54 h. ago Experts warn of ‘global crisis’ as number of women in prison nears one million

Number of women incarcerated around the world rising at nearly three times the rate of men, with female prisoners often subjected to sexual violence and forced labourExplainer: How many women are in prison and on death row around the world? – in chartsUp to a million women worldwide are facing sexual violence and forced labour in prisons, where they are overlooked and forgotten, in what is being called a growing global crisis.The number of incarcerated women is rising much faster than men and is expected to surpass one million on current trends. While on average women account for between 2% and 9% of national prison populations, since 2000 the number imprisoned has grown by 57%, compared with a 22% increase in the men’s prison population. Continue reading...

Events

54 h. ago How many women are in prison and on death row around the world? – in charts

While fewer women than men are incarcerated, their numbers are rising faster and most often for non-violent offencesExperts warn of ‘global crisis’ as number of women in prison nears one millionMore than 733,000 women and girls are held in penal institutions globally, according to the Institute for Crime and Justice Policy Research, either as pre-trial detainees or remand prisoners, or having been convicted and sentenced. The actual total is thought to be much higher, as figures for five countries are not available and those for China are incomplete. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Art installation spotlights 'heartbreaking' fuel poverty crisis affecting millions

A new sculpture, displayed in central London, is part of a campaign by Skipton Building Society, Age UK and National Energy Action to highlight the growing crisis facing households

Events

4 d. ago Fury at 5m Brits paid NOT to work – as Reeves’s Budget will make 10m pensioners pay income tax

FIVE million people are now on benefits with no requirement to work — as Rachel Reeves gets ready to hike taxes to pay for even more welfare spending. The revelation ahead of tomorrow’s Budget sparked claims that Britain is in the grips of a welfare “crisis”. While benefits spiral, it emerged 10 million pensioners could...

Economics

3 w. ago Chronic kidney disease has more than DOUBLED since 1990 to 800 million, experts discover: 'It's a growing global health crisis'

The condition, which causes the kidneys to gradually stop working, is already thought to contribute to 45,000 deaths in the UK alone.

Science

3 w. ago The food stamp fight signals an era of unprecedented cruelty in America | Katrina vanden Heuvel

US leaders have long shown some responsibility to help poor people meet basic nutritional needs. That era appears overIn October, millions rallied across America to remind Donald Trump that this nation obeys no kings. Last week, however, a scene worthy of Versailles unfolded: While Trump built his $300m ballroom, the US prepared to face widespread hunger.With Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap) funding scheduled to run dry due to the government shutdown, the Trump administration not only refused to prevent the crisis – it fought in court to deprive 42 million Snap recipients of their grocery money. Thankfully, a federal judge ruled against the government and ordered that Snap payments proceed. On Monday, the administration said it would fund just half of recipients’ typical benefits. And 2.4 million people soon risk losing their benefits nonetheless, as the $186bn Snap cuts in Trump’s benighted budget bill begin taking effect.Katrina vanden Heuvel is editor and publishe...

Politics

4 w. ago ‘Stop smoking crack’: House Republican inflames shutdown crisis as SNAP food stamp benefits run out for 40 million Americans

The Department of Agriculture has said it doesn’t have the $8 billion needed to fund SNAP in November

Events

last month When the rains don’t come: how drought and endless dry seasons are changing life in Puntland – in pictures

October rains have been light across Somalia, a country which in recent years has found itself on the frontline of the climate crisis. The latest estimate is that 3.4 million people don’t have enough food. One of the worst affected areas is Puntland, where disappearing water sources, pasture and food supplies have forced many to abandon their way of life Continue reading...

Politics