A recap of international news stories seen by Newsendip: The European Union has started its ban on microplastics, repeated thefts in Chilean ministries, the ban on laughing gas in the United Kingdom, and more.
- Start of the ban on microplastics in Europe
- Repeated thefts of laptops in Chile’s Ministry buildings
- A work on influencers’ misleading behaviors
- Portuguese judges and mental health
- British ban on laughing gas
- Canadian English-speaking students not so welcome in Quebec
- Ecuador elects young businessman turned politician
- In case you missed it: news in Australia, India, Poland and the Philippines
European Union’s ban on microplastics has taken effect
The European Commission has adopted a series of measures to prohibit selling products with microplastics. The ban has started with the sale of loose glitter and microbead products, especially used in cosmetics as an exfoliating agent in some soaps, scrubs, toothpaste, and more.
The repeated thefts of laptops in Chilean Ministries
In Chile, seven laptops were stolen from the Ministry of Finance by an intruder. The minister of interior considers it only “common robbery,” but events of this kind have been repeated in public buildings in recent months.
European Commission to work on misleading commercial practices by influencers
The European Commission is about to work on misleading commercial promotions by influencers, in order to clarify standards and ensure greater transparency. On Monday, October 16, it also launched the Influencer Legal Hub, an online platform to inform and educate influencers about the rules governing online commerce and the advertising sector, such as when to disclose deals to an audience.
As of yet, there is no clear European definition of influencers, but the influence market is expected to reach over 21 billion dollars by 2023, according to the Influencer Marketing Hub.
Portuguese judges take refuge in drugs to combat stress
In Portugal, a survey of 690 judges, lawyers and prosecutors conducted by the Association of Portuguese Judges, and supported by other judicial organizations, shows that almost 9% of judges use drugs, such as cannabis or cocaine, to cope with professional stress. The study authors describe these figures as “alarming, given the risk of jeopardizing the principle of integrity” of the profession, and aim to highlight the enormous pressure they face through their decisions.
According to the study, more than one in ten judges also use alcohol to cope with stress at work; they also use more anxiolytics and seek more psychological or psychiatric support than the other two professions.
UK announces ban on laughing gas
From November 8, the British government will ban all possession and consumption of nitrous oxide, more commonly known as laughing gas. Penalties will be up to 2 years imprisonment for repeat users and 14 years for dealers. The Minister of State in the Home Office, Chris Philp, justified the decision by stating that it was part of a policy of “zero-tolerance approach towards antisocial behavior and flagrant drug taking in our public spaces.”
According to the Home Office, the substance will be exempt from the ban where there is a legitimate reason to possess it, for example in the catering industry, where nitrous oxide is used in whipped cream siphons, or in maternity wards, where it is used as pain relief during labor. No license will be required to carry nitrous oxide, but individuals will have to demonstrate that they have no intention of using it for its psychoactive effects.
Last summer, waste crews cleaning up the Notting Hill Carnival estimated to have collected 13 tons of laughing gas canisters from the streets out of the 300 tons of waste.
English-speaking students from other Canadian provinces not welcome in Quebec
The Quebec government has announced that it would double tuition fees for students from other Canadian provinces. Tuition fees will rise to 17,000 Canadian dollars (12,500 U.S. dollars) instead of the usual 9,000 Canadian dollars. The autonomist government aims to increase funding for French-speaking universities. English-speaking universities were not consulted, and they fear losing a third of their students, dreading a difficult transition. According to Quebec Premier François Legault, this decision is essential for the “survival of the French language.”
Ecuador elects young businessman turned politician, following governmental scandal
The 35-year-old conservative, Daniel Noboa, the son of one of the wealthiest businessmen in Ecuador, won the presidential elections this weekend. Noboa ran a campaign focused on stronger enforcement of violent crime and bringing a “New Ecuador” as the previous presidency ended in a corruption trial and murders have become a national concern.
Also, in case you missed it:
- X (ex-Twitter) users in New Zealand and the Philippines now need to pay 1 U.S. dollar per year in order to publish and interact with content. According to Elon Musk, this test aims to counter the abusive use of bots.
- The Indian Supreme Court has decided not to recognize same-sex marriage. According to the Supreme Court, this is rather a matter for the Parliament.
- In Poland, the centrist, pro-European opposition led by Donald Tusk won the parliamentary elections. They will now have to cohabit with the far-right, eurosceptic government of Mateusz Morawiecki.
- Australians voted overwhelmingly “no” in the referendum on constitutional recognition of Indigenous peoples.
