Here’s what’s going on in the world for the week of December 5th.
Global News
World Health Organization claims the Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus has been found in 38 countries, but there have been no reported deaths.
American scientists created robots, created from stem cells gathered from African clawed frogs, that can self-heal reproduce. This has led to the discovery of a new form of biological reproduction.
Cyber security experts have identified 14 new types of web browser attacks called cross-site leaks (XS-leaks).
Americas
Xiomara Castro became the first woman President of Honduras. While her party is the first liberal party to rule the country in 12 years, President elect Castro would still need a solid 2/3 majority in National Congress to rewrite the country’s Constitution.
Twitter shut down 3,456 accounts connected to state-backed information operations linked to China, Russia, Mexico, Venezuela, Tanzania and Uganda. The majority of the accounts, 2,048, were from CCP supporting accounts amplifying Beijing’s narrative about Xinjiang and the Uighurs.
Paraguay faces an epidemic of child pregnancies due to the country’s restrictive abortion laws and sexual violence.
Africa
President Adama Barrow was declared the winner of the presidential race in the Gambia, Saturday, by the electoral commission, setting him up for reelection of the country. However, his election might be challenged as the other contestants in the race are calling for investigations and rejecting the results.
Locals, conservationists are protesting Shell’s plans to use seismic blasting along 6,000 kms of pristine coastline that is both a tourist area and considered an ecologically sensitive sanctuary. This involves blasting the seafloor with powerful airguns at intervals to measure echoes, can take weeks or even months to complete and causes sound that travels for hundreds of kilometers, potentially disrupting local marine life.
Google is planning on developing digital infrastructure in the continent after investing a billion USD.
Europe
Pope Francis met with refugees in Lesbos, Greece on Sunday as part of his five-day tour of Greece and Cyprus to call attention to the plight of refugees and migrants in the region. During his trip, Francis has been critical of the response from Europe towards refugees and asylum seekers.
Germany is placing new restrictions and mulling a mandatory vaccine requirement to combat a rise in Covid-19 cases. Other European nations are considering mandatory vaccine mandates as well.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin hopes to have WHO approval for the Sputnik V vaccine soon. If approved, it could be added to the COVAX stockpile and boast domestic vaccination rates.
Middle East
Daesh (Islamic State) is launching hit and run attacks in Northern Iraq, in Kurdish territory. The violence comes as more Iraqis are growing disappointed with the government.
The Tunisian General Labor Union (UTGG) has called for early elections because of concerns over democratic gains being threatened by the current president. After consolidating power and dismissing the government to rule by decree, president Kais Saeed has not yet announced a plan to end the state of emergency imposed on the country or returning the country to a parliamentary democracy.
France has joined Saudi Arabia to try and find a solution to the diplomatic dispute between Riyadh and Beirut. Last month, both nations recalled their ambassadors over a row when the information minister of Lebanon criticized the Saudi-led war in Yeman.
Asia
Mount Semeru erupted on Saturday in the Indonesian island of Java, killing at least 14, injuring 56, and destroying villages near the volcano. Authorities are searching for seven people and coordinating disaster assistance for the affected communities.
Myanmar security forces drove a car into a protest in the capital city of Yangon Sunday, killing five protestors and arresting 15 more. The car, according to video and photographic evidence, drove into the protestors and started chasing individual demonstrators, with security forces getting out of the car to attack and arrest people they caught.
Over 100 former security forces personnel had been killed or forcibly disappeared after surrendering to the Taliban, according to Human Rights Watch. According to interviews and reports, the Taliban used information gathered in the amnesty program to target individuals and their families s part of reprisals and killings carried out by senior leadership of the Taliban.
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