Viewpoint by Keith Locke Former Green MP Keith Locke was the party’s foreign affairs spokesperson. He writes occasional pieces for Asia Pacific Report. This article was first published by The Spinoff, republished in Asia Pacific Report, our partner, on August 19 with the author’s permission. WELLINGTON (IDN) — After the fall of Kabul, the obvious […]
Dwindling Democracy and Press Freedom in Hong Kong
Viewpoint by Jan Servaes Jan Servaes was Head of the Department of Media and Communication at the City University of Hong Kong (2013-2016). He taught ‘international communication’ in Australia, Belgium, China, Hong Kong, the US, the Netherlands and Thailand, in addition to short-term projects at about 120 universities in 55 countries. He is editor of […]
Friends Of Moroccan ‘Gnawa’ Music Rally to Save Cultural Icon
By Lisa Vives, Global Information News NEW YORK (IDN) — Rooted in healing rituals and Sufism, the hypnotic sounds of Gnawa music have attracted artists and musicians of all stripes—from Jazz Age poet Claude McKay to Archie Shepp, Ornette Coleman and the legendary Randy Weston. Dar Gnawa—or Gnawa House—is a one-of-a kind three-story Moorish-style building […]
Genocide Trial Looms for Former Sudanese Leader and Aides Over Darfur Conflict
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — The architects of crimes against humanity and genocide in the Sudanese region of Darfur may finally appear before the International Criminal Court, at least a decade after the atrocities occurred. Ex-president Omar al-Bashir is among the group wanted by the court in The Hague since […]
Filipino Medal Winners at Tokyo Olympics Show Sports Could Empower The “Economically Disabled”
By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — As the Paralympics begin in Tokyo—a celebration of the athletics prowess of the “differently-abled”—it will be appropriate to look at how the Tokyo Olympic Games that concluded on August 8 empowered the “economically disabled” athletes from the Philippines—a Southeast Asian country not well-known for its sporting prowess except for […]
The Human Race Against the Climate Crisis Clock
By Kirsten Mildren The writer is Head of Campaigns & Advocacy, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). NEW YORK (IDN) — On 19 August 2003, a bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killed 22 humanitarian aid workers, including the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Sergio Vieira […]
Tales of Egypt’s Quest for Russian Nuclear Power
By Kester Kenn Klomegah* MOSCOW (IDN) — It was a highly unique step forward in October 2019, when during the first Russia-Africa Summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi reaffirmed commitment to scale-up cooperation in various economic sectors and particularly expedite work on the special industrial zone and the construction of […]
Exploring why Afghan Forces Vanished So Fast
Viewpoint by Manish Rai KABUL (IDN) — The Taliban now control almost the whole of Afghanistan including the capital city, Kabul, almost two decades after they were driven out by US troops. It was widely expected that after the United States’ complete withdrawal the Taliban will make significant territorial gains.
Development Banks Must Prioritize Childcare to Improve Women’s Economic Standing During and After COVID-19
Viewpoint by Megan O’Donnell Megan O’Donnell leads the Center for Global Development’s COVID-19 Gender and Development Initiative, which aims to promote gender equality and long-term prosperity in low- and middle-income countries by informing global and national decision-makers’ policy responses to the current pandemic and future crises. WASHINGTON DC (IDN) — Lack of access to quality […]
Jeffrey Sachs Should Lead a Knowledge Coalition to Enhance Power to Reduce if not Stop the Exploitation of Africa
Viewpoint by Babafemi A. Badejo, Ph.D The writer is Professor of Political Science/International Relations, Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Nigeria, and former Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia. He can be contacted at ffembee@yahoo.com +2348055331448 ABEOKUTA, Nigeria (IDN) — The United Nations held a pre-Summit on Food Systems on July 26-28, 2021, as a […]