Week 181 (22-28/11/2022)

AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST

Debt becoming a serious trouble for Ghana’s financial sector (25/11). Ghanaian financial authority ordering reorganizations to make the national debt sustainable for other International Monetary Fund (IMF) loans. Further, Ghanaian bondholders are told to prepare for a loss of at least 30%.

Nigeria stops the plan for establishing a national air carrier (25/11). Nigerian central court, put the plan for Nigerian national air carrier to stop indefinitely. Previously, the Nigerian government 2018 planned the national air carrier for the government.

Iranian supports the death of Mahsa Amini at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 (25/11). The supporters showed a banner with writings such as #womenlifefreedom and Mahsa Amini’s name from the bench of stadiums. Previously, Iranian people revolted about the death of Mahsa Amini nationwide.

Qatar as the host country does not continue its efforts in the FIFA World Cup 2022 (25/11). After the defeat of Senegal, the Qatari team will not continue its game for the cup. Heretofore, Qatar also loses during the opening game versus Ecuador.

ASIA

An earthquake on Indonesia's main island of Java has killed dozens and injured hundreds (23/11). According to data from the US Geological Survey, the earthquake with a magnitude of 5.6 impacted Cianjur town in West Java at a shallow depth of 10 km (6 miles). Numerous patients received outside care while hundreds were brought to hospitals. Rescuers have been working all night to try to reach people who are allegedly still trapped beneath collapsed structures. The epicenter of the earthquake is a heavily populated, landslide-prone area where many poorly constructed homes have been turned to rubble.

Imran Khan, the former prime minister of Pakistan, addressed a large crowd of supporters in his first appearance (26/11) since being shot at and wounded three weeks ago. In Rawalpindi, crowds gathered for a rally while carrying flags and signs. Earlier this month, an incident occurred that resulted in one death and numerous injuries as Mr. Khan presided over a related event. The former prime minister underwent surgery after suffering a right leg injury. He has claimed that the attack in Wazirabad was planned by members of the current administration.

Tsai Ing-wen, the president of Taiwan, has resigned from her position as leader of the Democratic Progressive Party following the party's dismal performance in local elections (27/11). On Saturday, the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) won a number of significant contests, notably in Taipei, the nation's capital. As Taiwan becomes more of a geopolitical flashpoint between China and the US, the referendum has gained international interest. Amid escalating tensions with China, President Tsai had portrayed the election as a vote for democracy.

Clips shared on social media in China appear to show fresh protests against Covid restrictions, after an apartment block fire killed 10 people. Demonstrators were filmed confronting officials in the city of Urumqi, and shouting "end the Covid lockdown". Beijing continues to pursue a zero-Covid policy, despite record infection numbers and growing public anger. Authorities have denied claims that restrictions stopped people escaping Thursday's fire.

AUSTRALIA AND PACIFIC

According to Sky News business reporter Edward Boyd, Australia ASX 200 closed higher (27/11). The ASX 200 ended the day 0.14 percent higher. The ASX 200, like all other indexes, is measured in points and follows the cumulative movements of the 200 stocks comprising the index. Quarterly checks are conducted to ensure that the stocks included in the index meet the eligibility requirements.

ANZASW, New Zealand hails another significant step forward for wage fairness in social work (24/11). Cabinet has agreed to extend the recent social work pay equity settlement to the broader sector, ensuring that all community and iwi social workers are now adequately compensated and acknowledged for their work. In today's declaration, the government commits to increasing the salaries of community and iwi social workers and ensuring that they receive the necessary professional assistance, such as professional development, supervision, and professional membership costs, to fulfill their roles.

Parties from across the political spectrum in New Zealand have united to urge the government to take decisive action against those guilty for violence and human rights breaches in Iran (25/11). Given the important role the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps plays in suppressing protesters, coordinating international terrorism, and supplying drones to the Russian military, it is time for the New Zealand government to label this organization as terrorists.

The Fijian Elections Office (FEO) has begun packing pre-poll vote boxes in preparation for the December 5 start of pre-polling in the country (27/11). The FEO conducted a media tour of the area where the activities were occurring. Mohammed Saneem, the supervisor of elections, revealed that the ballot boxes were manually tracked from the warehouse to the central processing center.

EUROPE

United Kingdom has announced on Thursday (24/11) that they will ban the use of Hikvision camera system, a leading Chinese surveillance company, on sensitive sites. The restrictions will prevent United Kingdom authorities from using technology that is produced by companies subject to China’s National Intelligence Law. The law requires Chinese citizens and organizations to cooperate with country’s intelligence and security services. Hikvision representative said that “categorically false to represent Hikvision as a threat to national security.”

Azerbaijan President, Ilham Aliyev said on Friday (25/11) that he will not meet with Prime Minister of Armenia if France President, Emmanuel Macron were also present. Both Azerbaijan and Armenian leader were scheduled to meet in Brussels on December 7, 2022, as part of peace talks between the two countries. The two countries were engaged in six weeks long war in 2020 and only recently take meaningful steps towards peace.

Belarus Foreign Minister, Vladimir Makei has died at 64. Belarus’s Foreign Ministry said on Saturday (26/11) in a statement the Vladimir Makei has died suddenly without providing more details about the circumstances. Mr. Makei had been scheduled to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday (28/11). Both Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Belarus’s President Lukashenko said that Mr. Makei was “a true patriot that strengthen the ties between Belarus and Russia.”

European Union’s Parliament has declared Russia as “state sponsor of terrorism” on Wednesday (23/11). The MEPs (Members of European Parliament) has voted overwhelmingly to in favour of the resolution with 494 voting for the motion. The results could pave the way for MEPs to hold Russia to account for alleged war crimes during the invasion of Ukraine.

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

Venezuela takes the first step out of political stalemate with the government and the opposition has signed an agreement requesting the release of frozen funds abroad. They have asked for the funds to help fund social projects to help alleviate the situation in Venezuela. The government and the opposition have reached an agreement with Norway's help as a third-party negotiation.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) ended on Friday (25/11) in Panama. The convention has reached a new agreement with delegates from around the world and enacted protections for over 500 species. One of the biggest achievements for this year's meeting, among others was increasing the protection for more than 90 shark species, many of which never had a trade regulation before. The trade of these species of sharts will now under a purview of commercial regulation.

Brazil’s electoral court has rejected challenges against the presidential election result made by the far-right party of President Jair Bolsonaro. Superior Electoral Court (TSE) President Alexandre de Moraes said that the complaint was “offensive to democratic norms" and had sought to "encourage criminal and anti-democratic movements". Former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's victory - with 50.9% to Mr Bolsonaro's 49.1% - has been ratified by the TSE.

Peace talks between Colombia and left-wing ELN rebels have resumed after more than three years. The talks were held in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas following the election of a left-wing president in Colombia, Gustavo Petro, an ex-guerilla fighter. He comes into power promising to end the fight that has lasted 60 years. The National Liberation Army (ELN) is the last rebel group still active.

THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA

The United States has banned the sale and import of new communications equipment from five Chinese companies, including Huawei and ZTE. This marks the first time that U.S. regulators has done so on security grounds. The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said that they voted unanimously on Friday (25/11) to adopt the new rules. FCC Commission chair said that "These new rules are an important part of our ongoing actions to protect the American people from national security threats involving telecommunications,"

The United States’s President Joe Biden has upgraded the U.S.-Palestinian relations by naming special representative. Hady Amr, previously the deputy assistant secretary of state for Israeli-Palestinian affairs has been appointed to the role. The move come amidst the deteriorating condition in the occupied West Bank.

Telecommunications company Gold Data will invest $150 Million to develop a digital highway in the Gulf of Mexico to link the digital infrastructure between Miami, Mexico City, Cancún, and Querétaro. This will take the form of a 1,899 kilometer submarine cable. The company representative has said that ““The expansion of this network to the United States will be a game changer for Mexico’s fast-growing innovators.”

The head of Mexico's National Guard in the state of Zacatecas was killed on Thursday (24/11) in a confrontation with armed men during an operation against organized crime in the state. Mexico Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez has said that “General Jose Silvestre Urzua, one of the highest-ranking commanders of Mexico’s militarized police forces and the head of its Zacatecas Branch has died fulfilling his duty.”