THE WORLD

Photo: The 383rd meeting of the Committee took place on 8 August 2017. Over 36 Committee Members/Observers were in attendance in addition to several civil society organizations.

UN Committee Highlights Activities Marking 50 Years of Israeli Occupation of Palestine

By J Nastranis

UNITED NATIONS (IDN) - Fifty years after Israel occupied the West Bank and Gaza Strip, it continues to control these areas through repression, institutionalized discrimination, and systematic abuses of the Palestinian population’s rights.

Many of Israel’s abusive practices have been carried out in the name of security. Palestinian armed groups have carried out scores of lethal attacks on civilians and launched thousands of rocket attacks on Israeli civilian areas, also in violation of international humanitarian law.

But activities to mark 50 years of Israeli occupation of Palestine and support the two-State solution took the centre stage in recent efforts to quell tensions, especially in Jerusalem, and create conditions for mutual respect, the Palestinian Rights Committee heard on August 8, 2017.

: J Nastranis; UN INSIDER; 21 August 2017

Photo: An internally displaced woman and her daughter look over the city of Sana’a, Yemen, from the roof of this dilapidated building they call their new home. Photo: Giles Clarke/UN OCHA

UN Helpless While 'Death Looms For Yemenis'

By Bernhard Schell

AMMAN (IDN) – The United Nations is apparently incapable of pushing for a political solution to the more than two-year-old conflict plaguing Yemen, one of the Arab world's poorest countries, which has been devastated by a war between forces loyal to the internationally-recognised government of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi and those allied to the Houthi rebel movement.

More than 7,600 people have been killed and 42,000 injured since March 2015, the majority in air strikes by a Saudi-led multinational coalition that backs the president, according to independent sources. The conflict and a blockade imposed by the coalition have also triggered a humanitarian disaster, leaving 70% of the population in need of aid.

: Bernhard Schell; UN INSIDER; 21 August 2017

Photo: The DPRK Civil Aviation Bureau Chief Kang Ki Sop at airports and airfields – together with Kim Jong-un – controlled by the North Korean People’s Army Air Force, underlining, according to the Panel, that the Korean airlines Air Koryo is integrated into the military of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and that the airline’s assets are actively utilized for military purposes. Credit: KCNA and the UN Panel.

Serious Doubts Whether Sanctions Against DPRK Are Effective

By Ramesh Jaura

BERLIN | NEW YORK (IDN) – The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) maintains a tight spider network around the world that enables it "to employ great ingenuity in using formal banking channels and bulk cash transfers to facilitate illicit endeavours," a close look at the Report of the UN Panel of Experts monitoring the implementation of Security Council sanctions against North Korea reveals.

An analysis of the Report covering the period from February 6, 2016 to February 5, 2017 does not give cause for hope that the expanded sanctions imposed unanimously by 15 members of the Security Council on August 5 would achieve the declared objective, which the Resolution 2371 (2017) defined as follows:

: Ramesh Jaura; ARMAMENTS; Nuclear Weapons; 20 August 2017

Image credit: Asia Foundation | United Nations

Violence Against Women Is Still An Unresolved Issue

By Afreeha Jawad

COLOMBO (IDN) - Having grown up in a biological family unit that upheld male domination, envied and resented female intellect, with a mother that declared in no uncertain terms that even though crestfallen a male is a male, Fathima's ears soon were not alien to such sexist remarks but the bitterness that swelled inside was inexpressible.

Maternal discriminatory insistence that even vehemently once asked, "if they can tame a wild elephant then why not you?" simply threw this child off board. There was no one in whom she could have faith to spell out all her agony. Fathima's utter consternation, dismay and disgust over maternal sexist expressions licensed continuous harassment even assaults from her biological membership which term she even resents to this day.

: IDN-INPS Asia Editor; SUSTAINABILITY; Gender Equality; 19 August 2017

Photo: Horst Köhler, newly-appointed Personal Envoy for Western Sahara (file). UN Photo/Mark Garten

Former German President Tasked With Bringing Peace To Western Sahara

By J Nastranis

UNITED NATIONS (IDN) – Nearly 26 years after a ceasefire was signed between Morocco and the Polisario Front on Western Sahara, the United Nations is hoping that Horst Köhler, former President of the Federal Republic of Germany, can help achieve a peaceful solution to the conflict. France and the Polisario Front share Secretary-General António Guterres' expectation.

Guterres announced on August 16 Köhler's appointment as his Personal Envoy for Western Sahara – located on the north-west coast of Africa bordered by Morocco, Mauritania and Algeria – which has been disputed since 1976, when fighting broke out between Morocco and the Polisario Front after the Spanish colonial administration of the territory ended.

: J Nastranis; UN INSIDER; 18 August 2017

Photo: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the nation from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort on the occasion of Independence Day on August 15 in New Delhi. Credit: PTI/PIB | The Wire

India Sliding Into Deadly Peril Two Years Ahead of Next General Election

Analysis by Prem Shankar Jha

Prem Shankar Jha is a senior Indian journalist and the author of several books including Crouching Dragon, Hidden Tiger: Can China and India Dominate the West? This article is being reproduced courtesy of The Wire which carried it on August 17 with the headline: Modi Is Taking India to a Dangerous Place. – The Editor

NEW DELHI (IDN-INPS) - There was a discernible note of self congratulation in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day (August 15) speech this year. As usual, it was replete with claims – “In our country everyone is equal”, “Those who have looted the nation and looted the poor are not able to sleep peacefully today” – and exhortations – “Bharat jodo“, “Let us create a new India” – that are entirely devoid of content.

: IDN-INPS Asia Editor; THE WORLD; Asia-Pacific; 17 August 2017

Photo: Panaromic view of fully integrated PSLV-C38 seen with Mobile Service Tower. Credit: ISRO

India at 70 – III: From Aryabhata to Mangalyaan in Quest for Outer Space

By Pallava Bagla

India celebrated 70 years of Independence from British colonial rule on August 15, 2017. This is the third in a series of three sponsored articles on India at 70. Pallava Bagla is an eminent Indian science journalist and author of book `Reaching for the Stars: India’s Journey to Mars and Beyond’ published by Bloomsbury. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. - The Editor

NEW DELHI (IDN-INPS) - India has a rich tradition of using outer space as a tool for national development. The poorest of the poor have always been the beneficiaries of India’s space technologies, from farmers to fisher folk Indian satellites touch the lives of almost the entire 1.3 billion population.

: IDN-INPS Asia Editor; THE WORLD; Asia-Pacific; 15 August 2017

India at 70 – II: The Paradigm for Citizen Friendly E-Governance

By R S Sharma

India celebrated 70 years of Independence from British colonial rule on August 15, 2017. This is the second in a series of three sponsored articles on India at 70. R. S. Sharma is Chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). - The Editor

NEW DELHI (IDN-INPS) - Building trust between governments and citizens is fundamental to good governance. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been recognized as an essential tool for achieving the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by United Nations for the welfare of mankind. It is globally recognized that ICT promotes good governance.

: IDN-INPS Asia Editor; THE WORLD; Asia-Pacific; 15 August 2017

Photo: The Indian Navy launched a major rescue operation in the cyclone-hit Bangladesh in May 2017. Credit: The Tribune | ANI

India at 70 – I: Responding First as a Leading Power

By Constantino Xavier

India celebrated 70 years of Independence from British colonial rule on August 15, 2017. This is the first in a series of three sponsored articles on India at 70. Constantino Xavier is a fellow at Carnegie India, based in New Delhi. His research focus is on India’s foreign policy, with emphasis on relations with its neighboring countries and South Asian regional security. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. – The Edtor

NEW DELHI (IDN-INPS) - The emerging concept of India as a “first responder” reflects the country’s growing capability and increasing willingness to assume the role of a leading power. By contributing its resources to prevent or mitigate regional and international crises, India is demonstrating its commitment as a responsible actor in the international order.

: IDN-INPS Asia Editor; THE WORLD; Asia-Pacific; 15 August 2017

Photo: UNFPA does a lot of work in Sierra Leone especially with regards to maternal health. Credit: Joan Erakit | IDN-INPS

Freetown Flooding Raises Concern About Maternal Healthcare

By Joan Erakit

UNITED NATIONS (IDN) - In the early hours of August 14, disastrous weather took to Freetown as the city was flooded with torrential downpour. Shortly after, a mudslide followed dragging countless homes down a suburban hillside in slushy red dirt in Regent, east of Freetown. The Red Cross reported at least 200 people dead as aid organizations and local authorities rushed to the scene.

In a statement attributable to the Spokesperson of the UN Secretary-General, Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq told IDN that, “the Secretary-General is saddened by the deaths and devastation caused by the mudslide and flooding in the town of Regent, Sierra Leone, and throughout Freetown,” adding, “the Secretary-General extends his condolences to the people and Government of Sierra Leone for the loss of life and destruction caused by this natural disaster.”