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Cameroon arrests opposition figures before presidential elections
His campaign reported that authorities in Cameroon have detained 30 people linked to Issa tchiroma's presidential campaign. This has heightened tensions before Monday's results announcement. Anicet Ekane is the leader of the MANIDEM Party and Djeukam tchameni is a prominent member of the Union for Change. Both had supported Tchiroma’s candidacy. In the nation that produces cocoa and oil, there have been increasing clashes between security and Tchiroma supporters. Tchiroma called for more nationwide protests to take place on Sunday at 1400 GMT. Paul Atanga Nji confirmed at a Saturday press conference that arrests were made in connection with an "insurrectional" movement, but he refused to reveal the names or number of those detained. Nji stated that "Calls to protest by certain politicians who are obsessed with power create conditions for a crisis in security and contribute to the implementation scheme of insurrection." Tchiroma, in a Sunday post on the Facebook page of his campaign, rejected accusations of rebellion and claimed that government officials tried to negotiate with those arrested prior to their arrest. You arrested them because they refused to accept your proposal. When you tried to negotiate with them were they not terrorists? Tchiroma wrote. Tchiroma is a former minister who was once an ally to President Paul Biya. He has declared victory and said he won't accept any other outcome. In the last week, protests have erupted in several cities after local media reported partial results of the election that showed Biya on track to be declared winner. Biya could be in power for seven more years, if he is declared the winner by the Constitutional Council on Monday. (Reporting and editing by Aidan Lewis; Bate Felix)
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Fico, Prime Minister of Slovakia, says that Slovakia will not participate in EU scheme to meet Ukraine's military requirements
Robert Fico, the Prime Minister of Slovakia, said that Slovakia would not participate in any European Union program aimed at funding military assistance for Ukraine to fight Russia's invasion. Slovakia has allowed commercial sales but stopped all state aid to Ukraine in 2023 when Fico came to power. Fico disagrees with European Union countries on the war and says that a solution cannot be found on the battlefield. The EU leaders decided on Thursday that they would meet Ukraine's urgent financial needs for the next two-years, but did not endorse a plan to fund a loan of 140 billion euros to Kyiv using frozen Russian assets. The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that the money could immediately be used to improve Ukraine's air defense, its air fleet and its front-line positions. Fico said in a televised press conference that he would not allow Slovakia to participate in any financial scheme to help Ukraine manage its war and military expenditures. Risks of Sanctions Fico also criticized EU sanctions against Russia because of its war in Ukraine. He said that they hurt Europe even more. Both Slovakia and Hungary are buyers of Russian energy and now have to navigate U.S. Sanctions on Russian oil companies Rosneft & Lukoil, which will come into effect in the next month. Fico, when asked about these risks on Sunday by a journalist, said that Slovnaft is a part of Hungary's MOL oil and gas group and not a buyer of oil. Fico's first comment since the United States announced sanctions last week was, "At the moment we do not evaluate it in that way." Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister, said on Friday that Hungary is working to find a way around U.S. Sanctions.
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Reports: Kremlin wrong to speak about cancelling Putin-Trump Summit
State television Vesti, on its Telegram channel, reported that the Kremlin stated on Sunday that it was incorrect to speak about canceling a meeting between Russian president Vladimir Putin and U.S. president Donald Trump. However, it added that preparations were needed. They are clear about this: "Presidents can't just meet to waste time. They cannot meet just for the sake meeting. They have instructed the (U.S. secretary of state Marco) Rubio and the (Russian foreign minister Sergei) Lavrov to prepare for this meeting. "The process is complex," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said to state TV Kremlin reporter Pavel Zarubin. Peskov commented on the sanctions that the U.S. imposed on the Russian oil giants Lukoil & Rosneft. He called them "unfriendly steps", but stated that Russia aims to establish friendly relations with every country, including the U.S. "Despite the different nuances expressed by the President of the United States we must remain oriented towards our own interests." Peskov said that building good relations with other countries, including the United States, was in our interests. "Ofcourse, the actions taken this week were unfriendly. In fact, they have damaged our chances of reviving our relations. This does not mean we should abandon our aspirations. Peskov stated that we should always do what's best for us. He said that Russia will prosecute anyone who is found to have been involved in the possible seizure of Russian assets. Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Guy Faulconbridge
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Sudan's RSF claims to have captured al-Fashir Army headquarters
Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces announced on Sunday that they had taken over the army's headquarters in al-Fashir. This was the last stronghold of the Sudanese Army in Darfur, in the western part of the country. The army has not yet made a public statement about its current situation. RSF has been fighting the army, former rebels, and local fighters for 18 months. The RSF has been targeting civilians with frequent artillery and drone strikes. Meanwhile, the siege is spreading starvation in the city of 250,000 residents. Al-Fashir is a major political victory for RSF. It could also hasten the physical separation of the country, by allowing the paramilitary to consolidate their control over the vast Darfur Region. This region has been identified as the basis for a parallel Government established this summer. As seen following the capture of the Zamzam camp South. RSF soldiers have been accused of committing robberies and sexual assaults on roadside by those who left al-Fashir. U.N. mandated mission Last month, the RSF was accused of multiple crimes against humanity during the siege at al-Fashir. Atrocities have also been committed by the army. (Reporting and editing by Kate Mayberry; Khalid Abdelaziz Nafisa, Menna, Alaa, Eltahir)
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Exxon sues California over climate disclosure laws
Exxon Mobil filed a lawsuit against California on Friday challenging two state laws requiring large companies to disclose their greenhouse gas emission and climate-related risks. Exxon filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of California arguing that Senate Bills 261 and 253 violated its First Amendment rights because they force Exxon "to serve as a mouthpiece" for ideas it does not agree with. The company asked the court to stop the state of California enforcing these laws. Exxon claims that the Californian frameworks for reporting climate change are misleading and counterproductive. The oil giant claims it reports climate risks and emissions voluntarily and is opposed to California's frameworks. California, a state ruled by Democrats, has had some of strictest environmental regulations in the past in areas such as vehicle fuel efficiency standards and policy planning. This is after it passed a climate law in 2006. California passed two laws that will require companies to report publicly their greenhouse gas emission and climate-related risks in 2023. Apple, Ikea, and Microsoft supported the California laws, while other major companies such as the American Farm Bureau Federation, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and others called them "onerous". SB 253 mandates that public and private companies active in the State and generating revenue greater than $1 billion per year publish an extensive account regarding their carbon emissions beginning in 2026. The law requires that companies disclose their own emissions as well as indirect emissions from suppliers and customers. SB 261 mandates that companies operating in the state and with revenues exceeding $500 million disclose financial risks related to climate change, as well as strategies to mitigate those risks. Exxon also claimed that SB 261 is in conflict with federal securities laws which regulate what publicly-traded companies are required to disclose about financial and environmental risk. Exxon Mobil said that the First Amendment prohibits California from pursuing its policy of stigmatization, which would force it to describe the activities of its non-California businesses using the state's preferred framing. California Department of Justice or California Air Resources Board didn't immediately respond to our request for comment. Reporting by Chandni in Bengaluru, and Mike Scarcella from Washington. Editing by Deepa and Matthew Lewis.
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Exxon sues California over climate disclosure laws
Exxon Mobil filed a lawsuit against California on Friday challenging two state laws requiring large companies to disclose their greenhouse gas emission and climate-related risks. Exxon filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of California arguing that Senate Bills 261 and 253 violated its First Amendment rights because they force Exxon "to serve as a mouthpiece" for ideas it does not agree with. The company asked the court to stop the state of California enforcing these laws. Exxon claims that the Californian frameworks for reporting climate change are misleading and counterproductive. The oil giant claims it reports climate risks and emissions voluntarily and is opposed to California's frameworks. After passing a climate law in 2006, the Democrat-ruled California had long been known for its strict environmental regulations in areas such as vehicle fuel efficiency standards. California has passed two laws that will require companies to report publicly their greenhouse gas emissions as well as climate-related financial risk. Apple, Ikea, and Microsoft all supported the California laws, while other major companies, such as American Farm Bureau Federation, Chamber of Commerce and American Farm Bureau Federation, opposed them, calling them "onerous." SB 253 mandates that public and private companies active in the State and generating revenue greater than $1 billion per year publish a detailed account of their carbon emission starting in 2026. The law requires that companies disclose their own emissions as well as indirect emissions from suppliers and customers. SB 261 mandates that companies operating in the state and with revenues exceeding $500 million disclose financial risks related to climate change, as well as strategies to mitigate those risks. Exxon argued SB 261 is in conflict with federal securities laws that regulate what publicly-traded companies are required to disclose about financial and environmental risk. California Department of Justice or California Air Resources Board didn't immediately respond to our request for comment. (Reporting from Chandni in Bengaluru, and Mike Scarcella at Washington; editing by Deepa Babyington)
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Protesters call on regional Spanish leader to resign after deadly floods
On Saturday, tens of thousands marched in Valencia, a city located in eastern Spain. They demanded that conservative regional leader Carlos Mazon resign for his handling of the flash floods which killed 229 people last year. Protesters gathered in the center of Valencia, Spain, for the 12th consecutive time, since the flash flooding occurred exactly one year earlier. They displayed banners with messages like "Mazon, to prison", and chanted, "They did not die, they were murders." "I've lost everything but what really matters is the human loss, not the material." Cristina Guzman Trabero, 71, a flood survivor from the city of Trabero said: "They could have been prevented." "And we are here demanding justice. "We don't want any other thing." Residents in the affected area accuse the regional authorities of having issued an alert too late, after many buildings had already been submerged and people drowned in the worst floods in Europe since 1967. An investigation by the court is underway into emergency response. The court summoned on Thursday a local reporter who had lunched with Mazon the day after the floods, October 29, 2024. The Spanish authorities announced on Thursday that a 56 year old man's body was found buried under mud, a full year after it had been swept by water. Climate change is believed to be increasing the frequency of this destructive weather pattern, locally known as DANA. This system occurs when cold and warm air collide and create powerful rain clouds. Reporting by Miguel Gutierrez and Guillermo Martinez; editing by Leslie Adler
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Tunisia's capital Tunisia witnesses a large protest against the worsening pollution crisis
On Saturday, hundreds of Tunisians marched in the Tunisian capital to protest the severe environmental crisis that has been caused by the pollution from the state chemical plant at Gabes. Protests began outside the southern city. This protest is part of a growing series of demonstrations that highlight the frustration of the public over the government’s handling of pollution, and the worsening of the state of the public services. It marks the biggest challenge for President Kais Saied ever since he took power in 2021. Residents in Gabes report an increase in respiratory diseases, osteoporosis, and cancer. They blame toxic gases released by the state chemical group’s phosphate factories, which discharge thousands of tons waste daily into the sea. This month, dozens of Gabes schoolchildren were affected by breathing problems caused by toxic fumes coming from a plant which converts phosphates to phosphoric acids and fertilizers. Tunisian protesters carried banners and shouted slogans to show solidarity with Gabes residents, calling the authorities' response "repression." The government claimed it had arrested people who were violent. Hani Faraj is a protester with the "Stop Pollution campaign" who said, "It's as simple as that, the people of Gabes just want to breath." "Gabes's slowly dying... We won't remain silent." We will intensify our peaceful protests." Saied's government fears that protests in Tunisia's capital will spark unrest in other parts of the country, adding to its pressures as it battles a prolonged economic slump and political instabilities. Saied blames the criminal policies of a former government for the "environmental assassination" in Gabes. To quell protests, he called for immediate repairs to industrial units in order to stop leaks. Mustapha Ferjani, the Health Minister, said that this week that the government will build a new cancer hospital in Gabes due to an increase in cases. The protesters, however, reject the temporary fixes and demand that the polluting facility be permanently closed and relocated. Environmental groups have warned that Chatt Essalam is dumping tons of industrial waste into the ocean every day, causing severe damage to marine life. Local fishermen report a steep decline in fish stock over the last decade, which threatens a vital income source for many in the area. (Reporting and editing by Deepa Babyington, Tarek Amara)
German defence industry states it will need government aid to minimize dependence on China
German arms manufacturers will need assist from the government if they are to reduce their dependency on Chinese materials and still be able to complete with U.S. companies, Germany's defence market association said.
Hans Christoph Atzpodien, head of the Bundesverband der Deutschen Sicherheits- und Verteidigungsindustrie (BDSV), stated the U.S. defence market had, under federal government pressure, widely shed their dependency on Beijing recently.
German arms producers have actually not been required to do the same, however are bound to come under pressure to do so eventually, Atzpodien stated.
If we do not follow their (U.S.) example, we will ultimately come under pressure (to do so), he told in an interview this week.
Berlin's awareness of the circumstance has actually increased but the domestic defence market is still waiting on concrete actions to be taken, he said.
One could think about establishing nationwide reserves for resources that are especially vital, he said, mentioning existing oil and gas reserves.
One might also follow the American example and utilize public cash to minimize dependences (on China) in the making of defence items, paying a premium for products that have been produced without Chinese basic materials.
CHINA STRATEGY
U.S. President Joe Biden unveiled steep tariff increases on a variety of Chinese imports, and Germany is likewise concerned by the flood of cheaper imports from China.
Berlin described the requirement to minimize strategic reliances on Chinese items in its first China method announcement in 2015, citing unjust practises and political distinctions. The U.S. overtook China as Germany's essential trading partner in the very first quarter of this year, according to ' computations based upon official data.
Stress and anxiety about alleged Chinese spying - dismissed by Beijing - has likewise grown, with three German nationals detained last month on suspicion of handing over technology with military applications.
Atzpodien alerted that German arms producers' company would be at risk if war broke out between China and Taiwan, which China states belongs to its territory.
He said that such a war could set off sanctions on Beijing that German business would need to adhere to, or China would cut exports of raw materials utilized by the defence industry.
Under such circumstances, U.S. arms makers would have an advantage as, having actually minimized their dependence on China, they could provide their items sanctions-free.
The German defence market depends greatly on Chinese raw materials such as uncommon earths, with Beijing mining 69% of rare earths internationally and processing 86%, according to official figures.
China likewise controls the mining of other resources important for the defence industry, with a share of 74% for graphite and 78% for wolfram, according to the figures. China also accounts for more than 90% of international magnesium processing - essential for the production of aluminium - and more than 80% of germanium.
(source: Reuters)