GLOBAL DIARY

DEMOCRACY

“Here’s the problem: while some folks are frustrated and tuned out and staying home on election day, trust me other folks are showing up. Democracy continues with or without you.” – MICHELLE

OBAMA, FORMER FIRST LADY

WORLD ATHLETICS INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS BELGRADE

Over the three days of thrilling action in Belgrade, from 18-20 March, 129 teams competed and athletes from 59 countries lined up in finals. Seven championship records and 17 area records were set. A total of 31 countries won medals, 20 of those claiming gold, including the host nation as long jump star Ivana Vuleta’s victory sent the 6800-strong crowd into raptures on the final night. This was the first World Athletics championship event with spectators since the pandemic began in 2020, and more than 20,000 spectators attended across the three days, despite a reduced stadium capacity due to Covid restrictions. Five years after winning the European indoor title in this very arena with a jaw-dropping effort of 7.24m, Vuleta successfully defended her world indoor title with a best effort of 7.06m.

WILL SMITH AND CHRIS ROCK’S OSCARS 2022 INCIDENT

Hollywood actor Chris Rock got more than he may have bargained for as a presenter at the 94th Oscar Academy Awards. While presenting the award for Best Documentary Feature. He made a joke at the expense of Will Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, leading to an on-stage altercation that was not scripted and drew gasps from the room. Will Smith seemed to be laughing following Rock’s comment. But he then stunned the audience at the Dolby by storming the stage and slapping Rock in the face. “Wow,” said Rock afterward. “Will Smith just smacked the s**t out of me.” Smith’s comments were bleeped when he returned to his seat, but it was apparent that he told Rock, “Keep my wife’s name out your f***king mouth.”

JAPAN’S CHERRY BLOSSOM

A cherry blossom season is a time-honored event in Japan. It’s a long-standing tradition officialy starts on March 20, that brings marvel and wonder to every Japanese and tourist alike. These are one of the most beautiful flowers and appear throughout spring all over the country. Anyone taking a trip to Japan during this time would be remiss not to attend at least one hanami event. Also known as Sakura, the Japanese cherry blossom is a symbol of the end of winter and the coming warmth of spring and summer.

US AND EU UNVEIL MAJOR GAS DEAL

COMMONWEALTH DAY SERVICE

US President Joe Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced end last month a new gas deal as Europe tries to end its reliance on Russian energy. The meeting came on the second day of a European Union leaders summit focused on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Ahead of their talks, both sides unveiled a deal for the US to bring liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe. The EU is experiencing an energy crunch as the Russian invasion of Ukraine and sanctions against Moscow take their toll.

ELECTION

“It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything.” – JOSEPH STALIN, FORMER GENERAL SECRETARY OF

THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE SOVIET UNION

HUNGARY’S FIRST-EVER WOMAN PRESIDENT OF THE PARLIAMENT

The Hungarian parliament elected Katalin Novak, a close ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, as the EU member’s firstever woman president. Novak, who most recently served as a minister for family policy, portrayed her election as a victory for women. She was elected to the mostly ceremonial role by 137 votes to 51 in the parliament dominated by Orban’s right-wing Fidesz party ahead of opposition challenger Peter Rona, an economist. “We women rear children, care for the ill, cook, do the work of two people if needs be, earn money, teach, win Nobel prizes, clean windows,” Novak said in a speech before the vote.

Prince Charles is standing in for his mother Queen Elizabeth at the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey on March 14. The Queen (95) announced that she would not be attending the annual ceremony, which celebrates the union of the 54 nations that make up the Commonwealth. “After discussing the arrangements with the Royal Household, The Queen has asked The Prince of Wales to represent Her Majesty at the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on Monday,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement. The Queen will continue with other planned engagements, including in-person audiences, in the week ahead, the statement continued.

FRENCH ELECTION

Twelve candidates are challenging for the French presidency this month, as incumbent Emmanuel Macron stakes his claim for a second term. Voters go to the polls in the first round on 10 April and, assuming MARINE LE PEN (LEFT), ÉRIC ZEMMOUR AND NICOLAS DUPONT-AIGNAN no-one wins a majority, the top two candidates will take part in a run-off two weeks later. The winner will have the power to shape France and its key role in Europe for the next five years. Here we take a look at the four women and eight men challenging for the presidency and assess their chances of winning. The three far-right candidates in the French presidential election – Marine Le Pen, Éric Zemmour and Nicolas Dupont-Aignan – have made immigration their main electoral issue. They all want to abolish State Medical Aid, birthright citizenship and family reunification.