Viewpoint by Manish Uprety F.R.A.S. and Jainendra Karn * NEW DELHI (IDN) – Since time immemorial, humanity has confronted natural disasters and pandemics continually, and yet survived. But COVID-19 is unique in the sense that it has shaken and stirred both the UN World Health Organization (WHO) and the world to the core. With over […]
Eminent Persons Warn Against Any Demonstration Nuclear Test Explosion
By Reinhard Jacobsen VIENNA (IDN) – Members of the CTBTO Group of Eminent Persons (GEM) have expressed “deep concern about credible press reports” that senior U.S. officials have discussed the possibility of conducting “a demonstration nuclear test explosion”. They warn that if carried out, it would break the global moratorium on nuclear weapon test explosions […]
New Africa Digital Hub to Offer Quick, Factual Information On COVID-19
By Carla McKirdy This report by Carla McKirdy first appeared in Africa Renewal, a magazine published by the United Nations in New York. The writer is Associate Information Management Officer at the United Nations, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. ADDIS ABABA (IDN) – As part of a coordinated approach to strengthen developing countries’ responses to COVID-19, as […]
UN Discusses the Challenges of Combating COVID-19 Pandemic and Silencing the Guns in Africa
By Santo D. Banerjee NEW YORK (IDN) – In opening remarks to the Africa Dialogue Series on “COVID-19 and Silencing the Guns in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said: “The pandemic has exposed the fragility of our societies. It is a global problem that demands a coordinated global response built on unity […]
Multilateralism, The Covid-19 Pandemic and The NPT Review Conference
Viewpoint by Sergio Duarte Ambassador, former UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs. President of Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs. NEW YORK (IDN) – On April 24, the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace was observed at the United Nations. At the occasion, Secretary-general António Guterres called for a “networked multilateralism, strengthening […]
Timely New Book Warns India and China About Dangerous Manipulations in the Buddhist Himalayas
By Kalinga Seneviratne This article is the 41st in a series of joint productions of Lotus News Features and IDN-InDepthNews, the flagship of the International Press Syndicate. Click here for previous reports. SYDNEY (IDN) – At a time when the United States is ramping up its rhetoric against China triggering a new Cold War between […]
UN Chief Reiterates Call for Global Ceasefire on Africa Day
Commends Leadership in Battling COVID-19 By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – A star-studded benefit concert hosted by English actor Idris Alba, an online how-to video for jollof rice, and a UN call for a global ceasefire issued by the Secretary-General António Guterres marked the virtual Africa Day celebrated on May 24. […]
Australia Loses Big If China Ties Unravel
Viewpoint by James Laurenceson The author is Professor and Director of the Australia-China Relations Institute at The University of Technology Sydney (UTS). This article first published on May 24 in EastAsiaForum, is part of an EAF special feature series on the novel coronavirus crisis and its impact. SYDNEY (IDN) – In 2016, the Executive Director […]
Five-member BRICS Works Out Ways to Combat the COVID-19 Pandemic
By Kester Kenn Klomegah MOSCOW (IDN) – Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa to join Beijing and “stand firm by multilateralism, by the UN-centered international system” and “champion the approach of consultation and cooperation”. China and the four countries comprise BRICS. The group’s member countries collectively represent about […]
Africa Can Still Be on the Top
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power LUND, Sweden (IDN) – Africa is suffering a double whammy after many years of success. The Coronavirus, while not taking down great numbers of people like in Europe, Asia and the Americas, has had a severe impact by curbing its exports in the face of the formers’ severe economic depression. For […]