By Saniya Bulatkulova This article was published in The Astana Times NUR-SULTAN (IDN) — The five-meter-tall Peace Tree will be built at the capital’s Palace of Peace and Reconciliation as a symbol of the upcoming seventh Congress of World and Traditional Religions, scheduled for September 14-15, reports Khabar TV channel. The tree reflects the congress […]
Russia is Using a Nuclear Power Plant as a Weapon, Warns Ukrainian President
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — The seven-month-old war between Russia and Ukraine has notched up a rare first: a nuclear power plant in the middle of a devastating battlefield. At a Security Council briefing on the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) on September 6, Ambassador Barbara Woodward of the UK said by choosing […]
Congress of World and Traditional Religious Leaders to Address Social Status of Women
Staff Report in The Astana Times NUR-SULTAN (IDN) — The seventh Congress of World and Traditional Religious Leaders, scheduled for September 14–15, will hold a special session devoted to the social status of women for the first time in the congress’s 20-year history, reported the congress’s press service on September 8. The congress will focus […]
Culture of Peace: An Answer to Intolerance, Hatred, Conflicts & Terrorism
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS (IDN) – A High-Level Forum on the Culture of Peace, which took place on September 6, had an explicit message to the world at large. The Forum underlined the importance of peace at a time when Ukraine, a sovereign nation-state, is being annihilated by Russia, one of the world’s major […]
Chile’s New Constitution Rejected in a Bewildering Vote
Viewpoint by Taroa Zúñiga Silva* and Vijay Prashad** This article was produced by Globetrotter. SANTIAGO DE CHILE | NORTHAMPTON, Massachusetts (IDN) — On September 4, 2022, more than 13 million Chileans—out of a voting-eligible population of approximately 15 million—voted on a proposal to introduce a new constitution in the country. As early as March, polls […]
Protecting the Asia-Pacific Workforce by Ensuring Its Rights
Viewpoint by Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana is an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) BANGKOK (IDN) — Most of the 2.1 billion strong workforce in Asia and the Pacific are denied access to decent jobs, health care and social […]
Lessons Africa Might Learn from the Election of Ruto as Kenya’s President
Viewpoint by Azu Ishiekwene The writer is the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP newspaper based in Abuja, Nigeria. ABUJA (IDN) — In six African countries, the heads of government have been in power for 20 years or more. Attempts to replace them by ballot have either been stalled, frustrated or crushed. In a few, like South […]
Momentum Builds for Ukraine Defense Contact Group
By Jim Garamone , DOD News This article was issued by U.S. Department of Defense. RAMSTEIN, Germany (IDN) — U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said nations of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group are even “more united and resolved to keep up our support for Ukraine’s right to defend itself.” The secretary and […]
Full Gender Equality Still Centuries Away, Warns New UN Report
By Caroline Mwanga NEW YORK (IDN) — The latest available Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 data show that the world is not on track to achieving gender equality by 2030. At the current rate of progress, it may take close to 300 years to achieve full gender equality, according to the new report by the […]
UN Seeks to Protect Critical Infrastructures Against Terrorist Attacks
By Radwan Jakeem with UN News NEW YORK (IDN) — The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) has launched five new specialized guides (modules) aimed at the protection of particularly vulnerable targets against terrorist attacks. “Vulnerable targets” refers both to critical infrastructure (for example, public transportation systems, energy sector) and public places or ‘soft targets’ […]