Viewpoint by Dr Ram Puniyani This article is the 23rd 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, […]
US Warns Russia Against Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons in Ukraine
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — The retreat of Russian troops from occupied territory in Ukraine has led to widespread speculation that Moscow may use non-conventional weapons, primarily biological and chemical weapons, to beat back the Ukrainians. In a prime-time interview on US television on September 19, US President Joe Biden said the US […]
Shanghai Organization Could Unite Region’s Big Powers to Drive the Global Economy
By Kalinga Seneviratne NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (IDN) — For the first time, the summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) attracted international and regional media attention because the Ukraine crisis has made the region’s powerhouses China, Russia and India major players in the global economy. The 22nd Meeting of the Council of Heads of State […]
An Inexorable Multipolar World Order
By Somar Wijayadasa* NEW YORK (IDN) — Despite the mayhem around the world—war in Ukraine, geopolitical confrontations, myriad of sanctions, energy crisis, hyperinflation, climate catastrophes, and unrelenting health issues—a few countries in the Eastern hemisphere held two noteworthy summits perhaps in an effort to bring some sense and stability to our deeply convoluted world.
Democracy: Room for Some Sptimism Despite Setbacks
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power LUND, Sweden (IDN) — In the year 2000, George W. Bush became the victor of an imperfect presidential election. The less than straightforward way that Bush won and, in particular, how obvious it became that the US Supreme Court had become a political creature, raised the profound worry that this would […]
“God” Needs to Make Way for Global Multi-religious Peace Alliances
By Kalinga Seneviratne This article is the 50th in a series of joint productions of Lotus News Features and IDN-InDepthNews, the flagship agency of the Non-profit International Press Syndicate. Click here for previous reports. NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (IDN/LCN) — There were over 250 religious leaders from across the world attending the 7th Congress of Leaders of […]
UNICEF Appoints Climate Activist Vanessa Nakate as Goodwill Ambassador
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — A Black climate activist, who found her picture snipped out of a news photo of young environmental activists (all white) at a U.N. confab, is finally getting a serious platform for her important work. Vanessa Nakate, the Ugandan-born fighter for climate protection has been selected […]
African Ministers Commit to Fighting Pollution, Climate Change, Loss of Nature
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — The 18th session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) closed with environment ministers from 54 African countries adopting a series of decisions and key messages to tackle climate change, the loss of nature, pollution and waste, including the elimination of open dumping […]
Namibian Leader in Bitter Feud Over Colonialism with SWAPO Critics
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — At a recent meeting of the SWAPO Party Youth League in Ongwediva, Namibian President Hage Geingob took the offensive, attacking his critics for dismissing the successes of the SWAPO party. “SWAPO is not dying, and party members should tell those who think so to go […]
UN Chief Considers Financing Education, Imperative for ‘Peaceful, Prosperous, Stable Societies’
By Radwan Jakeem NEW YORK (IDN) — Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, two-thirds of countries have cut their education budgets. “But education is the building block for peaceful, prosperous, stable societies,” says the UN Chief. “Reducing investment virtually guarantees more serious crises further down the line”. Secretary-General António Guterres spelt out: “We need to get […]