News headlines in April 2020, page 11

NEW YORK, Apr 02 (IPS) - The Coronavirus pandemic is changing how we live our daily lives. The scale of the Covid-19 and its impact on our lives is unprecedented. When humanity gets past this, the world will be a very different place than the one we have known.

GENEVA, Apr 02 (IPS) - The multi-layered crisis of the Coronavirus epidemic has been a dramatic shock to everyone. But, to communities affected by HIV and AIDS, the crisis has not only brought a further shock to already vulnerable people, it has brought other reactions too – a troubling sense of déjà vu, and a passionate, empathetic, fierce solidarity with all those affected by Coronavirus.

NEW YORK, Apr 02 (IPS) - "I come from Baglung District, a part of Dhawalagiri Zone in Nepal. My house overlooks the river. Do you know, our district is known for the suspension bridges?", her eyes glimmer for a fraction of a second and then she breathes a heavy sigh! Her right hand is still wrapped in a scarf, while with the other she pats her 17-month-old. "If I ever get a chance I will take you to my village, we have a lot of medicinal plants."

She pauses while tears roll down as she continues our Facetime session. "I was 16 when I had my first child and I was 17 when my arm was broken by my mother-in-law."

PENANG and SINGAPORE, Apr 01 (IPS) - The Covid-19 pandemic, erupting in the background of lethargic global economy, could turn out to be the singular biggest crisis in a century. First reported in Wuhan, China, the corona virus has reached almost all countries. It has infected close to 1 million persons and caused over 40,000 deaths at time of writing; and the figures keep climbing. It is a health catastrophe which if not checked in its track would be the most serious since the Spanish Flu of 1918 that killed over 50 million people.

AMSTERDAM/ROME, Apr 01 (IPS) - Part 1 – Addressing the Short Term Aspects

What is likely to be the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on developing economies? It is difficult to make predictions, because much will depend on the spread of the disease, especially in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East, and the measures various Governments will take in the coming weeks and months.

NEW YORK, Apr 01 (IPS) - Martin Khor, a former Director of Third World Network who was a regular contributor of opinion editorials to IPS over several years passed away In Penang on 1 April.

STOCKHOLM / ROME, Apr 01 (IPS) - The experience and interpretation of the Coronavirus pandemic oscillates between the personal and the general spheres. The official discourse and measures taken by authorities have a direct impact on our lives, change our daily existence and foster worries for the future.

A dark cloud of uncertainty hovers above us. What do decision makers know? What can they do? What can we do? Many of us are secluded in our own homes, others in wards or hospitals, or even alone and far away from the ones they love:

UNITED NATIONS, Apr 01 (IPS) - The deadly, fast-spreading coronavirus which upended three key UN conferences—on the empowerment of women, on nuclear disarmament and on indigenous rights—claimed another casualty last week when a commemorative meeting on the transatlantic slave trade was postponed.