North America
- Republican 2024 presidential hopefuls Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis expressed compassion for Kate Cox last Wednesday (Dec 13), a Texas woman whose health declined during her unsuccessful pursuit of an abortion due to a fatal genetic condition in her unborn child. Notably, these candidates refrained from criticising Texas’ stringent abortion law, indicating a cautious approach to the politically sensitive topic within the GOP following recent Supreme Court decisions. DeSantis, who implemented a six-week abortion ban in Florida, acknowledged the complexity of such issues without advocating for changes to existing laws. Haley suggested a review by Texas’ medical board but stopped short of calling for legislative amendments. In contrast, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie stood out by declaring the Texas Supreme Court’s error and urging modifications to the state’s abortion regulations.
- The White House hosted a gathering of nearly 100 lawmakers from 39 states last Thursday (Dec 14) to discuss strategies for reducing gun violence, led by the Office of Gun Violence Prevention established by President Joe Biden in September. Vice President Kamala Harris emphasised the collective responsibility to address gun violence and outlined best practices for legislation, messaging, and empowerment. The meeting followed a recent shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The Biden administration sees gun violence as a significant issue affecting communities and is positioning the new office as a centralised federal response hub for resources.
The effort aligns with Biden-Harris 2024 campaign goals, including support for an assault weapons ban and engagement with younger voters concerned about gun violence. - Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves expressed full support for Guatemala’s President-elect Bernardo Arévalo during a welcoming ceremony conducted last Tuesday (Dec 12) despite legal challenges Arévalo faced from prosecutors seeking to disrupt his inauguration. Guatemalan prosecutors pursue criminal cases against Arévalo’s Seed Movement party, alleging election irregularities and social media support for protesters. Arévalo, seen as a progressive leader committed to combating corruption, insisted on the legitimacy of his election. International observers and Arévalo himself argued that the investigations were attempts to obstruct the inauguration. Chaves condemned the actions of the Guatemalan Attorney General’s Office, expressing concern for democracy and the rule of law.
- The United States imposed new sanctions last Tuesday (Dec 12), targeting over 250 entities and individuals globally, including Turkey, China, and the United Arab Emirates, to further isolate Russia amid the ongoing war on Ukraine. The sanctions focused on curbing sanctions evasion, weapons procurement, and sectors like energy and mining. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen stated that the sanctions aim to tighten pressure on third-country suppliers assisting Russia’s military-industrial base. The measures included individuals involved in weapons procurement for Russia and entities linked to Russia’s energy sector, particularly a natural gas processing facility operated by Gazprom. The announcement coincides with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington to secure additional military aid amid mounting opposition to ongoing support.
- The United States Central Command announced the downing of an aerial vehicle last Wednesday (Dec 13), launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebel group in response to an attack on the Ardmore Encounter tanker in the Red Sea. The USS Mason, a navy destroyer, intervened after the Houthi forces attempted to board the tanker via skiffs. Two missiles were fired at the vessel, both missing, and the US Mason shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle launched by the Houthis. The tanker, carrying Indian-manufactured jet fuel, was able to proceed without injuries or damage. This marks the sixth reported Houthi attack on vessels in the region amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.
- El approval for the Volcano Bond issuance was granted by the Bitcoin National Office of El Salvador last Thursday (Dec 14), with plans to launch it in the first quarter of 2024. President Nayib Bukele formally introduced Bitcoin as a legal tender on September 7, 2021, aiming to reduce remittance costs and include the unbanked population in the financial system. However, a mid-year survey revealed that 71% of Salvadorans feel that bitcoin has not positively impacted their family’s economic situation. Bukele also announced the ambitious “Bitcoin City” project on November 20, 2021, financed by at least $1 billion from volcano bonds and designed to operate on thermal energy from a volcano. Under Bukele’s leadership, the Salvadoran government has publicly disclosed the acquisition of 2,381 bitcoins, the latest being 80 bitcoins purchased on July 1, 2022, along with a commitment to daily bitcoin acquisitions since November 17, 2021.
South America
- A referendum would be held on a new draft that curbs abortion rights and enshrines Catholic morality according to reports last Monday (Dec 11), after a liberal constitution to replace the Pinochet-era one was rejected last year, in Chile. It offered unprecedented protection for women, LGBTQ+ people and Indigenous communities, along with pro-choice reproductive rights. Women were at the forefront of the protests – demanding gender equality, less restrictive abortion rights, and protection from domestic violence. Pinochet’s charter was seen as the driving force behind inequality and upholding conservative, Catholic values. However, the new constitution was deemed too radical by the majority of Chileans, in 2022. Citizens, especially women, have reported that their mental health has been affected because of a series of issues.
- Guyana and Venezuela promised not to use force in a bitter dispute over an oil-rich region last Friday (Dec 15). The leaders of Guyana and Venezuela promised in a tense meeting that neither side would use threats or force against the other, but failed to reach an agreement on how to address a bitter dispute over a vast border region rich with oil and minerals that has concerned many in the region. The two presidents clasped hands before their talks as leaders around them clapped.
- An 11-year-old was ejected and killed in Ohio city, sparking a backlash to the city’s burgeoning immigrant population, the Haitians. Hermanio Joseph was charged with involuntary manslaughter and vehicular homicide last Tuesday (Dec 12). Native spring fielders are accusing Haitians of allegedly bringing crimes upon, and cultural clashing. However, even the parents of the 11-year-old child killed in the crash called for an end to the anger in a public statement, “we do not want our son’s name to be associated with the hate towards a particular group of people, Aiden embraced different cultures and would insist you do the same.”
- Argentina’s new government said it would weaken the value of its currency by more than 50 per cent against the US dollar. It is part of the “economic shock therapy” that President Javier Milei says the country needs to fix its worst crisis in decades. Mr Milei, a libertarian who rose from relative obscurity to the top office in a bitterly fought election, was sworn in on Sunday, (Dec 10). It is not clear if his coalition, which is only the third largest bloc in the country’s Congress, will be able to implement enough major spending cuts needed to shore up the economy without pushing it into turmoil. Mr Milei has already cut nine government ministries, which Mr Caputo said would reduce 34 per cent of public sector jobs. How are the citizens of Argentina going to take this new change and the many more that are yet to come?
- Locals continued their criticism of the release of Alberto Fujimori, Peru’s former Preident, from prison, according to reports last Thursday (Dec 14). Fujimori was released from prison in Lima earlier this month, where he was serving a 25-year sentence for human rights abuses, after a ruling from the country’s highest court granted him a humanitarian pardon despite a request from the regional Inter-American Court of Human Rights to delay his release. The international court, of which Peru is a signatory, has repeatedly told the country that Fujimori could not be pardoned due to his conviction for human rights crimes, including the massacre of 25 people between 1991 and 1992. While supporters credited him with stamping out the Maoist movement and putting the economy back on track after rampant hyperinflation, many others believe he ruled as an iron-fisted dictator during his decade in power, which was marked by widespread human rights abuses and rampant corruption.
Europe:
- The European Council voted on Thursday (Dec 14), to begin negotiations with Ukraine on accession. This was a massive success for Ukraine, and particularly helpful for its war with Russia as this gives the country a voice in European aid. Of particular note is that Hungary chose not to veto membership talks, as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had threatened to do. It is unclear how he was persuaded to allow negotiations to continue, but it could signal a weakening of Russia’s geopolitical position, given Orbán’s relative closeness to Russia. It should be noted, however, that Hungary vetoed the provision of €50 billion (S$73 Billion) in the same European Council meeting.
- The Dutch government began to experiment with the idea of fully legalising cannabis last Friday (Dec 15), with local-level legalisation being done in the cities of Breda and Tilburg. Although a common misconception is that Cannabis is already legal in the Netherlands, it actually exists in a grey area of being illegal, but tolerated by the government. If the trials are successful, they can lead to the possibility of full cannabis legalisation throughout the country, the Dutch Health Minister noted, especially since full legalisation would grant the government greater control over production and distribution, which could prevent contamination by toxic chemicals as is currently common in much of Europe. However, this experiment is complicated by the rise of the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) in the most recent Dutch elections, which could see the party’s cordon sanitaire lifted and result in a government including the PVV (the Netherlands is currently under a caretaker government). The party’s leader, Geert Wilders has promised to push for a “drug-free Netherlands.” However, the incumbent Health Minister has noted that the current initiative is a part of existing legislation, and hence unlikely to be threatened by the new political climate.
- The Sejm, Poland’s legislature, officially acclaimed Donald Tusk as Prime Minister of Poland on Monday (Dec 12). This comes nearly two months after general elections saw a sweep for Tusk’s Civic Platform (KO), as well as his allies the Polish Coalition (KO), and The Left (L). The new government marks a massive shift from the previous Law and Justice Party (PiS) led government, which has been accused of undermining Polish democracy. Tusk has promised that his new government will restore Poland’s commitment to democratic principles, and will attempt to have EU funding to Poland reinstated after they were frozen due to anti-democratic actions taken by the PiS government in violation of EU law.
- UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak received legislative success after his controversial Rwanda Bill was passed on Tuesday (Dec 12). The controversial bill, part of a wider policy to send those seeking asylum in the UK to Rwanda, has sought to ameliorate the concerns of the British Supreme Court regarding the plan by requiring good conditions for refugees in Rwanda, and controversially declaring that Rwanda is a safe place for refugees and requiring courts to ignore all evidence to the contrary. The bill faced unfavourable reactions from the left who believed it to violate international law, and the right who felt it didn’t go far enough. Ultimately, the bill passed as the right-wing of the Conservative Party chose to abstain rather than vote against the bill. However, the conflict has still managed to highlight the intense factionalism in the ruling party, and Sunak’s inability to handle them in the eyes of many.
- The EU’s foreign policy coordinator Josep Borell announced on Monday (Dec 11) that the EU would be considering sanctions against Israeli settlers in the West Bank. He noted that Block was alarmed by the increase in violence committed by settlers against Palestinians as well as the Israeli government’s decision to increase settlement in the West Bank. Other EU diplomats suggested EU travel bans on settlers, although those would be difficult to pursue given that some EU members such as Austria and Hungary are close allies of Israel and hence likely to oppose those measures. The announcement comes in the wake of the international community’s souring on Israel as its conduct in its operations in Gaza has continued to violate international norms.
Asia Pacific:
- Japan, Britain, and Italy signed an agreement last Thursday (Dec 14) to establish a joint organisation for the development of a new advanced jet fighter, aiming to strengthen cooperation in response to threats from China, Russia, and North Korea. The countries merged individual plans for Japan’s Mitsubishi F-X and Britain’s Tempest to produce the new combat aircraft by 2035. Japan, rapidly building up its military, seeks to counter China’s assertiveness, while Britain aims for a larger presence in the Indo-Pacific. The joint Global Combat Air Program involved private sector collaboration between Mitsubishi Heavy, BAE Systems, and Leonardo. The project awaits Japan’s easing of export restrictions on jointly developed lethal weapons.
- A Japanese government panel recommended last Wednesday (Dec 13) that Japan should prepare to issue a digital yen without delay and treat it as legal tender coexisting with cash. The nine-member panel, operating under the Finance Ministry, emphasised the importance of making the central bank digital currency (CBDC) usable by anyone, anytime, and anywhere, compatible with private digital payment services. While Japan currently lacks specific plans for a digital yen, the Bank of Japan has initiated a pilot program to assess its feasibility. The panel called for coordination between the government and the central bank and highlighted the need to address public safety, and privacy concerns, and minimise user information handling.
- Vietnamese machinery parts manufacturer, Huynh Duc LLC, which supplies products to major international semiconductor manufacturers and aims to be an irreplaceable base in the supply chain upgraded its operations last Wednesday (Dec 13) and also professionalised its role as a reliable partner to foreign investors, with its CEO emphasising commitment to change and address problems. Huynh Duc invested in human resources and technology, transitioning from importing old machinery to using brand-new machines, enhancing competitiveness. The firm diversified its customer base, with American and European firms gradually becoming clients alongside Japanese factories. The collaboration between local and foreign firms is to help Vietnamese businesses learn and improve their operations.
- Vietnamese President Võ Văn Thưởng welcomed South Africa’s Deputy President Paul Mashatile last Thursday (Dec 14) to emphasise the significance of the two countries’ partnership during the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Thưởng expressed Vietnam’s commitment to being a trustworthy partner and responsible international member. Both leaders discussed enhancing cooperation in various fields, increasing mutual visits, and deepening political trust. They pledged continued collaboration in multilateral forums, promoting connections in the economy, trade, investment, education, digital transformation, and the green economy. The leaders also highlighted cultural and tourism exchanges to strengthen mutual understanding and invited each other’s leaders for future visits.
- President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called for accelerated efforts last Friday (Dec 15) to prepare for the El Niño phenomenon in the Philippines until the 2nd quarter of 2024. During the inauguration of Maynilad’s Poblacion Water Treatment Plant, he emphasised the need to ensure adequate water supply during the dry spell. Marcos urged the government and water concessionaires to prioritise repairing water pipes and completing ongoing water supply projects. He emphasised the importance of collaboration between the private sector and government to address water supply challenges. Maynilad’s new water treatment plant in Muntinlupa City will diversify water sources and help mitigate scarcity issues, especially with the upcoming El Niño.
Middle East
- COP 28 finished on Tuesday (Dec 12) to much controversy. Although it made history as the first COP summit to declare the necessity of shifting away from all fossil fuels, the draft statement was mired in controversy over the issue of phase-out Vs phase-down, with OPEC countries, including the UAE which hosted the summit, being most resistant to calls for a phase-out. Although the final statement issued was considered by summit president Sultan Al Jaber to be a comprehensive response to the climate crisis, many countries from the global south and climate activists considered it insufficient, with the lead negotiator for the Alliance of Small States calling it a “death sentence.”
- Eleven security personnel were killed in the Iranian province of Sistan-Baluchestan, which borders both Pakistan and Afghanistan. Responsibility for the attack has been claimed by Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice), a Salafi terrorist group that operates in both Iranian and Pakistani parts of the Balochistan region and is alleged by Iran to be linked to Al-Qaeda and Saudi Arabia. This comes in the context of a recent uptake in violence in the Iranian province due in part to rising tensions against the Iranian government in one of the few Sunni-majority regions in the Shia Republic.
- Al Jazeera cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Friday (Dec 13). This came only 2 weeks after Reporters Without Borders (RSF) released a report noting the heavy death toll among reporters covering Gaza, which it said amounted to a war crime, having filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) to that effect. In spite of 2023 being the safest year in record for journalists, many have still had to pay the ultimate price, especially in Gaza, in order to keep the world informed about the important events going on.
- A general strike took place in East Jerusalem and the West Bank last Monday (Dec 11), shutting down schools, government offices, shops, and many other businesses. The strike was called by the Palestinian National and Islamic Forces, a coalition group formed in the aftermath of the Second Intifada as an umbrella of all the major Palestinian resistance organisations, including the Fateh, which is the main governing party in the West Bank, and Hamas, which is in effective control of Gaza. The aim of the general strike was a show of solidarity with Gaza, which continues to see bloody conflict, with over 19,000 killed, mainly women and children, and 50,000 wounded. This solidarity was on full display, with Al-Manara square in Ramallah seeing unusually heavy crowds of protesters, chanting “We will die so Palestine can live” and “Put the bullet in the barrel and fire on us.” These protests were a grim reminder of the strong sense of nationhood and betrayal felt by the Palestinian people, as they continue to struggle for a state while feeling abandoned by the international community and their own government, as seen by the chants against Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas on that day.
- Sportswear company Puma has announced that it will no longer be sponsoring the Israeli football team as of 2024, according to reports last Tuesday (Dec 12). Although the company has stated that this move was planned since 2022 and is unrelated to current events, it should be noted that the sponsorship deal has been criticised by the Boycotts, Divestments, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign due to the inclusion of Jewish-only football teams in Settlements in the West Bank. The move also came on the heels of fashion company Zara, also a target of BDS boycotts, pulling an ad that activists deemed insensitive to the suffering of civilians in Gaza. Although unrelated to the invasion, the pull-out by PUMA could make life difficult for Israeli football as the increased pressure on firms operating in Israel and especially the West Bank, could make potential sponsors more hesitant about dealing with Israel.
Africa:
- In rural Kenya, people are tuning in to adapt in the face of climate change, according to reports last Friday (Dec 15). Eighty percent of food produced across many communities in Africa comes from small-scale farmers. However, this sector is highly vulnerable to extreme weather. While the continent is responsible for only a fraction of global greenhouse emissions, it is heavily affected by climate change. While climate change is listed as a leading cause of the rise in global hunger, there remain big gaps in weather observations and early warning services. Information that would help local farmers better prepare themselves for extreme weather and adapt their farming to secure a good harvest, is missing. In Kenya, some people are working hard to change that by adapting to situations like temperature increase acceleration and food security.
- International energy agency, IEA, said consumption of coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel, rose by 1.4 percent in 2023 to a record 8.5 billion tonnes, as increases in China, India and Indonesia outweighed sharply falling demand in Europe and the United States, according to reports last Friday (Dec 15). Moreover, the three top coal producers in the world – China, India, and Indonesia – are boosting production, which is reaching new highs. Furthermore Chinese investors made deals with the government to mine its natural resources and to boost coal production, filling federal coffers with billions of dollars. A side result of this also shows that states like China do exhibit some neo-colonial tendencies and have the potential to undermine African states’ sovereignty. Instances of corruption, labour abuse, and criminal coverups began to set the relationship between the Chinese and the Africans aflame.
- Kenyan advocacy groups pushed for a boycott of Israeli products in the East African country, despite the heavy presence of Tel Aviv-linked products, according to reports last Thursday (Dec 14). Protests and efforts to boycott Israeli products have been ongoing since October 7. “There are so many parallels in the oppression historically. I have to support.” says a Writer and a Kenyan activist, Wairimu Gathimba.
- The RESWAYE (Recycling Scheme for Women and Youth Empowerment) in Lagos, continued to work in communities with women and young girls who are trained to go into schools and estates to retrieve plastics, according to reports last Thursday (Dec 14) Their collections go to a sorting hub and then toupscalers. In Nigeria, where plastic pollution is still a huge problem, there is a rise of women-led schemes focused on fixes. Contrasted with other emerging nations like Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania, which have restricted single-use plastics or are bit by bit killing them, Nigeria has not done much to battle plastic contamination, according to analysts, hich is why women have stepped up to mitigate plastic pollution and to promote a more sustainable environment.
- The U.N.’s top peacekeeping official defended the organisation’s missions worldwide but noted limited funds to finance operations, after it ended its decade-long peacekeeping mission in Mali last Monday (Dec 11). The symbolic ceremony marked the official end of the mission, the mission’s spokesperson Fatoumata Kaba said, even though some elements remain in the country. They alleged the force was inadequate to respond to growing violent extremism in the West African nation. The U.N. effort in Mali had been the deadliest peacekeeping mission in the world, with more than 300 personnel killed. Landlocked Mali has struggled to contain an Islamist militant insurgency since 2012. Rebels were forced from power in northern cities the following year with the help of a French-led military operation. Many in Mali have said the peacekeeping force has brought no stability, especially in the north where rebels are fighting to expand the territories they control. There are growing concerns that U.N. peacekeeping operations are increasingly becoming unwelcome in parts of Africa, where a majority of the missions operate.
