By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – It’s been called one of the biggest corruption cases in corporate history which has escaped the attention of much of the media and few have even heard about it. In the drama, playing out in an Italian court, two middlemen have been convicted for their […]
Behind Russian President Putin’s First Visit to Singapore
By Chris Cheang The author is a Senior Fellow with the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. He served three tours of duty in the Singapore Embassy in Moscow between 1994 and 2013. A version of this article was first published on RSIS and then reproduced by the EastAsiaForum […]
Women Medics Pitch for Effective Role in Decision Making on Health Issues
By Justus Wanzala NAIROBI (IDN) – Achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is crucial in attainment of not only health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) but also all SDGs. Participants in the Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA) Regional Conference 2018, that was held in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, from November 11-15, noted that achieving UHC can […]
Germany Backs UNCTAD to Help Africa Implement Continental Trade Deal
By Rita Joshi BERLIN | GENEVA (IDN) – Eight months after the launch of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), the first pan-African agreement of its kind, Germany has donated 1.6 million euros to UNCTAD, to help the UN’s trade and development body work with African partners to implement the landmark continental pact on […]
Israeli-Palestinian Escalation Ends But Peace Nowhere in Sight
By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) – The Israeli-Palestinian conflict “doesn’t seem to have a solution”, says the renowned conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim who has been striving to promote peace through the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, comprising young musicians from Israel and the Arab world. Yet, as a Messenger of Peace, he puts hope in […]
Teammates of U.S. Green Beret Face Murder Prosecution
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – More than a year has passed since the death of U.S. Green Beret Logan Melgar in Bamako, Mali. Investigators now believe they have men of interest – two Navy SEALS and two Marine Raiders. The four face charges that include felony murder in the strangulation […]
UN Inching Towards Peace Talks on Yemen
By J Nastranis Fourteen million civilians are on the edge of famine in Yemen. Starvation is on the horizon, warns WFP‘s chief David Beasley. What he has seen during a recent visit to the country is “the stuff of nightmares, horror, deprivation and misery”. UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy Martin Griffiths is therefore at pains to […]
China Chides U.S. for Portraying Silk Road as ‘Trap’
By Devinder Kumar PORT MORESBY (IDN) – China’s President Xi Jinping has rejected U.S. criticism of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, vowing it is not “a trap” and that it is not designed to serve any hidden geopolitical agenda. The project is also known as Silk Road Economic Belt. Xi was addressing a meeting of […]
ASEAN Refrains from Taking Sides as Trade Dominates Summit
By Kalinga Seneviratne SINGAPORE (IDN) – Addressing a media conference at the close of the three-day 33rd ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) Summit on November 15, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong expressed fears that “circumstances may come” where the regional organization would have to “choose one over the other”. Though not naming […]
African States Commit to Conserve Largest Carnivores
By Rita Joshi BERLIN | BONN (IDN) – More than 30 countries hosting African Wild Dog, Cheetah, Leopard and Lion have agreed on establishing a work programme to guide their conservation actions over the next coming years. The move known as the African Carnivore Initiative, emerged from a meeting from November 5 to 8, 2018 […]