News headlines in July 2014, page 8

LAHORE, Jul 16 (IPS) - At first glance, there is nothing very unusual about Muhammad Asif Umrani. A resident of Rojhan city located in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province, he is expectantly awaiting the birth of his first child, barely a year after his wedding day.

BEIRUT, Jul 16 (IPS) - Hezbollah clashes with Syrian rebels on the outskirts of Ersal seem to be widening the divide between residents of the Eastern Bekaa town – increasingly dominated by Syrian rebels, including the radical Nusra Front – and other regions as well as the Lebanese state. 

GENEVA, Jul 16 (IPS) - Since the onset of the crisis, the South Centre has argued that policy responses to the crisis by the European Union and the United States has suffered from serious shortcomings that would delay recovery and entail unnecessary losses of income and jobs, and also endanger future growth and stability. 

FORTALEZA, Brazil, Jul 15 (IPS) - The growing vitality of the group of countries made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS), which is beginning to formalise its institutions even as it tries to bridge very disparate realities, seems to be partly cemented by increasing links between its companies.

UNITED NATIONS, Jul 15 (IPS) - The United Nations is on the verge of releasing a new set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - perhaps 17 or more - to replace the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which will run out by the end of 2015.

KAMPALA, Jul 15 (IPS) - Olga Mugisa, 11-years-old, takes to the microphone in front of her peers, the Ugandan flag proudly draped behind her and green plants framing the stage. She has an important message to share with her fellow students: "If you cut one, plant two."

WASHINGTON, Jul 15 (IPS) - Even as aid workers are warning that children in South Sudan are falling victim to mass malnutrition, international agencies are said to be missing their fundraising goals to avert a looming famine in the country.

WASHINGTON, Jul 14 (IPS) - While Republicans and other right-wingers claim that President Barack Obama has inflicted unprecedented damage on Washington's global reputation, a major new global survey suggests that the image of the U.S. remains generally positive.

BRUSSELS, Jul 14 (IPS) - Hopes are high that the 10^th Asia-Europe Meeting – or ASEM summit – to be held in Milan on October 16-17 will confirm the credibility and relevance of Asia-Europe relations in the 21^st century.

MEXICO CITY, Jul 14 (IPS) - Bean grower Manuel Alvarado is part of the majority of producers in Mexico who consider it unnecessary to introduce genetically modified varieties of beans, as the government is promoting.