Global

Election Turmoil in Pakistan

Last week, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan called for early elections after he dissolved parliament. For now, the South Asian country is awaiting a key court ruling that will decide whether the early elections can proceed.

Khan called the election in attempt to cling to power after the deputy speaker of parliament blocked a no-confidence motion against him last Sunday that had appeared almost certain to succeed.

The opposition, which had called for Khan’s removal for months, is accusing Khan of treason and asking the country’s highest court to rule on whether he had breached the constitution.

The court battle is the latest escalation in a crisis that has been smoldering for weeks, with Khan already having lost the backing of key political allies and the country’s powerful military.

Khan’s main hope now appears to be that his enduring popular appeal with voters – fueled by his stellar former cricket career, his unique brand of Islamic populism, and his claims of foreign interference in Pakistan’s affairs – can keep him in the driver’s seat.

Pakistan, a nation of 220 million, is notoriously hard to govern. It has struggled with political instability since its formation in 1947 with multiple regime changes and military coups. No prime minister has ever completed a full fiveyear term.

Khan’s problems date back to 2018, when he rose to power in an election mired in accusations of vote-rigging and foul play. More recently, he has been dogged by claims of economic mismanagement. The cost of basic necessities such as food and fuel are skyrocketing, with inflation in the double digits, and the government’s foreign exchange reserves are fast depleting.

Khan has lost the military’s support, primarily due to his anti-American rhetoric. He also recently refused to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, even meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow the day Russia began its war.

Jordan: Crown Prince Gives Up Title

Jordan’s Prince Hamzah, half-brother of the country’s King Abdullah II, relinquished his royal title earlier this week.

Posting on Twitter, Prince Hamzah wrote on Sunday that he was relinquishing his title due to the fact that his values “are not in line with the approaches, trends, and modern methods of our institutions.”

Hamzah is King Abdullah II’s half-brother from their father, King Hussein.

The Royal Court did not immediately comment on Hamzah’s announcement.

Last year, Hazmah was placed under house arrest for what was claimed to be his involvement in a plot to destabilize Jordan. Hamzah, for his part, denied the allegations and claimed he was being punished for speaking out against corruption.

Hamzah was named crown prince of Jordan in 1999 and was a favorite of King Hussein, who often described him in public as the “delight of my eye.” However, Hamzah was seen as too young and inexperienced to be named successor at the time of King Hussein’s death. Instead, his older half-brother, Abdullah, ascended the throne and stripped Hamzah of the title of crown prince in 2004.

The move was seen as a blow to Queen Noor, who had hoped to see her eldest son become king.

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Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin on Saturday said that the country will decide whether to apply for NATO membership by the end of this spring.

According to Marin, Finland is applying for membership because “Russia is not the neighbor we thought it was,” adding that the country’s relations with Russia have undergone an “irreversible” change.

Russia, meanwhile, warned of both political and military consequences if Finland and Sweden choose to join NATO.

Speaking to Interfax, Sergei Belyaev, director of the Second European Department of Russia’s Foreign Ministry, said that Finland and Sweden not joining NATO is “an important factor in ensuring security and stability in northern Europe.”

Meanwhile, Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, said at the end of February, “Clearly [the] accession of Finland and Sweden into NATO, which is first and foremost a military alliance, would have serious military-political repercussions that would demand a response from our country.”

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg noted that the group has a “good dialogue” with both Finland and Sweden but that the decision would ultimately be up to them.

“We respect the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Finland to decide their own future,” he said. “That’s exactly what Russia does not respect. They’re actually trying to intimidate and are saying that if Finland decides to join NATO, there will be consequences.”

A 4-Day Work Week

The employees work in a wide range of charities and businesses.

The initial trial will run from June to December and is being run by academics at Oxford and Cambridge universities, along with Boston College in the U.S. and in partnership with the Autonomy thinktank, 4 Day Week Global, and the 4 Day Week UK Campaign.

Mark Downs, chief executive of the Royal Society of Biology, which is taking part in the trial, told The Guardian, “It’s about trying to do more to be a good, innovative employer to attract and retain our current staff. These sorts of possibilities make a massive difference. It’s great for everybody.”

Although the Society will remain open five days a week, employees will work Monday through Thursday or Tuesday through Friday.

The pandemic has increased the desire on behalf of workers to work four days a week.

Last month, Belgian employees won the right to work full-time in four days instead of the usual five without loss of salary. The workers will be working the same amount of hours a week, condensing their work into four longer days.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo hopes that the agreement will help to make Belgium’s notoriously rigid labor market more flexible and will make it easier for people to combine their family lives with their careers.

“The goal is to give people and companies more freedom to arrange their work time,” he said. “If you compare our country with others, you’ll often see we’re far less dynamic.”

Scotland and Wales are also considering a trial of a four-day work week in 2023.

According to a survey by cloud-software vendor Qualtrics, a whopping 92 percent of U.S. workers are in favor of the shortened work week, even if it means working longer hours.

Three out of four employees (74 percent) say they would be able to complete the same amount of work in four days, but most (72 percent) say they would have to work longer hours on workdays to do so.

A mass grave in Bucha, Ukraine, near Kyiv, has bodies piled on top of each other, most of them inside black bags but some with limbs sticking out. Only some of the bodies are buried.

At least a dozen bodies have been found in the mass grave; the earth nearby shows signs of disturbance, indicating that additional corpses may be buried beneath it.

According to local residents and Kyiv Regional Police, at least 150 people are buried in the mass grave. Meanwhile, according to Bucha’s mayor, the number may have reached 300.

Residents did say, however, that the mass grave was being dug early in the war; satellite images from March 10 show the trench already being dug.

One tree-lined road in Bucha is now littered with the remnants of a Russian convoy ambushed by Ukrainians; another street had at least 20 bodies lining it – some with their hands tied behind their backs.

In a Sunday video address, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said, “For these murders, for these tortures, for these arms torn off by explosions that lie on the streets. For shots in the back of the head of tied people. This is how the Russian state will now be perceived. This is your image.”

He also claimed that Russia has committed “war crimes.”

Both Western and Ukrainian officials have called on the International Criminal Court to investigate the alleged killing of civilians in Bucha.

Russia, meanwhile, has insisted that it does not target civilians, that the Bucha images are fake, and that it was not involved in the matter.

The Bucha scene is similar to that of other areas near Kyiv, including Irpin, Myla, Hostomel, and Bordyanka, where authorities say the true death toll is still impossible to measure and that there may be bodies buried under the rubble of destroyed buildings.

Zelensky Speaks to UN Security Council

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday.

Earlier, he spoke about the need for “serious players who are ready to go all the way” when it comes to security guarantees.

“We need serious players who are ready to go all the way. We need a circle of countries who would within 24 hours provide us with any weapons,” Zelensky said.

He also cast doubt on the possibility of meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin after he accused Russia of genocide. Zelensky paid a visit to the Kyiv suburb of Bucha on Monday, an area where shocking images of civilian bodies strewn on the streets emerged over the weekend. During the visit, he said that it was “very difficult to negotiate” with Russia “when you see what they have done here.”

Zelensky opened his remarks to the UN Security Council by addressing what he witnessed in Bucha, saying of the Russians who attacked the Kyiv suburb, “there is not a single crime they would not commit there.”

Speaking through a translator, Zelensky said, “The Russian military surge and purposefully killed anyone who served our country. They shot and killed women outside their houses when they just tried to call someone who is alive. They killed entire families, adults and children, and they tried to burn the bodies.

“I am addressing you on behalf of the people who honor the memory of the deceased every single day and the memory of the civilians who died, they were shot and killed in the back of their head after being tortured. Some of them were shot on the streets.”

He added that the Russians killed civilians in Bucha “just for their pleasure.”

He noted that their actions are no different than “other terrorists.”

The Jewish Home | APRIL 7, 2022 In Hungary and Serbia, Pro-Russia Leaders Win

Hungary has re-elected its Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and Serbia appears to have re-elected its own pro-Russia leader, President Aleksandar Vucic, this week.

Orban, who has served in the position since 2010 and who won a fourth term, told supporters, “We won a victory so big that you can perhaps see it from the moon – and certainly from Brussels.”

On Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Orban is “virtually the only one in Europe to openly support Mr. Putin.”

When asked for his response to Zelensky’s comments, Orban said, “Mr. Zelensky is not voting today. Thank you. Are there any other questions?”

Hungary is a member of both the European Union and NATO.

In Serbia, President Aleksandar Vucic has been in his post since 2012, and exit polls showed him keeping his seat, though with a reduced majority.

Hungary agreed to an initial round of European sanctions against Russia but has resisted expanding them. Hungary has also not allowed weapons destined for Ukraine to pass through its territory.

Serbia is almost entirely dependent on Russian gas, while its army maintains ties with Russia’s military. Although Serbia backed two United Nations resolutions condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it refused to impose sanctions against Moscow.

The Kremlin also supports Belgrade’s opposition to the independence of Kosovo by blocking its membership to the United Nations.

Bolsonaro Gears up for Reelection

Three top officials and ten members of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s cabinet have resigned their positions to help the president in upcoming elections.

The officials are expected to both campaign for office and campaign for Bolsonaro.

Under Brazilian law, top officials must resign their current positions before running for other positions.

Speaking at an event, Bolsonaro said, “One-third of my ministers leave today with their heads held high. It’s obvious that they will run for office. If not, they wouldn’t leave.”

The upcoming elections are expected to pit Bolsonaro against former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Polls consistently show Bolsonaro trailing behind Lula in the head-to-head runoff expected to follow the election.

On Sunday, the president addressed thousands of supporters in the capital, Brasilia, which many observers characterized as the unofficial launch of his campaign.

The event introduced the slogan “Bolsonaro, the people’s captain,” and a video displayed archive images from the president’s life for cheering supporters dressed in the green and yellow colors of the Brazilian flag.

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Raising Funds for Afghanistan

Over 36 countries have promised to donate around $2.44 billion for humanitarian aid in Afghanistan, the Washington Examiner reported.

The pledges, made during a United Nations (UN) donors conference last week, amount to over half of the $4.4 billion goal set by the UN.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “Some 95 percent of people do not have enough to eat. Nine million people are at risk of famine. UNICEF estimates that a million severely malnourished children are on the verge of death, without immediate action.”

According to him, the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has “deteriorated alarmingly” since the Taliban took over last summer, and the aid will offer a “fragile lifeline for millions of Afghans.”

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said, “This humanitarian aid, like all aid from the United States, will go directly to NGOs and the United Nations. The Taliban will not control our humanitarian funding.”

The UK promised to donate $374 million, while Germany pledged $220 million and the U.S. $204 million.

Sri Lanka Gets New Cabinet

Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is set to appoint a new cabinet, as security forces brace for additional violence and protests around the country.

On Sunday night, the country’s 26 cabinet ministers – everyone but the President and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, submitted letters of resignation – clearing the path for a new cabinet.

A top security official admitted, “Indications are that we can expect more demonstrations.”

Sri Lanka is in the midst of its worst economic crisis since it gained independence from Britain in 1948. The country is currently experiencing shortages of fuel, food, and other essentials, with no end in sight.

On Sunday evening, hundreds protested peacefully across the island, with those near the parliament shouting, “Go home Gota, go home Gota,” and those near the main international airport shouting, “Gota fail, fail, fail.”

On Monday, the president’s media office said in a statement that four new ministers had been appointed “to ensure parliament and other tasks can be conducted in a lawful manner until a full Cabinet can be sworn in.”

Former Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) official P. Nandalal Weerasinghe

said on Monday that he had accepted an offer from Rajapaksa to become the central bank’s next governor.

Justice Minister Ali Sabry was named finance minister, replacing Basil Rajapaksa, the president’s younger brother, who was due to visit Washington this month for talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on a loan program.

Udaya Gammanpila, chief of one of the 11 political parties comprising the ruling coalition, called the new Cabinet “old wine in a new bottle.”

“Our demand is for an all-party interim government to restore essential services and to hold a parliamentary election,” Gammanpila wrote on Twitter. “People should decide their next leaders, not anybody else.”

South Sudan Still Embattled

The U.S. has found that South Sudan’s leadership is failing to implement portions of a 2018 peace deal, a report shows. The U.S. will continue imposing costs on those perpetuating the conflict. The report was sent from the U.S. State Department to Congress.

According to the report, “Ten years after independence, South Sudan remains a deeply fragile nation beset by weak governance, pervasive insecurity, fiscal mismanagement, and widespread corruption.”

South Sudan became independent in 2011, but in 2013 deteriorated into what turned into a civil war which killed 400,000. In 2018, the main sides signed a peace agreement which put an end to the worst violence but did not stop the clashes across the country.

According to analysts, unresolved issues could send South Sudan spiraling back into widespread conflict.

According to the State Department report, South Sudan’s government lacks the discipline and transparency necessary to manage public finances and the

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South Korea: No Tattoos

A South Korean court has upheld a ban preventing artists from tattooing in the country.

South Korea is the only developed nation to forbid tattoos by those who are not medical professionals.

Last week, Seoul’s Constitutional Court voted to keep the ban, due to the risks inherent in tattooing.

In its ruling, the court said, “The limited medical knowledge and skills involved in tattooing cannot ensure the levels of treatment that medical professionals can provide, treatment that may be needed before or after the procedure.”

Anyone acting in violation of the ban is liable to serve up to two years in prison and pay up to $41,300.

Speaking to the outlet, Kim Sho-yun, vice president of the Korea Tattoo Federation, questioned, “Why do they insist tattooing is a medical procedure even though doctors can’t and don’t do that?”

According to the outlet, the ban affects nearly 50,000 tattoo artists.

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$2B Yachts Seized

Russian oligarchs, beware. At least $2 billion worth of mega yachts owned by Russian oligarchs have been seized in Europe since the start of the Ukraine invasion.

At least 13 yachts valued between $8 million and $606 million have been seized or impounded in the EU and UK as officials continue to sanction Russia’s elite.

The U.S., alongside the UK and EU, had imposed economic sanctions on Russian oligarchs. Many of these oligarchs moved their mega yachts to regions where they cannot be seized, including the Maldives.

It can be tricky to pin down the owners of the yachts, but enough “public speculation” suggesting a Russian oligarch is the owner is typically “sufficient for a seizure,” according to Insider.

Spain is reportedly holding four of these yachts, including the $8 million Lady Anastasia linked to Alexander Mikheev, the $95 million Valerie linked to Sergei Chemezov, the $95 million vessel Tango linked to Viktor Vekselberg, and the $468 million yacht Crescent linked to Igor Sechin.

France holds three more vessels, including another yacht worth $125 million also linked to Sechin called the Amore Vero. The country is also holding two yachts linked to Alexey Kuzmichev — the $22 million Little Bear and the $77 million Big Bear.

Italy is reportedly holding the $34 million Lady M, which is linked to Alexei Mordashov; the $575 million Sailing Yacht A, which is linked to Andrey Melnichenko; and the $38 million Lena, which is linked to Gennady Timchenko.

Germany holds the largest ship, the Dilbar, which is linked to Alisher Usmanov and valued at $606 million.

Gibraltar, a British territory, is holding the $68 million Axioma, which is linked to Dmitry Pumpyansky, while England has taken control of the $38 million Phi, linked to Vitaly Kochetkov.

EU Wants to Ban Coal from Russia

On Tuesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the European Union was considering banning imports of coal from Russia as part of a new round of sanctions triggered by recent revelations of atrocities in Ukraine.

The measure still needs approval from all 27 EU member states before being approved.

“We all saw the gruesome pictures from Bucha and other areas from which Russian troops have recently left,” von der Leyen said. “These atrocities cannot and will not be left unanswered.

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“We will impose an import ban on coal from Russia worth 4 billion euros [$4.4 billion] per year,” she added.

If approved, the coal ban would be the first coordinated embargo by the European Union on the vast energy exports that power Russia’s economy and generate hundreds of billions of dollars in revenue each year.

EU leaders have thus far been unable to agree on targeting Russian energy because of the risk it poses to the region’s economy at a time of soaring natural gas and fuel prices. This week, though, French President Emmanuel Macron said that he would support a total ban on Russian oil and coal imports, and Germany indicated that it could support a coal ban.

“Russia is waging a cruel and ruthless war in Ukraine, not only against its brave troops but also against its civilian population,” von der Leyen said. “It is important to sustain utmost pressure on Putin and the Russian government at this point.”

Russia was the world’s third largest exporter of coal in 2020, behind Australia and Indonesia, according to the International Energy Agency. It’s also the leading exporter of thermal coal to the European Union, ahead of China and South Korea.

Fatal Prison Riot in Ecuador

A prison riot in Ecuador on Sunday led to the deaths of at least 20 inmates. On Monday, authorities said that they were in “total control” of the Turi prison located in the south of the country.

Violence started early on Sunday due to a leadership dispute among incarcerated members of a gang known as The Wolves, Gen. Carlos Cabrera, the commander of Ecuador’s national police force, noted.

Cabrera said 19 of the victims were killed due to “acts of violence,” and one was killed after ingesting a chemical substance. At least 11 others were injured in the melee.

Ecuador’s prison system has been under a state of emergency since deadly clashes in September 2021, when 118 people were killed during fighting that involved automatic weapons and even grenades.

More than 300 inmates were killed in prison violence in 2021, according to figures from Ecuador’s prison service SNAI.

Ecuador is a key transit point on the route that brings cocaine from South America to the U.S. and Asia, which makes it fertile ground for gang clashes. Prisons have become contested battlegrounds.

Prisons are also notoriously overcrowded. In July 2021, then-prison chief Eduardo Moncayo told local media that the Litoral Penitentiary in Guayaquil was the most overcrowded in the country, with more than 9,000 inmates in a facility planned for 5,000.

In October, authorities said thousands of inmates, including elderly people, women and those with disabilities and terminal illnesses, would be pardoned to free up space.

UK Court Sentences Get Refuser

In a first of its kind sentencing, an English court sentenced a Jewish businessman to 18 months in prison last week for refusing to grant his wife a get.

The couple separated in 2016 after 20 years of marriage and were granted a civil divorce in 2019. However, the husband refused to grant his wife a get.

In response, his wife brought what her lawyers have called a “landmark case” against him. Last week, the husband pleaded guilty at the Southwark Crown Court to controlling or coercive behavior over a five-year period beginning in 2016.

It was the first time someone who refused to grant a get has been convicted of such a charge in an English court.

“You sought to manipulate and control her all in the knowledge that it would substantially impact her mental health and in some respects also impact her physical health,” Judge Martin Beddoe told the man.

The couple has three children to-