News headlines
The Asian Financial Crisis -- 20 Years Later
- Inter Press Service
PENANG, Malaysia, Jul 05 (IPS) - It's been 20 years since the Asian financial crisis struck in July 1997. Since then there has been an even bigger global financial crisis, centred in the United States starting in 2008. Will there be another crisis in the near future?
1997 Asian Crisis Lessons Lost
- Inter Press Service
KUALA LUMPUR, Jul 05 (IPS) - After months of withstanding speculative attacks on its national currency, the Thai central bank let it ‘float' on 2 July 1997, allowing its exchange rate to drop suddenly. Soon, currencies and stock markets throughout the region came under pressure as easily reversible short-term capital inflows took flight in herd-like fashion. By mid-July 1997, the currencies of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines had also fallen precipitously after being floated, with stock market price indices following suit.
Is Religion the New Colonial Frontier in International Development?
- Inter Press Service
UNITED NATIONS, Jul 04 (IPS) - A decade ago, it was difficult to get Western policy makers in governments to be interested in the role of religious organizations in human development. The secular mind-set was such that religion was perceived, at best, as a private affair. At worst, religion was deemed the cause of harmful social practices, an obstacle to the "sacred" nature of universal human rights, and/or the root cause of terrorism. In short, religion belonged in the ‘basket of deplorables'.
Funding Climate Resilience Benefits All Nations – Yes, the U.S. Too
- Inter Press Service
KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, Jul 04 (IPS) - A leading climate change mitigation and adaptation activist and former climate negotiator in the Caribbean says that the United States could protect its economic and political interest by helping the region to go green.
Progress on World Hunger Has Reversed
- Inter Press Service
UNITED NATIONS, Jul 03 (IPS) - World hunger has increased, reversing years of progress, said a UN specialised agency.
During its biennial conference held in Rome, Italy from 3-8 July, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) noted that the world is facing it's worst food crisis since World War II.
Is the United States Preparing for a War in Syria?
- Inter Press Service
OXFORD, Jul 03 (IPS) - Although US policies during the past few months have been quite puzzling and unpredictable, the events of the past few days have been truly bewildering and alarming. On Monday 26th June, the White House released a statement saying that the United States had "identified potential preparations for another chemical attack by the Assad regime…" It went on to say: "If, however, Mr. Assad conducts another mass murder attack using chemical weapons, he and his military will pay a heavy price."
‘Address African Rural Youth Unemployment Now or They Will Migrate’
- Inter Press Service
ROME, Jul 03 (IPS) - In 2014 alone, about 11 million young Africans entered the labour market. But many see few opportunities in the agriculture sector and are constrained by a lack of skills, low wages, and limited access to land and financial services. Combined, this makes them more prone to migrate from rural areas.
Governments Support Trump’s Aim to Block Central American Migrants
- Inter Press Service
SAN SALVADOR, Jul 03 (IPS) - Trying to make it into the United States as an undocumented migrant is not such an attractive option anymore for Moris Peña, a Salvadoran who was deported from that country in 2014.
Top 300 Cooperatives Generate 2.5 Trillion Dollars in Annual Turnover
- Inter Press Service
ROME, Jul 03 (IPS) - The top 300 cooperatives alone generate 2.5 trillion dollars in annual turnover, more than the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of France, according to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA).
Time Stands Still for Nepal’s Conflict Victims
- Inter Press Service
KATHMANDU, Jul 03 (IPS) - "Reconstruction and reconciliation require finances and physical structure, but the families of the victims of the conflict first and foremost need their integrity protected. Physical and financial compensation mean little without justice," wrote Suman Adhikari nearly 11 years ago, during a ceasefire in Nepal's Maoist insurgency.
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