By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — In April 2020, the then Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for an independent inquiry into the origins of Covid-19, which riled the Chinese leadership. China rapidly imposed sanctions on Australian imports, especially on the lucrative barley, wine and wheat trade. They also started looking for new iron ore […]
China: From A Health Crisis to A Political Crisis?
By Jan Servaes* BRUSSELS (IDN) — After nearly three years of fighting Covid-19 tooth and nail with a so-called ‘zero-Covid’ policy and denouncing Western countries for choosing to live with the virus at the cost of millions of lives, China’s rhetoric seems to be moving in a more nuanced direction. The current number of 5,235 […]
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COVID-19 Worsens Human Rights Situation in Southeast Asia
Viewpoint by Champa Patel* LONDON (IDN) – Southeast Asia already had a poor human rights record before the COVID-19 outbreak. Despite ASEAN’s rhetoric on democratic values and human rights, illiberal democracies have been on the rise, putting fundamental freedoms in the region under pressure. Most countries across the region continue to criminalise dissent using draconian […]
Climate Action: UN Insists on Developed Countries Meeting 100 Billion Dollar Annual Pledge
By Santo D. Banerjee NEW YORK (IDN) – A new report by independent experts has proposed urgent actions to meet the pledge by developed countries to mobilize at least US$100 billion a year to support developing countries in mitigating and adapting to climate change. The study released by the United Nations on December 11 accentuates […]
COVID-19 and Lessons from Traditional Chinese Medicine
Viewpoint by Jayasri Priyalal* SINGAPORE (IDN) – They are fighting an invisible enemy taking a warpath. Many countries grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic interpret the situation like a war. Frontline heroes are found in battlefield scenarios. These heroes come from different professions, medical and healthcare workers being the binding force, the rest including, security, transport, […]
Reclaiming Public Development Banks to Finance a Sustainable & Equitable Recovery Post Covid-19
Viewpoint by Thomas Marois and Maria Jose Romero * BRUSSELS (IDN) – Those who work in the world’s public development banks will meet virtually on November 11-12 to discuss their response to the Covid-19 pandemic and their role in a more sustainable future. This new summit, which they have called ‘Finance in Common’ (FiC), will […]
Migrants Face “Double Threat” Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
By Jacqueline Skalski-Fouts* This article discusses the economic and social impacts of the coronavirus pandemic with a particular focus on refugees, asylum seekers, and migrant workers. VIRGINIA, USA (IDN) – Migrant workers have been at the forefront of the world economy during the COVID-19 pandemic, as essential workers. And this with enormous risk to themselves. […]
The World Health Organization Deeply Concerned About COVID-19 Rise in Europe
By Jaya Ramachandran GENEVA (IDN) – The UN World Health Organization (WHO) is alarmed at the rising numbers of COVID-19 cases in Europe where nearly 700,000 cases were reported this week, the highest weekly incidence since the pandemic began in March. Overall, Europe has recorded more than seven million cases of COVID-19, with the jump […]
UN Concerned About Corruption in The Midst of COVID-19
By Caroline Mwanga NEW YORK (IDN) – The United Nations is concerned about corruption in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which it says is proving “to be even more damaging in its impact on the most vulnerable”. UN Secretary-General António Guterres described corruption as “criminal, immoral and the ultimate betrayal of public trust. It […]