Week 171 (12-18/09/2022)
Servicemen of the Ukrainian National Guard take positions in central Kyiv, Ukraine February 25, 2022. Picture: REUTERS
ASIA
Residents of areas across China that are under Covid lockdowns are complaining of a lack of food and other necessities (13/09). At least 30 areas have issued orders requiring tens of millions of people to remain indoors during partial or complete lockdowns. Ahead of the Communist party convention in October, authorities are frantically trying to contain local outbreaks.
Following recent severe floods, Pakistani health professionals are expressing concern about an impending health crisis in the nation (15/09). An estimated 1,500 people have died as a result of the flooding since mid-June, affecting 33 million people. Health experts are reporting an increase in dengue, malaria, and severe stomach diseases.
An alternate security summit to the West featured Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On September 15 and 16, members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which also includes Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, and Central Asian countries, will meet in Uzbekistan.
In Myanmar, a freelance television broadcaster was given a three-year sentence of hard labor (17/09). The host of a BBC Media Action show created for regional audiences, Htet Htet Khine, was detained in August 2021. Since the military overthrew the government in a coup in February 2021, numerous journalists and activists have been imprisoned.
Middle East and Africa
Cholera outbreak becoming a concern in Syria (13/9). The United Nations (UN), as reported, takes the outbreak very seriously. The UN argued that since the outbreak threatening the entire Middle East region and beyond, the officials will take more serious actions toward it. Further, the outbreak is focused in provinces like Aleppo and Deir al-Zour.
The incident of child death in a kindergarten, made Qatar’s education authority furious (13/9). Qatari Ministry of Education and Higher Education made decision to close the kindergarten where a 4 years old child died in a tragic accident. The accident took place in the school bus in Al-Wakrah, Qatar.
Rebellion in Tigray, Ethiopia, got attacked by the Ethiopian military (14/9). The attack was airborne and carried by the Ethiopian air force through drones. The drone strike was targeting Mekelle, Tigray region’s capital to attack the rebellion forces. Many experts take a serious concern regarding the attack.
Flood is delaying schools opening day in Sudan (14/9). The opening of first day of school now becoming 2 October 2022. As reported, more than 600 schools were drowned by the flood. Then, at least 100 people have died in this disaster. Sudan takes the policy to focus on handling the disaster.
EUROPE
France Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has announced on Wednesday (14/09) that Francewill cap power and gas price increases at 15%. This policy comes to ease households’ energy pain after the worst energy crisis in decades as a result of Russia invasion of Ukraine. PM Borne said that the price cap will take effect from January while the electric cap will take effect from February. It is estimated that the price cap will costs $16 Billion and will prevent the household bills from doubling. This national policy follows similar plan that were discussed earlier in European Union. The EU plans to raise more than $140 Billion from energy companies to help households and business from increase in energy costs.
Ukraine has announced its armed forces successfully retaken more than 8000 km2 of area in the region in a counter-offensive conducted from early this week. The Ukrainian gains include the strategically important city of Kupiansk and Izium. Russia has explained that the withdrawal of troops was a strategically planned regrouping effort, not a rout as described by Ukraine. President Zelensky visited the town of Izium on Thursday (15/09) and said that the success of the recent offensive prove that Ukraine forces can use western supplied arms to great effect. Zelensky ends his speech by calling for more western aid to Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that the recent Ukrainian gains won't change Russia's plans in Ukraine. Then, Ukrainian authorities announced on Friday (16/09) that they have found 440 burial sites near the recently retaken city of Izium. Ukraine authorities said that some of the graves were fresh and most of the corpses buried were civilian. This condition mirrors what is happening in the town of Bucha where in April, similar mass graves were also found after the Russian forces retreated from the area
Sweden’s Prime Minister, Magdalena Andersson resigned after her party, the left-leaning Social Democrats lost to the right-wing bloc composed of the Moderates, the Liberals and the Sweden Democrats Party in the latest Swedish Election. While the Social Democrats got the most vote with 30.4%, the left bloc lost out to the right-wing bloc with the right-wing bloc securing 176 in 349-member parliament. The surprise of the election is the rise of the far-right Sweden Democrats, projected to be the second biggest party replacing the Moderates.
NORTH AMERICA
The United States’ Biden Administration announced on Friday (16/09) of a further $600 million arms package for Ukraine to boost momentum. This military aid comes after the success of Ukraine counter offensive in the Kharkiv region. Biden authorised the latest military aid using Presidential Drawdown authority that enables the president to authorize transfers of weapons from US stockpiles surplus. The latest package include High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), night vision goggles, claymore mines, mine clearing equipment, 105mm artillery rounds and 155mm precision guided artillery rounds according to the Pentagon.
The United States announced sanctions Friday (16/09) on Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security and its minister Esmail Khatib, an unprecedented cyberattack against NATO ally Albania. Iran government allegedly carried out the attack on July 15 according to the Albanian government. Albania broke diplomatic ties with Iran on Wednesday (14/09). The US has identified one active Iran hacker group called "MuddyWater," which the US said has conducted cyber campaigns since 2018. While the attack failed and doesn’t cause any lasting damage, US Treasury Under Secretary Brian Nelson said that the latest sanctions shows that the US will not tolerate Iran’s increasingly aggressive cyber behaviour target to the US and its NATO allies.
According to the latest poll, nearly 60 per cent of Canadians want a referendum held on Canada ties to the British monarchy. This is despite nearly equal support both for and against preserving those ties. The Ipsos poll, conducted just days after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, found people clamouring for a referendum on the role of the British Monarchy has gone up since 2021, from 53% to 58% today. 82% of respondents said they approve of Queen Elizabeth’s performance as monarch compared to just 56% agree Charles will do a good job in her place. Even worse for King Charles, only 44% has positive view of him. The standout point is the poll numbers suggest that Prince William and Prince Harry has more support than their father with majority of Canadian held favourable view for both. This poll was conducted by online interview with a sample of 1,001 Canadians.
Mexico has announced on Friday (16/09) that they have captured convicted drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero. U.S. Attorney General, Merrick Garland has said that they will seek immediate extradition. Rafael Quintero was infamous for ordering the kidnapping and killing of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena. He was also the leader of the disbanded Guadalajara cartel
PACIFIC
Ratu Meli Bainimarama, Son of the Prime Minister of Fiji, was arrested in Australia on charges of domestic violence (12/09). Bainimarama is 35 years old and residing in Australia on a non-resident visa. He was arrested in Queensland State on Thursday at the request of NSW State police and transferred to NSW last Friday. The trial schedule in Sydney court will take place on Thursday.
Australia offers flight assistance to London for south Pacific representatives (14/09). Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he did not want Pacific leaders to Miss Elizabeth's funeral because of logistical problems. The aid was provided to 10 Pacific countries, and so far only the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Tuvalu have received assistance. Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Vanuatu could still accept Australia's offer.
Papua New Guinea marks its 47th year of independence (17/09). Papua New Guinea was officially declared on September 16, 1975. PNG's Independence Day celebrations took place in Port Moresby without Prime Minister James Marape present as he was in England for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral. In addition, the flag is kept at half-mast in honor of the late Queen.
LATIN AMERICA
In Mexico, the phenomenon of globalization has had an impact on the lives of urban people (14/09). A wave of international visitors mostly from the United States has flooded Mexico City as they work effortlessly from the daily office commute due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Housing activists and some researchers say the influx of digital nomads is exacerbating inflation and turning the neighborhood into a bubble of exclusive expats, in a city known for its stark divide between rich and poor. Although Mexico City landlords can only raise rents by up to 10% per year by law, the rules are rarely enforced.
Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN) is not on the offensive position, as a symbol to pave the way for renewed peace talks (14/09). Beltran who leads the ELN delegation believes that renewed peace talks can bring peace in Colombia. It is supported by President Gustavo Petro who promises to seek peace by fulfilling the 2016 peace deal with FARC rebels and crime gangs.
Chile's president halted the acceptance of the new Israeli ambassador's credentials, caused by heightened military activity in the occupied West Bank (17/09). President Boric has been criticized by the opposition, and also by Chile’s Jewish community for his action toward Israel. In response to those action, Boric is firm in his stance about Israel illegally occupied Palestinian territory.
Water shortages happened in Haiti, as gunfire broke out and burning tires blocked streets during protests over fuel price hikes and crime (18/09). The most recent turmoil in the nation occurred at a time when gang violence had killed hundreds and driven thousands of people from their homes, and inflation had risen to its highest level in ten years. This has an impact on the difficulty of access to find drinking water and fuel oil, so that people cannot work to fulfil their necessity.