DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Global Warming Is Particularly Bad for Women-Led Families, Study Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Somini Sengupta | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Extreme heat is making some of the world’s poorest women poorer. The report adds to a body of work that shows how global warming, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, can magnify and worsen existing social disparities. That is to say, extreme heat widens the disparity between households headed by women and others. Female-headed households lose 34 percent more income, compared to others, when the long-term average temperature rises by 1 degree Celsius. The average global temperature has already risen by roughly 1.2 degrees Celsius since the start of the industrial age.

Persons: ”, Nicholas Sitko Organizations: United Nations Food, Agriculture Organization, United Nations Development, Food and Agriculture Organization

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations food agency said Tuesday it is stopping food distribution in areas of war-torn Yemen controlled by the Houthi rebels, a move that will impact millions of people. The World Food Program said the “pause” was driven by limited funding and the lack of agreement with the rebel authorities on downscaling the program to match the agency’s resources. The war in Yemen has raged for eight years between the Iran-backed Houthis and pro-government forces, backed by a coalition of Gulf Arab states. At the end of October, WFP and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization warned that acute food insecurity is likely to deteriorate further in Yemen through April 2024. It called for urgent and scaled-up assistance to Yemen and 17 other “hunger hotspots” to protect livelihoods and increase access to food.

Persons: U.N, Stephane Dujarric, “, ” Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, United, Food Program, Hamas, Agriculture Organization Locations: United Nations, Yemen, ”, Iran, Gulf Arab, Sanaa, Saudi Arabia, Red, Rome, Food

☆ World Food Program Staff Confronts Cindy McCain Over Gaza Crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Farnaz Fassihi | More About Farnaz Fassihi | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As the truce in the Israel-Hamas war was ending on Thursday, Cindy McCain, the executive director of the United Nations’ World Food Program, met virtually with her staff to address an internal uproar over accusations that she was not leveraging her position to speak out against the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Many of the global staff members who gathered were angered by her refusal to publicly call for a cease-fire, and there was a growing demand for her removal. In a video of the meeting shared with The New York Times, several employees read statements sharply criticizing Ms. McCain for being tone-deaf to staff concerns. “You were not here for us — with all due respect, you have failed us,” a woman speaking from Gaza on behalf of Palestinian staff members not present at the meeting says in the video. An annual prize in public service named after her late husband, Senator John McCain, was awarded to the “People of Israel.”

Persons: Cindy McCain, McCain, ”, Ehud Barak, John McCain Organizations: United Nations, Food, The New York Times, United, ” Staff, “ Locations: Israel, Gaza, United Nations, Halifax , Nova Scotia

[1/2] Grape leaves damaged by fungus favoured by a combination of drought followed by torrential spring rain are pictured in San Paolo di Civitate, Italy July 18, 2023. That means Italy is set to lose its position as the world's top wine producer to France, which had ceded the crown nine years ago. "Early in May we realised there would be no harvest, we cultivate organically and experienced the (fungus) attack sooner," he told Reuters. Italian output is forecast to fall to below 44 million hectolitres this year, according to the wine lobbies and ISMEA, from 50 million last year. Thanks to heavy rains and humidity, the fungus was able to attack the vines during these vulnerable periods, he added.

Persons: San Paolo di Civitate, Romolo, DI CIVITATE, Paolo Niro, di Civitate, Plasmopara, Andrea Luvisi, Niro, Fazil Dusunceli, Dusunceli, Gavin Jones, Susan Fenton Organizations: REUTERS, DI, Reuters, University of Salento, United Nations Food, Agriculture Organisation, FAO, Thomson Locations: San Paolo, Italy, France, Americas, Abruzzo, Molise, Puglia, San, Rome

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — A global hunger crisis has left more than 700 million people not knowing when or if they will eat again, and demand for food is rising relentlessly while humanitarian funding is drying up, the head of the United Nations food agency said Thursday. According to WFP estimates from 79 countries where the Rome-based agency operates, up to 783 million people — one in 10 of the world’s population — still go to bed hungry every night. More than 345 million people are facing high levels of food insecurity this year, an increase of almost 200 million people from early 2021 before the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency said. A business can use its expertise, he said, to strengthen infrastructure, “innovate new approaches and deliver solutions at scale” to improve humanitarian operations. “The public sector must harness the expertise of the private sector and translate it into action.”

Persons: Cindy McCain, ”, John McCain, —, ” McCain, Michael Miebach, Miebach, Jared Cohen, Goldman Sachs, Cohen, Lana Nusseibeh, “, Nusseibeh, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, ” Thomas Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, United, Food Program, . Security, WFP, Mastercard, United Arab Emirates, U.S Locations: United Nations, U.S, Rome, Ukraine, UAE, Haiti, United States

REUTERS/Altaf Hussain Acquire Licensing RightsNEW DELHI, Sept 9 (Reuters) - India served millet, a staple for millions of Indians, to world leaders at a gala dinner at the end of the first day of the G20 Leaders Summit in New Delhi on Saturday. From leaf crisps to pudding, the foodstuff was served at the high table occupied by leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The main course was a jackfruit pastry served with glazed forest mushrooms, millet crisps and curry leaf tossed Kerala red rice. Earlier this year, the versatile and climate friendly superfood grain featured at the White House state dinner for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "We encourage efforts to strengthen research cooperation on climate-resilient and nutritious grains such as millets, quinoa, sorghum, and other traditional crops including rice, wheat and maize," the statement said.

Persons: Altaf Hussain, Joe Biden, Rishi Sunak, Fumio Kishida, Droupadi Murmu, Millet, Narendra Modi, Krishn Kaushik, Aftab Ahmed, Alexander Smith Organizations: International Media Center, REUTERS, G20, U.S, British, Japan's, Indian, United Nations Food, Agriculture Organization, White House, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, Mughlai, Russia, Ukraine

☆ World food price index falls back to two-year low -FAO
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, Sept 8 (Reuters) - The United Nations food agency's world price index fell in August to a new two-year low, reversing a rebound seen the previous month, as a decline in most food commodities offset increases for rice and sugar. The Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) price index, which tracks the most globally traded food commodities, averaged 121.4 points in August against a revised 124.0 for the previous month, the agency said on Friday. In a separate report on cereal supply and demand, the FAO forecast world cereal production this year at 2.815 billion tonnes, down slightly from a previous estimate of 2.819 billion. The revised forecast was nonetheless up 0.9% on 2022 and matched record output from 2021, the FAO said. Reporting by Gus Trompiz; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Gus Trompiz, Hugh Lawson Organizations: United, Agriculture Organization's, FAO, Thomson Locations: United Nations, Ukraine

☆ World food price index back at two-year low despite rice surge -FAO
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Megan Varner/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Sept 8 (Reuters) - The United Nations food agency's world price index fell in August to a new two-year low, reversing a rebound seen the previous month, as a decline in most food commodities offset increases for rice and sugar. The Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) price index, which tracks the most globally traded food commodities, averaged 121.4 points in August against a revised 124.0 for the previous month, the agency said on Friday. The July reading was initially given as 123.9 in a rebound from a two-year low in June. The drop in the overall index reflected declines for dairy products, vegetable oils, meat and cereals, despite a jump in FAO's rice benchmark to a 15-year high following Indian export restrictions, the agency said. In contrast, the agency's rice index surged by almost 10% month-on-month as India's decision in July to ban Indica white rice exports disrupted trade at a time of tight availabilities ahead of new-crop harvests, FAO said.

Persons: Megan Varner, Gus Trompiz, Hugh Lawson, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Community Assistance Center, REUTERS, Rights, United, Agriculture Organization's, FAO, El, European Union, Thomson Locations: Atlanta , Georgia, U.S, United Nations, Ukraine, Oceania, Canada, FAO

Ruined rice crops in India's Haryana state. More than three billion people worldwide rely on rice as a staple food and India contributed to about 40% of global rice exports. India's rice stock is piling up as a result of the ban. Vijay Bedi/CNNAt one of New Delhi’s largest rice trading hubs, there are fears among traders that the export ban will cause catastrophic consequences. “The export ban has left traders with huge amounts of stock,” said rice trader Roopkaran Singh.

Persons: India CNN — Satish Kumar, “ I’ve, ”, Kumar, Vijay Bedi, Niño, ” Kumar, ” Satish Kumar, Ukraine —, ” Arif Husain, Pierre, Olivier Gourinchas, ” Husain, “, CNN Surjit Singh, Harayana, …, El Niño, Roopkaran Singh, Husain Organizations: India CNN, CNN, United Nations Food, Agriculture Organization, India wasn’t, United Nations, Food Programme, ” Workers, Thai Rice, Association, India’s Ministry of Agriculture, Monetary Fund, Farmers, Reuters, Meteorological Organization Locations: Harayana, India, India’s Haryana, “, India's Haryana, Ukraine, Global South, United States, Russia, Rice, New Delhi, CNN Nepal, Vietnam, Thailand, Thai, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, El, India’s, West Africa

☆ India expands curbs on rice exports with 20% duty on parboiled grade
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Rajendra Jadhav | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Last month, India surprised buyers by imposing a ban on exports of widely consumed non-basmati white rice, following a ban on broken rice exports last year. "With this duty, Indian parboiled rice would become as expensive as supplies from Thailand and Pakistan. India exported 7.4 million tons of parboiled rice in 2022. "Global rice prices had begun to moderate in the last few days after rallying more than 25% due to India's restrictions last month. His administration has extended a ban on wheat exports after curbing rice shipments in September 2022.

Persons: Rajendra, Narendra Modi, Rajendra Jadhav, Chris Reese, Tomasz Janowski, Hugh Lawson Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, United, Reuters Graphics India, Thomson Locations: Kakinada Anchorage, Andhra Pradesh, India, Mumbai, Thailand, Pakistan, United Nations, Ukraine, Africa, Asia, New Delhi

☆ World rice price index jumps to near 12-year high in July, UN food agency says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MUMBAI, Aug 4 (Reuters) - The United Nations food agency's rice price index rose 2.8% in July from a month ago to their highest level in nearly 12 years as prices in key exporting countries jumped on strong demand and India's move to curb the exports, the agency said on Friday. The Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) All Rice Price Index, which tracks prices in key exporting countries, averaged 129.7 points in July against 126.2 points for the previous month, the agency said. The July score was almost 20% higher than the last year's 108.4 points and the highest since September 2011, it said. The agency's overall world food price index also rose in July, rebounding from two-year lows. India, which accounts for 40% of world rice exports, last month ordered a halt to its largest rice export category to calm domestic prices, which climbed to multi-year highs in recent weeks as erratic weather threatens production.

Persons: Rice, Rajendra, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: United, Agriculture Organization's, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, United Nations, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Pakistan, China, Philippines, Benin, Senegal, Nigeria, Malaysia

☆ Burkina Faso fashion designer weaves new life into ancient fabric
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Thiam Ndiaga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] A collection of Burkina Faso fashion designer Francois Yameogo, who built a facility specializing in the production of Faso Danfani, the country's traditional fabric, is exhibited in his workshop in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso July 25, 2023. REUTERS/Ndiaga ThiamKOUDOUGOU, Burkina Faso, July 26 (Reuters) - Amid the rhythmic clatter of traditional wooden looms, artisans at a workshop in rural Burkina Faso spin indigo-dyed cotton into sprawling lengths of cloth, destined for modern suits designed by the nation's foremost couturier. Twenty years ago, Paris-based fashion designer François Yameogo returned to his native Burkina Faso to build a facility specialising in making Faso Danfani, the country's traditional fabric, for use in his signature indigo sport coats. This keeps domestic fabric prices artificially low, deters investment in modern technology and exacerbates poverty, according to the United Nations food agency. "The ruling junta's Faso Danfani mandate is already visible among officials sporting Yameogo's creations, including the prime minister.

Persons: Francois Yameogo, François Yameogo, Yameogo, Marc Jacobs, Cooper Inveen, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: REUTERS, United, Thomson Locations: Burkina Faso, Faso, Ouagadougou, Paris, United Nations, junta's Faso

☆ World food prices fall to two-year low in May, UN food agency says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, June 2 (Reuters) - The United Nations food agency's world price index fell in May to its lowest in two years, as a slump in prices of vegetable oils, cereals and dairy outweighed increases for sugar and meat. The Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) price index, which tracks the most globally-traded food commodities, averaged 124.3 points in May against a revised 127.7 for the previous month, the agency said on Friday. But international rice prices continued to increase in May, partly due to tighter supplies in some exporting countries, said FAO. However, improving weather conditions in Brazil and lower crude oil prices have curbed sugar markets, it added. Wheat stocks were forecast to fall, however, as production was seen declining while demand was expected to be stable.

Persons: Gus Trompiz, Emelia Sithole Organizations: United, Agriculture Organization's, FAO, El, Thomson Locations: United Nations, Ukraine, Brazil

☆ Morning Bid: Jubilant markets eye jobs in June jump
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Elizabeth FrantzA look at the day ahead in U.S. and global markets from Mike DolanWith the U.S. debt ceiling removed, world markets see the sky again - encouraged that robust U.S. labor markets continue to defy recession fears as interest rates near peaks. And judged by all the other labor market soundings this week, there are few signs yet of any significant disturbance to the still-robust employment picture. Wall St's "fear index" - the VIX (.VIX) gauge of implied equity volatility - hit its lowest level since November 2021 early on Friday. To the extent the dollar was bid by debt-ceiling stress and thoughts of another June Fed hike, then it's fallen back again too. Elsewhere, oil markets are closely watching the weekend OPEC ministers meeting - although further production cuts are not expected.

Persons: Elizabeth Frantz, Mike Dolan, Hong Kong's, Hang, Lululemon, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Senate, Federal Reserve, Nasdaq, Fed, The United, Broadcom, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Arlington , Virginia, U.S, China, Hong Kong, The United Nations, South Africa

☆ World food prices rise for first time in a year, UN food agency says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) price index, which tracks the most globally traded food commodities, averaged 127.2 points last month against 126.5 for March, the agency said on Friday. "As economies recover from significant slowdowns, demand will increase, exerting upward pressure on food prices," said FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero. While the meat index rose 1.3% month-on-month, dairy prices dipped 1.7%, vegetable oil prices fell 1.3% and the cereal price index shed 1.7%, with a decline in world prices of all major grains outweighing an increase in rice prices. World cereal utilisation in the 2022/23 period was seen at 2.780 billion tonnes, FAO said, down 0.7% from 2021/22. World cereal stocks by the close of the 2022/2023 seasons are expected to ease by 0.2% from their opening levels to 855 million tonnes.

☆ World food prices fall for 12th month running in March - FAO
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

ROME, April 7 (Reuters) - The United Nations food agency's world price index fell in March for a 12th consecutive month, and is now down 20.5% from a record high hit one year ago following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) price index, which tracks the most globally traded food commodities, averaged 126.9 points last month against 129.7 for February, the agency said on Friday. The FAO cereal price index fell 5.6% month-on-month in March, with wheat registering a 7.1% drop, maize a 4.6% decline and rice easing 3.2 percent. FAO also raised its forecast for world cereal production in 2022 to 2.777 billion tonnes, just 1.2% down from the previous year. World cereal utilisation in the 2022/23 period was seen at 2.779 billion tonnes, FAO said, down 0.7% from 2021/22.

☆ Afghan malnutrition rates at record high, U.N. food agency says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Malnutrition rates in Afghanistan are at record highs — with half the country enduring severe hunger year-round — a spokesman for the U.N.'s World Food Program said. “Half of Afghanistan endures severe hunger throughout the year, regardless of the season, and malnutrition rates are at a record high for Afghanistan,” said Phillipe Kropf, a spokesman for the United Nations food agency in Kabul. The Taliban takeover in August 2021 drove millions into poverty and hunger after foreign aid stopped almost overnight. Ebrahim Noroozi / APAid agencies have been providing food, education and healthcare support to Afghans, including heating, cash for fuel and warm clothes. “Since the Taliban have come, the economic condition is so bad and people don’t have food to eat.

☆ World food prices ease further in November, says FAO
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) price index, which tracks the most globally traded food commodities, averaged 135.7 points last month, down from 135.9 for October, the agency said on Friday. Lower readings for cereals, meat and dairy products in November offset higher prices for vegetable oils and sugar, the FAO said. The slight decrease in November meant that the FAO food index is now only 0.3% above its level a year earlier, the agency said. The FAO warned last month that expected record food import costs in 2022 would lead the poorest countries to cut back on shipped volumes. In separate cereal supply and demand estimates, the FAO lowered its forecast for global cereal production in 2022 to 2.756 billion tonnes from 2.764 billion estimated last month.

☆ ABB Nears Deal to Resolve Third U.S. Bribery Case Against Company
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Dylan Tokar | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +7 min

Photo: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg NewsIn the U.S., the ABB deal is an early test of a pledge by the Biden administration to take a tougher stance on corporate repeat offenders. An ABB spokesman said the company continues to fully cooperate with authorities and hopes to reach a final settlement soon. Exactly how U.S. authorities, including the Justice Department, will frame the ABB deal in relation to the new stance on repeat offenders remains to be seen. Allowing the ABB parent company to avoid a guilty plea will in theory help shield much of its business globally from those risks. The ABB deal would also mark the second time the Swiss company has settled FCPA offenses with a deferred-prosecution agreement.

Rising salinity in the Delta has multiple causes, experts and farmers say, including overextraction of groundwater and excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides. "With time, with the sea level higher, that line of salinity will go down into the Delta. EVAPORATIONSea water intrusion and salinity also threaten the Mekong Delta in Vietnam and the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta in Bangladesh. "You have to do much better job in a place like the Nile Delta because the water just evaporates quickly," she said. Rice cultivation helps wash the soil, but the government has imposed restrictions on the crop in parts of the Delta to conserve scarce water.

☆ Ukrainian farmers turn to UN-supplied grain sleeves to save their business
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/6] A general view of grain sleeves, temporary grain storage solution, loaded with the grain in the village of Kozyn in Kyiv region, Ukraine November 9, 2022. REUTERS/Murad SezerKYIV, Nov 10 (Reuters) - On a crisp and sunny November morning, Ukrainian farmers lined up to collect U.N.-supplied grain sleeves to store crops over winter as the country faces a significant shortage of storing capacity caused by Russian shelling. Local grain prices have fallen after Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, and Ukrainian farmers say they face difficulties exporting and high costs because of power outages after Russian missile and drone attacks on energy facilities. "We are trying to encourage (farmers) to keep the grain and wait for a better price... "Prices for diesel, petrol and spare parts have grown, while prices for our produce, for wheat, corn, they have decreased significantly," she said.

☆ 5G-enabled farms could ward off food insecurity and unlock $100 billion in global profits by 2030
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Clara Mcmichael | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

There lies Swans Trail Farms, a family-owned operation that focuses on agritourism and events with apple orchards, a corn maze, a pumpkin patch, and strawberry fields. Swans Trail FarmsSnohomish County and the 5G Open Innovation Lab launched sites to pilot 5G-enabled agricultural tech on two farms— Swans Trail and Andrew's Hay. CARES Act funding for the initiative dried up last year, but the 5G Open Innovation Lab continues to fund the project. The 5G Open Innovation Lab and Innov8.ag are working to expand to eastern Washington, an area of the state that's more agricultural. We've had our hiccups," Jim Brisimitzis, the head of the 5G Open Innovation Lab, said.

☆ World food index slips in Oct despite higher cereal prices -FAO
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Friday that its price index, which tracks the most globally traded food commodities, averaged 135.9 points last month versus a revised 136.0 for September. The index has fallen from a record of 159.7 in March, but remained 2.0% higher than a year earlier. While prices dipped overall, the cereal index rose 3.0%, with wheat up 3.2%, mostly reflecting uncertainties related to exports from Ukraine and also a downward revision for U.S. supplies. Rising international quotations for sunflower seed oil were more than offset by lower world prices of palm, soy and rapeseed oils. In separate cereal supply and demand estimates, FAO lowered its forecast for global cereal production in 2022 to 2.764 billion tonnes from a previous 2.768 billion tonnes.

☆ Sunflowers, war and drought: Why the price of margarine and butter spiked 32%
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Margarine prices swelled by about 4% in the month from August to September, meaning they've continued to trend upward in the short term. 1 producer and exporter of sunflower oil, which accounts for 9% of all vegetable oil produced globally. "Supplies of these alternatives are expected to be tight in the 2021/22 marketing year, contributing to elevated vegetable oil prices." Palm oil accounts for 35% of all vegetable oil made globally, the largest share relative to the aforementioned oil commodities. Annual oil prices — and those of its byproducts, like gasoline and diesel — skyrocketed as a result.

☆ Food inflation might be slowing — but that doesn't spell good news for food prices just yet
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Food inflation is easing, but food prices are still high by historical standards. The UN's Food Price Index fell for the sixth straight month in September, but was still up 5.5% on-year. Aside from raw material prices, other factors — such as labor costs — also affect food prices. His comments came just after the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization released data on Friday showing its food price index fell for the sixth straight month in September. There are also many moving parts to food prices.

Search resuls for: "United Nations Food"

25 mentions found