Tashkent, Uzbekistan,  MAY 31 – A high-level event on the theme “Accelerated implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Water Supply, Sanitation and Climate Action” was held at the UN in a video conference format, Dunyo news agency reported.

The Permanent Representative of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the UN, Bakhtiyor Ibrahimov, acquainted the conference participants with the comprehensive measures taken by the government of our country to mitigate the harmful effects of the Aral Sea crisis on the environment and the livelihoods of the population living in the region.

Particular attention was paid to the activities of the UN Multi-Partnership Trust Fund for Human Security, established on the initiative of the President of our country, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, for the Aral Sea region, as well as the prospects for mobilizing additional financial resources for the effective implementation of projects and programs of socio-economic importance.

The event, which was attended by representatives of UN Member States, environmental experts, was part of the implementation of General Assembly resolution 73/226, “Mid-term comprehensive review of the International Decade of Action: “Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028”. In particular, the resolution emphasizes the importance of the relationship between water and the environment and expresses concern that climate change may exacerbate global water scarcity.

Huma Balouch

Whenever the world experienced a health crisis, it provided an opportunity for creating major changes. For instance, all spheres of political leadership in the global system interact, reinforce, and implement adaptive decisions at much faster pace in response to humanitarian emergencies

The current financial market turmoil, crude oil prices slump and temporary truce in all armed conflicts around the world in response to the COVD-19 pandemic chaos makes it clear that the intrinsic value of health sector goes beyond its contribution to human development. The catastrophic impact of COVID-19 crisis and the highest one-day death toll being reported in developed countries starkly spotlights the centre of gravity on the health related issues that receive a lot less attention than economic sector, but are equally or perhaps even more crucialfrom a long-term development perspective for developed as well as developing countries. The massive educational, business, industrial and other workplaces closures hinge strongly on the premise that no one isleft behind in terms of health is crucial as a precondition and driving force for inclusive economic growth and development, poverty alleviation and universal access to education.

In view of inadequate responses to the Millennium Development Goals to overcome the challenges of a changing climate and weather extremes, conflict, inequality, hunger and malnutrition, water insecurity, rapid urbanization and disease outbreaks that left us all more vulnerable, several countries learned their lessons and responded far more rapidly to United Nations’ universal call to action for SDGs. As actions which may contribute to one of the SDG targets may also have an impact on other targets, SDGs are quite clearly more interdependent and integrated. Such recognition is especially crucial as some overarching issues, such as pandemics, can affect multiple targets simultaneouslyand exponentially. For instance, the ranking of some of the countries with leading positions according to their GDP (PPP) per capita drops significantly in the Human Development Index when economic dimensions of health inequality is taken into account.Likewise, the relationship between the role of health equity and growth in ICTs adoption also works both ways around. Such interlinked nature of SDGs and its explicit health-related targets provide a new context as there is a health component affecting achievement of many of the targets such as attaining gender equality, reducing poverty and improving education, not just those under SDG 3 (Good Health & Well-being  – Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages).

Following the UN Sustainable Development Summit, held for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda, and in response to the global emergence of more than thousand epidemic events in more than hundred countries in just 15 or so years, some hopeful signs were seen during 2016-2017, when UN Secretary-General’s Global Health Crises Task Force (in 2016) and WHO-World Bank joint Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (in 2017) were established to mobilize and strengthen collective national, international and multilateral action for global health security and emergency preparedness. But despite considerable economic upheaval caused by viral outbreaks, and clearly identified mechanisms and policy solutions by the relevant health panels, an overwhelming majority of countries failed to make a fundamental shift in their health policies and were unprepared for the next devastating pandemic outbreak.SDGs provided both an obligation and an opportunity to the leaders to rethink development systems and approaches to overcome problems to collective action in the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.

Whenever the world experienced a health crisis, it provided an opportunity for creating major changes. For instance, all spheres of political leadership in the global system interact, reinforce, and implement adaptive decisions at much faster pace in response to humanitarian emergencies. The current situation suggests a clear need to adopt a coordinated approach which may not focus solely on overcoming the crisis but ensure effective short and long-term initiatives with engagement of all political stakeholders, civil society actors, private sector and public institutions to better design the frameworks and responses to make the best use of the synergies between different goals as well as to manage aftermaths of pandemics.One such capacity that is now more relevant than ever is of the digital and mobile technologies in healthcare delivery system.

Calls for concerted action for strengthening the institutional foundations to support developing countries in their efforts to harness S&T for their sustainable socio-economic uplift came following the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in 1992. One of the earliest and thoughtful contributions made in this vein was by Pakistani Nobel Laureate, Prof. Dr. Abdus Salam, whogave the idea of establishing an Intergovernmental platform, the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS), for providing visionary leadership to developing countries for utilizing and mobilizing STI as an integral component of strategies for promoting sustainable development.

At its inception as a high level forum of regional cooperation in S&T, represented by Heads of State/Government, COMSATS assumed an advocacy role for sensitizingthe relevant government machinery in its 27 Member Statesfor investing in STI for development and encouragingthe decision-makers to strongly interact with the scientific communityto incorporate relevant mechanisms and policies in their activities and development agenda. A platform for the latter was also made available in the form of a network of 22 renowned International Science and Technology Centres of Excellence. COMSATS is mandated to facilitate achievement of sustainable socio-economic development in the South long before the realization of 2030 Global Agenda. The major initiatives of COMSATS that laid solid foundations for STI development included, inter alia, establishment of high-quality educational institutions (COMSATS University) and Infrastructure (COMSATS Internet Service); International Thematic Research Groups (ITRGs) for promotion of cutting-edge research using multi-, Inter-, and transdisciplinary approach; COMSATS Telehealth program (CTH) pioneer in using ICTs application for providing healthcare in community-based settings; COMSATS Centre for Climate & Sustainability (CCCS) a broad coalition of academic and research institutions and organizations working on environmental risks to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and various group training courses and workshops for technologists and practitioners from its Member Countries for building and strengthening education and research capacities.

To join and support COVID-19 response efforts and to carry on the momentum of progress towards achieving SDGs, COMSATS aims to give better insight into wide range of social, economic and environmental determinants of health, bring the regional- and national-level discussions with a multi-sectoral approach on mitigating the socio-economic impact of this crisis and alongside improving capacities and skills of personnel working across health and health-related disciplines.

Huma Balouch, is Senior Assistant Director at COMSATS Secretariat, working to promote and map awareness of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among COMSATS’ Network

LONDON, MAY 30 (DNA) – Britain, France and Germany on Saturday strongly condemned a US decision to end sanctions waivers for companies from nations that remain in a nuclear accord with Iran.

The waivers were part of the landmark agreement signed with Tehran in 2015 that sought to limit Iran’s nuclear ambitions in return for lifting crippling economic sanctions.

They allowed European, Chinese and Russian companies to work on the conversion of a heavy water reactor in Arak, a major industrial city in western Iran.

“We deeply regret the US decision to end the three waivers covering key JCPOA nuclear projects in Iran,” read a joint statement from the three European powers.

“These projects, endorsed by U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231, serve the non-proliferation interests of all and provide the international community with assurances of the exclusively peaceful and safe nature of Iranian nuclear activities.”

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the decision to end the waivers earlier this week.

The nuclear deal, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed by the US, Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia as well as Iran.=DNA

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Tashkent, Uzbekistan ,  MAY 30 — A meeting with the leadership and residents of Sergeli district of Tashkent took place in the new ecopark.

“Today I came here to find out what worries our people in the current difficult situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and together discuss what else needs to be done to improve their lives,” the head of state said.

Investment projects formed for Sergeli district are considered.

In particular, this year it is planned to implement 61 investment projects worth 1.8 trillion soums, creating more than 5 thousand jobs.

22 projects with the participation of foreign investments worth $ 83 million will also be implemented.

For example, the Tashkent Pipe Plant, together with Chinese partners, will launch production of 500 thousand tons of sheet metal per year. This year, US$85 million will be invested in this project.

Due to the narrowing to 65-80 meters of the channel of the Chirchik River, a reserve of 565 hectares of land will arise on its 16-kilometer section in Bektemir and Sergeli districts. By placing new investment projects here, it will be possible to create 160 thousand new jobs. Responsible persons are entrusted with a detailed study of this issue.

The head of state emphasized the need to develop small businesses, increase employment and reduce poverty by supporting community initiatives.

A number of projects for the development of transport and municipal infrastructure are being implemented. In particular, Uzbekistan Temir Yollari JSC is constructing the Sergeli Elevated Metro with a length of 7 kilometers and a cost of 83 million dollars. The task was set to put this line into operation in September this year.

Instructions are given on improving sewer and heating networks, modernizing centralized heating by transferring it to a closed system.

NEW YORK, May 30 (DNA):Protests over police brutality and the killing of an unarmed African-American man at the hands of policemen ignited once again on Friday across the United States, as demonstrators clashed with security forces in Minneapolis, New York, Atlanta and other cities, according to media reports.

In Washington, DC, hundreds of people rallied outside the White House, which was briefly put under lockdown on Friday, demanding justice over the death of George Floyd, the reports said.

A former Minneapolis police officer has been arrested and charged with murder over  Floyd’s death in custody.

Derek Chauvin, who is white, was shown in footage kneeling on 46-year-old Floyd’s neck on Monday. He and three other officers have since been sacked.

Chauvin, 44, is due to appear in court in Minneapolis for the first time on Monday.

Gatherings were largely peaceful as people marched in the streets from Los Angeles to New York, but in Atlanta, demonstrators set a police car ablaze and broke windows at CNN’s headquarters.

The Minnesota governor, who set a curfew for the city of Minneapolis, had pledged that Friday would be different from the previous night, when officers abandoned the area around the third police precinct to thousands of angry demonstrators who set fire to the building.

But as the curfew arrived, the protesters were back out in force and not giving ground, as TV channels clover the events live. Thousands gathered around the police station.

Once again the police retreated. Once again the protesters took control. Defying repeated orders, and waves of teargas, they kept pushing forward until the police gave way.

Within half an hour the police station, the symbol of what the protesters saw as their victory the previous evening, was back in their hands. They celebrated with selfies and tours of its wrecked interior.

As the sun went down, the protesters kept pushing the police back. The governor had threatened to send in the national guard, but it was nowhere to be seen. Neither, for now, was there a repeat of the looting and burning of buildings.

Protests have raged all week in the wake of Floyd’s death, with protesters calling for an end to police brutality and justice for him and other black Americans, including Breonna Taylor, who was shot and killed in March by police officers in Kentucky, and Ahmaud Arbery, who was killed by a retired law enforcement officer and his son in Georgia while out jogging.

ISLAMABAD, May 30 (DNA): Zhongao Law Firm, a first Chinese-funded law company has been established to provide legal services and assistance to the Chinese enterprises and citizens in Pakistan.

China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic partners. Pakistan is not only an active responder to the Belt and Road Initiative, but also co-builder of its flagship project China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

However, due to the different political systems, cultural and legal systems of China and Pakistan, in terms of economic and trade exchanges and cultural exchanges, overseas Chinese and Chinese-funded enterprises urgently need legal persons who understand the laws of China and Pakistan and can effectively communicate with the parties of China and Pakistan to provide legal services,Cheng Deyong, senior partner and legal representative of “Zhongao Law Firm” told Economic Daily-China Economic Net.

He said, With the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, we expect that economic, trade, and cultural exchanges between the two countries will become more frequent.ť

Cheng Deyong said in the future, more Chinese companies will go out, and we are willing to use Chinese, English and Urdu languages and legal knowledge of China and Pakistan to resolve legal matters of Chinese companies in Pakistan, safeguard their legitimate rights and interests, serve China-Pakistan economic and trade exchanges, the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the cause of China-Pakistan friendship.

To this end, in addition to the Chinese lawyers who are based in Lahore, Zhongao Law Firm also recruits Pakistani lawyers, introduces legal expert consultants, and cooperates with local law firms in Pakistan through various forms to provide clients, professional services in litigation and taxation.=DNA

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Istanbul, May 30 (DNA): Turkish mosques reopened on Friday for mass prayers after more than two months as the government further eased strict restrictions to stop the spread of the new coronavirus.

Turkey has been shifting since May to a “new normal” by easing lockdown measures and opening shopping malls, barbershops and hair salons.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said many other sites — restaurants and cafes as well as libraries, parks and beaches — will reopen from Monday.

Hundreds of worshippers wearing protective masks performed mass prayers outside Istanbul’s historic Blue Mosque for the first time since mosques were shut down in March.

In the Ottoman-era Fatih mosque, worshippers prayed both inside and outside, with the municipality handing out disinfectants and disposable carpets.

Gulcek Uyanik, 55, was exultant.

“I have waited a lot for this, I have prayed a lot. I can say it’s like a new birth, thanks to God, he has brought us back here,” he said.

Another worshipper, Asum Tekif, 50, said: “It has a been a long time… we missed the mosques.”

Turkey, a country of 83 million, has so far recorded 4,489 coronavirus-related deaths and 162,120 confirmed cases.

Washington, May 30 (DNA):US President Donald Trump said he is severing ties with the World Health Organization over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, as the death toll from the disease spiked again in the United States and Brazil.

Trump’s move signals an end to hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to the United Nations agency just when it needs it most, with outbreaks in many parts of the world yet to reach their peak.

Countries in Latin America are bracing for difficult weeks ahead, especially Brazil, where the death toll shot up by 1,124 on Friday and there were a record number of new infections.

Trump initially suspended funding to the WHO last month, accusing it of not doing enough to curb the early spread of the virus and being too lenient with China, where the virus emerged late last year.

On Friday he made that decision permanent in a major blow for the UN agency’s finances, as the United States is by far its biggest contributor, pumping in $400 million last year.

“Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms, we will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization,” Trump told reporters.

The Republican leader said the US would be redirecting WHO funds “to other worldwide and deserving urgent global public health needs.”

“The world needs answers from China on the virus. We must have transparency,” Trump said.

Beijing has furiously denied US allegations that it played down or even covered up the threat from the virus after it was detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December, insisting it has been forthcoming.

ATLANTA (DNA) -Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms on Friday evening denounced vandalism in her city as “chaos” after demonstrations over the death of George Floyd while in in the custody of Minneapolis police turned violent.

“What I see happening on the streets of Atlanta is not Atlanta. This is not a protest. This is not in the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr. This is chaos,” an impassioned Lance Bottoms said at a news conference.

“A protest has purpose. When Dr. King was assassinated, we didn’t do this to our city,” she said. “If you want change in America, go and register to vote. … That is the change we need in this country.”

The protests had started as peaceful Friday afternoon when crowds gathered in the city’s famed Centennial Park. But by 6 p.m. ET, protesters began moving toward the front of the Center, where police had gathered. Over the next few hours, the demonstration swelled as SWAT officers were called in to help with crowd control. Anger over the death of Floyd spilled over into multiple cities across the country after the former officer seen in a video with his knee on Floyd’s neck was arrested and charged with murder.

Demonstrators funneled their anguish in cities like New York and Washington into chants, signs, and outbreaks of violence, smashing windows and setting vehicles ablaze.

“I am a mother to four black children in America, one of who is 18 years old,” Lance Bottoms said. “Yesterday, when I heard there were rumors about violent protests in Atlanta, I did what a mother would do, I called my son and I said, ‘Where are you?’ I said, ‘I cannot protect you, and black boys shouldn’t be out today.’ “