By Rita Joshi BERLIN | BONN (IDN) – More than 30 countries hosting African Wild Dog, Cheetah, Leopard and Lion have agreed on establishing a work programme to guide their conservation actions over the next coming years. The move known as the African Carnivore Initiative, emerged from a meeting from November 5 to 8, 2018 […]
Cities Have the Potential to Shape the Future of Humankind
Viewpoint by Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury* The following are extensive extracts from the opening address by Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the United Nations, who is the Chairman of the Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS) since 2008, at the 13th GFHS Annual Session in Bangkok on 30 October 2018. […]
79 ACP Countries Get Ready for UN Climate Change Conference
By Robert Johnson BRUSSELS (ACP-IDN) – The Intra-ACP GCCA Plus Programme, which has several success stories to tell, is supporting 79 members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) in preparing for the UN Climate Change conference in December in Katowice, Poland. The ACP Secretariat and the Programme hosted a Joint Policy […]
At World War I Ceremony, the Songbird of Togo Reappears
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – At a gathering of world leaders in the French capital of Paris, singer-songwriter Angelique Kidjo reprised an hypnotic work of ethereal beauty by a youthful West African singer. With a repertoire of just 17 songs, the diva, Bella Bellow, had won the hearts of presidents, […]
Plan to Pick a Single Candidate to Defeat Kabila Implodes
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | KINSHASA (IDN) – As election day nears in the troubled Democratic Republic of the Congo, the seven leaders of the opposition seemed settled on one person to challenge the handpicked candidate of President Joseph Kabila – but differences unexpectedly arose. The agreement to back Congolese lawmaker […]
Huge Heist by Ghanaian Bank Officers Worse Than Feared
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | ACCRA (IDN) – Depositors may want to steer clear of banking in Ghana while over a dozen bank officers and shareholders face claims they lent themselves millions of dollars but failed to repay. Business Ghana, a local news outlet, reported that 13 shareholders and directors of […]
Nuclear Arms Control is Going Down a Trumpian Hole
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden (IDN-INPS) – Reacting to the radio interview by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, to mark Armistice Day, in which he was reported as saying, “We have to protect ourselves with respect to China, Russia and even the United States of America… We need a true European army”, President Donald […]
Japan, Russia Join UNODC to Support Afghanistan’s Counter Narcotics Efforts
By Reinhard Jacobsen VIENNA (IDN) – The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Afghanistan, Japan and the Russian Federation have signed a declaration, highlighting the new development of the Trilateral Cooperation to support counter narcotics efforts of the Government of Afghanistan, according to UN Information Service (UNIS). The declaration also gives an overview […]
Decline in External Finance to Developing Countries Endanger Global Goals
By Krishan Dutta PARIS (IDN) – “Donor countries have not followed through on their 2015 promise to expand development finance flows,” said OECD Development Co-operation Director Jorge Moreira da Silva, launching a landmark report at the Paris Peace Forum. He was commenting on an important finding of the report that external finance to poor countries […]
Interfaith Statement Pushes for Abolition of Nuclear Weapons
By Santo D. Banerjee NEW YORK (IDN) – Faith Communities Concerned about Nuclear Weapons – a group of diverse faith-based organizations and individuals committed to a nuclear-weapon-free world – have called for urgent action for the abolition of nuclear weapons. “As people of faith, we advocate for the right of all people to live in […]