Hey, this is Sham, your very own news curator. Now that the United Nations believes that the world population has exceeded eight billion, let's tell more people about this newsletter. We can also exceed the number of subscribers of this newsletter. We're currently at 16thousandsomething. Can we make it to 20,000?
Issue #317 includes a 'breakthrough agreement' on climate change funding among world leaders, Malaysia's new prime minister with the 'Obama touch', the earthquake in Indonesia, mass shootings in Brazil and the United States, a court decision in Algeria that will most likely shock you out of your boots and some good news in science (yay, Artemis 1, you made it!), some justice was served at court in the Philippines, a rare 'we agree' moment between Kosovo and Serbia and another rare moment, a ceasefire, between Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. And so much more.
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World leaders reached a 'breakthrough agreement' in the fight against climate change
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The world's most international conference on climate change closed last week with what many call a 'breakthrough agreement' to, at least, give countries that are hit the hardest by climate change some financial cushion to prepare for and deal with all of it. This is called the 'loss and damage' argument in the global discussion around how to fight climate change.
Why this matters: For the longest time, since 1992, countries dealing with the effects of climate change the most have demanded, 'We didn't cause this in the first place, you did. At least help us fight it with better tools.' Now, their calls have finally been heard.
What is this conference about?
The United Nations organizes it every year. It has a really long name, the United Framework Convention on Climate Change, 27th Conference of the Parties, or short COP27. This year, it took place from November 6 until 20 in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt. Many world leaders came together to talk about the challenges they have to somehow face together. According to the UNFCCC, more than 45,000 people attended the conference.
Tell me more about the 'breakthrough agreement'
You see, climate funding so far has focused mostly on cutting carbon dioxide emissions in an effort to stop global warming, while about a third of it has gone towards projects to help communities adapt to future impacts. Now, world leaders have decided to shift their focus and their funding goals. Cue 'loss and damage' funding.
Okay. How is 'loss and damage' funding different?
Well, it specifically covers the cost of damage that countries cannot avoid or adapt to. This is still a very contentious topic. As of now, there is no agreement yet over what should count as 'loss and damage' caused by climate change, which could include damaged infrastructure and property, as well as harder-to-value natural ecosystems or cultural assets.
Why is this different form of funding so important?
A report by 55 vulnerable countries estimated their combined climate-linked losses over the last two decades totalled $525 billion, or 20 percent of their collective gross domestic product (GDP). Some research suggests that by 2030, such losses could reach $580 billion per year. Basically, vulnerable-to-climate-change-effects countries are losing a lot of money; money that could instead be spent on solving the challenges they are already facing like poverty reduction or gender equality.
How does it work exactly?
That is unclear yet. The text of the agreement that everybody agreed on at the conference leaves open a number of crucial details to be worked out next year and beyond, including who would contribute to the fund and who would benefit. Expect first results at COP28 in United Arab Emirates in November 2023. There is also, so far, little money for the fund, as few nations have made significant pledges of cash for loss and damage. (UNFCCC)
Where do people think should the money for the 'loss and damage' fund come from?
Vulnerable-to-climate-change-effects countries and campaigners in the past argued that rich countries that caused much of climate change with their historical greenhouse gas emissions should pay. However, now, the agreement calls for the funds to come from many other but existing sources, like financial institutions, rather than relying on rich nations to pay up. Other ideas include UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s call for a windfall profit tax on fossil fuel companies to raise funding. (Al Jazeera)
How did poorer nations react to the fund announcement?
Mostly positive reactions. Here is a list of comments:
Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said "it is appropriate that the loss and damage fund was agreed in Africa."
Pakistan's Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman, "this is a not about accepting charity. This is a down payment on investment in our futures, and in climate justice."
Antigua and Barbuda's Minister of Health, Wellbeing and the Environment Sir Molwyn Joseph said: “Today, the international community has restored global faith in this critical process that is dedicated to ensuring no one is left behind. The agreements made at Cop27 are a win for our entire world. We have shown those who have felt neglected that we hear you, we see you, and we are giving you the respect and care you deserve. We must work even harder to hold firm to the 1.5C warming limit, to operationalise the loss and damage fund, and continue to create a world that is safe, fair, and equitable for all.”
What do others say?
Adil Najam, professor of International Relations at Boston University in the United States writes in The Conversation that 'the agreement holds much promise but very few commitments. It is, welcome as it is, is particularly vague and unconvincing, even by U.N. standards.' So, we'll see. But hey, can we celebrate mini-micro-wins, too? I personally need more occasions to feel happy.
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Anwar Ibrahim is Malaysia's prime minister
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Malaysia elected the 222 members of the Dewan Rakyat in the 15th parliament of the country's history. The new prime minister is: Anwar Ibrahim. (Bernama)
Why this matters: More than 21 million people were eligible to vote. It's been so politically unstable in Malaysia that the country elected the Southeast Asian nation's fourth prime minister in four years.
Who's Anwar Ibrahim?
Haylena Krishnamoorthy for The Guardian profiled this famous man, writing, "the 75-year-old has tasted political triumph and defeat, led street protests for democratic reforms and strung together a multi-ethnic opposition coalition while behind bars." Seriously, he's been through a lot of ups and downs; wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't a TV series inspired by his life at some point.
What do people in Malaysia think of Anwar Ibrahim?
Mostly good stuff. James Chai's commentary for Malaysiakini (Hard paywall) was pretty hopeful, "Even in a crowd of hundreds of thousands, Anwar has the magical ability to make you feel like he’s speaking directly to you." He's got the... Obama touch.
How's political life in Malaysia?
It's so polarized, you'd think it's Brazil or the United States. A commentary for the Malay Mail said, "I personally have been on the receiving end of such polarising sentiments, thankfully not from family but I've unfortunately lost some friends who went as far as to call me a traitor and other similar unsavoury descriptions just because of our differing political preferences."
What are the key issues for Malaysia?
About 74% of Malaysians surveyed by the Merdeka Center said the country's biggest problems were to do with the economy. (Surprise, surprise) Plus, political instability between the different ethnicities (Malaysia is a multi-racial, Muslim-majority country that is home to three major ethnic groups: Malay, Chinese and Indian) and rising prices. Politics has been dominated by ethnic Malays so far and political Islam is therefore on the rise. However, they only make up 60 percent of the population. The hope now is that, with Anwar Ibrahim, the country has a prime minister who shares power with all ethnicities (as per constitution). (Deutsche Welle)
Did you know that, in this election, 18–20 year olds for the very first time were eligible to vote? Thanks to a constitutional amendment, the voting age was changed from 21 to 18. Plus, all voters were automatically registered, so the electorate expanded by around 6 million people or 31%. (NPR)
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More you might have missed
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Indonesia: An earthquake on the island of Java killed at least 310 people (many schoolchildren among them). Indonesia is one of the world's most earthquake-prone nations. (Malaysiakini)
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Turkey: Turkey has said it is planning a ground operation against the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), after four days of strikes in Syria and Iraq. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that the strikes – which his defence minister claimed had "neutralised" 254 "terrorists" – were "only the beginning". Turkey has blamed Kurdish groups for a recent deadly bomb attack in Istanbul. The YPG has denied involvement and said the strikes in north-east Syria (Rojava) have killed 30 civilians and 11 fighters. (BBC)
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China: At least 38 people are killed and two others are injured by a fire at a factory in Anyang, Henan, China. (CNN)
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Brazil: Three people were killed and 13 others injured in a mass shooting targeting two schools in Aracruz, Espirito Santo. The suspect, a 16-year-old boy, has been arrested. (AP)
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Thailand: At least one person was killed and nearly 30 injured when a car bomb exploded inside a police compound in southern Thailand last Tuesday. He was dressed as a police officer and had parked the car filled with explosives inside the compound. No one has yet claimed responsibility for the incident. (Malaysiakini)
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Algeria: A court in Algeria sentenced 49 people to death for the lynching of a 38-year-old man during last year's wildfires, after the man turned himself to police on suspicion of arson. (AFP via France 24)
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Russia: The lower house of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, passes a bill banning all instances of "LGBT propaganda". (Reuters)
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Israel/Palestine: In the same week, a 16-year-old (Israeli Canadian) was killed and 22 others are injured in explosions at two bus stops in Jerusalem. (The Guardian) Then, another (Israeli Druze) teen was kidnapped from a Jenin hospital by Jenin Brigades militants and his body was held hostage. He died either in the hospital or after the militants unplugged him from his life support. (Times of Israel) And then, two (Palestinian) people were killed and three others injured during a raid by Israeli soldiers at a refugee camp in Nablus. (Wafa)
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United States: There were two mass shootings last week.
- Colorado Springs, Colorado: Five people were killed and 25 others injured in one at a gay bar during a drag show and a commemoration of the Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20. A suspect was taken into custody shortly afterward. This video interview with the shooter's day sent chills down my spine.
- Chesapeake, Virginia: Another one happened at a Walmart, an employee killed six people. The gunman was found dead.
The Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit research group, recorded The Gun Violence Archive has counted at least 609 mass shootings (their definition: at least four people dead) so far this year, through mid-November. Of those shootings, 21 involved five or more fatalities. (The New York Times)
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Australia: The Australian parliament ratified a free trade agreement with India and Britain. (AP)
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Iran: The United Nations Human Rights Council approved the establishment of a fact-finding mission into the allegations of human rights violations committed by the Iranian government in response to the protests. (AFP via News24)
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Science and technology: NASA's Artemis 1 was successfully launched on an uncrewed test flight to the Moon.
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Philippines: A Regional Trial Court in Caloocan sentenced a police officer to life imprisonment for torturing and fabricating evidence on drug war victims Carl Arnaiz and Reynaldo de Guzman in 2017. (Reuters)
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Kosovo/Serbia: Both countries agreed to an EU-brokered deal to end a dispute over Kosovar license plates in North Kosovo, which triggered protests last year. (Reuters)
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Democratic Republic of the Congo / Rwanda: Both countries agreed to a ceasefire from November 25 and "the immediate withdrawal of M23 rebels from the occupied areas". (AFP via Africanews)
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Health and environment: At the 19th CITES Conference of the Parties in Panama City, Panama member states agreed they need to protect sharks more and adopted stricter measures on the trade of 54 requiem and hammerhead shark species. (Defenders of Wildlife)
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Podcast series: "Kim Kardashian's The System"
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Whatever you think about Kim Kardashian, Spotify has partnered up with her to create a podcast series about Kevin Keith, a man who was convicted of a triple homicide in 1994 in Bucyrus, Ohio, United States and narrowly escaped execution sixteen years later. The evidence Kardashian, criminal justice expert Lori Rothschild Ansaldi and her team have gathered is compelling, and the captivating testimonies coupled with Kardashian’s instantly recognizable voice make this show easy to binge.
Since then, Keith has been incarcerated at Marion Correctional Institution where he is serving a life sentence. "I'm really hopeful with this podcast, just to get your story out there, because I think it's so important for people to understand that our system is so fucked up," Kardashian says in a conversation with Keith on the podcast, referencing her aim to help free him from prison. Listen to the podcast series here.
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Article: A personal account on the history of African people in Iran
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Mona Hakimi for Africa is a Country has written about how there is "Iran in Africa and there is Africa in Iran". Unfortunately, the story of slavery is a global one. If you didn't know this, I advise you to read the piece here or follow the account Collective for Black Iranians on Instagram. Consider the article by Hakimi as just an appetizer into the topic of Black Iranians; there's so much more that hasn't made it into the article (it's just an article, I know).
- Quote from the article: "Slavery in Iran was only abolished in 1928. This is hardly historical, practically contemporary. If the protests persist and Iran opens its doors, we would have greater access to more archives and more stories that need to be told."
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Inside the pedophilic manga industry in Japan
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VICE's Hanako Montgomery made this truly disturbing mini-documentary about sexualised abuse of children in the manga industry in Japan. As this video is blocked for those in Japan, here's a mirror.
Not to be too VICE-friendly, the outlet's Almaz Ohene wrote this very favorable review of the controversial coming-of-age film from France, Cuties, that most people agreed it was sexualising children.
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Nhà Vệ “Xinh” by Trúc Nhân (pronounced Chook-Nian), one of the most popular artists in Vietnam. He is known for participating in the first season of the Vietnamese The Voice and for singing about topics society generally avoids discussing openly. I couldn't find his latest hit on Spotify but I did add one of my favorites of his. Of course, you can listen to it in this newsletter's Spotify playlist.
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A court in Tel Aviv, Israel ruled that former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert committed defamation against the family of prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu by claiming that members of Netanyahu's family are mentally ill and ordered Olmert to pay $18,000. (BBC News)
Disclaimer: Of course, there is nothing funny about mental health but I find it funny when famous politicians fight publicly.
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That's it from me.
Have you checked out this newsletter's very own Spotify playlist Go Global Weekly yet?
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