Climate, Violence Against Asians, SC/Afghanistan & other topics – Daily Briefing (23 March 2021)

United Nations published this video item, entitled “Climate, Violence Against Asians, SC/Afghanistan & other topics – Daily Briefing (23 March 2021)” – below is their description.

Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:

– Climate

– Violence Against Asians

– Security Council/Afghanistan

– Syria

– Deputy Secretary-General/Asia-Pacific

– Lebanon

– Yemen

– Myanmar

– Bangladesh/Rohingya

– Libya

– Ethiopia

– Niger

– COVAX/Brazil

– Acute Hunger

– World Meteorological Day

– Financial Contribution

CLIMATE

This morning, the Secretary-General spoke, in a video message, to the 2021 Ministerial on Climate Action, convened by China, Canada and the European Union.

He said that decisions that countries make during this make-or-break year have the power to keep the limit of 1.5 degrees within reach.

He underscored that “we simply cannot contemplate any alternative,” and said that the net zero coalition must grow to cover well over 90 per cent of global emissions this year.

The Secretary-General also urged countries to submit, or re-submit, ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement.

His full remarks are online.

VIOLENCE AGAINST ASIANS

A statement we issued yesterday afternoon said that the Secretary-General is profoundly concerned about the rise of violence against Asians and people of Asian descent during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The world has witnessed horrific deadly attacks, verbal and physical harassment, bullying in schools, workplace discrimination, incitement to hatred in the media and on social media platforms, and incendiary language by those in positions of power. In some countries, Asian women have been specifically targeted for attack, adding misogyny to the toxic mix of hatred. Thousands of incidents across the past year have perpetuated a centuries-long history of intolerance, stereotyping, scapegoating, exploitation and abuse.

The Secretary-General expresses his full support for the victims and families, and stands in solidarity with all those who face racism and other assaults on their human rights. This moment of challenge for all must be a time to uphold dignity for all.

SECURITY COUNCIL/AFGHANISTAN

This morning, Deborah Lyons, the Special Representative for Afghanistan, briefed the Security Council by VTC on the situation in that country. Ms. Lyons said that she was very sorry to report that in the first two months of 2021, we have witnessed the continued trend of rising civilian casualties. Particularly worrying is the array of attacks deliberately targeting civilians.

Ms. Lyons noted that given the many interests involved – both domestic and international, to be clear – we always knew that this would be a complicated peace process. Decades of conflict have created real grievances on all sides and there remains a lack of trust amongst the parties. There are also genuine and profound differences between the Islamic Republic and the Taliban over their desired end state.

Ms. Lyons stressed that none of this can be resolved in the work of a moment – nor in a few meetings, no matter the location or format. Addressing these issues will require patience and commitment on all sides.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=23%20March%202021

United Nations YouTube Channel

Got a comment? Leave your thoughts in the comments section, below. Please note comments are moderated before publication.


About This Source - United Nations

The United Nations (UN) was established after World War II with the aim of preventing future wars. The organization is financed by assessed and voluntary contributions from its member states.

The UN’s chief administrative officer is the Secretary-General, currently Portuguese politician and diplomat António Guterres, who began his five year-term on 1 January 2017.

 

Recent from United Nations:

Uganda, gaza, lebanon & other topics - daily press briefing (19 january 2024) 1

Uganda, Gaza, Lebanon & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (19 January 2024)

Very First Int’l Day of Clean Energy (26 Jan) | United Nations Secretary-General

UN News in Brief (19 January 2024) | United Nations

In This Story: Afghanistan

Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central and South Asia. Afghanistan is bordered by Pakistan to the east and south; Iran to the west; Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan to the north; and China to the northeast.

Occupying 652,000 square kilometers (252,000 sq mi), it is a mountainous country with plains in the north and southwest. Kabul is the capital and largest city. The population is around 32 million, composed mostly of ethnic Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks.

3 Recent Items: Afghanistan

Royals in The British Armed Forces

Uganda, Gaza, Syria, Red Sea, & other topics – Daily Briefing (18 January 2024) | United Nations

Can Iran and Pakistan contain cross-border tensions? | Inside Story

In This Story: Bangladesh

Bangladesh, officially the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 162 million people.

Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world.

Dhaka, the capital and largest city, is the nation’s economic, political, and cultural hub. Chittagong, the largest seaport, is the second-largest city.

2 Recent Items: Bangladesh

Under 19 Women’s Team Departure Ceremony | SL Women’s U19 tour of Bangladesh

How ‘tiny homes’ can protect millions in Bangladesh

In This Story: Brazil

Brazil is the largest country in both South America and Latin America.

Its capital is Brasília, and its most populous city is São Paulo. The federation is composed of the union of the 26 states and the Federal District. It is the largest country to have Portuguese as an official language and the only one in the Americas, as well as the most populous Roman Catholic-majority country.

Its Amazon basin includes a vast tropical forest, home to diverse wildlife, a variety of ecological systems, and extensive natural resources spanning numerous protected habitats. Brazil is classified as an upper-middle income economy by the World Bank and a newly industrialized country.

2 Recent Items: Brazil

Chinese FM Wang Yi meets with Celso Amorim, advisor to Brazilian president

Call from the Amazon: World needs to rethink the concept of ‘economy’

In This Story: Canada

Canada is a country in the northern part of North America. It extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering 9.98 million square kilometres (3.85 million square miles), making it the world’s second-largest country by total area.

Its southern and western border with the United States, stretching 8,891 kilometres (5,525 mi), is the world’s longest bi-national land border. Canada’s capital is Ottawa, and its three largest metropolitan areas are Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.

Various Indigenous peoples inhabited what is now Canada for thousands of years before European colonization. The Canada Act 1982, which severed the vestiges of legal dependence on the British Parliament. Canada is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy in the Westminster tradition, with a monarch and a prime minister who serves as the chair of the Cabinet and head of government.

As a highly developed country, Canada has the seventeenth-highest nominal per-capita income globally as well as the thirteenth-highest ranking in the Human Development Index. Its advanced economy is the tenth-largest in the world, relying chiefly upon its abundant natural resources and well-developed international trade networks.

2 Recent Items: Canada

Impact inflation, living costs have on birth rates and Canadians on parental leave

Global National: Jan. 19, 2024 | Health data shows influenza, COVID-19 cases decreasing in Canada

In This Story: China

China is the third largest country in the world by area and the largest country in the world by population. Properly known as the People’s Republic of China, the political territory of the country includes Tibet and Hong Kong. The capital is Beijing.

7 Recent Items: China

Why The World Is Rushing Back To The Moon

How will the situation in the Red Sea evolve?

WEF founder: China plays responsible, responsive role in face of new global setting

WEF founder emphasizes crucial role of Davos meeting in addressing global challenges

Teams from China’s north, south meet in Harbin’s ice dragon boat race

WEF Founder highlights China’s remarkable economic momentum and will for progress

Where Are All the Chinese Tourists?

In This Story: COVID-19

Covid-19 is the official WHO name given to the novel coronavirus which broke out in late 2019 and began to spread in the early months of 2020.

Symptoms of coronavirus

The main symptoms of coronavirus are:

  • a persistent new cough (non productive, dry)
  • a high temperature (e.g. head feels warm to the touch)
  • shortness of breath (if this is abnormal for the individual, or increased)

Latest News about Covid-19

Below are stories from around the globe related to the 2020 outbreak of novel Coronavirus – since the WHO gave the Covid-19 naming. Most recent items are posted nearest the top.

5 Recent Items: COVID-19

Global National: Jan. 19, 2024 | Health data shows influenza, COVID-19 cases decreasing in Canada

Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500 hit record highs as tech stocks soar | January 19, 2024

Stock market today: Stocks climb with techs ready to roar | January 19, 2023

Dr Anthony Fauci ‘became part of the problem’ when it came to the spread of Covid misinformation

WEF summit: Canada warns of future supply shocks amid global instability

In This Story: Ethiopia

Ethiopia, in the Horn of Africa, is a rugged, landlocked country split by the Great Rift Valley. With archaeological finds dating back more than 3 million years, it’s a place of ancient culture. Among its important sites are Lalibela with its rock-cut Christian churches from the 12th–13th centuries. Aksum is the ruins of an ancient city with obelisks, tombs, castles and Our Lady Mary of Zion church.

3 Recent Items: Ethiopia

Could Ethiopia and Somalia go to war? | Inside Story

UN Chief’s travels, Gaza & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (17 January 2024)

Ethiopia’s Tigray region on ‘brink of famine’ | DW News

In This Story: Lebanon

Lebanon, officially known as the Lebanese Republic, is a country in the Levant region of Western Asia, and the transcontinental region of the Middle East.

The official language, Arabic, is the most common language spoken by the citizens of Lebanon. Its capital is Beirut.

Lebanon was a founding member of the United Nations in 1945 and is a member of the Arab League (1945), the Non-Aligned Movement (1961), Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (1969), and the Organisation internationale de la francophonie (1973).

2 Recent Items: Lebanon

Uganda, Gaza, Lebanon & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (19 January 2024)

Israel-Lebanon tension: Violence forces thousands to flee southern Lebanon

In This Story: Libya

Libya, officially the State of Libya, is a country in the Maghreb region in North Africa, bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad to the south, Niger to the southwest, Algeria to the west, and Tunisia to the northwest.

The sovereign state is made of three historical regions: Tripolitania, Fezzan and Cyrenaica. The largest city and capital, Tripoli, is located in western Libya and contains over three million of Libya’s seven million people. The second-largest city is Benghazi, which is located in eastern Libya.

Libya became independent as a kingdom in 1951. A military coup in 1969 overthrew King Idris I. Parts of Libya are currently split between rival Tobruk and Tripoli-based governments, as well as various tribal and Islamist militias.

Libya is a member of the United Nations (since 1955), the Non-Aligned Movement, the Arab League, the OIC and OPEC. The country’s official religion is Islam, with 96.6% of the Libyan population being Sunni Muslims.

2 Recent Items: Libya

Oil prices surge on Middle East tensions

A ‘NEW Hamas will emerge’ from ‘failed’ war in Gaza – former British ambassador

In This Story: Myanmar

Myanmar (formerly Burma) is a Southeast Asian nation of more than 100 ethnic groups, bordering India, Bangladesh, China, Laos and Thailand. Yangon (formerly Rangoon), the country’s largest city, is home to bustling markets, numerous parks and lakes, and the towering, gilded Shwedagon Pagoda, which contains Buddhist relics and dates to the 6th century.

2 Recent Items: Myanmar

Iran & Pakistan trade airstrikes, Myanmar’s civil war & who are the Houthis? | Battle Lines Podcast

How ‘tiny homes’ can protect millions in Bangladesh

Leave a Comment

We don't require your email address, or your name, for anyone to leave a comment. If you do add an email address, you may be notified if there are replies to your comment - we won't use it for any other purpose. Please make respectful comments, which add value, and avoid personal attacks on others. Links are not allowed in comments - 99% of spam comments, attempt to post links. Please describe where people may find additional information - for example "visit the UN website" or "search Google for..." rather than posting a link. Comments failing to adhere to these guidelines will not be published.