Week 126 (01-07/11/2021)

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AFRIKA AND THE MIDDLE EAST

Algeria has stopped carrying its natural gas to Spain through the Maghreb-Europe pipeline that crosses neighboring Morocco (01/11). Morocco had been receiving royalty for the passage and used some of the gas to produce around 10% of its electricity. However, the two North African countries have fallen into diplomatic rifts after Algeria accused Morocco of supporting Algerian separatists and using technology from Israel to spy on Algerian officials. Algeria will still export gas to Spain, but using the Medgaz pipeline instead.

A car bomb exploded near an airport in Aden, Yemen’s temporary capital (01/11). At least nine people died and 12 injured in the explosion. Local media reported that the attack coincided with the arrival of the former governor of Aden, who is unhurt. The bombing is the deadliest attack in Aden since last December, when at least 22 people were killed. No one has claimed responsibility for the latest bombing.

Five female football players from Eritrea went missing in Uganda (02/11). The players were in Uganda for the Cecafa Women’s Under-20 Championship. They were reported missing from their hotel in Jinja on Tuesday morning. The local authority is now investigating the incident. Similar incident took place in 2019 when five male Eritrean football players fled their hotel in Uganda during the Cecafa tournament. These were not the only times Eritrean footballers escaping whilst attending an international event. In 2015, 10 Eritrean footballers refused to go home from a World Cup qualifier in Botswana. Two years prior, Uganda granted asylum to 15 players and a team doctor. Meanwhile in 2009, the entire Eritrean team—except the coach and an official—did not return from a Cecafa tournament in Kenya. Human rights group Amnesty International said people were fleeing Eritrea because the government continued to violate the rights to freedom of expression, religion, and movement.   

The Daily Star, Lebanon’s oldest and one of the Arab world’s first English-language newspaper, has stopped its publishing operation permanently due to the country’s economic crisis (02/11). It stopped producing its print edition in February 2020 and has not updated its website since October 13. The newspaper was established in 1952 and became a stepping stone for many Lebanese and foreign reporters.

ASIA

The Philippines ordered (01/11) Netflix to remove two episodes from the spy drama “Pine Gap”, a six-part Australian series, on grounds that the map depicted on the show was a violation of its sovereignty. Netflix has responded and announced on its platform that the second and third episodes of the drama, which contained the map, had been removed by government demand.

Indonesia, Poland, Vietnam, and other nations have signed up (04/11) to cosign coal power to history during the UN Climate Change Conference 26 (COP26). Their mini deal however failed to win support from some of the biggest coal-dependent nations like China, India, and the United States (US). In the deal, signatories agreed to phase out coal-fueled power generation in the 2030s in richer countries, and the 2040s for poorer nations.

Scientists from the University of Oxford’s have come (04/11) with some explanation on why communities in South Asia and the United Kingdom (UK) are at higher risk from COVID-19—60% and 15% respectively. Using a combination of artificial intelligence and new molecular technology, the team pinpointed the exact gene responsible for the increased risks, called LZTFL1. According to the research, the protective mechanism in people with the risky version of the LZTFL1 gene does not work as well in defending the lungs from COVID-19. Thus, the lung cells are left vulnerable to invasion of the virus. The results also show that people with the higher risk gene are likely to particularly benefit from vaccination.

Reported in the United Nations (05/11), cases and deaths from the COVID-19 have been increasing in the world, and Central Asia, in addition to Europe, have become the epicenter of the new rise. According to the WHO, all countries in Central Asia and Europe are facing a real threat of COVID-19 resurgence, or already fighting it. Based on the organization’s data, Central Asia and Europe accounted for 59 per cent of all cases globally and 48 per cent of reported deaths.

AUSTRALIA AND OCEANIA

Australia has finally reopened its international borders on Monday (01/11). The borders had been closed since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fully vaccinated Australians can now enter the country without a special permit or need to be quarantined upon arrival. Around 6 am local time, the first planes from Singapore and Los Angeles arrived in Sydney. Family members welcomed the passengers with tears, hugs, and laughter, with the unofficial national anthem, Peter Allen’s “I Still Call Australia Home”, playing on the background. Currently, only Australian citizens and permanent residents can enter the country. Fully vaccinated international skilled workers and students will be allowed to enter soon and are prioritized over foreign tourists. Prime Minister Scott Morrison hopes high enough vaccination rates can reduce the risks of reopening the borders.

Australia and New Zealand have approved the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world’s biggest free trade deal (03/11). It is designed to remove tariffs on 91% of goods and standardize rules on investment, intellectual property, and e-commerce, as well as optimizing the supply chains. The deal, which will take effect on January 1, 2022, represents around 30% of the global population and gross domestic product (GDP). In addition to Australia and New Zealand, the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, Japan, and South Korea also participate in the deal.

To commemorate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), Niue launched a new NZD 2 coin (04/11). This coin was designed by American artists who have designed coins and medals for the United States Mint. The front of the coin shows Lady Liberty with the PCGS shield logo and a sword which stands for strength, integrity, and security. In the background, there is a rising sun and its rays. At the bottom, there is an inscription which read “Value Liquidity Security”.

Whilst attending the 26th United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, Australia signed partnership agreements with Fiji and Papua New Guinea (PNG) under the Indo-Pacific Carbon Offsetting Scheme (05/11). The agreements aim to produce high-integrity carbon offsets and participate in the Indo-Pacific carbon market. In addition, Australia will share technical expertise on carbon accounting to meet international reporting obligations.

EUROPE

The United Kingdom (UK) became the first country in the world to approve Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics’ oral antiviral treatment for COVID-19 (04/11). The pill is recommended to be used as soon as possible following a positive COVID-19 test and taken twice a day for five days following the start of the symptoms. Data published last month showed that the drug, which will be branded Lagevrio in the UK, could reduce the chances of dying or being hospitalized by fifty percent if given early.

Anna Moskwa, Poland’s climate and environment minister who was just appointed last week, will visit the capital of the Czech Republic to defuse tensions over the Turów lignite mine (05/11). The mine has allegedly drained water from Czech villages near the Polish border. Responding to the issue, the European Court of Justice ruled Poland to close the mine operations in May. However, Poland ignored the order and consequently was fined EUR 500,000 per day.

New bird flu outbreaks in Europe have forced authorities in France to take stricter measures in poultry farming (06/11). Poultry farmers have been told to install nets and keep their animals indoor during winter to avoid contact with infected migratory birds. The authorities in the Netherlands also took similar measures, in addition to culling tens of thousands of animals in the central province of Flevoland. The avian influenza outbreaks have also been reported in Denmark, Germany, and Italy.

Germany’s news magazine Der Spiegel reported that the Russian diplomat found dead near the country’s embassy in Berlin last month was a member of Russia’s main intelligence and law enforcement agency Federal Security Service (FSB) (06/11). The body was discovered on October 19 but it is still unclear what the cause of death was. The Russian embassy declined to give comment on the incident. But it is known that it has yet to authorize an autopsy.

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

Quadrilateral environmental cooperation between Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, and Costa Rica was announced at the COP26 climate summit (01/11). The cooperation—initiated by Ecuador—aims to create a protected marine area around the Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos Islands and their surrounding marine areas are strategic migration routes for many sea creatures, such as sharks, whales, sea turtles, and many other species.

The Eden Project International Team announced (02/11) at the Cop26 climate summit that a project will be developed in Colombia. The Eden Project aims to develop and preserve Colombia’s diverse biodiversity. Going forward, the Eden International Team will work closely with the Colombian Ministry of Environment and the Humbold Institute to carry out the first phase of the development targeted at the end of 2021.

Brazil’s Communication Minister Fabio Faria stated on Friday (05/11) that his country managed to secure USD 8.4 billion in an international tender for civilian-purposed 5G data networks and infrastructures. The bidding was attended by at least 15 bidders, 6 of whom were newcomers. Brazil is also planning to hold a tender for the government’s communication services. However, China’s technological company Huawei will be excluded from the tender due to allegations of espionage from the United States (US).

Confrontations between drug dealers caused chaos at a popular hotel for tourists in Cancun, Mexico, on Friday (05/11). Reports indicated that several shots were fired in the pool area and caused tourists to hide in their rooms. The hotel said all tourists were safe and investigation from local authorities was ongoing.

THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA

Business groups around the border of the United States (US) and Mexico are preparing (02/11) for the border reopening for non-essential travelers next week. Business groups are looking forward to the Christmas holiday momentum to maximize their profits after two years of shutdown. The border reopening is also expected to encourage higher vaccination rates for both countries, especially Mexico.

Members of the Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable urge (04/11) the US and Canada to align their policies regarding COVID-19 testing for crossing borders. Previously, Canada required all travelers to bring a negative result of a molecular COVID-19 test, regardless of citizenship and vaccination status. Canada argued that the move was a preventive measure against a possible fourth wave. However, members of the Roundtable said that the test was pricey and irrational, making it difficult for families to travel across the US-Canada border.

There was a deadly incident at the Astroworld music festival in Houston, Texas, US, on Friday (05/11). The incident occurred when homegrown rapper Travis Scott performed on the main stage. The fans pressed up against each other and some of them started hyperventilating. Emergency officials said that eleven people were taken to the hospital on a cardiac arrest prognosis and eight people were announced dead.

The Clearbrook Mennonite Brethren Church is closing its worship services voluntarily from Saturday (06/11) until next week due to being one of the COVID-19 cluster sites in Canada. Last week, the worship left 40 people infected, with 11 having to be hospitalized. The COVID-19 spread was highly possible because regulations in British Columbia stated that religious activities can take place at 100% capacity, meaning that the church accommodated between up to 200 people.