Policy and Rights

Michael Clogs

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This a series of conversations around government policy and our rights. We are trying to report information to listeners about what is happening with government and communities

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601 episodes

Justin Trudeau announces upcoming budget measures for renters

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces measures aimed at protecting renters that will be in the upcoming federal budget, including a renters’ bill of rights and legal aid fund to protect tenants. He is joined in Vancouver by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan, who is also the MP for Vancouver South. The prime minister faces questions about the concerns of several premiers about the planned carbon price hike on April 1. He is also asked about Canada being targeted by the same hacking group that attacked the United States and the United Kingdom. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss.

59m
Mar 27
Is the UN Securuty Resolution for a Cease Fire Binding and Legal

The UN Security Council on Monday adopted a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in war-ravaged Gaza during Ramadan and calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. This was the Council’s first explicit call for an immediate ceasefire since Israel Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss.

1h 29m
Mar 26
UN Security Council Resolution to a Cease Fire in Gaza

The UN Security Council on Monday adopted a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in war-ravaged Gaza during Ramadan and calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. This was the Council’s first explicit call for an immediate ceasefire since Israel Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss.

35m
Mar 26
Ms Ulrika Richardson Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Haiti speaks about the devastation

Ulrika Richardson, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Haiti, will brief virtually on the current situation in the country Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss.

52m
Mar 22
Federal government announces support for Ontario clean electricity grid

In Mississauga, Ontario, federal Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson announces $16.7 million in funding for the Independent Electricity Systems Operator (IESO), the province's power grid operator, to support an initiative that will improve its electricity grid operations. He is joined by his provincial counterpart Todd Smith and Lesley Gallinger, president of the IESO On the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Secretary-General António Guterres today called for “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the immediate release of all hostages” in Gaza, as well as a cessation of hostilities in Sudan. President Biden at the National League of Cities Congressional City Conference We know what you all do and what a measure of success isn’t how many partisan points you score. It’s a basic thing we’ve all got involved in the first place for: Can you fix the problem? Can we fix the problem? Can we be responsive? We’re here for one reason: to deliver to families and communities for the country. We’ve been a — you’ve been essential partners in delivering historic results for the American people. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss.

52m
Mar 11
White house press Briefing March 6 2024

President Biden Takes New Steps to Lower Prescription Drug and Health Care Costs, Expand Access to Health Care, and Protect Consumers Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss.

59m
Mar 07
Pierre Poilievre on Winnipeg lab documents, pharmacare

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks with reporters on Parliament Hill about the government’s recent release of documents concerning the 2021 firing of two scientists from the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg. He is joined by Conservative MPs Michael Chong, Stephen Ellis, James Bezan, and Michael Cooper. The Conservative leader faces questions about the right of provinces who want to opt out of a national pharmacare plan with full compensation and no conditions. He is asked as well about the federal government's decision to re-impose visa requirements for Mexican nationals visiting Canada in an effort to address the rising number of asylum seekers. (February 29, 2024) Joe Biden remarks on update the US immgration system especial at the Mexican Border Speaking with reporters on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Daniel Blaikie, the NDP MP for Elmwood–Transcona, Man., discusses his decision to leave federal politics. Blaikie, who was first elected to the House of Commons in 2015, will step down as a member of Parliament effective March 31, 2024, and become an adviser to Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss.

1h 23m
Mar 01
Feds change competition law, announce housing funding

On Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland provides her weekly economic update alongside other federal ministers. Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne announces the government is freezing the threshold at which the Competition Bureau must be notified of a potential business merger. Housing Minister Sean Fraser announces a $123-million investment that he says will help eight homebuilders drive innovation and build more than 5,000 affordable homes Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss.

1h 16m
Feb 29
Kuwait envoy relaying Palestinian suffering at ICJ

Kuwait envoy breaks down relaying Palestinian suffering at ICJKuwait’s envoy to the Netherlands, Ali Al-Thefeeri, broke down during his speech at the International Court of Justice. Al-Thefeeri was forced to stop his address several times as he questioned why Israel is allowed to commit crimes against Palestinians without being held to account. “Why does the victim continue to be portrayed as the killer?” he asked. More than 50 states are presenting arguments during six-days of hearings at the World Court on the legality of Israel's occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem

37m
Feb 27
Distinguished Economist, How Wall Street Can Help Democracies Survive - Marcus Buscaglia

Marcos Buscaglia is an economist, former Wall Street analyst and Emerging Markets expert. He has more than 30 years doing research on the economies of Emerging Market countries and advising Wall Street companies. He is also emerging as a leading voice on the topic of markets and democracy. He was a speaker at the 2022 and the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum on the impact of foreign investment on democracy and human rights. He is the founder of Alberdi Partners, a consultancy firm dedicated to political, economic and market analysis of Latin American countries. Buscaglia holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a Fulbright scholar, has a graduate degree in economics from Universidad Torcuato Di Tella and a degree in economics (summa cum laude) from the Catholic University of Argentina (UCA). Buscaglia was for five years chief Latin America economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in New York. He ranked #1 in the Institutional Investor rankings in the categories Latin America economics and Argentina in 2015. He also served as chief economist for Latin America at Citibank in New York, and as chief economist for the Southern Cone countries at Citibank, based in Buenos Aires. Previously he was the Dean of Graduate Business Programs at the University of San Andrés, and a professor of Finance and Economics at IAE Business School, Universidad Austral. Before his PhD, he worked for four years at Ricardo Arriazu & Asociados in Buenos Aires. Buscaglia is regularly featured in international media, including Bloomberg, Reuters and the Financial Times. He is the author of the books “Por qué fracasan todos los gobiernos?” (with Sergio Berensztein, 2018), “Emergiendo” (2020) and of “Beyond the ESG Portfolio. How Wall Street Can Help Democracies Survive” (2024). He has a bi-weekly column in newspaper La Nación (Argentina). Buscaglia is married and has four children. https://marcosbuscaglia.com/books

27m
Feb 22
British columbia Throne Speech 2024

Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin opened the final session of the 42nd Parliament by delivering the speech from the throne, laying out the B.C. government’s vision for a stronger province that works better for people. “While our government is proud of the progress we’ve made for people through tough times, we’re nowhere near satisfied,” said Premier Eby. “Our economy is strong, with low unemployment and the highest wages in the country. But too many are still struggling to get ahead – even those in the middle class who earn a decent paycheque. That’s why we’ll continue bringing people together to solve big challenges and help everyone build a good life here.” Her Honour and members of the legislature were greeted by the Lekwungen singers and dancers of the Songhees Nation – a powerful symbol of B.C.’s commitment to reconciliation and moving forward in partnership with Indigenous Peoples. The speech outlined actions government will take over the next few months to deliver more middle-class homes faster, help working families and small businesses with costs, strengthen public health care and services, and build a cleaner economy that works for everyone—not just those at the top. It also committed to expanding actions to protect children from harms at schools, in their communities and online.

1h 24m
Feb 21
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announces carbon pricing referendum bill

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says that his government will soon table legislation requiring future provincial governments to hold a referendum before introducing any new carbon pricing plans. He is joined at the news conference in Mississauga by Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy. The government will also introduce automatic license plate renewal for drivers in Ontario. Premier Ford also answers questions regarding the rise in opioid-related deaths in Ontario, and funding for universities and colleges.

43m
Feb 14
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concerns over the situation in Gaza

UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday expressed deep concerns over the situation in Gaza, reiterating his call for an immediate ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages. Speaking at a press conference at UN Headquarters in New York, the UN chief underscored the need for “real, visible, concrete steps” towards a two-State solution based on UN resolutions, international law and previous agreements. “Repeated bloody hostilities and decades of tensions and occupation have failed to provide a State for the Palestinians or security for Israelis,” he said. “In the Middle East and around the world, we need peace in every sense," he said. "Our world cannot afford to wait." Peace, the common thread Recalling his address to the General Assembly yesterday, where he presented his priorities for 2024, the UN chief highlighted raging conflicts, geopolitical divisions and escalating polarization within communities and stressed that peace is the “common thread” connecting the multifaceted challenges faced globally. “Yesterday, I presented a clear-eyed, sober assessment of the world. This is no time for pulling punches,” he said. Addressing the several “existential challenges” facing the world – from nuclear danger to the climate emergency and the risks posed by unchecked artificial intelligence – requires much more to be done across the board. “It will require a serious conversation between developed and developing countries, between rich and emerging economies, between north and south, east and west,” he stated. Reforms needed The Secretary-General called for institutional reforms, starting with the overhaul of the Security Council and the Bretton Woods Institutions – the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Acknowledging the shift from a unipolar to a multipolar world, he emphasized the need for renewed, inclusive mechanisms of multilateral governance to prevent multiplying risks. Looking ahead, Mr. Guterres highlighted the upcoming Summit of the Future in September, noting the importance of the New Agenda for Peace, the SDG Stimulus and the UN's Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence. He also emphasized the need of aligning institutions with the present times and preserving principles such as respect for the UN Charter, international law and international humanitarian law. Situation in Gaza In addressing immediate crises, Mr. Guterres expressed particular concern for ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and in Gaza, where “the situation just keeps getting worse” and UN humanitarian operations continue to face denials of access, delays and dangers – including live fire. “Let’s be clear: Denial of humanitarian access means denial of humanitarian relief for civilians,” he stressed. The Secretary-General also expressed deep concerns over reports that the Israeli military intends to focus next on Rafah. “Half of Gaza’s population is now crammed into Rafah. They have nowhere to go. They have no homes – and they have no hope,” he said, calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, unconditional release of hostages and concrete steps towards a two-State solution in line with UN resolutions and international law. Peace is indispensable Mr. Guterres concluded by stressing that peace, in every sense, is indispensable for the Middle East and the world. He emphasized the urgency of action, asserting that the world cannot afford to wait for the necessary changes.

55m
Feb 13
Dr Tedros on the Global Economic Health

Dr Tedros on the Global Economic Health

1h 9m
Feb 09
Iraq States All Attacks Should Cease

Briefing by Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), on the situation concerning Iraq. Madam President, Distinguished members of the Security Council, With the conflict raging in Gaza, as well as armed action elsewhere, the Middle East is at a critical juncture. The same is true for Iraq. To be clear: Iraq’s Government’s efforts are focused on avoiding a domestic (and regional) spillover. Still, continued attacks have become a harsh reality. These attacks originate from within and outside of the country’s borders. Attacks which, if they were to continue, stand to undo Iraq’s hard-won stability, as well as other achievements made in the past 18 months. As we all know, history can have a long tail. One which can impact the present. This is searingly true for the Middle East. To fully grasp the current regional and domestic dynamics, therefore, we would need to traverse decades - an exercise this briefing does not allow for. That said, it is within this context that various Iraqi armed groups (groups acting outside state control, that is) reference, as a justification for their operations, a doctrine which transcends politics and state borders. Other motivations expressed pertain specifically to Iraq, such as calls for Iraqi skies to be, and I quote, “free”, and for an end to the international military presence in the country. However, for Iraq to further continue on its path of stability and progress, an enabling environment will prove essential. And, such an environment requires restraint from all sides. Yes, indeed, from Iraq’s armed actors. And, as might be expected, restraint from Iraq’s neighbours and other countries is just as crucial. I have said it numerous times in the past and will say it again: messaging by strikes only serves to recklessly heighten tensions, to kill or injure people and to destroy property. A case in point was the attack on 28 January, which killed and injured US service members. This was seen again, with the retaliatory strikes on 2 February, which also resulted in casualties. Rather than shows of force, all efforts should centre on safeguarding Iraq from being drawn in any way into a wider conflict. And it is within this context that many expressed shock over Iran’s missile attack on Erbil a few weeks ago, which killed civilians - including a little girl. Based on accusations the Iraqi Government has strongly refuted, these actions were sorely at odds with the great efforts made on the Iraq-Iran security agreement, which I highlighted in my October briefing. Meanwhile, Turkish military operations in the North also continue. Just because these attacks have become the new “normal” does not mean they do not seriously compound the risk of new arenas of violence being opened. Now - when talking about the incendiary potential of retaliatory strikes, we would like to welcome the recent launch of dialogue through the United States-Iraq Higher Military Commission. This dialogue channel opened at a critical moment. The setting of joint objectives could only be a positive development amid rising tensions. Having said all this today, I am compelled to reiterate our appeal to all sides to exercise maximum restraint. With Iraq cloaked in an already complex tapestry of challenges, it is of greatest importance that all attacks cease. While we are (of course) aware that many authorities and actors seek to limit further escalation, it is clear that the situation remains volatile. Iraq (and, indeed, the wider region) remain on a knife-edge, with the tiniest miscalculation threatening a major conflagration. On a more optimistic note, Madam President, on 18 December 2023, Iraq held local elections for the first time in 10 years. And, in the case of Kirkuk, for the first time since 2005. This electoral process took place in a broadly peaceful and technically sound manner. It marked another milestone in the Government’s efforts to break from past cycles of dysfunction. And we truly hope that the re-establishment of local representative bodies, which have been inactive since 2019, will signify another major step forward. Now, a challenge for future elections will be to rally a higher voter turnout and, importantly, to encourage Iraq’s eligible voters to register. While turnout among registered voters for the 2023 governorate council elections was on par with Iraq’s national parliamentary elections (two years prior) around 60% of registered voters did not cast their ballots... Watch the full Security Council meeting on the situation concerning Iraq: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1o/k1o...

50m
Feb 06
What will Guyana work on with the Security Council

Press conference by Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett (Guyana), Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations, and President of the Security Council for the month of February 2024, on the programme of work of the Security Council

1h 2m
Feb 03
UNRWA- Backbone of all humanitarian response in Gaza

Remarks by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, at the 415th Meeting of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. 'Scar on our shared humanity': Guterres Secretary-General António Guterres is addressing the Committee, he started by underlining the importance of its mandate amidst the unresolved issue of Palestinian statelessness and the enormous violence and suffering, especially since the horrific 7 October terror attack. “The death, destruction, displacement, hunger, loss, and grief in Gaza over the last 120 days are a scar on our shared humanity and conscience,” he said condemning the attacks by Hamas and other groups. “The ongoing conflict and relentless bombardment by Israeli forces across Gaza have resulted in killings of civilians and destruction at a pace and scale unlike anything we have witnessed in recent years,” he added. UNRWA: 'Backbone of all humanitarian response in Gaza' Mr. Guterres emphasized that the UN acted immediately following the extremely serious allegations implicating UNRWA staffers in the attacks on 7 October. “I was personally horrified by these accusations,” he said, noting that on Tuesday, he met with donors to listen to their concerns and to outline the steps the Organization is taking to address them. He reiterated the importance of keeping UNRWA’s vital work going to meet the dire needs of civilians in Gaza, and to ensure its continuity of services to Palestine refugees in the occupied West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. “UNRWA is the backbone of all humanitarian response in Gaza. "I appeal to all Member States to guarantee the continuity of UNRWA’s life-saving work,” he urged. With over 26,000 reportedly killed in the enclave, 1.7 million displaced and massive destruction of civilian infrastructure, including homes and schools, the UN chief underscored the need for all combatants to comply with international law

1h 11m
Feb 02
evidence emerges of UNRWA support for Hamas

The UN agency for Palestinians has fired 12 employees and ordered an investigation into allegations of staff involvement in the 7 October Hamas attacks. https://www.spreaker.com/episode/evidence-emerges-of-unrwa-support-for-hamas--58525984

48m
Jan 31
Federal ministers comment on economic plan loans for student housing

Chrystia Freeland, the deputy prime minister and minister of finance, provides an update on the federal government’s economic plan. She is joined at the news conference in Ottawa by federal ministers Sean Fraser (housing), François-Philippe Champagne (industry), Anita Anand (Treasury Board) and Marc Miller (immigration). Fraser announces a plan to reform the Apartment Construction Loan Program in order to provide low-cost loans to spur the construction of more student housing. Responding to questions from reporters, Freeland comments on reports that the government is examining a possible rebrand of the federal carbon pricing rebate system. Miller faces questions on the recent decision to impose a temporary cap on international student visas to address the housing shortage. Joint Press Encounter by France, together with Ecuador, Guyana, Japan, Malta, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States on the situation of women in Sudan, delivered by Nathalie Broadhurst, Deputy Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations.

1h 16m
Jan 29
Israel - Palestine Crisis - Security Council, 9534th meeting

UN Security Council debate and make statements about burtality that is happening in the Middle East and Especially Gaza

43m
Jan 26
Preparing for a ‘Disease X’

Panel of experts including Dr Tedro talk about the furture of medicine and to prevent widespread disease and pandemics from happening

56m
Jan 24
Federal government announces 2-year cap on student permits

With a stated goal of targeting institutional "bad actors" — and amid concern about the impact growing numbers of international students are having on the housing market — Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced Monday that the federal government will cap the number of student permits over the next two years. The government says it will approve approximately 360,000 undergraduate study permits for 2024 — a 35 per cent reduction from 2023. Each province and territory will be allotted a portion of the total, distributed according to population. The federal government says this will result in "much more significant decreases in provinces where the international student population has seen the most unsustainable growth

1h 2m
Jan 23
Chrystia Freeland takes part in World Economic Forum trade and investment panel

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland takes part in a panel discussion entitled “No Recovery without Trade and Investment” while attending a meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. Also participating are Valdis Dombrovskis (European commissioner for trade), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (director-general of the World Trade Organization), Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak (Emirati government official and business leader), Brian Moynihan (chairman and CEO of Bank of America), and moderator Børge Brende (president of the WEF).

52m
Jan 23
What is PM Trudeau doing about the CEBA repayment deadline

Responding to questions from reporters, the prime minister comments on the federal government’s decision to not further extend the repayment deadline for businesses who received Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) loans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trudeau also faces questions on parental rights in New Brunswick and on the carbon price exemption for Atlantic Canadians. Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson joins Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew in Winnipeg to announce support for a planned sustainable aviation fuel facility near Portage la Prairie. The federal government will invest $6.2 million for Azure Sustainable Fuels to conduct an engineering and design study for the proposed plant. Azure president Douglas Cole and Winnipeg South Centre Ben Carr also take part in the news conference

1h 21m
Jan 19
Chrystia Freeland is our government housing funding program working?

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland addresses the media in Toronto to highlight the federal government’s work in addressing the ongoing housing crisis. She is joined by Marci Ien, the MP for Toronto Centre, and Andrew Joyner, managing director at Tricon Residential. The deputy prime minister faces questions about internal documents warning about the potential impact of high immigration to housing costs. She is also asked about Canada's position regarding South Africa's genocide charge against Israel at the International Court of Justice, and about her security detail arresting a reporter who tried to ask her questions following a recent event

51m
Jan 16
Is Israel Guilty of Gencide According to the ICJ

South Africa told judges at the World Court in the Hague on Thursday that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and pleaded with the court to issue an interim order for an immediate halt to Israel's military actions

1h 36m
Jan 15
Malta speaks out against the violence in Gaza as over 22000 are now dead

GAZA The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that the intensifying offensive in Deir al Balah, in central Gaza, and Khan Younis, in the south, is driving up civilian casualties and having devastating consequences for tens of thousands of people, many of whom had fled to Deir al Balah for safety from Gaza city and the north. As a result of increased attacks – including one that directly hit an UNRWA warehouse on Thursday, killing a UN staff member – humanitarian operations in Deir al Balah have been severely curtailed. Warehouses, distribution and health centres and shelters fall within areas that have been newly issued with evacuation orders. Several bakeries that were supported by the UN and its partners have been forced to shut down operations in Deir al Balah as a result of the fighting. As casualties rise, the ability to treat people is in jeopardy, with three hospitals in Deir al Balah and Khan Younis at risk of closure due to the issuance of evacuation orders in nearby areas and fighting approaching the hospitals. Yesterday, staff from the World Health Organization and OCHA visited the Al Aqsa Hospital, the only functioning hospital in Deir al Balah. According to the hospital director, because of increasing hostilities and ongoing evacuation orders, most of the local health workers and about 600 patients have been forced to leave the facility to unknown locations. The WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, wrote that his staff witnessed “sickening scenes of people of all ages being treated on blood-streaked floors and in chaotic corridors.” The hospital reported immense needs, notably health workers, medical supplies, beds, and the need to be protected from strikes and hostilities. Dr. Tedros said that Al Aqsa is the most important hospital remaining in Deir al Balah and must remain functional, and protected, to deliver its lifesaving services. By the end of 2023, according to UNRWA, 1.9 million people, or nearly 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza, were estimated to be internally displaced, including many who have been displaced multiple times, as families are forced to move repeatedly in search of safety. Nearly 1.4 million internally displaced people are sheltering in 155 UNRWA facilities, which are far exceeding their intended capacity. UNICEF announced over the weekend that a survey conducted on December 26th found that about 90 per cent of Gazan children under the age of two consume two or fewer food groups. Most children are reportedly only eating grains or milk. SIGRID KAAG Ms. Sigrid Kaag started her assignment today as Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza pursuant to Security Council Resolution 2720 (2023). In her new capacity she will facilitate, coordinate, monitor, and verify humanitarian relief consignments to Gaza.   Ms. Kaag has also received the mandate to establish a United Nations mechanism to accelerate humanitarian relief consignments to Gaza through States which are not party to the conflict. She is in New York and she will be meeting with the Secretary-General, then she will go to Washington D.C. this week for meetings before traveling to the region.

1h 22m
Jan 11
UN Update on Gaza and Ukraine with an Global Economy Report

Global economic growth is projected to slow from an estimated 2.7 percent in 2023 to 2.4 per cent in 2024, trending below the pre-pandemic growth rate of 3.0 per cent, according to the United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2024 report. At the launch of the report today (04 Jan), Hantanu Mukherjee, Director of the Economic Analysis and Policy Division and Hamid Rashid, Chief of the Global Economic Monitoring Branch, Economic Analysis and Policy Division, UN DESA, spoke to reporters in New York. . This latest forecast comes on the heels of global economic performance exceeding expectations in 2023. However, last year’s stronger-than-expected GDP growth masked short-term risks and structural vulnerabilities. The UN’s flagship economic report presents a sombre economic outlook for the near term. Persistently high interest rates, further escalation of conflicts, sluggish international trade, and increasing climate disasters, pose significant challenges to global growth. The prospects of a prolonged period of tighter credit conditions and higher borrowing costs present strong headwinds for a world economy saddled with debt, while in need of more investments to resuscitate growth, fight climate change and accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “2024 must be the year when we break out of this quagmire. By unlocking big, bold investments we can drive sustainable development and climate action, and put the global economy on a stronger growth path for all,” said António Guterres, United Nations Secretary- General. “We must build on the progress made in the past year towards an SDG Stimulus of at least $500 billion per year in affordable long-term financing for investments in sustainable development and climate action.” Subdued growth in developed and developing economies Growth in several large, developed economies, especially the United States, is projected to decelerate in 2024 given high interest rates, slowing consumer spending and weaker labour markets. The short-term growth prospects for many developing countries – particularly in East Asia, Western Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean – are also deteriorating because of tighter financial conditions, shrinking fiscal space and sluggish external demand. Low-income and vulnerable economies are facing increasing balance-of-payments pressures and debt sustainability risks. Economic prospects for small island developing States, in particular, will be constrained by heavy debt burdens, high interest rates and increasing climate-related vulnerabilities, which threaten to undermine, and in some cases, even reverse gains made on the SDGs. Inflation trending down but recovery in labour markets still uneven. Global inflation is projected to decline further, from an estimated 5.7 per cent in 2023 to 3.9 per cent in 2024. Price pressures are, however, still elevated in many countries and any further escalation of geopolitical conflicts risks renewed increases in inflation. In about a quarter of all developing countries, annual inflation is projected to exceed 10 percent in 2024, the report highlights. Since January 2021, consumer prices in developing economies have increased by a cumulative 21.1 per cent, significantly eroding the economic gains made following the COVID-19 recovery. Amid supply-side disruptions, conflicts and extreme weather events, local food price inflation remained high in many developing economies, disproportionately affecting the poorest households. “Persistently high inflation has further set back progress in poverty eradication, with especially severe impacts in the least developed countries,” said Li Junhua, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs. “It is absolutely imperative that we strengthen global cooperation and the multilateral trading system, reform development finance, address debt challenges and scale up climate financing to help vulnerable countries accelerate towards a path of sustainable and inclusive growth.” According to the report, the global labour markets have seen an uneven recovery from the pandemic crisis. In developed economies, labour markets have remained resilient despite a slowdown in growth. However, in many developing countries, particularly in Western Asia and Africa, key employment indicators, including unemployment rates, are yet to return to pre- pandemic levels. The global gender employment gap remains high, and gender pay gaps not only persist but have even widened in some occupations.

1h 3m
Jan 09
Liberal Ministers Talk About Housing Inflation and Small Business

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland makes an announcement in Ottawa. She is joined at the news conference by ministers Sean Fraser (housing), Jenna Sudds (social development) and Rechie Valdez (small business). (December 5, 2023)

1h 7m
Dec 05, 2023