Deadline for nominations for Max van der Stoel Award 2020 extended
The deadline for receiving nominations for the Max van der Stoel Award 2020 has been extended to 30 April 2020. The award of 50,000 euros recognizes extraordinary and…
WHO Director-General calls on G20 to unite against Coronavirus
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, addressed Heads of State at today’s extraordinary G20 Leaders’ Summit focused on COVID-19. He told them, “You have come…
WHO, UN Foundation launch COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund
A new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Solidarity Response Fund will raise money from a wide range of donors to support the work of the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners to…
Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust makes $200 Million available for the world’s Poorest Countries
In direct response to the COVID-19 crisis the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board has adopted some immediate enhancements to its Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust (CCRT) to enable…
Strong and coordinated Policy Actions needed to resolve this Global Crisis
International Monetary and Financial Committee Chair Lesetja Kganyago and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva issued the following statement following today’s conference call of the International Monetary and…
Growing Presence of COVID‑19 in sub-Saharan Africa threatens enormous Human Costs
The growing presence of COVID‑19 in sub-Saharan Africa threatens the same human costs as elsewhere in the world. The economic costs could be just as devastating. Sweeping measures For…
Coronavirus Outbreak to have Severe Consequences for Population living in extreme Poverty
The World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund have issued the following joint statement to the G20 concerning debt relief for the poorest countries: The coronavirus outbreak is likely…
OSCE offers Recommendations on short-term Responses to COVID-19 that support Social Cohesion
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Lamberto Zannier has prepared recommendations for governments to consider in their efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19. Based on the experience of…
IMF is Launching a Tracker of Policies Governments are Taking in Response to COVID-19
Governments around the world are taking decisive steps to limit the human and economic impact of COVID-19. Many countries have taken extraordinary monetary and fiscal policy measures. “These measures…
IMF Executive Board Approves 1.3 billion Dollars Extended Arrangement
The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today approved a 48-month arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) with Jordan for an amount equivalent to SDR 926.37…
Borell: COVID-19 Crisis is not a War but it is ‘war-like’ in that it requires the Mobilisation
The COVID-19 crisis is not a war but it is ‘war-like’ in that it requires the mobilisation and direction of resources at unprecedented levels. Solidarity between countries and…
Five Steps to kicking out Coronavirus
FIFA, the international governing body of football, and the World Health Organization (WHO) have teamed up to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19) by launching a new awareness campaign led by…
OSCE: Сoronavirus Response should not impede the Work of the Media
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concerns today about recent interferences regarding media content by the media regulatory agency in Russia, Roskomnadzor, in…
Désir expressed his Concerns about Provisions of the Coronavirus Response Draft Bill in Hungary
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concerns today about provisions of the coronavirus response draft bill in Hungary that could negatively impact…
IMF: Human Costs of the Coronavirus Pandemic are already immeasurable
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva made the following statement today following a conference call of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors: “The human costs of the…
COVID-19 is highlighting how vulnerable People with Lung Diseases and weakened Immune Systems can be
New World Health Organization (WHO) guidance will help countries accelerate efforts to stop people with tuberculosis (TB) infection becoming sick with TB by giving them preventive treatment. A quarter…
Impact of COVID-19 and the Oil Price Plunge in the Middle East
The impact of COVID-19 and the oil price plunge in the Middle East and the Caucasus and Central Asia has been substantial and could intensify. With three-quarters of…
OSCE Mission in Kosovo condemn violent Attack against Journalists
The Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Jan Braathu, and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, condemned the physical attack that was reported…
In Europe and in the World, all Minds are focused on Actions to tackle the Outbreak of COVID-19
In Europe and in the world, all minds are focused on actions to tackle the outbreak of COVID-19 and mitigate the effects of the crisis. The European Union works…
Blunting the Impact and Hard Choices: Early Lessons from China
The impact of the coronavirus is having a profound and serious impact on the global economy and has sent policymakers looking for ways to respond. China’s experience so far…
IMF Announces Expedited Appointment of Geoffrey Okamoto as First Deputy Managing Director
The IMF Executive Board has approved the expedited appointment of Mr. Geoffrey Okamoto as First Deputy Managing Director, effective March 19, 2020. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva originally proposed…
Observers were predicting that Human Population was too big and would soon strip the World of Resources
Demographic change is having a fundamental impact on the global economy—but not in the way we once thought it would. A mere five decades ago, some observers…
The World is undergoing a major Demographic Upheaval
“Demography is destiny” is an oft-cited phrase that suggests the size, growth, and structure of a nation’s population determines its long-term social, economic, and political fabric. The…
Borell: to strengthen Coordination among Member States to help EU Citizens who are currently outside EU
High Representative/Vice President Josep Borrell, supported by the EEAS, the Commission and EU Delegations around the world, is leading the work to strengthen coordination among Member States to help…
OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media condemns Brutal Attack on Journalist Angelov
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, condemned today the brutal attack on Bulgarian journalist Slavi Angelov, editor of the weekly newspaper and related website “168 chasa”, in Sofia.…
Kasprzyk: spread of COVID-19 has led to the Closure of International Borders
The Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on the conflict dealt with by the OSCE Minsk Conference, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, has issued the following statement: “The ongoing situation following…
It took more than 50,000 Years for World Population to reach 1 billion People
“Demography is destiny” is an oft-cited phrase that suggests the size, growth, and structure of a nation’s population determines its long-term social, economic, and political fabric. The phrase…
Montenegro is taking Serious Precautions while still Remaining Coronavirus-Free
Despite Montenegro still remaining a coronavirus-free state as of Tuesday amid the global pandemic, the country is taking serious precautionary measures to prevent disease spread, with supermarkets elevating…
ODIHR Election Observation Activities temporarily limited as Health Risks increase
Election observation activities of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) are being temporarily limited in some places, as countries around the OSCE region restrict cross-border…
History Class: Al Seeb Market is One of the Historical and old Markets
Al Seeb Market or (Seeb Bazar) can be considered one of the historical and old markets in the Sultanate. Once you enter the market, the first shops on the…
IMF stands ready to mobilize its $1 Trillion Lending Capacity
Today, the IMF published a set of policy recommendations that can help guide countries in the difficult days ahead. What more needs to be done? Three action areas for the global…
Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Discussions postpone Round because of COVID-19
After carefully reviewing circumstances related to the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Discussions (GID), UN Representative Cihan Sultanoglu, Special Representative of the…
Montenegro is the Only Coronavirus-Free Nation in Europe
Montenegro currently remains the only European nation without a single confirmed case of the coronavirus which has become a global pandemic and infected over 150,000 people worldwide and killed…
EU renews Sanctions to Ukraine for a further 6 Months
The Council today decided that current sanctions in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine should be extended for a further six…
WHO, UN launch first-of-its-kind COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund
A new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Solidarity Response Fund will raise money from a wide range of donors to support the work of the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners…
Women, Peace and Security Agenda as one of the Priorities of OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation
The pivotal role of women in conflict prevention, conflict resolution, and post-conflict rehabilitation was highlighted during Wednesday’s meeting of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) under Turkey’s FSC…
Spillover Effects from global Developments may still lead to faltering Economic Activities in Countries without Presence of Coronavirus
Individuals infected by the coronavirus potentially face a blow to their health and personal and economic well-being. Similarly, countries hit by a sudden and unexpected public health emergency—as…
Pairing of Dark Web Services with Cryptocurrencies has led to Expectations of a Boom in Crime
In the late 1990s, two research organizations in the US Department of Defense drove efforts to develop an anonymized and encrypted network that would protect the sensitive communications of…
Von der Leyen: Coronavirus requires Cooperation rather than unilateral Action
The President of the European Council, the President of the Commission and the Prime Minister of Croatia, holding the rotating Presidency of the Council, today decided the following on…
Is the Coronavirus Bringing Out the Worst in Australians?
Panic buying and its subsequent frenzied behaviours has put Australia in the global spotlight this week, as a physical attack over toilet paper in a supermarket and a verbal…
IMF Managing Director proposes the Appointment of Geoffrey Okamoto as First Deputy Managing Director
Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), today proposed the appointment of Geoffrey Okamoto as First Deputy Managing Director, effective March 30, 2020. The appointment is…
Of Silence and EU Rush – The Equation of Communism with Nazism
“He who does not wish to speak of capitalism should remain forever silent about Nazism” - Max Horkheimer famously said. It was a clear and often repeated line of this chief…
United Kingdom boosts IMF’s Catastrophe Relief Fund with £150 Million
The United Kingdom announced a package of measures today to respond to the economic challenges of coronavirus, including that it will contribute £150 million to the International Monetary…
World Health Organization says COVID-19 has become Pandemic
The World Health Organization said Wednesday the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 and that has infected more than 121,000 people around the world has become a pandemic. Until now, the…
Leadership and solidarity urgently needed to help trapped Migrants at Turkish-EU border
An understanding of our common responsibility towards other human beings in distress is urgently needed as a rising number of migrants and refugees find themselves trapped at Turkey’s border…
European Union remains determined to effectively protect its External Borders
The EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs met today for an extraordinary Council meeting to discuss the crisis in Idlib and the situation at the EU external borders with Turkey.…
Access to Finance: Why Aren’t Women Leaning In?
As a girl, I was taught to believe that personal agency prevails over societal biases. I was told that I could accomplish anything if I believed in myself and…
Malaysian Financial Sector has considerable Promise for Expansion
In Malaysia, where annual economic growth has averaged just under 5 percent over the past five years, fintech is a part of everyday life. It is rapidly becoming a central part…
Where are all the women? It is a Question we shouldn’t have to ask in 2020
Where are all the women? It is a question we shouldn’t have to ask in 2020. But we do. Why? Because there are simply too few women in leadership…
Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund comments on Coronavirus Outbreak
The International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) today held a teleconference call, chaired by Governor of the South African Reserve Bank Lesetja Kganyago and Managing Director of the International…
