Viewpoint by Teshome Toga Chanaka This is the second of a two-part article by Teshome Toga Chanaka, currently Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia to China. Click here for Part 1. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the government and IDN, the flagship […]
The Chinese Experience in Fighting COVID-19 and the Imperative of a Global Coalition – Part 1
Viewpoint by Teshome Toga Chanaka This is the first of a two-part article by Teshome Toga Chanaka, currently Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia to China. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the government and IDN, the flagship of non-profit International Press Syndicate. […]
UN Travel Organization Predicts Revival of Holiday Traffic
By Ronald Joshua ROME | MADRID (IDN) – Tourism has been brought to a near-standstill by COVID-19, but the World Travel Organization (UNWTO) believes that once the pandemic has passed, the industry, which accounts for 10 per cent of global GDP, is in a unique position to help put the global economy back on its […]
COVID-19 : An Unprecedented Crisis and Also an Exceptional Opportunity
Viewpoint by Dr Palitha Kohona The writer is former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, and former Foreign Secretary. Henry Kissinger, in one of his infrequent statements said, “When the COVID-19 pandemic is over, many countries’ institutions will be perceived as having failed. Whether this judgment is objectively fair is […]
UN Institute Expects COVID-19 Fallout to Push Half a Billion People into Poverty
By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) – New research published by the UNU World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER) warns that the economic fallout from the global pandemic could increase global poverty by as much as half a billion people, or 8% of the total human population. This would be the first time that […]
Coronavirus Shows World Not Prepared for Security Threat of Climate Change
Viewpoint by Kate Guy* OXFORD (IDN) – How might a single threat, even one deemed unlikely, spiral into an evolving global crisis which challenges the foundations of global security, economic stability and democratic governance, all in the matter of a few weeks? My research on threats to national security, governance and geopolitics has focused on […]
COVID-19: Brazil Implements Basic Income Policy Following Massive Civil Society Campaign
By Pedro Telles The writer is 2018-19 Atlantic Fellow for Social and Economic Equity at the International Inequalities Institute, London School of Economics. SÃO PAULO (IDN) – Tens of millions of Brazilians have begun receiving basic income payments aimed at addressing the economic impact of COVID-19, following Congress’ approval of a bill prompted by a […]
WHO Cautions Against Relaxing Lockdown Measures in Europe
By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) – The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of a potential “second wave” of COVID-19 infections. The warning comes as some European countries have begun to relax lockdown measures following weeks of confinement introduced to halt the spread of the new coronavirus. In an update to strategic advice to […]
The Power of Art in A Time of Coronavirus Crisis
By Jaya Ramachandran PARIS (IDN) – As billions of people find themselves either in lockdown or on the front lines combating the COVID-19 pandemic, the first celebration of World Art Day on April 15 is a timely reminder that “art has the power to unite and connect in times of crisis”, the head of the […]
UN Migration Ramps Up Coronavirus Response Worldwide
By Jaya Ramachandran with IOM Press Release GENEVA (IDN) – In the face of the number of rising new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has expanded the scope of its Global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) to include far-reaching interventions that aim to mitigate the dire health and socio-economic […]