By Niba Mirza* HYDERABAD (IDN) — In the times of COVID-19, the Audiovisual Regional Hub of the Asociación Latinoamericana de Comunicación Audiovisual Parlamentaria, ALCAP, or the Latin American Parliamentary Association of Audio-Visual Communication, signed a MOU with the ESIC Medical College, Hyderabad for joint-movie/documentary productions concerned with the pandemic and other global public health issues […]
Energy Will Play a Critical Role in The Success of Africa’s Free Trade Area
Africa Renewal’s Managing Editor Kingsley Ighobor talks to Damilola Ogunbiyi NEW YORK (IDN | Africa Renewal) — Damilola Ogunbiyi is the CEO of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All. On the sidelines of the UN High-Level Political Forum from July 6 to 15 […]
In Quest of the Best Way to End a War
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden (IDN) — Let me appear to be cynical for once. I’m constantly arguing that war can be avoided and even pre-empted if would-be war criminals are arrested and stopped in their tracks. But what if the way to end a war is not to intervene, not to help, but […]
A Widespread Famine Accelerated by Floods, Droughts — and Guns
By Thalif Deen* NEW YORK (IDN) — A recent joint press release by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) had an arresting headline: Famine Relief Blocked by Bullets, Red Tape and Lack of Funding. But not necessarily in that order.
Long-time Foes Gbagbo and Ouattara Bury the Past and Embrace
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — With warm words of welcome, Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara hugged his former arch enemy and rival Laurent Gbagbo, 10 years after the two were locked in ethnically-fuelled combat over a disputed election. Former president Gbagbo has now returned to the land of his birth […]
New Court Ruling Confirms Half a Billion in State Funds Swindled from Angola
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — The Netherlands-based International Court of Arbitration has affirmed that money transfers to a company controlled by the first daughter of Angola’s ex-president Jose Eduardo dos Santos were “contaminated by illegality” and should be considered “null and void.”
‘Green Wall’ in Senegal Aims to Slow Desertification and Feed People
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — Edible, circular gardens are part of a bigger project to bring a belt of green across the continent of Africa. “Tolou Keur”—circular gardens resistant to drought—are part of Africa’s Great Green Wall project. The project calls for planting papaya and mango trees and a variety […]
A Colombian Replaces China’s Dr. Liu as Head of UN’s Civil Aviation Organization
By J C Suresh TORONTO | MONTREAL (IDN) — Colombia’s Mr. Juan Carlos Salazar officially assumed the office of Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on August 1, succeeding Dr. Fang Liu of China. Mr Salazar is the second to replace a Chinese as head of a UN specialized agency.
Acute Food Insecurity Threatens World’s 23 ‘Hunger Hotspots’
By Jaya Ramachandran ROME (IDN) — A new report by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that “life-saving aid” to families on the brink of famine is being cut off in several countries by fighting and blockades. Of serious concern, says the report, are 23 ‘hunger hotspots’ […]
Doubts Whether the World Meteorological Organization Will be Reformed
Viewpoint by Maurizio Guerrero* Passblue NEW YORK (IDN) — Back in June 2019, the World Meteorological Organization embarked on an ambitious effort to streamline its internal operations, cut expenses by two percent and realign the organization with “21st-century realities, priorities and dynamics.”