Viewpoint by Farooque Chowdhury* DHAKA (IDN) — Unknown is Afghanistan’s trajectory of developments. None of the players, external and internal, knows the highly-contested land’s flight path. All of the players are unsure of the possible impact of each of the tactical moves being taken by each of them. So, there’re compromises or postures to compromise, […]
Food Systems Transformation Must Be Grounded in Healthy Soil
Viewpoint by Leigh Ann Winowiecki, Research Theme Leader, Soil and Land Health, World Agroforestry (ICRAF) LONDON (IDN) — A world without healthy soil is a world in which little grows. Yet, for those who live in the roughly 25 to 40 per cent of the Earth’s surface that is degraded, this is what the future […]
It Is High Time to End Reliance on Nuclear Armaments
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power LUND, Sweden (IDN) — It’s almost twenty-five years since General George Lee Butler made his confessional statement before the National Press Club in Washington—that as commander in chief of the US Strategic Command, which controls all army, navy and air force nuclear weapons, he’d had moral qualms and profound doubts about […]
The NPT Will Probably Endure, But Its Longevity May Be at Stake
Viewpoint by Sergio Duarte The writer is President of Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs and former UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs. NEW YORK (IDN) — The NPT turned 50 in 2020. The anniversary should have coincided with the Tenth Review Conference, but unfortunately it had to be postponed due to the COVID […]
Dirty Coal to Replace Africa’s ‘Fancy Blue Diamond’ As Part of a New Initiative
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | GABORONE (IDN) — There may be a lump of coal in Botswana’s Christmas stocking if the southern African country goes through with plans to wind down its famed diamond industry and replace it with unsustainable dirty coal. President Mokgweetsi Masisi, at the Investing in African Mining […]
African Countries Rage at New Travel Bans by Vaccine Hoarding Countries
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | CAPE TOWN (IDN) — Southern African countries are facing new travel restrictions after the discovery of a handful of coronavirus variants, first found in Botswana. For some African leaders, it’s the classic case of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. “Despite the repeated […]
Cape Town University Students Cited for Innovative Business Ideas
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | CAPE TOWN (IDN) — Three female students at the University of Cape Town won intervarsity recognition as top student entrepreneurs after a two-day national final in Johannesburg in November. Among the winners was Zimbabwe-born Chido Dzinotyiwei, founder of Vambo Academy, an educational technology platform that uses […]
The Outbreak of Omicron: Scientists and Leaders Call for Collaboration with Africa
By Reinhard Jacobsen BRUSSELS (IDN) — International scientists and leaders have urged a “global response of collaboration with Africa on COVID-19 following Omicron outbreak”. Over a hundred academics and leaders from Europe, Africa, the US among others say in a joint letter to the European Commission and the World Health Organization (WHO) that they are […]
Prosperous Dubai and Its Paradoxes
Viewpoint by Rahul Singh The writer is a veteran journalist. This article first appeared in The Tribune, the largest selling English daily in North India. DUBAI, UAE (IDN) — Dubai must be one of the most unusual places in the world. It is one of the seven emirates that comprise the United Arab Emirates (UAE), […]
Argentina, United States Donate Vaccines to Mozambique
By Kester Kenn Klomegah MOSCOW l MAPUTO (IDN) — The United States and Argentina Embassies in Maputo have donated large quantities of vaccines to the Government of the Republic of Mozambique. As their tremendous and recognizable contributions to help fight the spread of coronavirus, the United States offered 840,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson […]