By: Nathaniel Tok
GERMANY – Hamburg hosts the G20 Summit
The G20 summit kicked off in the German port city of Hamburg last week as leaders of global economic powerhouses were expected to discuss issues on trade, climate, conflict zones, and migration. Huge protests occurred as up to 20,000 police were poised to face off against an expected 100,000 protesters. The conference is hosted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who chose Hamburg, the city in which she was born, to signify openness. The conference is an important one for Merkel, as she seeks to show Germany her diplomatic credentials ahead of the German election in September.
With separate files from Reuters and Reuters.
CYPRUS – Reunification talks in Cyprus falter
Diplomatic efforts to reunify divided populations on the island of Cyprus failed last week. Negotiations were ended by United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres who was quoted at a news conference expressing that he was “very sorry” for the failure, but insisted the result “doesn’t mean that other initiatives cannot be developed.” The Cyprus dispute has been marred by distrust and stalemate since the island was split between its Greek and Turkish Cypriot populations in 1974. The United Nations had been optimistic that this attempt at negotiation was the best opportunity for reuniting the island.
With files from Reuters.
SWEDEN – Volvo ditches petrol for electric and hybrid technology
Volvo revealed last week that the company plans to produce only hybrid and electric cars within two years. It would be the first major automobile producer to stop manufacturing vehicles that only use an internal combustion engine. The trend towards electric and hybrid vehicles is echoed by the other companies as General Motors unveils its electric Chevy Bolt and luxury brands like Audi and Mercedes-Benz roll out hybridized vehicles. Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson stated that such moves were directed by customer demand. Electric and hybrid cars are still predicted to account for only 9% of new vehicle sales in 2025.
With files from the Associated Press.
MEDITERRANEAN – Migrants favour Spain as route to Europe
The Spain–North Africa migrant route has seen its number of users double this year, becoming the fastest growing route for migrant entry into Europe. While most migrants still choose the Libya–Italy route, its numbers only increased 32% from last year compared to the Spanish route, which grew by 75%. The Spanish route may be seen as a safer option by some migrants, but Spain’s ability to cope with the influx of people is being strained, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency. Over 360,000 people crossed the Mediterranean to reach Europe in 2016.
With files from Reuters.
