Here’s what’s going on in the world for the week of April 10, 2022.
Global News
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the war in Ukraine has caused global grain prices to rise by 17.1 percent. Russia and Ukraine account for a large portion of global grain and corn exports.
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The latest COVID variant, BA.2, and what we know about it.
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Methane, which is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas, has been steadily growing in the atmosphere. This is a major threat in the fight against climate change.
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The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports 18 countries have reduced their emissions and kept growing their economies. The model they followed could be exported to other nations.
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Americas
In the United States of America, some of the hardest places to raise children and start families are also passing some of the strictest anti-abortion laws.
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The government of Guyana struck a deal with ExxonMobil for the Yellowtail project. While the company has about 2 billion dollars set aside for unexpected problems like an oil spill, environmental activist are still concerned about the projects’ potential damage to the ecosystem.
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There may be only eight Vaquita porpoises left in Mexico due to governmental officials not enforcing protections for the critically endangered species. Poachers and illegal fishers leave nets in the vaquita’s habitat that snare the porpoises and drown them.
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Africa
South Sudan is facing hunger for 2/3 of the population, resulting from climate change and ongoing conflicts.
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Spain’s attempt to boost ties with Morocco may hurt both the Spanish government and Algerian relations.
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Gambians are voting for a new National Assembly on Sunday. The economy will be one of the main issues facing the government, along with tensions with Senegal.
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Europe
Moscow targets Polish tensions with Ukraine for disinformation and propaganda. While both suffered under Soviet era rule, Russian propaganda aims at historical tensions and stoking anti-refugee sentiment.
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Oleg Orlov, Russian human rights activist and critic of Vladimir Putin, has been arrested again. Member of the banned human rights organization Memorial, Orlov was protesting the Russian invasion and war in Ukraine.
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Explainer: Why the French election matters outside of France.
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Middle East
Cities around Iran experienced high levels of air pollution on Friday, with Tehran being the most polluted city in the world in air quality. This follows a year in which only two days had clean air quality.
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Rashad al-Alimi, the head of Yemen’s new presidential council, announced plans on ending the war in Yemen via a peace process.
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Lebanon is one step closer to a 3-billion-dollar deal for financial aid deal with the International Monetary Fund.
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Saudi Arabia will allow 1 million pilgrims for the Hajj this year, provided they’re vaccinated and under 65 years old. While higher than last year, the average pre pandemic was 2.5 million pilgrims.
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Asia
The government of Sri Lanka is facing mounting calls for the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Lack of food, fuel, the country’s debt and a lack of progress in the investigation of terrorist attacks are major sources of anger.
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Explainer: The people behind the fall of former prime minister Imran Khan.
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Armenia and Azerbaijan are preparing to hold another peace conference to resolve the conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
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Imran Khan’s fall explained.
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Japan and the Philippines are discussing a possible defense agreement.
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The current president of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, denied rumors of his administration trying to delay the elections in 2024.
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Global Affairs Weekly 