The what, where, when, why, who, and how of the coronavirus pandemic Viewpoint by Dr. Dilkhush Panjwani * TORONTO (IDN) – Humanity is facing close encounters with the unfolding crisis of the novel coronavirus SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic. Doctors, nurses, paramedics, and many other essential service providers are on the frontline, risking their lives to save […]
Communities in Mozambique Inspired to Curb Deforestation
By Mariane Almeida and Sofia Barbeiro The two writers are part of a team of Young Environmental Journalists covering Africa. RIO de JANEIRO | LISBON (IDN) – In Mozambique’s province of Gaza, 9,240 tons of charcoal are produced every year placing pressure on the region’s natural resources. Wood burning for charcoal production has led to […]
COVID-19: An Opportunity to Fix Dysfunctional Biomedical R&D System
Viewpoint by Sreenath Namboodiri* The author is Assistant Professor of Law at School of Ethics, Governance, Culture & Social Systems, Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth (deemed to be university), Ernakulam, Kerala, India. He can be reached on twitter @SnathNamboodiri NEW DELHI (IDN) – Failures of the patent system to meet the public health priorities demand a new approach […]
COVID-19: Fake, Shocking & Good News Stalks Africa
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – A new fact-checking industry had its hands full recently in Senegal when a fake news post on social media claimed that children were “dying on the spot” from vaccines against the corona virus. The post, titled “Scandal in Senegal”, was shared thousands of times on […]
COVID-19 To Push More Than 34 Million People into Extreme Poverty in 2020
By Santo D. Banerjee NEW YORK (IDN) — The COVID-19 pandemic is threatening to deal a huge blow to global efforts for eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, two of the vital goals of the 17 SDGs. A new UN report expects more than 34 million people to fall below the extreme poverty line in 2020. […]
In Africa, Trump’s Fate Is Worse Than a Laughingstock
Viewpoint by Azu Ishiekwene The writer is the Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief of The Interview magazine based in Abuja, Nigeria. ABUJA (IDN) – In a recent article in The Atlantic also widely used elsewhere, American journalist, Anne Applebaum, described the pathetic meltdown of US President Donald Trump, especially since the outbreak of the global health crisis, COVID-19. […]
Our Oceans Keep Our Health, The Economy and Our Lives Above the Waves
Healthy oceans: keeping Asia and the Pacific afloat Viewpoint by Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana The writer is the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP. BANGKOK (IDN) – Memories of idyllic beaches and sonorous waves may seem far away while we remain at home. Yet, we need not look far to appreciate the enduring history […]
UN Chief Appeals to ‘Common Humanity’ Across All Faiths to Tackle COVID-19
By UN News NEW YORK (IDN) – Our shared vulnerability to the coronavirus pandemic reveals “our common humanity”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told religious leaders in an online meeting to discuss the role they can play in limiting the damage caused by COVID-19. Speaking during the meeting on May 12, Guterres said “it lays bare […]
COVID-19: Should Economy Have Priority Over Migrant Workers’ Health?
Viewpoint by Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) – Many critics have described labour migration as the 21st-century slave trade and Covid-19 crisis has exposed this stark reality. Eastern European migrant labour in Europe. Unpaid construction workers on the brink of starvation in the Middle East. Hundreds of South Asian dormitory locked down migrant labourers infected with […]
Greece Extends COVID-19 Lockdown at Refugee Camps
Viewpoint by Eva Cossé, Human Rights Watch The writer is Western Europe researcher, works on issues related to discrimination, migration, asylum and minority rights, with a focus on Greece. This article first appeared on Human Rights Watch, and is being reproduced with the author’s permission. LONDON | ATHENS (IDN) – The Greek government has begun […]