Weekly Geopolitical events
By Keating Smith, Staff Writer
Africa: (Congo) In accordance with a deal brokered with Uganda, the Congolese rebel group M23 have agreed to pull out of strategic locations in the eastern region of the country, which they seized last week. Leaders in the neighbouring countries of the Democratic Republic of Congo fear that the rebellion has the potential to mount into a much larger and wider conflict. According to the UNHCR, more than 475,000 people have been ousted from the DRC by way of diasporas caused by conflicts and 75,000 have claimed refugee status in surrounding countries this year alone.
Americas: (Washington) Mexico’s newly elected president Enrique Pena Nieto met with US President Barack Obama before press for the first time in the White House to discuss economic ties and immigration policies. Mexican immigrants living in the United States are reportedly accountable for sending $22 billion back to Mexico every year from their source of income in the US and Nieto’s policies on immigration between the two countries is speculated to be softer than that of his predecessor Felipe Calderón.
Asia- Central & South: (Afghanistan/Pakistan) Former British defense minister Lord John Gilbert created a huge amount of controversy in the media last week when he proposed a different way of preventing violence in the tribal territories between Pakistan and Afghanistan—by dropping a neutron bomb in the region. Gilbert was heard saying in the House of Commons that nothing more than a few goats live in the remote mountainous region.
Asia- Pacific: (Bangladesh) A fire that killed 112 garment workers last week in Bangladesh last week has American retail giant Walmart under fierce criticism for not investing financially into the maintenance and safety of the factory that went ablaze. Walmart claims that policing any type of labour or safety rights in the developing country can be a seeming less task due in part to corruption with local governments. Bangladesh is the world’s second largest clothing exporter next to China, with textile workers on minimum wage making less than $38 a month.
Europe: (England) Canada’s top banker, central bank governor Mark Carney has assumed the role of becoming the Bank of England’s next governor, a role he will transition into next July. Carney had turned down the job twice after feeling he was unqualified for the position, but now feels the opportunity to take on the role is vital for the success of both countries and their interwoven economies.
Middle East: (Syria) More than 200 tons of monetary bank notes were transported via Syrian cargo plane from Russia to Syria this summer. US and European sanctions against the Syrian government have prohibited Syrian bank notes from being produced in Austria, with the Assad regime becoming desperate for cash in their fight against the country’s rebel forces.
