By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema recently announced on his Facebook page that he officially abolished both the death penalty and the offence of criminal defamation of the president. The Penal Code of 2022 repeals the mandatory death sentence in the absence of extenuating circumstances. The provisions […]
Only Three Africans on Forbes List of 100 Most Powerful Women
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who is the current Director General of the World Trade Organization, and Nigerian media mogul Mosunmola Abudu are the only African women featured in the list of the World’s Most Powerful 100 Women by Forbes. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala […]
Unprecedented Drought Emergency in the Horn of Africa
Catastrophic Consequences Feared By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) — The United Nations has warned that the Horn of Africa is facing an unprecedented drought emergency, which will unleash catastrophic consequences. Communities in the region are in the midst of a likely fifth consecutive failed rainy season. They may face a sixth failed season in […]
The Dismal State of Nuclear Disarmament
Viewpoint by Jacqueline Cabasso The writer is the Executive Director of the Western States Legal Foundation. OAKLAND, California (IDN) — The year 2022 has been a nightmare for nuclear disarmament. The year started out with a mildly reassuring Joint Statement by the five original nuclear-armed states, issued on January 3, 2022, declaring:
More Than 20 Million Children Suffering in The Horn of Africa
UNICEF Warns of Funding Shortfall in The Face of Drought By Devendra Kamarajan NAIROBI (IDN) — UN Children’s Agency UNICEF has urged the international community to “commit to responding now for what might hit the Horn of Africa” in 2023, “and in the years to come”. UNICEF Deputy Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa […]
South Pacific: Democracy Prevails in Fiji
Former Coup leaders Change Roles in Parliamentary Vote By Ravindra Singh Prasad SUVA (IDN) — In a parliamentary vote on December 24, former coup leader Sitiveni Rabuka was elected the new Prime Minister by a slim majority of one after a hung parliament. He replaces another former coup leader and twice democracy-elected Prime Minister, Voreqe […]
Austria: Call for an Independent Law Enforcement Body
A Special Report by Aurora Weiss VIENNA (IDN) — Austria’s capital is home to 20 international United Nations offices and organisations seated at the Vienna International Centre. But law enforcement in this country falls short of the UN’s requirements. The United Nations Convention against Corruption, for example, calls for independent bodies or persons specialized in […]
UN Chief to Convene “No Nonsense” Climate Summit to Avert Disaster
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — UN Secretary-General António Guterres has never ceased to warn about the impending hazards of climate change worldwide. “We are on a fast track to climate disaster,” he has predicted rather ominously and pointed out that some of the world’s major cities are under water. “There are unprecedented heatwaves, […]
Western Hypocrisy Overshadows the Epic Qatar Match
Viewpoint by Azu Ishiekwene The writer is the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP newspaper based in Abuja, Nigeria. ABUJA (IDN) — The shenanigans were always there, but until FIFA president Infantino Giovanni called them out in his down-to-earth press conference in Qatar, they remained the elephant in the room. The hint of displeasure goes back 12 […]
The Age of Intersecting Crises?
Viewpoint by Tobias Ide* This article was issued by the Toda Peace Institute and is being republished with their permission. PERTH, Australia (IDN) — When following the news over the past three years, one might get the impression that the world is living through a permanent state of crisis. While climate change is arguably the […]