By Atul Kumar* Observer Research Foundation (ORF) Website carried this article on 20 April. The writer was an expert, who took part in Raisina Debates organised by the New Delhi-based organisation. SYDNEY | 21 April 2024 (IDN) — On 9 March 2024, a Chinese military delegation headed by Major General Zhang Baoqun visited Nepal. They […]
Vaccines Don’t Save Lives, Vaccination Does
By Busani Bafana SEOUL, South Korea | 13 April 2024) (IDN) — People are no longer dying from preventable diseases, thanks to vaccines. Despite this medical breakthrough, vaccine inequality has locked countries in the global south in a disease burden that would be eased through mass vaccination. COVID-19 led to approximately 7 million deaths, and […]
The Origin of COVID-19 and US Responsibility
By Jeffrey D. Sachs* This article was published in Common Dreams and is being republished with the author’s permission. A US-funded laboratory origin of COVID-19 would constitute the most significant case of governmental gross negligence in history. The people of the world deserve transparency and factual answers to vital questions. NEW YORK | 18 March […]
Asia-Pacific Will Not Achieve SDGs Before 2062, Says a UN Report
By Jutta Wolf BERLIN | 15 February 2024 (IDN) — The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has projected a delay until 2062 to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the region, missing the schedule by a staggering 32 years. The world leaders adopted the 17 Goals in 2015 […]
Australia May Not Like China But Likes Chinese Tourists
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, […]