By Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden | 15 May 2024 (IDN) — President Barack Obama once observed, “ISIS [Islamic State] is a direct outgrowth of Al Qaeda in Iraq that grew out of our invasion—which is an example of unintended consequences—which is why we should generally aim before we shoot”. Many of us, looking back at […]
China Turns Focus to Europe in a Diplomatic Game
By Nickolay Kapitonenko* KYIV | 14 May 2024 (IDN) — The ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war has gradually changed the international political landscape, which is being closely monitored even by states far removed from its realities. The war is unleashing complex mechanisms of international interaction, testing the strength of alliances and changing power relations. In addition to […]
U.S. Weapons to Israel are an Arsenal of Genocide
By Medea Benjamin and Nicolas J. S. Davies* NEW YORK | 14 May 2024 (IDN) — On May 8, 2024, as Israel escalated its brutal assault on Rafah, President Biden announced that he had “paused” a delivery of 1,700 500-pound and 1,800 2,000-pound bombs, and threatened to withhold more shipments if Israel went ahead with its full-scale […]
Latin America: Several Countries Look to Combat Gang Violence by Fighting Fire
By Amalendu Misra The writer is a Professor of International Politics, Lancaster University. This article was issued by The Conversation. LANCASTER, UK (IDN) — Gangs have an enduring presence in Latin America. They have existed as power brokers, illicit economic actors and spoilers in the developmental processes of several countries. And yet, despite their power […]
EU Does Not Always Walk the Talk but the Commission Head Deserves Praise
By Simone Galimberti* KATHMANDU, Nepal | 10 May 2024 (IDN) — As Europe Day was commemorated on 9 May, many lingering questions remain: Does this really matter if you live outside Europe? Or even if you are part of an EU member state, will there be much of a celebration? This is a mistake because […]
Sri Lankan High Achievers in the US Honoured at Hollywood Ceremony
A Review by Nandi Jasentuliyana, former Deputy Director-General, United Nations LOS ANGELES | 5 May 2024 (IDN) — The Sri Lanka Foundation International Awards Ceremony, held this year at the Prestigious Sheraton Universal City in Hollywood, was a testament to the grandeur and significance of the event. The ceremony was more than just an awards […]
Sri Lanka: Between Gratefulness to Iran and Reservations of a Community
By Kalinga Seneviratne ALIKOTA ARA, Wellawaya, Sri Lanka | 2 May 2024 (IDN) — Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi made a one-day visit to Sri Lanka on 24 April amid tight security to declare open an Iran-assisted mega power and agricultural development project that would provide power to the national grid and water to farmers in […]
UK-Rwanda Asylum Law: UN Leaders Warn of Harmful Consequences
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS | 30 April 2024 (IDN) — A highly contentious piece of legislation, forcing migrants and asylum seekers arriving in Britain, to be deported to Rwanda, has come under heavy fire. The bill, described as the British Conservative Party’s flagship immigration policy, was adopted April 22, despite strong opposition from the […]
A Nuclear Deal with Iran Is Essential to Duck a Nuclear Holocaust
By Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden | 30 April 2024 (IDN) — Rightly the debate over a way to end the Iranian (nuclear?) bomb crisis remains one of the prime issues in Western foreign policy. Compared with that the partial war in Ukraine seems to be almost trivial. Likewise, Israel versus Hamas, the de facto rulers […]
More U.S. Troops Leaving African Bases
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | 29 April 2024 (IDN) — Another group of American military personnel has been ordered to pack up and withdraw from an African base in the Central African nation of Chad, three senior U.S. officials said this week. It comes amid a broader, involuntary reconfiguration of Washington’s […]