Iran Leader remarks
The Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution says Iran has firmly stood against hostilities and enmities and continues to make progress. Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei made the comments in a meeting with Iranian lawmakers. The Leader said Iran and world powers are engaged in constant challenge in various dimensions because the Islamic Republic’s new model, which is the religious democracy, led to the disruption of the global hegemonic system. Ayatollah Khamenei also raised the alarm about the hostile stance of world powers and threats of those possessing atomic weapons against each other. He added that Europe is one of the most war-prone regions that witnesses increasing military provocations and war in its vicinity. Ayatollah Khamenei said such conditions, in additions to food shortages and an unprecedented spread of a disease, have made the situation more complicated for other countries.
UK Partygate scandal report
The British prime minister is in hot water again over COVID lockdown-breaking parties. A long-awaited official report blames Boris Johnson and his government for the Partygate culture. The report by Sue Gray, a senior civil servant, says the leadership and top officials must bear responsibility for violating COVID rules. The report probed sixteen such events held at Whitehall and Downing Street while the country was placed under strict lockdown in 2020 at the height of the pandemic. Moments after the report was published, Johnson addressing parliament said he takes full responsibly for what had happened.
Global food insecurity
A UN official paints an extremely grim picture of the global food security, saying over 200 million are facing acute hunger worldwide. Achim Steiner warns that soaring food prices could lead to civil unrest in many countries. Steiner, who is administrator of the UN Development program, made the remarks on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum's annual meeting at Davos. He attributed the current food insecurity partly to the war in Ukraine, saying a large number of African and Arab countries heavily rely on wheat supplies from there. He added that the drought in East Africa will worsen the situation. Steiner also underlined that governments are becoming less and less capable of buying what he categorized as expensive food since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. According to the UN official, about 80 countries will likely be in debt distress this year.