WASHINGTON DC, Dec 10 (IPS) – When one in five pre-school children is stunted due to chronic undernutrition, it is clear that global diets urgently need to improve and diversify to include more nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables and animal-source foods.
An extreme-right TV commentator has thrown the political world in France into turmoil by launching a presidential campaign ahead of next April’s election.
Joe Biden has pledged “additional military capabilities” for NATO’s easternmost members, Lithuania’s presidential advisor has revealed after talks between the US president and regional leaders.
The US president held phone talks with the leaders of the Bucharest Nine group on Thursday. The organization brings together eastern European countries, including Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Bulgaria.
During the talks, that lasted some 45 minutes, the US leader pledged “additional military capabilities” for the region’s NATO members, Asta Skaisgiryte, foreign policy adviser for Lithuania’s president, told reporters.
“He said additional reassurance elements are possible in these countries, and additional military capabilities,” the official said, adding that the US leader has not elaborated on a possible location or exact details on the additional NATO military buildup.
“No country was specifically named. However, it can be understood that it is in the eastern flank of NATO,” she stated.
The US president also briefed the Bucharest Nine leaders on his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, that largely revolved around Ukraine. Biden also assured the region’s leaders that he would never make any deals involving the eastern European countries behind their backs, according to Skaisgiryte.
The US president told the leaders that “nothing has been said about you without you,” the official added.
Dec 09 (IPS) – Plastic waste of all shapes and sizes permeates the world’s oceans. It shows up on beaches, in fish and even in Arctic sea ice. And a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine makes clear that the U.S. is a big part of the problem.
