Viewpoint by Gwilym David Blunt* LONDON (IDN) – The coronavirus pandemic has produced a surge in philanthropic giving from some of the world’s wealthiest people. Bill and Melinda Gates, longstanding champions of global health, have committed funds to research the disease and manufacture a vaccine when one becomes available. Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter, has […]
America Is Sadly in the Grip of ‘Exhausted Ideas’
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power LUND, Sweden (IDN) – The greatest American foreign affairs columnist since Walter Lippmann was William Pfaff of The International Herald Tribune. He wrote in his path-breaking book, “Barbarian Sentiments” that the US political atmosphere was full of “exhausted ideas, like a dead star”. Nevertheless, “these ideas remain central to the way […]
Redefining Cooperation, Development and Prosperity
Reflections on the International Day of Multilateralism Viewpoint by Dumiso Gatsha The writer is a human rights defender, feminist and part-time PhD (Law) candidate. GABARONE, Botswana (IDN) – 75 years of cooperation, mutual engagement and improving lives. Heralding the decade of action, 2020 has brought many challenges and opportunities for relooking how the systems we […]
Good Health and Unimpeded Global Trade Go Hand in Hand
Viewpoint by Roberto Azevêdo and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Following is the text of a joint statement by WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on April 20. GENEVA (IDN) – COVID-19 has rapidly progressed to become a global pandemic, causing unprecedented, far-reaching impact on the health, social and economic well-being of communities […]
Proposal to Convene NPT Review Conference in January 2021
Why Peaceful Vienna Is More Suitable than Toxic New York Viewpoint by Tariq Rauf * VIENNA, (IDN) – In my previous posts on IDN InDepthNews, Update: Postponed 2020 NPT Review Conference, Challenge for the NAM: Move the NPT Review Conference to 2021 in Vienna, and Postpone the NPT Review Conference to 2021 and Convene in […]
The Chinese Experience in Fighting COVID-19 and the Imperative of a Global Coalition – Part 2
Viewpoint by Teshome Toga Chanaka This is the second of a two-part article by Teshome Toga Chanaka, currently Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia to China. Click here for Part 1. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the government and IDN, the flagship […]
The Chinese Experience in Fighting COVID-19 and the Imperative of a Global Coalition – Part 1
Viewpoint by Teshome Toga Chanaka This is the first of a two-part article by Teshome Toga Chanaka, currently Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia to China. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the government and IDN, the flagship of non-profit International Press Syndicate. […]
COVID-19 : An Unprecedented Crisis and Also an Exceptional Opportunity
Viewpoint by Dr Palitha Kohona The writer is former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, and former Foreign Secretary. Henry Kissinger, in one of his infrequent statements said, “When the COVID-19 pandemic is over, many countries’ institutions will be perceived as having failed. Whether this judgment is objectively fair is […]
Coronavirus Shows World Not Prepared for Security Threat of Climate Change
Viewpoint by Kate Guy* OXFORD (IDN) – How might a single threat, even one deemed unlikely, spiral into an evolving global crisis which challenges the foundations of global security, economic stability and democratic governance, all in the matter of a few weeks? My research on threats to national security, governance and geopolitics has focused on […]
COVID-19 and European Union – For Whom The Bell Tolls
Viewpoint by Manish Uprety F.R.A.S. and Jainendra Karn * NEW DELHI (IDN) – While reading observations of Douglas Webber, Professor of Political Science at INSEAD in his article “Why Brexit Has Not and Will Not Trigger EU Disintegration,” made one speculate on whether if one had applied the principle of Co-evolution to the EU, the […]