By Shyamika Jayasundara-Smits* This article was originally published in East Asia Forum Quarterly. ROTTERDAM (IDN) — On 15 May 2024, US Congressman Wiley Nickel introduced House Resolution 1230, marking the latest congressional effort to address the long-standing grievances of the Tamil people. The resolution recognises the hundreds of thousands of lives lost during Sri Lanka’s […]
Improving Cities — from Space
By Ladislav Charouz and Kareff Rafisura* BANGKOK | 2 November 2024 (IDN) — Despite offering a range of opportunities, urbanisation poses a set of unique challenges to sustainable development. The rapid expansion of cities often results in the growth of informal settlements, with East and South-East Asia being home to 370 million people living in […]
The BRICS Summit Should Mark the End of Neocon Delusions
By Jeffrey D. Sachs* This article was published in Common Dreams and is being republished with the author’s permission. NEW YORK (IDN) — The recent BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia should mark the end of the Neocon delusions encapsulated in the subtitle of Zbigniew Brzezinski’s 1997 book, The Global Chessboard: American Primacy and its Geostrategic […]
In 2024, 61 Journalists have Lost Their Lives in the Line of Duty
By Volker Turk The writer is UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. GENEVA | 1 NOVEMBER 2024 (IDN) — Journalists are the eyes and ears of a world on fire, and the voice of victims in crisis. They shine a light into the darkest corners of our societies; bearing witness to wars, oppression, corruption and […]
UN SDG Action Awards: Global Sustainability Changemakers Take Top Prize
By SDG ACTION CAMPAIGN* ROME (IDN) — Some of the world’s leading changemakers in sustainable development have been recognized at the UN SDG Action Awards Ceremony on 29ö October honouring those using creativity and innovation to advance a more sustainable, equitable and peaceful world. This year, the call for submissions drew an astounding 5,500 responses […]
After Israeli Strike Iran Holds the Trump Card
By Emad Kiyaei and Sharon Dolev* Following Israel’s recent strike on Iran, Tehran finds itself in a unique position to curb the cycle of violence. The question is whether Iran and the U.S. can leverage this moment to strike an immediate freeze-for-freeze deal to steer the region towards stability. LONDON | 30 October 2024 (IDN) […]
The Lifestyles of the World’s Super Rich Threaten People and Planet
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS | 28 October 2024 (IDN) — The world’s superrich—including about 50 billionaires—produce, on average, more carbon through their investments, private jets and yachts in just over an hour-and-a half than the average person does in an entire lifetime, says a new Oxfam report released October 28. “The super-rich are treating […]
Developing Countries Need 1.4 trillion US Dollar for Social Protection by 2030
By Ramesh Jaura BERLIN | NEW YORK | 28 October 2024 (IDN) — As the international community girds up its loins for next year’s Second World Summit for Social Development, the UN has warned that more than 4 billion people worldwide lack any social protection. Only 47 per cent of the global population is estimated […]
War Sets Back Development in Gaza by 69 Years
By Bernhard Schell CAIRO | 27 October 2024 (IDN) — Without lifting economic restrictions, enabling recovery, and investing in development, the Palestinian economy may not be able to restore pre-war levels and advance forward by relying on humanitarian aid alone. A new assessment that the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Economic and Social […]
Strengthening Multilateralism: BRICS Summit
By Somar Wijayadasa* NEW YORK | 27 October 2024 (IDN) —The Sixteenth BRICS Summit on the theme “Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security” was held in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan in Russia, from 22 to 24 October 2024, under the Chairmanship of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. The Summit was attended by around […]