Viewpoint by Corey Wallace The writer is Assistant Professor at Kanagawa University. YOKOHAMA, Japan (IDN | East Asia Forum) — Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Tokyo Olympics have cast a shadow over Japan’s COVID-19 response. Critics—including a former Japanese prime minister—questioned whether the government’s lacklustre early response to the outbreak and its ‘risky’ […]
New Equations in South Asian Security with High Tension in Afghanistan
Viewpoint by Sugeeswara Senadhira COLOMBO (IDN) — A transformation in the security dynamics in South Asia is taking place at such a fast rate that experts on regional security are totally confused and puzzled about the future scenario. The withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, the gradual expansion of Taliban control in the country, India’s […]
UNODC’s First Global Research on Imprisonment Reveals Shocking Facts
By Reinhard Jacobsen VIENNA (IDN | UNODC) — One in every three prisoners worldwide are held without a trial, which means that they have not been found guilty by any court of justice, according to the first global research data on prisons published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The research […]
Free Online Learning Courses from A German Platform in Demand Worldwide
By Hans-Joachim Allgaier POTSDAM, Germany (IDN) — A German learning portal that provides free basic digitization knowledge in several languages to Internet users around the world is heading for its one-millionth enrolment. German science patron, Prof. Hasso Plattner, co-founder of the software company SAP and founder of the Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI) in Potsdam, is […]
President Biden’s First Nuclear Arms Budget Is Disappointing
By Kingston Reif and Shannon Bugos* WASHINGTON, DC (IDN) — As the Biden administration prepares to initiate a review of U.S. nuclear weapons policy, its first budget request proposes to continue every part of the unnecessary and unsustainable nuclear weapons spending plans it inherited from the Trump administration. This includes the controversial additions made by […]
Afghanistan Faces Funding Shortfall Amid Deepening Humanitarian Crisis
By Radwan Jakeen NEW YORK (IDN) — Nearly 18 million Afghans or half the population of the South Asian country require assistance. A third of the country is malnourished, while half of all children under five are experiencing acute malnutrition. In view of this critical situation, Ramiz Alakbarov, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, […]
More Than 220,000 Germans Leave Catholic Church in 2020
By Catholic News Agency (CNA)* ROME (IDN) — More than 220,000 people left Catholic Church in Germany in 2020, according to official figures. The statistics issued by the German bishops’ conference on July 14 showed that 221,390 people exited the Catholic Church last year. The figure was almost 19% lower than that of 2019 when […]
15-Year-Old Girl Among Latest Fiji Covid Deaths as Virus Cases Soar Over 11,000
By Josefa Babitu* SUVA (IDN) — A 15-year-old girl has become Fiji’s youngest death due to the covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, taking the total of deaths due to the virus to 58. Health Secretary Dr James Fong has confirmed this after an investigation by medical personnel classified the case as another covid-19 death. The girl from […]
France Denies Covering-Up Deadly Nuclear Tests in French Polynesia
By Asia Pacific Report newsdesk SUVA (IDN) — The French government has denied any cover-up over radiation levels in the Pacific following its nuclear testing in the region, as state-backed discussions took place in Paris about the legacy of the explosions, reports France 24. A two-day meeting called by French President Emmanuel Macron was held […]
Germany’s Gerd Müller Chosen as Next UNIDO Director General
By Reinhard Jacobsen VIENNA (IDN) — The Industrial Development Board of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has recommended Gerd Müller of Germany to be the Organization’s next Director-General. He is currently Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany. The Board’s recommendation will be forwarded for approval to the UNIDO General Conference—the […]