By Sajjad Ashraf* ISLAMABAD (IDN-INPS) – Though some legal challenges on constituency delimitation remain, Pakistan is well on its way to a general election. Caretaker Prime Minister Nasir-ul-Mulk took the oath of office at the beginning of June, setting the stage for elections to take place on July 25, 2018. Punjab province is the main […]
Mahathir Appears To Be Setting The Stage For A New Malaysia
By Shankaran Nambiar* KUALA LUMPUR (IDN-INPS) – Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad appears to be setting the tone for a revision of Malaysia’s geo-economic policy, if the bilateral meetings with his Indian and Japanese counterparts in the early days of his administration are anything to go by. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on Mahathir not […]
Global Compact on Migration Agreed Despite Differences
By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) – When Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the agreement an all-encompassing Global Compact to better manage international migration, address its challenges, strengthen migrant rights and contribute to sustainable development, calling it “a significant achievement” and General Assembly President Miroslav Lajčák described it as a “historic moment,” it was far more […]
UN University Supports Iceland in Facilitating Developing Countries’ Access To Geo-Energy
By Lowana Veal REYKJAVIK (IDN) – 439 million Asians and 588 million sub-Saharan Africans lack access to electricity, according to the International Energy Authority’s Energy Access Outlook. The situation is worse for those living in rural areas: although 98 percent of urban Filipinos have access to electricity, this is only true for 84 percent of […]
UN Chief Asks Melinda Gates and Ali Baba’s Jack Ma To Head Digital Experts Panel
By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) – Noting that “the scale, spread and speed of change made possible by digital technologies is unprecedented, but the current means and levels of international cooperation are unequal to the challenge,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres has announced the launch of a High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation. As Guterres told […]
UN Nuclear Watchdog Promotes Global Development Agenda
By Santo D. Banerjee NEW YORK (IDN) – At the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development, concluding on July 18 in New York, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has highlighted its contributions to promoting the Sustainable Development Goals. Capacity building to ‘ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all’ as […]
Why Germany Is Important For Survival Of Multilateralism
By Shastri Ramachandaran* NEW DELHI | BERLIN (IDN) – A spectre is haunting Europe – the spectre of right-wing nationalism that is anti-immigrant and, in many pockets, feeding racism and xenophobia. Germany, which stood tall and firm against this gathering illiberal tide by throwing open its doors in 2015-16 to over a million refugees – mainly […]
300 Parliamentarians Call For Commitment To UN Charter
By Jutta Wolf BERLIN (IDN) – More than 300 parliamentarians representing the collective voice of one billion people from Vancouver to Vladivostok adopted a 76-page declaration on July 11 expressing deep concern about unresolved conflicts and nuclear weapons threats, and proposing measures that should be taken to rebuild peace and security in Europe. The members […]
UN Summer Academy Brings 2030 Development Agenda To Life
By Rita Joshi BONN (IDN) – In 2015, countries from around the world adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. In November 2016, the Paris Agreement on climate change entered into force, addressing the need to limit the rise […]
Eritrea and Ethiopia End Two Decade Long War
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | ASMARA (IDN) – “And into ploughshares beat their swords. Nations shall learn war no more.” With those words of Isaiah, Ethiopia and Eritrea announced the end of a futile war and agreed to normalize ties, drawing the curtain on a 20-year military standoff on the Horn […]