By Wameedh Shakir Following is statement to the UN Security Council by Wameedh Shakir, Chairwoman of Itar Foundation for Social Development on 15 April. UNITED NATIONS | 23 April 2024 (IDN) — I stand before you today with a heavy heart, pleading for your urgent attention to the ongoing crisis in Yemen that has unfolded […]
Rise in Global Military Spending Amidst Two Ongoing Conflicts
By Thalif Deen NEW YORK | 22 April 2024 (IDN) — The ongoing destructive war between Russia and Ukraine, which has dragged on since February 2014, and the equally devastating six-month-old conflict between Israel and Hamas, have triggered a rise in military expenditures worldwide. According to the latest figures released on April 22 by the […]
Two African Students of Theater Win Major Soros Award
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | 22 April 2024 (IDN) — Winners of a generous prize from the Paul & Daisy Soros fund this year include Zimbabwe-born Ruva Chigwedere and Saidu Tejan-Thomas Jr. from Sierra Leone. Both are in graduate theater programs in their respective schools. The fellowship winners are children of […]
African Union’s Health Group Slams Drug Maker For ‘Vaccine Inequity’
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | 22 April 2024 (IDN) — Moderna, the drug company made famous for its COVID vaccines, has abandoned plans to construct vaccine plants in Kenya, drawing criticism from the African Union’s public health agency that the company is not committed to ‘vaccine equity’. Africa’s Centers for Disease […]
Africa Marks Earth Day With a Campaign Against Plastics
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | 22 April 2024 (IDN) — Earth Day today has been marked around the world with demonstrations, conferences and awards for environmental activists. Africa is part of the program. The theme is “Planet vs Plastics” bringing attention to the serious issue of plastic pollution and how it […]
China-Nepal Military Relations: Risks and Opportunities for India
By Atul Kumar* Observer Research Foundation (ORF) Website carried this article on 20 April. The writer was an expert, who took part in Raisina Debates organised by the New Delhi-based organisation. SYDNEY | 21 April 2024 (IDN) — On 9 March 2024, a Chinese military delegation headed by Major General Zhang Baoqun visited Nepal. They […]
Why Not the Whole World as A “Zone of Peace”?
By P. Soma Palan* COLOMBO, Sri Lanka | 21 April 2024 (IDN) — I refer to your Article under the Heading “Indian Ocean – a zone of peace sinking in troubled waters”. I wish to express my seemingly radical views on the subject of attaining world peace in the backdrop of the increasing militarization of […]
US Bashed for Vetoing the State of Palestine’s UN Full Membership
By J Nastranis NEW YORK | 20 April 2024 (IDN) — As the United States vetoed the Palestine State’s bid for full United Nations membership, the office of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said the US veto was “blatant aggression … which pushes the region ever further to the edge of the abyss”. In a […]
Plastic Pollution: Delayed Action or No Action Will Have Disastrous Consequences
By Simone Galimberti* KATHMANDU, Nepal | 20 April 2024 (IDN) — Plastic Pollution Coalition, based in Washington, DC, is one of the strongest third-sector organizations engaged in the Global Plastic Treaty negotiations. The Coalition has been busy preparing for the upcoming fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) negotiating the draft treaty. The sessions will be […]
Will the Ukraine and Gaza Wars Encourage Russia to Support Nuclear-Armed Iran?
By Meir Javedanfar* TEL AVIV | 19 April 2024 (IDN | ELN) — According to the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency’s recent report, the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) currently has sufficient uranium enriched to 60% to build three nuclear weapons if it decides to do so. Building a nuclear bomb would provide the IRI […]