Week 163 (18-24/07/2022)

A person rests in a shade on the bank of river Thames during a heatwave, in London, Britain, July 19, 2022. Picture: Reuters

AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST

Gil Tamary, a journalist from Israel, made a nuisance after he broadcasted himself entering the holy Muslim city of Mecca, where non-Muslims are banned (18/07). Tamary also visited Mount Arafat, where Muslims gather during the hajj pilgrimage. Tamary, together with several Israeli journalists, visited Saudi Arabia to cover the United States (US) President Joe Biden’s trip to Jeddah.

A deadly virus outbreak shocked Ghana (18/07). A World Health Organization (WHO) laboratory confirmed earlier test results for Marburg virus disease, a highly infectious viral hemorrhagic fever, in the country on Monday. Fatality rates in past outbreaks varied between 24 and 88 per cents, depending on the strain and quality of treatment.

A family of farmers in Zimbabwe replaced maize for sorghum and millet amid persistent drought and food shortages (19/07). Sorghum and millet used to be the staples in the country before the Portuguese traders introduced maize from the Americas in the 1500s. Traditional crops such as sorghum and millet require less fertilizer and are more nutritious and drought-resistant. For this reason, the Zimbabwean government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) encourage people to plant more traditional crops.

Syria formally broke diplomatic relations with Ukraine (20/07). Syria, a close ally of Russia, said the decision was taken “in conformity with the principle of reciprocity”. Last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would cut off relations with Syria after Damascus recognized Donetsk and Luhansk, two Russian-backed breakaway republics in eastern Ukraine.

ASIA

China slammed (20/07) the Czech Republic for hosting You Si-kun, a Taiwanese legislative delegation. Earlier, the Czech also hosted official delegations from Tibet. The Chinese Embassy in Prague said the visit “strongly undermines the political basis of the Czech and Chinese relationship and significantly breaches basic norms of international relations.” The middle giant also appealed to the Czechs to stop “sending the wrong signals to Taiwanese forces whose mission is Taiwan’s independence.” Meanwhile, Vystrcil, a Czech top constitutional representative said that inviting Taiwanese representatives that were democratically elected is “exactly what a free, sovereign, democratic country should do” and is not a violation of international law.

South Korea plans (22/07) to gradually open the door for North Korean broadcasts, media, and publications for public access. The decision is part of its efforts to boost mutual understanding, restore the Korean national identity, and prepare for a future unification. South Korea hopes the action could encourage North Korea to take similar steps. While it is officially illegal to watch or read North Korean Media in South Korea, authorities rarely crack down on people to access North Korean websites and watch contents that are available on YouTube.

Hindu communities in Bangladesh took (22/07) the streets to protest against the attack on the Hindu community and the ongoing killing of Hindu teachers and rape of Hindu women in Bangladesh, reported local media. The march was held in Chittagong and attended by various Hindu organizations. Attack on Hindu minorities came to light amid rumours of alleged Facebook posts slandering Islam.

Cambodia has issued preventive measures against monkeypox transmission, a day after Thailand’s first monkeypox fugitive was found (23/07) in Phnom Penh’s Chamkarmon district. The fugitive is 27-year-old Nigerian man named Osmond Chihazirim Nzerem. The patient is now in the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital for medical treatment.

AUSTRALIA AND OCEANIA

Australia is an important country for Fiji as Australians remain one of the largest groups to invest in the country, said Minister Faiyaz Koya (20/07). Last year, Australian investors registered 34 projects worth of FJD 26.4 million. In addition, Australia is Fiji’s second-largest export market, with Fiji exported merchandise worth of FJD 249 million to Australia last year.

Niue’s Prime Minister Dalton Tagagelagi signed a new partnership agreement with his New Zealand counterpart Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in Wellington (22/07). The agreement emphasizes the two countries’ commitment to work together through the Pacific Islands Forum, especially the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. Furthermore, New Zealand committed NZD 1.3 billion to support Niue’s climate finance. Ardern also praised Niue’s maritime policies and COVID-19 responses.

Defense Minister Peeni Henare announced that New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) would support Tonga and other Pacific Island partners’ maritime security in the next three months (22/07). MFAT and Ministry for Primary Industries will also work together with defense and fisheries officials in Pacific Island nations. Next week the HMNZS Wellington and HMNZS Manawanui will depart from New Zealand and provide support such as detecting and preventing legal fishing, search and rescue operations, and disaster relief response.

Vanuatu’s presidential election found no result after six rounds (23/07). The candidates have yet to reach the required number of 38 votes. Chief Justice Vincent Lunabeck summoned the College for re-election on Saturday morning. Nikenike Vurobaravu gained 36 votes at the end of the sixth round and hopes to get two votes remaining. Meanwhile, a member of the College said that if Vurobaravu still did not meet the target, the government must withdraw support for him.

EUROPE

Western Europe wilted under the heatwave, with temperatures in many areas of Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom (UK) becoming 20 degrees hotter than historical average during the late 20th century (19/07). The heatwave caused major disruptions to the transportation networks in the UK. Whereas France has been battling wildfires.

Despite the European Union (EU) sanctions on Russian energy, Hungary plans to negotiate gas supplies with Moscow (21/07). Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjárto said that in spite of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the most important thing was to guarantee Hungary’s energy security. Currently, 65% of Hungarian oil and 80% of its natural gas are imported from Russia.

Following the resignation of Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella dissolved the parliament and called for snap election (21/07). Draghi quit after his attempt to salvage his national unity government failed on Wednesday (20/07). The election will likely be held in late September.

Less than a day after Moscow and Kyiv signed an agreement to unblock grain exports from Black Sea ports, Russia struck the southern port of Odesa (24/07). Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy called the attacks “barbarism” and said that Russia could not be trusted. The United Nations (UN), the EU, Germany, Italy, the UK, and the United States (US) also condemned the strikes. On the other hand, Russian officials told Turkey’s defense minister that Moscow had “nothing to do” with the attacks. 

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

Horacio Cartes, former president of Paraguay, has been placed on a sanctions list by the US due to allegations of “significant” corruption and ties to “terrorist” organizations (22/07). Cartes and his three adult children were targeted for corruption on Friday by the US Department of State, who also charged him with obstructing an international felony probe. Cartes, who presided over the landlocked South American nation from 2013 to 2018, is now subject to a US visa ban as a result of the designation.

After fleeing gang violence in the village of Cite Soleil, Haiti which claimed the lives of 400 people this month (23/07) and destroyed hundreds of homes, hundreds of students are seeking safety at a prominent high school in Port-au-Prince. Children from newborns to teenagers are sleeping in classrooms that are acting as makeshift dorms on the huge campus of Institution Saint-Louis de Gonzague, which is now unoccupied due to summer break.

According to Brazilian police, nineteen persons were slain in a raid against a criminal organization that rules one of Rio de Janeiro’s most deadly favelas (23/7). In the early hours of Thursday, 400 highly armed military police were sent to the Alemo favela. According to investigators, sixteen of the dead were suspected criminals, and two other deaths included a police officer and a spectator. Thousands of people were stuck in their houses since the operation lasted all day.

Jair Bolsonaro, the president of Brazil, formally began his re-election campaign (25/07) after falling far behind his top competitor in polls. At a stadium in Rio de Janeiro, where the president of the far-right party was nominated, thousands of his fans gathered. He pledged to keep a social program that gives lower-income Brazilians cash payments. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, his competitor on the left, is well recognized for his anti-poverty initiatives.

THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA

US President Joe Biden tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday (21/07). The president is having mild symptoms due to his boosted vaccination. Meanwhile, First Lady Jill Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris tested negative despite being in close contact with the President.

The US National Weather Service (NWS) announced on Thursday (21/07) that sixty daily high-temperature records have been broken. In Southwest US, the temperature reached 38C. Officials warned their residents to stay hydrated and limit sun exposure.

Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau reinstated his decision to ban weapons on home soil, even for foreign officers working in the country. Speaking on Friday (22/07), the prime minister said that he was working with the US to find a middle ground on protection for the agents working in Canada. Previously, the US asked for its agents to be allowed to carry weapons in Canadian soil.

Freedom Fighters organized a series of protests across Canada on Saturday (23/07). The demonstration’s focus is to bring attention to potential restrictions in the Netherlands that could reduce future harvests and farming income. Given the potential impact, the demonstrators hope to draw attention to the protest actions.