By Jaya Ramachandran GENEVA (IDN) — The United States has taken one of the most significant steps to date against the Myanmar junta, first by sanctioning not only individuals but the State Administrative Council (SAC) itself; and second, by opening the door to targeting those who continue to do business with the junta and therefore […]
An Effective Global Health Architecture Needs Investment in Pandemic Prevention
By Martien van Nieuwkoop and Monique Eloit The text below is from the World Bank blogs ‘Voices’. Martien van Nieuwkoop is Global Director, Agriculture and Food Global Practice, World Bank and Monique Eloit is Director-General of the World Organization for Animal Health. WASHINGTON, D.C. (IDN) — In the case of pandemics, billions of dollars in […]
From Battlefield to Fighting COVID — Sri Lankan Armed Forces Fight Invincible Terrorism
Viewpoint By Sugeeswara Senadhira COLOMBO (IDN) — Today marks an important landmark in Sri Lankan history. Twelve years ago, when the three-decade-old conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was brought to an end, the members of the Armed Forces were widely respected and honoured for the valiant role they played in defeating […]
Latin America and the Caribbean Boost Chances of Success at Climate Conference
By Caroline Mwanga NEW YORK | SANTO DOMINGO (IDN) — The three-day Virtual Thematic Sessions of the Latin America and the Caribbean Climate Week 2021 (LACCW2021), which wrapped up on May 14, hosted by the Government of the Dominican Republic, are reported to have provided important momentum for a successful UN Climate Change Conference COP26 […]
Africa the Next Centre for Manufacturing COVID Drug?
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — For a while, Africa appeared to be losing the fight to build manufacturing capacity for the production of COVID-19 vaccines as big pharma and rich countries questioned African capacity to make its own vaccines. Some international companies regard African self-sufficiency as a long-term risk to […]
UNESCO Creative Cities of Music Celebrate Intl. Jazz Day
By Robert Johnson PARIS (IDN | UNESCO) — As the great Nina Simone said, “Jazz is not just music, it is a way of life, it is a way of being, a way of thinking”, says UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It adds: “The story of Jazz is written into the […]
Renewables Are the Building Blocks of Global Energy Transition
By J W Jackie RENO, Nevada, USA (IDN) — The latest International Renewable Energy Agency IRENA analysis reveals that by 2050, variable renewables like wind and solar PV will dominate the global total power supply. The insights from IRENA’s World Energy Transitions Outlook were released on March 16-17, 2021, at the Berlin Energy Transitions Dialogue. […]
Australians Blast Government For “Racist” Indian Flight Ban
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 […]
Is ‘Vaccine Consent’ Journalism Killing The “Watchdog” Model?
A special feature by Kalinga Seneviratne* to mark UNESCO’s World Press Freedom Day. SYDNEY (IDN) — In recent months, there has been alarming one-sided reporting in the so-called mainstream media—both internationally and nationally—that sounds more like public relations handouts from the big pharmaceutical companies from the West. This ‘vaccine consent’ journalism and the labelling of […]