Category: News

Categories
News

Inflation in Italy (July 2022)

Istat announced that in July 2022 the national consumer price index for the entire community (gross of tobacco) recorded an increase of 0.4% compared to the previous month and a growth of 7.9% on an annual basis (from + 8% of the previous month). 

The National Institute of Statistics(ISTAT) has showed that the inflation is extremely high, although we need to factor in a decrease by a tenth of a percentage point due to contrasting states. 

In fact, the energy prices of goods decreased (the growth of them passed from 48.7% of June to 42.9%) while the prices of processed food goods increased from 8.1% to 9.6%. Lastly, the prices of relative services also increased, from 7.2% to 8.9%. 

The core inflation, which takes into consideration energy goods and food goods, has increased from 3.8% to 4.1%. If we only consider energy goods, we can register an increase from 4.2% to 4.7%. 

The inflation seen in 2022 is 6.7% for the general index and 3.3% for the core component of inflation. 

The harmonised index of consumer prices (IPCA) has registered a contraction of 1.1% on monthly basis when compared to data from the summer sales, and a growth of 8.4% on annual base (from 8.5% of June 2022).

Sources

Prezzi al consumo (dati provvisori) – Luglio 2022

https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/273457

https://www.soldionline.it/amp/notizie/macroeconomia/inflazione-italia-2022

Categories
News

US Airstrike Eliminates Leader of Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan

Introduction

On July 31, 2022, the United States launched a missile strike that killed Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. US military sources say that this was the biggest blow to the Al-Qaeda leadership since the death of Osama Bin Laden in 2011. Al-Zawahiri was a 71-year-old Egyptian physician who succeeded Bin Laden in leading the jihadist terror group. The drone missile attack was the first known US strike in Afghanistan since the US withdrew its assets in 2021. In addition, the strike was quite personal as Al-Zawahiri helped coordinate the September 11, 2001, attacks. The precision strike, nonetheless, is an impressive demonstration of the United States’ intelligence and operational capacity, which affirms the state’s ability to remain effective against terrorism remotely.

Implications for Afghanistan

Al-Zawahiri’s death raises questions about whether he received sanctuary from the Taliban, who overthrew the Afghan government in 2021, after the US withdrawal. It should be mentioned that al-Zawahiri’s home was in an upscale neighborhood in Kabul, where many Taliban leaders also live. According to the Financial Times, a senior US administration official said that top Taliban officials knew about al-Zawahiri‘s location; Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the Taliban had “grossly violated” the Doha Agreement. This agreement, signed between the U.S. and Taliban in 2020, stipulates that the Taliban end support for U.S.-deemed terrorist organizations, which include Al-Qaeda. However, Al-Qaeda and the Taliban have deep, historical ties, as the latter sheltered Osama Bin Laden in Afghanistan after the 2001 attacks.

The Taliban have retorted by mentioning that the U.S. violated the Doha agreement by carrying out a precision drone strike in Afghanistan. According to the Taliban’s chief spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, “such actions are a repetition of the failed experiences of the past 20 years and are against the interests of the US, Afghanistan, and the region.” Despite criticism from both sides, it is evident that the US intelligence community was able to predict the outcome of the Taliban’s own relationships with terror groups. Within a year, the number of operatives of the Islamic State in Khorasan (IS-K) and the smaller Al-Qaeda organization doubled.

As a result, the Taliban are already feeling the effects of international pressure and isolation and will face even greater pressure if the Taliban do not change its foreign, and internal policies. What will this additional pressure look like from the international community? Blinken, for one, has said the US will continue to support the Afghan people with humanitarian assistance and human rights advocacy. However, the strike has dealt a significant setback to the Taliban’s hopes of gaining international legitimacy. Since taking power, the Taliban have said they want to engage with foreign states, in order to end crippling international sanctions and revive Afghanistan‘s economy. This will not be possible until the Taliban act according to the Doha agreement, which many political analysts doubt will be the case.

Implications for the US

The drone strike against Al-Zawahiri has undoubtedly bolstered the United States’ morale after the chaotic withdrawal which had reportedly weakened U.S. cooperation with partners on the ground, undermined a sustainable foundation to collect intelligence, and eliminated in-country bases of operation. 

Though the killing assures Washington’s ability to address threats from a state without having soldiers stationed, the death of Al-Zawahiri is insignificant when we consider the breadth of jihadist terrorism. Groups such as Hurras al-Din in Syria, al-Shabab in Somalia, and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen are far more capable of carrying out operations against US interests in the areas in which they operate, and they’re perhaps a longer-term threat to planning operations against the United States than al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. As the Taliban have regained control of a ruined Afghanistan, and now have to deal with improving its liberalist strategies to cooperate with the international community, Afghan terror groups are no longer as great a threat when compared to the aforementioned Middle-Eastern terror groups. 

While the threat from these jihadist groups demands a robust counterterrorism strategy, it does strengthen the argument that the presence of US forces and bases on the ground, which comes at a severe cost [as seen through the Afghanistan withdrawal], may well be the best way to guarantee maximum protection of the United States, but it is not necessarily the only way. If the US decides to invest in remote warfare to the point where most of its military power will be concentrated in Washington, it may change US intervention in the Middle East as well as the way other states pursue hard and military power in the future. 

Sources

https://www.ft.com/content/362894a1-cb85-419e-9370-287725685e7c

https://www.npr.org/2022/08/03/1115389197/al-qaida-drone-strike-us-safety-al-zawahiri

https://carnegieendowment.org/2022/08/02/what-al-qaeda-drone-strike-reveals-about-u.s.-strategy-in-afghanistan-pub-87616

Categories
News

World’s Overshoot Day 2022 — 28th of July

We consume almost twice as many resources as Earth can produce in the same time period, leading to a depletion of resources and negative externalities such as Carbon Footprint and the loss of biodiversity. A negative externality is a negative effect experienced by a third party due to an economic activity.

Definition

Earth Overshoot Day marks the day on which humanity has used all the biological resources that Earth regenerates during the entire year.
Earth Overshoot Day is computed by the Global Footprint Network. Our planet’s biocapacity (the amount of ecological resources Earth is able to generate that year) is divided by humanity’s Ecological Footprint (humanity’s demand for that year), and then multiplied by 365 (the number of days in a year).

Formula

(Planet’s Biocapacity / Humanity’s Ecological Footprint) x 365 = Earth Overshoot Day

Comparison to previous years

Measurement evaluation

The annual dates are calculated accordingly to the data set of each year. Consequently, it is inaccurate to simply look at media accounts from previous years to determine past Earth Overshoot Days, as improved historical data and collection methods can shift the day significantly.

Implications

In the past 40 years, the date has shifted by 5 months: from December to July. On a positive note, however, the rate Earth Overshoot Day has moved up on the calendar has slowed to less than one day a year on average in recent years.

What next?

The precise Overshoot Day is less significant than the magnitude of ecological overshoot reflected by the Ecological Footprint. Food industry uses half of our biocapacity. Here is a list of actions promoted by the #MoveTheDate movement that we can take to prevent resource inefficiency in food production. Reducing meat consumption by 50% will delay Overshoot by 17 days while cutting food waste in half will delay Earth Overshoot Day by a further 13 more days. This also reflects 2 sustainable goals by the United Nations (UN): zero hunger and responsible consumption and production.

Sources

https://www.overshootday.org (Accessed 15/07/2022)

Categories
Analysis News

California’s Gas Prices: The Highest In The United States

Introduction

California gas prices are the highest gas prices in the United States, with a state average of $6.16 per gallon compared to the national average of $4.96. A Chevron gas station in Los Angeles even reached $8.05 per gallon: the highest charging gas station in the country. This has caused Californians to erupt in an uproar, causing both the Democratic and Republican parties to propose solutions to help struggling Californians with these heightened gas prices.

Why are California’s Gas Prices So High?

  • California Specific Reasons

Overall, gas prices in California tend to be higher than most states partially because of higher infrastructure- and environmental-related taxes. California’s lawmakers increased the gas tax by 12 cents after a battle in 2017 to pay for roads, bridges, transit projects, and more public projects. Recent causes in the increase in gas prices are Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the sanctions that followed the invasion and demand for oil skyrocketing from pandemic lows faster than supply could increase. Furthermore, California’s gas tax has a ‘mystery surcharge’ as UC Berkeley professor Severin Borenstein calls it. This extra 30 cents a gallon that has been tacked on California’s gas tax costs Californians an unexplainable $4 billion per year.

  • National & International Reasons

The decision of many countries, including the US, to cease oil imports from Russia has prompted the American Petroleum Institute, which is representative of all U.S. oil companies, to “urge policymakers to advance American energy leadership and expand domestic production to counter Russia’s influence in global energy markets” (press release). This has increased pressure on President Biden to turn on the oil spigot, especially in places such as California that have taken the hardest hit with regard to gas prices. However, oil executives have also cited that the increase in gas prices is in part due to pressure from shareholders to withhold spending on exploration and drilling and instead boost investor returns through share buybacks and dividends.

What Are California’s Lawmakers Doing About The Gas Price Outrage?

Governor Gavin Newsom proposed a plan that would give at least one $400 refund to each registered California vehicle owner, regardless of income. Refunds would be capped at $800 for Californians with more than one vehicle registered under their name. Newsom’s office also released a proposed legislative package of fuel price relief bills that incorporates $750 million in grants to public transit agencies in exchange for them providing free fares for three months. There would also be an elimination of the sales tax on diesel fuel for a year’s time and a pause in the increase in the excise tax on fuel that is supposed to occur in July. However, this proposal raises equity and ethical concerns for Democratic legislators, as it has been stated that it’s unjustifiable to refund money to Californians making a higher income while omitting some of the poorest Californians that don’t own a motor vehicle. Newsom said that a solution to curb refunds for drivers is to suspend payments for Californians with high-value vehicles who pay above a not yet determined quota in license fees. In total, Newsom’s plan would cost over $11 billion if refunds for all vehicle owners are included.

Conclusion

While there are efforts that California’s lawmakers can take to effectively mitigate California’s gas prices and internal economic problems, there are larger national and international events, economic issues, and political strife that are causing high gas prices in California. These causes are beyond the control of California’s lawmakers. An increase in gas prices has caused many people to leave California as the struggle to live comfortably and survive has become unbearable for some. Given that California’s primary elections were on June 7, a fresh set of government officials in California could mean a fresh change in California’s gas prices due to new legislation being implemented.

Sources

Categories
News

Finland and Sweden: Applications to join NATO

Introduction

The ongoing war in Ukraine has caused numerous security concerns to arise in many European countries. As the Russian Federation continues its military actions, two countries that have historically held back from joining NATO, Finland and Sweden, have applied to join the intergovernmental organization. This led to a rise in tension in their relationship with Russia, but many Western countries have expressed their support.

Why was the decision made?

The two countries’ decision stemmed from Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, which started earlier this year on February 24th. The West has criticized Vladimir Putin for endangering European security since, and the Nordic countries debated heavily on whether or not to join NATO. Although both countries have been NATO partners for many years now, they did not have the one thing that could protect them from a potential attack: article five. Article five is part of the collective defense, which is at the heart of the organization. It states that an attack on one of NATO’s members means an attack on every member, hence guaranteeing help from other members of the alliance in the case of military trouble. 

Therefore, Finland and Sweden’s decision to join NATO is significant as both countries have a long history of staying away from military alliances and maintaining a mostly neutral approach to many political situations. As NATO partners, Finland and Sweden do not currently have the protection of article five, and aren’t fully involved in the military decisions that are made. The situation in Ukraine, however, forced them to change their long-standing policies of neutrality and apply to become full members of NATO, an indicator of just how serious the security issue is for all European countries.

International impacts

In order to join NATO, the decision must be unanimous — supported by all 30 member states. Although most members have supported Finland and Sweden, Turkey has been hesitant in accepting them into the alliance. According to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Sweden and Finland’s governments back groups considered ‘terrorists’ by the Turkish government. Despite this setback, the member states have agreed to speed-up this process, considering the threat that Russia poses to both Finland and Sweden (the process normally takes up to 12 months). The Russian government has also commented on this situation and even though it does not consider the countries’ applications to join NATO a threat, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said the two countries “should have no illusions that we will simply put up with it.”

Conclusion

Despite Turkey being opposed to Finland and Sweden joining NATO, it seems that the alliance will eventually welcome the two new members and hence increase security for the Nordic countries as well. This will be a huge change because Finland, which shares a border with Russia, will now also have the advantage of collective defense. The “vacuum for security” in that region will now be filled. Moreover, according to Theresa Fallon, founder of The Center for Russia Europe Asia Studies (CREAS), should the decision go through “this is going to be very hard for Putin to explain to the public, that instead of pushing back at NATO, it’s actually got two new members.”

Sources

Al Jazeera. ““Historic Moment”: Finland and Sweden Formally Apply to Join NATO.” Www.aljazeera.com, 18 May 2022, http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/18/finland-and-sweden-submit-applications-to-join-nato. Accessed 22 May 2022.

—. ““Military Tension Will Rise”: Russia Chides NATO Nordic Expansion.” Www.aljazeera.com, 16 May 2022, http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/16/russia-wont-put-up-with-natos-nordic-expansion-minister. Accessed 22 May 2022.Henley, Jon. ““A Historic Change”: How Sweden and Finland Trod Separate Paths to Nato.” The Guardian, 20 May 2022, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/20/sweden-finland-separate-paths-to-nato.

Categories
Analysis News

Russian Aggression in Georgia and Ukraine: Powerful and Worrying Parallels

Introduction

Ever since Ukraine was attacked on 24 February, the Georgian people have expressed their full support for the besieged country through protests, volunteering, donations, etc. Ukrainian flags can be seen hung on every balcony, window and door in the downtown area, the suburbs, and so on. Every evening, thousands gather in the city center to display solidarity with Ukraine.

Parallels between the invasion of Ukraine and Georgia (2008)

For many Georgians, including myself, this invasion of Ukraine is eerily similar to that of the Russian invasion of Georgia in 2008. The parallels are indismisible. During the 2008 war, Russia recognised two Georgian breakaway regions – Abkhazia and South Ossetia – and stationed its troops there. Since then, Tbilisi has pushed even more strongly for closer integration with the West, via closer ties to the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), even if membership in neither body seemed immediately likely. Similarly, in Ukraine in 2022, Russia recognized the independence of two breakaway regions, Luhansk and Donetsk. In order to “defend” the two proclaimed independent states, Russia then conducted a “special military operation,” which lead to the current situation.

Georgia’s reaction

Despite these parallels and the broad public backing for Ukraine, the Georgian government has tiptoed around the crisis, fearing the consequences of provoking its powerful northern neighbor, Russia. The day after Russia invaded, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili said his government would refuse to join any Western sanctions on Moscow, dismissing them as unproductive. Despite citizens’ anger, Gharibashvili has remained cautious. This is partly due to the real economic crisis that could occur if Georgia imposes sanctions, as well as the Georgian Dream Party’s proclivity to support Russian actions. But despite the government’s hesitance, its divisions with the Kremlin are increasingly on display. On 28 February, the National Bank of Georgia said it would act “in accordance with the international resolutions and standards and cannot and will not help evading implementing these sanctions”. On 3 March, Georgia, along with Moldova, followed Ukraine’s lead in filing a formal application for EU membership.

While building more contacts with Russia, Georgia has been feeling increasingly frustrated with the lack of real prospects of joining the EU or NATO. Since 2014, when Georgia signed an Association Agreement with the EU, it started adjusting its laws and economic policies to meet Europe’s criteria for accession. In an attempt to build support among NATO powers for its bid to join the alliance, Georgia kept its troops in Afghanistan until the very last weeks before the U.S. withdrawal. But these investments were not enough to overcome resistance among European and U.S. officials and politicians who see the downsides of Georgian membership in either organization as outweighing any benefits. Many existing members argue that Georgian membership would anger the Kremlin and deepen its conflict with the West, reducing rather than increasing security for all.

Conclusion

Georgians can feel the agony that a Russian invasion brings, having fought our own war with Russia almost fourteen years ago. But many in the country’s leadership believe saber-rattling and diplomatic protests could put Georgia high on President Vladimir Putin’s radar, leading to problems in the long-term. Hours before Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine, a senior Georgian official told civil society representatives that the leadership often has to choose between a “bad option and a worse option. Unfortunately, this is our reality”.Russia can easily, cheaply and effectively harm Georgian stability by leveraging its influence in the breakaway regions whose pursuit of self-rule Moscow champions and where its troops are already stationed. Its border guards patrol the South Ossetian line of separation with Georgia, including within a few hundred meters of a major highway linking Tbilisi to Georgia’s Black Sea coast and in close proximity to the Baku-Tbilisi-Supsa pipeline that delivers oil from Azerbaijan to Europe and elsewhere. The line of separation in this area seems to be creeping steadily forward into the Georgian government-held areas – and there may be little Georgians can do about it.

These aggressive tactics make the Tbilisi leadership wary. A small shift of the line that brings more territory under the control of the breakaway regions could displace thousands of people. Even more worrying to Georgian officials is the possibility that Moscow could exploit any small incident along the line to resume a military invasion and take even more Georgian territory. Georgia, like several other former Soviet states, can ill afford, militarily or economically, to pick a fight with Russia. Despite the show of Western resolve over Ukraine, as far as sanctions and military equipment are concerned, Georgia, smaller, less significant and farther away, fears being left alone to face Russia.

Sources

Categories
Analysis News

Sanctions imposed on Russia: a big change to daily life

Introduction

This year, on the 24th of February, the world witnessed the Russian invasion of Ukraine. After rising tensions, the Russian Government decided to start the ‘special military operation’ which has since claimed thousands of lives. As a result of this conflict, many countries were quick to impose strict economic sanctions on Russia, which have already had their effect on the Russian economy. But what are the consequences of such sanctions on daily life in Russia?

What sanctions have been imposed?

Many countries, among them the US, UK, New Zealand, and the EU member countries, immediately imposed different sanctions to try and stop Russia from further military actions. The more or less immediate reaction of the US government was to ban the export of certain technologies to Russia, which would “make it harder… to modernize [Russia’s] oil refineries.” (Al Jazeera) However, one of the most significant actions the US took was banning Russian oil, which is one of Russia’s biggest exports. Among many others, the EU froze the European assets of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his foreign minister Sergey Lavrov. Russia’s ally country, Belarus, also suffered some consequences as the EU banned imports of products from tobacco, mineral fuels, cement, steel, iron, etc. Many different companies such as IKEA, Spotify, and Apple have also decided to leave Russia. Among them are also Visa and Mastercard who have suspended operations in Russia. This has already had its effects on the Russian economy because people are unable to complete transactions.

Impacts on daily life in Russia

When the war started and the sanctions were imposed, the Russian rouble “plummeted…, leading many retailers to raise their prices.” People living in Moscow believe that while food may not disappear, prices will probably rise exponentially. “On 20 February I ordered groceries for 5,500 roubles [about $57; £44] and now the same basket costs 8,000,” says an EU citizen living in Moscow. While certain retailers are simply limiting the amount of products people can buy, others have “agreed to limit price rises on some staples to 5%”. Moreover, there has been a more than 10% increase in the prices of smartphones and televisions, but many of them quickly sold out before the companies left the Russian market.

International impacts

Perhaps one of the most significant sanctions was one imposed by the US when it banned imports of oil and gas from Russia. The UK has also followed in the US’s steps and has started to “phase out oil imports”. The European Union said it would “move to end its reliance on Russian gas”. 

Why is this important? Along with Iran and Qatar, Russia is home to the largest reserves of natural gas. Half of the world’s natural gas reserves in 2020 were accounted for by the three aforementioned countries. In 2021, 45% of the EU’s gas imports and 40% of its entire gas consumption came from Russia. Despite the EU and other countries announcing plans for ending their reliance on Russian oil and gas, it seems as though these sanctions will have certain long-lasting consequences. As soon as the US stopped such imports from Russia, oil and gas prices started to rise and the same is expected in other countries that have imposed similar bans.

Conclusion

Sanctions imposed on Russia have so far affected its citizens much more than the people with the power to stop the war in Ukraine. However, their long-lasting effects on the conflict remain to be seen. It is true though, that bans on Russian oil and gas from some of the major countries in the world will have great consequences for the world’s economy as people are realizing their economic dependence on Russia and governments who support Ukraine will try to distance themselves from such policies and trade in the future. Daily life in Russia, although already hard, is expected to get harder, as products disappear and soon enough, jobs might also vanish. In this case, Russia will have a very hard time getting its economy back on track and the lives of its citizens back to normal.

Sources

Al Jazeera Staff. “Infographic: How Much of Your Country’s Gas Comes from Russia?” Www.aljazeera.com, 17 Mar. 2022, http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/17/infographic-how-much-of-your-countrys-gas-comes-from-russia-interactive. Accessed 19 Mar. 2022.

—. “List of Sanctions against Russia after Ukraine’s Invasion.” Www.aljazeera.com, 3 Mar. 2022, http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/25/list-of-sanctions-on-russia-after-invasion.

—. “US Bans Russian Oil: What Is next for Oil and Gas Prices?” Aljazeera.com, Al Jazeera, 9 Mar. 2022, http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/9/us-bans-russian-oil-what-does-this-mean-for-oil-prices.

Badshah, Nadeem. “Visa and Mastercard Will Both Suspend Operations in Russia.” The Guardian, 5 Mar. 2022, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/05/visa-and-mastercard-will-both-suspend-operations-in-russia. Accessed 19 Mar. 2022.

Hanbury, Mary, et al. “Here Are the Major US and European Companies Pulling out of Russia Following the Invasion of Ukraine.” Business Insider, 10 Mar. 2022, http://www.businessinsider.com/list-all-the-companies-pulling-out-of-russia-ukraine-war-2022-3#28-tiktok-28. Accessed 19 Mar. 2022.

Shamina, Olga, and Jessy Kaner. “Russia Sanctions: How the Measures Have Changed Daily Life.” BBC News, 13 Mar. 2022, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60647543.

Categories
Analysis News

Political Stability Continues to Rock Haiti

Background Information

Haiti’s political climate has been nothing short of troubled essentially since its independence. A result of a weak economy brought on by 17th-century colonial tactics and compounded by numerous natural disasters, Haiti is home to one of the most corrupt and turbulent governments in the world. It is this climate that gave rise to President Jovenel Moise, a man whose presidency was consistently marred with accusations of corruption and dictatorial tendencies. It is also this climate that led to Moise’s eventual assassination at the hands of still at-large gunmen on July 7, 2021. Tensions began to rise immediately afterward, with the line of political succession being called into question. Soon after, on August 12th, a large earthquake rocked Haiti, adding a humanitarian crisis to the already existing political crisis in Haiti.

The Interim Government

Ever since July 2021, an interim government headed by Prime Minister Ariel Henry has been running Haiti. This interim government has also faced massive scrutiny as it works to heal the nation. There have been accusations that Prime Minister Henry was supposedly involved in President Moise’s death, along with accusations of corruption. This interim government‒ and therefore the government officials’ terms‒ ended on February 7, 2022 as this was the day when President Jovenel’s term was supposed to end (he had vowed to step down on this day). While it has been relatively calm since then, it is evident tensions are rising again as various civil organizations call for different plans of action.

The Rise of Civil Society

Following the events of Summer 2021, gang violence began to completely take over many Haitian communities. With the nation’s government in such a weak place, citizens began to turn more and more towards civil society groups to do something about the chaos around them. One of the more prolific of these groups is known as “The Commission for the Search for a Haitian Solution to the Crisis.” The main goal of this group is to restore Haiti’s democracy. They are planning to do this by firstly calling for a two-year transition government, holding fair and safe elections in 2023, and by restoring public order by, in part, dealing with the gang crisis. The detailed plan they published for this is known as the Montana Accord.

What Comes Next for Haiti?

Prime Minister Henry along with the rest of this government have stated that they are planning and organizing elections and adopting a new constitution. However, people are naturally questioning the legitimacy and fairness of these elections. Additionally, many are saying that anything Prime Minister Henry and the rest of his government do is not valid anymore as all of their terms officially ended on the 7th. On the other hand, the Prime Minister’s supporters are saying that he and everyone else that he works with can only be legally be removed by Parliament, which is currently not running as the previous members’ terms expired without new elections being held. 

Either way, the current Prime Minister’s plans are evidently at odds with the Montana group’s plans, which has already decided on who they want their interim President and Prime Minister to be. They have announced their choice of Jean Fritz to be the interim President and Steven Benoît to be the interim Prime Minister, along with several other people in a paired-back version of the current government. 

On top of all of this, the United Nations has chimed in, stating that it would like to see an election in the island nation before the end of the year. As for what comes next? All bets are off with Haiti seeming to venture farther and farther into an era defined by instability.

Sources

https://www.cfr.org/in-brief/assassination-haitian-president-jovenel-moise-what-know 2/19/22

https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20210916-haiti-government-begins-unraveling-as-newly-accused-pm-fires-justice-minister 2/19/22

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/19/world/americas/claude-joseph-haiti-stepping-down.html 2/19/22

https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/02/1112262 2/19/22

https://www.wlrn.org/news/2021-09-28/civil-society-solution-can-non-governmental-groups-fix-haitis-governmental-crisis 2/19/22

https://theglobalamericans.org/2022/02/haiti-betting-on-the-montana-accord/ 2/19/22

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article258543193.html 2/19/22

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/haitis-henry-urges-elections-amid-calls-transition-government-2022-02-07/ 2/19/22

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/06/world/americas/haiti-opposition-group-montana-accord.html 2/19/22

Categories
News

Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open Controversy

Who is he?

Novak Djokovic is a Serbian professional tennis player. He is currently ranked as world No. 1 by the Association of Tennis Professionals. He has won 20 grand slams till now.

What is the Story Behind him Being Deported?

Let’s have a look at this timeline to understand how the events unfolded.

November 29, 2021 

Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt writes to Australian Open Tournament Director and Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley stating that a Covid-19 infection alone in the past six months, without full vaccination does not meet the requirements for quarantine-free entry into the country. Around the second week of December, Tennis Australia sent a letter to players stating that a Covid-19 infection in the past six months, together with an accompanying letter from a doctor, would qualify as a valid medical exemption. 

December 14, 2021 

Novak attended a basketball game in Belgrade after which it was reported that a number of people tested positive with Covid-19 

December 18, 2021 

Knowing that he is positive for Covid, Djokovic does an interview and photo shoot with the French newspaper L’Equipe. He acknowledges weeks later: “On reflection, this was an error of judgment.” 

Dec 22 , 2021 

Djokovic tests negative and a few days later he withdraws from the Serbian team for the ATP Cup without giving any reason.

January 4 , 2022 

Djokovic reveals he will compete at the tennis season’s opening Grand Slam event after receiving a medical exemption from getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Tennis Australia follows with a statement confirming Djokovic is on his way to the country with a medical exemption that has been “granted following a rigorous review process “ 

Neither Djokovic nor Tennis Australia reveals the basis for his exemption. Craig Tiley says a “handful” of exemptions had been granted out of 26 applications from players or others.

January 5, 2022 

Novak Djovick arrives at the Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, his entry is delayed because of a mistake with his visa application. 

January 6, 2022 

Djovick is detained for about eight hours at the airport upon arrival, the 20-time major winner is denied entry to the country and his visa is canceled. The Australian Border Force says Djokovic failed to meet entry requirements. Health Minister Greg Hunt says the visa cancellation followed a review of Djokovic’s medical exemption which was expected to shield him from the strict COVID-19 vaccination regulations in place — by border officials who looked “at the integrity and the evidence behind it.” 

The tennis star is brought to a hotel used to house immigration detainees in Carlton, an inner-northern suburb of Melbourne, where he remains for four nights. Fans gather in protest outside the hotel. Djovick’s parents also join the protest 

January 10,2022 

Djokovic appeals the cancellation of his visa at a virtual court hearing on Monday, submitting an affidavit that says he is not vaccinated for COVID-19 and arguing he did not need proof of vaccination because he had evidence that he had been infected with the coronavirus last month. Australian medical authorities have ruled that a temporary exemption for the vaccination rule can be provided to people who have been infected with COVID-19 within six months 

Federal Circuit Court Judge Anthony Kelly reinstates Djokovic’s visa, ruling the player was not given enough time to speak to his lawyers before the decision to deny him entry was made and noting Djokovic had provided officials at Melbourne’s airport with a medical exemption given to him by Tennis Australia and two medical panels. Kelly also orders the government to release Djokovic from immigration detention. 

January 12, 2022 

A post on social media is shared while Djovick is in Rod Laver Arena holding his third practice session since being released from detention. In the statement, the nine-time and defending Australian Open champion acknowledges a mistake on his travel declaration for Australia and confessed to an “error of judgement” in taking part in an interview and photo shoot in Serbia last month after testing positive for COVID-19. 

Djokovic blames his agent for checking the wrong box on the form, calling it “a human error ” He also sought to clarify what he called “continuing misinformation” about his movements after he became infected last month.

The 34-year-old remained in limbo before the year’s first tennis major as he still faced the prospect of deportation. Deportation could result in sanctions ranging up to a three-year ban from entering Australia, a particularly daunting possibility for a player who has won almost half of his 20 Grand Slam singles titles in the country. 

January 13, 2022 

After a delayed draw ceremony — the tournament official declines to comment to the media on why the start time is pushed back — it is revealed that Djokovic will face fellow Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round of the Australian Open, if he’s allowed to play. 

According to the 2022 Grand Slam Rule Book, if Djokovic is forced to pull out of the tournament before the order of play for Day 1 is announced, No. 5 seed Andrey Rublev would move into his spot in the bracket. 

January 14, 2022 

Djokovic’s status remained uncertain after the Australian government for a second time revoked his visa. Immigration Minister Alex Hawke used his ministerial discretion to pull the visa. Djokovic and his lawyers had a meeting with immigration officials in Melbourne. 

January 16, 2022 

Three Federal Court judges upheld a decision made on Friday by the immigration minister to cancel the 34-year-old Serb’s visa on public interest grounds. Djokovic loses appeal and is out of Australian Open. After this, Novak Djokovic arrived in Serbia after being deported from Australia. Supporters gathered at the airport in Belgrade, waving the national flag and chanting “we love Novak”.

Categories
News

Hindu Extremists Call For Genocide Against Indian Muslims

Introduction

Extremism is not a new phenomenon. It has existed for centuries, and will continue to exist for a long time. Globally, the issue of extremism faces minorities, racial, religious or ethnic. In India, Muslims are facing very hard times with Hindu extremists calling for genocide against them. This begs the question: How did this happen, and what does the future of non-Hindu minorities in India look like? 

Indian Right

Hindu Mahasabha, one of India’s oldest political organizations was founded during a time of conflict between Muslims and Hindus in India [1907]. The group’s mission, according to their official website, is to declare India “the National Home of the Hindus.”  The group states that if they gain power, Indian Muslims will be forced to migrate to Pakistan and the Indian education system will be changed to fit Hindu values. 

No doubt, the group’s controversial ideology means it is a marginal political force, having their last presence in Parliament in 1991. According to Gilles Verniers, an assistant professor of political science at Ashoka University, however, their “strength is not to be measured in electoral terms.” Over the past 8 years, Hindu Mahasabha appear to have expanded in numbers and influence based on the size and frequency of their meetings.

As Hindu Mahasabha has grown in recent years, the organization has become more outspoken. In 2015, Sadhvi Deva Thakur, who was a senior member, caused widespread controversy when she told reporters Muslims and Christians should undergo forced sterilization to control their population growth. At last month’s conference, several speakers called on India’s Hindus to “defend” the religion with weapons. Another called for the “cleansing” of India’s minorities, according to footage from the conference.

Current Situation

What sparked media outrage and attention was a recent conference held by right-wing Hindu activists in December of 2021. Hundreds of activists, as well as monks rose to take an oath that they would change India, constitutionally a secular republic, into a Hindu nation, essentially a theocracy, even if this required spilling the blood of fellow Indians. “If 100 of us are ready to kill two million of them, then we will win and make India a Hindu nation,” said Pooja Shakun Pandey, a leader of Hindu Mahasabha, referring to the country’s Muslims. “Be ready to kill and go to jail.”

Additionally, in December, crowds of India’s Hindu-right confronted Muslims praying on the streets in the city of Gurugram, just outside of Delhi. They prevented Muslims from praying, while shouting and disrupting the peace.

What is being done?

Now, what is being done by the government to prevent such a genocide? The short answer is: essentially nothing. To elaborate, under several sections of India’s penal code, hate speech is prohibited, including a section which criminalizes “deliberate and malicious acts” which are targeted towards religious beliefs. According to Vrinda Grover, a lawyer, any group inciting violence is barred under Indian law. “Police, states and the government are responsible to ensure [inciting violence] doesn’t happen,” she said. “But the state, through its inaction, is actually permitting these groups to function, while endangering Muslims who are the targets.”

“This is the first time I find myself using the term ‘genocide’ in Indian politics,” Verniers said, referring to the comments made at the conference held in December. “They have tacit support in the form of government silence.” Pandey’s rant and some of the other calls for violence were the “worst form of hate speech,” according to Verniers. This lack of government action is probably due to Prime Minister Modi’s Hindu nationalist leaning agenda. Grover further adds that criminal laws are “weaponized” in India, anyone who challenges the government and those in power will be crushed by the law, but those that pander to it will be spared.  “Muslim lives in India are demonized,” she said. “The Indian state is in serious crisis.” 

Though the fate of Indian religious minorities is uncertain, the media attention has sparked mass outrage, which may pressure the Indian government to act and somehow maintain internal peace.

Sources

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/hindu-extremists-india-escalate-rhetoric-calls-kill-muslims-rcna12450

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/24/world/asia/hindu-extremists-india-muslims.html

https://article-14.com/post/as-hindu-extremists-repeatedly-call-for-muslim-genocide-the-police-ignore-an-obvious-conspiracy-61dba33fa759c

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/20/hindu-supremacists-nationalism-tearing-india-apart-modi-bjp-rss-jnu-attacks