INR | APAC : Weekly Updates

 

Australia strikes US$118 million policing deal with China-friendly Solomon Islands

• Australia is confirmed to help boost the police force of Solomons Island with an infrastructure package, multi-year funding, and training for the Pacific nation with close ties with China. 

• It represents a new foundation for Australia’s security partnership with the Solomon Islands, according to Prime Minister Antonio Albanese.

• The Solomons police announced on the same day that it had received a modest donation from China as well, a sign of the competition Australia faces from Beijing.

Read ahead:

Australia announces $118 million deal to enhance policing in the Solomon Islands

An ethnic group claims to have captured a regional army headquarters

• The latest in the long series of regional talks held in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, it has made no headway in restoring peace to the war-torn Southeast Asian nation. 

• Myanmar has been wracked by violence ever since its army overthrew the elected government in the year 2021. They violently repressed the pro-democracy protests, lasting to the arms resistance movement. 

• The military government has used harsh tactics to suppress its opponents, including air strikes, but the war has only become fiercer, especially in the past year. 

Read ahead:

An ethnic armed group in western Myanmar claims to have captured a major regional army headquarters | AP News

Pakistan Denounces US Sanctions on Its Missile Programmes

• Pakistan denounces the US sanctions on the country's missile program as “discriminatory” that puts the region's peace and security at risk.

• Pakistan’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the sanctions “have dangerous implications for strategic stability of our region and beyond.”

•  It also accused the U.S. of “double standards” for waiving licensing requirements for advanced military technology to other countries.

Read ahead:

Pakistan denounces US sanctions on its missile program as ‘discriminatory’ | CNN

US arms manufacturers could help boost Vietnam's military capabilities, said US ambassador

• US manufacturers could help build up Vietnam’s armed forces by working with Vietnamese counterparts

• The US Ambassador Mark Knapper said, “Our goal is to ensure that vietnam has what it needs to defend its interests”.

• Vietnam has been trying to increase its domestic arms manufacturing instead of being dependent on Russia for weapon imports.

• Read ahead:

US ambassador to Vietnam says US arms manufacturers could help Vietnam build up its armed forces - The Economic Times

102 Rohingya refugees were rescued by the Sri Lankan navy

• A Sri Lankan navy spokesperson said that more than 100 people believed to be Rohingya refugees were spotted by a fisherman on the Sri Lankan northern coast.

• The refugees include 25 children and 30 women. Later they were escorted to the eastern coast where they were given medical care, food, and water.

• The navy has not yet confirmed if the refugees are Rohingya because of the communication difficulties but the group is believed to be from Myanmar according to the navy.

Read ahead:

Sri Lanka's navy rescues 102 Rohingya refugees found adrift aboard a fishing trawler | AP News

China criticizes Phillippine’s plan to deploy mid range missiles

• The Philippines has announced their plans to acquire midrange missile systems to strengthen its territorial defence amidst tensions with China in the South China Sea.

• China has marked this move as "extremely irresponsible," claiming it could provoke geopolitical confrontations and an arms race.

• The United States has reaffirmed their commitment to mutual defence and advocated for the typhoon as a necessary defence against China’s growing military presence.

Read Ahead: https://apnews.com/article/china-philippines-deploy-missile-system-95a5d4b923b262f400c540e1b6926b0e

Violence in Manipur leads to widespread displacement

• Ethnic violence in Manipur has led to a humanitarian crisis, causing thousands of people to be displaced from their homes due to ongoing standoff.

• The violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities, is causing concerns over the region's stability and human rights violations.

• The Indian government has been criticized for its slow response, with calls for immediate action to restore peace and provide assistance to the displaced populations.

Read Ahead: https://apnews.com/article/india-manipur-ethnic-violence-displacement-9153549db3852e7f34a3ef70b7bdb349

India marks tsunami anniversary with reflection on earthquake’s impact

• On the anniversary of the 2004 tsunami, India mourns the devastating loss of life, with thousands of families still in pain of their lost loved ones in Tamil Nadu.

• The scars left by the tsunami and the earthquake remain, as survivors are still facing the harsh reality of rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of the tragedy.

• For many, the trauma of that day is still raw, and the anniversary serves as a painful reminder of the immense cost of human lives due to natural disasters.

Read Ahead: https://apnews.com/article/india-tsunami-anniversary-earthquake-tamil-nadu-9b0f71ec5cb2135747f349208bf5beb2

Japan’s former Emperor Akihito marks his 91st birthday

• Japan’s beloved former Emperor Akihito marked his 91st birthday on Monday, as he continues to pursue his lifetime research into goby fish, care for his wife and pray for peace.

• Akihito, who abdicated in 2019 and handed over the Chrysanthemum throne to his son, Emperor Naruhito, now holds the title of Emperor Emeritus.

Read Ahead: https://apnews.com/article/japan-akihito-emperor-empress-birthday-abdication-monarchy-58cca340fee8f2353e826620f5a8ee66

Pakistani Taliban claims responsibility for a deadly military checkpoint attack in the northwest

• The Pakistani Taliban on Saturday claimed responsibility for a deadly military checkpoint attack in the country’s northwest.

• The militant group said it killed 35 soldiers and injured 15 others in an early morning raid. It also claimed seizing equipment including a night vision device and weapons. 

• It’s Pakistan Taliban’s latest assault on troops in the restive province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which borders Afghanistan. They made the claims in one of their WhatsApp chat groups.

Read ahead: https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-taliban-checkpoint-attack-waziristan-fff19247b8a3f72b10b12554527ea039

Drafted by:

Daney Antonio Martin (B.A. I.R., 2nd Year) (Region Head)

Gouri Kapoor (BA IR, 1st Year)

Nripan Babu (BA IR, 1st Year)

Published by:

Varsha Das (B.A. I.R., 3rd Year)

INR | EASTERN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA: Weekly Updates

Exclusive: U.S. researchers find probable launch site of Russia's new nuclear-powered missile 

• Two U.S. researchers say they have identified the probable deployment site in Russia of the 9M730 Burevestnik, a new nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed cruise missile touted by President Vladimir Putin as "invincible."

• Using images taken on July 26 by Planet Labs, a commercial satellite firm, the two researchers identified a construction project abutting a nuclear warhead storage facility known by two names - Vologda-20 and Chebsara - as the new missile's potential deployment site.

• The identification of the missile's probable launch site suggests that Russia is proceeding with its deployment after a series of tests in recent years marred by problems, said Eveleth and the second researcher, Jeffery Lewis, of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.

Read More - https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/us-researchers-find-probable-launch-site-russias-new-nuclear-powered-missile-2024-09-02/

6 Killed, 13 Wounded In Suicide Bombing In Afghanistan's Kabul 

•  Kabul: A suicide bomber triggered explosives in the Afghan capital on Monday, police said, killing six people and wounding 13 more.

• Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said "a person wearing explosives on his body detonated", and one woman was among the fatalities.

• Afghanistan's Taliban authorities have declared security their highest priority since surging back to power following the chaotic withdrawal of foreign forces three years ago.

Read More - https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/6-killed-13-wounded-in-suicide-bombing-in-afghanistans-kabul-cops-6475387

Afghanistan's escalating repression of women sparks global outrage 

• “Whenever an adult woman leaves her home out of necessity, she is required to conceal her voice, face, and body,” states a new law from the Afghan Ministry of Justice, aimed at “promoting virtue and preventing vice” among the Afghan population. 

• The plight of Afghan women, already banned from many jobs and with 4 million girls barred from secondary school, has sparked outrage worldwide.

• “Today, in Afghanistan, no woman can walk the streets with peace of mind,” said Sarah, a 27-year-old Afghan refugee in France. “They are afraid. I hope things will change one day, but sometimes I lose hope.”

Read More - https://international.la-croix.com/world/afghanistans-escalating-repression-of-women-sparks-global-outrage

Kazakhstan aims to position itself as hub of Eurasia with emphasis on rule of law

• President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasised the importance of Kazakhstan’s commitment to progress, urging the nation to look beyond provocations and rely on the rule of law in his Monday’s 2 state-of-the-nation address.

• Tokayev emphasised the need for a peaceful and balanced foreign policy, stressing that diplomacy is essential in strengthening Kazakhstan’s sovereignty, protecting the rights of its citizens abroad, promoting national interests and attracting investment.

• Tokayev also stressed the necessity of developing air hubs to double the 150,000 tons of air cargo currently handled annually in Kazakhstan over the next four years.

Read More - https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/kazakhstan-aims-to-position-itself-as-hub-of-eurasia-with-emphasis-on-rule-of-law/articleshow/113008547.cms

Russia's Nuclear Doctrine Shift: Responding to Escalation in Ukraine

• Russia is now making changes to its nuclear doctrine in response to what it perceives as an escalation driven by Western powers in Ukraine, suggesting potential changes to the conditions that might lead to the use of nuclear weapons.

• The recent cross-border incursion by Ukraine into Russia's Kursk region, employing weapons supplied by Western nations, has enhanced apprehensions regarding the possibility of Russia resorting to nuclear arms as a means of protecting its territory, representing a notable intensification of the ongoing conflict.

• Global and domestic ramifications are evident as Russia has been signalling to both its internal and external constituents the potential for modifications to its nuclear strategy. There have been continuous dialogues regarding the conceivable employment of nuclear arms in reaction to perceived threats against its territorial sovereignty, which has heightened apprehensions about a direct clash with Western nations.

Read more:

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/03/russia-hints-at-changing-stance-on-using-nuclear-weapons.html

Putin's Mongolia Visit: Warm Welcome Despite ICC Arrest Warrant

• Notwithstanding an ICC arrest warrant over alleged war crimes, Vladimir Putin received a warm welcome in Mongolia with governmental authorities sidestepping calls to arrest the Russian president during the meeting with the Mongolian head of state Ukhnaa Khurelsukh.

• While a member of the ICC, Mongolia has stayed silent on any move against Russia over Ukraine and assumed a more neutral stance, abstaining from UN votes on the conflict-a position also driven by dependence on Russia for fuel and electricity, and China for mining investments.

• Throughout the visit, both Putin and Khurelsukh joined in a ceremony commemorating the 1939 Soviet-Mongolian victory against Japan while holding discussions on various prospective economic initiatives, including the Trans-Mongolian gas pipeline and a possible trilateral summit involving China.

Read more: 

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/3/putin-shrugs-off-war-crimes-warrant-on-visit-to-mongolia

Pakistan's SCO Summit: Will Modi Attend Amid India-Pakistan Tensions?

• Pakistan is all set to host  the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in October, but much attention is on whether Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend amid lingering tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

•  The long-standing rivalry between India and Pakistan has previously hampered organisations such as SAARC, with some apprehension that it may affect the SCO, though the latter is far better placed under the leadership of China and Russia.

• Analysts are sceptical of Modi attending the summit,given the tense relations between the two countries,  especially in light of India's recent hardline stance over dialogue with Pakistan.

Read more:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/3/will-india-pakistan-rivalry-hurt-russia-china-led-sco-grouping

Ukraine Escalates Conflict with Largest Drone Attack on Russia

• Ukraine launched a major drone attack on Russia, targeting key infrastructure including a refinery and a power station close to Moscow, in yet another signal of the increasingly violent conflict.

• The Ukrainian President, Zelensky said this is the only reasonable response after the relentless Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, and called on the West to drop restrictions on long-range weaponry that can hit key Russian targets.

• The government of Ukraine is pressing the US to supply Army Tactical Missile Systems [ATACMS] for deeper strikes within Russia on the grounds that many critical Russian military targets remain within reach despite current limitations.

Read more: 

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/02/europe/ukraine-big-drone-attack-russia-intl-hnk/index.html

News Bits collected by [Region Head]: 

Poulina Banerjee (BA IR 3rd year)

Drafted by: 

Gauri Upreti (BA IR 2nd year)

Angel Chindalia (MA IR 2nd year)

Published by: Varsha Das (BA IR 3rd year)

INR | EASTERN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA : Weekly Updates

 Russian exclusion at the Olympic Games

• Mariya Lasitskene, a Tokyo 2020 gold medallist, expresses the hurt of not being able to participate in Paris 2024 due to the ban against Russian athletes issued since the beginning of aggression against Ukraine, showing how profound the emotional and professional impact is on Russian athletes.

• The Russian press and politicians give pejorative nicknames to the Paris Olympics, which indicates that for them, the Olympic Games have been politicized—but more than that, a broad national sentiment of grievance and exclusion is carried through.

•  In response to the exclusion, Russia hosted nationalistic sports festivals. These include traditional recreations and military-themed activities that are quite far from the international Olympic spirit.

Read more:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clwyy9j8wxdo

Russian Defence officials arrested in corruption probe

• Major General Vladimir Shesterov and Vyacheslav Akhmedov, the head of Patriot Park, have been detained over suspicions of fraud relating to the misappropriation of funds destined for work in the park.

• Wider Anti-Corruption Drive: It is part of an unprecedented wave of corruption investigations in the Russian military and defense sectors that have seen several high-ranking officials and businessmen arrested since April.

• The decision of President Vladimir Putin to replace Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu recently with Andrei Belousov signals towards the Kremlin's big push to tighten control over the defense budget and repressions against corruption in the midst of war in Ukraine.

Read more:

https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/russia-detains-senior-defence-official-over-suspected-fraud-at-military-theme-park-101722860614475.html

Ukrainian athletes shine at the Olympic Games amidst the ongoing war

• Yaroslava Mahuchikh took gold in high jump and set a new world record, while her compatriots Iryna Gerashchenko and Mykhaylo Kohkan captured bronze medals, showcasing the spirit of strength and national pride amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

• Deep emotional turbulence and devotion are expressed by athletes in such remarks. In particular, Gerashchenko and Mahuchikh dedicate their medals to friends and family who have become victims of the war. The impact on athletes' personal lives and training conditions since this conflict broke out, including Mahuchikh's displacement from Dnipro, is highlighted.

• Despite the ruined sports infrastructure and miserable condition, the Ukrainian Olympic team continue to perform admirably; President Zelenskyy hails their strength. The athletes look upon participating in and winning the Olympics as a demonstration of the strengthening of their nation and a reminder of the ongoing war.

Read more: 

https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/paris-olympics-away-from-war-team-ukraine-wins-a-battle-and-more-9497448/

Mali severs ties with Ukraine over Wagner attack 

• Mali cuts ties with Ukraine over comments by a Ukrainian official acknowledging Kyiv's involvement in helping Tuareg rebels attack Russian Wagner mercenaries and Malian soldiers in a deadly assault.

• The rebels carried out a heavy strike in northern Mali, leaving many dead. It was among the heaviest blows suffered by Wagner. Ukraine stated it was not in any way related to the strike; its foreign ministry declared the decision of Mali to sever relations with it to be "shortsighted and hasty."

• The pivot toward Russia, spearheaded by the Malian approach to Wagner, further consolidated from 2021 after the coup that took place in 2020. In that context, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has, in fact, reaffirmed the support due for Mali.

Read more:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/8/5/mali-breaks-off-diplomatic-ties-with-ukraine

South Korea and Poland strengthen bilateral ties through air force consultative body

• South Korea and Poland have agreed to set up a consultative body between the air forces in order to improve two-way military cooperation, following Poland's acquisition of Korean fighter jets. Details and launching time are currently under negotiation.

• The new body would handle various aspects of military cooperation, from strategies and tactics to developments in the defense industry. Poland has purchased enormous amounts of defense equipment from South Korea—FA-50 fighter jets, K9 howitzers, and K2 tanks.

• The consultative body will facilitate the sharing of operational know-how concerning the FA-50s jets and may involve a pilot exchange program. Discussions may further be held on the possible exports by South Korea to Poland of its advanced KF-21 Boramae fighters.

Read more: 

https://www.thehansindia.com/news/international/south-korea-poland-to-establish-air-force-consultative-body-896740?infinitescroll=1

Resurgent far-right conjures Austria-Hungary headache for EU on Ukraine

• The far-right favorites to win Austria's next election have forged an alliance with Hungarian leader Viktor Orban that could deepen defiance of Brussels and threaten an already fragile consensus over the Ukraine war if they take power.

• "We're entering what I would like to call a new era in European politics," Kickl said with Orban announcing their European alliance in June in a Vienna hotel alongside Andrej Babis, head of the biggest party in the Czech Republic's lower house, and a former prime minister of that country.

• The EU has agreed 14 rounds of sanctions since Russia's invasion, and in February passed a 50 billion euro ($54 billion) aid package for Ukraine until 2027.

Read More - https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/resurgent-far-right-conjures-austria-hungary-headache-eu-ukraine-2024-08-05/

Hungary to revoke green number plates from hybrid vehicles

• According to a government decree, from 1 September 2024, only fully electric and zero-emission vehicles will be eligible for green number plates upon their first domestic registration, iho.hu writes.

• Owners of less environmentally friendly vehicles—classified as 5P (plug-in) and 5N (extended range) hybrid electric vehicles—must initiate the replacement of their green plates with white ones by 30 November 2026.

• Consequently, the tax incentives associated with green number plates are also under review, marking the end of the era for luxury SUVs with green plates.

Read More - https://dailynewshungary.com/hungary-green-number-plate-hybrid-vehicles/

The Taliban says people in Afghanistan on previous government’s visas can stay for now

• Afghanistan’s Taliban government said Monday it would allow people in the country on visas issued by the former Western-backed government to stay for now, but that they wouldn’t be allowed back in without documents from a Taliban-approved diplomatic mission.

• The move is part of the Taliban’s efforts to gain control of Afghanistan’s representation abroad since returning to power in 2021.

• In March 2023, the Taliban said they were trying to take charge of more Afghan embassies abroad. Their chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said the administration had sent diplomats to at least 14 countries.

Read More - https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-embassies-65876e961468ddff762ea70d6f01c72a

Fire at Iran-Afghanistan border extinguished after massive inferno

• "Smoke from the fire in this economic hub is visible up to 18 kilometers away," the deputy governor of Taybad for political, security, and social affairs said.

• Fuel tanks caught fire on Monday on Iran's side of the Iran-Afghanistan Dogharoun Special Economic Zone at the border, semi-official Iranian state Tasnim news agency reported.

• "Firefighters have already been dispatched to control the fire, but the amount of damage has not yet been reported," Tasmin news agency reporter Mohammad Reza Rezaei said.

Read More - https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-813363

Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan keen to take their multifaceted partnership to next level

• "The head of state received the assistant to the President of Uzbekistan, Saida Mirziyoyeva. During the meeting, current issues of further advancing the multifaceted partnership between the two countries were discussed," the source said.

• "The head of state received the assistant to the President of Uzbekistan, Saida Mirziyoyeva. During the meeting, current issues of further advancing the multifaceted partnership between the two countries were discussed," the source said.

• "The head of state received the assistant to the President of Uzbekistan, Saida Mirziyoyeva. During the meeting, current issues of further advancing the multifaceted partnership between the two countries were discussed," the source said.

Read More - https://www.azernews.az/region/229544.html

News Bits collected by [Region Head]: 

Poulina Banerjee (BA IR 3rd year)

Drafted by: 

Gauri Upreti (BA IR 2nd year)

Angel Chindalia (MA IR 2nd year)

Published by: Varsha Das (BA IR 3rd year)