Week 162 (11-17/07/2022)
Prime Minister Najla Bouden Romdhane poses for a picture during her meeting with Tunisia's President Kais Saied, in Tunis, Tunisia. Picture: Reuters
AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST
In Tunisia, a woman that become the first prime minister of the country enlighten other women (12/7). Najla Bouden, that become Prime Minister of Tunisia in late 2021 has proven to the Tunisian society that women can do high qualified job. She also viewed by the society as a good role model for women and children in Tunisia.
In Djibouti, a British Olympian recall his trafficking backstory (13/7). Sir Mo Farah was a lonely child and kid labor before becoming an Olympian with achievements. He was a fled his country through Somalia before ended in the UK.
In the Middle East, US President Joe Biden will conduct his visit to several countries in the region (13/7). He is scheduled to visit Israel, Palestine, and Saudi Arabia, while meeting with some leaders of the region, including leader of Jordan, Egypt, and Iraq. As reported, some experts think that his visit will be not a remarkable one for US foreign relations for Middle Eastern matters in recent years.
In Syria, the UN will prolong its aid for Syrian war victims and refugees (13/7). The UN will extent the aid for at least 6 months to help rebuild the city of Idlib, Syria. The extension was a proposal by Russia in the UN General Session.
ASIA
India reported (14/07) its first monkeypox case, a 35-year-old man who was in close contact with a person who tested positive for the disease in the UAE. He is currently admitted to the medical college hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. "There is no need to panic. According to the patient, he has been in close contact only with his family members and two drivers,” the Union health minister said.
North Korea has sent (14/07) letters to leaders in Donetsk and Luhansk, two Russia-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, to convey its decision to recognize their independence and its willingness to develop diplomatic relations with both--the decision of which also signifies North Korea's support of Russia's war against its neighbor. In response, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry cut off diplomatic ties with North Korea and condemned Pyongyang’s decision as undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Ten people were killed (16/07) and two wounded by gunmen believed to be separatist rebels in Indonesia's restive Papua province. About 20 gunmen, believed to be members of the West Papua Liberation Army, the military wing of the Free Papua Organization, stormed the village of Nogolait in Nduga district and opened fire on traders. Most of the victims, all men, were immigrants from other Indonesian islands. A spokesperson for the Free Papua Organization couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
Reported in Aljazeera (17/07), Myanmar’s top general has been in Moscow to pledge deeper military ties and cooperation on nuclear energy. Russia is one of the most important backers of Myanmar’s military, which seized power in a coup in February 2021. Notwithstanding that, Russia avoids giving formal recognition to the military as the government of Myanmar--it agreed to allow the ambassador appointed by the overthrown government to keep his seat at the United Nations. “The Putin regime is aiding and abetting the Myanmar military’s war crimes and crimes against humanity, which it is committing on a daily basis with total impunity,” said Khin Ohmar, chairperson of human rights organisation Progressive Voice.
AUSTRALIA AND OCEANIA
James Marape was re-elected as Prime Minister caretaker of Papua New Guinea (12/07). James Marape was the first MP to declare a chaotic voting period of about two weeks. He and his son were involved in an incident of allegedly smuggling money on an Air Niugini charter flight and was intercepted by police. Marape clarified that his son had nothing to do with it. The one who carried the money at the airport was the director of a construction company in Hela Province, so he thought the money was legal.
Australia stands ready to assist Indo-Pacific Countries by directing the Quad Countries on critical minerals security (13/07). At the Sydney Energy Forum Resources Minister, Madeleine King said Australia had vast reserves of lithium, cobalt, and rare earth, where mineral supply chain challenges will require collaboration, especially these projects dominated by China. Meanwhile, Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry, Koichi Hagiuda, asked Australia to increase liquefied natural gas production as Japan protects its supply.
Prime Minister of Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare meets Australian PM Anthony Albanese and New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern on the side-lines of the Pacific Islands Forum in Fiji (13/07). The bilateral meeting discussed China's security pact, which raised concerns among US allies over Beijing's military ambitions in the Pacific islands. Pacific leaders discussed how to garner a lot of international support and funding in the fight against climate change. The Solomon Islands security pact with China has become a major election issue in Australia. Meanwhile, the Australian PM said Australia and Solomon Islands could build trust for mutual benefit to advance the interests of the pacific.
Australia has ruled out a flight ban from Indonesia, which was hit by an epidemic of mouth and nail disease (FMD) (14/07). Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) attacks cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs detected in Indonesia for the first time in May. Opposition Senator Susan McDonald and farmer groups have called on tourists to end their trips in Bali for fear of bringing the disease into the country through clothing and shoes. On the other hand, Australia's Minister of Agriculture Murray Watt said he understood the outbreak would pose a major threat. However, if the government takes drastic action, it will have an impact on trade relations with Indonesia. Australia provided a support package of $1.5 million for Indonesia. The aid to fund 1 million FMD vaccines for Indonesian livestock. In addition, Australia offers a funding package to Indonesia for Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).
The Cook Islands and Tahiti were hit by high sea waves (15/07). Waves as high as 4.5 meters damaged property and flooded roads in the Cook Islands. The Cook Islands Director of Emergency Management labeled it a highly unusual weather event because the impact exceeded expectations. Debris and rocks shifted onto the road. Emergency services are on high alert. Meanwhile, waves as high as 8-9 meters in French Polynesia submerged road and fifteen houses.
EUROPE
Numerous dead cattle discovered in a natural area southeast of Zagreb, Croatia, were found to have anthrax, according to authorities on Saturday (16/07). Following complaints that the cattle had started to exhibit neurological signs, authorities tested the animal corpses, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. Four additional patients with skin infections have been admitted to hospitals, according to the state HRT television. At least 107 cows have died recently in the last two weeks.
Authorities reported that a Ukrainian airline's Antonov freight plane crashed on Saturday (16/07) close to Kavala in northern Greece. After the disaster, locals claimed to have seen a fireball and heard explosions for two hours. According to Greek Civil Aviation authorities, the flight was going from Jordan to Serbia. According to Greek media, there were eight persons on board and twelve tons of "hazardous materials," largely explosives. Local authorities, however, claimed to be unaware of the cargo and to have different estimates of the number of passengers.
On Sunday (17/07), firefighters battled to put out wildfires that were raging out of control in France and Spain as Europe wilted under an abnormally intense heat wave that Madrid officials have linked to an increase in excess mortality. Around 14,000 people were evacuated due to two massive fires that have been burning through pine forests for six days south of Bordeaux in southwest France, many of whom were planning to camp out for the duration of their vacation. In Spain, emergency brigades of the military forces are helping firefighters put out more than 30 fires that are raging through the nation's woodlands.
After Croatia declined to permit a private visit by Serbia's populist president to the location of a World War II concentration camp where tens of thousands of Serbs were massacred by pro-Nazi officials in Croatia, diplomatic tensions between the two Balkan foes erupted on Sunday. Aleksandar Vucic, the president of Serbia, is scheduled to visit the Jasenovac camp, according to Croatian authorities, who said they learnt about the visit through "unofficial routes." Reporters were informed by Croatia's foreign minister Gordan Grlic Radman that it was "unacceptable" that the government had not been officially informed of the visit.
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
President of Panama Laurentino Cortizo has announced a decrease in gas prices (12/07). From Friday, the price of gasoline for personal vehicles will be reduced to $3.95 per gallon, a 24 percent decrease from the price at the end of June. The news was made following eight days of demonstrations. After the price of food, medication, power, and fuel shot up, protesters demand that the government do more to reduce inflation.
Mexico's President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has announced that his administration will invest $1.5 billion to modernize his country's border with the United States (13/07). He made the announcement following a meeting with US President Joe Biden at the White House. The Mexican president called for a "strong program" to address the record number of migrants crossing the US-Mexico border in a joint statement. They also pledged to intensify their efforts to combat drug trafficking. The migration wave was previously referred to as "a shared hemispheric challenge" by US President Biden.
The Mexican Navy reports that US-most-wanted Mexican drug boss Rafael Caro Quintero has been captured in the western Sinaloa state (16/07). Mr. Quintero was detained in the village of Choix and is accused of kidnapping, torturing, and killing a US narcotics enforcement agent in 1985. The Navy reported that Mr. Quintero, who is thought to be 69 years old, was discovered in bushes by a specially trained dog named Max. The US declared that it would seek the prompt extradition of Mr. Quintero.
In a statement released on Saturday (16/07), the United Nations voiced worry over the escalating level of violence in and around the capital city of Haiti, noting that recent clashes between rival gangs have claimed the lives of ninety-nine people in the Cite Soleil neighborhood alone. The warning was issued just hours after the United Nations Security Council unanimously voted to renew the operation of the United Nations office in the unstable Caribbean nation and to urge all nations to halt the export of small arms, light weapons, and ammunition to anyone who supports gang violence and criminal activity there.
THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA
Major flight delays and cancellations happened in the US. As of Saturday (16/07), US airlines have canceled more than 100,000 flights this year, with 30,000 cancellations just since May 29th. Most cancellations happened in New York, Newark, and Florida. Those cancellations are caused by staffing issues, severe weather, heavy air traffic, and an influx in demand.
The US established a national mental health crisis hotline on Saturday (16/07). By dialing 9-8-8, American citizens will be connected to trained mental health counselors that hopefully reduced the number of suicide and other mental health emergencies. Furthermore, the US government also has provided $280 million to create stronger national mental health systems.
A man was shot dead outside Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Canada, on Saturday (16/07). The police were still looking for the two suspects of the shooting. The police had closed the Union Station and evacuated thousands of people to find the suspect, but the station has been reopened.
Bank of Canada expected inflation to reach at least eight percent. In a statement released on Friday (15/07), the bank’s governor said that Canada’s inflation was caused by the high oil prices. The Bank also expected inflation to fall to around three percent by the end of 2023, and two percent in 2024.