November 16, 2021

AU Sets Up Nairobi Situation Room to Help Africa Mitigate Disasters

With the Earth becoming warmer and weather events more extreme, the African Union has set up a disaster operation center in Nairobi to help monitor major hazards and provide regional early warnings for drought, floods, extreme rainfall, food insecurity, and pests like the desert locust.

Major floods have become more common in Africa and show how vulnerable the continent is to climate change, even though it’s the lowest producer of greenhouse gas emissions in the world.

To cope with such disasters, the African Union has set up a centralized monitoring and early warning system for the continent. The Nairobi Disaster Operation Center for the East African region is the continent’s first weather “situation room.”

“Council of the ministers within the member states sat and said we need to have a disaster operation center in Nairobi, which will focus mainly on early warning systems,” said Jully Ouma, a geographic information system analyst at the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, or IGAD, in Nairobi. “So, that gave birth to the establishment of this office so that we look at broader aspects of different disasters within the region.”

The center — located at the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Center — uses East Africa Hazards Watch, a system developed by the center for collecting and sharing multi-hazard data with member countries.

“The system works automatically so that it ingests in the data set,” Ouma said, adding, “We have a super computing system within ICPAC, so there is less human attachment to it. It is also near real time. So, in every 10 days it updates itself and then we see the conditions of drought.”

The center provides climate information and early warnings to 11 East African countries. Officials say local communities must be ready to respond quickly to save lives and minimize damage.

“So, we must equip the communities themselves to be able to respond to a disaster in its first hours at least,” said Amjad Abbashar, regional director for Africa at the U.N. Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. “And so, I think we owe it to them to set up these early warning systems and ensure that it is functional, and that people who are vulnerable to disasters are able to access that information in a timely way, to save lives and property.”

The situation room in Nairobi covers and reports on drought and floods. Another one in Niger, set to open this month, will monitor extreme rains and cyclones. The information collected at both sites will be distributed by the situation room at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa.

“We are responding to a very complex situation,” said Gatkuoth Kai, technical coordinator for disaster risk reduction at the Africa Union Commission. “Over the years, we have seen disasters increasingly becoming borderless. But even when a hazard is localized, the intensity easily overwhelms the national response. And in this situation, the Pan African solidarity is required. Therefore, having this situation room is going to facilitate that African solidarity.”

As Africa experiences more extreme weather, officials say early warnings and early action will help limit its impact.

Source: Voice of America

November 16, 2021

Russia Rejects Accusations Its Space Weapons Test Endangers ISS Astronauts

Russian officials on Tuesday rejected accusations that they endangered astronauts aboard the International Space Station by conducting a weapons test that created more than 1,500 pieces of space junk.

U.S. officials on Monday accused Russia of destroying an old satellite with a missile in what they called a reckless and irresponsible strike. The debris could do major damage to the space station as it is orbiting at 28,000 kph (17,500 mph).

Astronauts now face four times greater risk than normal, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson told The Associated Press.

The test clearly demonstrates that Russia, “despite its claims of opposing the weaponization of outer space, is willing to … imperil the exploration and use of outer space by all nations through its reckless and irresponsible behavior,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

The Russian space agency Roscosmos wouldn’t confirm or deny that the strike took place, saying only that “unconditional safety of the crew has been and remains our main priority” in a vague online statement released Tuesday.

Russia’s Defense Ministry on Tuesday confirmed carrying out a test and destroying a defunct satellite that has been in orbit since 1982, but insisted that “the U.S. knows for certain that the resulting fragments, in terms of test time and orbital parameters, did not and will not pose a threat to orbital stations, spacecraft and space activities” and called remarks by U.S. officials “hypocritical.”

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also charged that it is “hypocrisy” to say that Russia creates risks for peaceful activities in space.

Once the situation became clear early Monday morning, the four Americans, one German and two Russians on board the International Space Station were ordered to immediately seek shelter in their docked capsules. They spent two hours in the two capsules, finally emerging only to have to close and reopen hatches to the station’s individual labs on every orbit, or 1 1/2 hours, as they passed near or through the debris.

NASA Mission Control said the heightened threat could continue to interrupt the astronauts’ science research and other work. Four of the seven crew members only arrived at the orbiting outpost Thursday night.

A similar weapons test by China in 2007 also resulted in countless pieces of debris. One of those threatened to come dangerously close to the space station last week. While it later was dismissed as a risk, NASA had the station move anyway.

Anti-satellite missile tests by the U.S. in 2008 and India in 2019 were conducted at much lower altitudes, well below the space station at about 260 miles (420 kilometers.)

Source: Voice of America

November 16, 2021

Freight transport in Cyprus down by 2.4% during second quarter of 2021

?he total weight of goods transported by road in Cyprus decreased by 2.4% during April-June 2021, compared to the corresponding period of 2020, while the weight of freight transported from and to Cyprus increased by 1.6%, the Statistical Service of the Republic of Cyprus announced on Tuesday.

During the period January-June 2021, the total weight of goods transported by road in Cyprus decreased by 1.4% compared to the corresponding period of 2020, while the weight of freight transported from and to Cyprus decreased by 4.8% the announcement concludes.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

November 16, 2021

Development of tourism, trade, entrepreneurship, technology hubs a strategic goal of the Government, Minister says

The development of tourism, trade, entrepreneurship and technology hubs is a strategic goal of the Cypriot Government, Minister of Transport, Communication and Works Yiannis Karousos stressed on Tuesday.

According to a press release, addressing the 17th Economist Conference, in Nicosia, Karousos said that the pandemic has shown that we must pay attention to maintaining high productivity combined with protection of supply chains.

He stressed that in order to ensure supply chain connectivity for Cyprus, the Government is paying due attention to the ports and airports. “As an island, ensuring a satisfactory level of air connectivity it is vital for economic, social and strategic purposes. The development of tourism, trade, entrepreneurship and technological hubs is a strategic goal for the government of Cyprus and air connectivity plays an important role,” said the Minister.

In her remarks, Energy Minister Natasa Pilides stressed the importance of investing in energy storage. In this regard, Pilides announced that a tender process would be launched in the near future, adding that a draft programme has been submitted to the EU. She said that investments in this field will reach 40 million euro in 2021 and exceed 100 million euro in the next two years.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

November 16, 2021

We have set the foundations for sustainable, environmental and social growth, President says at the Economist conference

The government has set the foundations to achieve sustainable economic, environmental and social growth, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades told the 17th Economist Summit taking place in Nicosia.

Addressing the Summit, Anastasiades said that due to the COVID vaccination programmes “we are before a new reality”, expressing hope that as vaccinations progress and given the developments in Europe we will not return to lockdown measures that have been implemented during the first waves of the pandemic. The President also noted that COVID will not be extinct while there are countries with vaccinations below double digits.

According to the President, the new reality “offers us the possibility to focus on reinvigorating the economy and on the further diversification and strengthening of the growth model, so that we could be able to immediately adapt to any unforeseen crises and to successfully tackle the challenges of the new era.”

In this effort, he added, the government has already placed the foundations for a sustainable economic, environmental and social growth, as registered in the European Commission’s forecasts for this year, which acknowledge the strong economic recovery with growth rates over the EU average.

At the same time, he added, the Commission is recognizing the Cypriot economy’s strong momentum, which is based in the road map for the post-COVID growth model, the plan titled “Cyprus tomorrow.”

This plan, Anastasiades went on, provides for absorbing funds of €4.4 billion for the period of 2021 – 2026 and is expected to generate an additional 7% in Cyprus GDP, while it is estimated to create over 11,000 jobs, noting that the plan includes 58 critical and structural reforms and 76 investments in five policy pillars.

According to the President of the Republic, the plan includes actions regarding strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of the economy, investments and reforms to widen the productive base through strengthening of the primary and secondary sectors of the economy, boosting research and innovation and improving the business environment through the digital transformation, while expediting licensing procedures and providing incentives.

Furthermore, he said that reforms aim to render the financial sector and the public finances more resilient, providing targeted support to start ups and innovative enterprises, while promoting green and circular economy and diversifying and strengthening the tourist product.

“The plan moreover aims to modernise public administration and local authorities, reforming and improving the efficiency of the judiciary and combat corruption and strengthening transparency,” he said, adding “we will continue actions to transform Cyprus into a sustainable business and commercial hub for the Mediterranean.”

He also referred to the national strategy to attract businesses for setting up or expanding their activities in Cyprus which is expected to contribute significantly to this target.

But he noted that regardless of the incentives provided, a solution to the Cyprus problem would significantly contribute to the country’s new growth model.

“Towards that end we have exerted and we will continue exerting efforts because with a Cyprus settlement surely growth prospects and capabilities would multiply. That would benefit not only the Greek Cypriots but of course Turkish Cypriots” he stressed.

A solution, the President added, “would assist not only Cyprus but Turkey and its relations with Europe and peace and stability in the wider region, a stability that is necessary for investments and growth through stability and certainty created by the conditions of peace.”

Concluding, the President furthermore assured that his government will proceed with the endorsed growth model, with a view to consolidating further economic growth and providing greater impetus to the excellent prospects created in the productive sectors for the benefit the businesses and citizens alike.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

November 16, 2021

Cyprus economy continued growth for a second consecutive quarter in 2021

The Cyprus economy grew by an annual 5,3% in the third quarter of 2021 continuing on a growth trajectory for a second quarter this year.

According to the Flash Estimate compiled by the Statistical Service, the GDP growth rate in real terms during the third quarter of 2021 is positive and it is estimated at 5.2% over the corresponding quarter of 2020.

On the basis of seasonally and working day adjusted data, GDP growth rate in real terms is estimated at 5.3%, Cystat added.

According to the data, for the period of January – September of 2021 the Cypriot economy posted a growth rate of 5.5% of GDP compared with a downturn of 5.3% in the respective period of last year.

The positive GDP growth rate is mainly attributed to the sectors of Hotels and Restaurants, Manufacturing, Transport, Storage and Communication, Wholesale and Retail Trade, Repair of Motor Vehicles, Arts, Entertainment and Recreation and Other Service Activities, Cystat added.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

November 16, 2021

FinMin and ESM chief highlight importance of implementing Recovery and Resilience Plans

Cyprus Finance Minister Constantinos Petrides and the ESM chief Klaus Regling on Tuesday highlighted the importance of implementing the Recovery And Resilience plans both in Cyprus and the EU which would further diversify the economy and boost growth potential following the Covid pandemic.

Regling who visited Cyprus to attend the 17th Economist Summit in Nicosia, met with Petrides earlier today and discussed the economic outlook of Cyprus, the ESM treaty ratification process and the National Recovery and Resilience Plans that would unlock disbursement of funds through the EU Recovery and Resilience Fund (NextGenerationEU).

In statements following the meeting, Petrides highlighted that the projections over the growth of the Cypriot economy have exceeded the expectations wile unemployed is declining, noting that the Cyprus National Recovery and Resilience Plan has been commended as “one of the best in the EU.”

“Our focus concerns the implementation of the plan, a plan that would lead us to the next day, the next generation and to a more green and resilient economy, a plan which is accompanied by reforms which we will try to approve in consultation with the Parliament,” Petrides said.

He also assured Regling that Cyprus supports a swift ratification of the ESM treaty by the Parliament, noting that bill has been submitted to the legislature for approval.

On his part, Regling said that the next “big issue” for the EU member-states will be the implementation of NextGEneration EU and the national Recovery and Resilience Plans.

“Cyprus has submitted a good plan and Cyprus can receive a significant amount of money out of the NextGenerationEU package of €1.2 billion and that is I think a very good incentive for promoting reforms, accelerating reforms that can lead to a further diversification of the Cypriot economy,” he said.

According to Regling, implementing these reforms will also lead to the green and digital transformation that Cyprus is looking forward to but also all the other European Countries are working on.

“So is a common European interest because if all countries succeed in implementing more reforms transforming the economy, then Europe has a chance to move to a higher growth path,” he said.

Regling also referred on the ESM treaty ratification process, stating that by early next year the ESM treaty can become effective and that treaty will give a broader mandate, including the backstop to the single resolution fund and also a broader monitoring role for all member-state for the euro area together with the European commission.

Responding to question for the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) reform, the ESM chief said the issue “will not be easy because we need a consensus how to change the current SGP which has worked reasonably well but I think the economic circumstances have changed and I do think we do need reform.”

Source: Cyprus News Agency

November 16, 2021

Agriculture Minister stressed the need for measures to support the market in agricultural products during Council

Agriculture Minister Costas Kadis underlined the need for measures to be taken to support the market in agricultural products in the EU during the meeting of the EU’s Agriculture Ministers that took place in Brussels on Monday.

According to an announcement by the Ministry of Agriculture, Kadis was talking during a discussion on the problems faced by the market in agricultural products, especially the pigmeat sector, while other member states also made similar statements.

Kadis explained that in Cyprus, the increase in prices for cereal and animal feed have had a negative impact, an impact which is compounded by the increase in transportation costs. The ?inister made particular mention of the problems faced by the wine and potato market.

Cyprus also was one of fourteen countries that supported a Lithuanian proposal for exceptional urgent support measures for the pigmeat sector.

The ?inistry also notes in its announcement that Cyprus is one of the few countries in the EU that has received support for their animal husbandry sector.

During the same meeting, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides briefed the ?inisters on the results of the recent conference on the EU’s “Farm to Fork” strategy.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

November 16, 2021

US Retail Sales Surged in October

U.S. retail sales surged in October, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday, in a signal that at least at the start of the annual holiday shopping season, consumers were not scared off by sharply increasing prices.

Retail sales increased 1.7% last month, more than twice the advance of eight-tenths of a percent in September. Sales have now increased three straight months.

Brian Deese, director of the White House’s National Economic Council, touted the favorable report, saying, “In short, families have seen an increase in real disposable income, and stores and restaurants have the supplies to drive this recovery.”

He said that the retail sales report showed “that even as we work to address the real challenge that elevated inflation from supply chain bottlenecks poses for Americans’ pocketbooks and outlook, the economy is making progress.”

With U.S. consumer price inflation at a three-decade high, it is an open question whether robust consumer spending will continue during the holiday shopping season through the end of 2021.

The government reported last week that consumer prices increased at an annualized rate of 6.2% in October, with sharply higher prices for gasoline and food affecting consumers the most.

The Commerce Department said that October spending was up 4% at online retailers, along with big gains at electronics, appliance and hardware stores. Gas price increases pushed up the sales total at service stations by 3.9% while vehicles sales revenue increased 1.8%.

Aside from higher prices, U.S. consumers are facing shortages of many items they may want to buy.

Several dozen container ships filled with consumer goods from Asia are anchored off the U.S. Pacific coast waiting for docking and unloading at California ports, a supply chain snarl that government officials are gradually unraveling but are far from fully resolving.

Source: Voice of America

November 16, 2021

US Congress Restarts Push for China Legislation by Year’s End

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are renewing a push to pass legislation that would boost U.S. competition with China, amid rising concerns about the global supply chain.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday the long-stalled U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) would be added to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the massive annual defense spending bill that needs to be passed by the end of the year.

“A generation ago we used to produce about a third of the world’s chip supply – now fewer than 12% are made in America while other countries have lapped us, particularly China. This hurts American workers, American consumers and American national security. We should pass USICA this year – and it’s a bipartisan bill – so we can strengthen domestic chip production,” Schumer said Tuesday in remarks on the Senate floor.

The USICA passed the U.S. Senate by a 68-32 vote in June but has yet to receive a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives. If passed, the measure would provide $190 billion in funding aimed at addressing areas of competition with China, including semiconductor production, technology security and training for the U.S. workforce. The bill would also provide for automatic sanctions on Chinese companies committing intellectual theft or cyberattacks in the United States.

Sources told Reuters this week that China is actively lobbying against the legislation, sending letters to U.S. executives urging them to lobby Congress to alter or drop those bills.

In a statement released in June when the USICA passed the U.S. Senate, the Foreign Affairs Committee of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC), said “The bill is full of Cold War mentality and ideological prejudice … It slanders China’s development path and its domestic and foreign policies.”

The Biden administration has expressed support for the measures. But any version of the NDAA passed in the U.S. Senate would still have to be reconciled and passed in the U.S. House before heading to the White House to be signed into law.

Addressing U.S. competition with China is one of the few areas of broad bipartisan support on Capitol Hill, although lawmakers differ on the approach.

Following President Biden’s virtual meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, ranking Senate Foreign Relations Committee member Senator Jim Risch said in a statement, “While President Biden used this meeting to raise concerns regarding Beijing’s unfair trade and economic practices and the importance of transparency in global health, it’s past time for concrete results from Beijing. If President Xi actually wants a cooperative relationship with the United States, then he must stop threatening Taiwan.”

Republican Senator Marco Rubio filed dozens of amendments to the NDAA addressing U.S. competition with China this week, including measures that would strengthen the U.S. relationship with Taiwan, provide funding for analysis of Chinese economic initiatives in developing African nations and clear the way for sanctions on Chinese individuals involved in reclaiming disputed areas in the South China Sea.

There is strong bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate for another measure that would provide U.S. support for Taiwan’s admission into the Inter-American Development Bank as a non-borrowing member.

“Despite Beijing’s reckless and hostile tactics to deny it participation on the world stage, Taiwan has proven a formative and effective partner across the Western hemisphere,” said Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez in a bipartisan October 27 statement supporting the legislation.

Earlier this week, six U.S. lawmakers visited Taiwan as part of a congressional visit to the island whose status has proved to be a constant irritant in U.S.-Chinese relations. China condemned the use of an American military aircraft for the visit.

Source: Voice of America