By Santo D. Banerjee NEW YORK (IDN) —Latin America is scrambling to contain surging COVID-19 infections while confronting near-certain recession and related impacts. But polices that prioritize poor and vulnerable people can help mitigate the region’s already extreme poverty and inequality, says a new study by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
South Asia Virtual Regional Summit to Focus on Empowering Decisions for a Sustainable Future
By Reinhard Jacobsen AMSTERDAM | NEW DELHI (IDN) – How can the rebuild after the COVID-19 pandemic be approached in a way that alleviates the growing economic, societal and environmental pressures in South Asian countries? Seeking solutions in support of this aim is a key focus of the GRI South Asia Virtual Regional Summit, which […]
COVID-19: UNDP Commends Doubling of Germany’s Support to Flexible Core Funding
By Radwan Jakeem NEW YORK (IDN) – Germany has become the largest funding partner to the 2020 core resources of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a result of a hike to €110 million, equivalent to more than $124 million. In 2019, Germany provided €50 million to UNDP’s core resources. As a strong supporter […]
Africa’s Livestock Sector is Key to its Covid-19 Response & Recovery
Viewpoint by Rhoda Peace Tumusiime The writer is a member of the Malabo Montpellier Panel and former AU Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture at the African Union Commission (AUC). ENTEBBE, Uganda (IDN) – Livestock have long been the insurance policy of Africa’s poorest, with even a single goat or a chicken providing a buffer against […]
Kenya Having Another Go at Passing a Reproductive Rights Bill
Viewpoint by Anthony Ajayi and Meggie Mwoka* Kenya’s Senate is considering a reproductive healthcare bill, which seeks to address reproductive health gaps. This is the second time the bill has come before the senate. It has, once again, drawn fire from religious groups, some politicians and civil society lobbies opposed to its proposals. Anthony Ajayi […]
Not Western Meddling But A Russian Leader with the Power of a Moral Voice Will Replace Putin
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden (IDN) – Change is absolutely necessary in Russia, but how to bring it about? One doesn’t have to be a prejudiced Western ideologue to point this out. As the weekend’s demonstrations in the far eastern city of Khabarovsk underline, there are a good number of people, mainly young, who […]
The Forgotten Victims of COVID-19 Amid Migration Crisis
By Jacqueline Skalski-Fouts As the Coronavirus pandemic sweeps the globe, closing cities and shutting borders, migrants fleeing violence, persecution, and seeking a new life are stuck in the midst of a health and economic crisis. In this article, Jacqueline Skalski-Fouts investigates how current conditions could affect the future of migrants impacted by the pandemic and […]
Trump and Senator Cotton Embrace Enhanced Testing & Face Kilotons of Surprises
Viewpoint by Robert Kelley VIENNA (IDN) – There are growing rumours that the United States is considering carrying out a nuclear test in the near future. Legislation introduced in the United States Senate suggests that this may not be an idle threat. The language in the recent amendment reads: “carry out projects related to reducing […]
Mali Facing Worst Civil Unrest in Years
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | BAMAKO (IDN) – Protests broke out across the West African state of Mali for the third time in a month as President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita appeared unable or unwilling to meet popular demands. Tens of thousands of Malians filled the streets over the previous weekend in […]
Former Liberian Leader Joins Panel Investigating the Global Response to COVID-19
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia’s former president, and Helen Clark, New Zealand’s former prime minister, are to head the newly formed Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response. The announcement follows the Trump administration’s formal notification to the […]