Thousands of businesses in Malawi closed in protest this week against new tax changes, while China overturned the death sentence of a Canadian citizen, signaling a potential diplomatic thaw. In other international developments, the US increased beef imports from Argentina, Canada and France opened consulates in Greenland, and Syria and Saudi Arabia signed multibillion-dollar investment deals.
In Malawi, shop owners and small businesses demonstrated in the four main cities, forcing a delay in the introduction of the Electronic Tax Invoicing System (EIS). According to The Guardian, the business owners claimed the new tax regime would cripple their livelihoods. Demonstrations included thousands of people who signed petitions that were presented to tax authorities.
China overturned the death sentence of Canadian Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, a Canadian official announced on Friday. Schellenberg was detained on drug charges in 2014. This decision comes as Prime Minister Mark Carney seeks to boost trade ties with Beijing, according to The Guardian.
Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation to increase the US's low-tariff imports of Argentinian beef. A White House official had previously announced the move in October, which sparked fury from US cattle ranchers. Economists have said the change will likely have little impact on prices, according to The Guardian.
Canada and France opened diplomatic consulates in Nuuk, Greenland, on Friday, demonstrating support for their NATO ally Denmark and the Arctic island. The move comes after US efforts to secure control of the semi-autonomous Danish territory, according to The Guardian. Canada had promised to open a consulate in 2024.
Finally, Syria and Saudi Arabia signed a major investment package spanning aviation, energy, real estate, and telecommunications. Syrian Investment Authority chief Talal al-Hilali announced the deals on Saturday, including the development of a new international airport in Aleppo and a telecommunications project called SilkLink, according to Al Jazeera. The deals come as Damascus seeks to rebuild after a 14-year civil war.
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