Geopolitics News and Updates - The World Reviews

Mining Lobby Faces Flake From Australians Over New Mines

Global mining companies are having a tough time keep their heads above water in the escalating environmental concerns. There is no denying that the recent spate of bush fires and floods has been a result of the escalating global warming concerns.

It is now confirmed that shareholders are pulling themselves away from coal companies in order they can show their solidarity towards the Paris climate accord. This has been the cry for nearly a third of shareholders in BHP Group Ltd, the world’s biggest miner. It is confirmed that the voters had voted for resolutions to axe its membership in industry groups that are not in tandem with policies the Paris climate accord. According to the policies set down by the Paris climate accord, global warming limit should be “well below” 2 degrees Celsius.

Strangely the resolution failed and what could be seen is the terrible bushfires that wiped away literally half of the koala bear population. However, shareholders and the public continue to mount pressure on related companies to ensure lobby groups support the Paris goals.

Companies like BHP, Rio Tinto Plc, Glencore Plc and Anglo American Plc. Are feeling the heat but are in tandem with the energy policies that favor the rapid phase out of coal. If the Australian government and coaling companies don’t do something quickly, they might be faced with stringent carbon import duties that the European Union plans to impose on good from countries with less strict climate policies.
According to climate scientists and researchers, opening new coal mines in Australia would prevent the country from meeting its emissions targets agreed under the Paris accord. It is therefore important to curb the opening of anymore coal mines.

While some in Australia remain skeptical of a human connection to global warming, the devastating fires that raged across the country recently are hardening public attitudes against coal.

A survey of 1,056 respondents in a new poll taken between Feb. 6 and Feb. 9 by Essential Research, a leading market research firm, found that 62% of Australians favored banning political donations from fossil fuel companies, with the same number opposed to new coal mines.
In a November 2019 poll by Essential Research, 60% of respondents said they thought Australia was not doing enough to address climate change, up from 51% in March.

Geopolitics

Amazon’s founder Jeff Bezos launches initiative and vows $10bn to fight climate crisis

On Monday, the Amazon founder and CEO, Jeff Bezos, declared the launch of the Bezos Earth Fund, a fresh global initiative that will submit $10 billion to battle climate crisis.

Bezos, whose total assets are listed at $130 billion as per Forbes, stated in an Instagram post that the fund would bolster activists, scientists, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and “any endeavor that offers a genuine opportunity to help safeguard and secure the natural global environment.”

Bezos said in the post, “I wish to work alongside others both to enhance known ways and to search new ideas for battling the disastrous effect of environmental change on this planet that we all share.”

While he didn’t offer subtleties on what endeavors he intends to prioritize, Bezos included that he would start dispensing grants concerning the fund this summer.

The announcement seems to differ from Amazon’s actions towards employees talking openly about the environmental emergency. In January, the Guardian uncovered that several workers who called for stronger environment movement by the organization were cautioned to be silent or face rejection.

Bezos said in an Amazon’s Smbhav summit in India that “Anyone today who isn’t realizing that environmental change is genuine – that we people are affecting the Earth in a very hazardous manner – those people are not being sensible,” The Guardian report.

Article Credit: The Guardian/The Hill

To Read More Geopolitics News and Updates

Europe, Geopolitics

David Frost: democratic consent would snap if UK acceded to EU rules

Boris Johnson’s chief Brexit negotiator David Frost set out his red lines in public discourse in front of formal discussions with Brussels on a trade deal due to commence one month from now.

He stated the democratic assent of the British public would “snap drastically and eventually” if the UK kept attached to EU rules.

In a notable opening to Brussels, Frost acknowledged that the mediators would need to expand on the models contained in other EU free trade agreements. However, he demanded that the capacity to break free from the EU’s rulebook was necessary to the idea behind Brexit and that the UK’s position would be tabled in “written letter” one week from now. “We are not searching for anything unique,” he included

He likewise said that the UK would not partake in any EU events or agencies that put the nation under the authority of the EU court.

The EU’s negotiating instructions are expected to be settled on 25 February. A draft record published this month demonstrated that Brussels would explore at least “non-regression” from current ecological, social, and laborers’ models once the UK has left the single market and customs association on 31 December 2020.

The bloc is expected to request a “dynamic alliance” by the UK on the EU’s state competition and funding rules. The UK would set up an independent body supervising the standards, yet it would operate in cooperation with the European Commission.

Johnson stated in an ongoing discourse in Greenwich that he would prefer to acknowledge overwhelming duties on merchandise being exchanged than join to anything so cumbersome.

Frost stated in Brussels: “Guidelines and administrative choices are so crucial to how the number of residents in a region feels bound into the authenticity of its legislature that this structure would be essentially unsustainable: eventually, vote based assent would snap – drastically and ultimately.”

Frost included: “It isn’t merely a simple negotiating position which may run under tension; it is the purpose of the entire project. That is likewise why we won’t extend the transition beyond the end of 2020. By then, we recuperate our political and financial autonomy in full. For what reason would we want to delay it?

“The reason why we expect open and reasonable challenge arrangements dependent on a free trade deal. The point of reference isn’t that we need a moderate result on competition rules. It is that the basis of an FTA and the examples of the text contained in genuine concurred FTAs are the most suitable ones for the relationship of sovereign people in profoundly delicate zones identifying with how their jurisdiction is administered and how their populaces offer to agree to that administration.

Article Credit: The Guardian

To Read More News from Europe, Geopolitics News and Updates

Geopolitics

Heiko Maas: the EU has consented to launch a new mission in the Mediterranean

Federal minister of foreign affairs of Germany, Heiko Maas, has affirmed the EU has consented to launch a new mission in the Mediterranean to implement a UN arms ban on Libya, which has been routinely mocked. Many years back in 2011, the UN arms ban was imposed.

On Monday, after hours of lengthy discussions between ministers in Brussels, the decision was reached.

The marine and air mission in the eastern Mediterranean is planned for halting more weapons arriving at warring groups in Libya.

The decision marked a leap forward following weeks of productive discussions and warnings by EU foreign affairs head Josep Borrell that the coalition gambled, becoming pointless if it couldn’t perform.

Borrell spoke at the finish of talks in Brussels, “When you have political will nothing is unimaginable,” The National detailed. The new mission in the Mediterranean to supplant the EU’s migration centered Operation Sophia would incorporate satellite and aerial observing as well as marine forces, he included.

Italian Foreign Minister Luigi di Maio, expressed, “We as a whole consent to make a mission that obstructs the progression of arms into Libya,” the National revealed.

Earlier in the day, different ministers had attempted to persuade Austria to lift its objections.

The EU’s military mission discontinued sending ships last March after Italy announced it would never again take in migrants’ protected adrift.

However, a week ago, Italy’s vice foreign minister stated that Rome was prepared to restart the ocean patrol.

Austria had been hindering the move, saying individuals protected adrift ought not to be taken to Europe.

In an understanding, EU vessels will presently hail and examine suspicious ships in the eastern Mediterranean, where most arms theft occurs, away from migrating routes.

“It was acceptable, yet Vienna would, however, be watchful for any signs that the mission, will take a long time to set up, was pulling in migrants into Europe,” stated Austria’s Foreign Minister, Alexander Schallenberg.

At first, Borrell had desired to restore the EU’s present military mission, as Operation Sophia.

One agreement was to utilize airplanes, instead of ships, to check smugglers who supply Libya’s two adversary governments.

However, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas asked the EU to concur with a marine mission, saying by air monitoring would not be sufficient.

On Sunday, a senior UN official cautioned that the arms ban was irrelevant because there is nobody to implement it. In a primarily symbolic move, Operation Sophia will currently be removed. Schallenberg stated he concurred because of the new mission was entirely military, not on compassionate grounds.

Article Credit: The National

To Read More About Geopolitics News and Updates

Europe, Geopolitics

Pressure rises on Angela Merkel’s CDU to find a new leader following AKK’s resignation

Pressure develops on concerned Christian Democratic Union to accelerate the process to find a new leader following AKK resignation. This could prompt a paralysis inside Angela Merkel’s party that could spread over the EU when Germany assumes the rotating administration of the council of the European Union.

The German center-right has been in shock since Merkel’s assigned successor, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, quit after CDU lawmakers in the eastern province of Thuringia opposed guidelines not to favor the far-right in state elections.

While Germany has been in speculation about who could take the nation’s biggest and most grounded party into the post-Merkel period, the three top contenders have been hesitant to enter the competition.

German media gave an account on Friday that Kramp-Karrenbauer could raise the pace by reporting a timetable, or even her preferred candidate, on 24 February. The CDU’s press office would neither affirm nor dismiss the reports.

Senior German conservatives caution that neglecting the topic of the administration undecided until following the spring break would jeopardize increasing the CDU’s paralysis across the matters of the EU. In July, Germany formally takes control over the task of leading meetings of the board of the EU.

Gunther Krichbaum, the CDU chair of the committee on EU issues in the Bundestag, expressed, “Whether you need it or not, there’s a desire that Germany and France take up a joint administration role.”

Merkel’s strategy to gradually phase out her 20-year career at the front line of German politics has been shattered since her beneficiary, “AKK,” declared her departure on 10 February, The Guardian published. Read more articles and Geopolitics News and Updates click here.

Article Credit: The Guardian

Europe, Geopolitics

The European Union is ready to help implement the ceasefire in Libya.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas confirmed, during his speech at the International Security Conference in Munich, that the European Union is ready to provide assistance in implementing the ceasefire in Libya, “according to the request of the United Nations.”
Maas added that the European Union countries will consider next Monday contributing to the implementation of the arms embargo to Libya.
Maas also confirmed that the foreign ministers of the countries participating in the “Berlin Track on Libya” will meet next Sunday in Munich.

Maas stressed the necessity of “Europe not abandoning its role in the crises of Syria, Libya and the Sahel, in favor of arms exporters.” In this context, Maas considered that extremists on the African coast threaten the security of Europe.

It is noteworthy that European officials confirmed to “France Press” that Austria is blocking the resumption of the maritime operation of the European Union, which is charged with monitoring the ban on sending weapons to Libya.

A European official, who asked not to be identified, acknowledged that contacts at the highest level were being held to settle this issue, but it has not produced any results so far.

A meeting of the Union’s foreign ministers will be held in Brussels in this regard on Monday.
Another diplomat said about the new goal entrusted to the European Union mission named “Sofia”, that “the Austrians continue to refuse to deploy ships and confirm that they are receiving support from the Hungarians.”

The Austrian Prime Minister Sebastian Kurtz told a German newspaper early February that the process “will not happen”. He added, “The Sofia operation has always been a rescue mission and has become an entry point for thousands of illegal immigrants to Europe.”
Austria and Hungary have consistently refused to take part in sponsoring the migrants the Sofia mission is saving under relief efforts at sea. The two countries also object to solidarity within the European Union for the redistribution of migrants.

European Foreign Minister Josep Borrell proposed a revised operational zone for the activities of European ships mandated to monitor the United Nations arms embargo on Libya. These operations are supposed to take place at sea, outside the roads of drug traffickers.
But the Austrians reject these arguments, according to sources, “Agence France Presse,” which stated that “in this position, Austria permits leaving the sea to others and does not help calm the crisis in Libya.” You can find more Geopolitics News and Updates link us.

Americas, Geopolitics

Trump Increases Sanctions EU Over Airbus

The United States is now targeting the European Union over raise of tariff as European Union’s dispute over subsidies remains unresolved within the bloc. It is confirmed that the tariff would be raised by 15 percent.

From a 10 percent tariff imposed in October 2019, beginning March 18, the raise will apply to airplanes from France, Germany, Spain and the U.K.

Under a World Trade Organisation ruling, the US has won the rights to impose tariffs to the tune of 100 percent, if need be. After a 15 year battle, the WTO ruled in favour of America, when the dispute over EU awarding more than required subsidy to Airbus aircrafts.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative had then confirmed that they would impose the tariffs starting October 18, with 10% levies on jetliners and 25% duties on other products including Irish and Scotch whiskies, cheeses and hand tools.
With its current imposition of 15 percent, it has not decided to alter the current list, though trade analysts are hoping the US would loosen its tight noose on EU for a bit, owing to the fact that EU is also going through a tough restructuring phase with Britain exiting the bloc.

This is being seen as a pressure tactic yet again, where the USTR has made a formal statement and said that “The United States remains open to a negotiated settlement that addresses current and future subsidies to Airbus provided by the EU and certain current and former member States.” If you want more Geopolitics News and Updates follow us.

Geopolitics

Libyan Parliament: These are our conditions for participating in the Geneva Dialogue

By Amina Souafi.

In conjunction with the holding of meetings of the Libyan Dialogue Committee in Geneva under the auspices of the UN envoy, Ghassan Salameh, the Libyan parliament listed a number of conditions that must be met for its participation in the Geneva meeting.

He also stressed that his representatives in the Geneva Dialogue are chosen by him and under the dome of Parliament, stressing the need to clearly define the tasks of the Dialogue Committees, the duration of time and the mechanisms of their work.

In addition, the Libyan parliament demanded that no government will be approved unless approved by it and that the number of its representatives will not be equal to the number of representatives of the advisory council.

This position came hours after the UN envoy announced that “there is a real will to start negotiations” between the two warring parties with their intention to meet for talks in Geneva with the aim of achieving a permanent ceasefire in the country.

Salama also said in a press conference from Geneva today that he asked the Security Council to pass a resolution reaffirming the existing arms embargo and agreeing to measures to ensure adherence to it.

He explained that the talks between the two parties, which did not meet face-to-face in Geneva on Monday, aimed to “bridge gaps in views on how to organize a sustainable, permanent ceasefire on the ground.” He added, “We started yesterday to discuss a long list of points on our agenda, ranging from working to transform the armistice to a more coherent one and reduce the violations of the parties to it, as well as turning that armistice into a real agreement on a permanent ceasefire.”

The Geneva talks include five senior soldiers from the Libyan National Army and five forces allied to the reconciliation government.

It is noteworthy that the fighting on the ground continued recently despite the call for a truce launched by Russia and Turkey starting from January 12 and an international summit on Libya held in Berlin on January 19 with the aim of curbing international intervention. watch more news about Geopolitics news and updates.

Geopolitics

The European Union supports Spain against Britain in the case of Gibraltar

The European Union is expected to support Spain’s claim to Gibraltar, and to give Madrid the authority to exclude “The Rock” from the post-Brexit deal.

The European Union plans to give Spain the ability to “exclude” Britain’s Gibraltar from any deal with the European Union, after the “Brexit”.

According to reports, the European Union is expected to give British Prime Minister Boris Johnson the option to hand the territory over to Spain or exclude it from any trade agreement between the union and Britain.

A senior European diplomat told the British Observer newspaper: “They have asked in principle that the new relationship will not apply to Gibraltar without the explicit consent of Spain, and it will not be granted unless the Gibraltar issue is resolved through bilateral talks between Spain and Britain.”

It is noteworthy that Britain celebrated Friday the start of the process of leaving the European Union, and is scheduled to start the next stage of negotiations between the two sides on March 3rd.

The European Council’s Article 50 guidelines outline that the union cannot reach an agreement with Britain on Gibraltar without the approval of the Spanish government, according to the British newspaper “Sun”.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will also demand the smooth transportation of 10,000 people traveling daily to Gibraltar to work there, with access to the single market.

The British Prime Minister is looking to get his country out of the single market, and he will have to conclude a separate deal to prevent the presence of heavily guarded borders between Spain and Gibraltar.

It is worth noting that in a 2016 referendum, 96 percent of Britons voted in Gibraltar in the hope that easy access to and exit from Spain would be preserved for both workers and goods.

The Gibraltar region, which is subordinate to Britain, is a square peninsula of 4 kilometers long and has been a source of tension between Spain and Britain for centuries, and its population is estimated at about 30,000 people only, but it has great strategic importance as it lies on the entrance between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean, and between the two continents of Europe And Africa.

There is a British naval and military base in Gibraltar, one of its aims is to monitor shipping to and from the Mediterranean.

Spain rejects London’s control of the Gibraltar region, according to the Treaty of Utrecht signed in 1713, and has been demanding for years for sovereignty over it. Follow more Geopolitics News and Updates

Geopolitics

Netanyahu to Putin: “The American peace plan is a unique opportunity”

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday that the US plan, presented as “the deal of the century”, which the Palestinians rejected, is a “unique opportunity” to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

At the beginning of the bilateral talks with Netanyahu in Kremlin, the Russian President made no mention of the plan revealed by US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, while Russia is one of the historical mediators of this conflict.

“You are the first president with who I talk about the plan presented by Donald Trump”, Netanyahu told Putin, adding: “I think we have a unique opportunity here and I want to talk to you about it, and of course I can hear your opinion”.

Russia has not yet commented in detail on Trump’s proposal, but has said it appears to be in contrast with United Nations Security Council resolutions. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman later said that the ministry had “just begun studying” the document, consisting of 181 pages, while Palestinians already rejected the text.

“The decision about a long-term and just peace must be in the hands of the Palestinians and the Israelis themselves, because it relates to their future”, spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reaffirmed to reporters.

Moscow also calls for a direct Israeli – Palestinian dialogue to reach a mutually acceptable compromise. The plan offers many concessions to the Israeli occupation State and gives it the right to annex settlements in the occupied West Bank, particularly in the Jordan Valley.

Geopolitics News and Updates

1 2 >

Geopolitics

Mining Lobby Faces Flake From Australians Over New Mines

Amazon’s founder Jeff Bezos launches initiative and vows $10bn to fight climate crisis

David Frost: democratic consent would snap if UK acceded to EU rules

Heiko Maas: the EU has consented to launch a new mission in the Mediterranean

Pressure rises on Angela Merkel’s CDU to find a new leader following AKK’s resignation

The European Union is ready to help implement the ceasefire in Libya.

Trump Increases Sanctions EU Over Airbus

Libyan Parliament: These are our conditions for participating in the Geneva Dialogue

The European Union supports Spain against Britain in the case of Gibraltar

Netanyahu to Putin: “The American peace plan is a unique opportunity”

Recent News

Instagram Feed

Categories

Twitter Feed

Searching

Choose language

Geopolitics

Recent News

Instagram Feed

Follow us

Categories

Twitter Feed

Searching

Choose language