THE WORLD

Photo: Enthronement Ceremony of Emperor Naruhito, the 126th Emperor of Japan. Prime minister Abe made congratulatory speeches on 22 October 2019. CC BY 4.0.

Japan Between Cosmopolitanism and Ritualised Tradition

Viewpoint by Siegfried Knittel

The writer studied German literature and political science. He now works as a freelance journalist and, since 2011, lives in Japan. This article first appeared on the website of International Politics and Society on 5 November 2019.

TOKYO (IDN-INPS) – In Japan, harmony lies at the heart of everything, from politics to society in general. The recent change on the imperial throne, however, has brought to the fore how much Japan searches for its core identity beneath the harmonious surface.

: Asia Editor; OPINION; 08 November 2019

Photo credit: Roscongress | Vyacheslav Viktorov

Russia and Africa Resolved on Concrete Actions in Trade and Investment

By Kester Kenn Klomegah

MOSCOW (IDN) – After the first Russia-Africa Summit in the Black Sea city Sochi on October 23-24, Russia and Africa have resolved to move from mere intentions to concrete actions in raising the current bilateral trade and investment to appreciably higher levels in the coming years.

As a first step, Russia plans to offer trade subsidies and investment guarantees as an emergency support for Russian companies to penetrate into African market, part of the strategy for strengthening economic ties between Russia and Africa, according to a report by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

: Kester Kenn Klomegah; THE WORLD; Russia; 07 November 2019

Photo: The campus of Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. © 2019 Oryem Nyeko for Human Rights Watch

Military Attack Striking Students at Famed Ugandan University

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) - As shocking images were viewed around the world of Ugandan police and soldiers beating and gassing students at the renowned Makerere University, President Yoweri Museveni was forced to acknowledge that his security forces were out of control.

“The military is not trained to quell demonstrations,” he began. “They are trained to kill. Those students are not enemies. They are young children, grandchildren who need to be guided to do the right thing.”

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 07 November 2019

Photo: U.S: President Barack Obama and Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev after signing the "New START" treaty on 8 April 2010 in Prague. CC BY 4.0.

New START Vital to Halt Unconstrained Nuclear Arms Race

Viewpoint by Daryl G. Kimball

The writer is Executive Director of the Arms Control Association. The following is the text of his article published in Arms Control Today.

WASHINGTON, DC (IDN | Arms Control Association) – Since 2017, the Trump administration has sought to expand the role and capability of the U.S. nuclear arsenal while withdrawing the United States from key agreements designed to reduce nuclear dangers.

: Arms Control Association; ARMAMENTS; Nuclear Weapons; 06 November 2019

Image: Global map of suspected NSO Pegasus infections. Source: Citizen Lab.

Growing Market in Africa for Spyware Targeting Journalists and Activists

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) – If you’re worried about robocalls offering a dubious sale of bitcoins, a new technology aimed at political dissidents will chill you to the bone.

Pegasus, an all-seeing spyware, worms its way into phones and starts transmitting the owner’s location, encrypted chats, travel plans – and even the voices of people you meet – to servers around the world.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 06 November 2019

Photo: Austrian Mahayana Temple in Lumbini, Nepal. Credit: Kalinga Seneviratne IDN | INPS.

Mega Development Project at Buddha’s Birthplace

Might Become Dalai Lama’s New Home

By Kalinga Seneviratne

This article is the 36th in a series of joint productions of Lotus News Features and IDN-InDepthNews, flagship of the International Press Syndicate. Click here for previous articles.

LUMBINI, Nepal (IDN) – Tens of thousands of Buddhist pilgrims from Asian countries, especially Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar, visit Buddha’s birthplace Lumbini to pay homage to its teacher who preached a philosophy of eradicating greed and being contented with what you have. But, recent construction activities here, mainly fuelled by Chinese investments, to attract more tourists run contrary to this philosophy and some argue may have a sinister motive.

: Kalinga Seneviratne; THE WORLD; Asia-Pacific; 06 November 2019

79-Nation ACP Promotes SDGs Jointly with the Private Sector

By Reinhard Jacobsen

BRUSSELS (IDN) – The African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States is committed to helping achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the 79 countries in its fold. In doing so, it subscribes to the view that to realise the 17 Goals as outlined in Agenda 2030 will require actors across public and private sectors to work together.

: Reinhard Jacobsen; GLOBAL GOVERNANCE; ACP Group of States; 05 November 2019

UN Warns of Damage US-China Trade War Is Wreaking

By Jamshed Baruah

GENEVA (IDN | UNCTAD) – The ongoing U.S.-China trade war is not only hurting both countries but also affecting the stability of the global economy and jeopardizing future growth prospects, warns the UN in a new paper and adds that while China is losing, other economies – such as Taiwan, Mexico, the European Union and Viet Nam – are gaining.

The study, Trade and trade diversion effects of United States tariffs on China, shows that the trade war has resulted in a sharp decline in bilateral trade, higher prices for consumers and trade diversion effects such as increased imports from countries not directly involved in the trade war.

: Jamshed Baruah; UN INSIDER; 05 November 2019

Photo: John Trumbull's painting, Declaration of Independence, Amexit, depicting the five-man drafting committee of the Declaration of Independence presenting their work to the Congress. The painting can be found on the back of the U.S. $2 bill. The original hangs in the US Capitol rotunda. Source: Wikipedia.

Amexit Failed in 1776 – Brexit Will Fail Today

Viewpoint by Jonathan Power

LUND, Sweden (IDN-INPS) – Before there was Brexit there was Amexit when the Americans in 1776 decided to revolt against Britain’s King George and unilaterally secede to establish their own independent republic.

In retrospect it was a strangely negative thing to do and one that took a long time to put right. As Voltaire who was living in London around that time observed, Britain was the most liberal of all the big nations – there was more freedom of speech and press and a bigger role for parliament than elsewhere in the world.

: Jonathan Power; OPINION; 05 November 2019

Trump’s Absence at ASEAN Summit Shifts the Focus to Asian Giants

By Kalinga Seneviratne

SINGAPORE (IDN) – Ever since the U.S. was invited to join the East Asia summit that is held in conjunction with the annual ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit, media and conference attention has been focused on what the President of the U.S. says.

But this year, President Trump boycotting the Summit and sending a low-level delegation led by its newly appointed national security adviser Robert O'Brien has helped to focus attention on the role of the two Asian giants – India and China – in developing a regional trade and security architecture.