Photo : DW
24 September 2021, Friday
IN BRIEF
By Vaishnavi Iyer and Joeana Cera Matthews
SPAIN
Carles Puigdemont arrested in Sardinia
After almost four years as a fugitive, Carles Puigdemont, the Former President of the Catalan state government was arrested in Sardinia. The lawyer for Puigdemont confirmed his arrest and stated that the arrest warrant was dated October 14,2019. In 2017, Puigdemont along with three other Catalan ministers had fled the country following an independence referendum for Catalonia. The Spanish government declared the same illegal and he was charged with sedition. Being a member of the EU Puigdemont was protected; however, in March the European Parliament stripped him off the privileges. The Spanish government and courts have expressed deep reverence for the Italian justice system and asserted that the procedure would be the same for any individual that is answerable to the courts. The Catalonian president called the arrest a “persecution” and the region still witnesses a push for independence. Spain has pardoned separatists who were initially sentenced to long prison terms. (“Carles Puigdemont arrested in Sardinia”, DW, 23 September 2021)
GERMANY
Germany holds the final election debate: Green party put under pressure
Candidates competing for the German elections appeared for their last Tv debate covering tax, foreign policy and debt. Opinion polls reflect the Social Democrats leading by just one percent followed by the FGW centre left party with 25 per cent. The greens are set to play an important role in the government. Greta Thunberg was seen heading a final protest to pressure the candidates to push for better action towards climate change. While the Free Democrats maintain a steady 11 percent; the race now exists between Social Democrat Olaf Scholz and Armin Laschet from Christian Democrats, which was Merkel’s party. The role played by the Greens or protests to highlight climate change are set against the backdrop of deadly July floods in western Germany. About more than 400 climate strikes have been planned across Germany. Thus, we are to see a full-blown pressure cranked on the winning candidate to take the green policies forward. (“German candidates clash in last TV debate before vote as SPD lead narrows”, Reuters, 24 September 2021; “NEWS WIRES, “Thunberg spearheads German climate protests to pressure candidates before polls”, France 24, 24 September 2021).
CLIMATE CHANGE
Nestle, Portugal’s Galp Energia, Shell pledge efforts to address physical risks of climate change
The Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change concluded in a research that companies involved in food and pharma, mining and energy, transportation etc. are more exposed to physical climate risks of flooding, droughts and extreme heat than any other sectors in their region. The group in a letter to the European, US and Asian companies asked the firms to identify and provide adequate responses or policies to address the situation. The investor group also published a note of expectation to help companies build resilience towards these physical risks of climate change. Companies like Shell have planned to appeal an effort to cut carbon emissions in a new ruling, while energy companies like Centrica have pledged to look further into the issue and increase outputs on the same. Nestle mentioned its undertaking which was already in progress relating to physical impacts on their value chains and finally Portugal’s Galp Energia promised its commitment to be a leader in quality, transparency and accuracy. (Carolyn Cohn and Nina Chestney, “Exclusive: Centrica, Nestle, Swatch among companies exposed to physical climate risks - investors”, Reuters, 23 September 2021).
INTERNATIONAL
EU confirms the Transatlantic Trade and Technology Council to take place as scheduled
France confirmed that it seeks compensation of 56bn pounds for the cancellation of the 12 attack-class submarines for Australian cancellation. Pierre Eric Pommellet also accused Le Figaro of having cancelled the French deal to only replace it with AUKUS; and called the decision more political than defense based. Amidst the French aggression the EU confirmed that its Trade and Technology council was to take place as scheduled in Pittsburgh next week. French minister Le Drian mentioned that restoring confidence with the U.S would require more time, however the recent reconciliation efforts between the US and the French through the President’s calls seem to have pushed for the timely EU TTC meeting. (SARAH ANNE AARUP,“EU confirms transatlantic Trade and Tech Council to proceed”, Politico, 23 September 2021).