| August 16, 2022 | |  | | ◯ Conflict ◯ Development ◯ Social ◯ Economics ◯ Politics
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IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION Here's what you need to know: Putin’s war sets Russian economy back four years in single quarter, Mexico president plans to bypass congress, UN troop rotations in Mali to resume as Germany and France leave, Argentina raises key interest rate to 69.5% in biggest hike since 2019, Rhine River set to shrink to critical threshold for navigability, most technologically complex object ever found from ancient world.
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SPECIAL EDITION: UKRAINE Putin’s war sets Russian economy back four years in single quarter. The Russian invasion of Ukraine set Russia’s economy back four years in the first full quarter after the attack, putting it on track for one of the longest downturns on record. Ukraine calls on EU, G7 states to stop issuing visas to Russians.
Ukraine called on the EU and G7 countries to stop issuing visas to Russian citizens, citing what they said was their support for the invasion of Ukraine. Western electronics at the heart of Russia's war machine. Stopping the supply of components to Russia’s most modern military systems, including cruise missiles, communications systems and electronic warfare complexes, could permanently degrade Russian military capabilities.
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POLITICS Mexico president plans to bypass congress, keeping army on streets. Mexico’s president has begun exploring plans to sidestep congress to hand formal control of the National Guard to the army, a move that could extend the military’s control over policing in a country with high levels of violence. Deputy President William Ruto has been declared the winner of Kenya's presidential election. He narrowly beat his rival, Raila Odinga, taking 50.5% of the vote. Four of the seven members of the electoral commission refused to endorse the result, saying it was "opaque". Paraguay’s vice president has resigned following US corruption claim. Paraguay’s Vice President Hugo Velazquez Moreno was included in a corruption list for allegedly offering bribes to a public official. Malaysia urges ASEAN states to engage Myanmar junta rivals. Malaysia’s foreign minister has challenged the ASEAN non-interference policy in support of the organisation engaging with Myanmar’s junta rivals. Colombia's president replaces top military commanders in clean up. Colombian President Gustavo Petro designated new commanders for the military and the police, saying he chose the officials because they have not been previously accused of corruption or human rights violations.
Former Australian PM secretly appointed himself as joint minister. The former PM Scott Morrison appointed himself to three ministerial positions without other ministers knowing, in a secret ceremony with the Governor General. The facts only became known once the government changed.
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CONFLICT UN troop rotations in Mali to resume as Germany and France leave. Troop rotations by the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali will resume one month after Malian authorities suspended them and accused foreign soldiers of entering the country without permission. Deal signed to commence peace talks for Chad. The military government and over 40 opposition groups agreed to launch peace talks. The biggest opposition group, FACT, has rejected the agreement. Sierra Leone imposes nationwide curfew amid deadly anti-government protests. The West African country, which has been struggling with rising inflation and a fuel crisis, imposed a nationwide curfew in a bid to stem the violence.
Suspected Islamists free over 800 prisoners in attack on east Congo jail. Dozens of armed attackers have freed over 800 prisoners from a jail in eastern DRC. The breakout is attributed to Islamist militants. Kosovo PM says tensions with Serbs in north could escalate into new conflict. Kosovo is preparing for a possible attack by Serbia, as tensions increase with minority Serbs in the country.
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ECONOMICS Argentina raises key interest rate to 69.5% in biggest hike since 2019. Argentina’s central bank raised the rate by 950 basis points to 69.5%, the largest hike in three years. This is the eighth increase this year. Greece to exit EU's enhanced economic and policy framework. After 12 years of monitoring economic developments and policies, Greece regains freedom over policy implementation.
Saudi Arabia renews $3bn deposit to Pakistan. Saudi Arabia has agreed to renew a $3bn deposit at Pakistan’s central bank to bolster the country’s depleted foreign reserves, as Islamabad negotiates an aid package with the IMF. China and Nepal to launch a common infrastructure project. The two countries have formed an agreement to develop railways and communications networks, joining Nepal into China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Moscow warns of end to Russia-US relations if assets seized. Any possible seizure of Russian assets by the US will completely destroy Moscow's bilateral relations with Washington, the Russian foreign ministry said.
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DEVELOPMENT Rhine River set to shrink to critical threshold for navigability. The water level at Kaub, a key waypoint west of Frankfurt, is poised to breach 40 centimetres and continue dwindling in subsequent days. Barges cannot operate below that marker, causing economic disruption. UN humanitarian agencies face record funding gap. UN humanitarian projects face a record funding gap this year, with only a third of the required $48.7 billion secured so far as global needs outpace pledges. International economists ask Biden to release Afghan central bank funds. More than 70 economists and experts, including Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz, called for the US and other nations to release Afghanistan's central bank assets in a letter sent to the US President. Polio virus reappears in rich economies, exposing gaps in immunisation. Its re-emergence in Europe and the US, along with the disruption of inoculation programmes by COVID-19 and by war in places such as Ukraine and Afghanistan, have caused public health officials to raise the alarm.
One million species facing extinction. According to a report by the IPBES, the extinction of wild species threatens food sources, shelter and income for many, pointing to the importance of using indigenous knowledge for conservation.
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SOCIAL Most technologically complex object ever found from ancient world. The Antikythera, built by the Greeks, was a mechanical computer that predicted astronomical events like eclipses with startling accuracy for its time. Nepal triples wild tiger population since 2009. There are now 355 wild tigers in the country as a result of the advanced protection of tiger habitats. Saving species from the verge of extinction is possible even within a relatively short time period. Pups get wet and wild at California's World Dog Surfing championships. The event saw wave-riding pooches judged on everything from technique to confidence to size of their wave. Arctic is warming even faster than scientists realised. Over the last four decades, the average Arctic temperature increased nearly four times as fast as the global average. Largest group of nesting fish ever found lives beneath the Antarctic. An estimated 60 million active nests of a type of icefish stretch across at least 240 square kilometres under the Antarctic ice. Balloon fleet senses a 7.3 magnitude earthquake from the stratosphere. In a world first, a fleet of giant balloons equipped with a network of sensors detected a large earthquake from the stratosphere.
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| In last week's Future Trends, what is the inflation rate hike predicted by the Bank of England? | | | | |
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| FREE DOWNLOAD | | | GLOBAL PEACE INDEX 2022 | |  | | In the latest 2022 Global Peace Index report:
 Global Peace Index rankings
Regional & country overviews Economic impact of violence Impact of war in Ukraine on peacefulness | | |
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Source: Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP)
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Office of Strategic Communications & Analysis
ARAC International, Global Security Analyst | Human Rights Consultant
Certified by the U.S. Institute for Diplomacy and Human Rights
Institute for Economics and Peace Ambassador
https://iep.arac-international.org
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