Storms, coronavirus pose ‘double threat’ for children in Central America and Caribbean – UNICEF

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3 August 2020

Storms, coronavirus pose ‘double threat’ for children in Central America and Caribbean – UNICEF

“In the coming days and weeks, children and families will be at risk of being hit simultaneously by two disasters, COVID-19 and hurricanes,” cautioned Bernt Aasen, UNICEF Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean.

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Roadblocks ahead

While acknowledging that displacement, infrastructure damage and service interruptions caused by storms – particularly in coastal areas – could render individuals more vulnerable to the disease and its impacts, the UN children’s agency expressed special concern that a powerful storm could severely undermine ongoing efforts to stem COVID-19.

The coronavirus could spread easily in crowded emergency shelters or displacement sites where physical distancing would be difficult to ensure, according to UNICEF.

At the same time, existing control measures like handwashing could falter if water, sanitation and health infrastructure were to be damaged or destroyed.

“This is the perfect storm we fear for the Caribbean and Central America,” said the UNICEF official.

Hampered efforts

In addition to straining national and local health systems in the region, the pandemic is also raising serious questions about the aftermath of a catastrophic hurricane, including movement restrictions and budget shortfalls, which may hinder national hurricane preparedness efforts.

“As we continue to take precautions to keep families safe from COVID-19, efforts to prepare for hurricane now are vital to mitigate the spread of virus among the most vulnerable communities”, Mr. Aasen explained.

Danger on the horizon

As UNICEF reported in a recent Child Alert, over the coming years the Caribbean region is expected to experience intensified storms and subsequent population displacements.

In late May, tropical storm Amanda caused flooding and landslides in parts of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. At least 33 people were killed in the region and thousands were displaced. All three countries have confirmed cases of COVID-19.

And in the 10-year period from 2010 to 2019, storms caused 895,000 new displacements of children in the Caribbean and 297,000 in Central America, according to the UN children’s agency.

Stepping up

Across the region, UNICEF is working to support hurricane preparedness efforts and public health responses to COVID-19 through education, community outreach and technical support.

In collaboration with Governments and other partners, the agency is working to build disaster resilience among communities in the region, including by adjusting hurricane preparedness and response plans to reflect COVID-19 risks with a focus on vulnerable groups, like children, pregnant women and single-headed female families.

Moreover, UNICEF is also working to improve coordination mechanisms and tools for timely needs assessments and response based on evidence and with Governments on climate change adaptation policies to ensure that they are child sensitive and informed by the long-term perspectives of youth and adolescents.

‘No silver bullet’ to combat COVID-19, says UN health agency head

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United Nations News

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3 August 2020

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‘No silver bullet’ to combat COVID-19, says UN health agency head

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Emergency Committee on COVID-19 met Friday to review the current coronavirus pandemic at what chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, called “a sobering moment”.

At a regular press briefing on Monday in Geneva, he recalled that when the Committee met three months ago, WHO had received reports of three million COVID-19 cases and more than 200,000 deaths.

“Since then”, he updated, “the number of cases has increased more than five-fold to 17.5 million, and the number of deaths has more than tripled, to 680,000”.

Table of Contents

Rippling effects

In addition to the direct toll of the virus, the Committee noted the impact disrupted services is having on a range of other diseases, which are compounding reduced immunization coverage, cancer screening and care, and mental health services.

And on top of the health impact, COVID-19 is causing social, economic and political damage, according to the WHO official.

Mitigation measures

The Committee suggested a range of proposals for countries to bring the virus under control, including enhanced political commitment and leadership for national strategies and localized response activities driven by science, data, and experience.

They also acknowledged that Member States have “tough choices” to make to turn the epidemic around.

While recognizing that “it’s not easy”, the WHO chief maintained that “when leaders step up and work intensely with their populations”, the disease can be “brought under control”.

“It’s never too late to turn this pandemic around”, Mr. Tedros upheld, adding that “if we act together today”, we can save lives and livelihoods.

Recommendations

The Committee recommended that countries engage in the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, participate in relevant clinical trials, and prepare for safe and effective therapeutics and vaccine introduction, the WHO Director-General told reporters.

He also informed them that some vaccines are currently in phase three clinical trials, sharing his hope of having “a number of effective vaccines”.

“For now”, Mr. Tedros explained, “stopping outbreaks comes down to the basics of public health and disease control”, including testing, isolating and treating patients, along with tracing and quarantining their contacts.

Meanwhile, individuals must keep physical distance, wearing a mask, clean their hands regularly and cough safely away from others.

It’s never too late to turn this pandemic around — WHO chief

“The message to people and Governments is clear: do it all”, he stated, “and when it’s under control, keep going!”

Masking up

This week, WHO is also launching a so-called “mask challenge”, by encouraging people to send in photos of themselves wearing a protective mask.

In addition to being a key tool to stop the virus, masks have come to represent solidarity.

“If you’re a health worker, a frontline worker, wherever you are – show us your solidarity in following national guidelines and safely wearing a mask – whether caring for patients or loved ones, riding on public transport to work, or picking up essential supplies” Mr. Tedros urged.

Breastfeeding during COVID

In closing, the UN official reminded that this is breastfeeding awareness week.

He reiterated WHO’s recommendation that mothers with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should be encouraged, the same as all other mothers, to initiate or continue to breastfeed, saying that the “many, many benefits of breastfeeding for newborn babies and children substantially outweigh the potential risks for COVID-19 infection”.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=OFGiy6t7k5E%3Frel%3D0

High Representative EU on the postponement of elections in Hong Kong

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Council of the EU and European Council

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3 August 2020

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Hong Kong : Declaration of the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the postponement of the Legislative Council elections

As set out in the Council conclusions of 24 July, the EU is following closely the political situation in Hong Kong and reiterates that it is essential that the Legislative Council elections take place in an environment which is conducive to the exercise of democratic rights and freedoms as enshrined in the Hong Kong’s Basic Law.

The proposed postponement by one year of the elections to the Legislative Council through recourse to emergency powers, would delay the renewal of its democratic mandate and call into question the exercise of the democratic rights and freedoms guaranteed under Hong Kong’s Basic Law.

The recent disqualification of pro-democracy candidates, including sitting lawmakers previously democratically elected by the people of Hong Kong, also weakens Hong Kong’s international reputation as a free and open society. The protection of civil and political rights in Hong Kong is a fundamental part of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, which the EU supports.

The EU calls on the Hong Kong authorities to reconsider these decisions.

USCIRF Expresses Outrage at the Killing of U.S. Citizen Over Blasphemy Charges in Pakistan

By

Robert Johnson

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3 August 2020

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Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today mourns the death of Tahir Ahmad Naseem, a U.S. citizen who was shot in a courtroom in Peshawar, Pakistan on July 29, 2020. The assailant claimed to have shot Naseem because he had belonged to the Ahmadiyya faith.

“Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are indefensible to begin with but it is outrageous beyond belief that the Pakistani government was incapable of keeping an individual from being murdered within a court of law for his faith, and a U.S. citizen, nonetheless,” USCIRF Commissioner Johnnie Moore stated. “Pakistan must protect religious minorities, including individuals accused of blasphemy, in order to prevent such unimaginable tragedies. The authorities must take immediate action to bring Mr. Nassem’s killer to justice.”

Tahir Ahmad Naseem was arrested two years ago and charged with blasphemy under the Pakistan Penal Code. Blasphemy cases in Pakistan are extremely controversial and have led to riots and vigilante justice. As highlighted in a USCIRF policy update about Pakistan’s blasphemy law, USCIRF is aware of nearly 80 individuals imprisoned on blasphemy charges, half of whom face life imprisonment or the death penalty.

“As USCIRF has noted countless times, Pakistan’s blasphemy law inflames interreligious tensions and too often leads to violence,” noted USCIRF Vice Chair Anurima Bhargava. “We urge the State Department to enter into a binding agreement with the Pakistani government that includes the repeal of blasphemy provisions in the Pakistan Penal Code.”

In its 2020 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended the State Department redesignate Pakistan as a “Country of Particular Concern,” or CPC, in part because of the “systematic enforcement of blasphemy and anti-Ahmadiyya laws,” which often target religious minority communities. In a recent policy update, USCIRF provided an overview of key issues that should be included in any binding agreement between the governments of the United States and Pakistan.

Yemen: Statement by the Spokesperson on the release of members of the Baha’i community

By

Robert Johnson

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3 August 2020

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The European Union welcomes the release of members of the Baha’i community by the movement Ansar Allah after their prolonged detention. One of those detained had been imprisoned since 2013 and was sentenced to death. The EU and its Member States have consistently advocated for the immediate release of all detained individuals.

The spread of coronavirus in Yemen and appalling conditions in detention facilities throughout the country made their release even more urgent. This gesture is a step in the right direction, contributing to building confidence and bringing the resumption of the peace process in Yemen closer. We commend the efforts of the UN, notably the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, in securing the release of the members of the Baha’i community, as well as the generous facilitation of the Ethiopian government.

Nobody should be persecuted on the basis of their belief or political affiliations. The EU recalls that freedom of thought, conscience and religion, are fundamental rights which must be guaranteed under all circumstances according to article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which Yemen has signed up to and ratified.

The EU calls on all parties to replicate such gestures throughout the whole country and put an end to the conflict by engaging with the efforts of the UN Special Envoy.

The EIB`s lends EUR 10 million to Credo Bank

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Newsroom

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3 August 2020

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Team Europe: The EIB`s lends EUR 10 million to Credo Bank under its Georgia Outreach Initiative to support MSMEs

The EIB will lend EUR 10 million in synthetic local currency to Credo Bank, the leading actor on microfinance market in Georgia predominantly servicing enterprises in rural areas and agricultural sector;

This is the second loan under the EIBs Georgia Outreach Initiative launched to improve access to finance for the countrys MSMEs.

Loans will be available under flexible terms to help maintain liquidity of MSMEs to continue operating and preserve jobs;

The loan comes as a part of the immediate response to Covid-19 pandemic launched by the EU and its Team Europe and is facilitated by an EU grant.

The European Investment Bank will lend EUR 10 million to Credo Bank, the leading actor on microfinance market in Georgia, and provide more affordable loans to countrys micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), predominantly from the agriculture sector. This is the second loan granted under the EIBs Georgia Outreach Initiative. Launched in December 2019 the Initiative improves financial inclusion and access to finance for underserved MSMEs in Georgia by supporting smaller banks in the country to improve their service offers.

The loan from the EU bank will be available to MSMEs in synthetic local currency to shield them from risks related to the depreciation of the currency. A grant from the European Union will complement the EIB loan to promote the local currency financing and cover part of the foreign exchange risk related costs.

The EIB loan will support MSMEs to overcome problems induced by the Covid-19 pandemic by supporting MSMEs with much-needed working capital and additional liquidity by creating additional sources of finances, available under flexible terms, to preserve jobs and vital agricultural production in the country.

The investment is a part of the European Union`s Team Europe immediate response to Covid-19 pandemic, launched in over 100 partner countries around the world, to which the EIB alone pledged EUR 6.3 billion.

Lilyana Pavlova, Vice President of the EIB, responsible for the bank’s activities in Georgia said: “With this loan the European Investment Bank and Team Europe are delivering on their pledge to support Georgia overcome the challenges brought by Covid-19 pandemic. Through our partnership with Credo Bank we will provide liquidity in local currency in order to keep businesses running during the crisis, and support their early and speedy recovery, thus, contributing towards a more resilient economy and strengthening the national financial sector. This will all be crucial for any future sustainable development of Georgia.”

Carl Hartzell, the EU Ambassador to Georgia, said: Improving living conditions in rural areas is an important priority of EU-Georgia cooperation. This loan will have a strong focus on the local agricultural sector, which is key from a local food production and employment perspective.

Zaza Pirtshkhelava CEO of Credo Bank said: I would like to sincerely thank the European Investment Bank for years of successful cooperation to improve financial inclusion in Georgia, for standing by the bank and its customers during the most volatile times and the European Union for the complementary grant to the transaction. This long-term local currency finance will be directed to assist farmers survive current constraints induced by Covid-19 pandemic and will highly contribute to uninterrupted agriculture production and food security in the country.

Portugal: EIB supports The Navigator Company’s decarbonisation strategy with €27.5 million

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Newsroom

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3 August 2020

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cac54692-d414-4bf4-9573-203ca5209781 — @The Navigator Company

The project, involving the construction and operation of a new biomass boiler at the Figueira da Foz pulp and paper plant, is a major step in the company’s recent decarbonisation strategy Funds are provided under the Investment Plan for Europe.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) will support The Navigator Company, a major Portuguese industrial group and Europe’s leading pulp and paper manufacturer, with a €27.5 million loan for the construction and operation of a new biomass boiler at their integrated mill facility located in Figueira da Foz, a cohesion region in Portugal.

This project is the first major step of The Navigator’s decarbonisation strategy, launched recently with the aim of making the company carbon neutral by 2035 (15 years ahead of the EU target of 2050) in line with the Paris Agreement, the EU Green Deal and Portugal’s Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality.

Replacing the existing equipment with a new biomass boiler is part of the company’s investments for offsetting carbon emissions and is seen as crucial for preserving and improving its competitiveness and market presence in a cyclical business sector, especially now amid the far-reaching economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This EU bank financing is provided under the Investment Plan for Europe.
The Figueira mill only uses feedstock from forests that are either certified by internationally accredited forest certification systems or considered to be controlled wood. This project will also contribute positively to supporting rural economies and employment in Portugal through the further development of a forest and bioeconomy value chain.

“We are very pleased to support the Navigator Company’s ambitious decarbonisation strategy and their efforts in modernizing production to make it more sustainable and to strengthen their competitiveness. While boosting economic recovery from COVID-19, this project will promote circular economy and help the EU reach its objective of climate neutrality by 2050” said EIB Vice-President Emma Navarro, responsible for the operations in Portugal as well as for the Bank’s climate action. “Climate action and cohesion, along with sustainable growth, continue to be key priorities for the EIB, even amid this pandemic. We are glad to support a project that is strongly contributing to these goals in Portugal and in Europe”.

This is the eighth transaction between the EIB and The Navigator Company with the last operation signed in 2018. In that project, the EIB Group supported The Navigator Company’s investments in innovation and climate action, such as the financing of the modernisation of the Figueira da Foz mill and the upgrade of their production technologies. As a result, energy consumption and the amount of chemicals used were reduced, as were greenhouse gas emissions thanks to fossil fuels being replaced with the greater use of renewable biomass energy.

The EIB is the world’s largest multilateral provider of climate finance. Its goal is to be a leader in mobilising the finance needed to limit the average global temperature increase to 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels to meet the Paris Agreement’s objectives. On 14 November 2019, the EIB Board of Directors approved its new climate objectives and the new energy lending policy. The Bank will gradually increase its financing for climate and environmental objectives by up to 50% by 2025, with the goal of ensuring that the EIB Group mobilises at least €1 trillion in the critical decade between 2021 and 2030 to promote investments helping to meet these objectives. It also announced its intention to align all EIB Group activities with the Paris Agreement. To this end, the EIB will cease financing fossil fuel-based projects from late 2021.

Why using the language of war is counterproductive

By

Juan Sanchez Gil

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2 August 2020

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Why using the language of war is counterproductive in our global public health crisis: some reflections from self-isolation

Originally published at the Quaker Council for European Affairs

One of the things that has really struck me in today’s peculiar times is the rhetoric of war used by many political leaders to talk about the COVID-19 situation. Such rhetoric seems at best misplaced during a public health crisis – and it could turn out to be extremely dangerous, by excusing violence. A military response is not what we need. On the contrary, the solidarity we can witness at various levels could be the beginning of a post-COVID-19 shift that I believe politicians across the world should be facilitating and promoting.

The war rhetoric is being used to highlight the gravity of the situation but also to gather people and create a sense of unity. As a French citizen it was particularly striking when Emmanuel Macron, in his 16 March speech, said “We are at war” at least seven times. Each time with greater emphasis and drama. But this rhetoric is also being used elsewhere: in the US, Donald Trump called himself a “wartime president”; and in Italy the government asked for a “wartime economy” to solve the situation.

I find this rhetoric insensitive coming from countries considered ‘at peace’ given the conditions that populations in conflict zones must endure. Thinking that we are ‘at war’ risks making us forget how privileged we are in reality, compared to populations who continue to suffer from bombing raids – which will not necessarily stop because of COVID-19. It is even more shocking when we know that countries like Syria are being hit by the virus, and people there cannot be isolated like us. As the spokesperson for the International Red Cross in Iraq said, “Social distancing is a privilege”.

Moreover, this military narrative could end up being quite dangerous for us all as it fuels an anxiety-led atmosphere. By referring to an ‘invisible foe’, we only increase our distrust of the other. This discourse can lead to increased fear and even violence. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, many violent, racist and xenophobic attacks and crimes have taken place. ‘Reducing the fear of others’ is a key objective of the Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA). Through its human rights programme, QCEA aims at building positive narratives and reducing hate speech – and in a time like this, this work has never been more essential.

Furthermore, references to war during a public health crisis seem inappropriate since military equipment is useless to resolve this situation. I do not question the contribution of the army in this time of crisis, which is of great help. But in 2019 world military spending experienced its highest increase in ten years (about 4%), and when I see the chronic shortage of masks and ventilators I cannot help but question the relevance of such spending. If you compare what you can buy with the money spent on military equipment it puts things into perspective: for the price of an F-35 nuclear bomber plane you can have around 2,200 ventilators. Our societies are ever more militarised and security-focused, and successive governments have prioritised military budgets over preparing for other threats such as global pandemics or climate change. This crisis should provoke a shift in spending priorities – rethinking the way security is perceived and defined by moving away from ‘hard’ security to human security. There is no unique definition of human security, it goes further than traditional understandings of security focusing on states, proposing a human-focused approach. Prevention, addressing the root causes of conflicts, human development, human rights and public health are among the many elements included in the concept of human security, promoted by QCEA.

That’s why it’s the solidarity and cooperation we’ve seen at the local and community level worldwide which inspires and gives hope. This is peacebuilding at its most basic level, through enhancing social cohesion. Whether through offers to do shopping for vulnerable people, exclusive restaurants cooking for the homeless, neighbours supporting medical and care staff by cooking for them or babysitting their children. These are just some examples of solidarity which are helping us to redefine our relationships to people around us – to strengthen society – let’s hope that this will be COIVD-19’s legacy.

Many commentators are keen to address what comes next. Calling for a redefinition of our entire system is challenging, since trying to imagine a new world is not easy, especially because in times of crisis we tend to wish for a return to ‘normal’ or a utopia version of normal. Some post-COVID-19 scenarios re-imagine the world and such radical change can scare. Nevertheless, this global ‘brainstorming’ is refreshing. A global reflection on how people and organisations can better protect the environment and tackle climate change after this, and live more peacefully has started – I hope governments will follow this wave of self-reflection and not return to ‘business as usual’. This would be a real sign of human resilience and our species’ capacity to learn and evolve.

Leaving No Roma behind during a pandemic, and beyond: a UN Resident Coordinator’s Blog

By

Newsdesk

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2 August 2020

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The first time I met Roma people in the Western Balkan region was in 1999, while I was working in Montenegro. I had just come out of a few hard years in South Sudan and Rwanda, and I was looking forward to coming closer to home.

I was working for an NGO and spent my days in the Roma camp outside of the town of Podgorica, where thousands of people were struggling to make a living. Despite the tensions, past and recent, and the lack of many things, the camp was not a sad place, somehow.

I remember being amazed by the incredible diversity of facial features in that community, feeling sometimes like I was in an international airport with people coming from around the world. I remember thinking the history of these people is on their face. Many families had similar stories and ancestry, but others recalled different paths, India, the Middle East, northern Africa.

I could see the camp as a lake, where different rivers had converged, over the centuries; and the lake was tempted between remaining a lake or turning back into a river.

We used to sit with Roma women, and share stories. After a while, they read my future in the coffee grounds, and of course, it involved love.

We probably were working on needs assessment or something like that, but I just remember the two things that all women kept mentioning to me: they wanted better teeth (their teeth were damaged quickly due to poor nutrition and hygiene conditions), and they wanted nail polish. They were 15, 35, 50-year-old, and in the midst of chaos and despair, they wanted beauty, and love.

This was one of these moments that captured the reality of inequalities: not just a sophisticated macro-economic concept, but something people experience as individuals, something which prevents them from fulfilling their potential and their dreams, in whatever shape and scope.

A year later, I met them again. In Gujarat, India, in the wake of the 2001 devastating earthquake. There, they are called Kuchis, the nomadic tribes of India and Afghanistan. Same faces, same stories, same music. Same extraordinary resilience within different chaos. The first migrants.

Addressing the needs of the most vulnerable Roma communities in Serbia

I meet Roma families now again, in Serbia, in my position of the UN Resident Coordinator in Serbia, in the peak of the COVID-19 crisis. According to the official data, there are at least 150,000 Roma people living in Serbia, though unofficial figures point this number may be significantly higher.

During the first three months of the UN response to COVID-19, our teams, along with government counterparts, identified that tens of thousands of Roma lacked basic access to safe water and electricity, which is a serious health risk in the time of a pandemic, besides being a threat to life and human dignity.

We assessed humanitarian needs in 500 substandard Roma settlements (out of over 760 estimated settlements) and quickly started acting. In close cooperation with the Serbian Red Cross at the local level and many other local stakeholders, the UN has provided assistance packages and tailor-made health messages to thousands of Roma families at risk.

The UN also put in place assistance so that Roma children could attend some form of remote education, in communities where access to the internet and to computer is extremely limited.

Eighty-two Roma health mediators in 70 municipalities switched to telephone consultations. In just a few weeks’ they reached 9,260 Roma families, advised over 4,500 persons on preventive measures, and referred over 100 persons to COVID-19 testing centres.

For a long period of time, Roma people in Serbia have been structurally neglected, which resulted in inadequate housing, unequal access to education for Roma children and unequal position in the open labour market.

Buddhist Times News – Dalai Lama, Sikyong condole the demise of Taiwan’s former President Lee Teng-hui x

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Shyamal Sinha

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1 August 2020

0

Dalai Lama, Sikyong condole the demise of Taiwan’s former President Lee Teng-hui x

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Dalai Lama with then Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui during his first visit to Taiwan in March of 1997 (Photo- OHHDL)

By Shyamal Sinha

Lee Teng-hui, who as president of Taiwan led its transformation from an island in the grip of authoritarian rule to one of Asia’s most vibrant and prosperous democracies, died on Thursday in Taipei, the capital. He was 97.

The condolences from the Tibetan leadership as exiled Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama expressed his sadness by recalling his first visit to Taiwan in 1997. The octogenarian leader praised Mr. Lee’s contributions to Taiwan’s democratic reforms and noted that the best way to remember him would be to “emulate his dedication to democracy.”

The Dalai Lama regarded Mr. Lee as a personal friend and conveyed his condolences to his wife Mrs. Tseng Wen-hui and his family, “I had the honour of meeting your husband during my first visit to Taiwan in 1997 when he was the first popularly elected President. Subsequently, we met again in Taiwan and at Peace Forums elsewhere and I regard him as a personal friend.” He concluded his message by stating that former president Lee was an ally of the Tibetan people and did what he could to support them.

The President of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), also known as the exile Tibetan government, Dr. Lobsang Sangay offered his condolences by noting his exceptional leadership on the island, “Mr. Lee steadfastly championed the cause of Taiwan nation and steered Taiwan through the historic transition from martial law to a full-fledged democracy.” He also highlighted the Dalai Lama’s first visit to Taiwan where the Middle-Way approach was first introduced to the Taiwanese people.

The Speaker Pema Jungney of the 16th Tibetan Parliament in Exile (TPiE) recalled President Lee as the Father of Democracy and said that he regarded His Holiness with the deepest respect. “Former President Lee regards His Holiness the Dalai Lama as a unique leader of the time and keeps him in high regard. With his support, CTA was able to form an Office of Religious Foundation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Taipei for the Tibetans,” he further remarked.

The first democratically elected President of Taiwan, Lee Ten-hui won in a landslide victory and was at the forefront of Taiwan’s democratisation during his tenure from 1996-2000. World leaders including Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe and US State Secretary Mike Pompeo also offered their condolences for his demise.

President Tsai’s office praised Mr. Lee’s achievements, saying in a statement, “The president believes that former President Lee’s contribution to Taiwan’s democratic journey is irreplaceable and his death is a great loss to the country.”

Taiwan became a separate political entity in 1949 after the civil war in China brought Mao’s Communists to power, forcing Chiang’s defeated government to flee to the island, some 100 miles from the mainland.

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Latest news of Europe and the world.

Storms, coronavirus pose ‘double threat’ for children in Central America and Caribbean – UNICEF

Roadblocks ahead

Hampered efforts

Danger on the horizon

Stepping up

‘No silver bullet’ to combat COVID-19, says UN health agency head

Rippling effects

Mitigation measures

Recommendations

Masking up

Breastfeeding during COVID

High Representative EU on the postponement of elections in Hong Kong

USCIRF Expresses Outrage at the Killing of U.S. Citizen Over Blasphemy Charges in Pakistan

Yemen: Statement by the Spokesperson on the release of members of the Baha’i community

The EIB`s lends EUR 10 million to Credo Bank

Team Europe: The EIB`s lends EUR 10 million to Credo Bank under its Georgia Outreach Initiative to support MSMEs

Portugal: EIB supports The Navigator Company’s decarbonisation strategy with €27.5 million

Why using the language of war is counterproductive

Leaving No Roma behind during a pandemic, and beyond: a UN Resident Coordinator’s Blog

Addressing the needs of the most vulnerable Roma communities in Serbia

Buddhist Times News – Dalai Lama, Sikyong condole the demise of Taiwan’s former President Lee Teng-hui x

Dalai Lama, Sikyong condole the demise of Taiwan’s former President Lee Teng-hui x

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