By Robert Johnson PARIS (IDN) — Though ODA-official development assistance from members of the OECD’s DAC-Development Assistance Committee rose to a new high last year, it amounted to the equivalent of only 0.33 per cent of their combined GNI-gross national income, thus falling short of a United Nations goal to reach an ODA/GNI ratio of […]
A Surplus of Men Leads to a Deficit of Peace
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power LUND, Sweden (IDN) — Many of us who watched the parade of new politburo members walking onto the stage at the recent meeting of the Chinese Communist Party’s 20th Congress were struck by the total absence of women. Unlike the previous 25 years, not even one. Women can be found at […]
Winter Stalemate of Russia-Ukraine Conflict ‘Not Sign of Peace’
Neither Side is Willing to Compromise By Global Times Staff Reporters BEIJING (IDN) — In the 10th month of the Russia-Ukraine conflict when military operations are scaling down in the freezing winter, observers see a slim chance of negotiations for peace in the near future as neither side is ready to compromise to figure out […]
Toward 2023: Preparing for Tectonic Shifts in the World Economy
Viewpoint by Dan Steinbock The writer is the Founder of the Difference Group. The following are extensive excerpts from the article, originally published by China-US Focus on December 16, 2022. NEW YORK (IDN) — In a recent Foreign Affairs commentary, Mohamed A. El-Erian warned that we are not facing just extraordinarily challenging business-cycle fluctuations but […]
Ramaphosa To Lead ANC For Second Term but Faces Stiff Headwinds
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — President Cyril Ramaphosa sailed over an impeachment inquiry this past week but faced a seriously divided party at the recent National Convention of the African National Conference, nearly upending his victory race for ANC party leader and ultimately President for a second term.
‘We-Are-Suffering’-Rally in Monrovia While Biden Hosts Liberian Leader
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — Confronting soaring prices and shortages of basic goods, Liberians held a “We are Suffering” rally in Monrovia while the president, George Weah, comfortably watched the 2022 World Cup at the White House. The Monrovia protest was organized by opposition leader Alexander Cummings and drew several […]
Military Spending a Non-Issue at the U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — Africa had a centre stage at a U.S.-based summit this month for what leaders hope will be more than a brief moment and whose achievements will be more than talk. The U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit opened on December 13 with a full plate of critical topics—from […]
A NATO-Ukrainian Proposal for European Security
By Vladimir Socor * WASHINGTON, D.C. (IDN) — The Ukrainian Presidential Office envisages a system of international security guarantees vis-a-vis Russia that would answer Kyiv’s post-war requirements. The guarantees would be provided by willing North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries, albeit, at the moment, short of NATO membership, this would potentially clear Ukraine’s path […]
Alarm Bells Ringing for Endangered Indigenous Languages
UN Launches 10-year Survival Plan By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) — Indigenous Peoples are guardians to almost 80 per cent of the world’s remaining biodiversity, said Csaba Kőrösi, the incumbent President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), while launching on December 16 the International Decade of Indigenous Languages.
Iran: Public Figures Amplify Protest Across the Country and Beyond
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. DUBLIN, Ireland (IDN) — Iran’s Islamic Republic continues to violently suppress ongoing pro-democracy protests, which broke out in September in response to the killing of a young woman who had been arrested for not wearing a proper head covering. According to the NGO […]