Ha-Joon Chang on Infant Industry Protection

Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)

Today’s South Korean economy is a far cry from what Ha-Joon Chang was born into. But growing up, he witnessed the remarkable transformation of a largely agrarian society into an industrial powerhouse, albeit under a military dictatorship. In this podcast, the economist and best-selling author describes living through South Korea’s "economic miracle" like riding a time machine.

Transcript: (https://traffic.libsyn.com/imfpodcast/Ha-Joon_Chang-transcript-IMF_Podcast.pdf) https://bit.ly/4gEDPfl

Read the article in Finance & Development: IMF.org/FANDD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HS18mB3dVZM

Nepal, Sudan & other topics – Daily Press Briefing | United Nations

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:

– Today’s Briefing
– Tomorrow’s Guest
– Travels/Kyrgyzstan
– Deputy Secretary-General/Travels
– Nepal
– Sudan
– Democratic Republic of the Congo
– Guinea-Bissau
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Lebanon
– Afghanistan
– Financial Contribution

NEPAL

UN colleagues say that the response to last week’s flash floods is entering a new phase, with authorities intensifying relief efforts and recovery operations. As of today, authorities have recovered more than 1,000 bodies, while 3,900 people remain unaccounted for. Nearly 12,000 have been rescued so far.

For thousands of impacted families, the priority is now receiving humanitarian assistance, recovering and identifying the remains of the loved ones, tracing missing relatives, reunifying separated children, and helping people access psychosocial support. The UN is also getting a clearer picture of displacement. Nearly 3,500 people are now living in 27 displacement sites across the hardest-hit districts of Nuwakot and Rasuwa, a lot of them in school, which has a knock-on effect of disrupting education for children

The UN and its humanitarian partners continue to support the Government-led efforts. Yesterday, colleagues from the UN system travelled to the town of Bidur, in Nuwakot, to meet with district authorities and visit displacement sites. UN partners are also working to establish a coordination hub there, so assistance reaches the communities most in need.

WFP has dispatched about 80 metric tons of food, reached more than 9,000 people and has supplies available for another 5,000 families. UNICEF is procuring 10,000 cartons of therapeutic food. Eight health teams have reached more than 1,200 people in displacement sites.

More than 1,800 people, including hundreds of children, have received psychological first aid, and a 24-hour mental health helpline is up and running. The World Health Organization is also supporting disease surveillance efforts in the two hardest-hit areas.

The Government of Nepal and the Head of the UN Office, the Resident Coordinator in Nepal, Lila Pieters Yahia, have agreed on Friday to launch a four-month Humanitarian Flash Appeal. The appeal will support the Government-led response and focus on mobilizing resources to save lives, deliver urgent humanitarian assistance and address the most critical needs to communities impacted by the floods.

UNDP has also carried out a preliminary assessment, which estimates that at least 2.2 million tonnes of debris have been left behind by floods and mudflows along the worst-affected river system in Nepal. Approximately 556,200 tonnes of that total is building debris, based on satellite assessments covering more than 2,300 damaged buildings.

UNDP says the floods have also caused significant damage to energy infrastructure. Eleven hydropower stations and one solar plant, representing about 431.1 megawatts of generation capacity, have stopped operating. A further 15 hydropower projects under construction, which would have added another 470 megawatts, were damaged.

UN colleagues say that the main challenge right now is access. More than 40 bridges have been destroyed, and sections of the main highway remain blocked. The most remote communities continue to rely on army helicopter flights for supplies.

The UN is also very concerned about growing public health risks. Overcrowded shelters, contaminated water and damaged health facilities are putting people, especially women and children, at greater risk of disease in the middle of the monsoon season.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-09-01

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLbs1YWHwR0

There’s no problem that can’t be solved, with Garry Conille | UN ‘Awake at Night’ podcast teaser

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Garry Conille knows that resilience, hope and determination can be powerful foundations for change. Now UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya, he hopes to contribute his wide-ranging experience to help accelerate the country’s development.

Meanwhile, he hasn’t let go of his brimming optimism towards his troubled home of Haiti, where he served as prime minister. “It’s been years of challenges and stress and distress, yet when you walk in the streets of Haiti, you will see these young children with their hair just tightly done, and these uniforms tightly pressed, walking for hours to go to school. [That’s] what defines Haiti more than anything else.”

The UN and its agencies stand alongside all low and middle income countries as they work to improve the lives of their citizens and those who seek shelter within their borders. In this episode, Garry Conille reflects on the dangers faced by young migrants, on the promise of Africa’s new diplomatic hub, and about his drive to seek solutions for even the most intractable problems.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Z_-ZuW2skn8

South Africa Government: President Cyril Ramaphosa meeting with the president of the ICRC, Mirjana Spoljaric.

Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)

President Cyril Ramaphosa meeting with The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mirjana Spoljaric, to discuss efforts to make the respect for the rules of war a political priority as the number of armed conflicts continues to rise worldwide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNS6PblfChs

There’s no problem that can’t be solved | UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya | Awake at Night

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Garry Conille knows that resilience, hope and determination can be powerful foundations for change. Now UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya, he hopes to contribute his wide-ranging experience to help accelerate the country’s development.

Meanwhile, he hasn’t let go of his brimming optimism towards his troubled home of Haiti, where he served as prime minister. “It’s been years of challenges and stress and distress, yet when you walk in the streets of Haiti, you will see these young children with their hair just tightly done, and these uniforms tightly pressed, walking for hours to go to school. [That’s] what defines Haiti more than anything else.”

The UN and its agencies stand alongside all low and middle income countries as they work to improve the lives of their citizens and those who seek shelter within their borders. In this episode, Garry Conille reflects on the dangers faced by young migrants, on the promise of Africa’s new diplomatic hub, and about his drive to seek solutions for even the most intractable problems.

[00:00] Introduction
[00:16] Current role as Resident Coordinator in Kenya
[05:47] Creating opportunities for Kenya’s growing population
[12:45] The resilience that defines Haiti
[14:18] What keeps Garry awake at night
[21:20] From the UN to Haiti’s prime minister
[23:15] Returning after Haiti’s devastating earthquake
[27:26] The legacy of Haiti’s fight towards freedom
[29:46] Family, loss and the influence of his parents
[33:31] Children on the move in Latin America
[36:39] Stories from the Darién Gap
[39:48] How medicine shaped a career in development
[41:54] Finding hope through drowning in solutions
[46:20] Closing remarks

Listen to more Awake at Night episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwoDFQJEq_0b6hu1e8oxsch9W0D7vkNqt
#podcast #UnitedNations #AwakeAtNight #Haiti #development #Kenya

About Awake at Night
Hosted by Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, the podcast ‘Awake at Night’ is an in-depth interview series focusing on remarkable United Nations staff members who dedicate their career to helping people in parts of the world where they have the hardest lives – from war zones and displacement camps to areas hit by disasters and the devastation of climate change.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CMMqQyjxaI

UK Fan-led review of live and electronic music – Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee take evidence for their inquiry, Fan-led review of live and electronic music.

Witnesses:
The Lord Brennan of Canton – Independent Chair of the Fan-led Review of live and electronic music

Rt Hon Ian Murray MP – Minister of State at Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

https://committees.parliament.uk/event/27596/formal-meeting-oral-evidence-session/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9Gpv8f1lsU

UK Children and Young People’s Mental Health – Health and Social Care Committee

Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

MPs on the Health and Social Care committee take evidence from healthcare experts for their inquiry, Children and Young People’s Mental Health.

Witnesses:

Prof Subodh Dave – President, NHS and Royal College of Psychiatrists
Rebecca Gray – Director, Mental Health Network, NHS Alliance
Dr Sachin Sankar – Clinical Lead, East Midlands CAMHS Collaborative

Dr Samantha Jones – Officer for Mental Health, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
Vaness Longley – CEO, Beat Eating Disorders

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8j1QgNtWqY

UK DWP Minister questioned on Safeguarding Vulnerable Claimants by the Work and Pensions Committee

Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

MPs on the Work and Pensions committee question Minister for Social Security and Disability at Department for Work and Pensions, Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP as well as other witnesses from the Department for their session on Safeguarding Vulnerable Claimants.

Witnesses:

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP – Minister for Social Security and Disability at Department for Work and Pensions
Clare Talbot – Deputy Director Support to Engage, Guidance and Appeal at Department for Work and Pensions
Dr Gail Allsopp – Chief Medical Advisor at Department for Work and Pensions
Neil Couling CB CBE – Director General, DWP Services and Fraud at Department for Work and Pensions

https://committees.parliament.uk/event/28103/formal-meeting-oral-evidence-session/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDAvaJ7MdmE