News headlines for “G8: Too Much Power?”
To Put a Stop to Siphoning off Money, Start with Data
- Inter Press Service
NEW YORK, Oct 04 (IPS) - Khalid Saifullah, Fellow, Save Bangladesh USA Inc.The commonly used Bangla phrase for siphoning off money out of the country – "taka pachar" – is rather misleading. Because taka, the Bangladeshi currency, is never taken out of Bangladesh. It's not useful anywhere else. What goes out is its equivalence in foreign currencies, especially, US dollars. The technical term for such criminal act is Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs). Mistakenly, sometimes IFFs are referred to as money laundering – a processing of criminal proceeds to disguise their illegal origin.
Why Africa Should Embrace Territorial Markets to Withstand Climate Shocks and Crises
- Inter Press Service
HARARE, Oct 04 (IPS) - African policymakers, local leaders and the private sector have been asked to create an enabling environment that will help African traders and farmer folks build reliable systems for food security and resilience through territorial markets.
It’s Time for Rich Polluters to Pay for the Climate Crisis They Created
- Inter Press Service
NEW YORK, Sep 30 (IPS) - The world is standing at a critical juncture. Climate change is not just a future threat—it's here, and it's already devastating lives. From record-breaking heat waves to floods and landslides, the planet is sending us clear signals that we cannot afford to ignore.
Easing Africa’s Debt Burdens: a Fresh Approach, Based on an Old Idea
- Inter Press Service
PRETORIA. South Africa / CAMBRIDGE, USA, Sep 27 (IPS) - The statistics are stark: 54 governments, of which 25 are African, are spending at least 10% of their revenues on servicing their debts; 48 countries, home to 3.3 billion people, are spending more on debt service than on health or education.
Dying for a Cause: Environmental Defenders in the Firing Line
- Inter Press Service
BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe, Sep 26 (IPS) - In 2017, South African activist Nonhle Mbuthuma took a stand against the powerful oil giant Shell, halting their plans to explore the pristine Wild Coast.
Flooding and Armed Conflict Aggravates Sudan’s Cholera Epidemic
- Inter Press Service
UNITED NATIONS, Sep 26 (IPS) - Sudan has been plunged into a deadly cholera outbreak in the midst of the Sudanese Civil War. Sudan is currently home to an approximate 15 million people, many of which have had to bear the brunt of hostilities between warring parties, widespread food insecurity, mass displacement, and extreme weather anomalies. Flooding, in particular, has been very damaging, leading to the collapse of critical infrastructures that ensure sanitation. This has caused the cholera outbreak to become a national concern.
Violence, Displacement, and Hunger Plagues Somalia
- Inter Press Service
UNITED NATIONS, Sep 24 (IPS) - Somalia is currently in the midst of a dire humanitarian crisis that threatens to destabilize the nation's security. This crisis is a result of the Somali Civil War, which began in 1991. Altercations between clan-based operations have caused a host of issues over the years, including over 596 civilian casualties, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM). Tensions have greatly intensified in 2024, with levels of internal displacement and food insecurity increasing rapidly.
What does Russia Trade with Africa?
- Inter Press Service
MOSCOW, Sep 20 (IPS) - After two symbolic African leaders' summits, Russia's trading is steadily increasing but significantly in exports of military weapons and equipment. According to Kremlin reports, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the trade turnover between Russia and African countries had increased by almost 35% in the first half of 2023 despite international sanctions.
Governments Using Billions of Public Funds to Subsidize Climate-Destructive Industries—Report
- Inter Press Service
NAIROBI, Sep 18 (IPS) - A report examining corporate capture of public finance is accusing industries fueling the climate crisis, including fossil fuel ones, of draining public funds in the Global South, singling them out for squeezing out of governments USD 700 billion in public subsidies each year.
Severe Floods in Nigeria Magnify The Dire Humanitarian Crisis
- Inter Press Service
UNITED NATIONS, Sep 13 (IPS) - On Monday, the Alau dam in Maiduguri, Borno State, collapsed, causing flash floods to ravage neighbouring regions in Nigeria. This comes after weeks of torrential rain, which caused severe structural damage to the dam. The floods have changed the lives of thousands and caused high levels of damage to infrastructures. The impacts of the recent floods compound with Nigeria's pre-existing humanitarian crisis, which includes armed conflict, widespread malnutrition, and a failing economy.