Viewpoint by Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden (IDN-INPS) – We are soon going to have a clash between President Donald Trump and international law. This is predicable when one examines the presidential discourse over what to do about North Korea and its possession of nuclear-tipped rockets. He has threatened “fire and fury” which doesn’t sound like […]
Trump Awaits a ‘Magical Moment’ to Ban Nuclear Weapons
By Shanta Roy UNITED NATIONS (IDN) – The 2018 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), released February 2, is a dangerous departure from the past, and appears to reflect a firm U.S. commitment to readily use the world’s deadliest weapons of mass destruction – even if the United States is only a target of “significant non-nuclear strategic […]
US Tax Reforms Affect 50% of Global Foreign Direct Investment
By Jaya Ramachandran GENEVA (IDN) – Almost half of global investment stock is either located in the United States or owned by American multinationals abroad. The United States ‘Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’, adopted in December 2017, will therefore significantly affect both investment into the U.S. and the investment positions of U.S. firms abroad, according […]
Kuwait Presidency Keen on Enhancing Security Council Working
By J Nastranis UNITED NATIONS (IDN) – While the Middle East, counter-terrorism and Africa will draw the Security Council’s focus in February, the Kuwait Presidency has chosen as its centrepiece a ministerial-level briefing on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter in the maintenance of international peace and security, with the Secretary-General as the […]
Kazakh Security Council Presidency Elicits Praise
By Santo D. Banerjee UNITED NATIONS (IDN) – Kazakhstan has elicited praise for highlighting Afghanistan and Central Asia during its first ever presidency of the Security Council in the month of January. An end-of-the-month “wrap-up” session also reflected appreciation for putting spotlight on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and confidence building measures. Kazakhstan is […]
Challenges and Opportunities Sri Lanka-China Relations Face
By H.M.G.S. Palihakkara Hewa Matara Gamage Siripala Palihakkara is former Governor of the Northern Province, one of the nine provinces, of Sri Lanka and former Foreign Secretary. Following are extracts from a foreword to the collection of essays by academics on Sri Lanka-China Relations ‘The Island of the Lion and the Land of the Dragon’, […]
Security Council Statement under Kazakh Presidency Voices Concern and Relief on Darfur
By J Nastranis UNITED NATIONS (IDN) – In a presidential statement on Darfur by Kazakh Ambassador Kairat Umarov, Security Council President for January, has welcomed improvements in the security situation, as well as the on-going absence of armed clashes between Government forces and the armed opposition, in addition to the extension of unilateral cessations of […]
Sri Lanka Celebrating Independence In Chains Of Its Own Making
By Kalinga Seneviratne BANGKOK (IDN) – While Sri Lanka “celebrates” 70 years of independence from British colonial rule this month, its sovereignty is being threatened as never before since gaining independence in 1948 – tempting one to remark that Sri Lanka is celebrating ‘independence in chains’. The strategically placed Indian ocean island is an important […]
UN, African Union Partnership Key to Success of Peacekeeping
By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) – Strong partnership between the United Nations and African Union is a key to the success of peacekeeping operations of the Joint Task Force on Peace and Security, particularly in view of an increasingly complex nature of conflict and the lack of progress of political processes, a consultative meeting […]
Reparations Suit Over German Colonial Massacre Significant for the UN Genocide Convention
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – In its first formal response to a class-action suit filed by the Herero and Nama people of Namibia, Germany has asked a New York judge to throw out the suit as “inadmissible” because of “the principle of state immunity.” Representatives of the communities directly affected […]