Shreya Ghosal | BBC

“Google Baba has the answer to everything” is a famous phrase that is used by pretty much anyone and everyone who is familiar with the use of internet struggling to thrive in the quick-paced 21st century world. The delegate of Philippines at ASEAN actually strongly believes in this phrase as he was researching and reading off Google when asked about “effective measures” against COVID-19 during a press conference. You’re living in the COVID era, seems like you haven’t read the news since March 2020! Shreya Ghosal, BBC reporter  couldn’t help but sympathise for him as she realised his lack of research on the 3rd day of the conference amidst mindful and observant delegates of ASEAN. She was forced to say, “delegate, from next please have your information ready and also try to not read off from Google”.

On the other hand, there was the delegate of China who tried to get herself ‘ready’ for any press questions by actually sending a direct message to the BBC press delegate.

Delegate, do you really think the press reporter would let you know of a question beforehand? Has that ever happened before? Let us know!

Along with delegates who gave opportunity for roasters coming from the press corps, ASEAN also consists of delegates such as the delegate of Malaysia who provided complete justification to each and every point that was brought out successfully sticking to her stance which unfortunately is quite a rare sight in the ASEAN council.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has come to a point where citizens are simply used to the idea of breathing in air that consists a virus. People have developed the habit of wearing masks. People are sick and tired of hearing “social distancing”. Now, the world is opening up and very few countries are truly hesitating before opening up their borders. However, the delegate of Indonesia thinks that opening up the borders with Malaysia and Thailand despite having “full trust” in their measures would not be a good idea. Why? “Uhhh, it is just not a good time”. “But delegate, don’t you think the world would have to open up at some point and don’t you think this is a good time to do so” asked BBC reporter, Shreya Ghosal as a follow up to which the response was once again, “right now would not be that time”. To our dismay, the delegate of Indonesia, couldn’t even answer the question which simply asked, “Why don’t you open up your borders with Malaysia and Thailand”. Delegate, at least come up with a believable reason from next time.

Shafa Amani Anargya Pragiwaka | The Saudi Gazette

On Sunday (20/3/2022), the ongoing WHO (World Health Organization) conference — operating under the objective of gender equality in healthcare and COVID-19 recovery — underwent an exclusive Press Conference subsequent to the cementing of the “Communique” concerning gender equality discussions.

States have posited varying proposals and personal objectives within the get-go, particularly evident in the concession of adopting the “Communique” format, which highlights the distinct polarizations each state wavered to forfeit, as opposed to the bloc-heavy conventional “Draft Resolution” format. In a sense, implying the absence of specific group alignments in the plight to collaboration.

One such solution that protrudes is France’s “REGAIN” initiative (short for Reward and Education as General Measures to Alleviate Gender Inequality in Healthcare). Under this, a specialized WHO GER (Gender, Equity, and Human Rights) team will be formed, fortified by elected member-state representatives, to delineate awards for healthcare professionals deemed to “champion” women and gender equality in their practice.

However, one must note the vagueness and incongruences such a plan may impose. First, there is no stipulated mechanism that details the initiation of the task force in the first place. When inquired by the Saudi Gazette, the delegate of France mentions the aid that the French health sector will provide with the WHO to kick things forward. However, there is no mentioned safety nets that voids plausible impartiality and subjectivity impacting REGAIN due to France’s embryonic involvement.

Secondly, France underlined greatly the need for healthcare provisions to cater individually to each state, rather than be universally encompassing. Then, how could we possibly get around to sequencing these states’ efforts when the playing ground is not leveled, unlike other awarding programs which consider receivers from their individual dispositions?

Thirdly, France asserts the success probabilities of their proposal by stating that there are existing blueprints today, albeit in different fields. However, it was very evident during the council sessions that a concession to any basic, universal upkeep was problematic. Gender equality in health has been a long-spanning issue that plagues even the best systems in the world, and the fact of said issues have not been properly combatted under developmental processes so far is proof of how intricate it is.

Lee Loch Kean, Shreya Ghosal | BBC

Upon UNSC’s failure to pass a resolution on Biological Weapons yesterday, press delegates from the BBC were invited to hold a press conference. During this, the UNSC continued to deliver humorous moments reminiscent of past sessions.

The delegate of Iran, when asked about the use of Internet memes in her working papers stated enthusiastically, “a picture speaks a thousand words, add six more and boom! Such an influential picture that can bring forth a big meaning.”

At this, the press chair quipped without hesitation, “Delegate, you might want to be careful with the use of the word “boom” as it’s taken in another way in your country,” a joke accompanied by laughter seen rarely at such a serious meeting of the UN.

Seems like the press just had its best press conference moment at UNSC. The writers of this article are lucky to have viewed it, especially with the delegate of Israel releasing several bursts of laughter every couple of minutes.

However, it seems that today might see more serious and productive debate. The delegate of Russia stated that the debate so far had been “very fruitful” and “better than yesterday”. The delegate of France seemed to agree, also adding that delegates were “explaining their views very clearly.”

The press conference also found time for more serious questions. Lee Loch Kean, a reporter from the BBC asked the Israeli delegate to “confirm that Israel will not use biological weapons in any conflict.” The Israeli delegate appeared stunned at this, but answered calmly, “Israel has always taken a defensive stance in its defense system…and does not trust in global conventions to adequately provide coverage for national security.” The delegate proceeded to explain that “it [the Biological Weapons Convention] was not comprehensive enough,” failing both to answer the question posed nor convince many of her sincerity.

On the other hand, UNSC presents itself with the selfish delegate of USA who says, “there are no permanent friends, no permanent enemies, only permanent interest” when questioned about his seconding with the delegate of UNSC which shocked the delegate of Brazil. The USA says that he would side with China only because they have the same stance and it’s rather egoistical of the USA doing the same. Nevertheless, it’s not surprising to get perplexed when China and US agree with each other since all the ex-president of the USA, Mr.Trump was riveted towards, was the destruction of China.