2018 December World News Update

In this month’s issue, I have decided to give a try at doing a bite-sized World News update. While it does sacrifice some depth of explanation and detail, it allows for a greater volume of news to be received by you, the reader, in lengths more suited for the modern attention span of high school students.

A last holdout from the American Midterm

It's been more than a month since the American Midterm Election and I’m pleased to say that all races have certified their results except for North Carolina District 9 where vote discrepancies have placed the 905 vote lead of the Republican candidate and incumbent Mark Harris in jeopardy. Alleged voter fraud of absentee ballots in Bladen and Robeson County have lead to the North Carolina State Board of Elections to postpone the certification of the election in favour of an investigation twice. Several affidavits allege that unsealed and even incompleted absentee ballots were taken in a strategy orchestrated by a consulting firm with the Republican campaign. Abnormally high absentee ballots paired with a lean towards the Republicans in those ballots despite the small minority of registered Republicans who actually voted with an absentee ballot. Its is unknown what the investigation will turn up and whether or not the results will be certified, but the House may reverse the outcome of the election if enough discrepancy warrants so, making it the first time in more than thirty years.

May faces an uncertain Brexit future

British Prime Minister Theresa May presented a Brexit deal she was confident that satisfied both the terms of the European Union and the British public, however, this was not reflected in Westminster. After presenting the deal on the December 10th week, it was clear that the deal was unpopular with the Members of Parliament of both the extreme leave camp and the remain camps, even in her own party. Opposition parties took the opportunity to tear into the deal as protests by pro and anti brexiters were heard outside of Westminster. An hour before the vote on the deal, May moved to postpone due to insufficient support for the deal, but she was soon challenged to a confidence vote as the party’s leader by the hard Brexit camp of her party. A contention perception war began as MPs publicly made known whether they supported the Prime Minister. As the vote approached, May promised that she would not lead the party into the next general election. The vote ended with 200 in support of May and 117 against. May held on against this setback, but the official Brexit Day looms with less and less options. May needs to get here deal through or else face a hard Brexit, another referendum, or even an election.

One Chinese detained in Canada as two Canadians detained in China

Huawei CFO and daughter of the company’s founder, Meng Wanzhou has been released on a bail of $10 million as well as 24/7 security pending her case in court on extradition charges in the United States on bypassing trade sanctions. She was detained while in Vancouver where she owns property and spends time with her family. China has expressed dissatisfaction with the arrest and has likely retaliated with the detention of two Canadians in China. Traveller Michael Spavor and former diplomat Michael Kovrig were arrested on charges on “endangering national security” of China. It is unclear what the specific charges are and whether this is in response to the arrest of Wanzhou. The United States Secretary State has voiced his disapproval of the arrests and calls for them to end. This is occuring after the feud Canada got itself in against Saudi Arabia as well as the Sino-American trade war following President Trump’s more protectionist policies. The situation is still unclear while Canadian and Chinese officials work the situation out.

Guidelines for the fight against Climate Change agreed upon

The COP 24 talks in Katowice, Poland proceeded after the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015. Its main purpose was to set out the guidelines necessary in enforcing and executing the international climate agreement. Through two weeks of grueling negotiations, more than 200 nations agreed to the set of guidelines, despite resistance by oil exporting nations like Russia and Kuwait, although they faced fierce struggles against nations vulnerable to climate change like the Maldives and Micronesia. This is all in the light of the recent IPCC report (which I reported upon previously) and several dire warnings by environmentalists and scientists. Critic continue to assert that the guidelines do not go far enough and the apathy on two key issues during the conference are concerning. Canada itself, while making its progress to meet its targets with the implementation of the carbon tax, continues to struggle nonetheless. Trudeau’s support of the Trans-Mountain pipeline has placed his motivations in doubt as he faces legal challenges about the carbon tax by Ontario and Manitoba.