By Busani Bafana BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe | 29 May 2024 (IDN) — Africa’s limited vaccine manufacturing capacity means heavy reliance on imports to respond to outbreaks. However, boosting manufacturing capacities on the continent can change this, says Petro Terblanche, the CEO of Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines, a biotechnology start-up company aiming to expand vaccine equity in […]
Smiling Buddha Turns 50: Impacts in Brazil and Worldwide
By Leonam dos Santos Guimarães* RIO DE JANEIRO | 29 May 2024 (IDN) — On 18 May 1974, India carried out its first nuclear explosion, called “Smiling Buddha”, in the Pokhran desert. That explosion was described by the Indian government as a “peaceful nuclear explosion.” India justified the explosion as a display of its technological […]
Bidens Throw Fabulous State Dinner in A First for African Leader
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | 29 May 2024 (IDN) — It was Christmas 100 times over at the recent White House dinner for Kenyan President William Ruto—in fact, it was one of the largest-ever state dinners with a guest list of 500—and the first for an African leader since Ghana’s John […]
NGOs Urge Security Council to Enforce UN Court Orders on Israeli Actions in Rafah
By Rodney Reynolds UNITED NATIONS | 28 May 2024 (IDN) — A coalition of 19 non-governmental organizations* (NGOs), including Oxfam, the Norwegian Refugee Council, Action Aid and CARE, has called on all five permanent and 10 elected members of the UN Security Council to enforce the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) orders regarding Israel’s actions […]
Vesak at the United Nations: Still not a UN Holiday?
By Dr Palitha Kohona (Former) Ambassador of Sri Lanka to China and (former) Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, COLOMBO | 25 May 2024 (IDN) — Sri Lanka celebrated the Vesak day 2024 last week with much pomp and ceremony in historic Matale where the Buddha’s teachings were first formally […]
UN Expert Calls for Probe on Allegations of Torturing Palestinians
By Rodney Reynolds UNITED NATIONS | 24 May 2024 (IDN) — The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Alice Jill Edwards, has urged the Government of Israel to investigate multiple allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment against detained Palestinians since 7 October 2023. “Persons deprived of liberty must always be treated humanely,” […]
Low-Income Countries Face Worst Debt Crisis Ever, says New Report
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS | 23 May 2024 (IDN) — A new report on global economic governance says low-income countries are faced with the worst debt crisis they have ever encountered. Currently, debt service eats up over 50 per cent of public revenue in Kenya; over 60 per cent in Morocco and over 70 […]
US Rejects ICC on Afghan War Crimes but Seeks Its Support Against Russia
By Mohammad Ali Salih* LONDON | 23 May 2024 (IDN) — The Americans’ deep anger, official and popular, because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, has been leading to: first, decisions to send heavy arms to Ukraine to liberate “every inch’ of its territory; second, increasing sanctions on Russia to make it “suffer forever;” and, […]
ICC Faces Controversies and Allegations of Hypocrisy
By Tajul Islam* DHAKA, Bangladesh | 22 May 2024 (IDN) —The International Criminal Court (ICC) and its chief prosecutor Karim Khan, a Pakistani-British member of the Ahmadiyya community, with deep-rooted connections with Buckingham Palace and UK’s intelligence establishments are hitting headlines in international media in recent days. Criticising ICC, in a recent statement on his […]
Why Is the ICC Prosecutor Seeking Arrest Warrants Against Israeli and Hamas Leaders?
By Rodney Reynolds UNITED NATIONS | May 21 2024 (IDN) — The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague is seeking arrest warrants on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and leaders of Hamas, on charges of war crimes in the 7-month-old war in Gaza. While the request must be approved […]