Irish PM On Palestinian Tragedy
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar moved US President Biden to tears when he spoke about the tragedy of the Palestinians in Gaza. He quoted the president’s late son Beau Biden, who had called for “the sacred promise to work for a better future.” And then explained why his country felt so deeply about the Palestinians.
Pakistan Gets $1.1 Billion IMF Package, Wants More
Pakistan will receive $1.1 billion as the final payment from a $3 billion bailout package agreed upon with the IMF in July last year. The IMF confirmed the agreement also indicating that final approval from the IMF board was a formality. It said Pakistan’s economic and financial position had improved but warned that “ongoing policy and reform efforts are required to address deep-seated economic vulnerabilities.” Islamabad has now set its sights on an $8 billion IMF package.
2024 Could Be ‘Record Hot Year’
There is a “high probability” 2024 will be a record hot year, the World Meteorological Organization has warned in a report. Terming the world’s measures to reverse the trend as inadequate, it said the goal of limiting planetary warming to no more than 1.5 degree Celsius is in jeopardy. The 12-month period from March 2023 to Feb 2024 saw an average of 1.56 degrees Celsius, according to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.
Learn From Ukraine War, Says Foreign Minister
Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba says the Global South countries like India must learn from Russia’s invasion of his country. Addressing the media virtually on Tuesday, he said what had happened to Ukraine could happen to them too. He hoped China would play a role in peace talks scheduled to be held in Switzerland later this year. He was hopeful China’s proximity to Russia would help end the war.
Ex-Brazil President Facing Criminal Charges
Brazilian police have recommended filing criminal charges against former president Jair Bolsonaro over claims he filed fake Covid-19 vaccine certificates. The attorney general’s decision is awaited. Bolsonaro is accused of criminal conspiracy in seeking to insert fake Covid-19 vaccination data for himself and his daughter. He has denied the charge. The former president since being ousted in 2022 has been under investigation for planning a coup.
