By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — A controversial ban on flights from Covid-hit India landing in Australia, has blocked around 9,000 Australians from returning home. Most of them are Australians of Indian origin, while there are also a handful of Australian elite cricketers, coaches, and other officials currently taking part in the Indian Premier League […]
The US and EU Boost Access to Covid-19 Vaccines and Waive the Patents
Viewpoint by Lori Wallach Lori Wallach is the director of Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch. This is a slightly abridged version of a blog post by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) New York. WASHINGTON DC (IDN | IPS-Journal.EU) — As we see infection rates in India and other parts of the world skyrocketing, European Union (EU) and US […]
The State of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka: Are the Government’s Policies Effective in Controlling it?
Viewpoint by Sunil J. Wimalawansa The writer is Professor of Medicine: Director, Cardio-Metabolic Institute, New Jersey, U.S.A. NEW JERSEY, USA (IDN) — The SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) affected the entire world; many died, millions got sick, and the misery continues. Second and third waves of SARS.Cov-2 infection are devastating most countries. Non-strategic lockdowns and curfews (as […]
COVID-19 Exposes Fault Lines on Protecting Vulnerable Workers
By Mahinda Seneviratne* SYDNEY (IDN) — As twilight approaches, Rakesh (not his real name) mounts his bicycle with a large thermal backpack over his narrow shoulders. He lost his regular job at a small suburban restaurant when the family business could not sustain itself during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown. With the recent shocking road deaths […]
Top Economists Urge Solidarity to Avert Worsening of the COVID-19 Impacts
By Radwan Jakeem NEW YORK (IDN) — Eminent thought leaders in economic and social fields have called for fundamental change in the multilateral system in the spirit of international solidarity to combat the severe impacts of COVID-19. They comprise the United Nations High-level Advisory Board on Economic and Social Affairs, convened by the UN Department […]
IMF and World Bank Decision to Tackle COVID-Related Debt Crisis Greeted
By Radwan Jakeem NEW YORK (IDN) — The UN Secretary-General has welcomed steps announced by the International Monetary and Finance Committee (IMFC) and the World Bank Group Development Committee, to address debt crises and other financial anguish to economies arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, “as a sign of hope and renewed multilateralism”. In a statement […]
The Global Pandemic Is Intensifying and Widening Inequality
By David Amaglobeli, Vitor Gaspar, and Paolo Mauro* This article was first published on April 1 with the title Giving Everyone a Fair Shot. It is also available in عربي, 中文, Español, Français, 日本語, Português, Русский WASHINGTON, DC (IDN | IMF Blog) — The COVID-19 pandemic is intensifying the vicious circle of inequality. To break […]
UN Striving to Ensure Media and Information Literacy
By Ramu Damodaran The writer is Chief, United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) hosted in the Department of Global Communications. This OpEd was first published in the latest #WhyWeCare. It highlights efforts of the UN to combat the “infodemic” — misinformation or disinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic that is having a disastrous social and economic impact […]
UN Campaigns to Make Vaccines a Global Public Good
By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) — New research has cautioned against the growing trend towards “vaccine nationalism” where countries prioritize their own vaccine needs. The study warns that in monopolizing the supply of vaccines against the Covid-19 pandemic, wealthy nations are threatening economic destruction which will hit affluent countries nearly as hard as those […]
Cuba Working On A ‘People’s Vaccine’ In Response To Vaccine Hoarding By Global North
Viewpoint by Beth Geglia* WASHINGTON, D.C. (IDN) — “The life of just one person is worth more than the private property of the richest man.” This is what’s written on the Calixto Garcia public hospital in Havana Cuba as a testament to the country’s commitment to free public healthcare, and to putting people before profit. […]