By Bagymdat Atabaeva BISHKEK (IDN) – In this predominantly Islamic country, one may expect to see women playing a subordinate role to men in many spheres of life. But, women in Kyrgyzstan are breaking this stereotype image and football is shaping up as a great gender equalizer. “I have been coaching girls for over 40 […]
Nuclear Free World Concerns Everyone – Learning from Karipbek Kuyukov
By Ilya Kursenko * MOSCOW (IDN) – Nuclear weapons do not seem to cause as much concern to people today as these did to our parents who grew up during the Cold War with the awareness of the fragility of peace. But when one understands what arms race implies or meets those who have been […]
Concerns About Military Build-up in Iceland
By Lowana Veal REYKJAVIK (IDN) – It was widely believed that the U.S. military left Iceland in 2006 when they abandoned the base adjoining Iceland’s international airport at Keflavik on the southwest tip of the island. But recent developments, in particular the visit of U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence to Iceland in early September and perhaps […]
Special UN Meeting Calls for Entry into Force of Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) – Ten years ago, on December 2, 2009, the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly declared August 29 the International Day against Nuclear Tests by unanimously adopting resolution 64/35. The resolution was initiated by the Republic of Kazakhstan, together with a large number of sponsors and cosponsors […]
Russian Weapons Accident Raises Nuclear Concerns
By Greg Webb The writer is editor of Arms Control Today, the Arms Control Association’s flagship publication. WASHINGTON, DC (IDN-INPS) – An accidental explosion on Russia’s White Sea coast has triggered questions about the Kremlin’s strategic weapons development efforts and concerns that Russia may have shut down sensors to deny information to international observers. The […]
Keeping Up Anti-Corruption Momentum in the Post-Lagarde IMF
Viewpoint by M. Emilia Berazategui The author is Global Advocacy Coordinator at Transparency International, the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption BERLIN (IDN) – In recent years, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has repeatedly demonstrated its ambition to play a leading role in tackling corruption worldwide. Under the leadership of Christine Lagarde, […]
ACP Reiterates Call for Urgent Ambitious Climate Action
Viewpoint by Dr. Patrick I. Gomes The writer is the Secretary-General of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP). Following are extensive excerpts from his presentation at the United Nations Trade Forum from 9-13 September 2019 in the Session ‘Climate Action and Trade’ in Geneva. GENEVA (IDN) – The ACP Group of States […]
Extinction ‘Imminent’ for Small Islands
By Sean Buchanan NEW YORK | GENEVA (IDN) – Islands are often emblazoned across tourism pamphlets, glorified as the epitome of natural beauty and portrayed as idyllic places of escape. But this image is far from the dark reality they face. Changes in sea level, temperature, precipitation, a growing number of extreme storms and floods, […]
Kazakhstan Needs Young Graduates as Teachers for Education Reforms to Succeed
By Milena Melnikova* TARAZ (IDN) – Since 2016, the educational system in Kazakhstan has undergone numerous reforms, and in October 2018 President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced further reforms, including a pledge to increase spending in education along with science and healthcare to 10 percent of national GDP within five years. With the aim of making Kazakhstan […]
Sri Lanka Praised for Advancing the Cluster Munitions Convention’s Objectives
By Jamshed Baruah GENEVA (IDN) – Sri Lanka has won kudos for a number of progressive measures taken during its presidency of the Ninth Meeting of States Parties (MSP) to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) that addresses the humanitarian consequences and unacceptable harm caused to civilians by cluster munitions, through a categorical prohibition and […]