Argentina's poverty rate spikes in first 6 months of President Milei's shock therapy

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina's poverty rate jumped from almost 42% to 53% during the first six months of Javier Milei' s presidency, the statistics agency reported Thursday, a steep rise reflecting the pain of the country's most intense austerity program in recent memory. ...

Official report says Argentina's poverty rate has spiked to 53% in first six months of austerity under President Milei

UN nations endorse a 'Pact for the Future,' and the body's leader says it must be more than talk

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly approved a blueprint Sunday to bring the world’s increasingly divided nations together to tackle 21st-century challenges from climate change and artificial intelligence to escalating conflicts and increasing inequality and poverty. ...

Pope travels from one of the world's poorest countries to one of the richest: Singapore

SINGAPORE (AP) — Pope Francis flew to Singapore on Wednesday for the final leg of his trip through Asia, arriving in one of the world’s richest countries from one of its poorest after a record-setting final Mass in East Timor. After a brief farewell ceremony, Francis, the Vatican...

New president of UN General Assembly calls for unity to tackle borderless issues

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Cameroon’s former prime minister took over the presidency of the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, issuing “a clarion call” to the world’s divided nations to come together and take action to address global challenges from climate change and poverty to conflicts and...

Americans' inflation-adjusted incomes rebounded to pre-pandemic levels last year

WASHINGTON (AP) — The inflation-adjusted median income of U.S. households rebounded last year to roughly its 2019 level, overcoming the biggest price spike in four decades to restore most Americans' purchasing power. The proportion of Americans living in poverty also fell slightly...

Activists criticize high cost of Pope Francis' visit to East Timor, one of the poorest nations

DILI, East Timor (AP) — East Timor pulled out all stops for Pope Francis’ historic visit to one of the world’s youngest and poorest countries to the tune of $12 million, drawing rebuke from activists and human rights organizations in a nation where almost half the population lives in poverty....

East Timor looks to the pope's visit as a reward after 20 years of fragile stability

DILI, East Timor (AP) — East Timor is in a festive mood as it prepares for the arrival of Pope Francis on his first trip to the deeply Catholic country, hard on the heels of the 25th anniversary of the referendum on independence from Indonesia. Francis is due to arrive Monday in...

US rights watchdog cites "a climate of fear" in Uganda oil development project

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Oil activities on the shores of Uganda’s Lake Albert have triggered widespread suffering among locals facing forced displacement and other violent abuses, a U.S. climate watchdog said Monday. The report by Climate Rights International says banks and...

Indonesia's leader highlights economic and infrastructure developments in his final state of nation

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia’s outgoing President Joko Widodo highlighted advances in the economy and infrastructure during his final State of the Nation address Friday. Widodo said that in the 10 years he's led the country, his administration controlled inflation, reduced...