Binu Merin Jacob

Globally, the current focus is on reducing and containing the number of infections and the spread of the virus until a vaccine is widely available. Join the Centre for Middle East Policy at Brookings Institute on Friday, 16 October at 2pm GMT as they discuss views from the intelligence community about the pandemic. Time: Friday, 16 October at 2-3pm GMT (10-11am EDT) More information and link to register for webcast: https://www.brookings.edu/events/anticipating-covid-19-a-view-from-the-intelligence-community/

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17 October is observed as 'World Poverty Day' and this year, the event will highlight the urgency to fight global poverty in view of the current drawbacks posed by COVID-19. The rate of extreme poverty has gone up for the first time this year in 20 years, reversing the trend that has so far been lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. The event will look at the various obstacles to poverty reduction including conflict and climate change and focus on initiating long-term recovery plans for developing countries moving forward. Time: Saturday, 17 October, 2-3pm GMT (10-11am ET) Link to event: https://live.worldbank.org/end-poverty-day-2020

The CSN annual meetings this year are being hosted as regional online sessions factoring in time zone differences across the Commonwealth. The Caribbean and Americas regional session will take place at 3pm (GMT +1) on Tuesday, 20 October [8am CST/ 9am EST/ 10am AST]. The meeting is an important opportunity for participants to receive updates on the CSN progress and future support for the programme in the current climate. The invitation, draft agenda and dial-in details can now be downloaded here. Time: Tuesday, 20 October, at at 3pm (GMT +1) [8am CST/ 9am EST/ 10am AST] Joining instructions: https://zoom.us/j/91881007714; Meeting ID: 918 8100 7714 CSN Annual meeting- Caribbean and Americas session_20th October 2020.pdf

3pm London (GMT +1) on Tuesday 20th October (8am Central Standard time, 9am Eastern Standard time, 10am Atlantic standard time). Draft Agenda (1hr meeting) CSN General updates CSN Draft Terms of Reference CSN Regional updates with Technical Assistance presentations Potential CSN COVID-19 assistance (attendees invited to provide suggestions) ISO Good Standardization Practice audits AOB Please contact ben.hedley@bsigroup.com for dial-in details if you have not already been sent them.

https://tinyurl.com/yxqlfe9j

https://www.eventsforce.net/strategy/frontend/reg/thome.csp?pageID=326164&eventID=601&CSPCHD=000001000000oRXllGSfI0XpTGKNXLbZtFFFrXjOBQYaxciIVW

Here's a quick round-up of news and updates about World Standards Day 2020 from the NSBs and international and regional organisations. We have a very important role to play in 'Protecting the Planet with Standards' especially against the current challenges we face today. From the Commonwealth Standards Network, we wish everyone a very positive World Standards Day. BBS: http://bbs.gov.bz/poster-contest/ BSJ: https://www.bsj.org.jm/articles/world-standards-day-2020-message-executive-director-hopeton-heron BSI: https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/about-bsi/uk-national-standards-body/world-standards-day/ CEN-CENELEC: https://www.cencenelec.eu/news/events/Pages/EV-2020-31.aspx INNOQ: http://www.innoq.gov.mz/por/Conteudo-Principal/Ultimas-Noticias/Dia-Mundial-da-Normalizacao ISO: https://www.iso.org/news/ref2568.html ITU: https://www.itu.int/en/myitu/News/2020/10/14/10/14/World-Standards-Day-renew-resolve-protect-planet-standards-Houlin-Zhao IEC: https://blog.iec.ch/2020/10/announcing-the-winners-of-the-world-standards-day-2020-poster-contest/ MCCAA: https://mccaa.org.mt/Section/EventContent?EventId=5833 RSB: https://www.rsb.gov.rw/fileadmin/user_upload/files/pdf/new_stds/WSD_2020_Concept_note.pdf SON: https://son.gov.ng/news SCC: https://www.scc.ca/en/news-events/events/wsd SABS: https://www.sabs.co.za/worldstandardsday.asp SLSI: https://www.slsi.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=86:world-standards-day-14-october-2018&catid=9:event-calendar&Itemid=360&lang=en TBS: https://www.tbs.go.tz/events/world-standards-day TTBS: https://gottbs.com/2020/10/13/wsd2020/#.X4bS_WhKg2w UNBS: https://www.unbs.go.ug//news-highlights.php?news=160&read UNIDO: https://hub.unido.org/event/world-standards-day-2020 WSC: https://www.worldstandardscooperation.org/world-standards-day/

World Standards Day is celebrated every year on 14 October and this year's theme focuses on 'Protecting the Planet with Standards'. Standards provide consensus on what good looks like and using standards can accelerate your sustainability journey. It can support all areas of sustainability - whether it's environmental, economic, or social. Businesses that adopt more sustainable practices are far likely to better prepared in managing current and future challenges in protecting and safeguarding our planet. And as individuals, organisations and governments we all have a very important to role to play in protecting our planet with standards. Take a look at this short video highlighting the views of some of the BSI experts on the importance of using standards for the sustainability of our planet: https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/about-bsi/uk-national-standards-body/world-standards-day/

The impact of COVID-19 has taken a huge toll on lives, livelihoods and economies, exposing both the vulnerabilities and interconnectedness of our natural, human and physical capital. This event will look at how best countries can build sustainable recovery and resilience plans incorporating climate, nature and social inclusion in their stimulus packages. Click on the following link for more information about the speakers and to tune in for the LIVE coverage and post event LIVE Q&A session from Washington D.C: https://live.worldbank.org/sustainable-recovery-people-and-planet

International Plain Language Day is held on 13 October each year to encourage governments and industries to make their communications more accessible. This year's theme is “Access for All: Plain Language is a Civil Right”, and to support this, ISO is currently developing a new standard, ISO 24495, Plain language - Part 1: Governing principles and guidelines, which will provide authors in most languages a unified approach to help them communicate effectively with their audiences. It will feature high-level principles, guidelines and techniques to help writers everywhere produce communications that work. Click here to read more: https://www.iso.org/news/ref2566.html

https://www.ilo.org/gender/Events/WCMS_757390/lang--en/index.htm

http://www.standards-olympiad.kr/main/en/ - online competition via video conferencing

https://www.cencenelec.eu/news/events/Pages/EV-2020-22.aspx

https://www.cencenelec.eu/news/events/Pages/EV-2020-31.aspx

https://www.brookings.edu/events/anticipating-covid-19-a-view-from-the-intelligence-community/ (10am-11am EDT)

On 21st October, we’re excited to be hosting a “Deep-Dive” into Kenya — a land of many business opportunities. Join us as UK High Commissioner to Kenya, HE Jane Marriott OBE and DIT colleagues share more in-depth details on the opportunities for British companies wishing to do business in Kenya, and how UK businesses can capitalise on Kenya’s economic expansion strategy. Sectors of opportunities include infrastructure, education, energy, agriculture and more: https://www.britishexpertise.org/post/bei-weekly-update-9th-october-2020

On 20th October, we are hosting by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), giving insights into the Global Economic Recovery. Robert Schoelhammer, Europe Representative and Abdul Abiad Director, Macroeconomic Research Division will discuss the macroeconomic economic recovery picture globally and in Asia. Join us to hear how the ADB sees the current economic situation evolving: https://www.britishexpertise.org/post/bei-weekly-update-9th-october-2020

WTO has issued a new edition of the Trade Profiles Publication on their website. For more information and to download the publication, please click on the following link: https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news20_e/publ_08oct20_e.htm

For many emerging and developing countries, the pandemic has aggravated the existing debt crisis and the consequent urgent need for a joint effort to address the situation. The real-time Defusing Debt - Creating Comprehensive Solutions event on Tuesday, 13 October, 2020 will be focussing on the following 3 areas from 4pm-5pm: 1) How private creditors can contribute effectively to debt restructurings 2) New challenges that have made sovereign debt workouts more cumbersome and difficult to achieve 3) Key elements of comprehensive solution to these problems Click on the following link for more information about the speakers and to tune in for the LIVE coverage: https://live.worldbank.org/defusing-debt-creating-solutions

https://www.worldbank.org/en/events/2020/11/17/making-banks-work-for-development