I try to give each region a blurb, but this is applicable to many of them, so I include it here: With predatory IMF loans, we have the maintenance of 'neo-colonialism' - nations can only get the money they need if they open up their trade in ways that disproportionately benefit Western capitalist interests, and support austerity politicians who often act to gut programs that help working people. Why colonize when you have the IMF to do the dirty work?
Much of the crises in southern Africa stem from (A) the strongman-rule over labor and resources, resulting in highly unstable political configurations which nonetheless are profitable to capitalists (most obvious in the Congo), (B) a racist history due to colonialism which has systemically lead Africans into a compromised position and underdeveloped infrastructure (both literal and institutional) (for example, apartheid still has a strong influence on South Africa today), and (C) failed reactions that aimed at fixing this, often exploited by strongmen for their own benefit, such as Zimbabwe under Mugabe. It's a vicious cycle where militants, relatively enriched due to their tyranny over local capital, corrode efforts at democratic institution-building, with the natural reaction being strongmen efforts that often backfire. In places where democracy prevails, the institutional forces at play are enormous, making true reform extremely difficult (such as South Africa).
CAR currently in a civil war, with UN peacekeepers, Rwandan special forces, and Russian paramilitaries backing the government.
Mauritius Updates
Last Year's Entry
Mozambique Updates
(wiki, Insurgency in Cabo Delgado)
Maps: Basic (cr.);Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
- The Economist (13/1/22): Small bands of mercenaries extend Russia’s reach in Africa - Local despots seek unsqueamish hired guns [russia-policy-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (12/1/22): Southern Africa bloc SADC extends Mozambique mission - Regional body says progress made against rebels in Cabo Delgado province since troops deployed last year. [!]
Namibia Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.);Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Administrative (cr.);
Last Year's Entry
Rwanda Updates
Last Year's Entry
South Africa Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.);Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Provinces (cr.);
Popular Front: (podcast) The South African Farmers Preparing for a Civil War - We speak to journalist and author James Pogue about his recent visit to South Africa, where he spent time with radicals to find out the real truth behind the farmer killings. He discovered many are preparing for what they think will soon be a new civil war...
Vox: (video) Why South Africa is still so segregated
Popular Front (2/8/21): A Violent Power Struggle in South Africa
Last Year's Entry
- WSWS (20/1/22): South African Parliament staff refuse to return to work over safety fears after fire [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (20/1/22): African National Congress (ANC) administrative staff at ANC HQ, Luthuli House, Johannesburg and other provincial offices stopped work Monday, as part of ongoing intermittent strikes over unpaid salaries. On Tuesday, staff met with the ANC’s treasurer-general. [politics-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (20/1/22): South African miners at Sibanye-Stillwater still in deadlock with owners over pay increase [resource-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (20/1/22): Health workers protest job cuts affecting 2,700 in Eastern Cape, South Africa [healthcare-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (20/1/22): As the strike by 5,000 Clover Foods workers in South Africa over pay cuts and retrenchments is entering its ninth week, workers remain determined in the face of threatening phone calls and petrol bomb attacks on their cars. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS; WSWS (13/1/22): Hundreds of striking South African Clover Foods dairy workers protest wage cuts, retrenchments and restructuring - Around 5,000 General Industries Workers Union of South Africa and the Food and Allied Workers Union members have been on strike for eight weeks against attacks on jobs and conditions. They were also demanding their thirteenth cheque, or annual bonus, which will now be paid Friday. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Washington Post (19/1/22): South African president launches vaccine manufacturing plant [healthcare-news, infrastructure-news, vaccine-ip-news] [!]
- WSWS (13/1/22): South African miners at Sibanye-Stillwater nearer to strike action in continuing wage dispute - South African miners at Sibanye-Stillwater multinational, owners of three gold mines employing 31,000, are in deadlock over ongoing wage negotiations. [resource-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Al Jazeera (12/1/22): Southern Africa bloc SADC extends Mozambique mission - Regional body says progress made against rebels in Cabo Delgado province since troops deployed last year. [!]
- Al Jazeera (11/1/22): South Africa parliament fire suspect charged with ‘terrorism’ - Defence lawyer Dali Mpofu is seeking bail for Zandile Christmas Mafe who was arrested last week and charged with arson. [!]
- Financial Times (4/1/22): Zuma presided over rampant corruption, says South Africa ‘state capture’ inquiry - First findings detail looting of national airline and undermining of revenue service [capitalist-farce-news, privatization-news, corruption-news] Paywall Summary (?): The inquiry was set up four years ago following the Guptas scandal (due to claims they, along with other private interests, 'plundered public resources with Zuma's aid'). For example, Tony Gupta is alleged to have made bribes to obtain state funds for a Gupta-owned newspaper. Bain has its hands dirty in corroding South Africa's [tax] revenue service (SARS), even meeting with Zuma before being officially appoints as consultants on what would end up being a dramatic overhaul of the service, according to the report. The report calls for an independent anti-corruption agency (a similar body was abolished during Zuma's rise to power) and an overhahul of public procurement rules.
- The Economist World This Week (8/1/22): An anti-graft commission in South Africa said it had uncovered “a scarcely believable picture of rampant corruption” in state-owned companies during the presidential term of Jacob Zuma. Its report alleged that Mr Zuma was “directly and personally involved” in efforts to take control of state institutions and companies. [corruption-news, capitalist-farce-news]
- The Guardian (3/1/22): South Africa firefighters struggle as parliament blaze flares up again - Flames break out as man charged with arson day after fire extensively damages national assembly building [!]
- Democracy Now (3/1/22): Desmond Tutu, Anti-Apartheid Leader and Human Rights Champion, Laid to Rest
- Washington Post (31/12/21): Omicron has passed peak in South Africa, causing relatively few deaths and hospitalizations, authorities say - The number of infections fell by roughly 30 percent to just under 90,000 for the week ending Dec. 25, down from some 127,000 in the prior corresponding period, government data show. The number of hospital admissions has also been significantly lower over the past 1½ weeks. [covid-news] [!]
- Common Dreams (31/12/1): Tutu's Courage on Israeli Apartheid Is Played Down in American Media - Archbishop Desmond Tutu used his moral stature to call out and oppose Israeli apartheid, but the U.S. media is leaving it out. [media-news, us-policy-news] [!]
Tanzania Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.);Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Administrative (cr.);
Last Year's Entry
Uganda Updates
Last Year's Entry
- Washington Post (20/1/22): Trying to stem the pandemic, Uganda creates a fuel crisis - Mandatory COVID-19 testing at the country’s border with Kenya caused traffic congestion last week as Ugandan customs officials struggled to apply the rules amid opposition from truckers who demanded exemption if they carried proof of a negative test result from Kenya. - With little movement at the border, many fuel stations across Uganda ran empty. Motorists lined up at the few still operating, creating anger when prices eventually rose sharply. - Long-distance truckers have long demanded exemption from the Ugandan government’s strict measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, calling their services indispensable. A similar dispute over testing fueled protests on the Kenyan highway leading to the Uganda border in 2020. - Kenya and Uganda are on major transport corridors that serve a large part of central and southern Africa, often coming from the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa. - Mandatory COVID-19 testing at Uganda’s border with Kenya cost about $30, an amount that representatives of trucking companies called excessive. - Uganda on Tuesday suspended mandatory testing at the border, hoping to ease a fuel shortage in the capital, Kampala, where some stations were charging nearly $3, more than double the regular price, for a liter of petrol. [logistics-news, energy-news, covid-news]
- Financial Times (11/1/22): China applies brakes to Africa lending - Beijing has signalled a more cautious approach amid warnings that several African countries could struggle to repay debts [bri-news, china-policy-news, neo-imperialism-news] Paywall Summary (?): The big concern here are clauses that (A) require revenue from projects (such as an airport in Uganda) to be channeled through special escrow accounts, and budgets need to be approved by China's Eximbank (75% of analyzed Chinese loan contracts have such clauses) and (b) that the loan contracts are written in a manner that arbitration would be settled in Beijing, the latter leading to concerns China could seize these projects (such as the airport); China, and some analysts, say that these measures ensure that revenues from these projects can't be diverted to the pockets of corrupt local rulers, and create accountability. A lot of the details of these contracts are kept in the shadows, made between China and nation's executives, with the details left unclear to parliaments (who have to ultimately approve it); occasionally, post hoc changes are made. These loans usually have cheap interest over long periods (ie 27 years), often with 7 year grace periods, and some include clauses that 'explicitly exclude the debt owed to them from being included in restructuring arrangements by officials in the Paris Club of bilateral creditors'. China's Development Bank has lent $313bn overseas total from 2000-2017, and the Eximbank (export import) $272bn. Analysts say it is unusual for physical infrastructure in loans to sovereign debtors to be used as collateral (30% of Chinese loan contracts have such clauses, and 7% of bilateral creditors from OECD countries' loan contracts). - Also: 'Experts say that some of the concerns over clauses in Chinese contracts are overblown. An immunity waiver, for example, is a standard component of comparable loans made by western governments and agencies. Most experts also dismiss as a myth accusations about China’s supposed intention to entrap borrowers in order to gain control of ports or airports.' - 'Kalinaki says the “problematic clauses” in the Entebbe contract allow China Eximbank in effect to put the airport under administration, though he also criticises western lenders for what he sees as equally dubious practices including funnelling loans back to their own companies and consultancies. “Africa is being caught in the middle,” he adds, “it has to decide which is the least worst path to take.”' - 'Some draw a parallel with western financial institutions, including the IMF and World Bank, which lent generously to African governments in the post-independence period only to impose harsh structural adjustment programmes on them from the 1980s after governments struggled to repay.' Also, a nice map of Chinese loans to different African countries here! [tracker-news]
- Washington Post (11/1/22): Ugandan author charged with 'disturbing' president's peace [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- The Economist (8/1/22): A Ugandan court has unbanned sex education - But any new policy is sure to annoy religious leaders [!]
- Al Jazeera (5/1/22): Detained Ugandan satirical novelist tortured in custody: Lawyer - Rukirabashaija, author of satirical novels about corruption and greed, is being held incommunicado, his lawyer says. [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
Zambia Updates
Last Year's Entry
- CPJ (5/1/22): Ruling party supporters raid Zambia’s Mpika FM Radio, halt show featuring opposition [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
Zimbabwe Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
- WSWS (20/1/22): Zimbabwe teachers in Harare arrested for protesting peacefully over low salaries [law-enforcement-oversteps-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Al Jazeera (14/1/22): As firefighters, nurses go abroad, Zimbabweans go without - Essential services in Zimbabwe are being decimated by brain drain as workers leave for higher-paying jobs abroad. [!]
- Al Jazeera (11/1/22): Zimbabwe to put New York Times freelance journalist on trial - Jeffrey Moyo spent three weeks in jail last year accused of obtaining fake accreditation documents. [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
North Africa Updates
Algeria / Benin / Burkina Faso / Cameroon / Chad / Djibouti / Egypt / Eritrea / Ethiopia / Gambia / Ghana / Guinea / Guinea Bissau / Ivory Coast / Kenya / Liberia / Libya / Mali / Mauritania / Morocco / Niger / Nigeria / Senegal / Sierra Leone / Somalia / South Sudan / Sudan / Togo / Tunisia / Uganda / Western Sahara (Morocco-occupied) (see also: France)
Last Year's Entry
(Insurgency in the Maghreb)
Big issues in North Africa are the rise of extremist groups, and weak and/or failed governments which struggle to resist rebels and/or extremists. This is not simply an endogenous conflict though - foreign actors and international deals are very much involved. French interest in the resources of its former colonies (such as Mali), French, Italian, Turkish, UAE, and Russian intervention in the post-Gaddafi Libya chaos, collusion between the Ethiopian government and Eritrea to target Tigray; tensions between Ethiopia and its downstream (Nile) neighbors, Egypt and Sudan, over its dam project. Many nations are beset with ethnic tensions, states cobbled together by a colonial legacy, fueled by the pillaging of nation's natural wealth by local elites, sold onto the global market.
Vox (20/6/18): (video) How Islamist militant groups are gaining strength in Africa
Wiki links: ECOWAS
Regional Updates
- Democracy Now (19/1/22): WHO Warns Only 7% of African Population Fully Inoculated Amid Ongoing Vaccine Apartheid [covid-news, vaccine-ip-news]
- Financial Times (11/1/22): China applies brakes to Africa lending - Beijing has signalled a more cautious approach amid warnings that several African countries could struggle to repay debts [bri-news, china-policy-news, neo-imperialism-news] Paywall Summary (?): The big concern here are clauses that (A) require revenue from projects (such as an airport in Uganda) to be channeled through special escrow accounts, and budgets need to be approved by China's Eximbank (75% of analyzed Chinese loan contracts have such clauses) and (b) that the loan contracts are written in a manner that arbitration would be settled in Beijing, the latter leading to concerns China could seize these projects (such as the airport); China, and some analysts, say that these measures ensure that revenues from these projects can't be diverted to the pockets of corrupt local rulers, and create accountability. A lot of the details of these contracts are kept in the shadows, made between China and nation's executives, with the details left unclear to parliaments (who have to ultimately approve it); occasionally, post hoc changes are made. These loans usually have cheap interest over long periods (ie 27 years), often with 7 year grace periods, and some include clauses that 'explicitly exclude the debt owed to them from being included in restructuring arrangements by officials in the Paris Club of bilateral creditors'. China's Development Bank has lent $313bn overseas total from 2000-2017, and the Eximbank (export import) $272bn. Analysts say it is unusual for physical infrastructure in loans to sovereign debtors to be used as collateral (30% of Chinese loan contracts have such clauses, and 7% of bilateral creditors from OECD countries' loan contracts). - Also: 'Experts say that some of the concerns over clauses in Chinese contracts are overblown. An immunity waiver, for example, is a standard component of comparable loans made by western governments and agencies. Most experts also dismiss as a myth accusations about China’s supposed intention to entrap borrowers in order to gain control of ports or airports.' - 'Kalinaki says the “problematic clauses” in the Entebbe contract allow China Eximbank in effect to put the airport under administration, though he also criticises western lenders for what he sees as equally dubious practices including funnelling loans back to their own companies and consultancies. “Africa is being caught in the middle,” he adds, “it has to decide which is the least worst path to take.”' - 'Some draw a parallel with western financial institutions, including the IMF and World Bank, which lent generously to African governments in the post-independence period only to impose harsh structural adjustment programmes on them from the 1980s after governments struggled to repay.' Also, a nice map of Chinese loans to different African countries here! [tracker-news]
- Just Security (11/1/22): The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has closed its borders and ceased trade with Mali
- Al Jazeera (9/1/22): West Africa bloc ECOWAS hits Mali with sanctions after poll delay - Regional body to close borders with Mali and impose economic sanctions after coup leaders postponed the vote. [economic-news] [!]
- The Civil Fleet (4/1/22): Fossil fuel giant Shell and EU maritime authorities accused of complicity in Mediterranean refugee ‘pullback’ (via u/cowlesz on r/alltheleft) [big-oil-news, immigrant-news]
Algeria Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
CaspianReport (14/9/21): Algeria & Morocco: the world's most self-destructive rivalry
Last Year's Entry
- CPJ (4/1/22): Algerian journalist Merzoug Touati sentenced to 1 year in prison [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
Benin Updates
Last Year's Entry
Burkina Faso Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Administrative (cr.);
The Michael Brooks Show (1/6/20): TMBS Doc: Thomas Sankara's Revolution [history-news, leftist-news, socialist-news, neo-imperialism-news]
Last Year's Entry
- Just Security (20/1/22): Authorities in Burkina Faso have said that they have disrupted access to Facebook due to security concerns. The shutdown was first reported on Jan. 10 and appears to be continuing. BBC News reports. [cyber-security-news, big-tech-news, surveillance-and-censorship-news]
- The Economist (13/1/22): Small bands of mercenaries extend Russia’s reach in Africa - Local despots seek unsqueamish hired guns [russia-policy-news] [!]
Botswana Updates
Last Year's Entry
Burundi Updates
Last Year's Entry
Cameroon Updates
Last Year's Entry
- Washington Post (15/1/22): Separatists vow to derail Africa’s biggest soccer tournament with bullets and bombs in Cameroon [!]
- The Guardian (12/1/22): Cameroonian senator and soldier killed in restive anglophone regions - Opposition figure shot and a soldier killed with an explosive device in separate attacks [!]
- Africa News (4/1/22): Anglophone separatists and jihadists pose threat to Cameroon CAN
Chad Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
Djibouti Updates
Last Year's Entry
Egypt Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Administrative (cr.);
CaspianReport (13/8/21): Egypt flexes military muscle at Ethiopia
Last Year's Entry
- Al-Monitor (19/1/22): Egypt supports Somalia to counter Turkish influence - Egypt has sought rapprochement with Somalia in hopes of countering Turkey’s growing influence. [!]
- Al-Monitor (18/1/22): Child labor assumes fatal proportions in Egypt - The latest drowning of eight working children in the Nile Delta is opening deep wounds in Egypt and renewing debate about child labor. [child-labor-news] [!]
- Washington Post (15/1/22): ِEgypt arrests wanted man after plane's emergency landing [!]
- Just Security (14/1/22): Egyptian media tycoon Mohamed al-Amin, who has close ties to the Egyptian government, has been detained pending an investigation into allegations of sexual assault. Egyptian public prosecution service has said it is investigating reports that the businessman sexually abused girls living in an orphanage that he owned and took them on trips to his holiday villa. Edmund Bower reports for the Guardian. [crime-news]
- WSWS (13/1/22): Protests in Egyptian capital by broadcasting employees over wage arrears - Hundreds of workers at Egypt’s state-run broadcaster Maspero protested outside Maspero’s headquarters in Cairo on Sunday. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Al-Monitor (12/1/22): Egypt tests economic outreach to Syria through labor unions - Cairo looks to labor unions to strengthen ties with Damascus . [union-news] I'm quite suspect of these unions though, seem like the kind that authoritarians set up to squelch labor activism
- Washington Post (12/1/22): Egypt president urges Sudanese to talk, denies backing coup [!]
- Al Jazeera (8/1/22): Egypt frees activist Ramy Shaath after he abandons nationality - Shaath’s detention came amid a continuing crackdown on political dissent under Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (6/1/22): US accuses New York man of tracking opponents of Egypt’s Sisi - US Justice Department charges Pierre Girgis with acting as a foreign agent for Egypt without notifying US government. [us-policy-news, surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- Middle East Monitor (5/1/22): Egypt releases 3 prominent political prisoners. What about the 65,000 others? [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- Middle East Monitor (4/1/22): Egypt taking more steps to rationalising water usage [!]
- Middle East Monitor (4/1/22): Egypt's grand mufti legalises use of contraceptives to limit population growth
- Al-Monitor (3/1/22): Sinai tribes participate in military action against jihadi organizations - Over the past few days, the Sinai Tribes Union has issued statements on confrontations between tribesmen and members of the IS-affiliated Sinai Province organization. [!]
- Middle East Monitor (31/12/21): Palestine's Abbas despised by Arab world, says Egypt academic [!]
- Middle East Monitor (31/12/21): Egypt releases Ola Qaradawi from jail [surveillance-and-censorship-news]
Eritrea Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
- South China Morning Post (6/1/22): China hits out at sanctions on new African belt and road partner Eritrea as it focuses on ports - The US and some European countries have punished Eritrea for its involvement in the war in Ethiopia’s Tigray region - The tiny nation is strategically important to China’s attempts to expand its trade, given its proximity to Red Sea, Suez Canal and Europe [china-policy-news, bri-news, us-policy-news] Important Note on SCMP [!]
Ethiopia Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Ethnic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Popular Front (6/5/21): (podcast) On the Frontlines of the War in Tigray
CaspianReport (13/8/21): Egypt flexes military muscle at Ethiopia
Last Year's Entry
- Washington Post (20/1/22): UN: Food aid in Ethiopia's Tigray now at 'all-time lowest' [social-woes-news] [!]
- The Guardian (15/1/22): Medics in Tigray plead with Ethiopia for insulin airlift as supplies run out - Thousands of diabetics in region face ‘agonising death’ amid blockage on food, fuel and medicines in 14-month conflict [!]
- Al Jazeera (15/1/22): UN decries Ethiopia air strikes; says dozens killed this month - UN says at least 108 civilians have been killed in Tigray since the new year began as it warns aid distributions are at an all-time low. [!]
- Washington Post (14/1/22): Ethiopia objects to alleged "misconduct" of WHO chief Tedros [!]
- The Economist (13/1/22): Small bands of mercenaries extend Russia’s reach in Africa - Local despots seek unsqueamish hired guns [russia-policy-news] [!]
- The Economist (13/1/22): Ethiopia promises peace but keeps bombing rebels and civilians - Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s actions belie his words
- Al Jazeera (12/1/22): Blockade creates ‘hell’ in Ethiopia’s Tigray: WHO - Tigray is under what the United Nations calls a de facto blockade that is preventing life-saving medicine and food from reaching millions. [social-woes-news] [!]
- Democracy Now (12/1/22): 19 People Reported Killed in Tigray Airstrikes on Same Day Biden Speaks with Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed
- Just Security (11/1/22): An airstrike in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region yesterday killed at least 17 people, mostly women, and wounded dozens in the town of Mai Tsebri, two aid workers have said, citing local authorities and eyewitnesses. The latest reports follow an airstrike that killed 56 people, including children, in a camp for displaced people in Tigray on Friday. Reuters reports.
- Africa News (10/1/22): Ethiopia: footage of drone deadly strike emerges [!]
- Democracy Now (10/1/22): This [the airstrike, see Just Security entry] comes as Tigray’s biggest hospital is reporting they’re running out of therapeutic foods to treat children with severe malnutrition. More than 40% of children under 5 who arrive at the hospital are malnourished, medics said. The hospital is also facing a shortage of medicines and equipment, with doctors blaming the devastation on a six-month blockade by government forces that’s made it nearly impossible for aid to enter Tigray.
- Just Security (10/1/22): Aid workers have said that 56 people were killed and dozens more injured in an airstrike on a camp for displaced people in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. Following the air strike, aid agencies have suspended operations in the region, the U.N.’s humanitarian agency Ocha has said. It is not clear who conducted the strike, however The Tigray People’s Liberation Front has accused Eritrea of launching attacks against the group’s fighters. BBC News reports.
- Al Jazeera (8/1/22): Dozens killed in Ethiopian air strike on IDP camp in Tigray - Aid workers and TPLF say 56 killed in an air raid on a camp for displaced people in Dedebit near the border with Eritrea
- Al Jazeera (7/1/22): Ethiopia announces pardons for high-profile political prisoners - Gov’t says it will release several leading TPLF members and opposition leaders from the Oromo and Amhara ethnic groups.
- Washington Post (6/1/22): UN: Some Ethiopian aid will stop without cash, fuel and food [social-woes-news]
- Just Security (6/1/22): Ethiopia has lifted a five-month suspension of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)’s aid work in the country, after it cleared the organization of allegations of spreading “misinformation.” The Ethiopian government ordered the NRC, along with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), to stop work for three months in July. However, while MSF’s suspension was lifted in October, the NRC’s was extended. Kaamil Ahmed reports for the Guardian.
- Washington Post (5/1/22): Report: Ethiopia detains many Tigrayans deported from Gulf - Officials in Ethiopia have arbitrarily detained and forcibly disappeared thousands of ethnic Tigrayans who recently were deported from Saudi Arabia, a new Human Rights Watch report says as the country’s deadly Tigray conflict continues.
- Al Jazeera (2/1/22): US removes Ethiopia, Mali and Guinea from AGOA trade programme - US removes Ethiopia, Mali and Guinea from duty-free trade programme over alleged rights violations and recent coups. [us-policy-news, economic-news]
Liberia Updates
- Washington Post (20/1/22): Stampede at religious ceremony in Liberia kills 29 people - The stampede erupted when a gang of thugs armed with knives attacked some of the hundreds attending the ceremony at about 9 p.m. on Wednesday night, police spokesman Moses Carter told The Associated Press. - Street gangs have become an increasing problem in Monrovia and other Liberian cities in recent years, according to residents. [disaster-news, crime-news]
Libya Updates
(wiki, Libyan Crisis)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Administrative (cr.);
Libya Live Map
Last Year's Entry
- Washington Post (17/1/22): UN chief: Over 12,000 detainees held officially [in 27 prisons and detention centers] in Libya - and thousands more are held illegally and often in “inhumane conditions in facilities controlled by armed groups or `secret’ facilities,” the United Nations chief said in a new report. [!]
- The Economist (15/1/22): Europe is bankrolling a force that routinely abuses African migrants - Libya’s coastguard is not known for its professionalism [immigrant-news, europe-policy-news] [!]
- The Economist (13/1/22): Small bands of mercenaries extend Russia’s reach in Africa - Local despots seek unsqueamish hired guns [russia-policy-news] [!]
- Al-Monitor (12/1/22): Hundreds of migrants detained outside of UN center in Libya - The migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers were camping out near the building in the Libyan capital, Tripoli. [immigrant-news] [!]
- Middle East Monitor (5/1/22): Libya's oil output drops by 200,000 due to damaged pipeline [!]
Mali Updates
(wiki, Mali War)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
- Washington Post (18/1/22): UN suspends Mali peacekeeping flights after military rules [!]
- Left Voice (16/1/22): Demonstrations in Mali Against ECOWAS Strengthen Ruling Junta - Sanctions against Mali have, predictably, helped legitimize the ruling military. It cannot be ruled out that international pressure on the military is working. But this success could become a “Pyrrhic victory.” - Hundreds of thousands, and perhaps even millions of people, took to the streets in Bamako and in the cities of the country’s interior, from the north to the south and through the center. It is difficult to estimate the size of the crowd. What is certain, though, is that the Malian population has expressed its anger at the harsh ECOWAS sanctions that have effectively placed the country under an embargo. This response is worrying for France and its regional allies, who intended to put pressure on the military to organize elections as soon as possible and hand over power to “civilians.” - The popular reaction is not only strengthening the military, but also deepening the “anti-French sentiment” that had been gaining ground in the country — a former French colony — for some years. Another risk was that these sanctions would increase the popularity of foreign powers competing with France in the region, notably Russia but also China. In photographs from the demonstrations, some Russian flags can be seen among the crowd. - The anger over the ECOWAS sanctions among the working class, youth, and Mali’s poor is more than legitimate. For now, though, it is being channeled by the military into its policy of national unity. And for that, the junta can count on the help of trade union leaders and religious leaders and organizations. It remains to be seen how long this unity can hold given the class contradictions of an economic situation that will become increasingly serious. In the medium term, that unity will obviously not be able to hold with the same strength. But as long as the sanctions remain in place, the military will be able to secure the support of an important part of society. [union-news, labor-news, protest-news, imperialist-news] [!]
- Washington Post (16/1/22): Mali ex-President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita dies at 76 [!]
- Al Jazeera (14/1/22): Malians rally after army calls for protests over ECOWAS sanctions - Thousands protest across Mali in support of ruling military after West Africa bloc imposed sanctions over delayed vote. [protest-news] [!]
- The Economist (13/1/22): Small bands of mercenaries extend Russia’s reach in Africa - Local despots seek unsqueamish hired guns [russia-policy-news] [!]
- Just Security (12/1/22): Russia and China have blocked the U.N. Security Council from supporting a decision by the Economic Community of West African States to impose new sanctions on Mali, after Mali’s military leaders delayed presidential and legislative elections for four years. A French-drafted Council statement endorsing the sanctions failed to be approved in closed-door consultations yesterday. Al Jazeera reports. [russia-policy-news, europe-policy-news, china-policy-news]
- Just Security (11/1/22): The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has closed its borders and ceased trade with Mali
- Al Jazeera (9/1/22): West Africa bloc ECOWAS hits Mali with sanctions after poll delay - Regional body to close borders with Mali and impose economic sanctions after coup leaders postponed the vote. [economic-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (7/1/22): Russian troops deploy to Mali’s Timbuktu after French exit - Army spokesperson says the Russian soldiers are in the northern city to train Malian troops. [russia-policy-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (3/1/22): Mali opposition rejects election delay in new transition plan - Coalition representing several political parties [the CNSP] opposes five-year proposed extension to democratic transition period.
- Al Jazeera (2/1/22): US removes Ethiopia, Mali and Guinea from AGOA trade programme - US removes Ethiopia, Mali and Guinea from duty-free trade programme over alleged rights violations and recent coups. [us-policy-news, economic-news]
Mauritania Updates
Last Year's Entry
Morocco Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (includes W. Sahara) (cr.)
CaspianReport (14/9/21): Algeria & Morocco: the world's most self-destructive rivalry
Last Year's Entry
Niger Updates
Last Year's Entry
- CPJ (13/1/22): Niger journalists Moussa Aksar and Samira Sabou convicted, fined under cybercrime act [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- The Economist (13/1/22): Small bands of mercenaries extend Russia’s reach in Africa - Local despots seek unsqueamish hired guns [russia-policy-news] [!]
- Africa News (5/1/22): Niger: Record 214 kilos of cocaine seized, mayor arrested [drug-news] [!]
Nigeria Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Administrative (cr.);
Last Year's Entry
- WSWS (20/1/22): On January 13, Nigerian workers in Oyo State, protesting over low pay and bad working conditions, were attacked and arrested by state forces. The workers are employed by manufacturing company Extreme Manufacturing Nigeria Limited. [law-enforcement-oversteps-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (20/1/22): Nigerian college and polytechnic workers in Benue walk out on strike, join university workers in Plateau State [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Just Security (19/1/22): Four alleged members of the Nigerian mafia have been arrested in southern Italy after a young sex trafficking survivor spoke out against them. Investigators in Palermo have said that the woman, who is also Nigerian, had been imprisoned, raped, blackmailed, and forced into prostitution by her traffickers to pay a debt. The men allegedly belong to the feared Black Axe, a cult-like criminal gang that emerged in the 1970s at the University of Benin. Lorenzo Tondo reports for the Guardian. [crime-news]
- Just Security (19/1/22): Nigeria’s interior minister has ordered prison guards to “shoot to kill” those involved in jailbreaks. Over the past year armed groups have attacked various prisons in Nigeria, enabling more 5,000 inmates to escape. During an address to prison staff in the southern city of Ibadan, Rauf Aregbesola said anyone who attempts to breach security “must not live to tell the tale.” BBC News reports.
- Al Jazeera (18/1/22): Nigerian separatist Kanu faces new charges as trial resumes - Kanu previously pleaded not guilty to seven charges including terrorism and calling for secession. [!]
- CPJ (14/1/22): Nigerian intelligence agency demands sources from Peoples Gazette news site [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- The Economist (13/1/22): Small bands of mercenaries extend Russia’s reach in Africa - Local despots seek unsqueamish hired guns [russia-policy-news] [!]
- WSWS (13/1/22): Nurses’ stoppage in Lagos, Nigeria over bad conditions ended by union [healthcare-news, union-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (13/1/22): Tricycle operators wildcat strike in Kano State, Nigeria - Tricycles are how most commuters get around the city. The state government decided upon changes that made their lives more difficult, prompting the walkout. [logistics-news, union-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Al Jazeera (12/1/22): Nigeria ends its Twitter ban after seven months - Nigeria suspended Twitter after it removed a post from the president that threatened to punish regional secessionists. [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- CPJ (10/1/22): Men raid office of Nigerian outlet Thunder Blowers, steal equipment and beat editor [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- The Guardian (8/1/22): At least 200 villagers killed by bandits in north-west Nigeria - Attacks by militants in Zamfara state are believed to be in response to military air strikes on hideouts [!]
- Washington Post (7/1/22): Three Chinese nationals abducted in Nigeria, police say [!]
- The Guardian (7/1/22): More than 100 people killed in northern Nigeria bandit attack - Authorities say they are searching for militants who terrorised areas of Zamfara state for three days [!]
- Africa News (6/1/22): Nigeria: fire rips through busy neighbourhood in Lagos [disaster-news]
- The Guardian (4/1/22): Nearly 100 Nigerian hostages rescued after two months of captivity - Weary abductees including children and babies ‘freed unconditionally’, say police in troubled northern states [!]
- Africa News (3/1/22): 21 abducted Schoolchildren rescued in Northwestern Nigeria [!]
Senegal Updates
Last Year's Entry
Sierra Leone Updates
Last Year's Entry
Somalia Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
- Al-Monitor (19/1/22): Egypt supports Somalia to counter Turkish influence - Egypt has sought rapprochement with Somalia in hopes of countering Turkey’s growing influence. [!]
- Democracy Now (19/1/22): Suicide Bombing in Somalia Kills 4 People, Days After Another Blast Targets Gov’t Spokesperson (believe this one (with 4 deaths) is same one as (AJ 18/1/22))
- Al Jazeera (18/1/22): Four people killed, 10 wounded in bombing in Somali capital - Armed group al-Shabab claims responsibility for suicide bombing in a Mogadishu tea shop near a military base. [!]
- Just Security (13/1/22): A large explosion killed at least eight people and injured nine others in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, yesterday, according to the head of an ambulance service. The car explosion occurred just before noon on a road leading to Mogadishu’s international airport. The road also services a major police academy and a compound where United Nations and foreign government staff members and officials live. The bombing is the latest in a string of attacks blamed on the Al Shabab extremist group. Abdi Latif Dahir reports for the New York Times.
- Just Security (12/1/22): A huge blast has gone off in the Somali capital today on a road leading to the airport. Eyewitness reports say that it is not clear what caused the explosion with at least four bodies having been seen by witnesses. Reuters reports.
- Wall Street Journal (27/12/21): Power Struggle Between Somali President and Prime Minister Threatens Fight Against Extremists - President suspends prime minister, who in turn says he will assume president’s duties; battle undermines fight against al-Shabaab [us-policy-news] Paywall Summary (?): The suspension is over alleged corruption, and the former (?) PM announced he is assuming command of the military, with a correspondant telling the WSJ he 'continues his routine duties as usual'. Trump withdrew forces from Somalia at end of his term, and it is unclear if Biden will send some back in. In northeast Puntland, forces allied with the state's president exchanged fire with the local counterterror force trained by the CIA and the U.S. Navy SEALS. There is no resolution there so far.
- CPJ (31/12/21): Somaliland authorities arrest three journalists for critical reporting [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
South Sudan Updates
Last Year's Entry
Sudan Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (before split) (cr.); Administrative (cr.);
Last Year's Entry
- Washington Post (20/1/22): US says it will not resume Sudan aid after recent violence [us-policy-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (18/1/22): Sudanese barricade streets as strike over protest deaths begins - Anti-coup resistance committees and political parties call for two days of civil disobedience in Sudan over killings by the security forces. [protest-news, labor-news] [!]
- Democracy Now (18/1/22): Sudanese Forces Kill Seven More Anti-Coup Protesters - Over 70 protesters have been killed since October 25, when Sudan’s military took control of the government in a coup. [protest-news, law-enforcement-oversteps-news]
- Al Jazeera (17/1/22): Several protesters killed in Sudan anti-coup rallies - Security forces kill several protesters, medics and activists say, as thousands demonstrate against military coup. [!]
- Al Jazeera (16/1/22): Sudan pro-democracy faction agrees to UN-brokered talks - The Forces of Freedom of and Change says it will take part in UN-sponsored talks to end months of political deadlock. - Another key civilian group, the Sudanese Professionals Association, however, has rejected the UN’s offer. [labor-news, protest-news]
- Al Jazeera (16/1/22): Sudan withdraws licence of Al Jazeera Mubasher - Sudanese authorities say the decision was taken following the channel’s ‘violation of the terms’ of licensing. [media-news, surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- The Economist (13/1/22): Small bands of mercenaries extend Russia’s reach in Africa - Local despots seek unsqueamish hired guns [russia-policy-news] [!]
- Washington Post (13/1/22): Sudan's anti-coup protests violently dispersed; 2 killed [law-enforcement-oversteps-news, protest-news] [!]
- Washington Post (12/1/22): Egypt president urges Sudanese to talk, denies backing coup [!]
- Al Jazeera (9/1/22): At least one killed at Sudan protest against military rule - Medics say one person killed after being struck by a tear gas canister as thousands of anti-coup protesters rally. [protest-news, law-enforcement-oversteps-news] [!]
- Africa News (9/1/22): Sudanese protesters reject UN-led talks with the military [protest-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (6/1/22): Several killed in Sudan protests against military rule - Security forces kill three protesters as thousands gather across Sudan in first rallies since Abdalla Hamdok’s resignation as prime minister. [protest-news, law-enforcement-oversteps-news] [!]
- Democracy Now (5/1/22): Sudanese Forces Fire at Protesters Demanding Civilian Rule - Seventy protesters were reportedly injured across the country Tuesday.
- Middle East Monitor (4/1/22): Sudan closes bridges ahead of popular protests [!]
- Middle East Monitor (4/1/22): Thousands protest in Sudan after Prime Minister's resignation [protest-news] [!]
- Modern Diplomacy (4/1/22): Sudan: Looting in Darfur, leaves 730,000 without enough to eat [social-woes-news] [!]
- Just Security (3/1/22): Hamdok’s resignation follows weeks of wrangling between civilian and military leaders over the formation of a new government and leaves the military solely in control of Sudan. The resignation “sets up a potentially explosive confrontation between the military, a powerful paramilitary group called the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the protest movement,” Max Bearak and Miriam Berger report for the Washington Post. [protest-news]
- The Guardian (2/1/22): Sudan’s prime minister resigns as pro-democracy protests violently repressed - Abdalla Hamdok quits on same day at least two protesters killed by security forces during unrest in Khartoum and other cities
- Al Jazeera (2/1/22): Sudan security forces kill two anti-coup protesters, say medics - The two were killed by live bullets in Omdurman as thousands marched towards the presidential palace in Khartoum. [!]
- Middle East Monitor (1/1/22): Sudan official resigns due to high protest death toll [law-enforcement-oversteps-news, protest-news]
- Africa News (31/12/21): Sudan: Anti-coup protestors rally again amid violent crackdown [protest-news] [!]
- Africa News (31/12/21): Sudanese forces kill four, raid media house in Khartoum [surveillance-and-censorship-news]
- Al Jazeera (31/12/21): UN food agency suspends North Darfur operation after attacks - Close to two million people expected to be affected by move after assault and looting on three WFP warehouses. [!]
- Middle East Monitor (31/12/21): Sudan health ministry warns of scale of repression of protesters [!]
Togo Updates
Last Year's Entry
Tunisia Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Administrative (cr.);
Last Year's Entry
- Al Jazeera (19/1/22): Tunisian man died from police violence at protest: Opposition - The Ennahdha party said Ridha Bouziane, who was one of its members, was subjected to severe violence. [law-enforcement-oversteps-news, protest-news] [!]
- Financial Times (17/1/22): Poorest countries face $11bn surge [to around $35bn] in debt repayments - World Bank warns of risk of ‘disorderly defaults’ as pandemic-era relief scheme expires [debt-capitalist-farce-news] Paywall Summary (?): 60% of low-income nations need/are-at-risk-of-needing to restructure their debts, with the looming crisis of sovereign debt crises, the World Bank warns. There was a scheme to put off debt repayments by a year (DSSI), but that seems to just push the date off when debt needs to be paid, and even then, the bill is coming due this year. Nations have borrowed more (~$300bn of issued bonds in low+middle income nations in 2020 and 2021) in the past few years to deal with the economic and healthcare costs of COVID-19, and now are facing higher borrowing costs as central banks around the world are raising interest rates. There are fears of a lost decade, with a 1 to 2 year window to figure this out; many mechanisms to deal with this will be difficult, if it requires the nations to make certain deals and arrangements with creditors and the IMF, as that will be tantamount to admitting issues paying debts, and the private sector will punish them.
- Al Jazeera (14/1/22): Tunisia police use water cannon to disperse protesters - Tunis sees heavy police presence as hundreds rally against President Kais Saied despite COVID restrictions. [protest-news, law-enforcement-oversteps-news] [!]
- WSWS (13/1/22): Tunisian oil tanker drivers begin three-day strike over conditions - Oil tanker drivers in Tunisia began a three-day strike on January 6. The drivers decided to strike after the General Union of Hydrocarbons Transport Workers refused to negotiate any improvement in their conditions. [logistics-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Al Jazeera (11/1/22): Tunisian press syndicate says state TV bars political parties - Tunisian state TV has barred parties from entering building or taking part in talk shows, press syndicate says. [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (6/1/22): Judiciary officials linked to criminal gangs: Tunisia president - President Saied’s comments come as former justice minister was arrested last week and accused of possible ‘terrorism’ offences. - Saied’s comments come as former justice minister Noureddine Bhiri refused food or medication since his arrest last week by plain-clothes officers after he was accused of possible “terrorism” offences. - It was not clear whether Saied was referring to the former justice minister, who was also deputy chairman of the Ennahdha party that played a central role in Tunisian politics until a power grab on July 25 last year by Saied. - On Tuesday, the public prosecutor’s office said that an investigation had been opened after it received a report “from services combating terrorism and organised crime” that a Syrian couple had allegedly been assigned false identity documents and nationality certificates while Bhiri was head of the justice ministry.
- Middle East Monitor (6/1/22): Family of detained ex-Tunisia minister launch sit-in for his release [!]
- Middle East Monitor (6/1/22): Tunisia: Fuel drivers announce a 3-day strike [labor-news]
- Middle East Monitor (5/1/22): Tunisia's Ennahda slams interior minister's 'terrorism' accusations [!]
- Al Jazeera (5/1/22): Tunisia’s UGTT criticises president’s road map out of crisis - The trade union says the president’s proposal will not guarantee Tunisia’s return to democracy. [union-news, labor-news] [!]
- The Civil Fleet (4/1/22): Fossil fuel giant Shell and EU maritime authorities accused of complicity in Mediterranean refugee ‘pullback’ (via u/cowlesz on r/alltheleft) [big-oil-news, immigrant-news]
- Middle East Monitor (3/1/22): Detained Ennahda politician stages hunger strike in Tunisia [!]
- Just Security (3/1/22): Tunisian politician Noureddine Bhiri is in hospital in “critical condition” following his arrest in Tunis on Friday, activists and lawmakers have said. Tunisia’s interior ministry has not provided information on Bhiri but has said that two individuals had been placed under house arrest as a “preventive measure dictated by the need to preserve national security.” Al Jazeera reports.
- Africa News (31/12/21): Tunisia arrests top Ennahdha party official [surveillance-and-censorship-news]
Western Sahara Updates (Morocco-Occupied)
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (via Mauritania map) (cr.);Pop. density (2000) (includes Morocco) (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
Latin America + Caribbean Updates
Argentina / Barbados / Bolivia / Brazil / Chile / Colombia / Costa Rica / Cuba / Dominican Republic / Ecuador / El Salvador / Guatemala / Guyana / Haiti / Honduras / Jamaica / Mexico / Nicaragua / Panama / Paraguay / Peru / Uruguay / Venezuela
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Latin America is plagued by the destabilizing effect of the United States. We (the US) have too frequently supported autocratic leaders to supplant popular democratic movements (such as Pinochet in Chile), or trained death squads to counter grass-roots leftist movements (such as in Central America in the 80's), support we provide to this day (as brutal border control is electorally more palatable on the southern Mexican border as opposed to the southern US border). We actively intervened in countries to prevent leftist movements (such as Bay of Pigs in Cuba, or our invasion of the Dominican Republic in 1965 to prevent 'another Cuba'). Furthermore, our Drug War has done anything but fight drugs - no, by criminalizing this trade, we have given the trade to lawless tyrants. In this atmosphere - destabilized political institutions, strengthened law enforcement and militaries, forced neoliberal economic policies (see Costa Rica today), and a raging Drug War, people are pushed to flee - hence the migrant crisis. This is not to say that the US is the only ones with dirty hands, but that the US has sculpted boundary conditions which allows this to thrive.
Regional Updates
Argentina Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Administrative (cr.);
Last Year's Entry
- WSWS (18/1/22): Following the January 13 announcement by the union of lifeguards in Argentina’s Villa Gesell beach resort city that it was going on strike over wages, the Labor Ministry decreed mandatory conciliation (i.e., binding arbitration) and demanded that the union and the municipality continue talks. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Al Jazeera (14/1/22): ‘Another hellish day’: Argentina swelters under record heat wave - Many towns are posting their highest temperatures since record-keeping began, sometimes up to 45 degrees Celsius. [climate-change-news] [!]
- The Economist (15/6/17) (OLD): A battle for supremacy in the lithium triangle - Three South American countries have much [about half] of the world’s lithium. They take very different approaches to exploiting it [resource-news] Notes: 'Australian lithium must be expensively crushed out of rock and shipped to China for processing, but investment conditions are friendlier'; Chile also has a 'begign investment climate', and also has good infrastructure (port) access (Argentine lithium in Jujuy also goes through the same ports), although Chile is less liberal with lithium than it is with copper (due to its 70s/80s designation of possible use in nuclear-fusion plants). Only two companies - Chile's SQM and the US's Albemarle - are allowed to extract brine, due to leases signed in the 80s. They also praise former Argentine president Macri. Under Morales, lithium access was 'even tighter ... than ... on gas', although this protectionism reduces how much expertise there is; its 'insistence on keeping a controlling stake is discouraging potential investors'.
- CPJ (6/1/22): Argentine court orders journalist Santiago O’Donnell to turn over interviews of former president’s brother [!]
- Telesur (5/1/22): Argentina: Protest Against Offshore Oil Exploration Project - On Tuesday, a thousand people marched against an oil exploration project off the coast of the Atlantic. [protest-news, big-oil-news] Note about Telesur [!]
- WSWS (4/1/22): Longshore workers rallied and blocked truck traffic at Terminal 5 of the Port of Buenos Aires on December 30 to protest government plans to close the terminal and transform the 800 port workers into part-timers at the remaining terminals. [logistics-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Buenos Aires Times (4/1/22): Argentina's opposition refuses to attend meeting on IMF talks - Leaders from Argentina’s top opposition bloc indicated that they won’t be attending the government’s meeting at the presidential palace on Wednesday to discuss the state of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund. [economic-news, neo-imperialism-news]
- Buenos Aires Times (4/1/22): Argentina's president calls for probe into allegations of trade-union persecution - President Fernandez calls on Judiciary to "investigate without delay" allegations of alleged espionage and trade-union persecution, following leaked 'Gestapo' video. [busting-labor-news] [!]
- Buenos Aires Times (3/1/22): Argentina extends export ban on popular beef cuts to tame local prices - Argentina extended an export ban on seven beef cuts until the end of 2023, doubling down on its efforts to tame meat prices for local consumers.
- Buenos Aires Times (31/12/21): AFI denounces ex-BA Province minister after ‘Gestapo’ comment in video - Video footage emerges of ex-Buenos Aires Province labour minister Marcelo Villegas telling business leaders of plan to tackle trade union leaders. AFI intelligence denounces officials of ex-Vidal administration before courts. - "If I could have a Gestapo, a shock force to finish off all the trade unions, I’d go ahead." [busting-labor-news, far-right-news] (via u/Grouchy_Energy_1394 on r/alltheleft)
- Telesur (31/12/21): Bahia Governor Accepts Argentine Aid Rejected By Bolsonaro - "It is unfortunate to see a President who does not help to reject help from others," said Workers' Party leader Lula da Silva. [disaster-news, fail-government-news, far-right-news] Note about Telesur [!]
Barbados Updates
Last Year's Entry
- Al Jazeera (20/1/22): Barbados PM hails governing party’s landslide election victory - Mia Mottley’s Labor Party won all 30 legislative seats in Barbados’ first vote as a republic, preliminary results show. [electoral-news]
- Washington Post (19/1/22): Barbados holds snap general election amid criticism [electoral-news] [!]
- WSWS (10/1/22): Nurses in Barbados strike, protest over pay delays and working conditions [healthcare-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
Bolivia Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.);Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Administrative (cr.);
Last Year's Entry
- New York Times (16/12/21): Green-Energy Race Draws an American Underdog to Bolivia’s Lithium - Chinese and Russian industrial giants seek to tap mineral deposits vital to electric cars. A Texas entrepreneur has his own strategy: the long game. [resource-news, us-policy-news, russia-policy-news, china-policy-news, leftist-news, indigenous-news] Comments: An interesting piece, while the reporting is fine, the editorial stance has clear imperialist undertones. For example, citing how this Lithium could help Biden achieve automobile electrification goals - but what does that do for Bolivia? They frame the ruling socialists as the main local drivers of lithium investment, even as they shyly open up lithium to international investment. It's also interesting in writing out a bootstrap-esque narrative for EnergyX.
- Al Jazeera (25/12/19) (OLD): Morales claims US orchestrated ‘coup’ to tap Bolivia’s lithium - Morales’s remarks come weeks after protests forced him to resign, abandoning his bid for unconstitutional fourth term. [us-policy-news, resource-news, socialist-news, leftist-news]
- The Economist (15/6/17) (OLD): A battle for supremacy in the lithium triangle - Three South American countries have much [about half] of the world’s lithium. They take very different approaches to exploiting it [resource-news] Notes: 'Australian lithium must be expensively crushed out of rock and shipped to China for processing, but investment conditions are friendlier'; Chile also has a 'begign investment climate', and also has good infrastructure (port) access (Argentine lithium in Jujuy also goes through the same ports), although Chile is less liberal with lithium than it is with copper (due to its 70s/80s designation of possible use in nuclear-fusion plants). Only two companies - Chile's SQM and the US's Albemarle - are allowed to extract brine, due to leases signed in the 80s. They also praise former Argentine president Macri. Under Morales, lithium access was 'even tighter ... than ... on gas', although this protectionism reduces how much expertise there is; its 'insistence on keeping a controlling stake is discouraging potential investors'.
- The Economist (8/12/21): How Bolivian lithium could help fight climate change - But the country with the world’s largest resources [21m tonnes] is still struggling to extract them [resource-news] Summary: Bolivia's pilot will produce 600 tonnes, whereas Chile and Argentina are expected to produce 134k and 36k tonnes this year respectively. Recent pledges for EVs from big carmakers and nations is leading a scramble for the resource, and analysis shows demand may soon outstrip supply by 240k tonnes (doubling to 360k tonnes/year from 2015 to 2020). The Economist reports current president Arce as more 'open than his predecessors were to letting foreign firms dig for minerals in exchange for their know-how, financing and access to global markets'. A political hurdle is the 'dominat[ion]' of the state lithium company of Bolivia in extraction and processing in Salar. The interim president Anez neglected lithium extraction, especially amidst COVID-19. A new method, "direct lithium extraction" (DLE) may be more suited to Bolivian lithium (and less water-intensive); analysts think it won't be until 2030 that large quantities are hitting the markets. Local unions and farmers pose another challenge.
- Foreign Policy (13/11/19) (OLD): Bolivia’s Lithium Isn’t The New Oil - A popular theory around Evo Morales’s removal is completely mistaken. [resource-news] Paywall Summary (?): One source of speculation about a 'lithium coup' was a $3bn investment with a Chinese firm and a German company for lithium development; the contract with the German firm was canceled a week before Morales' resignation, due to local indigenous protest that they wouldn't see benefits from the deal. On paper, Bolivia has more lithium than any other country, but its climate is less-than-favorable compared to neighboring Chile and Argentina (major lithium producers), as lithium extraction requires an evaporation step, which Bolivia's wetter climate slows down. FP does admit that Morales was seen as a barrier to international capital's investments. Bolivian salt flats also have a low concentration of lithium and high concentrations of magnesium. Comments: While FP points out issues with Chinese development, this doesn't counter (or support) claims of US imperialism.
Brazil Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Administrative (cr.);
Last Year's Entry
- The Guardian (19/1/22): Hundreds of armed police storm Rio de Janeiro favela - State governor says surprise operation against drug gangs and mafia groups is start of ‘transformational’ occupation [drug-news] [!]
- Common Dreams (15/1/22): Families in Brazil Face Devastating Floods; Social Movements Respond - We have set up a special emergency fund to support families in Bahia. Given the hardship these families are going through now and for months to come, we are calling upon all people of conscience to take immediate action in solidarity. [social-woes-news, disaster-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (14/1/22): Omicron spikes in Brazil as Bolsonaro downplays threat - Cases have doubled since last week, with experts warning of strains on the health systems and the economy. [covid-news] [!]
- The Guardian (13/1/22): Brazilian turtle breeders shot dead along with teenage daughter - Activists mourn deaths in Amazon state of Pará as bodies of José Gomes, Márcia Nunes Lisboa and their daughter found by son [!]
- Telesur (10/1/22): Heavy Rain Leaves 145 Cities In Emergency In Minas Gerais - The bad weather in this Brazilian state has caused the overflow of rivers, the suspension of mining activities, and effects on land transportation systems. [disaster-news] Note about Telesur [!]
- Washington Post (9/1/22): Wall of rock falls on boaters on Brazilian lake, killing 6 [!]
- Buenos Aires Times (6/1/22): Brazilian families slammed by debt, inflation - Even though 2021 had been anticipated as the year of economic recovery in Brazil, high inflation and the complications derived from the pandemic, are forcing Brazilians to get more and more into debt, despite the rising interest rates. [social-woes-news, economic-news] [!]
- Washington Post (5/1/22): Brazil to vaccinate kids, stops short of demanding scripts - The government’s guidelines come almost three weeks after the health regulator authorized use of Pfizer’s shot for children, setting off backlash from none other than President Jair Bolsonaro. After sowing doubt about the efficacy of the vaccine and refusing to be vaccinated himself last year, in recent weeks the president staked out a position opposing vaccines for kids and warning of possible side effects. [anti-vaxx-news, covid-news, far-right-news]
- WSWS (4/1/22): On December 28, striking workers at the Belo Horizonte municipal transit system voted to continue their strike until January 17. At issue is the government plan to privatize the transit system. [rail-news, logistics-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Democracy Now (4/1/22): Brazilian Far-Right President Jair Bolsonaro Hospitalized with Intestinal Blockage
- Financial Times (4/1/22): Brazil’s economic outlook buoyed by big ticket investments - Auction of oil and gas a watershed moment for the government’s programme of infrastructure concessions [big-oil-news, privatization-news, far-right-news] Paywall Summary (?): The deal raises $2bn in fees, and $35bn in investments from companies such as Shell and TotalEnergies. Since coming into office in 2019, Bolsanaro's administration has auctioned 131 concessions in infrastructure such as road, rail, logistics and sanitation, returning a total of $26bn in fees and $145bn in investments. In the prior 2.5 years (since the program started in 2016), the respective values (in today's dollars) were $8bn and $44bn. Officials predict a further 150 concessions (including airports, ports, highways, national parks, forests, and mineral rights) and $70bn in investments. Local analysts fear that Bolsanaro's rhetoric is spooking international investment, as much of the investment is coming from local sources. This the FT considers overall Bolsanaro's main success, as he has failed to deliver other promised economic reforms. The market is also spooked by the upcoming election, where Lula is slated to win.
- The Guardian (3/1/22): Scientists raise alarm as deforestation jumps in Brazil’s Cerrado - Destruction of trees, grasses and other plants in world’s largest savanna is a major source of Brazil’s greenhouse gas emissions [climate-change-news, industrial-failure-news] [!]
- Telesur (31/12/21): Bahia Governor Accepts Argentine Aid Rejected By Bolsonaro - "It is unfortunate to see a President who does not help to reject help from others," said Workers' Party leader Lula da Silva. [disaster-news, fail-government-news, far-right-news] Note about Telesur [!]
Chile Updates
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- Jacobin (15/1/22): In the Days of Tito and Allende, Yugoslavia Helped Define Chilean Socialism - Chile’s new president, Gabriel Boric, has stressed the importance of his Yugoslav roots. But well before Boric's rise to prominence, across much of the last century, Yugoslav socialism was a major influence on the Chilean left. [leftist-news, history-news, analysis-news] [!]
- The Economist (15/6/17) (OLD): A battle for supremacy in the lithium triangle - Three South American countries have much [about half] of the world’s lithium. They take very different approaches to exploiting it [resource-news] Notes: 'Australian lithium must be expensively crushed out of rock and shipped to China for processing, but investment conditions are friendlier'; Chile also has a 'begign investment climate', and also has good infrastructure (port) access (Argentine lithium in Jujuy also goes through the same ports), although Chile is less liberal with lithium than it is with copper (due to its 70s/80s designation of possible use in nuclear-fusion plants). Only two companies - Chile's SQM and the US's Albemarle - are allowed to extract brine, due to leases signed in the 80s. They also praise former Argentine president Macri. Under Morales, lithium access was 'even tighter ... than ... on gas', although this protectionism reduces how much expertise there is; its 'insistence on keeping a controlling stake is discouraging potential investors'.
- Al Jazeera (5/1/22): Chile’s constitutional assembly elects new president - Epidemiologist Maria Elisa Quinteros takes helm of the body tasked with replacing Chile’s Pinochet-era constitution. [politics-news] [!]
- WSWS (4/1/22): On the fourth week on strike against the Florida Mining Company, a subsidiary of Yamana Gold, a Canadian based transnational corporation, 45 miles south of Santiago, Chile’s capital, workers overwhelmingly rejected a proposed contract on December 28 by 625 no votes out of the 696 miners who work in the mine, which extracts and processes gold, zinc and silver. - The miners are demanding a six percent wage increase, plus other bonuses and benefits. [resource-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Jacobin (1/1/22): Chile’s Socialist Resurgence Is a Century in the Making - Gabriel Boric’s presidential victory and a new constitution are the crowning achievements of Chile’s broad socialist movement. Now comes the hard part: fulfilling a vision of working-class prosperity that stretches back to Salvador Allende and beyond. (Interview with Joshua Frens-String) [socialist-news, history-news, leftist-news, analysis-news, food-security-news, far-right-news]
Colombia Updates
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Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
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- Telesur (19/1/22): Colombia: 4 People Shot Dead In The Antioquia Department - Authorities do not know whether the victims had direct threats against their lives from any armed actor in this department, where the Gulf Clan and the criminal gang El Mesa operate. Note about Telesur [!]
- The Guardian (18/1/22): Shock in Colombia over murder of 14-year-old indigenous activist - Breiner David Cucuñame was shot dead while on patrol with the unarmed group Indigenous Guard [!]
- Washington Post (18/1/22): Ingrid Betancourt, held by FARC rebels for more than six years, announces run for Colombia president - It’s the former senator’s second run for the office; she was kidnapped in 2002 during the first [electoral-news] [!]
- WSWS (10/1/22): Bus drivers for the Integrated Public Transport System (SITP) in the Colombian town of Usme, a locality south of Bogotá, held a protest January 6, in some locales blockading streets with their buses. The drivers protested the dismantling by the city’s TransMilenio public transit system of several routes that they have served due to the new buses the government is putting into operation. [logistics-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Telesur (10/1/22): Colombia: 6 People Killed in the Magdalena & Nariño Departments - Massacres against the population continue to occur given that Colombian president Ivan Duque has not done much to prevent them. Note about Telesur [!]
- Telesur (6/1/22): Colombian Police Cracks Down Night Protests in Bogota - “The narco-dictatorship threatens Colombians and prevents them from holding marches and protests... The right to protest is being violated,” Senator Raquel Lizarazo said. [protest-news] Note about Telesur [!]
- Telesur (5/1/22): Clashes Among Armed Groups Displace 176 Colombians In Arauca - "Although we are making every effort to end this nightmare, violent acts are likely to persist since armed groups do not seem to cease their territorial disputes," Ombudsman Camargo lamented. Note about Telesur [!]
- Telesur (4/1/22): Colombia: 3 Construction Workers Killed In Jamundi Municipality - Attacks like this are common since paramilitaries intimidate the population to promote their displacement and gain new territories for drug trafficking and illegal mining activities. Note about Telesur [!]
- Washington Post (3/1/22): Fighting intensifies in eastern Colombia; at least 23 killed
- Left Voice (31/12/21): Protests in Colombia Spur Government to Hunt Down Youth - In the aftermath of the 2021 “National Strike” in Colombia, the Duque government is treating youth like terrorists and has launched a series of murders, disappearances, and prosecutions. [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- Telesur (31/12/21): Colombian Paramilitaries Invade Farmers Lands in Bolivar - On several occasions, the Agro-Mining Federation has denounced that paramilitary actions are carried out in complicity with local military and civil authorities. [militant-far-right-news] Note about Telesur [!]
Costa Rica Updates
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Cuba Updates
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Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
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- The Guardian (15/1/22): ‘They want to make an example’: Cuba protesters hit with severe sentences - Six months after demonstrations, courts have quietly started imposing harsh charges such as sedition [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- CNBC (13/1/22): Why Cuba's extraordinary Covid vaccine success could provide the best hope for low-income countries - Cuba's prestigious biotech sector has developed five different Covid vaccines to date, including Abdala, Soberana 02 and Soberana Plus — all of which Cuba has said provide upwards of 90% protection against symptomatic Covid when administered in three doses. - The country of roughly 11 million remains the only country in Latin America and the Caribbean to have produced a homegrown shot for Covid. - The WHO's potential approval of Cuba's nationally produced Covid vaccines would carry "enormous significance" for low-income nations, John Kirk, professor emeritus at the Latin America program of Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada, told CNBC via telephone. - Unlike U.S. pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and Moderna, which use mRNA technology, all of Cuba's vaccines are subunit protein vaccines — like the Novavax vaccine. Crucially for low-income countries, they are cheap to produce, can be manufactured at scale and do not require deep freezing. [vaccine-ip-news, healthcare-news, covid-news] (via u/SneakySniper456 on r/alltheleft)
- The Guardian (13/1/22): Russia threatens military deployment to Cuba and Venezuela as diplomacy stalls - US says ‘drumbeat of war is sounding loud’ as talks with Russia over Ukraine head towards dead end [us-policy-news, russia-policy-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (11/1/22): Dozens of Cuban protesters to face trial this week, relatives say - Demonstrators were detained during unprecedented July protests against food shortages, rising prices and other grievances. [protest-news, surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (6/1/22): Biden administration slaps US travel bans on 8 Cuban officials - US State Department accuses targeted Cuban officials of being involved in repression of opposition protesters. [us-policy-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (5/1/22): US Coast Guard sends 119 migrants back to Cuba - Cubans seeking to reach the US by sea were detained over three days in 12 separate operations, Coast Guard says. [immigrant-news, us-policy-news] [!]
Dominican Republic Updates
Last Year's Entry
Ecuador Updates
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- Financial Times (17/1/22): Poorest countries face $11bn surge [to around $35bn] in debt repayments - World Bank warns of risk of ‘disorderly defaults’ as pandemic-era relief scheme expires [debt-capitalist-farce-news] Paywall Summary (?): 60% of low-income nations need/are-at-risk-of-needing to restructure their debts, with the looming crisis of sovereign debt crises, the World Bank warns. There was a scheme to put off debt repayments by a year (DSSI), but that seems to just push the date off when debt needs to be paid, and even then, the bill is coming due this year. Nations have borrowed more (~$300bn of issued bonds in low+middle income nations in 2020 and 2021) in the past few years to deal with the economic and healthcare costs of COVID-19, and now are facing higher borrowing costs as central banks around the world are raising interest rates. There are fears of a lost decade, with a 1 to 2 year window to figure this out; many mechanisms to deal with this will be difficult, if it requires the nations to make certain deals and arrangements with creditors and the IMF, as that will be tantamount to admitting issues paying debts, and the private sector will punish them.
- Telesur (12/1/22): Ecuador: Gang Clash In Esmeraldas Prison Leaves 3 Convicts Dead - In 2021, over 300 prisoners died due to clashes among gangs, which seek to gain control of prisons and free their leaders. Note about Telesur [!]
- WSWS (10/1/22): Unions, social and indigenous groups announce nationwide protests against Ecuadoran president’s policies [indigenous-news, fail-neoliberal-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- The Guardian (7/1/22): Galápagos islands volcano erupts spewing lava and clouds of ash - Wolf Volcano, the tallest mountain in the Pacific archipelago, began erupting shortly before midnight on Wednesday [!]
- Financial Times (30/12/21): Ecuador’s president vows indigenous groups will not block mining projects - Guillermo Lasso dismisses environmental concerns about new ventures [labor-news, indigenous-news, resource-news, capitalist-farce-news, fail-neoliberal-news, drug-news, crime-news, leak-news, politics-news] Paywall Summary (?): Lasso raises ire against the indigenous grops, claiming they want to "sacrifice" the economy for their leaders' "political interests". After touting $30bn in projects, including mining, the constitutional court invalidated the environmental permit for some drilling. This raised the mining lobby's ire, and threatens a copper project between state company Enami and Canada's Cornerstone. In interview with FT, Lasso uses the "energy transition" (away from fossil fuels) to legitimize his projects. His party, CREO, holds less than 1/10 of the National Assembly, and hasn't been able to form a stable governing coalition. His tax reform has passed, and he wants to pass labor reform to make it "more flexible" (opposed by former president Correa's leftist UNES bloc and the indigenous party Pachakutik), and "facilitat[e] public-private partnerships". Lasso has been in a tight spot as the center-right PSC has broke from him, leaving him dependent on the indigenous Pachakutik party, itself, FT reports, fickle and divided. He has faced political difficulties there, as a leader of Pachakutik has accused him of tax fraud since the Pandora papers were released. Lasso also faces a drug/criminal violence problem, which has only grown.
El Salvador Updates
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Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
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- Democracy Now (18/1/22): Salvadorans Protest Following Reports That Phones of Journalists and Civil Society Groups Were Hacked [protest-news, pegasus-leak-news, surveillance-and-censorship-news]
- Just Security (13/1/22): El Salvador’s leading news outlet, El Faro has announced that the phones of a majority of its employees had been hacked with Pegasus spyware from Israeli firm NSO Group. “According to Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto’s Munk School and Access Now…the spyware had been installed on the phones of 22 reporters, editors and other employees between July 2020 and November 2021. During that time, El Faro was investigating the Salvadoran government’s clandestine connections to the country’s gangs and corruption scandals,” Maria Abi-Habib reports for the New York Times.; The journalists were among at least 35 people in El Salvador whose iPhones were hacked with Pegasus spyware between July 2020 and November 2021, which also targeted human rights activists and reporters for other news organizations. Some devices were penetrated a dozen or more times, Citizen Lab and other groups also said. Mary Beth Sheridan and Craig Timberg report for the Washington Post. [pegasus-leak-news, surveillance-and-censorship-news]
- Washington Post (12/1/22): Report: 22 journalists at Salvadoran news site hit with Pegasus hack [surveillance-and-censorship-news, pegasus-leak-news] [!]
- Democracy Now (11/1/22): El Salvador Reopens Probe into 1989 Massacre of Jesuits by U.S.-Trained Death Squad [us-policy-news, history-news]
Guatemala Updates
Last Year's Entry
- Washington Post (15/1/22): Migrant caravan from Honduras stopped in Guatemala [immigrant-news] [!]
- Telesur (6/1/22): Guatemala: Trial Against Ex-Military Men Accused of Rape Begins - "We, survivors of the armed conflict’s crimes, have taken courage to tell what happened to us so that these inhuman acts never again occur in our society," rape victim Paulina Ixpata stated. Note about Telesur [!]
Guyana Updates
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Haiti Updates
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- WSWS (10/1/22): About 800 lecturers at the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Mona, Jamaica voted last week to strike to demand payments due them. The lecturers are represented by the West Indies Group of University Teachers (WIGUT). [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- The Intercept (13/1/22): Former Ambassador on Haitian President in March: “Put Him Aside” and Embrace “Prime Minister Option” - Four months later, Jovenel Moïse was assassinated and replaced with a U.S.-backed prime minister, fueling suspicion of American involvement. [us-policy-news, dark-security-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (11/1/22): US Coast Guard rescues 176 Haitians from sailboat near Florida - Haitian nationals were on board a crowded, ‘unseaworthy’ vessel headed towards the coast of Florida, Coast Guard says. [immigrant-news] [!]
- Democracy Now (11/1/22): Former DEA Informant Arrested over Alleged Role in Plot That Assassinated Haiti’s President [this is a different person than reported on earlier, ie by NYT] - Meanwhile, the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti reports three more U.S. deportation flights left Laredo, Texas, Monday morning, expelling 297 Haitian asylum seekers, including 63 children.
- New York Times (10/1/22): Haitian Prime Minister Had Close Links With Murder Suspect - New evidence suggests the man who took over from Haiti’s murdered president had close links to a prime suspect in the assassination — and that the two stayed in contact even after the crime. [!]
- Democracy Now (7/1/22): Two Journalists Murdered in Haiti Amid Spiking Gang Violence
- New York Times (4/1/22): U.S. Seizes a Suspect in Assassination of Haiti’s President - A former Colombian commando is the first to face U.S. prosecution in the killing of Jovenel Moïse, after agents flew him to Miami from Panama. [!]
- Telesur (3/1/22): At Least One Dead in Attack Against Haitian Prime Minister - The office of Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry confirmed to the Sputnik News Agency on Monday that the head of government was the target of an attack after he had to leave Gonaïves (northwest) amid intense automatic weapons fire after the religious ceremony marking the anniversary of independence. [!]
- The Guardian (3/1/22): Haiti’s PM forced to flee after apparent assassination attempt outside church - Ariel Henry’s office says ‘bandits and terrorists’ made attempt on his life, prompting shootout in which one person died
Honduras Updates
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- Washington Post (15/1/22): Migrant caravan from Honduras stopped in Guatemala [immigrant-news] [!]
- Telesur (10/1/22): Lenca Indigenous Journalist Pablo Hernandez Is Gunned Down - For years now, Honduras has become one of the most dangerous places for human rights defenders, environmental activists, journalists, and social leaders. Note about Telesur [!]
Jamaica Updates
Last Year's Entry
- WSWS (18/1/22): The West Indies Group of University Teachers (WIGUT), which represents lecturers at the University of the West Indies, announced January 10 that it had suspended the strike they had voted for on January 7. The walkout was set to begin January 17. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Washington Post (15/1/22): Jamaica arrests ex-Haiti senator sought in leader's slaying [!]
- WSWS (10/1/22): About 800 lecturers at the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Mona, Jamaica voted last week to strike to demand payments due them. The lecturers are represented by the West Indies Group of University Teachers (WIGUT). [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
Mexico Updates
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- WSWS (18/1/22): Dozens of workers for the Kliffer del Norte trash collection company in Chihuahua, Chihuahua began a strike on January 10 to demand payment of their wages. The workers also demanded Christmas bonuses and vacation pay. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (18/1/22): Members of the Single Union of Workers of the Judiciary of Mexico City (SUTPJ-CDMX) took over some offices of the Mexico City Superior Court (TSJ-CDMX) and blocked the building’s entrance January 10. The action, which lasted over five hours, was taken to demand the payment of year-end food vouchers. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Democracy Now (19/1/22): Mexican Journalist Margarito Martínez Shot Dead in Tijuana
- The Guardian (18/1/22): Two journalists exposing Mexico’s corruption and drug violence murdered within one week - Margarito Martínez Esquivel and José Luis Gamboa are the latest casualties in the world’s most dangerous country for reporters outside war zones [!]
- Financial Times (16/1/22): Citi’s retail banking exit from Mexico a test of president’s nationalism - Sale of Banamex unit could tilt sector dominated by global lenders to more local control [economic-news] Paywall Summary (?): Interesting here that AMLO wants to "Mexicanize", not "nationalize" - as he states, he wants wealthy ruling class members, such as billionaire Carlos Slim (a telecoms magnate), to own Banamex. The deal would likely be around $5-$8.5bn. The Mexican mergers and acquisitions community is quite excited, with one banker likening the situation to "being a florist on Mother's Day".
- Washington Post (17/1/22): Mexico news photographer killed; reporter slain last week [!]
- Washington Post (17/1/22): Mexican governor [of Morelos state] says predecessor [and previous police chief] made deals with gangs - Gov. Cuauhtémoc Blanco had himself been forced to deny any drug links earlier this month after a 3-year-old photo surfaced showing him posing with three men identified as local drug gang leaders. But Blanco went on the offensive Monday, claiming ex-governor Graco Ramirez had made deals with a gang known as “The Reds.” - Blanco previously served as mayor of the state capital, Cuernavaca. During his professional soccer career he was known for his pugnacious, combative style. As governor, Blanco has been criticized for naming former soccer associates to state posts. [crime-news, corruption-news]
- Washington Post (14/1/22): Ex-Mexican prosecutor so corrupt he betrayed drug cartel [!]
- WSWS (14/1/22): Mexico’s COVID cases soar as AMLO minimizes danger [covid-news] [!]
- Washington Post (13/1/22): 105 Mexican immigration agents linked to corruption [corruption-news, immigrant-news] [!]
- WSWS (10/1/22): Mexican teachers go on indefinite strike for payment of bonuses [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Washington Post (9/1/22): 56 inmates injured in Mexico prison riot over extortion [!]
- The Guardian (6/1/22): Ten bodies left in SUV outside Mexican state governor’s office - Zacatecas governor says bodies of people left in front of palace near Christmas tree showed apparent signs of beating and bruising [!]
- Washington Post (5/1/22): Mexican governor denies drug links after photo with capos [drug-news, corruption-news]
- WSWS (4/1/22): Twenty-four hundred striking state sanitation workers occupied public buildings in the City of Toluca, the state capital of the State of Mexico demanding wages owed to them, plus benefits. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Washington Post (4/1/22): Mexico holds ex-political boss in sex recruiting scandal - Cuauhtémoc Gutiérrez is the former Mexico City leader of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, which ruled Mexico for most of the 20th century. [corruption-news] [!]
- CPJ (4/1/22): Marcela Turati on the chilling implications of Mexico’s probe into her reporting [surveillance-and-censorship-news, pegasus-leak-news] [!]
- Democracy Now (4/1/22): Mexican President Renews Asylum Offer to Julian Assange
- Washington Post (2/1/22): Mexican fish extinct in wild successfully reintroduced [!]
Nicaragua Updates
Last Year's Entry
- Just Security (11/1/22): The U.S. Treasury Department is sanctioning six officials connected to the Nicaraguan government ahead of today’s inauguration of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo [us-policy-news]
Panama Updates
Last Year's Entry
Paraguay Updates
Last Year's Entry
- The Guardian (5/1/22): Rocky road: Paraguay’s new Chaco highway threatens rare forest and last of the Ayoreo people - Forced from their homes by missionaries, the Ayoreo cling on in the Chaco. Now the Bioceanic Corridor cuts through the fastest-vanishing forest on Earth, refuge of some of the Americas’ last hunter-gatherers [indigenous-news] [!]
Peru Updates
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- The Guardian (20/1/22): Peru seeks compensation after oil spill devastates marine life – video - Peru has demanded compensation from the Spanish oil firm Repsol after freak waves caused by a volcanic eruption near Tonga caused a disastrous oil spill. The spill happened in an area rich in marine life such as seabirds, sea lions and otters. Locals have only rudimentary equipment to try to clear the oil. - Peru’s prime minister, Mirtha Vásquez, has claimed the Pampilla refinery, run by Repsol, apparently did not have a contingency plan for an oil spill [big-oil-news, disaster-news, industrial-failure-news] [!]
- Washington Post (19/1/22): Fishermen protest after eruption causes oil spill in Peru - An oil spill on the Peruvian coast caused by the waves from an eruption of an undersea volcano in the South Pacific nation of Tonga prompted dozens of fishermen to protest Tuesday outside the South American country’s main oil refinery. [protest-news, big-oil-news, disaster-news] [!]
- The Guardian (16/1/22): Two drown in Peru as abnormally big waves from Tonga volcano hit coast - More than 20 Peruvian ports closed while TV images show seawater flooding homes and businesses in country’s centre and north [disaster-news] [!]
- CPJ (14/1/22): Peruvian court convicts author, publication director on defamation charges for book on politician [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
Uruguay Updates
- WSWS (18/1/22): Members of the Uruguayan Banking Employees Association (AEBU) refused to reload ATMs in about a dozen cities the night of January 14. They also stopped working security and overtime, not returning to work until 12:50 PM on January17. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
Venezuela Updates
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Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.); States (cr.); Topography (cr.); Vegetation (note the large 'savanna' in the middle is referred to as Llanos) (cr.); Agriculture, Industry, and Resources (cr.); Oil; (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
Long story short (subject to edits): The nation has for over a century relied on petroleum to buoy the economy, initially in a crony-capitalist system (first under dictatorship, then under a liberal democracy) and under investment in other sectors such as agriculture, resulting in Venezuela being a net food importer, with booms and busts amplified by oil price B&Bs. The economy faltered in the 80s and 90s, faith in the democracy collapsed, and Chavez rode this wave to secure an electoral victory in 1999. He used the oil money to invest in social programs, but failed to democratize the economy (ie worker cooperatives weren't as big as the state simply running operations), which was a contributing factor to declining agricultural output (again though, weak agriculture has been a structural feature of the country during its oil days). Chavez, as apparently he himself admitted on his death bed, missed the chance to democratize the economy - now that looks increasingly distant. Maduro then took power in a legitimate election (elections become more dubious in following years), and with the military firmly behind him. Maduro terribly mishandled the economy (a big problem with centralized economies - they can fall in irresponsible hands!), resulting in a crash and protests in the streets, followed by American sanctions. Mishandling + sanctions has also made it tough to accrue enough foreign currency reserves to sustain agricultural imports, a huge contributing factor to hyperinflation (along with govt monetary policy). Today the govt still provides some basic services and food, but has effectively neoliberalized over the past few years. Both Maduro and the opposition are broadly unpopular, but even in that electoral landscape, Maduro's party managed to secure a landslide victory in 2021 (a relatively legitimate election), largely due to fracturing within the opposition (there are lots of corruption issues there, as the West has given their leader Guiadó control over tens of billions of dollars worth of Venezuelan state assets). As it stands, things look pretty bleak for the Bolivarian revolution.
- Financial Times (17/1/22): Venezuelan economy returns to growth as price rises slow - Maduro claims 7.6% rise over last year’s third quarter as one of the world’s longest bouts of hyperinflation fades [economic-news] Paywall Summary (?): Maduro's claims appear uncontroversial, and are congruent with economists' predictions. FT pins this loosening both currency controls and import restrictions and the encouragement of informal dollarisation [part of what The Atlantic recently called de facto neoliberization], and reflected materially in increases oil output, dollarisation, imports, and tax revenues (as well as central bank intervention). Hyperinflation is tamed, but inflation remains an issue.
- The Guardian (13/1/22): Russia threatens military deployment to Cuba and Venezuela as diplomacy stalls - US says ‘drumbeat of war is sounding loud’ as talks with Russia over Ukraine head towards dead end [us-policy-news, russia-policy-news] [!]
- Telesur (12/1/22): Venezuela: Gasoline Pipeline Exploded Due to Illegal Drilling - The flames of the fire exceeded 50 meters in height, which allowed the glow of the explosion to be seen from several kilometers away. Interesting reporting, but given the source, I'd read with caution Note about Telesur [!]
- Financial Times (10/1/22): Venezuelan opposition wins in Chávez’s home state - Results in gubernatorial election a boost for candidates seeking to counter Maduro’s party at ballot box [electoral-news] [!] Paywall Summary (?): 'Venezuela’s opposition has dealt an embarrassing blow to Nicolás Maduro’s ruling socialists by winning an election in the state where former president Hugo Chávez was born and nurtured his Bolivarian revolution.' - 'Opposition candidate Sergio Garrido easily won the contest for state governor in Barinas, taking 55.4 per cent in Sunday’s ballot to 41.3 per cent for government candidate Jorge Arreaza.' - the election looked to be too close to call, but leaned towards the opposition, so the Supreme Court blocked the winning candidate and called for a rerun - 'The result vindicates those within the opposition [Guiadó is opposed to such people] who argue that they should take part in elections, even if they are skewed towards the PSUV.' - 'After losing previous regional elections, the government has often found ways to neuter the winning candidate and hold on to power.'
- Just Security (5/1/22): Biden Must Change, Not Deepen, Trump’s Failed Venezuela Strategy [social-woes-news, us-policy-news] Summary: There is a strong correlation between the timing of US sanctions (which, among sanctions, uniquely restrict exports and imports) and declines in oil output (reported here as responsible overall for at least half of production decline). Oil trade is the main source of foreign exchange (needed, for example, for imports), and its blocking has 'contribut[ed] to a collapse of 72% in the country's per capita income - equivalent to four Greaten Depressions and the largest contraction ever documented in Latin America'. (cited study). JS compares this to siege warfare - attempting to starve a city into submission (today a war crime). The EU and Canada have explicitly limited sanctions to regime officials, whereas US sanctions are the 'siege'-like ones. JS notes that arguments that point fingers at Maduro are fallacious - ofc he is partly responsible in this crisis; that doesn't mean the US isn't waging a destructive siege. JS reports this failure to change policy is out of fear of drawing the ire of Cuban and Venezuelan exile groups in the swing state Florida. Polls show that 76% of Venezuelans oppose the oil sanctions, and 53% have a negative view of Biden. JS largely seems to encourage adopting similar sanctions regimes as the EU and Canada, or at very least creating a list of organizations which are "green-lighted" to help fund.
- Wall Street Journal (4/1/22): Venezuela’s U.S.-Backed Opposition Frays as Nicolás Maduro Tightens Grip - Juan Guaidó’s coalition is hit by infighting, with disputes over his power and billions in opposition-controlled assets [economic-news, corurption-news, capitalist-farce-news] Paywall Summary (?): Much of what is covered in the adjoining FT article. However, this one goes into interesting detail about the creditor situation. The US has not banned international creditors seizing assets from Venezuela (as it did for the post-Saddam Hussein transition government in Iraq with the UN Security Council), although it has "blocked" such seizure efforts so far. Venezuela is in a strange situation, with two governments claiming legitimacy. Efforts to take nearly $20bn in assets out of Guaidó's hands (and into, say, a trust) may, according to some experts, jeopardize the legal infrastructure designed so far to keep these assets out of Maduro's hands. US sanctions on Venezuela have had a funny effect of restricting creditor's ability to negotiate and collect, and even leading to US businesses and creditors pushing for easing economic sanctions. And the corruption scandals are reducing international supporter convidence in the opposition nominal government.
- Financial Times (4/1/22): Venezuela’s opposition curtails power of ‘interim president’ Guaidó - Leader’s mandate is extended but new restrictions are imposed amid questions about accountability [politics-news, economic-news] Paywall Summary (?): These will require more accountability before the opposition congress, regulating his control over state-owned oil company PDVSA and US-based refiner Citgo, following criticism from the now-resigned opposition foreign envoy Borges in December (2021). Analyst says these changes (giving more control to Congress) may make it easier for international creditors to take state assets as compensation in international court. This is because the case can be made that the Venezuelan government* is "excercising 'extensive control', which is one of the key tests to determine whether these firms are an alter ego of the government" - Canadian mining company Crystallex has successfully done so against Venezuela's Citgo in 2018 [the latter took a "jewel in the crown of PDVSA's foreign holdings", and disrupted the extraction of heavy and extra-heavy crude by impeding the import (to Venezuela) of diluents (and lubricants?) needed to do so] * Note I'm not 100% sure, but here by "Venezuelan government", I think they mean the opposition, which is recognized by most (all?) Western countries as the government of Venezuela.
- The Atlantic (4/1/22): How Venezuela Became One Big Casino - In the midst of the country’s economic collapse, casinos—and the dollar—are king again [economic-news] Summary: Neuman (the author/reporter) lived in Caracas from 2012 to 2016, was in Venezuela in 2018 and 2019, and was just reportiing there (I guess late 2021?). He notes a few interesting trends - Maduro unilaterally implementing a program akin to neoliberal reforms (cutting social spending in recent years), reducing tariffs on imports (making the dollar cost of many items cheaper than they are abroad), although hospitals are still free (but some drugs now need to be personally purchased), the poor also recieve a meager food-and-money aid package from the government), Maduro pursuing a program he compares to China (private business is allowed to carry on, just don't get political), growing wealth disparity (noting the glitzy "Bubble" in Caracas where those connected with the administration party and hide from the economic disaster), the growing illicit trades (ie drugs) flowing through Venezuela (and often dollarized commerce being used as a front), as well as the possible economic recovery occurring, with production possibly growing. Neuman notes that the current crisis is both a function of post-Chavez mishandling by the government as well as US sanctions. Neuman notes that the sanctions are not hurting the people they are supposed to (~150 Maduro-tied people sanctioned by the US), and exacerbating the economic crisis.
Europe Updates
Albania / Austria / Belarus / Belgium / Bosnia / Bulgaria / Croatia / Cyprus / Czech Republic / Denmark / Estonia / Finland / France / Germany / Greece / Hungary / Iceland / Ireland / Italy / Kosovo / Latvia / Lithuania / Luxembourg / Malta / Moldova / Montenegro / Netherlands / North Macedonia / Norway / Poland / Portugal / Romania / Russia / San Marino / Serbia / Slovakia / Slovenia / Spain / Sweden / Switzerland / Turkey / Ukraine / United Kingdom
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Europe is seen by many American social democrats as the ideal. But taking a look at Europe shows it is anything but. The far-right is growing in Germany and France (and other places), violence is stirring again in Northern Ireland, far-right extremist politicians are cementing power in Eastern European nations (with the aid of Russia), and austerity politics have driven people to the brink. France is at the breaking point, with Macron unable to hand either the outrage of the left (such as the yellow jacket protests), and thus is unable to contain the conspiracies of the right - no, Macron even indulges in them, with bigoted anti-Islamic rhetoric. The real solution is to democratize the economy, and that such states as France and Germany, often hailed by American liberals as ideal, are at nearly the same breaking point as the US should indicate something deeper is wrong, and a welfare state is simply insufficient.
Regional Updates
- The Guardian (19/1/22): Antimicrobial resistance now a leading cause of death worldwide, study finds - Lancet analysis highlights need for urgent action to address antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections - More than 1.2 million – and potentially millions more – died in 2019 as a direct result of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, according to the most comprehensive estimate to date of the global impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). - The stark analysis covering more than 200 countries and territories was published in the Lancet. It says AMR is killing more people than HIV/Aids or malaria. Many hundreds of thousands of deaths are occurring due to common, previously treatable infections, the study says, because bacteria that cause them have become resistant to treatment. - Regionally, deaths caused directly by AMR were estimated to be highest in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia, at 24 deaths per 100,000 population and 22 deaths per 100,000 population respectively. - In high-income countries, AMR led directly to 13 deaths per 100,000 and was associated with 56 deaths per 100,000. In the western Europe region, which includes the UK, more than 51,000 people died as a direct result of AMR. [healthcare-news, science-news]
- Just Security (20/1/22): A group of members of the European Parliament have called for a large-scale election observation for Hungary’s upcoming parliamentary elections, amid fears of falling democratic standards. Jennifer Rankin reports for the Guardian. [electoral-news, voting-rights-news, far-right-news, europe-policy-news]
- Jacobin (18/1/22): Stop Using “Europeanism” to Undermine Workers’ Rights - Plans for closer ties between Switzerland and the European Union threatened a bonfire of Swiss labor law. Liberals attacked trade unions for holding up the talks — but organized labor was right to prioritize workers’ rights above the European project. [europe-policy-news, labor-news] [!]
- Jacobin (18/1/22): Mining Companies and the EU Want Serbia’s Lithium - In December, mass protests halted the mining company Rio Tinto’s plan to construct a lithium mine in Serbia, defeating the country’s right-wing government and the EU. The Left needs to fight for an alternative to environmentally destructive neoliberalism. [resource-news, fail-neoliberal-news, protest-news, capitalist-farce-news] [!]
- Just Security (18/1/22): Russia has begun moving troops to Belarus for joint military exercises – a move likely to stoke fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. The exercises are to be held in the west of Belarus, near the borders of NATO members Poland and Lithuania, and its southern flank with Ukraine, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has said. Andrew Roth reports for the Guardian. [russia-policy-news]
- Financial Times (17/1/22): Russia pipeline fuels German coalition split as Ukraine tension rises - Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats [support] at odds with Greens [opposed] over future of Nord Stream 2 [NS2] [russia-policy-news, politics-news] Paywall Summary (?): NS2 has been 'a wedge between Germany and the US and sown discord in Europe', and the Ukraine crisis at the moment is like a hammer (as well as Russia throttling gas supply right now), raising issues within the German govt itself.
- The Economist (15/1/22): Europe is bankrolling a force that routinely abuses African migrants - Libya’s coastguard is not known for its professionalism [immigrant-news, europe-policy-news] [!]
- The Economist World This Week (13/1/22): Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s prime minister, called on the EU to consider reclassifying covid-19 as an endemic disease rather than a pandemic. He hopes to see restrictions loosened. The WHO said it was too soon to declare covid endemic. It added that half of Europe could catch Omicron within two months. [covid-news]
- The Economist World This Week (13/1/22): David Sassoli, the president of the European Parliament, died from complications following a bout of pneumonia. Mr Sassoli, an Italian social democrat, had fought to increase the parliament’s power as a way of deepening the EU’s democratic accountability. [obituary-news]
- Al Jazeera (13/1/22): MEPs accuse EU official of supporting Serb secession - Parliamentarians on von der Leyen to investigate commissioner’s alleged role in assisting Dodik’s separatist ideals in Bosnia. [far-right-news, europe-policy-news] [!]
- Financial Times (11/1/22): French defence victory could mean defeat for European co-operation - UAE’s Rafale deal tilts balance of power in combat air systems project towards Paris [media-news, capitalist-farce-news, security-news] Paywall Summary (?): Basically, there is classic French-German rivalry, especially between the companies Dassault (France) and Airbus (German, for the defense division). This comes as Macron is trying desperatley to promote European defense cooperation. Yet the recent UAE deal means Dassault will likely be able to fund their own programs for the forseeable future, undermining their need for cooperation. And Macron might think twice, FT suggests, to stand against Dassault's interests, as they are both a large chunk of the defense sector and own the influential Le Figaro newspaper.
- Financial Times (10/1/22): EU to block $2bn Korean shipbuilding merger between Daewoo and Hyundai - Brussels concerned about dominance of LNG carrier market as European energy prices soar [europe-policy-news, antitrust-news, energy-news] [!] Paywall Snippets (?): 'The latest decision comes as energy prices have soared in Europe this winter, with freight costs for liquefied natural gas in Asia rising to record levels of more than $300,000 per day on surging global demand. The two South Korean companies dominate the market for making ships that carry super-chilled LNG. [EU official admits protecting consumers is one reason to do this]' - 'Ships carrying LNG to Asia have been rerouted to Europe, where consumers are willing to pay a premium for the fuel to generate electricity. The EU is the world’s third-largest importer of LNG.' - 'The South Korean shipbuilders are significant suppliers to EU companies and represent about 30 per cent of global demand for cargo vessels, according to the commission.' - 'The two companies won new orders for 45 large LNG vessels out of the total of 75 last year, together commanding 60 per cent of the global market, according to industry tracker Clarksons Research.'
- Democracy Now (10/1/22): European Airlines Operating Highly Polluting Empty Flights to Keep Airport Landing Privileges [climate-change-news, industrial-disaster-news]
- Wall Street Journal (6/1/22): Opinion: China Takes Lithuania as an Economic Hostage - Its trade retaliation over Taiwan is wreaking havoc with global supply chains. [economic-news, china-policy-news] Paywall Summary (?): in 2020, Lithuania exported $350m worth of goods to China, although importing from China far more (about 4x as more in 2021). But China isn't now just blocking Lithuanian goods - they're going after the supply chain, blocking goods with Lithuanian parts, according to the EU trade commisioner (but China denies). This has been a wake up call that globalized supply chains might be dangerous for the ability of nation's to exercise politics displeasing to China.
- Jacobin (4/1/22): In Europe, the Far Right Is Uniting Its Forces - A conference this month aims to unite European far-right leaders like Marine Le Pen and Viktor Orbán in a continentwide alliance. What would once have been a fringe grouping can now rely on the support of several EU governments. [far-right-news, politics-news] [!]
- The Civil Fleet (4/1/22): Fossil fuel giant Shell and EU maritime authorities accused of complicity in Mediterranean refugee ‘pullback’ (via u/cowlesz on r/alltheleft) [big-oil-news, immigrant-news]
- Financial Times (2/1/22): German Greens lead attack on EU plan to label nuclear power ‘sustainable’ - Brussels’ proposal is central to European goal of channelling billions of euros into green investments [big-oil-news, nuclear-energy-news] Paywall Summary (?): This list or 'taxonomy' aims to help investors discern what is sustainable, green economic activity. This has drawn the ire of Austria, Germany, and Luxembourg, the former threatening to sue over the green classification of nuclear; the inclusion is seen as a victory for the French govt, which wants to avoid punishment for its dependence on nuclear. The LNG inclusion will boost support among heavy LNG importers, largely in the south and east Europe (and Germany). The German finance minister (of the Liberal party) admits that LNG plants are needed as they transition from "coal and nuclear power".
- The Guardian (31/12/21): ‘Waste colonialism’: world grapples with west’s unwanted plastic - Germany and UK are big exporters of plastic, much of which lies rotting in ports in Turkey, Vietnam and other countries [industrial-failure-news]
Albania Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Administrative (cr.);
Last Year's Entry
- The Guardian (8/1/22): Albania: police disperse protesters from opposition party HQ with teargas - Group led by former Democratic party leader Sali Berisha used iron bars and hammers to break into the building [!]
- Al Jazeera (8/1/22): Opposition party supporters in Albania clash over leadership - At least one police officer and one protester injured and dozens of protesters arrested, police say, as authorities use tear gas and water cannon to quell demonstrations. - Last May, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Berisha was involved in corrupt acts during his 2005-13 tenure as prime minister and used “his power for his own benefit and to enrich his political allies and his family members”, allegations Berisha has denied. - Berisha, 77, is trying to remove the Democrats’ leader, Lulzim Basha, whom he accuses of being a “hostage” of Prime Minister Edi Rama of the left-wing Socialist Party. - During Saturday’s unrest, Berisha supporters used hammers to smash open newly installed metal security doors at the offices and threw up ladders in a bid to reach the second floor. [politics-news, protest-news]
Austria Updates
Last Year's Entry
- WSWS (10/1/22): Paradigm shift in Austria: Government openly advocates deliberate mass infection - Now that the government has lifted almost all protective measures and there are no significant restrictions on tourism, the Omicron variant is spreading with tremendous speed, especially in tourist areas. - At the end of last week, Education Minister Martin Polaschek (ÖVP) stated that it was out of the question that schools would not reopen for in-person teaching throughout the country [covid-news, far-right-news] Important Note about WSWS [!]
- Al Jazeera (9/1/22): Anti-vaccine protesters rally in France, Germany, Austria, Italy - More than 100,000 people marched across France against government’s plans to introduce a COVID-19 vaccine pass. [anti-vaxx-news, protest-news] [!]
- Financial Times (2/1/22): German Greens lead attack on EU plan to label nuclear power ‘sustainable’ - Brussels’ proposal is central to European goal of channelling billions of euros into green investments [big-oil-news, nuclear-energy-news] Paywall Summary (?): This list or 'taxonomy' aims to help investors discern what is sustainable, green economic activity. This has drawn the ire of Austria, Germany, and Luxembourg, the former threatening to sue over the green classification of nuclear; the inclusion is seen as a victory for the French govt, which wants to avoid punishment for its dependence on nuclear. The LNG inclusion will boost support among heavy LNG importers, largely in the south and east Europe (and Germany). The German finance minister (of the Liberal party) admits that LNG plants are needed as they transition from "coal and nuclear power".
- Financial Times (30/12/21): Sebastian Kurz leaves politics to join tech investor Peter Thiel - Former Austrian chancellor takes up global strategist role at California-based investment company [far-right-news, big-tech-news] Paywall Summary (?): Thiel is a big tech right-winger, and Trump supporter. He helped found Palantir, which helps govts track people. The two have known each other for years.
Belgium Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
- WSWS (20/1/22): Last week, workers at the day-care centre run by Ghent University, one of Belgium’s largest universities, held a one-day strike to oppose plans to privatise the service. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Jacobin (17/1/22): Bring Patrice Lumumba Home - Congolese anti-colonial leader Patrice Lumumba was assassinated 61 years ago today. The Belgium government still hasn't return his remains to his family and nation. [history-news] [!]
Bosnia Updates
Last Year's Entry
- Al Jazeera (13/1/22): MEPs accuse EU official of supporting Serb secession - Parliamentarians on von der Leyen to investigate commissioner’s alleged role in assisting Dodik’s separatist ideals in Bosnia. [far-right-news, europe-policy-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (9/1/22): Bosnian Serbs hold nationalist celebration despite ban, sanctions - Bosnia’s Constitutional Court has declared the holiday illegal as it discriminates against Muslim Bosniak and Catholic Croat communities. [far-right-news]
- Al Jazeera (5/1/22): US imposes sanctions on Bosnian Serb leader Dodik - The United States accuses Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik of corruption and threatening the stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina. [us-policy-news, far-right-news] [!]
Bulgaria Updates
Last Year's Entry
Bahrain Updates
Last Year's Entry
Croatia Updates
Last Year's Entry
Cyprus Updates
Last Year's Entry
Czech Republic Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
Denmark Updates
Last Year's Entry
- Just Security (12/1/22): The head of Denmark’s foreign intelligence service, Lars Findsen, has been in prison for more than a month for allegedly leaking classified information, it was revealed on Monday [surveillance-and-censorship-news]
- CPJ (7/1/22): Danish reporters summoned by police in national security leak investigation [!]
Estonia Updates
Last Year's Entry
- Just Security (20/1/22): The U.S. State Department has cleared Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and the U.K. to send U.S.-made missiles and other weapons to Ukraine. The third-party transfer agreements will allow Estonia to transfer Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, and Lithuania will be permitted to send Stinger missiles, a source has said. Andrea Shalal reports for Reuters. [us-policy-news, weapon-sale-security-news]
Finland Updates
Last Year's Entry
- WSWS (13/1/22): Last week, the Industrial Union reached an agreement with the Technology Industries of Finland employers’ association, calling off a strike of over 40,000 workers in the mining, metalworking and technology sectors. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
France Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Regions (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
- WSWS (20/1/22): On Tuesday, waste collection workers in the French city of Marseille began an indefinite strike, after the Force Ouvrière (FO) union accused the city government of reneging on the agreement which ended the previous strike in December. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (20/1/22): On Tuesday, three unions in the health and social care sector called for a national one-day strike and demonstrations among workers who were not included in a 183-euro bonus recommended by the “Ségur” healthcare review in 2020. The unions said that between 450,000 and a million workers were in one of the professional groups excluded from the bonus, reported Ouest France. [healthcare-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Washington Post (20/1/22): French premier says vaccine pass to go into effect Monday [covid-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (20/1/22): Greece receives ‘game-changer’ Rafale aircraft from France - A ceremony at the Tanagra Air Force Base marked the arrival, in which a Greek priest blessed the jets and their pilots. [weapon-sale-security-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (19/1/22): French senators vote to ban hijab in sports competitions - The amendment proposed by a right-wing group was adopted with 160 votes to 143. [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- The Guardian (18/1/22): Calls for French minister to resign after announcing Covid protocol from Ibiza - Revelation that Jean-Michel Blanquer was on holiday at one of toughest times for schools creates PR disaster [politics-news, covid-news] [!]
- Washington Post (18/1/22): Opinion: France’s far right is a threat. But don’t ignore Macron’s problematic policies. [far-right-news, fail-neoliberal-news, politics-news] [!]
- Washington Post (17/1/22): Far-right French presidential candidate Éric Zemmour found guilty of inciting racial hatred [court-news, far-right-news, electoral-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (15/1/22): Thousands protest against France COVID vaccine pass - People took to the streets as Parliament is expected to pass a bill tightening restrictions on those not vaccinated. [protest-news, anti-vaxx-news] [!]
- WSWS (13/1/22): This week a planned three-day strike at Brest airport in France was banned by the French Civil Aviation Authority, threatening workers with possible six months’ imprisonment and a 10,000 euro fine if they did not show up to work. [logistics-news, busting-labor-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (13/1/22): The indefinite strike of waste collection workers in the French city of Toulouse was ended on Thursday by the unions, which accepted the abolition of previous working practices where workers could return home after their collection. [union-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (13/1/22): Midwives in France have continued strikes begun last year to demand improved pay and staffing levels in their departments. At the private Océane hospital in the town of Vannes, midwives have been on strike since October against low pay and understaffing as part of national strikes in private hospitals. [healthcare-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (13/1/22): Bus drivers in the French city of Aix-en-Provence joined a walkout this Monday and Tuesday called by the General Confederation of Labour (CGT), which announced an imminent danger to their health from COVID-19. [logistics-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- The Guardian (13/1/22): French teachers walk out of classrooms in strike over Covid strategy - Tens of thousands take part in one-day strike, one of the biggest in the sector in recent years [labor-news, union-news, covid-news] [!]
- The Guardian (12/1/22): Iran sends French-Iranian academic back to jail at key point in nuclear talks - France says Fariba Adelkhah’s unexplained return to prison will damage efforts to revive 2015 curbs on nuclear programme [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (13/1/22): French teachers to strike over ‘chaotic’ COVID policies – Live - WHO says 15 million people tested positive for COVID-19 last week, by far the most cases reported in a seven-day period. [labor-news, covid-news] [!]
- Financial Times (11/1/22): French defence victory could mean defeat for European co-operation - UAE’s Rafale deal tilts balance of power in combat air systems project towards Paris [media-news, capitalist-farce-news, security-news] Paywall Summary (?): Basically, there is classic French-German rivalry, especially between the companies Dassault (France) and Airbus (German, for the defense division). This comes as Macron is trying desperatley to promote European defense cooperation. Yet the recent UAE deal means Dassault will likely be able to fund their own programs for the forseeable future, undermining their need for cooperation. And Macron might think twice, FT suggests, to stand against Dassault's interests, as they are both a large chunk of the defense sector and own the influential Le Figaro newspaper.
- Jacobin (9/1/22): France’s Left Has Lost Touch With the Working Class - Ahead of April’s presidential election, France’s left is badly divided. But calls for unity behind a milquetoast centrist threaten only to deepen the Left’s split with its historic working-class base. [socialist-news, electoral-news, leftist-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (9/1/22): Anti-vaccine protesters rally in France, Germany, Austria, Italy - More than 100,000 people marched across France against government’s plans to introduce a COVID-19 vaccine pass. [anti-vaxx-news, protest-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (7/1/22): Russian troops deploy to Mali’s Timbuktu after French exit - Army spokesperson says the Russian soldiers are in the northern city to train Malian troops. [russia-policy-news] [!]
- Middle East Monitor (6/1/22): France-Morocco ties remain damaged by Israel spyware claims [!]
- ZDNEt (5/1/22): French regulators to fine Google and Facebook combined $235 million for cookie tracking: report - Politico reported on Wednesday that French regulators are fining Google 150 million euros and Facebook 60 million euros. [big-tech-news] [!]
- Washington Post (5/1/22): Macron pledges to infuriate France’s unvaccinated by tightening restrictions amid omicron surge [covid-news] [!]
- Just Security (4/1/22): The U.S., Russia, China, the U.K., and France have agreed that “a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought” in a rare joint pledge. The signatories to the pledge, known as the P5 or N5, are the five nuclear weapons states recognized by the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and are also the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council. Julian Borger reports for the Guardian. [us-policy-news, russia-policy-news, china-policy-news]
- The Guardian (4/1/22): France opens terror investigation after Dakar rally explosion - French racing driver Philippe Boutron was seriously injured in blast in Saudi city of Jeddah [!]
- The Guardian (2/1/22): France removes EU flag from Arc de Triomphe after rightwing anger - Official in the French presidency says removal of flag was in line with planned schedule [far-right-news] [!]
- The Guardian (31/12/21): That’s a wrap: French plastic packaging ban for fruit and veg begins - Law bans sale of carrots, bananas and other items in plastic as environment groups urge other countries to follow [!]
Germany Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Administrative (cr.);
Last Year's Entry
- Washington Post (20/1/22): German police find 9 young Afghans in truck at rest area [immigrant-news] [!]
- Financial Times (17/1/22): Russia pipeline fuels German coalition split as Ukraine tension rises - Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats [support] at odds with Greens [opposed] over future of Nord Stream 2 [NS2] [russia-policy-news, politics-news] Paywall Summary (?): NS2 has been 'a wedge between Germany and the US and sown discord in Europe', and the Ukraine crisis at the moment is like a hammer (as well as Russia throttling gas supply right now), raising issues within the German govt itself.
- New York Times (13/1/22): Utilities in Germany secure funding in the face of exploding energy prices. [energy-news] [!]
- Washington Post (13/1/22): German police used a tracing app to scout crime witnesses. Some fear that’s fuel for covid conspiracists. [!]
- WSWS (13/1/22): Amazon workers strike for one day in Leipzig, Germany [labor-news, logistics-news] Important Note about WSWS [!]
- Just Security (13/1/22): A German court has found Syrian colonel Anwar Raslan guilty of crimes against humanity at a prison in Damascus, and has sentenced him to life in prison. Prosecutors alleged that Raslan directed operations at the Al-Khatib facility in Damascus, where many protesters and others suspected of opposing Syria’s regime were detained. Raslan, a former high-ranking security service officer, was charged with 58 murders as well as rape and sexual assault, and was linked to the torture of 4,000 people between 2011 and 2012 at the prison. Raslan, 58, defected from the Syrian regime in 2012 and claimed asylum in Germany in 2014. Jenny Hill reports for BBC News. [war-crime-news, court-news]
- Washington Post (11/1/22): German police conduct raids in connection with floods [!]
- Financial Times (11/1/22): French defence victory could mean defeat for European co-operation - UAE’s Rafale deal tilts balance of power in combat air systems project towards Paris [media-news, capitalist-farce-news, security-news] Paywall Summary (?): Basically, there is classic French-German rivalry, especially between the companies Dassault (France) and Airbus (German, for the defense division). This comes as Macron is trying desperatley to promote European defense cooperation. Yet the recent UAE deal means Dassault will likely be able to fund their own programs for the forseeable future, undermining their need for cooperation. And Macron might think twice, FT suggests, to stand against Dassault's interests, as they are both a large chunk of the defense sector and own the influential Le Figaro newspaper.
- Al Jazeera (9/1/22): Anti-vaccine protesters rally in France, Germany, Austria, Italy - More than 100,000 people marched across France against government’s plans to introduce a COVID-19 vaccine pass. [anti-vaxx-news, protest-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (7/1/22): Russian troops deploy to Mali’s Timbuktu after French exit - Army spokesperson says the Russian soldiers are in the northern city to train Malian troops. [russia-policy-news] [!]
- Middle East Monitor (6/1/22): France-Morocco ties remain damaged by Israel spyware claims [!]
- ZDNEt (5/1/22): French regulators to fine Google and Facebook combined $235 million for cookie tracking: report - Politico reported on Wednesday that French regulators are fining Google 150 million euros and Facebook 60 million euros. [big-tech-news] [!]
- Washington Post (5/1/22): Macron pledges to infuriate France’s unvaccinated by tightening restrictions amid omicron surge [covid-news] [!]
- Just Security (4/1/22): The U.S., Russia, China, the U.K., and France have agreed that “a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought” in a rare joint pledge. The signatories to the pledge, known as the P5 or N5, are the five nuclear weapons states recognized by the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and are also the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council. Julian Borger reports for the Guardian. [us-policy-news, russia-policy-news, china-policy-news]
- The Guardian (4/1/22): France opens terror investigation after Dakar rally explosion - French racing driver Philippe Boutron was seriously injured in blast in Saudi city of Jeddah [!]
- The Guardian (2/1/22): France removes EU flag from Arc de Triomphe after rightwing anger - Official in the French presidency says removal of flag was in line with planned schedule [far-right-news] [!]
- The Guardian (31/12/21): That’s a wrap: French plastic packaging ban for fruit and veg begins - Law bans sale of carrots, bananas and other items in plastic as environment groups urge other countries to follow [!]
- The Guardian (6/1/22): German police dogs sent off duty after ban on ‘pulling collars’ - Method used to control dogs while making arrests illegal under new animal rights law [!]
- Financial Times (2/1/22): German Greens lead attack on EU plan to label nuclear power ‘sustainable’ - Brussels’ proposal is central to European goal of channelling billions of euros into green investments [big-oil-news, nuclear-energy-news] Paywall Summary (?): This list or 'taxonomy' aims to help investors discern what is sustainable, green economic activity. This has drawn the ire of Austria, Germany, and Luxembourg, the former threatening to sue over the green classification of nuclear; the inclusion is seen as a victory for the French govt, which wants to avoid punishment for its dependence on nuclear. The LNG inclusion will boost support among heavy LNG importers, largely in the south and east Europe (and Germany). The German finance minister (of the Liberal party) admits that LNG plants are needed as they transition from "coal and nuclear power".
- Washington Post (1/1/22): Opinion: Germany is closing its last nuclear plants. What a mistake. [nuclear-energy-news]
- The Guardian (31/12/21): ‘Waste colonialism’: world grapples with west’s unwanted plastic - Germany and UK are big exporters of plastic, much of which lies rotting in ports in Turkey, Vietnam and other countries [industrial-failure-news]
Greece Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Administrative (cr.);
Popular Front (5/4/21): (podcast) Greece: 17N Hunger Strike, Police Brutality, and Renewed Political Violence
Last Year's Entry
- Al Jazeera (20/1/22): Greece receives ‘game-changer’ Rafale aircraft from France - A ceremony at the Tanagra Air Force Base marked the arrival, in which a Greek priest blessed the jets and their pilots. [weapon-sale-security-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (17/1/22): Greece punishes unvaccinated elderly with monthly fines - People above 60 in the southern European country face fines of up to 100 euros a month if they refuse COVID jabs. [covid-news] [!]
- Washington Post (12/1/22): Migrant drowns in swollen torrent as storms lash Greece [immigrant-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (12/1/22): Migrants fleeing Lebanon by sea accuse Greece of abuse - Dozens of people in Lebanon attempted to sail to Italy on October 26, but they never reached their destination. [immigrant-news] [!]
- WSWS (11/1/22): Greek police attack strikers at Kavala Oil [law-enforcement-oversteps-news, busting-labor-news, big-oil-news] Important Note about WSWS [!]
Hungary Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Administrative (cr.);
Last Year's Entry
- Just Security (20/1/22): A group of members of the European Parliament have called for a large-scale election observation for Hungary’s upcoming parliamentary elections, amid fears of falling democratic standards. Jennifer Rankin reports for the Guardian. [electoral-news, voting-rights-news, far-right-news, europe-policy-news]
- Democracy Now (13/1/22): A general election in Hungary will be held on April 3rd, the government said. An alliance of all major opposition parties is trying to unseat Viktor Orban, the illiberal populist who has been the country's prime minister since 2010. [electoral-news, far-right-news]
- New York Times (3/1/22): Trump Endorses Viktor Orban, Hungary’s Far-Right Prime Minister - Democracy in Hungary has been backsliding under Mr. Orban, whose efforts to consolidate power have caused consternation in the European Union. [trump-news, far-right-news] [!]
Iceland Updates
Last Year's Entry
Ireland Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2011) (cr.); Northern Ireland (cr.);
Last Year's Entry
Italy Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
- Just Security (19/1/22): Four alleged members of the Nigerian mafia have been arrested in southern Italy after a young sex trafficking survivor spoke out against them. Investigators in Palermo have said that the woman, who is also Nigerian, had been imprisoned, raped, blackmailed, and forced into prostitution by her traffickers to pay a debt. The men allegedly belong to the feared Black Axe, a cult-like criminal gang that emerged in the 1970s at the University of Benin. Lorenzo Tondo reports for the Guardian. [crime-news]
- The Guardian (16/1/22): Italian nurse accused of giving fake Covid jabs to anti-vaxxers arrested - Police say people were fraudulently obtaining Covid passes by having fake vaccinations in Palermo [anti-vaxx-news, crime-news] [!]
- The Economist World This Week (13/1/22): David Sassoli, the president of the European Parliament, died from complications following a bout of pneumonia. Mr Sassoli, an Italian social democrat, had fought to increase the parliament’s power as a way of deepening the EU’s democratic accountability. [obituary-news]
- WSWS (13/1/22): Transport workers throughout Italy are taking part today, January 14, in four-hour stoppages called by the major transport unions to demand the negotiation of a new collective agreement. The previous agreement expired at the end of 2017. [logistics-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Just Security (12/1/22): Italian Catholic and Jewish leaders have condemned an incident in which right-wing extremists put a Nazi flag on a coffin and performed Nazi salutes at a funeral outside a church. Rome’s Catholic archdiocese said in a statement that the priests at the parish had no idea what would happen outside the church on Monday. Reuters reports. [far-right-news]
- The Guardian (11/1/22): Silvio Berlusconi steps up Italy presidential campaign with threat to coalition - Forza Italia leader will reportedly withdraw party from government if Mario Draghi is elected president [politics-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (9/1/22): Anti-vaccine protesters rally in France, Germany, Austria, Italy - More than 100,000 people marched across France against government’s plans to introduce a COVID-19 vaccine pass. [anti-vaxx-news, protest-news] [!]
- Financial Times (16/12/21): Italy general strike poses test for Draghi’s premiership - Unions to protest against planned [€8bn] tax cuts that they say will benefit higher earners [labor-news, fail-neoliberal-news, unions-news] Paywall Summary (?): The neoliberal plans are required to secure tens of billions in aid from the EU for post-pandemic recovery. CGIL and UIL, with a combined membership of 7.5m, are also upset with pension reform, retirement and labor rule changes; low-earners will also get a tax cut, but unions say the top disproportionately benefits. The other main trade union, CISL, is staying out to avoid "radicalising positions". Far-right Salvini called union leaders "irresponsible". Bombardieri, UIL secretary-general, has called out the govt for seeking "political compromise over social demands", argues tax cuts should try to reduce labor costs, rather than reducing tax rates on personal income (making a sort of neoliberal wage-price spiral argument, it seems), and lambasts the govt for a tunnel-vision focus on GDP growth.
- The Economist World This Week (8/1/22): Italy made vaccination mandatory for everyone over the age of 50. Those who are over 50 with jobs will no longer be given the option of taking a covid test to go to work. [covid-news]
Kosovo Updates
Last Year's Entry
- The Guardian (16/1/22): Panic as Kosovo pulls the plug on its energy-guzzling bitcoin miners - Speculators rush to sell off their kit as Balkan state announces a crypto clampdown to ease electricity crisis [cryptocurrency-news, energy-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (15/1/22): Kosovo bans Serbian vote on constitutional changes on its soil - Serbia will hold a referendum on Sunday on amendments to the constitution that would change how judges and prosecutors are elected. [!]
- Washington Post (8/1/22): Soldier from North Macedonia dies as peacekeeper in Kosovo [!]
- ZDNet (5/1/22): Kosovo bans cryptocurrency mining in face of European energy crisis - With outages and surging electricity prices, Kosovo will ban the production of cryptocurrency to ease energy consumption. [cryptocurrency-news, energy-news] [!]
Latvia Updates
Last Year's Entry
- Just Security (20/1/22): The U.S. State Department has cleared Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and the U.K. to send U.S.-made missiles and other weapons to Ukraine. The third-party transfer agreements will allow Estonia to transfer Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, and Lithuania will be permitted to send Stinger missiles, a source has said. Andrea Shalal reports for Reuters. [us-policy-news, weapon-sale-security-news]
Lithuania Updates
Last Year's Entry
- Just Security (20/1/22): The U.S. State Department has cleared Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and the U.K. to send U.S.-made missiles and other weapons to Ukraine. The third-party transfer agreements will allow Estonia to transfer Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, and Lithuania will be permitted to send Stinger missiles, a source has said. Andrea Shalal reports for Reuters. [us-policy-news, weapon-sale-security-news]
- Just Security (18/1/22): Russia has begun moving troops to Belarus for joint military exercises – a move likely to stoke fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. The exercises are to be held in the west of Belarus, near the borders of NATO members Poland and Lithuania, and its southern flank with Ukraine, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has said. Andrew Roth reports for the Guardian. [russia-policy-news]
- Just Security (10/1/22): Lithuania has paid more than $110,000 to Abu Zubaydah as compensation for having allowed the CIA to hold him at a secret site outside Vilnius where he was tortured. The Guantánamo detainee was captured in Pakistan six months after 9/11, and has been detained by the U.S. for more than 20 years. The payment comes more than three years after the European Court of Human Rights ordered the Lithuanian government to pay Zubaydah for violating European laws banning the use of torture. Ed Pilkington reports for the Guardian. [dark-security-news]
- Wall Street Journal (6/1/22): Opinion: China Takes Lithuania as an Economic Hostage - Its trade retaliation over Taiwan is wreaking havoc with global supply chains. [economic-news, china-policy-news] Paywall Summary (?): in 2020, Lithuania exported $350m worth of goods to China, although importing from China far more (about 4x as more in 2021). But China isn't now just blocking Lithuanian goods - they're going after the supply chain, blocking goods with Lithuanian parts, according to the EU trade commisioner (but China denies). This has been a wake up call that globalized supply chains might be dangerous for the ability of nation's to exercise politics displeasing to China.
- Financial Times (6/1/22): Taiwan to support Lithuania with $200m fund after dispute with China - Investment plan follows harsh measures taken by Beijing against the Baltic state [china-policy-news] Paywall Summary (?): China has withdrawn its ambassador, banned Lithuanian imports, and pressured foreign manufacturers (ie European) to avoid Lithuanian components. The president of Lithuania claims that this all is a mistake, and he was consulted on none of this Taiwan business (the PM led the effort, who he defeated in 2019's presidential elections). Taipei's aid includes buying 24k bottles (120 shipping containers) of Lithuanian rum rejected by Chinese customs.
- Al Jazeera (5/1/22): Taiwan buys 20,000 bottles of Lithuanian rum after China snub - Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corp says it bought the alcohol after learning Chinese customs had blocked its import. [china-policy-news, economic-news] [!]
Luxembourg Updates
- Financial Times (2/1/22): German Greens lead attack on EU plan to label nuclear power ‘sustainable’ - Brussels’ proposal is central to European goal of channelling billions of euros into green investments [big-oil-news, nuclear-energy-news] Paywall Summary (?): This list or 'taxonomy' aims to help investors discern what is sustainable, green economic activity. This has drawn the ire of Austria, Germany, and Luxembourg, the former threatening to sue over the green classification of nuclear; the inclusion is seen as a victory for the French govt, which wants to avoid punishment for its dependence on nuclear. The LNG inclusion will boost support among heavy LNG importers, largely in the south and east Europe (and Germany). The German finance minister (of the Liberal party) admits that LNG plants are needed as they transition from "coal and nuclear power".
Malta Updates
Last Year's Entry
Moldova Updates
Last Year's Entry
Montenegro Updates
Last Year's Entry
Netherlands Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
- WSWS (20/1/22): Last week, metalworkers in the Netherlands took part in 24-hour regional strikes as part of a long-running dispute over the collective agreement covering smaller companies in the sector, which employs around 320,000 workers. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Al Jazeera (16/1/22): Thousands protest against Dutch COVID restrictions - Thousands of protesters take to the streets in Amsterdam rallying against the Dutch government’s COVID measures. [protest-news, anti-vaxx-news] [!]
- Middle East Monitor (6/1/22): The Netherlands stops funding Palestinian NGO - The Netherlands has stopped funding the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC), one of the six Palestinian human rights organisations designated as "terrorists" by Israel last year. According to Israeli defence minister Benny Gantz at the time, the organisations take orders from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which is also designated as a "terrorist" entity by the apartheid state due to its resistance against the occupation. [!]
North Macedonia Updates
Last Year's Entry
Norway Updates
Last Year's Entry
- Just Security (18/1/22): Anders Behring Breivik, the Norwegian man responsible for killing 77 people by setting off a bomb outside the Norweigian prime minister’s office in Oslo and opening fire at a youth summer camp organized by the left-leaning Labor Party, is to ask a court today for early release from his 21-year prison sentence. Amy Cheng reports for the Washington Post. [militant-far-right-news]
Poland Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Administrative (cr.);
Last Year's Entry
- Just Security (18/1/22): Russia has begun moving troops to Belarus for joint military exercises – a move likely to stoke fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. The exercises are to be held in the west of Belarus, near the borders of NATO members Poland and Lithuania, and its southern flank with Ukraine, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has said. Andrew Roth reports for the Guardian. [russia-policy-news]
- The Economist World This Week (13/1/22): Polish prosecutors vowed to charge the head of Poland’s independent judges association, for recommending in an interview that Poland comply with rulings made by the EU’s top court and curb political meddling with the judiciary. The prosecutors demanded that a news website turn over records of the interview. [surveillance-and-censorship-news, far-right-news, court-news]
- The Guardian (13/1/22): Polish lawmakers pass bill to step up government control of schools - Critics say bill, now moving to senate, could curb access to teaching on LGBT and reproductive rights [surveillance-and-censorship-news, far-right-news, lgbtq-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (12/1/22): Aramco gains footing in Russia’s back yard with Polish oil deal - Aramco, the world’s largest oil firm, will buy 30 percent of a refinery on the Baltic coast, as well as a wholesale fuel unit. [russia-policy-news, big-oil-news] [!]
Portugal Updates
Last Year's Entry
- Financial Times (6/1/22): Trust in Portugal’s elite wanes over struggle to tackle corruption - [right wing] Populists [Chega] expected to gain in January election as legal system’s handling of white-collar crime fuels discontent [corruption-news, far-right-news, capitalist-farce-news] Paywall Summary (?): A ssurvey showed that people, on avg, saw 2/3+ of politicians and 51% of business executives as corrupt. Recently, a fugitive former bank (fleeing corruption legal convictions) was captured in South Africa, and a former economy minister was put under house arrest. These cases show the slowness of the system - the former's crimes were in 2009, and the latter's were 15 years ago. Only the wealthy can afford to use the legal system to draw out the legal process. The socialist prime minister has been detained over corruption allegations, but nearly all charges were thrown out, due to statute of limitations and lack of coherent evidence.
Romania Updates
Last Year's Entry
- WSWS (20/1/22): On Wednesday, the two major teachers’ unions in Romania called a two-hour warning strike in all schools after the government announced a real terms pay cut for 2022, in violation of a 2017 law which sets pay rises. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (20/1/22): On Thursday, hundreds of workers at the Bucharest [Romania] Transport Company (STB) began an indefinite wildcat strike, after the budget for the new year was announced with a lower total salary fund, and the STB director refused to negotiate a pay increase. [logistics-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Jacobin (19/1/22): In Romania, Hard-Won Abortion Rights Are Being Systematically Undermined - In 1989, Romania finally dropped its infamous policy banning all forms of birth control. But today, many women are finding it impossible to get an abortion, faced with a systematic right-wing assault against reproductive rights. [right-wing-news, civil-rights-news] [!]
San Marino Updates
Last Year's Entry
Serbia Updates
Last Year's Entry
- WSWS (20/1/22): Last week, workers at the Fiat Plastic factory in the Serbian city of Kragujevac resumed their long-running indefinite strike after the factory, owned by a subsidiary of global auto giant Stellantis, was shut down over Christmas. 021 reported that the strike committee is planning to sue the company for discrimination, after it refused to pay a bonus to striking workers. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Financial Times (20/1/22): Serbia pulls plug on planned Rio Tinto lithium mine - Protests ahead of elections force revocation of mining licences [protest-news, resource-news] [!]
- Jacobin (18/1/22): Mining Companies and the EU Want Serbia’s Lithium - In December, mass protests halted the mining company Rio Tinto’s plan to construct a lithium mine in Serbia, defeating the country’s right-wing government and the EU. The Left needs to fight for an alternative to environmentally destructive neoliberalism. [resource-news, fail-neoliberal-news, protest-news, capitalist-farce-news] [!]
- Democracy Now (18/1/22): Novak Djokovic Deported for Violating COVID-19 Rules, Will Miss Australian Open [anti-vaxx-news]
- Al Jazeera (15/1/22): Kosovo bans Serbian vote on constitutional changes on its soil - Serbia will hold a referendum on Sunday on amendments to the constitution that would change how judges and prosecutors are elected. [!]
- Democracy Now (14/1/22): Australia Revokes Novak Djokovic’s Visa for 2nd Time, Days Ahead of Australian Open [anti-vaxx-news]
- The Economist World This Week (13/1/22): The saga over whether Novak Djokovic can remain in Australia played out like a tennis rally. Although a judge said the unvaccinated Serb could stay, the government was less keen. Amid the back and forth covid cases surged in Melbourne, which hosts the Australian Open.
- Democracy Now (10/1/22): Tennis Star Novak Djokovic Released from Immigration Detention as Australian Visa Reinstated [covid-news, immigrant-news]
- Al Jazeera (5/1/22): US imposes sanctions on Bosnian Serb leader Dodik - The United States accuses Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik of corruption and threatening the stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina. [us-policy-news, far-right-news] [!]
Slovakia Updates
Last Year's Entry
Slovenia Updates
Last Year's Entry
Spain Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Administrative (cr.);
Behind the Insurrections (Behind the Bastards) (Podcast) (26/1/21): The Birth of Spanish Fascism, Part 1
Last Year's Entry
- WSWS (20/1/22): Two thousand Spanish home care workers begin partial strikes over collective agreement [healthcare-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Washington Post (19/1/22): Nursing home fire kills 5 in eastern Spain [healthcare-news, disaster-news] [!]
- Washington Post (16/1/22): Spanish police bust large heroin ring, arrest 10 in raids [crime-news, drug-news] [!]
- Jacobin (15/1/22): Yolanda Díaz Is Fighting to Make the Spanish Left Work - Since becoming Unidas Podemos leader last April, Spanish labor minister Yolanda Díaz has broken the populist party out of its rut. She’s won concrete gains for organized labor through her government post — showing how the Left can reconnect with the working class. [leftist-news, socialist-news, politics-news] [!]
- The Economist World This Week (13/1/22): Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s prime minister, called on the EU to consider reclassifying covid-19 as an endemic disease rather than a pandemic. He hopes to see restrictions loosened. The WHO said it was too soon to declare covid endemic. It added that half of Europe could catch Omicron within two months. [covid-news]
- WSWS (13/1/22): Specialists at University Hospital in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, begin indefinite partial stoppage to demand head of service is dismissed [healthcare-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (13/1/22): The CCOO union announced this week that its members in the cleaning sector in the city of Córdoba would hold three one-day stoppages and rallies in January, the first being on Thursday, following a demonstration called by the UGT last week. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (13/1/22): The first three days of a strike by metalworkers in the Spanish province of Asturias, due to begin Tuesday, were called off by the General Workers’ Union (UGT) and Workers' Commissions (CCOO) trade unions after reaching a preliminary agreement with the employers’ association at the Asturian arbitration service. - The dispute was over pay bargaining in smaller companies and subcontractors in the metals sector, covering around 3,000 workers. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- The Guardian (12/1/22): Spanish court orders doctors be compensated for lack of Covid PPE - Court rules region of Valencia failed to protect medics in early days of pandemic [court-news, covid-news] [!]
- WSWS (7/1/22): Spanish authorities to cut COVID-19 reporting as cases explode [covid-news, fail-government-news] Important Note about WSWS [!]
- The Guardian (3/1/22): Death toll of refugees attempting to reach Spain doubles in 2021 - NGO report draws direct link between rise in fatalities and efforts to curb migration in Mediterranean [immigrant-news] [!]
Sweden Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
- Jacobin (9/1/22): Class Struggle Built the Swedish Welfare State - Swedish social democracy produced one of the most humane societies in history. That wouldn’t have happened without a militant labor movement and a working-class political party. [labor-news, union-news, history-news] [!]
- Middle East Monitor (2/1/22): Sweden granted citizenship to over 27,000 Syrian refugees in 2021 [immigrant-news]
United Kingdom Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
- WSWS (20/1/22): Workers in Belfast, Northern Ireland, occupying hostel to prevent its closure receive suspension letters [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (20/1/22): On Tuesday, the GMB union ended the strike of 20 HGV refuse collection drivers working for South East Environmental Services Ltd (SEES) in Eastbourne. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS; WSWS (13/1/22): UK: Refuse workers in Eastbourne strike, other refuse workers in Sussex to ballot over pay and conditions [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (20/1/22): Around 180 UK technicians working for luxury car chain Mercedes-Benz Retail Group (MBRG) are to strike over pay. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (20/1/22): UK taxi drivers in Leeds held a 24-hour strike Monday. They are involved in a long-running dispute with Leeds City Council’s Suitability and Convictions Policy, enacted in February 2020. The taxi drivers argue the policy is too restrictive and can be used against drivers involved in a minor issue such as an argument, resulting in them losing their licence. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (20/1/22): Further strikes by teaching staff at Newham Sixth Form College, London against privatisation [privatization-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (20/1/22): Dockers working for GB Southern Terminals at Sheerness, on the Thames and Medway estuary in England, are walking out each Thursday in January, to be followed by five days a week in February and March. [logistics-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (20/1/22): Economic forecasters working for the London based National Institute of Economics and Social Research (NIESR) will walk out on Friday for two weeks. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (20/1/22): Hospital security workers at London hospital begin six-week strike over pay and conditions [healthcare-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (20/1/22): Around 300 UK bus drivers working for First Bus, based in Oldham near Manchester were on strike Thursday, following three days of walkouts last week. The company operates routes across Greater Manchester. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (20/1/22): Just Eat delivery drivers in Sheffield, England continued their programme of walkouts over pay cuts. Pickets gathered outside McDonald’s fast-food outlet on Queens Road in Sheffield on Monday. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
; WSWS (13/1/22): Just Eat delivery drivers’ strike continues in Sheffield and Blackpool, England [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (20/1/22): Refuse collection drivers in Coventry, England continue strikes with all-out stoppage over pay and conditions Important Note about WSWS; WSWS (13/1/22): Walkouts by refuse collection drivers in Coventry, England over pay and conditions continue [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (20/1/22): Scaffolders at British Steel plant in Scunthorpe vote overwhelmingly to continue pay strike [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Just Security (20/1/22): Two men have been arrested in Manchester and Birmingham this morning in relation to the attack on the synagogue [in the US], U.K. police have said. [militant-far-right-news, racist-crime-news]
- Just Security (20/1/22): A member of the U.K.’s Parliament has accused U.K. government ministers, whips, and advisers of intimidating and attempting to blackmail lawmakers suspected of opposing U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Conservative MP William Wragg called for the police to investigate the accusations. Peter Walker reports for the Guardian. [politics-news]
- Just Security (20/1/22): The U.S. State Department has cleared Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and the U.K. to send U.S.-made missiles and other weapons to Ukraine. The third-party transfer agreements will allow Estonia to transfer Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, and Lithuania will be permitted to send Stinger missiles, a source has said. Andrea Shalal reports for Reuters. [us-policy-news, weapon-sale-security-news]
- New York Times (17/1/22): BBC Funding Frozen for 2 Years as Cabinet Minister Attacks Public Fee - The license fee on TV owners makes up three-quarters of the British broadcaster’s income and is guaranteed until 2027. [surveillance-and-censorship-news, media-news] Notes: The conservatives think that the BBC is too liberal and London-centric, and are threatening it in turn. The BBC has already been facing steep cost-cutting measures. The big debacle here is that the BBC provides a lot of content which isn't commercially viable, so a Netflix-esque model doesn't quite make sense.
- Jacobin (19/1/22): Property Developers Have No Place in Local Government - In the UK, local governments are constantly agreeing to sleazy deals to provide hyperprofitable contracts to property developers. The only solution: ban developers and their lobbyists from councils. [capitalist-farce-news, corruption-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (19/1/22): Johnson lifts COVID rules in England as Omicron wave ‘has peaked’ - British PM says face masks will no longer be mandatory in public places and COVID passes will be dropped for big events. [covid-news] [!]
- Just Security (19/1/22): The British gunman was checked against law enforcement databases before entering the U.S. but raised no red flags, the White House has said [militant-far-right-news, crime-news]
- Just Security (19/1/22): The British gunman, Malik Faisal Akram, who took four people hostage inside a Texas synagogue on Saturday was in contact with another individual in the U.S. before the attack, according to officials. Currently, however, investigators do not believe that a second person was involved in the plot. Devlin Barrett, Matt Zapotosky, Jack Douglas and William Booth report for the Washington Post. [militant-far-right-news, crime-news]
- Just Security (18/1/22): The British man who took the four people hostage was already known to U.K. security service MI5. Malik Faisal Akram from Blackburn in northwest England had previously been on MI5’s watchlist as a “subject of interest” and was investigated in late 2020. However, by the time he flew to the U.S. two weeks ago he had been assessed to not be a risk. Frank Gardner and Doug Faulkner report for BBC News. [dark-security-news, militant-far-right-news, racist-crime-news]
- Just Security (18/1/22): The U.K. is sending short-range anti-tank missiles to help Ukraine defend itself, the U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace has said
- The Guardian (15/1/22): Protesters rally across UK against police and crime bill - Bill condemned by activists as an attack on the right to protest will be voted on in Lords on Monday [protest-news] [!]
- The Economist World This Week (13/1/22): Boris Johnson looked wobbly as more evidence emerged of Downing Street’s disregard for stringent restrictions introduced early in the pandemic. In an excruciating appearance before the House of Commons the British prime minister struggled to explain why he attended a bring-your-own-booze get-together in Number 10’s garden in May 2020, when people were allowed to meet only one other person outdoors. He described it as a “work-related” event. Some MPs in his Conservative Party called on him to resign. [politics-news, covid-news]
- WSWS (13/1/22): Workers in Belfast, Northern Ireland, occupy hostel to prevent closure [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (13/1/22): Protest in support of UK bus driver in Manchester facing dismissal [protest-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (13/1/22): Around 110 printers working for FLB printing firm in Dalkeith, Scotland began a 24-hour pay strike Wednesday. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (13/1/22): Further strikes planned by gritting lorry drivers in Welsh local authority after employer reneges on agreement [logistics-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (13/1/22): Month-long strike continues over pay by pallet production workers in Greater Manchester, England [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (13/1/22): UK London underground rail staff vote overwhelmingly to defend jobs, pensions and conditions, while strikes continue against night rosters on Central and Victoria lines [rail-news, logistics-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- The Guardian (13/1/22): MI5 accuses lawyer of trying to influence politicians on behalf of China - Warning circulated to MPs and peers about Christine Lee, accused of targeting parliamentarians [!]
- Washington Post (13/1/22): Prince Andrew loses military affiliations and remaining royal patronages, as sexual assault case moves forward [epstein-news] [!]
- Democracy Now (13/1/22): British PM Boris Johnson Faces Calls to Resign for Defying Lockdown to Attend Cocktail Party [politics-news, covid-news]
- Just Security (13/1/22): The British Council has said that an Iranian employee who was detained and accused of spying by Iran has been released and returned to the U.K. Iran’s Supreme Court acquitted Aras Amiri of all charges following an appeal, the cultural organization said. Amiri was arrested in 2018 while visiting her grandmother. She was convicted of spying by a Revolutionary Court and sentenced to 10 years in prison, a spokesperson for Iran’s judiciary announced in 2019 – a charge that both Amiri and the British Council denied. BBC News reports. [surveillance-and-censorship-news]
- Financial Times (10/1/22): Boris Johnson under mounting pressure on cost-of-living crisis - Labour to force parliamentary vote on whether to remove VAT from household fuel bills [energy-news, tax-news, big-oil-news, capitalist-farce-news] Paywall Summary (?): They are considering a windfall tax on North Sea oil, but see after Spain tried a similar tactic - where power companies said "it was hitting their investments in low-carbon energy schemes" - as well as have concerns that it will raise energy prices (as well as "freeze investment" and "cut supply") - the tax is proposed to raise about £1bn. Now they are debating over a universal or targeted-to-poor energy payment; the universal ("A taxpayer-funded payment of £300 to 8.5m households would cost up to £2.5bn."). A VAT cut on energy bills (from 5% to 0% for one year) could cost about £2bn; Labour is pushing for this. This comes as households will face an energy price cap hike from £1277 to £2k, coinciding with tax changes with a cost on typical households around £600 a year. Notes: It's a startling example of capitalist horror that they are afraid to raise taxes on fossil fuel (to help strapped families), because they're worried they will react negatively (to maintain their profit margins). Nationalize it!
- The Guardian (12/1/22): ‘No running water’: foreign workers criticise UK farm labour scheme - Government report on post-Brexit recruitment finds staff citing no health and safety equipment, racism and unsafe accommodation [food-security-news, labor-news] [!]
- The Guardian (12/1/22): Boris Johnson’s future on a knife edge after No 10 party apology - Senior Tories call on PM to resign after Downing Street garden party admission [politics-news] [!]
- The Guardian (12/1/22): ‘Disgrace’: what the papers said as Boris Johnson faces calls to resign - Amid the derision, supportive papers try to rally around the PM but report that ‘ambitious’ Rishi Sunak is waiting in the wings [politics-news] [!]
- The Guardian (9/1/22): Brexit decision left UK firms paying 10% more than EU rivals for emissions - Government refusal to link carbon market to EU’s has led to higher cost for British businesses [energy-news, economic-news] [!]
- The Guardian (8/1/22): UK first country in Europe to pass 150,000 Covid deaths, figures show - On Saturday, Britain became the seventh nation to reach the milestone after the US, Brazil, India, Russia, Mexico and Peru [covid-news] [!]
- Financial Times (7/1/22): Wealth inequality rises in Britain after decade of stability - Top 1% of households have 230 times more wealth (43% of all wealth) than those in the bottom 10% [social-woes-news, capitalist-farce-news] Paywall Summary (?): The bottom half have just 9% of all wealth. The Gini coefficient has remained largely stable until 2019 (as in Germany and France), compared to nations like the US, Italy, Russia, and China. The pandemic has boosted stock and asset holders, while forcing lower-income people to drawn down their savings and increase debt, "only [holding] wealth in physical assets, such as cars and furniture" (as opposed to financial, property, or pension). There are also big age differences - median wealth of 55-65 year olds was 25x higher than those 16-24 - as well as geographic (southeast had roughly 3-4x more median wealth than northeast).
- Tribune (7/1/22): Young People Need a Socialist Scotland - Facing a host of crises, from soaring rents to precarious work to climate breakdown, young people need radical policies – and a Scottish Labour that's prepared to fight for socialism. [housing-news, socialist-news, analysis-news, leftist-news] [!]
- Just Security (7/1/22): A Russian submarine collided with a U.K. Royal Navy warship’s sonar on patrol in the North Atlantic in late 2020, the U.K. Ministry of Defense (MoD) has confirmed
- The Guardian (6/1/22): How Tony Blair advised former Kazakh ruler after 2011 uprising - British former PM told Nursultan Nazarbayev to stress he ‘understood’ critics and to say reforms would ‘take time’ - The Kazakh government is said to have paid Blair’s consultancy $13m for its services. [corruption-news]
- The Guardian (6/1/22): Military deployed at London hospitals due to Omicron staff shortages - Support, which includes 40 army doctors, shows ministers can no longer ignore scale of understaffing, union leaders say [covid-news, healthcare-news, fail-government-news] [!]
- Just Security (6/1/22): The U.K. has been accused of reviving a policy of “targeted killing” after it emerged that the Royal Air Force killed an arms dealer linked to the Islamic State in a precision drone strike in Syria at the end of October. The U.K. Ministry of Defense reported at the end of November that the crew of a Reaper drone had “tracked a known terrorist in northern Syria” and undertaken a “successful attack…at a safe moment, when the individual was alone in a field.” Dan Sabbagh reports for the Guardian. [dark-security-news]
- Democracy Now (6/1/22): 750,000 Sign Petition to Strip Tony Blair of Knighthood - The petition states, “He was personally responsible for causing the death of countless innocent, civilian lives and servicemen in various conflicts. For this alone he should be held accountable for war crimes.”
- Democracy Now (6/1/22): Antiracist Activists Cleared for Dumping Slave Trader Statue into a River in U.K.
- The Guardian (5/1/22): Geoff Hoon ‘told to burn memo that said Iraq invasion could be illegal’ - Defence secretary under Tony Blair claims he was told to burn legal advice written by attorney general [fail-government-news, corruption-news]
- Democracy Now (5/1/22): Amid Surge, Delhi to Enforce Weekend Curfew as Hong Kong Bans Flights from U.S., U.K. [logistics-news, covid-news]
- Just Security (4/1/22): The U.S., Russia, China, the U.K., and France have agreed that “a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought” in a rare joint pledge. The signatories to the pledge, known as the P5 or N5, are the five nuclear weapons states recognized by the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and are also the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council. Julian Borger reports for the Guardian. [us-policy-news, russia-policy-news, china-policy-news]
- Democracy Now (4/1/22): Court Unseals Settlement Between Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew Accuser Virginia Giuffre [epstein-news]
- The Guardian (4/1/22): Heart attack patients told to make own way to hospital as Covid surge hits northern England - NHS under pressure as growth rate in hospitalisations more than doubles compared with London [covid-news, healthcare-news] [!]
- The Guardian (2/1/22): Unite demands clear targets for use of UK steel in HS2 project - Union says it is ‘common sense’ that Britain’s 1,100 steel businesses should be ‘paramount’ in procurement [union-news, labor-news, rail-news]
- The Guardian (2/1/22): Cyber-attack on UK’s Defence Academy caused ‘significant’ damage - Former senior officer says unsolved hack of MoD training school systems did not succeed but still had costs [cyber-security-news] [!]
- Financial Times (2/1/22): UK farmers braced for spring fertiliser crunch after prices triple - Squeezed supply chains threaten yields of livestock, dairy and arable producers [food-security-news] Paywall Summary (?): As LNG prices surged, so did ammonium nitrate fertiliser (for which natural gas is an actual ingrediant (needed to make ammonia)), 'the main product used to boost crop growth' - this was coupled with manufacturing plant temporary closures (FT covered these issues in September 2021 as well). In October 2020, the spot prices for a tonne was £213 - in December 2021 it was £615; similar products doubled+ over the same period. This will lead to supply issues when the 2022 growing season starts. Wheat production may see a hit, in favor of crops that don't need nitrogen. From July to November, 'deliveries of fertiliser to farmers were ... more than 10 per cent below the five-year average", head of fertilisers at an agricultural trade group reports.
- Tribune (2/1/22): The Vaccine Centre Is the Latest Tory Privatisation Disaster - In the midst of another variant surge in Covid cases, the Tory government has decided to sell off the brand new Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovations Centre – just the latest step in healthcare privatisation. [privatization-news, covid-news, capitalist-farce-news] [!]
- The Guardian (1/1/22): US judge delivers double setback to Prince Andrew’s abuse case battle - Pressure grows on duke to settle alleged victim’s claim before key hearing this week [epstein-news] [!]
- The Guardian (31/12/21): ‘Waste colonialism’: world grapples with west’s unwanted plastic - Germany and UK are big exporters of plastic, much of which lies rotting in ports in Turkey, Vietnam and other countries [industrial-failure-news]
- Law and Crime (31/12/21): Federal Judge Rejects Prince Andrew’s Request to Halt Discovery in Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Until He Can Grill Accuser About Where She Lives [epstein-news] [!]
- The Guardian (31/12/21): Giuffre lawyers seek details on Prince Andrew’s claimed inability to sweat - Royal’s legal team say some of the disclosure requests in Virginia Giuffre lawsuit are ‘overbroad and oppressive’ [epstein-news] [!]
Eurasia Updates (largely, fmr USSR)
Afghanistan / Armenia / Azerbaijan / Belarus / Georgia / Kazakhstan / Kyrgyzstan / Russia / Tajikistan / Turkmenistan / Uzbekistan / Ukraine
Last Year's Entry
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After the fall of the USSR, liberals were quick to privatize nearly everything. In some areas of the region this meant oligarchs cementing power, in others it meant strongmen taking power. In either case, with few exceptions, democracy was totally stifled. And even in those places - such as Poland - where democracy initially was fairly successful, the instabilities of capitalism have resulted in the right of far-right extremism and a turn towards tyranny. In the wake of this all, Russia's Putin sews war and conflict, while playing a delicate balancing act at home - the real power lies in the hands of the oligarchs, who own the capital of Russia, but as they stand divided, Putin is able to wield a volatile form of power by establishing a stasis amongst them. In Central Asia (ie Kazakhstan, etc), China and Russia are increasingly brushing up against one another.
Regional Updates
Belarus Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
- Just Security (18/1/22): Russia has begun moving troops to Belarus for joint military exercises – a move likely to stoke fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. The exercises are to be held in the west of Belarus, near the borders of NATO members Poland and Lithuania, and its southern flank with Ukraine, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has said. Andrew Roth reports for the Guardian. [russia-policy-news]
Georgia Updates
Last Year's Entry
Kazakhstan Updates
(wiki, Zhuz)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Administrative (cr.);
Last Year's Entry
- Al Jazeera (16/1/22): (Opinion) Kazakhstan: A coup, a counter-coup and a Russian victory - The unrest in Kazakhstan led to consolidation of power in the country and may affect the transition of power in Russia. [politics-news, russia-policy-news] Notes: Interesting piece, and makes sense in light of recent comments from Nazarbayev.
- The Moscow Times (19/1/22): Russia-Led Peacekeeping Force Completes Pullout From Unrest-Hit Kazakhstan [russia-policy-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (18/1/22): Kazakhstan’s ex-leader denies conflict with successor - Nazarbayev described himself as a ‘retiree’, saying full power was in the hands of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
- Washington Post (15/1/22): Kazakhstan activists recall path from protest to bloodshed [protest-news] [!]
- Washington Post (15/1/22): Kazakhstan raises death toll to 225 in days of protests [protest-news, law-enforcement-oversteps-news] [!]
- Left Voice (13/1/22): Kazakhstan: A Revolt Against “Transitional” Capitalism - Dozens of protesters have been killed in protests sparked by a rise in fuel prices. The revolt is concerning to Russia and inconvenient for Western powers. [labor-news, fail-neoliberal-news, privatization-news, big-oil-news, capitalist-farce-news, protest-news, leftist-news] Notes 'The only sector that still works here are the oil producers. But for the most part, they are owned by foreign capital. Up to 70 percent of Kazakhstan oil is exported to western markets, most of the profits also go to foreign owners.' - Kurmanov of the Socialist Movement of Kazakhstan - 'In many respects Kazakhstan is a case study of “countries in transition” from the Soviet Union. In these countries, capitalism and “stability” were restored by deeply corrupted dictatorial regimes, emerging directly from the Stalinist bureaucracy of the Communist Party in the USSR. It is perhaps one of the countries where the transformation of bureaucrats into a new bourgeoisie has been most apparent. The president of Kazakhstan throughout this period of capitalist restoration, Nursultan Nazarbayev, was Prime Minister of Kazakhstan from 1984 and later became First Secretary of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan in the late 1980s. After the fall of the USSR he not only became the country’s “strongman” but his family became one of the wealthiest in Kazakhstan, in a country with an average salary of just $7,000 a year. It should also be noted that Nazarbayev’s regime perpetuated the arrogance and cult of personality that was typical of the Stalinist era. For example, the former capital of the country, Astana, was renamed “Nur-Sultan,” which is Nazarbayev’s first name.'
- Wall Street Journal (13/1/22): Huge U.S. Investments [around $45bn+] at Risk in Kazakhstan Unrest - Western companies drawn by abundant natural resources are assessing their exposure after violent protests [capitalist-farce-news, big-oil-news, resource-news, russia-policy-news, us-policy-news, china-policy-news] Paywall Summary (?): 2% of oil consumed each year, 40% of world uranium production. 'Chevron entered the Kazakh market in 1993, signing a 40-year concession [ends 2033] through the Tengizchevroil join venture, which also includes Exxon, state-owned KazMunayGas and Russia's Lukoil'. WSJ is concerned that the regime may become more oriented towards Russia or China, and away from the West. Chevron says it is focusing on a $45bn Tengiz expasnion project, set to finish in 2023.
- The Moscow Times (13/1/22): Russian Officials Spurn ‘Russophobe’ Kazakh Cabinet Minister [russia-policy-news] [!]
- Just Security (13/1/22): The Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has begun to pull its troops out of Kazakhstan following its deployment to the country to help quell violent unrest. “Thanks to your arrival, Kazakh military and security forces were able to carry out their immediate task of locating and detaining bandits,” Kazakh Deputy Defence Minister Mukhamedzhan Talasov told CSTO troops at a departure ceremony today. Reuters reports. [russia-policy-news]
- Big News Network (12/1/22): Kazakh crime syndicate leader Arman Dikiy reveals his connection with Turkish govt - The meeting between the two was disclosed by the Dikiy, who shared photos with Cavusoglu, reported Al Arabiya Post. While BNN is rated well by MBFC, Al Arabiya is not (a Saudi-aligned outlet) - He was acquainted with Sedat Peker, who was convicted of leading an organized crime organization in Turkey. Dikiy was also involved with another Turkish crime leader, Alaattin Cakici. - Turkey's political-mafia nexus came to the fore after Turkish mafia boss Sedat Peker started disclosing Turkish political leaders' involvement in drugs, money laundering, prostitution and arms trafficking.
- New York Times (7/1/22 (Updated 10/1/22)): In Kazakhstan’s Street Battles, Signs of Elites Fighting Each Other - The reasons for the bloody crisis in Central Asia remain murky, but experts say popular discontent could mask an old-fashioned power struggle within the ruling faction. [labor-news, union-news, protest-news, politics-news] Snippets: Galym Ageleulov, a human-rights activist in Almaty who took part in what began as a peaceful demonstration on Wednesday, said police officers monitoring the protest suddenly vanished around lunchtime. And “then this crowd came,” he said, an unruly mob of what seemed more like thugs than the kind of people — students, bookish dissidents and middle-class malcontents — who usually turn out for protests in Kazakhstan. - He said the mob was “clearly organized by crime group marauders” and surged down main streets toward Akimat, the City Hall, setting cars on fire and storming government offices. - Among those who urged the crowd on was Arman Dzhumageldiev, known as “Arman the Wild,” by reputation one of the country’s most powerful gangsters, who witnesses said provoked much of the violence. He gave frantic speeches on Almaty’s central square as government buildings blazed behind him, calling for people to press the government to make concessions and mocking as a “coward” Mukhtar Ablyazov, an exiled tycoon who is a bitter personal enemy of Kazakhstan’s longtime former president, Mr. Nazarbayev. - On Friday, the interior ministry said that its special forces unit had arrested Mr. Dzhumageldiev, together with five accomplices. Mr. Dzhumageldiev was the leader of an organized criminal gang, the ministry said. - The region’s [western Kazakhstan] senior official, Zhanarbek Baktybaev, said on Friday that there had been no violence, lamenting that “as you know, in some region of our country there have been riots and looting by terrorist elements.” Vital services, he said, were all working normally. - Mukhtar Umbetov, a lawyer for the independent trade union in Aktau, next to Zhanaozen, said by telephone that protests had continued with no violence in the west of the country, and expressed the anger of ordinary workers over rising inflation and stagnant salaries. - “Kazakhstan is a rich country,” Mr. Umbetov said, “but these resources do not work in the interests of the people, they work in the interests of the elites. There is a huge stratification of society.”
- Al-Monitor (12/1/22): Kazakhstan crisis challenges Turkey's leadership of Turkic union - The unrest rattling Kazakhstan has reflected the irrelevance of Turkey and the Organization of Turkic States chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. [russia-policy-news, social-woes-news, capitalist-farce-news] Snippets Turkey has aimed to utilize the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking states to realize its ambitions in Central Asia. The brainchild of Kazakhstan’s former leader, Nursultan Nazarbayev, the council was planned in 2006 and launched in 2009. In accordance with its new political grandstanding, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan became the new chairman of the body in 2021 during a summit held in Istanbul on Nov. 12. - In a nutshell, the Kazakh leadership — at a time of urgent security needs — preferred Russia over Turkey and Vladimir Putin over Erdogan. Kazakhstan has special bonds with Turkey. The two countries as well as Azerbaijan have been the main pillars of the OTS. Kazakhstan had entered into a military cooperation agreement with Turkey that encompasses cooperation in several fields including the defense industry, intelligence-sharing, joint military exercises, information systems and cyber defense. The growing military ties between Turkey and Kazakhstan as well as Uzbekistan had given rise to a fanciful idea in October 2020 to establish a Turkic NATO. - More striking than anything else and perhaps adding further insult to injury to Turkish nationalists was the deployment of Armenian soldiers and Russian special forces units to Kazakhstan upon the request of the Kazakh president. The announcement of the deployment came from Armenian President Nikol Pashinyan — a striking irony displaying the degradation of Turkey's foreign policy. - What’s more intriguing is the anti-US and anti-Western obsession of certain secularist-nationalists and leftists in Turkey. For example, reacting to the unfolding developments in Kazakhstan, prominent retired Turkish Adm. Cem Gurdeniz blamed the unrest on “an imperialist plot.” Gurdeniz, who is also an ideologue of the controversial Blue Homeland doctrine that advocates more aggressive policy in the Mediterranean, claimed that the unrest stemmed from a “Soros-type provocation” that aimed to harbor “turmoil in Eurasia” and was organized by “imperialists very irritated from the foundation of the Organization of Turkic States.” - In social media, many Turkish leftists viewed similar opinions. Pro-Erdogan circles, in turn, citing a former Russian parliamentarian, claimed that followers of Fethullah Gulen, a US-based cleric who is accused by Turkey of staging a coup attempt in 2016, might be those fomenting trouble in Kazakhstan. - In an opinion piece in the Financial Times, Gideon Rachman wrote, “Kazakhstan is a country in which the average income is around $570 a month, but where the family of Nursultan Nazarbayev, who ruled the country from 1991 until 2019, has acquired foreign properties worth at least $785 million. The turmoil in Kazakhstan may be linked to infighting within ruling circles. But these kinds of problems are inherent to corrupt autocracies. If wealth is divided up as part of a spoils system, any hint of a change in leadership creates instability.” - It also is a stark indicator of the changed fortunes of Turkey in its assertive foreign policy. The Kazakhstan crisis represents a defeat of Turkish nationalism on foreign policy.
- The Moscow Times (12/1/22): Russia-Led Troops to Begin Leaving Kazakhstan in 2 Days — President [!]
- The Moscow Times (12/1/22): Kyrgyzstan Cries Foul Over Musician’s Wrongful Arrest in Protest-Hit Kazakhstan [!]
- The Moscow Times (12/1/22): Kazakh President Fires Rare Criticism at Predecessor After Unrest [politics-news] [!]
- Wall Street Journal (12/1/22): Kazakhstan Blames Violent Protests on Criminals; ‘It Was Hell’ - Rioting and looting erupted amid demonstrations over fuel prices; government and picketers alike see criminals involved [!] Paywall Snippets (?): 'Then, as night fell on Jan. 5, new groups took over the streets of Almaty, the largest city: young men wielding guns, sledgehammers and makeshift weapons. They stormed official buildings, attacked police and torched cars. They breached the airport and ransacked it. They raided banks and looted shops.' - 'The government and protesters more or less agree on one point: Peaceful demonstrations were hijacked by violent criminals.' - '[Tokayev] hasn’t said who exactly he believes was behind the violence, but authorities have detained the powerful former security-service chief on suspicion of treason. Some analysts say the violence was triggered by high-level infighting between the president and men close to his predecessor, Mr. Nazarbayev' - 'Some civil-rights groups blame the government, saying authorities ignored people’s grievances, leading the protests to spiral out of control and allowing criminals to take advantage.' - 'Mr. Tokayev has blamed media and activists for fomenting the violence, although his government pledged not to crack down on them.' - 'The following day [Jan 5], protesters gathered again. But by the afternoon, they noticed the appearance of unusual characters who resembled an unruly mob. Among them, according to videos from the scene, was a reputed gangster named Arman Dzhumageldiev, better known as Arman the Wild, who made vigorous speeches while surrounded by several tough-looking men. The interior ministry said on Jan. 7 it had detained Mr. Dzhumageldiev with five accomplices, seizing four semiautomatic weapons and an armored car.' - 'Aiman Umarova, a 54-year-old lawyer who lives in central Almaty, said she saw young men bearing metal wrenches and rods running toward one of the city’s main squares. Some wore construction helmets and had metal affixed to their chests as makeshift protection. Others were dressed in mismatched military garb, such as crisply pressed military jackets with jeans.' - 'Ms. Umarova, an ethnic Kazakh, said they didn’t look like locals and sometimes spoke in a language she couldn’t understand.' - 'The mob grew increasingly violent, attacking official buildings including the city hall and prosecutor’s office and setting them alight. Authorities say the rioters looted the arsenals of police and security-service buildings.' - 'Ms. Umarova said she saw numerous cars without license plates driving through the city filled with young men. They called out to others on the street to tell them to drive to the airport.'
- Al Jazeera (12/1/22): In Kazakhstan, the violence has eased but questions loom - Kazakhs from Almaty to the rural regions are in shock after rare and bloody protests rocked the nation of 19 million last week. [!]
- Al Jazeera (12/1/22): Kazakhstan detains nearly 1,700 more people over unrest - Kazakh authorities have now arrested about 12,000 people for alleged participation in anti-government protests. [surveillance-and-censorship-news, law-enforcement-oversteps-news] [!]
- Popular Front (11/1/22): A Deadly Uprising in Kazakhstan - In this episode we speak to writer and researcher Colleen Wood [working on PhD on post-Soviet societies, has studied in Kazakhstan], taking a deep dive into how and why the deadly clashes in Kazakhstan broke out and escalated so rapidly. Notes: Protests in Kyrgyzstan and Russia against sending interventionist CSTO troops. She notes that there is a vibrant underground scene in Almaty, and looking forward to more output from those journalists now that the blackout is lifted, although there was a 5 hour window during the blackout when the internet was available, and some material got through. She also notes that while the official death toll is 164, in the 2011 strike massacre, the official total was "13 or 14", but the unofficial estimates are in the hundreds; a similar ratio here of official:official would be brutal. Further, the govt this time claimed the protesters have stolen bodies, perhaps a ruse to legitimate death undercounts. The govt seems to be angling that the so-called 'terrorists' are based out of Kyrgyzstan (a democratic nation that has gone through lots of turmoil, and used as a foil in propaganda of the "liberal autocracy" of Kazakhstan to show democracy is bad), and notices similarities between the frame-ups of so-called 'terrorists' here and the anti-Gulenist purges in Erdogan's Turkey (ie the "$1" bit, showing alleged CIA or Western connections); some likely faked videos of so-called 'terrorists' bear resemblance to similar fake Russian-linked videos in the former Soviet-sphere, and locals warn that these are not realistic, and uncanny. Lots of ineptitude during the crackdown (its unclear if the use of UN hats was a 'joke' or simply inept resource allocation). There is a general anti-Russian sentiment, but this isn't ethnically-based, Wood reports, but more against the Russification of Kazakhstan (ie increased Russian power over institutions, etc, iirc). Wood is skeptical of the reports of beheaded cops, as this has only been reported by state media, and hasn't seen anything on Telegram channels from indie journalists in Kazakhstan. In terms of the brutality localized to Almaty, Wood thinks that the government may have tried to make an example out of the city, and strike fear in other protesters. Wood also warns that it isn't clear that Kazakhstan has come out of this as a Russian vassal, and that reports of such by news outlets are premature.
- Foreign Policy (11/1/22): Kazakhstan’s Protests Aren’t a Color Revolution - The country’s widespread popular demonstrations transcended class, region, and politics—making them distinct from those in Belarus and Ukraine. [analysis-news, labor-news, protest-news, law-enforcement-oversteps-news, russia-policy-news] Paywall Summary (?): 'But they were soon reportedly hijacked by criminal groups who attacked law enforcement officers and set government buildings on fire. Opposition leaders and human rights activists point at possible collusion between criminal elements and members of the ruling regime, who sought chaos to justify the use of force against peaceful demonstrators.' - 'Unlike protests in Belarus, Ukraine, and the Middle East, Kazakhstan showed a complex network of different forms of mobilization depending on location, the community’s history of previous protests, and the types of demands made. There is no single leader or dominant political group guiding the protests—not even an elaborate political agenda uniting the protesters [and did not follow a contenious election].' - Many different groups are involved - 'disgruntled miners in oil fields, mothers demanding better public welfare and assistance payments, youth organizations expecting political changes, and underground political parties seeking national representation. For a while, these various groups seemed disconnected with conflicting demands and expectations.' - 'The otherwise disparate grievances coalesced around residents of oil-rich Zhanaozen, Kazakhstan, who could no longer afford basic commodities like liquified petroleum gas. Workers from local labor unions formed the backbone of the initial protests. Thanks to over a decade of experience in mobilizing for labor rights, on Jan. 4, they set clear demands for the election of governors and mayors (“akims”) to ensure political officials were held accountable to the local population and not to central authorities' and were good at weeding out provocateurs, and set up food supplies, bathrooms, and a stage for voicing their demands, structurally different from protests in Nur-Sultan and Almaty. - 'As sociologist Diana Kudaibergenova of Cambridge University explains in her ongoing research, both cities are hubs for political movements, including unregistered political parties' - 'But as soon as the governmental [reconciliatory] committee arrived in Mangystau, the protesters voiced their demands for political reforms and immediate resignation of their governor, further democratization, and a transition to a parliamentary republic. The same set of claims soon appeared in other parts of the country.' - 'For 30 years since independence, Kazakhstan’s leadership emphasized the importance of political stability at the cost of top-down rule but accompanied it with economic growth thanks to the country’s vast energy and mineral resources. However, these resources were unequally distributed, with the regime appropriating most of the rents and sharing them with an inner circle of elites.' - 'The inner circle controlled the most lucrative economic enterprises and used state support to expand the network of affiliated companies. In contrast, regular people survived on small salaries and used loans from banks controlled by people from the inner circle. Many engaged in providing informal taxi services as a second-income stream, and liquified petroleum gas prices were vital for making their ends meet. This two-tier structure was no longer durable; the hike in gas prices unleashed a whole range of the accompanied grievances.' - FP reports that the opposition movement here is much more fluid and perhaps 'grassroots' than in Belarus, which leaned on NGOs heavily
- Al Jazeera (11/1/22): Can centuries-old clan rivalry explain the crisis in Kazakhstan? - Tribal identities still affect the public and political life of the troubled Central Asian nation. [analysis-news, protest-news]
- Just Security (11/1/22): The U.N. has rebuked Kazakhstan after the country’s troops were spotted wearing blue helmets reserved for U.N. peacekeepers during a violent crackdown on protesters last week
- Just Security (11/1/22): Kazakhstan’s parliament has elected Alikhan Smailov as the country’s new prime minister. Tokayev nominated Smailov, who previously served as Kazakhstan’s finance minister from 2018 to 2020 and in 2019 became the first deputy prime minister in the Cabinet which was dismissed by Tokayev during last week’s violent protests. Louis Westendarp reports for POLITICO Europe.
- Just Security (11/1/22): The Russian led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will start withdrawing troops from Kazakhstan in two days, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has told the country’s parliament. The CSTO troops will depart completely within 10 days, Tokayev said. Guardian staff and agencies report. [russia-policy-news]
- Al-Monitor (10/1/22): Turkey caught off guard in Kazakhstan as Russia emerges on top - Ankara has offered "all kinds of support" to help restore order after the central Asian nation was rocked by violent protests. [!]
- Wall Street Journal (10/1/22): Kazakhstan Crisis Shows That Russia Still Trumps China’s Power in Central Asia - Beijing’s huge investments in the region increasingly rely on Russian protection [russia-policy-news, china-policy-news] [!] Paywall Summary (?): 'Yet China, for now at least, doesn’t have the military or intelligence capabilities to protect its regional allies in their hour of need. “China lacks the kind of tools that Russia possesses, such as the airborne troops who speak a language that the locals would understand, and who are ready to fly out and help,” said Alexander Gabuev, a China expert at the Carnegie Moscow Center. “These Russian paratroopers defend China’s own economic interests,” he added. “They protect a secular, pragmatic, friendly regime that’s headed by a Sinologist fluent in Chinese.”' - '“The Chinese are definitely going to have to start reassessing the vulnerability of their economic investments,” he said. “Before, they held the economic trump cards and could play them and probably sway the local governments in their favor. Now, they have to think about a security component that may weigh against that: Chinese investments are now operating at the pleasure of Russian military forces.”' - 'Beijing’s security assistance to Kazakhstan and other Central Asian nations is likely to be limited to the areas in which China excels at home, such as surveillance technologies, facial-recognition systems and communications-control equipment that could nip future protests in the bud.' - '“China has a controversial image in Kazakhstan. With Russia, there is a difficult past and the nationalist discourse that has been present over the past 30 years, but the overall attitude toward Russia remains more positive,” Mr. Voloshin said. “People understand what to expect from Russia. When it comes to China, the population has much greater fears.”' [russia-policy-news, china-policy-news]
- Just Security (10/1/22): Allies of Kazakhstan’s ex-president Nursultan Nazarbayev stoked violence at protests last week in a bid to overthrow Tokayev, it has been claimed. “In an interview with Euronews, exiled opposition leader Akezhan Kazhegeldin claimed ‘extremists’ were paid by allies of Nazarbayev to turn the otherwise peaceful protests violent in Almaty,” Alice Tidey reports for EuroNews.
- Just Security (10/1/22): China is willing to increase “law enforcement and security” cooperation with Kazakhstan and help oppose interference by “external forces.” China’s foreign minister made the comments in a call to Kazakhstan’s foreign minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi today, according to the Chinese foreign ministry. Reuters reports. [china-policy-news]
- Just Security (10/1/22): Kazakhstan’s president has stepped up his purge of Kazakhstan’s security forces, firing two more top security officials yesterday. The sacked officials were deputies to former intelligence chief Karim Massimov, who has been arrested on suspicion of treason. Olzhas Auyezov and Tamara Vaal report for Reuters.
- Just Security (10/1/22): Internet services have returned to Almaty following a five-day blackout, while a state of emergency and a nationwide curfew remain in place. BBC News reports. [surveillance-and-censorship-news]
- Just Security (10/1/22): Russia sent fresh reinforcements into Kazakhstan yesterday, deploying troops to help authorities reassert control in Kazakhstan’s biggest cities. The Russian Defense Ministry said it had prepared a contingent of more than 75 transport planes to allow for continuous deployment of troops into the country. Thomas Grove reports for the Wall Street Journal. [russia-policy-news]
- Just Security (10/1/22): Russian President Vladimir Putin has blamed Kazakhstan’s violent unrest on destructive internal and external forces, and said that the CSTO would not allow its member governments to be toppled in “color revolutions.” Putin told an online meeting of the CSTO that the deployment of CSTO troops had prevented armed groups from undermining the basis of power in Kazakhstan, adding that the troops would be withdrawn once the mission was complete. Reuters reports. [russia-policy-news]
- Just Security (10/1/22): Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has said that Kazakhstan has weathered an attempted coup d’état coordinated by what he called “a single center.” In a speech to an online meeting of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) military alliance, Tokayev said that order had now been restored in Kazakhstan, but that the hunt for “terrorists” was ongoing. A large-scale “counter-terrorism” operation would soon end along with a CSTO mission that numbered 2,030 troops and 250 pieces of military hardware, Tokayev said. He also “defended his decision to invite Russian-led troops into the country and said that doubts over the legitimacy of that mission stemmed from a lack of information,” Reuters reports. [russia-policy-news]
- Just Security (10/1/22): 164 people have been killed in last week’s unrest in Kazakhstan, which was sparked by fuel price rises, including three children, authorities in Kazakhstan have said. Kazakhstan’s health ministry said that 103 of the deaths were in Almaty, the country’s largest city. The number of people detained by police in connection with the unrest continues to rise, with the interior ministry saying today that 8,000 people have been detained throughout the country. Shaun Walker reports for the Guardian.
- Bellingcat (8/1/22): Launching an Open Source Flight Database for Kazakhstan in Wake of Protests - As the crisis in Kazakhstan has unfolded over recent days, open source researchers have again turned to social media and other online resources to make sense of events from afar. As Bellingcat has previously noted, flight tracking websites are a key part of this digital toolkit. The ability to follow, in real time, where high profile individuals, cargo flights, or even transport of soldiers to and from a conflict zone can provide crucial insight into a developing situation. [!]
- Wall Street Journal (8/1/22): Mystery Surrounds Absence of Kazakhstan’s Longtime Leader as Protesters Challenge State He Built - Since unrest started this week, the 81-year-old former president hasn’t been seen in public and his successor has moved to undermine his authority [big-oil-news, politics-news] Paywall Summary (?): Being removed from the security council, and having his anti-terror chief being removed, has the WSJ speculating that there may be some feuding-of-the-elites (ie Nazarbayev vs Tokayev) going on here. They provide a quick history of Kazakhstan under Nazarbayev, largely appeasing the West by letting go of its nukes (inherited from the USSR) and opening up oil to Western fossil fuel companies.
- South China Morning Post (8/1/22): Chinese-led Shanghai Cooperation Organisation ‘ready to act in Kazakhstan if needed’ - Despite the offer, Beijing has also signalled its approval of Russia’s intervention and the Kazakh government’s response - President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has authorised troops to shoot protesters and asked Moscow to send in troops [china-policy-news] Important Note on SCMP [!]
- Washington Post (8/1/22): Former [removed from position this week] anti-terror chief arrested over Kazakhstan protests - Authorities say security forces killed 26 demonstrators in this week’s unrest and that 18 law-enforcement officers died. More than 4,400 people have been arrested, the Interior Ministry said Saturday. - Nazarbayev remained invisible during the chaos, but on Saturday his spokesman said Nazarbayev was in the capital and “calls on everyone to rally around the president of Kazakhstan to overcome current challenges and ensure the integrity of our country.”
- Jacobin (7/1/22): Kazakhstan’s Protests Are About Soaring Inequality - Kazakhstan is ablaze with protests driven by mass layoffs and the ever more intolerable cost of living. But in a country where almost all opposition has been silenced for years, the movement has to avoid being captured by rival oligarchic forces. - The form of protest initially was a classic “proletarian” strike. On the night of January 3 to 4, a wildcat strike began at the Tengiz Oil enterprises. Soon the strike spread to neighboring regions. Today, the strike movement has two main focus points — Zhanaozen and Aktau. - Liberal opposition activists hastened to declare that it is they who coordinate the movement. [privatization-news, fail-neoliberal-news, labor-news] Notes: local Socialist party leader dismisses claims of Islamist antagonism, and warns of rising nationalist rhetoric, argues against there being any sort of "pro-Soviet" rhetoric (and in fact, there being reactionary pro-Nazi rhetoric). He argues one reason the West doesn't care about bringing down the Kazakhstan regime is that they are in bed with each other - in fact, most oligarchs have their assets in the West.
- Wall Street Journal (7/1/22): Kazakhstan’s Elite Got Richer on Natural Resources. Then Came the Unrest. - In a country with huge reserves of oil, precious metals and uranium, the outsize wealth of oligarchs and outrage over corruption fed popular anger [capitalist-farce-news, protest-news, social-woes-news] Paywall Summary (?): WSJ (it seems to me) reports that one reason Kazakhstan has ostensibly done economically well, attracting foreign investment, etc, is that 'resource wealth hasn't trickled down to much of the population', producing a huge corruption issue; on the flip-side, the minimum wage corresponds to about $100 a month. 'Only 162 people account for 55% of total wealth in the country', with five billionaires drawing wealth from mining and banking sectors, and decision-making plays to these oligarchs' interests. WSJ reports the govt touting privatization measures to fight corruption... but these very market-oriented strategies are part of what precipitated the protests (ending fuel subsidies).
- South China Morning Post (7/1/22): Xi Jinping sends message of support to Kazakhstan’s Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as unrest continues - Chinese leader says Beijing opposes any attempts by foreign forces to cause trouble and backs security crackdown - China is concerned unrest may spill across the border into Xinjiang and it has extensive investments in the country under the Belt and Road Initiative [china-policy-news, bri-news] Important Note on SCMP [!]
- Al-Monitor (7/1/22): Turkish Airlines to remove staff from Kazakhstan - Anti-government protesters in Kazakhstan have seized control of the country’s main airport. [!]
- Al Jazeera (7/1/22): Maps and charts to understand Kazakhstan’s protests - Protests that began over fuel prices rage in the Central Asian nation as the death toll increases. Here are three graphics to contextualise the situation - The reason behind the spike relates to reforms in the fuel market, which took effect on January 1, 2022. In a bid to end subsidised fuel for customers, the price cap was removed, allowing the market to dictate its price. This resulted in rising costs at a time of high demand. [protest-news]
- Al Jazeera (7/1/22): Kazakh president gives shoot-to-kill order to quell protests - Security forces appear to retake control of Kazakhstan’s main city a day after arrival of Russia-led troops. [law-enforcement-oversteps-news] [!]
- Just Security (7/1/22): The global computing power of the Bitcoin network dropped sharply following a shutdown of Kazakhstan’s internet on Wednesday, which has hit the country’s fast-growing crypto currency mining industry. Reuters reports. [cryptocurrency-news, surveillance-and-censorship-news]
- Just Security (7/1/22): Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has said that he has ordered security forces to “fire without warning” and “open fire with lethal force,” amid a violent crackdown on anti-government protests sparked by fuel price rises. In a televised address today, Tokayev also blamed “so-called free media outlets” for helping fan unrest. Shaun Walker reports for the Guardian.; Tokayev has said that “20,000 bandits” attacked Kazakhstan’s main city of Almaty, blaming foreign-trained “terrorists.”
- Left Voice (6/1/22): Kazakhstan Government Resigns amid Protests Over High Fuel Prices - The president accepted his government’s resignation and declared a state of emergency in two regions. Note: They call out the IMF here, but it is unclear to me if the IMF is doing anything beyond suggestion here (I can't find reporting on any debt Kazakhstan has to pay to the IMF, as a causal force behind the subsidy cuts; see for example this Reuters report from (17/11/21))
- The Moscow Times (6/1/22): Russia’s Involvement in Kazakhstan’s Crisis Could Have Wide Implications - Experts believe Moscow risks being sucked into neighboring unrest and having to manage strategic instability on two fronts. - The deployment of 3,000 Russian paratroopers came after Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev made a formal request for assistance to the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a post-Soviet military alliance led by Russia. [russia-policy-news] Summary: The idea being that Putin may have considered a Kazakh-style power transfer (take ultimate control but pass on day-to-day responsibilities to someone else), but now this option may seem less attractive
- Wall Street Journal (6/1/22): Kazakhstan Protests Have Russia Sending Troops as Dozens Killed in Unrest - Protesters and law-enforcement officers died in clashes fueled by frustration with authoritarian rule in the former Soviet republic [russia-policy-news, china-policy-news, us-policy-news, resource-news, protest-news, fail-government-news, corruption-news, social-woes-news, law-enforcement-oversteps-news] Paywall Summary (?): (Here I will include details I didn't immediately see in other coverage). 'More than 2k people were detained as Tokayev attempted to regain control of Almaty, the country's largest city, calling in a Moscow-led security alliance for help' putting the protests down. Troops from Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan would be joining the Russian paratroopers, the first time CSTO troops have been deployed in such a way; Russian state media shows the troops using live automatic fire (although targets unclear). A senior Western diplomat warns this will cement Russia's influence. WSJ reports current and former officials saying the US isn't very concerned with Kazakhstan (as opposed to Ukraine), due to its pivot away from central Asia (ie Afghanistan withdrawal) and towards the Asia-Pacific, and they argue that this is now contested ground between Beijing and Moscow, and Putin can afford to maintain the current Ukraine/Kazakhstan double front in the current state. Ukraine will likely only be de-prioritized if this intervention fails and tens of thousands of troops are needed in Kazakhstan. A writer tells WSJ that this is partly due to social woes and hopelessness, while th elites get rich. Kazakhstan is important for oil (Chevron has operations here) (2% of what world consumed last year) and uranium (40% of the world's output), with disruptions due to spreading unrest, with attendant rises in prices. Russian state media (TASS) reports 700 law enforcement officers injured and some killed, with one decapitation. WSJ reports only internet shutdowns, no lifts of these shutdowns. Initially triggered by rising fuel prices, the rage drew from, and expressed, broader social discontent in the highly authoritarian and repressive nation. The govt has promised, and failed, privatization (did it not work or did they not do it?) and anti-corruption.
- The Guardian (6/1/22): How Tony Blair advised former Kazakh ruler after 2011 uprising - British former PM told Nursultan Nazarbayev to stress he ‘understood’ critics and to say reforms would ‘take time’ - The Kazakh government is said to have paid Blair’s consultancy $13m for its services. [corruption-news]
- Just Security (6/1/22): Armenian President Nikol Pashinyan, the CSTO’s current chair, said yesterday on Facebook that an unspecified number of troops would be sent to Kazakhstan “for a limited time period” to “stabilize and resolve the situation.” A summary of the unrest in Kazakhstan is provided by Isabelle Khurshudyan reporting for the Washington Post. [russia-policy-news]
- Just Security (6/1/22): Russian paratroopers have arrived in Kazakhstan, as unrest and violent clashes between protestors, the army, and police continue in the country. The Russian paratroopers are part of a peacekeeping mission by a Moscow-led military alliance, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), to help Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev regain control of the country, according to Russian news agencies. Tokayev asked for an intervention from the CSTO late yesterday. Shaun Walker and Naubet Bisenov report for Guardian. [russia-policy-news]
- Democracy Now (6/1/22): Dozens Killed in Kazakhstan as Protests Grow in Former Soviet Republic - There are reports as many as 1,000 people have been injured in the police crackdown [protest-news, law-enforcement-oversteps-news]
- Popular Front (Insta) (6/1/22): There are reports that soldiers of the military in #Kazakhstan have started to defect, joining the protesters. This comes as #Russia has sent troops into the country today at the request of the government in Kazakhstan. Many worry this could be the start of a civil war. (via Piotr Zalewski) (~8AM EST) (view a here footage, in case PF Insta is taken down)
- Popular Front (Insta) (5/1/22): #Kazakhstan: Anti-government protesters in #Almaty have overrun the National Security Committee (Kazakh internal security agency) building, looting weapons and equipment. An RPG-7 round can be seen in the arms of a protester in this footage (3-4PM, EST). (view a here footage, in case PF Insta is taken down)
- Financial Times (5/1/22): Kazakhs shine a light on Putin’s weakness — at the worst possible time - Russian president’s brinkmanship over Ukraine was an attempt to project regional strength; a new uprising has foiled the gambit [russia-policy-news] Paywall Summary (?): The basic argument here is that Putin's posturing (ie stationing 100k troops at the Ukraine border) is a reflection of weakness rather than strength, as he is concerned about the tide of color revolutions (and that they entail diminished influence of Moscow). The author notes that the Ukraine showdown occurs a short while after the Belarusian popular revolt, and that this Kazakhstan revolt (during Putin's standoff with the West) comes at a terrible time for him.
- The Guardian (5/1/22): Kazakhstan protests: Protesters storm government buildings – video [protest-news]
- The Guardian (5/1/22): Violent clashes in Kazakhstan amid fuel protests – in pictures - Fuel price rises have triggered protests in Almaty, the country’s commercial capital and largest city, and other cities [protest-news]
- Al Jazeera (6/1/22): Kazakh police ‘eliminate’ protesters as CSTO deploys troops - Police say dozens of protesters were ‘eliminated’ overnight as a Russia-led alliance approved troops deployment to quell unrest. - The fresh protests come a day after demonstrators stormed the presidential palace and the mayor’s office in Almaty and set both on fire. Demonstrators also briefly overran the Almaty airport, prompting flight cancellations. - He also blamed “outside interference” for the mass protests [not a surprising scape-goat]. - The Russian news agency Tass reported that internet access was restored in Almaty by early Thursday. [surveillance-and-censorship-news, law-enforcement-oversteps-news, protest-news]
- The Guardian (6/1/22): Gunfire heard during protests in Kazakhstan's biggest city – video [law-enforcement-oversteps-news, protest-news]
- CPJ (5/1/22): Kazakhstan authorities block news sites, detain journalists during nationwide protests [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- The Moscow Times (5/1/22): Russia-led Alliance [CSTO] to Send Forces to Unrest-Hit Kazakhstan - Long seen as one the most stable of the ex-Soviet republics of Central Asia, energy-rich Kazakhstan was facing its biggest crisis in decades after protesters angry over rising fuel prices stormed government buildings. - Tokayev said that "terrorists" were seizing buildings, infrastructure and "premises where small arms are located." - He added that they had also commandeered five planes at the airport in the country's biggest city Almaty and said that Kazakhstan's air forces were engaged in a "stubborn battle" near the city. - In Almaty on Wednesday night, AFP correspondents saw hundreds of protesters — some wearing helmets — gathered in the city centre and parading a police vehicle draped with Kazakh flags. - After a night of unrest that saw more than 200 people detained, several thousand protesters stormed the mayor's office in Almaty on Wednesday afternoon and appeared to have seized control of the building. - Kazakh media reported that at least eight police officers and military servicemen were killed in the unrest, including two while clearing the airport. - Many protesters shouted "Old Man Out!" in reference to Nazarbayev and images posted on social media showed a statue of the ex-president being torn down. [russia-policy-news, protest-news, fail-government-news]
- Al Jazeera (5/1/22): Kazakh president sacks cabinet, declares emergency amid unrest - Moves come after protests triggered by a rise in fuel prices spread to Kazakhstan’s biggest city, Almaty. [!]
- Just Security (5/1/22): Kazakhstan’s government has resigned amid the unrest. In a decree issued today Tokayev said he had accepted the government’s resignation and that he had appointed the nation’s deputy prime minister, Alikhan Smailov, as the new prime minister on an interim basis. Shaun Walker reports for the Guardian.; Protests have continued today in Kazakhstan despite the government’s resignation, with protesters storming public buildings in Kazakhstan’s biggest city. Olzhas Auyezov reports for Reuters. [protest-news]
- The Guardian (4/1/22): Kazakhstan president declares state of emergency after rare outbreak of unrest - Thousands join demonstrations in Almaty, the largest city, and Mangystau province sparked by rising fuel prices - Mobile internet was down and messaging apps were blocked across large parts of the authoritarian Central Asian nation. [surveillance-and-censorship-news, protest-news]
- The Moscow Times (4/1/22): Police Tear Gas Rare Mass Protest [unprecedented 5,000+] in Kazakhstan's Largest City - Messenger apps Telegram, Signal and Whatsapp were down in Kazakhstan late on Tuesday as thousands took to the streets in cities across the oil-rich country to voice discontent over prices and the government. - Protests were staged in cities in the country from Sunday, beginning with the western town of Zhanaozen, where 16 people died after government forces put down an oil strike in 2011. [labor-news, history-news, surveillance-and-censorship-news, energy-news, protest-news, law-enforcement-oversteps-news]
- Al Jazeera (4/1/22): Protests erupt in Kazakhstan after fuel price rise - Demonstrators take to the streets for a third day amid widespread anger about lifting of price caps on liquefied petroleum gas. - There were also reports on social media that authorities had cut off the internet in some areas, blocked news websites and detained reporters in response to the demonstrations. Al Jazeera was unable to independently verify those reports. [surveillance-and-censorship-news, energy-news, protest-news]
Kyrgyzstan Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Administrative (cr.);
Last Year's Entry
- The Moscow Times (12/1/22): Kyrgyzstan Cries Foul Over Musician’s Wrongful Arrest in Protest-Hit Kazakhstan [!]
- Popular Front (11/1/22): A Deadly Uprising in Kazakhstan - In this episode we speak to writer and researcher Colleen Wood [working on PhD on post-Soviet societies, has studied in Kazakhstan], taking a deep dive into how and why the deadly clashes in Kazakhstan broke out and escalated so rapidly. Notes: Protests in Kyrgyzstan and Russia against sending interventionist CSTO troops. She notes that there is a vibrant underground scene in Almaty, and looking forward to more output from those journalists now that the blackout is lifted, although there was a 5 hour window during the blackout when the internet was available, and some material got through. She also notes that while the official death toll is 164, in the 2011 strike massacre, the official total was "13 or 14", but the unofficial estimates are in the hundreds; a similar ratio here of official:official would be brutal. Further, the govt this time claimed the protesters have stolen bodies, perhaps a ruse to legitimate death undercounts. The govt seems to be angling that the so-called 'terrorists' are based out of Kyrgyzstan (a democratic nation that has gone through lots of turmoil, and used as a foil in propaganda of the "liberal autocracy" of Kazakhstan to show democracy is bad), and notices similarities between the frame-ups of so-called 'terrorists' here and the anti-Gulenist purges in Erdogan's Turkey (ie the "$1" bit, showing alleged CIA or Western connections); some likely faked videos of so-called 'terrorists' bear resemblance to similar fake Russian-linked videos in the former Soviet-sphere, and locals warn that these are not realistic, and uncanny. Lots of ineptitude during the crackdown (its unclear if the use of UN hats was a 'joke' or simply inept resource allocation). There is a general anti-Russian sentiment, but this isn't ethnically-based, Wood reports, but more against the Russification of Kazakhstan (ie increased Russian power over institutions, etc, iirc). Wood is skeptical of the reports of beheaded cops, as this has only been reported by state media, and hasn't seen anything on Telegram channels from indie journalists in Kazakhstan. In terms of the brutality localized to Almaty, Wood thinks that the government may have tried to make an example out of the city, and strike fear in other protesters. Wood also warns that it isn't clear that Kazakhstan has come out of this as a Russian vassal, and that reports of such by news outlets are premature.
Russia Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.); European Russia Map (cr.);
Vox: (video) From spy to president: The rise of Vladimir Putin
Pinned: Foreign Policy (6/7/21): Russia’s Wagner Group Doesn’t Actually Exist - And that makes it all the more challenging to get to grips with.
Relevant tags: russia-policy-news
Last Year's Entry
Russia Live Map
- Just Security (20/1/22): Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has warned again that Moscow will accept nothing less but “watertight” U.S. guarantees precluding NATO’s expansion to Ukraine [us-policy-news, russia-policy-news]
- Just Security (20/1/22): President Biden has said that he thinks Russia will attack Ukraine and has warned that Moscow would face a “stiff price” if such an attack were to occur [us-policy-news, russia-policy-news]
- Al Jazeera (16/1/22): (Opinion) Kazakhstan: A coup, a counter-coup and a Russian victory - The unrest in Kazakhstan led to consolidation of power in the country and may affect the transition of power in Russia. [politics-news, russia-policy-news] Notes: Interesting piece, and makes sense in light of recent comments from Nazarbayev.
- The Moscow Times (19/1/22): Russia-Led Peacekeeping Force Completes Pullout From Unrest-Hit Kazakhstan [russia-policy-news] [!]
- Democracy Now (19/1/22): Blinken Meets with Ukrainian President Zelensky Ahead of Talks with Russian Counterpart [us-policy-news, russia-policy-news]
- Just Security (18/1/22): Russia has begun reducing the size of embassy personnel in Kyiv, Ukraine, a move which could constitute political signaling or preparation for a conflict, Ukrainian and U.S. officials have said. Russia’s Foreign Ministry has however said that its embassy in Kyiv is “operating as usual.” Michael Schwirtz and David E. Sanger report for the New York Times. [russia-policy-news]
- Just Security (18/1/22): Senior officials in President Biden’s administration are warning that the Pentagon and the CIA would seek to help any Ukrainian insurgency should Russia invade. How the U.S. might be able to fund and support an insurgency is still being worked out, officials have said. Senior officials have also begun signaling to Russia that even if it managed to swiftly capture territory in Ukraine, Russia eventually would find the costs of an invasion prohibitively expensive in terms of military losses. Helene Cooper reports for the New York Times. [us-policy-news, russia-policy-news, dark-security-news]
- Just Security (18/1/22): Russia has begun moving troops to Belarus for joint military exercises – a move likely to stoke fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. The exercises are to be held in the west of Belarus, near the borders of NATO members Poland and Lithuania, and its southern flank with Ukraine, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has said. Andrew Roth reports for the Guardian. [russia-policy-news]
- The Guardian (14/1/22): US claims Russia planning ‘false-flag’ operation to justify Ukraine invasion - Officials: Moscow has already positioned saboteurs in Ukraine - Allegation arrives on day Ukraine hit by ‘massive’ cyber-attack [us-policy-news, russia-policy-news] [!]
- Washington Post (14/1/22): Russia arrests 14 alleged members of REvil ransomware gang, including hacker U.S. says conducted Colonial Pipeline attack [cyber-security-news, russia-policy-news] [!]
- Just Security (14/1/22): Russia has released pictures of further military forces being deployed in a drill near Ukraine’s border, considered to be cover for moving additional military forces towards Ukraine. “Russian Defense Ministry footage released by RIA news agency showed armoured vehicles and other military hardware being loaded onto trains in Russia’s far east, in what Moscow called an inspection drill to practice deploying over a long distance,” Pavel Polityuk and Tom Balmforth report for Reuters. [russia-policy-news]
- Just Security (14/1/22): Ukraine has been hit by a “massive cyber-attack,” with the websites of several Ukrainian government departments, including the ministry of foreign affairs and the state treasury, having been taken down. The hackers left threatening messages on the websites, including a message telling Ukrainians to “be afraid and expect worse.” Ukrainian officials have pointed to a “long record” of Russian cyber assaults against Ukraine, with the latest attack coming after security talks between Russia and the U.S. and its European allies coming to a stalemate. Luke Harding reports for the Guardian. [russia-policy-news, cyber-security-news]
- The Economist World This Week (13/1/22): Negotiations between Russia and America over the future of Ukraine and NATO were inconclusive. Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, has demanded a veto over future NATO expansion, and an end to NATO military aid to countries such as Ukraine, which he currently threatens. America refused, but offered to talk about arms control. Mr Putin deployed more military hardware to the Ukrainian border, where he has stationed an estimated 100,000 troops. [russia-policy-news, us-policy-news]
- The Moscow Times (13/1/22): Russian Officials Spurn ‘Russophobe’ Kazakh Cabinet Minister [russia-policy-news] [!]
- The Moscow Times (13/1/22): Russia Charges 6 After Leaks of Prison Rape Videos [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- The Guardian (13/1/22): Russia threatens military deployment to Cuba and Venezuela as diplomacy stalls - US says ‘drumbeat of war is sounding loud’ as talks with Russia over Ukraine head towards dead end [us-policy-news, russia-policy-news] [!]
- Just Security (13/1/22): The Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has begun to pull its troops out of Kazakhstan following its deployment to the country to help quell violent unrest. “Thanks to your arrival, Kazakh military and security forces were able to carry out their immediate task of locating and detaining bandits,” Kazakh Deputy Defence Minister Mukhamedzhan Talasov told CSTO troops at a departure ceremony today. Reuters reports. [russia-policy-news]
- Just Security (13/1/22): Senate Democrats have unveiled legislation aimed at imposing mandatory sanctions on Russia should it invade Ukraine. The Defending Ukraine Sovereignty Act of 2022 would also call on the State and Defense departments to bolster Ukraine’s defensive capabilities and enhance the delivery of security assistance to Kyiv. Jordan Williams reports for The Hill. [russia-policy-news, us-policy-news]
- Al-Monitor (12/1/22): Kazakhstan crisis challenges Turkey's leadership of Turkic union - The unrest rattling Kazakhstan has reflected the irrelevance of Turkey and the Organization of Turkic States chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. [russia-policy-news, social-woes-news, capitalist-farce-news] Snippets Turkey has aimed to utilize the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking states to realize its ambitions in Central Asia. The brainchild of Kazakhstan’s former leader, Nursultan Nazarbayev, the council was planned in 2006 and launched in 2009. In accordance with its new political grandstanding, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan became the new chairman of the body in 2021 during a summit held in Istanbul on Nov. 12. - In a nutshell, the Kazakh leadership — at a time of urgent security needs — preferred Russia over Turkey and Vladimir Putin over Erdogan. Kazakhstan has special bonds with Turkey. The two countries as well as Azerbaijan have been the main pillars of the OTS. Kazakhstan had entered into a military cooperation agreement with Turkey that encompasses cooperation in several fields including the defense industry, intelligence-sharing, joint military exercises, information systems and cyber defense. The growing military ties between Turkey and Kazakhstan as well as Uzbekistan had given rise to a fanciful idea in October 2020 to establish a Turkic NATO. - More striking than anything else and perhaps adding further insult to injury to Turkish nationalists was the deployment of Armenian soldiers and Russian special forces units to Kazakhstan upon the request of the Kazakh president. The announcement of the deployment came from Armenian President Nikol Pashinyan — a striking irony displaying the degradation of Turkey's foreign policy. - What’s more intriguing is the anti-US and anti-Western obsession of certain secularist-nationalists and leftists in Turkey. For example, reacting to the unfolding developments in Kazakhstan, prominent retired Turkish Adm. Cem Gurdeniz blamed the unrest on “an imperialist plot.” Gurdeniz, who is also an ideologue of the controversial Blue Homeland doctrine that advocates more aggressive policy in the Mediterranean, claimed that the unrest stemmed from a “Soros-type provocation” that aimed to harbor “turmoil in Eurasia” and was organized by “imperialists very irritated from the foundation of the Organization of Turkic States.” - In social media, many Turkish leftists viewed similar opinions. Pro-Erdogan circles, in turn, citing a former Russian parliamentarian, claimed that followers of Fethullah Gulen, a US-based cleric who is accused by Turkey of staging a coup attempt in 2016, might be those fomenting trouble in Kazakhstan. - In an opinion piece in the Financial Times, Gideon Rachman wrote, “Kazakhstan is a country in which the average income is around $570 a month, but where the family of Nursultan Nazarbayev, who ruled the country from 1991 until 2019, has acquired foreign properties worth at least $785 million. The turmoil in Kazakhstan may be linked to infighting within ruling circles. But these kinds of problems are inherent to corrupt autocracies. If wealth is divided up as part of a spoils system, any hint of a change in leadership creates instability.” - It also is a stark indicator of the changed fortunes of Turkey in its assertive foreign policy. The Kazakhstan crisis represents a defeat of Turkish nationalism on foreign policy.
- Al Jazeera (12/1/22): Aramco gains footing in Russia’s back yard with Polish oil deal - Aramco, the world’s largest oil firm, will buy 30 percent of a refinery on the Baltic coast, as well as a wholesale fuel unit. [russia-policy-news, big-oil-news] [!]
- Popular Front (11/1/22): A Deadly Uprising in Kazakhstan - In this episode we speak to writer and researcher Colleen Wood [working on PhD on post-Soviet societies, has studied in Kazakhstan], taking a deep dive into how and why the deadly clashes in Kazakhstan broke out and escalated so rapidly. Notes: Protests in Kyrgyzstan and Russia against sending interventionist CSTO troops. She notes that there is a vibrant underground scene in Almaty, and looking forward to more output from those journalists now that the blackout is lifted, although there was a 5 hour window during the blackout when the internet was available, and some material got through. She also notes that while the official death toll is 164, in the 2011 strike massacre, the official total was "13 or 14", but the unofficial estimates are in the hundreds; a similar ratio here of official:official would be brutal. Further, the govt this time claimed the protesters have stolen bodies, perhaps a ruse to legitimate death undercounts. The govt seems to be angling that the so-called 'terrorists' are based out of Kyrgyzstan (a democratic nation that has gone through lots of turmoil, and used as a foil in propaganda of the "liberal autocracy" of Kazakhstan to show democracy is bad), and notices similarities between the frame-ups of so-called 'terrorists' here and the anti-Gulenist purges in Erdogan's Turkey (ie the "$1" bit, showing alleged CIA or Western connections); some likely faked videos of so-called 'terrorists' bear resemblance to similar fake Russian-linked videos in the former Soviet-sphere, and locals warn that these are not realistic, and uncanny. Lots of ineptitude during the crackdown (its unclear if the use of UN hats was a 'joke' or simply inept resource allocation). There is a general anti-Russian sentiment, but this isn't ethnically-based, Wood reports, but more against the Russification of Kazakhstan (ie increased Russian power over institutions, etc, iirc). Wood is skeptical of the reports of beheaded cops, as this has only been reported by state media, and hasn't seen anything on Telegram channels from indie journalists in Kazakhstan. In terms of the brutality localized to Almaty, Wood thinks that the government may have tried to make an example out of the city, and strike fear in other protesters. Wood also warns that it isn't clear that Kazakhstan has come out of this as a Russian vassal, and that reports of such by news outlets are premature.
- Just Security (11/1/22): The Russian led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will start withdrawing troops from Kazakhstan in two days, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has told the country’s parliament. The CSTO troops will depart completely within 10 days, Tokayev said. Guardian staff and agencies report. [russia-policy-news]
- Just Security (11/1/22): Ukraine’s security service announced yesterday that it detained a Russian military intelligence agent accused of planning an attack on the port of Odessa, Ukraine’s largest Black Sea port. The agent was detained while attempting to recruit someone to carry out the attacks. Reuters reports. [russia-policy-news]
- Just Security (11/1/22): Following talks yesterday on Russia’s troop buildup on the border with Ukraine, the U.S. and Russia remain deadlocked on Moscow’s demand that NATO does not expand any further east [russia-policy-news, us-policy-news]
- Wall Street Journal (10/1/22): Kazakhstan Crisis Shows That Russia Still Trumps China’s Power in Central Asia - Beijing’s huge investments in the region increasingly rely on Russian protection [russia-policy-news, china-policy-news] [!] Paywall Summary (?): 'Yet China, for now at least, doesn’t have the military or intelligence capabilities to protect its regional allies in their hour of need. “China lacks the kind of tools that Russia possesses, such as the airborne troops who speak a language that the locals would understand, and who are ready to fly out and help,” said Alexander Gabuev, a China expert at the Carnegie Moscow Center. “These Russian paratroopers defend China’s own economic interests,” he added. “They protect a secular, pragmatic, friendly regime that’s headed by a Sinologist fluent in Chinese.”' - '“The Chinese are definitely going to have to start reassessing the vulnerability of their economic investments,” he said. “Before, they held the economic trump cards and could play them and probably sway the local governments in their favor. Now, they have to think about a security component that may weigh against that: Chinese investments are now operating at the pleasure of Russian military forces.”' - 'Beijing’s security assistance to Kazakhstan and other Central Asian nations is likely to be limited to the areas in which China excels at home, such as surveillance technologies, facial-recognition systems and communications-control equipment that could nip future protests in the bud.' - '“China has a controversial image in Kazakhstan. With Russia, there is a difficult past and the nationalist discourse that has been present over the past 30 years, but the overall attitude toward Russia remains more positive,” Mr. Voloshin said. “People understand what to expect from Russia. When it comes to China, the population has much greater fears.”' [russia-policy-news, china-policy-news]
- Democracy Now (10/1/22): Russia and U.S. Hold Diplomatic Talks over Ukraine Against Backdrop of Kazakhstan Violence [russia-policy-news, us-policy-news]
- Just Security (10/1/22): Russia sent fresh reinforcements into Kazakhstan yesterday, deploying troops to help authorities reassert control in Kazakhstan’s biggest cities. The Russian Defense Ministry said it had prepared a contingent of more than 75 transport planes to allow for continuous deployment of troops into the country. Thomas Grove reports for the Wall Street Journal. [russia-policy-news]
- Just Security (10/1/22): Russian President Vladimir Putin has blamed Kazakhstan’s violent unrest on destructive internal and external forces, and said that the CSTO would not allow its member governments to be toppled in “color revolutions.” Putin told an online meeting of the CSTO that the deployment of CSTO troops had prevented armed groups from undermining the basis of power in Kazakhstan, adding that the troops would be withdrawn once the mission was complete. Reuters reports. [russia-policy-news]
- Just Security (7/1/22): A Russian submarine collided with a U.K. Royal Navy warship’s sonar on patrol in the North Atlantic in late 2020, the U.K. Ministry of Defense (MoD) has confirmed
- Financial Times (5/1/22): Low-cost warfare: US military battles with ‘Costco drones’ - For all the hype about hypersonic missiles, small, cheap drones are one of the most significant threats to American forces [china-policy-news, us-policy-news, dark-security-news, russia-policy-news] Paywall Summary (?): The cost of taking down cheap drones doesn't scale with the cost of the cheapness of those drones (it's expensive vs a few thousand dollars), and along with low detection rates of incoming drones (as low as 40%) (and many false alarms), this has effectively ended the American monopoly on air power, and made sustaining air dominance costly. Current ideas are jamming signals (but that is difficult to do effectively), targeting with directed energy (ie microwaves, lasers), shooting down with bullets/missiles/kamikaze drones, or even netting them. China's DJI (recently blacklisted over Xinjiang surveillance) has 3/4 of the world commercial drone market [although I think this includes non-military drones]. DoD plans $636m for counter-drone R&D, $75m for procurement - up from a total of $134m in 2021. Still, some complain of slow bureaucracy in the Pentagon + defense industry. There are fears also of smart drone "swarms", using modern machine/deep learning info, along with the masses of sensors a swarm would have.
- The Moscow Times (6/1/22): Russia’s Involvement in Kazakhstan’s Crisis Could Have Wide Implications - Experts believe Moscow risks being sucked into neighboring unrest and having to manage strategic instability on two fronts. - The deployment of 3,000 Russian paratroopers came after Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev made a formal request for assistance to the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a post-Soviet military alliance led by Russia. [russia-policy-news] Summary: The idea being that Putin may have considered a Kazakh-style power transfer (take ultimate control but pass on day-to-day responsibilities to someone else), but now this option may seem less attractive
- Wall Street Journal (6/1/22): Kazakhstan Protests Have Russia Sending Troops as Dozens Killed in Unrest - Protesters and law-enforcement officers died in clashes fueled by frustration with authoritarian rule in the former Soviet republic [russia-policy-news, china-policy-news, us-policy-news, resource-news, protest-news, fail-government-news, corruption-news, social-woes-news, law-enforcement-oversteps-news] Paywall Summary (?): (Here I will include details I didn't immediately see in other coverage). 'More than 2k people were detained as Tokayev attempted to regain control of Almaty, the country's largest city, calling in a Moscow-led security alliance for help' putting the protests down. Troops from Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan would be joining the Russian paratroopers, the first time CSTO troops have been deployed in such a way; Russian state media shows the troops using live automatic fire (although targets unclear). A senior Western diplomat warns this will cement Russia's influence. WSJ reports current and former officials saying the US isn't very concerned with Kazakhstan (as opposed to Ukraine), due to its pivot away from central Asia (ie Afghanistan withdrawal) and towards the Asia-Pacific, and they argue that this is now contested ground between Beijing and Moscow, and Putin can afford to maintain the current Ukraine/Kazakhstan double front in the current state. Ukraine will likely only be de-prioritized if this intervention fails and tens of thousands of troops are needed in Kazakhstan. A writer tells WSJ that this is partly due to social woes and hopelessness, while th elites get rich. Kazakhstan is important for oil (Chevron has operations here) (2% of what world consumed last year) and uranium (40% of the world's output), with disruptions due to spreading unrest, with attendant rises in prices. Russian state media (TASS) reports 700 law enforcement officers injured and some killed, with one decapitation. WSJ reports only internet shutdowns, no lifts of these shutdowns. Initially triggered by rising fuel prices, the rage drew from, and expressed, broader social discontent in the highly authoritarian and repressive nation. The govt has promised, and failed, privatization (did it not work or did they not do it?) and anti-corruption.
- Just Security (6/1/22): Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stressed that Russia must de-escalate tensions on the border with Ukraine in order for upcoming diplomatic meetings between Russia and the U.S. to succeed [russia-policy-news, us-policy-news]
- Financial Times (5/1/22): Kazakhs shine a light on Putin’s weakness — at the worst possible time - Russian president’s brinkmanship over Ukraine was an attempt to project regional strength; a new uprising has foiled the gambit [russia-policy-news] Paywall Summary (?): The basic argument here is that Putin's posturing (ie stationing 100k troops at the Ukraine border) is a reflection of weakness rather than strength, as he is concerned about the tide of color revolutions (and that they entail diminished influence of Moscow). The author notes that the Ukraine showdown occurs a short while after the Belarusian popular revolt, and that this Kazakhstan revolt (during Putin's standoff with the West) comes at a terrible time for him.
- Just Security (4/1/22): The U.S., Russia, China, the U.K., and France have agreed that “a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought” in a rare joint pledge. The signatories to the pledge, known as the P5 or N5, are the five nuclear weapons states recognized by the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and are also the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council. Julian Borger reports for the Guardian. [us-policy-news, russia-policy-news, china-policy-news]
- Just Security (3/1/22): Russia and China are increasing cooperation on aviation, undersea and hypersonic-weapons technologies, according to military analysts, as well as conducting an ambitious joint military exercise in China this summer. Biden administration officials, however, have downplayed concerns that increasing cooperation could lead to a de facto or formal military alliance between Russia and China, which they view as unlikely. Brett Forrest, Ann M. Simmons and Chao Deng report for the Wall Street Journal. [russia-policy-news, china-policy-news]
- Just Security (3/1/22): President Biden has spoken by phone to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the White House has said. In a statement, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that “President Biden made clear that the United States and its allies and partners will respond decisively if Russia further invades Ukraine.” In a Tweet, Zelenskiy said that: “joint actions of [Ukraine, the U.S.] and partners in keeping peace in Europe, preventing further escalation, reforms, deoligarchization were discussed. We appreciate the unwavering support of [Ukraine].” Christina Zhao reports for NBC News. [russia-policy-news]
- The Moscow Times (2/1/22): Bus Crash Kills Five, Injures 21 South of Moscow [!]
- Left Voice (1/1/22): The Conflict between Russia and Ukraine Is Neither Bluff nor Ultimatum - Moscow is amassing 100,000 troops on its border with Ukraine, whose government is seeking to lean on NATO to counter Putin. But even if Russian military intervention is central to that country’s defense, it is a very risky option. Are we one step away from war? [russia-policy-news, us-policy-news, analysis-news]
Tajikistan Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Administrative (cr.);
Last Year's Entry
Turkmenistan Updates
Last Year's Entry
- The Guardian (8/1/22): Turkmenistan plans to extinguish vast gas crater fire dubbed ‘Gateway to hell’ - President Berdymukhamedov orders experts to find way to put out five-decade-old blaze Karakum desert [!]
Uzbekistan Updates
Last Year's Entry
Ukraine Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Popular Front: (podcast) The Rise of Ukraine's Azov Battalion - We speak to journalist Michael Colborne about the rise of the Azov Battalion, a neo-fascist militia in Ukraine that now has a column of tanks and is a member of the National Guard.
Vox (6/2/18): Why Ukraine is trapped in endless conflict
Last Year's Entry
- Just Security (20/1/22): The U.S. State Department has cleared Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and the U.K. to send U.S.-made missiles and other weapons to Ukraine. The third-party transfer agreements will allow Estonia to transfer Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, and Lithuania will be permitted to send Stinger missiles, a source has said. Andrea Shalal reports for Reuters. [us-policy-news, weapon-sale-security-news]
- Just Security (20/1/22): Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has warned again that Moscow will accept nothing less but “watertight” U.S. guarantees precluding NATO’s expansion to Ukraine [us-policy-news, russia-policy-news]
- Just Security (20/1/22): President Biden has said that he thinks Russia will attack Ukraine and has warned that Moscow would face a “stiff price” if such an attack were to occur [us-policy-news, russia-policy-news]
- Al Jazeera (19/1/22): Ukrainian court rejects request to detain ex-President Poroshenko - Petro Poroshenko is being investigated for treason in a case he says was cooked up by allies of his successor, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. [politics-news] [!]
- Democracy Now (19/1/22): Blinken Meets with Ukrainian President Zelensky Ahead of Talks with Russian Counterpart [us-policy-news, russia-policy-news]
- Just Security (19/1/22): The U.S. government approved $200 million in additional defensive security assistance to Ukraine in December, a senior State Department official has said. Reuters reports. [us-policy-news]
- Just Security (18/1/22): Russia has begun reducing the size of embassy personnel in Kyiv, Ukraine, a move which could constitute political signaling or preparation for a conflict, Ukrainian and U.S. officials have said. Russia’s Foreign Ministry has however said that its embassy in Kyiv is “operating as usual.” Michael Schwirtz and David E. Sanger report for the New York Times. [russia-policy-news]
- Just Security (18/1/22): Senior officials in President Biden’s administration are warning that the Pentagon and the CIA would seek to help any Ukrainian insurgency should Russia invade. How the U.S. might be able to fund and support an insurgency is still being worked out, officials have said. Senior officials have also begun signaling to Russia that even if it managed to swiftly capture territory in Ukraine, Russia eventually would find the costs of an invasion prohibitively expensive in terms of military losses. Helene Cooper reports for the New York Times. [us-policy-news, russia-policy-news, dark-security-news]
- Just Security (18/1/22): Russia has begun moving troops to Belarus for joint military exercises – a move likely to stoke fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. The exercises are to be held in the west of Belarus, near the borders of NATO members Poland and Lithuania, and its southern flank with Ukraine, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has said. Andrew Roth reports for the Guardian. [russia-policy-news]
- Just Security (18/1/22): Ukraine’s former president and a leading opposition figure, Petro O. Poroshenko, returned yesterday to Kyiv, where he faces possible arrest on charges of treason and supporting terrorism. The charges stem from Poroshenko’s policies during his presidency that allowed factories in government-controlled territory to use coal that was purchased from mines in eastern Ukraine held by Russian-backed separatists. Poroshenko’s return to Ukraine escalates the long running feud between him and current Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, adding internal political turmoil to the mounting threat of a Russian invasion. Andrew E. Kramer reports for the New York Times. [politics-news]
- Just Security (18/1/22): Microsoft has discovered destructive malware on dozens of Ukrainian government agency and private-sector computers. In a blog post Saturday, Microsoft’s threat intelligence team said that the malware masquerades as ransomware, but rather than encrypting data, the malware, if triggered, wipes computers of data and renders them inoperable, increasing the risk that Ukrainian government agencies could find it difficult to operate in a crisis. Ellen Nakashima reports for the Washington Post. [cybers-security-news]
- Just Security (18/1/22): The U.K. is sending short-range anti-tank missiles to help Ukraine defend itself, the U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace has said
- The Guardian (14/1/22): US claims Russia planning ‘false-flag’ operation to justify Ukraine invasion - Officials: Moscow has already positioned saboteurs in Ukraine - Allegation arrives on day Ukraine hit by ‘massive’ cyber-attack [us-policy-news, russia-policy-news] [!]
- Just Security (14/1/22): Russia has released pictures of further military forces being deployed in a drill near Ukraine’s border, considered to be cover for moving additional military forces towards Ukraine. “Russian Defense Ministry footage released by RIA news agency showed armoured vehicles and other military hardware being loaded onto trains in Russia’s far east, in what Moscow called an inspection drill to practice deploying over a long distance,” Pavel Polityuk and Tom Balmforth report for Reuters. [russia-policy-news]
- Just Security (14/1/22): Ukraine has been hit by a “massive cyber-attack,” with the websites of several Ukrainian government departments, including the ministry of foreign affairs and the state treasury, having been taken down. The hackers left threatening messages on the websites, including a message telling Ukrainians to “be afraid and expect worse.” Ukrainian officials have pointed to a “long record” of Russian cyber assaults against Ukraine, with the latest attack coming after security talks between Russia and the U.S. and its European allies coming to a stalemate. Luke Harding reports for the Guardian. [russia-policy-news, cyber-security-news]
- The Economist World This Week (13/1/22): Negotiations between Russia and America over the future of Ukraine and NATO were inconclusive. Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, has demanded a veto over future NATO expansion, and an end to NATO military aid to countries such as Ukraine, which he currently threatens. America refused, but offered to talk about arms control. Mr Putin deployed more military hardware to the Ukrainian border, where he has stationed an estimated 100,000 troops. [russia-policy-news, us-policy-news]
- The Guardian (13/1/22): Russia threatens military deployment to Cuba and Venezuela as diplomacy stalls - US says ‘drumbeat of war is sounding loud’ as talks with Russia over Ukraine head towards dead end [us-policy-news, russia-policy-news] [!]
- Just Security (13/1/22): Senate Democrats have unveiled legislation aimed at imposing mandatory sanctions on Russia should it invade Ukraine. The Defending Ukraine Sovereignty Act of 2022 would also call on the State and Defense departments to bolster Ukraine’s defensive capabilities and enhance the delivery of security assistance to Kyiv. Jordan Williams reports for The Hill. [russia-policy-news, us-policy-news]
- Just Security (11/1/22): Ukraine’s security service announced yesterday that it detained a Russian military intelligence agent accused of planning an attack on the port of Odessa, Ukraine’s largest Black Sea port. The agent was detained while attempting to recruit someone to carry out the attacks. Reuters reports. [russia-policy-news]
- Just Security (11/1/22): Following talks yesterday on Russia’s troop buildup on the border with Ukraine, the U.S. and Russia remain deadlocked on Moscow’s demand that NATO does not expand any further east [russia-policy-news, us-policy-news]
- Democracy Now (10/1/22): Russia and U.S. Hold Diplomatic Talks over Ukraine Against Backdrop of Kazakhstan Violence [russia-policy-news, us-policy-news]
- Just Security (3/1/22): President Biden has spoken by phone to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the White House has said. In a statement, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that “President Biden made clear that the United States and its allies and partners will respond decisively if Russia further invades Ukraine.” In a Tweet, Zelenskiy said that: “joint actions of [Ukraine, the U.S.] and partners in keeping peace in Europe, preventing further escalation, reforms, deoligarchization were discussed. We appreciate the unwavering support of [Ukraine].” Christina Zhao reports for NBC News. [russia-policy-news]
- Left Voice (1/1/22): The Conflict between Russia and Ukraine Is Neither Bluff nor Ultimatum - Moscow is amassing 100,000 troops on its border with Ukraine, whose government is seeking to lean on NATO to counter Putin. But even if Russian military intervention is central to that country’s defense, it is a very risky option. Are we one step away from war? [russia-policy-news, us-policy-news, analysis-news]
East Asia Updates
China / Hong Kong / Japan / Mongolia / North Korea / Philippines / South Korea / Taiwan / Tuvalu
Last Year's Entry
Back to Top
Coming Soon
China Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Administrative (cr.);
CaspianReport (31/8/21): How China became the world’s factory
Important Note on South China Morning Post
NPC Observer
Relevant tags: bri-news, china-policy-news;
Last Year's Entry
- Wall Street Journal (20/1/22): China Evergrande’s International Bondholders Threaten Legal Action Against Developer - Property company allegedly withheld crucial information about its liabilities and failed to engage with offshore creditors, bondholders’ advisers say [economic-news] Paywall Snippets (?): 'If the status quo continues, legal action is likely to take place first in the Cayman Islands, although there are other jurisdictions where bondholders could assert claims, the person said. Evergrande is incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and has some subsidiaries incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, though most of its assets are in mainland China.' - 'Thursday’s statement came after the company reached an agreement with mainland creditors earlier this month to stave off a potential onshore default.' - 'While Evergrande’s international bondholders have been left hanging, the developer has so far avoided defaulting on its yuan-denominated public debt onshore. Last week, Evergrande secured investor backing to delay making payments on one of its onshore bonds.'
- Al Jazeera (20/1/22): China’s PLA accused of abducting Indian teen in Arunachal Pradesh - Ruling BJP party’s parliamentarian says Chinese forces ‘abducted’ a 17-year-old boy in the disputed border areas. [!]
- Just Security (20/1/22): The U.S. Navy has rejected China’s accusation that the U.S. warship had been warned away, though it has confirmed that a ship had been operating in the area. The USS Benfold sailed around the Paracel Islands, known as the Xisha Islands in China, “in accordance with international law,” in what the Navy calls a freedom of navigation operation, a Navy spokesperson said. The Navy statement said that sovereignty claims in and around the islands violate international law and “pose a serious threat to the freedom of the seas.” Brad Lendon reports for CNN. [china-policy-news, us-policy-news]
- Just Security (20/1/22): China’s military has said that it has tracked and warned off a U.S. warship sailing through disputed waters in the South China Sea. The Southern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army said the ship “illegally” sailed into Chinese territorial waters without permission, violating the country’s sovereignty. “We solemnly demand that the U.S. side immediately stop such provocative actions, otherwise it will bear the serious consequences of unforeseen events,” it added. Reuters reports. [china-policy-news, us-policy-news]
- Just Security (19/1/22): China has warned foreign Olympic athletes against speaking out on politics at the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympic Games. A member of China’s Olympics organizing committee warned that “any behavior or speech that is against the Olympic spirit, especially against the Chinese laws and regulations, are also subject to certain punishment.” Eva Dou reports for the Washington Post. [surveillance-and-censorship-news]
- South China Morning Post (17/1/22): China and North Korea reopen rail link after 2-year coronavirus closure - Line between Dandong in China and Sinuiju in North Korea back in business - Pyongyang suspended operations in January, 2020, and imposed some of the world’s strictest containment measures Important Note on SCMP [!]
- Democracy Now (18/1/22): China Won’t Sell Winter Olympics Tickets to Public After Beijing Logs First Omicron Case [covid-news]
- The Guardian (17/1/22): China’s coal production hit record levels in 2021 - In blow to climate campaigners, state encourages miners to ramp up output to avert winter gas crisis [energy-news, big-oil-news] [!]
- The American Prospect (17/1/22): Making China’s Case: Manchin, Sinema, and the Six Supremes - By demonstrating America can’t ensure the right to vote or to survive a pandemic, they’re bolstering the argument that authoritarian regimes work better than ours. [us-policy-news, china-policy-news] [!]
- Financial Times (17/1/22): China’s record trade gap a symptom of struggle to rebalance its economy - Surpluses will continue as Beijing struggles to rein in burgeoning debt and increase domestic consumption [economic-news] Paywall Summary (?): The author's basic idea is that workers share of GDP has declined in China, and larger trade surpluses are a reflection of this - manufacturing output remains high, but domestic consumption cannot absorb this, so trade surpluses result. The author seems to try and make a connection here between the reduction in property investment (and debt in general) and this surplus as well, although it's not clear to me (except that reduced surpluses, in current atmosphere, would increase debt if workers weren't fired). The author argues resolving the inequalities (which will require increasing worker share of GDP by 10-15 percentage points) will be politically difficult.
- Al Jazeera (17/1/22): China’s birth rate drops to record low - Natality in 2021 dropped to a record low of 7.52 births per 1,000 people. [!]
- The Guardian (15/1/22): Beijing reports its first locally transmitted Omicron variant case - Case comes city finalises preparation to host Winter Olympics, which start in three weeks [covid-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (14/1/22): China’s crude oil imports drop for first time since 2001 - Decline comes as Beijing clamps down on the refining sector to curb excess domestic fuel production. [big-oil-news, economic-news] [!]
- Financial Times (11/1/22): China applies brakes to Africa lending - Beijing has signalled a more cautious approach amid warnings that several African countries could struggle to repay debts [bri-news, china-policy-news, neo-imperialism-news] Paywall Summary (?): The big concern here are clauses that (A) require revenue from projects (such as an airport in Uganda) to be channeled through special escrow accounts, and budgets need to be approved by China's Eximbank (75% of analyzed Chinese loan contracts have such clauses) and (b) that the loan contracts are written in a manner that arbitration would be settled in Beijing, the latter leading to concerns China could seize these projects (such as the airport); China, and some analysts, say that these measures ensure that revenues from these projects can't be diverted to the pockets of corrupt local rulers, and create accountability. A lot of the details of these contracts are kept in the shadows, made between China and nation's executives, with the details left unclear to parliaments (who have to ultimately approve it); occasionally, post hoc changes are made. These loans usually have cheap interest over long periods (ie 27 years), often with 7 year grace periods, and some include clauses that 'explicitly exclude the debt owed to them from being included in restructuring arrangements by officials in the Paris Club of bilateral creditors'. China's Development Bank has lent $313bn overseas total from 2000-2017, and the Eximbank (export import) $272bn. Analysts say it is unusual for physical infrastructure in loans to sovereign debtors to be used as collateral (30% of Chinese loan contracts have such clauses, and 7% of bilateral creditors from OECD countries' loan contracts). - Also: 'Experts say that some of the concerns over clauses in Chinese contracts are overblown. An immunity waiver, for example, is a standard component of comparable loans made by western governments and agencies. Most experts also dismiss as a myth accusations about China’s supposed intention to entrap borrowers in order to gain control of ports or airports.' - 'Kalinaki says the “problematic clauses” in the Entebbe contract allow China Eximbank in effect to put the airport under administration, though he also criticises western lenders for what he sees as equally dubious practices including funnelling loans back to their own companies and consultancies. “Africa is being caught in the middle,” he adds, “it has to decide which is the least worst path to take.”' - 'Some draw a parallel with western financial institutions, including the IMF and World Bank, which lent generously to African governments in the post-independence period only to impose harsh structural adjustment programmes on them from the 1980s after governments struggled to repay.' Also, a nice map of Chinese loans to different African countries here! [tracker-news]
- The Irrawaddy (12/1/22): China Backs Cambodia’s Much Criticized Diplomatic Bid in Myanmar [china-policy-news] [!]
- The Guardian (11/1/22): Chinese developer Shimao plans fire sale after downgrade and missed payment - Fears over contagion mount as a company once considered financially sound is running out of cash to pay its debts [economic-news] [!]
- The Guardian (11/1/22): Millions more Chinese people ordered into lockdown to fight Covid outbreaks - Omicron cases prompt tough measures in Anyang, a city of five million, as concerns grows ahead of Winter Olympics [covid-news] [!]
- Wall Street Journal (11/1/22): China Covid-19 Lockdowns Hit Factories, Ports in Latest Knock to Supply Chains - Toyota, Samsung and Volkswagen are among companies with production affected as economists warn of more challenging bottlenecks ahead [logistics-news, covid-news, economic-news] Paywall Summary (?): Restrictions have been emplaced in 'the eastern port of Tianjin (Toyota, Volkswagen has factory there too), Xi'an in central China (Samsung and Micron have chip fabs there), and the southern technology hub of Shenzhen (Foxconn (Apple supplier), Huawei). The world's third-busiest container port of Ningbo-Zhoushan (Volkswagen has plant here too), near Shanghai, risks worsening backlogs from restrictions on trucks and warehouse operations after more than two dozen Covid-19 cases were confirmed in the surrounding area.' - the disruptions have happened before, but may be more severe due to higher contagiousness of Omicron (and with upcoming Winter Olympics in mind), economists warn. Disruptions in Zhengzhou (where many iPhones are assembled by Foxconn) loom as mass testing happening; Anyang going under citywide lockdown.
- Washington Post (11/1/22): China's Tianjin orders more testing on 14 million residents [covid-news] [!]
- Financial Times (11/1/22): Live news: China port workers jailed over Covid-19 containment breaches [covid-news]
- Washington Post (10/1/22): China locks down third city, raising affected to 20 million [covid-news] [!]
- Jacobin (10/1/22): It’s Too Soon to Announce the Dawn of a Chinese Century - Despite the pandemic’s impact, China has a long road to travel before it can surpass US economic power. Inter-capitalist rivalry is driving tensions between Washington and Beijing, not the personalities of Xi Jinping or Donald Trump. (Interview) [china-policy-news, us-policy-news] [!]
- Wall Street Journal (10/1/22): Kazakhstan Crisis Shows That Russia Still Trumps China’s Power in Central Asia - Beijing’s huge investments in the region increasingly rely on Russian protection [russia-policy-news, china-policy-news] [!] Paywall Summary (?): 'Yet China, for now at least, doesn’t have the military or intelligence capabilities to protect its regional allies in their hour of need. “China lacks the kind of tools that Russia possesses, such as the airborne troops who speak a language that the locals would understand, and who are ready to fly out and help,” said Alexander Gabuev, a China expert at the Carnegie Moscow Center. “These Russian paratroopers defend China’s own economic interests,” he added. “They protect a secular, pragmatic, friendly regime that’s headed by a Sinologist fluent in Chinese.”' - '“The Chinese are definitely going to have to start reassessing the vulnerability of their economic investments,” he said. “Before, they held the economic trump cards and could play them and probably sway the local governments in their favor. Now, they have to think about a security component that may weigh against that: Chinese investments are now operating at the pleasure of Russian military forces.”' - 'Beijing’s security assistance to Kazakhstan and other Central Asian nations is likely to be limited to the areas in which China excels at home, such as surveillance technologies, facial-recognition systems and communications-control equipment that could nip future protests in the bud.' - '“China has a controversial image in Kazakhstan. With Russia, there is a difficult past and the nationalist discourse that has been present over the past 30 years, but the overall attitude toward Russia remains more positive,” Mr. Voloshin said. “People understand what to expect from Russia. When it comes to China, the population has much greater fears.”' [russia-policy-news, china-policy-news]
- Wall Street Journal (10/1/22): Intel Erases Reference to China’s Xinjiang After Social-Media Backlash - In letter to suppliers, U.S. chip maker previously called on business partners to avoid sourcing from northwestern region where the U.S. has human-rights concerns [capitalist-farce-news, china-policy-news, surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!] Paywall Snippets (?): 'China is Intel’s largest market by revenue, totaling $20 billion in the year ending Dec. 26, 2020, or about 26% of its annual total, its most recent annual report showed.'
- New York Times (9/1/22): Tianjin, a city of 14 million near Beijing, starts testing all residents after Omicron surfaces. [covid-news] [!]
- Washington Post (9/1/22): China's Tianjin on partial lockdown after omicron found [covid-news] [!]
- New York Times (8/1/22): Trial Looms After Seaside Gathering of Chinese Activists - A weekend get-together in 2019 offered Beijing a chance to deliver a blow to the “rights defense” movement. Now, two key participants face the prospect of years in prison. [!]
- Just Security (10/1/22): China has named as the new chief of its army garrison in Hong Kong an internal security forces officer who helped lead Beijing’s crackdown in Xinjiang on predominantly Muslim and Turkic-speaking Uyghurs and other minorities. Major General Peng Jingtang, a deputy chief of staff of China’s People’s Armed Police, will head the People’s Liberation Army garrison in Hong Kong. Dan Strumpf and Wenxin Fan report for the Wall Street Journal. [china-policy-news]
- South China Morning Post (8/1/22): High-speed rail services hit as strong quake shakes remote area in western China - Magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck mountainous area of Qinghai province at 1.45am on Saturday - Tunnel damage forced service suspensions on some sections of high-speed rail lines in the region [rail-news, disaster-news] Note about Telesur [!]
- South China Morning Post (8/1/22): Chinese-led Shanghai Cooperation Organisation ‘ready to act in Kazakhstan if needed’ - Despite the offer, Beijing has also signalled its approval of Russia’s intervention and the Kazakh government’s response - President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has authorised troops to shoot protesters and asked Moscow to send in troops [china-policy-news] Important Note on SCMP [!]
- Financial Times (21/9/21) (OLD): Evergrande and the end of China’s ‘build, build, build’ model - Valued at $41bn in 2020, the spectacular unravelling of the property group exposes deep flaws in Beijing’s growth strategy [economic-news, china-policy-news] Paywall Summary (?): Oversupply has been an issue for years (with roots in free market reforms from the 90s), but Xi has particularly focused on property sector excesses, aiming to reduce debt levels with the "three red lines" policy (limiting ratio of liabilities to assets to below70%, ratio of net debt to equity below 100%, and ratio of cash to short-term debt be at least 100%) - the "build build build" style appears now untenable (sparking protests, destabilizing from a financial, economic, and social perspective), and economists say that China looks to be trying to switch growth models (from over-reliance on real estate to 'high-tech manufacturing and the deployment of green tech' (among other things) + 'common prosperity'), and growth may be depressed, perhaps down to 4%, in the interim period (which analysts say may take years to pull off). A slowdown here, being the 'biggest engine of global prosperity' (contributing 28% of global GDP growth from 2013 to 2018, more than twice that of the US), could have widespread impact. Local govt land sales fell 90% year on year in the first 12 days of September, which are otherwise used to finance the debt on ~$8.4tn in LGFV debt (which is then often used for infrastructure). Fixed asset investment (totalling $8tn last year) 'constitutes 43% of GDP'. Unlike the Lehman Brother situation in the US, the firm control of Beijing over financial institutions means a similarly-unfolding crisis is unlikely, unless Beijing severely mismanages. Evergrande is failing because it didn't meet the "three red lines", and was thus forbidden from raising more debt (to finance their debt) - so that's how they got in trouble. Property sector speculation is partly to blame for widening wealth inequalities, and the 'common prosperity' narrative underlines that GDP loss is not necessarily bad (if that growth originally came from corrosive speculation).
- South China Morning Post (22/12/21): China’s hidden debt: ‘corruption problem’ at local levels threatens political, economic stability - Debt issued by local government financing vehicles (LGFVs) is kept off the balance sheets and thus more susceptible to corruption than relatively transparent government bonds - But analysts say LGFVs are poised to play bigger role next year in filling local government funding gaps, despite risks to national economy [economic-news] Important Note on SCMP Notes: 'The line between China’s anti-corruption and deleveraging campaigns is becoming increasingly blurred as Beijing looks to tackle both political and economic problems that are interwoven at various levels of local government' - chief China economist at Nomura (Lu Ting) estimates LGFV debt was at 45tn yuan ($7tn) at end of 2020 - equivalent to 44% of China's GDP; Goldman Sachs put it at 53tn yuan ($8.3tn), up from 16tn yuan in 2013. It looks only to grow as land sale related revenue looks to decline.
- Wall Street Journal (6/1/22): Opinion: China Takes Lithuania as an Economic Hostage - Its trade retaliation over Taiwan is wreaking havoc with global supply chains. [economic-news, china-policy-news] Paywall Summary (?): in 2020, Lithuania exported $350m worth of goods to China, although importing from China far more (about 4x as more in 2021). But China isn't now just blocking Lithuanian goods - they're going after the supply chain, blocking goods with Lithuanian parts, according to the EU trade commisioner (but China denies). This has been a wake up call that globalized supply chains might be dangerous for the ability of nation's to exercise politics displeasing to China.
- Financial Times (6/1/22): Taiwan to support Lithuania with $200m fund after dispute with China - Investment plan follows harsh measures taken by Beijing against the Baltic state [china-policy-news] Paywall Summary (?): China has withdrawn its ambassador, banned Lithuanian imports, and pressured foreign manufacturers (ie European) to avoid Lithuanian components. The president of Lithuania claims that this all is a mistake, and he was consulted on none of this Taiwan business (the PM led the effort, who he defeated in 2019's presidential elections). Taipei's aid includes buying 24k bottles (120 shipping containers) of Lithuanian rum rejected by Chinese customs.
- Financial Times (6/1/22): China’s economy: the fallout from the Evergrande crisis - The crackdown on real estate ordered by Xi Jinping is putting growing pressure on local governments and many companies [economic-news, corruption-news, analysis-news] Paywall Summary (?): The central govt of China is on a campaign to resolve potentially dangerous financial instabilities, as well as osensibly to resolve chronic wealth inequality - the main target has become the over-leveraged real-estate sector; this follows Evergrande's default on bond payments on December 6, entering into a formal restructuring process. This crackdown on the real estate sector, long used to 'prop up growth, boost local govt revenues, and contribute to household wealth accumulation' (according the former head of IMF's China division) has put large pressure on local govts trying to stay afloat, and are now turning to methods such as steep fines and charges to local business (for which the central govt is punishing them). The property sector accounts for ~30% of total economic output (GDP - compare to about 17% in the US, 20% in the UK, and 15% in South Korea) and land sales generated Rmb8.4tn for local govts in 2020 (1/3 of their total revenues) - now in Shijiazhuang (Hebei's capital), for example, land sales are down 30%, and in Bazhou they were down 90%... and it's eating into local civil servant incomes even! A Chinese govt adviser says "the major problems are all interconnected: debt, local govt finances, housing prices and consumption. Which one do you solve first? The pressure is coming from many directions". Because Evergrande had operations (~800 projects in 230+ cities) all through China, the crackdown's impact is being felt everywhere. Further, servicing Evergrande's bill is increasingly falling on local govts (ie delivering promises housing). Developers are loathe to continue projects however, unless local governments pay them up front. Another issue is that large real estate companies have issues their own debt certificates, which can them be used as payment by the creditors (reportedly up to 10 times in sequence) ... but when Evergrande eventually defaults, then the whole chain of assets dependent on it becomes frozen and companies into bankruptcy, far beyond the size of the original debt. In 2020, the total amount of such "commercial paper" debt was at Rmb3.6tn ($560bn) - Evergrande issued 60% of that issued by the top-20 developers.
- Washington Post (7/1/22): Three Chinese nationals abducted in Nigeria, police say [!]
- Financial Times (7/1/22): Shimao’s debt woes deepen concerns over cash crunch in Chinese property - Shanghai bonds of once highly rated developer suspended [by Shanghai Stock Exchange] after failure to make loan payment [economic-news] Paywall Summary (?): Shimao is exceptional for having (until recenlty) investment-grade credit rating, indicating the real estate sector woes may be spreading in China, and indicating China's government's efforts have not resolved the sector's liquidity issues - when housing sales decline, these companies don't have enough liquidity to pay their enormous debts, leading to bond defaults.
- South China Morning Post (7/1/22): Xi Jinping sends message of support to Kazakhstan’s Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as unrest continues - Chinese leader says Beijing opposes any attempts by foreign forces to cause trouble and backs security crackdown - China is concerned unrest may spill across the border into Xinjiang and it has extensive investments in the country under the Belt and Road Initiative [china-policy-news, bri-news] Important Note on SCMP [!]
- The Guardian (8/1/22): At least 16 killed after office canteen explosion in China - Rescue workers in Chongqing searched the debris into the night after Friday’s blast with one survivor in a critical condition [disaster-news]
- Just Security (7/1/22): A Chinese national has pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal a trade secret on behalf of China from American agribusiness company Monsanto, the Justice Department has said. Xiang Haitao was employed by Monnsanto and its subsidiary, The Climate Corporation, from 2008 to 2017. “According to the Justice Department, Xiang stole proprietary software developed by Monsanto to help farmers improve crop yields,” Agence France-Presse reports.
- The Economist (15/6/17) (OLD): A battle for supremacy in the lithium triangle - Three South American countries have much [about half] of the world’s lithium. They take very different approaches to exploiting it [resource-news] Notes: 'Australian lithium must be expensively crushed out of rock and shipped to China for processing, but investment conditions are friendlier'; Chile also has a 'begign investment climate', and also has good infrastructure (port) access (Argentine lithium in Jujuy also goes through the same ports), although Chile is less liberal with lithium than it is with copper (due to its 70s/80s designation of possible use in nuclear-fusion plants). Only two companies - Chile's SQM and the US's Albemarle - are allowed to extract brine, due to leases signed in the 80s. They also praise former Argentine president Macri. Under Morales, lithium access was 'even tighter ... than ... on gas', although this protectionism reduces how much expertise there is; its 'insistence on keeping a controlling stake is discouraging potential investors'.
- Financial Times (5/1/22): Low-cost warfare: US military battles with ‘Costco drones’ - For all the hype about hypersonic missiles, small, cheap drones are one of the most significant threats to American forces [china-policy-news, us-policy-news, dark-security-news, russia-policy-news] Paywall Summary (?): The cost of taking down cheap drones doesn't scale with the cost of the cheapness of those drones (it's expensive vs a few thousand dollars), and along with low detection rates of incoming drones (as low as 40%) (and many false alarms), this has effectively ended the American monopoly on air power, and made sustaining air dominance costly. Current ideas are jamming signals (but that is difficult to do effectively), targeting with directed energy (ie microwaves, lasers), shooting down with bullets/missiles/kamikaze drones, or even netting them. China's DJI (recently blacklisted over Xinjiang surveillance) has 3/4 of the world commercial drone market [although I think this includes non-military drones]. DoD plans $636m for counter-drone R&D, $75m for procurement - up from a total of $134m in 2021. Still, some complain of slow bureaucracy in the Pentagon + defense industry. There are fears also of smart drone "swarms", using modern machine/deep learning info, along with the masses of sensors a swarm would have.
- South China Morning Post (6/1/22): Covid-19 in China: woman says father died of heart attack after being denied admission to Xian hospital - A Weibo user says her father was left waiting for hours and a doctor told her he could have been saved if he had been treated more quickly - The claim has fuelled further public anger after two pregnant women reportedly lost babies after being refused treatment [covid-news, healthcare-news] Important Note on SCMP [!]
- The Economist World This Week (8/1/22): A second city in China was put into a strict lockdown following a rise in covid infections. Officials in Yuzhou, about 700km south-west of Beijing, vowed to quash the disease. Xi’an, a city of 13m, has been in lockdown since December 23rd. The government says it is ready to deal with any surge in cases ahead of the Chinese New Year and Winter Olympics in Beijing. [covid-news]
- Just Security (6/1/22): Anger at the strict lockdown in Xi’an, China, and the struggles of Xi’an’s citizens, is spreading in China. Authorities in the city have reversed some Covid-19 restrictions following a nationwide outcry over a woman who lost her unborn baby in the eighth month of pregnancy after being denied medical attention for hours because she did not have a negative Covid-19 test. Liyan Qi reports for the Wall Street Journal. [covid-news, social-woes-news]
- Just Security (6/1/22): Taiwan’s air force has staged a drill simulating intercepting Chinese planes, amid heightened military tensions with China. Fabian Hamacher and Ann Wang report for Reuters.
- Financial Times (5/1/22): China rushes to develop an mRNA vaccine as doubts grow over local jabs - Older inactivated virus technology in domestic shots less effective against infection than foreign rivals [covid-news, vaccine-ip-news] Paywall Summary (?): FT reports that the zero-COVID strategy is partially a reflection of Beijing's lack-of-faith in their traditional inactivated virus vaccines to prevent mass outbreaks, especially with the new Omicron variant on the loose. An mRNA vaccine candidate was approved for a booster trial in November (Suzhou Abogen biosciences + Walvax Biotechnology); a virologist at the University of Hong Kong says that China's late arrival to the mRNA tech game means it will be difficult to develop, produce, and deliver at scale (the Walvax/Abogen vaccine candidate has promising results in animal testing stage); the govt is still holding off on granting approval to BioNTech's (Pfizer) vaccine, which a University of Hong Kong bioethicist says is due to govt interest in supporting homegrown vaccines. 2.8bn does of the traditional-style vaccines (Sinopharm, Sinovac) have been administered to 1.2bn people - but research indicates that two jabs and a booster of Sinovac provide insufficient protection against Omicron. In November, Chinese academics warned that a US-style approach would spell disaster for the medical system.
- WSWS (6/1/22): China’s lockdown in Xi’an suppressing COVID-19 outbreak [covid-news, fail-government-news] Summary: WSWS presents a defense of the zero-COVID policy, arguing that the failures of it (ie the food shortages, hospital problems) are a failure of implementation rather than underlying strategy (noting there are only 5k reported deaths since the Wuhan outbreak of 2020 - compared to the US 800k). It criticizes recent Washington Post coverage, and notes that WaPo, in their coverage of food shortages, fails to cover workers from outside Xi'an who are packed into "urban villages in the city and have a disproportionately high number of infections". They typically lack access to cookware and have to survive on instant noodles, and this is all that local officials bother to supply them. Important Note about WSWS
- The Guardian (6/1/22): China fires hospital officials after pregnant woman loses baby due to Covid lockdown rules - The woman was allegedly denied entry to a hospital in the city of Xi’an because her negative Covid test was four hours too old [healthcare-news, fail-government-news, covid-news] [!]
- The Guardian (5/1/22): Desperation as China’s locked down cities pay price of zero-Covid strategy - Reports emerge of fatal hospital delays and food shortages as more than 14 million people are confined to their homes in the cities of Xi’an and Yuzhou [fail-government-news, covid-news] [!]
- South China Morning Post (5/1/22): Xian updates Covid-19 rules as two unborn babies lost to hospital delays - Video posted on social media showed bloodied eight-months pregnant woman waiting outside a hospital for two hours as her Covid-19 test was invalid - A second woman miscarried and had to undergo an abortion after multiple hospitals refused entry over technicalities [covid-news, fail-government-news] Important Note on SCMP [!]
- South China Morning Post (5/1/22): Lockdown city Xian suspends data chief over Covid-19 tracing app failures - Dereliction of duty cited after malfunctions in health code app, which is needed for movement and to enter buildings - Fallout from the city’s outbreak continues after two officials were sacked and 26 placed under investigation over its handling [covid-news] Important Note on SCMP [!]
- Al Jazeera (5/1/22): Taiwan buys 20,000 bottles of Lithuanian rum after China snub - Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corp says it bought the alcohol after learning Chinese customs had blocked its import. [china-policy-news, economic-news] [!]
- Washington Post (5/1/22): China reports major drop in virus cases in locked-down Xi'an [covid-news] [!]
- Washington Post (4/1/22): China Evergrande’s $300 billion cash crunch is deepened by demolition order [in Hainan, due to permit legality investigation] - Trading of China Evergrande Group shares was suspended Monday following reports from local media that the Danzhou government had ordered the removal within 10 days of 39 apartment blocks on an artificial island in the seaside city after ruling that previous approvals were not valid. - Over the past 12 years, Evergrande has poured some $12.7 billion into creating on reclaimed land an archipelago of islands in a bay off the northwestern coast of Hainan, a tropical island province in the South China Sea. - Evergrande shares resumed trading on Tuesday, rising by 8 percent before paring gains to finish just over 1 percent above Friday’s closing price. - In December, ratings agencies declared Evergrande’s first official default, shortly after rival home builder Kaisa Group Holdings was given a similar rating. - But Hainan has since ramped up its ecological protection campaign. Sometimes likened to Hawaii for its beaches, tropical forest and nascent surf culture, the province has been at the forefront of efforts to enforce environmental zoning laws long flouted by real estate developers. - In Hainan, the campaign has come alongside a political purge of officials who handed out contracts while turning a blind eye to environmental checks. Many of those projects involved land reclamation off the island’s coasts. - Zhang Qi, the former party secretary of Danzhou, was jailed for life in 2020 for taking bribes in exchange for construction project approvals. [corruption-news, capitalist-farce-news, economic-news]
- Just Security (4/1/22): The U.S., Russia, China, the U.K., and France have agreed that “a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought” in a rare joint pledge. The signatories to the pledge, known as the P5 or N5, are the five nuclear weapons states recognized by the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and are also the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council. Julian Borger reports for the Guardian. [us-policy-news, russia-policy-news, china-policy-news]
- Wall Street Journal (4/1/22): Lockdown of Chinese City Leaves 13 Million Stranded - Residents of Xi’an voice desperation under restrictions that recall the closing of Wuhan in 2020 [media-news, surveillance-and-censorship-news, covid-news] Paywall Summary (?): Similar points as the WaPo article earlier, although they do note that there is 'little sign of severe censorship', with just a bit of criticism-scrubbing; some complaints, WSJ reports, reflect people's fears of lack of food, or of being hauled off to a quarantine center. One online complaint listed the govt food package: "one baby cabbage, 10 steamed buns and 5 kg of flour". Many local govts have used mobile phone tools, which facilitate contract-tracing [contact-tracing?] and mass testing, to avoid these lockdowns, such as in the Shijiazhuang (11 million people) last year; a similarly restrictive lockdown is in place in Tonghua though in Feb 2021. Most details about the lockdown come from online posting, whereas media has portrayed a rosier picture. Many supermarkets and hospitals are closed, and there has been issues with non-Covid-19 hospitals being accessible.
- Washington Post (4/1/22): Tesla faces criticism for opening showroom in China’s Xinjiang province, where Uyghurs face persecution [capitalist-farce-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (4/1/22): At least 14 killed in Chinese construction site landslide - The accident in southwest Guizhou province also injured three other people. [disaster-news] [!]
- The Guardian (3/1/22): China Evergrande shares suspended amid reports of demolition order - The property giant has been told to demolish 39 buildings in a high-profile development in Hainan province, reports say [!]
- South China Morning Post (3/1/22): Coronavirus: Xian officials sacked over handling of outbreak as cases fall below 100 - Wang Bin and Cui Shiyue – senior figures in the city’s worst-hit district – were removed from their posts to ‘strengthen’ the battle - It comes as locked down residents have complained of food shortages, and as the number of local infections are going down Important Note on SCMP [!]
- South China Morning Post (2/1/22): China saw record high temperatures and more extreme weather events last year - The China Meteorological Administration says the nationwide average of 10.7C was around one degree higher than normal - The year also saw higher than average rainfall in some places, droughts in others and devastating floods in Henan province [climate-change-news] Important Note on SCMP [!]
- Just Security (3/1/22): Russia and China are increasing cooperation on aviation, undersea and hypersonic-weapons technologies, according to military analysts, as well as conducting an ambitious joint military exercise in China this summer. Biden administration officials, however, have downplayed concerns that increasing cooperation could lead to a de facto or formal military alliance between Russia and China, which they view as unlikely. Brett Forrest, Ann M. Simmons and Chao Deng report for the Wall Street Journal. [russia-policy-news, china-policy-news]
- Al Jazeera (2/1/22): Vietnam blames China’s ‘zero COVID’ policies for disrupting trade - Vietnam’s trade ministry calls on Chinese authorities to ease congestion at the border crossing [china-policy-news] [!]
- Financial Times (2/1/22): Chinese authorities pledge to resolve food shortages in locked-down Xian - Residents in city of 13m complain [on social media] of struggles due to restrictions imposed after Covid outbreak [covid-news, social-woes-news, law-enforcement-oversteps-news] Paywall Summary (?): Residents complaints include that their [personal?] food stores running low, and buying more supplies from shops is difficult, due to them either being closed, or movement restricted (having to sneakily connect with shop owners via WeChat to coordinate food purchase) - videos last week went viral of epidemic prevention workers beating a resident for going out to purchase food. Police say the workers have been detained, and each fined $31. THe infection rates are very small, with 122 new cases reported on Saturday, part of China's "zero-Covid" strategy. Manufacturers such as Samsung are concerned about disruptions to chipmaking.
- Al Jazeera (2/1/22): China says ‘positive changes’ as COVID cases ease in Xi’an - New cases in the locked-down city fall to lowest in a week as residents face 11th day under strict home confinement. [covid-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (2/1/22): Shallow earthquake hits southwestern China - The quake struck on the border between Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, which put the magnitude at 5.4 and depth at 38km [disaster-news]
- The Guardian (31/12/21): Sanction-hit Huawei says revenues down 29% this year - Effects of the US-China trade war felt by the telecom were ‘in line with our forecasts, says chairman Guo Ping [big-tech-news, us-policy-news] [!]
- New York Times (31/12/21): A Digital Manhunt: How Chinese Police Track Critics on Twitter and Facebook - Authorities in China have turned to sophisticated investigative software to track and silence obscure critics on overseas social media. Their targets include college students and non-Chinese nationals. [surveillance-and-censorship-news]
- CNBC (31/12/21): China warns Walmart over alleged removal of Xinjiang-sourced products from stores [china-policy-news] [!]
- Wall Street Journal (31/12/21): Beijing Fell Short on Trade Deal Promises, Creating Dilemma for Biden - China missed targets for buying U.S. goods, but retaliating could come at a cost to American companies and consumers [us-policy-news, china-policy-news, economic-news] Paywall Summary (?): China was supposed to purchase around $200bn of American exports, and fell short, forcing Biden to have to come up with some sort of response, which isn't aided by his lack of clear policy here, falling 17% short for agriculture, 41% on manufacturing, and 62% on energy, and likely 32% for service exports.
- Washington Post (30/12/21): Locked down in China’s Xi’an amid coronavirus outbreak, residents subsist on deliveries of vegetables [social-woes-news, covid-news]
- South China Morning Post (31/12/21): China’s tax evaders to be ‘severely punished’ as Beijing pushes for ‘common prosperity’ - Authorities will carry out more spot inspections and give greater exposure to tax crimes to help compliance - China’s small firms, individually-owned businesses and manufacturers are also in line for tax cuts in 2022 [tax-news] Important Note on SCMP [!]
Hong Kong Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
- Democracy Now (19/1/22): Japan Sets New Curbs, Hong Kong Culls 2,000 Exposed Hamsters, as Asian Nations See COVID Surges [covid-news]
- Just Security (19/1/22): The Hong Kong activist Edward Leung who rose to prominence on the now-banned slogan “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times,” and who inspired violent resistance among young protestors, has been released from jail. Elaine Yu reports for the Wall Street Journal.
- Just Security (12/1/22): Hong Kong is to draw up its own “local” national security laws, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam has said. [surveillance-and-censorship-news]
- Just Security (10/1/22): China has named as the new chief of its army garrison in Hong Kong an internal security forces officer who helped lead Beijing’s crackdown in Xinjiang on predominantly Muslim and Turkic-speaking Uyghurs and other minorities. Major General Peng Jingtang, a deputy chief of staff of China’s People’s Armed Police, will head the People’s Liberation Army garrison in Hong Kong. Dan Strumpf and Wenxin Fan report for the Wall Street Journal. [china-policy-news]
- The Economist World This Week (8/1/22): Stand News, Hong Kong’s leading pro-democracy news site, was forced to shut after hundreds of police raided its office and arrested seven people. Two other media outlets also closed, citing fears for their reporters’ safety. Meanwhile, 90 members of a new Legislative Council were sworn in. All but one are Communist Party supporters. “Unpatriotic” candidates (ie, critics of the party) had been barred from standing for election. [surveillance-and-censorship-news, china-policy-news]
- Democracy Now (5/1/22): Amid Surge, Delhi to Enforce Weekend Curfew as Hong Kong Bans Flights from U.S., U.K. [logistics-news, covid-news]
- Just Security (4/1/22): A pro-democracy Hong Kong activist has been jailed for 15 months for organizing a vigil to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. Chow Hang Tung had already been sentenced to 12 months in prison for inciting and taking part in a similar vigil in 2020. The latest conviction and sentence, relating to Chow encouraging people to light candles to mark the event, will run concurrently with her earlier sentence. BBC News reports. [surveillance-and-censorship-news]
- Just Security (3/1/22): Hong Kong independent online news portal Citizen News has said that it will cease operations from tomorrow. “Regrettably, the rapid changes in society and worsening environment for [the] media make us unable to achieve our goal fearlessly. Amid this crisis, we have to first make sure everyone on the boat is safe,” Citizen News said in a statement. Reuters reports. [surveillance-and-censorship-news]
Japan Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Behind the Bastards (21/9/21): Part One: The Slavery Loving Fascist who Built Modern Japan - A great series delineating the connection between Japan's fascist imperialist past with its current ultra-conservative one-party state
Last Year's Entry
- Democracy Now (19/1/22): Japan Sets New Curbs, Hong Kong Culls 2,000 Exposed Hamsters, as Asian Nations See COVID Surges [covid-news]
- Washington Post (15/1/22): Teenager arrested in stabbing near Japan entrance exam venue [!]
- The Irrawaddy (12/1/22): Most Japanese Firms Investing in Myanmar Remain Despite Coup [capitalist-farce-news] [!]
- Just Security (10/1/22): U.S. troops in Japan are to stay on base for two weeks, starting today, after Japanese officials linked them to a sharp rise in Covid-19 infections in communities in the surrounding areas. U.S. troop movement outside of military-related facilities and areas “will be restricted to essential activities only,” a joint statement from the Japanese government and U.S. forces in Japan said. Reuters reports. [us-policy-news, covid-news]
- Just Security (7/1/22): The U.S. and Japan have vowed to increase their defense cooperation, amid concerns about the threat posed by China [us-policy-news]
- Just Security (5/1/22): The Reciprocal Access Agreement will allow Japanese and Australian troops to freely enter each other’s countries for exercises without having to negotiate terms each time. The agreement makes Australia the second country to have a formal defense pact with Japan covering entry of soldiers into Japan, after the U.S., as tensions with China in the region continue. Rhiannon Hoyle and Alastair Gale report for the Wall Street Journal.
- Just Security (5/1/22): North Korea has fired a suspected ballistic missile into the sea, Japan and South Korea have said.
- Just Security (3/1/22): The U.S. and Japan are staging joint military training exercises amid concerns about potential regional conflict and a rising threat from China. Alistair Gale reports for the Wall Street Journal. [us-policy-news]
South Korea Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Administrative (cr.);
What could have been: People's Republic of Korea - the short-lived provisional government following WWII, based on a network of people's committees. The United States shortly outlawed the PRK, establishing a dictatorship (South Korea), and the Soviet Union co-opted the structures to form North Korea.
Last Year's Entry
- Washington Post (14/1/22): SKorean rescuers pull body from collapsed construction site [!]
- Wall Street Journal (13/1/22): TSMC to Invest Up to $44 Billion in 2022 to Beef Up Chip Production - From cars to data centers, robust demand for semiconductors will help keep TSMC growing, CEO says [big-tech-news] Paywall Summary (?): Says investment will boost production capacity by up to 47% this year over last year. TSMC, Samsung, and Intel accounted for ~3/5 of $146bn semiconductor companies spent in 2021 to 'build new production capacity and develop new technologies', with demand expected to remain high. TSMC is investing in lower-tech chips popular in cars, smartphones and such devices, and were a bottleneck last year, even for Apple (plus, production lines for these are relatively cheap, and the specialized TSMC wares are difficult for rivals to replace). Auto chips are expected to grow in demand, but account for only 4% of TSMC's annual revenue (44% comes from smartphone business). Plants already planned in Phoenix, AZ ($12bn), southern Japan ($7bn), Nanjing, China, and Taiwan (possibly one in Europe). Samsung announced a $17bn investment in Texas, and Intel pledged $95bn in Europe. TSMC revenue in 2021 was $57bn, up 18.5% 'from a year earlier'.
- Washington Post (13/1/22): South Korea gets first supply of Pfizer's COVID-19 pills [covid-news] [!]
- Washington Post (11/1/22): Rescuers resume search at collapsed building site in SKorea [disaster-news] [!]
- Financial Times (10/1/22): EU to block $2bn Korean shipbuilding merger between Daewoo and Hyundai - Brussels concerned about dominance of LNG carrier market as European energy prices soar [europe-policy-news, antitrust-news, energy-news] [!] Paywall Snippets (?): 'The latest decision comes as energy prices have soared in Europe this winter, with freight costs for liquefied natural gas in Asia rising to record levels of more than $300,000 per day on surging global demand. The two South Korean companies dominate the market for making ships that carry super-chilled LNG. [EU official admits protecting consumers is one reason to do this]' - 'Ships carrying LNG to Asia have been rerouted to Europe, where consumers are willing to pay a premium for the fuel to generate electricity. The EU is the world’s third-largest importer of LNG.' - 'The South Korean shipbuilders are significant suppliers to EU companies and represent about 30 per cent of global demand for cargo vessels, according to the commission.' - 'The two companies won new orders for 45 large LNG vessels out of the total of 75 last year, together commanding 60 per cent of the global market, according to industry tracker Clarksons Research.'
- Al Jazeera (6/1/22): ‘Won’t take it any more’: South Korea’s Starbucks baristas rebel - Workers’ novel approach to labour activism holds lessons for old guard in country with a history of spirited protest. [labor-news, union-news] Note: personally I'm skeptical of this method... although I guess we'll see
- Just Security (7/1/22): South Korean military officials have cast doubts on the capabilities of what North Korea has called a “hypersonic missile” test fired this week. The officials said that while the test missile warhead appeared to reach hypersonic speeds, that capability is shared by other ballistic missiles and North Korea’s test did not appear to demonstrate the range and maneuverability claimed in state media reports. Josh Smith and Hyonhee Shin report for Reuters.
- South China Morning Post (6/1/22): South Korean billionaire Chung Yong-jin fumes after Instagram removes ‘crush commies’ post - Chung, a cousin of Samsung’s leader who heads retail giant Shinsegae Group, had posted a photo that was accompanied by the hashtag #myulgong (‘crush commies’) - Instagram blamed the removal on a system error. But it’s not the first time Chung has bucked the trend of chaebol chiefs shying away from publicity Important Note on SCMP [!]
- Just Security (5/1/22): North Korea has fired a suspected ballistic missile into the sea, Japan and South Korea have said.
- Just Security (3/1/22): The man observed crossing from South Korea into North Korea is believed to be a North Korean who previously defected in 2020 in the same area, Seoul’s Defense Ministry has subsequently said. “Investigators are seeking to determine whether weekend movement detected on the northern side of the border was North Korean troops coming to escort the man, but that at this time the South Korean government does not think it is a case of espionage, [a ministry official has said],” Josh Smith reports for Reuters.
- The Guardian (2/1/22): South Korean crosses demilitarised zone in rare defection to North - The fate of the defector is unknown after they crossed the heavily fortified border between the two Koreas [!]
- Washington Post (31/12/21): South Koreans counting down to first legal drink at midnight on New Year’s foiled by coronavirus curfew [covid-news]
Taiwan Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
- WSWS (14/1/22): Several hundred workers from Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan’s largest telecommunications company, demonstrated outside the Ministry of Transport and Communications in Taipei on Tuesday. They demanded the company begin negotiations for improved pay. Workers claimed the company had failed to deliver on its promise to give a pay rise above 4 percent for this year. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Washington Post (14/1/22): Taiwan adds minelaying to defenses against China [!]
- Wall Street Journal (13/1/22): TSMC to Invest Up to $44 Billion in 2022 to Beef Up Chip Production - From cars to data centers, robust demand for semiconductors will help keep TSMC growing, CEO says [big-tech-news] Paywall Summary (?): Says investment will boost production capacity by up to 47% this year over last year. TSMC, Samsung, and Intel accounted for ~3/5 of $146bn semiconductor companies spent in 2021 to 'build new production capacity and develop new technologies', with demand expected to remain high. TSMC is investing in lower-tech chips popular in cars, smartphones and such devices, and were a bottleneck last year, even for Apple (plus, production lines for these are relatively cheap, and the specialized TSMC wares are difficult for rivals to replace). Auto chips are expected to grow in demand, but account for only 4% of TSMC's annual revenue (44% comes from smartphone business). Plants already planned in Phoenix, AZ ($12bn), southern Japan ($7bn), Nanjing, China, and Taiwan (possibly one in Europe). Samsung announced a $17bn investment in Texas, and Intel pledged $95bn in Europe. TSMC revenue in 2021 was $57bn, up 18.5% 'from a year earlier'.
- The Guardian (11/1/22): Taiwan suspends F-16 fleet combat training after jet crashes into sea - Search and rescue mission launched after latest in series of fatal accidents amid heightened tensions with China [!]
- Al Jazeera (11/1/22): Taiwan passes extra $8.6bn defence budget as China threat grows - Taipei is aiming to acquire precision missiles to thwart the threat of an invasion by authoritarian China. [!]
- Wall Street Journal (6/1/22): Opinion: China Takes Lithuania as an Economic Hostage - Its trade retaliation over Taiwan is wreaking havoc with global supply chains. [economic-news, china-policy-news] Paywall Summary (?): in 2020, Lithuania exported $350m worth of goods to China, although importing from China far more (about 4x as more in 2021). But China isn't now just blocking Lithuanian goods - they're going after the supply chain, blocking goods with Lithuanian parts, according to the EU trade commisioner (but China denies). This has been a wake up call that globalized supply chains might be dangerous for the ability of nation's to exercise politics displeasing to China.
- Financial Times (6/1/22): Taiwan to support Lithuania with $200m fund after dispute with China - Investment plan follows harsh measures taken by Beijing against the Baltic state [china-policy-news] Paywall Summary (?): China has withdrawn its ambassador, banned Lithuanian imports, and pressured foreign manufacturers (ie European) to avoid Lithuanian components. The president of Lithuania claims that this all is a mistake, and he was consulted on none of this Taiwan business (the PM led the effort, who he defeated in 2019's presidential elections). Taipei's aid includes buying 24k bottles (120 shipping containers) of Lithuanian rum rejected by Chinese customs.
- Just Security (6/1/22): Taiwan’s air force has staged a drill simulating intercepting Chinese planes, amid heightened military tensions with China. Fabian Hamacher and Ann Wang report for Reuters.
- Al Jazeera (5/1/22): Taiwan buys 20,000 bottles of Lithuanian rum after China snub - Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corp says it bought the alcohol after learning Chinese customs had blocked its import. [china-policy-news, economic-news] [!]
Tuvalu Updates
Last Year's Entry
South Asia Updates (Oceana)
Afghanistan / Australia / Bangladesh / Bhutan / Cambodia / East Timor / India / Indonesia / Laos / Malaysia / Maldives / Myanmar / Nepal / New Zealand / Pakistan / Papua New Guinea / Philippines / Singapore / Sri Lanka / Thailand / Vietnam
Last Year's Entry
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Coming Soon
- The Guardian (19/1/22): Antimicrobial resistance now a leading cause of death worldwide, study finds - Lancet analysis highlights need for urgent action to address antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections - More than 1.2 million – and potentially millions more – died in 2019 as a direct result of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, according to the most comprehensive estimate to date of the global impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). - The stark analysis covering more than 200 countries and territories was published in the Lancet. It says AMR is killing more people than HIV/Aids or malaria. Many hundreds of thousands of deaths are occurring due to common, previously treatable infections, the study says, because bacteria that cause them have become resistant to treatment. - Regionally, deaths caused directly by AMR were estimated to be highest in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia, at 24 deaths per 100,000 population and 22 deaths per 100,000 population respectively. - In high-income countries, AMR led directly to 13 deaths per 100,000 and was associated with 56 deaths per 100,000. In the western Europe region, which includes the UK, more than 51,000 people died as a direct result of AMR. [healthcare-news, science-news]
- The Guardian (31/12/21): ‘Waste colonialism’: world grapples with west’s unwanted plastic - Germany and UK are big exporters of plastic, much of which lies rotting in ports in Turkey, Vietnam and other countries [industrial-failure-news]
Bangladesh Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Administrative (cr.);
Last Year's Entry
- Al Jazeera (16/1/22): Bangladesh arrests brother of Rohingya armed group leader - The arrest of the ARSA member is the most high-profile since the group was accused of murdering influential Rohingya community leader Mohibullah. [immigrant-news] [!]
- CPJ (13/1/22): Bangladeshi camera operator Hossain Baksh abducted, severely beaten while covering local elections [!]
- Democracy Now (10/1/22): Fire in Cox’s Bazar Destroys Homes of 5,000 Rohingya Refugees [disaster-news, immigrant-news]
- The Guardian (5/1/22): Thousands of Rohingya shops demolished in Bangladesh, leaving refugees desperate - Bangladesh praised for taking in nearly a million Rohingya refugees, but destruction of shops that serve communities has attracted criticism [immigrant-news] [!]
Bhutan Updates
Last Year's Entry
Cambodia Updates
Last Year's Entry
- Al Jazeera (19/1/22): Fair trial doubts as Kem Sokha treason trial resumes in Cambodia - Opposition leader due back in court after almost two years during which the government continued its crackdown on critics. [court-news, politics-news, surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- New York Times (15/1/22): Cambodia’s Internet May Soon Be Like China’s: State-Controlled - Under a new decree, all web traffic will be routed through a government portal. Rights groups say a crackdown on digital expression is about to get worse. [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- The Irrawaddy (12/1/22): China Backs Cambodia’s Much Criticized Diplomatic Bid in Myanmar [china-policy-news] [!]
- The Irrawaddy (7/1/22): Cambodian Leader Draws People’s Fury as He Arrives in Junta-Ruled Myanmar [!]
- The Guardian (7/1/22): Cambodian PM Hun Sen’s visit with Myanmar military chief sparks protests - Critics fear Hun Sen’s meeting with military ruler Min Aung Hlaing gives legitimacy to the ruling junta [!]
- South China Morning Post (5/1/22): Cambodian police crack down on casino workers after lay-off negotiations with Hong Kong-listed NagaCorp stall - More than two dozen current and former employees of NagaWorld have been detained amid a strike protesting against mass lay-offs - NagaCorp laid off 1,329 workers last May, citing Covid; unions want 365 reinstated. Meanwhile, some politicians are labelling the dispute a ‘colour revolution’ [union-news, labor-news, law-enforcement-oversteps-news] Important Note on SCMP [!]
- South China Morning Post (3/1/22): Cambodia arrests 15 NagaWorld casino workers protesting against lay-offs - Police made the arrests during a strike by thousands of employees which began last month in Phnom Penh - The group want 365 employees who were let go in April reinstated [labor-news] Important Note on SCMP [!]
India Updates
(wiki)
For some updates on the Farmer's Protests, see here
Maps: Basic + States (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Notes: ([27/8/21] conversion rate) $1 ~= 74.14 rupees; lakh = 100,000 (1 lakh rupees = $1349); crore = 10 million (1 crore rupees = $134,880); lakh crore = 1 trillion (1 lakh crore rupees = $13.5 billion); "The Centre" refers to the govt of India, the central government, what Americans have in mind when we refer to the "federal govt" in the US
Last Year's Entry
- Al Jazeera (20/1/22): China’s PLA accused of abducting Indian teen in Arunachal Pradesh - Ruling BJP party’s parliamentarian says Chinese forces ‘abducted’ a 17-year-old boy in the disputed border areas. [!]
- Washington Post (19/1/22): Blast kills 3 sailors on Indian navy ship docked in Mumbai [!]
- Democracy Now (19/1/22): Indian authorities say COVID cases reached an eight-month high today, with over 280,000 new infections, though authorities say they are still a few weeks away from seeing the full impact of the current surge on hospitalizations and deaths. [covid-news]
- Al Jazeera (18/1/22): Hindu monk in India charged over call for ‘genocide’ of Muslims - Police called Yati Narsinghanand Giri, an outspoken supporter of far-right nationalists who also heads a Hindu monastery, a ‘repeat offender’. [far-right-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (18/1/22): Muslim girls wearing Hijab barred from classes at Indian college - Group of Muslim students at a government college in Karnataka state has been forced to sit outside the classroom for weeks now. [far-right-news, surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (18/1/22): Kashmir journalist arrested under PSA moved to Jammu jail - Sajad Gul booked under the Public Safety Act, which allows the detention of an individual without trial for six months. [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- Democracy Now (18/1/22): Authorities in Indian-Administered Kashmir Shut Down Independent Press Club [surveillance-and-censorship-news]
- Al Jazeera (15/1/22): Philippines to acquire missile system from India for $375m - Philippines would be the first country to purchase missile system jointly developed by India and Russia to defend its maritime territory. [!]
- WSWS (14/1/22): Hindustan Fertilizers factory workers went on strike on January 11 in Danbad over an incident that led to the injury of two casual workers. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (14/1/22): Andhra Pradesh village secretariat workers demand pay rise [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (14/1/22): Jammu and Kashmir retired government transport workers demonstrate [logistics-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (14/1/22): Delhi University staff strike over unpaid wages and allowances [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (14/1/22): Former employees of electronics manufacturers Dongsong Electronics and Foxconn in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, have been protesting since January 6 to demand re-employment. More than 1,300 workers lost their jobs at Dongsong and Foxconn when the factories closed in 2016 and 2018 respectively. Both companies, however, have resumed production. [big-tech-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- CPJ (11/1/22): Two journalists detained in Jammu and Kashmir, Chhattisgarh [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- Washington Post (14/1/22): Thousands gather at Hindu festival in India as virus surges [covid-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (14/1/22): Catholic bishop acquitted of raping nun in India - An Indian court acquitted a Roman Catholic bishop of charges of raping a nun in her rural convent, amid sexual harassment claims. [crime-news] [!]
- Just Security (14/1/22): Iranian shipping companies have forced large numbers of Indian seafarers to work in dangerous conditions, often with little or no pay, according to men who say they were tricked by international recruiting firms into taking the employment. Katie McQue reports for the Washington Post. [labor-news, logistics-news]
- Financial Times (12/1/22): Satellite group wins legal fight to seize Air India revenues - Court rules company pursuing government for $1.3bn can lay claim to part of state airline’s income [court-news, capitalist-farce-news] Paywall Summary (?): The contract in question was cancelled a decade ago, and now they've been circling Indian state assets for seizure. 'In a Montreal court ruling on Saturday, a judge ruled that Devas shareholders were entitled to half of the money that the Canada-based International Air Transport Association holds on behalf of Air India. The Iata operates a settlement system for travel agents, meaning that its offices worldwide can handle much of an airline’s global revenues.' - 'Devas shareholders argue that they can claim the assets of Air India, which is owned by the government but is in the process of being sold to Indian conglomerate, the Tata Group.' - '“India has assets like this all over the world,” Newman [lawyer hired by the seizers] told the Financial Times. “This is just the beginning. We’re planning many more seizures.”'
- The Economist (15/1/22): Hindu bigots are openly urging Indians to murder Muslims - And the ruling party does nothing to stop them [militant-far-right-news] [!]
- Washington Post (13/1/22): Train derails in India's West Bengal state; 9 dead [rail-news, disaster-news] [!]
- WSWS (13/1/22): Hundreds of thousands of power-loom operators in south India launch indefinite strike [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS [!]
- NewsClick (8/1/22): Dalit Man Forced to Enter and Clean Sewer in Gujarat - Complaint filed after independent MLA Jignesh Mevani intervenes; the inhuman practice of forcing Dalits into manual scavenging continues even today. [labor-news, social-woes-news] [!]
- NewsClick (8/1/22): Lockdown Means Hunger: Bihari Migrant Workers’ Families Worried Over Third Wave - Amid the threat of the impending COVID-19 third wave, women in the families of migrant workers are fearing the loss of their livelihood sources if another lockdown strikes. [labor-news, covid-news] [!]
- Wall Street Journal (8/1/22): Omicron Fuels Fresh Surge, Threatening India’s Hospitals Anew - While politicians hold large maskless rallies, officials say they are securing more hospital beds, medicines and oxygen [covid-news, healthcare-news, far-right-news] Paywall Summary (?): Many states are underprepared. In Mumbai, 85-90% of employees at 9 COVID field hopsitals weree terminated by November. Many healthcare workers are exhausted, even striking. Meanwhile, politicians such as PM Modi are holding huge election rallies without masks, anticipating elections coming in several states this year. While Omicron is reported as less deadly, its higher infectivity means that it can put huge strain on healthcare systems, especially in a nation with such a huge population. The Modi govt has failed to push vaccine regimens aggressively enough.
- NewsClick (8/1/22): UP: 102, 108 Ambulance Workers Hold Protest, Demand Reinstatement of 10,000 Workers - According to their union, around 9,000 employees were served termination letters in July after the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government reportedly awarded a new tender to Ziqitza Healthcare Limited on May 31. [labor-news, healthcare-news] [!]
- NewsClick (8/1/22): J&K Police Books 10 PDP Members for Gathering at Mufti Sayeed's Grave in South Kashmir - Mehbooba Mufti hits back for selective targeting, asks where was COVID protocol in BJP’s rally on Thursday. [!]
- Washington Post (8/1/22): Snowstorm kills at least 22, including 10 children, on Pakistani highway after thousands are trapped in cars - The Punjab provincial government tweeted that it had declared a state of emergency while administrators said food and blankets were being distributed to those who were stranded. - In neighboring Afghanistan, snow and freezing temperatures in Kabul are also threatening large parts of the population. The rising cost of fuel to heat homes, a lack of adequate shelters and harsh winter weather could leave millions of already vulnerable Afghans at risk, aid groups have warned. [disaster-news]
- Wall Street Journal (8/1/22): Mother Teresa’s Charity in India Regains Access to Foreign Funding After Ban - Blocking of funds on Christmas Day came amid Christian leaders’ complaints of hostile environment for their religion in Hindu-majority country [surveillance-and-censorship-news] Paywall Summary (?): The government did not give a reason for the reversal.
- WSWS (7/1/22): Government doctors have been protesting outside the Kerala Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram since December 8 about pay anomalies for doctors in the eleventh pay revision. They have established a medical camp on the roadside and are providing free check-ups for the public. [healthcare-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (7/1/22): Terminated workers from the government-owned telecommunications equipment manufacturer Indian Telephone Industries (ITI) have been protesting for over a month outside the company’s facility in Bengaluru, Karnataka state. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (7/1/22): Chhattisgarh police used water canon to violently disperse a protest in Madwa by contract workers from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Thermal Power Plant. Media claimed that 20 police were injured and police cars damaged during the intervention. [law-enforcement-oversteps-news, busting-labor-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (7/1/22): Government health department workers, organised by six health unions, stopped work on January 1 and demonstrated outside their respective healthcare centres. They alleged that the state government is planning to withdraw 40 long-established allowances that have been paid during the past 25 years. Workers want special facilities and entitlements outlined in the long-awaited Sixth Pay Commission. [healthcare-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (7/1/22): About 250 ambulance emergency medical services workers from the GVK Emergency Management and Research Institute (GVK EMRI) at Shillong, in Meghalaya state began a one-week strike on January 3 to demand a pay increase and job security. The workers (drivers and medical technicians) are members of the Meghalaya EMRI Workers Union (MEMRIWU). [healthcare-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (7/1/22): Workers from the government-owned National Textile Corporation (NTC) mills in Tamil Nadu demonstrated in Coimbatore, the state capital, on January 5 over several demands. These included the payment of two months’ outstanding wages and a bons and reopening of the NTC’s 23 textile mills. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (7/1/22): Around 1,700 sanitation workers from the Erode City Municipal Corporation in Tamil Nadu, protested outside the corporation office on January 5 to demand withdrawal of an order issued on October 2 that facilitated the outsourcing of their jobs. The workers demanded permanent jobs for contract and daily wage workers. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- CounterPunch (6/1/22): Right-Wing Hate Speech Runs Rampant in India’s Elections [far-right-news] [!]
- NewsClick (6/1/22): An App Called Tek Fog Helps Cyber Troops With Links to BJP Automate Hate Online, an Investigation Reveals - An investigation by The Wire for over two years into the workings of a highly sophisticated app, 'Tek Fog', has revealed shocking details about how it was "used by online operatives to hijack major social media and encrypted messaging platforms and amplify right-wing propaganda to a domestic audience." [militant-far-right-news] [!]
- NewsClick (6/1/22): Karnataka: Penalised for Unionising, Terminated ITI Workers at Continue Protest for Over a Month - The Indian Telephone Industries on December 1, 2021 arbitrarily ousted 120 workers from their jobs. The stranded workers at the main gate were informed by an HR official of the company having no work for them. [busting-labor-news] [!]
- NewsClick (6/1/22): Anganwadi Workers Take to Streets Against ‘Betrayal’ by Haryana Govt - Braving heavy rains, anganwadi workers of Haryana gathered in large numbers on Wednesday to protest against unkept promises by the M L Khattar government to raise their honorarium, as announced by PM Modi. [labor-news] [!]
- The Economist World This Week (8/1/22): Delhi imposed a weekend curfew to slow the spread of the Omicron variant, which is highly transmissible but appears less deadly than previous strains of coronavirus. India, like most countries, is suffering a new wave of infections. Local governments are rushing to reimpose restrictions. Undeterred, politicians are still holding huge rallies in states that are holding elections in February and March. [covid-news]
- Just Security (6/1/22): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was trapped on a flyover for 20 minutes by protesters in Punjab yesterday. The incident was described as “a major lapse in the security” of the Prime Minister by the Indian federal home ministry. BBC News reports. [protest-news]
- NewsClick (5/1/22): Haryana: In Karnal, Amidst Show of Strength, Striking Anganwadi Workers Announce to Intensify Struggle - As the state government refuses to budge on their major demands, the unions spearheading the strike have now announced to observe Jail Bharo agitation on January 12. [labor-news] [!]
- Washington Post (5/1/22): Toxic gas leak from industrial tanker kills 6 in India [industrial-failure-news]
- Al-Monitor (5/1/22): Iranian forces rescue Indian ship - The vessel was en route to Oman when it encountered stormy conditions.
- Left Voice (5/1/22): Apparel Suppliers in India Pay Less than Minimum Wage While Reaping Billions in Profits - More than 400,000 workers in Karnataka, India, one of the world’s largest clothing production centers, are paid less than US$5.00 a month by suppliers to major clothing sellers, including Nike, Zara, and C&A. [labor-news, capitalist-farce-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (5/1/22): Elon Musk’s Starlink hits a wall in India - India has told Starlink, which is yet to get a licence, to refund clients and refrain from fresh orders. [big-tech-news] [!]
- NewsClick (5/1/22): Haryana: Urea Shortage Persists, Farmers Fear Crop Losses - Reports of a tussle between farmers and local administrations in Bhiwani, Kaithal and Yamunanagar are abuzz in local newspapers with farmers even gheraoing state agriculture minister JP Dalal in his own constituency [food-security-news] [!]
- NewsClick (5/1/22): Delhi Records 10,665 Cases, Positivity Rate Spikes to Above 11% - The Delhi government announced a weekend curfew on Tuesday to curb the sharp spike in the number of cases. [covid-news] [!]
- Democracy Now (5/1/22): Amid Surge, Delhi to Enforce Weekend Curfew as Hong Kong Bans Flights from U.S., U.K. [logistics-news, covid-news]
- NewsClick (4/1/22): Tamil Nadu Farmers Blame Centre for Shortage, High Prices of Fertilisers - The AIKS held protests against the spiralling prices and the shortage of important fertilisers and the reduction subsidies. [food-security-news] [!]
- NewsClick (4/1/22): 20,000 Striking Anganwadi Workers of Haryana to Rally in Karnal - The workers and helpers have been on strike since December 8, 2021, demanding the increment promised to them in 2018. [labor-news] [!]
- Left Voice (2/1/22): Worker Protest at Foxconn iPhone Factory In India Forces the Bosses to Improve Labor Conditions - Thousands of women workers at an iPhone assembly factory in India said “enough” last week and protested their horrible working and living conditions. Their actions forced the company to close the plant and make improvements. [labor-news, big-tech-news]
- The Guardian (2/1/22): ‘Boys and girls have equal freedom’: Kerala backs gender-neutral uniforms - Primary school pupils run free in shorts while a secondary school has gone ahead with uniform changes despite protests [civil-rights-news] [!]
- The Guardian (2/1/22): Oxfam says its work in India is imperilled by ban on foreign funding - Government has banned Mother Teresa charity and many other NGOs from receiving donations from abroad - The ruling Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) has been waging a campaign against NGOs and social activists, particularly those working among the rural poor, forest dwellers, the low castes, and the marginalised and on issues of inequality. - They have also accused some NGOs of having links with extremist groups. [surveillance-and-censorship-news]
- NewsClick (1/1/22): Haryana: 2 Killed in Landslide at Mining Site in Bhiwani Dist, Several Feared Trapped - Around half a dozen dumper trucks and some machines have been buried under debris after the landslide in Tosham block, police said. [industrial-failure-news] [!]
- NewsClick (1/1/22): 6,000 Entities, Including IMA, IIT Delhi, Jamia Milia, Oxfam India Lose Foreign Funding Licence - These entities either did not apply for renewal of FCRA licence or the Union Home Ministry rejected their applications, officials said. [surveillance-and-censorship-news]
- NewsClick (2/1/22): More Families Pushed to Surviving Without Jobs - Latest CMIE data shows that share of families with two members working has fallen drastically. This means people are surviving on much less income. [social-woes-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (1/1/22): Several dead in stampede at religious shrine in Kashmir - Mata Vaishno Devi is one of the most revered Hindu shrines in northern India, with tens of thousands visiting to offer prayers every day. [disaster-news]
- NewsClick (31/12/21): Karnataka: Fear of Intimidation Grips Christian Community Post Anti-Conversion Law Passage - A 75-page report titled "Criminalising Practice of Faith- A Report" by PUCL Karnataka on hate crimes against Christians in the state cites 39 violent instances between January to November 2021 across the state. [militant-far-right-news] [!]
- NewsClick (31/12/21): Nagaland Political Parties, Tribal Groups ‘Aghast’ at AFSPA Extension - Naga People’s Front, Naga Students Federation, Naga Hoho and Rising People’s Party denounce the BJP government’s decision. [!]
- NewsClick (31/12/21): Bihar: Farmers Continue Protests as Fertiliser Shortage Persists Into Rabi Season - As per reports reaching here, farmers have been protesting against the shortage of fertiliser and black marketing in Araria, Madhepura, Supaul, East Champaran, and other districts. [food-security-news, protest-news] [!]
- NewsClick (31/12/21): Yogi Govt Hikes pay of Part-Time Instructors, Cooks; Union Terms its Poll ‘Gimmick’ - The UP Anganwadi Karmchari Union has said that the chief minister is silent on its key demands. [!]
East Timor
Last Year's Entry
Indonesia Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Administrative (cr.);
Last Year's Entry
- Washington Post (19/1/22): Indonesian militant gets 15 years in jail over Bali attacksIndonesian militant gets 15 years in jail over Bali attacks [!]
- Al Jazeera (18/1/22): Indonesia names new capital Nusantara as MPs back relocation - The ambitious $32.5bn project will move Indonesia’s capital from the overcrowded, polluted and sinking Jakarta to a sparsely populated jungled area on Borneo. [!]
- Al Jazeera (6/1/22): More than 30,000 displaced by floods in Indonesia’s Sumatra - People take shelter in mosques, public buildings as homes submerged in Aceh and Jambi, with at least two children reported killed. [disaster-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (5/1/22): Indonesia secures coal supplies amid hopes of end to export ban - The world’s top exporter of the coal used in power plants banned exports to avoid power outages. [big-oil-news, energy-news] [!]
- South China Morning Post (4/1/22): Indonesia suspected militant accused of beheadings is killed in police crackdown - Ahmad Gazali, a key member of the East Indonesia Mujahideen network, was shot by military and police officers as part of a sweeping counterterrorism campaign - Police say Gazali conducted several executions as the group claimed responsibility for killing police officers and minority Christians Important Note on SCMP [!]
Laos Updates
Last Year's Entry
Malaysia Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
- South China Morning Post (6/1/22): ‘Like Najib’s 1MDB playbook’: Malaysia’s anti-corruption chief Azam Baki faces ridicule in stock saga - Controversy is mounting over a claim by the head of the MACC that his sibling had ‘borrowed’ his trading account to purchase millions of ringgit of shares - While the Securities Commission says it will seek an explanation, the slow response has critics drawing parallels to a scandal at the state investment fund [corruption-news] Important Note on SCMP [!]
Maldives Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
Myanmar Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Ethnic, cr: Al Jazeera); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Myanmar Live Map
Last Year's Entry
- Just Security (20/1/22): Myanmar’s military has arrested three people working for the independent news portal Dawei Watch, an editor at the publication has said. Reuters reports. [surveillance-and-censorship-news]
- The Irrawaddy (18/1/22): The Worst Myanmar Regime Airstrikes on Civilians [!]
- The Irrawaddy (19/1/22): Myanmar Resistance Forces China-Backed Nickel Plant Shut Down [china-policy-news, resource-news] [!]
- The Irrawaddy (19/1/22): Nearly 160 Myanmar Regime Troops Killed in First Half of January: KNU [!]
- New York Times (15/1/22): Pay Your Power Bill, Myanmar Soldiers Say, or Pay With Your Life - Facing a huge loss of revenue amid economic turmoil, the military has sent soldiers to act as debt collectors.
- CPJ (14/1/22): Myanmar journalist killed in military massacre, another killed in artillery strike [!]
- The Irrawaddy (14/1/22): Suspended International Infrastructure Projects Resumed in Myanmar [!]
- Just Security (14/1/22): Myanmar’s ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi and deposed President Win Myint will face five additional charges of corruption, each carrying a maximum of 15 years in prison, a source has said. The charges relate to the hiring a helicopter while in office. Reuters reports.
- The Economist World This Week (13/1/22): Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s de facto leader until a coup last February, was found guilty by a military court of breaking covid rules and possessing walkie-talkies. She was sentenced to four years. A previous ruling found her guilty of other trumped-up charges.
- Al Jazeera (13/1/22): Myanmar military replaces air force chief amid bombing campaign - Maung Maung Kyaw, a general under US sanctions, reportedly removed from the post he had held since 2018. [!]
- The Guardian (13/1/22): Burmese flee bombardment as junta ‘makes example’ of city of Loikaw - Up to 170,000 people are thought to have left homes in Myanmar’s Kayah state due to intensified fighting [!]
- The Irrawaddy (12/1/22): Most Japanese Firms Investing in Myanmar Remain Despite Coup [capitalist-farce-news] [!]
- The Irrawaddy (12/1/22): China Backs Cambodia’s Much Criticized Diplomatic Bid in Myanmar [china-policy-news] [!]
- The Irrawaddy (12/1/22): Myanmar Junta Airstrikes Continue in Kayah State [!]
- The Irrawaddy (12/1/22): Myanmar Junta Raises SIM and Internet Taxes to Silence Opposition [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- The Irrawaddy (12/1/22): Resistance Fighters and KIA Clash With Junta Forces in Northern Myanmar [!]
- The Irrawaddy (12/1/22): Regime Airstrike Destroys Hospital in Lower Myanmar [!]
- The Irrawaddy (10/1/22): Myanmar Military Regime Bombs Kayah State Capital From the Air [!]
- The Irrawaddy (10/1/22): 2,300 Myanmar Junta Troops Killed in Last Month: NUG [!]
- The Irrawaddy (10/1/22): Ten Civilians Murdered by Junta in Western Myanmar [!]
- Just Security (10/1/22): A U.N. human rights investigator has urged Myanmar’s military to halt attacks on a Myanmar town and lift a blockade on those trying to flee. Since last week, the military has been launching air strikes and firing artillery on the town of Loikaw, the capital of eastern Myanmar’s Kayah State, forcing several thousand residents to flee, according to a resident and media reports. Reuters reports.
- Just Security (10/1/22): In the latest judgment in a series of cases against ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a military court has given her a four-year jail sentence for various offences, including charges of illegally importing and owning walkie-talkies, as well as breaking Covid-19 rules. Rebecca Ratcliffe reports for the Guardian. [surveillance-and-censorship-news, court-news]
- The Irrawaddy (7/1/22): Yangon Resistance Fighters Step up Attacks on Myanmar Junta [!]
- The Irrawaddy (7/1/22): Cambodian Leader Draws People’s Fury as He Arrives in Junta-Ruled Myanmar [!]
- The Irrawaddy (7/1/22): Myanmar Junta Aircraft Attack Near Thai Border [!]
- Al Jazeera (8/1/22): Fleeing violence in Myanmar, thousands camp along Thai border river - At least 2,000 men, women and children are reportedly camped out in four separate locations on the Myanmar side of the Moei River. [!]
- The Guardian (7/1/22): Cambodian PM Hun Sen’s visit with Myanmar military chief sparks protests - Critics fear Hun Sen’s meeting with military ruler Min Aung Hlaing gives legitimacy to the ruling junta [!]
- The Economist (8/1/22): A growing number of soldiers [2k soldiers and 6k police officers] are deserting the Burmese army - The shadow government hopes helping them escape will weaken the Tatmadaw - The Tatmadaw is thought to number some 300,000 soldiers and the police around 80,000. Nyi Thu Ta, a former army captain and a founder of People’s Soldiers, says that at least 10,000 soldiers would need to defect for “a crack in the military to become obvious”. - Many soldiers in the Tatmadaw would like to flee but cannot for various reasons, according to the NUG. The Tatmadaw closely monitors the rank and file. Contact with the world outside the barracks is heavily restricted. There are internet blackouts in some camps. Most soldiers are no longer allowed to leave the barracks without permission. Before the coup, deserters would get five years in prison. Now they would most likely be shot.
- The Irrawaddy (6/1/22): Myanmar Junta Soldiers Killed in Clash With TNLA [!]
- The Irrawaddy (6/1/22): Yangon Vehicle Ramming Commander Honored by Myanmar Junta Leader [!]
- The Irrawaddy (5/1/22): Myanmar Junta Losing Grip on Key Kayah Township: Resistance [!]
- The Guardian (5/1/22): Thousands of Rohingya shops demolished in Bangladesh, leaving refugees desperate - Bangladesh praised for taking in nearly a million Rohingya refugees, but destruction of shops that serve communities has attracted criticism [immigrant-news] [!]
Nepal Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Provinces (cr.);
Last Year's Entry
Pakistan Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (shown without Gilgit-Baltistan, not my map) (cr.); Administrative (cr.);
Last Year's Entry
- Washington Post (20/1/22): Pakistan court sentences woman to death for blasphemy [civil-rights-news, surveillance-and-censorship-news, far-right-news] [!]
- Just Security (20/1/22): A bomb has exploded in a crowded market in eastern Pakistan killing three people and wounding over 20, police have said. In a text message to a Reuters reporter, a newly formed separatist group based in southwestern Balochistan province claimed responsibility and said that a bank was the target of the attack. Mubasher Bukhari reports for Reuters. [militant-far-right-news]
- The Guardian (19/1/22): Woman sentenced to death in Pakistan over ‘blasphemous’ WhatsApp activity - Aneeqa Ateeq says she was dragged her into a religious discussion so her accuser could take revenge [civil-rights-news, surveillance-and-censorship-news, far-right-news] [!]
- Financial Times (18/1/22): Taliban victory unleashes hardline forces in Pakistan - Imran Khan welcomed Islamists’ conquest but is struggling to contain emboldened extremists at home [!]
- WSWS (14/1/22): Karachi hospital health workers strike for COVID-19 risk allowance [covid-news, healthcare-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (14/1/22): Public sector health workers, paramedics, nurses and other support staff, in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, held an anti-privatisation demonstration on January 6 against the Medical Teaching Institutions reform act of 2019. The government is pressing ahead with its plan to force the state-backed health facilities to fund these institutions themselves. - Privatisation of the public sector is a major demand of the International Monetary Fund. [neo-imperialism-news, privatization-news, healthcare-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Al Jazeera (14/1/22): HRW slams Pakistan over dissent crackdown, alleged rights abuses - Imran Khan’s government has come under fire from rights groups within and outside the country since he came to power in 2018. [!]
- Washington Post (14/1/22): Pakistan says militant attack on army post kills soldier [!]
- Washington Post (13/1/22): Pakistan Taliban confirm ex-spokesman's death in Afghanistan [!]
- Washington Post (12/1/22): Pakistan sentences 4 to death over attack near militant home [!]
- Washington Post (8/1/22): Snowstorm kills at least 22, including 10 children, on Pakistani highway after thousands are trapped in cars - The Punjab provincial government tweeted that it had declared a state of emergency while administrators said food and blankets were being distributed to those who were stranded. - In neighboring Afghanistan, snow and freezing temperatures in Kabul are also threatening large parts of the population. The rising cost of fuel to heat homes, a lack of adequate shelters and harsh winter weather could leave millions of already vulnerable Afghans at risk, aid groups have warned. [disaster-news]
- Washington Post (6/1/22): Afghan Taliban turn blind eye to Pakistani militants
- WSWS (7/1/22): Government sector workers protested in Balambat, Lower Dir, on Tuesday against the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government over cuts to firewood and charcoal allowances. The protest included a march through the city to the deputy commissioner’s office. Protesters threatened that they would boycott the second phase of the local government elections to be held in March if the allowances are not reinstated. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- CPJ (5/1/22): Islamabad High Court to indict three Pakistani journalists for criminal contempt [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- Middle East Monitor (31/12/21): 360 tonnes of Saudi aid arrives in Afghanistan from Pakistan [social-woes-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (31/12/21): Four soldiers killed in raid on Pakistan Taliban hideout - The military said on Friday that security forces raided two hideouts in a former Taliban stronghold near Afghanistan. [!]
Mongolia Updates
Last Year's Entry
North Korea Updates
What could have been: People's Republic of Korea - the short-lived provisional government following WWII, based on a network of people's committees. The United States shortly outlawed the PRK, establishing a dictatorship (South Korea), and the Soviet Union co-opted the structures to form North Korea.
Last Year's Entry
- South China Morning Post (17/1/22): China and North Korea reopen rail link after 2-year coronavirus closure - Line between Dandong in China and Sinuiju in North Korea back in business - Pyongyang suspended operations in January, 2020, and imposed some of the world’s strictest containment measures Important Note on SCMP [!]
- South China Morning Post (18/1/22): North Korea using Russian satellite navigation system instead of GPS for missile launches, observers say - Pyongyang fired what appeared to be two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea on Monday, the fourth test this month - Source close to Chinese military says the North has been using Glonass and has benefited from Soviet technology Important Note on SCMP [!]
- Democracy Now (18/1/22): North Korea Carries Out Fourth Missile Test This Month
- Just Security (14/1/22): North Korea has fired at least two possible ballistic missiles today. Japan’s Coast Guard reported that North Korea fired what could be a ballistic missile, and South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it had detected what it presumed were two short-range ballistic missiles launched into the sea off its east coast. The launch will be North Korea’s third such launch in two weeks. Josh Smith and Hyonhee Shin report for Reuters.
- The Guardian (13/1/22): North Korean hackers stole $400m in digital assets last year, says report - The regime has launched at least seven cyber-attacks on cryptocurrency platforms, say blockchain experts [cyber-security-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (12/1/22): US sanctions North Koreans, citing ‘ballistic missile’ tests - The US Treasury sanctioned North Korean nationals based in Russia and China following ‘six ballistic missile launches since September’. [us-policy-news] [!]
- Financial Times (11/1/22): North Korean women pay a heavy price as Kim turns on 'black market breadwinners' - Female entrepreneurs have been the backbone of the private economy for the past 25 years, but new restrictions threaten their role [!]
- Just Security (11/1/22): North Korea has test-fired a suspected ballistic missile that may be an improved version of the missile it launched last week, South Korea and Japan have said. In a statement South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said that their assessment was that the missile was more advanced than the missile fired last week, which North Korea dubbed a “hypersonic missile.” The latest missile launch drew condemnation from both Japan and South Korea. Justin McCurry reports for the Guardian.
- Just Security (7/1/22): South Korean military officials have cast doubts on the capabilities of what North Korea has called a “hypersonic missile” test fired this week. The officials said that while the test missile warhead appeared to reach hypersonic speeds, that capability is shared by other ballistic missiles and North Korea’s test did not appear to demonstrate the range and maneuverability claimed in state media reports. Josh Smith and Hyonhee Shin report for Reuters.
- The Guardian (5/1/22): North Korean hypersonic missile hit target in test firing, says state media - Launch was detected by militaries in the region, and was criticised by South Korea, Japan and the US [!]
- Just Security (5/1/22): North Korea has fired a suspected ballistic missile into the sea, Japan and South Korea have said.
- Just Security (3/1/22): North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for solutions to economic hardships and the development of military prowess in a speech at a major policy meeting last week, state media has reported. “Food shortages and other domestic hardships were put in the foreground as Kim laid out plans for 2022 at the plenary meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party’s central committee. He also vowed to build up North Korea’s military in light of a ‘destabilizing’ situation on the Korean Peninsula and international politics,” Min Joo Kim reports for the Washington Post.
- Just Security (3/1/22): The man observed crossing from South Korea into North Korea is believed to be a North Korean who previously defected in 2020 in the same area, Seoul’s Defense Ministry has subsequently said. “Investigators are seeking to determine whether weekend movement detected on the northern side of the border was North Korean troops coming to escort the man, but that at this time the South Korean government does not think it is a case of espionage, [a ministry official has said],” Josh Smith reports for Reuters.
- The Guardian (2/1/22): South Korean crosses demilitarised zone in rare defection to North - The fate of the defector is unknown after they crossed the heavily fortified border between the two Koreas [!]
Papua New Guinea Updates
Last Year's Entry
Philippines Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
- Democracy Now (19/1/22): In the Philippines, new data released by the government statistics office says the number of overall COVID deaths could be around 105,000, double the health department’s official death toll. The Philippines has reported record-breaking daily case numbers this week. [covid-news]
- Al Jazeera (15/1/22): Philippines to acquire missile system from India for $375m - Philippines would be the first country to purchase missile system jointly developed by India and Russia to defend its maritime territory. [!]
- The Guardian (14/1/22): Philippines accused of being ‘anti-poor’ with public transport ban on Covid unvaccinated - Rights groups say the ban penalises those who cannot travel in a private vehicle or work from home [covid-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (11/1/22): One child killed, six wounded in Philippines bus bombing - Police say the blast took place as the bus travelled near Cotabato City on Mindanao island, where armed groups are active. [!]
- The Guardian (6/1/22): Philippines’ Duterte orders arrest of unvaccinated people who violate stay-at-home orders - President ‘appalled’ at the large numbers of Filipinos not vaccinated ‘galloping in our community’ [covid-news] [!]
Singapore Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
Sri Lanka Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Administrative (cr.);
Last Year's Entry
- The Intercept (19/1/22): Facebook’s Tamil Censorship Highlights Risks to Everyone - Facebook moderators seem unable to distinguish the Tamil Guardian from the long-defunct Tamil Tigers. Experts say this sort of bumbling threatens press and cultural freedom worldwide. [big-tech-news, surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- Wall Street Journal (18/1/22): Deepening Debt Crisis in Sri Lanka Stokes Controversy Over Chinese Lending - The crunch opens a window for India to push back against Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean region [which gave financial relief before a $500m bond matured, first tranche of $4.5bn total due this year] [china-policy-news, bri-news, debt-economic-news] Paywall Summary (?): inflation issues and weak currency. 2/3 govt revenue going towards interest payments, and the nation has 'insufficientt foreign-currency reserves to pay for the imports it needs'. Chinese lending includes '$13 billion seafront business hub in the capital, Colombo, and a port and airport in the Rajapaksa family’s home constituency of Hambantota.' Recent Indian investments include deals for Adani Group development. 'Sri Lanka had about $3.5 billion in debt from China as of end-2020, excluding loans to state enterprises, according to Sri Lankan central-bank data, about the same as owed to Japan. The largest portion—about 36%—of Sri Lanka’s debt is owed through international sovereign bonds.' - 'While China accounts for only around 10% of Sri Lanka’s total debt, U.S. officials and some scholars have often cited it as evidence of how Beijing is causing debt distress through its Belt and Road initiative to build ports, railways, pipelines and other infrastructure across Asia and beyond.' - 'In one prominent example, Sri Lanka’s government was unable to repay a Chinese loan for the port in Hambantota that China helped build. To settle the loan, it granted a Chinese state company a 99-year lease on the facility. '
- Financial Times (17/1/22): Poorest countries face $11bn surge [to around $35bn] in debt repayments - World Bank warns of risk of ‘disorderly defaults’ as pandemic-era relief scheme expires [debt-capitalist-farce-news] Paywall Summary (?): 60% of low-income nations need/are-at-risk-of-needing to restructure their debts, with the looming crisis of sovereign debt crises, the World Bank warns. There was a scheme to put off debt repayments by a year (DSSI), but that seems to just push the date off when debt needs to be paid, and even then, the bill is coming due this year. Nations have borrowed more (~$300bn of issued bonds in low+middle income nations in 2020 and 2021) in the past few years to deal with the economic and healthcare costs of COVID-19, and now are facing higher borrowing costs as central banks around the world are raising interest rates. There are fears of a lost decade, with a 1 to 2 year window to figure this out; many mechanisms to deal with this will be difficult, if it requires the nations to make certain deals and arrangements with creditors and the IMF, as that will be tantamount to admitting issues paying debts, and the private sector will punish them.
- WSWS (14/1/22): Thousands of Teachers’ Principals Union members struck on Wednesday over several grievances. These included illegal recruitment of principals, unjustifiable principal grades in the new salary circular and forced terminations. Union members marched to the education ministry office in Battaramulla, on the outskirts of Colombo, where they held a demonstration. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (14/1/22): More than 4,000 paramedics from hospitals and health centres in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province walked out for 24 hours on Wednesday over several demands, including for higher salaries and allowances, and for promotions. The Government Health Professionals’ Federation, consisting of 15 trade unions, held a protest march and rally outside the Anuradhapura Teaching hospital in the provincial capital. [healthcare-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Al Jazeera (13/1/22): Sri Lanka prison chief gets death penalty for 2012 massacre - Court convicts Prisons Commissioner Emil Lamahewage but discharges co-accused police commando for execution-style killing of 27 inmates. [!]
- WSWS (11/1/22): Sri Lanka: Kahatagaha mine workers protest lockout and cuts in daily allowances [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS [!]
- The Guardian (9/1/22): Sri Lanka appeals to China to ease debt burden amid economic crisis - President urges rescheduling of payments amid food and electricity rationing after pandemic hit tourism sector [bri-news, china-policy-news, economic-news] [!]
- WSWS (7/1/22): Southern Province health workers in nine base hospitals and 47 government medical health services offices walked out for 24 hours on Wednesday in protest over several demands, including for higher allowances and for promotions. Nurses, paramedics, medical and intermediate professionals marched towards Galle city, the provincial capital and demonstrated outside the main bus stand. [healthcare-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Al Jazeera (3/1/22): Sri Lanka unveils $1BN relief plan as soaring food prices bite - Sri Lanka will increase pay and pensions for government employees, roll back some taxes on food and medicine and boost income support for the poorest citizens. [social-woes-news]
- The Guardian (2/1/22): ‘There is no money left’: Covid crisis leaves Sri Lanka on brink of bankruptcy - Half a million people have sunk into poverty since the pandemic struck, with rising costs forcing many to cut back on food [social-woes-news, economic-news, covid-news, neo-imperialism-news, bri-news]
Thailand Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
- Washington Post (20/1/22): Thailand loosens entry restrictions as omicron worries ease [covid-news] [!]
- South China Morning Post (31/12/21): Thai farmers fear loss of land to industrial zone linked to China’s belt and road - The Eastern Economic Corridor, which includes a high-speed railway line and an airport, aims to lure investors and generate jobs - But residents say authorities did not consult them on the plans, and that the project will ruin the environment and livelihoods that rely on farming and fishing [bri-news, rail-news, social-woes-news, housing-news] Important Note on SCMP [!]
Vietnam Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Administrative (cr.);
Last Year's Entry
- Al Jazeera / Bloomberg (12/1/22): Vietnam approves $15.3 billion in aid for COVID-hit economy - Government says it seeks ‘sustainable’ growth that ensures macroeconomic stability while controlling inflation. [economic-news]
- CPJ (5/1/22): Vietnam sentences journalist Le Trong Hung to 5 years in prison [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (2/1/22): Vietnam blames China’s ‘zero COVID’ policies for disrupting trade - Vietnam’s trade ministry calls on Chinese authorities to ease congestion at the border crossing [china-policy-news] [!]
Mid East Updates
Afghanistan / Algeria / Armenia / Azerbaijan / Bahrain / Cyprus / Egypt / Iran / Iraq / Israel / Jordan / Kuwait / Lebanon / Libya / Morocco / Oman / Palestine / Qatar / Saudi Arabia / Sudan / Syria / Tunisia / Turkey / United Arab Emirates / Yemen
Last Year's Entry
The Mid East is extremely complex, but we can simplify by identifying three poles of power - Turkey, Gulf states, and Iran. The Gulf states are generally interested in supporting dictators and warlords, often secular (such as Haftar in Libya and al-Sisi in Egypt), and oppose political Islam (such as the Muslim Brotherhood), which often hews to more liberal political philosophy. Turkey generally supports what might be called Islamic Republicanism or just Republicanism, such as the Tripoli government in Libya. And Iran generally supports militant Islamic groups or Shia groups, such as Bashar Al-Assad and the Houthis in Yemen.
In this matrix many of the conflicts can be understood, along with more "local" actors, such as Israel and the Kurds ("local" is an enormous over-simplification, but I digress). For example, Libya can be seen as a conflict of Gulf (Haftar) vs Turkey (Tripoli), Syria a conflict of Iran (Al-Assad) vs Turkey vs the Kurds (a people long oppressed by Turkey), and Yemen a conflict of Iran vs the Gulf, although to say that, for example, there are not Gulf interests in Syria would be incorrect. This is just a gross oversimplification.
This already complex web is further enhanced by foreign interests in the region. For example, the US backs Tripoli (along with Turkey), and France backs Haftar (along with the Gulf). These foreign interventions, often for either gepolitical or resource (oil) motivations, further complicate an already complex situation.
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Regional Updates
- The Intercept (18/1/22): Pegasus Spyware Used Against Dozens of Activist Women in the Middle East - The attacks add to a growing catalog of shame for spyware-maker NSO Group. [surveillance-and-censorship-news, pegasus-leak-news] [!]
Afghanistan Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Afghanistan Live Map
Last Year's Entry
- The Guardian (20/1/22): Taliban arrest Afghan women’s rights activist in apartment raid, witness says - Tamana Zaryabi Paryani and three sisters apparently detained days after anti-hijab protest in Kabul [civil-rights-news, surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- Just Security (20/1/22): Newly declassified surveillance footage has provided additional insights about the final minutes and aftermath of the U.S. drone strike last August in Kabul, Afghanistan that killed 10 innocent people. The footage shows “how the military made a life-or-death decision based on imagery that was fuzzy, hard to interpret in real time and prone to confirmation bias,” Charlie Savage, Eric Schmitt, Azmat Khan, Evan Hill and Christoph Koettl report for the New York Times. [us-policy-news, dark-security-news]
- The Intercept (19/1/22): Starving Afghans Use Crypto to Sidestep U.S. Sanctions, Failing Banks, and the Taliban - NGOs looking to provide emergency aid to Afghanistan despite failing banks and U.S. sanctions are turning to cryptocurrency. [social-woes-news, us-policy-news, cryptocurrency-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (19/1/22): Taliban arrests fighter who shot dead Hazara woman at checkpoint - The Taliban says the fighter will be punished for ‘mistakenly’ killing 25-year-old Zainab Abdullahi, which has caused a public outcry. [!]
- Washington Post (18/1/22): Afghanistan desperately needs aid. One technocrat from the former government is key to the Taliban’s efforts. [!]
- Just Security (18/1/22): Months before President Biden announced the U.S.’s complete withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction warned that the Afghan air force would collapse without critical American aid, training and maintenance. The report, which was submitted to the Department of Defense in January 2021 and declassified today, points to the U.S. failure to train Afghan support staff, leaving the Afghan air force unable to maintain its aircraft without American contractors. Kathy Gannon reports for AP. [us-policy-news]
- Financial Times (18/1/22): Taliban victory unleashes hardline forces in Pakistan - Imran Khan welcomed Islamists’ conquest but is struggling to contain emboldened extremists at home [!]
- Al Jazeera (17/1/22): UN: Taliban attempting to exclude women, girls from public life - Taliban leaders in Afghanistan are institutionalising gender-based discrimination and violence, UN group of experts say. [civil-rights-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (17/1/22): Dozens killed as earthquake hits western Afghanistan - Dozens killed, more than 700 homes damaged in the western Badghis province after 5.3-magnitude earthquake. [disaster-news] [!]
- The Guardian (16/1/22): Taliban forces pepper-spray women’s rights protesters in Kabul - One woman reportedly taken to hospital after protest calling for right to work and education is stopped [protest-news] [!]
- CPJ (11/1/22): Three Afghan journalists detained following coverage of anti-Taliban protests [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- CPJ (12/1/22): Unidentified man attacks Afghan journalist Noor Mohammad Hashemi in Kabul [!]
- Wall Stret Journal (14/1/22): Afghanistan’s Taliban Battle Rebellion by Ethnic Minority Fighters - Some Uzbeks take up arms in the country’s north, complaining of discrimination amid economic collapse [!]
- Democracy Now (14/1/22): U.N. Calls for Urgent Funding to Avert Millions of Deaths in Afghanistan [social-woes-news]
- Washington Post (13/1/22): Pakistan Taliban confirm ex-spokesman's death in Afghanistan [!]
- Jacobin (12/1/22): Thanks to US Sanctions, Afghans Are Starving - The plight of the Afghan people was crucial for pundits and journalists — as long as they had a war to defend. Now that US troops are gone, Joe Biden's sanctions are causing starvation and suffering — and the media has been astonishingly silent. [fail-biden-policy-news, us-policy-news, social-woes-news]
- Al Jazeera (11/1/22): Senior Pakistani Taliban leader killed in Afghanistan: Official - Khalid Balti, former spokesperson for Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, has been killed in Nangarhar province. [!]
- Al Jazeera (11/1/22): Taliban releases prominent Afghan professor from custody: Family - Faizullah Jalal had been detained for several days after he criticised the Taliban’s rule. [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (11/1/22): US to give additional $308m in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan - Biden administration to channel more funding to humanitarian groups as millions of Afghans face extreme hunger. [social-woes-news, us-policy-news] [!]
- Democracy Now (11/1/22): U.N. Appeals for Nearly $5 Billion in Afghanistan Aid as 1 Million Children Face Severe Malnutrition [social-woes-news]
- Just Security (11/1/22): A group of Taliban officials met with leaders of several armed Afghan resistance groups in Iran over the weekend. Women’s rights and press freedoms were discussed during the meeting, which was the first direct interaction between Afghanistan’s new rulers and an alliance of Afghan militias that launched a short-lived uprising after the Taliban took power in August. The Taliban reportedly offered to let the resistance leaders return home safely, which a spokesperson for the resistance group later angrily rejected, saying that the meetings had “achieved nothing.” Pamela Constable reports for the Washington Post.
- Just Security (10/1/22): The Taliban have arrested Faizullah Jalal, a professor of political science and law at Kabul University, weeks after he confronted a Taliban official in a live debate on Afghanistan’s largest television network [surveillance-and-censorship-news]
- Washington Post (8/1/22): Snowstorm kills at least 22, including 10 children, on Pakistani highway after thousands are trapped in cars - The Punjab provincial government tweeted that it had declared a state of emergency while administrators said food and blankets were being distributed to those who were stranded. - In neighboring Afghanistan, snow and freezing temperatures in Kabul are also threatening large parts of the population. The rising cost of fuel to heat homes, a lack of adequate shelters and harsh winter weather could leave millions of already vulnerable Afghans at risk, aid groups have warned. [disaster-news]
- Washington Post (6/1/22): Afghan Taliban turn blind eye to Pakistani militants
- The Guardian (7/1/22): Taliban stop Afghan women from using bathhouses in northern provinces - Decision to close public hammams – most people’s only chance for a warm wash – sparks anger in light of country’s mounting crises [!]
- Middle East Monitor (6/1/22): Afghan provincial intelligence chief killed in road accident
- Al Jazeera (5/1/22): Taliban orders shop owners to remove heads of mannequins - A video clip showing men sawing the plastic heads off life-sized dummies goes viral on social media. [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- Just Security (5/1/22): A harsh winter in Afghanistan is aggravating the ongoing humanitarian crisis and already severe conditions faced by millions across the country, the U.N. has said. UN News Centre reports. [social-woes-news]
- Al-Monitor (4/1/22): Iran’s support for Taliban pays off, but border remains problematic - Exports from Iran to Afghanistan are increasing as border clashes and the smuggling of both people and drugs fosters instability [!]
- The Guardian (3/1/22): Afghan agents pour 3,000 litres of alcohol into Kabul canal amid crackdown - Liquor destroyed after barrels seized and three arrested in capital as Taliban government increases raids over alcohol and drugs [!]
- Just Security (3/1/22): Taliban officials are taking new actions to restrict women’s freedoms and dismantle democratic institutions. The latest restrictions include requiring women to be accompanied by a male relative if they travel more than 45 miles. A Taliban spokesperson also announced the shutdown of two national election oversight commissions and two cabinet ministries, including a ministry that dealt with parliamentary issues. Pamela Constable reports for the Washington Post.
- Just Security (3/1/22): The U.S. military is focusing on the Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K) cell behind the suicide attack at Kabul’s airport in August that killed nearly 200 people, as U.S., Afghanistan, and foreign intelligence officials piece together a profile of the assailant. U.S. officials have also said that the suicide bomber, identified by the Islamic State, was one of several thousand militants freed from at least two high-security prisons by the Taliban after the group seized control of Kabul on Aug. 15. Eric Schmitt reports for the New York Times.
- Wall Street Journal (31/12/21): Who Won in Afghanistan? Private Contractors - The U.S. military spent $14 trillion during two decades of war; those who benefited range from major manufacturers to entrepreneurs [capitalist-farce-news, us-policy-news, corruption-news, dark-security-news] Paywall Summary (?): Around 1/3 to 1/2, WSJ reports, 'went to contractors, with five defense companies - Lockheed Martin Crop., Boeing Co., General Dynamics Corp., Raytheon Technologies Corp. and Northrop Grumman Corp. - taking the lion's share, $2.1tn, ... according to Brown University's Costs of War Project'. These contractors were seen by US politicians as a way to keep service member casualty and deployment numbers down. The acting defense secretary (and fmr. Green Beret) of the last months of the Trump admin. argues that this is due to the US military being an all-volunteer outfit. The large amount of money limited the govt ability to vet contractors, resulting in lots of fraud and corruption. For example, the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction found that of a $7.8bn sample surveyed, only 15% was spent as expected, and $2.4bn was spent on programs that were 'abandoned, destroyed or used for other purposes'; there are reams of failed projects. The special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction since 2012 (John Sopko) places the blame on policymakers, cautioning against broad strokes against contractors as "crooks or war profiteers - The fact that some of them made a lot of money - that's the capitalist system". In WWII, there was 1 contractor for ever 7 service members; in 2008, the US had 188k troops in Afghanistan and Iraq (the peak deployment), and 204k contractor personnel - a roughly 1 to 1 ratio, and the ratio increased under Obama's drawdown (at end of his second term - 26k contractors vs 9.8k troops in Afghanistan - 2.65 to 1). At end of Trump's term, it was 18k contractors vs 2.5k troops (7.2 to 1). These contractors help hide the cost of war, which might otherwise lead to reduced public support. At least 3.5k contractors died in both wars, along with 7k+ service members. Lot's of entrepeneurs found opportunity in the conflict, and the rivers of Pentagon money, making huge sums of money, allowing one such entrepeneur to, for example, buy mansions in London. [Like all capitalists], when there was pressure to reduce costs, a lot of that cost reduction fell on the shoulders of workers, such as linguists that found their monthly pay reduced by 20-25%, while still taking billions from the govt. The entrepeneurs would then claim it's "not about profits, ... it's about preserving our national security and our American way of life". Yet they often failed to vet local employees, and in once instance, a local employee for a contractor killed two service members; their employer made $860m in revenue from DoD in 2012; 90 employees were killed during the war. My interjection: John Sopko was right - it is capitalism.
- Washington Post (31/12/21): Parents selling children shows desperation of Afghanistan - Arranging marriages for very young girls is common in the region. The groom’s family pays money to seal the deal, and the child usually stays with her parents until she is at least around 15. Yet with many unable to afford even basic food, some say they’d allow prospective grooms to take very young girls or are even trying to sell their sons. - Buying boys is believed to be less common than girls, and when it does take place, it appears to be cases families without sons buying infants. In her despair, Guldasta thought perhaps such a family might want an 8-year-old. [social-woes-news, economic-news, us-policy-news (due to the sanctions! :( )]
- Middle East Monitor (31/12/21): 360 tonnes of Saudi aid arrives in Afghanistan from Pakistan [social-woes-news] [!]
Armenia Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
- Al-Monitor (12/1/22): Kazakhstan crisis challenges Turkey's leadership of Turkic union - The unrest rattling Kazakhstan has reflected the irrelevance of Turkey and the Organization of Turkic States chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. [russia-policy-news, social-woes-news, capitalist-farce-news] Snippets Turkey has aimed to utilize the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking states to realize its ambitions in Central Asia. The brainchild of Kazakhstan’s former leader, Nursultan Nazarbayev, the council was planned in 2006 and launched in 2009. In accordance with its new political grandstanding, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan became the new chairman of the body in 2021 during a summit held in Istanbul on Nov. 12. - In a nutshell, the Kazakh leadership — at a time of urgent security needs — preferred Russia over Turkey and Vladimir Putin over Erdogan. Kazakhstan has special bonds with Turkey. The two countries as well as Azerbaijan have been the main pillars of the OTS. Kazakhstan had entered into a military cooperation agreement with Turkey that encompasses cooperation in several fields including the defense industry, intelligence-sharing, joint military exercises, information systems and cyber defense. The growing military ties between Turkey and Kazakhstan as well as Uzbekistan had given rise to a fanciful idea in October 2020 to establish a Turkic NATO. - More striking than anything else and perhaps adding further insult to injury to Turkish nationalists was the deployment of Armenian soldiers and Russian special forces units to Kazakhstan upon the request of the Kazakh president. The announcement of the deployment came from Armenian President Nikol Pashinyan — a striking irony displaying the degradation of Turkey's foreign policy. - What’s more intriguing is the anti-US and anti-Western obsession of certain secularist-nationalists and leftists in Turkey. For example, reacting to the unfolding developments in Kazakhstan, prominent retired Turkish Adm. Cem Gurdeniz blamed the unrest on “an imperialist plot.” Gurdeniz, who is also an ideologue of the controversial Blue Homeland doctrine that advocates more aggressive policy in the Mediterranean, claimed that the unrest stemmed from a “Soros-type provocation” that aimed to harbor “turmoil in Eurasia” and was organized by “imperialists very irritated from the foundation of the Organization of Turkic States.” - In social media, many Turkish leftists viewed similar opinions. Pro-Erdogan circles, in turn, citing a former Russian parliamentarian, claimed that followers of Fethullah Gulen, a US-based cleric who is accused by Turkey of staging a coup attempt in 2016, might be those fomenting trouble in Kazakhstan. - In an opinion piece in the Financial Times, Gideon Rachman wrote, “Kazakhstan is a country in which the average income is around $570 a month, but where the family of Nursultan Nazarbayev, who ruled the country from 1991 until 2019, has acquired foreign properties worth at least $785 million. The turmoil in Kazakhstan may be linked to infighting within ruling circles. But these kinds of problems are inherent to corrupt autocracies. If wealth is divided up as part of a spoils system, any hint of a change in leadership creates instability.” - It also is a stark indicator of the changed fortunes of Turkey in its assertive foreign policy. The Kazakhstan crisis represents a defeat of Turkish nationalism on foreign policy.
- Just Security (6/1/22): Armenian President Nikol Pashinyan, the CSTO’s current chair, said yesterday on Facebook that an unspecified number of troops would be sent to Kazakhstan “for a limited time period” to “stabilize and resolve the situation.” A summary of the unrest in Kazakhstan is provided by Isabelle Khurshudyan reporting for the Washington Post. [russia-policy-news]
- Middle East Monitor (2/1/22): Armenia lifts embargo on goods from Turkey, advancing thaw in relations [!]
Azerbaijan Updates
(wiki)
Maps Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
Iran Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Iran Live Map
Last Year's Entry
- WSWS (20/1/22): Teachers protest across Iran over pay and conditions - Protests by hundreds of teachers took place on January 13 in around 50 cities across Iran, including Tehran, Shiraz and Ahvaz. [covid-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Wall Street Journal (18/1/22): Houthis Fired Drones and [cruise + ballistic] Missiles in Abu Dhabi Attack, Investigation Finds - The attack showed off the military advances that the Iran-backed Yemeni militia has made in recent years [drone-news] Paywall Summary (?): This strike capacity gives Iran leverage in nuclear talks; even as Saudi coalition forces make some gains, a peace deal would likely cement Tehran influence in Yemen. [!]
- Financial Times (18/1/22): Tehran boasts of ‘economic resistance’ against US sanctions - Iran feels emboldened in Vienna nuclear talks but inflation is fuelling public discontent [sanction-us-policy-news, economic-news, social-woes-news] Paywall Summary (?): 43.4% inflation (albeit declining), subsidy cuts on basic commodities and medicine. Around 10m are in poverty and struggle to get food.
- Al Jazeera (15/1/22): Iran says 25-year China agreement enters implementation stage - The agreement was signed last year and includes economic, military and security cooperation. [china-policy-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (15/1/22): Iran looking for ‘safe channel’ to pay UN dues to regain vote - Tehran has lost its voting rights at the UN for a second year in a row as it faces hurdles in making payments due to US sanctions. [!]
- Just Security (14/1/22): Iranian shipping companies have forced large numbers of Indian seafarers to work in dangerous conditions, often with little or no pay, according to men who say they were tricked by international recruiting firms into taking the employment. Katie McQue reports for the Washington Post. [labor-news, logistics-news]
- WSWS (13/1/22): Protests by Iranian judiciary workers outside parliament over pay - Hundreds of Iranian judiciary workers held protests outside the parliament building in Tehran on Saturday and Sunday. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Just Security (13/1/22): Israel said it has broken up an Iranian spy ring that recruited Israeli women via social media. The women apparently agreed to photograph sensitive sites, gather intelligence and, in at least two cases, to encourage their sons to join Israeli military intelligence. AP reports.
- Just Security (13/1/22): The British Council has said that an Iranian employee who was detained and accused of spying by Iran has been released and returned to the U.K. Iran’s Supreme Court acquitted Aras Amiri of all charges following an appeal, the cultural organization said. Amiri was arrested in 2018 while visiting her grandmother. She was convicted of spying by a Revolutionary Court and sentenced to 10 years in prison, a spokesperson for Iran’s judiciary announced in 2019 – a charge that both Amiri and the British Council denied. BBC News reports. [surveillance-and-censorship-news]
- The Guardian (12/1/22): Iran sends French-Iranian academic back to jail at key point in nuclear talks - France says Fariba Adelkhah’s unexplained return to prison will damage efforts to revive 2015 curbs on nuclear programme [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- Just Security (10/1/22): Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet has said that Israel would not be bound by any nuclear deal with Iran and would continue to consider itself free to act “with no constraints” against Iran if necessary. “In regard to the nuclear talks in Vienna, we are definitely concerned … Israel is not a party to the agreements,” Bennett said in public remarks, in a briefing to an Israeli parliamentary committee. Reuters reports.
- Wall Street Journal (8/1/22): Iran Navy Port Emerges as Key to Alleged Weapons Smuggling to Yemen, U.N. Report Says - Thousands of weapons seized by the U.S. along supply routes for Yemen’s Houthis likely originated from Jask in Iran’s southeast, according to a draft report Paywall Summary (?): In 2008, started hosting a naval base, and has had ties with the IRGC. The port is used as a focal point of smuggling exports to Yemen of weapoons made in Russia, China, Iran, and elsewhere.
- Al Jazeera (8/1/22): Jailed Iranian writer Baktash Abtin dies after contracting COVID - Abtin, who was imprisoned over security charges, was a joint winner of the 2021 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award [!]
- Al-Monitor (5/1/22): Iran, Iraq draw up plans for railway connection from Basra to Shalamcheh - Iran and Iraq transportation ministries signed a document setting a roadmap for implementation of Basra-Shalamcheh railway connection, which should boost economic activity for both countries. [rail-news] [!]
- Al-Monitor (5/1/22): Iranian forces rescue Indian ship - The vessel was en route to Oman when it encountered stormy conditions.
- Just Security (4/1/22): A Canadian court has awarded C$107m ($84m), plus interest, to the families of six people who died when Tehran accidentally targeted a civilian plane in the aftermath of the Soleimani strike in Jan. 2020
- Just Security (4/1/22): Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi called for former President Trump and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to face trial for the assassination of Soleimani. Raisi, in a speech yesterday, called Trump an “aggressor,” “murderer,” and the “main culprit,” claiming that: “if Trump and Pompeo are not tried in a fair court for the criminal act of assassinating General Soleimani, Muslims will take our martyr’s revenge.” Reuters reports. [us-policy-news]
- Al-Monitor (4/1/22): Iran’s support for Taliban pays off, but border remains problematic - Exports from Iran to Afghanistan are increasing as border clashes and the smuggling of both people and drugs fosters instability [!]
- Al Jazeera (4/1/22): Eight killed in southern Iran floods: State media - Flash flooding in Iran’s south causes deaths, damage due to heavy rains and is expected to last until later this week. [disaster-news, climate-change-news]
- Wall Street Journal (3/1/22): Attacks on U.S. Allies Raise Tensions on Anniversary of Killing of Iran’s Soleimani - Explosive-laden drones targeted Baghdad’s airport [shot down by air defense, no casualties] and Yemen’s Houthi rebels seized an Emirati-flagged ship [and hackers hit two Israeli newspapers] Paywall Summary (?): These follow protests by Iran-allied paramilitaries in Iraq, chanting "death to America", although the attacks were 'less severe than previous assaults by Iran-aligned paramilitary groups during the past two years', coming amidst nuclear negotiations in Vienna. Some traditional Iranian foes are trying to ease tensions, such as the UAE - and so Iran doesn't want to get too crazy and ruin those olive branches. Last month the US similarly seized a Iran-to-Yemen ship with a weapons cache.
- Middle East Monitor (3/1/22): Rights group: jailed Iranian dissident dies on hunger strike [!]
- Middle East Monitor (2/1/22): Iran space launch fails to put payloads into orbit, official says - "For a payload to enter orbit, it needs to reach speeds above 7,600 (metres per second). We reached 7,350," the spokesman, Ahmad Hosseini, said in a documentary about the launch vehicle broadcast on state TV and posted online. - In April 2020, Iran said it successfully put the country's first military satellite into orbit, following repeated failed launch attempts in previous months. - The United States imposed sanctions on Iran's civilian space agency and two research organisations in 2019, saying they were being used to advance Tehran's ballistic missile programme. [us-policy-news]
- Middle East Monitor (2/1/22): Iran Revolutionary Guards say they killed 6 'bandits' in restive area - Iran's Revolutionary Guards killed six "armed bandits" in the country's southeast on Saturday, the elite force said on its website, in the second day of clashes in an impoverished and often restive region, Reuters reported. - On Friday, Revolutionary Guards shot dead three men believed to have been involved in the killing of two Guards on December 25, according to Iranian media.
- Al Jazeera (1/1/22): Thousands rally in Baghdad to mark 2020 killing of Iran general - Marchers call for expulsion of remaining US forces in Iraq as they commemorate General Qassem Soleimani’s assassination. [protest-news, us-policy-news] [!]
Iraq Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Iraq Live Map
Last Year's Entry
- WSWS (13/1/22): Protests by Iraqi election commission employees demanding permanent contracts [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Washington Post (13/1/22): Iraqi officials: 4 rockets target US Embassy in Baghdad [us-policy-news] [!]
- Al-Monitor (5/1/22): Iran, Iraq draw up plans for railway connection from Basra to Shalamcheh - Iran and Iraq transportation ministries signed a document setting a roadmap for implementation of Basra-Shalamcheh railway connection, which should boost economic activity for both countries. [rail-news] [!]
- The Guardian (5/1/22): Geoff Hoon ‘told to burn memo that said Iraq invasion could be illegal’ - Defence secretary under Tony Blair claims he was told to burn legal advice written by attorney general [fail-government-news, corruption-news]
- Just Security (5/1/22): The U.S. military is suspected to have conducted strikes in Syria after indirect fire posed “an imminent threat” to troops near Green Village, a base in the east of Syria near the Iraqi border. [us-policy-news]
- Just Security (5/1/22): A rocket hit an Iraqi military base hosting U.S. forces near Baghdad’s international airport today, Iraqi security and military sources have said. The sources said that nobody was hurt in the incident. There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attack. Reuters reports.
- Just Security (4/1/22): Two explosive-laden drones were shot down today by Iraq’s air defenses as they approached the Ain al-Asad air base, which hosts U.S. forces, west of Baghdad, an official of the U.S.-led international military coalition in Iraq has said. Reuters reports.
- Al-Monitor (4/1/22): US coalition in Iraq halts second drone attack in two days - Coalition forces in Syria also hit back in response to rocket fire near al-Omar oilfield. [!]
- Wall Street Journal (3/1/22): Attacks on U.S. Allies Raise Tensions on Anniversary of Killing of Iran’s Soleimani - Explosive-laden drones targeted Baghdad’s airport [shot down by air defense, no casualties] and Yemen’s Houthi rebels seized an Emirati-flagged ship [and hackers hit two Israeli newspapers] Paywall Summary (?): These follow protests by Iran-allied paramilitaries in Iraq, chanting "death to America", although the attacks were 'less severe than previous assaults by Iran-aligned paramilitary groups during the past two years', coming amidst nuclear negotiations in Vienna. Some traditional Iranian foes are trying to ease tensions, such as the UAE - and so Iran doesn't want to get too crazy and ruin those olive branches. Last month the US similarly seized a Iran-to-Yemen ship with a weapons cache.
- Middle East Monitor (2/1/22): Iraq arrests security officers over death of 20 civilians [law-enforcement-oversteps-news]
- Al Jazeera (1/1/22): Thousands rally in Baghdad to mark 2020 killing of Iran general - Marchers call for expulsion of remaining US forces in Iraq as they commemorate General Qassem Soleimani’s assassination. [protest-news, us-policy-news] [!]
Israel Updates
(News regarding Palestine/Israel conflict in the Palestine section)
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.), Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Jerusalem (cr.); Old Jerusalem (cr.); West Bank Restrictions and encroaching Israeli settlements (cr.)
Israel/Palestine Live Map
The PALESTINOW site is down! It's back up
Last Year's Entry
- WSWS (20/1/22): Further protests by Israeli Foreign Ministry workers over pay and conditions [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- The Guardian (19/1/22): Israeli minister defends police over alleged Pegasus spying - Omer Barlev denied claims that protesters’ phones had been hacked [surveillance-and-censorship-news, pegasus-leak-news] [!]
- Democracy Now (19/1/22): In related news, in the occupied West Bank, a longtime Palestinian activist has died two weeks after Israeli police ran him over with a tow truck during an anti-occupation protest. Suleiman al-Hathaleen was 65 years old.
- Democracy Now (19/1/22): Israel Demolishes Sheikh Jarrah Home, Arrests Palestinians Resisting Displacement - just days after the Salhiyeh family threatened to burn down their home to resist the eviction. Israeli forces raided their home early Wednesday morning while the family slept. Several members were assaulted, and at least six were arrested. At least another 18 Palestinians who were at the home in solidarity with the family were also detained. The Salhiyeh family had lived on that land since before Israel occupied the area in 1967.
- Just Security (19/1/22): Israeli police have evicted a Palestinian family from their home and demolished the dwelling in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, in a case that has drawn international attention. On Monday, a member of the family took to the roof of their house, threatening to blow it up with gas canisters if they were forced out. Police initially withdrew from the standoff, but returned before dawn today, saying in a statement that they were enforcing a court-approved eviction order of “illegal buildings built on grounds designated for a school for children with special needs.” Reuters reports.
- Washington Post (18/1/22): Israeli police accused of using Pegasus spyware on domestic opponents of Netanyahu [surveillance-and-censorship-news, pegasus-leak-news] [!]
- Democracy Now (18/1/22): Palestinian Family Threatens Self-Immolation, Resisting Eviction from East Jerusalem Home
- Just Security (18/1/22): Around half of global cyber defense investment in the past few years has been in Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said during a video speech to the World Economic Forum. “Israel has become a powerhouse in cyber defense. I see a bunch of opportunities and we intend to seize them,” Bennett said. Reuters reports. [cyber-security-news]
- Washington Post (16/1/22): Netanyahu negotiating plea deal in corruption trial [corruption-news, far-right-news, politics-news] [!]
- WSWS (13/1/22): Israeli forces arrest West Bank striking students - Monday saw a raid by Israeli forces on the campus of Birzeit University in the occupied West Bank, arresting five striking Palestinian students. - The students were involved in a strike against raised tuition fees and had been holding a protest. Two of the students were released later that night. It was the second such raid within a month. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Democracy Now (13/1/22): In other news from the region, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled Tuesday the Interior Ministry cannot deny Palestinians who marry Israeli citizens the right of residency in Israel. [court-news]
- Democracy Now (13/1/22): Israeli Forces Kill 80-Year-Old Palestinian American Man in Violent Arrest - Witnesses say Omar Abdulmajeed Asaad was stopped by Israeli forces while driving home, then dragged out of the car, gagged and handcuffed, and left to die
- Just Security (13/1/22): Israel said it has broken up an Iranian spy ring that recruited Israeli women via social media. The women apparently agreed to photograph sensitive sites, gather intelligence and, in at least two cases, to encourage their sons to join Israeli military intelligence. AP reports.
- Al-Monitor (13/1/22): 2 Israeli soldiers killed by friendly fire - The incident comes less than a week after two Israeli pilots were killed in a helicopter crash off Haifa [!]
- Washington Post (12/1/22): Elderly Palestinian American dies after being detained by Israeli soldiers in West Bank - The U.S. government has called for a ‘thorough investigation’ into the death of the 80-year-old man [!]
- PNN (10/1/22): Israeli bulldozers raze Palestinian land, demolish business in Jerusalem [!]
- Just Security (10/1/22): Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet has said that Israel would not be bound by any nuclear deal with Iran and would continue to consider itself free to act “with no constraints” against Iran if necessary. “In regard to the nuclear talks in Vienna, we are definitely concerned … Israel is not a party to the agreements,” Bennett said in public remarks, in a briefing to an Israeli parliamentary committee. Reuters reports.
- PNN (8/1/22): Armed Israeli settlers attack Susiya village [!]
- PALESTINOW (7/1/22): Two life sentences, Gaza farmers shelled, Homes demolished, 74th memorial massacre, Olive trees uprooted, New city near Gaza Strip, Journalist attacked, TikTok closes Palestinian account [!]
- Democracy Now (7/1/22): Israelis Kill Two Palestinians in West Bank; Far-Right Protesters Attack Palestinian Reporter
- Middle East Monitor (6/1/22): The Netherlands stops funding Palestinian NGO - The Netherlands has stopped funding the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC), one of the six Palestinian human rights organisations designated as "terrorists" by Israel last year. According to Israeli defence minister Benny Gantz at the time, the organisations take orders from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which is also designated as a "terrorist" entity by the apartheid state due to its resistance against the occupation. [!]
- Al-Monitor (6/1/22): Palestinian killed in West Bank shooting - Israeli and Palestinian officials offered different accounts of the incident, which occurred amid of high tensions in the Palestinian territory. [!]
- Just Security (6/1/22): Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian gunman today during a clash in the Palestinian city of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli military has said. Israeli soldiers had entered the city to detain a Palestinian man when “some Palestinian gunmen began firing at the soldiers, prompting them to respond and kill one of them,” a military spokesperson said. Reuters reports.
- Middle East Monitor (5/1/22): Israel demolished health centre in Jerusalem [!]
- Middle East Monitor (5/1/22): Settlers cut down dozens of olive trees in West Bank to expand illegal settlement [!]
- Middle East Monitor (5/1/22): Right-wing Israeli attacks Palestinian journalist [militant-far-right-news] [!]
- PALESTINOW (5/1/22): Demolish Palestinian buildings, Boycott, Palestinians kidnapped, Permanent War, End of hunger strike [!]
- Democracy Now (5/1/22): B’Tselem: Israel Killed 313 Palestinians Last Year, Demolished 300 Residential Structures
- PNN (4/1/22): Hisham Abu Hawash ends 141 consecutive days of hunger strike after reaching a deal to end his administrative detention [!]
- Washington Post (4/1/22): Israeli study reports fivefold jump in antibodies with 4th Pfizer vaccine shot [covid-news] [!]
- ZDNet (4/1/22): Google acquires Israeli cybersecurity company Siemplify for $500 million - Google will be integrating Siemplify's security orchestration, automation and response (SOAR) platform into their cloud systems [big-tech-news] [!]
- Wall Street Journal (3/1/22): Attacks on U.S. Allies Raise Tensions on Anniversary of Killing of Iran’s Soleimani - Explosive-laden drones targeted Baghdad’s airport [shot down by air defense, no casualties] and Yemen’s Houthi rebels seized an Emirati-flagged ship [and hackers hit two Israeli newspapers] Paywall Summary (?): These follow protests by Iran-allied paramilitaries in Iraq, chanting "death to America", although the attacks were 'less severe than previous assaults by Iran-aligned paramilitary groups during the past two years', coming amidst nuclear negotiations in Vienna. Some traditional Iranian foes are trying to ease tensions, such as the UAE - and so Iran doesn't want to get too crazy and ruin those olive branches. Last month the US similarly seized a Iran-to-Yemen ship with a weapons cache.
- Washington Post (3/1/22): Navy helicopter crashes off Israeli coast; 2 pilots killed [!]
- Al-Monitor (3/1/22): Rockets fired from Gaza - After several weeks of relative quiet, Israel now suspects that Hamas, Islamic Jihad, or both are trying to escalate pressure on Israel and on Egypt. [!]
- Middle East Monitor (3/1/22): Palestinians rally to demand release of hunger-striking detainee [!]
- PALESTINOW (3/1/22): Security, Abu Hawwash edge coma, Possible attack on Gaza, Rockets fired, Palestinians killed, Palestinians arrested, Increased state of alert [!]
- PNN (2/1/22): Israel approved 12,000 new settler units, demolished 177 Palestinian buildings in Jerusalem in 2021, says ministry [!]
- Washington Post (2/1/22): Israel strikes Hamas targets in Gaza following rocket launches Note: It's interesting what they do mention here (the Hamas-Israel talks, the hunger striker), but they fail to mention, at all, the heightened violence against Palestinians by the Israeli military and settlers.
- Africa News (1/1/22): Israeli police scuffle with protesters in Sheikh Jarrah
- Middle East Monitor (31/12/21): Israel signs deal with US to purchase helicopters, Boeing aircrafts [us-policy-news] [!]
- PALESTINOW (31/12/21): Palestinians Arrested, 940 Buildings Demolished, Fundraising, Evidence Refusal, Military Exercise, Palestinian Kidnapped [!]
- Common Dreams (31/12/1): Tutu's Courage on Israeli Apartheid Is Played Down in American Media - Archbishop Desmond Tutu used his moral stature to call out and oppose Israeli apartheid, but the U.S. media is leaving it out. [media-news, us-policy-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (31/12/21): Israeli troops kill Palestinian in occupied West Bank - The Palestinian health ministry says the man, identified as Amir Atef Reyan from Qarawet Bani Hassan, died from his wounds. [!]
Jordan Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
Kuwait Updates
Last Year's Entry
Lebanon Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Lebanon Live Map
Last Year's Entry
- WSWS (20/1/22): Palestinian refugees in Lebanon hold strike to protest lack of COVID-19 measures [covid-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Al Jazeera (18/1/22): US sanctions 3 Lebanese businessmen for alleged Hezbollah ties - US Treasury accuses Lebanese group of using the financial sector to amass ‘wealth that the Lebanese people never see’. [sanction-us-policy-news] [!]
- Washington Post (16/1/22): Lebanon faces internet service interruption amid fuel crisis [infrastructure-news, energy-news] [!]
- WSWS (13/1/22): Lebanese teachers strike over pay and conditions [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (13/1/22): Further protests in Lebanon as its currency continues to fall - On Tuesday, the Lebanese pound continued to sink, reaching 33,200 to the dollar. In response, protests took place across the country. - In Tripoli, protestors blocked the al-Nour Square, while in Beirut and Sidon they blocked major highways. Lebanon is facing a continuing financial collapse, which the World Bank likens to wartime conditions. The protestors demanded the right to fuel and the essentials of life and railed against corruption. Due to the collapsing currency, the monthly minimum wage amounts to only $22. [social-woes-news, economic-news, protest-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Al Jazeera (12/1/22): Migrants fleeing Lebanon by sea accuse Greece of abuse - Dozens of people in Lebanon attempted to sail to Italy on October 26, but they never reached their destination. [immigrant-news] [!]
- Middle East Monitor (6/1/22): Employer assaults migrant worker in Lebanon, igniting debate on kafala system - A video showing a Lebanese man assaulting a foreign worker in a town in Lebanon has gone viral on social media [capitalist-farce-news, labor-news] [!]
- Middle East Monitor (5/1/22): Ex-Lebanon PM slams Hezbollah over Saudi comments [!]
- Middle East Monitor (4/1/22): Lebanese government distances itself from Hezbollah criticism of Saudi Arabia [!]
- Washington Post (2/1/22): Lebanese Christian leader: alliance with Hezbollah imperiled - Bassil’s comments come amid a devastating economic crisis and also ahead of critical parliamentary elections in which his party is expecting tough competition. Undoing the alliance with Hezbollah would cost him more votes in the May elections. - But Bassil, a former foreign minister, said the alliance is costing him credibility with supporters. Bassil is also the son-in-law of Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun. He has positioned himself as a reformer and is believed to have ambitions to run for president himself. - Recently, Hezbollah and Amal have been widely critical of the investigation into last year’s Beirut Port investigation, accusing the judge of being biased against their allies— a position at odds with Bassil’s party. - Hezbollah has asked for the judge to be removed, leading to a paralysis within the government. Deadly clashes in October that pitted Amal and Hezbollah supporters against Christian gunmen were triggered by the investigation dispute and further strained relations with Bassil’s party, which accused Amal of the violence. [politics-news]
- Washington Post (2/1/22): 4 Syrians die after burning coal for heat in south Lebanon
Oman Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.), Pop. density from 2000 (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
- CPJ (13/1/22): Omani authorities suspend radio journalist following guest’s on-air critical comments [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- Al-Monitor (5/1/22): Heavy rain prompts evacuations in Oman - Oman’s rainy season occurs in January and February [!]
Palestine Updates
(wiki); Israel
Maps: Basic (listed as "Occupied territories" of Israel) (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Jerusalem (cr.); Old Jerusalem (cr.); West Bank Restrictions and encroaching Israeli settlements (cr.)
Israel/Palestine Live Map
The PALESTINOW site is down! It's back up
Last Year's Entry
- WSWS (20/1/22): Palestinian refugees in Lebanon hold strike to protest lack of COVID-19 measures [covid-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Democracy Now (19/1/22): In related news, in the occupied West Bank, a longtime Palestinian activist has died two weeks after Israeli police ran him over with a tow truck during an anti-occupation protest. Suleiman al-Hathaleen was 65 years old.
- Democracy Now (19/1/22): Israel Demolishes Sheikh Jarrah Home, Arrests Palestinians Resisting Displacement - just days after the Salhiyeh family threatened to burn down their home to resist the eviction. Israeli forces raided their home early Wednesday morning while the family slept. Several members were assaulted, and at least six were arrested. At least another 18 Palestinians who were at the home in solidarity with the family were also detained. The Salhiyeh family had lived on that land since before Israel occupied the area in 1967.
- Just Security (19/1/22): Israeli police have evicted a Palestinian family from their home and demolished the dwelling in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, in a case that has drawn international attention. On Monday, a member of the family took to the roof of their house, threatening to blow it up with gas canisters if they were forced out. Police initially withdrew from the standoff, but returned before dawn today, saying in a statement that they were enforcing a court-approved eviction order of “illegal buildings built on grounds designated for a school for children with special needs.” Reuters reports.
- Democracy Now (18/1/22): Palestinian Family Threatens Self-Immolation, Resisting Eviction from East Jerusalem Home
- WSWS (13/1/22): Israeli forces arrest West Bank striking students - Monday saw a raid by Israeli forces on the campus of Birzeit University in the occupied West Bank, arresting five striking Palestinian students. - The students were involved in a strike against raised tuition fees and had been holding a protest. Two of the students were released later that night. It was the second such raid within a month. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Democracy Now (13/1/22): In other news from the region, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled Tuesday the Interior Ministry cannot deny Palestinians who marry Israeli citizens the right of residency in Israel. [court-news]
- Democracy Now (13/1/22): Israeli Forces Kill 80-Year-Old Palestinian American Man in Violent Arrest - Witnesses say Omar Abdulmajeed Asaad was stopped by Israeli forces while driving home, then dragged out of the car, gagged and handcuffed, and left to die
- Washington Post (12/1/22): Elderly Palestinian American dies after being detained by Israeli soldiers in West Bank - The U.S. government has called for a ‘thorough investigation’ into the death of the 80-year-old man [!]
- PNN (10/1/22): Israeli bulldozers raze Palestinian land, demolish business in Jerusalem [!]
- PNN (8/1/22): Armed Israeli settlers attack Susiya village [!]
- PALESTINOW (7/1/22): Two life sentences, Gaza farmers shelled, Homes demolished, 74th memorial massacre, Olive trees uprooted, New city near Gaza Strip, Journalist attacked, TikTok closes Palestinian account [!]
- Democracy Now (7/1/22): Israelis Kill Two Palestinians in West Bank; Far-Right Protesters Attack Palestinian Reporter
- Middle East Monitor (6/1/22): The Netherlands stops funding Palestinian NGO - The Netherlands has stopped funding the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC), one of the six Palestinian human rights organisations designated as "terrorists" by Israel last year. According to Israeli defence minister Benny Gantz at the time, the organisations take orders from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which is also designated as a "terrorist" entity by the apartheid state due to its resistance against the occupation. [!]
- Al-Monitor (6/1/22): Palestinian killed in West Bank shooting - Israeli and Palestinian officials offered different accounts of the incident, which occurred amid of high tensions in the Palestinian territory. [!]
- Just Security (6/1/22): Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian gunman today during a clash in the Palestinian city of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli military has said. Israeli soldiers had entered the city to detain a Palestinian man when “some Palestinian gunmen began firing at the soldiers, prompting them to respond and kill one of them,” a military spokesperson said. Reuters reports.
- Middle East Monitor (5/1/22): Israel demolished health centre in Jerusalem [!]
- Middle East Monitor (5/1/22): Settlers cut down dozens of olive trees in West Bank to expand illegal settlement [!]
- Middle East Monitor (5/1/22): Right-wing Israeli attacks Palestinian journalist [militant-far-right-news] [!]
- PALESTINOW (5/1/22): Demolish Palestinian buildings, Boycott, Palestinians kidnapped, Permanent War, End of hunger strike [!]
- Democracy Now (5/1/22): B’Tselem: Israel Killed 313 Palestinians Last Year, Demolished 300 Residential Structures
- PNN (4/1/22): Hisham Abu Hawash ends 141 consecutive days of hunger strike after reaching a deal to end his administrative detention [!]
- Al-Monitor (3/1/22): Rockets fired from Gaza - After several weeks of relative quiet, Israel now suspects that Hamas, Islamic Jihad, or both are trying to escalate pressure on Israel and on Egypt. [!]
- Middle East Monitor (3/1/22): Palestinians rally to demand release of hunger-striking detainee [!]
- PALESTINOW (3/1/22): Security, Abu Hawwash edge coma, Possible attack on Gaza, Rockets fired, Palestinians killed, Palestinians arrested, Increased state of alert [!]
- PNN (2/1/22): Israel approved 12,000 new settler units, demolished 177 Palestinian buildings in Jerusalem in 2021, says ministry [!]
- Washington Post (2/1/22): Israel strikes Hamas targets in Gaza following rocket launches Note: It's interesting what they do mention here (the Hamas-Israel talks, the hunger striker), but they fail to mention, at all, the heightened violence against Palestinians by the Israeli military and settlers.
- Africa News (1/1/22): Israeli police scuffle with protesters in Sheikh Jarrah
- PALESTINOW (31/12/21): Palestinians Arrested, 940 Buildings Demolished, Fundraising, Evidence Refusal, Military Exercise, Palestinian Kidnapped [!]
- Middle East Monitor (31/12/21): Palestine's Abbas despised by Arab world, says Egypt academic [!]
- Al Jazeera (31/12/21): Israeli troops kill Palestinian in occupied West Bank - The Palestinian health ministry says the man, identified as Amir Atef Reyan from Qarawet Bani Hassan, died from his wounds. [!]
Qatar Updates
Qatar was recently blockaded (and now being un-blockaded) by the Gulf states (ie Saudi Arabia, UAE), and any fellow Americans might recall the reasoning for this had something to do with them collaborating with... Iran, right? Well, that's not the case actually. Qatar's closest geopolitical ally is Turkey (and see the Mid East section to see how Turkey/Qatar is part of one of three poles of power), and themselves have strong ties with the Muslim Brotherhood. In fact, the Qatari government funds Al Jazeera (wiki), a news source I often reference (not because I'm a fan of Qatari politics, but because they are pretty good at broad world news coverage). The Gulf states are not a big fan of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) (wiki), because their (often) brand of Islamic democracy is a threat to their rule as monarchs. While Qatar is also a monarchy, they saw alignment with the MB as a way to strengthen their geopolitical hand while the Arab Spring (wiki) was at its peak. Ahhh, perhaps you can start to put the pieces together why the Gulf states don't like Qatar, and Turkey gets along with Qatar... and also why the Iranian connection (as far as it exists) is really a minor issue for Qatar.
Last Year's Entry
Saudi Arabia Updates
Last Year's Entry
- Democracy Now (19/1/22): Saudi-UAE Airstrikes Kill 20 People, Following Houthi Attack on UAE Target
- Wall Street Journal (18/1/22): Houthis Fired Drones and [cruise + ballistic] Missiles in Abu Dhabi Attack, Investigation Finds - The attack showed off the military advances that the Iran-backed Yemeni militia has made in recent years [drone-news] Paywall Summary (?): This strike capacity gives Iran leverage in nuclear talks; even as Saudi coalition forces make some gains, a peace deal would likely cement Tehran influence in Yemen. [!]
- Washington Post (18/1/22): More than a dozen killed in airstrikes on Yemeni capital in retaliation for Houthi attack on UAE [!]
- Just Security (18/1/22): The Saudi-led coalition has launched airstrikes on Yemen’s capital, shortly after the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for the drone strike in Abu Dhabi
- Al-Monitor (14/1/22): Saudi authorities find Captagon pills hidden in onions - The distribution and sale of captagon, a type of amphetamine, is a major business in the Middle East and especially lucrative in Syria, where it reportedly rivals the country’s GDP. [drug-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (12/1/22): Aramco gains footing in Russia’s back yard with Polish oil deal - Aramco, the world’s largest oil firm, will buy 30 percent of a refinery on the Baltic coast, as well as a wholesale fuel unit. [russia-policy-news, big-oil-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (9/1/22): Saudi Arabia may run out of interceptor missiles in ‘months’ - As Houthi rebel attacks escalate, Riyadh has ‘an urgent situation’ as it runs out of missiles for its air-defence system, Financial Times newspaper reports. [dark-security-news] [!]
- The Guardian (9/1/22): Outspoken Saudi princess returns home after nearly three years in jail - Human rights advocate Princess Basmah, a critic of crown prince’s crackdown on dissent, was imprisoned without charge in 2019 [!]
- Middle East Monitor (5/1/22): Ex-Lebanon PM slams Hezbollah over Saudi comments [!]
- Washington Post (5/1/22): Yemen conflict escalates, government forces advance in south - The push in the southern province of Shabwa comes amid heavy airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition battling the Houthis elsewhere in Yemen, including the capital of Sanaa. The rebels have also stepped up their cross-border attacks, using ballistic missiles and explosive-laden drones to target Saudi Arabia. - The rebels, meanwhile, accused the Saudi-led coalition Wednesday of preventing a fuel vessel from entering Hodeida despite receiving U.N. clearances. - Essam al-Mutawakel, spokesman for rebel-run Yemen Petroleum Company, said the coalition diverted Splendour Sapphire to the Saudi city of Jizan. He said the ship carries 24,189 tons of mazut, a low quality fuel oil.
- Al Jazeera (5/1/22): Yemen: Saudi-led coalition targets Sanaa after vessel seized - Coalition says it destroyed workshops and warehouses for drones in response to a UAE-flagged vessel in the Red Sea being seized. [!]
- Washington Post (5/1/22): Report: Ethiopia detains many Tigrayans deported from Gulf - Officials in Ethiopia have arbitrarily detained and forcibly disappeared thousands of ethnic Tigrayans who recently were deported from Saudi Arabia, a new Human Rights Watch report says as the country’s deadly Tigray conflict continues.
- Just Security (5/1/22): The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has diverted a fuel vessel heading for the Yemeni port of Hodeidah to a Saudi port instead, a TV channel run by the Yemen rebel Houthi movement has said. The reports were not immediately confirmed by the Saudi-led coalition. Reuters reports.
- Middle East Monitor (4/1/22): Lebanese government distances itself from Hezbollah criticism of Saudi Arabia [!]
- Middle East Monitor (31/12/21): 360 tonnes of Saudi aid arrives in Afghanistan from Pakistan [social-woes-news] [!]
Syria Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000 - perhap outdated since Civil War) (cr.)
Live Syrian Civil War Map
Last Year's Entry
News
Major Combatants in Syrian Civil War:
- Assad and Iranian satellites - This is the "government" of Syria, centered at Damascus, backed by Russia. We all know they are terrible. Ties with Hezbollah of Lebanon, and of course, Israel is not a huge fan.
- Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) (Kurdish) - includes groups such as the People's Protection Units (YPG), alleged to BE the PKK (a militant group aiming for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey, listed as a terrorist group by most western countries), although more it's the case that there are fluid ties (from my understanding, the PKK is something like the IRA in Northern Ireland, except a bit more socialist and politically focused); ostensibly backed by the US, but this support is increasingly tenuous. Cutting deals with Assad is not out of the question (such as their oil trade), but obviously skeptical of close collaboration
- Syrian National Army (SNA) (Turkey-backed) (also called the FSA) - a haphazard militia of anti-Assad/anti-Kurd soldiers in northwestern Syria (protected and aided by their collaborator Turkey). They do terrible things, facilitate drug trade, likely ties with Turkish mob and intelligence. Lots of infighting between factions/brigades within SNA. They have, in collaboration with Turkey, sent child soldiers in other conflicts abroad, such as Azerbaijan and Libya
- Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) - a Turkish backed Islamist extremist group (with Al-Qaeda geneology). They control much of the Idlib region (northwest Syria). Despite shared ally in Turkey, often in conflict with the SNA
- Daraa Rebels - The origin point of the Syrian opposition movement (that resulted in the current civil war). I'm not sure entirely the leadership here, but it's an interesting situation. As Daraa is on the border of Israeli-controlled Golan heights, Russia made sure that Iranian-backed Assad didn't fully occupy Daraa (as that would be too much of an agitation for Israel). So Daraa is in a strange limbo
- IS - largely defeated a couple of years ago, it seems to be resurfacing to some extent. Not sure exactly the full extent.
Syria News
- Washington Post (20/1/22): Groups: 6 killed in rocket attack on northern town in Syria [!]
- Just Security (13/1/22): A car bomb in the rebel-held city of Azaz in northwest Syria has killed one civilian and wounded several bystanders, witnesses have said. Reuters reports.
- Just Security (13/1/22): A German court has found Syrian colonel Anwar Raslan guilty of crimes against humanity at a prison in Damascus, and has sentenced him to life in prison. Prosecutors alleged that Raslan directed operations at the Al-Khatib facility in Damascus, where many protesters and others suspected of opposing Syria’s regime were detained. Raslan, a former high-ranking security service officer, was charged with 58 murders as well as rape and sexual assault, and was linked to the torture of 4,000 people between 2011 and 2012 at the prison. Raslan, 58, defected from the Syrian regime in 2012 and claimed asylum in Germany in 2014. Jenny Hill reports for BBC News. [war-crime-news, court-news]
- Al-Monitor (12/1/22): Egypt tests economic outreach to Syria through labor unions - Cairo looks to labor unions to strengthen ties with Damascus . [union-news] I'm quite suspect of these unions though, seem like the kind that authoritarians set up to squelch labor activism
- Al-Monitor (12/1/22): Syria joins China’s Belt and Road Initiative - The admission of Syria into the Chinese economic project is the latest sign of strengthening relations between Damascus and Beijing. [bri-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (12/1/22): How killing of Syrian refugee marks an alarming trend in Turkey - The murder of Nail al-Naif, 19, is the latest episode in an alarming trend of violence against refugees in the country. [immigrant-news] [!]
- Middle East Monitor (6/1/22): Ten rockets hit near oilfield, US base in eastern Syria [us-policy-news] [!]
- Just Security (6/1/22): The U.K. has been accused of reviving a policy of “targeted killing” after it emerged that the Royal Air Force killed an arms dealer linked to the Islamic State in a precision drone strike in Syria at the end of October. The U.K. Ministry of Defense reported at the end of November that the crew of a Reaper drone had “tracked a known terrorist in northern Syria” and undertaken a “successful attack…at a safe moment, when the individual was alone in a field.” Dan Sabbagh reports for the Guardian. [dark-security-news]
- Middle East Monitor (5/1/22): Syria: Russian jets bomb Idlib for 7th day in a row [russia-policy-news] [!]
- Middle East Monitor (5/1/22): Attacks in Idlib by Russian warplane left 300,000 civilians without water [russia-policy-news] [!]
- Just Security (5/1/22): The U.S. military is suspected to have conducted strikes in Syria after indirect fire posed “an imminent threat” to troops near Green Village, a base in the east of Syria near the Iraqi border. [us-policy-news]
- Al-Monitor (4/1/22): US coalition in Iraq halts second drone attack in two days - Coalition forces in Syria also hit back in response to rocket fire near al-Omar oilfield. [!]
- Al-Monitor (4/12/21): Syrian soldiers killed in deadly Islamic State ambush in Deir Ezzor - The Syrian army loyal to Bashar al-Assad has struggled to control the country's eastern desert. [!]
- Just Security (3/1/22): Five Syrian soldiers were killed and 20 were injured in a rocket attack by Islamic State militants on a military transport bus yesterday in eastern Syria, Syrian state media has said. Reuters reports.
- Washington Post (2/1/22): 4 Syrians die after burning coal for heat in south Lebanon
Switzerland Updates
Last Year's Entry
- Jacobin (18/1/22): Stop Using “Europeanism” to Undermine Workers’ Rights - Plans for closer ties between Switzerland and the European Union threatened a bonfire of Swiss labor law. Liberals attacked trade unions for holding up the talks — but organized labor was right to prioritize workers’ rights above the European project. [europe-policy-news, labor-news] [!]
Turkey Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
News
Ruled by Islamist (and de-secularizing) Erdogan, Turkey is increasingly autocratic (ruled almost like a mafia), exaggerating its religious/ethnic oppressive tendencies (largely against Kurds, but remember Armenia), and becoming more flippant - see Imperial Japan/Manchukuo for something that seems similar. Clasically engaged in suppressing Kurdish Autonomous movements such as the PKK (wiki) (which they have managed to be regarded as terrorists by the West), plays an increasingly interventionist role in the Middle East. Their most visible campaign is in northern Syria, where they support the rebels (amongst which are Al-Qaeda-linked militias) and the region is governed with a criminal and mob-like style, an underworld with links to Turkey itself (31/7/21). They then deploy these Syrian forces (not Turkish!) into their other exploits around the Middle East, namely in Nagorno-Karabakh (the contested territory between Armenia and Turkey-aligned Azerbaijan, the latter now controlling the territory), and Libya, where they back the Tripoli government (the UN-backed one) against warlord Haftar (himself backed by Gulf states (Saudi Arabia, UAE) and Egypt, along with Russia and France). Add on top of this with Erdogan's authoritarian style, and mishandling of the economy. Turkey has quite a bit of leverage over Europe right now as well - millions of refugees (largely Syrian) are kept in Turkey as per an agreement between the EU and Turkey. Their Mediterranean axis can also be understood through an even older context, their rivalry with Greece, combined with the discovery of natural gas in the sea, with disputes over islands, and notably, Cyprus.
Turkey got into this insane situation part due to their own shamelessness, part due to bastard American foreign policy. Turkey was goaded into the Syrian civil war by the US, a nation which was arming the Kurds in Syria (who the Turks are not big fans of - as demonstrated by their constant oppression, persecution, and killing of Kurds), who have ties with the PKK, moves which they protested - but had little leverage at the time. To gain leverage over the US, Turkey has been cozying up with Russia, procuring the S-400 AA weapons system, which NATO (the US) considers a security concern (they don't want Russian tech scanning American jet planes). All of this while Russia and Turkey are exchanging artillery fire in Syria, and likely doing so in Libya as well. Good pals. The whole situation is profoundly bad for Turkey, it seems. In fewer words, it appears Turkey (and Erdogan in particular) have made a few too many deals with the devil.
Last Year's Entry
- Al Jazeera (20/1/22): Turkey’s central bank hits pause, leaves interest rates unchanged - Turkey’s central bank voted to hit pause on an easing cycle that started in September and saw the lira crash. [economic-news, social-woes-news] [!]
- Al-Monitor (19/1/22): Egypt supports Somalia to counter Turkish influence - Egypt has sought rapprochement with Somalia in hopes of countering Turkey’s growing influence. [!]
- Al Jazeera / Bloomberg (19/1/22): Turkey signs $5bn swap deal with UAE, boosting foreign reserves - Turkey has depleted its foreign exchange reserves to defend the lira which lost more than 40 percent of its value last year. [economic-news] [!]
- Al-Monitor (18/1/22): Defying European call, Turkish court rules to keep Kavala detained - Following a Turkish court’s decision to keep philanthropist Osman Kavala behind bars, the ball is now in the court of the Council of Europe, whose committee of ministers will decide next month whether to start a disciplinary process against Turkey. [court-news, surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- WSWS (19/1/22): Turkish iron miners launch wildcat strike for wages and benefits [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS [!]
- WSWS (14/1/22): Wildcat strike at Çimsataş defies company, Turkish police and unions [labor-news, union-news] Important Note about WSWS [!]
- WSWS (12/1/22): Wildcat strike erupts against Turkish metal unions’ sellout contracts [labor-news, union-news] Important Note about WSWS [!]
- Big News Network (12/1/22): Kazakh crime syndicate leader Arman Dikiy reveals his connection with Turkish govt - The meeting between the two was disclosed by the Dikiy, who shared photos with Cavusoglu, reported Al Arabiya Post. While BNN is rated well by MBFC, Al Arabiya is not (a Saudi-aligned outlet) - He was acquainted with Sedat Peker, who was convicted of leading an organized crime organization in Turkey. Dikiy was also involved with another Turkish crime leader, Alaattin Cakici. - Turkey's political-mafia nexus came to the fore after Turkish mafia boss Sedat Peker started disclosing Turkish political leaders' involvement in drugs, money laundering, prostitution and arms trafficking.
- Al-Monitor (12/1/22): Kazakhstan crisis challenges Turkey's leadership of Turkic union - The unrest rattling Kazakhstan has reflected the irrelevance of Turkey and the Organization of Turkic States chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. [russia-policy-news, social-woes-news, capitalist-farce-news] Snippets Turkey has aimed to utilize the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking states to realize its ambitions in Central Asia. The brainchild of Kazakhstan’s former leader, Nursultan Nazarbayev, the council was planned in 2006 and launched in 2009. In accordance with its new political grandstanding, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan became the new chairman of the body in 2021 during a summit held in Istanbul on Nov. 12. - In a nutshell, the Kazakh leadership — at a time of urgent security needs — preferred Russia over Turkey and Vladimir Putin over Erdogan. Kazakhstan has special bonds with Turkey. The two countries as well as Azerbaijan have been the main pillars of the OTS. Kazakhstan had entered into a military cooperation agreement with Turkey that encompasses cooperation in several fields including the defense industry, intelligence-sharing, joint military exercises, information systems and cyber defense. The growing military ties between Turkey and Kazakhstan as well as Uzbekistan had given rise to a fanciful idea in October 2020 to establish a Turkic NATO. - More striking than anything else and perhaps adding further insult to injury to Turkish nationalists was the deployment of Armenian soldiers and Russian special forces units to Kazakhstan upon the request of the Kazakh president. The announcement of the deployment came from Armenian President Nikol Pashinyan — a striking irony displaying the degradation of Turkey's foreign policy. - What’s more intriguing is the anti-US and anti-Western obsession of certain secularist-nationalists and leftists in Turkey. For example, reacting to the unfolding developments in Kazakhstan, prominent retired Turkish Adm. Cem Gurdeniz blamed the unrest on “an imperialist plot.” Gurdeniz, who is also an ideologue of the controversial Blue Homeland doctrine that advocates more aggressive policy in the Mediterranean, claimed that the unrest stemmed from a “Soros-type provocation” that aimed to harbor “turmoil in Eurasia” and was organized by “imperialists very irritated from the foundation of the Organization of Turkic States.” - In social media, many Turkish leftists viewed similar opinions. Pro-Erdogan circles, in turn, citing a former Russian parliamentarian, claimed that followers of Fethullah Gulen, a US-based cleric who is accused by Turkey of staging a coup attempt in 2016, might be those fomenting trouble in Kazakhstan. - In an opinion piece in the Financial Times, Gideon Rachman wrote, “Kazakhstan is a country in which the average income is around $570 a month, but where the family of Nursultan Nazarbayev, who ruled the country from 1991 until 2019, has acquired foreign properties worth at least $785 million. The turmoil in Kazakhstan may be linked to infighting within ruling circles. But these kinds of problems are inherent to corrupt autocracies. If wealth is divided up as part of a spoils system, any hint of a change in leadership creates instability.” - It also is a stark indicator of the changed fortunes of Turkey in its assertive foreign policy. The Kazakhstan crisis represents a defeat of Turkish nationalism on foreign policy.
- Al Jazeera (12/1/22): How killing of Syrian refugee marks an alarming trend in Turkey - The murder of Nail al-Naif, 19, is the latest episode in an alarming trend of violence against refugees in the country. [immigrant-news] [!]
- Al-Monitor (10/1/22): Turkey caught off guard in Kazakhstan as Russia emerges on top - Ankara has offered "all kinds of support" to help restore order after the central Asian nation was rocked by violent protests. [!]
- CPJ (7/1/22): Turkish court issues suspended prison term to journalist Nazan Sala [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- Al-Monitor (7/1/22): Turkish Airlines to remove staff from Kazakhstan - Anti-government protesters in Kazakhstan have seized control of the country’s main airport. [!]
- Al-Monitor (7/1/22): Turkish court approves release of two jailed Bogazici students - Berke Gok and Perit Ozen were among 14 students arrested in October 2021 for protesting the government-appointed rector at Istanbul’s Bogazici University. [!]
- Al-Monitor (6/1/22): Rights groups, world politicians urge release of student protesters in Turkey - European parliamentarians and rights groups are calling for Turkey to end the detention of two students behind bars for three months for protesting the government-appointed rector of Bogazici University. [!]
- CPJ (4/1/22): Turkish court issues suspended prison terms to 5 over reporting on leaked emails [surveillance-and-censorship-news]
- Middle East Monitor (2/1/22): Armenia lifts embargo on goods from Turkey, advancing thaw in relations [!]
United Arab Emirates Updates (UAE)
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
- Al Jazeera / Bloomberg (19/1/22): Turkey signs $5bn swap deal with UAE, boosting foreign reserves - Turkey has depleted its foreign exchange reserves to defend the lira which lost more than 40 percent of its value last year. [economic-news] [!]
- Democracy Now (19/1/22): Saudi-UAE Airstrikes Kill 20 People, Following Houthi Attack on UAE Target
- Wall Street Journal (18/1/22): Houthis Fired Drones and [cruise + ballistic] Missiles in Abu Dhabi Attack, Investigation Finds - The attack showed off the military advances that the Iran-backed Yemeni militia has made in recent years [drone-news] Paywall Summary (?): This strike capacity gives Iran leverage in nuclear talks; even as Saudi coalition forces make some gains, a peace deal would likely cement Tehran influence in Yemen. [!]
- Washington Post (18/1/22): Torture claims filed against new Interpol leader from UAE [law-enforcement-oversteps-news] [!]
- Washington Post (18/1/22): More than a dozen killed in airstrikes on Yemeni capital in retaliation for Houthi attack on UAE [!]
- Just Security (18/1/22): The Saudi-led coalition has launched airstrikes on Yemen’s capital, shortly after the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for the drone strike in Abu Dhabi
- Washington Post (17/1/22): Three killed in UAE capital in suspected drone attack claimed by Yemen rebels - Later Monday, the Houthis’ official website claimed airstrikes had hit Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, killing nine and injuring others. [drone-news]
- Al Jazeera (7/1/22): UAE authorities retaliated against human rights activist: HRW - Rights group says Emirati authorities punished human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor after media published letter in which he detailed abuses. [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- Al-Monitor (5/1/22): Houthi forces shoot down alleged Emirati spy drone - The incident occurred in southern Yemeni terrority controlled by UAE-backed forces. [!]
- Wall Street Journal (3/1/22): Attacks on U.S. Allies Raise Tensions on Anniversary of Killing of Iran’s Soleimani - Explosive-laden drones targeted Baghdad’s airport [shot down by air defense, no casualties] and Yemen’s Houthi rebels seized an Emirati-flagged ship [and hackers hit two Israeli newspapers] Paywall Summary (?): These follow protests by Iran-allied paramilitaries in Iraq, chanting "death to America", although the attacks were 'less severe than previous assaults by Iran-aligned paramilitary groups during the past two years', coming amidst nuclear negotiations in Vienna. Some traditional Iranian foes are trying to ease tensions, such as the UAE - and so Iran doesn't want to get too crazy and ruin those olive branches. Last month the US similarly seized a Iran-to-Yemen ship with a weapons cache.
Yemen Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (perhaps outdated since civil war) (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
- Democracy Now (19/1/22): Saudi-UAE Airstrikes Kill 20 People, Following Houthi Attack on UAE Target
- Wall Street Journal (18/1/22): Houthis Fired Drones and [cruise + ballistic] Missiles in Abu Dhabi Attack, Investigation Finds - The attack showed off the military advances that the Iran-backed Yemeni militia has made in recent years [drone-news] Paywall Summary (?): This strike capacity gives Iran leverage in nuclear talks; even as Saudi coalition forces make some gains, a peace deal would likely cement Tehran influence in Yemen. [!]
- Washington Post (18/1/22): More than a dozen killed in airstrikes on Yemeni capital in retaliation for Houthi attack on UAE [!]
- Just Security (18/1/22): The Saudi-led coalition has launched airstrikes on Yemen’s capital, shortly after the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for the drone strike in Abu Dhabi
- Washington Post (17/1/22): Three killed in UAE capital in suspected drone attack claimed by Yemen rebels - Later Monday, the Houthis’ official website claimed airstrikes had hit Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, killing nine and injuring others. [drone-news]
- Al Jazeera (16/1/22): Yemen’s Houthis reject UN call to free UAE-flagged ship - Houthi rebels say the Rwabee was carrying military equipment, accusing the UN of siding with ‘murderers who violate international laws’. [!]
- Al-Monitor (15/1/22): Fighting in Yemen's Marib intensifies amid government advances - Yemen’s bloody war is ramping up once again as the UN warns of dire consequences for civilians. [!]
- Al-Monitor (12/1/22): Yemeni government retakes Shabwa province from Houthis - The advance could relieve pressure on embattled Marib if pro-government forces can hold their ground. [!]
- Washington Post (12/1/22): UN: Yemen's escalating war spurs hunger and collapse [social-woes-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (12/1/22): UN says $3.9bn needed for help in Yemen as conflict escalates - UN says funds needed to help some 16 million people in the war-torn country amid rise in hostilities. [social-woes-news] [!]
- Just Security (12/1/22): A U.S. government review panel approved the release of five men who have been held for years without charge at Guantánamo Bay, it was announced yesterday. The individuals, which include three Yemenis and a Kenyan, were never charged. However, the Biden administration needs to find states that are willing to take the individuals before they can be released. Carol Rosenberg reports for the New York Times. [dark-security-news]
- Washington Post (11/1/22): Yemeni government says southern province retaken from rebels [!]
- Al Jazeera (9/1/22): Saudi Arabia may run out of interceptor missiles in ‘months’ - As Houthi rebel attacks escalate, Riyadh has ‘an urgent situation’ as it runs out of missiles for its air-defence system, Financial Times newspaper reports. [dark-security-news] [!]
- Wall Street Journal (8/1/22): Iran Navy Port Emerges as Key to Alleged Weapons Smuggling to Yemen, U.N. Report Says - Thousands of weapons seized by the U.S. along supply routes for Yemen’s Houthis likely originated from Jask in Iran’s southeast, according to a draft report Paywall Summary (?): In 2008, started hosting a naval base, and has had ties with the IRGC. The port is used as a focal point of smuggling exports to Yemen of weapoons made in Russia, China, Iran, and elsewhere.
- Al-Monitor (5/1/22): Houthi forces shoot down alleged Emirati spy drone - The incident occurred in southern Yemeni terrority controlled by UAE-backed forces. [!]
- Washington Post (5/1/22): Yemen conflict escalates, government forces advance in south - The push in the southern province of Shabwa comes amid heavy airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition battling the Houthis elsewhere in Yemen, including the capital of Sanaa. The rebels have also stepped up their cross-border attacks, using ballistic missiles and explosive-laden drones to target Saudi Arabia. - The rebels, meanwhile, accused the Saudi-led coalition Wednesday of preventing a fuel vessel from entering Hodeida despite receiving U.N. clearances. - Essam al-Mutawakel, spokesman for rebel-run Yemen Petroleum Company, said the coalition diverted Splendour Sapphire to the Saudi city of Jizan. He said the ship carries 24,189 tons of mazut, a low quality fuel oil.
- CPJ (5/1/22): Yemeni journalist Hala Fuad Badhawi detained in Hadramout [surveillance-and-censorship-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (5/1/22): Yemen: Saudi-led coalition targets Sanaa after vessel seized - Coalition says it destroyed workshops and warehouses for drones in response to a UAE-flagged vessel in the Red Sea being seized. [!]
- Wall Street Journal (3/1/22): Attacks on U.S. Allies Raise Tensions on Anniversary of Killing of Iran’s Soleimani - Explosive-laden drones targeted Baghdad’s airport [shot down by air defense, no casualties] and Yemen’s Houthi rebels seized an Emirati-flagged ship [and hackers hit two Israeli newspapers] Paywall Summary (?): These follow protests by Iran-allied paramilitaries in Iraq, chanting "death to America", although the attacks were 'less severe than previous assaults by Iran-aligned paramilitary groups during the past two years', coming amidst nuclear negotiations in Vienna. Some traditional Iranian foes are trying to ease tensions, such as the UAE - and so Iran doesn't want to get too crazy and ruin those olive branches. Last month the US similarly seized a Iran-to-Yemen ship with a weapons cache.
- Middle East Monitor (3/1/22): Gunmen kidnap journalist in Yemen's Taiz [!]
- The Intercept (31/12/21): She Helped Expose Secret UAE-Run Prisons in Yemen — and Paid a Steep Price - Huda Al-Sarari was forced into exile after her work documenting human rights abuses by U.S.-backed Emirati forces garnered global attention. [surveillance-and-censorship-news, us-policy-news]
Arctic Updates
Greenland / Russia / United States + Canada
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Regional Updates
Greenland Updates
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Oceana Updates
Australia / Fiji Updates / Kirabati / Micronesia / New Zealand / Samoa / Solomon Islands / Tonga
Last Year's Entry
Australia Updates
(wiki)
Maps: Basic (cr.); Pop. density (2000) (cr.); Provinces (cr.)
Last Year's Entry
- Jacobin (20/1/22): Austerity Is Prolonging the Pandemic - The Australian government had two years to build hospitals, train health care workers, strengthen social services, and manufacture COVID tests and vaccines. They didn’t, because it would have gone against the neoliberal consensus that unites both major parties. [fail-neoliberal-news, covid-news]
- Democracy Now (18/1/22): Novak Djokovic Deported for Violating COVID-19 Rules, Will Miss Australian Open [anti-vaxx-news]
- WSWS (14/1/22): Rheem hot water systems factory workers in Sydney strike [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- WSWS (14/1/22): Patrick Terminals, which has port terminals around Australia, has applied to the Fair Work Commission (FWC) to have its current enterprise agreement (EA) covering 1,800 dock workers terminated. The application will be heard in the FWC on Monday. [busting-labor-news, labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
- Democracy Now (14/1/22): Australia Revokes Novak Djokovic’s Visa for 2nd Time, Days Ahead of Australian Open [anti-vaxx-news]
- The Economist World This Week (13/1/22): The saga over whether Novak Djokovic can remain in Australia played out like a tennis rally. Although a judge said the unvaccinated Serb could stay, the government was less keen. Amid the back and forth covid cases surged in Melbourne, which hosts the Australian Open.
- The Guardian (13/1/22): Canberra police move to dismantle ‘sovereign citizens’ protest camp near Old Parliament House - Operation comes as two men allegedly involved in December protest granted bail by ACT magistrate who suggests ‘get some good quality legal advice’ [anti-vaxx-news] [!]
- Financial Times (12/1/22): Blackstone nears $6.5bn deal to buy James Packer’s Crown casino group - US investment group raises bid as acquisition spree sends Australian M&A to record levels [private-equity-news] [!]
- Democracy Now (10/1/22): Tennis Star Novak Djokovic Released from Immigration Detention as Australian Visa Reinstated [covid-news, immigrant-news]
- Just Security (10/1/22): Australia has agreed to a $3.5 billion deal with the U.S. to acquire more than 120 tanks and other armored vehicles as part of a major upgrade to Australia’s military fleet. Australia’s Defense Minister Peter Dutton is expected to confirm the upgrade today, after the U.S. government approved the potential purchase last year. Anthony Galloway reports for The Sydney Morning Herald. [us-policy-news]
- The Intercept (7/1/22): Refugees Detained With No-Vax Djokovic in Australia Suddenly Have World’s Attention - Journalists covering the temporary detention of anti-vaccine tennis star Novak Djokovic in Australia drew attention to the suffering of refugees detained in the same facility. [covid-news, immigrant-news] [!]
- The Economist (15/6/17) (OLD): A battle for supremacy in the lithium triangle - Three South American countries have much [about half] of the world’s lithium. They take very different approaches to exploiting it [resource-news] Notes: 'Australian lithium must be expensively crushed out of rock and shipped to China for processing, but investment conditions are friendlier'; Chile also has a 'begign investment climate', and also has good infrastructure (port) access (Argentine lithium in Jujuy also goes through the same ports), although Chile is less liberal with lithium than it is with copper (due to its 70s/80s designation of possible use in nuclear-fusion plants). Only two companies - Chile's SQM and the US's Albemarle - are allowed to extract brine, due to leases signed in the 80s. They also praise former Argentine president Macri. Under Morales, lithium access was 'even tighter ... than ... on gas', although this protectionism reduces how much expertise there is; its 'insistence on keeping a controlling stake is discouraging potential investors'.
- Democracy Now (6/1/22): Australia Cancels Visa for Tennis Star Novak Djokovic over Vaccine Rules [anti-vaxx-news]
- Just Security (5/1/22): The Reciprocal Access Agreement will allow Japanese and Australian troops to freely enter each other’s countries for exercises without having to negotiate terms each time. The agreement makes Australia the second country to have a formal defense pact with Japan covering entry of soldiers into Japan, after the U.S., as tensions with China in the region continue. Rhiannon Hoyle and Alastair Gale report for the Wall Street Journal.
- Jacobin (31/12/21): Meet the Mining Billionaires Ransacking Australia - The super-profitable mining industry in Australia has produced a new class of ruthless billionaires. Their fortunes tower above those of the nation’s other business elites, and they’ve used this wealth to shape the political landscape in their interest. [capitalist-farce-news, resource-news] [!]
- Washington Post (31/12/21): New virus infections driven by omicron soar in Australia - New coronavirus infections soared again in Australia on Friday to a record of more than 32,000, just days after surpassing 10,000 for the first time. - Experts say the explosion is being driven by the highly contagious omicron variant and a recent relaxation of restrictions in Sydney and other areas. [covid-news] [!]
Samoa Updates
(wiki)
Last Year's Entry
Fiji Updates
Last Year's Entry
Kirabati Updates
Last Year's Entry
Micronesia Updates
Last Year's Entry
New Zealand Updates
Last Year's Entry
(wiki)
Maps: Pop. density (2000) (cr.)
- WSWS (7/1/22): About 40 food and beverage workers from the SkyCity casino walked off the job at midnight on December 31 over a pay dispute. The Unite Union, representing the mainly young workers, is calling for a “living wage,” and pay rates to be raised to the same level as SkyCity Auckland. [labor-news] Important Note about WSWS
Solomon Islands Updates
Last Year's Entry
Tonga Updates
- Democracy Now (20/1/22): Aid Flights Land in Volcano-Stricken Tonga Amid Water Shortages, Threat of COVID-19 [covid-news, disaster-news]
- Washington Post (19/1/22): Three of Tonga's smaller islands badly damaged by tsunami [disaster-news] [!]
- Washington Post (18/1/22): Tonga races to prevent a ‘tsunami of covid’ as rescue efforts begin after underwater volcano disaster [covid-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (18/1/22): Reports of ‘significant damage’ in Tonga after eruption, tsunami - Governments and aid agencies try to assess extent of disaster amid ‘challenging’ communication links. [disaster-news] [!]
- Al Jazeera (17/1/22): ‘Much remains unknown’: Tonga still cut off by volcanic eruption - Communications to Tonga remain largely severed, as scientists warn that more eruptions may be possible. [disaster-news]
- Al Jazeera (17/1/22): Tonga calls for ‘immediate aid’ after volcanic eruption, tsunami - Official says there is an immediate need for drinking water and food, as efforts begin to assess the scale of the damage. [!]
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Last Year's Entry
Democracy Now (18/1/22): Daily Headlines:
- World’s Richest Saw Their Wealth Double as Pandemic Pushed 160 Million People into Poverty - That’s the conclusion of Oxfam in its report “Inequality Kills,” released as the World Economic Forum kicked off its annual meeting — virtually, due to the pandemic. The report found global inequality is “contributing to the death of at least 21,000 people each day” — or one person every four seconds — even as the combined wealth of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and eight other men grew by $1.2 billion a day. On Monday, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres echoed Oxfam’s warning on global inequality [capitalist-farce-news, social-woes-news, analysis-news]
Financial Times (17/1/22): Poorest countries face $11bn surge [to around $35bn] in debt repayments - World Bank warns of risk of ‘disorderly defaults’ as pandemic-era relief scheme expires [debt-capitalist-farce-news] Paywall Summary (?): 60% of low-income nations need/are-at-risk-of-needing to restructure their debts, with the looming crisis of sovereign debt crises, the World Bank warns. There was a scheme to put off debt repayments by a year (DSSI), but that seems to just push the date off when debt needs to be paid, and even then, the bill is coming due this year. Nations have borrowed more (~$300bn of issued bonds in low+middle income nations in 2020 and 2021) in the past few years to deal with the economic and healthcare costs of COVID-19, and now are facing higher borrowing costs as central banks around the world are raising interest rates. There are fears of a lost decade, with a 1 to 2 year window to figure this out; many mechanisms to deal with this will be difficult, if it requires the nations to make certain deals and arrangements with creditors and the IMF, as that will be tantamount to admitting issues paying debts, and the private sector will punish them.
New York Times (14/1/22): Critics Say I.M.F. Loan Fees Are Hurting Nations in Desperate Need - Democratic lawmakers say the global fund’s surcharges for emergency relief siphon away money that countries need to fight the pandemic. [progressive-dem-news, neo-imperialism-news, covid-news] [!]
Al Jazeera (13/1/22): Poorer nations forced to dump close-to-expiry COVID vaccines - More than 100 million doses of COVID vaccines were rejected in December, says UNICEF official, while 681 million shipped doses are unused in about 90 countries. [capitalist-farce-news, covid-news, vaccine-ip-news] [!]
Democracy Now (13/1/22): Daily Headlines:
- WHO: Confirmed Coronavirus Infections Surge to 15 Million in a Week [covid-news]
Financial Times (5/1/22): Low-cost warfare: US military battles with ‘Costco drones’ - For all the hype about hypersonic missiles, small, cheap drones are one of the most significant threats to American forces [china-policy-news, us-policy-news, dark-security-news, russia-policy-news] Paywall Summary (?): The cost of taking down cheap drones doesn't scale with the cost of the cheapness of those drones (it's expensive vs a few thousand dollars), and along with low detection rates of incoming drones (as low as 40%) (and many false alarms), this has effectively ended the American monopoly on air power, and made sustaining air dominance costly. Current ideas are jamming signals (but that is difficult to do effectively), targeting with directed energy (ie microwaves, lasers), shooting down with bullets/missiles/kamikaze drones, or even netting them. China's DJI (recently blacklisted over Xinjiang surveillance) has 3/4 of the world commercial drone market [although I think this includes non-military drones]. DoD plans $636m for counter-drone R&D, $75m for procurement - up from a total of $134m in 2021. Still, some complain of slow bureaucracy in the Pentagon + defense industry. There are fears also of smart drone "swarms", using modern machine/deep learning info, along with the masses of sensors a swarm would have.
Al Jazeera (2/1/22): Omicron cancels more than 3,800 flights worldwide: Live news - More than half of cancelled flights in US as a total of 9,893 flights are disrupted worldwide amid spread of the highly contagious COVID variant. [covid-news, logistics-news] [!]
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