By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN)—The United Nations has launched a strategic initiative to combat the growing scourge of COVID-19 misinformation by increasing the volume and reach of trusted, accurate information. “We cannot cede our virtual spaces to those who traffic in lies, fear and hate,” said UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, who announced the initiative […]
COVID-19 Revives Racism Against Asian-Australians and Threatens Relations with China
Viewpoint by Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) – Australia is entering what observers here say could be a deep recession, the first in almost 30 years. It was the rise of China that helped this sparsely populated vast continent to avoid a recession for the past three decades, the most extended period of economic growth in […]
Strain in Relations Between India and South Asian Neighbours
News briefs compiled by Suresh Jaura* TORONTO | NEW DELHI (IDN) – While India-Nepal territorial dispute escalated into a diplomatic crisis, Pakistan Prime Minister has been locked in a Twitter war with India on the long-drawn Kashmir conflict. At the same time, Pakistan has opened key border crossings with Afghanistan for trade. Celebrating the 11th […]
Racial Prejudice in Quest of Cure for COVID-19 Pandemic?
Madagascar President Proposes Use of Herbal Tea Viewpoint by Azu Ishiekwene The writer is the Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief of The Interview magazine based in Abuja, Nigeria. ABUJA (IDN) – In the fight against COVID-19, the war between biology and economics has just expanded to the nationalist front, spilling over with the ferociousness of a zero-sum game. […]
Spanning India and the U.S. Amid COVD-19 Crisis and Beyond
News briefs compiled by Suresh Jaura* TORONTO | NEW DELHI (IDN) – The U.S. on May 19 included the India unit of Huawei along with its other foreign subsidiaries in its Entity List, as part of efforts to prevent the Chinese telecom company from doing business in America. The Trump administration in recent months has […]
COVID-19 Pandemic Provides Opportunity to Revive the Oceans
Sustainable Actions Will Stimulate Fisheries and Tourism Viewpoint by Dr Palitha Kohona The author is Former Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, Former Chair of the UNGA Sixth Committee and the Former Co-Chair of the UN Ad Hoc Committee on BBNJ. COLOMBO (IDN) – The well-being of oceans in the Asia-Pacific region […]
U.S. Attacks on China Threaten World Peace
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power LUND, Sweden (IDN) – The world is supposed to be pulling together to defeat the Coronavirus and to some extent it is. Earlier on Russia sent special equipment to the U.S. and recently the U.S. has sent some to Russia. China has aided Italy and Africa with doctors and equipment. Tiny […]
Tackle Indoor Air Pollution Amid COVID-19 Crisis
By J W Jackie RENO, Nevada, USA (IDN) – Covid-19 has had an immense impact on the world ever since the first case was confirmed in China in November 2019. Since then, Americans have been instructed to avoid any non-essential travel and gatherings of more than ten people until the end of April. Spain has asked […]
COVID-19: A Desperate Need for a Green New Deal
Viewpoint by Peter Eriksson Following is the text of Sweden’s Minister for International Development Cooperation Mr Peter Eriksson’s address to the live-streamed session on Climate Change: the Other Crisis, at the 2020 Stockholm Forum organized by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). STOCKHOLM (IDN) – The free world and open society, as we know […]
Traditional Polls Will Test Africa’s Resistance to COVID-19
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – Africa’s infection rates are still relatively low to the wonderment of some in the western world who predicted infection rates in the billions. In fact, African governments in many cases took preventative steps – from closing borders, social distancing, shutting educational institutions and banning mass […]