COVID-19

Photo: Tourists from Russia previously accounted for the seventh-largest share of visitors to Thailand with around 1.5 million travelling to Thailand in 2019. Source: Economic Times.

Ukraine War Hits Russia's Tourism Industry

By Kester Kenn Klomegah

MOSCOW (IDN) — Russia's tourism, both in-bound and out-bound, is severely hit by the war-ravaged crisis that unfolded in the former Soviet republic of Ukraine late February. For more than two years, the tourism industry was affected due to the widespread Covid-19 that shattered the world.

Industry operators say that the impact on tourism due to Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine has pushed the United States and Canada, European Union, Australia, New Zealand and many other countries to impose a series of sanctions, which are currently affecting the smooth operation of tourism business.

: Kester Kenn Klomegah; THE WORLD; Russia; 14 April 2022

Photo source: Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific for 2022

UN Report Calls for Asia-Pacific to Focus on Inclusive Recovery

By Krishan Dutta

BANGKOK (IDN) — With an eye on the continuing uncertainty over the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic and increased global risks, the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific for 2022, has called for anchoring the region’s economic recovery and progress in “a new social contract” of inclusiveness to protect the vulnerable from future shocks.

: Krishan Dutt; UN INSIDER; 12 April 2022

How the Portuguese Language Countries Are Facing Challenges

By Kester Kenn Klomegah*

MOSCOW | LISBON (IDN) — After two and half decades of its existence as a popular multilateral forum for Portuguese-speaking countries, the Confederação Empresarial da CPLP has been looking at multifaceted and diverse opportunities to strengthen the organization and to improve mutual cooperation among the member-governments which are geographically located in separate continents.

: Kester Kenn Klomegah; SUSTAINABILITY; Health & Well Being; 11 April 2022

Photo: SGI president Daisaku Ikeda. Credit: Seikyo ShimbunPhoto: SGI president Daisaku Ikeda. Credit: Seikyo Shimbun

Overcoming Impact of Pandemic and Climate Crises Crucial, Says Eminent Buddhist Preacher

By Ramesh Jaura

BERLIN | TOKYO (IDN) — 2022 marks seven years since the United Nations adopted 17 interlinked global goals, termed as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to be a "blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all" by 2030.

: Ramesh Jaura; Global Goals; 01 April 2022

Green Investments, the New Black for Sustainable Development in Africa

By Busani Bafana

KIGALI, Rwanda (IDN) — Less than ten years to the deadline to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Africa is at development cross roads. The big question is how can Africa achieve inclusive and sustainable development to meet the twin agendas; 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063?

: Africa & ME Editor; SUSTAINABILITY; Poverty; 30 March 2022

Photo: SDG wheel at the Opportunity Pavilon, Dubai Expo 2020. Credit: Conor Lennon/ UN News

UN Forum Focuses on Achieving SDGs and Resilient Post-Pandemic Recovery

By Bernhard Schell

DUBAI (IDN) — Entrepreneurship, innovation, and investment in a post-pandemic recovery as vehicles to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is the focus of a United Nations forum that opened in Dubai on March 28 under the aegis of Dubai Exhibition Centre at Dubai Expo 2020.

: Bernhard Schell; UN INSIDER; 29 March 2022

Photo: 2.2 billion people around the world still lack safely managed drinking water. Credit: UN

How to Underpin Inclusivity in Achieving SDGs in the Face of Covid-19 & Climate Change

By Maria Bystedt

Maria Bystedt is Strategy Lead at H&M Foundation, a non-profit foundation, privately funded by the Stefan Persson family, founders and main owners of the H&M Group, working to fast-track the achievements of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, to safeguard humanity and the planet.

: Europe Editor; SUSTAINABILITY; Health & Well Being; 26 March 2022

Image: Sri Lanka is strategically located as an important island in the heart of the Indian Ocean. The country has been in the middle of international attention as a crucial destination between the East and West shipping routes that attracted three maritime superpowers trading in that route for economic benefits to the said motherlands. Source: Daily News, Sri Lanka.

Should Sri Lanka De-Dollarize? Beyond Bananas, Beaches, Bases and Dependent Development

Viewpoint by Darini Rajasingham-Senanayake

The writer, Dr Darini Rajasingham-Senanayake, is a Sociocultural and Medical Anthropologist based in Colombo. Her latest publication is 'Multi-religiosity on Contemporary Sri Lanka: Innovation, Shared Spaces, Contestation".(Routledge 2022)

COLOMBO (IDN) — Necessity is the mother of invention: Protests are mounting by people from all walks of life in all parts of Sri Lanka against the soaring cost of living, food and fuel shortages, black outs, lockdowns, forced Covid injections, and the sale of national assets by the ruling dual US citizen Rajapaksa led regime in Colombo.

: Asia Editor; OPINION; 20 March 2022

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 distant. The region must use the 17 Sustainable Development Goals as a roadmap to a fairer recovery.

: Opinion Editor; THE WORLD; Middle East; 18 March 2022

Image: Migrant farmworkers in the Italian region of Calabria | Credit: ANSA/Quotidiano Del Sud

COVID-Recovery: Fault Lines Expose Migrant Workers to Higher Health and Safety Risks

Viewpoint by Mahinda Seneviratne

SYDNEY (IDN) — Disruptions from war, impacts of climate, and the growing inequities in wealth distribution are some main factors that drive over 160 million international migrant workers to seek work for a living in overseas countries. The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the 3-D jobs (dirty, dangerous, and difficult) that migrant workers face in their host country while exposed to precarious work.