THE WORLD – Page 227 – IDN-InDepthNews

Europe2012-09-122023-07-10

Poland Gets Ready for First Nuclear Power Plant

By Richard Johnson
IDN-InDepth NewsReport

LONDON (IDN) – Despite widespread scepticism about nuclear energy in the aftermath of Fukushima disaster, Poland, which is heavily dependent on coal and imported gas, has decided to go in for its first nuclear power plant.

The move comes some three decades after the the Council of Ministers passed a decree in January 1982 on the construction of the Żarnowiec Nuclear Power Plant, which would have been the first in the country. But due to changes in the economic and political situation in Poland after 1989, as well as public protests in the late 1980s and early ’90s which escalated in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster, the construction was cancelled.

Middle East2012-09-082023-07-10

Middle East Offers New Opportunities for Russia

By Eric Walberg*
IDN-InDepth NewsViewpoint

TORONTO (IDN) – The world is living through a veritable slow-motion earthquake. If things go according to plan, the US obsession with Afghanistan and Iraq will soon be one of those ugly historical disfigurements that — at least for most Americans — will disappear into the memory hole.

Asia-Pacific2012-09-072023-07-10

Pakistan: Sunni Militants Killing Shias

By Devinder Kumar
IDN-InDepth NewsReport

NEW DELHI (IDN) – Human Rights Watch has expressed concern about increasing violence against the minority Shia Muslim community in Pakistan and asked the government in Islamabad to protect it from sectarian attacks by Sunni militant groups.

“Deadly attacks on Shia communities across Pakistan are escalating,” HRW’s Asia director Brad Adams said. “The government’s persistent failure to apprehend attackers or prosecute the extremist groups organizing the attacks suggests that it is indifferent to this carnage,” he added.

Africa2011-10-082023-07-10

Africa Poised for Democracy Upturn

By Sven Richter*
IDN-InDepth NewsAnalysis

African demographics are at the start of a long-term trend that will most likely trigger high gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the region for the next decade or two. A by-product of this is likely to be more democracy. Studies show that as GDP increases, the likelihood of democracies becoming autocracies fades and the likelihood of autocracies becoming democracies increases. This holds true for all nations, bar those with a very high GDP per capita where the wealth is derived from a single resource such as oil.

Africa2011-09-292023-07-10

Hungry Somalia Exports Livestock

By Chiara Francavilla*
IDN-InDepth NewsAnalysis

While Somalia relies on the World Food Programme to deliver food to the area, the country on the Horn of Africa continues to export livestock to neighbouring states. This may seem baffling. But the situation underlines that one needs to look beyond food availability itself to understand hunger caused by food shortages.

Middle East2011-09-272023-07-10

UN Rushing to Rebuild Libya

By Bernhard Schell
IDN-InDepth NewsReport

GENEVA (IDN) – Libya’s new rulers have been warmly welcomed into the fold of the United Nations in the wake of obtaining diplomatic recognition from about 90 countries – even as fighting continues southeast of Tripoli in Sirte, one of the last remaining strongholds of the so-called “King of Kings of Africa”.

Africa2011-09-252023-07-10

Democracy Seen Threatened in Guinea

By Jaya Ramachandran
IDN-InDepth NewsAnalysis

BRUSSELS (IDN) – Hardly one year after the election of Alpha Condé as President of Guinea, the West African state is faced with a rather vulnerable situation that political analysts fear may open the army’s way back to power.

Asia-Pacific2011-09-232023-07-10

South Asia’s Eight Developing a New Mission

By Shastri Ramachandaran*
IDN-InDepth NewsAnalysis

NEW DELHI (IDN) – India cannot be a global player unless it has peaceful relations with its neighbours. A sustained growth rate of 9% to 10% needs more than a peaceful South Asia. It calls for a new economic vibrancy in the region driven by better and more trade, business, connectivity, infrastructure, communication and transportation; and, these in a way that touch the lives of the majority in South Asia.

Europe2011-09-222023-07-10

UK Banks Bracing for Radical Overhaul

By Raul de Sagastizabal*
IDN-InDepth NewsEssay

MONTEVIDEO (IDN) – The United Kingdom proposes to overhaul the country’s banking system to diminish risks to taxpayers and public finances in future financial turmoil, by acting upon recommendations of the Independent Commission on Banking (ICB), which presented its report on September 12, 2011.

Africa2011-09-192023-07-10

Palm Oil Fuelling Scramble for Land in Africa

By Joan Baxter*
IDN-InDepth NewsReport

Palm oil is expected to be the world’s most produced and internationally traded edible oil by 2012. At what price? As foreign investors descend on Africa to develop large-scale palm oil plantations, the survival of local people is being threatened. They are losing control of the land and water on which they depend for their food production and livelihoods.