- The Guardian
- Issue #2125
PALESTINE: The Palestinian Environmental Quality Authority issued a statement denouncing the continuing Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Israel has dropped more than 85,000 tons of bombs on Gaza Strip since October 2023, more than were dropped during World War 2. The statement was issued on the occasion of the World Day for Preventing the Use of Environment in War and Military Conflict. “The occupier used all kinds of weapons and missiles in its aggression, in particular white phosphorus, banned under international law by the UN Conventional Weapons Convention, causing serious environmental damage that threatens human life and living organisms,” the Authority explained in the statement.
IRELAND: The Irish government accepted the appointment of a full Palestinian ambassador for the first time. This comes after Ireland stated in May that it was formally recognising the state of Palestine. Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid steps up from her position as Palestinian Head of Mission to Ireland to full ambassador status.
JAPAN: Japanese car maker Nissan is planning to slash 9,000 jobs after it suffered a massive loss in the last financial quarter. Nissan Motor Corporation announced the cuts which amount to around 6 per cent of its more than 133,000 employees, as well as a plan to slash global production capacity by 20 per cent. Nissan’s chief executive said that the company did not respond quickly and was not flexible enough to global changes, including market tastes and soaring raw material costs.
RUSSIA: The upper house of Russian parliament has ratified a treaty with North Korea for mutual assistance. The “comprehensive strategic partnership treaty” obliges Russia and North Korea to immediately provide military assistance using “all means” if either is attacked. The treaty’s endorsement by the upper house, the Federation Council, follows its ratification by the lower house, the State Duma.
QATAR: The Qatar authorities have refused to mediate between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement because they had failed to reach an agreement on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of Israeli hostages. Qatar has already informed both parties to the conflict and the US administration of the decision. It was also reported that Qatar would be ready to resume mediation “When both sides … demonstrate a sincere willingness to return to the negotiating table.”
USA: While the Biden administration is still occupying the White House, Donald Trump, the US president-elect, is busy gathering his own team. Trump has already indicated that he would not invite certain people to his administration. “I will not be inviting former Ambassador [to the UN] Nikki Haley, or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to join the Trump Administration, which is currently in formation,” Trump said in a message posted on the Truth Social network.
MOZAMBIQUE: Mozambique has deployed soldiers on the streets to help police keep order following weeks of protests since 9 October elections. Frelimo candidate Daniel Chapo was declared the winner of the presidential election. Frelimo has been in power for 49 years since independence from Portugal in 1975.
SPAIN: Over 100,000 people marched in Valencia demanding the resignation of the right-wing regional president Carlos Mazon in the wake of the catastrophic floods that left hundreds dead. Mazon is accused of delaying flood alerts and emergency responses in the interests of businesses which did not want to close early.
