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Photo: Anti-government protest in Sri Lanka on April 13, 2022 in front of the Presidential Secretariat. CC BY-SA 4.0

Sri Lanka: The Story of the Situation Going from Bad to Worse

Viewpoint by Alan Keenan

This article was issued by the International Crisis Group and is being republished with their permission. Alan Keenan is Senior Consultant at the Crisis Group.

BRUSSELS (IDN) — Protests, which had been building from late February in response to Sri Lanka’s worst economic crisis in nearly 75 years of independence, have now morphed into a nationwide uprising. Protesters are demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the removal of the Rajapaksa family from politics.

The protest wave gained momentum as the results of the government’s financial and economic mismanagement became increasingly visible amid rapidly disappearing hard currency reserves and widespread shortages.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 19 April 2022

Image: The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, a backwater event founded in 1997, has become a meeting place for Asian and European business and political leaders who see this meeting as much more significant than the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting held in Davos, Switzerland.

Would the New Globalization Have an Eastern Face, If Western-Led Globalization Ends?

Viewpoint by E. Ahmet Tonak and Vijay Prashad *

This article was produced by Globetrotter.

NEW YORK | NORTHAMPTON (IDN) — An article written by authors John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge for Bloomberg on March 24 sounded the alarm to announce the end of “the second great age of globalization.” The Western trade war and sanctions against China that predated the pandemic have now been joined by the stiff Western sanctions imposed against Russia after it invaded Ukraine.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 18 April 2022

Image: DevPolicy Blog | Thilina Panduwawala

Nero Is Fiddling in Milan: Sri Lanka's Neglected Crisis of Diplomatic Representation – Part Two

This is the second in a series of two articles. Please click here for Part One.

Viewpoint by ALA Azeez

ROME (IDN) — In a further measure aimed to reduce the pressure on the declining foreign reserves, the foreign ministry announced over the past months, plans to close down some of Sri Lanka's missions abroad. It is not clear what criteria was applied and if any other missions have been identified for possible closure.

: Asia Editor; THE WORLD; South Asia; 18 April 2022

Image: Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Milan.

Nero Is Fiddling in Milan: Sri Lanka's Neglected Crisis of Diplomatic Representation – Part One

This is the first in a series of two articles.

Viewpoint by ALA Azeez

ROME (IDN) — In a series of political appointments made by the Sri Lankan government in the past few months even as the economic crisis was looming large, the latest one pertains to the diplomatic position of Consul General at Milan, Italy.

As of writing, the foreign ministry, under mounting public pressure, has clarified via its latest press release, that the person concerned "will not be appointed the consul general in Milan".

: Asia Editor; THE WORLD; South Asia; 18 April 2022

Crisis-Ridden Sri Lanka Negotiates for an IMF Bailout

Viewpoint by Nandi Jasentuliyana

The writer is a former Deputy Director-General, United Nations.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (IDN) — Sri Lanka is experiencing a severe foreign exchange and debt crisis resulting in a shortage of food, fuel, power, and every other commodity to be purchased at exorbitant prices that the suffering masses cannot afford, forcing them to the streets protesting against the governing authorities.

: Asia Editor; THE WORLD; South Asia; 17 April 2022

Photo: Senior Airman Jansen Esteves, a 436th Aerial Port Squadron special handler, verifies shipment information for supplies bound for Ukraine at Dover Air Force Base, Del., March 20, 2022. Credit: Air Force Staff Sgt. Marco A. Gomez

Military Support to Ukraine Not Affecting U.S. Readiness

By C. Todd Lopez , U.S: Department of Defence (DOD) News

WASHINGTON (IDN) — Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, February 24, the U.S. government has provided $2.6 billion in security assistance to the Ukrainians to help them regain and defend their sovereignty. Much of what has been sent has come straight out of U.S. military stockpiles. Nevertheless, the U.S. military's own readiness has not been affected by having sent that gear overseas, said Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby during a briefing on April 14.

: J C Suresh; THE WORLD; Russia; 16 April 2022

Photo: NATO Allies agreed to further strengthen and sustain support for Ukraine on April 6-7, 2022. Credit: NATO

Russia Concerned About Finland, Sweden and Moldova Joining NATO

By Kester Kenn Klomegah*

MOSCOW | HELSINKI (IDN) — Further expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) toward Russia's territorial backyard is nothing new. As a prestigious security alliance, it consistently seeks consolidated development in terms of tasks and membership strength. The collapse of the Soviet Union marked the end of Mikhail Gorbachev and ushering in of Boris Yeltsin as the first President of the Russian Federation. There were negotiations aimed at preparing Russia to ascend unto NATO and even join the European Union (EU).

: Kester Kenn Klomegah; THE WORLD; Russia; 16 April 2022

Photo: Osinachi Nwachukwu Singing Ministry Int’l. Source: The Gospel singer's Facebook.

Women Die in Troubled Marriages Because We Slay Singles

Nigerian Gospel Singer Dead at 42

Viewpoint by Azu Ishiekwen

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

ABUJA (IDN) — A good number of those I have spoken with since the news of her tragic death broke on April 8 night, said Nigerian gospel artiste, Osinachi Nwachukwu, 42, should not have died. She was such a tremendous gift to millions of people and inspired even millions more through her songs, yet she had not even reached the peak of her potential.

: Africa & ME Editor; SUSTAINABILITY; Gender Equality; 16 April 2022

US Hypocrisy over Ukraine and ‘Spheres of Influence’

Viewpoint by Katrina vanden Heuvel

NEW YORK (IDN) — The Russian invasion of Ukraine “is in many ways bigger than Russia, it’s bigger than Ukraine,” State Department spokesman Ned Price recently declared. “There are principles that are at stake here … Each and every country has a sovereign right to determine its own foreign policy, has a sovereign right to determine for itself with whom it will choose to associate in terms of its alliances, its partnerships and what orientation it wishes to direct its gaze.”

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 16 April 2022

Photo Credit: The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)

Leaders of the United Nations and Member States! Help Russia and Ukraine to Bring About Peace Through the UN Rule of Law!

A message from Members of the Leadership Council of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and Members of the SDSN Community*

NEW YORK — The war in Ukraine threatens not only sustainable development, but the survival of humanity. We call on all nations, operating in accordance with the UN Charter, to put diplomacy to the service of humanity by ending the war through negotiations before the war ends all of us.