female taboos
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Abdi Sheikh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MOGADISHU, Sept 20 (Reuters) - People often laugh when Fathi Mohamed Ahmed tells them she runs the first and only all-female newsroom in Somalia, one of the most dangerous places on the planet to be a reporter. "Sometimes my soul tells me I cannot continue the work because of insecurity and societal pressure. However, it is a career that I loved since my childhood and a dream which still lives in me," Ahmed said. With more than 50 journalists killed since 2010, Somalia is the most dangerous country for journalists in Africa, according to Reporters Without Borders. Bilan has revolutionised the news agenda in Somalia, said Abdallah Al Dardari, director of the United Nations Development Programme Regional Bureau for Arab States.

Persons: Fathi Mohamed Ahmed, Ahmed, Maria Abdullahi Jama, Sheikh Abdi Hayi, Omar Ibnu Khadab, Abdallah Al Dardari, Al Dardari, Abdi Sheikh, Abdirahman Hussein, Hereward Holland, Richard Chang Organizations: United Nations Development Programme, Protect Journalists, Somalia, Facebook, Bondhere School, Ministry, Women, United Nations, Programme, Bureau, Arab, Bilan Media, Thomson Locations: MOGADISHU, Somalia, Africa, Mogadishu

☆ Somalia's First All-Women Newsroom Spotlights Female Taboos
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

"Sometimes my soul tells me I cannot continue the work because of insecurity and societal pressure. However, it is a career that I loved since my childhood and a dream which still lives in me," Ahmed said. Although it is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), success has not come easy or risk-free for Ahmed and her team. With more than 50 journalists killed since 2010, Somalia is the most dangerous country for journalists in Africa, according to Reporters Without Borders. Bilan has revolutionised the news agenda in Somalia, said Abdallah Al Dardari, director of the United Nations Development Programme Regional Bureau for Arab States.

Persons: Abdi Sheikh, Fathi Mohamed Ahmed, Ahmed, Maria Abdullahi Jama, Sheikh Abdi Hayi, Omar Ibnu Khadab, Abdallah Al Dardari, Al Dardari, Abdirahman Hussein, Hereward Holland, Richard Chang Organizations: Reuters, United Nations Development Programme, Protect Journalists, Somalia, Facebook, Bondhere School, Ministry, Women, United Nations, Programme, Bureau, Arab, Bilan Media Locations: Abdi Sheikh MOGADISHU, Somalia, Africa, Mogadishu

☆ Storm-ravaged Libya faces a long road to recovery as humanitarian groups ask for $71 million in aid
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Dalya Al Masri | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Ahmed Elumami | ReutersStorm Daniel has left Libya, a country grappling with conflict and economic crisis for over a decade, in catastrophe. We need specialized and experienced rescue teams," Mohamed Elkwafi, a volunteer with the Eastern Libyan National Army Security Units in Derna, told CNBC. A man sits on a damaged car, after a powerful storm and heavy rainfall hit Libya, in Derna, Libya September 12, 2023. Libya's reconstructionThe Central Bank of Libya convened an emergency meeting last Thursday to discuss support for the impacted areas. General view of flood water covering the area as a powerful storm and heavy rainfall hit Al-Mukhaili, Libya September 11, 2023, in this handout picture.

Persons: Ahmed Elumami, Reuters Storm Daniel, Mohamed Elkwafi, Storm Daniel, Moammar Gadhafi, Esam Omran, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, Kristalina Georgieva Organizations: Reuters, UN, UNDP, CNBC, World Health Organization, International Organization for, Maxar Technologies, Eastern Libyan National Army Security, Government of National Unity, Fetori, Government of National, Central Bank of, Bank, Monetary Fund, IMF, surveilling Locations: Libya, Derna, Libyan, Soussa, Benghazi, Albayda, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, North Africa, Tripoli, Central Bank of Libya, Africa, surveilling Libya, Mukhaili

[1/5] FILE PHOTO-A drone picture shows where the former water line was more than one KM from the present line in Pretor, at Prespa Lake, North Macedonia September 6, 2023. The decline has continued over decades - the water at Lake Prespa, which is situated high in the mountains and is 5-million-years-old, is now more than 8 metres (8.74 yards) lower than the late 1970s. With a surface area of around 260 square kilometres, more than twice the size of Paris, more than two thirds of the lake belongs to North Macedonia and the rest to Greece and Albania. Any drop in water level can affect Lake Ohrid, a much larger lake just 10 km from Prespa and which draws around one third of its water from Prespa. "All (pesticides) go in the underground waters, in the lake, they go everywhere and are very dangerous for Prespa," said Mende Pandevski, harvesting plums close to the lake.

Persons: Vasilevski, Dragan Arsovski, Mende, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: NASA, The United Nations Development Program, Macedonian Geological Society, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Pretor, Prespa, North Macedonia, Greece, Albania, Macedonia, Lake, Paris, Ohrid, Skopje

☆ UN starts removing oil from decaying tanker near Yemen in Red Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

U.N. officials have been warning for years that the Red Sea and Yemen's coastline was at risk as the Safer tanker could spill four times as much oil as the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster off Alaska. "The ship-to-ship transfer of oil which has started today is the critical next step in avoiding an environmental and humanitarian catastrophe on a colossal scale." The oil transfer is expected to take 19 days to complete, the United Nations' Development Programme (UNDP) said in a statement. "We are obviously very cautious – it's only the beginning of a transfer," UNDP spokesperson Sarah Bel told a Geneva press briefing when asked about the operation's risks. "The cost of an oil spill is estimated to be approximately $20 billion, and it will take years to clean up," she added.

Persons: Antonio Guterres, Sarah Bel, Nadine Awadalla, Nayera Abdallah, Emma Farge, Clauda Tanios, Louise Heavens, Jan Harvey Organizations: United Nations, Programme, UNDP, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, GENEVA, Alaska, Yemen, Geneva, Dubai

☆ The world needs a debt-poverty pause to mitigate poverty: UNDP
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Tania Bryer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThe world needs a debt-poverty pause to mitigate poverty: UNDPTania Bryer talks to Achim Steiner, administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, about the organization's call for a debt-poverty pause and its push for a new system to allow debt restructuring for developing economies.

Persons: Tania Bryer, Achim Steiner Organizations: United Nations Development

☆ Gender biases not improved over past decade, U.N. says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Federica Urso | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A demonstrator looks on during a rally to mark the International Women's Day in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 8, 2023. In its latest report, the United Nations Development Programme tracked the issue through its Gender Social Norms Index, which uses data from the international research programme World Values Survey (WVS). The survey draws from data sets spanning 2010-2014 and 2017–2022 from countries and territories covering 85% of the global population. The latest analysis showed that almost nine out of 10 men and women hold fundamental biases against women and that the share of people with at least one bias has barely changed over the decade. "We need to change the gender biases, the social norms, but the ultimate goal is to change the power relations between women and men, between people," Aroa Santiago, gender specialist in inclusive economies at UNDP, told Reuters.

Persons: Cristina Sille, Heriberto Tapia, Aroa, Federica Urso, Simon Jessop, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, United Nations, United Nations Development, UNDP, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, United States, Aroa Santiago, Rome

☆ Nine out of 10 people are biased against women, UN report finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Biased gender social norms are a major barrier to achieving gender equality, the report’s authors warn, adding that the undervaluation of women’s capabilities and rights in society constrains women’s choices and opportunities. A global backlash against women’s rights and the far-reaching consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic have worsened the issue, the report notes. “Social norms that impair women’s rights are also detrimental to society more broadly, dampening the expansion of human development. This can be a very effective way of challenging gender norms around how care work is viewed,” said Raquel Lagunas, director of UNDP’s Gender Team. “Let’s be clear: global frameworks are not working for the world’s women and girls.

Persons: ” Pedro Conceição, ”, Raquel Lagunas, ” Lagunas, General António Guterres, Guterres, ” Guterres, Roe, Wade, Poland –, “ Organizations: CNN, UN, United Nations Development Programme, “, ” United Nations, United States Locations: Afghanistan, Poland

☆ On a culinary homecoming, influencer chefs look to perpetuate Palestinian dishes
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Emily Rose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Palestinian chefs from North America taste local Palestinian products as they explore the quality and richness of Palestinian products and sustainable agriculture, in Gaza City May 8, 2023. REUTERS/Arafat BarbakhJERUSALEM, May 29 (Reuters) - For Canadian celebrity chef Suzanne Husseini, a first culinary tour of the Palestinian territories was a chance to preserve and promote the dishes and folk-remedies of her ancestry. The chefs, with Palestinian roots, focused on traditional techniques such as how to turn the poisonous dark purple Palestine lily, which blooms in the spring, into an ingredient for soups and a traditional medicine. Mirna Bamieh, a chef and founder of the Palestine Hosting Society, which curates and seeks to revive traditional Palestinian recipes, discovered a local variant of the "kubeh" meat dumpling frequently associated with Kurdish kitchens. "It was super fascinating because you know, we always think that we don't have a kubeh culture in Palestine,” Bamieh said.

☆ 'Losing our best': activists killed in war seen as blow to Ukraine's future
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Dan Peleschuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The European Union offered Kyiv candidate status last year and made improving governance and fighting corruption key requirements for membership negotiations. He was killed fighting near Izium in the east of the county last June aged 24. "Misha was definitely another type of activist, who was ready to act in many different ways," said professor Yuliya Bidenko, who taught Alekseyenko political science. The mass flight of millions of refugees after Russia's invasion has also dealt a blow to Ukraine's potential political class, Bidenko added. "People like this are just extremely necessary for us after the war," Davydenko said of Tsakhniv.

☆ UN predicts Afghan economy would contract if aid drops 30%
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Charlotte Greenfield | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 18 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's economy will contract, inflation will rise and liquidity will fall if there is a 30% drop in international aid as feared, according to an analysis by the United Nations' development agency released on Tuesday. International officials say aid to Afghanistan, the recipient of the world's largest humanitarian program, will drop sharply this year as donors assess global crises and because of restrictions on female aid workers imposed by the Taliban administration. The United Nations' Development Programme (UNDP) analysed the impact of a 30% drop in aid and found gross domestic product for the already struggling economy would shrink 0.4% this year. "We may find ourselves in a larger drop in aid than 30%," said Al Dardari. Taliban officials have said their decisions on female aid workers are an "internal issue" and that foreign governments should reduce restrictions and unfreeze central bank assets to alleviate the economic crisis.

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