Vaccine Diplomacy: Who is Leading the Race?

As countries across the globe are racing vaccinate their populations, vaccine diplomacy has now become a key component of geopolitics. Several countries such as China, Russia, and India are engaging in vaccine diplomacy. This new diplomacy tool will have a substantial impact, given the unequal global distribution of vaccines.

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FOCUS on Vaccine Diplomacy: Russia

The global effort against COVID-19 is intensifying as countries race to vaccinate their populations and use vaccine diplomacy to improve relations with foreign nations. Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine now has emergency authorization in more than 30 countries and a peer-reviewed efficacy rate of 91.6 percent in Phase 3 trials, reports the New York Times Vaccine Tracker. Researchers are currently working on a single-dose version of Sputnik V, which would be called “Sputnik Light.”

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Foreign Direct Investment Decreases by Half in  2020 as a Ripple Effect of the Pandemic

The United Nations (UN) announced that foreign direct investment (FDI) flows fell by about 49 percent in the first half of this year, reports the Economic Times. It is predicted that by the end of the year, there will be a total fall of 40 percent relative to 2019 levels. It is also the first time that FDI flows turned negative for European countries.

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Japan’s Prime Minister Resigns  

Shinzo Abe, Japan’s longest serving prime minister, has resigned due to health reasons, reports CNN. For the past eight years, Mr. Abe has struggled with colitis, a non-curable inflammatory bowel disease. During a press conference on August 28, he apologized to the Japanese people as he stepped down from his role one year before the end of his term.

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