Viewpoint by John McCarthy * MELBOURNE (IDN) – Australia’s decision to spearhead an international enquiry into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic — read China’s lack of transparency and the WHO’s mistakes — is a nice hoary bellow from the domestic political ramparts, but it is a policy mistake. The Australian opposition’s support for the […]
Why the OPEC+ Deal Is a Many-Splendoured Thing
Viewpoint by M.K. Bhadrakumar The writer is a former Indian diplomat. This article was produced in partnership by Indian Punchline and Globetrotter, a project of the Independent Media Institute where it first appeared. NEW DELHI (IDN) – A perfect deal is where all protagonists get something out of it. All oil-producing countries stand to gain […]
Who Should Be in Charge: Doctors or Politicians?
Viewpoint by Jan Zielonka* This article was originally published on open Democracy. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of IDN-InDepth News. VENICE (IDN) – Our lives currently seem to be in the hands of doctors, and this concerns not only those who have caught […]
COVID-19: Strengthen WHO for Systemic Change of Health Systems
Viewpoint by Dr P. I. Gomes The writer is former-Secretary-General of the African, Caribbean & Pacific Group of States (now known as Organisation of Africa, Caribbean & Pacific States – OACPS) PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (IDN) – As the curve flattens in the trajectory of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in some countries, or […]
The Many Facets of Pandemic Vulnerability
Viewpoint by Alison Mountz* This article was originally published on openDemocracy. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of IDN-InDepth News. WATERLOO, Ontario (IDN) – We are living a sudden, seismic acceleration of bordering. This acceleration unfolds not only along national borders but within them: […]
COVID-19: Why We Should Be Sceptical of the Benevolence of Billionaires
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 […]