By Miroslav Lajčák Miroslav Lajčák is President of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly. Following are extensive excerpts from his Statement at 74th session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) with focus on Inequality in the Era of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development on 14 […]
Families in Asia-Pacific Could Benefit Much More from Growing Remittances
By Krishan Dutta KUALA LUMPUR (IDN) – Around US$6 trillion in remittances are expected to be sent to developing countries by 2030: over half of these flows will arrive in the Asia Pacific regions, very often in small towns and villages, says a new report. Remittances to the Asia-Pacific region amounted to US$ 256 billion […]
Inequality on the Rise in Asia-Pacific – UNESCAP Reports
By Rita Joshi BERLIN | BANGKOK (IDN-INPS) – The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, approved by the United Nations in September 2015, pledged to “leave no one behind”. But two years since the Agenda began to be implemented, inequality in Asia and the Pacific is on the rise. This is affirmed by a study launched […]
The Buzz About India Planning To Capture The Commonwealth
Viewpoint by Shastri Ramachandaran* NEW DELHI (IDN) – Indians who think that we have outdone Britain in all things British – such as the English language, cricket and the Westminster model and that only the Commonwealth remains to be captured – should think again. Since the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), held from April […]
India Draws the Focus for South-South Cooperation
By Jaya Ramachandran NEW YORK (IDN) – The India-UN Development Partnership Fund, a dedicated facility within the United Nations Fund for South-South Cooperation established in 2017, has drawn the focus following the announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the launch of a US$50 Million Commonwealth window. This support, announced at the Commonwealth Heads of […]
UN Debates Impact of ‘Fintech’ Revolution on Asia-Pacific
By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) – Since the adoption of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda in 2015, significant efforts have been undertaken to mobilise funds for effectively pursuing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Estimates suggest that low and lower-middle income countries around the world may need sizeable additional investment running into trillions of dollars yearly […]
‘Sri Lanka Unites’ Prepares Leaders for Tomorrow
By Jayantha Dhanapala This article was first carried by The Island, a Sri Lankan newspaper, on 21 April 2018. KANDY (IDN-INPS) – On a hot Saturday afternoon, I sat in the Father Mervyn Fernando Auditorium at the Subodhi Institute, Piliyandala to observe the concluding session of the Sri Lanka Unites Leadership Development Program “Let Them […]
Modi Government’s Plan to Interlink Rivers Splits the Nation
By Sudha Ramachandran BANGALORE (IDN) – As another scorching summer grips India and rivers begin running dry, the government’s Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) program to solve the country’s water problems is being heatedly discussed. Drawing attention to the water shortage and unequal distribution of water in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a strong champion […]
Ganga Initiative Brings Culture Into New Asian Trade Routes
By Kalinga Seneviratne This article is the 23rd in a series of joint productions of Lotus News Features and IDN-InDepthNews, flagship of the International Press Syndicate. BANGKOK (IDN) – A recent conference at Thammasat University in Bangkok brought together Indian and Southeast Asian scholars to discuss re-building cultural links along two major rivers in Asia – the Ganges […]
SE Asia’s ‘Environmental’ Monks Need International Support
By Kalinga Seneviratne This article is the 22nd in a series of joint productions of Lotus News Features and IDN-InDepthNews, flagship of the International Press Syndicate. BANGKOK (IDN) – A 76-year old Buddhist monk living on his own in his forest monastery in North-eastern Thailand has appealed for international help after receiving death threats from illegal loggers according […]