NEWSBRIEFS

Photo: Benjamin William Mkapa, who served as president for 10 years from 1995 to 2005, passes away in early hours of July 24. Source: Anadolu News Agency.

Tanzania's Ex-President and Peacemaker Mkapa Dies of Malaria

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK | DAR ES SALAAM (IDN) – Flags are being flown at half-mast for the former Tanzanian president, Benjamin William Mkapa, who passed away on July 24 after a bout of malaria. He was 81. He died in the early hours of July 24 while receiving treatment at a hospital in Dar es Salaam.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame and other leaders paid tribute to Mkapa who was a renowned Pan-Africanist. John Magufuli, current president of Tanzania, declared a seven-day mourning period during which flags will be flown at half-mast.

: Africa & ME Editor; THE WORLD; Africa; 27 July 2020

Collage of photos of former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (left) and former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark

Former Liberian Leader Joins Panel Investigating the Global Response to COVID-19

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) – The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia's former president, and Helen Clark, New Zealand's former prime minister, are to head the newly formed Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response.

The announcement follows the Trump administration’s formal notification to the UN on July 6 of its withdrawal from WHO, which won't take effect until July 6, 2021 with a possibility of reversal by a new administration or changed circumstances.

: Global Information Network; SUSTAINABILITY; Health & Well Being; 13 July 2020

#CopingWithCOVID Webinar for Young People

Taking care of mental health while living in the new normal

By UN News

NEW YORK (IDN)— The United Nations Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth, Ms Jayathma Wickramanayake, will host the 9th session of the United Nations' #CopingWithCOVID webinar series on July 15 (livestream at bit.ly/CwCOVID9).

During this session — focused on young people’s mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic — the Envoy will be joined by the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore, the Director-General of the World Health Organisation Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Queen Mathilde of the Belgians and six young people from around the world.

: UN Bureau; UN INSIDER; 09 July 2020

Photo: Algeria receives with full honours the skulls of 24 resistance fighters decapitated during French colonial rule that were held in storage in a Paris museum. Source: Algerian TV

France Returns Remains of Algerian Resistance Fighters

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) – "The martyrs are returning home." Those were the words of noted historian Malika Rahal on learning that the remains of 24 Algerian resistance fighters, killed in the Algerian independence war of 1954-62, would be flown back to Algeria after years kept by the French in a museum’s storage area.

"The body parts of those who fought the conquest of their country are returning home after a very long stay in cardboard boxes at the Musee de l'Homme in Paris," Rahal said.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 06 July 2020

India's First COVID-19 Vaccine Gets Nod for Human Clinical Trials

News briefs compiled by Suresh Jaura*

TORONTO | NEW DELHI (IDN) – The focus of news in Indian media in the second half of June was on the start of human trials by India's 'first' indigenous COVID-19 vaccine, a nod to Indian start-ups to participate in space activities, emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi on June 25, 1975, persecution of 'dissenters', restrictions against Chinese goods, and Russian assurances to stand-off with India against China.

: Suresh Jaura; SUSTAINABILITY; Health & Well Being; 04 July 2020

India's Ties with South Asian Neighbours Strained

News briefs compiled by Suresh Jaura*

TORONTO | NEW DELHI (IDN) – Though India became a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council on June 17, with undisputed support from all countries in the 55-member Asia-Pacific Group for a two-year term in 2021-22, the country's relations with its South Asian neighbours are strained and in some cases antagonistic. One view is that the country is being "strategically encircled".

Following are news briefs underlining that view:

: Suresh Jaura; THE WORLD; South Asia; 03 July 2020

Photo: Huge massive red sandstorm. Credit: Strange Sounds

Huge Sahara Red Dust Cloud Reaches America's South

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) – A brilliant red sky at dusk can be seen in states along the Atlantic but the eye-popping show should be watched with some caveats. Things to consider when it comes to the dust cloud include the size of the particles, the concentration and the composition of the particles.

When it comes to size, approximately 30 per cent of the dust coming from the Sahara is considered to be "fine". "Typically, the smaller particles can penetrate deeper into the lungs and the health impacts become more [serious]," says Dr. K. Max Zhang from Cornell University's School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 30 June 2020

Election Rerun in Malawi Scores Upset Victory for Opposition

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK | LILONGWE (IDN) – In a landmark presidential rerun, Malawi's sitting President has been ousted from power after a sweeping victory by a popular Pentecostal preacher and former theology lecturer who promised to unite and serve all Malawians.

" want to provide leadership that makes everybody prosper, that deals decisively with corruption and theft of public funds and a leadership what will follow the rule of law," declared Lazarus Chakwera, who chalked up more votes than the former incumbent, Peter Mutharika, in the election rerun.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 29 June 2020

Photo: Anthony Quintano | Black Lives Matter Protest Times Square New York City June 7 2020. CC License via Flickr. Source: UN Dispatch Podcast.

How the Black Lives Matter Movement Went Global

By Mark Leon Goldberg, UN Dispatch Podcasts

NEW YORK (IDN ) – The Black Lives Matter movement has spread quickly around the world. Over the last several weeks, there have been BLM demonstrations in nearly every major city in Europe. Tens of thousands of people showed up for protests in Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, and London, just to name a few. There were also many protests across Latin America, Australia – even Asian cities like Seoul and Tokyo saw Black Lives Matter protests.

So how did the murder of George Floyd in Minnesota spark an anti-racism and civil rights movement that extends far beyond the United States?

: UN Bureau; HUMAN RIGHTS; Racism; 18 June 2020

Photo and credit: The Supreme Court of India.

Supreme Court Against India's Name Change to 'Bharat'

Important Rulings on Migrant Workers and the Coronavirus Dead

News briefs compiled by Suresh Jaura*

TORONTO | NEW DELHI (IDN) – Indian news media have been reporting on a wide range of events and ongoing developments, including on the economy becoming "self-reliant" – an age-old but not yet achieved objective – without having an alternative national economic policy. Also, the often tabooed issue of mental health has come up in the aftermath of the rising Hindi filmstar Sushant Singh Rajput. This edition of news briefs focuses on several other equally important topics such as putting an end to racism and showing concern about the dead killed by the Coronavirus.