A Lotus News Feature by Kalinga Seneviratne LUOYANG, China | 15 August 2024 (IDN | LCN) — Though people around the world may not relate China with Buddhism these days, the reality is that Buddhism has been an integral part of Chinese civilization and culture for 1900 years, and even today with over 200 million […]
What After Earth Has Just Ended A 13-Month Streak of Record Heat?
By Christopher Merchant* This article was originally published in The Conversation under Creative Commons License. READING, Berkshire, England | 15 August 2024 (IDN) — A 13-month streak of record-breaking global warmth has ended. From June 2023 until June 2024, air and ocean surface water temperatures averaged a quarter of a degree Celsius higher than records […]
The First-Ever Medal for UN Refugee Team at Paris Olympics
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS | 14 August 2024 (IDN) — When the 16-day Paris Olympics came to a glittering end last Sunday, the spotlight was mostly on the two biggest medal winners: the United States with a tally of 126 medals, including 40 gold medals, followed by China with a total of 91, including […]
Gaza War: Theft of Nation—Again
By James E. Jennings* ATLANTA, Georgia | 12 August 2024 (IDN) — At a carnival or county fair the chances are you’ll be accosted by a huckster with a shell game—“Step right up—try your luck!” It’s a game of distraction, and you’re a sucker if you think you can beat the quick fingers of the […]
US Supports UN Cybercrime Treaty but With Reservations
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS | 12 August 2024 (IDN) — Amid strong protests from a coalition of over 110 human rights groups and civil society organizations (CSOs), the UN Ad Hoc Committee on Cybercrime adopted—by consensus on August 8—a global cybercrime treaty. Described as “broad in scope” with insufficient human rights safeguards, the treaty […]
The Cost-of-Living Crisis Lingers on Despite Recent Declines in Inflation
By Shuvojit Banerjee* BANGKOK, Thailand | 12 August 2024 (IDN) — High prices of essential goods and services have become a pressing issue for the poor and vulnerable in Asia and the Pacific despite decent economic growth and declining inflationary trends so far in 2024. This cost-of-living crisis since the onset of the war in […]
Nuclear-weapon States Urged to Promote Non-proliferation and Disarmament
By Ramesh Jaura BERLIN | 11 August 2024 (IDN) — The United States deserves unequivocal accolades for joining Egypt and Qatar in exerting its diplomatic weight to avert a wider war in the Middle East. It is regretful, however, that such zeal was missing at the Second Session of the Preparatory Committee for the Eleventh […]
Indigenous Peoples: An Antidote in A World of Crisis
Equator Prize winners announced By Jamison Ervin and Anna Giulia Medri* NEW YORK | 9 August 2024 (IDN) — This year’s Equator Prize winners are the antidote we need in a world of crisis. Earlier this year, the World Economic Forum released its annual Risk Report. The key findings highlighted the inescapable trend over the […]
The Manor: A Home for Greatest Stories from Africa
By Franck Kuwonu NEW YORK | 8 August 2024 (IDN | Africa Renewal) — The digital age has sparked a wave of innovation and entrepreneurship worldwide, leading to the creation of startups and tech. On the African continent, the rapid spread of digital technology is revolutionizing how young people engage with the world, empowering them […]
Now Is the Time to Help Countries Faced with Liquidity Challenges
By Ceyla Pazarbasioglu, Pablo Saavedra* With elevated debt service squeezing the space available to finance much needed investment in many countries, urgent action is needed to boost fiscal space, maintain adequate international support, and reduce debt servicing costs. WASHINGTON, DC | 5 August 2024 (IDN) — Many countries are being squeezed by increasing interest payments […]