The global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines is progressing at two alarmingly different speeds
At its third meeting, the Multilateral Leaders Taskforce on COVID-19 (MLT)—the heads of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, World Health Organization and World Trade Organization—met with the leaders…
First day of school ‘indefinitely postponed’ for 140 million first-time students around the world
A child's first day of school—a landmark moment for the youngest students and their parents around the world—has been delayed due to COVID-19 for an estimated 140 million young minds, UNICEF said in a new analysis released as summer break comes to end in many…
Borrell: We reiterate our firm Commitment towards building a new social Contract for Protection of the Rights of indigenous Peoples
On the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, we celebrate the resilience and resourcefulness of indigenous peoples around the world. This year, we join the United Nations in the…
Making The Digital Money Revolution Work for All
History moves in uneven steps. Just as the telegraph erased time and distance in the 19th century, today’s innovations in digital money may bring significant changes in the way we lead…
OSCE Co-Chairs call upon Armenia and Azerbaijan to de-escalate the Situation immediately
The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Stephane Visconti of France, Andrew Schofer of the United States of America, and Igor Khovaev of the Russian Federation) made the following statement:…
Conference of States Parties to the Open Skies Treaty discusses Russian Federation’s intent to withdraw from the Treaty
Canada and Hungary, as the two Depositaries of the Treaty on Open Skies, signed in Helsinki on 24 March 1992, have convened a Conference of States Parties in accordance with…
It has been 25 Years since the first Witness entered the Courtroom of the ICTY to testify in the Tadic Case
The Principals of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (Mechanism), President Carmel Agius, Prosecutor Serge Brammertz and Registrar Abubacarr Tambadou, today issued the following statement on the occasion of…
Accelerating Access to Vaccines becomes even more critical to ending the Pandemic
The Heads of the World Bank Group, International Monetary Fund, World Health Organization, and World Trade Organization today convened for the first meeting of the Task Force on COVID-19 Vaccines,…
As of today, Western Balkans is a Roaming Free Zone
Secretary-General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Majlinda Bregu said that July 1 is a historic day for the region as roaming costs are abolished as of today, which is…
The first World Health Organization World Local Production Forum ended
The first WHO World Local Production Forum ended today after five days of discussions centered on promoting quality and sustainable local production to improve access to medicines and other health…
Over 2.6 million new Cases of Coronavirus and 57,000 new Deaths reported Globally
In the past week, the number of new COVID-19 cases remained similar to the previous week, and the number of new deaths continued to decrease, with over 2.6 million new…
World Institutions support access to Medical Technologies Worldwide to tackle the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Directors-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Word Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreed to enhance their support to members battling COVID-19 by…
WHO supporting South African consortium to establish first COVID mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub
The World Health Organization (WHO) and its COVAX partners are working with a South African consortium comprising Biovac, Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines, a network of universities and the Africa Centres for Disease…
World Bank, IMF Launch High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable and Inclusive Recovery and Growth
In the face of two crises—COVID-19 and climate change—the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund launched a High-Level Advisory Group (HLAG) on Sustainable and Inclusive Recovery and Growth today to help…
IMF Managing Director Welcomes G7 Action to Help the World Exit the Pandemic Crisis
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva made the following statement today at the conclusion of her virtual participation in the G7 Leaders’ Summit: “I would like to thank Prime…
Coronavirus: Global Case and Death incidences continued to Decrease in World
Global case and death incidences continued to decrease with over 3 million new cases and over 73 000 new deaths reported in the past week, a 15% and an 8%…
How to Reduce COVID-19’s Unequal Effects Across Workers
Lower-skilled and young workers were among the hardest hit from the pandemic, suffering job losses in record numbers last year. Some of those jobs may never reappear as economies readjust…
WHO Roadmap Places Health at the Centre of the BiH’s Economic Growth Agenda
The WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge recently visited a number of countries in the European Region, as COVID-19 vaccines continue to be rolled out, offering…
World Health Organization validates Sinovac COVID-19 Vaccine for Emergency Use
WHO today validated the Sinovac-CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, giving countries, funders, procuring agencies and communities the assurance that it meets international standards for safety, efficacy and manufacturing. The vaccine…
EU High Representative Borrell: “We need to close the Vaccination Gap”
By the end of May 2021, only 2.1 % of Africans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. We need to close the vaccination gap between advanced…
New International Expert panel to address the emergence and spread of zoonotic disease
International organizations have come together to launch a new One Health High-Level Expert Panel to improve understanding of how diseases with the potential to trigger pandemics, emerge and spread. The panel…
Over 4 Million New Cases of Coronavirus reported Globally
Globally, over the past week, the number of new cases and deaths reported continued to decrease, with over 4.1 million new cases and 84 000 new deaths reported. The European…
HR Borrell revives Tradition of informal Exchanges with Regional Leaders
High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell hosted an informal dinner with the six leaders of the Western Balkans on the future of the…
How the Countries fight the Pandemic’s Disruption with Innovation?
Never let a serious crisis go to waste.” Innovators around the world are taking the saying seriously, responding to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic with creative digital solutions.…
WHO listed the Sinopharm COVID-19 Vaccine for Emergency Use
WHO today listed the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, giving the green light for this vaccine to be rolled out globally. The Sinopharm vaccine is produced by Beijing Bio-Institute…
Freedom of Information and free Speech must be promoted and protected Everywhere
At a time when independent and free media reporting is more essential than ever, press freedom continues to be under threat. Journalists continue to experience harsh working conditions with increasing…
International Humanitarian Law and State Compliance in focus at OSCE Forum
How states comply with international humanitarian law and the challenges they face in its implementation was the focus of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) meeting held online today…
Public and Private Money Can Coexist in the Digital Age
We value innovation and diversity—including in money. In the same day, we might pay by swiping a card, waving a phone, or clicking a mouse. Or we might hand over…
OSCE: We must unite across Countries and Organizations to counter Terrorism
We must unite across countries and organizations to comprehensively prevent and counter violent extremism and radicalization that leads to terrorism (VERLT), said participants today during the opening of the OSCE-wide…
Coronavirus’ Long Shadow: Social Repercussions of Pandemics
In 1832, the great cholera pandemic hit Paris. In just a few months, the disease killed 20,000 of the city’s 650,000 population. Most fatalities occurred in the heart of the…
IMF Executive Board approves Temporary Extensions in the Fund’s Lending Facilities
The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved on March 22, 2021 further extensions of temporary adjustments made to its lending frameworks in the early months of the…
IMF approves Third Tranche of Grants for Debt Service Relief for 28 Member Countries
The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved on April 1, 2021 a third tranche of grants for debt service relief for 28 member countries under the Catastrophe…
The Global Economy is recovering from the Crisis faster than expected
The global economy is recovering from the crisis faster than expected last October, thanks to an unprecedented policy response and rapid progress in vaccine development. But the prospects for recovery…
The EU Disburses SDR141 Million to the IMF’s Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) today received the European Union (EU)’s contribution of SDR 141 million (equivalent to €170 million or US$199 million) to the Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust…
Deeper Cooperation Needed to End COVID-19, Economic Scarring
Economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has begun in some parts of the world but many vulnerable nations remain in recession with rising infection rates and affordable vaccines in short…
The Pandemic has hit small and medium enterprises particularly hard
The pandemic has hit small and medium enterprises particularly hard, partly because they are predominant in some contact-intensive sectors like hotels, restaurants, and entertainment. As a result, many advanced economies…
IMF Executive Board Discusses Macroeconomic Developments and Prospects in Low-Income Countries
On March 26, 2021, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) discussed an IMF staff paper on recent economic developments and prospects in low-income countries (LICs). Responding to requests from…
18 Kings and Four Queens of Egypt with Coffins to be moved from their old Home to the Egyptian Museum
Egypt’s capital Cairo is gearing up for a first-of-its-kind “Pharaohs Golden Parade” that will transfer the ancient Egyptian royal mummies from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir to the National Museum…
For Centuries, April Fool’s Day has been marked on this Day
For centuries, April Fool’s Day has been marked on this day. There is no reliable evidence on the origins of 1 April, but there are indications that I has roots…
More than 20 million Doses of the AstraZeneca Vaccine have been administered in Europe
As of 17 March 2021, more than 120 million cases of COVID-19 infections, with more than 2 million deaths, had been reported globally. Vaccination remains a critical tool to help…
EMA: AstraZeneca Vaccine is not associated with an Increase in the Overall Risk of blood Clots
EMA’s safety committee, PRAC, concluded its preliminary review of a signal of blood clots in people vaccinated with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca at its extraordinary meeting of 18 March 2021. The Committee…
World Health Organization recommends Countries to continue Vaccination with AstraZeneca
Some countries in the European Union have temporarily suspended use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine as a precautionary measure based on reports of rare blood coagulation disorders in persons who…
Staying Afloat: New Measures to Support European Businesses
Much of Europe rang in the start of 2021 with new lockdowns and weak economic activity. This same period saw the roll out of effective vaccines. While the end of…
OSCE: We need concrete Action on Women, Peace and Security Agenda
Progress has been made since the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security more than 20 years ago, but more concrete actions are…
WHO adds Janssen vaccine to list of safe and effective emergency tools against COVID-19
The World Health Organization (WHO) today listed the COVID-19 vaccine Ad26.COV2.S, developed by Janssen(Johnson & Johnson), for emergency use in all countries and for COVAX roll-out. The decision comes on the back…
The Russian Federation notified WHO of Detection of Avian Influenza A(H5N8) in Seven Human Clinical Specimens
On 18 February 2021, the National IHR Focal Point for the Russian Federation notified WHO of detection of avian influenza A(H5N8) in seven human clinical specimens. These are the first…
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva Calls for Strong G20 Policies to Counter ‘Dangerous Divergence’
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva made the following statement today at the virtual meeting of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors: “I would like to congratulate…
New WHO/IAEA Publication provides Guidance on Radiotherapy Equipment to fight Cancer
New guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the procurement of radiotherapy equipment could improve access to this life-saving cancer treatment option…
OSCE concludes Workshops on International co-operation in South-Eastern Europe
The OSCE held an online workshop on international co-operation in asset recovery and cross-border collaboration for 11 criminal justice practitioners from Bosnia and Herzegovina from 3 to 5 March 2021.…
1 in 4 People projected to have Hearing Problems by 2050
Nearly 2.5 billion people worldwide ─or 1 in 4 people ─will be living with some degree of hearing loss by 2050, warns the World Health Organization’s (WHO) first World Report on Hearing,…
