government

Private lakes emerge as symbol of water inequity in elite Mexican holiday town

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Private lakes emerge as symbol of water inequity in elite Mexican holiday town

The shores of the giant dam in Valle de Bravo, a popular destination near Mexico City, have turned into cracked, dry mud due to the dam being at less than 32% of its capacity, a historic low. This dam is part of the Cutzamala System, which supplies water to about 6 million people in Mexico City and its surroundings. The area is experiencing a sharp decline in water levels, exacerbated by dwindling rainfall and a growing population. Despite this, there are hundreds of artificial lakes and dams within the properties of the wealthy in the area, which has sparked controversy over water access inequality. The decline in tourism has significantly affected locals’ income, and some neighborhoods in Mexico City have been without water for weeks. Factors contributing to the water scarcity include years of reduced precipitation, rapid development, deforestation, and the La Nina climate phenomenon, which resulted in a 12.8% rainfall deficit last year. Local efforts to address the issue face challenges, including a lack of federal support and unauthorized diversions for private lakes. A petition has been filed against the Mexican government under the Commission for Environmental Cooperation regarding these concerns.

Cabinet appoints English School board

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Cabinet appoints English School board

The Council of Ministers voted on the appointment of the English School’s board of directors, with Ioanna Demetriou appointed as board president. The board includes members Niki Koulouroudia, Mariza Platrites, Natalie Partasides, Kypros Ioannides, Michalis Kyriakides, Anastasios Kiteos, Giorgos Sklavos, Antonis Kyrmizis, and Sener Hassan. An 11th member will be a representative of the British Council.

Situation in Rizokarpaso schools , ‘very serious’

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Situation in Rizokarpaso schools , ‘very serious’

The Cypriot government has pledged to take all necessary actions regarding the situation in Rizokarpaso schools after Turkish Cypriot officials were reported to have interfered with the functioning of Greek Cypriot schools, including unannounced inspections and questioning of teachers. This interference has been ongoing since May, with the officials inspecting books, notebooks, classrooms, and teaching materials, and isolating teachers for questioning. The severity of the issue has led to the involvement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The north’s authorities have a practice of checking all books entering the schools, occasionally banning or requiring modifications to them. The Republic’s foreign ministry typically requests permission for visits through the UN, according to protocol. Additionally, there was a mention of the Turkish army monitoring works by British Bases forces near Achna, and a statement on the situation in Pyla, emphasizing the importance of implementing all provisions of the Understanding for both communities.

Saudi Arabia denies its commerce minister met with Israeli counterpart at WTO talks

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Saudi Arabia denies its commerce minister met with Israeli counterpart at WTO talks

Saudi Arabia denied a meeting between its Commerce Minister Majid bin Abdullah al-Qasabi and Israeli Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat, attributing their interaction at a World Trade Organization conference in Abu Dhabi to an unexpected greeting by Barkat, who identified himself afterwards. The incident was notable due to the absence of formal relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, despite efforts by the United States to foster closer ties. Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its support for the Palestinian cause in response to the incident.

South Korea nurses to take on more medical work due to doctor walkout

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South Korea nurses to take on more medical work due to doctor walkout

South Korean nurses have been legally authorized to perform certain medical procedures typically done by doctors, as announced by the health minister. This decision comes in response to a walkout by trainee doctors protesting against a government plan to increase medical school admissions to address a doctor shortage. The walkout has significantly disrupted hospital services, with more than two-thirds of resident and intern doctors leaving their posts. The government’s program aims to legally protect nurses within medical institutions, with hospitals determining the scope of their work. Despite the government’s call for dialogue, striking doctors and the government have not yet met. The government has also proposed increasing medical student admissions by 2,000 annually, expanding legal protection against malpractice suits, and offering incentives for doctors in essential disciplines and underserved regions. Additionally, efforts are underway to legislate unprecedented legal protection for doctors to enhance patient compensation for injuries and allow doctors to concentrate on their work.

New Zealand to shut indigenous health authority amid Maori protests

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New Zealand to shut indigenous health authority amid Maori protests

New Zealand’s Maori Health Authority, established in 2022 to improve health outcomes for the Maori population, will be shut down by June 20, as announced by the health minister. The decision is part of the centre-right government’s initiative to reverse indigenous policies of previous administrations. The Maori, who constitute 17% of New Zealand’s population, have experienced health outcomes that lag behind the broader population. The government, led by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon since October, aims to dismantle policies promoting the Maori language and enhancing Indigenous living standards and rights. This move has led to protests from indigenous groups. The Maori Health Authority will be integrated into the national health system, a move supported by the Minister of Health Shane Reti, who believes it will retain necessary expertise for improving health outcomes for all New Zealanders, including Maori. The decision was recommended by the Waitangi Tribunal, a permanent commission addressing Maori claims since the 1970s. Jacqui Harema, CEO of Hapa to Hauora, criticized the disestablishment, emphasizing the effectiveness of Maori-led health initiatives. Nationwide protests and legal actions have been initiated by Maori groups and tribes in response to the government’s reforms. A claim against the closure has been lodged with the Waitangi Tribunal, which will not be heard before the official closure.

Australian gender pay gap report exposes top companies

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Australian gender pay gap report exposes top companies

The gender pay gap at some of Australia’s top corporations, including Commonwealth Bank, Qantas, and Woodside, exceeds the national average of 19%. New legislation passed in March 2023 requires firms with more than 100 employees to disclose the pay of male and female employees. The median total remuneration gap for 2022/23 was 19% in favor of men, with a median base pay difference of 14.5% and an average total pay gap of 21.7%. Only one-third of companies had a median gender pay gap within the target range of -5% to +5%. The median total remuneration gender pay gap at Commonwealth Bank was 29.9%, at AGL it was 33.2%, and at Woodside Energy it was 30.2%. International investment banks like UBS and Morgan Stanley had pay gaps over 40% due to more men holding top jobs. Woolworths had a gap of just 5.7%, while it was 28.5% at the Australian operations of Thomson Reuters. The report also highlighted significant industry variations, with a 31.8% gap in construction and a 1.9% gap in hotels and restaurants. The Australian government plans to publish the pay gaps of public companies and agencies next year.

Indian state to inspect outlets of global fast-food chains after McDonald’s cheese crackdown

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Indian state to inspect outlets of global fast-food chains after McDonald’s cheese crackdown

India’s Maharashtra state is expanding its scrutiny to include global fast-food brands to verify if they are using cheese alternatives while falsely advertising products as containing real cheese. This action follows a crackdown on McDonald’s, where the state’s Food and Drug Administration will inspect outlets for compliance with display and labeling rules. McDonald’s largest India franchisee, Westlife Foodworld, has been under scrutiny for allegedly using cheese analogues. Despite disagreements with the findings, Westlife dropped the word “cheese” from several product names. Other brands such as Domino’s, Pizza Hut, Burger King, and KFC, operated by Indian franchisees, will also be inspected. Shares of Westlife and Devyani International, which operates Pizza Hut and KFC in India, saw declines following the news. The state has the authority to suspend licenses for food safety violations. Westlife asserts it maintains high standards and uses real cheese.

Indian state to inspect outlets of global fast-food chains after McDonald’s cheese crackdown

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Indian state to inspect outlets of global fast-food chains after McDonald’s cheese crackdown

India’s Maharashtra state is expanding its scrutiny to include outlets of global fast-food brands to verify if they are using cheese alternatives while falsely advertising products as containing real cheese. This action follows a crackdown on McDonald’s, where the state’s Food and Drug Administration will inspect outlets for violations of display and labeling rules. McDonald’s largest India franchisee, Westlife Foodworld, has been defending its use of “real cheese” after allegations of using cheese analogues made of vegetable oil. Following these allegations, Westlife Foodworld removed the word “cheese” from many of its product names. Shares of Westlife dropped by up to 6.7% after these reports. Inspectors will also visit outlets of other brands like Domino’s, Pizza Hut, Burger King, and KFC. Indian authorities have the power to suspend licenses of restaurants that mislead consumers. Westlife, along with other franchisees like Jubilant FoodWorks (Domino’s), Restaurant Brands Asia (Burger King), and Devyani International (operates Pizza Hut and KFC), have not commented or declined to comment on the inspections. Devyani shares fell by 4% following the news. Maharashtra, being a significant market for these brands, has seen one McDonald’s outlet’s license suspended and later revoked on appeal for allegedly using cheese analogues. Westlife reassured consumers that it uses real milk for its cheese and does not use substitutes.

Eurozone bonds dance to the beat of US markets

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Eurozone bonds dance to the beat of US markets

Eurozone bonds are trading in sync with US bonds, with correlations between the markets reaching a record high. The 52-week correlation between German and US two-year bond yields has hit a record, with longer bonds also showing high correlations. The US economy has grown more than Europe’s, with US GDP rising 2.5% and Eurozone GDP growing 0.5% in 2023. Inflation, which surged in both regions in 2021, has become a key focus for markets. The Federal Reserve raised rates in March 2022, followed by the European Central Bank in July. Inflation peaked at 9.1% in the US in June 2022 and at 10.6% in the eurozone before falling to around 3% in both regions. The US bond market, with .9 trillion of government securities outstanding, influences global borrowing costs. Investors expect the correlation between Eurozone and US bonds to decrease as macro and policy outcomes diverge. The European Central Bank is anticipated to cut interest rates in April, ahead of the Federal Reserve in June.