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Photo: Mosques affiliated to Wahabis are fast becoming popular among youth in Kashmir. Source: India Today.

Saudi-Iranian Rivalry and Turkish Ambitions Meet in Kashmir

Viewpoint by James M. Dorsey

James M. Dorsey – a senior fellow at Nanyang Technological University’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, an adjunct senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore’s Middle East Institute and co-director of the University of Wuerzburg’s Institute of Fan Culture – offered this viewpoint to IDN.

SINGAPORE (IDN) – Thought that sectarianism was a pillar of Saudi-Iranian rivalry? Think again, think Kashmir where the two countries’ geopolitical rivalry and Turkish ambitions cross sectarian lines.

: Phil Harris; OPINION; 31 July 2019

Photo: Four soldiers carrying rifles near helicopter under blue sky. Credit: Somchai Kongkamsri

US War with Iran will Violate Law Against Aggression

Viewpoint by Jonathan Power

LUND, Sweden (IDN-INPS) – In 2010 the signatory states of the International Criminal Court, established to prosecute war crimes, convened a conference to add aggression to the list of crimes the court could try. The U.S., Russia, Iran, China and India have refused to sign up as ICC members and have not welcomed the addition of “aggression”. But fifteen NATO states have. Moreover, Russia wrote its own law into its Criminal Code. It prohibits “Planning, Preparing or Waging an Aggressive War”. It goes further: it prohibits “Public Appeals to Unleash an Aggressive War”. This opens the door to Russian leaders and politicians being prosecuted in domestic courts.

: Jonathan Power; OPINION; 30 July 2019

Photo: Artwork from the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2018, UNODC.

Human Trafficking Is A Crime, Deserves Zero Tolerance

By J Nastranis

NEW YORK (IDN) – "On this World Day against Trafficking in Persons, let us reaffirm our commitment to stop criminals from ruthlessly exploiting people for profit and to help victims rebuild their lives," UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a message for the July 30 World Day against Trafficking in Persons.

“Armed conflict, displacement, climate change, natural disasters and poverty exacerbate the vulnerabilities and desperation that enable trafficking to flourish,” Guterres said, adding: “Human trafficking is a heinous crime that affects every region of the world.”

: J Nastranis; SUSTAINABILITY; Gender Equality; 30 July 2019

Photo: A new study has highlighted gaps in protection for migratory birds globally. Credit: CMS

Forty Years of Action for Animals on the Move

Viewpoint by Amy Fraenkel

The writer is Acting Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (www.cms.int)

BONN (IDN) – This year marks the 40^th Anniversary of the United Nations’ Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), the only global agreement between countries aimed at protecting thousands of terrestrial, oceanic and avian animals such as elephants, antelope, gorillas, whales, dolphins, sharks, rays, and many species of birds – that fly, walk or swim across the planet. In February 2020, India will be hosting the 13^th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to CMS in the city of Gandhinagar.

: UN Bureau; OPINION; 30 July 2019

Photo: Bakery in Addis Ababa. Credit: UNCTAD

Entrepreneurship for Structural Transformation in LDCs Is Possible

By Paul Akiwumi

The writer, a national of Ghana, is UNCTAD's Director of the Division for Africa, Least Developed Countries and Special Programmes. This article was first published in The EastAfrican, print edition (20-26 July 2019).

GENEVA (IDN-INPS) – Meskerem is a middle-aged Ethiopian woman, who runs a café and bakery with ten employees in an affluent neighbourhood of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

: UN Bureau; SUSTAINABILITY; Decent Work & Economic Growth; 29 July 2019

28 Corporations Pledge to Curbing Temperature Rise to 1.5°C

By J Nastranis

NEW YORK (IDN) – In the run-up to the UN Climate Action Summit on September 23, twenty-eight leading companies have responded to a call-to-action campaign and committed themselves to limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels with a view to reaching net-zero emissions by no later than 2050. In doing so, they are contributing to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), endorsed by the international community in September 2015.

: J Nastranis; UN INSIDER; 29 July 2019

Photo: Tea plantation in Sri Lanka. Credit: Sri Lanka government

Tea the Invigorating and Sustaining Wine of Life

Dr. K. Mulaffer

Chairman, Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (1990-1992); Chairman, Building Materials Manufacturing Corporation (1992-1994) & Project Director & Coordinator, National Equipment & Machinery Organization (1994-1995)

COLOMBO (IDN) – My American friends must understand that choosing tea is like choosing wine. And here is why? The natural flavors of teas are quintessentially different from country to country, from which height, district, season and year, it’s grown. It is the same as with Wines.

: Asia Editor; THE WORLD; Asia-Pacific; 28 July 2019

Photo: The conference room at the UN Office, Nairobi. Credit: ENB | IISD

NGOs Seen to Play Crucial Role in Implementing Global Environment Pacts

By Justus Wanzala

NAIROBI (IDN) – The civil society and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) supported by local communities can play a critical role in addressing climate change and growing inequalities, and contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, according to participants of the recent High-level Political Forum (HPLPF) at the UN headquarters in New York.

: Africa & ME Editor; SUSTAINABILITY; Climate Action; 28 July 2019

Photo: The Security Council has primary responsibility, under the United Nations Charter, for the maintenance of international peace and security. Credit: UN Photo/Kim Haughton

Nationally-owned Transitions Are Key to Sustainable Peace

Viewpoint by António Guterres

Following are extensive extracts from the UN Secretary-General's remarks at Security Council Briefing on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace: Strengthening Partnerships for Successful Nationally-owned Transitions on July 18, 2019.

NEW YORK (IDN-INPS) – United Nations special political missions and peacekeeping operations are some of our most effective tools to promote and maintain international peace and security. But they are temporary. We are strengthening our focus on moments of transition, when our missions are reconfigured or leave a country.

: UN Bureau; SUSTAINABILITY; Peace & Justice; 27 July 2019

Photo: New Committee of Ambassadors of the ACP Group.

Papua New Guinea Takes Over Presidency of The ACP Group

By ACP Press

BRUSSELS (IDN) – The Ambassador of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, Mr. Joshua Kalinoe will preside over the Committee of Ambassadors (CoA) of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States in Brussels for the period August 1, 2019 – January 31, 2020.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Papua New Guinea, Mr. Soroi Eoe, will assume the presidency of the ACP Council of Ministers.

In a handover ceremony on July 26, 2019, Ambassador Kalinoe noted that this was a crucial moment when several important events and major documents of relevance to the group are under preparation.