News headlines in January 2023, page 15

NEW YORK, Jan 13 (IPS) - This week world leaders meet in Davos to discuss cooperation to address multiple crises, from COVID-19 and escalating inflation to slowing economic growth, debt distress and climate shocks.

SAN FRANCISCO, USA, Jan 13 (IPS) - The current notion of a “moderate Republican” is an oxymoron that helps to move the country rightward. Last week, every one of the GOP’s so-called “moderates” voted to install House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who won with the avid support of Donald Trump and got over the finish line by catering to such fascistic colleagues as Matt Gaetz and Lauren Boebert.

Water can be a “dealmaker” for stability and cooperation as well as for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goalsspeakers from the co-hosts of the upcoming UN 2023 Water Conference said on Friday.

As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nears its one year anniversary, the head of UN Political and Peacebuilding Affairs updated the Security Council on Friday, noting that the fighting and suffering continues “with no end in sight”.

The UN Security Council must be unified in opposing Taliban policies to erode the fundamental human rights of women and girls in Afghanistan, the UN’s Special Representative there said on Friday.

The Greek authorities faced an appeal on Friday from the UN human rights office, OHCHR, to dismiss the trial of two dozen aid workers who rescued migrants in distress at sea.

The UN human rights office, OHCHR, welcomed on Friday the Indonesian President’s statement of regret earlier this week, for serious rights violations dating back to the 1960s. 

NEW YORK, Jan 12 (IPS) - Can you imagine what it would be like if women were simply not allowed to step outside of their homes, let alone to work for a living? When women choose to do so, and they can afford it, then it is a matter of choice. When women mostly cannot, as is the case in Afghanistan nownot only is half the population imprisoned, but children go hungry, and communities sink deeper into poverty.

Sydney, Jan 12 (IPS) - When Megha Jacob, who had been applying for a doctoral degree at various overseas universities, received an offer from the Australian National University’s Department of Chemistry to do a fully funded PhD, she was thrilled and immediately accepted the position.

The hardship being felt across the Horn of Africa by the worst drought in 40 years has left many women weak and malnourished. The UN agency dedicated to women’s sexual and reproductive health, UNPA, is helping save mothers’ lives in Kenya, through the donation of a simple but effective way of accessing hard-to-reach areas - a motorbike, to enable safe emergency deliveries in hospital.