By Caroline Mwanga NEW YORK (IDN) — The Security Council in its first open meeting on the conflict in the fidgety northern Ethiopian region has passionately called for immediate and unrestricted humanitarian access to Tigray—and for an end to deadly attacks on aid workers. Ramesh Rajasingham, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, […]
UN Expert Greets “New Blow” Against Myanmar Junta’s Finances
By Jaya Ramachandran GENEVA (IDN) — The United States has taken one of the most significant steps to date against the Myanmar junta, first by sanctioning not only individuals but the State Administrative Council (SAC) itself; and second, by opening the door to targeting those who continue to do business with the junta and therefore […]
UNESCO Creative Cities of Music Celebrate Intl. Jazz Day
By Robert Johnson PARIS (IDN | UNESCO) — As the great Nina Simone said, “Jazz is not just music, it is a way of life, it is a way of being, a way of thinking”, says UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It adds: “The story of Jazz is written into the […]
Is ‘Vaccine Consent’ Journalism Killing The “Watchdog” Model?
A special feature by Kalinga Seneviratne* to mark UNESCO’s World Press Freedom Day. SYDNEY (IDN) — In recent months, there has been alarming one-sided reporting in the so-called mainstream media—both internationally and nationally—that sounds more like public relations handouts from the big pharmaceutical companies from the West. This ‘vaccine consent’ journalism and the labelling of […]
Viewing Post-American Afghanistan Through Looking Glass
Viewpoint by M.K. Bhadrakumar The writer is a former Indian diplomat. This article was first published in the Indian Punchline. NEW DELHI (IDN) — Ex-CIA officer Bruce Riedel at Brookings Institution in Washington, DC, whose familiarity with Afghanistan is never in doubt, has held a looking glass to figure out the future course of events […]
Two Years On, Sudan’s Political Transition Remains Extremely Volatile
By Philipp Jahn and Gerrit Kurtz* This article was first published in the Journal of the International Politics and Society, issued by the German Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung’s Brussels office. KHARTOUM (IDN) — April 11, 2019 was a day of great emotion in Khartoum. At noon, the then-Vice President Ibn Auf announced the arrest of President Omar al-Bashir. […]
President Biden Repeals Trump Sanctions on the Criminal Court
By Jessica Corbett* Common Dreams first published this report on April 2, 2021. WASHINGTON, D.C. (IDN) — Progressives in Congress and human rights organizations on April 2 welcomed the Biden administration’s repeal of sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) imposed under former President Donald Trump in a bid to pressure the Hague-based tribunal to […]
U.S. Steps Up Counterterrorism in Mozambique and the DRC
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — U.S. counterterrorism officials are stepping up their activities in Africa, addressing the expansion of violent extremism on the continent. Two previously unlisted insurgent groups identified as foreign terrorist organizations operating in Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been slapped with sanctions along […]
Indian Dilemma Over UNHRC Resolution on Sri Lanka
Viewpoint by Sugeeswara Senadhira COLOMBO (IDN) — New Delhi is in an unenviable situation over the UNHRC (United Nations Human Rights Council) resolution on Sri Lanka as it would not be in India’s long-term interest to pave way for the international body to be provided with an opportunity to directly interfere in an internal affair […]
Space Junk Poses Exponential Risks for Near-Earth Collisions
By Reinhard Jacobsen VIENNA (IDN) – Space debris is an issue of global concern that threatens our continued use of near-Earth space for the benefit of humankind. The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) have joined forces to create a series of infographics and podcasts that tell […]