The Latest Breaking News from Poverty

Scotland to expand school breakfast clubs with £15 million funding boost

The Scottish Government has announced £15 million to expand school breakfast clubs as part of its bid to “eradicate child poverty”

The National (Scotland) · Aug 31

A Mexican entrepreneur began melting discarded plastic into wall and roof panels; within three years his startup had built 500 rooms and secured contracts for 300 homes

In a remarkable daily effort, workers in Mexico convert plastic waste into robust building panels, driving change for impoverished families. Spearheaded by the social enterprise EcoDom, this eco-friendly solution tackles pressing issues of pollution and inadequate housing. Informal waste collectors benefit significantly from improved purchasing deals, and this sustainable model…

The Times of India · Aug 29

A Mexican entrepreneur turned discarded plastic into low-cost homes for families in poverty; each 430-460 sq ft house used 2 tonnes of waste, took 7 days to build and cost families about $280

Plastic production has increased exponentially over the last few decades. A 2017 study published in Science Advances estimated that 8.3 billion tons of plastic have been produced globally since large-scale production began. Only a tiny fraction has been recycled, with huge amounts accumulating in landfills, ecosystems and waterways. Mexico has…

The Times of India · Aug 29

He lived alone in the wild with wolves for 12 years; Spain’s famous ‘wolf boy’ Marcos Rodríguez Pantoja dies at 80

Marcos Rodríguez Pantoja, the Spanish man whose extraordinary childhood among wolves made him famous around the world, has died at the age of 80. Rodríguez died on 15 August 2026 in Rante, a small hamlet in north-western Spain where he had lived since 2001. His life was shaped by an…

The Times of India · Aug 24

In 1953, South Korea emerged from war with 60–70% living in extreme poverty. 71 years later, life expectancy reached 83.7 years with highest education levels anywhere in the planet

Emerging from the ashes of the Korean War, South Korea became a beacon of transformation, where enhanced educational access laid the groundwork for robust economic development. This shift not only propelled industries forward but also significantly improved living conditions, contributing to a remarkable surge in life expectancy. Today, young adults…

The Economic Times · Aug 24

The Indian Heritage Trail in Kenya: How a Railway Built a Diaspora That Never Left

The Line That Cost 2,500 LivesBetween 1896 and 1901, the British colonial government shipped roughly 32,000 workers from India, most of them from Punjab and Gujarat, to build a railway across 900 kilometres of East African terrain. They called it the Uganda Railway. Winston Churchill, who visited the finished line…

Times Life · Aug 24

'No longer a rental refuge': how Hunter housing stress has changed

For Hunter lower income earners, the findings were bleaker still.

Newcastle Herald · Aug 23

German Saying of the Day: “It is all the same to the dead whether they are buried in silk or rags.” A reflection on life beyond wealth

German Saying of the Day: “It is all the same to the dead whether they are buried in silk or rags” reflects on mortality, wealth and social status. The saying uses the contrast between luxury and poverty to suggest that material possessions and outward appearances ultimately lose their importance after…

The Economic Times · Aug 23

Gujarati man sentenced to 9 years in jail in US for scam; attorney says he grew up in India in extreme poverty without water, studied only till 10th

A Gujarati fraudster who was arrested in 2024 by the FBI for a massive elderly scam was sentenced to nine years in prison by US district court in Cleveland. Judge J Philip Calabrese sentenced Shreyas Baldevbhai Chaudhary to 110 months in prison -- 9 years and two months in prison…

The Times of India · Aug 22

Quote of the day by Javier Bardem: 'Many people out there don't have a choice, in...' Life lessons from motivational quote on personal autonomy, systemic vulnerability, socioeconomic hardship, coercion, isolated environments, empathy, control and social inequality

Quote of the day by Javier Bardem explores how personal autonomy can depend on social and economic conditions. His words focus on people who cannot choose their friends or escape harmful influences. The quote raises questions about coercion, control, poverty, empathy, social inequality and the freedom to make choices about…

The Economic Times · Aug 21