By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS | 27 November 2023 (IDN) — As two of the world’s nuclear powers—Russia and Israel—are engaged in two devastating conflicts, a lingering question remains: could the military tension looming over both countries trigger a nuclear attack either by design or by accident? “That is one scenario that must never happen”, […]
The Killings of Women and Girls Hit Record Levels
By Caroline Mwanga NEW YORK | VIENNA | 27 November 2023 (IDN)— Almost 89,000 women and girls were killed intentionally in 2022 across the globe, the highest yearly number recorded in the past decades. Besides, available data suggest that while the total number of homicides globally has begun to fall in 2022 after a spike […]
COP28: Global Faith Leaders Concerned About Grave Challenges
By Ramesh Jaura BERLIN | 26 November 2023 (IDN) — In the lead-up to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) that will take place in Dubai from 30 November to 12 December, the Global Faith Leaders Summit has warned that we “stand at the precipice of history, considering the gravity of the challenges” ahead, and […]
The Nuclear Arms Control Architecture is Collapsing
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS | 25 November 2023 (IDN) — A weeklong meeting of the States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), takes place in the rare context of two devastating conflicts involving nuclear powers: Russia vs. non-nuclear Ukraine and Israel vs non-nuclear Hamas, along with the growing nuclear […]
Security Challenges Facing Europe in a new Global Order
A Special Report by Aurora Weiss VIENNA | 24 November 2023 (IDN) — “Europe’s Major Challenges” was the focus of the 27th European Forum Vienna organized by the Austrian Institute for European and Security Policy (AIES) at the Diplomatic Academy. Key experts, policymakers and think tankers from across the continent discussed the security challenges facing […]
COP 28 Beyond Greenwashing Bond Scams and Financialization of Mother Nature
By Darini Rajasingham-Senanayake* COLOMBO, Sri Lanka | 23 November 2023 (IDN) — We live in an age of anxiety, a nervous system, a state of permanent emergency that is conducive to a range of psychological operations (PSY-OPS). “Poly crisis’ is a fashionable term these days in United Nations (UN), and Bretton Woods circles that engage […]
A new Global Age of Peace and Sustainable Development
By Jeffrey D. Sachs Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs testifies to the UN Security Council Session on “Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Sustaining Peace through Common Development” in New York on 20 November. UNITED NATIONS | 21 November 2023 (IDN) — In my testimony I will refer to four (wars): the Ukraine War, which started […]
Gaza, a Graveyard for Children, Says UN Chief
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS | 20 November 2023 (IDN) — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has continued his relentless criticism of Israel, condemning the daily attacks on civilians in Gaza. “I am deeply shocked that two UNRWA schools were struck in less than 24 hours in Gaza. Dozens of people—many women and children—were killed and […]
African Youths Want More Adaptation Finance as Climate Change Bites
By Ngala Killian Chimtom YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon | 19 November 2023 (IDN) — More than 150 young African leaders have called on the international community to prioritize and increase climate adaptation finance flows to Africa by more than double. The call was made on 18 November, at the end of the Inaugural Forum on Adaptation Finance […]
Humming a New Tune on World Toilet Day
By Professor Lyla Mehta and Dr Alan Nicol* BRIGHTON/LONDON, UK | 18 November 2023 (IDN) — A hummingbird is the symbol of 2023’s World Toilet Day. (19 November). Fabled as a small actor in a huge drama—putting out a fire with tiny droplets of water—the analogy appears to be that every one of us doing […]