By James M. Dorsey* SINGAPORE (IDN) – Climate change, much like war, could prove to be a geopolitical and commercial gold mine. At least, that is the take of DP World, Dubai’s global port operator, and Russia’s sovereign wealth fund. DP World is partnering with the fund, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) to create […]
UN Condemns Israeli Destruction of Palestinian Homes
By Sean Buchanan NEW YORK (IDN) – Calling it “not compatible with Israel’s “obligations under international humanitarian law”, the United Nations has condemned Israel’s demolition July 22 of 70 homes in an East Jerusalem neighbourhood under the control of the Palestinian Authority. Israel’s Supreme Court has reportedly ruled that the houses in the Palestinian community […]
Iran at the Edge of a Cliff as the Bomb Question Hangs Fire
Trump Scrapped Security Council Endorsed Nuclear Deal Viewpoint by Jonathan Power LUND, Sweden (IDN-INPS) – There’s never been a full-scale war between two nuclear-armed states. If Iran one day did cross the nuclear threshold the same deterrence will apply. No one rational would want to provoke their own incineration. Columbia university professor, Kenneth Waltz, the […]
UN’s Sustainable Development Goals Remain Largely in Limbo
By Shanta Roy NEW YORK (IDN) – When a High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) concluded its four-day ministerial meeting assessing the current status of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), one irrefutable fact stood out: despite “encouraging progress”, many of the goals were lagging far behind in their implementation since they were adopted by the […]
Nuclear Watchdog Chief Amano Leaves Behind a Rich Legacy
By Reinhard Jacobsen VIENNA (IDN) – Within days of his decision to step down for health reasons in March 2020 as Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Yukia Amano passed away at the age of 72 on July 22, 2019. His latest mandate was due to run until 2021. He headed the […]
Forest and Farm Producers Help Boost Viet Nam’s Economy
By Ronald Joshua ROME (IDN) – Forestry and agriculture provide livelihoods for nearly 80 percent of the population in the northern regions of Viet Nam. However, nearly half of all households own less than one hectare of land, which often prevents farmers from earning the income they need. To help smallholder farmers find ways to […]
As Global Leaders in Trade, G7 Are Committed to SDGs
By Edda Pleitez The writer, a student at the University of Texas, Austin and 2019 GFI Summer Intern, explains how some of the world’s most advanced economies and free societies implement the SDGs. This article first appeared in Global Financial Integrity. AUSTIN, Texas, USA (IDN-INPS) – The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of […]
NATO Chief Should Urge USA to Work with Russia For Arms Control
Viewpoint by Daryl G. Kimball The writer is Executive Director of the Arms Control Association. This article first appeared on July 15 on the organization’s website. WASHINGTO, DC (IDN-INPS) – Russian pursuit of the 9M729 intermediate-range missile, which is banned under the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, is unacceptable and merits a strong response. […]
EU Leaps to Africa’s Rescue with Clean Water
By Jeffrey Moyo BLANTYRE, Malawi (IDN) – In Karonga, a district in the northern region of Malawi, 32-year old Mavis Banda, a mother of three daughters busies herself drawing safe drinking water from a borehole located at the heart of her village. Banda and several other villagers claimed they long abandoned a local well where […]
Community-Based Engagement Critical to Achieving SDGs
By Santo D. Banerjee NEW YORK (IDN) – The eight-day High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development was eclipsed by reports indicating that current efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are being undermined by climate change and escalating inequalities. Yet, the situation is not irredeemable, concluded the Forum and called for an increased critical […]