IDN-InDepthNews

News for a Sustainable World, Peace and Security

IDN-InDepthNews
UN INSIDER

UNIDO Key Supporter Germany Deepens Bilateral Ties

By Jaya Ramachandran

VIENNA (IDN) – Germany and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) have agreed to intensify and expand their relations. UNIDO will establish an Investment and Technology Promotion Office (ITPO) in January in the Bonn UN Campus. Germany will also provide funds to UNIDO for implementing three projects.

German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Gerd Müller and the Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), LI Yong signed an agreement on November 21 to establish ITPO in Bonn. The signing ceremony took place on the margins of UNIDO’s 50th Anniversary celebrations at the Vienna International Centre.

OPINION

Understanding Trump’s Beefed Up Economics

By Jonathan Power

LUND, Sweden (IDN-INPS) – Donald Trump is changing the right wing’s economic spots. He is doing what Franklin Roosevelt did at the time of the Great Depression by increasing government spending – although it was the rearmament brought on by entering World War 2 that was an even more important factor in lifting America out of the doldrums.

Trump is following what Hitler did so successfully before World War 2 when he rebuilt Germany’s economic strength with autobahns and industrial subsidies (not rearmament in the beginning, as is often said). He is walking in the footsteps of President Richard Nixon who when he changed course with a new economic policy said, “We are all Keynesians now”.

Africa

African Livestock Experts Focus on Climate-Resilient Fodder

By Justus Wanzala

NAIROBI (ACP-IDN) – Demand for milk and livestock products in Kenya is growing fast and has already outstripped supply in some parts of the country. One of the results is that many smallholder farmers are venturing into rearing dairy cattle and, to some extent, dairy goats.

One of these farmers is Emily Mukwambo, who keeps six dairy cows in her three and half acre farm in Busia County, western Kenya. However as Emily and thousands of other small-scale farmers embrace dairy farming, it is emerging that climate change is affecting the availability of fodder and forage leading to farmers failing to meet the nutritional needs of their livestock. Compounded by the lack of information some farmers have about these needs, milk production is being affected, leading to diminished incomes.

Asia-Pacific

Malaysian Buddhist Monk Empowers Education of Muslim Children

By Kalinga Seneviratne

This article is the 12th in a series of joint productions of Lotus News Features and IDN-InDepthNews, flagship of the International Press Syndicate.

KUALA LUMPUR (IDN | Lotus News Features) – A grand Chinese temple on the hills of central Kuala Lumpur overlooking the Malaysian capital was the site of a unique event on November 27 where a Sri Lankan born Buddhist monk’s vision to empower the education of poor Malaysian children, most of them Muslims, was taking place without the glare of any television cameras or the national media.

UN INSIDER

UN Commends Cuba’s Advances Under Fidel Castro

NEW YORK (IDN) – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon extended on November 26 condolences to the Cuban people and to the family of former President Fidel Castro Ruz on behalf of the United Nations. Fidel Castro passed away overnight at the age of 90. He served as Cuba’s President from 1976 to 2008.

“At this time of national mourning, I offer the support of the United Nations to work alongside the people of the island,” Ban told reporters in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, where he was attending the Global Sustainable Transport Conference. He offered his particular condolences to Cuban President Raúl Castro Ruz, UN News reported.

Asia-Pacific

It’s Not Just About Demonetisation of 500 and 1000 Bank Notes

By Satya Sagar*

NEW DELHI (IDN-INPS) – The abrupt demonetisation of 500 and 1000 rupee notes by the Narendra Modi regime is a drastic move that is staggering in its scale, ambition and repercussions. The only other figures in modern history one can think of, devious or stupid enough to attempt something similar, are the likes of Marcos, Suharto, Idi Amin and Pol Pot.

For all its audacity however, the decision could go down also as the grandest of blunders made by anyone in Indian political history. Poorly planned and implemented it is likely to prove disastrous not only for the country’s economy but – ironically enough – for the BJP’s own electoral fortunes.

OPINION

Populism is Counterfeit Democracy

By Jayantha Dhanapala*

COLOMBO (IDN) – The bipolar Cold War contest between capitalism and communism appears in hindsight to be, frightening as it was, far more simple than the conflicts and tensions of the modern multipolar world. It was a struggle between two clearly identifiable ideological alternatives entrenched in two nuclear weapon armed military alliances wedded to a Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) doctrine.

Today the situation is not as clear-cut. A global revival of nationalism – especially economic nationalism – laced with a complex mix of populism, anti-immigration policies and extremism of various forms transcends national boundaries together with rampant consumerism encouraged by globalization.

UN INSIDER

UN Expert on SOGI Stays Despite African Group’s Protests

By Arc International*

NEW YORK (IDN-INPS) – The United Nations mandate of the Independent Expert Vitit Muntarbhorn on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) has been safeguarded despite hostile contestation at the 71st Session of the 3rd Committee of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City.

LGBTIQ activists and organizations around the world quickly mobilized to voice their concerns on the implications of the hostile resolution to national governments as well as at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

A joint statement endorsed by 850 organizations from 157 countries around the world, highlighted the need for states to respect the authority of the Human Rights Council and to vote in favour of upholding the SOGI Independent Expert mandate.

Africa

Mobile Phones Help Tanzania, Ghana Register Births

By Kizito Makoye Shigela

LUNYANYWI, Tanzania (ACP-IDN) – At a remote ward in Tanzania’s southern highlands, the entire village has gathered to celebrate the birth of a new member of their community.

Antonia Kisena (38) and her husband Moses (45) smile broadly as they welcome a baby boy they have named Anold. “My husband always wished to get a baby boy this time around, thank God it happened just like that,” says Kisena happily.

In most rural communities like this, the birth of a baby boy is a cause for celebration, because it is seen as a blessing to the community. Every time a baby boy is born, the villagers – young and old – must come together to welcome him by singing and performing traditional rituals. “It’s our tradition, you cannot simply get away from it,” says Kisena.

UN INSIDER

UN Again ‘Deeply Concerned’ Over Situation in Kashmir

By J Nastranis

NEW YORK (IDN) – For the second time within two months, UN Secretary-General has said that he is “deeply concerned” about the deterioration of the situation along the Line of Control in Kashmir, and has called on all involved to prioritize the restoration of calm and stability in order to prevent any further escalation and loss of life.

“The Secretary-General trusts that the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan can find common ground and work towards a sustainable peace,” said a statement issued by Ban’s spokesperson on November 24.

The United Nations stands by the people of the region and supports all efforts to reach durable peace and security, the statement concluded.

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