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 […]
The Nuclear Ban Is Here. Now What?
Viewpoint by Alyn Ware The author is Director of the World Future Council Peace and Disarmament Program. He is also the International Representative of the Aotearoa Lawyers for Peace. PRAGUE (IDN) – January 22 was a historic day for the global campaign to eliminate nuclear weapons, with the entry-into-force of the Treaty on the Prohibition […]
Reflections on the Groundbreaking UN Nuclear Ban Treaty
By Ramu Damodaran The writer is Chief, United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) hosted in the Department of Global Communications. This OpEd first appeared in this week’s #WhyWeCare, @ImpactUN on January 22. NEW YORK (IDN | UNAI) – Memory, more than modesty, made me miss mention last week of the single exclusive conversation I was privileged […]
Nuclear Weapons Are Now Banned, Prohibited, Outlawed!
Viewpoint by Tariq Rauf The writer is the former Head of Verification and Security Policy at the International Atomic Energy Agency and was a member of the Group of Eminent Persons for Substantive Advancement of Nuclear Disarmament established by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan. VIENNA (IDN) – As the day broke today, 22 […]
Nigeria: A Governor’s Wife Goes Houston To Take the Vaccine
Viewpoint by Azu Ishiekwene The writer is the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Interview magazine based in Abuja, Nigeria. ABUJA (IDN) – Whether Jean-Jacques Rousseau miscredited the words to Marie Antoinette in Confessions or not, Nigeria is happy to supply a modern-day princess who has earned the title of Her Royal Spite-tress without controversy. And unlike […]