ri They Met at Eight Years Old, Married, and Died Together in a Ukrainian Trench By Published On :: Thu, 23 Mar 2023 16:22:00 GMT They met at eight years old, married, and died together in a Ukrainian trench Full Article
ri Europe's Growing Right Resurgence By Published On :: Sat, 11 Jul 2015 19:10:00 GMT The rise of a right-wing coalition in Denmark reflects a trend across Europe of political parties stoking anti-immigrant sentiment and Islamophobia. Full Article
ri Is Russia Plotting to Bring Down OPEC? By Published On :: Tue, 06 Oct 2015 23:09:00 GMT Russia's economy is heavily dependent on its energy industry, and President Vladimir Putin is playing a long, complex game to combat low oil prices. Full Article
ri Viewpoints: Paris Climate Summit By Published On :: Thu, 03 Dec 2015 23:51:00 GMT At the biggest summit since Copenhagen, negotiators from developed and developing countries converge in Paris to hammer out a meaningful international agreement to combat climate change. Full Article
ri Global Refugee Crisis Deepens by the Day By Published On :: Mon, 29 Feb 2016 17:16:00 GMT We are currently seeing the worst refugee crisis since World War II, and developed countries are not doing nearly enough to help those in need. Full Article
ri UN Weather Agency Predicts Rare 'Triple-dip' La Nina in 2022 By www.voanews.com Published On :: Wed, 31 Aug 2022 11:03:43 -0400 GENEVA — The U.N. weather agency is predicting that the phenomenon known as La Nina is poised to last through the end of this year, a mysterious “triple dip” — the first this century — caused by three straight years of its effect on climate patterns like drought and flooding worldwide. The World Meteorological Organization on Wednesday said La Nina conditions, which involve a large-scale cooling of ocean surface temperatures, have strengthened in the eastern and central equatorial Pacific with an increase in trade winds in recent weeks. The agency’s top official was quick to caution that the “triple dip” doesn’t mean global warming is easing. “It is exceptional to have three consecutive years with a La Nina event. Its cooling influence is temporarily slowing the rise in global temperatures, but it will not halt or reverse the long-term warming trend,” WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said. La Nina is a natural and cyclical cooling of parts of the equatorial Pacific that changes weather patterns worldwide, as opposed to warming caused by the better-known El Nino — an opposite phenomenon. La Nina often leads to more Atlantic hurricanes, less rain and more wildfires in the western United States, and agricultural losses in the central U.S. Studies have shown La Nina is more expensive to the United States than the El Nino. Together El Nino, La Nina and the neutral condition are called ENSO, which stands for El Nino Southern Oscillation, and they have one of the largest natural effects on climate, at times augmenting and other times dampening the big effects of human-caused climate change from the burning of coal, oil and gas, scientists say. Full Article Science & Health World News
ri UN Chief Urges Rich Countries to Pay Pledges on Climate Action By www.voanews.com Published On :: Mon, 03 Oct 2022 13:15:56 -0400 United Nations — The U.N. Secretary-General appealed Monday to developed nations to make good on their promise of $100 billion a year to support climate action in developing countries, ahead of a November climate review conference in Egypt. “Funding for adaptation and resilience must represent at least half of all climate finance,” Antonio Guterres told reporters. Ministers, climate experts and civil society representatives are meeting this week in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, to prepare the agenda for the November meeting, known as COP27, which will take place in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh from November 6 to 18. The United Nations says G-20 countries account for 80% of global emissions, but they have been slow to deliver on their $100 billion annual pledge. “Taken together, current pledges and policies are shutting the door on our chance to limit global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius, let alone meet the 1.5-degree goal,” he said of the benchmarks set in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. The U.N. warns that failure to reach those goals would spell climate catastrophe. “The world can’t wait,” he added. “Emissions are at an all-time high and rising.” Guterres said every government, business, investor and institution must step up with concrete climate action plans. “I am urging leaders at the highest level to take full part in COP27 and tell the world what climate action they will take nationally and globally,” the U.N. chief said. U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry is among the leaders in Kinshasa this week. Full Article World News
ri More Than 360 Migrants Rescued at Sea Trying to Reach Britain By www.voanews.com Published On :: Sun, 09 Oct 2022 17:04:23 -0400 LILLE, FRANCE — More than 360 migrants were rescued Sunday while attempting the perilous crossing between the north coast of France and the south coast of England, in small boats, French officials said. Regional maritime boats and a French Navy patrol ship made multiple trips to rescue groups of people in difficulty in the Channel, the French coastal authority Premar said. In all, they rescued 367 people, taking them to the French ports of Calais, Boulogne and Dunkirk. Increasing numbers of migrants seeking to reach England are trying to cross the Channel in makeshift boats now that officials have increased security at Calais and the cross-Channel tunnel. The waterway is one of the busiest sea routes in the world, with more than 400 vessels crossing it every day and the weather conditions are often difficult. Since the beginning of the year, a record 33,500 people have crossed the Channel in small boats. According to figures from Britain's interior ministry, 94% of the migrants who reached the U.K. in the past four years went on to apply for asylum. Of those who had received a response, most had been successful. As the law currently stands, a migrant must be physically in the U.K. to start the asylum process. Full Article World News
ri Pakistan: Terrorist Attack from Across Iran Border Kills 4 Soldiers By www.voanews.com Published On :: Sat, 01 Apr 2023 11:21:40 -0400 ISLAMABAD — Pakistan said Saturday that four of its soldiers were killed when a "group of terrorists" from across the Iranian side of the border attacked a routine military patrol operating between the two countries. The deadly cross-border raid took place in the remote Kech district in southwestern Baluchistan province abutting Iran, the Pakistani military said in a statement. "Necessary contact with the Iranian side is being made for effective action against terrorists on the Iranian side and to prevent such incidents in the future," the statement said, without providing further details. The Iranian Embassy in Islamabad condemned the attack and expressed sympathy to the families of the slain soldiers. "Terrorism is the common pain of the two countries and the two Muslim nations have sacrificed precious lives in the fight against this plague," the Iranian Embassy said on Twitter. "Undoubtedly, strengthening the joint cooperation between the two countries will prevent terrorist groups from achieving their sinister goals," wrote the Iranian diplomatic mission. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed “grief and sorrow over the martyrdom” of the security personnel in the terrorist attack, his office said in a statement. No group immediately took responsibility for Saturday's attack, the second incident this year in Baluchistan, where ethnic Baluch separatists routinely target Pakistani security forces. In mid-January, four Pakistani troops were killed when a military convoy patrolling along the more than 900-kilometer border came under an insurgent attack from across the Iranian side. The outlawed Baluchistan Liberation Army, or BLA, routinely takes credit for attacks on Pakistani security forces. Officials in Islamabad say the group has set up sanctuaries in border areas of Iran, charges Tehran rejects. The Global Terrorism Index, released in March by the Australia-based Institute for Economics and Peace, said that BLA was responsible for 36% of nearly 650 terror-related deaths in Pakistan in 2022, making it "the fastest-growing terrorist group in the world." Pakistan, the United States, and Britain have designated the BLA as a terrorist organization. Baluch insurgents claim to be fighting for the independence of Baluchistan, alleging extortion by the central government of the region's natural resources and discrimination against its ethnic Baluch population. Pakistani authorities reject the charges. The sparsely populated province, which also shares a significant chunk of the country's nearly 2,600-kilometer border with Afghanistan, is at the center of a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure development project being funded by China in Pakistan under Beijing's global Belt and Road Initiative. Full Article Middle East World News
ri Rice Shortages, High Prices Hit Most Vulnerable By www.voanews.com Published On :: Mon, 21 Aug 2023 03:40:14 -0400 Francis Ndege isn’t sure if his customers in Africa’s largest slum can afford to keep buying rice from him. Prices for rice grown in Kenya soared a while ago because of higher fertilizer prices and a yearslong drought in the Horn of Africa that has reduced production. Cheap rice imported from India had filled the gap, feeding many of the hundreds of thousands of residents in Nairobi's Kibera slum who survive on less than $2 a day. But that is changing. The price of a 25-kilogram (55-pound) bag of rice has risen by a fifth since June. Wholesalers are yet to receive new stocks since India, the world's largest exporter of rice by far, said last month that it would ban some rice shipments. It's an effort by the world’s most populous nation to control domestic prices ahead of a key election year — but it’s left a yawning gap of around 9.5 million metric tons (10.4 tons) of rice that people around the world need, roughly a fifth of global exports. “I’m really hoping the imports keep coming,” said Ndege, 51, who's sold rice for 30 years. He isn’t the only one. Global food security is already under threat since Russia halted an agreement allowing Ukraine to export wheat and the El Nino weather phenomenon hampers rice production. Now, rice prices are soaring — Vietnam’s rice export prices, for instance, have reached a 15-year high — putting the most vulnerable people in some of the poorest nations at risk. The world is at an “inflection point," said Beau Damen, a natural resources officer with the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization based in Bangkok. Even before India’s restrictions, countries already were frantically buying rice in anticipation of scarcity later when the El Nino hit, creating a supply crunch and spiking prices. What could make the situation worse is if India’s ban on non-basmati rice creates a domino effect, with other countries following suit. Already, the United Arab Emirates has suspended rice exports to maintain its domestic stocks. Another threat is if extreme weather damages rice crops in other countries. An El Nino is a natural, temporary and occasional warming of part of the Pacific Ocean that shifts global weather patterns, and climate change is making them stronger. Scientists expect the one underway to expand to supersized levels, and, in the past, they have resulted in extreme weather ranging from drought to flooding. The impact would be felt worldwide. Rice consumption in Africa has been growing steadily, and most countries are heavily dependent on imports. While nations with growing populations like Senegal have been trying to grow more of their own rice — many are struggling. Amadou Khan, a 52-year-old unemployed father of five in Dakar, says his children eat rice with every meal except breakfast, which they often have to skip when he's out of work. “I am just getting by — sometimes, I’ve trouble taking care of my kids,” he said. Imported rice — 70% of which comes from India — has become prohibitively expensive in Senegal, so he's eating homegrown rice that costs two-thirds as much. Senegal will turn to other trading partners like Thailand or Cambodia for imports, though the West African country is not “far from being self-sufficient" on rice, with over half of its demand grown locally, Agriculture Ministry spokesperson Mamadou Aïcha Ndiaye said. Asian countries, where 90% of the world’s rice is grown and eaten, are struggling with production. The Philippines was carefully managing water in anticipation of less rain amid the El Nino when Typhoon Doksuri battered its northern rice-producing region, damaging $32 million worth of rice crops — an estimated 22% of its annual production. The archipelago nation is the second-largest importer of rice after China, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has underscored the need to ensure adequate buffers. India’s rice restrictions also were motivated by erratic weather: An uneven monsoon along with a looming El Nino meant that the partial ban was needed to stop food prices from rising, Indian food policy expert Devinder Sharma said. The restrictions will take offline nearly half the country's usual rice exports this year, said Ashok Gulati of the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relation. Repeated restrictions make India an unreliable exporter, he added. “That’s not good for the export business because it takes years to develop these markets,” Gulati said. Vietnam, another major rice exporter, is hoping to capitalize. With rice export prices at a 15-year high and expectations that annual production to be marginally higher than last year, the Southeast Asian nation is trying to keep domestic prices stable while boosting exports. The Agriculture Ministry says it's working to increase how much land in the Mekong Delta is dedicated to growing rice by around 500 square kilometers — an area larger than 90,000 football fields. Already the Philippines is in talks with Vietnam to try to get the grain at lower prices, while Vietnam also looks to target the United Kingdom, which receives much of its rice from India. But exporters like Charoen Laothamatas in neighboring Thailand are wary. The Thai government expects to ship more rice than it did last year, with its exports in the first six months of the year 15% higher than the same period of 2022. But the lack of clarity about what India will do next and concerns about the El Nino means Thai exporters are reluctant to take orders, mill operators are unwilling to sell and farmers have increased the prices of unmilled rice, said Laothamatas, president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association. With prices fluctuating, exporters don't know what prices to quote — because prices may spike again the next day. “And no one wants to take the risk,” Laothamatas said. Full Article World News
ri Gunmen Seize 15 Children From School in Nigeria By www.voanews.com Published On :: Sat, 09 Mar 2024 18:20:28 -0500 ABUJA, Nigeria — Armed men broke into a boarding school in northwestern Nigeria early Saturday and seized 15 children as they slept, police told The Associated Press, about 48 hours after nearly 300 students were taken hostage in the conflict-hit region. School abductions are common in Nigeria's northern region, especially since the 2014 kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls by Islamic extremists in Borno state's Chibok village shocked the world. Armed gangs have since targeted schools for kidnap ransoms, resulting in at least 1,400 abducted since then. The gunmen in the latest attack invaded the Gidan Bakuso village of the Gada council area in Sokoto state about 1 a.m. local time, police said. They headed to the Islamic school where they seized the children from their hostel before security forces could arrive, Sokoto police spokesman Ahmad Rufa'i told the AP. One woman was also abducted from the village, Rufa'i said, adding that a police tactical squad was deployed to search for the students. The inaccessible roads in the area, however, challenged the rescue operation, he said. "It is a remote village (and) vehicles cannot go there; they (the police squad) had to use motorcycles to the village," he said. Saturday's attack was the third mass kidnapping in northern Nigeria since late last week, when more than 200 people, mostly women and children, were abducted by suspected extremists in Borno state. On Thursday, 287 students were also taken hostage from a government primary and secondary school in Kaduna state. The attacks highlight a security crisis that has plagued Africa's most populous country. Kidnappings for ransom have become lucrative across Nigeria's northern region, where dozens of armed gangs operate. No group claimed responsibility for any of the abductions. While Islamic extremists who are waging an insurgency in northeastern Nigeria are suspected of carrying out the kidnapping in Borno state, locals blamed the school kidnappings on herders who had been in conflict with their host communities before taking up arms. Nigeria's Vice President Kashim Shettima, meanwhile, met with authorities and some parents of the abducted students in Kaduna state Saturday and assured them of efforts by security forces to find the children and rescue them. Full Article Africa World News Extremism Watch
ri South Africa's top political parties begin final campaign push ahead of election By www.voanews.com Published On :: Sat, 25 May 2024 14:55:41 -0400 JOHANNESBURG — South Africa's four main political parties began the final weekend of campaigning Saturday before a possibly pivotal election that could bring the country's most important change in three decades. Supporters of the long-governing African National Congress, which has been in the government ever since the end of white minority rule in 1994, gathered at a soccer stadium in Johannesburg to hear party leader and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa speak. The ANC is under unprecedented pressure to keep hold of its parliamentary majority in Africa's most advanced country. Having seen its popularity steadily decline over the last two decades, Wednesday's vote could be a landmark moment when the party once led by Nelson Mandela drops below 50% of the vote for the first time. Several polls have the ANC's support at less than 50%, raising the possibility that it will have to form a national coalition. That would also be a first for South Africa's young democracy, which was only established 30 years ago with the first all-race vote that officially ended the apartheid system of racial segregation. As thousands of supporters in the ANC's black, green and gold colors attended its last major rally before the election, Ramaphosa recognized some of the grievances that have contributed to his party losing support, which include high levels of poverty and unemployment that mainly affect the country's Black majority. “We have a plan to get more South Africans to work," Ramaphosa said. “Throughout this campaign, in the homes of our people, in the workplaces, in the streets of our townships and villages, so many of our people told us of their struggles to find work and provide for their families.” The main opposition Democratic Alliance party had a rally in Cape Town, South Africa's second-biggest city and its stronghold. Party leader John Steenhuisen made a speech while supporters in the DA's blue colors held up blue umbrellas. “Democrats, friends, are you ready for change?” Steenhuisen said. The crowd shouted back “Yes!” "Are you ready to rescue South Africa?" Steenhuisen added. While the ANC's support has shrunk in three successive national elections and appears set to continue dropping, no party has emerged to overtake it — or even challenge it — and it is still widely expected to be the largest party by some way in this election. But losing its majority would be the clearest rejection yet of the famous party that led the anti-apartheid movement and is credited with leading South Africans to freedom. Some ANC supporters at the rally in Johannesburg also expressed their frustration with progress, as South Africa battles poverty, desperately high unemployment, some of the worst levels of inequality in the world, and other problems with corruption, violent crime and the failure of basic government services in some places. “We want to see job opportunities coming and basically general change in every aspect,” ANC supporter Ntombizonke Biyela said. “Since 1994 we have been waiting for ANC, it has been long. We have been voting and voting but we see very little progress as the people, only a special few seem to benefit.” While conceding to some failures, the ANC has maintained that South Africa is a better place than it was during apartheid, when a set of race-based laws oppressed the country's Black majority in favor of a small white minority. The ANC was also widely credited with success in expanding social support and housing and other services for millions of poor South Africans in the decade after apartheid, even if critics say it has lost its way recently. "There are many problems in South Africa, but nobody can deny the changes that have happened since 1994, and that was because of the ANC,” said 42-year-old Eric Phoolo, another supporter of the ruling party. “These other parties don’t have a track record of bringing change to the country." As some voters have turned away from the ANC, it has led to a slow fracturing of South African politics. They have changed allegiances to an array of different opposition parties, some of them new. South Africa has dozens of parties registered to contest next week's election. South Africans vote for parties and not directly for their president in national elections. Parties then get seats in Parliament according to their share of the vote and the lawmakers elect the president — which is why the ANC losing its majority would be so critical to the 71-year-old Ramaphosa's hope of being reelected for a second and final five-year term. If the ANC goes below 50, it would likely need a coalition or agreement with other parties to have the votes in Parliament to keep Ramaphosa, once a protege of Mandela, as president. The far-left Economic Freedom Fighters had their last big pre-election gathering in the northern city of Polokwane, the hometown of fiery leader Julius Malema. The new MK Party of former South African President and former ANC leader Jacob Zuma was also campaigning in a township just outside the east coast city of Durban, although Zuma didn't attend the event. The 82-year-old Zuma rocked South African politics when he announced late last year he was turning his back on the ANC and joining MK, while fiercely criticizing the ANC under Ramaphosa. Zuma has been disqualified from standing as a candidate for Parliament in the election because of a previous criminal conviction. Full Article Africa World News
ri The price of gold keeps climbing to unprecedented heights. Here's why By www.voanews.com Published On :: Sat, 28 Sep 2024 03:00:18 -0400 NEW YORK — The rush for gold just keeps coming. Gold hit another all-time high this week. Recent gains for the precious metal are largely credited to ongoing economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and strong demand from central banks around the world. If trends continue, analysts have bullish outlooks on the price of gold for the months ahead. But the future is never promised. Here's what you need to know. Where does the price of gold stand today? The New York spot price of gold closed Tuesday at just over $2,657 per Troy ounce — the standard for measuring precious metals, which is equivalent to 31 grams — the highest recorded to date, per FactSet. That would make a gold bar or brick weighing 400 Troy ounces worth more than $1.06 million today. This week's record high means that the price of gold has climbed hundreds of dollars per Troy ounce over the last year. Tuesday's price is up nearly $145 from a month ago and more than $740 from this time in 2023. The price of gold is up nearly 30% year to date, analysts note — outpacing the benchmark S&P 500's roughly 20% gain since the start of 2024. Why is the price of gold going up? There are a few factors behind the recent gains. Interest in buying gold often comes at times of uncertainty — with potential concerns around inflation and the strength of the U.S. dollar, for example, causing some to look for alternative places to park their money. Gold also surged in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among sources of uncertainty today are geopolitical tensions — which escalated over recent days with Israel's deadly strikes in Lebanon. And the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine have continued to fuel fears about the future worldwide. In markets like the U.S., there's also particular concern about the health of the job market. Last week's larger-than-usual half-point cut by the Federal Reserve signals a new focus on slowing employment numbers, and more rate cuts are expected before the end of the year. And such action arrives in the midst of a tumultuous election year — which could prove crucial to economic policy in the road ahead, too. In the near future, people are considering "any case of turbulence in the economy," FxPro senior market analyst Michel Saliby explained. "This is why they're keeping a decent portion of gold in their portfolio as a 'safe haven.'" Analysts also point to strong demand from central banks around the world. Joe Cavatoni, senior market strategist at the World Gold Council, noted last month that central bank demand was well-above the five year average — reflecting "heightened concern with inflation and economic stability." Recent stimulus measures in China aimed at boosting consumer spending are also expected to up retail investments, Saliby added, further boosting gold's performance. Is gold worth the investment? Advocates of investing in gold call it a "safe haven," arguing the commodity can serve to diversify and balance your investment portfolio, as well as mitigate possible risks down the road. Some also take comfort in buying something tangible that has the potential to increase in value over time. Experts caution against putting all your eggs in one basket. Both retail and institutional investors shouldn't be influenced by the "FOMO effect," or fear of missing out, Saliby notes — explaining that people should not risk all their money just because they are seeing others rake in gains. He advises investors to watch the market and always have a clear risk management strategy for their position. If geopolitical tensions cool, Saliby expects the price of gold to correct slightly, perhaps falling around $50 to $80. But he remains bullish overall for the near future — expecting gold's spot price to soon surpass the $2,700 mark previously predicted for 2025, and perhaps reach as high as $2,800 or $2,900 if trends continue. Still, future gains are never promised and not everyone agrees gold is a good investment. Critics say gold isn't always the inflation hedge many say it is — and that there are more efficient ways to protect against potential loss of capital, such as through derivative-based investments. The Commodity Futures Trade Commission has also previously warned people to be wary of investing in gold. Precious metals can be highly volatile, the commission said, and prices rise as demand goes up — meaning "when economic anxiety or instability is high, the people who typically profit from precious metals are the sellers." If you do choose to invest in gold, the commission adds, it's important to educate yourself on safe trading practices and be cautious of potential scams and counterfeits on the market. Full Article USA World News
ri Nigeria resettling people back to homes they fled to escape Boko Haram By www.voanews.com Published On :: Sun, 13 Oct 2024 19:57:13 -0400 DAMASAK, Nigeria — When Boko Haram launched an insurgency in northeastern Nigeria in 2010, Abdulhameed Salisu packed his bag and fled from his hometown of Damasak in the country's battered Borno state. The 45-year-old father of seven came back with his family early last year. They are among thousands of Nigerians taken back from displacement camps to their villages, hometowns or newly built settlements known as “host communities” under a resettlement program that analysts say is being rushed to suggest the conflict with the Islamic militants is nearly over. Across Borno, dozens of displacement camps have been shut down, with authorities claiming they are no longer needed and that most places from where the displaced fled are now safe. But many of the displaced say it’s not safe to go back. Boko Haram — Nigeria’s homegrown jihadis — took up arms in 2009 to fight against Western education and impose their radical version of Islamic law, or Sharia. The conflict, now Africa's longest struggle with militancy, has spilled into Nigeria's northern neighbors. Some 35,000 civilians have been killed and more than 2 million have been displaced in the northeastern region, according to U.N. numbers. The 2014 kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls by Boko Haram in the village of Chibok in Borno state — the epicenter of the conflict — shocked the world. Borno state alone has nearly 900,000 internally displaced people in displacement camps, with many others absorbed in local communities. So far this year, at least 1,600 civilians have been killed in militant attacks in Borno state, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, a U.S.-based nonprofit. And in a state where at least 70% of the population depends on agriculture, dozens of farmers have also been killed by the extremists or abducted from their farmland in the last year. In May, hundreds of hostages, mostly women and children who were held captive for months or years by Boko Haram were rescued from a forest enclave and handed over to authorities, the army said. In September, at least 100 villagers were killed by suspected Boko Haram militants who opened fire on a market, on worshippers and in people’s homes in the Tarmuwa council area of the neighboring Yobe state, west of Borno. Analysts say that a forced resettlement could endanger the local population as there is still inadequate security across the hard-hit region. Salisu says he wastes away his days in a resettlement camp in Damasak, a garrison town in Borno state of about 200,000 residents, close to the border with Niger. Food is getting increasingly difficult to come by and Salisu depends on handouts from the World Food Program and other aid organizations. He longs to find work. “We are begging the government to at least find us a means of livelihood instead of staying idle and waiting for whenever food comes,” he said. On a visit last week to Damasak, Cindy McCain, the WFP chief, pledged the world would not abandon the Nigerian people as she called for more funding to support her agency's aid operations. “We are going to stay here and do the very best we can to end hunger,” McCain told The Associated Press as she acknowledged the funding shortages. “How do I take food from the hungry and give it to the starving,” she said. Resettlement usually involves the displaced being taken in military trucks back to their villages or “host communities." The Borno state government has promised to provide returnees with essentials to help them integrate into these areas, supported by aid groups. The government says the displacement camps are no longer sustainable. “What we need now is ... durable solutions,” Borno governor Babagana Zulum told McCain during her visit. As the resettlement got underway, one in five displaced persons stayed back in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, and nearby towns but were left without any support for local integration, the Global Protection Cluster, a network of non-government organizations and U.N. agencies, said last December. Many others have crossed the border to the north, to settle as refugees in neighboring Niger, Chad or Cameroon. The three countries have registered at least 52,000 Nigerian refugees since January 2023, according to the U.N. refugee agency — nearly twice the number registered in the 22 months before that. A rushed closure of displacement camps and forced resettlement puts the displaced people at risk again from militants still active in their home areas — or forces them to “cut deals” with jihadis to be able to farm or fish, the International Crisis Group warned in a report earlier this year. That could make the extremists consolidate their presence in those areas, the group warned. Boko Haram, which in 2016 split into two main factions, continues to ambush security convoys and raid villages. Abubakar Kawu Monguno, head of the Center for Disaster Risk Management at the University of Maiduguri, said the best option is for government forces to intensify their campaign to eliminate the militants or “push them to surrender.” After not being able to access their farms because of rampant attacks by militants, some farmers in Damasak and other parts of Mobbar district returned to work their land last year, armed with seedlings provided by the government. Salisu was one of them. Then a major flood struck in September, collapsing a key dam and submerging about 40% of Maiduguri's territory. Thirty people were killed and more than a million others were affected, authorities said. Farms that feed the state were ruined, including Salisu's. His hopes for a good rice harvest were washed away. Now he lines up to get food at a Damasak food hub. “Since Boko Haram started, everything else stopped here," he said. “There is nothing on the ground and there are no jobs.” Maryam Abdullahi also lined up at a WFP hub in Damasak with other women, waiting for bags of rice and other food items she desperately needs for her family of eight. Her youngest is 6 years old. The donations barely last halfway through the month, she said, but she still waited in the scorching heat. What little money she has she uses to buy yams to fry and sell to sustain her family, but it’s nowhere enough. Her only wish is to be able to get a “proper job” so she and her children would feel safe, she said. “We either eat in the morning for strength for the rest of the day or ... we eat only at night,” Abdullahi said. Full Article Africa World News
ri Viewpoints: Syria's Ongoing Crisis By Published On :: Wed, 04 Sep 2013 13:45:00 GMT More than 110,000 civilians are dead. More than 2 million are refugees. The United States, France and Turkey are moving closer to military intervention. Full Article
ri Syria: Center of a Region Inflamed By Published On :: Mon, 09 Sep 2013 22:57:00 GMT Whether driven by humanitarian aims or not, a U.S. military strike on Syria would be perceived as yet another forceful grab for regional and global hegemony. Full Article
ri Syria: Interview with Richard Gowan By Published On :: Thu, 10 Oct 2013 12:53:00 GMT Gowan discusses the obstacles to a peace process, including the fact that extremist rebel factions are unlikely to recognize any ceasefire arrived at in Geneva. Full Article
ri Syria: the Misnomer of 'Combating Terrorism' By Published On :: Tue, 18 Feb 2014 16:35:00 GMT In Syria and across the Middle East, every actor embroiled in conflict is considered a terrorist by someone, making resolutions exceedingly difficult to achieve. Full Article
ri Viewpoints: Iraq Battles Multiple Crises By Published On :: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 19:59:00 GMT With ISIS continuing to terrorize and control broad swaths of the country, and with international intervention now underway, Iraq also faces a potential political crisis. Full Article
ri Overcoming ISIS: Transcending Sectarian Rivalries By Published On :: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 20:51:00 GMT The Western strategy of fighting warfare with warfare has only perpetuated sectarian divides, creating the very environment that fostered ISIS. Full Article
ri Israel's Brick Wall By Published On :: Sun, 02 Oct 2011 18:01:00 GMT Israel's unreasonableness, backed by U.S. opposition to Palestinian statehood, is bound to isolate Israel and undermine American influence in the region. Full Article
ri Viewpoints: Iraq and Syria's Ongoing Conflagration By Published On :: Sat, 13 Jun 2015 12:55:00 GMT Sectarian warfare in Iraq and a brutal regime in Syria have led to a level of violence and chaos that is extreme even by the Middle East's standards. Full Article
ri Gas Discoveries in the East Mediterranean By Published On :: Tue, 16 Jun 2015 13:01:00 GMT Countries in the East Mediterranean can use gas discoveries as a catalyst for regional cooperation, unlocking the region's production potential. Full Article
ri ISIS Brutality Becomes a TV Series By Published On :: Mon, 19 Jun 2017 16:04:00 GMT During the 30-days of Ramadan, and while Muslims in the Arab world have been fasting since May 26, millions have tuned into Saudi Arabia's MBC to watch the first ever series about ISIS. Full Article
ri Zimbabwe Food Security Threatened by Tobacco By Published On :: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 15:43:00 GMT Droves of small-scale farmers in Zimbabwe are moving away from growing food crops and turning to tobacco, a trend that seriously threatens the country's food security. Full Article
ri U.S.-Africa Summit: Partnership Opportunities By Published On :: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 17:25:00 GMT The upcoming summit between U.S. and African leaders is likely to make progress on a number of investment, development and security issues. Full Article
ri Nigeria: Ending the Threat of Boko Haram By Published On :: Thu, 08 May 2014 15:34:00 GMT The kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls should be the last straw. Nigeria must decisively end the menace of the insurgency group Boko Haram. Full Article
ri Renew the African Growth and Opportunity Act By Published On :: Sat, 11 Apr 2015 16:50:00 GMT If revised and renewed, the AGOA would encourage growth and development in sub-Saharan Africa while also benefitting U.S. economic interests. Full Article
ri Food Insecurity and Climate Change in Egypt By Published On :: Mon, 04 May 2015 18:52:00 GMT Egypt must adapt to climate change by introducing new crops, investing in farming technology and changing subsidies to protect the most vulnerable. Full Article
ri Child Brides in Zimbabwe By Published On :: Tue, 15 Nov 2016 10:20:00 GMT Legal frameworks play a powerful role in transforming norms and protecting girls' rights. Although many African countries have established 18 as the minimum marriage age for girls, weak enforcement has meant these laws have had little impact. Full Article
ri A Quarter of a Billion Friends of Zion Unite for the Anniversary of the October 7 Massacre By www.jpost.com Published On :: Sun, 06 Oct 2024 10:37:51 GMT Full Article evangelical support for israel Friends of Zion The October 7 Massacre
ri Paul Weller, Primal Scream, Kneecap headline London's 'Gig for Gaza' By www.jpost.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 15:48:54 GMT During a recent tour of the US, Weller, a longtime advocate for leftwing causes, performed with a Palestinian flag draped over his guitar amplifier. Full Article music Pro-Palestinian celebrities Gaza Strip Charity Palestinian Israel-Hamas War
ri Jeremy Berkovits: The face of Jerusalem's popular American Colony Hotel By www.jpost.com Published On :: Sun, 10 Nov 2024 08:13:12 GMT At the table: Maintaining the massive 12,000-square-foot compound amounts to many thousands of shekels a month, and the owners are eager for a return to normalcy. Full Article hotel business The October 7 Massacre Israel-Hamas War At the Table
ri Philly Jewish deli featured in Trump ad, is now setting for Harris spot By www.jpost.com Published On :: Fri, 01 Nov 2024 02:38:22 GMT Lita Cohen said she was "very upset with that recent Trump ad that stereotypes Jewish people.” Full Article United States United States presidential election Donald Trump Kamala Harris
ri Hagai Yodan brings bold vision to Jerusalem Piano Festival’s opening concert By www.jpost.com Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 23:23:01 GMT Hagai Yodan premieres a daring piano-tech concerto at Jerusalem’s 2024 Piano Festival. Full Article Jerusalem jerusalem live music symphony piano
ri Trump picks South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as Homeland Security secretary By www.jpost.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 06:15:13 GMT Noem, once seen as a possible running mate for Trump, is currently serving her second term as South Dakota's gov after a reelection in 2022 Full Article United States Donald Trump South Dakota US Elections 2024
ri 102 years ago, one of the all-time greatest archaeological discoveries was made By www.jpost.com Published On :: Tue, 05 Nov 2024 16:00:00 GMT A member of the team, a water boy, accidentally stumbled upon a stone that turned out to be the first step of an ancient staircase. Full Article history discovery research
ri Rabbis discuss Simchat Torah and unity in polarized, post-Oct. 7 Jewish society By www.jpost.com Published On :: Mon, 21 Oct 2024 10:52:18 GMT The Jerusalem Post Podcast with Aaron Reich and Tal Spungin. Full Article Judaism rabbi podcast jpost podcast Simhat Torah
ri Israel’s youth face growing eating disorder crisis, with limited care By www.jpost.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 20:20:39 GMT Israeli health experts reveal that 1 in 10 youth struggle with eating disorders, highlighting a need for urgent action. Full Article health education diet eating disorder
ri Majority of Israelis are concerned about climate change, and the environment - survey By www.jpost.com Published On :: Sun, 10 Nov 2024 12:37:09 GMT The study surveyed 1,180 participants in Israel about their knowledge and attitudes regarding climate change and its effects on the environment. Full Article Israel environment ben-gurion university survey climate change Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
ri Emperor penguin found 3,500 km from Antarctica on an Australian tourist beach By www.jpost.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 08:00:00 GMT This is the first recorded sighting of an emperor penguin in Australia, experts say. Full Article Australia penguin antarctica
ri Jew-hunting riots in Amsterdam expose dangers of bystander inaction By www.jpost.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 23:38:15 GMT By staying silent, these bystanders betray themselves, their communities, and democratic ideals—abandoning Amsterdam’s Israeli and Jewish guests. Full Article Maccabi Tel Aviv Netherlands Amsterdam pogroms antisemitism
ri Meyer Habib: I am very worried about France, it is much more antisemitic than Belgium By www.jpost.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 20:21:21 GMT Former French MP Meyer Habib describes his worries about France's future as antisemitism soars across Europe and violence becomes normalized. Full Article France France Jews Meyer Habib antisemitism
ri Why Trump is compared to the biblical King Jehu on Christian right By www.jpost.com Published On :: Mon, 04 Nov 2024 07:54:58 GMT Messianic community leaders declared Donald Trump a "trumpet of God." Full Article United States Christianity bible United States presidential election Donald Trump
ri A plea to my fellow Christians: Now is the time to stand up for the Jewish people By www.jpost.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 01:27:24 GMT Your Jewish friends, neighbors, and co-workers undoubtedly feel unsafe at this moment, and you have an opportunity to show them they are not alone. Full Article BDS Europe Amsterdam Christian Zionism antisemitism Christians
ri Russian frigate with hypersonic missiles conducts drills in English Channel, enters Atlantic By www.jpost.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:46:54 GMT Russia started mass supplying its military with Zicron missiles to attempt to boost its nuclear forces. Full Article Russia Navy missiles Atlantic Ocean
ri Israel moves forward on sixth submarine from Germany By www.jpost.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 19:00:56 GMT Moreover, the IDF said that it marked the start of Germany building the next submarine, the Dakar, which is due to be delivered sometime in the next decade. Full Article IDF Nuclear german submarines israel Israeli Navy israeli submarines Navy
ri Cigarettes found smuggled inside loaf of bread at Carmel Prison By www.jpost.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 02:44:53 GMT Prison sergeant thwarts cigarette smuggling attempt after discovering contraband hidden inside sliced bread at Carmel Prison. Full Article crime police prison Cigarettes Israel Prison Service
ri Defense Minister Katz: Time is right to hit Iran By www.jpost.com Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 17:54:19 GMT Israel's incoming Defense Minister Yisrael Katz declared conditions are optimal for targeting Iran's nuclear program, citing recent successful Israeli airstrikes and broad national consensus. Full Article Iran Israel Katz Iran nuclear Israeli Air Force
ri Israeli NGO hosts event for fallen immigrant soldiers, security personnel in Middle East war By www.jpost.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 01:02:29 GMT During the event, an exhibition presented the fallen soldiers and presented their personal stories, and a ceremony was held in their memory with the participation of the bereaved families. Full Article IDF Diaspora Jews NGO Fallen soldiers