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Photo: Protesters. Source: Atomic Reporters.

The Role of Citizen and Science Diplomacy Interactions in Nuclear Disarmament

By J Nastranis

NEW YORK (IDN) — The year 2021 marks the 30th anniversary of the closure of the Semey test site, the 76th anniversary of the United Nations, Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, of the first atomic testing Trinity, 51 years of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), 25 years of the The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) which is not entered into force, collapse of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) and extension of New START Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) until February 2026.

: J Nastranis; ARMAMENTS; Nuclear Weapons; 18 August 2021

Photo: Health workers. Source: WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean.

The People of Afghanistan Need Support & Solidarity, Says WHO

By Bernhard Schell

CAIRO, Egypt (IDN) — The World Health Organization (WHO) is committed to staying in Afghanistan and delivering critical health services, says Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, and is calling on all parties to respect and protect civilians, health workers, patients and health facilities. "During this difficult time, the well-being of all civilians—as well as the safety and security of our staff—in Afghanistan is paramount," he adds.

: Bernhard Schell; THE WORLD; South Asia; 18 August 2021

Photo: Australia’s Seasonal Worker Programme is failing workers and employers. Source: EastAsiaForum

Australian Farmers Cry Out for Foreign Labour as Locals Shun “Slave Wages”

By Kalinga Seneviratne

SYDNEY (IDN) — Australia’s farming sector has been badly hit by the closing of the borders due to the Covid-19 pandemic and with the harvesting season on the horizon there is an estimated shortage of 25,000 fruit pickers and harvesting machinery operators across Australia.

While the farmers are asking the government to provide special provisions for vaccinated foreign workers to be brought to work in the farms, labour rights advocates here says that thousands of Australians on government welfare are not willing to work on “slave wages” on farms.

: Kalinga Seneviratne; THE WORLD; Asia-Pacific; 17 August 2021

Photo: NATO Allies decided on 14 April 2021 to start withdrawing forces from the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan by May 1, with plans to complete the drawdown of all troops within a few months. Credit: NATO

After US and NATO Withdrawal, Afghanistan’s Future Is Unclear

Viewpoint by Jonathan Power

LUND, Sweden (IDN) — The Soviet Army invaded Afghanistan in December, 1979 and withdrew, exhausted and demoralized, 10 years later. In Moscow a joke had long circulated: “Why are we still in Afghanistan?” Answer: “We are still looking for the people who invited us.”

The same is true for the Americans and NATO who are now moving through the exit door. They came to obliterate Al Qaeda after 9/11, 2001.

: Jonathan Power; OPINION; 17 August 2021

Photo: Ghana's Foreign Minister Botchwey.

Foreign Minister Botchwey on Russia's Trade and Investment in Ghana, the Gateway to the West African Region

Interview by Kester Kenn Klomegah*

MOSCOW (IDN) — For more than six decades, Ghana and Russia have had excellent diplomatic relations and are looking forward to build stronger economic cooperation. During these years, the bilateral political, economic and cultural engagements have transited through different distinctive phases taking cognizance of challenges and setbacks including the political changes and administration in Ghana, and the collapse of the Soviet era and emergence of the Russian Federation.

: Kester Kenn Klomegah; THE WORLD; Russia; 16 August 2021

Photo source: LOKMARG, Voice of the People

Taliban In Frame, Afghanistan in Flames, India in Firing Range

By Mahendra Ved, LOKMARG

MUMBAI (IDN) — Buzkashi, the national game of the people of Afghanistan, has horsemen competing to possess the headless body of a goat. In one of the world’s most enduring ironies, the country has itself become the goat, being dragged and tossed around. A horrified world watches as an elected government is losing out to the Taliban, a group of women-hating men poised to take control.

They have rendered impotent and helpless the outsiders, all powerful, that have been either backing them diplomatically and militarily, or opposing them meekly, with wordy resolutions.

: Asia Editor; THE WORLD; South Asia; 16 August 2021

Photo: South Sudanese refugee, Yiech Pur Biel, runs the 800-metres for the Refugee Olympic Team in Rio. (August 2016) © UNHCR/Benjamin Loyseau

Leading Athletes Stress the Role of Sport in Building a Better World for All

By J Nastranis

NEW YORK (IDN) — The United Nations is convinced that sport promotes values such as diversity, tolerance and respect and contributes to the empowerment of women and young people, individuals and communities, as well as to health, education and social inclusion objectives. With this in view, the UN Department of Global Communication's office at the country level has initiated SDG Zone at Tokyo, titled "Teaming Up through Sport to Advance the SDGs".

: J Nastranis; SUSTAINABILITY; Health & Well Being; 15 August 2021

Photo: Haiti was struck on August 14 by a deadly 7.2-magnitude earthquake that left hundreds dead and countless others injured. (file) MINUJUSTH/Logan Abassi

UN Working with Aid Partners in the Wake of Massive Earthquake Hitting Haiti

By UN News

NEW YORK (IDN) — The United Nations is working to support rescue and relief efforts in Haiti following a powerful earthquake that reportedly left hundreds dead, with perhaps even more injured and missing, and caused massive damage in the south-western part of the country.

UN chief António Guterres said that he is closely following the latest unfolding tragedy in Haiti, while UNICEF reported that its teams already on the ground are making assessments to prioritize urgent needs and provide assistance to affected populations in the wake of the 7.2 magnitude quake that has reportedly killed more than 500 people.

: UN Bureau; SUSTAINABILITY; Sustainable Cities & Communities; 15 August 2021

Photo: Ebrahim Raisi. Source: Deutsche Welle.

The Future of Iran Nuclear Deal Remains Uncertain

By Kelsey Davenport, Julia Masterson, and Sang-Min Kim

While Kelsey Davenport is director for nonproliferation policy, Julia Masterson is research associate, and Sang-Min Kim is Scoville Fellow at the Arms Control Association. This article first appeared in Arms Control Now of the Association on August 11, 2021.

WAHINGTON, DC (IDN) — Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi pledged to pursue “smart engagement” in order to lift sanctions on Iran during his Aug. 5 inauguration speech.

: Arms Control Association; THE WORLD; Middle East; 14 August 2021

Photo: Screenshot of "Tryst with Destiny" full speech delivered by Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, to the Indian Constituent Assembly in The Parliament, on the eve of India's Independence, towards midnight on 14 August 1947. Uploaded by Xplorer India.

Will India Return to The Path Envisaged by The Freedom Movement?

Musings on 75th Year of Independence

Viewpoint by Dr Ram Puniyani

This article is the 16th in a series of joint productions of South Asian Outlook and IDN-InDepthNews, the flagship of the International Press Syndicate. The writer is a former professor of biomedical engineering and former senior medical officer affiliated with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (now Mumbai) and meanwhile a social activist and commentator. This article was first published on CounterCurrents.org on August 11, 2021.