Prime Minister Scott Morrison returns from holiday this week and is expected to face questions over COVID-19 misinformation spread by a government backbencher.
A leading humanitarian aid group working in Yemen is once more raising alarm over the effects that the Trump administration’s “terrorist” designation of Yemen’s Houthi rebels will have on civilians in the war-torn country.
Just days before United States President Donald Trump was set to leave office, his administration announced plans to label the Houthis a “foreign terrorist organization” – effectively barring US citizens and entities from interacting financially with the group.
The designation came into effect on Tuesday, just as the US Treasury Department released details of limited licensing exemptions to the restrictions.
The department said licences would be available, among other things, to authorise “the official activities of the US government and certain international organizations, such as the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross”. It also said the export of agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical devices would be exe
United States President Donald Trump will lift travel restrictions for parts of Brazil and Europe less than 48 hours before his presidency comes to an end.
The move will see travellers from Europe’s Schengen area, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Brazil have unrestricted entry to America from January 26.
A spokesperson for President-elect Joe Biden said the new administration does not intend to lift restrictions.
The press releases and statements hit like a blizzard. Just days after supporters of United States President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol in a deadly attempt to block the certification of election results, many in corporate America made it known they had had enough.
Social media platforms banned the president, universities revoked honorary degrees and the Professional Golfers’ Association of America pulled its championship from Trump’s golf course. Banks said they would no longer lend him money, and New York City announced it was cutting business ties with the Trump Organization.
More than a dozen companies, meanwhile, suspended political contributions to Republicans who voted against certifying President-elect Joe Biden’s victory. Dozens more froze all of their political donations. One company Hallmark asked two lawmakers to give the money they received back.
The competition and rivalry in the Transatlantic relations have become too costly to continue. Biden’s administration means a new opportunity for the EU to rebuild its ties with the United States and reverse the tide of rising illiberalism and authoritarian rule globally, particularly in the EU’s neighbourhood.
The Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries might positively contribute to the restarting relationship and bring their know-how and experience in working with Eastern Partnership and Western Balkans.
The declared priorities of establishing an alliance of world democracies, fighting foreign corruption and interference, and working on democratisation and human rights can make a difference in both regions and bring concrete benefits to the bilateral relations.