News stories by Farangis Abdurazokzoda

WASHINGTON, May 31 (IPS) - Mobile-finance and direct cash grants are revolutionary tools that can substitute for under-developed financial sectors and help reduce poverty and promote entrepreneurship in developing countries, according to researchers here.

WASHINGTON, May 31 (IPS) - Over two billion people - or 30 percent of the world's population - are either obese or overweight, and no country has successfully reduced obesity rates to date, according to a new study published this week by the British medical journal, The Lancet.

WASHINGTON, May 16 (IPS) - Honouring the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry Friday emphasised progress in advancing the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons, but a new report on criminalisation of LBGT people suggests that there is still a long way to go.

WASHINGTON, May 13 (IPS) - Social safety net programmes have expanded, yet 870 million of the world's poorest people remain uncovered, says a new World Bank report released Tuesday.

WASHINGTON, May 12 (IPS) - Misinvoiced trade in five African countries cost their governments billions of dollars in tax revenue and facilitated at least 60.8 billion dollars in illicit financial flows from 2002 to 2011, says a new report by Global Financial Integrity (GFI), a research advocacy organisation here.

WASHINGTON, May 06 (IPS) - The Azerbaijan government crackdown on civil society has worsened in recent months, human rights campaigners are warning, and activists are increasingly falling victim to official efforts to limit dissent.

WASHINGTON, May 02 (IPS) - It is time to craft new politics and economic policies to address the sustainability crisis, according to the latest edition of a flagship report by the Worldwatch Institute, a think tank here.

WASHINGTON, Apr 25 (IPS) - Even as countries around the world have started to sign on to and ratify a landmark international treaty that would for the first time regulate the international trade in conventional weapons, experts here are warning that the treaty in itself will not be able to maintain peace and security in Africa.

WASHINGTON, Apr 18 (IPS) - U.S. foreign aid is becoming increasingly outdated, analysts here are suggesting.

WASHINGTON, Apr 16 (IPS) - Modern-day slavery can be eradicated from multinational supply chains, but only if global businesses contribute to greater transparency and collaboration, according to new recommendations by Sedex Global and Verite.