By Devinder Kumar NEW DELHI (IDN) — Disarmament is at the heart of the collective security system set out in the United Nations Charter, with its goal to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war”. In commemoration of the United Nation’s 75th anniversaries and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the UN Office […]
Nuclear Modernization Race Continues Despite New START
By J C Suresh TORONTO | WASHINGTON, D.C. (IDN) — While independent arms control experts around the world heaved a sigh of relief at Joe Biden’s signature decision to extend the New START Treaty with Russia through February 4, 2026, Pentagon officials say it is “just the beginning of a larger discussion with Russia and […]
From Moments to Movements: Solidarity for Sustainability
By Ramu Damodaran The writer is Chief, United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) hosted in the Department of Global Communications. This OpEd first appeared in the latest #WhyWeCare, @ImpactUN. NEW YORK (IDN | UNAI) — “STOP” said the imperious red sign (actually two red signs) as I ventured to the frostily frigid February frontline of the […]
UN Issues ‘Red Alert’ In A Climate Action Report
By Radwan Jakeem NEW YORK (IDN) — A UN climate action report warns that nations are “nowhere close” to the level of action needed to fight global warming. It urges countries to adopt stronger and more ambitious plans to reach the Paris Agreement goals, and limit the temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, by the […]
UN Concerned About the Impact of COVID-19 and Human Rights Violations
By Jamshed Baruah GENEVA (IDN) — Providing a global update to the Human Rights Council, Michelle Bachelet has said that as the COVID-19 pandemic gathers pace, people worldwide are “being left behind — or pushed even further behind”; they are being excluded from not only development but also opportunities. At the same time, civil society […]
The Creative and Destructive Aspects of Homo Sapiens
Viewpoint by Sergio Duarte The writer is Ambassador, former High Representative of the United Nations for Disarmament Affairs and current President of Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs NEW YORK (IDN) — We do not know exactly how many millennia ago human beings started their ascent among other species to become dominant over the […]
The Great Game of Vaccination Diplomacy Targets Africa
By Kester Kenn Klomegah* MOSCOW (IDN) — Russia is committed to helping eradicate the rapidly increasing coronavirus infections in Africa amounting to approximately 3.8 million with its latest developed Sputnik V vaccine. Such a step will enable Russia to reassert its geopolitical influence that involves a keen competition with other foreign players on the continent. […]
Two Major Conferences Resolute in Combating COVID-19
Viewpoint by Somar Wijayadasa* NEW YORK (IDN) — The leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) and the Munich Security Conference (MSC) held two meetings virtually on February 19, 2021, as these had to be postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The G7 countries — Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and […]
Response to COVID-19 Embedded in Global Power and Diplomatic Wrangles
Viewpoint by Michael Jennings* LONDON (IDN) — The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to various new, repurposed or newly popular terms. The newest entry to the pandemic lexicon might be “vaccine diplomacy”, with some countries using their jabs to strengthen regional ties and enhance their own power and global status. In early February, half a […]
Still Much to Be Done to Make Immigration More Palatable
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden (IDN) — The Mexicans had a joke about ex-President Donald Trump’s planned wall along its border with the US. “It’s not being built to keep Mexicans out of the US; it’s built to keep Trump out of Mexico!” If this be so, then President Joe Biden can relax. No […]