Every Monday, the Research Trainees of the CERESE assess the news of the previous week. You can read their opinions below:

I like…

…the criticism of the COP28 global meeting on the environment in Dubai. The annual United Nations meeting on the environment began on Thursday, with the world stage having criticised the choice of the host country, which is one of the world’s largest oil-producing countries, and the choice of the meeting’s organiser, who is the president of the country’s national oil company. Activist Greta Thunberg said COP28 is nothing but words without deeds.

…that on December 1st, 2023, European Council President Charles Michel affirmed Georgia’s commitment to the EU path, after a meeting with Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili in Dubai. Discussions centered on Georgia’s positive EU Commission recommendation for candidate status, with the Prime Minister detailing reforms and progress. Michel expressed the EU’s support, emphasizing the importance of continued assistance for Georgia’s European integration. The government has specific reform plans with set deadlines, working collaboratively with the EU. Garibashvili thanked Michel for the support and highlighted the significance of ongoing assistance in the integration process.

I dislike…

…the news that North Korea, this Wednesday, launched its first spy satellite. According to analysts, if this first test is successful, North Korea will gain a lot in terms of long-range missile targeting know-how. South Korea immediately responded by partially canceling the agreement between South and North Korea that limits South Korea’s spying capabilities over the demilitarized zone that separates the two countries. This launch is a clear message to South Korea and Japan about North Korea’s increasingly powerful capabilities. North Korea may be politically controlled by China, but the risk of a wider war breaking out from its movements is clear.

…the fact that Russia’s Supreme Court banned the “international LGBTQ movement”. More specifically, last Thursday, the Court declared this movement an extremist organization and banned all activities related to it in the country. This decision was based on the country’s Anti-Extremism Law, as it was considered that the LGBTQ community risked “inciting social and religious discord.” It is unfortunate that Russia is using the protection of traditional principles and values as an argument for classifying such a community as extremist, as well as the fact that the country’s judiciary does not seem to operate independently and with the protection of human rights in mind.