By Caroline Mwanga WASHINGTON (IDN) — While planning to rebuild economies after the COVID-19 pandemic, countries would do well to lay the foundation for a green, resilient, and inclusive future. This was the message of the World Bank-International Monetary Fund (IMF) virtual Spring Meetings from April 5 to 11, 2021. World Bank Group President David […]
Can We Feed the Billions?
An Expert Voice NEW YORK (IDN | UNDESA) — With hundreds of millions suffering hunger, a growing population and devastating impacts of agriculture on the environment, many experts are asking themselves: will we have enough food for everyone? Ahead of the 54th session of the UN Commission on Population Development, we ask that question to […]
Lessons of the Bay of Pigs Invasion Followed by the Cuban Missile Crisis
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden (IDN) — The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 is well remembered, even by those not yet born when it happened. The word has been passed down the generations and probably always will be. It was the first and only time, say many historians and political scientists, that the world […]
Walking History Through Viet Nam’s Security Council Presidency
By Ramu Damodaran The writer is Chief, United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) hosted in the Department of Global Communications. This OpEd was first published in #WhyWeCare on April 15. NEW YORK (IDN | UNAI) — If, as Suzanne Nossel writes, “the United Nations remains the closest thing to a system of global governance that the […]
UN Finds French Military Culpable for Deadly Attack on Mali Civilians
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — Major combat operations by French troops in Mali have drawn fire from local officials who accuse the French military of killing civilians including at a recent wedding. Nineteen wedding guests and three armed men died in the strike in the village of Bounty, central Mali. […]
Genocide Suspect Back in Rwanda After Losing Appeal to Remain in the U.S.
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — After two unsuccessful appeals in the U.S., a Rwandan woman is back in Kigali where she stands to face prosecution for her active role in the 1994 Rwanda genocide. In an application for political asylum, Beatrice Munyenyezi denied that she had been involved in the […]
Nigerian Start-Up Plans International Debut in Canada
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — You’ve hailed an Uber, waved down a taxi—now a Nigerian start-up will take you to the next level. Their company—Plentywaka—will let you call a bus. Founder Onyeka Akumah and his team are planning to make their international debut in the Canadian market after recently receiving […]
Economic and Social Development of the African Continent — A Russian Perspective
Kester Kenn Klomegah* interviews Prof. Ksenia Tabarintseva-Romanova and Prof Alexei Antoshin MOSCOW (IDN) — After the Soviet collapse, Russia has maintained strong and time-tested relations with African countries, particularly as the Soviet Union had played an important role during decolonization. The African continent comprises a diverse collection of countries, each with its own set of […]
Two Years On: Geopolitics of The 2019 Easter Sunday Crime in Sri Lanka and Cover-Up
The Weaponization of Religion Amid Hybrid Cold War in The Indian Ocean Region Viewpoint by Darini Rajasingham-Senanayake The writer is a cultural and medical anthropologist with research expertise in international political economy, peace, and development studies in South and South-East Asia. Her research spans issues in gender and women’s empowerment, migration and multiculturalism, ethno-religious identity […]
UN Forum Highlights New Initiatives to Tackle Inequalities Exacerbated by Pandemic
By Radwan Jakeem NEW YORK (IDN) — With many economies reeling as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and as inequalities continue to widen, world leaders discussed options to unlock concrete investments to support a sustainable and resilient recovery at the Forum on Financing for Development (FfD Forum) from April 12-15. The four-day Forum, held […]