Week 138 (24-31/01/2022)

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Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison officially purchased the copyright for the Aboriginal flag. | Picture: Harold Thomas

AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST

Libya’s Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah has arrived in N’Djamena, Chad to meet Chadian prime and foreign ministers (25/01). During the meeting, Dbeibah expressed his support for Chad’s fight against terrorism and mercenaries (25/01). He also expressed his wish to strengthen the cooperation between the two countries, particularly on issues of border security, economic, and illegal immigrations. 

In his visit to Tehran, Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey said his country was ready to set a broad and elaborative cooperation with Iran (25/01). Dussey encouraged Iranian companies to work together in implementing development projects in the African country. Dussey and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian also agreed to establish a joint working committee and trade delegations exchange. Moreover, they talked about the possibility of opening embassies in Lome and Tehran.

Qatar’s Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is scheduled to meet the president of the United States (US) to talk about European energy crisis (26/01). Should Russia invade Ukraine, energy-producing countries and companies might have to reroute their supplies to Europe. In addition to the energy talks, Qatar and the US will talk about “promoting security and prosperity in the Gulf and the broader Middle East region” and “supporting the people of Afghanistan”.

Jordan has agreed to supply 250 megawatts of electricity to Lebanon via Syria (26/01). The electricity crisis in Lebanon, which started in mid-2021, has paralyzed most of the country’s activities. Despite the new deal with Jordan and Syria, some people argued that the energy crisis could only be ended if they restructured the Lebanese energy sector.

ASIA 

China promised to provide more investment to Central Asian countries (Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan). The promise was conveyed during a virtual jamboree on January 25 (25/01) to celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations. In the meeting, Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed to open China’s domestic market to more Central Asian goods and agricultural products; to bring trade turnover between China and the region to USD 70 billion by 2030; as well as to pledge USD 500 million in grants within next three years for socially important projects and 50 million more doses of Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines this year. China emphasized the need of stability in the region for all the plans to materialize.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Japan has reached a record high for the fifth straight day. As of Saturday (29/01), the nationwide tally came to 84,936, more than tripled from two weeks ago. The surge in cases is attributed to the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

Reported on Reuters (29/01), foreign ministers of ASEAN member countries will meet next month to discuss humanitarian aid for Myanmar. The meeting, which will be hosted by Cambodia, has been postponed earlier because some ministers had expressed difficulties in attending. Meanwhile, Prak Sokhonn, Cambodia’s foreign minister and ASEAN special envoy, is preparing for his first visit to Myanmar. His priorities are to implement the ASEAN five-point consensus which will be discussed during the upcoming ASEAN foreign ministers’ retreat. The five points of consensus are an immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar, constructive dialogue among all parties, the appointment of a special ASEAN envoy to facilitate dialogue, the provision of humanitarian assistance, and a visit by the envoy to Myanmar.

Gunmen killed (30/01) a Christian priest and wounded another as the victims drove home from church in Peshawar, Pakistan. The attack on the priests is the latest on Pakistan’s tiny Christian minority that has been targeted several times by militant in recent years. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

AUSTRALIA AND OCEANIA 

Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison officially purchased the copyright for the Aboriginal flag for $20 million (24/01). The Aboriginal flag was designed by Harold Thomas, a Luritja artist, and first flown in Adelaide in July 1971. This flag has been an important symbol for Indigenous Australians for decades. But unlike the Australian national flag, it cannot be used indiscriminately. After agreeing to buy the copyright, Scott Morisson said the Aboriginal flag would be managed like the Australian national flag where it would be free to use. The flag logo can be used on sports t-shirts, websites, or any other medium without having to ask permission or pay a fee. 

Kiribati has begun its first COVID-19 lockdown after being pandemic-free for two years (24/01). The island nation reported its first case in dozens of passengers from Fiji. President Taeti Maamau did not say how long the lockdown would last. Meanwhile, Samoa also imposed a lockdown after there were COVID-19 cases on repatriated flights from Brisbane, Australia. All cases are believed to be of the new variant of Omicron. 

Fiji received equipment donations from New Zealand to improve disaster response efforts (27/01). The donations include a VHF analog repeater, power supply unit, antenna, feeder cable, and handheld radio. The New Zealand High Commissioner said they had learnt from the tsunami in Tonga that communication preparedness is important at the height of any disaster. Furthermore, New Zealand will continue its partnership and ensure it has the facilities and equipment to face future challenges. 

In Australia, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved the Pfizer vaccine as the first booster for 16 and 17-year-olds (28/01). Health Minister Greg Hunt said after receiving the green light from the TGA, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ATAGI) would decide when the booster could be given. The Pfizer vaccine has been used as a booster in the United States (US), Israel, and the United Kingdom (UK). Meanwhile, adults can choose to get either the Pfizer or Moderna.

EUROPE 

Representatives of the Taliban, the European Union (EU), France, Germany, Italy, Norway, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US) met in Oslo to talk about the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan (24/01). The closed-door talks were facilitated by Norway, but Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt insisted that her country nor[ns1]  the rest of the Western countries recognized the Taliban government. The talks were strictly aimed at preventing an even worse humanitarian disaster in Afghanistan.  

Some of the staff and dependents of the UK embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, are being withdrawn due to Russia’s growing military threat (24/01). Despite the withdrawal, the embassy remains open to carry out essential work. Before the UK’s order came, the US had asked the relatives of its embassy staff to return home as a “Russian invasion could come at any time”. Meanwhile, Germany has allowed its diplomats’ relatives in Ukraine to leave if they wished. Russia has repeatedly denied the West’s accusation that it would invade Ukraine. But Mark Lyall Grant, a former UK national security adviser, said that with Russia building up troops in Belarus, an attack on Ukraine becomes more likely.   

Denmark will withdraw its forces from Mali not long after it deployed 105 military personnel to the West African country on January 18 (27/01). The decision was taken after the Malian government insisted that it had yet to approve Denmark’s request to send its troops to join its European allies in Mali. Several European countries have sanctioned Mali for its failure in organizing elections after two coups. Tensions escalated following Mali’s decision to deploy Wagner Group, a private military contractor supported by Russia, which is deemed not suitable for the European Union (EU)’s mission. 

President Alexander Lukashenko said that Belarus would fight alongside Russia if it invaded Ukraine (29/01). Russia has repeatedly said it does not want a war. However, should a war take place, Lukashenko warned that “there would be no winners. Everyone will lose everything”.

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN 

Reported on BBC (24/01), Lourdes Maldonado Lopez, a journalist from Mexico, was shot dead in Tijuana on Sunday (23/01). Lopez is the third journalist to be killed this year. The motives remain unclear and authorities have yet to arrest the perpetrator.

Droughts that hit Brazil and Argentina are predicted to increase demand for soybeans from the United States (US). As reported by S&P Global on Thursday (25/01), the US soybean’s export demand could potentially soar by 1 million mt. This increase will also influence soybean prices.

South America is predicted to be hit by a heatwave next week. As reported by The Guardian on Thursday (25/01), temperatures in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay are predicted to reach 40°C. The heat is predicted to exacerbate the drought in South America.

The annual meeting of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization (SPRFMO) failed to resolve the problem of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing on Saturday (29/01). This led to disappointment from CALAMASUR, a group of representatives of the squid industry from Mexico, Chile, Peru, and Ecuador. Previously, this meeting is expected to resolve the Chinese vessel activities that are worrying local stakeholders.

THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA

Canadian authorities have identified four immigrants who froze to death at the Canada-United States (US) border. On Friday (28/01), authorities announced that the four immigrants were Indian nationals. The four immigrants died while trying to cross towards the US.

A winter storm struck the east coast of the US and Canada on Friday (28/01). This storm is predicted to strike several areas, namely New York City, Boston, and Newfoundland.  Authorities warned residents to be on the lookout for flooding and strong winds.

President Joe Biden said on Friday (28/01) that the US will send 8,500 troops to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies in Eastern Europe. The deployment is expected to have a deterrent effect on Russia regarding the Ukraine crisis. Previously, the US military had also made preparations based on the geographical conditions of Ukraine.

British Columbia (B.C) province in Canada plans to lift some of its COVID-19 restrictions next month. On Friday (28/01), the Health Officer stated that the lifting of the restrictions was due to the high vaccination rate. Furthermore, experts also believe that the Omicron wave has reached its peak.