By Sanjay Srivastava, Temily Baker and Nawarat Perawattanasakul* BANGKOK, Thailand | 4 November 2024 (IDN) — This year’s World Tsunami Awareness Day (5 November) presents a moment of reflection 20 years on from the catastrophic Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004. The tsunami resulted in 225,000 fatalities across 14 countries and emphasized the urgent need for […]
India-China Historic Agreement Brings Hope for Global Harmony
By Bhikkhu Sanghasena* LEH, Ladakh, India | 4 November 2024 (IDN) — It is with immense joy and relief that we welcome the long-anticipated news: the two great nations of Asia—India and China—have finally reached an agreement on military disengagement along their disputed border. This significant announcement brings hope to all those who have been […]
Improving Cities — from Space
By Ladislav Charouz and Kareff Rafisura* BANGKOK | 2 November 2024 (IDN) — Despite offering a range of opportunities, urbanisation poses a set of unique challenges to sustainable development. The rapid expansion of cities often results in the growth of informal settlements, with East and South-East Asia being home to 370 million people living in […]
In 2024, 61 Journalists have Lost Their Lives in the Line of Duty
By Volker Turk The writer is UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. GENEVA | 1 NOVEMBER 2024 (IDN) — Journalists are the eyes and ears of a world on fire, and the voice of victims in crisis. They shine a light into the darkest corners of our societies; bearing witness to wars, oppression, corruption and […]
The Mystery of Arab Disloyalty to Palestine
By Salman Rafi Sheikh LOS ANGELES, California USA | 1 November 2024 (IDN) — It has been more than a year since Israel began its war on Gaza following Hamas attacks on Israel in October, yet the Arab world – which claims the closet geographical, political, and religious proximity to Palestine – has neither a […]
Democracy Under Growing Stress—and the Need for Re-Thinking
By Simone Galimberti* KATHMANDU, Nepal | 30 October 2024 (IDN) — Slowly around the world, a new approach to democracy is spreading. Moving from academic circles, led by innovative political scientists to mainstream society, it is a dynamic that is centered on a myriad of different but equally important practices on the ground. This process […]
After Israeli Strike Iran Holds the Trump Card
By Emad Kiyaei and Sharon Dolev* Following Israel’s recent strike on Iran, Tehran finds itself in a unique position to curb the cycle of violence. The question is whether Iran and the U.S. can leverage this moment to strike an immediate freeze-for-freeze deal to steer the region towards stability. LONDON | 30 October 2024 (IDN) […]
Will America Go to War Under Trump?
By Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden | 29 October 2024 (IDN) — A speech of General George Patton, a famous World War II warrior, has an uncanny resemblance to the philosophy of Donald Trump. “All real Americans love the sting and clash of battle. Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser—Americans despise cowards. […]
Africa: Unlocking Energy Potentials
By Kester Kenn Klomegah* MOSCOW | 29 October 2024 (IDN) — At the plenary session of the Russian Energy Week international Forum 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated Russia’s role as a stabilizing force in the global energy market and would continue to be a dependable supplier of energy products to the global market. As […]
Developing Countries Need 1.4 trillion US Dollar for Social Protection by 2030
By Ramesh Jaura BERLIN | NEW YORK | 28 October 2024 (IDN) — As the international community girds up its loins for next year’s Second World Summit for Social Development, the UN has warned that more than 4 billion people worldwide lack any social protection. Only 47 per cent of the global population is estimated […]