By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS. 11 August 2023 (IDN) — The Russian invasion of Ukraine—now in its 16th month—has been described by the United Nations as violations of both the UN charter and the territorial integrity of a sovereign nation. But it has also triggered the concept of self-defence: you hit me, and I’ll hit […]
‘The US & EU Need a New Roadmap to Solve Serbia-Kosovo Conflict’
By Alon Ben-Meir* NEW YORK, 17 June 2023 (IDN) — It is naïve to assume that given the current geopolitical conditions in the Balkans and the psychological dimension of the conflict between Kosovo and Serbia that a resolution to their conflict can be found unless the EU and the US develop a clearly articulated cost-and-benefit […]
A New Message Rings Out at Royal Coronation: “Not My King!”
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK, 8 May 2023 (IDN) — Along streets packed with Londoners, visitors from around the world, and members of the royal class, the coronation of Charles and Camilla was a sumptuous display of pageantry, trumpet fanfare, and gun salutes. A glittering gold stagecoach built in 1760 was on […]
Beyond the ‘Blue Curtain of Secrecy’ in Croatia
Conversation with the Head of the Croatian Criminal Police By Aurora Weiss VIENNA (IDN) — The esprit de corps, the misunderstood sense of togetherness, means that the police officers cover for one another. In such a culture, valuing loyalty over integrity facilitates misconduct by keeping it concealed. That’s why The United Nations Convention against Corruption […]
Ukrainian Troops Headed to U.S. for Patriot Missile Training
By C. Todd Lopez, DOD News This article was issued by U.S. Department of Defense. WASHINGTON, D.C. (IDN) — Weeks after announcing that the U.S. would send one Patriot air defense battery and associated munitions to Ukraine, a Pentagon official said Ukrainian soldiers will come to the U.S. to train on the Patriot system so […]
EU Cracks a Gentle Whip at Iran
By M.K. Bhadrakumar* This article was produced in partnership with Indian Punchline and Globetrotter. NEW DELHI (IDN) — The European Union has returned to the ritual of sanctioning Iran to leverage its foreign and security policies. The highlight of the EU Foreign Affairs Council ministerial meeting in Brussels on December 12 was the imposition of […]
Truss, Sunak and Vajpayee: Devil is in the Detail
By Shastri Ramachandran NEW DELHI (IDN) — When it comes to well-known public figures, it is the little-known tidbits about them that are interesting. How and why Rishi Sunak lost to Liz Truss in the race to become UK’s Prime Minister is no big mystery. It is because the cow could not help Sunak. Had […]
Myanmar Junta Jails Former British Ambassador Vicky Bowman
By Jan Servaes* BRUSSELS (IDN) — Vicky Bowman was Britain’s ambassador to Myanmar from 2002 to 2006. After completing her role as ambassador, she remained in the country as the founder of the NGO Myanmar Center for Responsible Business (MCRB), which is supported by the UK Institute for Human Rights & Business (IHRB) and the […]
Some European Leaders Warn of the End of Western Hegemony
By Shastri Ramachandaran NEW DELHI (IDN) — Those who assert that western hegemony is no longer sustainable can take heart from the fact that movers and shakers on the world stage are also saying this. French President Emmanuel Macron has proclaimed that “Western hegemony is nearing its end”. Perhaps, the most erudite among the heads […]
The War in Ukraine Triggers a New Order in the Western Balkans
By Aurora Weiss VIENNA (IDN) —Ukraine and Moldova have moved closer to membership of the European Union (EU) much faster than the six countries of the Western Balkans. There has been general agreement that requirements for EU accession candidature are not easy to meet, but Ukraine and Moldova seem to have got that status overnight.