News headlines in June 2016, page 4

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Jun 23 (IPS) - Global economic recovery is being held hostage by the ideological dogma of the last three and a half decades. After long contributing to neo-liberal conventional wisdom, in its October 2015 World Economic Outlookthe IMF identified the vicious circle undermining global recovery and growth. Low aggregate demand is discouraging investment; slower expected potential growth itself dampens aggregate demand, further limiting investment.

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 23 (IPS) - Displacement has increased to unprecedented levels due to war and persecution, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has found.

ROME, Jun 23 (IPS) - "Xenophobic and racist rhetoric seems not only to be on the rise, but also to be becoming more socially and politically acceptable."

The warning has been heralded by the authoritative voice of Mogens Lykketoft, current president of the United Nations General Assembly, who on World Refugee Day on June 20, reacted to the just announced new record number of people displaced from their homes due to conflict and persecution.

WASHINGTON, Jun 23 (IPS) - In 2011, Dyhia Belhabib was a volunteer in the Fisheries Centre at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver when she was asked to participate in the Sea Around Us's project to determine how much fish had been taken out of the world's oceans since 1950 in order to better avoid depleting the remaining populations of fish.

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 23 (IPS) - Despite their extreme vulnerability, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) refugees often do not seek the assistance they need, since revealing their sexual or gender identities can put them in grave danger.

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 22 (IPS) - Latin America and the Caribbean countries have experienced historic economic and social transformation in recent years. This has led to a considerable reduction in poverty and inequality and to advances in closing gender, labor and education gaps. These achievements are the result of a favorable economic environment as well as proactive social inclusion policies.

BHOLA, Bangladesh, Jun 22 (IPS) - A continuous influx of sea water is threatening agriculture and food security in vast coastal areas of Bangladesh, but farmers are finding ways to adapt, like cultivating fish and crops at the same time.

NEW YORK, Jun 22 (IPS) - 2015 was the deadliest year on record for the killings of environmental activists around the world, according to a new Global Witness report.

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 21 (IPS) - The word yoga means "unite" in Sanskrit, and the Indian governments hopes that the ancient practice will help the United Nations member states to work together to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

GENEVA, Jun 21 (IPS) - The last World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva (23-28 May) discussed the manifold global health crises that require urgent attention, and adopted resolutions to act on many issues. We are currently facing many global health related challenges, and as such multiple actions must be taken urgently to prevent these crises from boiling over.