By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — Is the two-party system a thing of the past? Low voter turnout in the US seems to reflect disenchantment with a single choice between Democrats and Republicans. Kenya is no different. This month, Kenyans tossed the traditional toss-up between the Luo and Kikuyu ethnic groups […]
Militants Take Lives at Somali Hotel as US Special Ops Deploy in Somalia
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | MOGADISHU (IDN) — Government forces say they have put down a siege at the popular Hayat Hotel in Mogadishu that began on August 19 and has reportedly left over 20 casualties. It is the largest siege in the country since Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was elected president […]
Somali’s Shakespeare Passes After A Long Illness
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | MOGADISHU (IDN) — Mohamed Ibrahim Warsame, better known by his pen name Hadrawi, has passed away in the Somaliland capital, Hargeisa, after a long illness, according to family members. He was 79. “We have lost an icon in Somali literature,” President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said. “A […]
Son Of ‘Goodwill Zwelithini’ Ascends to Zulu Royal Throne
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — In the traditional ceremonies of the Zulu people, Misuzulu Zulu, 47, was crowned the new king of the country’s richest and most influential traditional monarchy. Thousands of people gathered at the Zulu royal palace in South Africa to witness the ceremony. Misuzulu Zulu ascended to […]
UN Chief Visits ‘Vessels of Hope’ Before returning to New York
By Radwan Jakeem NEW YORK (IDN) — UN Secretary-General António Guterres oversaw on August 20 the departure of two ships involved in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a UN-brokered operation to bring urgently needed hunger relief to the Horn of Africa. Mr. Guterres flew into Istanbul on August 20 from Chisinau, Moldova—where he was hosted […]
India Is Moving Up From ‘Look East Policy’ To ‘Act East Policy’
By Kalinga Seneviratne BANGKOK (IDN) — External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has emphasized that India is keenly interested in the countries to its East, spreading right across East Asia into the Pacific. Speaking at Thailand’s prestigious Chulalongkorn University on August 18, he explained “India’s Vision of the Indo-Pacific” and indirectly went on to distance itself […]
Faith Communities Concerned about Nuclear Weapons
Since 2014, SGI has worked as part of the Faith Communities Concerned about Nuclear Weapons, a group of faith-based organizations and individuals committed to a nuclear-weapon-free world, to issue joint interfaith statements at international fora. Following is the Joint Interfaith Statement to the Tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation […]
Why We Need to Advance SDG 16 More Than Ever
Viewpoint by Dr Márcia Balisciano The writer is the Global Head of Corporate Responsibility, RELX. She is also Chair of the UN Global Compact Network UK; Chair of the Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Council of the Conference Board; and a founding member of the Board of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens. LONDON (IDN) […]
Nigerian Presidential Elections: Politicians and the Jeopardy of Trial by Ordeal
Viewpoint by Azu Ishiekwene The writer is the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP newspaper based in Abuja, Nigeria. ABUJA (IDN) — “I’m going to waste my vote,” a friend told me recently. “And don’t argue with me,” he added. “It’s my right to do so.” I defied him. Regrettably, even though I also recruited help nearby […]
Abolish Political Parties in Impending New Sri Lankan Constitution
Viewpoint by P. Soma Palan COLOMBO (IDN) — I have advocated the abolition of political parties from contesting elections to form a government, in previous articles, both in the electronic and print media. In the present unprecedented political, economic, financial and social instability in the country, the need to revive this plea assumes greater relevance […]