THE WORLD

Photo: Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan. Source: Global Information Network

Only Three Africans on Forbes List of 100 Most Powerful Women

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) — Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who is the current Director General of the World Trade Organization, and Nigerian media mogul Mosunmola Abudu are the only African women featured in the list of the World’s Most Powerful 100 Women by Forbes.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the top-ranked African woman at position 91. The Director-General of the World Trade Organization since March 2021, she is the first woman and first African to lead the World Trade Organization as Director-General.

: Global Information Network; SUSTAINABILITY; Gender Equality; 27 December 2022

Unprecedented Drought Emergency in the Horn of Africa

Catastrophic Consequences Feared

By J Nastranis

NEW YORK (IDN) — The United Nations has warned that the Horn of Africa is facing an unprecedented drought emergency, which will unleash catastrophic consequences. Communities in the region are in the midst of a likely fifth consecutive failed rainy season. They may face a sixth failed season in March-May 2023.

Across the Horn of Africa, at least 36.4 million people will be affected by the most prolonged and severe drought in recent history in the last months of 2022, including 24.1 million in Ethiopia, 7.8 million in Somalia and 4.5 million in Kenya.

: J Nastranis; THE WORLD; Horn of Africa; 26 December 2022

Photo: On 27 October 2022 in Puntland, Somalia, 1-year-old Aisha Mohamed is held by her mother, Isniino Ali, while being treated for severe acute malnutrition at Garowe General Hospital Stabilization Centre. Credit: UNICEF/UN0750315/Ekpu VII Photo

More Than 20 Million Children Suffering in The Horn of Africa

UNICEF Warns of Funding Shortfall in The Face of Drought

By Devendra Kamarajan

NAIROBI (IDN) — UN Children's Agency UNICEF has urged the international community to "commit to responding now for what might hit the Horn of Africa" in 2023, "and in the years to come".

UNICEF Deputy Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa Lieke van de Weil said on December 22: “We need a global effort to mobilize resources urgently to reduce further devastating and irreversible damage to children in the Horn of Africa. We must act now to save children’s lives, preserve their dignity and protect their futures.”

: Devendra Kamarajan; THE WORLD; Horn of Africa; 25 December 2022

Photo: Sitiveni Rabuka was elected the new Prime Minister. Source: Hindustan Times.

South Pacific: Democracy Prevails in Fiji

Former Coup leaders Change Roles in Parliamentary Vote

By Ravindra Singh Prasad

SUVA (IDN) — In a parliamentary vote on December 24, former coup leader Sitiveni Rabuka was elected the new Prime Minister by a slim majority of one after a hung parliament. He replaces another former coup leader and twice democracy-elected Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama.

: Asia Editor; SUSTAINABILITY; Peace & Justice; 24 December 2022

Photo: (L-R) Assoc. Prof. Mag. Dr. Farsam Salimi; Univ. Prof. Dr. Susanne Reindl-Krauskopf, Hon-Prof (The University of Queensland); Univ. Prof Dr Christian Grafl. Credit: ALES.

Austria: Call for an Independent Law Enforcement Body

A Special Report by Aurora Weiss

VIENNA (IDN) — Austria's capital is home to 20 international United Nations offices and organisations seated at the Vienna International Centre. But law enforcement in this country falls short of the UN's requirements.

The United Nations Convention against Corruption, for example, calls for independent bodies or persons specialized in combating corruption through law enforcement that can “carry out their functions effectively and without any undue influence”.

: Europe Editor; SUSTAINABILITY; Peace & Justice; 24 December 2022

Photo: People take shelter inside a subway station from missile attacks in Kiev, Ukraine on October 11, 2022 when sirens sound across Ukrainian cities as Russian strikes continue. Credit: IC

Winter Stalemate of Russia-Ukraine Conflict 'Not Sign of Peace'

Neither Side is Willing to Compromise

By Global Times Staff Reporters

BEIJING (IDN) — In the 10th month of the Russia-Ukraine conflict when military operations are scaling down in the freezing winter, observers see a slim chance of negotiations for peace in the near future as neither side is ready to compromise to figure out a common ground for talks.

: Europe Editor; THE WORLD; Russia; 19 December 2022

Toward 2023: Preparing for Tectonic Shifts in the World Economy

Viewpoint by Dan Steinbock

The writer is the Founder of the Difference Group. The following are extensive excerpts from the article, originally published by China-US Focus on December 16, 2022.

NEW YORK (IDN) — In a recent Foreign Affairs commentary, Mohamed A. El-Erian warned that we are not facing just extraordinarily challenging business-cycle fluctuations but structural and secular long-term pressures. As a result, “the global economy may never be the same.”

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 19 December 2022

Photo: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Source: The Conversation | GCIS/Flickr

Ramaphosa To Lead ANC For Second Term but Faces Stiff Headwinds

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) — President Cyril Ramaphosa sailed over an impeachment inquiry this past week but faced a seriously divided party at the recent National Convention of the African National Conference, nearly upending his victory race for ANC party leader and ultimately President for a second term.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 19 December 2022

Photo: US President Biden with the Liberian leader. Source: Front Page Africa.

'We-Are-Suffering'-Rally in Monrovia While Biden Hosts Liberian Leader

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) — Confronting soaring prices and shortages of basic goods, Liberians held a "We are Suffering" rally in Monrovia while the president, George Weah, comfortably watched the 2022 World Cup at the White House.

The Monrovia protest was organized by opposition leader Alexander Cummings and drew several hundred people.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 19 December 2022

Military Spending a Non-Issue at the U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) — Africa had a centre stage at a U.S.-based summit this month for what leaders hope will be more than a brief moment and whose achievements will be more than talk.

The U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit opened on December 13 with a full plate of critical topics—from the environment to public health, democratic governance and security.