News headlines in November 2017

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 30 (IPS) - The 57 small island developing states (SIDS), including 20 described as territories which are non-UN members, are some of the world's most vulnerable – both economically and environmentally.

Nov 30 (IPS) - It was mid-morning in late June, but the warehouse in Calais was dark, cold, and drafty. I sat on the ground with "Marie," a tall, slim French woman in her early twenties. Bent forward with a look of concentration, she described how the French police are not only harassing the hundreds of migrants in Calais, they are targeting aid workers too. "They put pressure, stopping what we are doing."

ROME, Nov 30 (IPS) - While the top priority of any development strategy is still the same - to leave no one behind - the new challenges that have emerged show the need to adapt the actions necessary to face them.

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 29 (IPS) - The 1951 UN convention on political refugees-- which never foresaw the phenomenon of climate change-- permits refugee status only if one "has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion."

NEW YORK, Nov 29 (IPS) - It's the fifth day of the 16 days campaign on violence against women but I feel like the campaign started months ago because of the powerful #MeToo campaign. While I applaud this campaign, I have some thoughts that I believe could make this a truly global watershed moment in the fight against sexual and gender-based violence.

COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh, Nov 29 (IPS) - Parul Akhtar,* a Rohingya woman in her mid-twenties, may never wish to remember the homeland she and her children left about three weeks ago.

GENEVA, Nov 28 (IPS) - I want to thank Director-General Lacy Swing for inviting me to address you today. My thanks also go to Ambassador Mauras, as Chair of the International Organization for Migration Council, along with Ambassador Quinn, as outgoing-Chair, for their work and commitment. Furthermore, I want to acknowledge the valuable work being done by Special Representative Arbour, and Deputy Director-General Thompson.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 28 (IPS) - Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are essentially long-term contracts, underwritten by government guarantees, with which the private sector builds (and sometimes runs) major infrastructure projects or services traditionally provided by the state, such as hospitals, schools, roads, railways, water, sanitation and energy.

ROME, Nov 28 (IPS) - Believe it or not, the way to eradicate hunger from the face of the Earth is as feasible as it is handy. In fact, the current loss and waste of one-third of all food produced for human consumption would be just enough to feed the nearly one billion people who go to bed hungry every single night.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Nov 28 (IPS) - The crowd in the park gave out roars of approval as the next act was announced:  Mothusi Bashimane Ndlovu, one of Zimbabwe's most popular singers and actors, who took to the stage with a small axe in hand.