By UN News NEW YORK (IDN) – Our shared vulnerability to the coronavirus pandemic reveals “our common humanity”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told religious leaders in an online meeting to discuss the role they can play in limiting the damage caused by COVID-19. Speaking during the meeting on May 12, Guterres said “it lays bare […]
UN Concerned About the ‘Growing Threat’ of Annexation of Palestine
By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) – As the world’s attention is turned to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, a special Committee of the UN General Assembly has alerted about “the threat of annexation” of the Palestinian territory by Israel. “Annexation is a threat to the two-state solution,” the Committee accentuated. Earlier, on April 23, UN […]
New Initiative to Fight COVID-19 with Information Technology
By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) – With support from UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations specialized agency for information ((ITU) are set to work with telecommunication companies to text people directly on their mobile phones with vital health messaging to help protect them from COVID-19. These text messages, as part […]
UN Travel Organization Predicts Revival of Holiday Traffic
By Ronald Joshua ROME | MADRID (IDN) – Tourism has been brought to a near-standstill by COVID-19, but the World Travel Organization (UNWTO) believes that once the pandemic has passed, the industry, which accounts for 10 per cent of global GDP, is in a unique position to help put the global economy back on its […]
WHO Cautions Against Relaxing Lockdown Measures in Europe
By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) – The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of a potential “second wave” of COVID-19 infections. The warning comes as some European countries have begun to relax lockdown measures following weeks of confinement introduced to halt the spread of the new coronavirus. In an update to strategic advice to […]
The Power of Art in A Time of Coronavirus Crisis
By Jaya Ramachandran PARIS (IDN) – As billions of people find themselves either in lockdown or on the front lines combating the COVID-19 pandemic, the first celebration of World Art Day on April 15 is a timely reminder that “art has the power to unite and connect in times of crisis”, the head of the […]
UN Migration Ramps Up Coronavirus Response Worldwide
By Jaya Ramachandran with IOM Press Release GENEVA (IDN) – In the face of the number of rising new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has expanded the scope of its Global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) to include far-reaching interventions that aim to mitigate the dire health and socio-economic […]
UN Health Agency Reviewing Impact of U.S. Funding Withdrawal
By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) – While upholding the importance of international solidarity in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, a “dangerous enemy” to all humanity, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has regretted “the decision of the President of the United States to order a halt in funding” to the UN health agency. […]
Far from Being Our Enemies, Bats Need Protection Now More Than Ever
Viewpoint by Amy Fraenkel The writer is the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) based in Bonn, Germany. BONN (IDN) – As efforts are stepping up around the world to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), there are alarming reports that […]
UN Chief’s Call for Global Ceasefire Gathering Support
By Radwan Jakeem NEW YORK (IDN) – In a clarion call for “an immediate global ceasefire in all corners of the world”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres on March 23 urged warring parties across the world to lay down their weapons in support of the bigger battle against COVID-19: the common enemy that is now threatening […]