By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — The deployment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)—more commonly known as drones—largely by US and Russian military forces has highlighted a weapon that is being increasingly deployed in war zones in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and most recently Ukraine.
A UN Security Council Committee Meets in India to Commit to Fight Digital Terror
By Aar Jay NEW YORK | NEW DELHI (IDN) — In a two-day meeting of the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee in India, member states have decided to counter the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes. The non-binding document, known as The Delhi Declaration, was adopted in the Indian capital on October […]
US-Saudi Alliance in Jeopardy Threatening Multi-Billion Dollar Arms Sales
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — The longstanding US-Saudi alliance—political, economic and military—which dates back to 1931, is in deep trouble. US President Joe Biden has warned Saudi Arabia that it would face “consequences” after OPEC Plus, the oil cartel led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, announced plans for a cut in oil production—an […]
Landlocked Lesotho Votes A Revolution for Prosperity
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — A recently organized party led by a millionaire diamond magnate looks set to win Lesotho’s parliamentary election, having secured enough for a simple majority, according to preliminary results from the election commission. By Sunday afternoon, results from the October 7 vote were in for 49 […]
UN Expert Calls for Unconditional Support to Victims of Fukushima Disaster
By Jaya Ramachandran GENEVA (IDN) — The Japanese government should give unqualified, human rights and needs-based support to the more than 30,000 people still displaced 11 years after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. That approach must also apply to reconstruction in affected areas, said Cecilia Jiménez-Damary, UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally […]
Warmongering Biggest Threat to Achieving SDGs
By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — Welcome to our 13th issue of Sustainable Development Observer, which focuses on warmongering and sustainable development goals, prompted by an event I covered for IDN-InDepthNews from Kazakhstan—the 7th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions—a gathering of over 300 religious leaders representing the Islamic, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu and […]
Genocide Suspect Rebuffs International Court Trying Hate Speech Crimes
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — A Rwandan businessman and alleged genocidaire failed to appear in court, where he is being tried on charges of masterminding and financing the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Felicien Kabuga, 87, is accused of aiding and abetting hit squads who slaughtered ethnic Tutsis and with using a […]
Russia & China Face Draft Resolutions at the UN Rights Council
By A.L.A Azeez GENEVA (IDN) — At the current session ≈ of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, in addition to Sri Lanka, both Russia and China are facing a draft resolution and a draft decision, respectively. This must be the first time in HRC (or its predecessor—the Commission on Human Rights) that both […]
Late Archbishop Tutu’s Daughter Barred from Godfather’s Funeral
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — The daughter of the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu said she was “stunned” by the Church of England when they denied her the right to officiate at her godfather’s funeral because she is married to a woman. According to the Rev. Mpho Tutu van Furth, an […]
Kazakhstan, the Centre of a New Route of Global Relationships?
By Kalinga Seneviratne NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (IDN) — Pope Francis has raised the prospect of Kazakhstan becoming the centre of a new route connecting the East and West, but this time a route that builds on human relations and respect. Kazakhstan was once the meeting place of traders and travellers travelling from the East to the […]