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Image: Map of the South Pacific Island region with the participating countries circled. Source: Sabera Turkmani | ResearchGate

'Secret plots', sovereignty and Climate Change Challenges face Pacific in the New Year

Dr David Robie is a retired professor of journalism and founding director of AUT University’s Pacific Media Centre.

AUCKLAND (IDN) — In the South Pacific, the year 2021 has closed with mounting tensions over sovereignty and self-determination issues and growing stress over the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic in a region that was largely virus-free in 2020. Pacific leaders are also raising their voices globally on the devastation brought about by climate change on their islands.

: Kalinga Seneviratne; THE WORLD; Asia-Pacific; 03 January 2022

Image: The Solomon Islands are a group of islands located in the South Pacific Ocean. The Solomon Islands are east of Papua New Guinea and northeast of Australia. Source: geology.com

Geo-Political Battle in The South Pacific Hots Up as China Prepares to Send Police Officers to Solomon Islands

By Kalinga Seneviratne

SYDNEY (IDN) — China will be sending a number of police officers along with riot-control gear such as shields and helmets for the Solomon Islands police, to help train the local police to stem any more violence against Chinese interests and their citizens in the South Pacific nation.

The announcement on Christmas Eve by Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare's besieged government that it would accept Beijing's offer of assistance to strengthen its anti-riot policing capabilities has created shockwaves in Canberra.

: Kalinga Seneviratne; THE WORLD; Asia-Pacific; 03 January 2022

Omicron To the Rescue: NPT Review Conference Postponed—Again!

Viewpoint by Tariq Rauf*

"The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is an essential pillar of international peace and security, and the heart of the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. Its unique status is based on its near-universal membership, legally-binding obligations on disarmament, verifiable non-proliferation safeguards regime, and commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear energy". UN Secretary-General António Guterres on the Fiftieth Anniversary of the NPT’s opening for signature, 24 May 2018, Geneva.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 02 January 2022

UN Committee Rewards Countries for Protecting Human Rights Despite COVID-19

By Jamshed Baruah

GENEVA (IDN) — The Human Rights Committee periodically scrutinizes the implementation of the legal obligations of countries that have ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Despite the challenges to its work brought on by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee was able to hold online follow-up reviews of 12 countries during its three regular sessions in 2021.

To date, 173 countries have ratified the Covenant. An additional six countries have signed the Covenant but have yet to ratify it, while 18 have taken no action.

: Jamshed Baruah; UN INSIDER; 02 January 2022

Photo: The UN General Assembly Hall will have to wait until August 2022 or beyond to host the delayed 2020 NPT Review Conference. Credit Sophia Paris/UN.

Review Conference on Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Stalled due to Rising COVID-19 Infections

By Thalif Deen

NEW YORK (IDN)— The United Nations, which has been brought to a virtual standstill because of an upsurge in coronavirus infections in New York City, has been forced to postpone a long-awaited 10th review conference (REVCON) of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), scheduled to take place 4-28 January.

Diane Barnes, NGO Liaison Office at the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), was explicit: "There will be no Review Conference in January 2022, in any format".

: Thalif Deen; ARMAMENTS; Nuclear Weapons; 01 January 2022

Photo: The UN Secretary-General António Guterres talks to Yeashea Braddock, Operations Manager of the Bronx high school where he received a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe.

UN Chief Calls for Making Recovery 'Our Resolution For 2022'

By UN News

NEW YORK (IDN) — Together, let's make recovery "for people, planet and prosperity" our resolution for 2022, the UN chief said in his message for the New Year.

"The world welcomes 2022 with our hopes for the future being tested by deepening poverty and worsening inequality…an unequal distribution of COVID vaccines…climate commitments that fall short, and by ongoing conflict, division, and misinformation", Secretary-General António Guterres lamented.

: UN Bureau; UN INSIDER; 01 January 2022

Photo: Australian PM Scott Morrison making the national cabinet statement on December 30, 2021. Credit: Prime Minister of Australia Website.

Omicron Surge Forces Australia to Redefine COVID-19 Response

By Kalinga Seneviratne

SYDNEY (IDN) — In July 2021 Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Australians to go out and get vaccinated as the Delta variant of COVID-19 spread across the world. They were assured that once double-vaccinated the lockdowns will be lifted. He said at the time “by Christmas Australia will be a different place” if fellow Australians follow his advice.

: Kalinga Seneviratne; SUSTAINABILITY; Health & Well Being; 31 December 2021

Photo: Embassy of Switzerland in Sri Lanka © FDFA

Weaponizing Human Rights—Swiss on The Frontlines

By Sugeeswara Senadhira

COLOMBO (IDN) — Many Sri Lankans seeking visas to Switzerland end up filling forms listing out all their personnel information including details about Police records, if any. A vast majority of Sinhalese end up with a curt denial of visas despite their clean records.

: Asia Editor; THE WORLD; Asia-Pacific; 31 December 2021

Photo: Japan’s Ground Self-Defence Force demonstrated joint training with the US Marine Corps to the media in Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, on the December 7. Credit: ChinaNews.com

A Japan-US ‘Island Chain’ Threatens to Provoke Backlash from China and Russia

Viewpoint by M K Bhadrakumar *

NEW DELHI (IDN) — A Kyodo News agency report on December 23 cited Japanese government sources to the effect that Tokyo and Washington have drawn up a draft joint operation plan that would enable the setup of an attack base along the Nansei island chain in Japan’s southwest in the event of a Taiwan contingency.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 30 December 2021

Photo: Ambassador Chowdhury with 1984 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Bishop Desmond Tutu at the Church of the Epiphany at Gramercy Park in New York City in 1985.

Homage to the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Bishop Desmond Tutu

By Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury
Former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the UN

Following is the text of a brief homage on December 26 for the Culture of Peace global network.

Dear co-activists! Today the world has lost a precious treasure of humanity with the demise of Desmond Mpilo Tutu, globally respected and loved as Bishop Tutu. To the South Africans, he was the Arch.