Week 157 (06-12/06/2022)
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AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST
Israel and Saudi Arabia are seeking to improve their relations, announced the two countries in a United States (US)-brokered talk (06/06). Although Israel and Saudi do not have any official diplomatic relation, they grow closer due to their common dislike of Iran. The “normalization” between Israel and Saudi also includes security and economic partnerships.
At least 38 people have been killed in a rampage attack inside a Catholic church in Ondo, Nigeria (07/06). The country is famous for its insurgency, terrorism, and military rebel, especially from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)-related group, Boko Haram. However, prior to the attack, Ondo was considered as one of Nigeria’s most peaceful states.
In Sudan, at least 27 people have been killed and dozens injured in a civilian clash (07/06). The clash was sparked by an ethnicities issue, between Arab and non-Arab tribes. The United Nations (UN) said that it was deeply concerned because Sudan has already grappled with humanitarian issues.
In Kuwait, the Indonesian national football team beat its host in a qualifying match for the 2023 Asian Cup Qualification Group A (09/06). The Indonesian team won 2-1 over Kuwait. This winning is the first time for Indonesia in 42 years.
ASIA
Japan and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) agreed to increase military cooperation and joint exercises. They shared concerns that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is causing an instability of the security matters in Europe and Asia. Previously, Japan has increased its military capabilities and cooperation with Europe, as well as its alliance with the US and other countries, in the face of China’s rise (07/06).
Cambodia and China denied (07/06) a report that they are building a secret naval facility for the Chinese fleet at Cambodia’s Ream base, which is strategically located on the Gulf of Thailand. Earlier, Australian new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese labeled the report “concerning”. In response, China asserted that “the transformation of Ream Naval Base is only to strengthen Cambodian naval forces’ capabilities to uphold maritime territorial sovereignty and crack down on sea crimes”.
China’s biggest city bordering North Korea, Dandong, has been locked down for more than a month due to successive waves of COVID-19, and for frustrated residents there is no end in sight (09/06). North Korea reported another 54,610 people with fever symptoms on Wednesday, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. Dandong officials have told residents they must continue to stay home and follow the pandemic control measures.
After consecutively cancelled for two years due to the pandemic, the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue will be held in Singapore (10/06). In this meeting, a total of 42 countries, including chief of defence are expected to attend. At the following event, Australia and China’s defence ministers met for the first time in three years, with the talks described as “an important first step” following a period of strained ties.
Activists’ groups in Nepal have organized its fourth annual Pride on Saturday (10/06). After being held virtually in the last two years due to COVID-19 pandemic, the Saturday’s march was the second time the event was held physically following its inception in 2019. The newly promulgated constitution of Nepal in September of 2015 has special provisions for sexual minorities, but the group has been demanding to complete its implementation. They particularly demand the legalization of same-sex marriage and the issue of adoption of children.
A youth in India has been arrested by authorities for posting a video containing threats to behead a former spokesperson who had made derogatory remarks about Prophet Mohammad (12/06). Indian Muslims have taken to the streets to protest anti-Islamic comments made by two members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in recent week. The video of derogatory remarks, which circulated on YouTube, has been taken down to quell further conflicts. Similar protests also took place in Bangladesh and Pakistan. In Bangladesh, people demanded to boycott Indian products and to hang those who insult the prophet. Meanwhile in Pakistan, Muslim countries were urged to cut diplomatic ties with New Delhi.
AUSTRALIA AND OCEANIA
People Just Like Us, a refugee advocacy group in Indonesia, appealed to Australia to reconsider its border policy (09/06). Nearly 14,000 refugees are stranded in Indonesia because Australia changed its policy to only accept a few dozen refugees each year from Indonesia. A spokesperson for the group also said that they wanted Australia to “dismantle” the offshore processing center as it was not “acceptable”.
The newly-appointed prime minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, hosted his New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Ardern on Friday (10/06) in Sydney. In what was his first visit by an overseas leader, Albanese expressed his intention to take the two countries’ relationship to “a new level”. The two prime ministers also talked about deepening and broadening the trans-Tasman partnership in terms of security, energy, and climate change challenges.
Fiji’s Supreme Court has finally lifted a stay order for Amadea, a Russian-owned superyacht which the Fijians authorities seized on April 13 (10/06). The Court said that having the vessel in the country was “costing the Fijian Government dearly” and that the public wanted Amadea to “sail out of Fiji waters”. The Court’s order means that the US can now seized the vessel and bring it to the country.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has agreed on a plan to pay French submarine maker Naval Group EUR 555 million (USD 584 million) in compensation to end the spat between Canberra and Paris (11/06). Last year, former Prime Minister Scott Morrison abruptly cancelled a longstanding submarine deal with France in favor of the United States (US) or the United Kingdom (UK)’s nuclear-powered submarines, angering French President Emmanuel Macron. In addition to fix strained relations with France, Albanese also rushes to mend relations with New Zealand and Pacific Island countries, who objected to Morrison’s lack of action in fighting climate change.
EUROPE
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could spark a global food crisis as it halts Kyiv’s Black Sea grain exports (08/06). To prevent this, the United Nations (UN) appealed to the two sides to agree to a solution. Turkey, a NATO member which has good relations with both Russia and Ukraine, said that it was ready to mediate a negotiation between Moscow and Kyiv, saying that the UN’s plea was “reasonable”.
The Czech Republic is considering to leave the 16+1, an investment platform designed by China for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) (08/06). Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský said China has not fulfilled its promises of “the large investment and mutually beneficial trade”, and thus making the Czech Republic to reconsider its participation. Some Czech officials also argued that Taiwan has invested more in the country than China.
Russia and China opened a new cross-border bridge, signalling deepening ties between the two countries (11/06). The bridge is part of Beijing’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Although Russia has been reticent about the initiative, it changed its stance in the wake of the Ukraine invasion. China has also sent a signal that it would help Russia navigate the West economic sanctions.
Clarence House refused to comment on the news reporting Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, expressing his disappointment at the UK’s controversial policy of sending asylum seekers to Rwanda (11/06). Reported in The Times, Prince Charles was said to be appalled by the British government’s approach on the asylum seekers issue and feared that it could overshadow a Commonwealth summit in Kigali, Rwanda, where he is set to represent his mother Queen Elizabeth II. Responding to the news, Clarence House insisted that the prince “remains politically neutral”.
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
Argentina’s border authorities detained a Boeing-747 from a Venezuelan airline on Monday (06/06). The aircraft flew from Mexico and set to land in Buenos Aires, but was diverted due to foggy conditions. The authorities find a mismatch between the manifest and the actual condition, and thus detained the crew which also includes workers from Iran.
Uruguay’s President Luis Lacalle Pou missed out on the Summit of Americas. It wasn’t a boycott though, as the President tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday (06/06). Other government officials will take his place at the Summit.
US Vice President Kamala Harris agreed on a collaborative framework with the Caribbean countries on Thursday (09/06). The agreement will see the US working on new clean energy projects and provide technical assistance. The issues related to climate change were voiced by many CARICOM countries, especially the Bahamas.
Authorities discovered seven bodies dumped in Huasteca, Mexico, on Thursday (09/06). It was suspected that they were victims of cartel violence in the country. Handwritten messages left at the scenes suggested the attacks were part of a rivalry between two cartels for control of Guanajuato.
THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA
The US is set to drop its COVID-19 testing requirements for airbound travelers. The move has been announced on Friday (10/06) and is set to go into effect at midnight on Sunday (12/06). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has full authority to reinstate the requirements if the new Omicron variants caused concerns.
The Summit of the Americas was held until Friday (10/06) in Los Angeles. As part of the Summit, the US initiated the Los Angeles Declaration of Migration and Protection. The US—alongside 20 other countries—committed to tackling different components of migration, including boosting temporary worker programs for home countries.
Canada’s Parliament members were evacuated from Parliament Hill over “credible” bomb threats on Saturday (11/06). The police detained at least 2 people and searched two cars parked nearby as a part of the investigation. However, the bomb threat was false and the area was cleared by the Police in the evening.
Canada and Denmark have settled on the disputed Hans Island, located between Canada and the Danish-territory in Greenland on Saturday (11/06). Even though it is disputed since the 1970s, both the Canadians and Danes never took coercive actions on the Arctic Island. The indigenous Inuit communities also hailed the peaceful settlement.