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Foreign Affairs updates - Dated 10th May 2021
Read more on - Polity | Economy | Schemes | S&T | Environment
- US Iran nuclear deal: A fourth round of talks in Vienna over a U.S. return to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal commenced, as differences over sanctions relief and the status of Iran’s nuclear program threatened. US said that the ball was ultimately in Iran’s court. Russia’s lead representative in Vienna said a final agreement could arrive soon. Iran’s negotiator said Iran was pushing for it to happen “as soon as possible.” US has actually put forward a proposal that includes sanctions relief on key sectors such as oil, gas, and banking, and has signaled a willingness to ease others related to terrorism and human rights. But a major sticking point seems to surround the progress Iran has made in its nuclear capabilities since the U.S. left the deal under former President Donald Trump. Iran has installed new, more advanced, centrifuges that potentially cut down the time necessary to enrich uranium to weapons grade levels; the question of whether to mothball or move them out of the country is a key issue in the talks.
- President Biden’s patent waiver shakes things up: The European Union (EU) was discussing U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision to endorse a proposal to waive intellectual property rights on COVID-19 vaccines. Any conclusions the bloc reaches during the two-day meeting could be an indicator of whether Biden will get the international support he needs to make his plan a reality. Europe was divided on the move: While French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his support and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen seemed open to the proposal, German Chancellor Angela Merkel opposed it outright. She said that the protection of intellectual property is a source of innovation and this has to remain so in the future.
- Deadly police raids in Brazil: Human rights groups condemned a deadly police raid on suspected drug-traffickers in a Rio de Janeiro favela. The operation killed 25 people, including one police officer, the highest toll since 2005, when 29 people were killed in northern Rio. Amnesty International condemned the “reprehensible and unjustifiable” loss of life, while Human Rights Watch has called for an independent investigation, citing the 453 people killed by Rio police in the first three months of 2021. A Supreme Court ruling has prohibited such police actions during the COVID-19 pandemic except in “absolutely exceptional cases.”
- Somalia Kenya ties: Somalia has restored ties with Kenya, six months after it cut ties over alleged political interference. In announcing the move, Somalia acknowledged the help of Qatar in patching up differences between the two sides. The move comes as Jeffrey Feltman the U.S. special envoy for the Horn of Africa, continues a 10-day trip to the region, visiting Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Sudan.
- East Jerusalem clashes: Palestinians and Israelis clashed in East Jerusalem, in the latest violent incident between the two groups. The violence occurred in Sheikh Jarrah, a predominantly Palestinian neighborhood where a controversial court case could lead to the eviction of dozens of Palestinians who have lived there for decades. Latest confrontation happened after Israeli extremists, joined by hard-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, set up a table and awning across the street from Palestinians eating their nightly iftar meal.
- Energy transitions: The International Energy Agency (IEA) warned that rising mineral prices caused by a supply shortage could impact the transition to cleaner energy. The agency’s new report highlighted the risk posed by the high geographic concentration of mines in Australia, China, and African countries, all of which are subject to water shortages and climate change impacts. It said that today’s mineral supply and investment plans fell short of what is needed to transform the energy sector, raising the risk of delayed or more expensive energy transitions.
- Playing with life: Employees of a pharmaceutical company in Indonesia have been arrested for their alleged role in a nasal swab reselling operation. Police say that up to 9,000 passengers at Kualanamu airport in Medan, North Sumatra may have been tested for COVID-19 with reused nasal swabs as part of the scam. Passengers, who must obtain a negative test before flying, had filed complaints over false positives, prompting an undercover investigation which allegedly uncovered the use of used test kits. Local media say the scammers made almost $124,800 by repackaging the swabs for resale.
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