By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — In the traditional ceremonies of the Zulu people, Misuzulu Zulu, 47, was crowned the new king of the country’s richest and most influential traditional monarchy. Thousands of people gathered at the Zulu royal palace in South Africa to witness the ceremony. Misuzulu Zulu ascended to […]
UN Chief Visits ‘Vessels of Hope’ Before returning to New York
By Radwan Jakeem NEW YORK (IDN) — UN Secretary-General António Guterres oversaw on August 20 the departure of two ships involved in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a UN-brokered operation to bring urgently needed hunger relief to the Horn of Africa. Mr. Guterres flew into Istanbul on August 20 from Chisinau, Moldova—where he was hosted […]
India Is Moving Up From ‘Look East Policy’ To ‘Act East Policy’
By Kalinga Seneviratne BANGKOK (IDN) — External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has emphasized that India is keenly interested in the countries to its East, spreading right across East Asia into the Pacific. Speaking at Thailand’s prestigious Chulalongkorn University on August 18, he explained “India’s Vision of the Indo-Pacific” and indirectly went on to distance itself […]
Faith Communities Concerned about Nuclear Weapons
Since 2014, SGI has worked as part of the Faith Communities Concerned about Nuclear Weapons, a group of faith-based organizations and individuals committed to a nuclear-weapon-free world, to issue joint interfaith statements at international fora. Following is the Joint Interfaith Statement to the Tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation […]
Why We Need to Advance SDG 16 More Than Ever
Viewpoint by Dr Márcia Balisciano The writer is the Global Head of Corporate Responsibility, RELX. She is also Chair of the UN Global Compact Network UK; Chair of the Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Council of the Conference Board; and a founding member of the Board of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens. LONDON (IDN) […]
Nigerian Presidential Elections: Politicians and the Jeopardy of Trial by Ordeal
Viewpoint by Azu Ishiekwene The writer is the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP newspaper based in Abuja, Nigeria. ABUJA (IDN) — “I’m going to waste my vote,” a friend told me recently. “And don’t argue with me,” he added. “It’s my right to do so.” I defied him. Regrettably, even though I also recruited help nearby […]
Abolish Political Parties in Impending New Sri Lankan Constitution
Viewpoint by P. Soma Palan COLOMBO (IDN) — I have advocated the abolition of political parties from contesting elections to form a government, in previous articles, both in the electronic and print media. In the present unprecedented political, economic, financial and social instability in the country, the need to revive this plea assumes greater relevance […]
Old and New Controversies at the 10th NPT Review Conference
Viewpoint by Sergio Duarte The writer is a former High Representative of the United Nations for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), and President of Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs. NEW YORK (IDN) — The Tenth Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) takes place in a volatile and unpredictable international […]
The Risk of a Nuclear Attack has Risen to its Highest Level Since the Cold War
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — Speaking during a ceremony marking the 77th anniversary of the devastating atomic bombing of Hiroshima, UN Secretary-General António Guterres remarked on August 6 that it is totally unacceptable for states in possession of nuclear weapons to admit the possibility of nuclear war. “The elimination of nuclear weapons is […]
Beyond First Steps: Phasing out Nuclear Weapons and Energy
By M. V. Ramana* VANCOUVER, Canada (IDN) — The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for “all military activities in the immediate vicinity of the [Zaporizhzhia Nuclear] plant [in Ukraine] to cease immediately and not to target its facilities or surroundings” because “any potential damage to Zaporizhzhia or any other nuclear facilities in Ukraine, or […]