Here’s what’s going on in the world for the week of May 5, 2022.
Global News
The war in Ukraine is causing major shortages in food supply globally.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch has a thriving community of sea life, complicating efforts to combat pollution.
Climate change will drive the emergence of new animal-originated diseases in heavily populated areas.
Americas
Researchers at the University of Texas in Austin developed new enzymes that can dissolve plastics in a matter of hours to days. Normally plastics can take decades or even centuries to biodegrade naturally and are mostly left in landfills rather than recycled.
Economic inequality in Latin America is the core factor in COVID-19 deaths, according to a report by Amnesty International and the Center for Economic and Social Rights.
Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela might not be attending the Ninth Summit of the Americas in June.
Africa
South Africa could be facing a fifth wave of COVID-19 infections.
Many nations in Africa are employing mercenaries to fight armed groups such as Islamic State and Boko Haram. In some cases, the mercenaries are supplemental forces assisting local military forces, while in other cases, the mercenaries are replacing local military forces.
After reporting on allegations of Malian military abuses, two French media outlets were suspended in the country. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned the latest move by the Malian government to limit press freedoms.
Europe
Sweden and Denmark have summoned their Russian ambassadors over Russian spy planes violating airspace. Both nations are strengthening their Western ties, with Sweden considering joining NATO and Denmark being a member.
Serbia showed off newly acquired Chinese-made surface to air missiles, along with weapon systems from other countries as part of Serbia’s military buildup.
The main events of the Ukraine War, at day 67.
Finland is likely to join NATO in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Middle East
Security forces have seized around 6.2 million pills of Captagon, an amphetamine that is primarily consumed in the Middle East.
Islamic State may be reestablishing in North East Syria.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are in discussions to increase investments after the kingdom deposited $3 billion in Pakistan’s central bank.
Asia
The terror attack targeting Chinese academics in Karachi University in Pakistan is an example of evolving tactics by Baloch insurgents. There is more to the story as explained in this story.
Afghanistan is facing hunger during Eid, with more than 90 percent of Afghans facing food shortages due to the devastated economy and inflation and mismanagement by the Taliban.
Uzbekistan has outlined regulations for cryptocurrencies and their mining and trading.
North Korea’s leader called upon the military to “bolster strength” in a night time parade.
The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia is coming to an end after decades of prosecuting cases against former Khmer Rouge.
Global Affairs Weekly 