THE WORLD Archives - Page 224 of 224

Asia-Pacific2011-08-232023-07-10

Scramble for Power Persists in Nepal

By Shastri Ramachandaran*
IDN-InDepth NewsAnalysis

KATHMANDU (IDN) – The sham that multiparty democracy has become in Nepal is turning into a cruel joke on the people. The resignation of Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) underscores how voters are stuck with a self-serving elected elite, no less privileged and protected than the ousted monarchy.

The resignation of Khanal, as much as his continuation since May 29 (when he had promised to step down, but did not), exemplifies the collective opportunism of Nepal’s three major parties.

Asia-Pacific2011-08-122023-07-10

Why Nukes Cast No Shadow on Indian Psyche

By Jayita Sarkar*
IDN-InDepth NewsViewpoint

NEW DELHI (IDN) – In the wake of the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal of 2008 allowing India to engage in civilian nuclear trade, protest movements have emerged in several sites chosen for the construction of new nuclear power plants. India is aiming to establish at least thirty nuclear reactors and derive a quarter of its electricity needs from nuclear energy by 2050.

With the establishment of the Atomic Energy Research Committee in 1946 and adoption of the Atomic Energy Act in 1948, India had proceeded rather early on the path of atomic energy.

Asia-Pacific2011-08-092023-07-10

Together Asia and Europe Can Counter Violent Extremism

By Shada Islam*
IDN-InDepth NewsViewpoint

The EU and the U.S. are engaged in active discussions on countering radicalization – but the focus inevitably is on “Islamist” groups, especially so-called “home-grown” American and European radicals of Muslim descent, or Muslim converts, who run the risk of being recruited by Al Qaeda. Norway’s July 22 tragedy should spark a strong global debate on combating rising intolerance and the challenge all countries face in establishing – and maintaining – societies which embrace and encourage diversity and give full freedoms and fundamental rights to minorities.

Europe2011-08-092023-07-10

Together Asia and Europe Can Counter Violent Extremism

By Shada Islam*
IDN-InDepth NewsViewpoint

Middle East2011-08-072023-07-10

Independent Palestine May Prove A Mirage

By Baher Kamal and Fareed Mahdy*
IDN-InDepth NewsAnalysis

MADRID/CAIRO (IDN) – While the Palestinian Authority (PA) is focussing its energies on achieving full membership for the state of Palestine in the United Nations in September, the U.S. and Israel appear to be leaving no stone unturned to thwart the plan. They are proposing new talks on condition that the Palestinians abandon their legitimate demand for independence.

Knowledgeable sources believe that the Middle East game was over even before it started. In fact, a reasonable dose of good memory and a quick look at the roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would suffice to conclude that it had ended exactly 114 years ago.

Middle East2011-08-042023-07-10

Turkey Taming Omnipotent Military

By Rumel Dahiya*
IDN-InDepth NewsAnalysis

NEW DELHI (IDN) – In an unprecedented move, top four military commanders in Turkey stepped down from their posts on 29 July 2011. Chief of General Staff Gen. Işık Koşaner, Land Forces Commander Gen. Erdal Ceylanoğlu, Naval Forces Commander Adm. Eşref Uğur Yiğit and Air Forces Commander Gen. Hasan Aksay asked to be retired with immediate effect.

Middle East2011-08-022023-07-10

Bahrain Urged to Walk the Road to Reform

By Richard Johnson
IDN-InDepth NewsReport

BRUSSELS (IDN) – Amid persisting mayhem in the region, Bahrain – the small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf – seems to be joining the category of under-reported conflict-ridden countries. So that this does not happen, an international think tank has presented a profound situation analysis and proposed a set of far-reaching measures aimed at ushering in a “slow but steady progress toward political reform” instead of “endemic instability”.

The report calls upon the United States and other Western governments to suspend security assistance, including commercial sales of military and police equipment to Bahrain. Such assistance and sales should be suspended until the Bahrain government “ends its human rights violations and takes genuine steps toward meaningful political dialogue,” says the International Crisis Group.

Global2011-07-152023-07-10

Nukes Are Illegal – But Still Around

By Neena Bhandari
IDN-InDepth NewsFeature

SYDNEY (IDN) – Junko Morimoto was 13 years old when the United States of America dropped the first atomic bomb on her hometown of Hiroshima. She was only 1,700 metres away from the hypocentre and if it weren’t for a stomach bug that confined her to home, she would have been amongst the 360 students who died at her city centre school on August 6, 1945.

Global2011-07-122023-07-10

Faith Injects Hope in Crisis Situations – UN Learns

By Karina Boeckmann
IDN-InDepth NewsReport

BERLIN (IDN) – Whether it goes down in the history of the United Nations as a milestone or not, the world body’s “refugee agency” UNHCR has taken a significant step by acknowledging that when natural disasters and violent conflicts uproot entire communities and hope is slipping away, faith is the last straw at which the displaced and the forlorn clutch. [GERMAN ] [JAPANESE]