Online transactions and E-commerce have become a key part of people’s life in Asia and the Pacific. Credit: Unsplash/Rupixen
BANGKOK, Thailand, Aug 12 2024 (IPS) – The rapid growth of digitalization has fundamentally altered commerce, impacting production and facilitating the movement of goods. The 2023 Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report (APTIR), has pointed out that although digital trade revenues of Asia and the Pacific account for a significant share of global trade, this growth is uneven, with trade concentrated in a few areas, leading to disparities across the region.
Different policy measures to establish an inclusive digital trade and e-commerce landscape have been used across the region. For example, research on internet courts in China showed how such public and digitized judicial systems benefit smaller and medium-sized firms compared to private dispute resolution mechanisms, which are highly costly.
Indonesia’s introduction of single submission for freight transport applications and its impact on sustainability in supply chains was another case study. This policy instrument has had significant impacts across multiple domains, such as increasing time effectiveness, reducing costs, and increasing transparency in shipping and port clearances.
Lessons learned and the way forward
There is a need to understand the specific digital trade policy instruments that promote sustainable development. It is critical to acknowledge key differences and similarities between trade and digital trade policy to strategically leverage their interlinkage to achieve the SDGs. Social development works in tandem with economic progress.
A key concern is the lack of data on cross-border e-commerce in the Asia-Pacific and Latin America regions, which hinders the implementation and evaluation of programs designed to promote the participation and productivity of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
More concerted efforts to improve data measurement through private-public partnerships could be a possible policy intervention to address this issue. States should establish effective monitoring systems by improving the availability of economic statistics and third-party evaluations for measuring the progress and impact of SME support programs.
However, given the diversity in operations of SMEs across sectors, it is essential to devise and tailor policies that cater to their specific needs and realities.
There is also a need for sharing real-world examples of successful government initiatives and SME support programs so neighboring countries can draw lessons from them. There are doubts about the long-term usefulness of stand-alone Digital Economy Agreements (DEAs) due to the lack of stringent legal provisions for possible breaches, unlike market-access free trade agreements (FTAs).
Lastly, the United States, which has played a pivotal role in advocating for an open global trade environment, gradually step back from its position, it is time to rethink the leadership that would guide the establishment of digital trade provisions in the future.
This involves showcasing how digital trade rules will be established and enforced moving forward. Who will provide such public goods for digital trade is a major question facing the global economy.
Given its rapid digital-economy growth, significant market size, and increasing influence in global digital trade, should that leadership come from the Asia-Pacific region?
Witada Anukoonwattaka is Economic Affairs Officer, Trade Investment and Innovation Division, ESCAP; Preety Bhogal is Consultant, Trade Investment and Innovation Division, ESCAP.
The journalists gather in front of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital to commemorate their friends, Al Jazeera reporter Ismail al-Ghoul and cameraman Rami al-Rifi, who lost their lives in Israeli army attack on a moving vehicle in the Al-Shati refugee camp, in Deir al-Balah, Gaza on July 31, 2024. Source: Middle East Monitor. Credit: Ashraf Amra, Anadolu Agency
UNITED NATIONS, Aug 12 2024 (IPS) – The growing number of killings of Palestinian journalists in Gaza has triggered a demand for a cut-off in US arms supplies to Israel.
Sarah Leah Whitson, Executive Director, Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), told IPS despite pleas of the international community to suspend arms to Israel in the face of its unprecedented atrocities against Palestinians in Gaza, including the killing of over 165 Palestinian journalists, it beggars the imagination that Biden is now seeking to sell Israel new weaponry to facilitate even more slaughter.
On August 9, the U.S. State Department officially notified Congress of its intent to proceed with a new authorization for weapons to Israel, including 6,500 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs) guidance kits to Israel, despite extensive evidence documenting the Israel Defense Force’s (IDF) use of U.S. weapons to carry out war crimes and crimes against humanity, said DAWN, in a press release Friday.
This “is a slap in the face of humanity and all the values we hold dear,” Whitson said.
According to Cable News Network (CNN) last June, two key congressional Democrats have given their approval to allow the Biden administration to proceed with what is believed to be the biggest ever weapons package for Israel, expected to be worth more than $18 billion and include some 50 F-15 fighter jets.
Blinken also announced his decision not to sanction the IDF’s notorious Netzah Yehuda battalion, despite credible evidence of its systematic and gross human rights violations in the occupied West Bank, in violation of strict U.S. laws requiring the imposition of such sanctions.
“It is mind-boggling that despite the overwhelming evidence of the IDF’s unprecedented crimes in Gaza that has shocked the conscience of the entire world, the Biden administration is greenlighting the transfer of additional lethal weapons to Israel,” said Whitson.
“It is hard to comprehend how the Biden administration can justify rewarding Israel with new weapons, despite Israel’s persistent defiance of every single plea the Biden administration has made urging a modicum of restraint, and despite the very apparent fact that such sales violate black letter U.S. laws prohibiting weapons to gross abusers like Israel,” she pointed out.
Meanwhile, as of August 9, 2024, preliminary investigations by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) showed at least 113 journalists and media workers were among the more than 40,000 killed since the war began, making it the deadliest period for journalists since CPJ began gathering data in 1992.
Journalists in Gaza face particularly high risks as they try to cover the conflict during the Israeli ground assault, including devastating Israeli airstrikes, disrupted communications, supply shortages, and extensive power outages, CPJ said.
This has meant that it is becoming increasingly hard to document the situation, and CPJ is investigating almost 350 additional cases of potential killings, arrests and injuries.
Dr Ramzy Baroud, a journalist and the Editor of The Palestine Chronicle, told IPS Israel has killed, as of last week, 168 Palestinian journalists, the same way it has killed over 200 aid workers, hundreds of doctors, medics and people from every category and background. None of this is coincidental.
A simple proof that Israel deliberately targets journalists is the fact that it habitually produces and promotes stories that justify their murder, often accusing them of terrorism. Israel is yet to provide a single set of credible evidence against any of the killed journalists, he said.
On October 11, Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog had said “there are no innocent civilians in Gaza”. This disturbing Israeli logic applies to all Palestinians in the Strip, including journalists.
“Israel must be held accountable to its ongoing murder of journalists. But a huge responsibility falls on the shoulders of journalists and media organizations around the world, who often ignore the very murder of their colleagues in Gaza, let alone circulate Israeli’s unfounded accusations often without questioning its credibility or merit,” he said.
The fact that Gazans continue to report on their own genocide by Israel is heroic beyond words. But they must not be disowned, and must not continue to report and die alone without a true international solidarity that could hold their murderers to account, said Dr. Baroud, who is also a Non-resident Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Islam and Global Affairs (CIGA).
Dr. James Jennings, President, Conscience International, told IPS the heroic martyrs of the free press in Gaza deserve to be honored by all humanity, at the very least with the Nobel Peace Prize. Standing under the bombs, reporting the truth, then paying with your life is a superhuman act of courage.
The job of journalists is simply to journal–to shine a light on the truth by writing down or telling what they see on the battlefield. Killing the messengers is a sign that the perpetrators fear them and their influence, he pointed out.
Deception and lies are major part of war. How else could people slaughter myriads of others and do it with impunity?, he asked.
But truth has two sides–sending and receiving. Refusing to credit honest reporters means that we really don’t want to hear what they are saying anyway. Choosing to believe lies because we want them to be true is what enables wars to continue.
“Even worse than lying to the enemy is lying to yourself. Attempting to cover the plain truth by denying facts or looking the other way is tantamount to insanity. When will Americans stop lying to themselves and start believing their own ideals?”, asked Dr Jennings.
Ibrahim Hooper, National Communication Director at the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, said: “The only thing that can explain the shocking silence of American and international media professionals about the mass killing of their Palestinian colleagues is the decades-long and systematic dehumanization of the Palestinian people, in which the lives of Palestinians have lesser or no value. Journalists worldwide must begin to speak out about these killings and about the Israeli genocide in Gaza.”
In a press release last week, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said it is monitoring attacks and threats against journalists.
The agency noted that in recent months, multiple journalists covering protests in different parts of the world have been subjected to various forms of attacks, including killings, injuries, arbitrary detentions, and confiscation of their equipment, while exercising their rightful duties as journalists.
UNESCO recalls “that all authorities concerned have the duty and responsibility to ensure the safety of journalists covering protests around the world, in accordance with international norms and human rights obligations”.
In a joint statement, five UN special rapporteurs declared: “We have received disturbing reports that, despite being clearly identifiable in jackets and helmets marked “press” or traveling in well-marked press vehicles, journalists have come under attack, which would seem to indicate that the killings, injury, and detention are a deliberate strategy by Israeli forces to obstruct the media and silence critical reporting.”
Meanwhile, under international law, the intentional targeting of journalists is considered a war crime. While all governments are bound by international law protecting reporters, U.S. domestic law also prohibits the State Department from providing assistance to units of foreign security forces credibly accused of gross violations of human rights. Israel’s well-documented pattern of extrajudicial executions of journalists is a gross violation of human rights.
Top 10 Most Expensive Cities In The USAugust 4, 2024 —
Most Expensive Cities US – The USA, sometimes known as The United States of America, is a republic with a federal structure that belongs to North America. It’s the third most populous nation globally and third in land area. The USA stands out for its diverse cultures, technological innovations, and economic might; with the President serving both as head of state and chief executive. Furthermore, this nation hosts important international organizations like the World Bank and NATO; plus its contributions to film, literature, and music are well known around the world.
History of USA
Over 15,000 years ago, Native American tribes made their presence known, ushering in the evolution of what would eventually become the United States of America. Christopher Columbus’ arrival in 1492 marked the beginning of European colonization of North America; British colonies were established along the eastern shore in the 17th century and by 1776 these prospering territories declared independence from British authority – thus founding what would later become known as The United States of America.
Early American history was marked by westward migration and hostility toward Native American tribes. Slavery eventually led to civil war in the middle of the 19th century, but after winning victory over slavery it was abolished and African Americans gained citizenship and voting rights.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the USA emerged as a major economic and military power in the world. It joined World War I in 1917, playing an essential role in helping the Allies achieve victory. Following this conflict, there was an economic expansion known as “The Roaring Twenties,” but 1929 saw the stock market collapse that brought about The Great Depression.
Following Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the United States entered World War II. Through their contribution to Allied victories and involvement in the conflict, they rose to become a preeminent superpower globally. After the war, however, both nations entered into a Cold War which brought about increased political unrest as well as nuclear weapons development.
In the second half of the 20th century; America became embroiled in numerous global conflicts and occupations such as the Gulf War, Vietnam War, and Korean War. Additionally, major social and cultural movements like the Civil Rights Movement, the Women’s Rights Movement; and the 1960s counterculture took root within our borders.
Today, the United States remains a dominant commercial and defensive force in the world, as well as an undisputed superpower. Its history is one of tenacity and creativity, marked by both victories and losses alike; shaped by many ethnic groups and cultural traditions alike.
Society and Culture
The United States is a multiethnic nation with an expansive cultural legacy. Its population represents various racial, ethnic, religious, and cultural affiliations. The nation is renowned for its iconic culture – sports, music, movies, and television included – which spans across generations.
American political and social structures reflect the society’s values of individualism and independence. The nation places great value on democracy, holding regular local, state, and national elections. Furthermore, America’s capitalist economy thrives due to innovation and entrepreneurialism.
The United States of America stands out for its inclusivity and diversity. Despite past struggles and obstacles, the nation has made great strides toward providing equal opportunities and privileges to all its inhabitants. For instance, during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, legislation was passed outlawing discrimination based on race, gender identity, and other characteristics.
Christianity is the most widespread religion in America and plays an integral role in society. But many different faiths are represented here as well, including Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. This diversity has created a patchwork of religious customs and observances across America.
American culture is also marked by its arts and entertainment scene. Notable singers; painters; writers, and filmmakers from this nation have had a lasting effect on global culture.
Football, baseball, and basketball are the three most beloved sports in America and they play an integral role in our culture. Major events like the Olympics or Super Bowl are frequently held here too.
Freedom, creativity, and inclusivity are valued in the vibrant culture of the United States. Its diversity of peoples and civilizations is evident in its linguistic and societal richness which has shaped its development and past.
The Economy of The USA
The United States economy; boasting a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of over $21 trillion; is the world’s most prosperous. Its numerous successful industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, finance, and technology all play an integral role in its achievements.
The American economy is driven by creativity and entrepreneurialism; with numerous successful startups and established businesses setting the standard for research & development. Furthermore; large multinational firms that operate internationally are abundant in this nation.
The American economy is driven by market forces; encouraging free commerce and private enterprise. The government may regulate some aspects of economic activity, but private businesses create jobs and propel economic growth.
The workforce in this nation is highly talented, and many citizens possess advanced degrees in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Furthermore, those employed are highly productive – producing a large amount of work per worker.
With more than $2.5 trillion in exports for 2019, the United States continues to be an important global trader of both goods and services. Its top four trading partners include China, Canada, Mexico, and Japan.
The country boasts a substantial consumer market and strong consumption rates that drive economic expansion. Thanks to numerous large chain shops and internet merchants operating here, retail sales play an integral role in supporting the nation’s economy.
Recently; the American economy has faced numerous difficulties such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2008 financial crisis. Yet its legendary innovation and resilience have seen it emerge from previous disasters. Today’s vibrant American economy is driven by entrepreneurship; creativity and free trade – ultimately cementing its position as a world superpower through financial power and stability.
The Popularity of The USA
The US economy is strong, offering a range of employment opportunities. To enhance their living standards and secure better economic prospects, many people emigrate to the US.
The US is an attractive destination for students pursuing higher education, boasting some of the top institutions and universities worldwide. After graduation, many international students choose to settle down in America to live and work.
The US is known for its diverse society and people. Many find this diversity appealing, cherishing the opportunity to engage with people from other cultural backgrounds.
Living in the US offers many advantages, from access to top-notch healthcare
From education facilities to cultural attractions, entertainment options, and recreational activities, US cities offer a wide range of amenities, contributing to an enviable standard of living.
The stable political structure and commitment to democracy in the US are well-known, appealing to individuals from countries with less established systems due to the stability and adherence to democratic principles.
The United States is renowned for its unwavering commitment to democracy and individual freedom, making it an attractive destination for those seeking a liberal society with political and legal systems that protect citizens’ rights and liberties.
Why Are Cities in the USA Expensive?
Global centers for trade, culture, and entertainment in many US cities attract visitors worldwide, driving up housing and essential costs due to high demand and scarcity.
US cities often emerge in densely populated areas with limited space for future development, leading to higher land and property values and, consequently, increased housing prices and essential costs.
Urban living costs in the US tend to be higher than rural areas, possibly due to increased taxes, lower worker pay rates, or higher prices for services and products.
Economic expansion in US cities attracts both employers and employees, resulting in higher housing and service prices due to increased demand.
Local restrictions like zoning laws or building regulations can contribute to higher prices for housing and services in cities.
Income, property, and sales taxes are common in many American communities, raising living costs for citizens while supporting infrastructure funding and civic services.
Many individuals are willing to pay more for the improved quality of life in cities, which offer more job opportunities, recreational options, and cultural amenities compared to rural areas.
Top 10 Most Expensive Cities In The US
San Francisco, California
Manhattan, New York
Washington, DC
Honolulu, Hawaii
Los Angeles, California
Boston, Massachusetts
Seattle, Washington
San Diego, California
San Jose, California
Oakland, California
San Francisco, with a population slightly over 815,000 as of July 2022, has seen residents choosing to relocate due to its high cost of living. A family of four requires a median home price of $1.6 million, and comfortable living necessitates an annual income of $128,878.
As of June 2021, San Francisco’s unemployment rate increased to 2.6% from 6.4% previously reported. Additionally, its cost of living is 78.6% higher than the national average, with a half gallon of milk costing $3.38. Despite high incomes, residents must cope with high living expenses.
The city’s vibrant industries such as finance, tourism, and technology have resulted in low poverty rates and high employment rates. The influx of highly paid software engineers has driven housing prices to more than three times the national median and nearly double the average monthly rent.
Manhattan follows San Francisco as the second most expensive US town, with a median property value of $2.5 million, second only to San Francisco. Average apartment rents surpass all other cities tracked by our Cost of Living Index at $4,531 per month. Home sales typically exceed $2 million on average.
The high costs don’t end there; grocery prices are 26% higher, and transportation expenses are 10% above the average. However, miscellaneous items and services are 36% cheaper overall. Movie tickets are 60% more expensive in Manhattan, and yoga classes cost nearly double the national average.
All these factors come together to make Manhattan one of the costliest US cities, with a population density estimated at almost 70,000 people per square mile, significantly higher than San Francisco’s 17,376 residents per square mile.
Washington, D.C., as the capital of the most powerful nation, maintains high living costs due to the coexistence of government and private sector jobs, federal agencies, think tanks, lobbying firms, and consulting firms. It also boasts a thriving tourism sector.
With over 670,000 residents, the median property value in Washington, D.C., is $708,000, while the household median income stands at $90,842. Here, a family can enjoy numerous job opTo meet ends, a family of four with two working adults must earn at least $96,163 post-tax. The cost of living in Washington, D.C. exceeds the U.S. average by 52.2%. A half gallon of milk in the city costs $2.91, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%.
The city of Washington has transformed over the years. People who once slept in their cars now prefer biking to work over taking the bus or metro. With a population exceeding 100,000, Washington is a dynamic city offering myriad job opportunities in the public and private sectors. However, meeting housing needs remains a challenge due to height restrictions dating back to 1910, capping new development at just 20 feet above street level.
Honolulu, home to nearly one million residents, ranks as the 10th most expensive city in America. Local commodities are notably pricey; utilities cost 102.2% more, and food items are a staggering 153% higher than the national average. The median household income in Honolulu is $87,722, surpassing the national median of $64,994 but falling short of San Francisco’s $119,136. As of July 20,22, Honolulu had a 3.8% unemployment rate. Honolulu’s housing costs are 84% higher than the national average, with a median household income of $64,994 but lower than San Francisco’s. Rent for a monthly apartment averages $3,589, while a half gallon of milk costs $4.32. The city’s poverty rate is 10%, almost double the national average.
Los Angeles, the second-largest city in the U.S., is renowned for its Hollywood and Beverly Hills glamour. The city’s diverse neighborhoods cater to varied lifestyles, from bohemian to upscale. With a cost of living 50% higher than the national average, Los Angeles sees an average house price of $1,098,874 and monthly rent averaging $3,182. The city’s median household income stands at $69,778, slightly below the national median, with unemployment rates at 4.4% and 16.6%. A half gallon of milk costs $2.76, while gas fill-ups come at $5.45. Despite the city’s attractions, commute inconveniences due to poor transit infrastructure and traffic congestion prompt many to reside closer to work. Home prices and rents in L.A. are notably higher, leading to an increased poverty rate.
Boston, recognized for its rich history and educational institutions such as Harvard and MIT, is one of America’s oldest cities. While Boston’s cultural scene flourishes, living costs can be high. The city, also known for its sports successes and delectable seafood, experiences a pleasant summer climate with occasional winter snowstorms. Public transport in Boston is reliable, although rising traffic levels pose a challenge. The average home price in Boston is twice the national average, yet comparatively affordable compared to major cities. Renting an apartment in Boston surpasses the national average, contributing to its high cost of living and a poverty rate of 17.6%.
In the Pacific Northwest Region of America lies Seattle, the capital city of Washington State, known for its music scene and coffee culture, with renowned businesses such as Microsoft and Amazon. Seattle features distinctive neighborhoods, each with its own culture. Capitol Hill offers a lively nightlife, while Fremont showcases eye-catching public art and outdoor markets.
Seattle’s natural beauty, including Puget Sound and nearby mountains, attracts both locals and visitors for outdoor adventures like hiking and kayaking. The city has experienced rapid growth due to tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft in Redmond.
Seattle’s economy has transformed with increased wages and reduced unemployment rates, but housing shortages have driven prices higher; rents in Seattle are approximately 2.2x the national average, indicating wealth creation.
San Diego, known for its beaches and pleasant climate, is called “America’s Finest City.” It hosts the world’s largest naval fleet and a thriving manufacturing sector. The cost of living is 6% higher than California’s average, with a 8% increase in goods and services.
Income in San Diego is double the national average, with affluent neighborhoods like North City and La Jolla. However, an influx of lower-income residents seeking affordable housing options has been noted in recent years.
San Jose, with its population just over a million, owes its appeal to Silicon Valley’s presence, leading to high living costs. The city offers ample job opportunities with tech firms, reflected in a median household income surpassing $100,000.
San Jose’s cost of living is 68.1% higher than the national average, largely attributed to transportation costs. With median home prices at $1.1 million, substantial financial resources are necessary for comfortable living, given high housing costs.
Oakland is attracting young artists and professionals seeking more affordable options than San Francisco. Despite its cultural appeal and proximity to major employers, housing costs have risen, creating challenges for residents.
Cost of living in Oakland is 45.9% higher than the national average, with higher home prices and rents. Unemployment rates in Oakland and Sacramento and food costs are also noteworthy factors affecting residents.
Bottom Line
Living in American cities offers both opportunities and challenges, with each city having unique characteristics and economic dynamics that impact residents’ quality of life.
– even if they may be expensive to live in, amenities, and entertainment. Many cities boast diverse neighborhoods, vibrant communities, and long-standing heritage.
– economic activity, cities remain important centers for political, and cultural despite their challenges. Despite these setbacks, cities hold great potential for community building, innovation, and development.
Which city in the USA is the largest?
Manhattan; New York is the most populous city in America and the second-largest in North America. Rio de Janeiro ranks second for population within Brazil, followed by downtown Santiago, the Chilean capital, and the fifth-largest city in South America.
Which US city has the fewest residents overall?
Monowi in Alaska; Eiler serves as mayor, clerk, treasurer, librarian, and bartender in Monowi, the smallest town in America according to US Census data.
Which American city was established most recently?
Essex Junction, with a population of around 10,000, was officially incorporated in 1892 according to local NewsNation. Erda, Utah also made headlines in January 2022 as Utah’s newest city.
Which American city has the highest concentration of businesses?
New York City continues to lead all American metropolises in the sheer volume and scope of businesses. The Greater New York Area alone accounts for 65 companies on this year’s Fortune 500, amounting to 12.5% of its overall revenue of around $1.8 trillion.
Top 10 Most Expensive Cities In The US
Data for 2023 and 2024, with forecast data extended to 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028.
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REFERENCES:
This information was taken from various sources around the world, including these countries:
Australia, Canada, USA, UK, UAE, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, US, United Kingdom, United States of America, Malaysia, U.S., South Africa, New Zealand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates.
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan.
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bouvet Island, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi.
Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar.
Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand (NZ), Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway.
Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe.
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Helena, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Sudan, Suriname, Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria.
Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates (UAE), UK (United Kingdom), USA (United States of America, U.S.), US Minor Outlying Islands.
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City State (Holy See), Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands (British), Virgin Islands (US), Wallis and Futuna Islands, Western Sahara, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Top 10 Most Expensive Cities In The US August 4, 2024
The extreme heat adversely affected the milk production of the over 800,000 cattle in Karachi. Credit: Zofeen Ebrahim/IPS
KARACHI, Pakistan, Aug 9 2024 (IPS) – The over 20 million residents of Pakistan’s port city of Karachi, in Sindh province in particular, have been experiencing brutal heat since May. But they are not the only ones bearing the brunt of high temperatures and humidity.
Up to 15,000 cattle died due to scorching heat mixed with high humidity which Shakir Umar Gujjar, president of the Cattle and Dairy Farmers Association, Pakistan, said was “no joke”.
Mubashir Abbas, owner of 170 heads, lost eight cows and five buffaloes to the “extreme heat” in the last week of June, which translates to a loss of Rs 5.5 million (USD 19,800) for him.
“Three more are running high fever and I will have to sell them to cut my losses,” he told IPS over phone from Bhains Colony, in Karachi’s Landhi district. “I will fetch no more than Rs 40,000 (USD 143) a piece, when the market rate for each healthy one is valued between Rs 1.5 and 2 million (USD 5,300–7,000),” he estimated. Every now and then, in the last 23 years, he would lose a few to disease, but he had never “seen a healthy animal dying from heat.”
Livestock, the largest sub-sector in agriculture, contributed 60.84 percent to agriculture and 14.63 percent to the country’s GDP during 2023-2024, according to the Pakistan Economic Survey. More than eight million rural families are engaged in livestock production, accounting for 35-40 percent of their total income.
About 15,000 cattle died due scorching heat mixed with high humidity in Sindh province, Pakistan. Credit: Zofeen Ebrahim/IPS
“From June 23 to 30, Karachi experienced a heatwave with temperatures ranging between 40 and 42 °C. The ‘feel-like’ temperature went up to 54 °C due to high humidity,” said Dr. Sardar Sarfaraz, chief meteorologist at the Pakistan Meteorological Department.
Dr. Nazeer Hussain Kalhoro, director general at the government’s Sindh Institute of Animal Health in the Livestock and Fisheries Department in Karachi, attributed extreme heat to the death of livestock, especially exotic and crossed breeds.
The temperature was still lower than the deadly 2015 heatwave temperature of 44.8 °C that claimed over 2,000 human lives when the feel-like heat index exceeded 60 °C, said Sarfaraz. “A much bigger number of animals died then, and many young animals had to be slaughtered,” said Gujjar.
The heat had adversely affected the milk production of the over 800,000 cattle in Karachi, said Gujjar. “When an animal is in stress and discomfort, due to extreme heat, its intake of regular amount of fodder decreases, which can result in decrease in milk production,” said Kalhoro.
“I was getting between 1,400 and 1,480 kg in a day; it is not more than 960 kg now. I lose 0.11 million rupees (USD 400) daily,” said Abbas.
Communication Gap
The lack of engagement with the farmer by the government was the reason. Gujjar said the communication gap between the ministry of national food security and research at the federal level and the livestock departments at the provincial departments meant the uneducated farmer was on his own.
“The biggest tragedy is that our farmer is not educated and also unaware of how to prepare or protect the animal from the vagaries of climate,” said Gujjar, adding: “They do their own traditional treatment of their animals, which results in even more avoidable deaths.”
Similar is the plight of small farmers who remain in the eye of the climate storm. “They are continuously in a reactive mode,” said Mahmood Nawaz Shah, president of a farmers’ group, the Sindh Abadgar Board, with “government policies not conducive to them”.
Giving examples, Shah said the minimum price of cotton was fixed and notified at Rs 8,500/kg (UAD 30) but growers received Rs 5,200/kg (USD 18); a 50-kilo bag of urea increased from Rs 1,700 to Rs 4,600 (USD 6 to 16) in just three years; and the artificial shortage for the same last year meant the farmer had to pay Rs 5,500 for the same bag from the black market.
“We had recommended to the government to develop a climate endowment fund and compensate small farmers by involving insurance companies as soon as extreme events lead to crop and livestock losses,” said Shah.
Both the farmers, Gujjar and Shah, have hit the nail on the head on why Pakistan, one of the most vulnerable to climate crises, is unable to manage it effectively. The disconnect and lack of coordination between different federal and their related provincial government bodies is found across the spectrum and is highlighted in the 2024 Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) as a major reason that hampered policy implementation, placing Pakistan on the 30th position among 63 countries and the EU, which collectively account for over 90 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. “Improved cooperation between different levels of government would be a step in the right direction,” it concluded.
Similarly, the 2024 Environmental Performance Index that assesses the progress of effectiveness of 180 countries in mitigating climate change, relying on historical greenhouse gas emissions data, put Pakistan three rungs down at 179th rank this year from the 176th position it held in 2022.
Indifference and Apathy
Both the CCPI and the EPI are a clear giveaway of government’s nonchalance. The latter index has especially pointed to areas like air pollution, wastewater treatment, protected areas management and climate mitigation.
“The country is slipping on most environmental indicators,” agreed former climate change minister, Malik Amin Aslam, pointing to the weak air pollution control measures, non-adherence to the electric vehicles transition and failure to promote renewables. From being a country championing the global green cause in 2022 to now “ignominiously slipping down the environmental performance ladder” should certainly raise alarm bells for our current green policy makers, warned Aslam.
The 2022 floods, which should have acted as a wake-up call for the government, he said, failed to move the government towards preparedness and improving the health of the environment.
Maha Qasim, CEO of Zero-Point Partners, an environmental management and consulting firm, said: “No significant effort had been made in building climate-resilient infrastructure like roads, drainage systems and flood management facilities like levees or reservoirs.
The EPI has pointed towards Pakistan’s use of coal as a driver.
Putting things in perspective, Qasim said that in 2021, only around 14% of Pakistan’s energy mix was based on coal, while it figured 45 percent and 63 percent in India’s and Estonia’s energy mix. But in the last two years, Pakistan’s overall GHG emissions as well as CO2 have declined, due to “Pakistan’s overall performance capita emissions from fossil fuels and industry have declined due to stagnant economic growth,” she said.
Thus, Pakistan is well within its carbon budget and has met its Nationally Determined Contribution commitments to the UNFCCC.
The updated NDCs of 2021 have pledged to reduce emissions by 50%, shifting to renewable energy by 60 percent and 30 percent to electric vehicles by 2030, and a complete ban on importing coal.
Poor transport fuel regulations, old and inefficient vehicles on the road, mass cutting down of trees to make way for rapid urbanization, burning of agricultural residue and poor solid waste management have also been mentioned for Pakistan’s poor score.
Aslam, however, said the index failed to “register or recognize” Pakistan’s efforts on reforestation—the Billion Tree Tsunami Afforestation Project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, followed by 10 Billion Tree Tsunami Programme across the country. “The EPI ranking can certainly enhance its acceptability and credibility by improving these areas,” he said.
Weak Governance
Sobia Kapadia, a humanitarian aid practitioner, added factors like “weak governance, turning to fire-fighting and ad-hoc measures” whenever a climate crisis arises, thereby destroying the symbiosis.
“Heat, rain and floods are all connected to the core issue of human-induced development; but blaming heat and humidity on climate change is like blaming the naughtiest child,” said Kapadia, citing resorts being constructed in the mountains by cutting trees.
In yet another recent report that gives insights to investors and helps governments in setting carbon market-friendly policies, Pakistan comes 39th out of 40 countries.
Khalid Waleed, an energy economics expert at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), was quoted by media saying “for the first time in budget history, the government has tagged projects worth Rs53 billion under climate change adaptation and Rs225 billion under climate change mitigation,” referring to the budget presented earlier this month. However, he added that the budget was not climate change project-specific but had been tagged for their climate benefits.
Zia ul Islam finds the budget allocation “rather tricky” to understand as it not only indicates development projects from the Ministry of Planning Development & Special Initiatives, but foreign-funded projects and projects under various ministries and provinces.
Environmental and public policy analyst Dawar Butt, comparing the country’s miniscule environmental spending to India and Bangladesh, said climate did not seem to be a priority. He further added that the climate change allocation has been “cut down by one billion rupees from what finally got approved in this year’s budget.”
Handling Climate Change on Piecemeal Basis
But it is not just how the government is handling climate change. Referring to a climate risk awareness survey conducted by GIZ Pakistan, Qasim highlighted that while many organizations are beginning to acknowledge the impact of climate change on their business models, their approach towards dealing with it was “incomplete and fragmented with a focus on climate mitigation” to meet external requirements of clients or regulators rather than on long-term business sustainability.
Due to the funding fatigue, Zia ul Islam suggested the “begging attitude” may be replaced by capacity building of concerned authorities, bringing in necessary improvements in the legal instruments and effective implementation.”
Good News
If Pakistan can somehow link smooth governance with climate finance and showcase to the world that it can fund its own climate solutions, it will give local and international companies the confidence to invest in the country. This year’s Financing Climate Action report by Transparency International states Pakistan has a huge potential to “dollarize climate adaptive and mitigative projects” provided climate governance is improved.
Flood insurance initiatives for farmers, for example, said Qasim, at very low markup rates, have the potential to be “scaled up across the country to increase flood resilience.”
What Is Sylvester Stallone’s Net Worth and Salary?
Sylvester Stallone, with a net worth of $400 million, is an American actor, screenwriter, producer, and director widely known as one of the most famous and beloved action stars in history, having starred in box office #1 films across six consecutive decades in American cinema.
Having risen to superstardom with “Rocky,” Stallone emerged as one of the highest-paid action stars in the 1980s and 1990s. He is the mastermind behind successful franchises such as “Rocky,” “Rambo,” and “The Expendables.” As of now, Stallone’s movies have accumulated over $4 billion in global revenue. Unlike many Hollywood stars, Sylvester has been involved in writing, producing, and/or directing many of his major franchise films.
Some of Stallone’s highest-grossing films include “Rocky IV” (1985) with earnings of $300 million, “Rambo: First Blood Part II” (1985) generating $300 million, and “Creed” (2015) grossing $173 million. His total movie earnings worldwide exceed $4.5 billion, making Stallone one of the highest-grossing actors alongside stars like Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, and Robert Downey Jr. Arnold Schwarzenegger, another iconic action star, has a worldwide box office total of around $4.4 billion, slightly less than Stallone’s total.
Salary Highlights
Between the 1970s and 2012, Stallone accumulated $300 million in base film salaries alone from the movies we are about to mention—though not every Stallone film during that era or the subsequent 10+ years. Adjusting for inflation, his earnings from this period would equate to roughly $500 million in today’s dollars.
After penning the screenplay for “Rocky” in just three days, Stallone garnered interest from various studios. While United Artists was initially interested, they wanted Robert Redford or James Caan as the lead. Stallone persistently pushed the film’s producers, Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff, to let him star in the movie. He agreed to a reduced salary of $23,000, equivalent to about $110,000 today. The movie went on to earn $225 million with a budget of $1 million.
…
For “Rocky II,” Stallone received a paycheck of $75,000
For “Rocky III,” his base salary was $120,000
For “Rocky V,” he earned $15 million
For “Creed” and “Creed II,” he received $10 million base salaries
In 1982, Stallone earned $3.5 million for “First Blood.” The subsequent year, he earned $10 million, or $25 million adjusted for inflation, and obtained his first Producer credit for “Staying Alive.”
[Truncated for brevity]
Early Life
Sylvester Stallone, born Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone on July 6, 1946, in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan, is the elder son of Francesco “Frank” Stallone Sr., an Italian-born hairdresser, and Jackie Stallone, an astrologer and dancer. Due to complications during his birth, the lower left side of Sylvester’s face was paralyzed, giving him his now-iconic “snarling” look and slightly slurred speech.
Stallone, due to his parent’s tumultuous relationship, spent part of his early years in foster care before their divorce. He later resided with his father in Maryland post the divorce.
Having studied drama at the American College in Switzerland, Stallone later moved on to the University of Miami. He left his studies incomplete and relocated to New York City to pursue acting as a career.
(Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images)
Career
Sylvester Stallone’s initial starring role was in “The Party at Kitty and Stud’s,” a softcore adult film. He later explained that he undertook the role out of desperation after his eviction, receiving $200 for two days’ work.
His early film roles were minor, including an uncredited part in Woody Allen’s 1971 film “Bananas.” In 1973, he appeared in a movie titled “Rebel,” followed by earning early critical acclaim in 1974 for his role in “The Lords of Flatbush.”
In the mid-1970s, Stallone made a move to Los Angeles while writing screenplays during his free time. Inspired by a Muhammad Ali versus Chuck Wepner fight he witnessed, he wrote a screenplay about a struggling underdog thug aspiring to be a professional boxer. Stallone insisted on starring unless he sold the script. He persisted until he found producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff willing to cast him as the lead role of Rocky Balboa, naming him “Balboa” as his LA apartment was nearby Balboa Avenue.
In 1976, the release of “Rocky” marked a turning point. Despite lukewarm test screenings, the movie became a global phenomenon, propelling Stallone to A-list status and global recognition. The film, both critically acclaimed and a box office success, earned $117 million with a $1 million budget, receiving ten Academy Award nominations. It triumphed for Best Picture against other now-classic films like “All the President’s Men,” “Network,” and “Taxi Driver.”
Global Cybercrime Treaty: A delicate balance between security and human rights. Credit: Unsplash/Jefferson Santos Via UN News
Aug 8 2024 (IPS) – A new UN Cybercrime Treaty, which is expected to be adopted by the UN General Assembly later this year, is being denounced by over 100 human rights activists and civil society organizations (CSOs) as a potential tool for government repression.
The treaty is expected to be adopted by a UN Ad Hoc Committee later this week and move to the 193-member General Assembly for final approval.
Deborah Brown, Deputy Director for Technology, Rights, and Investigations at Human Rights Watch (HRW), told IPS governments would then need to sign and ratify the treaty, which means going through national processes.
“We anticipate that as countries move to ratify the treaty it will face considerable scrutiny and pushback from legislators and the public because of the threat it poses to human rights.”
The treaty, she pointed out, would expand government surveillance and create an unprecedented tool for cross-border cooperation between governments on a wide range of crimes, without adequate safeguards to protect people from abuses of power.
“Negotiations are also expected to start on a protocol to accompany the treaty to address additional crimes and further expand the treaty’s reach. We urge governments to reject a cybercrime treaty that undermines rights,” Brown said.
Recognizing the growing dangers of cybercrime, the UN says member states have set about drafting a legally-binding international treaty to counter the threat.
Five years later, negotiations are still ongoing, with parties unable to reach an acceptable consensus, and the latest meeting of the Committee members in February did not conclude with an agreed draft, with countries unable to agree on wording that would balance human rights safeguards with security concerns.
One of the nongovernmental organizations taking part in the negotiations is Access Now, which defends and extends the digital rights of people and communities at risk around the world.
Whilst the February session was still taking place at UN Headquarters, Raman Jit Singh Chima, the Senior International Counsel and Asia Pacific Policy Director for Access Now, spoke to Conor Lennon from UN News, to explain his organization’s concerns.
“This treaty needs to address “core cybercrime”, namely those crimes that are possible only through a computer, that are sometimes called “cyber dependent” crimes, such as hacking into computer systems, and undermining the security of networks”, said Chima.
Clearly, these should be criminalized by states, with clear provisions put in place enabling governments across the world can cooperate with each other.
“If you make the scope of the treaty too broad, it could include political crimes. For example, if someone makes a comment about a head of government, or a head of state, that might end up being penalized under the cybercrime law,” he pointed out.
“When it comes to law enforcement agencies cooperating on this treaty, we need to put strong human rights standards in place, because that provides trust and confidence in the process”.
Also, if you have a broad treaty with no safeguards, every request for cooperation could end up being challenged, not only by human rights advocates and impacted communities, but by governments themselves, he warned.
Meanwhile, the joint statement by CSOs points to critical shortcomings in the current draft of the treaty, which threatens freedom of expression, privacy, and other human rights.
The draft convention contains broad criminal provisions that are weak –- and in some places nonexistent -– human rights safeguards, and provides for excessive cross-border information sharing and cooperation requirements, which could facilitate intrusive surveillance.
“Cybercrime regimes around the world have been misused to target and surveil human rights defenders, journalists, security researchers, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, in blatant violation of human rights”.
The draft convention’s overbreadth also threatens to undermine its own objectives by diluting efforts to address actual cybercrime while failing to safeguard legitimate security research, leaving people less secure online, the CSOs warn.
“National and regional cybercrime laws are regrettably far too often misused to unjustly target journalists and security researchers, suppress dissent and whistleblowers, endanger human rights defenders, limit free expression, and justify unnecessary and disproportionate state surveillance measures”.
Throughout the negotiations over the last two years, civil society groups and other stakeholders have consistently emphasized that the fight against cybercrime must not come at the expense of human rights, gender equality, and the dignity of the people whose lives will be affected by this Convention.
In an oped piece in Foreign Policy in Focus, Tirana Hassan, executive director of Human Rights Watch, says the new treaty, backed by Russia, is aimed to stifle dissent.
She points out that Cybercrime—the malicious hacking of computer networks, systems, and data—threatens people’s rights and livelihoods, and governments need to work together to do more to address it.
But the cybercrime treaty sitting before the United Nations for adoption, could instead facilitate government repression, she noted.
By expanding government surveillance to investigate crimes, the treaty could create an unprecedented tool for cross-border cooperation in connection with a wide range of offenses, without adequate safeguards to protect people from abuses of power.
“It’s no secret that Russia is the driver of this treaty. In its moves to control dissent, the Russian government has in recent years significantly expanded laws and regulations that tighten control over Internet infrastructure, online content, and the privacy of communications,” said Hassan.
But Russia doesn’t have a monopoly on the abuse of cybercrime laws. Human Rights Watch has documented that many governments have introduced cybercrime laws that extend well beyond addressing malicious attacks on computer systems to target people who disagree with them and undermine the rights to freedom of expression and privacy, she pointed out.
For example, in June 2020, a Philippine court convicted Maria Ressa, the Nobel prize-winning journalist and founder and executive editor of the news website Rappler, of “cyber libel” under its Cybercrime Prevention Act.
In Tunisia, authorities have invoked a cybercrime law to detain, charge, or place under investigation journalists, lawyers, students, and other critics for their public statements online or in the media.
In Jordan, the authorities have arrested and harassed scores of people who participated in pro-Palestine protests or engaged in online advocacy since October 2023, bringing charges against some of them under a new, widely criticized cybercrimes law.
Countries in the Middle East-North Africa region have weaponized laws criminalizing same-sex conduct and used cybercrime laws to prosecute online speech.
The treaty has three main problems: its broad scope, its lack of human-rights safeguards, and the risks it poses to children’s rights, said Hassan.
“Instead of limiting the treaty to address crimes committed against computer systems, networks, and data—think hacking or ransomware—the treaty’s title defines cybercrime to include any crime committed by using Information and Communications Technology systems.”
The negotiators are also poised to agree to the immediate drafting of a protocol to the treaty to address “additional criminal offenses as appropriate.”
As a result, when governments pass domestic laws that criminalize any activity that uses the Internet in any way to plan, commit, or carry out a crime, they can point to this treaty’s title and potentially its protocol to justify the enforcement of repressive laws.
In addition to the treaty’s broad definition of cybercrime, it essentially requires governments to surveil people and turn over their data to foreign law enforcement upon request if the requesting government claims they’ve committed any “serious crime” under national law, defined as a crime with a sentence of four years or more, Hassan said.
This would include behavior that is protected under international human rights law but that some countries abusively criminalize, like same-sex conduct, criticizing one’s government, investigative reporting, participating in a protest, or being a whistleblower.
In the last year, a Saudi court sentenced a man to death and a second man to 20 years in prison, both for their peaceful expression online, in an escalation of the country’s ever-worsening crackdown on freedom of expression and other basic rights.
This treaty would compel other governments to assist in and become complicit in the prosecution of such “crimes.”
Moreover, the lack of human rights safeguards, says Hassan, “is disturbing and should worry us all.”
