Oxfam urges G7 to tap fraction of military spend for global hunger, debt
Reuters Charity Oxfam urged wealthy nations to boost spending on ending hunger ahead of a G7 annual summit set to kick off in Italy on Thursday, saying that just three per cent of G7 military spending could help solve the global food and debt crisis. The G7 – comprising the United States, Japan, Canada, Germany, […]
Western states push for deal on pandemic response rules at WHO meeting
Geneva, Switzerland Reuters Western countries led by the United States, France and Germany pushed for a deal to bolster pandemic response rules at a major World Health Organization meeting on Tuesday after states failed to finalise a pandemic treaty. No agreement was reached on the treaty last week in time for this week’s World Health […]
Analysis – West, Russia manage limited cooperation in Arctic despite chill in ties
Oslo, Norway Reuters When Arctic nations simulated a large oil spill for a virtual training exercise in March off northern Norway, Russia also took part – a rare sign of cooperation between Moscow and the West that highlighted the special status of the polar region. Relations between Russia and Western nations have been in the […]
Doctors who visited Gaza speak of “atrocities”, collapsing healthcare
Reuters The healthcare system in Gaza has essentially collapsed, Western doctors who visited the Palestinian enclave in recent months told an event at the United Nations on Monday, speaking of “appalling atrocities” from Israel’s offensive. The four doctors from the United States, United Kingdom and France have been working with teams in Gaza to support […]
Essay: More than four billion people are eligible to vote in an election in 2024. Is this democracy’s biggest test?
NICHOLAS REESE, principal fellow at the University of Melbourne’s Melbourne School of Government, provides – in an article first published on The Conversation, a rundown of just some of the significant elections that will shape the world in 2024…
Dangerously cold temps continue across US as 2024 presidential race begins in Iowa
Reuters Much of the United States remained gripped by an Arctic blast on Monday, cutting power to tens of thousands of customers in northern states and Texas and potentially dampening turnout in Iowa, where voters will cast the first ballots for a Republican candidate in November’s presidential race. The dangerously frigid weather is expected to […]
Essay: Scramble for the Sahel – why France, Russia, China and the United States are interested in the region
In an article first published on The Conversation, OLAYINKA AJALA, a senior lecturer in politics and international relations at Leeds Beckett University in the UK, looks at why the “scramble” for the Sahel region in Africa is likely to remain intense in the coming year…
US sanctions dozens of people worldwide over human rights abuses
Washington DC, US Reuters The United States on Friday slapped sanctions on dozens of people over human rights abuses, including Iranian officers it accused of being involved in the targeting of US officials, ahead of Human Rights Day on Sunday. The US Treasury and State Departments imposed sanctions and visa restrictions on 37 people in […]
Over 60 countries back deal to triple renewable energy this decade – officials
Washington DC, US/Brussels, BelgiumReuters More than 60 countries have said they back a deal spearheaded by the European Union, United States and United Arab Emirates to triple renewable energy this decade and shift away from coal, two officials familiar with the matter told Reuters last week. The EU, US and UAE have been rallying support […]
To cease fire or pause? US, Russia poised for UN showdown on Israel
United Nations Reuters The United States and Russia have put forward rival plans at the United Nations to help Palestinian civilians caught in the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip: a humanitarian pause or a ceasefire. Both countries seek UN Security Council resolutions to address shortages of food, water, medical supplies and electricity in Gaza. […]