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Photo: An employee arranges vegetables in a supermarket in Indonesia. © ILO/Feri Latief

Global Pandemic Halts Economic Recovery, Says UN Report

By Radwan Jakeem

NEW YORK (IDN) — A new United Nations report shows that the rapid spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant has halted a rapid recovery, countering signs of solid growth at the end of 2021. The report titled, 2022 World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) report cites problems contributing to the slowing down of the economy: new waves of COVID-19 infections, persistent labour market and lingering supply-chain challenges, and rising inflationary pressures.

: Radwan Jakeem; SUSTAINABILITY; Poverty; 16 January 2022

Image: Surface view of the Atlantic Ocean. Surface view of the Atlantic Ocean

The Oceans Are Overheating

By Robert Hunziker

LOS ANGELES (IDN) — The world’s oceans in 2021 witnessed the hottest temperatures in recorded history. According to the Ocean Conservancy: “From the beginning of industrialization until today, the ocean has absorbed more than 90 per cent of the heat from human-caused global warming and about one-third of our carbon emissions. But we are now seeing the devastating effects of that heat and carbon dioxide.”

: UN Bureau; SUSTAINABILITY; Oceans, seas and marine resources; 16 January 2022

The Geo-Political Battle in Asia About Democracy

Analysis by Kalinga Seneviratne

SYDNEY (IDN) — With the geo-political battle between China and the United States gathering momentum in Asia, whoever can define democracy better and demonstrate that it works for the betterment of the people, could win the battle in coming years.

One may argue that there is no such battle for democracy because it is a battle between democracy and authoritarianism with China clearly in the latter box. But, while the Covid pandemic has been devastating the world, China has moved aggressively to redefine democracy as a development right accusing the West, and the US, of weaponizing human rights and democracy.

: Kalinga Seneviratne; THE WORLD; Asia-Pacific; 15 January 2022

António Guterres Should Seize the Opportunity to Leave His Mark

Viewpoint by Boaventura de Sousa Santos*

This article was issued by Other News and is being republished with their permission.

COIMBRA, Portugal (IDN) — There is a clear discomfort among international activists and commentators who follow the United Nations, as well as among former UN senior officials and special rapporteurs, with the organization’s growing irrelevance as the world is faced with increasingly complex global challenges.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 15 January 2022

Photo: The Higher Court in Koblenz. Source: Kanzlei Goldenstein.

Historic Verdict in Germany's Prosecution of a Syrian for Crimes Against Humanity

By Jamshed Baruah

GENEVA (IDN) — The German city of Koblenz on the banks of the river Rhine has made history. The Higher Regional Court there has convicted a former senior Syrian intelligence officer, for crimes against humanity.

The man, known as was charged with complicity in the torture of thousands of people between 2011 and 2012 in the Al-Khatib Branch of Syrian General Intelligence in the capital, Damascus. 

: Jamshed Baruah; SUSTAINABILITY; Peace & Justice; 13 January 2022

Photo: Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu. Source: The Guardian Nigeria.

Nigeria’s Police Force Appears to Be Adding Self-Destruction to Its List of Woes

Viewpoint by Azu Ishiekwene

The writer is the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP newspaper based in Abuja, Nigeria.

ABUJA (IDN) — The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, would like to close the case of the suspicious death of Sylvester Omoroni Jr., and simply move on to something else. He’s surprised there's pushback and can’t understand why.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 13 January 2022

Photo: First Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi, Russia, in October 2019. Credit: kremlin.ru

Russia Chooses St. Petersburg for Second African Leaders Summit

By Kester Kenn Klomegah*

MOSCOW (IDN) — With high optimism and high desire to strengthen its geopolitical influence, Russian authorities are gearing up to hold the second African leaders' summit in St. Petersburg scheduled early November 2022. The gathering, as expected, will focus on enhancing further constructive cooperation and advancing integration processes within the framework of the African Union and a number of sub-regional structures.

: Kester Kenn Klomegah; THE WORLD; Russia; 12 January 2022

Photo: Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin sign the statements on elevating bilateral ties to the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era and on strengthening contemporary global strategic stability, after their talks in Moscow, Russia, June 5, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

21st-Century Chinese-Russian Partnership Unaffected by Historical Differences

Viewpoint by John P. Ruehl

This article was produced by Globetrotter. John P. Ruehl is an Australian-American journalist living in Washington, D.C. He is a contributing editor to Strategic Policy and a contributor to several other foreign affairs publications. He is currently finishing a book on Russia to be published in 2022. Source: Globetrotter.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (IDN) — The 21st century has seen the forging of “cooperative” relations between China and Russia, with the benefits of this new partnership outweighing the historical differences between these two countries that share a mutual goal to diminish the dominance of the United States in world affairs.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 12 January 2022

Photo: Bethlehem skyline from Church of the Nativity CC BY-SA 3.0

Israel and the Biggest Single Misthink in Western History

Viewpoint by Jonathan Power

BETHLEHEM (IDN) — Perhaps the biggest single misthink in Western history is best understood by standing in the town square of Bethlehem, allowing one’s gaze to pass over the roof top of the Church that covers the stable where Jesus was supposedly born, and let one’s eye drift into the blue sky beyond and thinking:

: Jonathan Power; OPINION; 11 January 2022

Photo: Kwasi Wiredu. Source: Globe Echo.

Distinguished Philosopher Kwasi Wiredu Passes At 90

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) — Distinguished philosopher, writer, and teacher Kwasi Wiredu, born in Ghana and recognized on three continents, has passed away at the age of 90.

The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy cites Wiredu for his decades-long study of “conceptual decolonization” in contemporary African systems of thought.