THE WORLD

One Belt One Road – A Unique Opportunity For Sri Lanka

Viewpoint by Dr Palitha Kohona

The writer is former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations. The following are extracts from remarks he recently made at the Rotary Club Colombo West luncheon. – The Editor

COLOMBO (IDN) – President Xi Jinping's One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative, unveiled in 2013, provides Sri Lanka with a unique opportunity to fast track its economy along the path to development.

An investment bonanza that is being made available under the OBOR (also referred to as the Belt and Road) initiative, especially the Maritime Silk Road, could revive the glory days of the ancient Silk Route for Sri Lanka.

: Dr. Palitha Kohona; OPINION; 10 February 2018

Photo: Defense Secretary James N. Mattis and Air Force Gen. Paul J. Selva, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testify on the National Defense Strategy and the Nuclear Posture Review before the House Armed Services Committee in Washington, D.C., Feb. 6, 2018. DoD photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Kathryn E. Holm

Nuclear Posture Review 'Recipe for a Disaster', Warns Pugwash

By J Nastranis

NEW YORK (IDN) – The Nobel Peace laureate 'Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs' has warned that the latest development of U.S. nuclear weapons policy "will serve only to increase the saliency and attractiveness of nuclear weapons, and will certainly not enhance international security."

Commenting on the United States 2018 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), Pugwash President Sergio Duarte and Secretary General Paolo Cotta-Ramusino said on February 6: "The global landscape is already filled with simmering nuclear tensions, as well as other serious issues of conflict. Stressing the role of nuclear weapons is not merely unhelpful but is likely to increase these tensions."

: J Nastranis; ARMAMENTS; Nuclear Weapons; 07 February 2018

Drought Forces Ghana To Ration Water Supply

By Global Information Network

NEW YORK | ACCRA (IDN) – The state-owned Ghana Water Company Ltd (GWCL) has announced that due to severe dry winter winds (called ‘harmattan’) and the drying up of rivers, water deliveries will be rationed over the coming months while the country awaits the rain.

“We are sorry to inform the consuming public that the situation has led to intermittent water supply in most cities and towns in the country,” said Stanley Martey, communications director of the national company. The rate of evaporation of water bodies nationwide has become alarming and there will be consequences for some communities, he said.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 07 February 2018

Photo: U.S. President Donald J. Trump (on screen) addresses the General Assembly’s annual general debate on 19 September 2017 in which he declared: "The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea." Credit: UN Photo/Ariana Lindquist

Trump Might Well Break International Law Over North Korea

Viewpoint by Jonathan Power*

LUND, Sweden (IDN-INPS) – We are soon going to have a clash between President Donald Trump and international law. This is predicable when one examines the presidential discourse over what to do about North Korea and its possession of nuclear-tipped rockets.

He has threatened "fire and fury" which doesn’t sound like the opening words of the UN’s Charter: "We the peoples of the United Nations determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war…..and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained……and for these ends to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours."

: Jonathan Power; OPINION; 06 February 2018

Photo: The Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Pennsylvania transits the Hood Canal as the boat returns to its homeport at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Wash., Dec. 27, 2017, following a routine strategic deterrent patrol. Pennsylvania is one of eight ballistic missile submarines stationed at the base, providing the most survivable leg of the strategic deterrence triad for the United States. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Amanda R. Gray

Trump Awaits a 'Magical Moment' to Ban Nuclear Weapons

By Shanta Roy

UNITED NATIONS (IDN) – The 2018 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), released February 2, is a dangerous departure from the past, and appears to reflect a firm U.S. commitment to readily use the world's deadliest weapons of mass destruction – even if the United States is only a target of "significant non-nuclear strategic attacks", including cyberattacks.

The new policy statement – reflecting a wide justification for a nuclear war – should also be viewed against the continued contradictory statements made by President Donald Trump on issues such as climate change, the Iranian nuclear deal, and most importantly, the use of nuclear weapons.

: Shanta Roy; ARMAMENTS; Nuclear Weapons; 06 February 2018

Photo: President Barack Obama and President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia sign the New START Treaty during a ceremony at Prague Castle in Prague, Czech Republic, April 8, 2010. Credit: White House / Chuck Kennedy / Wikimedia Commons.

'New START' Milestone Could Help Halt Nuclear Arms Race

By J C Suresh

TORONTO | WASHINGTON, D.C. (IDN) – The Arms Control Association has called for extending the 2010 New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) set to expire on February 5, 2021. The plea follows on the heels of an announcement each by the United States and Russia that they have met their obligations under the Treaty to reduce their deployed strategic nuclear forces by February 5, the implementation deadline.

Greeting the announcements, Daryl G. Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association (ACA) said: "New START implementation is a significant accomplishment. Through this treaty, the two sides have improved strategic stability, predictability, and transparency, and verifiably trimmed their still oversized nuclear arsenals."

: J C Suresh; ARMAMENTS; Nuclear Weapons; 06 February 2018

Image: Trump speaking on Tax Reform. Credit: YouTube Snapshot | White House.

US Tax Reforms Affect 50% of Global Foreign Direct Investment

By Jaya Ramachandran

GENEVA (IDN) – Almost half of global investment stock is either located in the United States or owned by American multinationals abroad. The United States 'Tax Cuts and Jobs Act', adopted in December 2017, will therefore significantly affect both investment into the U.S. and the investment positions of U.S. firms abroad, according to a special issue of the UNCTAD Global Investment Trends Monitor.

"The impact on investment in the developing world remains to be seen. However, developing countries need real investments in productive assets, not cash parked overseas," said UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi.

: Jaya Ramachandran; THE WORLD; USA and Canada; 05 February 2018

Photo: Mansour Al-Otaibi (centre), Permanent Representative of the State of Kuwait to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of February, briefs journalists on the Council’s programme of work for the month. 01 February 2018. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Evan Schneider.

Kuwait Presidency Keen on Enhancing Security Council Working

By J Nastranis

UNITED NATIONS (IDN) – While the Middle East, counter-terrorism and Africa will draw the Security Council's focus in February, the Kuwait Presidency has chosen as its centrepiece a ministerial-level briefing on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter in the maintenance of international peace and security, with the Secretary-General as the main speaker.

Council President Mansour Ayyad Sh. A. Al-Otaibi, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Kuwait to the UN in New York, told journalists on February 1 that It has also planned an open debate on working methods. Kuwait is the chair of the Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions.

: J Nastranis; UN INSIDER; 05 February 2018

Photo: The landmark Nelum Pokuna (Lotus Pond) Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre, a symbol of China-Sri Lanka Friendship (October 2011). Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Challenges and Opportunities Sri Lanka-China Relations Face

By H.M.G.S. Palihakkara

Hewa Matara Gamage Siripala Palihakkara is former Governor of the Northern Province, one of the nine provinces, of Sri Lanka and former Foreign Secretary. Following are extracts from a foreword to the collection of essays by academics on Sri Lanka-China Relations ‘The Island of the Lion and the Land of the Dragon’, a joint publication of the Pathfinder Foundation in Sri Lanka and the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, and edited by H.M.G.S. Palihakkara. The book was launched on January 16, 2018 in Colombo. – The Editor's Note

COLOMBO (IDN) – The Cold War and its aftermath were marked by interesting contrasts as well as parallels. Only history will tell us if the risk of bipolar nuclear conflict of the Cold War was more or less dangerous than the reality of the widespread non-nuclear armed conflict and nuclear proliferation of the post-Cold war period.

: Asia Editor; THE WORLD; Asia-Pacific; 03 February 2018

Photo: Escorted team from UNAMID’s Governance and Community Stabilization Section is pictured on its way to Birka area, North Darfur. The purpose of the trip, which took place on 2 February 2018, was to conduct a peace conference for farmers and herders as part of the Mission’s support to peaceful coexistence and stability between the two communities. Credit: Mohamad Almahady, UNAMID.

Security Council Statement under Kazakh Presidency Voices Concern and Relief on Darfur

By J Nastranis

UNITED NATIONS (IDN) – In a presidential statement on Darfur by Kazakh Ambassador Kairat Umarov, Security Council President for January, has welcomed improvements in the security situation, as well as the on-going absence of armed clashes between Government forces and the armed opposition, in addition to the extension of unilateral cessations of hostilities by both sides.

The presidential statement (S/PRST/2018/4) issued on January 31 said: "The Security Council also welcomes improvements in the humanitarian situation, including increased humanitarian access throughout Darfur and the return from Chad and the Central African Republic of more than 5,000 refugees in recent months."