By Professor Ellen Hernandez* The article below explores the importance of education and literacy in the U.S. and Morocco in informing citizens of their rights. COLLINGSWOOD, USA (IDN) — On June 19, 2021, Americans officially recognized “Juneteenth” as a national holiday. Most Americans understand the holiday to be a celebration of the end of slavery […]
Nuclear Risks: Reduction or Elimination?
Viewpoint by Sergio Duarte Ambassador, former UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, President of Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs. NEW YORK (IDN) — “We escaped the Cold War without a nuclear holocaust by some combination of skill, luck and divine intervention—probably the latter in greatest proportion.”[1] — Gen. Lee Butler, former commander of U.S. nuclear […]
DON’T QUOTE ME: Cuba Survives One of the Longest Economic Wars in Modern History
By Thalif Deen* NEW YORK (IDN) — When Raul Castro decided to retire, both as leader of Cuba and head of the Communist Party last April, it was the end of a politically adventurous era for a country most American leaders loved to hate. In the late 1950s, it was Raul and his more famous […]
Cloud-based CoWIN Platform & India’s Journey towards Universal Vaccination
By Arjun Kumar, Ritika Gupta, Chhavi Kapoor, Kashish Babbar, Rohit Mehta* NEW DELHI (IDN) — With the rolling out of vaccinations early in the year 2021, there was a need for an efficient vaccination drive to dose about 1.39 billion Indians. To pave the way for a universal and citizen-centric structure of vaccination drive, Prime […]
Little Sense of Proportion When It Comes to War, Conflict and Corona
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden (IDN) — “How sour sweet music is, When time is broke, and no proportion kept! So it is in the music of men’s lives” Shakespeare wrote this in his play Richard II in 1595. In the events of his day in high politics, there was little sense of proportion. In Europe […]
Kenneth Kaunda, Giant Of African Nationalism, Passes At 97
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — One of the giants of 20th century African nationalism, Kenneth Kaunda, former president of Zambia was to many, the gentle giant who pioneered African socialism. The “patriarch of African independence” passed away June 17 at a military hospital in Zambia’s capital, Lusaka. He was 97. […]
SADC Executive Secretary Proud of Her Achievements
By Kester Kenn Klomegah* MAPUTO | MOSCOW (IDN) — The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has recorded numerous achievements since its establishment, some of which during the term of office, from September 2013 to date, of Executive Secretary, Stergomena Lawrence Tax. She concludes her second term in August 2021. Her key responsibilities have been engaging […]
New Conference to Strengthen Africa’s Economic Stability and Growth
By Bernhard Schell DUBAI (IDN) — The African continent is emerging as one of the preferred destinations for investments, because it has immense untapped economic potential that presents innumerable opportunities for investors, according to data released in 2020 by the United Nations Population Division. Business experts across the globe have regarded this region as the […]
Guterres Calls for New Era Of ‘Solidarity and Equality’ After Re-appointment As UN Secretary-General
By Caroline Mwaga NEW YORK (IDN) — “We are truly at a crossroads, with consequential choices before us. Paradigms are shifting. Old orthodoxies are being flipped,” António Guterres told ambassadors after being re-appointed on June 18 to a second term as UN Secretary-General. He was the sole candidate from the UN’s 193 Member States to […]
Nobel Laureate Offers Pathways to A Better Future After COVID-19 Crisis
By UNCTAD GENEVA (IDN) — Coronavirus pandemic recovery efforts should provide comprehensive social protection, fight climate change, and ensure vaccines reach the poorest people quickly. Nobel laureate Esther Duflo spelled out what an inclusive recovery from the COVID-19 crisis should entail and outlined lessons learned from the pandemic, while delivering the 17th edition of UNCTAD’s […]