- With regard to the conflict in Afghanistan (noting that
Afghanistan was once a peaceful and modern society, even allowing women in
miniskirts, before the Russian invasion – see here):
a notorious warlord, who has been accused of many atrocities, has returned to the capital after signing an agreement to “accept the constitution and abandon violence”; Pakistani and Afghani troops have exchanged fire across the border, killing several; - With regard to Africa, the Africa
Center for Strategic Studies (and other sources) has (noting the risks of atrocities in Eritrea):
- in addition to the risk of being murdered, those with albinism in Africa are at risk from skin cancer;
- military forces on both sides have been withdrawing from disputed parts of the Western Sahara, raising hopes for negotiation;
- there is a need to keep the humanitarian needs of Mali’s people in the international spotlight;
- Somali forces have mistakenly killed a government Minister; a warning to maritime traffic to not be complacent off the coast of Somalia; cholera in Somalia;
- the truce in Mozambique has been extended indefinitely;
- aid groups in the Central African Republic have been driven out by threats;
- Uganda and Ethiopia are facing major cuts in US aid;
- the South African High Court has ordered President Jacob Zuma to explain why he made changes to his cabinet
- the problems facing the (promising) opposition candidate for President of the “Democratic” Republic of Congo (DRC); a call for all to keep the interest of people in the DRC above all else;
- widespread hunger in areas of Nigeria recaptured from violent extremists – see also here;
- confirmation that there would be no impunity for crimes committed under the former President of The Gambia;
- Kenya’s government has shifted advertising to its own site, thereby imperilling the viability of media and press freedom; plans for Kenyan elections include dispute resolution;
- a former Guinean government Minister has been convicted of laundering bribes;
- a review of the state of press freedom in Africa; - With regard to China (may her growing middle class bring a
love of peace and freedom), East and South East Asia and the Pacific (noting the
risks of atrocities in North Korea and Burma):
- “China has deported a US citizen who was convicted of espionage this week after being held without trial for two years, removing a source of friction”; China’s televised propaganda now includes a TV series – which is literally compulsory viewing for some;
- the despair of young people in Hong Kong;
- North Korea (DPRK) has – unsuccessfully - tested another missile; the DPRK may lose its oil supply from China (this is one of the very few situations where I see sanctions as possibly doing more harm than good, as it will devastate farming and thus possibly create another famine. Given their leaders hold on people, the message that this is being caused by the DPRK, not the USA, may not get through … ); a call for an independent “third nation” to mediate between the DPRK and USA, as the UN says the onus for preventing a conflict is on the DPRK; an assessment of options for influencing the DPRK (which concludes pressure and dialogue is the way to go); the 45th US President has indicated that he would be open to meeting with the DPRK’s leader; the 45th US and Russian Presidents have “constructively” discussed Syria and North Korea; China has, acting as the adult in the room, told all sides in the DPRK/USA/et al situation to “stop irritating each other”; the DPRK media has – very unusually - lashed out at China; as it moves towards tighter sanctions, the USA wants ASEAN to cut funds that go to the DPRK, and minimise diplomatic relations; this week’s rantings by the DPRK have included claims that the CIA is trying to assassinate its leader – which I’m inclined to doubt, but the CIA’s history tends to question the credibility of any denials … ;
- Japan has sent its largest naval vessel, a helicopter carrier, to escort a US supply vessel - the first such operation since it passed controversial laws expanding the role of its military, and is preparing to debate its constitutional ban on having anything other than a self defence force, in response to tensions with the DPRK;
- the Association of South East Asian Nations summit has ended without any statement, let alone indication of a common position on the South China Sea; the USA has accelerated abuses of human rights in the region;
- the Philippines military has visited a disputed island in the South China Sea;
- “Jakarta, a city under pressure from a growing population in need of a leader with vision”; scores of prisoners have escaped from Indonesian jails;
- another article on the superstitious stupidity of forced isolation of menstruating women in Nepal;
- an idiot in Malaysia has banned a young girl from a chess tournament over her dress;
- “East Timor's former president Jose Ramos-Horta has issued a blunt warning to Australia that the gas dispute between the two countries risks pushing [East] Timor closer to China”;
- and in the Pacific: Samoa’s press freedom ranking has improved, while other nations in the Pacific have declined; Papua New Guinea (which is one of the nations where press freedom has declined) has blocked an investigation by an Australian Parliamentarian into conditions on Australia’s refugee gulag; the Bougainville mine, which triggered a violent crisis three decades ago, may be reopened … ; self-employed Solomon Islanders how have access to a superannuation scheme; - With regard to Europe:
- politicking to win votes in France’s coming second round election is underway; “the [centrist] front-runner in the French presidential election has told the BBC that the EU must reform or face the prospect of "Frexit"” - and he has “paid homage to a young Moroccan man who drowned in the Seine 22 years ago after being pushed into the river by skinheads”; anger has been growing in disenfranchised voters in France – and, also akin to last year’s US Presidential election, a warning about poll numbers; “The campaign of French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron says it has been the target of a "massive hacking attack" after a trove of documents was released online”;
- Hungary “will comply with EU demands [to not] close a top university”; a Hungarian institution for disabled will be closed over human rights abuses;
- despondency at the apparent decline of the European Union’s “soft power”; the European Union wants guaranteed rights for its citizens in the UK after “Brexit”; Germany has said the European Union should not push Turkey away; “Germany [has] said … it would not allow Turks to vote on its territory in any Turkish referendum on reintroduction of the death penalty, with the Netherlands possibly preparing to follow suit”;
- there has been a tense meeting between Russia and Germany;
- a Czech Girl Scout has stood up to a skinhead;
- calls for restraint and calm in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia following violence directed at democratic institutions and elected officials;
- extreme divisions are apparent in Serbia;
- concerns in the Baltic States that Russia is aiming to erode all European institutions; as Latvia celebrates the 27th anniversary of the restoration of its independence, its Ambassador-at-Large for the Diaspora will meet Latvians in the USA; 81% of Latvians want tax rates linked to income;
- an assessment of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair’s legacy after 20 years – and, from my point of view, the graph in the middle of the article showing declining home ownership is a key point; - With regard to the conflict in Iraq (noting that Iraq was once a peaceful and
prosperous society, before the UK / USA / CIA backed revolution – see here, and that it needs an emphasis on
a secular society and
citizenship – but also here, although based
in Syria and here):
- the Iraqi military expects that the liberation of Mosul will be completed this month - see here on progress; the human story of a bombing attack that killed over 100 civilians; the slow return of Iraqis to the southern marshes; violent extremists are using desert ambushes from tunnels;
- and the Iraq Body Count project reports 387 civilians violently killed in the last week; - With regard to the Libyan civil war:
reports that talks between factions in Libya are making more progress; another report on the abuse of refugees in Libya; a French bank has reached a settlement with the Libyan Investment Authority over allegations of bribery; rivals have made vague promises of “calming tensions” in southern Libya; no proof that humanitarian groups rescuing refugees in the Mediterranean have connection to people smugglers or have done any wrong; two oil smuggling tankers have been captured; - With regard to Russia (which is currently supporting an – in my
opinion, based on R2P principles - illegitimate regime in Syria), Russian
influenced nations and eastern Europe, and responses:
- “Russian authorities have detained dozens of protesters at rallies demanding that President Vladimir Putin should not seek re-election next year”; the 45th US and Russian Presidents have “constructively” discussed Syria and North Korea; Russia has regressed to trying the thoroughly discredited so called gay conversion therapy; with a total lack of credibility, Russia’s President – who has been responsible for appalling abuses against LGBT people – is now claiming he will “encourage investigation” of the gay genocide in Chechnya … ; Russia and Turkey have reaffirmed their pact concerning Syria; there has been a tense meeting between Russia and Germany; Germany has told Russia to implement the Minsk agreement on Ukraine if it wants sanctions lifted; - With regard to South and Central America:
- more violence in Venezuela; the jailed opposition leader has been forced to do a “proof of life” video;
- the head of Brazil's indigenous rights agency has been sacked, days after a brutal attack in which at least 10 indigenous people were hurt, and after complained that the agency was left powerless after its budget was cut by more than 40%; “mega-projects have magnified corruption in Brazil”;
- thousands of women in Mexico have protested after a male prosecutor blamed a young woman for her own murder;
- Cuba’s propaganda has taken on a more slick, modernised presentation;
- progress on peace in Columbia; - With regard to South Asia (aka the Indian
sub-continent), The
Hindu and other sources have:
- a mob of fanatical thugs have murdered people over an alleged cow theft in India – and others have been attacked; in a highly questionable move, Indian brides have been given bats to “keep abusive husbands in check” (although this is probably a slightly tongue-in-cheek act, it just what we don’t need: violence in response to violence, and an attitude that takes this problem lightly); India is searching for "militants" in Kashmir; the institutional murder (aka “death sentence”) on rapists who killed their victim will be upheld –and thus these utterly abhorrent men will be reborn as even worse people than they are now, and Indian government and courts have demonstrated that life is not sacred, and whilst their actions can reasonably be interpreted as an indication that women are to be held inviolate, they clearly have no clue how to ensure that happens - by a female judge who asked whether much-touted gender justice will continue to remain only on paper; more conflict between indigenous people and tiger conservation in India; India has been complimented after launching a satellite aimed at improving communications and aiding development in the region; unsung sanitary workers; some school children are teaching their parents;
- Pakistani and Afghani troops have exchanged fire across the border, killing several; - With regard to Sudan and South Sudan: (new links)
- signs of support for a unity government in Sudan;
- the Regional Protection Force of the UN Mission in South Sudan have started to arriving, freeing the existing peacekeepers to move into other areas; South Sudan’s President wants a “home grown” solution … ; the experiences of abuse of people in supposed civilian protection camps; South Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia are being moved away from the border; - With regard
to the conflict in Syria, where Assad’s regime has, in my opinion, lost all
claims to legitimacy, and it is time to consider partition (see here, here, here and here):
Syrian youth are taking to parkour; the 45th US and Russian Presidents have “constructively” discussed Syria and North Korea; Médecins Sans Frontières has expressed outrage after armed men made an incursion into one of its hospitals; early in the week Vladimir Putin said Russia, the US, Turkey, Iran and Syria were close to agreeing the establishment of "de-escalation zones" in Syria “aimed at ensuring the viability of a ceasefire”: the major powers have now signed that agreement, but rebels did not and stormed out, and fighting continues with no public knowledge of where these zones supposedly are .. ; a film festival about life in Syria during the current war will be held in Australia; Russia and Turkey have reaffirmed their pact concerning Syria; Turkey will continue to act against (perceived) threats on its Syrian and Iraqi borders; “there is an alternative to Assad”; an analysis of the choices facing Kurds in northern Syria; - With regard to Turkey:
Turkey has blocked access to Wikipedia for “national security – which is one of the occasions a news story has resulted in me laughing out loud; Turkey has purged another 4,000 people; a Greek court has again blocked the extradition of a small group of Turkish soldiers; Russia and Turkey have reaffirmed their pact concerning Syria; Turkey will continue to act against (perceived) threats on its Syrian and Iraqi borders; Germany has said the European Union should not push Turkey away; “Germany [has] said … it would not allow Turks to vote on its territory in any Turkish referendum on reintroduction of the death penalty, with the Netherlands possibly preparing to follow suit”; Turkey’s crackdown on media; the son of Turkish soldier killed by PKK "militants" has lost his job for signing a petition calling for end of the conflict in southeast Turkey ("Martyrs are immortal, but fathers die"); - With regard to the conflicts in Ukraine, particularly in
the east:
Germany has told Russia to implement the Minsk agreement on Ukraine if it wants sanctions lifted; homophobes in Ukraine are in a flap over a rainbow coloured celebration of diversity for Eurovision; - With regard to West Asia (aka “the
Middle East”) and North Africa, the Middle
East Eye and other sources have:
- Hamas is reported to have “softened” its views on Israel – but not in enough of a meaningful way, that I can see: commentators have, however, said there are signals Israel could respond to …; a specious vow from the 45th US President on Israeli-Palestinian conflict;
- an Iranian TV executive who was viewed by his government as part of a cultural “soft war” has been murdered in Turkey; Iran’s religious leader has criticised that nation’s moderate President ahead of elections; a mine disaster has occurred in Iran – which I can relate to because of my (birth) family’s history, including a grandfather’s death after a mine incident; “Iran [has] said … it is ready for talks with Saudi Arabia to promote regional peace despite "unlawful and inflammatory" remarks by the Saudi deputy crown prince, who vowed to protect his kingdom from what he called Iranian efforts to dominate the Muslim world” - see also here, for a speculation that the Saudis and the USA may be preparing to work together against Iran;
- the USA will sell billions of dollars’ worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia (which I am tempted to describe as “the US will support Saudi Arabia’s killing of civilians in Yemen”); scepticism over Saudi Arabia’s inching towards the 20th Century on women’s’ rights; “Egyptian social media activists have labelled Saudi deputy crown prince and minister of defence … a "liar" after he said Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood and Iran were trying to drive a wedge between the two countries”;
- apathy in Algeria’s elections; - With regard
to the conflict in Yemen (unlike Iraq, I cannot find a source of regular
information on casualties in Yemen, but the hardship and deaths from food,
water and medical shortages that concerns me just as much – if not more, and I
don’t know if such sites would report that; it is also important to remember
that there are multiple sides in this dispute – and opponents to the government
are not necessarily Houthi or violent extremist):
the USA will sell billions of dollars’ worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia (which I am tempted to describe as “the US will support Saudi Arabia’s killing of civilians in Yemen”); thousands of Yemenis have protested the sacking of southern Yemen leaders; another warning of the imminent famine in Yemen – and the disturbing story of one child’s death; the UAE’s attempts to develop a regional Yemeni army are being stopped by traditional rivalries; Saudi Arabia has said a land campaign by its forces would lead to heavy casualties; - With regard to natural and other catastrophes:
a call has been made for nations in East Africa facing famine to do more; another warning of the imminent famine in Yemen – and the disturbing story of one child’s death; tornadoes have killed several people in the USA; cholera in Somalia; - With regard to peace and/or spirituality generally, and
the occasional nice story (are you crippled by the fear of being single or asexual or off-grid or in any other way a rebel / innovator /
non-conformist / true to yourself, or believe in management fads and fashions? Do you distract yourself and fill your
time to avoid finding real meaning? If so, you have a spiritual problem, and a
need to constructively remedy that):
the problem of conflating deterrence and reassurance.
and from a range of other sites:
- a “survival guide” now that four planets are in retrograde;
- cretins have sabotaged May Day rallies by becoming violent;
- “The future of controversial Muslim leader Keysar Trad will be decided this weekend at elections of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils”;
- extended or young age start of use of cannabis appears to be linked to psychosis, including in a recent mass killing of children.
