By Leo Ensel* Two years ago, in December 2021, Russia formulated its security interests in separate letters to NATO’s Secretary General Stoltenberg and to US President Biden in no uncertain terms. The West’s reaction: no response! There is much to suggest that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could have been prevented if the West had negotiated […]
Gaza War: How South Africa’s Genocide Case Against Israel Is Shaping Up
By Carlo Aldrovandi* The writer is an Assistant Professor in International Peace Studies at Trinity College, Dublin. DUBLIN | 17 January 2024 (IDN) — Over the past few days, South Africa has made its case at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, accusing the Israeli government of committing genocide with its 100-day assault […]
EU Enters Political Partnership with 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific States
By P.I Gomes The writer is a Former Cooperative Republic of Guyana Ambassador to the European Union and ACP Group of States, Brussels (2005 -2015) and Secretary-General of the ACP Group of States (2015-2020). PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad & Tobago | 15 January 2024 (IDN) — On 15 November 2023 in Apia, the capital of […]
North Korea: Short on Food but Arms Aplenty
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS | 14 January 2024 (IDN) — North Korea, which has long suffered a shortage of food and medicine, has made relatively fast progress in cranking out ballistic missiles and emerging as an arms supplier to one of the world’s major nuclear powers: Russia. A joint statement issued on January 10 by […]
China’s Grassroots Democracy Paves Path to Sustainable Development
By Kalinga Seneviratne HUANGSHI, Hubei Province, China | 12 January 2024 (IDN) — About 30 minutes drive from this city in Hubei Province are villages that are providing a model of village-based grassroots democracy that is paving the path to achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs), adopted by the United Nations (UN) in 2015, which […]
UN Agency Marks a Notable Achievement in Global Health
Forty-three Countries Certified as Malaria-free CABO VERDE | 12 January 2024 (IDN | WHO News release) — The World Health Organization (WHO), has certified Cabo Verde as a malaria-free country, marking a significant achievement in global health. With this announcement, Cabo Verde joins the ranks of 43 countries and one territory that WHO has awarded […]
The UN Costs 1.25 US Dollar to Each Inhabitant of the Planet Earth
When you add up the regular UN Secretariat and peacekeeping budgets, the annual average cost of the UN for each person on the planet is about $1.25; that’s about the cost of a bag of chips in New York. — UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq. UNITED NATIONS | 7 January 2024 (IDN | UN News) […]
Gaza War: UN Agencies Struggling with Humanitarian and Health Needs
By Jaya Ramachandran GENEVA | 6 January 2024 (IDN) — The UN’s migration agency IOM has launched an urgent appeal for $69 million to support its response to escalating and critical humanitarian needs in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and neighbouring countries affected by the ongoing hostilities in Gaza. In a statement on 5 January, […]
The Problem of Refugee Camps in the Middle East and North Africa
By Saurav Sarkar* This article was produced by Globetrotter. NEW YORK | 5 January 2024 (IDN) — In 2024, 12 percent of “forcibly displaced and stateless people” are expected to be from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, said the United Nations. This displacement will be caused due to war, humanitarian crises, and […]
Israeli Atrocities in Gaza Go Before World Court
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS | 5 January 2024 (IDN) — South Africa’s case against Israel, that will go before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on January 11-12, is being backed by Turkey and Malaysia, along with a coalition of non-governmental and human rights organizations. But it is expected to gather wider support before […]