By Azu Ishiekwene The writer is the Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP and author of the new book Writing for Media and Monetising It. ABUJA | 19 July 2024 (IDN) — The assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on July 13 at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania has sucked the oxygen from the debate on President […]
A New Battle Front in Gaza: Israel vs UNRWA
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS | 18 July 2024 (IDN) — The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is the only agency of the world body which focuses solely on humanitarian assistance to millions of Palestinian refugees—and more so, during the current military conflict between Israel and Hamas. But as the […]
Women and Girls in Haiti Deprived of Basic Safety and Health Services
By Caroline Mwanga NEW YORK | PORT AU PRINCE | 18 July 2024 (IDN) — Ongoing political instability, escalating gang violence, and hurricane season are threatening the Caribbean Island, Haiti. Subsequently, as a recent UN Women report finds, nearly 300,000 internally displaced women and girls are living in makeshift camps lacking basic human necessities. They […]
In Memoriam, Ambassador Sérgio Duarte (1934-2024)
By Ramesh Jaura* BERLIN | 17 July 2024 (IDN) — We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Ambassador Sérgio Duarte, former United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, President of Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, and a friend and supporter of IDN. I met him first at the 25th UN […]
Remembering Nelson Mandela
By J Nastranis NEW YORK | 17 July 2024 (IDN) — “Nelson Mandela showed us the extraordinary difference one person can make in building a better world,” says UN Secretary-General António Guterres, ahead of this year’s Nelson Mandela International Day on 18 July—which reminds us, he adds that “combatting poverty and inequality is in our […]
Paul Kagame of Rwanda Returned to Power for a Fourth Term
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | 16 July 2024 (IDN) — A battery of threats, arbitrary detention, prosecution on trumped-up charges, killings and enforced disappearances were deployed by the Rwandese President Paul Kagame in the recent presidential election that offered no surprises. In the ballots counted so far, Kagame and his ruling […]
Cori Bush, Activist-Politician, Still Inspires Working People Like Me
By India Walton* BUFFALO, New York | 16 July 2024 (IDN) — I watched the sun set on my top porch on a comfortable summer evening in Buffalo. Suddenly, I heard a commotion; soon after I became short of breath. The smell of pepper burned my throat and eyes. I quickly ran inside, shut the […]
The Gambia Decides to Uphold Ban on FGM — UN Agencies Commend
By Caroline Mwanga NEW YORK | 15 July 2024 (IDN) — The vote by the National Assembly of The Gambia to uphold the ban on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), reaffirming its commitments to human rights, gender equality, and protecting the health and well-being of girls and women, has been commended by UN agencies. FGM involves […]
The Imperative to Reduce the Chances of a Trump Victory
By Norman Solomon and Jeff Cohen* SAN FRANCISCO | 15 July 2024 (IDN) — Let’s face it: Donald Trump is in a stronger position than ever to win a second term in November, with his active supporters even more motivated in the wake of the shooting Saturday. Preventing a Trump victory is now unlikely. But […]
Wole Soyinka Marks His 90th Armed with Convictions
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | 16 July 2024 (IDN) — Poet, playwright, essayist, memoirist, activist and novelist, Nigerian Wole Soyinka is known not only for his many books and book prizes, time spent in jail, and knowledge of African history, but for the wisdom he crafted in a simple phrase: “Wake […]