By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – “We urge you: spare and release these women,” begged Patricia Danzi, director of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Africa. .. “Like all those abducted, they are not part of any fight.” “They are daughters and sisters, one is a mother – women […]
UN Urges Saudi Arabia to Release All Incarcerated Women Human Rights Defenders
By Jamshed Baruah GENEVA (IDN) – For the second time since July 31, UN human rights experts are calling on Saudi Arabia to “immediately and unconditionally” release all women human rights defenders, including six imprisoned on charges relating to their peaceful defence of human rights. The detained have been charged for being involved in pro-democracy […]
U.S. Foolish To Start Another Cold War, Says Jack Ma
By Kalinga Seneviratne KUALA LUMPUR (IDN) – U.S. will suffer more from the current trade war with China, warned Alibaba founder Jack Ma addressing over 1000 business leaders, government officials and economic experts from Malaysia and across the region attending the China Conference here on October 10-11. He added that America has been growing and […]
More Transparency Could Ricochet ‘Debt Trap’ Accusations against China
By Kalinga Seneviratne KUALA LUMPUR (IDN) – One of the major discussions at the ‘China Conference’ organized by the Hong Kong based South China Morning Post (SCMP) on October 10-11, was China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the perception created in the region, by the western media in particular, that it is a ‘debt […]
An Indian Woman Rises from the Downtrodden to a Socially Aware Multimillionaire
By Sudha Ramachandran BANGALORE (IDN) – In 2013, Kalpana Saroj, Chairperson of the Mumbai-based Kamani Tubes Ltd. (KTL), was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest honour for civilians, for her achievements in the fields of Trade and Industry. Saroj was successful in turning around the fortunes of KTL, a manufacturing company producing quality copper […]
U.S. Gets Green Light To Boot Thousands of Ghanaian Refugees
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – A simmering dispute between the U.S. and Ghana appears to be resolved. Some 7,000 Ghanaians can now be deported from the U.S. and a key demand – that their Ghanaian citizenship be proven before deportation – has been dropped. The dispute was settled at the […]
Uproar Over Expulsion of Kenyan Professor by Zambia
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – China’s influence in Africa has some leaders trying hard to please their new, rich and seemingly generous foreign partners. Zambian authorities recently roiled the nation’s waters by deporting an influential pan-Africanist professor before he could disembark at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport and before he could […]
What is Buddhist in a Buddhist Film Festival?
By Kalinga Seneviratne This article is the 25th in a series of joint productions of Lotus News Features and IDN-InDepthNews, flagship of the International Press Syndicate. SINGAPORE (IDN) – The just concluded 5th edition of ‘Thus I Have Seen Buddhist Film Festival (THISBFF)’ in Singapore attracted a large non-Buddhist audience according to its organisers, but still […]
Rwanda Outlaws Political Cartoons and an Opposition Leader Goes Free
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW York (IDN) – The Rwandese government of Paul Kagame has outlawed the drawing of cartoons that portray politicians/leaders in an unflattering manner. Anyone who draws such a cartoon risks imprisonment of up to two years and a fine of up to Rwf1 million ($1,145). If the cartoon targets […]
Grim Shadow Over Cameroon President’s Re-Election Bid
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – As the clock ticked down to October 7 presidential elections in Cameroon, President Paul Biya remained tightlipped about a grisly video gone viral of two mothers and their infant children executed in cold blood by government soldiers. The grainy video shows two women – one […]