Today’s newsletter covers Chile’s contract with a Chinese company, Norway scandal of free apartments for representatives, Singapore’s lack of fun, elections in Venezuela and more.
Chile cancels deal with a Chinese company because of data safety and US partnership
A Sino-German consortium won a legal tender contract to process Chileans’ identity documents for the next 10 years. But Chile canceled the contract because of concerns about data privacy. The deal would have jeopardized Chile’s participation in the Visa Waiver program to get to the United States. When business meddles with international politics.
In Norway, scandals on abuses of perks by politicians reach the Parliament top position
The president of the Norwegian Parliament wanted to clean up rules and remove abuses of privileges from Norway representatives to regain the population’s trust. But the scandal about rent-free apartments eventually involves Eva Kristin Hansen as well.
Singapore: good for business but not much fun for an SG investment fund exec
There are about six times as many bars in Hong Kong as in Singapore.
Ahead of regional elections in Venezuela, still a long road to reconciliation
The opposition coalition participates in the local elections monitored by international observers on November 21. But recent months show the reconciliation and democratic process, entrenched in international politics, is still fragile in Venezuela.
Also elsewhere in the world…
- Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, a son of Muammar Gaddafi, registered on Sunday to run for presidential elections in Libya at the end of the year.
- In Chile, two politicians propose a bill to prohibit armed and police forces from using animals like dogs or horses for public order.
- The United Arab Emirates announced its intention to buy South Korea’s anti-aircraft missiles for $3.5 billion. It will also buy autonomous vessels for submarine detection to Israel.
- Last week, an Israeli couple was suspected of espionage in Turkey after photographing the Istanbul presidential palace. They were released and came back to Israel on November 18.
- Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed on a ceasefire on November 16 after one of the deadliest clashes in a year in which at least 8 people died. A peace agreement was signed in 2020 between the countries, but Azerbaijan wants a corridor to reach Nakhchivan, an isolated, autonomous territory of the country separated by Armenia. It would also directly connect Baku with its Turkish ally.
