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NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (February 23, 2022) — The Nevis Island Administration (NIA) is gradually meeting the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Joyce Moven, Coordinator of the Sustainable Development Unit in the Ministry of Social Development, said although it has not been brought to the public’s attention Nevis has been working towards attaining most of the goals.

“Given that the goals are global in nature, having superseded the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs 2000-2015) many are achievable, and some countries have already achieved some of the targets.

“In Nevis, though, much is not vocalised about these goals, the Nevis Island Administration has been diligently working through the various ministries and departments to achieve the goals.

“In the area of Agriculture that aligns to Goal 2: Zero Hunger, the Agriculture Department has been engaged in practices that seek to provide food security and sustainable production.  By incorporating innovation and using new technology such as the use of green houses to boost crop production, the department is not only addressing directly Goal 2 but also Goal 13 (Climate Action) and Goal 15 (Life on land),” she said.

In addition, the Ministries of Education, Health and Water Services have also been successful in their endeavour to meet some of the targets.

“For example, all children on Nevis have access to quality early childhood developmental care making them ready for their primary and secondary levels of education.

“In the meantime, there is a thrust towards the provision of more technical and vocational training for the more vulnerable children who may not have the academic capacities,” she noted.

However, the unit is committed through additional awareness and education to ensure that Nevis attains most if not all the targets by 2030.

“The Sustainable Development Unit is committed to providing the forum for bringing awareness of the goals.  One such programme to be launched shortly, is ‘Sustainable Development Goals in Focus,’ where information will be shared on what is being done on Nevis to achieve the goals,” she said.

The coordinator said the Sustainable Development Unit in Nevis continues to work with the Ministry of Sustainable Development in St. Kitts, as the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis is currently preparing its Voluntary National Review (VNR). In that regard they are seeking the help of relevant entities. 

“This report, to be presented at the High Level Political Forum [HLPF] of the United Nations in July 2022, should reflect information and statistical data from both islands.

“This will be the first time the Federation will be presenting on its progress as well as challenges faced in seeking to attain the goals. The unit is seeking the assistance of the relevant entities by asking them to submit the requested information in a timely manner,” she said.

The 17 SDGs are: 1. No Poverty; 2. Zero Hunger; 3. Good Health and Well-Being; 4. Quality Education; 5. Gender Equality; 6. Clean Water and Sanitation; 7. Affordable and Clean Energy; 8. Decent Work and Economic Growth; 9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; 10. Reduced Inequalities; 11. Sustainable Cities and Communities; 12. Responsible Consumption and Production; 13. Climate Action; 14. Life below Water; 15. Life on Land; 16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions; and 17. Partnerships for the Goals.

According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. It provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.

At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which are an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership. They recognise that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.

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© Getty Images

The number of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. rose in 2020, the first year of the pandemic, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The report finds there were 861 maternal deaths in 2020, up from 754 in 2019 and 658 in 2018. That translated to 23.8 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020, up from 20.1 in 2019.

Wide racial disparities: The maternal mortality rate for Black women was about three times higher than it was for white women, at 55.3 deaths per 100,000 births compared to 19.1 deaths per 100,000 births.

“Rates for non-Hispanic Black women were significantly higher than rates for non-Hispanic White and Hispanic women,” the report states. “The increases from 2019 to 2020 for non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic women were significant.”

The report does not delve into the role the pandemic might have played in the increase in maternal deaths, but it is possible that people delaying care and trips to the hospital could have played a role.

Lawmakers have been pushing to address maternal deaths. For example, the American Rescue Plan Act, signed by President Biden last year, allows states to extend Medicaid coverage for a full year postpartum, up from 60 days.

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Another COVID-19 vaccine could be coming, 100% effective

© Getty Images

Sanofi and GSK said Wednesday that they plan to submit their COVID-19 vaccine for authorization following “strong” results in a Phase 3 trial.

What makes it different: The latest COVID-19 vaccine entrant could play an important role in helping vaccinate the world, given that it is easier to store than the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna.

The vaccine had 100 percent efficacy against severe disease and hospitalization. Efficacy against any infection at all was 57.9 percent. While that is lower than was reported originally for Pfizer and Moderna, Sanofi and GSK said the results reflect the latest variants, and are “in line with expected vaccine effectiveness in today’s environment dominated by variants of concern.”

The companies also said the vaccine had a “favorable safety profile.”

They plan to submit for authorization to the Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency.

“We’re very pleased with these data, which confirm our strong science and the benefits of our COVID-19 vaccine,” said Thomas Triomphe, executive vice president at Sanofi Vaccines.

The Sanofi-GSK uses a more traditional vaccine technology, as opposed to the newer mRNA used by Pfizer and Moderna. Therefore it could both convince some people skeptical of mRNA vaccines to get the shots, and, importantly, help reach lower-income countries due to easier storage requirements.

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New infections fall worldwide for third week

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday announced that global COVID-19 cases dropped by 21 percent last week.

Globally, WHO’s data showed that more than 12 million new cases and 67,000 new deaths were reported in the past seven days.

In terms of COVID-19–related deaths, the data showed that number dropped by 8 percent, marking the first week since early January that the death rate has decreased.

Germany and Russia, both of which saw more than 1 million weekly cases, led the world this past week in the number of cases reported. They were followed by Brazil, which had more than 728,000 cases.

The agency’s data also indicated that cases in the U.S. specifically were down by about 40 percent.

The only region that reported an overall spike in cases was the Western Pacific, with an increase of 29 percent.

The post Maternity Deaths Up During Pandemic, New 100% Vaccine, Covid Cases Drop appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.

President Biden on Wednesday expressed solidarity with Ukraine as Russia launched what Biden described as an “unprovoked and unjustified attack,” with shelling reported in multiple Ukrainian cities.

“The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces,” Biden said in a statement released by the White House.

“President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable,” Biden added.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Wednesday night that he was launching a military operation in eastern Ukraine in what many interpreted as a declaration of war on Ukraine. Reporters and witnesses on the ground reported a short time later the sounds of shelling in multiple cities.

Biden said he was monitoring the developments, and he was briefed by his national security team at the White House. He is set to meet with Group of Seven allies on Thursday morning and said in the statement he will deliver remarks on additional measures targeting Russia.

“We will also coordinate with our NATO Allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance,” Biden said. “Tonight, Jill and I are praying for the brave and proud people of Ukraine.”

Putin delivered remarks just before 6 a.m. Moscow time Thursday while representatives of the United Nations Security Council met to condemn Russian aggression and urge the Kremlin to choose diplomacy.

In his address, Putin announced a “special military operation” in Ukraine that would aim for the “demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine,” according to multiple reports.

Reporters on the ground in Ukraine reported hearing explosions that resembled artillery fire in the capital of Kyiv and in other cities such as Kharkiv and Kramatorsk.

Biden administration officials have warned for over a week that a Russian assault on Ukraine could come at any moment, but the threat of a large-scale military operation became more imminent in recent days as Moscow moved troops into two regions in eastern Ukraine after Putin recognized them as independent territory.

“We believe that they are now at a state of readiness where they could attack at any time,” Pentagon press secretary John Kirby told reporters earlier Wednesday.

The Biden administration, in coordination with European allies, unveiled an initial tranche of sanctions on Moscow on Tuesday over its decision to send troops into the Donbas, with Biden describing the moves as the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The sanctions targeted Russian sovereign debt, two Russian banks and five Russian elites with links to the Kremlin. The White House has indicated that further penalties could target larger banks, including Russia’s VTB Bank, as well as other Russian oligarchs. The Biden administration has also threatened to impose export controls that would prevent Moscow from acquiring key U.S. technologies.

Some criticized the sanctions as insufficient and urged Biden to impose more stringent measures as Russia appeared intent on attacking Ukraine.

Biden has previously pledged he would not send U.S. forces to fight in Ukraine against Russia, something White House press secretary Jen Psaki firmly reiterated earlier Wednesday.

The administration has provided military aid to Ukraine, and earlier this week, the U.S. relocated troops to reinforce the Baltic States and reinforce the eastern flank of NATO in a bid to deter Russia from attacking alliance members.

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Putin: Countries that interfere with Russia will face ‘consequences you have never seen’

By Lexi Lonas

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a speech announcing a military operation in Ukraine that countries that interfere with Russian actions will face “consequences you have never seen,” The Associated Press reported.

Russia almost immediately launched an invasion into the country.

Putin says the operation is to protect citizens from Ukraine aggression and to demilitarize the country, a continuation of the disinformation about which western allies have been warning.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said at an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting Wednesday that only Russia is to blame for an attack on Ukraine.

“Russia’s attack on Ukraine is tantamount to an attack on the U.N. and every member state in the chamber tonight,” she said, saying a full-scale invasion is imminent.

Putin blamed NATO for the escalation because the defense bloc wouldn’t give guarantees of security and prevent Ukraine from joining, according to the AP.

The White House released a statement Wednesday night condemning the attack.

“The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces,” Biden said.

“President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable,” Biden added.

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February 23, 2022

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Otto Carrington

T&T Observer

It was described as an invasion after bandits stormed four businesses at Boundary Road, San Juan, on Tuesday.  However, the robbery was thwarted by officers of the North Eastern Division after one of the bandits was shot dead.

The dead man has been identified as 25-year-old Denille Robinson, of D’Abadie.

Guardian Media was told that officers of the North Eastern Division Task Force were called to the Reliable Appliances Parts and Services store on Boundary Road at around 12.55 pm.

When the officers arrived they saw several workers tied up on the floor of the warehouse.

One of the workers signalled to the officers that the bandits were still upstairs. On reaching upstairs, police saw the bandits and called on them to surrender.

However, police reported that Robinson pointed a gun at them and they shot him.

He was later taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope where he died.

The other suspects were at large up to late yesterday.

The police believe there were between eight to 10 robbers at the scene with three vehicles

Employees of Reliable Parts and Services, Samaroo’s Material General Limited, Carpet World and Scaffolding Supply were robbed of personal items during the incident.

One traumatised employee spoke with Guardian Media about the ordeal.

Clarence Fitzroy Phillip, who is employed with Reliable Parts and Services, was beaten with cutlasses and a gun about his body. He was treated for his injuries.

Phillip said, “We collected some goods from a company and while checking it, I walked outside because I heard a vehicle coming in and when the truck came in he was blocking the driveway and I told him to pull at the side and he started to move the truck and it still remained in the centre of the driveway.

“So I walked back into the warehouse and when I turned back I saw two men coming in my direction from another vehicle and before I could get back into the warehouse, I saw another four men all armed with guns. They started to run directly to me and then they told me to lie down.”

He added: “Then I started to see other bandits with cutlasses coming towards me while on the ground, they started to kick me up and said not to watch them, so I turned my face and another bandit used tie straps to bound my hands.”

At this time, the bandits had made their way into the offices where they relieved staff of valuables including cellphones, money and jewellery.

Phillip also said, “The bandits started to load the goods we just received, some stoves, small refrigerators and ring stove burners, they tried to take a big refrigerator but it was too heavy for them to lift onto their truck.”

“This is a traumatic situation and life has to go on, the best thing is that nobody’s life was taken,” he added.

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LONDON, Feb 23 (Reuters) – Indonesia’s peatlands, California’s forests, and, now, vast swathes of Argentine wetland have all been ravaged by extreme wildfires, heralding a fiery future and the dire need to prevent it.

With climate change triggering droughts and farmers clearing forests, the number of extreme wildfires is expected to increase 30% within the next 28 years. And they are now scorching environments that were not prone to burning in the past, such as the Arctic’s tundra and the Amazon rainforest.

“We’ve seen a great increase in recent fires in northern Syria, northern Siberia, the eastern side of Australia, and India,” said Australian government bushfire scientist Andrew Sullivan, an editor on the report, released Wednesday, by the UN Environment Programme and GRID-Arendal environmental communications group.

At the same time, the slow disappearance of cool, damp nights that once helped to temper fires also means they are getting harder to extinguish, according to a second study published last week in the journal Nature.

With night time temperatures rising faster than day time ones over the last four decades, researchers found a 36% increase in the number of after-dark hours that were warm and dry enough sustain fire.

“This is a mechanism for fires to get much bigger and more extreme,” said Jennifer Balch, lead author of the Nature study and director of the University of Colorado Boulder’s Earth Lab.

“Exhausted firefighters don’t get relief,” which means they can’t regroup and revise strategies to tackle a blaze.

The consequences of extreme fires are wide-ranging, from loss and damage to costly firefighting response. In the United States alone, the UNEP report said the economic burden of wildfire totals as much as $347 billion annually.

With California’s forests ablaze, the state government spent an estimated $3.1 billion on fire suppression in the 2020-21 fiscal year.

The fires raging since December in Argentina’s Corrientes province have taken an enormous toll, killing Ibera National Park wildlife, charring pasturelands and livestock, and decimating crops including yerba mate, fruit, and rice. Losses already have exceeded 25 billion Argentine pesos ($234 million), The Argentine Rural Society said.

The UNEP report calls on governments to rethink wildfire spending, recommending they put 45% of their budget toward prevention and preparedness, 34% toward firefighting response, and 20% for recovery.

“In many regions of the world, most resources go toward response — they focus on the short-term,” said Paulo Fernandes, a contributing author of the UNEP report and fire scientist at Universidade of Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro in Portugal.

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