News in Brief
Iraq unveils $17b transport project
AFP – Iraq on Saturday presented an ambitious plan to turn itself into a regional transportation hub by developing its road and rail infrastructure, linking Europe with the Middle East.
Once completed, the $17 billion project known as the “Route of Development” would span the length of the country, stretching 1,200 kilometers from the northern border with Turkey to the Gulf in the south.
PM Mohamed Shia al-Sudani announced the project during a conference with transport ministry representatives from Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey and the UAE.
WHO backs farmers to grow food instead of tobacco
CNBC – The World Health Organization said it was helping a growing number of farmers turn away from tobacco to help strengthen food security, particularly in Africa.
Ahead of World No Tobacco Day on Wednesday, the WHO said it had teamed up with other United Nations agencies to support farmers wishing to convert from growing tobacco to growing food.
IMF, others should give $100b climate foreign-trade guarantee
REUTERS – A top-level meeting in Paris next month will lay out a $100 billion plan to drive more money into climate and development finance in poorer countries by providing currency guarantees to investors, according to a document seen by Reuters.
The plan was sent to the world’s governments ahead of the “Summit for a New Global Financing Pact” in Paris in June by the Bridgetown Initiative spearheaded by Barbados leader Mia Mottley.