By Santo D. Banerjee NEW YORK (IDN) – “The COVID-19 pandemic is a tragic reminder of how deeply connected we are. The virus knows no borders and is a quintessential global challenge. Combatting it requires us to work together as one human family,” says UN Secretary-General António Guterres on International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy […]
The Many Facets of Pandemic Vulnerability
Viewpoint by Alison Mountz* This article was originally published on openDemocracy. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of IDN-InDepth News. WATERLOO, Ontario (IDN) – We are living a sudden, seismic acceleration of bordering. This acceleration unfolds not only along national borders but within them: […]
CENTRAL ASIA: Turning COVID-19 Calamity into an Opportunity
By Hamid Ali Khan Eusafzai BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (IDN) – The University of Central Asia (UCA), along with many other universities across the globe, suffered the effects of COVID-19. Being forced to close the campus and send students back home, for the health and safety of both students and staff, it also opened a new opportunity […]
The Impact of COVID-19 Stalks Africa – Animated Video Tells Children About It
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – While Africa, like the international community, on the whole, is engaged in a tough fight against the coronavirus, a World Health Organization (WHO) expert has called into question frightening estimates of those affected by COVID-19. At the same time, Ghana in a surprise move has […]
COVID-19: Why We Should Be Sceptical of the Benevolence of Billionaires
Viewpoint by Gwilym David Blunt* LONDON (IDN) – The coronavirus pandemic has produced a surge in philanthropic giving from some of the world’s wealthiest people. Bill and Melinda Gates, longstanding champions of global health, have committed funds to research the disease and manufacture a vaccine when one becomes available. Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter, has […]
America Is Sadly in the Grip of ‘Exhausted Ideas’
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power LUND, Sweden (IDN) – The greatest American foreign affairs columnist since Walter Lippmann was William Pfaff of The International Herald Tribune. He wrote in his path-breaking book, “Barbarian Sentiments” that the US political atmosphere was full of “exhausted ideas, like a dead star”. Nevertheless, “these ideas remain central to the way […]
New Initiative to Fight COVID-19 with Information Technology
By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) – With support from UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations specialized agency for information ((ITU) are set to work with telecommunication companies to text people directly on their mobile phones with vital health messaging to help protect them from COVID-19. These text messages, as part […]
Redefining Cooperation, Development and Prosperity
Reflections on the International Day of Multilateralism Viewpoint by Dumiso Gatsha The writer is a human rights defender, feminist and part-time PhD (Law) candidate. GABARONE, Botswana (IDN) – 75 years of cooperation, mutual engagement and improving lives. Heralding the decade of action, 2020 has brought many challenges and opportunities for relooking how the systems we […]
Good Health and Unimpeded Global Trade Go Hand in Hand
Viewpoint by Roberto Azevêdo and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Following is the text of a joint statement by WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on April 20. GENEVA (IDN) – COVID-19 has rapidly progressed to become a global pandemic, causing unprecedented, far-reaching impact on the health, social and economic well-being of communities […]
Proposal to Convene NPT Review Conference in January 2021
Why Peaceful Vienna Is More Suitable than Toxic New York Viewpoint by Tariq Rauf * VIENNA, (IDN) – In my previous posts on IDN InDepthNews, Update: Postponed 2020 NPT Review Conference, Challenge for the NAM: Move the NPT Review Conference to 2021 in Vienna, and Postpone the NPT Review Conference to 2021 and Convene in […]