UN announced Ethiopia has no right to expel UN officials
Ethiopia announced last Thursday that seven U.N. officials have 72 hours to leave the country after being accused of meddling in the country’s affairs, according to the Associated Press. The U.N. went on to inform Ethiopia the following day that it has no legal right to expel the officials. This information comes as pressure grows in the Ethiopian government over its blockade of the Tigray region where children and adult are reportedly starving to death. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres stated that the doctrine of declaring someone “persona non grata” or unwelcome does not apply to U.N. personnel. Ethiopia’s government has accused humanitarian workers and U.N. officials of supporting the Tigray forces, who have been fighting Ethiopian forces since November. So far, thousands of people have died as a result of the conflict marked by mass expulsions and the destruction of health centers.
Georgian ex-president arrested
Former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili was arrested after returning to Georgia last Friday. Saakashvili was arrested on abuse of power charges after being convicted while living in Ukraine in 2018, where he has spent recent years. Saakashvili left the country in 2013 after the ruling party Georgian Dream took power. Saakashvili has been rallying Georgians ahead of national municipal elections, with a rally in Tbilisi on Sunday and a promise to join. The European Union created a deal in April to ease the political crisis between the Georgian Dream party and its opposition groups, including Saakashvili’s United National Movement. However, in July Georgian Dream withdrew from the agreement due to the United National Movement not signing onto it by that point.
New currency in Venezuela
Venezuela introduced a new currency with six fewer zeros last Friday after their currency has been nearly worthless due to the world’s worst inflation rates. Prior to the adjustment, the highest bill was a 1 million bolivar bill, which is worth less than 25 cents. While the new currency tops out at 100 bolivars, which is worth a little less than $25. However, citizens claim that the new bills are nowhere to be found in the capital. The change or the bolivar is intended to ease cash transactions and calculations without juggling seemingly endless zeros. Many Venezuelan consumers have come to rely on U.S. dollars or digital payments like PayPal and Zelle, with more than 60% of purchases made in U.S. dollars.
Romanian hospital fire
A hospital fire in the Romanian city of Constanta killed seven COVID-19 patients, prompting concerns over the country’s aging health care infostructure amidst the pandemic, last Friday. The fire was extinguished by the end of the morning. This was Romania’s third deadly hospital fire in less than a year. The health ministry said that 113 patients were in the medial unit of the hospital and that all the survivors have now been evacuated. Hospitals in Romania are facing an influx of hospitalizations due to a surge of COVID–019, with a record high of 12,032 new cases.
