IN THIS ISSUE
This month we do not really have a clear theme. But, with geo-political battles gathering steam around the world, we reflect on these battles, especially in the Indo-Pacific region with the choice of some of the stories.
For one of our project reports, we sent our Thai correspondent Pattama Vilialert to Laos to look at the new China-built railway that links landlocked Laos to China on one side and Southeast Asia via Thailand on the other. We explore what is in store for Laos from this large investment and whether it could bring prosperity to the country.
While India hype up its credentials to lead the Global South as a development success story, we bring you a report from Karnataka state in South India, where the state government has decided to give money instead of rice to the poor. We explore its significance and also raise the question whether India is facing a problem with food security?
From the Pacific, we have a story about Greenpeace’s activist ship sailing the Pacific Ocean to gather evidence to be presented to the World Court next year in support of the Pacific-led case on the level of compensation that should be given to victims of climatic change.
Our African contributor Jeffrey Moyo brings an interesting African perspective on the BRICS summit in South Africa in August, where the BRICS leaders committed to address Africa’s development needs.
From the Pacific, we have somewhat a hilarious story, about how the French President Emmanuel Macron, during a visit to the regions warn Pacific leaders of a looming threat of colonialism, while France still refuse to vacate its Pacific colonial territories.
The international media loves to talk about corruption in the Global South, but we bring you a story about how corruption works in the Global North. And from the Pacific we have a story about USAID coming back to the region and we question the motives for it. In the past couple of years we have talked a lot about Covid, but what about dengue fever which is as much a danger to lives, especially in the Global South’s poorer countries? We have a story from Bangladesh about a latest epidemic.
In viewpoints, Somar Wijayadasa looks at the rise of BRICS, while Darini R Senannayake asks why France’s Macron and the US are fishing in the Indian Ocean, and she has an interesting perspective on Sri Lanka’s debt crisis and fake news that was peddled by the international media about it. And Fiji’s deputy Prime Minister and an economics Professor Biman Prasad explains why the Pacific Islands are at a cliffs edge. And, Nigerian journalist and novelist Kola Kings brings us some interesting facts on why France and western powers want Niger’s coup reversed.
Our special feature focus in this issue is written by Pakistani academic Hamid Ali Khan – who takes a look at the social media and trivialization of Pakistani society.
This issue is compiled by Dr Kalinga Seneviratne,
Coordinator of SGDs For All reporting project of
IDN-InDepth News Email: kalingasen@gmail.com
World Through UnWestern Lense 