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☆ Worried about Chinese influence, the US is undoing Trump's decision to quit UNESCO. It will probably cost $600 million.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The US announced it was to rejoin UNESCO amid worries China was becoming too influential. The Biden administration has requested $150 million to start paying back UNESCO dues of $617 million. UNESCO's chief called it "a strong act of confidence, in UNESCO and in multilateralism." In March, the Biden administration requested $150 million to cover UNESCO fees and arrears for 2024. Per the Associated Press, further requests to cover the total arrears of $619 million are expected in future years.

Persons: Biden, —, Donald Trump, John Bass, Audrey Azoulay, Xi Jinping, Azoulay, Xi, Joe Biden's Organizations: US, UNESCO, Service, UNESCO —, UN, State Department, Trump, World Health Organization, Paris Climate, Associated Press, AP Locations: China, multilateralism, Israel, Chinese, Paris, Paris Climate Accords

☆ Singapore economic czar Tharman Shanmugaratnam to run for president
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Singapore's veteran economic policymaker Tharman Shanmugaratnam has signaled his intention to contest upcoming presidential elections in Singapore that must be held by September this year. Singapore's veteran economic policymaker Tharman Shanmugaratnam is planning to run in the upcoming presidential elections in Singapore that must be held by mid-September. The prime minister is the head of government in Singapore. Among his past global appointments, Shanmugaratnam was the first Asian chair of the International Monetary and Financial Committee, the IMF's key policy forum. He was also Singapore's deputy prime minister from 2011 to 2019, and previously served as finance minister and education minister.

Persons: Shanmugaratnam, Lee Hsien Loong, policymaker Organizations: International Monetary Fund, Party, Singapore Prime, Monetary Authority of, Global Commission, United Nations, International Monetary, Financial Locations: Singapore, Monetary Authority of Singapore

☆ Brazenly defending a Chinese warship buzzing an American destroyer in the Taiwan Strait, China's new defense minister tells the US: 'Mind your own business'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( David Rising | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

A Chinese warship overtook an American destroyer and sailed across its bow on Saturday. China's defense minister Gen. Li Shangfu said, "In China we always say, 'Mind your own business.'" Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu delivers his speech on the last day of the 20th International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's annual defense and security forum, in Singapore, Sunday, June 4, 2023. He accused the US and others of "meddling in China's internal affairs" by providing Taiwan with defense support and training, and conducting high-level diplomatic visits. The sanctions, which broadly prevent Li from doing business in the United States, do not prevent him from holding official talks, American defense officials have said.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Li Shangfu, —, Vincent Thian Li, Li, Austin, Roslan Rahman, Li scoffed, Vincent Thian Organizations: US, Service, Privacy Policy SINGAPORE, Washington, Pacific Command, US Air Force, Chinese Defense, 20th International, for Strategic Studies, AP, Getty, Russia, US Defense Department Locations: American, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Taiwan Strait, South, Canadian, Beijing, Chinese, South China, Austin, East, Ukraine, Moscow, United States, — China

☆ There's increasing recognition that multilateral trade system has been 'largely resilient,' says WTO
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThere's increasing recognition that multilateral trade system has been 'largely resilient,' says WTONgozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, tells CNBC's Martin Soong: "We were beginning to take multilateralism and the multilateral trading system for granted." Speaking on the sidelines of the G-7 leaders' summit in Hiroshima, Japan, she said although disruptions in supply chains still need to be dealt with, trade has been a "source of resilience" in past crises.

Analysts say what may appear as mixed messaging is the result of President Xi Jinping's renewed focus on national security, steeled by rock-bottom relations with rival superpower, the United States. A later speech in March at the National People's Congress was more pointed: China's security is being challenged by U.S. attempts to contain its rise, he said. In his October speech, he added "external security" and "international security", in what analysts say signals a new focus to counter foreign threats, namely Washington. Asked for its response to a list of questions for this story, China's foreign ministry said it was "not aware of the situation". BUSINESS JITTERSChina's security focus also risks isolating the country economically.

☆ Is Brazil Under Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ‘Anti-American’? - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Vanessa Barbara | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

When Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office in January, after defeating Mr. Bolsonaro, it was widely hoped that he would guide Brazil back to the international mainstream. The early signs were good: In November, even before assuming the presidency, Mr. Lula traveled to COP27 in Egypt, and there was an amiable visit to the United States in February. Then Mr. Lula started going off script. In line with the country’s history of multilateralism, and sensitive to its needs, Mr. Lula is charting his own course. Mr. Lula’s visit to Beijing in April, where he met President Xi Jinping amid much fanfare, put several noses out of joint.

☆ Yellen raps China for serving as 'roadblock' in debt restructuring process
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Andrea Shalal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Yellen said the United States expected China to make good its pledge to work constructively on issues such as debt relief and climate change, noting that delays in restructuring raised costs for both borrowers and creditors. IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said on Friday that the new Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable had made "tangible progress" on debt restructuring issues. "China's participation is essential to meaningful debt relief, but for too long it has not moved in a comprehensive and timely manner. The United States and China - as the world's largest economies - had a responsibility to work together to help emerging markets and developing countries facing debt distress, she said. Yellen said Washington was working with other stakeholders to improve the Group of 20's Common Framework process for low-income countries and the overall debt treatment process, adding, "Solving these issues is a true test of multilateralism."

☆ IMF's Georgieva says she told China to 'speed up' work on debt restructuring
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Andrea Shalal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, April 6 (Reuters) - International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva said she told China's new top economic official, Li Qiang, that China must accelerate its work to reach debt restructuring agreements for countries like Zambia, Ghana and Ethiopia. "The truth is, and I was ... very straightforward on that, it takes far too long for that (debt) resolution," she told an event hosted by Meridian House and Politico. "Yes, China has multiple institutions that deal with that, that makes it complicated domestically, but they have to speed up their participation." Georgieva said that during her visit Chinese officials underscored their commitment to multilateralism, opening up China's economy for more trade, and debt restructuring. Georgieva said Chinese officials also worried about fragmentation, but their foremost concern was securing jobs at home, with a target of creating 12 million jobs this year.

☆ Russian charged with war crimes may brief U.N. Security Council
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Representatives observe a minute of silence during a meeting at the United Nations Security Council, to mark one year since Russia invaded Ukraine, at U.N. headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S., February 24, 2023. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File PhotoUNITED NATIONS, April 3 (Reuters) - Russia's commissioner for children's rights, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on war crimes charges, is likely to brief an informal meeting of the U.N. Security Council this week, according to a note seen by Reuters on Monday. "Russian leaders have been charged by the ICC with unlawfully deporting children from Ukraine to Russia. Such meetings are held at U.N. headquarters, but not in the Security Council chamber, and briefings can be done virtually. Given Russia's Security Council presidency started on April 1, U.S.

☆ 'A bad joke': Russia takes the reins of the UN Security Council, to Ukrainian outcry
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Russian Ambassador to the U.N. Vasily Nebenzya speaks during an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S., May 13, 2022. "I don't think Russia will be able to change the balance inside the Security Council during its presidency. The country that systematically violated all fundamental rules of international security is presiding over a body whose only mission is to protect international security," Kuleba told a Chatham House event via video link from Kyiv. Russia assumed the presidency of the United Nations Security Council over the weekend, even as its own invasion of Ukraine continues to escalate . The five permanent members have veto power, meaning all five must affirm any resolution for a vote to pass.

BOAO, China, March 31 (Reuters) - The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will stick to its mandate as an apolitical multilateral lender and won't get dragged into political disputes, even as multilateralism is severely tested, its president, Jin Liqun, said on Friday. "But on the other hand, we need to protect the bank in terms of its credit worthiness," he added. As of November, the AIIB had financed 194 projects totalling $37 billion, up from $29 billion in October 2021, according to S&P Global Ratings. "We now have projects in Rwanda, Ecuador, we have projects in central and eastern European countries," he said. Reporting by Joe Cash in Boao Editing by Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ G20 meeting: Germany regrets China's position on Ukraine war
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, Feb 25 (Reuters) - German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said on Saturday it was "regrettable" that China had blocked a Group of 20 communique to condemn Russia's war on Ukraine. "But for me it was more important that all the others adhered to a clear position of international law, multilateralism and the end of the war," he said. Lindner was speaking to reporters after a meeting of finance leaders from the world's major economies in Bengaluru. "There was a cautious signal from China," Lindner said. Reporting by Christian Kraemer; Writing by Tom Sims; Editing by Mark Potter and Mike HarrisonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ The world's oceans are key to slowing the climate crisis, and this year is critical to guaranteeing their longevity
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Freya Graham | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

But oceans are an important carbon sink — some more effective than rainforests. Leaders at Davos said the role of the ocean in combating climate change has been underestimated. Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest on the culture & business of sustainability — delivered weekly to your inbox. Understanding 'blue carbon'Plants and trees that grow in coastal waters, such as mangroves, kelp, and seagrass, are all forms of "blue carbon," which means they absorb and store carbon. The Global Biodiversity Framework, agreed at COP15 in Montreal in December 2022, was a big step forward for oceans.

☆ Polycrisis may lead to polycentric world order
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Hugo Dixon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Another scenario is possible: a “polycentric order” with multiple centres of authority, where the United States is the leading power but not the hegemonic one. Indeed, the outlines of such an order may already be emerging out of the conflagration of economic, political and other shocks often labelled the polycrisis. A polycentric order would be different from what is often called a “multipolar” system - a dog-eats-dog world where big powers have a licence to dominate their neighbours. The United States is not nearly as powerful as it was. President Joe Biden realises the United States needs allies, says Peter Engelke of the Atlantic Council think tank.

☆ EU Greenlights 15% Corporate Minimum Tax, Advancing Global Deal
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Paul Hannon | Richard Rubin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Paolo Gentiloni, the EU’s top economy official, called the agreement ‘a win for fairness, a win for diplomacy and a win for multilateralism.’Countries in the European Union are set to start collecting additional taxes in 2024 under a long-stalled global deal to set a minimum rate on company profits, after Hungary and Poland dropped their objections to the move. In October 2021, 137 countries agreed to impose a 15% minimum tax on large companies, paving the way for the most significant overhaul of international tax rules in a century. By imposing the tax in each jurisdiction where a company operates, large countries aim to reduce tax-rate competition and the advantages of operating in a low-tax locale. Getting to that point took years of negotiations that often seemed close to collapse.

Separately, police fired rubber bullets to disperse anti-government protesters in Bangkok as the host of the Asia-Paciﬁc Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, opened the conference. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris called an emergency gathering of leaders from Australia, Japan, South Korea, Canada and New Zealand on the sidelines of the summit after North Korea carried out the missile test. "This conduct by North Korea most recently is a brazen violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions," she said. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is in Bangkok for the APEC meeting, told reporters North Korea had "repeated its provocations with unprecedented frequency". First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov is representing him at APEC.

☆ UN human rights chief fears pushback on gender issues, cites Iran clampdown
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Cecile Mantovani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

GENEVA, Nov 2 (Reuters) - The new U.N. human rights chief said on Wednesday there was a worrying pushback against progress in easing rights abuses, above all on gender issues, pointing to Iran's violent clampdown on unrest touched off by a woman's death in police custody. Turk, whose predecessor Michelle Bachelet drew criticism in some quarters for appearing soft on some governments when they were backsliding on human rights, also promised to speak out "when we feel our voice can make a difference". He takes charge of the U.N. human rights office at a time of turbulence in Europe over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as well as some of the most widespread unrest in Iran since its 1979 Islamic Revolution. Turk pointed to what he called a pushback on human rights, especially with respect to gender issues, and highlighted to a "strongman mentality" and autocratic tendencies in a number of countries. "And unfortunately, human rights is thrown into the vortex of these dynamics and has become a battlefield which we cannot afford and human beings cannot afford," he said.

SAO PAULO, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Brazilian President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will participate in this month's COP27 United Nations climate summit in Egypt, the head of his political party said on Tuesday. He defeated President Jair Bolsonaro, a right-wing nationalist who has overseen rising deforestation and appointed climate change skeptics as ministers. Gleisi Hoffman, the head of Lula's Workers Party, on Tuesday confirmed he would attend COP27. Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi also invited Lula to attend the summit in a message congratulating him on his election victory. "I have absolute certainty that...various national representatives will request to meet with President Lula," Teixeira said, adding that she was being directly consulted on the matter.

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva speaks during the Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Washington, U.S., October 14, 2022. World Bank President David Malpass said at the meeting that the bank would use the "full suite" of its financing and guarantee instruments "to unlock larger volumes of private finance for quality, sustainable infrastructure." Opposition from Russia stalled new agreements from the G20 and the IMF and World Bank steering committees. WORLD BANK REFORMSThe World Bank's steering committee on Saturday backed the U.S. call for change, and asked World Bank leadership to deliver a roadmap for revamping the bank's institutional and operational framework by the end of the year. It also asked Malpass to develop a plan for implementing the recommendations of an independent panel that reviewed the bank's capital adequacy rules, in time for next spring's IMF and World Bank meetings in April.

People wearing masks for protection against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) walk past the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2022. The so-called Kigali amendment calls for the phase-down of HFCs, gases used in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) that are significantly more potent than carbon dioxide in contributing to global warming. Durwood Zaelke, president of the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development that has worked on phasing out HFCs, said the amendment can provide an example for other more contentious global climate negotiations. The world's leading producers of substitutes for HFCs are in Louisiana, New Jersey, Texas, and elsewhere in the United States. The world's fastest growing markets for refrigerators and air conditioners are overseas.

☆ Summitul G7 // Liderii UE, prima dată la aceeași masă după relaxarea restricțiilor; Jill Biden: „Mă simt ca la nuntă”
▼ + stars: | 2021-06-11 | by ( ) www.jurnal.md time to read: +3 min

Şeful guvernului britanic şi soţia sa, Carrie Johnson, i-au salutat pe fiecare dintre liderii prezenţi. Johnson a adăugat că aceste ţări nu-şi pot permite nici repetarea greşelilor recesiunii din 2008, „când redresarea nu a fost uniformă în toate componentele societăţii”. Prima întâlnire fizică a liderilor UE la aceeași masă, după relaxarea restricțiilor în Europa, a fost fotografiată, vineri, la malul mării, în Cornwall, Marea Britanie, unde are loc summitul G7. Liderii G7 vor discuta, pentru trei zile, în Cornwall, Marea Britanie, cele mai importante subiecte de pe agenda mondială. Summitul G7, care a început vineri și se termină duminică, marchează prima vizită în străinătate a lui Joe Biden de la preluarea mandatului de președinte al SUA.

Persons: Jill Biden, Boris Johnson, Johnson, Carrie Johnson, Joe Biden, G7 . Johnson, Ursula von, Emmanuel Macron, Charles Michel, Angela Merkel, Mario Draghi Organizations: UE, Agerpres, G7, Consiliului European Locations: Carbis Bay, Cornwall, SUA, britanic, american, Europa, Ursula von der, Franței, Germaniei, Italiei, străinătate

☆ Liderii UE au vorbit la telefon cu Joe Biden și l-au invitat pe viitorul președinte SUA la un summit special cu cei 27 de lideri europeni
▼ + stars: | 2020-11-23 | by ( Diana Severin | ) www.zdg.md time to read: +4 min

Am vorbit cu președintele ales Joe Biden și l-am invitat la o reuniune specială la Bruxelles, anul viitor, cu liderii UE-27. „O Uniune Europeană puternică și SUA puternice care lucrează împreună pot configura o agendă globală bazată pe cooperare, multilateralism, solidaritate și valori comune”, a spus Ursula von der Leyen. De asemenea, într-un editorial pe blogul său, șeful diplomației europene a îndemnat la pornirea “motorului” transatlantic cu administrația Biden și a afirmat că “ultimii patru ani au accentuat nevoia autonomiei strategice europene”. Cu toate acestea, victoria lui Biden a generat și argumente în favoarea unei autonomii strategice europene, care a luat avânt în epoca Trump. În contrapartidă, ministrul apărării german a subliniat, referindu-se la pledoariile lui Macron, că ideea autonomiei strategice a UE merge prea departe dacă încurajează iluzia că putem garanta securitatea Europei fără NATO și SUA.

Persons: Ursula von, Charles Michel, Joe Biden, Let’s, Joe Bid, Ursula, ali, anța, te, președ, victor, Jean Organizations: Consiliului European, Albă, UE, USA, U Locations: Ursula von der, SUA, Europa, Statele Unite, Bruxelles, UE, sion, rica

☆ Bogdan Aurescu participă luni la reuniunea miniştrilor de Externe din statele membre UE
▼ + stars: | 2020-10-12 | by ( ) tvrmoldova.md time to read: +5 min

12.10.2020 07:45 Sursa foto:digi24.ro Vizualizari:Bogdan Aurescu participă luni la reuniunea miniştrilor de Externe din statele membre UEMinistrul Afacerilor Externe, Bogdan Aurescu, va participa luni, la Luxemburg, la reuniunea miniştrilor de Externe din statele membre ale UE. Potrivit MAE, înaintea reuniunii, miniştrii de Externe şi Înaltul Reprezentant pentru Afaceri Externe şi Politica de Securitate vor participa la un mic dejun informal cu ministrul Afacerilor Externe al Arabiei Saudite, Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud. Pe agenda de discuţii a reuniunii figurează situaţia din Belarus, evoluţiile din cadrul Dialogului Belgrad - Priştina, relaţiile UE cu Rusia şi relaţiile UE cu America Latină şi Caraibi. Discuţiile referitoare la relaţiile UE cu Federaţia Rusă vizează o analiză aprofundată, inclusiv din perspectiva cazului Navalnîi. Discuţia privind America Latină şi Caraibi va urmări definirea sprijinului UE pentru regiune, inclusiv pentru a contracara efectele pandemiei de COVID-19.

Persons: Bogdan, Bogdan Aurescu, MAE, Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud, ., Susţinerea, Miroslav Lajcak Organizations: Securitate, Arabiei Saudite, saudit, MAE, UE Locations: UE, Luxemburg, Arabiei, Arabia Saudită, Orientul Mijlociu, Statul Israel, Palestina, Nagorno - Karabah, situaţia, Mozambic, Ucraina, Venezuela, Belarus, Belgrad, Priştina, Rusia, America Latină, României, Minsk, OSCE, România, Polonia, Lituania, Balcanii de Vest, Rusă

☆ Noi măsuri întreprinse de UE pentru ca ţările cu venituri mici şi medii să aibă acces la vaccinuri împotriva COVID-19
▼ + stars: | 2020-05-04 | by ( ) tvrmoldova.md time to read: +8 min

Fondurile vor veni în completarea celor 400 de milioane EUR, reprezentând garanţii pe care UE le-a angajat deja pentru COVAX, Uniunea devenind astfel unul dintre principalii donatori. Garanţia în valoare de 400 de milioane EUR a fost, de asemenea, semnată joia aceasta. Cifrele includ, de asemenea, noi contribuţii anunţate astăzi de Franţa (100 de milioane EUR), Spania (50 de milioane EUR) şi Finlanda (2 milioane EUR). La această acţiune, Team Europe a contribuit astfel: statele membre ale UE (3,1 miliarde EUR), Comisia Europeană (peste 1,4 miliarde EUR) şi BEI (aproape 2 miliarde EUR promise în mai şi 4,9 miliarde EUR promise în iunie). Participarea UE la COVAX va fi complementară negocierilor UE aflate în curs de desfăşurare cu societăţile farmaceutice care produc vaccinuri, lansate în cadrul Strategiei UE privind vaccinurile.

Persons: Ursula von, UE, Jutta Urpilainen, Stella Kyriakides, Emmanuel Macron Organizations: Uniunea Europeană, UE, Europe, UNICEF, Comisia Europeană, Team Europe Locations: Paris, Ursula von der, Africa, Caraibilor, Pacific, COVAX, BEI, UE, Franţa, Spania, Finlanda, iniţiată

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