THE WORLD

A US-UK Submarine Deal Triggers Nuclear Fears Down Under

By Thalif Deen

NEW YORK (IDN) — A tripartite deal, under which the US and UK have joined hands, to provide a nuclear-powered submarine to Australia (AUKUS) has prompted anti-nuclear activists to express fears it may eventually lead to a new nuclear power in the region.

The Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said the three nations had agreed to “a new enhanced trilateral security partnership”. The new arrangement, he asserted, “does not signal a move towards domestic nuclear power or nuclear weapons”.

: Thalif Deen; ARMAMENTS; Nuclear Weapons; 25 September 2021

The India-US-China-Russia Quadrilateral Challenge

By George Chakko

The writer is former UN correspondent, now retiree in Vienna, Austria.

VIENNA (IDN) — India PM took part on the White House Quad meeting on September 24. His relaxed face with smile and Biden’s hearty open smile in a WH photo can speak volumes. Or? The focussed Quad priorities on the rule of law, navigation and overflight freedom, peaceful resolution of disputes, democratic values and territorial integrity of states and support for smaller states of ASEAN, is a clear message and warning exclusively to China not to flex its muscles anymore and realise its power limitations in Asia.

: Asia Editor; THE WORLD; South Asia; 25 September 2021

Photo: The DRC government is planning to lift a moratorium on new logging concessions that threatens some of the last intact tropical forest on earth, Forest protection in DR Congo. Credit: Greenpeace.

NGOs Urge Donor Governments to Intervene to Stop New Logging Plans on The Congo Rainforest

By Devendra Kamarajan

NAIROBI | KINSHASA (IDN) — Ahead of international donors announcing a 1 USD billion forest protection agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo, NGOs are urging that such funding for the Central African country should be conditional on a moratorium on any logging concessions, reports Greenpeace. The ban has stood since 2002 but the DRC government is apparently planning to lift the moratorium.

: Africa & ME Editor; THE WORLD; Africa; 24 September 2021

Photo (from left to right): Jainendra Karn and Manish Uprety F.R.A.S.

Afghanistan: The Great Game or a Tumbling Dice on the Road to Ruin

Viewpoint by Manish Uprety F.R.A.S. and Jainendra Karn

Manish Uprety is an ex-diplomat & ALCAP’s Special Adviser for Asia & Africa and Jainendra Karn is a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of IDN-InDepth News.

New Delhi (IDN) — The SAARC Foreign Minister’s Meet scheduled for 25 September 2021 in New York was cancelled as Pakistan insisted that the Taliban government rather than the representatives of the previous Afghan government should be allowed to participate.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 24 September 2021

Photo: Climate activists demonstrate outside of the White House calling on President Joe Biden to quickly pass a climate-friendly infrastructure plan on June 4, 2021 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) Source: Commons Dreams

U.S. Militarism's Toxic Impact on Climate Policy

Viewpoint by Medea Benjamin and Nicolas J. S. Davies*

NEW YORK (IDN) — U.S. President Biden addressed the UN General Assembly on September 21 with a warning that the climate crisis is fast approaching a “point of no return,” and a promise that the United States would rally the world to action. “We will lead not just with the example of our power but, God willing, with the power of our example,” he said.

: UN Bureau; SUSTAINABILITY; Climate Action; 23 September 2021

Photo: The Aukus submarine pact caused a falling-out with France Source: Deutsche Welle.

AUKUS Threatens to Damage NATO

Viewpoint by James W. Carden

This article was produced by Globetrotter in partnership with the American Committee for U.S.-Russia Accord. James W. Carden is a writing fellow at Globetrotter and a former adviser to the U.S. State Department. Previously, he was a contributing writer on foreign affairs at the Nation, and his work has also appeared in the Quincy Institute’s Responsible Statecraft, the American Conservative, Asia Times, and more. Source: Globetrotter

: Opinion Editor; THE WORLD; USA and Canada; 22 September 2021

Photo: A meeting of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Source: UNHRC

Tough Going for Sri Lanka in Geneva

Viewpoint by Neville de Silva

A veteran Sri Lankan journalist, Neville de Silva was Assistant Editor of the Hong Kong Standard before working in London for Gemini News Service. Later he was Deputy Chief-of-Mission in Bangkok and Deputy High Commissioner in London.

LONDON (IDN) — Thankfully it was only a verbal update on Sri Lanka by United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet. Had it been an extensive report on the country’s performance since the UN human rights body passed a highly critical resolution in March, then Sri Lanka might have well ended up like our struggling cricketers at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo—eating humble pie.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 22 September 2021

Report Censures Facebook for Promoting Human Trafficking

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

New York (IDN) — False or misleading posts on Facebook and Instagram are being blamed for enabling human traffickers who recruit African women to be ferried to Saudi Arabia and other countries with promises of visas and jobs.

Instead, the women are held captive, denied access to food and forced to perform sex acts in massage parlours, according to internal investigations published recently in the Wall Street Journal.

: SUSTAINABILITY; Decent Work & Economic Growth; 20 September 2021

Photo: President George Manneh Weah, his wife and entourage.

Liberia To Mark Year-Long Bicentennial Celebration Beginning January 2022

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

New York (IDN) — On February 5, 1820, the first organized group of emigrating freed slaves departed from New York to Freetown, Sierra Leone, in West Africa.

Next year, Liberia will mark the date with a bicentennial celebration beginning January 2022 and running through December 2022, according to a recent announcement by President George Manneh Weah.

: THE WORLD; Africa; 20 September 2021

Photo: Navy Commander at Sampoor with US Marines. Credit: Sri Lanka Navy

Sri Lanka’s Valorous Battle Against a Separatist Insurgency

Viewpoint by Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne

The writer is former Chief of Defence Staff and Retired from the Sri Lanka Navy

COLOMBO (IDN) — The month of August 2006, fifteen years ago was a very eventful month for Sri Lanka Navy. I was the Commandant of Naval and Maritime Academy (NMA) and Flag Officer Naval Fleet (FOCNF) based in Trincomalee; both were busy appointments. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a Tamil separatist group, was very active in Eastern area in 2006. They had their Grand Strategy very well laid, with plans to capture Trincomalee harbour and thereby cutting off the lifeline to North, Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC). As no land route to North, (Vanni was under LTTE Control then), Trincomalee was vital to keep our ships and craft to carry men and material to North by sea.