By Aar Jay BERLIN | GENEVA (IDN) — As the climate emergency intensifies, demand is rising for minerals that are critical for renewable energy technologies like solar panels, wind turbines and electric vehicles (EVs). Many developing countries have a wealth of these minerals but lack the processing capabilities needed to add value. The UN Trade […]
‘Barbaric’ Sexual Violence In Sudan — Haiti’s Transitional Council in Place —Iran Rapper’s Death Sentence Condemned
By UN News UNITED NATIONS | 26 April 2024 (IDN) — The international community must take immediate action to end the wave of sexual violence being carried out against women and girls in Sudan, two senior UN officials said on 25 April. Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten together with Deputy Emergency […]
World Bank Reveals a New Health Target for 1.5 billion People in 2030
By J C Suresh TORONTO | WASHINGTON | 25 April 2024 (IDN) — The World Bank Group has announced an ambitious plan to support countries in delivering quality, affordable health services to 1.5 billion people by 2030. This is part of a larger global effort to provide a basic standard of care through every stage […]
A Plea for a Resolution to the Economic & Humanitarian Crises in Yemen
By Wameedh Shakir Following is statement to the UN Security Council by Wameedh Shakir, Chairwoman of Itar Foundation for Social Development on 15 April. UNITED NATIONS | 23 April 2024 (IDN) — I stand before you today with a heavy heart, pleading for your urgent attention to the ongoing crisis in Yemen that has unfolded […]
Africa Marks Earth Day With a Campaign Against Plastics
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | 22 April 2024 (IDN) — Earth Day today has been marked around the world with demonstrations, conferences and awards for environmental activists. Africa is part of the program. The theme is “Planet vs Plastics” bringing attention to the serious issue of plastic pollution and how it […]
Why Not the Whole World as A “Zone of Peace”?
By P. Soma Palan* COLOMBO, Sri Lanka | 21 April 2024 (IDN) — I refer to your Article under the Heading “Indian Ocean – a zone of peace sinking in troubled waters”. I wish to express my seemingly radical views on the subject of attaining world peace in the backdrop of the increasing militarization of […]
US Bashed for Vetoing the State of Palestine’s UN Full Membership
By J Nastranis NEW YORK | 20 April 2024 (IDN) — As the United States vetoed the Palestine State’s bid for full United Nations membership, the office of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said the US veto was “blatant aggression … which pushes the region ever further to the edge of the abyss”. In a […]
Plastic Pollution: Delayed Action or No Action Will Have Disastrous Consequences
By Simone Galimberti* KATHMANDU, Nepal | 20 April 2024 (IDN) — Plastic Pollution Coalition, based in Washington, DC, is one of the strongest third-sector organizations engaged in the Global Plastic Treaty negotiations. The Coalition has been busy preparing for the upcoming fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) negotiating the draft treaty. The sessions will be […]
Landmark Indigenous Rights Declaration Has Yet to be Transformed into Reality
By J Nastranis NEW YORK | 18 April 2024 (IDN) — The designation “Indigenous Peoples” is in itself a challenge, said Bolivian Vice-President David Choquehuanca addressing the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters, convened to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples. The outcome document of the historic meeting, in […]
Space Warfare Is the Newest Fighting Domain
By Bharat Dogra* NEW DELHI | 14 April 2024 (IDN) — In December 2019, when the Space Force was formed in the USA, President Trump called this a big moment and added that there are “going to be a lot of things happening in space. Because space is the world’s newest war-fighting domain.” Mark Esper, […]