By J Nastranis NEW YORK | 6 August 2024 (IDN) — Bad news for two-thirds of the global population. They comprise six billion people and inhabit 108 countries—including China, India, Brazil, and South Africa—classified as “middle-income”, each with annual GDP per capita in the range of $1,136 to $13,845. Two out of every three people […]
Now Is the Time to Help Countries Faced with Liquidity Challenges
By Ceyla Pazarbasioglu, Pablo Saavedra* With elevated debt service squeezing the space available to finance much needed investment in many countries, urgent action is needed to boost fiscal space, maintain adequate international support, and reduce debt servicing costs. WASHINGTON, DC | 5 August 2024 (IDN) — Many countries are being squeezed by increasing interest payments […]
Global Hunger Persists at High Rates — UN Target Missed
By Jaya Ramachandran ROME | 4 August 2024 (IDN) — “Zero Hunger” is second of the ambitious 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by world leaders at an historic summit in September 2015. These were to be achieved by 2030. But the distressing fact is that global hunger persists at high rates: one in eleven […]
UN Forum Stresses Significance of South-South and Triangular Cooperation
By Caroline Mwanga NEW YORK | 3 August 2024 (IDN) — The 2024 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development from 8 to 17 July spotlighted the pivotal role of South-South and triangular cooperation in advancing the global development agenda. The Forum emphasized the need to strengthen and expand South-South and triangular cooperation to enhance […]
NATO Turns Global and Expands Theatres of Escalation
By Anuradha Chenoy* This article was published in Economic&Political Weekly (Vol. 59, Issue No. 30, 27 Jul, 2024) and is being republished with the author‘s permission. NEW DELHI | 2 August 2024 (IDN) — The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) of 32 Western countries has formally declared its security interests to be global, despite its […]
US Strengthens Military Bonds with Asia—with 500 million USD to Philippines
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS | 1 August 2024 (IDN) — The US is strengthening its economic and military relationships with Asian allies, including Japan and 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), comprising Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand. Brunei Darussalam, Viet Nam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia. As political and military tensions […]
Religious Leaders, Academic Experts, and Tech Leaders Discuss AI Ethics for Peace
By Taro Ichikawa HIROSHIMA | 31 July 2024 (IDN) — Nearly one month ahead of the 79th anniversary of the atomic bombings—by the United States—of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, representatives from 11 of the world’s major religions joined academic experts and tech leaders for an AI Ethics for Peace historic conference in […]
An Indian Business School of Administration Champions Sustainable Entrepreneurship
By Caroline Mwanga NEW YORK | 31 July 2024 (IDN) — United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) has commended Chandigarh Business School of Administration (CBSA) in India, for emerging as a frontrunner in nurturing future business leaders equipped with a focus on sustainable growth and social responsibility. According to UNAI, through a series of well-curated events […]
Quad Foreign Ministers Creating Tensions in South China Sea
By Wang Qi, Global Times BEIJING | 30 July 2024 (IDN) — Top diplomats from Quad countries held talks on Monday in Tokyo, expressing so-called concerns about the situation in the East and South China Seas and vowing to uphold so-called maritime order in the “Indo-Pacific region,” which analysts viewed as another attempt targeting China’s […]
What Sets China Apart from Traditional Mediators as Peace-Broker
By Fiona Raval* This article was originally published by The Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS). NEW DELHI | 30 July 2024 (IDN) — Ukrainian President Zelenskyy recently identified China as one of the few global actors with enough power and influence to help terminate the war with Russia. China’s peace proposals have garnered […]