Viewpoint by Shastri Ramachandaran * NEW DELHI (IDN) — The significance and strategic implications of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Tibet from July 21-23 is unlikely to be lost on those entrusted with India’s external affairs, national security and defence. How New Delhi views this landmark visit to the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) by […]
Germany’s Public Prosecutor Files Charges Against A Syrian Doctor
Torture in Syrian military hospital By Rita Joshi BERLIN/KARLSRUHE (IDN) — The German Federal Prosecutor’s Office announced on July 28 that it has filed charges under the principle of universal jurisdiction against Alaa M, a Syrian doctor who fled to Germany. M is accused in 18 cases of torturing people and subsequently killing one of […]
A Reflection on Tigray’s Maneuver Action Plan that Routed Abiy’s Allied Forces
Viewpoint by Asayehgn Desta* CALIFORNIA (IDN) — The constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, promulgated in 1995, was supposed to resolve ethnic conflict and enhance self- and shared-rule. But, contrary to expectations, Ethiopia became heavily embroiled in inter-ethnic skirmishes starting in 2018. Demand for self-rule and ethnic fighting has been brewing in a […]
In the US, Unpaid Maternity Leave Puts Mothers in a Bind
By Mike Brown* OMAHA, Nebraska, USA (IDN) — Around the world, paid maternity leave is the norm. According to data from the International Labour Organization, African nations including Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Senegal, Mali, and many more provide 14 weeks of paid maternity leave where 100% of wages are replaced. In the Americas, Barbados, Colombia, Dominican […]
Are Christian Missionaries Vestige of Colonialism?
Viewpoint by Dr Ram Puniyani This article is the 15th 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 […]
The Study of History Can Avert a New Cold War
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden (IDN) — Does America know what a dangerous game its leaders have been playing? Does it know its history? And do the leaders of Europe, who should be a brake on American determination, go along with Washington because they are almost equally ignorant? The fact is none of the […]
Tunisians Rejoice at Ruling Islamist Party’s Downfall as Covid Cases Surge
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — A cheering crowd welcomed the decision of Tunisian president Kais Saied to suspend parliament and dismiss prime minister Hichem Mechichi. The move follows a day of protests against the ruling party and, in particular, the government’s mishandling of Covid-19. Thousands of people had demonstrated against […]
Workers Open to Abuse in Australia’s New ASEAN Agriculture Visa
Viewpoint by Abul Rizvi* MELBOURNE (IDN) — After years of resisting pressure from the Australian National Party and the farm lobby to create an agriculture visa, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has at last relented. A new agriculture visa for workers from ASEAN nations is currently being negotiated. Applications will likely start from November 2021 […]
The Somali Refugees Planting a New Life in The United States
By Muhidin Libah, UN News Feature This feature story told in first person is republished from UN News. Read the original article. NEW YORK (IDN) — After spending years living in UN-supported camps in Kenya, some 220 former refugees from Somalia now work as farmers in the US state of Maine, growing crops ranging from […]
Nuclear Games for the Young Coincides with Tokyo Olympics
By Thalif Deen* NEW YORK (IDN) — The widely-televised Tokyo Olympics, which was inaugurated in the Japanese capital on July 23, wasn’t the only game in town. Coinciding with the opening ceremony, a coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), anti-nuclear activists and youth leaders launched “Nuclear Games,” an innovative film and online platform addressing nuclear history […]