By Busani Bafana BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe (IDN) — The long-awaited African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)—set to be the world’s biggest free trade zone by size—which entered into force on January 1, 2021, promises a new era for African trade. An Africa-wide free-trade pact could bolster the region’s income by $450 billion and lift 30 million […]
The West Should Declare It Has No Strategic Interest in Israel
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden (IDN) — Yesterday morning [April 5] I watched on BBC News the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, walking into the courtroom where he is to be tried for corruption. He is impossible to read—his mask makes it even more difficult. In repose his intentions and personality are inscrutable. On […]
Experts Urge US to End Military Solutions for African Problems
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — Three noted Africa experts, at a Roundtable with the BBC, are warning of endless “forever wars” if Africa continues to rely on military solutions with weapons and training from the U.S. and the international community instead of addressing local grievances. The group spotlighted the case […]
Noted Kenyan African ‘Gikuyu’ Writer Listed for Literary Prize
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — Some two decades ago, Ngugi wa Thiong’o challenged African writers to break their colonial chains and write in African languages. He then shocked the literary world and took on the challenge himself. Although he continued to write nonfiction in English, Ngugi wrote his novels and […]
COVAX Programme — US Decision to Lift Sanctions Against ICC — Four Peacekeepers Killed
By Radwan Jakeem NEW YORK (IDN | UN News) — The UN-backed COVAX scheme aims to get two billion vaccine doses into the arms of around a quarter of the population of poorer countries by the end of 2021. Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed the United States decision to lift sanctions and visa restrictions against […]
The Global Pandemic Is Intensifying and Widening Inequality
By David Amaglobeli, Vitor Gaspar, and Paolo Mauro* This article was first published on April 1 with the title Giving Everyone a Fair Shot. It is also available in عربي, 中文, Español, Français, 日本語, Português, Русский WASHINGTON, DC (IDN | IMF Blog) — The COVID-19 pandemic is intensifying the vicious circle of inequality. To break […]
President Biden Repeals Trump Sanctions on the Criminal Court
By Jessica Corbett* Common Dreams first published this report on April 2, 2021. WASHINGTON, D.C. (IDN) — Progressives in Congress and human rights organizations on April 2 welcomed the Biden administration’s repeal of sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) imposed under former President Donald Trump in a bid to pressure the Hague-based tribunal to […]
UN Striving to Ensure Media and Information Literacy
By Ramu Damodaran The writer is Chief, United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) hosted in the Department of Global Communications. This OpEd was first published in the latest #WhyWeCare. It highlights efforts of the UN to combat the “infodemic” — misinformation or disinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic that is having a disastrous social and economic impact […]
‘Human Rights’ and Ecological Crisis in Sri Lanka
Viewpoint by Dr Asoka Bandarage The writer, a scholar and practitioner, has taught at Yale, Brandeis, Mount Holyoke (where she received tenure), Georgetown, American and other universities and colleges in the U.S. and abroad COLOMBO (IDN) — The recent UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution A/HRC/46/L.1/Rev.1 of March 16 has brought extensive charges against Sri […]
Strengthening Russia-Africa Inter-Party Cooperation
By Kester Kenn Klomegah* MOSCOW (IDN) — Over the past few years, Russia’s sphere of influence in Africa has been strengthening and broadening with much focus on helping to maintain peace and security and making an investment in exploiting natural resources in Africa. The first historic Russia-Africa summit held in October 2019 has further and […]