Week 172 (19-25/09/2022)
Ebola re-surfaced in a recent outbreak since a decade ago in Uganda (20/9). Source: Reuters
AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST
Ebola re-surfaced in a recent outbreak since a decade ago in Uganda (20/9). Uganda last case of Ebola virus strain was in 2012. Ugandan health officials reported that the new outbreak patient was a 24 years old male and has died in Ngabano, Mubende, Central Uganda. The new outbreak is relatively a rare strain from Sudan as acknowledged by World Health Organization (WHO).
FIFA world cup 2010 was in South Africa and that world cup was a male tournament. Recently, South Africa bid the host of FIFA world cup 2027 to include female football in that event (20/9). So far, South Africa is the only African nation that hosted FIFA world cup event. South African Football Association (SAFA) chief executive, Tebogo Motlanthe, has stated the bid in a press conference.
Protest regarding headscarf in Iran is becoming more serious (20/9). Mahsa Amini, 22 years old woman, was hit by policemen in Tehran until she died over a strict hijab rules in the country. Many women joined the crowd in the funeral of Ms. Amini in Saqqez, Kurdistan, Iran. The police authority denied the alleged beating to death issue regarding Ms. Amini’s case. In the latest protest, at least 5 people died.
Saudi’s Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, was not expected to attend the Queen funeral ceremony that took place on 19/9 (19/9). The involvement of the Prince with the killing of Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul, Turkey, four years ago, was suspected as the main reason why the Saudi authority changed the invitee to Prince Turki al-Faisal as attendee at the Queen’s funeral ceremony. Saudi’s embassy in London confirmed the change of invitation to Saudi officials from the British government.
ASIA
After having its borders closed for more than two years owing to the COVID outbreak, Japan will once again welcome international tourists (24/09). Starting on October 11, visitors won't require a visa and won't have to go via a travel agency to enter the nation. Additionally, the daily arrival cap will be removed. Around the same time when Taiwan and Hong Kong announced their relaxed tourist admission policies, Japan also made its announcement.
According to South Korean military sources, North Korea has conducted its first known test since June by firing what seems to be a ballistic missile off its east coast (25/09). It happened shortly after a US aircraft carrier arrived in South Korea to take part in joint exercises and before Vice President Kamala Harris was scheduled to arrive. The launch, according to Seoul, was an "act of severe provocation." A short-range missile fired shortly before 07:00 local time (23:00 GMT) near Taechon, more than 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of Pyongyang, was reportedly detected, according to the military of South Korea. It claimed to have travelled 600 miles at a height of 60 km.
Miftah Ismail, Pakistan's finance minister, announced on Sunday (25/09) that he intended to formally resign from the position. This transition comes as Pakistan deals with an economic crisis that has been made worse by disastrous flooding. Ismail declared in a Tweet, "I have verbally resigned as Finance Minister," adding that he had previously informed Shehbaz Sharif, the nation's prime minister, of his intentions. Ismail is the seventh finance minister to be changed in less than four years as a result of Pakistan's economy continuing to experience instability, its current account deficit sharply expanding, and growing inflation placing pressure on both households and businesses.
Philippines cancelled Monday's classes and work because of Typhoon Noru, which also forced the closure of the local currency, stock, and bond markets (26/09). According to the weather service Pagasa, the typhoon, locally known as Karding, was packing winds with a maximum continuous speed of 140 km/h near the centre and gusts as high as 170 km/h, as of Monday morning at 5 a.m. It was last seen above the central Luzon province of Zambales' coastal waters as it travelled to Vietnam via the South China Sea.
AUSTRALIA AND OCEANIA
Monday (19/09), the Solomon Islands officially established diplomatic relations with Barbados in a special ceremony in New York. The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the two countries, Senator Dr. Jerome X. Walcott and Hon. Jeremiah Manele signs a joint communique. So, the relationship between the two countries is getting stronger. Previously, the two countries had engaged with each other through international bodies. Now, the two countries collectively invite to increase global ambition to reduce carbon emissions and campaign for climate change.
Samoa was given the 'Leave No One Behind' award under the UN Spotlight Initiative (20/09). The award given was aimed at combating domestic violence and intimate partners. The Samoan team has been working with the National Civilian Reference Group and UN Organizations to ensure women including girls are included in the existing violence prevention efforts. Moreover, much remains to be done in the struggle to eradicate all forms of violence in Samoa. The five programs nominated for the 'Leave No One Behind' award include Liberia, Tajikistan, Honduras, and Zimbabwe.
More than 200 whales washed ashore in Australia's Tasmania State (21/09). The animals appear to be pilot whales. Mass strandings of pilot whales are common in Tasmania, and marine scientists have yet to find a definitive answer to the phenomenon. The Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service said initial reports estimated that about half of the animals were still alive. Meanwhile, a dozen young dead sperm were found on another Tasmanian beach.
Hundreds of people protested against anti-monarchy rallies across Australia on Thursday (22/09). Protesters cut and burned the fake blood-stained Australian flag while chanting "abolish the monarchy." The demonstration was led by Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe. Senator Thorpe says The Crown's shoes are around our necks, and we're sick of it. Meanwhile, the past few years have witnessed numerous events condemning countless atrocities and human rights violations against First Nations people.
Vanuatu officially launches the fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty (24/09). Vanuatu's President Nikenike Vurobaravu made the historic treaty today at the UN General Assembly. In addition, he called on other countries to be able to join in building the treaty. Nikenike Vorubaravu says every day we have the consequences of a climate crisis, where human rights are still being violated, measuring climate change not in degrees Celsius or tons of carbon but in human life. So this problem is our own. Meanwhile, the agreement has been supported by more than 65 cities and local governments worldwide.
EUROPE
President of Russia, Vladimir Putin has announced a partial mobilization of 300,000 people from Russian Federation reserve forces. President Putin said that this mobilisation was important to ensure Russian territorial integrity. The announcement comes after the Russian forces in Ukraine suffered massive setbacks in last week Ukrainian counter-offensive in the Kharkiv region. In response to the announcement, many Russian people are heading to the border with countries such as Georgia and Finland to escape military draft. Flights out of Russia like from Moscow to Istanbul in Turkey and Yerevan in Armenia have sold out for the next few days. These two countries allow Russians to come without visa.
Russian forces in Ukraine with the cooperation of occupying Russian authorities has announced a referendum on vote to joining Russia. The referendum will be held until Tuesday (27/09) with the Russian soldiers going from house to house bringing ballot box with them to push voters turnout. International community particularly the G7 member countries has called on "all countries to unequivocally reject these sham referendums", "shams" that "have neither legal effect nor legitimacy."
In the Italian election, the provisional results projected the Far-right party, Brothers of Italy to win the election with 26% of the vote. Its leader, Giorgia Meloni is widely expected to become Italy's first woman to head a government. They were expected to form a coalition with the far-right parties the League and Forza Italia. The coalition is projected to take control of both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, with around 44% of the vote. This election will be the first time since World War Two that a leader of Italy will come from a far-right party. Mrs Meloni has said that her party, Brothers of Italy would govern for everyone but there are still some concerns regarding her view on a few policies such as LGBT rights and European Union.
Britain's Liz Truss government has unveiled on Friday (23/09) a multi-billion-pound package to support households and businesses hit by the highest inflation in decades. The package includes cutting taxes and capping energy cost that were affected by inflation and energy crisis. Finance Minister Kwarsi Kwateng said the energy cap will cost $68 Billion in the first six months. The market though has reacted negatively to the package deal, sending the pound tumbling to its lowest level in 37 years. Several analyst said that this shows that investors confidence in U.K. sustainability is being eroded.
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
Bukele's re-election in El Salvador will raise concern in public because it raises the risk of slipping back towards a dark period in the country’s history of civil war (20/09). The Salvadoran constitution bans consecutive re-election, although it allows former presidents to run for office again after two presidential terms have passed. Although there is doubt within some people, most Salvadoran support for Bukele to become President again.
First time in Brazil, they included “quilombo” communities to Brazilian census (21/09). Quilombos are isolated, self-sufficient settlements that were built over many years by enslaved individuals who managed to escape from forced labor and settled in inaccessible forests, mountain ranges, or on islands like Ilha de Mare. This action will open their hope for improving access to social services and guarantees of rights for people and places long left off official maps.
The Amazon forest is increasingly being degraded due to the Brazilian government's policies that encourage agricultural expansion, canceling fines and penalties related to Amazon deforestation (23/09). Forest areas are becoming more dry and warmer due to increased deforestation, biomass burning, and degradation, which results in net carbon loss in Amazon Forest. This Law enforcement weakening in Brazil Amazon areas, led Land grabbing and illegal logging have been permitted to continue more outrageous in affecting people, wildlife, and the environment.
In Puerto Rico Hurricane Fiona was causing lights out in half of Puerto Rico (24/09). This phenomena confuses experts, because the Hurricane was only Category 1. The authorities did not provide information about what causing this problem. This adds to the chaos that is happening in Puerto Rico.
THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA
Storm Fiona hits Canada Coastline, downing power lines and washed houses into the seas. Such weather event was rare in Canada. The military has been deployed to Nova Scotia province to help with the clean-up operation. Similar warnings have been issued for Canada provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and New Brunswick, as well as parts of Quebec.
Mexican Government has announced that they will provide $1,5 Billion towards a new construction project along the U.S.-Mexico Border to improve U.S. ability to screen and process migrant. This agreement comes after President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador met with President Joe Biden at the White House on Tuesday (20/09). The project includes “modernizing” ports of entry and enhancing screening processes of immigrants trying to cross from Mexico to the U.S. While the exact details are still being worked out, White House officials said the new agreement will not result in any wall being built.
The United States says it will ease internet curbs on Iran. This comes after a woman’s death in the hand of Iran morality police sparked huge protest in the conservative state. Officers reportedly beat Mahsa Amini’s head with a baton and banged her head against one of their vehicles. U.S. Secretary State, Anthony Blinken said that "We are going to help make sure the Iranian people are not kept isolated and in the dark.” The relaxation will allow American tech firm to expand their business in Iran. The U.S. said the move will help counter Tehran’s attempt to censor its own people. At least 35 people have been killed in the worst unrest in Iran for years.
President of Germany Frank Walter-Steinmeier visited Mexico for a three day visit, from 19/09 until 22/09. During his visit he discussed improving Germany-Mexico economic relations in several sectors especially trade and energy partnership with his counterparts in Mexico City. Trade, human rights and the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) were also among the topic being discussed in their meeting. President Walter-Steinmeier also urged Mexico to stand with Europe in condemning Russian invasion of Ukraine.