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Photo: Now-U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2011 at the Russian White House, in Moscow. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

The US-Russia Relations Hit Rock Bottom

Viewpoint by Somar Wijayadasa*

NEW YORK (IDN) — The United States-Russia relations that flourished for decades—even during the Cold War—and benefited both parties have irreversibly damaged.

Tensions between the two superpowers escalated over allegations that range from the Russian interference in US elections, the SolarWinds cyberattacks, and Washington's demands that Russia free the jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

Russia vehemently denies all allegations and admonishes the US that Navalny’s case is purely an internal matter.

: Somar Wijayadasa; THE WORLD; Russia; 23 March 2021

Photo: Two Red Cross workers racing to revive the child at the port of Arguineguín in Spain's Gran Canaria island. Source: El Pais | Ángel Medina G. / EFE

Toddler's Death Highlights Perils of Crossing the Atlantic

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) — The sight of refugees clinging to leaking boats, barely floating in frigid waters, or worse, washing up lifelessly on sandy shores, almost fails to shock after these images repeat over and over, year after year.

But consciences were re-awakened when a two-year toddler from Mali was seen lifted from a sinking vessel packed with refugees. A team of Red Cross nurses worked frantically to resuscitate the girl who had suffered cardiac arrest. They hoped for a miracle. It never came.

: Global Information Network; SUSTAINABILITY; Reduced Inequalities; 22 March 2021

Photo: Nawal el Saadawi, Tahrir, April 2012. CC BY 2.0

Egyptian Feminist Writer, Activist and Physician Dies

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) — Over the course of a lifetime spent fighting for women’s rights and equality, Nawal El Saadawi inspired generations of women even while she faced threats against her life and imprisonment.

Aged 89, she died on March 21 in a Cairo hospital after a long illness.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Middle East; 22 March 2021

Photo: A Trident missile launched from a submerged ballistic missile submarine. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

The UK Defies Nuclear Treaties and Strengthens Atomic Arsenal

By Jamshed Baruah

GENEVA (IDN) — Within three months of the UK's complete withdrawal from all institutions of the European Union and from the European Atomic Energy Community on January 31, 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has decided to increase by 40 per cent to 260 the country's nuclear arsenal to "continue to be the leading European Ally within NATO". Disarmament activists and experts as well as world parliamentarians have criticized the decision.

: Jamshed Baruah; ARMAMENTS; Nuclear Weapons; 22 March 2021

Photo: High-level Dialogue on Energy 2021. Source: United Nations.

Expert Groups Prepare Roadmap for Universal Energy Access

By Radwan Jakeem

NEW YORK (IDN) — The virtual launch of the High-level Dialogue on Energy 2021 Process: A Year of Energy Action on March 10 succeeded in generating a wave of enthusiastic support from key players in the energy field who committed to help drive impactful results at the September summit-level Dialogue event, according to the UN.

: UN Bureau; SUSTAINABILITY; Affordable Clean Energy; 20 March 2021

Photo: Collage of women calling for rights and Turkish President Erdoğan.

UN Urges Turkey To Reconsider Withdrawal from the Treaty Protecting Women's Right

By Caroline Mwanga

NEW YORK (IDN) — UN Women has reiterated the concerns expressed by the United Nations in Turkey and other partners regarding Turkey’s announced termination of being a party to the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (the “Istanbul Convention”). It has urged Turkey to reconsider its withdrawal.

: UN Bureau; UN INSIDER; 20 March 2021

Photo: German Chancellor Angela Merkel with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 24, 2018 at which they discussed intensifying German Chinese relations. Credit: Xinhua/Liu Weibing

Germany Is Particularly Attractive for Chinese Investors

By Jutta Wolf

BERLIN (IDN) — Germany is one of the most important countries for Chinese investors and ranks tenth in terms of Chinese foreign direct investments (FDI). Particularly the transport sector and the technology sector in Germany received a great number of investments from Chinese investors in recent years.

Although China has recently focused more than ever on geostrategic investments in countries of the "Belt and Road Initiative," investments in Germany remain strategically important for Chinese investors to gain access to key technologies.

: Jutta Wolf; THE WORLD; Asia-Pacific; 19 March 2021

Image: The "Sputnik V" vaccine. CC BY 4.0

Russia's Sputnik V Enters Africa's Orbit

By Kester Kenn Klomegah*

MOSCOW (IDN) — More and more African countries are registering Russia's Sputnik V vaccine. The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said in a statement that Angola, Djibouti and the Republic of Congo (DRC) have officially authorized Russia's coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V for mass use to fight the COVID-19 in their respective countries. It is health assistance aimed at stopping the further spread of the pandemic on the continent.

: Kester Kenn Klomegah; THE WORLD; Russia; 19 March 2021

Photo: Indian Flag at the Red Fort, Delhi. CC BY-SA 2.0

Secularism Is the Principle That Binds India Together

Viewpoint by Dr Ram Puniyani

This article is the 12th in a series of joint productions of South Asian Outlook and IDN-InDepthNews, the flagship of the International Press Syndicate. The writer is a former professor of biomedical engineering and former senior medical officer affiliated with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (now Mumbai).

NEW DELHI (IDN) — India got independence from British colonial rule on August 15, 1947 after a long struggle which was inclusive and had plural dimensions. The Foundation of Indian Constitution is Liberty, Equality, Fraternity and Justice. The values of secularism are deeply ingrained all through and particularly in Articles 14, 19, 22, and 25. It gives us freedom of religion, to practice, preach and propagate the same.

: Suresh Jaura; OPINION; 19 March 2021

Photo: Screenshot of President Magufuli's last public appearance in Dodoma while launching a multi-million bus terminus. Source: Online Community KE YouTube

Tanzanian Populist President Dies, Leaving A Mixed Legacy

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) — Flags are flying at half-mast in Tanzania over the passing of President John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, the country’s populist leader who passed away in the port city of Dar es Salaam on March 17 following his hospitalization for heart complications. The President was 61 years of age.

Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced the leader’s death on national television. Hassan is expected to be sworn in to succeed Magufuli and complete his second five-year term which he had just started after winning elections late last year. She will be Tanzania’s first female head of state.