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Photo: The assembly of Vietnamese officials, foreign diplomats and the UN family led by Resident Coordinator Kamal Malhotra welcoming on April 1, the day Viet Nam assumed the presidency of the Security Council, its first shipment of 811,200 COVID-19 vaccine doses shipped via the COVAX Facility at its National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology. Source: UNAI.

Walking History Through Viet Nam's Security Council Presidency

By Ramu Damodaran

The writer is Chief, United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) hosted in the Department of Global Communications. This OpEd was first published in #WhyWeCare on April 15.

NEW YORK (IDN | UNAI) — If, as Suzanne Nossel writes, “the United Nations remains the closest thing to a system of global governance that the world has ever known and may ever achieve,” much is owed to its unique convening capacity in bringing together erstwhile adversaries, even combatants, to a shared sense of participatory purpose which, at its finest, is reflected in the unanimity of resolutions consciously conceived in common cause.

: UN Bureau; THE WORLD; Asia-Pacific; 20 April 2021

Photo: A traditional Dogon village in central Mali. MINUSMA/Sophie Ravier

UN Finds French Military Culpable for Deadly Attack on Mali Civilians

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) — Major combat operations by French troops in Mali have drawn fire from local officials who accuse the French military of killing civilians including at a recent wedding. Nineteen wedding guests and three armed men died in the strike in the village of Bounty, central Mali.

Now, a scathing report by the UN’s mission in Mali, known as MINUSMA, concurs with Malian authorities and upholds the claim that the victims were protected under international law. The French defence ministry rejects the report’s findings.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 20 April 2021

Photo: Rwanda Genocide suspect Munyenyezi faces seven counts in Rwanda Source: Africa CGTN

Genocide Suspect Back in Rwanda After Losing Appeal to Remain in the U.S.

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) — After two unsuccessful appeals in the U.S., a Rwandan woman is back in Kigali where she stands to face prosecution for her active role in the 1994 Rwanda genocide.

In an application for political asylum, Beatrice Munyenyezi denied that she had been involved in the killing of Tutsis in Rwanda. But witnesses were found and told a court how Munyenyezi had inspected identity cards at a notorious roadblock where ethnic Tutsis were singled out for slaughter.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 19 April 2021

Photo: Nigerian start-up's bus. Source: Plentywaka

Nigerian Start-Up Plans International Debut in Canada

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) — You’ve hailed an Uber, waved down a taxi—now a Nigerian start-up will take you to the next level. Their company—Plentywaka—will let you call a bus.

Founder Onyeka Akumah and his team are planning to make their international debut in the Canadian market after recently receiving $120,000 backing from Techstars Toronto.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 19 April 2021

Photo: Prof. Ksenia Tabarintseva-Romanova and Prof Alexei Antoshin

Economic and Social Development of the African Continent — A Russian Perspective

Kester Kenn Klomegah* interviews Prof. Ksenia Tabarintseva-Romanova and Prof Alexei Antoshin

MOSCOW (IDN) — After the Soviet collapse, Russia has maintained strong and time-tested relations with African countries, particularly as the Soviet Union had played an important role during decolonization. The African continent comprises a diverse collection of countries, each with its own set of development setbacks and challenges. The political culture and investment climate are, in fact, diverse but are also important forces in determining the levels of the economy.

: Kester Kenn Klomegah; THE WORLD; Africa; 18 April 2021

Photo: Catholics, Buddhists and Muslims hold silent protest to demand the truth about the Easter Sunday massacre. Credit: SL Time, Colombo Page News Desk.

Two Years On: Geopolitics of The 2019 Easter Sunday Crime in Sri Lanka and Cover-Up

The Weaponization of Religion Amid Hybrid Cold War in The Indian Ocean Region

Viewpoint by Darini Rajasingham-Senanayake

The writer is a cultural and medical anthropologist with research expertise in international political economy, peace, and development studies in South and South-East Asia. Her research spans issues in gender and women’s empowerment, migration and multiculturalism, ethno-religious identity politics, new and old Diasporas and global religion, particularly, transnational Theravada Buddhist networks in the Asia-Pacific region. Darini was a Senior Lecturer at the Open University of Sri Lanka. Her Bachelor’s degree is from Brandeis University and her MA and PhD are from Princeton University.

: Opinion Editor; THE WORLD; Asia-Pacific; 18 April 2021

UN Forum Highlights New Initiatives to Tackle Inequalities Exacerbated by Pandemic

By Radwan Jakeem

NEW YORK (IDN) — With many economies reeling as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and as inequalities continue to widen, world leaders discussed options to unlock concrete investments to support a sustainable and resilient recovery at the Forum on Financing for Development (FfD Forum) from April 12-15.

The four-day Forum, held under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), took place as many countries are facing increased financial debt and liquidity pressures because of the pandemic. The FfD Forum was held virtually, with selected in-person sessions.

: Opinion Editor; SUSTAINABILITY; Poverty; 17 April 2021

The Global South Is Swamped in Debt Pandemic

Viewpoint by Daniel Munevar *

Covid-19 is not the only pandemic ravaging across the Global South. A debt pandemic threatens to prevent developing countries' recovery, writes Daniel Munevar, an eminent debt justice advisor. This article was originally published in the Journal of International Politics and Society issued by the German Friedrich-Ebert Foundation's Brussels office.

BRUSSELS (IDN) — Without a doubt, the Covid-19 pandemic represents the most severe developmental setback in recent history. But while the virus is still ravaging across the Global South, it's not the only pandemic currently engulfing developing countries. In fact, a debt pandemic threatens to prevent them from achieving a meaningful—let alone sustainable—recovery.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 17 April 2021

Photo: People at the Moscow trading-fair shopping complex during police checks of market workers for compliance with immigration laws in an integrated operation "Barrier-2". (RIA Novosti/Andrey Stenin) © RIA Novosti

Russia Needs Migrants to Realize its Infrastructure Projects

By Kester Kenn Klomegah *

MOSCOW (IDN) — Despite various official efforts, including regular payment of maternal capital to stimulate birth rates and regulating migration policy to boost the population, Russia is reportedly experiencing decreasing population. According to the Federal State Statistics Service, Russia's population currently stands at approximately 144 million, down from 148.3 million.

: Kester Kenn Klomegah; THE WORLD; Russia; 16 April 2021

Photo: B-2 Stealth Bomber To Carry New Nuclear Cruise Missile. Source: Federation of American Scientists

Modernization, New Weapons and The Risks to International Security

Viewpoint by Sergio Duarte

The writer is Ambassador, former High Representative of the United Nations for Disarmament Affairs and current President of Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs

NEW YORK (IDN) — “Reliance on nuclear weapons for [deterrence] is becoming
increasingly hazardous and decreasingly effective.”
George P. Shultz, William J. Perry, Henry A. Kissinger and Sam Nunn
Wall Street Journal op-ed, January 4, 2007

"It is becoming clearer that nuclear weapons are no longer
a means of achieving security; in fact, with every passing
year they make our security more precarious."
Gorbachev, Mikhail, The Wall Street Journal, January 31, 2007.