The CorporateDispatch.com Week - 5th October 2019

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Cover Story \\ NEVERENDING

COVER STORY \\Â

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street, Central London, Britain, 25 September 2019. On 24 September, the Supreme Court ruled that the suspension of parliament by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was unlawful.

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THE WEEK THAT WAS...

Jesmond Saliba In the latest development related to the revelations about the pressure by US President Trump on Ukraine, the House Democrats sent a subpoena to the White House requesting a vast range of documents about President Trump’s dealings with Ukraine and efforts to cover up his actions. This development followed the reluctance by Trump and the White House to provide information as requested by the House on time. During the week more revelations were made, including pressure by the US on Australia, this time to undermine special counsel Mueller credibility. The request by the house calls for documents and communications that are highly delicate and if handed over by the Oct. 18 deadline, the records could provide keys to understanding what transpired between the two countries and what steps, if any, the White House has taken to cover it up.

The Brexit saga enters its last month, as the countdown now entered its last lap. The EU wasn’t much excited with the latest proposals submitted by the British government. The diplomatic tug-of-war between the UK and the EU continued to intensify, accompanied by a narrative which is sounding more like as who to be ‘cornered’ into accepting a deal, a new deal or otherwise go ahead with a no-deal. Having said that, towards the end of the week new revelations in court showed that the British government is ready to request for another delay if no deal is reached by the 19th of October.

The protests in Hong Kong entered a delicate phase as in the last days, two protestors were admitted to hospital following injuries they suffered from bullets shot at them by enforcement officers.

The protests intensifed in a particular week for China, as it celebrated its 70th anniversary.

In Brussels we had the hearing of the various commissioner designates nominated by the Member states. Malta’s nominee, Helena Dalli, had an intense hearing but managed to secure the necessary two-thirds support. Von Der Leyen’s plans only suffered one major hiccup as the Hungarian nominee wasn’t accepted.

Orban, nominated the current EU ambassador, a move which however wasn’t welcomed by the diplomatic circles in Brussels.

Former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz's center-right Austrian People's Party (OVP) has come in first in Austria's snap parliamentary polls. Despite the People's Party's strong showing, it will not have a majority in parliament and Mr Kurz will need coalition partners. Analysts say that Kurz may change the drift of his party and government, and rebrand them as ‘centrist’, but it mainly illustrates how right-wing the Austrian and European centre have become.

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TRUMP UNDERCUT BY IMPEACHMENT

Matthew Bugeja Donald J Trump is looking down the barrel of a metaphorical gun once again. Trump has been one of the most controversial national leaders in recent memory, with the native New Yorker facing fierce opposition to his Presidency from Democrats in a way which mirrors what his predecessor, Barack Obama, faced from Republicans.

However, whilst Obama faced some political crises, not least the Benghazi episode, Trump’s political firestorms are normally ones of his own doing. The Mueller investigation sought to determine the depth and breadth of alleged Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential Elections - and to determine whether there was any attempt to “collude” (albeit not the legal term) with the Russians to bring about an unfair advantage for the Trump campaign. The investigation cleared Trump’s campaign of any coordinated attempt to work with the Russians, but stopped short of declaring him innocent of obstructing justice, not least because according to Justice Department guidance, a sitting President cannot be indicted for any criminal charges.

Now, Trump was accused by a CIA whistleblower of acting inappropriately by asking the Ukrainian Prime Minister, Volodymyr Zelensky, to reopen an investigation into Democratic candidate Joe Biden’s son which had been previously closed. In the days prior to the phone call between Trump and Zelensky, the US had withheld some $400 million in military aid to Kiev, which Trump’s opponents are alleging was done in order to put pressure on Ukraine to accede to Trump’s request.

Some Democrats have long called for Trump’s impeachment. But Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives has long resisted such a move, arguing it would strengthen Trump’s hand going into the 2020 election, unless it had broad support.

Pelosi has now changed her tune, saying that Trump’s behaviour merits a thorough investigation by Congress, with Democratic-controlled committees such as the Intelligence and Justice committees conducting their own analysis. The aim? To impeach Trump.

The problem facing the Democrats, however, is one of simple math - Trump can be impeached by the House of Representatives with a simple majority of 50% + 1, and he will be, barring an internal Democratic rebellion. Their problem lies within the Senate. In order to remove the President from his position, the Senate, following a House impeachment, must vote with a ⅔ majority after conducting its own investigations into the matter. The Republicans control 52 seats in the Senate, the Democrats 46, with a further two members being independent (although they are allied with the Democrats). For Trump to be removed from office, 66 individuals would need to vote in favour - meaning the Democrats would need to convince 18 Republican Senators to remove their party’s President. A tall order indeed.

The only way this will happen is if these Republican Senators feel that the President is a greater liability to their party than his removal would be. So far, most Republicans have largely fallen in line behind Trump since the 2016 election, even if some of them were vehemently against him in the first place. Trump has widespread support amongst the Republican base.

Going against him may lead to a backlash amongst the constituents of would-be Republican rebels. Not an easy position to be in. What is curious here is that Nancy Pelosi, despite her previous statements, has decided to move forward on impeachment. She knows that it may well backfire on her party in the period leading up to a Presidential election next year. So she is trying to move proceedings forward as quickly as possible.

This is a big political gamble on the part of the Democrats, and one that I cannot say I fully grasp as yet. They know they will lose the Presidency if they do not convince the American public of the case for impeachment, but they have moved ahead anyway. They may know something we don’t. What is certain is that this will complicate Trump’s re-election strategy, and mean he will need to divert attention and resources from his campaign, and his domestic and foreign agenda to defend himself in the impeachment process. This may weaken him in the run up to 2020, while emboldening those participating in the Democratic primaries.

Maybe Pelosi and the Democrats are playing the long game. But it is a big gamble, and the Democrats have gone all in on impeachment. Next year will be a mess in US politics, which may anger the US President, whose behaviour will become even more erratic. Interesting times lie ahead.

CHI NA

AT

70

Tonio Galea China at 70 China this week commemorated the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949. A celebration of a country that has come a long way even if its core political values have remained the same. A celebration held amid the continuous protests in Hong Kong and what many consider as the biggest challenge to the Communist Party’s hold on power since the Tiananmen protests in 1989.

China has since developed at an extraordinary pace, but it has also remained one of the world's most restrictive states. In the meantime, that tight grip on its citizens showed a slight tremble as the dose of violence in Hong Kong keeps increasing at the same pace of the student protests. Many of Hong Kong’s residents never really adjusted to Beijing’s authority instead of London’s; even though they enjoy much more liberty than other parts of China, it is still inferior to what they had before.

The situation is not improving, and China and Hong Kong are both treading a very delicate balance trying to avoid a repeat of 1989. During all this, might was once again prominent at the much-anticipated military parade which demonstrated China’s military power.

Military parades come in various shapes and sizes and in most countries carry much more weight that what first meets the eye.This week, all eyes were on China’s in Beijing. The military parade showcased the country’s rise to global superpower status flaunting the height of country’s military and technological levels as well as its economic strength. The great event was accompanied by President Xi Jinping’s promise that “no force can shake the status of this great nation”.

Tuesday’s parade underscored China’s rapid military modernization in both conventional and nuclear capabilities with the latter, though often ignored, rapidly growing in qualitative terms.

EUROPE EXPLAINED www.corporatedispatch.eu

B RUS S E L S

VI E W

P OI NT

SIX TOPICS HELENA DALLI WAS GRILLED ABOUT Denise Grech Former Equality Minister Helena Dalli faced a tough three-hour hearing at the European Parliament in the hopes of becoming the first European Commissioner for Equality. Denise Grech was in Brussels to report on the six main topics the Maltese nominee was grilled about.

1. Rule of law - Dr Dalli was asked about Malta’s track record on the rule of law, particularly

following the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia and revelations in the Panama Papers.

The first question jumped right into questioning about the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia. She was asked “are you comfortable with the investigation into the assassination?” On the Panama Papers and Konrad Mizzi’s lack of resignation, Dr Dalli was quick to say: “I would have done things differently”. Daphne Caruana Galizia’s death, she said, was a femicide. “We wanted to have the involvement of European institutions. There has been significant progress.

I will do all my power to guarantee a free press free from harassment or discrimination,” she said.

2. Abortion - She was also asked whether she would guarantee “family-planning” and

sexual and reproductive rights for everyone.On this, Dr Dalli said she was “a committed feminist and you have my word that I will do everything possible to protect sexual and reproductive health rights”.

3. Gender pay gap - Asked what she will do to diminish the gender pay gap, and

committed to work on a proposal for pay transparency in the first months of her legislature.Sometimes women, even if they start work with an equally qualified and equally experienced man, because of reduced hours or because they need to take part-time end up earning less than their colleagues, she said. Not only that, but even your pension will be affected because they paid less contributions, she added.

HELENA DALLI'S HEARING 4. Disability - She was also asked about what she will do to

promote the rights of those with disabilities. “I shall be working hard to unblock the equal treatment directive and continue with implementation of UN convention on rights of people with disability. We have the instruments and we can work with the instruments we have,” she insisted.

5. Gender identity - MEPs also asked what the former

Equality Minister will do to ensure that other European Member States will be open to accepting those with a different gender identity than their birth markers. How will she promote transgender rights, especially given Malta’s progressive track record, MEPs asked. “I will explain that sexual orientation is not a choice,” she said. “In some member states, there’s less than 50 per cent of people who believe that LGBTI people should have equal rights to heterosexuals. This is the environment we are working with.

There’s a lot of work going on, so we will now have to evaluate the outcome of the current list of actions and then propose strong measures,” she said.

6. Glass ceiling - Dr Dalli was also questioned on what

she will do to destroy what has been termed as the ‘glass ceiling’ – a barrier in society that stops women from having the same success as men. “I am a firm believer that we should eliminate stereotypes and have more women in STEM,” Dr Dalli said. “We must really address stereotypes,” she added, noting that IT cannot remain a man’s domain.

"

We must really address stereotypes - Dr Helena Dalli

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The Story \\ CONCERN

police and security forces establish a security perimeter near Paris police headquarters after a T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â French man has been killed after attacking officers with a knife in Paris, France, 03 October 2019. According to recent reports, four people were killed, including the attacker. EPA-EFE/IAN LANGSDON

The Story \\ BACKTRACKING

T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Britain's

Prime Minister Boris Johnson delivers his keynote speech at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, Britain, 02 October 2019. The Conservative Party Conference runs from 29 September to 02 October 2019. EPA-EFE/NEIL HALL

The Story \\ WINNER

Kurz, leader of Austrian People's Party (OeVP) delivers a statement after a meeting with T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Sebastian Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen at the Presidential Office, part of the Hofburg Palace, in Vienna, Austria, 02 October 2019. The OeVP Party came first in the just concluded Austrian elections EPA-EFE/CHRISTIAN BRUNA.

The Story \\ CONFLICT

Palestinian man and a child sit on rubble of a torn down building that had been under construction T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Abefore Israeli bulldozers demolished it in the West Bank village of Biet Ommar, north of Hebron, 03 October 2019. The Israeli army regularly demolishes Palestinian buildings in the administrative division Area C of the West Bank because Palestinians often do not have the Israeli permits needed to build houses. EPA-EFE/ABED AL HASHLAMOUN

The Story \\ WEATHER

T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â A Bangladeshi person holds an umbrella during a rainy day in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 01 October 2019.

EPA-EFE/MONIRUL ALAM

The Story \\ BIRTHDAY

float carrying a portrait of Chinese President Xi Jinping, moves past Tiananmen Square during a T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Amilitary parade marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Beijing, China, 01 October 2019. China commemorates the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on 01 October 2019 with a grand military parade and mass pageant. EPAEFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

The Story \\ ROYAL HEIR

and Catherine, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit the Aga Khan Centre in London, Britain, T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â William 02 October 2019. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are set to visit Pakistan. EPA-EFE/ANDY RAIN

The Story \\ LEADERSHIP

Francis arrives to lead his Wednesday general audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Pope 02 October 2019. EPA-EFE/CLAUDIO PERI

The Story \\ PROTEST clash with police agents during a day of protest against the economic measures T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Demonstrators adopted by the Ecuadorian Government led by President Lenin Moreno, in Quito, Ecuador, 03 October 2019. Moreno announced the elimination of gasoline subsidies, labor reforms, tax changes and other economic measures in order to meet conditions imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). EPA-EFE/Jose Jacome

The Story \\ REBEL

set fire to a China National Day poster in Hong Kong, China, 04 October 2019. Hong Kong T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Protesters has witnessed several months of ongoing mass protests, originally triggered by a now-withdrawn extradition bill to mainland China that have turned into a wider pro-democracy movement. EPAEFE/FAZRY ISMAIL

The Story \\ ANNIVERSARY

Cengiz (C), the fiancee of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, CEO of Amazon and T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Hatice Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos (L-2), Yemeni Nobel Prize winner Tawakkol Karman (L) and participants stand near by memorial stone during an event marking marks one-year anniversary of the assassination of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul, Turkey, 02 October 2019 EPA-EFE/TOLGA BOZOGLU

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The Story \\ CRASH

THE STORY \\Â

general view of the Antonov An-12 military aircraft that emergency crash-landed in Lviv region, western Ukraine, 04 October 2019. On 04 October 2019 morning, the An-12 transport aircraft had disappeared from radar when approaching Danylo Halytskyi International Airport Lviv at a distance of 13.7 km and was found in 1,5 km distance from runway. According to Ukrainian officials, five people were dead and three injured. EPA- EPA-EFE/MYKOLA TY

The Story \\ MIGRATION

from Afghanistan arrive on a dinghy on the coast of Skala Sikamias, on the island of Lesvos, T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Migrants Greece, 01 October 2019. EPA-EFE/STRATIS BALASKAS

The Story \\ DETERMINATION

THE STORY \\Â

Carola Rackete (R), German captain of the rescue vessel 'Sea-Watch 3', addresses a European Parliament Committee's public hearing on the situation of Search and Rescue operations in the Mediterranean next to Tamas Molnar (L), European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, in view of latest developments and the legal framework in Brussels, Belgium, 03 October 2019. EPAEFE/OLIVIER HOSLET

The Story \\ FLOODED

view of submerged vehicles in a flooded parking lot in the aftermath of Typhoon Mitag, in T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â AGangneung, South Korea, 03 October 2019. According to local media reports, Typhoon Mitag made landfall in the southern part of the Korean peninsula leaving at least four dead, two injured. EPAEFE/YONHAP

The Story \\ DROUGHT

owner Dino Rizzato, Minister for Water Resources David Littleproud and Treasurer Josh T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Orchard Frydenberg in a dried up dam at Cottonvale apple orchard, outside the drought ravaged town of Stanthorpe, Australia, 04 October 2019. EPA-EFE/MICK TSIKAS

The Story \\ UNIFICATION

view of the fair ground at the 'June 17' street during the festival of 'Day of German Unity', T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Ain general Berlin, Germany, 03 October 2019. 'Day of German Unity' commemorating the unification of the once divided country on 03 October 1990. EPA-EFE/OMER MESSINGER

The Story \\ LEARNING

monks and devotees attend second day the main Buddhist temple of Tsuglagkhang, near the T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Tibetan town of Dharamsala, India, 04 October 2019. His Holiness holding three days of teachings on Nagarjuna's The Precious Garland of the Middle Way (uma rinchen trengwa) at the main Tibetan Temple. EPA-EFE/SANJAY BAID

The Story \\ ANNIVERSARY

Indian laborer cleans the statue of Mahatma Gandhi on the eve of Gandhi Jayanthi or Birth T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â An Anniversary preparations, in Bangalore, India, 01 October 2019. Indian commemorates the 150th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi. EPA-EFE/JAGADEESH NV

The Story \\ EXPRESSION

Punk from Brazil, who has 75 percent body modifications including an eye tattoo, poses for T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Zombie visitors at the International London Tattoo Convention, in London, Britain, 27 September 2019. The convention runs from 27 to 29 September in Tobacco Dock and features some of the best tattoo artists from across the world. EPA-EFE/VICKIE FLORES

The Story \\ CARRY ON

demonstrate during the International Day of Global Action for the access to Legal and Safe T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â People Abortion in front of the Congress in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 27 September 2019. EPA-EFE/Juan Ignacio Roncoroni

The Story \\ SPORTSMANSHIP

Busby (L) of Aruba is helped by Braima Suncar Dabo (R) of Guinea-Bissau during the men's T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Jonathan 5,000m heats at the IAAF World Athletics Championships 2019 at the Khalifa Stadium in Doha, Qatar, 27 September 2019. EPA-EFE/SRDJAN SUKI

The Story \\ HEIGHTS

Braz of Brazil competes in the men's Pole Vault final during the IAAF World Athletics T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Thiago Championships 2019 at the Khalifa Stadium in Doha, Qatar, 01 October 2019. EPA-EFE/DIEGO AZUBEL

The Story \\ PASSION

Minister Boris Johnson kisses his partner Carrie Symonds after delivering his speech during T H E S T O R Y \ \ Â Prime the Conservative Party Conference at the Manchester Convention Centre, Britain, 02 October 2019.

EPA-EFE/STEFAN ROUSSEAU / POOL

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