Viewpoint by Sonali Kolhatkar There is no better time than now to address the ridiculous levels of wealth and income inequality in the United States. It can be done with ease through aggressive taxation of the wealthiest handfuls of individuals, writes Sonali Kolhatkar. She is the founder, host and executive producer of “Rising Up With […]
Bobi Wine and The Old African Brew
Viewpoint by Azu Ishiekwene The writer is the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Interview magazine based in Abuja, Nigeria. ABUJA (IDN) – After the presidential election in Uganda, it dawned on me that there are two people in the country who don’t fear President Yoweri Museveni: one is his tailor, and the other is his political […]
A Silver Lining on The Nuclear Weapons Front
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden (IDN) – Last week Presidents Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden had a phone call. But many say, so what? They are so wrong. A lot was there if you read between the lines. Importantly, they reaffirmed that the New START Treaty, cutting long-range nuclear-tipped missiles by one third, (that’s […]
Activists Fear Return of Police State in Tunisia
Viewpoint by Asma Abidi* BERLIN (IDN) – Ten years after the revolution that sparked the Arab Spring, Tunisia, often hailed as its only success story, has yet to deliver the promised freedom, jobs and prosperity to its people. Civil unrest erupted on January 14 across the country when the authorities announced a four-day strict lockdown, […]
Biden Administration Has an Opportunity to Emerge as A Reliable Partner with African Countries
Viewpoint by Daniel Haile* COLLEGE STATION, Texas | USA (IDN) – The lack of engagement with African countries economically, politically, and militarily could haunt the United States in the coming decades. Washington needs to forget the trauma of the infamous “Black Hawk Down” incident in Somalia and draft a new policy for mutually beneficial cooperation […]
UN Treaty Paves the Way for a Nuclear-Weapons-Free World
Viewpoint by Sergio Duarte The writer is President of Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs. Former United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs. NEW YORK (IDN) – The entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) on January 22 prompted many comments from different quarters on the importance and […]
US and Russia Should Agree to a New “Reset”
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden (IDN) – There is a dangerous element in President Joe Biden’s foreign policy. It comes from his deeply embedded dislike of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. During the campaign, he even called Putin a thug, which was not a very sensible thing to do if you are hoping to […]
South African Nuclear Energy Chief Pleads for Energy-Mix
Interview by Kester Kenn Klomegah* MOSCOW (IDN) – The power industry in South Africa is faced with huge challenges. Knox Msebenzi, Managing Director of the Nuclear Industry Association of South Africa (NIASA), discusses the impact of challenges on the country’s economy and a way out of the power generation difficulties in South Africa. The Nuclear […]
Global Buddhist Network Heralds Entry into Force of Nuclear Ban Treaty
Viewpoint by Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada Following is the text of a press release President Harada welcoming the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) on January 22, 2021. TOKYO (IDN) – Together with the members of the Soka Gakkai worldwide, I wholeheartedly welcome the entry into force […]
New Opportunities for Aung San Suu Kyi After Elections
Viewpoint by Enze Han The writer is an Associate Professor at the Department of Politics and Public Administration, the University of Hong Kong. HONG KONG (IDN) – Amid the worsening domestic COVID-19 situation, Myanmar’s election in November 2020 brought a landslide victory for the National League for Democracy (NLD) under the leadership of Aung San […]