WHO : DG condemns "racist" remarks on testing COVID-19 vaccines in Africa (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The World Health Organization Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has condemned in the strongest terms certain remarks made by a "couple of scientists" that new vaccines for addressing the COVID-19 disease must be tested in Africa.

Africa : Zimbabwe's afforestation challenge (PRIV)
(IPS, Bulawayo)
"I have never planted a tree in my life," laughs Jairos Saunyama, a tobacco farmer, revelling at the absurdity of the question of whether he is involved in the country's afforestation efforts.

Argentina : Young people bring solar energy to schools (PRIV)
(IPS, Buenos Aires)
"The idea came to a group of schoolmates and me in 2014, but we never thought it could become a reality," says Sebastian Ieraci, 23, as he points to a multitude of photovoltaic solar panels shining on the roof of the Antonio Devoto High School in the Argentine capital.

Opinion : Diverse voices should be represented in coronavirus experts on TV (PRIV)
(IPS, Illinois)
During a crisis, such as the novel coronavirus, whose impact changes with every passing minute, the urge to listen to and watch the news, and get firsthand insights and real time updates can be constant.

Opinion : What more than COVID-19 to jolt G20 into collective action? (PRIV)
(IPS, Berlin)
My recent study on "The G20@10: Time to shift gears" shows that, during the past decade, the main joint, collective action of the G20 has been to issue communiques and other types of statements.