2016: Light vs darkness, time to solve Syria, opportunity in Latin America, rising China threat

2016: Light vs darkness, time to solve Syria, opportunity in Latin America, rising China threat

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler NEW YORK — It’s time to consult the crystal snow globe for a look at both the likely and unexpected events which will shape the New Year. Serious strife both in the Middle East, and Africa to a lesser extent, have expanded leading to a culture of conflict […]

UN’s Ban reflects on year of ‘horror’ in ‘Afro/Mid-East centric’ crisis zone, sets $20 billion for humanitarian relief

UN’s Ban reflects on year of ‘horror’ in ‘Afro/Mid-East centric’ crisis zone, sets $20 billion for humanitarian relief

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — Calling 2015 a year which has brought “both breakthrough and horror,” UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon presented a global report card of sorts on a “pivotal year” in which the world organization marked its 70th anniversary as well as helped achieve what he outlined as […]

Comrade Xi’s excellent African safari

Comrade Xi’s excellent African safari

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — China’s President Xi Jinxing visited southern Africa both to build upon booming business relations and improve cozy political ties between the People’s Republic and key regional states. Beijing is already the African continent’s top trade partner with $222 billion in commerce; moreover China is weaving […]

El Nino hits Ethiopia, on rebound from socialism after generous U.S. aid

El Nino hits Ethiopia, on rebound from socialism after generous U.S. aid

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — More than thirty years ago, back in the Summer of 1985, the world came together to help famine stricken Ethiopia. The Live Aid Concerts in London and Philadelphia, raised both public awareness and impressive final assistance for the starving masses in the East African country. […]

UN slams North Korea human rights record as its Korean Secretary General sets visit

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — In a stern and sweeping rebuke to North Korea’s human rights abuses, a UN Committee has slammed the repressive communist regime in an annual report on “The Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.” In a vote of 112 in favor, […]

Hollande calls for unified war against ‘jihadist terrorism’ that threatens ‘the whole world’

Hollande calls for unified war against ‘jihadist terrorism’ that threatens ‘the whole world’

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — Again the forces of terror and hate have attacked Paris. Again, and for the second time in a year, we stand in solidarity and weep for the victims. And as the barbarity of the Grim Reaper of Jihadi terror swept across Paris on a Friday […]

Obama’s Keystone pipe dream helps rogue states and harms environment, U.S. workers and Canada

Obama’s Keystone pipe dream helps rogue states and harms environment, U.S. workers and Canada

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — President Barack Obama has cancelled the Keystone XL, ending a seven year saga in which the pipeline from Alberta, Canada would have provided 800,000 barrels of oil to the USA on a daily basis. By scuttling the controversial deal which has been part of an […]

What does Iran’s grim human rights status portend for its expanded international status?

What does Iran’s grim human rights status portend for its expanded international status?

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — The human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran remains dire despite a number of diplomatic breakthroughs and an overall thaw in relations between the Tehran regime and the West. Thus while Iran has profited by a nuclear “deal” with key Western powers and […]

A closeup look at the UN Human Rights council explains its betrayal of rights victims

A closeup look at the UN Human Rights council explains its betrayal of rights victims

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — Elections and selections among candidates to the UN Human Rights Council have again highlighted a glaring flaw in a system where politically authoritarian regimes such as Ecuador, Ethiopia, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela have won seats, and with it, an unjustified political legitimacy. In a […]

Canada is cool again with return to trendy Trudeau-mania

Canada is cool again with return to trendy Trudeau-mania

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — The sweeping electoral victory of Canada’s Liberal Party under Justin Trudeau after ten years of Conservative party government, sets a new agenda and political template for Canada. But beyond retail politics as usual in Ottawa, Justin Trudeau’s win may signal a transformational moment for Canada […]