Viewpoint by John P. Ruehl This article was produced by Globetrotter. The writer is an Australian-American journalist living in Washington, D.C. He is a contributing editor to Strategic Policy and a contributor to several other foreign affairs publications. He is currently finishing a book on Russia to be published in 2022. WASHINGTON, D.C. (IDN) — […]
South Pacific: Fiji Tourism Is Back on Its Feet with Focus on Sustainability
By Sheryl Lal and Akansha Narayan* NADI, Fiji (IDN) — Though Fiji Islands was unaffected by the first wave of COVID-19, its tourism sector, the lifeblood of the economy, has been devastated by border closure across the world due to the pandemic in the past two years. Thus, when the Fijian Tourism Expo (FTE) returned […]
UN Human Rights Chief’s China Visit Under Critical US Scrutiny
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — The upcoming visit to China by Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has come under critical US scrutiny. Asked about the proposed visit, US State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters on May 20: “We are deeply concerned about the upcoming visit. Our understanding of […]
Grave Concern for Environmental and Climate Damage Caused by Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Viewpoint by Kazuo Matsushita This article was issued by the Toda Peace Institute and is being republished with their permission. TOKYO (IDN) — War is the worst destruction of the environment and human rights. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is truly a humanitarian crisis. In addition, the war has caused extensive damage to the environment, the effects of […]
South Africa on The Right Side of History or Captured by Cold War Allies?
Viewpoint by Professor Gerrit Olivier and Michèle Olivier Gerrit Olivier is an emeritus professor at Pretoria University and former South African Ambassador in Russia and Kazakhstan. Michèle Olivier is a consultant in international law. PRETORIA, South Africa | HULL, England (IDN) — A seemingly non-negotiable principle of South Africa’s foreign policy, is to be on […]
US Falters, Europe Leads in Electoral Integrity
By Thalif Deen NEW YORK (IDN) — When Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency during a political crisis in June 1975, she arrested hundreds of citizens, suspended civil liberties and imposed strict censorship of the press—temporarily downgrading “the world’s largest democracy” to a near-authoritarian state.
Global Call to Act on Land Degradation and Drought
By Devendra Kamarajan ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire (IDN) — The 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), concluded in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, has concluded with a united global pledge to boost drought resilience and invest in land restoration for future prosperity.
Nuclear Policies Violate Right to Life, Warn Civil Society Organisations
By Jaya Ramachandran GENEVA (IDN) — While arms control and disarmament efforts have come to a halt, civil society organisations are insisting that nuclear policies contravene the right to life. “Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life,” […]
Southern Africa Feels the Pinch of Russia-Ukraine War
By Jeffrey Moyo HARARE, Zimbabwe (IDN) — Life is no longer the same for Zimbabwe’s shop owner, 34-year-old Richwell Mhasi in the capital Harare who has had to park his car at home, switching to his bicycle, cycling to and from work amid the rising prices of fuel since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war […]
ICAN Successfully Promoting the Nuclear-Weapons Ban in Africa
By Jaya Ramachandran GENEVA (IDN) — 2017 Nobel Peace laureate, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), and its partner organisations are carrying out activities across Africa to promote adherence to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and to raise awareness of the grave threat that nuclear weapons pose to all […]