April 19, 2022
Finance Minister of India, Nirmala Sitharaman, meets IMF Managing Director Ms. Kristalina Georgieva in Washington D.C.
Photo: A woman heads towards the metro station at Connaught Place in New Delhi, India, on March 29, 2022. Women make up 19 percent of the workforce in India, down from approximately 30 percent in 1990, as per a World Bank report. Image provided by & copyright © IMF Photo/Saumya Khandelwal.
Washington, April 19, 2022 — India’s Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs, Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman, had a bilateral meeting with Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF), on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund-World Bank (IMF-WB) Spring Meetings in Washington D.C. today.
Both the Finance Minister and the Managing Director were accompanied by senior officials like Mr. Anantha V. Nageswaran, Chief Economic Advisor, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, and Ms. Gita Gopinath, FDMD of IMF.
During the meeting, they discussed issues of importance for India besides several topics currently being faced by the global and the regional economies.
Ms. Georgieva highlighted the resilience of India, which remains the fastest-growing country across the globe despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms. Georgieva also referred to a well-targeted policy mix followed by India. She lauded India for its contribution to the capacity development activities of the IMF.
Ms. Georgieva praised India’s vaccination program and extended help to its neighbor and other vulnerable economies. In addition, the IMF MD referred India’s resources to Sri Lanka during their complex economic crisis. Ms. Sitharaman indicated that IMF should support and urgently provide financial assistance to Sri Lanka. The Managing Director assured the Finance Minister that the IMF would continue to engage with Sri Lanka actively.
Discussing the recent geopolitical developments, Ms. Sitharaman and Ms. Georgieva raised concerns about its impact on the global economy and the challenges linked to the rising energy prices.
Explaining India’s policy approach, Ms. Sitharaman mentioned that an accommodative fiscal stance accompanied significant structural reforms, including the bankruptcy code and targeted help to vulnerable sections.
Ms. Sitharaman said that Monetary Authority fully supported and complemented these efforts with an accommodative stance.
The Finance Minister further stated that India had a sound agricultural output, supported by a good monsoon during the COVID pandemic. As a result, agricultural exports and other exports have also sharply increased. She concluded that India is entering into new economic activities to help resolve some of the global supply chain issues.
Source: Ministry of Finance, Government of India
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April 15, 2022
IMF Chief addresses the International Monetary Fund 2022 Spring Meetings Curtain Raiser
Photo: Post Spring Meetings 2021, Head of Department Meetings Chief of Staff, Dominique Desruelle, looks on during the post-2021 Spring Meetings meeting with the department heads at the International Monetary Fund. Washington, DC, United States. Image provided by & copyright © IMF Photo/Cory Hancock. [File photo]
Photo: IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva meets with Queen Máxima of the Netherlands at the International Monetary Fund on March 23, 2022. Washington, DC, United States. Image provided by & copyright © IMF Photo/Cory Hancock.
Photo: Supply Chain and Inflation. There are high gas prices at gas stations in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. January 19, 2022. Washington, DC, United States. Image provided by & copyright © IMF Photo/Cory Hancock.
Washington, DC, April 15, 2022 — The IMF’s Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva raised the 2022 Spring Meetings curtain yesterday, April 14, in an event hosted by Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The IMF MD stated that the world is facing a crisis on top of an emergency: First, the pandemic, and second, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Global growth prospects vary significantly across countries: from catastrophic economic losses in Ukraine to a severe contraction in Russia to countries facing spillovers from the war through commodity, trade, and financial channels, IMF said. IMF will release detailed forecasts in the World Economic Report next Tuesday.
“The outlook has deteriorated substantially, largely because of the war and its repercussions. In addition, inflation, financial tightening, and frequent, wide-ranging lockdowns in China causing new bottlenecks in global supply chains are also weighing on activity. As a result, we will be projecting a further downgrading global growth for 2022 and 2023. Fortunately for most countries, growth will remain in positive territory. That said, the impact of the war will contribute to forecast downgrades for 143 economies this year, accounting for 86 percent of global GDP,” said Georgieva.
Photo: Consumer Price Inflation Chart. Source: IMF.
Emerging and developing economies face the added risk of potential spillovers from monetary tightening in advanced economies—higher borrowing costs and capital outflows.
“The Russian invasion of Ukraine triggered spillovers through three main channels. The first is commodity prices, wheat oil, gas, and metals. The second one is the pressure on inflation and the necessity for central banks to tighten up faster than they would otherwise with all the consequences for emerging markets. And the third one is the financial channels remittances and the impact on how the monetary system will look after the war. So when you look at this impact from a human standpoint, the most dramatic one is food prices. Why? Because that comes on top of already deepening food insecurity in many parts of the world. Remember, we had bad harvests in several countries, locusts in Africa, and the Horn of Africa that have already generated pressure. And now the war is heating on the world’s low-income families even more,” added Georgieva.
Georgieva concluded the event by stressing that the international community’s immediate priorities are to end the war in Ukraine, confront the pandemic, and tackle inflation and debt.
“2020 is the record highest borrowing year since World War II. Even the global financial crisis didn’t lead to such an expansion of borrowing in one year. Now, when we have a global debt level of 256% of global GDP, we have to think of its impact. Interest rates are low. In some cases, even negative, this is easy. In fact, in 2021, debt went up, but debt service in many countries went down. Why? Because of accommodative monetary policy. When inflation accelerated, I should say that part of the inflation pressure came from demand picking up after the pandemic. Still, supply chains are getting broken, and supply is not catching up with this demand. Price stability is essential for growth, so central banks have to take action. They have to act decisively. Interest payments go up when they do so, and servicing debt becomes much more difficult,” the IMF MD concluded.
The world’s financial leaders are set to meet in Washington, DC, next week for the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings.
Rising inflation, the economic impact of the war in Ukraine, and the lingering effects of the pandemic are front and center for policymakers.
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF)
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— The editor holds certification in “Financial Market Analysis” from International Monetary Fund, Washington, DC.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:05 PM | View the original post
April 1, 2022
UNESCO awards India the "Certificate of Inscription of Durga Puja in Kolkata to the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity"
Photos: Paris, France. The UNESCO Director-General handed over the “Certificate of inscription of Durga Puja in Kolkata to the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage” to the Permanent Representative of India to UNESCO. Images provided by & Copyright © UNESCO/Lily CHAVANCE.
Paris, March 31, 2021 — UNESCO presented India the Certificate of inscription of “Durga Puja in Kolkata” to the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.
Earlier, the Intergovernmental Committee of UNESCO’s Convention on Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage inscribed ‘Durga Puja in Kolkata’ on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during its 16th session in Paris, France, from 13th to 18th December 2021.
Durga Puja celebrates feminine divinity and a consummate expression of dance, music, crafts, rituals, practices, culinary and cultural aspects. The festival transcends the boundaries of caste, creed, and economic classes and joins the people together in its celebration.
India is a signatory of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for Safeguarding the Intangible Heritage and traditions and living expression. Intangible cultural heritage means the practices, representations, words, knowledge, skills, instruments, objects, artifacts, and cultural spaces that communities and groups recognize as a part of their cultural inheritance.
Source: UNESCO
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March 30, 2022
UNESCO and Anthology partner to Define the Future of Education at the 2022 World Higher Education Conference.
Photo: Trade Buildings. Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona is the venue of the World Higher Education Conference (WHEC2022) from May 18 to May 20, 2022. Image Credit: Josep Maria Torra.
BOCA RATON, Fla. and PARIS, March 28, 2022— Anthology, a leading provider of education solutions that support the entire learner lifecycle, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have announced Anthology’s sponsorship for the World Higher Education Conference (WHEC2022). The conference takes place in Barcelona, Spain, from March 18, 2022, to March 20, 2022.
UNESCO and Blackboard, now part of Anthology, initially formed a partnership to support global digital learning initiatives in 2020. This flagship higher education event, held only once each decade, marks the organizations’ continued collaboration to help define the future of higher education.
The UNESCO World Higher Education Conference aims to break away from traditional models of higher education and open doors to new, innovative, creative, and visionary conceptions that serve current agendas for sustainable development and pave the way for future learning communities. The WHEC2022 will gather representatives from the worldwide higher education ecosystem, from academics to political leaders and youth, to reshape the ideas and practices in higher education for a more sustainable future. More than 2,000 in-person attendees and 10,000 virtual attendees would convene for this year’s event.
“We are honored to participate in such a momentous event and have a voice in the global conversation about the future of higher education,” said Jim Milton, Anthology Chairman and CEO. “There is an incredible synergy between the work UNESCO is leading and our vision of creating an inspiring and infinite world of learning without boundaries. We look forward to our continued partnership as we seek the best outcomes for learners and leaders across the education community.”
“The third World Higher Education Conference will concentrate on higher education as an agent of social change to contribute to leaving no one behind in higher ed,” said Mr. Peter Wells, UNESCO Chief of Higher Education. “Anthology’s dedication to supporting the entire learning lifecycle for students of all backgrounds makes them an excellent partner for UNESCO, both for this event and future.”
“Anthology” offers the largest EdTech ecosystem globally for education, recently combining with Blackboard to support more than 150 million users in 80 countries. With a mission to provide dynamic, data-informed experiences to the global education community, Anthology helps learners, leaders, and educators achieve their goals through over 60 SaaS products and services designed to advance learning.
UNESCO is the only United Nations agency with a mandate to cover all aspects of education. The organization believes that education is a human right and that access must match quality. Its work encompasses educational development from pre-school to higher education and beyond.
Source: Anthology
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— The Editor is a GPE/UNESCO/IIEP trained “Independent Appraiser” of Education Sector Plans.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 3:20 PM | View the original post
March 2, 2022
United Nations Secretary-General Launches Humanitarian Flash Appeal and Regional Refugee Response Plan for Ukraine
Photo: UN Secretary-General António Guterres (left) walks in the corridor at UN Headquarters, on his way to launch a Humanitarian Flash Appeal and a Regional Refugee Response Plan for Ukraine. March 01, 2022. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Mark Garten.
Photo: Richard M. Mills, Jr., Deputy Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, addresses the Security Council meeting on the situation in Ukraine. February 28, 2022. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Mark Garten.
Photo: A broad view of the Security Council Chamber as Filippo Grandi (on-screen), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, briefs the meeting on the situation in Ukraine. February 28, 2022. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Mark Garten.
Photo: Sergiy Kyslytsya, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations, addresses the Security Council meeting on the situation in Ukraine. February 28, 2022. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Loey Felipe.
Photo: Pordis Kolbrun Reykfjoro Gylfadottir, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development Cooperation of Iceland, addresses the high-level segment of the 49th regular session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. February 28, 2022. Switzerland. Geneva. UN Photo/Violaine Martin.
Photo: Melanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, addresses the High-Level Segment 2022 Conference on Disarmament. February 28, 2022. Switzerland. Geneva. UN Photo/Violaine Martin.
Photo: Vassily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for February, chairs the Security Council meeting on the situation in Ukraine. February 28, 2022. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Mark Garten.
Photo: A view of New York from United Nations Headquarters. March 01, 2022. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Mark Garten.
Source: United Nations
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February 7, 2022
Picasso’s Guernica Tapestry outside the United Nations Security Council Chamber.
Photo: Picasso’s iconic Guernica tapestry has been cared for by conservators and rehung outside the United Nations Security Council Chamber. It is widely agreed that the impactful message of this vital artwork extends beyond any one entity, institution, or audience. Picasso’s original exposition of the work challenged a broad audience of viewers to confront the powerful symbols deeply through an international tour of the exhibition.
The picture shows a view of the tapestry outside the United Nations Security Council Chamber. New York, United States of America. UN Photo/Mark Garten.
Source: United Nations, New York
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January 9, 2022
View of UN Headquarters in Snow
Photo: A view of UN Headquarters in snow. January 7, 2022. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Mark Garten.
Photo: A view of the Visitors Plaza at UN Headquarters in snow. January 7, 2022. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Mark Garten.
Source: United Nations, New York
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 6:39 AM | View the original post
December 15, 2021
UNESCO inscribes ‘Durga Puja in Kolkata’ on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Photos: Durga Puja inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Images Credit: UNESCO; Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
New Delhi, December 15, 2021 — In an important announcement, the Intergovernmental Committee of UNESCO’s 2003 Convention on Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage has inscribed ‘Durga Puja in Kolkata’ on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during its 16th session being held at Paris, France from 13th to 18th December 2021. The Committee commended Durga Puja for its initiatives to involve marginalized groups and individuals and women in their participation in safeguarding the element.
As a ten-day celebration, Durga Puja represents the collective worship of the Hindu Goddess Durga. During this time, masterfully designed clay models of the Goddess are worshipped in “pandals” or pavilions where communities get together and celebrate. In addition, several folk pieces of music, culinary, craft, and performing arts traditions add to the dynamism of this celebration.
While Durga Puja is one of the most important festivals of West Bengal, India, it is widely observed across the country and in major cities of the world by the Bengali diaspora.
Durga Puja celebrates feminine divinity and a consummate expression of dance, music, crafts, rituals, practices, culinary and cultural aspects. The festival transcends the boundaries of caste, creed, and economic classes and joins the people together in its celebration.
With the inscription of Durga Puja in Kolkata, India now has 14 intangible cultural heritage elements on the prestigious UNESCO Representative List of ICH of Humanity. The recent ICH elements that saw inscriptions are Kumbh Mela (2017) and Yoga (2016).
India is a signatory of the 2003 UNESCO Convention, which aims for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Heritage and traditions and living expression. Intangible cultural heritage means the practices, representations, words, knowledge, skills - as well as the instruments, objects, artifacts, and cultural spaces associated with them that communities, groups, and, in some cases, individuals recognize as a part of their cultural inheritance.
Sources: UNESCO; Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
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December 3, 2021
Gita Gopinath to Be IMF's New First Deputy Managing Director
Photo: The International Monetary Fund’s HQ1 and HQ2 buildings sit amid the season’s first snow. December 16, 2020. Washington, DC, United States. IMF Photo/ Cory Hancock.
Photo: Chief Economist Gita Gopinath provides the World Economic Outlook during the 2021 Annual Meetings at the International Monetary Fund. October 12, 2021. Washington, DC, United States. IMF Photo/ Cory Hancock.
Washington, DC, December 2, 2021: Today, the IMF said that First Deputy Managing Director (FDMD) Geoffrey Okamoto would leave the Fund early next year. Gita Gopinath, currently the IMF’s Chief Economist, is proposed to be the Fund’s new First Deputy Managing Director. Kristalina Georgieva, the IMF’s Managing Director, announced, “Both Geoffrey and Gita are tremendous colleagues — I am sad to see Geoffrey go. But, at the same time, I am delighted that Gita has decided to stay and accept the new responsibility of being our FDMD.” Ms. Gopinath was to return to her academic position at Harvard University in January 2022.
Ms. Georgieva added: “Especially given that the pandemic has led to an increase in the scale and scope of the macroeconomic challenges facing our member countries. I believe that Gita — universally recognized as one of the world’s leading macroeconomists — has precisely the expertise that we need for the FDMD role at this point. Indeed, her particular skill set—combined with her years of experience at the Fund as Chief Economist—make her uniquely well qualified. She is the right person at the right time.”
Ms. Georgieva noted that Ms. Gopinath’s contribution to the Fund’s work has already been exceptional, especially her “intellectual leadership in helping the global economy and the Fund to navigate the twists and turns of the worst economic crisis of our lives.” She also said that Ms. Gopinath—the first female Chief Economist in IMF history—has garnered respect and admiration across our member countries and the institution, with a proven track record in leading analytically rigorous work on a broad range of issues.”
Ms. Georgieva observed that under Ms. Gopinath’s leadership, the IMF’s Research Department had gone from “strength to strength.” For example, the IMF Research Department now does multilateral surveillance via The World Economic Outlook, a new analytical approach to help countries respond to international capital flows. Ms. Georgieva also praised Ms. Gopinath’s recent work on a Pandemic Plan to end the COVID-19 crisis by setting targets to vaccinate the world at a feasible cost.
On her new appointment, Ms. Gopinath said:
“I am honored and humbled to become the IMF’s next FDMD. Over the past three years, I have had the opportunity to experience first-hand and be a part of the hugely important work done by the IMF at the intersection of rigorous economic analysis and public policy. It is gratifying to see the positive impact of our work on economies and the lives of many people worldwide. As the pandemic continues its grip on us, the work of the Fund has never been more critical. I am very thankful to Kristalina and the Board for this opportunity, and so look forward to collaborating closely with all the incredibly brilliant and committed colleagues at the Fund, working with whom has been an absolute privilege.”
Source: IMF
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November 11, 2021
Guardian for International Peace and Security, Gift from Mexico to the United Nations
Photo: A guardian for international peace and security sits on the Visitors Plaza outside UN Headquarters. The guardian is a fusion of jaguar and eagle and donated by the Government of Oaxaca, Mexico. Artists Jacobo and Maria Angeles created it. November 09, 2021. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Manuel ElÃas.
Photo: Alicia Guadalupe Buenrostro Massieu, Deputy Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for November, chairs the Security Council meeting on United Nations peacekeeping operations and Police Commissioners. November 10, 2021. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe.
Source: United Nations
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November 9, 2021
Audrey Azoulay Re-elected as the Head of UNESCO with Massive Support.
Photo: UNESCO Director-General, Audrey Azoulay. Image provided by & Copyright © UNESCO/Christelle ALIX.
Paris, November 9, 2021 — Audrey Azoulay was re-elected Tuesday to the post of Director-General of UNESCO with the massive support of the Organization’s 193 Member States.
Ms. Azoulay’s re-election took place in a spirit of consensus with the overwhelming backing of UNESCO Member States, obtaining 155 votes out of a total of 169 ballots cast.
“I see this result as a sign of regained unity within our Organization. Over the last four years, we have been able to restore confidence in UNESCO, and in some respects, this has also been about restoring UNESCO’s confidence in itself. First, we regained serenity by reducing the political tensions that stood in our way and looking for common positions on divisive subjects. We were then able to develop a shared ambition, notably by reconnecting with the tradition of leading major operations in the field,” Audrey Azoulay said.
Over the past four years, UNESCO has undergone a significant modernization process to improve the efficiency of its actions.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, while hundreds of millions of children and adolescents lost their right to learn, UNESCO once again proved its ability to establish the Global Education Coalition, which made it possible to ensure educational continuity in 112 countries.
Source: UNESCO
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi delighted over Srinagar joining UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)
• UNESCO Creative Cities Network designates Srinagar a Creative City of Craft and Folk Arts.
Photo: Dal Lake, Srinagar. Image Credit: Saka Bonetto.
Paris, France, November 8, 2021 — UNESCO announced today that the city of Srinagar had joined the UNESCO Network of Creative Cities. UNESCO has designated it as a Creative City of Craft and Folk Arts.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed happiness over Srinagar joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) as a Creative City of Craft and Folk Arts.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said: “Delighted that beautiful Srinagar joins the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) with a special mention for its craft and folk art. It is fitting recognition for the vibrant cultural ethos of Srinagar. Congratulations to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Srinagar joins Chennai and Varanasi - UNESCO Cities of music; Jaipur - UNESCO City of crafts and folk arts; Mumbai - UNESCO City of the film; and Hyderabad - UNESCO City of gastronomy.
Worldwide, 49 new cities have joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) following their designation by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay to recognize their commitment to placing culture and creativity at the heart of their development and sharing knowledge & good practices.
The Network now numbers 295 cities reaching 90 countries that invest in culture and creativity - crafts and folk art, design, film, gastronomy, literature, media arts, and music - to advance sustainable urban development.
“A new urban model needs to be developed in every city, with its architects, town planners, landscapers, and citizens. We are urging everyone to work with States to reinforce the international cooperation between cities which UNESCO wishes to promote”, said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.
“I would like to offer my warm congratulations to India and especially to Srinagar. This is a great recognition of the vitality of the arts and crafts sector in Srinagar”, Eric Falt, UNESCO New Delhi Director, remarked.
By joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), cities commit to sharing their best practices and developing partnerships involving the public and private sectors and civil society to strengthen the creation, production, distribution, and dissemination of cultural activities and goods and services. They also pledge to develop hubs of creativity and innovation and broaden opportunities for creators and professionals in the cultural sector.
• Here are the New Creative Cities:
- Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) - Music
- Batumi (Georgia) - Music
- Belfast (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) - Music
- Bida (Nigeria) - Handicrafts and Folk Art
- Bohicon (Benin) - Gastronomy
- Buraidah (Saudi Arabia) - Gastronomy
- Bursa (Turkey) - Crafts and Folk Art
- Campina Grande (Brazil) - Media Arts
- Cannes (France) - Film
- Cluj-Napoca (Romania) - Film
- Como (Italy) - Craft and Folk Art
- Covilhã (Portugal) - Design
- Doha (Qatar) - Design
- Gdynia (Poland) - Film
- Gimhae (Republic of Korea) - Craft and Folk Art
- Göteborg (Sweden) - Literature
- Hamar (Norway) - Media Arts
- Huai’an (China) - Gastronomy
- Huancayo (Peru) - Music
- Ibagué (Colombia) - Music
- Jakarta (Indonesia) - Literature
- Kermanshah (Iran) - Gastronomy
- Kharkiv (Ukraine) - Music
- Kuching (Malaysia) - Gastronomy
- Lankaran (Azerbaijan) - Gastronomy
- Launceston (Australia) - Gastronomy
- London (Canada) - Music
- Manises (Spain) - Crafts and Folk Art
- Modena (Italy) - Media Arts
- Nakuru (Kenya) - Crafts and Folk Art
- Namur (Belgium) - Media Arts
- Pasto (Colombia) - Crafts and Folk Art
- Perth (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) - Crafts and Folk Art
- Phetchaburi (Thailand) - Gastronomy
- Port Louis (Mauritius) - Music
- Recife (Brazil) - Music
- Rouen (France) - Gastronomy
- Saint Petersburg (Russian Federation) - Gastronomy
- Santa Maria da Feira (Portugal) - Gastronomy
- Santiago de Cuba (Cuba) - Music
- Srinagar (India) - Crafts and Folk Art
- Tallinn (Estonia) - Music
- Tbilisi (Georgia) - Media Arts
- Thessaloniki (Greece) - Gastronomy
- Usuki (Japan) - Gastronomy
- Vilnius (Lithuania) - Literature
- Weifang (China) - Handicraft and Folk Art
- Whanganui (New Zealand) - Design
- Xalapa (Mexico) - Music
Source: UNESCO
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— The editor contributes to the enhancement of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) worldwide.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 5:00 AM | View the original post
October 30, 2021
The G20 Summit starts in Rome.
Photos: G20 Summit Working Sessions. Rome, Italy. October 30, 2021. Images provided by G20 Rome.
Rome, Italy. October 30, 2021 — The first G20 Summit hosted by Italy started today in Rome. On Saturday 30 and Sunday, October 31, the Heads of State and Government of the world’s major economies, together with invited countries and representatives of international and regional organizations, will address several critical topics of the global agenda.
The Summit represents the culminating moment of the intense work carried out during the whole year of the Italian G20 Presidency through Ministers’ Meetings, Sherpa meetings, Working Groups, and Engagement Groups.
The Summit takes place in the EUR district, inside the Nuvola Convention Center, globally recognized as one of the most refined examples of contemporary aesthetics. The Media Centre is housed in the Palazzo dei Congressi, another landmark of the area.
Source: G20 Rome
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G20 Italy
Leaders attending the G20 Summit in Rome gather for official family photos. Rome, October 30, 2021.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:58 PM | View the original post
October 10, 2021
UNESCO Director-General welcomes Recognition of the Crucial Role of Journalists by Nobel Peace Prize
Photo: UNESCO Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, addresses an event at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. October 4, 2021. Image provided by & Copyright © UNESCO/Christelle ALIX.
Paris, October 10, 2021 — UNESCO Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, has welcomed the decision of the Nobel Committee to designate two journalists, Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov, as the 2021 laureates of the Nobel Peace Prize. It is the first time the Prize has been awarded to journalists in 86 years.
“In awarding this Prize, the Nobel Committee has powerfully stated its conviction that freedom of expression and access to information is the very foundation of democracy and peace. These ideals fully echo UNESCO’s mandate. Journalists are on the front lines of the struggle to shine light into the most needed places, often facing tremendous personal risk to do so. Today, they have been rightly held up as defenders of justice and truth,” Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General, remarked.
The Director-General particularly commended Maria Ressa. In May this year, Ms. Ressa was awarded the UNESCO Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the defense of press freedom in the face of danger.
Source: UNESCO
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September 25, 2021
The General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly’s Seventy-Sixth Session
Photo: Joseph R. Biden Jr., President of the United States of America, addresses the general debate of the United Nations General Assembly’s seventy-sixth session. September 21, 2021. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Ariana Lindquist.
Photo: UN Secretary-General António Guterres (left), Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed (center) and Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, Chef de Cabinet to the Secretary-General, stand in the Economic and Social Council Chamber that the UN would use for greeting High-Level visitors on the side of the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s seventy-sixth session. September 21, 2021. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Manuel ElÃas.
Photo: UN Secretary-General António Guterres addresses the opening of the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-sixth session. September 21, 2021. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Cia Pak.
Photo: A moderated dialogue on “Youth in Action: Shaping the future now!” with Vladislav Kaim, Member of UN Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change, and Yande, Chairperson of Transform Education. The dialogue is part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Moment day at UN Headquarters. Juju Chang, ABC News Co-anchor of Nightline at ABC News, moderates the dialogue. September 20, 2021. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Manuel ElÃas.
Photo: A broad view of the General Assembly Hall as Joseph R. Biden Jr., President of the United States of America, addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-sixth session. September 21, 2021. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Ariana Lindquist.
Photo: Joseph R. Biden Jr., President of the United States of America, takes a photo with UN Staff while attending the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-sixth session. September 21, 2021. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Mark Garten.
Photo: Talita Melo (left), Digital Communications Specialist, and Midhfa Naeem, Deputy Chef de Cabinet for the President of the General Assembly, work on video footage of Abdulla Shahid, President of the seventy-sixth session of the United Nations General Assembly. September 21, 2021. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Ariana Lindquist.
Photo: Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India, addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-sixth session. September 25, 2021. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Cia Pak.
Source: United Nations, New York
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:51 PM | View the original post
August 18, 2021
United Nations Security Council meets on the situation in Afghanistan.
• United Nations Security Council meets on the situation in Afghanistan.
Photo: A wide view of the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Afghanistan. August 16, 2021. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Evan Schneider.
Photo: Ghulam M. Isaczai, Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United Nations, sits in the Security Council chamber ahead of the Council meeting on the situation in Afghanistan. August 16, 2021. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Manuel ElÃas.
Photo: UN Secretary-General António Guterres addresses the Security Council meeting on the situation in Afghanistan. August 16, 2021. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Manuel ElÃas.
Photo: UN Secretary-General António Guterres (right) meets with Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of India. August 17, 2021. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Mark Garten.
Photo: UN Secretary-General António Guterres briefs reporters on the situation in Afghanistan after the Security Council meeting.
The international community needs to come together and act with one single voice to say that we want an inclusive government in Afghanistan. We want human rights in general - and women’s rights in particular - to be respected. So we need the unity of the Security Council and the unity of the international community to be able to speak with one single voice, said the Secretary-General. August 16, 2021. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Loey Felipe.
Photos: Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (center), Minister for External Affairs of the Republic of India and President of Security Council for August, chairs the Security Council debate on United Nations peacekeeping operations, with a focus on “Protecting the protectors: technology and peacekeeping.”
At left is Secretary-General António Guterres and at right is Hasmik Egian, Director of the Security Council Affairs Division of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA). August 18, 2021. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Loey Felipe.
Source: United Nations, New York
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July 27, 2021
IMF presents World Economic Outlook July 2021 Update
Photo: International Monetary Fund Chief Economist Gita Gopinath presents the World Economic Outlook update. IMF Photo/Cory Hancock. July 27, 2021. Washington, D.C., United States. Image provided by & copyright © IMF.
Washington, DC., July 27, 2021 — The global economy is growing but widening gaps between advanced economies and many emerging markets and developing economies are a concern. The International Monetary Fund said that in its latest update of the World Economic Outlook on Tuesday.
Global growth is forecast at 6 percent for 2021, unchanged from the previous forecast in April. Still, the composition of that has changed, said the Fund’s Chief Economist Gita Gopinath, ahead of the report’s release.
“Global growth is projected to be 6 percent this year, which is unchanged from our April forecast. However, the composition has changed. We are upgrading growth for advanced economies, and that’s almost entirely offset by a downgrade for emerging markets and developing economies. Next year, we have upgraded growth to 4.9 percent, and that’s mainly driven by anticipated further financial support in the U.S.,” said Gopinath, the IMF’s chief economist.
These revisions reflect differences in pandemic developments as the delta variant takes over. Close to 40 percent of the population in advanced economies has been fully vaccinated, compared with just 11 percent in emerging market economies. That number is even lower still in low-income developing countries.
Aftershocks from the pandemic upheaval of last year pose unique policy challenges. Pent-up demand and supply chain bottlenecks are putting upward pressure on prices. Nonetheless, in most advanced economies, inflation is expected to subside to pre-pandemic ranges in 2022.
“One of the major fault lines remains the pandemic. In addition, we see newer virus variants far more transmissible, like the Delta variant that we see right now. In a world where vaccine access remains highly inequitable, that will have a big hit on the economic recovery. Another major risk and fault line is concerning financial conditions. Suppose, for instance, inflation in the U.S. is more persistent than we expected. In that case, that could lead to a faster tightening in monetary policy, which could then again disrupt financial market conditions. So, these are some of the major risks we are concerned about,” explained Gopinath.
The recovery is not assured until the pandemic is beaten back globally. However, concerted, well-directed policy actions at the multilateral and national levels can make the difference between a future where all economies experience durable recoveries or one where divergences intensify, the poor get poorer, and social unrest and geopolitical tensions grow.
“First and foremost, the world needs to be fully vaccinated, and this requires multilateral action to make sure that sufficient vaccine doses are made available to developing countries. Second, individual governments will need to tailor their policy support to the stage of the crisis. They will have to do this by nesting their monetary policies in incredible medium-term fiscal frameworks. Third, in the case of monetary policy, central banks should look through transitory inflation movements. However, it’s crucial that they remain prepared and strongly communicate what they will do if it turns out that inflation goes up even higher and is much more persistent than expected.” said Gopinath.
Source: IMF
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July 20, 2021
IOC invites Athletes to show Commitment to Building a Peaceful World through Sport at Tokyo 2020 by signing the Olympic Truce Mural.
Photos: Olympic Truce Mural Inauguration. Tokyo, Japan. July 19, 2021. During a visit to the Olympic Village, IOC President Bach signed the Peace Wall ahead of TOKYO 2020 Olympic Games. Images provided by & Copyright © IOC/Greg Martin.
Tokyo, July 19, 2021 - Athletes and officials participating in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be encouraged to show their support for the Olympic Truce by signing the Olympic Truce Mural in the Olympic Village.
The Mural was inaugurated at the Olympic Village Plaza by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Tokyo 2020, in the presence of IOC President Thomas Bach, along with the IOC Vice-Presidents, the outgoing members of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, Tokyo 2020 Village Mayor KAWABUCHI Saburo, Tokyo 2020 President HASHIMOTO Seiko and the Governor of Tokyo, KOIKE Yuriko.
In his speech, the IOC President said: “Today we are inaugurating the Olympic Truce Mural here at the beating heart of the Olympic Games, the Olympic Village. It is here where the Olympic spirit comes to life. The athletes show us that, despite all our differences, humankind can live together in peace. That is our Olympic message: yes, it is possible to compete with each other, even for the highest prize, but at the same time to live together peacefully under one roof in the Olympic Village.”
Addressing the athletes who are about to compete in Tokyo, President Bach said: “It is in this Olympic spirit that I invite you to leave your signature on the Olympic Truce Mural, to show your commitment to making a better and more peaceful world through sport.”
During the inauguration ceremony, Tokyo 2020 President HASHIMOTO Seiko stressed: “With the arrival of representatives from all over the world in Tokyo, I believe the time of darkness and division caused by the spread of COVID-19 is slowly coming to an end, and a new era of peace and solidarity is beginning. Here in Tokyo, I hope the athletes will add their signature on the Mural, the voice of the Olympic Games for peace all over the world.”
The inauguration of the Olympic Truce Mural took place three days after the Olympic Truce for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 came into effect.
The United Nations has established the Olympic Truce through its resolution entitled “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic Ideal.” The UN passed the resolution unanimously at the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly in 2019. It was co-sponsored by 186 out of 193 UN Member States. It demonstrated the UN’s international community’s recognition of the power of sport and the relevance of the Olympic Games in bringing the world together in peaceful competition. The resolution calls for respecting the Olympic Truce from today to September 12, 2021 - seven days before the start of the Olympic Games until seven days after the Paralympic Games.
Earlier in July, the President of the UN General Assembly, Volkan Bozkir, made a solemn appeal to the UN Member States to observe the Olympic Truce for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020. The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated that call last week.
The tradition of the Olympic Truce, or “Ekecheiria,” dates back to the 9th century BC in Ancient Greece as a period during which all parties ceased war and conflict to allow for safe travel to and from the ancient Olympic Games. Today, the Olympic Truce represents the IOC’s aim to inspire peace through sport.
Source: International Olympic Committee
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:37 PM | View the original post
June 25, 2021
UN Secretary-General Visits European Council
Photo: UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, briefs reporters during a visit to the European Council in Brussels, Belgium. Also in attendance was Charles Michel, President of the European Council. June 24, 2021. Brussels, Belgium. Image Credit: United Nations.
Source: United Nations
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June 20, 2021
Former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, asks 'Global Citizens' to Cooperate more Closely.
Photo: The cover of “Resolved: Uniting Nations in a Divided World” by Ban Ki-moon. Columbia University Press.
Photo: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (left) addresses the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. He discussed the challenges and opportunities that the United Nations faces in its 70th year, from fostering sustainable development and dealing with climate change to confronting violent extremism. He took questions during an hour-long session. At right is John Hughes, President of the National Press Club. April 16, 2015. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe. [File Photo].
Washington, DC, June 18, 2021 — Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for a return to multilateral diplomacy and for people to be “global citizens.” He was speaking during a National Press Club Virtual Headliners Book Event on Thursday.
In a discussion coinciding with the release of his new book “Resolved: Uniting Nations in a Divided World,” Ban said global alliances have fractured amid the crises of coronavirus, climate change, and refugees fleeing conflict. He blamed world leaders for not doing enough.
“Why are we not doing more and better? For me, the fault most often lies with the leaders of the world,” Ban said. “Too many autocrats and also dictators put themselves before their countries and before the people who elected them.”
That fracturing of global alliances undermined the world’s response to COVID-19, mainly when the United States chose to withdraw from the World Health Organization, a move Ban called “totally unacceptable.” And he said the wealthiest countries “looked inward first,” meaning an uneven distribution of vaccines.
However, the recent G7 summit in the United Kingdom gave Ban some reasons for optimism as leaders there agreed to share 1 billion doses with poorer countries and reaffirmed their pledge of $100 billion a year for poorer countries to help them fight climate change.
But he criticized the United States, which under the Trump administration, stepped back from the global fight against climate change and withdrew from the Paris climate accord.
“This kind of leadership has shown no concern to the people, and it is only the people on the ground who will suffer,” Ban said. “This is what I found heartbreaking.”
And he said the UN could do more to help, especially in Syria, which has struggled for a decade amid civil war and a humanitarian crisis. Instead, Ban said, it is paralyzed and unable to “deliver timely, effective, and powerful messages or actions because of the divisions among the Security Council members, particularly veto-power members.”
Multilateralism has borne good work in recent years, Ban said, especially in getting 196 signatories for the Paris climate accord and adopting the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. But he said there is “so much work ahead,” not only in fighting climate change but also promoting peace in Myanmar, Afghanistan, Israel, and elsewhere.
Ban served as UN Secretary-General from January 2007 to December 2016. His tenure coincided with numerous incidents, including the Arab Spring, nuclear proliferation in Iran and North Korea, the Ebola epidemic, and brutal new conflicts in Central Africa.
Ban, who served as a South Korean diplomat and foreign minister before becoming the UN’s eighth Secretary-General, said his home country showed what is possible. Ban recalled being raised during the Korean War, then coming of age and watching the country grow from a dictatorship to a “stable and prosperous democracy.”
“Without the United Nations, Korea would not be as it is today,” Ban said.
Resolved is Ban Ki-moon’s account of his decade at the organization’s helm during a period of historical turmoil and promise. Meeting challenges and resistance with a belief in the UN’s peacekeeping mission, development, and human rights, he steered the United Nations through a volatile period. As secretary-general, Ban also forged global agreements to fight extreme poverty and address the climate crisis.
Ban performed what has been called “the impossible job on this earth” with a genuine belief in collective action and global transformation. Freed from the diplomatic constraints of a lifetime of public service, he offers a candid assessment of the people and events that shape this era and a bracing analysis of what lies ahead.
The one-hour program streamed live on the National Press Club’s website and YouTube Channel. Thus, it was accessible to both the media and members of the general public.
Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the “World’s Leading Professional Organization for Journalists.” The Club has about 3,000 reporters, editors, and professional communicators worldwide, representing nearly every major news organization. It hosts almost 2,000 events per year in its 54,000 square foot facility located in downtown Washington, just three blocks from the White House.
Source: National Press Club, Washington, DC
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— The Editor is a Member of the National Press Club.
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