World

World wastes 19 percent of foods: UN report

Published

2 years ago

March 30, 2024

According to a United Nations report, the world wasted an estimated 1,05 billion metric tons or 19 percent of the food available to consumers worldwide in 2022.

According to the report, this wastage occurs when 783 million people in the world go hungry, and a third of humanity faces food insecurity.

The data on food wastage worldwide was released by the United Nations in the 3rd Food Waste Index Report 2024 prepared by the United Nations Environment Programs published on 27 March 2024.

The Food Waste Index Report is an effort of the United Nations to raise awareness about food wastage and achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12.3, which aims to halve world food waste by 2030.

The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) released the first Food Waste Index Report in 2011.

Main Highlights of the 3rd Food Waste Index Report 2024

In 2022, 1.05 billion tons of food, or 19 percent of food available to consumers, was wasted at the retail, food service, and household level. This was in addition to the 13% loss estimated by the Food and Agriculture Organization during the post-harvest supply chain.

Households were the major source of food wastage. Out of the total food wastage, households were responsible for 631 million tons, equivalent to 60 percent, the food service sector for 290 and the retail sector for 131.

The annual per capita food wastage in the world is 79 kg and around one billion meals per day are wasted by households.

The greenhouse gases generated by food loss and waste are estimated to be 8-10 per cent of world greenhouse gas emissions. They are almost five times the total emissions generated by the aviation sector.

The countries in the hotter regions have more food waste per capita in household sectors. According to the report, this could be due to a lack of cold chains and an increase in the consumption of fresh foods with substantial inedible parts. The prevalence of higher seasonal temperatures, extreme heat events, and droughts creates problems in storage, processing, and transportation, leading to significant food waste.

Urban-Rural Disparities: In Middle-income countries, rural populations waste less food than urban areas. The report says this could be due to the greater diversion of leftover foods to pets, use as animal feed, and home composting in rural areas.

The report recommends that Countries use the Food Waste Index to measure food waste consistently, develop robust national baselines, and track progress to meet the SDG 12.3 goal.

As of 2022, only 21 countries, including Cabo Verde, China, Namibia, Sierra Leone, and the United Arab Emirates, have included food loss and/or waste reduction in their national climate plans (NDCs).

The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) was established in 1972. The decision to establish the Program was taken at the United Nations Conference on Human Environment held in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1972.

In 1988, the UNEP set up the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) with the World Meteorological Organization to provide policymakers with regular scientific assessments on global warming and climate change.

The UNEP helps its member countries achieve triple environmental objectives, to foster climate stability, live in harmony with nature and forge a pollution-free future, supporting the achievement of all 17 SDGs.

World

Israel built and defended a secret base in Iraq for Iran war, WSJ reports

Published

2 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Ariana News

Israel established a covert military installation in the Iraqi desert to support its air operations against Iran, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal, citing individuals familiar with the matter, including U.S. officials.

The report said the facility was used as a logistical hub for the Israeli Air Force and also housed special forces, as well as search-and-rescue units prepared to assist any downed pilots during operations.

According to the newspaper, the base was built with the knowledge of the United States shortly before the onset of what it described as a joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran.

The report added that Israeli forces conducted airstrikes against Iraqi troops on at least one occasion after they allegedly came close to discovering the site, in order to prevent exposure of the facility.

The existence of the installation reportedly came under threat in early March, when Iraqi state media said a shepherd had alerted authorities to unusual military activity in the area, including helicopter movements. Iraqi forces were subsequently dispatched to investigate.

The Wall Street Journal further reported that Iraqi troops were struck by Israeli air operations while approaching the area, based on accounts from sources familiar with the incident.

Later in March, Iraq submitted a complaint to the United Nations alleging that foreign forces were involved in attacks in the area and initially attributed responsibility to the United States. However, the report cited a source familiar with the matter as saying the U.S. was not involved.

World

Trump releases government UFO files, more expected

Published

1 day ago

May 9, 2026

Ariana News

At the order of U.S. President Donald Trump, the Defense Department on Friday released dozens of previously classified files on alleged UFO sightings to provide what ‌it called “unprecedented transparency” to the American people, though analysts said many of the documents had already been made public.

The disclosure of documents, photos and videos of “unidentified anomalous phenomena” will be followed by future releases as more materials are declassified, the Defense Department said in a statement, Reuters reported.

Trump was the latest president to release U.S. government reports on UFOs, a disclosure process that began in the late 1970s. Experts said the batch of around 160 files released on Friday contained new videos of known sightings but gave no conclusive evidence of alien technology or extraterrestrial life.

The files include a 1947 report of “flying discs” as well as grainy photos of “unidentified phenomena” taken from the moon’s surface by the 1969 Apollo 12 lunar mission and a transcript of the Apollo 17 crew describing unidentified objects seen from the moon in 1972.

‘BRIGHT PARTICLES’ DURING APOLLO 17

Apollo 17 mission pilot Ronald Evans reported “a few very bright particles or fragments or something that go drifting by as we maneuver,” based on the transcript.

“Roger. Understand,” mission control replied.

“These files, hidden behind classifications, have long fueled justified speculation – and it’s time the American people see it for themselves,” Hegseth said in a statement.

The records release is likely to fuel fresh debate over government secrecy and the possible existence of life in the cosmos.

“Whereas previous Administrations have failed to be transparent on this subject, with these new Documents and Videos, the people can decide for themselves, “WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?” Trump said in a statement. “Have fun and enjoy!”

The move was welcomed by U.S. Representatives Tim Burchett and ‌Anna Paulina ⁠Luna, both proponents of declassifying UFO files. Luna said an additional tranche of material was expected in about 30 days.

“The files show that UAP are not simply a matter of speculation or public curiosity,” Harvard University astrophysicist Avi Loeb said in an email to Reuters. “The government has collected records.”

The images from Apollo 12 and 17 were fascinating but could be the result of asteroid impacts on the lunar surface, Loeb said.

DISTRACTION FROM POLITICAL PROBLEMS?

Some critics cast the UFO disclosures as a distraction from Trump’s political woes, including ⁠the unpopular U.S. military campaign against Iran and public pressure to release further files tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

“I really don’t care about the UFO files. I just don’t. I’m so sick of the ‘look at the shiny object’ propaganda,” former Republican U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote on X.

UAP investigator Mick West said the administration of former President ⁠Joe Biden disclosed much of the same information as Friday’s release.

“They’re evidence of us not being able to identify a small white dot that’s a long distance away,” the Sacramento, California-based analyst said of the new UAP videos and images.

Independent journalist Leslie Kean said the release showed there was still a lot ⁠of government information on UAP that should be disclosed. Kean co-authored a 2017 New York Times story on a secret Pentagon UAP program, which prompted Congress to push for declassification of UFO documents.

“I think we’ve already proven the existence of UAP, but that doesn’t mean we’ve proven they’re alien or extraterrestrial or that we know what they are,” said Kean.

World

Trump says United States will get uranium from Iran

One of Trump’s central objectives in launching ‌military ⁠strikes against Iran was to ensure Tehran does not develop a nuclear weapon.

Published

3 days ago

May 7, 2026

Ariana News

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the United States ‌would get enriched uranium from Iran, as the two countries struggle to reach an agreement on ⁠ending the Gulf war, Reuters reported.

“We’re going to get it,” Trump told a reporter as he left a White House event.

One of Trump’s central objectives in launching ‌military ⁠strikes against Iran was to ensure Tehran does not develop a nuclear weapon. Iran ⁠has yet to hand over more than 900 pounds (408 kg) ⁠of highly enriched uranium.