NUNZIUM

News That Matters

08/09/2023 ---- 10/09/2023

The annual G20 summit, hosted by India on September 8, 2023, brought together the world's major economies to discuss a range of pressing issues, from climate change to economic development and the conflict in Ukraine. This event marked a significant milestone for India, being the largest diplomatic gathering it has hosted in four decades.

The G20, which comprises 19 countries and the European Union, serves as a critical platform for promoting international financial stability. The 2023 summit tested India's diplomatic prowess, particularly in managing the divergent views on the Ukraine conflict and the economic advancement of the Global South.

A notable outcome of the summit was the joint declaration by the G20 leaders. Although the statement recognized the situation in Ukraine and its economic repercussions, it did not explicitly condemn Russia's invasion. This marked a departure from the previous year's declaration and was seen as a compromise reflecting resistance from Russia and China, both G20 members.

While US President Joe Biden had aimed to rally support for Ukraine, the joint declaration was praised by US national security adviser Jake Sullivan as a significant achievement for India's chairmanship. However, the statement drew criticism from Ukraine's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko due to its lack of reference to Russian "aggression" and Ukraine's absence from the summit.

In a move to enhance global connectivity, the summit announced plans for a major transit corridor linking Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. This initiative, endorsed by India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the European Union, aims to bolster trade, fortify supply chains, and potentially challenge China's Belt and Road initiative.

On the economic front, the G20 leaders committed to enabling low-cost financing for developing countries to transition to low emissions and to addressing the debt burden of these nations. The World Bank estimates that the world's poorest countries owe over $60bn annually to bilateral creditors, with China accounting for two-thirds of this debt.

Climate change was a central topic at the summit, with leaders pledging to triple global renewable energy capacity. The leaders unanimously agreed that the timelines for peaking greenhouse gas emissions would be influenced by sustainable development, poverty eradication needs, equity, and different national circumstances.

The G20 presidency was passed from India to Brazil, with Brazilian President Lula highlighting social inclusion, combating hunger, energy transition, and sustainable development as Brazil's G20 priorities.

In a strategic move, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited the African Union (AU) to become a permanent member of the G20. This, coupled with the new transit corridor and consensus on climate change, signals a shift in the G20's focus towards the Global South.

Despite the challenges and disagreements, the G20 summit 2023 demonstrated the power of diplomacy and dialogue. The joint declaration, while not meeting everyone's expectations, marked progress in addressing global issues. The summit also highlighted India's capacity to navigate intricate international dynamics, setting the stage for Brazil to continue the dialogue as the next G20 president in 2024.

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The devastating 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Morocco recently has left the country in a state of profound loss and mourning, reminiscent of the nation's deadliest quake in 1960 that claimed approximately 12,000 lives. This recent disaster, the most severe in over six decades, has affected over 300,000 people, with a death toll of 2,012, 2,059 injured, and 1,404 critically injured, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The Haouz region, including parts of the High Atlas Mountains, reported the highest fatalities, nearing 1,300 deaths.

The aftermath of the quake, which affected the city of Agadir, the High Atlas Mountains, and the historic city of Marrakech, has exposed the dire need for aid. Despite the grim circumstances, the people of Morocco have shown remarkable resilience and unity. Many are braving the outdoors, fearing aftershocks that could bring further destruction. In a show of solidarity, members of Morocco's national football team have donated blood, while the Moroccan armed forces are working tirelessly to provide clean drinking water, food supplies, tents, and blankets to the affected areas.

However, the challenge is immense. The quake has significantly damaged Morocco's infrastructure, causing landslides and damaging Marrakesh's central square Jemaa el-Fna, its surrounding historic buildings, and popular cafes and restaurants. The village of Amizmiz near the epicentre and the area of Asni, 40 km south of Marrakech, also suffered significant damage. The village of Tansghart in the Ansi area was the worst hit, with ten fatalities reported, including two teenage girls.

In the face of this tragedy, global aid efforts have been mobilized. Countries including Italy, Spain, France, and the US have offered support, with Spain sending 65 specialist workers to assist in the rescue mission. Even Algeria, despite its strained relations with Morocco, has opened its airspace for humanitarian and medical flights. The International Red Cross has pledged one million Swiss francs (£900,000; $1.1 million) from its Disaster Response Emergency Fund to support the mission. However, the organization's Middle East and North Africa director, Hossam Elsharkawi, warns that the rebuilding process could take years.

Amidst the national grief, Morocco declared three days of national mourning, flying the national flag at half-mast. As the nation faces the daunting task of rebuilding, the world stands ready to lend a helping hand in these trying times. This disaster serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of old and historical buildings, highlighted by Mohammad Kashani, associate professor of structural and earthquake engineering at the University of Southampton. The need for improved infrastructure and preparedness in the face of such disasters has never been more apparent.

Despite the devastation, Morocco's spirit remains unbroken, as its people and the world unite to face this crisis. The country, though in mourning, stands tall, bolstered by the outpouring of international aid and the indomitable spirit of its people.

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In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers at the Weizmann Institute in Israel, led by Prof Jacob Hanna, have developed models of human embryos from stem cells. These models, while not identical to actual human embryos, imitate the 3D organization of features found in embryos aged one to two weeks, providing a unique perspective into the earliest stages of human life.

The researchers utilized "naive" human stem cells, which possess the ability to transform into various cell types. When combined in a lab, around 1% of these stem cells self-organized into structures resembling human embryos. At two weeks, these models, approximately half a millimeter wide, developed features such as a placenta, a yolk sac, and an outer membrane known as the chorionic sac, similar to actual embryos of the same age.

The potential applications of these models are vast. They could significantly aid research into the causes of miscarriages and birth defects, areas that have been largely unexplored due to the difficulty of accessing human embryos at such early stages. Furthermore, the models could be used to grow organs for transplant by altering their genetics to prevent the development of a brain or nervous system, potentially revolutionizing organ transplants.

Another intriguing application involves assessing the impact of medicines on actual human embryos. These models could offer a safe, ethical means to test drug safety during pregnancy, as pregnant women are often excluded from clinical trials.

Despite their potential, these models are not flawless replicas of human embryos. For example, while the trophoblast, a placenta precursor, was present, it was not properly organized. Additionally, these models cannot implant into a womb, making pregnancy impossible. Nonetheless, they returned a positive result on a pregnancy test, indicating successful growth.

The research, published in the journal Nature, is hailed as the first to create a "complete" embryo model. It involved reprogramming naive stem cells to potentially become any type of tissue in the body and guiding them into becoming four types of cells found in the earliest stages of human embryos.

These models were allowed to develop until they resembled a 14-day-old embryo, the legal limit for normal embryo research in many countries. They could help scientists understand cell emergence, organ building, and genetic diseases. The study also found that other parts of the embryo will not form unless early placenta cells surround it, a finding that could improve in vitro fertilisation (IVF) success rates.

While Prof Robin Lovell Badge from the Francis Crick Institute acknowledges that the models "look pretty good" and "normal", the current 99% failure rate necessitates improvement. The research also raises ethical questions about mimicking embryo development beyond the 14-day stage, as embryo models are legally distinct from embryos.

Despite these challenges, Prof Alfonso Martinez Arias from Pompeu Fabra University lauds the research as "a most important piece of research". The potential benefits are immense, ranging from uncovering the cause of birth defects and infertility types to possibly leading to new technologies for growing transplant tissues and organs.

In conclusion, while the research is still in preliminary stages and raises significant ethical considerations, it marks a substantial advancement in our understanding of early human development. As we further explore these models' potential, we may be on the cusp of a new era in medical science, potentially bringing hope to countless individuals worldwide.

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