By Nandasiri Jasentuliyana The writer is former Deputy Director-General of the United Nations. LOS ANGELES (IDN) — The earliest Sri Lankans to enter the United States were classified as “other Asians.” Immigration records show that between 1881 and 1890, 1,910 “other Asians” were admitted to the United States. It is unlikely that many of these […]
Heated Debate on Giving a Constitutional Voice to Indigenous Australians
By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — Each year on January 26, Australians celebrate “Australia Day”, a national holiday that marks the day Captain Arthur Phillip sailed into Sydney Cove in 1788, planted the Union Jack and proclaimed the continent for the British Crown. Later it was enshrined in the Australian constitution that it was “terra […]
Split in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church
By Karen Smith BRUSSELS (IDN) — Three months after the two-year Ethiopian civil war came to an end, displacing millions, the Orthodox Church is facing a split. Three bishops have announced that they will form a separate church with its own decision-making body. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali has criticised “bigotry by religion and […]
Anti-French Sentiment Boils Over in West Africa
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | OUAGADOUGOU (IDN) — French flags were set ablaze in the streets of Ouagadougou as hundreds of citizens of the West African nation of Burkina Faso gathered in the capital city on January 20. Many carried placards with the message “French army, get out!” Anti-French sentiment has […]
Spectacular Boom in Crypto Market in Africa
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — Why is cryptocurrency booming in Africa but sinking in rich western countries, including the U.S.? For starters, cryptocurrencies have gained acceptance among a large proportion of the low-income population that was, previously financially marginalized. Most banks in Africa were not accessible to this segment. Even […]
Is China Really a Threat?
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden (IDN) — Exactly five years ago, the American secretary of defence, Jim Mattis, declared a new era: “There has been a return of great power competition……great power competition—not terrorism—is now the primary focus of US security”. In the new national defence strategy document, China and Russia were singled out […]
UN Peacekeepers Victims of Continued Deadly Attacks
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — The UN’s peacekeepers, described as one of the most hazardous jobs at the United Nations, routinely risk their lives either in ongoing military conflicts or in post-conflict war zones. According to figures released by the UN Staff Union on January 20, at least 32 UN peacekeeping personnel—28 military […]
Abducted Cameroonian Journalist Found Brutally Murdered
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — A prominent Cameroonian journalist was found dead this week with signs of torture near the capital Yaounde, five days after he was abducted by unidentified assailants, according to the National Union of Journalists of Cameroon and media rights advocates. Martinez Zogo’s disappearance and death was […]
India Going Down Path of Pakistan, Sri Lanka
Viewpoint by Dr Ram Puniyani* NEW DELHI (IDN) — Pakistan is in the grip of a massive economic crisis. Wheat flour costs Rs (PKR) 150 per kg. Staple diet roti (type of bread) costs Rs 30 in a country where the average daily earning is Rs 500 with an average household needing around 10 rotis […]
Should South Korea Go Nuclear?
By Rebecca Johnson Dr Rebecca Eleanor Johnson is the Executive Director of the Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy (AIDD). LONDON (IDN) — In just the few weeks between the West’s New Year and the East’s Year of the Rabbit South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol has been making some very worrying remarks about getting nuclear weapons. […]