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Tag: United Nations

  • India’s vaccine manufacturing capability is finest asset world has right now, says UN chief

    Image Source : ANI United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
    Calling for India to play a serious function in international vaccination marketing campaign, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday termed the vaccine manufacturing capability of India because the “best asset” that the world has right now.
    Addressing reporters right here, the UN chief stated, “I know that in India there is a very high level of production of Indian developed vaccines. We are in contact with Indian institutions for that. We strongly hope that India will have all the instruments that are necessary to play a major role in making sure that a global vaccination is campaign is made possible.”
    “I think that the production capacity of India is the best asset that the world has today. I hope the world understands that it must be fully used,” he added.
    On the necessity to democratize entry to medicines, Guterres stated, “I would say a very important element on the democratization of access to medicines all over the world. I appealed once again today for the licenses to be made available in order for companies around the world to be able to produce some of the vaccines that already exist.”
    UN chief’s assertion comes as India has gifted over 55 lakh doses of coronavirus vaccine to neighbouring international locations.
    Addressing a weekly briefing, External Affairs Ministry (EAM) spokesperson Anurag Srivastava on Thursday stated India plans to reward vaccines doses to Oman, CARICOM international locations, Nicaragua, Pacific Island states.

    Srivastava stated New Delhi plans to produce 1 crore or 10 million vaccine doses to Africa and 10 lakh to United Nations well being employees beneath GAVI’s (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation) COVAX facility.
    “There is interest in many countries to access vaccine from India. In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement that India sees international cooperation in the fight against the pandemic. We have played the role of the first responder in the neighbourhood,” Srivastava stated.
    “From 20th January 2021 onward, we have gifted over 55 lakh doses of coronavirus vaccines to our neighbouring countries and in the extended neighbourhood–1.5 lakh to Bhutan, 1 lakh to Maldives, Mauritius and Bahrain, 10 lakhs to Nepal, 20 lakhs to Bangladesh, 15 lakhs to Myanmar, 50,000 to Seychelles, 5 lakh to Sri Lanka. In the coming days, We plan to gift further quantity to Oman that is of 1 lakh doses, 5 lakh doses to CARICOM countries. 2 lakh to Nicaragua, 2 lakh doses to the Pacific island state,” he added.
    India, Srivastava stated, plans to commercially export coronavirus vaccine to Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Canada, Mongolia and different international locations.
    “On a commercial level, the export has taken place for Brazil Morocco and Bangladesh. Further supplies to countries on commercial bases are likely to take place to Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Canada Mongolia and other countries. We plan to supply 1 crore or 10 million vaccine doses to Africa and 10 lakh to United Nations health workers under GAVI,” he stated.
    (With ANI inputs)
    ALSO READ | Many extra COVID-19 vaccines shall be made obtainable from India: PM Modi at WEF’s Davos Agenda Summit
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  • India’s bid for everlasting UNSC membership matter of dialogue: Joe Biden’s UN ambassador nominee

    Image Source : AP India’s bid for everlasting UNSC membership matter of dialogue: Linda Thomas-Greenfield
    US President Joe Biden’s choose for the ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, on Wednesday didn’t explicitly commit the assist of the brand new administration for India to be a everlasting member of the Security Council. Three earlier administrations, that of George W Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump, had publicly stated that the United States helps India’s bid to be a everlasting member of the UN Security Council.

    However, Thomas-Greenfield, who has spent greater than 35 years in international service earlier than being nominated to the place, throughout her affirmation listening to earlier than the Senate Foreign Relations Committee informed lawmakers that this can be a matter of ongoing dialogue.

    “Do you think India, Germany, Japan, should be (permanent) members (of the UN Security Council),” Senator Jeff Merkley from Oregon requested throughout her affirmation listening to for the place of the US Ambassador to the UN. Biden has named it as a Cabinet-ranking place.

    “I think there has been some discussions about them being members of the Security Council and there are some strong arguments for that,” she stated.

    “But I also know that there are others who disagree within their regions that they should be the representative of their region. That, too, is an ongoing discussion,” she stated in an obvious reference to the Coffee Club or United for Consensus.

    Comprising nations like Italy, Pakistan, Mexico and Egypt, the Coffee Club has opposed the everlasting membership bid of India, Japan, Germany and Brazil. President Biden in his marketing campaign coverage doc final yr had reiterated its promise of supporting India as a everlasting member of the UN Security Council.

    “Recognising India’s growing role on the world stage, the Obama-Biden Administration formally declared US support for India’s membership in a reformed and expanded United Nations Security Council,” Biden Campaign’s coverage doc on Indian-Americans had stated final August.

    Thomas-Greenfield, in response to a different query, favoured reforms within the UN Security Council. India is at present its non-permanent member for a two-year time period that started in January this yr.

    “I think there is general agreement across the board that reforms are needed in the Security Council. What those reforms will be and how they will be implemented, I think remains to be decided but you know changing the number of members that happened we move from 11 to 15 some years ago and there are efforts to push for more permanent members, and those discussions are ongoing,” she stated.

    She was responding to a query from Senator Merkley.

    “I wanted to start by asking about the Security Council itself. At the same time that China and Russian often stymie actions in the Security Council. The Security Council is decreasingly representative of the geopolitical landscape with key powers like India, Germany, Japan not included as permanent members,” he stated.

    “How do you approach the question of the Security Council? How do you consider that perhaps it needs to be reformed? How do you believe it can be made more effective and functional,” Merkley requested.

    Also Read: China pushes fringe theories on pandemic origins, virus
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  • Indian financial system estimated to contract by 9.6% in 2020, develop at 7.3% in 2021: UN

    India’s financial system is projected to develop at 7.3 per cent in 2021, whilst it’s estimated to contract by 9.6 per cent in 2020 as lockdowns and different efforts to regulate the COVID-19 pandemic slashed home consumption, the UN has stated.
    The World Economic Situation and Prospects 2021, produced by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), stated the world financial system was hit by a once-in-a-century disaster – a Great Disruption unleashed by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
    The world financial system shrank by 4.3 per cent final 12 months, over two-and-a-half occasions greater than in the course of the world monetary disaster of 2009. The modest restoration of 4.7 per cent anticipated in 2021 would barely offset the losses of 2020.
    “The devastating socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will be felt for years to come unless smart investments in economic, societal and climate resilience ensure a robust and sustainable recovery of the global economy,” the report stated.

    The Indian financial system, which grew at 4.7 per cent in 2019, will contract by 9.6 per cent in calendar 12 months 2020, “as lockdowns and other containment efforts slashed domestic consumption without halting the spread of the disease, despite drastic fiscal and monetary stimulus”.
    India’s financial progress is forecast to be 7.3 per cent in 2021, the quickest rising main financial system with solely China coming in an in depth second with a 7.2 per cent projected progress charge in calendar 12 months 2021, the report stated.
    According to the fiscal 12 months estimates launched within the report, India’s financial system is estimated to say no by 5.7 per cent in 2020 and can return to a 7 per cent progress charge in fiscal 12 months 2021, slowing down once more to five.6 per cent in 2022.
    The report stated financial progress in South Asia in 2021 will likely be inadequate, at 6.9 per cent, to make up for the losses of 2020, as pandemic hotspots re-emerge and, more and more, the power of governments to cope with the multitude of challenges turns into exhausted.
    “The pandemic and the worldwide financial disaster have consequently left deep marks on South Asia, turning this former progress champion into the worst performing area in 2020.
    “While trade, remittances and investment are expected to pick up in 2021, as much of the global economy moves towards recovery from the widespread lockdown, investment and domestic consumption in many South Asian countries will nevertheless remain subdued owing to the continuing threat of the pandemic and the scarring effects of the crisis,” it stated.
    Regional financial progress for 2022 is forecast at 5.3 per cent, which might enable South Asia to lastly exceed its 2019 financial output, albeit solely marginally.On the opposite hand, South Asian international locations which can be comparatively extra uncovered to world financial situations, akin to Bangladesh and Maldives with their excessive share of international commerce and Nepal with its dependence on tourism and remittances, will get pleasure from a stronger rebound, of about 10 per cent progress in 2021.
    Policymakers in South Asia might want to strengthen their efforts to formalise labour markets and strengthen social safety techniques to dampen the influence of the disaster on probably the most susceptible and enhance macroeconomic resilience, the report stated.
    Informal staff, accounting for over 80 per cent of staff in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan have certainly been way more uncovered to lack of employment than formal staff in the course of the disaster and South Asia’s widespread informality has virtually actually magnified the influence of the pandemic, it famous.
    The report stated the COVID-19 fiscal response in South Asia has consisted of an enormous advert hoc enlargement of social help and direct money transfers for probably the most needy, however this sort of particular assist is neither enough nor sustainable.
    By April, full or partial lockdown measures had affected virtually 2.7 billion staff, representing about 81 per cent of the world’s workforce. By mid-2020, unemployment charges had shortly escalated to file highs: 27 per cent in Nigeria, 23 per cent in India and 21 per cent in Colombia.
    The report famous that the pandemic uncovered how stark inequality affected the power of individuals to deal with the financial influence of the disaster.
    The report stated the livelihood and earnings impacts have been significantly harsh for about 2 billion casual staff with restricted social safety, particularly these self-employed within the casual financial system. The casual sector accounts for greater than 60 per cent of jobs in a lot of giant creating international locations, together with India, Indonesia and Mexico.
    It additionally took notice that a number of of the Sustainable Development Goals have seen some progress, however with out sustained motion this progress will likely be fleeting. Ambient water high quality improved throughout lockdowns, for instance, within the Yamuna River and Sabarmati River in India.
    The report stated share of providers in complete worth added has risen steadily, from 60 per cent of GDP in 2000 to 65 per cent in 2017.
    The significance of the providers sector has risen sharply in different giant creating economies, akin to Brazil and India, it stated.
    Among the creating economies, providers commerce is, nevertheless, extremely concentrated. Just 5 economies (China, Hong Kong, India, South Korea and Singapore) accounted for greater than 50 per cent of providers exports from creating international locations in 2017.

    While India stands out by way of constructing aggressive providers exports, there are additionally different circumstances which can be price highlighting like Mauritius and Senegal, the report stated.

  • Indian economic system estimated to contract by 9.6% in 2020, develop at 7.3% in 2021: UN

    Image Source : FILE Indian economic system estimated to contract by 9.6% in 2020, develop at 7.3% in 2021: UN
    India’s economic system is projected to develop at 7.3 per cent in 2021, at the same time as it’s estimated to contract by 9.6 per cent in 2020 as lockdowns and different efforts to manage the COVID-19 pandemic slashed home consumption, the UN has mentioned. The World Economic Situation and Prospects 2021, produced by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), mentioned the world economic system was hit by a once-in-a-century disaster — a Great Disruption unleashed by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
    The world economic system shrank by 4.3 per cent final yr, over two-and-a-half occasions greater than in the course of the world monetary disaster of 2009. The modest restoration of 4.7 per cent anticipated in 2021 would barely offset the losses of 2020.
    “The devastating socio-economic influence of the COVID-19 pandemic might be felt for years to return except good investments in financial, societal and local weather resilience guarantee a sturdy and sustainable restoration of the worldwide economic system,” the report mentioned.
    The Indian economic system, which grew at 4.7 per cent in 2019, will contract by 9.6 per cent in calendar yr 2020, “as lockdowns and different containment efforts slashed home consumption with out halting the unfold of the illness, regardless of drastic fiscal and financial stimulus”.
    India’s financial progress is forecast to be 7.3 per cent in 2021, the quickest rising main economic system with solely China coming in a detailed second with a 7.2 per cent projected progress price in calendar yr 2021, the report mentioned.
    According to the fiscal yr estimates launched within the report, India’s economic system is estimated to say no by 5.7 per cent in 2020 and can return to a 7 per cent progress price in fiscal yr 2021, slowing down once more to five.6 per cent in 2022.
    The report mentioned financial progress in South Asia in 2021 might be inadequate, at 6.9 per cent, to make up for the losses of 2020, as pandemic hotspots re-emerge and, more and more, the flexibility of governments to take care of the multitude of challenges turns into exhausted.
    “The pandemic and the worldwide financial disaster have consequently left deep marks on South Asia, turning this former progress champion into the worst performing area in 2020.
    “While trade, remittances and investment are expected to pick up in 2021, as much of the global economy moves towards recovery from the widespread lockdown, investment and domestic consumption in many South Asian countries will nevertheless remain subdued owing to the continuing threat of the pandemic and the scarring effects of the crisis,” it mentioned.
    Regional financial progress for 2022 is forecast at 5.3 per cent, which might enable South Asia to lastly exceed its 2019 financial output, albeit solely marginally. On the opposite hand, South Asian international locations which might be comparatively extra uncovered to world financial situations, reminiscent of Bangladesh and Maldives with their excessive share of international commerce and Nepal with its dependence on tourism and remittances, will take pleasure in a stronger rebound, of about 10 per cent progress in 2021.
    Policymakers in South Asia might want to strengthen their efforts to formalise labour markets and strengthen social safety techniques to dampen the influence of the disaster on essentially the most weak and enhance macroeconomic resilience, the report mentioned.

    Informal employees, accounting for over 80 per cent of employees in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan have certainly been much more uncovered to lack of employment than formal employees in the course of the disaster and South Asia’s widespread informality has nearly actually magnified the influence of the pandemic, it famous.
    The report mentioned the COVID-19 fiscal response in South Asia has consisted of an enormous advert hoc growth of social help and direct money transfers for essentially the most needy, however this sort of particular help is neither enough nor sustainable.
    By April, full or partial lockdown measures had affected nearly 2.7 billion employees, representing about 81 per cent of the world’s workforce. By mid-2020, unemployment charges had shortly escalated to document highs: 27 per cent in Nigeria, 23 per cent in India and 21 per cent in Colombia.
    The report famous that the pandemic uncovered how stark inequality affected the flexibility of individuals to deal with the financial influence of the disaster.
    The report mentioned the livelihood and earnings impacts have been significantly harsh for about 2 billion casual employees with restricted social safety, particularly these self-employed within the casual economic system. The casual sector accounts for greater than 60 per cent of jobs in plenty of giant growing international locations, together with India, Indonesia and Mexico.
    It additionally took notice that just a few of the Sustainable Development Goals have seen some progress, however with out sustained motion this progress might be fleeting.
    Ambient water high quality improved throughout lockdowns, for instance, within the Yamuna River and Sabarmati River in India.
    The report mentioned share of companies in complete worth added has risen steadily, from 60 per cent of GDP in 2000 to 65 per cent in 2017.
    The significance of the companies sector has risen sharply in different giant growing economies, reminiscent of Brazil and India, it mentioned.
    Among the growing economies, companies commerce is, nonetheless, extremely concentrated. Just 5 economies (China, Hong Kong, India, South Korea and Singapore) accounted for greater than 50 per cent of companies exports from growing international locations in 2017.
    While India stands out by way of constructing aggressive companies exports, there are additionally different circumstances which might be price highlighting like Mauritius and Senegal, the report mentioned. 
    ALSO READ | India inside hanging distance of achieving constructive progress: RBI
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  • Airlifted COVID vaccines to 9 international locations, will step by step provide to WHO’s COVAX facility: India at UN

    Image Source : AP Airlifted COVID vaccines to 9 international locations, will step by step provide to WHO’s COVAX facility: India at UN
    India has knowledgeable the UN Security Council that it’ll step by step provide vaccines to the COVAX facility of the World Health Organisation and undertake contractual provides to numerous international locations in a phased method, as greater than six million doses have been airlifted to 9 international locations beneath New Delhi’s “vaccine diplomacy.”
    “As the largest vaccine-producing country of the world, we are fulfilling our commitment to make our vaccine production and delivery capacity available for the benefit of the entire humanity,” India’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Okay Nagaraj Naidu mentioned on Monday.
    Speaking on the UN Security Council briefing on ‘Maintenance of international peace and security : Follow-up on the implementation of resolution 2532’, Naidu mentioned two vaccines have already been granted approval for emergency use in India and the nation plans to vaccinate about 300 million residents within the first six months.
    Resolution 2532 (2020), adopted in July 2020, expressed help for the Secretary-General’s enchantment for a world ceasefire to assist unite efforts to struggle COVID-19 on the earth’s most susceptible international locations.
    “We have already airlifted more than 6 million doses to nine countries in Phase-I as grant assistance. Contractual supplies to various countries are also being undertaken in a phased manner. We will also gradually supply to the COVAX facility of the WHO,” Naidu mentioned, including that India has additionally supplied coaching to a number of associate international locations to strengthen their scientific capabilities, in addition to to boost their capacities for vaccine administration.
    COVAX is the worldwide initiative to make sure speedy and equitable entry to COVID-19 vaccines for all international locations, no matter earnings stage.
    Last week, COVAX had introduced that, pending WHO emergency use listings, almost 150 million doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford candidate are anticipated to be obtainable within the first quarter of 2021, by way of present agreements with the Serum Institute of India (SII) and AstraZeneca.
    Naidu advised the Council that India has assisted greater than 150 international locations by means of pressing well being and medical provides.
    New Delhi has pledged 15 million {dollars} for GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, and operationalised the COVID-19 Emergency Fund for its neighbours with an preliminary contribution of 10 million {dollars}.
    “In the spirit of South-South cooperation, through the USD 150 million India-UN Development Partnership Fund, we have responded to member states’ requests for COVID-19 related assistance,” Naidu mentioned.
    Naidu underscored that whereas the pandemic continues to rage the world over, 2021 has began on a optimistic observe with many international locations having initiated the vaccination course of.

    He, nevertheless, cautioned that “no one is safe, till everyone is safe. Our endeavor should be to work towards making the vaccine accessible on a universal, equitable and affordable basis.”
    Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and the Maldives have acquired India’s COVID-19 vaccines beneath grant help in sync with its “Neighbourhood First” coverage.
    India has already rolled out an enormous coronavirus vaccination drive beneath which two vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin, are being administered to frontline well being staff throughout the nation.
    Last week, Bangladesh and Nepal acquired COVID-19 vaccines from India.
    India despatched 150,000 doses of Covisheild vaccines to Bhutan and 100,000 doses to the Maldives, whereas over 2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been supplied to Bangladesh, about a million doses to Nepal. Myanmar acquired over a million doses and Sri Lanka 500,000.
    On Friday, India started business exports of COVID-19 vaccines and despatched two million doses every to Brazil and Morocco.
    Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has thanked India for supplying COVID-19 vaccines to his nation and shared on social media an illustration of Lord Hanuman bringing ‘Sanjivani booti’ from India to Brazil.
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi had replied by means of a tweet that “The honour is ours, President @jairbolsonaro to be a trusted partner of Brazil in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic together. We will continue to strengthen our cooperation on healthcare.”
    In maintaining with India’s said dedication to make use of India’s vaccine manufacturing and supply capability to assist all of humanity struggle the COVID pandemic, provides beneath grant help to Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles started from January 20 beneath the initiative termed “Vaccine Maitri”.
    The MEA mentioned that in an ongoing effort, India will proceed to provide international locations all around the world with vaccines.
    “This will be calibrated against domestic requirements and international demand and obligations, including under GAVI’s Covax facility to developing countries,” the MEA had mentioned in an announcement.
    ALSO READ | UP CM Yogi Adityanath likens COVID-19 vaccine to ‘Sanjeevani Booti’
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  • Islamabad cannot conceal behind UN decision: India hits out at Pakistan over Hindu temple vandalism

    Image Source : ANI Islamabad cannot conceal behind UN decision: India hits out Pakistan over Hindu temple vandalism
    India on Thursday slammed Pakistan for being one of many co-sponsors of a United Nations decision on selling a tradition of peace at the same time as Pakistan authorities remained “mute spectators” as a mob vandalised a historic temple. In December final, a Hindu temple was set ablaze by a mob of tons of in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Paskitan.

    “The resolution can not be a smokescreen for countries like Pakistan to hide behind,” TS Tirumurti, the Indian ambassador to the United Nations mentioned.

    The United Nations General Assembly adopted a decision on ‘Promoting a tradition of peace and tolerance to safeguard spiritual websites. The decision requires strengthened worldwide efforts to foster a worldwide dialogue on the promotion of a tradition of tolerance and peace in any respect ranges, based mostly on respect for human rights and for the range of religions and beliefs.

    “It is a matter of great irony that the country where the most recent attack and demolition of a Hindu temple took place in a series of such attacks and where the rights of minorities are being emasculated is one of the co-sponsors of the resolution under the agenda item “Culture of Peace”, Tirumurti mentioned.

    Citing the destruction of a Hindu temple in Karak city within the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in December 2020, Tirumurti mentioned, “a historic Hindu temple was attacked and set on fire by a mob in the town of Karak in Pakistan with explicit support and connivance with the law enforcement agencies which, stood as mute spectators while the historic temple was being razed.”

    India mentioned that on this world of rising terrorism, violent extremism, radicalization and intolerance, spiritual websites and cultural heritage websites stay susceptible to terrorist acts, violence and destruction.


    Further, Tirumurti pointed to situations in numerous elements of the world that remained susceptible to terrorist acts.

    “The images of the shattering of the iconic Bamyan Buddha by fundamentalists are still vivid in our memories. The terrorist bombing of the Sikh gurudwara in Afghanistan where 25 Sikh worshipers were killed is yet another example of this vulnerability,” he mentioned.

    Trirumurti mentioned India attaches nice significance to safeguarding cultural heritage and non secular websites. He additional mentioned that India additionally has a powerful authorized framework for acts of violence or discrimination based mostly on faith together with violence focused in direction of the locations of worship.

    India, he mentioned reiterates its name for the appliance of the rules of objectivity, non-selectivity and impartiality to kind the premise of discussions within the United Nations particularly on the difficulty of faith.

    “The United Nations together with UN Alliance of Civilizations mustn’t take sides and so long as such selectivity exists, the world can by no means actually foster a tradition of peace. We should stand united in opposition to the forces that supplant dialogue and peace with hatred and violence, Tirumurti mentioned.

    Tirumurti additionally acknowledged the efforts of Saudi Arabia and Morocco to pilot the fragile negotiations for attaining a consensus textual content of the draft decision.

    (With ANI inputs)
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  • Former IOC vice-president says United Nations may resolve destiny of Tokyo Olympics

    Image Source : GETTY IMAGES The Olympics are to open on July 23 however face mounting opposition at house as COVID-19 instances surge in Tokyo, throughout Japan and throughout the globe.
    Kevan Gosper, a former International Olympic Committee vice chairman, is suggesting the United Nations is likely to be the place to resolve the destiny of the postponed Tokyo Olympics.
    The Olympics are to open on July 23 however face mounting opposition at house as COVID-19 instances surge in Tokyo, throughout Japan and throughout the globe.

    Tokyo and different components of Japan are beneath emergency orders with about 4,200 deaths within the nation attributed to COVID-19.
    Gosper, nonetheless an honorary IOC member, made the suggestion to Australia’s nationwide broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
    “If you were looking for a third party that recognizes that this has gone beyond being an issue just related to sport, or just related to national interest, by virtue of the global COVID (pandemic) and its impact then their could be a case to go the United Nations and seek their involvement in arbitrating whether the games go ahead or not,” Gosper told the ABC’s “The Ticket” program.
    The IOC and native organizers have mentioned the Olympics can’t be postponed once more. They will probably be canceled this time if they will’t be held.
    “We’ve done this before in the IOC, we’ve gone to the United Nations to give us assistance,” Gosper said. “Because we are talking about something that potentially is going to involve representatives from 205 countries.”

    Gosper didn’t point out he had contacted the United Nations, and it isn’t clear the physique would enter into what’s an intense political challenge in Japan.
    Japan has invested a reported $25 billion to prepare the Olympics, and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has repeated that the video games will happen.
    National delight can also be at stake, with China set to carry the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022, six month after the Summer Games in Tokyo are to shut.
    The IOC has seen its revenue move stalled by the postponement. The Switzerland-based sports activities physique will get 73% of its revenue from TV rights, and one other 18% from sponsors.
    Tokyo organizers say they’ve many “countermeasures” to battle COVID-19 and maintain the Olympics, however they’ve provided no concrete plans. They have promised extra particulars within the northern hemisphere spring.
    About 15,400 Olympic and Paralympic athletes should enter Japan, together with tens of hundreds of officers, judges, VIPs, media and broadcasters.
    It is unclear if followers from overseas will probably be allowed, or if Japan-based followers will probably be permitted to attend occasions.
    One key date will probably be March 25 when the torch relay is to begin in Japan. It will contain 10,000 runners throughout the nation. Many see this as a deadline for deciding to go ahead or to cancel.

  • ‘Vaccinationalism’ is self-defeating, says UN chief as international COVID deaths cross 2 million

    Image Source : AP UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres
    As the world crossed a “heart-wrenching milestone” of two million deaths from COVID-19, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres lamented that the lethal influence of the pandemic has worsened because of the absence of a world coordinated effort and stated that “vaccinationalism” by governments is “self-defeating” that can delay a world restoration.
    Since its discovery on the finish of December 2019, COVID-19 has now unfold to all corners of the world, with circumstances in 191 international locations and areas.
    Deaths because of the illness reached the grim milestone of 1 million solely in September. In addition, the socio-economic influence of the pandemic has been huge, with numerous jobs and livelihoods misplaced globally, and thousands and thousands pushed into poverty and starvation.
    “Our world has reached a heart-wrenching milestone: the COVID-19 pandemic has now claimed two million lives. Behind this staggering number are names and faces: the smile now only a memory, the seat forever empty at the dinner table, the room that echoes with the silence of a loved one,” Guterres stated on Friday.
    According to Johns Hopkins University’s coronavirus tracker, the lethal virus has up to now claimed 2,008,237 lives and contaminated 93,816,953 individuals globally.
    Guterres stated the lethal influence of the pandemic has been made worse by the absence of a world coordinated effort and known as for the world to behave with far better solidarity “within the reminiscence of these two million souls”.
    The UN chief stated as secure and efficient COVID-19 vaccines are being rolled out, “we are seeing a vaccine vacuum” and famous that the world’s main economies have a particular duty.
    “Science is succeeding — but solidarity is failing. Some countries are pursuing side deals, even procuring beyond need. Governments have a responsibility to protect their populations, but ‘vaccinationalism’ is self-defeating and will delay a global recovery,” he stated.
    Warning that COVID-19 can’t be crushed one nation at a time, Guterres voiced concern that vaccines are reaching excessive revenue international locations shortly, whereas the world’s poorest have none in any respect.

    “Our world can solely get forward of this virus a technique — collectively. Global solidarity will save lives, shield individuals and assist defeat this vicious virus,” he stated.
    Guterres stated the UN is supporting international locations to mobilise the most important international immunisation effort in historical past and the world organisation is dedicated to creating certain that vaccines are seen as international public items — individuals’s vaccines.
    “That requires full funding for the access to COVID-19 tools accelerator and its COVAX facility — which is dedicated to making vaccines available and affordable to all,” he stated.
    The UN chief harassed that producers must step up their dedication to work with the COVAX facility and international locations around the globe to make sure sufficient provide and truthful distribution.
    “We need countries to commit now to sharing excess doses of vaccines. This would help vaccinate all health care workers around the world on an urgent basis and protect health systems from collapse,” he stated.
    Emphasising that these on the frontline, together with humanitarian employees and high-risk populations, have to be prioritised for the vaccine, Guterres stated so as to acquire public belief, “we must boost vaccine confidence and knowledge with effective communication grounded in facts”.
    Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, stated Guterres is predicted to get the COVID-19 vaccination subsequent week.
    “As he himself dedicated, we are going to launch a photograph and video of that as a result of he was very a lot dedicated to do it publicly,” he stated. 
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  • India has world’s largest diaspora: UN

    Image Source : AP The United Nations Security Council votes on a decision (illustrative picture: AP/Craig Ruttle)
    India has the world’s largest diaspora with about 18 million individuals born there now residing overseas, in response to John Wilmoth, the director of UN’s Population Division on the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Presenting the International Migration Report 2020 on Friday, he stated that the US was the highest host nation for migrants with 51 million of them or 18 per cent of the world’s whole residing there.
    The report stated that between 2000 and 2020, the scale of the migrant inhabitants overseas grew for almost all international locations and areas of the world with India experiencing the most important achieve of almost 10 million throughout that interval, going from third place in 2000 for the variety of migrants to the primary spot in 2020.
    The report takes a broad view of migrants, together with additionally college students and people going overseas for household reunions within the definition.
    Explaining the phenomenon of the migration from India, UN’s Population Affairs Officer Clare Menozzi stated: “The Indian diaspora is one of the most vibrant dynamic world… It’s present in all continents, in all regions.”
    The Indian diaspora is various, “comprised predominantly of persons who are workers but also students, and people who have moved for family reasons”, she stated.
    The contingent of India-born migrants born within the Gulf international locations are taking part in a central function within the financial prosperity of these international locations, Menozzi stated.

    “They’re also widely present in Northern America and Canada, the US and UK and Australia,” she stated.
    “And if you look for example at the US, I know from the education statistics of some of the persons who are born in India, they have often a very high educational attainment some tertiary or even post-doc(toral), and so forth.”
    She stated that there’s “a common misperception that migration is a reaction to lack of opportunity”.
    While which may be true in some contexts, “it’s also the sign of dynamism, the fact of a person, an individual makes a choice to pursue opportunities”, in response to Menozzi.
    There can be a change in how individuals go overseas.
    “The notion that a person would migrate and then forever leave their countries is no longer the case. Most migrants actually now have an experience of moving abroad but then they return, they would go abroad to study, and then bring back some of the knowledge that they find abroad,” Menozzi added.

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  • British Indian minister Alok Sharma given sole cost of UN local weather summit

    Image Source : OFFICIAL TWITTER HANDLE British Indian minister Alok Sharma given sole cost of UN local weather summit
    Alok Sharma, one of many Indian-origin ministers in UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Cabinet, has relinquished his position as Business Secretary in a mini-reshuffle to take sole cost as President of COP26 – the United Nations local weather summit scheduled for Glasgow, Scotland, in November.
    The Agra-born minister, who was till now in command of twin roles, will focus completely on what has been dubbed as the most important summit the UK has ever hosted, bringing collectively representatives from almost 200 international locations, together with India.
    Downing Street stated on Friday that Johnson had requested Sharma to tackle the brand new cost to drive ahead coordinated international motion to sort out local weather change to fulfill the excessive ambitions for the summit.
    “The biggest challenge of our time is climate change and we need to work together to deliver a cleaner, greener world and build back better for present and future generations,” stated Sharma.
    “Through the UK’s Presidency of COP26 we have now a novel alternative, working with buddies and companions world wide, to ship on this purpose.
    Given the very important significance of tackling local weather change I’m delighted to have been requested by the Prime Minister to dedicate all my energies to this pressing job,” he stated.

    The COP26 President will probably be primarily based within the UK Cabinet Office, persevering with as a full member of Cabinet, and can chair the Climate Action Implementation Committee to coordinate authorities motion in the direction of internet zero by 2050 within the run as much as the November summit.
    “A successful summit in November will be critical if we want to meet the objectives set out by the Paris Agreement and reduce global emissions. The UK has set a high bar, with our recent commitment to reduce emissions by at least 68 per cent by 2030, but we also need other countries to do their bit,” Downing Street stated.
    Sharma has been described as a “leading force” behind the UK’s local weather diplomacy, since assuming the position in February 2020. The Climate Ambition Summit co-hosted by the UK in December final yr noticed 75 world leaders set out new commitments to local weather motion.
    Kwasi Kwarteng, who was a minister of state within the Business division, has been promoted to take over from Sharma as Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
    Anne-Marie Trevelyan will step into Kwarteng’s place as Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth. She can even proceed in her position because the UK’s International Champion on Adaptation and Resilience for the COP26 Presidency, supporting international locations susceptible to local weather change to adapt to its impacts and construct resilience.
    Downing Street stated the adjustments are a part of the federal government’s Ten Point Plan on going additional and sooner in the direction of a greener future, together with committing to finish the sale of latest petrol and diesel autos by 2030, supporting renewable vitality initiatives throughout the UK, investing in know-how and reworking the vitality effectivity of the UK’s houses and public buildings. 
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