By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — Danielle Twum, a cancer immunologist from Ghana, West Africa, has been honoured in the United States with a life-size statue for her research contributions. Twum was one of over a hundred women honoured by the Smithsonian during Women’s History Month. The Smithsonian’s “#IfThenSheCan—The Exhibit,” features […]
IMF Returns to Mozambique After Six Years
By Kester Kenn Klomegah* MOSCOW | MAPUTO (IDN) — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) returns with a set of new funded programmes to Mozambique, six years after the lender halted its previous deals in the wake of a financial scandal involving three fraudulent security-linked companies, and two banks—Credit Suisse and VTB of Russia, on the […]
First-Ever Summit on Israeli Soil Dismissed as A “Summit of Shame”
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — When the United States joined hands with Israel, Egypt, Bahrain, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to hold “the first ever multilateral Arab-Israeli summit on Israeli soil”, there was one potential participant described as MIA—the Palestinians, missing in action. One of the Palestinian demonstrators outside the hotel, […]
South Pacific: Is China Establishing a Military Base in Solomon Islands?
By Ravindra Singh Prasad SUVA, Fiji (IDN) — Solomon Islands Prime Minister Mannasseh Sogavara has brushed aside concerns raised in Australia and New Zealand that a new China-Solomon Island security treaty will diminish the role of its traditional security partners in the region.
Rice Exports to Sri Lanka Good Business for Myanmar
By Deshan Maduranga COLOMBO (IDN) — A recent statement by a Myanmar official has indicated that Sri Lanka has been buying rice from the country at a price higher than what others are paying for it. This has raised eyebrows in Sri Lanka that has prided itself for being self-sufficient in rice, its staple diet, […]
Europe Soliciting Support from African Leaders for Ukraine
By Kester Kenn Klomegah* MOSCOW | DAR ES SALAAM (IDN) — European Union members have been soliciting support from the African Union (AU), Regional Economic organizations and African countries for the former Soviet republic of Ukraine, now experiencing tremendous atrocities and worsening humanitarian conditions as a direct result of Russia’s “special military operation” since late […]
BIMSTEC—Can It Take a Giant Leap Forward?
By Sugeeswara Senadhira COLOMBO (IDN) — This week, Sri Lanka is hosting the fifth Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit in the backdrop of member nations struggling to shake-off the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The summit would provide the leaders of the seven members—India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, […]
Ukraine War Might Trigger Food Riots in Poor Countries
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, the head of the World Trade Organization (WTO), is warning that skyrocketing global food prices as a result of the war in Ukraine could trigger food riots from people going hungry in poor countries. WTO Director General Okonjo-Iweala urged food-producing countries against […]
Pandemic Pushes SDGs Further Out of Reach of Asia and The Pacific
Viewpoint by Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana BANGKOK (IDN) — 2022 marks the second anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, and while an end to the pandemic is in sight, it is far from over and the consequences will be felt for decades to come. At the same time, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is becoming increasingly […]
Russia, China Build Ties in Africa as U.S. Falls Behind
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — In a new “scramble for Africa”, Russia and China are cutting deals, extending loans, making friends and allies across the continent at a time when jihadists in many countries have posed a growing threat to citizens and national security forces.