Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)
Members quizzed the government on mitigating and preventing Iranian state-sponsored cyberattacks in this question from Lord Harris of Haringey.
Read a transcript: https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2026-03-11/debates/675E884C-36EA-4086-9E61-F515F11542F9/IranianState-SponsoredCyberAttacksMitigationAndPreparation
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Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)
MR SHIPOKOSA PAULUS MASHATILE, DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, ATTENDS THE PRESIDENTIAL TITLE DEEDS HANDOVER CEREMONY AT GROOTVLEI FARM, SECUNDA, MPUMALANGA PROVINCE ON
FRIDAY 13 MARCH 2026
Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)
MR SHIPOKOSA PAULUS MASHATILE, DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA ATTENDS THE PRESIDENTIAL TITLE DEEDS HANDOVER CEREMONY AT GROOTVLEI FARM, SECUNDA, MPUMALANGA PROVINCE ON
FRIDAY 13 MARCH 2026
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Top official at UN mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) told reporters, “Airstrikes and cross border clashes have disrupted the delivery of humanitarian assistance and contributed to both primary and secondary displacement,” reiterating the Secretary-General’s call for “restraint de-escalation for the parties to recommit to a ceasefire and for renewed diplomatic engagement.”
Georgette Gagnon, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) spoke to reporters via video link,
She said, “looking ahead, we’re concerned that after Eid al-Fitr, the situation could deteriorate further and we urge both sides to step back, accept mediation and prevent a broader regional crisis.”
Gagnon also reminded the de facto authorities of their international obligations on counterterrorism, “particularly on concerns raised by neighboring States.”
She also briefed on how the conflict in the Middle East is already negatively affecting Afghanistan, “with traditional trade corridors disrupted and instability affecting regional supply routes, prices of basic commodities in Afghanistan are rising, adding pressure on an already fragile economy.”
“Humanitarian partners anticipate new inflows of Afghan returnees, adding strain to the communities that are already hosting millions who have returned since 2023,” Gagnon added.
The top UNAMA official also said, “the continued shocks economic, humanitarian and political underscore Afghanistan’s isolation from the international system, which remains a core obstacle to addressing the country’s longer term stability, economic growth and human rights concerns.”
On the UN’s engagement, she said, the mission continues to “pursue principled and pragmatic political engagement through the Doha Process, in line with the independent assessment and the mandate given by the UN Security Council.”
“This engagement is the only structured multilateral platform where the concerns of all the Afghan people, the international community and the de facto authorities can be addressed fairly and constructively,” Gagnon added.
She also said, “the de facto authorities decisions continue to undermine prospects for reintegration, particularly restrictions on women and girls, and the ban preventing UN female national staff from reporting to their places of work.”
“These measures are inconsistent with Afghanistan’s international obligations and impair our ability to deliver assistance and reach, particularly women and girls,” the top UNAMA official concluded.
‘Around the world, we hear much talk of peace, but we see far too little of it,’ UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at a ceremony in Türkiye while accepting the Atatürk International Award for Peace.
The UN chief met President Erdogan of Türkiye to discuss developments in the Middle East and other key issues.
His visit to Türkiye is also the latest solidarity visit to a Muslim nation to mark the holy month of Ramadan in what has become an annual tradition.
Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)
African economies began tapping into overseas markets for funding in the early 2000s, after debt burdens had been alleviated by the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. However, surging interest rates on dollar- and euro-denominated loans in recent years have prompted countries to turn to domestic markets for their borrowing needs. Amadou Sy heads the IMF Regional Studies division. In this podcast, he says there are benefits to issuing debt in local markets and in local currency.
Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)
How does a TV show like Seinfeld show up in the economy? In this episode of The Economy – How Do You Measure That, Jim Tebrake and Dave Wasshausen explain how artistic originals are classified as intellectual property products and treated as produced fixed assets. From production costs and sets to syndication and streaming royalties, discover how the value of the original and its copies is measured in GDP and national accounts.
