Panama Covid-19 update – another 2,197 active cases added to running total, to give us now 56,965 – or around 1.3% of the population. 7,278 new cases and 8 new fatalities reported today. 54 patients in ICU (down 3) and 508 in other wards (up 18), and there are another 527 in the hospital-hotles isolation.
Since the programme began on 7 January, the health ministry say 26,050 vaccinations for the under-12s have been administered (as the country prepares for the start of the new school year in March).
Our son returned to the UK today and asked me to print out his paperwork – which would normally mean just the air ticket. This involved 8 pages of ticket, certificates, confirmation from the airline, etc…added to which was a health ministry certificate to confirm he had completed his mandatory quarantine after testing positive while here.
16 JANUARY 2022
WOMAN ARRESTED AT DUBLIN AIRPORT IS FIRST CHARGED UNDER NEW PEOPLE SMUGGLING LAW
On 15 January, the Irish Times reported that a Swedish woman has become the first to be charged under stronger laws brought in to tackle people smuggling. She has been charged with an offence under the recently introduced Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Act 2021 and is accused of intentionally assisting entry, transit across or presence of another person in the State in breach of a specified provision.
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU REPORTEDLY NEAR TO PLEA BARGAIN IN CORRUPTION TRIAL
On 16 January, the Guardian reported that the former Israeli PM understood to be in advanced talks with state attorney’s office over admitting to 2 counts of breach of trust.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/16/benjamin-netanyahu-israel-plea-bargain-trial
ALIGNMENT OF THIRD COUNTRIES WITH EU SANCTIONS REGIMES
On 14 January –
- Montenegro, Albania and Norway, member of the European Economic Area (as well as Ukraine) have aligned with EU sanctions on Ukraine updated on 13 December;
- North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Georgia have aligned with EU sanctions on Syria as of 6 and 27 May;
- North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Ukraine and Moldova have aligned with EU sanctions on Burundi as of 31 October; and
- North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Norway, Ukraine and Georgia have aligned with EU sanctions on Mali as of 13 December.
NORTH KOREA REGISTERS 8 TRADEMARKS AND 3 PATENTS IN 2021
On 14 January, RFA reported that North Korea last year issued 8 international trademarks and 3 international patents to 7 companies.
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/patent-01122022164044.html
BRAZIL’S ILLEGAL GOLD RUSH IS FUELLING CORRUPTION, VIOLENT CRIME AND DEFORESTATION
On 14 January, Mongabay reported that illegal mining is once again surging across the Amazon and the article details a range of challenges facing efforts to rein in the gold mining sector. The latest spike in wildcat mining is driven by international demand. The price of gold is up from $400 in 2000 to over $1,800 an ounce in 2022.
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