UNITED STATES
Nationwide Election News
While the fate of the presidency dangles in the air, there were some other developments on Election Night 2020.
First, on the other side of the Capitol power struggle, Democrats are likely to keep control of the House of Representatives. However, Republicans defied the odds, and are likely to keep control of the Senate. Should Biden win, a GOP majority thwarts any efforts to “pack the court” among other things.
On the state level, New Jersey voted overwhelmingly to legalize recreational marijuana. It will be a while before pot hits dispensary shelves however, as some safety protocols need to be hammered out in the next few months. Next, Prop 22 passed in California, which means that companies like Uber and Lyft can classify their drivers as independent contractors, making those companies exempt from having to pay out things like health insurance.
Oregon has decriminalized possessing small amounts of drugs like heroin, cocaine, and LSD. Down south, Florida has approved a $15 per hour minimum wage by 2026, and Mississippi will get a new state flag, replacing the controversial Confederate one. Finally, Maryland Louisiana, and South Dakota all approved sports gambling.
In Delaware, history was made as Sarah McBride became the first openly transgender state senator in the nation. Also, the record set by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as the youngest person to serve in Congress has been broken by Madison Hawthorne, a 25-year-old Republican who took the 11th Congressional District in North Carolina. Last but not least, Kanye West’s bid for the White House was barely noticed, as he hardly garnered anything in the 11 states where he appeared on the ballot.
EUROPE
Terror Strikes Vienna
The UN Secretary-General has strongly condemned the violent attacks in the Austrian capital of Vienna, which left at least two people dead and several others wounded.
According to media reports, gunmen opened fire the evening of Nov. 2 at multiple locations in central Vienna. One of the victims was killed at the scene of the shootings, while a second died of their injuries. At least 14 wounded people are in hospitals, some with serious injuries. Members of the security forces are also among the wounded.
Secretary-General António Guterres is following with “utmost concern” the still evolving situation in Vienna’s city center, his spokesperson said in a statement.
“(He) strongly condemns these attacks and reaffirms the solidarity of the United Nations with the people and the Government of Austria,” the statement added.
Mr. Guterres also offered his condolences to the families of the victims and wished those injured a speedy recovery.
Vienna is also host to a number of key UN offices, including, among others, the headquarters of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
In a message posted on her twitter account, Ghada Fathi Waly, the Executive Director of UNODC, who also serves as the Director-General of the UN Office at Vienna (UNOV) also offered her sympathies to the victims.
“My heart goes out to the victims and all those affected by this horrific attack in our host city,” she said, adding that the UN community in Vienna “stands with the people of Austria at this tragic and difficult time.”
ASIA
Typhoon Wrecks Philippines
“Superstorm” Typhoon Goni has left several towns inaccessible and destroyed thousands of homes in the Philippines, the UN humanitarian wing has said, adding that relief efforts have been complicated by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Bicol region, where Typhoon Goni made landfall Nov. 1, currently has some 425 active COVID-19 cases and the risk of transmission remains high, especially in typically crowded evacuation centers, according to the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
About 361,000 people are sheltering in evacuation centers across the affected regions while another 54,400 are hosted by relatives and friends. Bicol’s main COVID-19 laboratory has also sustained damage, prompting the suspension of testing.
The UN International Organization for Migration (IOM), one of the UN agencies involved in the response, warned that with the coronavirus pandemic, “the most vulnerable displaced populations have become even more vulnerable.”
“IOM will continue to work with our Government partners to support their monumental recovery efforts to address the most urgent humanitarian needs,” said the UN agency’s Chief of Mission in the Philippines, Kristin Dadey.
Emphasizing the critical need for proper COVID-19 precautionary measures in evacuation sites, IOM will deliver assorted personal protective equipment (PPE) including 200,000 face masks, 20,000 bottles of sanitizer, 2,000 face shields, and 500 modular tents to the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development and the country’s Coast Guard. Authorities are also deploying personnel to monitor COVID-19 symptoms among the displaced.
Humanitarian teams are on the ground in some of the hardest hit areas, assessing damage.
After making landfall in Bicol, the storm – known locally as Rolly – hit the town of Tiwi in Albay province, causing rivers to overflow and flood much of the region. Thus far, some 11 towns are reported to be cut off and at least 10,000 houses destroyed or damaged, including more than 300 houses buried under volcanic rock. Power lines and telecommunication links are also disrupted.
Initial reports indicate damage to some 16,900 hectares of cropland, affecting about 18,000 farmers, with production losses estimated at 66,600 metric tons of rice, corn and high-value crops, valued at about $24 million.
Eleven people were reported killed in Catanduanes and Albay provinces from the onslaught of the typhoon. Numbers are feared to increase in the coming days.
Goni made two other landfalls in Quezon and Batangas provinces, progressively weakening as it crossed the Philippines Nov. 2, sparing the capital Manila.
CARIBBEAN
COVID-19 and Climate Change
The twin crises of COVID-19 and climate change present a once in a generation opportunity for the Caribbean and its development partners to form a new alliance for inclusive, sustainable and resilient recovery, the UN Secretary-General told regional Heads of Government on Oct. 29.
António Guterres was addressing a virtual meeting of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), where he praised countries for their leadership during the crisis, even as they confront shocks to their economies, tourism sector, trade and remittances.
“Your unique voice is vital as we tackle shared threats such as climate change, citizen insecurity and the COVID-19 pandemic that expose deep and systemic inequalities,” he said.
The UN chief stated that the pandemic’s socioeconomic impacts have been worse than the virus itself for some developing economies, including the Caribbean. He highlighted his push for a relief package equivalent to at least 10 percent of the global economy, as well as an appeal for debt relief.
“As you have long advocated, the world must look beyond incomes and factor in the vulnerabilities of countries. The private sector, including the credit rating agencies, also must be engaged in relief efforts,” he said.
Mr. Guterres also underlined his solidarity with CARICOM members in addressing climate change.
“Your leadership and moral voice on the front lines is crucial for charting a recovery that will accelerate the decarbonization of the global economy and build a more inclusive and resilient future,” he said.
The Secretary-General emphasized his full support for the Caribbean vision of becoming the first fully climate-resilient region in the world. However, he noted the “significant barriers” countries face, including for access to climate finance.
