By Jamshed Baruah GENEVA (IDN) — The World Health Organization (WHO) and the London-based Commonwealth Secretariat have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that focuses on ending the COVID-19 pandemic, advancing Universal Health Coverage, addressing vaccine equity, strengthening digital health systems and working towards global health security
Growing Crises at Borders and Key Elections Signal EU Migration Pivot in 2022
By Jaya Ramachandran VIENNA (IDN) — 2022 will be another challenging year for EU migration. The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) Outlook lists key issues that will be high on the agenda of decision-makers and analysts alike. Founded in 1993, ICMPD holds UN observer status and cooperates with more than 240 partners including […]
UN Warns of Food Insecurity in 20 Countries and Regions
By Jaya Ramachandran ROME (IDN) — A new report by two UN agencies has identified “hunger hotspots” across 20 countries and regions where parts of the population are expected to face a significant deterioration of acute food insecurity in the coming months that will put their lives and livelihoods at risk. This warning of spiralling […]
Resettlement Campuses are the Future of Higher Education
Dr. Diya Abdo, Founder of Every Campus A Refuge (ECAR) The writer discusses in this article how institutions of higher education can support the successful integration of refugees. It was issued by the United Nations Academic Impact. GREENSBORO, North Carolina, US (IDN) — Universities have the necessary physical facilities and human resources to provide much […]
Coronavirus Cases Are Shooting Up Across Africa
By Jeffrey Moyo HARARE (INPS) — There are over 228 000 coronavirus cases in Zimbabwe, with more than 5000 deaths while north of this country stands Zambia laden with over 300 000 coronavirus cases and more than 3000 COVID-related deaths and not to be left out, is Mozambique east of Zimbabwe, contending with more than […]
‘Coronavirus Is Here to Stay’
By Caroline Mwanga NEW YORK (IDN) — It is “dangerous to assume that Omicron will be the last variant, or that we are in the endgame” of the pandemic. “On the contrary, globally, the conditions are ideal for more variants to emerge,” exactly two years and a day since he declared the deadly virus a […]
Health System in Afghanistan Is on The Brink of Collapse
By Jaya Ramachandran GENEVA (IDN) — The World Health Organization (WHO) a specialized agency of the United Nations, has warned that fundamental and life-saving primary health care services in Afghanistan are under severe threat. It is, therefore, making an urgent appeal to international donors to rapidly finance the Sehatmandi programme, as they have done for […]
Court Freezes Planned Amazon HQ in Cape Town on Historically Significant Site
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — A massive new complex housing Amazon’s proposed South African headquarters along with a hotel and other businesses continues to face stiff opposition from indigenous Khoisan, environmental and community groups despite city officials already approving of construction of the nine-story construction. Opponents say the project will […]
Concern Over ‘Fortress Conservation’ and Evictions of Kenyans from Ancestral Homelands
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — Nature conservancies, with the stated goal of protecting wilderness and endangered wildlife, have enabled the removal of tribal peoples from their ancestral homelands in Africa to allow superior “western” models of conservation to prevail, according to the activist group Survival International. Under the western model, […]
Over 100 Millionaires Call for Wealth Taxes on The Richest
By Rodney Reynolds NEW YORK (IDN) — A group of over 100 millionaires and billionaires from nine countries published an open letter January 19 to government and business leaders, calling for permanent annual wealth taxes on the very richest to help reduce extreme inequality and raise revenue for sustained, long-term increases in public services like […]