Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — The artillery rumbles like a rolling late spring storm. Small arms fire reaches a staccato, only to fall silent just as quickly. And hapless civilians on both sides of an arbitrary divide endure and suffer as the forgotten slow burner conflict in eastern Ukraine continues […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — Words cannot begin to describe the devastation and suffering which has befallen Syria, now in its fifth year of civil war. Upon his return from the ravaged country, the UN’s Humanitarian chief, Stephen O’Brien, solemnly told the UN Security Council, “I have run out of […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — “Economic activity in the world economy remains lackluster, with little prospect for a turnaround in 2016,” cites the gloomy prognosis by the World Economic Situation and Prospects Update for 2016. The UN survey cautions that weak global growth “continues to linger,” posing a serious challenge […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — Stressing that terrorism “can only be defeated by a sustained and comprehensive approach” involving the active participation and collaboration of all States, the UN Security Council hosted an open debate on developing a counter-narrative campaign to in effect dissuade, discourage and ultimately defuse this widening […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — When I first visited Estonia over twenty years ago, the Baltic country had recently regained its independence from the Soviet Union. Tallinn, the capital and an old Hanseatic trading city, offered an intriguing mix of medieval architecture and shoddy Soviet style construction. Situated on the […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — Governments throughout the world seem increasingly nervous if not paranoid over a free press and media, according to a searingly poignant survey by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The annual survey of the global media in 180 countries, the French-based monitor report underscores a gradual deterioration […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler NEW YORK CITY — The seemingly never ending presidential primary circus came through New York with the predictable partisan name calling and puerile political promises. For much of the campaign the political charges and arguments resembled peeved sandbox kicking kindergarten kids more than serious adults running for the […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — Calling for an end to “human trafficking and other forms of human slavery,” British Cardinal Vincent Nichols presented a stunning testimony against the “resurgence of slavery” where up to 21 million people are affected by the scourge. As Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Nichols has led […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — A new dawn has come to Burma. At long last the political pariah state, also known as Myanmar, has ushered in a new civilian government in which Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has a strong if not formal hand at the democratic […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — The modern day barbarians have been routed from the ancient city of Palmyra, but the destruction left in the wake of the nearly year long Islamic State occupation has been near catastrophic. After five years of conflict, war torn Syria sees the fruits of limited […]
