Week 183 (05-11/12/2022)
World Trade Organisation has found that the United States President Trump era steel tariff was in breach of WTO trading rules
Courtesy: Getty Images
AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST
In Riyadh, the first China-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit was held (9/12). The summit was meant to strengthen Arab-Chinese cooperation and relation. Saudi Arabia as the host acknowledges firmly the need to improve Arab-Chinese relations.
In Qatar, the FIFA World Cup 2022 event is hit by a work scandal (8/12). The scandal is related to the death of a migrant worker in a training base for the team of FIFA World Cup 2022. The base was used by the Saudis national team.
The first lady of Nigeria was accused of abusing a student. (8/12). The allegation was that the first lady ordered a security personnel to hit the student after being caught in a defamatory action. The lawyer of the student accused the first lady of misconduct to the student.
Tanzania and Zambia agreed to decide on the revival of a pipeline (7/12). The Tazama Pipeline is an oil pipeline that connects Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Ndola, Zambia. The pipeline was frozen as a policy of the old regime in Zambia.
ASIA
According to a government spokesman, authorities in Afghanistan have executed a convicted murderer (07/12). This is the country's first public execution since the Taliban group retook power last year. The announcement emphasized Afghanistan's new authorities' intentions to maintain hard-line policies in place since they took over the country in August 2021, as well as to adhere to their version of Islamic law, or sharia. The decision to carry out the punishment was "decided very carefully." The man who was put to death was named Tajmir from the province of Herat. He was found guilty of killing another man five years ago and robbing him of his motorcycle and cell phone. Mustafa, a resident of the neighbouring province of Farah, was named as the victim.
Tens of thousands of supporters of Bangladesh's largest opposition group have assembled in Dhaka to oppose the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led administration and call for new elections (10/12). As tensions in the Bangladeshi capital rose, the demonstrators gathered on Saturday at the Golapbagh sports complex, where the throng screamed, "Sheikh Hasina is a vote thief." The protest comes just days after security forces stormed the opposition - Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) headquarters on Tuesday. The raid resulted in at least one death and numerous injuries.
Mumbai, India's financial hub, has recently seen "extremely poor" air quality (10/12). According to experts, causes contributing to the declining air quality include rapid construction, bad weather, and rising automobile emissions pollution. According to government data, the city's PM 2.5 level was 308 on Friday morning at 8.30am [local time], compared to Delhi's measurement of 259 for small particulate matter, which can clog lungs and lead to a variety of ailments. People's health is being seriously impacted by the poor air quality in Indian cities. According to a Lancet study, pollution caused almost 2.3 million preventable deaths in India in 2019.
On Saturday (10/12), hundreds of people demonstrated against what they said to be an increase in extrajudicial executions and other injustices occurring while President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was in office. To seek justice for the victims, the demonstrators marched toward the presidential palace from a public area in Manila under the direction of a rights organization with roots in the Philippines. The protest, which took place on International Human Rights Day, drew, according to the police, about 800 people.
AUSTRALIA AND PACIFIC
From January 1, Australians will require a referral in order to have a PCR test, marking a significant change in the way the nation approaches Covid-19. The country's health services will now handle the virus differently as instances once more rise, according to the national Covid health management plan, which was announced on Monday by Health Minister Mark Butler. Over the course of 2023, Australia will move away from bespoke solutions and start handling Covid-19 "similarly" to other respiratory viruses.
Two former ministers in French Polynesia have created a new political party in preparation for the upcoming election. Nicole Bouteau and Teva Rohfritsch, who had quit from the dominant TapuraHuiraatira party three months earlier, founded the Ia Ora TeNuna'a party. According to Tahiti-infos, the new leaders have stated that the party will strive for greater social fairness and sustainable development. They had left the Tapura, citing dissatisfaction with President Edouard Fritch's administration style.
A State Department official told Reuters that the United States hopes to reach an agreement on "top line" numbers for assistance to three Pacific Island nations by the end of the year, as part of negotiations crucial to bolstering US strategic interests in a region courted by China. In the 1980s, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and Palau agreed to Compacts of Free Association, or COFAs, whereby the United States retained responsibility for their defense and exclusive access to vast areas of the Pacific. COFA provisions will expire in 2023 for the Marshall Islands and FSM, and in 2024 for Palau. While the island nations still enjoy close connections to Washington, opponents fear that failure to secure new terms for economic aid could prompt them to look to China for money or expanded trade and tourism.
Fiji's Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem accredits Josh Wilson, Muhsin Syihab, and Dharmendra Sharma as co-leaders of the 2022 General Election Multinational Observer Group (MOG). According to a statement released earlier this evening by the Fijian Elections Office (FEO), the SOE welcomed the newly-elected officials to Fiji and presented a brief overview of the Fijian election.
EUROPE
Romania has criticised the decision by Austria to veto its own membership application for Schengen Area. Romanian President, Klaus Iohannis called the move “inexplicable," "regrettable" and "unjustified.” Additionally, Romania has recalled its own ambassador to Austria. This follows meeting of interior ministry on Thursday (08/12) in which Austria minister vetoes the membership of Romania to the Schengen area. Meanwhile, in the same vote, the minister of Netherlands has vetoed the membership of Bulgaria. Only Croatia has been accepted to the Schengen area after no country veto its Schengen application.
France, Spain and Portugal have announced on Friday (09/12) that the H2MED pipe-line project is to only carry hydrogen and should be completed by 2030. Initially agreed on October to carry natural gas, Portuguese Prime Minister has confirmed that the pipeline will only carry green hydrogen. According to Spain Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, the pipeline will cost around €2.5 billion and will enable the transport of two million tonnes of hydrogen per year. French President Emmanuel Macron has confirmed that the three countries will submit the project to the European Commission to have it declare as “a project of common interest.”
Germany has announced the capture of 25 people associated with a militant group Reichsbürger movement that plotted to overthrow the current Federal government and replace it with 20th century German Reichs. The individual arrested varied from a former MPs, a federal judge, former army officers and aristocrats with the goal of launching a coup.
European Union has announced charges for bribery for several members of European Parliament on Friday (10/12). Four people has been charged in an investigation into a suspected bribery case at the European Parliament by a gulf state, possibly Qatar. Prosecutors suspected the Gulf state were trying to influent parliamentary decision by donation of money and gifts. Corruption watchdogs and opposition MEPs has said that this might be one of the biggest corruptions scandals the European Parliament has ever seen.
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
Stepback in Brazilian fighting against cultural degradation as Lula appears to backtrack his promise (6/12). Indigenous leaders were taken by surprise by his comments. The Ministry was important for historical recognition of Brazil's 900,000 indigenous people. Violence has increased against Indigenous communities under President Jair Bolsonaro.
Extraordinary measures target the capital Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula in Honduras (6/12). Both cities have struggled under the sway of powerful gangs like Barrio 18 and MS-13. The decree by President Xiomara Castro's government will last one month, but lawmakers can extend it.
Dina Boluarte - previously the vice-president - sworn in as Peru's new president (9/12). Pedro Castillo was impeached hours after he tried to dissolve parliament. He had been fighting allegations of corruption, which he said were part of a plot to oust him.
In Peru, at least 20 people injured in clashes between protesters and police in southern Peruvian city of Andahuaylas (11/12). Protest was in support of former President Pedro Castillo who was ousted this week. Ombudsman's Office says a number of people was detained but does not say how many.
THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA
Mexico has confirmed that Peru’s former President, Pedro Castillo tried to get into Mexico embassy in Lima to seek asylum. President Lopez Obrador said in response to Pedro Castillo condition “We ask that his human rights be respected. That they act with true legality, that his family is protected.”
United States has announced a prisoner swap with Russia. The trade will involve the U.S. Women basketball star, Brittney Griner with Viktor Bout, one of the world's most infamous arms dealers nick named the Merchant of Death. The swap was culmination of eight months of diplomacy and negotiating between both countries. The United States though failed to win freedom for another American, Paul Wheelan that were jailed for nearly four years.
World Trade Organisation has found on Friday (12/12) that the United States President Trump era steel tariff was in breach of WTO trading rules. In a case brought by China, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey. United States has said that they "strongly rejects" the ruling and has no intention of removing the measures according to assistant US trade representative Adam Hodge.
United States ambassador to Canada has hailed the latest waves of policy, calling it signs that Canada has woken up. The policy included pushing Chinese state-owned companies out of Canadian mines, cancelling a contract for RCMP communications equipment and studying the creation of a foreign agents list. The United States ambassador, David Cohen said the latest policy signal Canada Pivot on China Policy.