Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Annette’s News Roundup.
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Yesterday.
2023.U.N.
President Biden addressed the United Nations General Assembly. He enters at 2 minutes 30 seconds. His speech lasts 20 + minutes.
Biden says ‘when we stand together’, we can tackle any challenge.
The territorial integrity and human rights that form the foundation of the UN must be collectively defended, United States President Joseph Biden said on Tuesday.
Yet, for the second year in a row, the annual debate at the UN General Assembly is “darkened by the shadow of war, an illegal conquest brought without provocation by Russia” against Ukraine, he said, expressing strong support for Kyiv.
“Russia alone bears the responsibility for this war…and has the power to end it immediately,” he emphasized, asking whether the independence of any nation is secure “if we allow Ukraine to be carved up” ["If we allow Ukraine to be carved up, is the independence of any nation secure?"]
“We have to stand up to this aggression today and deter other would-be aggressors tomorrow,” he said, stressing that the US, together with its allies and partners around the world, will continue to stand with Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity and their freedom.
“It’s not only an investment in Ukraine’s future but in every country.”
Bending arc of history
At the outset, he recalled a recent trip to Viet Nam, saying it would be “unthinkable” for a US President to stand in Hanoi announcing a mutual commitment, following a painful legacy of war.
“Our history need not dictate our future,” he said. “With a concerted leadership, adversaries can become partners, overwhelming challenges can be resolved, and deep wounds can heal. When we choose to stand together, we hold in our hands the power to bend the arc of history.”
‘Our future is bound to yours’
The US seeks a more secure, more prosperous, more equitable future for all people because “we know our future is bound to yours,” he said. “No nation can meet the challenges of the day alone.”
To meet new challenges, old institutions must be updated, bringing in leadership from regions that have not always been included to address such issues as Security Council reform and investment in developing countries.
“Twenty-first century results are badly needed to move us along,” he said. “That starts with the United Nations, right in this room.”
The UN must continue to preserve peace and prevent conflict and must also govern the benefits and challenges of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), he said.
Regional relations
Highlighting ongoing developments across regions, he pointed efforts to support a just and lasting peace, with two States for Israelis and Palestinians. Turning to US relations with China, he said Washington seeks “to responsibly manage” bilateral competition “so it does not tip into conflict”, he said, adding that “we are for de-risking, not decoupling” with Beijing.
Climate crisis
The climate crisis needs critical attention, he said, pointing to tragic flooding in Libya alongside historic drought and deluge at a time when the world is still dependent on fossil fuel.
For its part, the US has treated this threat as an existential crisis since that start of his Administration, including new laws and initiatives.
“This year, the world’s on track to meet the climate finance pledge made under the Paris Agreement: $100 billion to raise collectively,” he said, “but we need more investment on public and private sector, especially in places that have contributed so little to global emissions.”
Global goals
To accelerate global progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), “we all need to do more,” he said, pledging Washington’s commitment.
On security issues, he said the US destroyed the last of its chemical weapon stockpile in 2023. Meanwhile, Russia is “shredding” long-standing arms control agreements, he added.
Condemning the DPRK’s continued violations of Security Council resolutions, he encouraged diplomacy to resolve outstanding issues. In terms of Tehran’s destabilizing activities that threaten regional and international security, he said “Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon.”
Power is 'in our hands’
The Universal Declaration for Human Rights was adopted 75 years ago, but attention is still needed to tackle discrimination.
However, the power is “in our hands” to forge a safer, more sustainable world for all through partnerships and collective hope, he said.
“At this inflection point in history, we’re going to be judged by whether or not we live up to the promises we made to ourselves, to each other,” he said.
“Will we find within ourselves the courage to do what must be done, to defend the tenets of the UN?” he asked. “There’s only one answer to that question. We must, and we will. Let’s do this work together. Let’s bend the arc of history for the good of the world. It’s in our power to do it.” (Report of the President’s speech from UN News).
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President Zelenskyy also addressed the United Nations.
Ukraine has been seeking backing for a 10-point settlement program that demands a full Russian withdrawal and payment of reparations. Zelensky pitched the audience an idea for a summit with that program on the agenda -- something Ukrainian diplomats say would be a symbolic success, even without any means to enforce such a settlement on Russia.
Zelensky plans to raise the Ukrainian peace plan -- which has been either fully or partially endorsed by more than 140 countries -- at the Security Council meeting on Ukraine on Wednesday.
Zelensky says Ukraine has the names of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children who have been kidnapped and transferred by Russia and was trying to get children back home. "Time goes by; what will happen to them?” He calls it “clearly a genocide.” The International Criminal Court indicted Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, over the practice of forcibly transporting Ukrainian children to Russia.
Zelensky Warns World Leaders That Russian Aggression Could Expand Beyond Ukraine.
Zelensky's remarks emphasized that leaders should not trust the Kremlin, and he invoked the rebellion against Putin by the Wagner mercenary group in June, which ended with a deal between the Russian government and Wagner's leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin. Prigozhin died last month in a place crash that Western officials blamed on Russian authorities. “Evil can’t be trusted,” Zelensky said. “Just ask Prigozhin.”
His words drew sustained applause, and he concluded his speech with “Slava Ukraini,” or “Glory to Ukraine.”
(New York Times).
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Yesterday.
2023. Pennsylvania.
Automatic voter registration.
20 states have similar programs that combine getting a driver’s license or state ID card with registering to vote.
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Today.
1973.Astrodome.
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