Category: Headlines

Iran:

Last week, an Iranian drone hit a US base in northeastern Syria, killed a contractor, and wounded several US troops. Shortly afterward, a new wave of air attacks hit Syria, killing 19 people. Although the US officials denied responsibility, Iran and Syria condemned them. Pro-Iranian forces in Syria warned they will respond to US air strikes, while a similar response by Joe Biden was directed to both Iran and Syria.

Canada imposed new sanctions on Iran for “gross and systematic human rights violations”. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) judged that the US illegally allowed courts to freeze the assets of Iranian companies and ordered the US to pay compensation.  Meanwhile, the Iranian Foreign Minister announced the possibility of setting a legal deadline to move forward with talks on a nuclear deal.

Iraq:

The Iraqi parliament passed amendments to the election law, likely to undermine chances for independent candidates and small parties to win parliamentary seats in future elections.

Recently, Iraq has had strained diplomatic ties with several other countries. Iraq claimed Turkey violated their oil agreement by allowing the Kurdistan regional government to export oil to Ceyan in 2014, and halted crude oil exports, causing Turkey to shut down the Iraq-Turkey pipeline. The International Chamber of Commerce ruled both states were responsible for violating the deal and were ordered to pay reparations. Meanwhile, Bahrain’s foreign ministry condemned Iraqi officials for violating diplomatic ties by interfering in Bahrain’s internal affairs. On Wednesday the US Senate voted to repeal the authorization of the Iraq invasion of 2003.

 

Lebanon:

On Sunday, Lebanese citizens faced confusion as the country operated in two different time zones. The interim Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced that the country would not start daylight saving time until April 20. Many believe the decision was to allow Muslims observing Ramadan to break the daylight fast an hour earlier. The decision faced backlash from Christian organizations that announced they would not obey the rule. Some business organizations and industries abided by the rule, while others disregarded it to maintain the international standard. Due to the disputes and confusion, the Lebanese government reversed the decision.

Uganda:

Last week, the Uganda legislature passed a bill that prescribes the death penalty or life imprisonment for some homosexual offenses. Now, LGBTQ+ Ugandans fear the future and look for safety in the country’s underground club scene, shelters, and neighboring countries. Open for Business, a coalition of international corporations denounced the legislation and called it, “a concern for global businesses and investors operating or planning to invest” in the country.

Leaders discussed proposals for the integration of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) forces in the military, a central demand of the civilian Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) alliance. Military leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan reiterated support for the transition and commitment to the agreement formed in December, saying “the process of security and military reform is a long and complicated process and one that cannot be bypassed”.

Thailand:

Current Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha began his reelection campaign and officially accepted his party’s nomination. He has been in power since leading a military coup in 2014 which spurred months of protests in 2019 after his election. However, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of the formerly overthrown Prime Minister, is leading polls. Thursday, Amnesty International published a piece condemning the continued suppression of freedom of expression and targeting of children as a 15-year-old girl is held in pre-trial detention for protesting the lèse-majesté law in 2022.

Iran:

Iran signed a border security deal with Iraq meant to protect borders between the countries and consolidate security cooperation. Media in Iran view this deal as a way to end the actions of Kurdish groups in Iran, which the state labels as “terrorists”. Biden marked the Persian New Year in the White House and paid a tribute to Iranian women and girls who are protesting in Iran.

The European Union imposed sanctions on Iran’s Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution as well as officials related to the “security crackdown on protesters”. While the Iranian supreme leader accused the United States of starting the war in Ukraine to expand NATO in the east, the US imposed a new round of sanctions on the Iranian companies involved in procuring equipment used for Iranian drones.

Iranian cooperation with Saudi Arabia seems to grow fruitful, as the ministers of foreign affairs from both states marked the beginning of Ramadan via phone call and agreed that the two will meet soon to further their bilateral relations.

Iraq:

Iran signed a security deal aimed at “tightening the frontier with Iraq’s Kurdish region” according to officials. Under this deal, Iraq promised it will prevent armed groups from performing any border-crossing attacks on Iran. Further, in the domain of its bilateral relations, Iraq approved a contract that allows the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation to buy a total of 4 million barrels of Iraqi crude oil in June and August.

This week marked the 20th anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq war and was filled with retrospectives on the most memorable quotes and photos that depict the atmosphere from the war and its aftermath. Furthermore, about 100 Iraqis are still waiting for their special, protective US visas for their cooperation with the US forces and Shia and Sunni leaders during the war. Even though there is a considerable effort to repeal the authorization to the 2001 measure, the US Senate voted to continue the use of military force to support the global fight against terror.

 

Lebanon:

Lebanon will sell unlimited US dollars at a rate of 90,000 pounds to one US dollar to stop further Lebanese currency devaluation after black market rates spiraled to about 140,000 pounds to one dollar. Hundreds of people rallied outside government buildings in Beirut to protest the country’s worsening economic crisis. Public sector workers, former soldiers, and depositors expressed outrage at the diminished state pensions paid out in the devalued Lebanese currency. Protesters were met with tear gas fired by security forces guarding government buildings.

Uganda:

Uganda’s parliament passed a law this week making it a crime to identify as LGBTQpunishable by life in prison and in certain cases, death, and the bill becomes one of the toughest pieces of anti-gay legislation in Africa. Human rights groups, the United Nations, and the White House have urged President Yoweri Museveni to block the bill with the U.S. threatening sanctions if it is enacted.

Sunday, “military leaders and pro-democracy forces vowed to begin establishing a new civilian-led transitional government on April 11.” The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) who took power in a coup over a year ago face an increasing division between them and the military forces. Analysts warn that both groups’ attempts to consolidate power may spark long-term and violent conflict. Yet, both have agreed to transitional documents including participation in drafting a new constitution. The UN Security Council spotlighted ongoing political transition workshops, with the Sudanese representative proclaiming, “today, we are the closest we have been to a solution, although challenges remain.”

Zimbabwe:

As elections approach, Zimbabwe’s government is discouraging confidence. According to an independent report, Zimbabwe’s Electoral Commission (ZEC), which over half the population does not trust, is blatantly politicized and sowing mistrust with its preparations. Oppression of freedom of expression and opposition continues. Journalists have accused the pastor and high-level diplomat, Uebert Angel, has been involved in extensive gold smuggling schemes. Investigations have also compromised the president’s niece and Kamlesh Pattni who are operating in Zimbabwe to skirt restricting sanctions. Pattni was also implicated in the Goldenberg Kenya gold smuggling scandal.

Bolivia:

Nicaragua:

The US State Department has flagged Nicaragua’s government for arbitrary killings, torture, and harsh prison conditions in its 2022 Human Rights report. The report also criticizes Nicaraguan President Ortega’s failure to investigate crimes committed by police during the 2018 anti-government protests that resulted in 355 deaths. This report comes days after the Vatican officially closed its embassy in the capital, Managua, amidst deteriorating relations between the Catholic Church and Nicaragua’s government.

The United States:

Shou Zi Chew, the CEO of TikTok, testified in front of a U.S. Congressional committee about data security and user safety. TikTok is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, and the U.S. fears the data of 150,000 million American users could be obtained and exploited, as it did with journalists last year. American lawmakers and the President are considering banning the app entirely, as tensions between Washington and Beijing heat up.

Thousands of service workers backed by teachers began a three-day strike against the Los Angeles Unified School District, shutting down education for 420,000 students in the country’s second-largest school system. Local 99 of the Service Employees International Union, which represents about 30,000 teachers’ aides, special education assistants, bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers and other support staff, walked out to demand higher wages and staffing levels amid stalled contract talks.

 

China:

This week, China reported that it performed its “first-ever naval drills” with Cambodia in. On the same day, it announced that nine Chinese nationals were killed by rebels in the mine area of Bangui, Central African Republic. On Wednesday, Chinese and Australian defense officials met for the first time since 2019 and exchanged their views on regional security issues. Meanwhile, China faces problems within its borders, as the sudden termination of its zero-covid policy has resulted in dozens of deaths that could have been avoided if China listened to the experts.

During President Xi’s meetings with Vladimir Putin this week, they signed a ‘no limits’ agreement on their cooperation, prioritizing economic and political partnership. The two issued a joint statement regarding the war in Ukraine stating that both are against states damaging the security of other states and in order to resolve the conflict it is necessary to prevent the formation of bloc confrontation and actions that would fuel the fire and lead to the nuclear war. They see the only sustainable resolution to the conflict is responsible dialogue through peace talks. The trip was concluded with Xi inviting Putin to the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

 

Hong Kong:

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and former leader of the Hong Kong Alliance, Albert Ho, was arrested after being out on bail for medical treatment. Ho had previously been charged with inciting subversion under the national security law. Ho was arrested at home on charges of allegedly “interfering with a witness” for his history of activism with the Hong Kong alliance.

 

Indonesia:

Dozens of conservative Muslim protestors marched to protest Israel’s first-ever participation in the FIFA World Cup Under-20 in Indonesia. Waving white flags bearing the Islamic declaration of faith along with Indonesian and Palestinian flags, more than 100 demonstrators filled a major thoroughfare in downtown Jakarta. Indonesia does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel and has historically been a strong supporter of Palestinians.

 

Myanmar:

The US announced additional sanctions on Myanmar to reduce the purchasing capabilities and revenue of the military junta that continue to rule the country. State Department Counselor Derek Chollet said that America is, “committed to ratcheting up the pressure on the junta” and cited that the US has already imposed sanctions on 80 individuals and more than 30 entities inside Myanmar. The UN Human Rights Council held a hearing where the Myanmar Special Rapporteur said he, “regularly received reports of massacres of civilians, including beheadings and dismemberment. Torture and sexual violence remained a constant threat.”

Thailand:

Thailand’s king dissolved the parliament meaning elections must occur within the next 60 days, which will be held on May 14. These will be the first elections since the 2014 coup and pro-democracy protests in 2020. Recent polls have Paetongtarn Shinawatra leading over the conservative pro-military United Thai Nation party. If elected she will be th fourth member of her family to hold the office of Prime Minister. These elections are considered to impact the influence of military rule as well as the status of the more than 1.5 million Myanmar refugees and migrants living in Thailand.

Iran:

Last Friday, Iranian officials met with Saudi Arabia in Beijing where, with China’s mediation, they agreed to resume their diplomatic ties, re-open their embassies, and affirmed to “respect the sovereignty of states and the non-interference in internal affairs of states”. This news was welcomed in Iran as they signal regional stability and the end of Iran’s isolation, undermining U.S. pressure on Iran. Some experts had concerns about the deal shifting the climate and security in the region.

On Monday, Iran welcomed Belarus’ president to celebrate 30 years of diplomatic ties and signed eight agreements on trade, mining, and transportation. On the same day, the Iranian supreme leader announced he pardoned more than 22,000 people that had been arrested during the anti-government protests following Mahsa Amini’s death, however, there is not yet confirmation that the mass release has begun.

Iraq:

This week, Iraq marked twenty years since the U.S. invasion where people admitted they are still haunted by the disappearances of their loved ones. People also remembered the sense of freedom they got when Hussain was gone as they hoped to enter a peaceful era, instead the period after his fall has been consistent with chaos and conflict. With regard to this anniversary, the U.S. Senate voted 68-27 to move forward on legislation repealing the measures that give authorization for military action in Iraq.

Several people, including militants belonging to an outlawed Kurdish insurgency group, were killed in a mysterious helicopter crash in northern Iraq. Iraq’s government, the U.S.-led coalition, and Turkey were contacted by the Iraqi Kurdish regional government investigating the crash, but no party has claimed ownership of the chopper.

 

Lebanon:

Lebanese currency reached an unprecedented low against the U.S. dollar in the country’s black market. Although the official rate is set at 15,000 pounds to the dollar, the black market rate dipped to 100,000 pounds to the dollar on Tuesday. The black market rate has now been used for almost all transactions. In response, banks have resumed a strike against Lebanon’s judiciary actions that would force them to distribute savings to depositors.

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Central Bank chief was charged with corruption again after failing to show up for questioning by a European legal team in a money-laundering investigation. The European case is separate from Lebanon’s legal proceedings against the bank governor. Chief Riad Salamh refused to attend the meeting, arguing that the European investigators’ presence was, “in conflict with [Lebanon’s] national sovereignty”.

Uganda:

The son of Uganda’s aging leader, Yoweri Museveni, has said he intends to run for president in 2026, replacing his father who has ruled the country for 37 years. Uganda’s opposition has long accused Museveni of seeking to impose a monarchy on Uganda and grooming his son Muhoozi Kainerugaba to take over from him. Museveni has denied the accusations.

Zimbabwe:

Zimbabwe authorities cracked down on freedom of expression and assembly this week. Police shut down a performance by popular musician  Wallace Chirumiko, known as “Winky D.” His music contains lyrics against social and political injustice, corruption, and economic strife. This increased censorship adds to concerns about the upcoming elections being free and fair.

Bolivia:

Nicaragua:

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has proposed closing both the Nicaraguan Embassy to the Vatican and the Vatican Embassy in Managua, suspending relations between the two countries. Relations between the church and the Nicaraguan goverment have been strained since the persecution of a Catholic leader after 2018 anti-government protests. Pope Francis had largely been silent on the issue until he issued a statement days before Ortega’s proposal, calling the Nicaraguan government a “rude dictatorship.”

The United States:

Global markets have fallen after two of the largest bank failures occurred at Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank since the 2008 financial crisis. The U.S. government and regulators acted quickly to prevent a potential crisis, ensuring that all deposits at the banks will be made whole. A combination of interest rates, slumps in the technology industry, and economic anxieties caused the failures, and their ripple effects are still felt.

The Biden administration approved a controversial $8 billion oil-drilling project on Alaska’s North Slope, going against Biden’s campaign promise to stop new oil drilling on federal lands. The decision has drawn fierce opposition from some Alaska Native communities and environmentalists, who filed a lawsuit to halt the project.

 

China:

China named its new premier, Li Qiang, and appointed a new defense minister, Li Shangfu, that is known as the US-sanctioned general. Qiang announced institutional and economic development as a priority, while Xi addressed the necessity to make the Chinese military capable of protecting the country’s interests abroad and securing stability at home. Meanwhile, China has successfully brokered talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia, as the two resumed diplomatic times after six years. The Chinese role in these negotiations shifted dynamics in the Middle East, as it interfered as the mediator, historically the U.S.’s role.

China’s defense ministry announced joint naval exercises with Russia and Iran in the Gulf of Oman as part of “Marine Security Belt” exercises that contribute to deepening practical cooperation among the navies of three countries. The day after, China continued its effort to bring about the, “political resolution of the Ukraine Crisis” as President Xi plans to visit Vladimir Putin next week and to have a virtual meeting with Zelensky.

 

Hong Kong:

Three former members of a Hong Kong organization that organized annual vigils to commemorate China’s tragedy in Tiananmen Square in 1989 have been sentenced to four-and-a-half-months in prison for refusing to provide information in accordance with national security law regulations. Co-defendants Tang Ngok-kwan, Tsui Hon-kwong, and Chow Hang-tung were accused by the prosecutor of being “foreign agents” for an unidentified organization after allegedly receiving a large sum of funding.

 

Indonesia:

An Indonesian court has acquitted two policemen charged over the Kanjuruhan stadium crush last year, angering relatives of victims in the tragedy. Police had been blamed for triggering the crush after firing tear gas at spectators on the field, which led to a stampede that killed 135 people.

The Indonesian parliament’s deputy speaker said they will ensure there is no power vacuumdespite a controversial court ruling to delay the 2024 presidential and general elections. The decision by a Jakarta district court, which law experts say it had no authority to make, reignited a lingering debate on whether President Joko Widodo should be allowed to stay in power, despite him reaching the two-term limit next year.

 

Myanmar:

A report by the UN called Myanmar a “failed state,” as violence from the military government continues. The junta has been receiving weapons from Russia and China as human rights abuses are rampant and peace efforts minimal. Activists called on the UN Security Council to refer the abuses to the International Criminal Court. Additionally, Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, Tom Andrews urged media companies to stand up to the junta saying, “Telegram, in particular, had become a hotbed of pro-military activity.” He calls on platforms to moderate violent, discriminatory, and misogynistic content.

The bodies of 28 people were found in a Buddhist monastery, including monks and women. Myanmar’s military government and armed resistance groups have blamed each other for the fatalities. No independent witnesses have emerged, and the junta’s restrictions on travel and information make it impossible to verify details of such incidents.

With nearly one million Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh, a Myanmar delegation visited this week proposing a pilot repatriation project. While the conflict has not stabilized, living conditions in refugee camps are dangerous as well. As Tun Khin, president of the Burmese Rohingya Organization said, “the international community is playing ping pong with the Rohingya.” It is uncertain if the project will move forward.

 

Belarus:

Rights advocates in Belarus spoke out about a new crackdown on dissent by the government that saw more than 100 people detained in a week. The rights group Viasna said mass arrests took place in the capital Minsk, targeting opposition activists, journalists, medical workers, members of shooting sports clubs, and people working with drones.

 

Georgia:

After a week of mass protests against the “foreign agent” bill that would have restricted the freedom of the press and civil society, the Georgian parliament dropped the bill. A majority of members abstained from voting in its second reading, and concerns remain about its reintroduction in the future. The three days of protests effectively pressured the parliament despite authorities pushing them back.

Iran:

Massive poisonings in girls’ schools in Iran have developed significantly since the end of the last week. President Raisi has blamed the poisonings on Iran’s enemies who are aiming to cause fear among the students and their parents, and he indirectly implied the US and Israel were responsible for these incidents. Iranian officials were criticized for their response to poisoning attacks in articles and protests in front of the Ministry of Education. Protests transcended to other cities, where there was a considerable number of teachers who participated. Authorities claimed that perpetrators should face the harshest punishments, and responded to the criticisms by arresting some protesters and journalists and announcing that the first suspects for the school poisonings have been arrested.

On International Women’s day, Iran’s government received a new set of sanctions imposed by the United States that are aimed at the state’s army, officials, firms, and all individuals who violate women’s rights. Meanwhile, in a joint campaign with Afghan women, prominent Iranian women are calling for the recognition of gender apartheid, which would recognize discrimination against women as a crime under international law.

Iraq:

Iraqi Prime Minister Al Sudani met with the Egyptian President in Cairo to hold talks about security ties, and economic and trade cooperation that would deepen ties and reinforce a regional alliance with Jordan. On Tuesday, Iraq welcomed the German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who accused Iran of brutally suppressing its own people while putting the whole region at risk by its missile attacks across the Iraqi border.

Considering that Iraq is no longer an enemy and is becoming a security partner of the US in defeating ISIS and preventing terrorist activity, the US Senate considers repealing two of the authorizations for past wars in Iraq. This comes a day after the Pentagon chief paid an unannounced visit to Baghdad, where he announced that the US will maintain its military in Iraq for the purpose of fighting ISIL (ISIS).

Christian politicians and members of the Iraqi parliament are working to remove a law that forbids the import and sale of alcohol. Customs agents received orders to enact the prohibition, which was passed last month despite opposition. A complaint was launched by the group alleging that it was undemocratic.

 

Lebanon:

Lebanon’s financial crisis has continued to worsen this week, as the country’s banking association stated that Lebanon’s commercial banks do not have enough liquidity to pay back depositors. Due to the depreciation value of the Lebanese pound at a 98% loss, businesses have begun to demand payment in US dollars, a more reliable currency. This dollarization is meant to ease inflation during slow economic reforms. However, issues arise as there are few people in Lebanon with access to US dollars. Meanwhile, 38 countries condemned Lebanese lawmakers’ interference in the investigation of the 2020 Beirut blast, at the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday.

Human Rights Watch has said in a newly released report that Lebanese authorities have failed to uphold the right to electricity by mismanaging the sector for decades. Many middle and working-class families are forced to spend most of their income on electricity bills, and many go without it for almost half the day. HRW said that the situation threatens to deepen poverty in the country, and that electricity must be seen as a protected right required for an adequate standard of living.

 

Sudan:

Last week marked 20 years of conflict in the Darfur region. The UN responded by renewing the arms embargo and sanctions on individuals in Sudan, but both Russia and China abstained. Last month, Sudan demanded they be lifted immediately, but the Security Council refused based on the lack of the government implementing a civilian protection plan or transitional security agreement in Darfur.

Monday, a court acquitted eight activists who were among the two dozen arrested at a pro-democracy protest last year for the killing of an intelligence agent. The protesters were members of Resistance Committees who have been active since 2019.

Uganda:

The Ugandan parliament debated a bill that would criminalize identifying as LGBTQ and threatens them with 10 years in jail. The anti-LGBTQ sentiment is deeply ingrained in the highly religious country. Currently, same-sex relations in Uganda are punishable by up to life in prison, but lawmakers say the current law is not severe enough. According to Human Rights Watch, More than 30 African countries ban same-sex relations, but Uganda’s law, if passed, would appear to be the first to criminalize merely identifying as LGBTQ.

Zimbabwe:

Last month the government announced a plan to speed up the land rights reconciliation policy for former white farmers. These lands primarily grow tobacco and are a staple of the economy but a male-dominated space. Wednesday, an article for international women’s day addressed the prevalence of gender-based violence in surrounding settlements. Zimbabwe’s tobacco production is expected to rise 8.5% year-on-year to 230 million kg in 2023 following good rains and as more farmers planted the crop.

Bolivia:

Cuba:

Nicaragua:

On Monday, the largest business association in Nicaragua was shut down by government officials. The Superior Council of Private Business (COSEP), a former supporter of Ortega, has recently become a target of the administration during crackdowns on dissent since the 2018 anti-government protests. In resolutions that were blamed on bureaucratic inefficiencies, the government removed COSEP’s legal standing.

The United States:

A judge in Atlanta, Georgia, has ordered 22 people charged with “domestic terrorism” to be held without bail amid ongoing protests against a proposed police training facility, dubbed “Cop City”. The charges come as protesters hold a “week of action” against the planned facility. The site has become the flashpoint of the ongoing conflict between authorities and protesters and spurred a nationwide debate over free speech, protest, and punishment.

Five women denied abortions in Texas, along with two doctors, have sued the state after they were refused abortion care despite experiencing complications with their pregnancies. Doctors are refusing the procedure even in extreme cases out of fear of prosecution. Texas bars abortions except for medical emergencies, with doctors facing a punishment of up to 99 years in jail.

The U.S. Senate voted to overturn changes to Washington DC’s laws that lowered penalties for some crimes. The 81-to-14 vote marks the fourth time that Congress has overturned a lawpassed by DC. The measure has already passed the House of Representatives, and President Biden is expected to sign it.

 

China:

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) announced that China is highly likely to become “the world’s top technology superpower”, overtaking the West. However, the Netherlands joined the US in blocking Chinese access to processor chips due to security and human rights reasons. China opposed this decision by claiming the Netherlands is preventing their right to technological development.

At an annual meeting of China’s parliament, Chinese officials addressed the issue of Taiwan while pledging “peaceful reunification” that would prevent Taiwan’s independence, without mentioning military action. Taipei responded by saying, “Beijing should respect Taiwanese people’s commitment to democracy and freedom.” Nevertheless, evidence surfaced that China is scrutinizing US weapons and technology in Ukraine to estimate the force used in possible future conflicts, most likely over Taiwan.

This week China kept on recalling peaceful, calm, rational, and thoughtful actions that would lead to a practical approach to resolving the Russian-Ukraine war. The United States and its Western allies were represented as the greatest obstacles to war resolution, as they are creating turbulent circumstances in the international arena, due to which China must advance its relations with Russia.

 

Hong Kong:

On Thursday, former union leader Elizabeth Tang was detained by Hong Kong police after she visited her husband in prison, a pro-democracy activist. Tang was the former CEO of the now-disbanded Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions and the General Secretary of the International Domestic Workers Federation (CTU). Tang was detained by the city’s national security police for allegedly “colluding with foreign forces” and “endangering national security”.

 

Indonesia:

President Joko Widodo said that the government will relocate residents living near a fuel-storage fire that killed more than 19 people or move the depot to a safer location. Days later, a landslide killed more than 30 people. Authorities have deployed nearly 700 rescuers to search for 24 people still missing.

A district court ordered the national poll body to halt all election preparations due to a complaint. Widodo responded saying he supports the commission in its appeal against a court ruling that calls for the 2024 elections to be delayed. The decision has reignited a debateabout extending the president’s terms.

A football club organizer and security officer have been jailed over the Indonesia stadium crush last October which killed 135 people. The organizing committee chairman of the hosting club was found guilty of negligence causing loss of life and has been sentenced to 18 months in prison. The club’s security officer was sentenced to one year in prison.

 

Myanmar:

Last week, martial law was extended by the military junta as the conflict begins its third year since their takeover. Soldiers continue committing human rights abuses, including raping, dismembering, and beheading civilians. 17 bodies were found in two raided villages this week. The UN continues to call for an end to the violence by the military, including the unjustifiable actions of “indiscriminate air strikes, mass burnings of villages to displace civilian populations, and denial of humanitarian access.’’ In the most recent UN report Myanmar’s condition was called a “perpetual human rights crisis,” and lacks dialogue.

Military defections have slowed, according to the co-founder of defector collective People’s Embrace (PE), “most of the roughly 3,000 soldiers and 7,000 police officers who deserted the military did so in 2021.” In part, this is because of pay, fear of relation for defecting, or public assassination for military ties and indoctrination.

Monday, in neighboring Bangladesh, the housing of an estimated 12,000 people, most of whom escaped violence in Myanmar, was burned to the ground in a fire. There is little international hope to see a quick decline in the conflict or discrimination against the Rohingya.

 

Thailand:

Since pro-democracy protests led by students occurred in 2020, more than 230 people have been charged with the lese-majeste, defamation of the monarchy, law. Wednesday, 26-year-old Narathorn Chotmankongsin became one of them, sentenced to two years in prison for mocking the king. He was guilty of producing and selling satirical calendars on Facebook featuring a rubber duck. The duck is symbolic of the pro-democracy movement after giant inflatable rubber ducks were used in 2020 protests to deflect water cannon blasts. Human Rights Watch continues to speak against restrictions on freedom of expression within Thailand and trial procedures with calls for the immediate release of Chotmankongsin. Meanwhile, other young Thais wait in pretrial detention for similar crimes of defamation or sedition.

 

Belarus:

A Belarussian Court sentenced exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to 15 years in prison on charges of conspiring to overthrow the government. Tsikhanouskaya rejected the court’s findings and took the opportunity to shed light on “thousands of innocents” jailed in Belarus for expressing their political beliefs. The decision comes days after a court in Belarus sentenced Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski to 10 years in prison for smuggling and financing “actions grossly violating public order”. The sentences demonstrate a continued effort to restrict democratic freedoms in Belarus.

President Alexander Lukashenko said that an alleged “terrorist” and more than 20 accomplices were detained for an attack on a Russian warplane near Minsk. A Belarusian anti-government activist group took responsibility for the attack last month, a claim disputed by Moscow and Minsk. Lukashenko’s statement is the first acknowledgment of the attack since it occurred weeks ago.

 

Georgia:

The steps of Georgia’s parliament filled with thousands of protesters this week in response to the proceeding foreign agent law. This Russian-style bill would require non-government and media organizations to be declared as foreign agents if they receive more than 20% of their funds from abroad. Over the past month, it has received international condemnation, as the bill would restrict the freedom of the press and civil society. It prompted a physical brawl between PMs on Monday when it advanced. Tuesday, the protests escalated, and police detained at least 66 people. The protesters were pushed back with teargas, pepper spray, and water cannons, with some reported injuries. The bill signals a rise in authoritarianism in Georgia and threatens the country’s EU application which the overwhelming majority of the population supports.

Wednesday, opposition leaders called for demonstrators to prevent the return of parliament members to the building until the bill is withdrawn. Thursday morning, Georgia’s ruling party, the Georgian Dream, said they would withdraw the bill citing, “the need to reduce confrontation in society.” Opposition leaders responded by saying that a rally was still planned for Thursday night to continue to place pressure on the parliament to provide less vague statements and pursue policies that align with the EU. Protest resumed at 7 pm that night, calling for the release of detainees and for the government to formally denounce the bill.

Iran:

Iran International, a Farsi-language satellite news channel often critical of Iran’s theocratic regime said it will be moving its broadcasts to Washington, “to protect the safety of its journalists” after being targeted by Tehran. Threats against Farsi-language news broadcasters have grown as they cover the nationwide protests, providing information otherwise unheard by Iran’s state-controlled media. In response, Britain’s government summoned Iran’s top diplomat in the U.K. to, “make clear the U.K. will not tolerate threats to life and media freedom.”

Authorities said Tuesday that a top member of an Iranian opposition group who was being jailed by Iran on charges related to the deadly 2008 mosque bombing had been given the death penalty. Jamshid Sharmahd, an Iranian-German citizen and resident of the United States, is allegedly the head of a group that calls for the restoration of the monarchy that was toppled during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, according to Iran. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said she summoned Iran’s charge d’affaires in Berlin and informed him that “we will not accept this massive breach of a German citizen’s rights” and expelled two Iranian diplomats over the death sentence.

Iraq:

Over the weekend Iraq held a round of legal and technical talks with Kuwait in Munich. They discussed ending the maritime border issue, as the solution to this matter will bring about economic development between Iraq and Kuwait, and build a foundation for even closer cooperation.

Iraq’s central bank said on Wednesday it planned to allow trade from China to be settled directly in yuan for the first time, in an attempt to improve access to foreign currency. The central bank has been taking urgent steps to compensate for a dollar shortage in local markets, which prompted the cabinet to approve a currency revaluation earlier this month.

 

Lebanon:

After months of delay, Lebanon’s authorities charged longstanding central bank governor Riad Salameh, his brother Raja, and one of his employees with money laundering, embezzlement, and unlawful enrichment on Thursday. The incident has raised concerns that authorities in Lebanon, where Salameh has high-level political support, may limit cooperation with European investigators looking into the governor on the same charges. In response, Lebanon’s prime minister has blocked security forces from acting on the charges, in an alleged attempt to politically meddle in the prose.

Meanwhile, according to Lebanon’s Beirut Bar Association, a British court has declared that a London-based corporation that shipped the explosive ammonium nitrate to Beirut’s port is accountable to the victims of a fatal blast in 2020. This is the first judgment on the explosion from a reputable court since the years-long investigation stall in Lebanon.

 

Uganda:

The Ugandan government has started to set up a national mining company that will aim to take equity stakes of up to 15% of all medium and large-scale mining operations in the country, the minister for energy and minerals said on Tuesday. Ugandan geologists say the country has large deposits of a range of minerals including gold, cobalt, copper, iron ore, rare earth, vermiculite, and phosphates. The country is also aiming to start pumping crude oil in 2025 from fields in its west.

Sudan:

Sudanese General Mohamed Dagalo, the deputy leader of Sudan’s ruling council, called the military’s 2021 coup a mistake, arguing that it politically benefitted the supporters of former Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir. Dagalo, also the head of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces organization accused of multiple human rights abuses since 2019, said that he was committed to integrating the RSF into the armed forces. The statement carried significance seeing as a tense relationship has formed between the RSF and the Sudanese military, and that the integration is a major obstacle to a democratic transition for Sudanese leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

Zimbabwe:

Farmers across Zimbabwe are trying to raise awareness of the slave-like colonial-era conditions they are subject to, including unlivable wages and housing provisions that barely support their basic needs. The history of agricultural labor exploitation stems from British colonialism. After the war for independence, white settlers remained in control of most of the arable land and benefited from a land rights reconciliation policy. As a part of this, the Minister of Finance Mthuli Ncube said money from the treasury would be used to compensate white former farmers over a 10-year period instead of 20.

President Mnangagwa is seeking to implement a new Private Voluntary Organisation Amendment bill that would restrict NGOs and the right to freedom of association despite Human Rights Watch and UN protests. Experts expressed deep concern that the oversight regime in the PVO Amendment Bill for civil society organizations provides for disproportionate and discretionary powers to the newly established Office of the Registrar of PVOs, without independence from the executive branch.

Bolivia:

Cuba:

At the beginning of the week, Cuba was hit by a major wildfire that was spreading near a national park and faced a major blackout for a third time within a week, leaving more than half of Cuba’s population without power. So far blackouts occurred in Matanzas – east Havana, Guantanamo, and in the province of Cienfuegos. People are deeply concerned about the mass electrical outrages that began to occur frequently and are especially worried that such issues would continue over the summer season as it is energy-intensive. The Ministry of Energy and Mines of Cuba claimed that blackout issues are going to continue until May.

U.S. officials returned two Pakistani brothers to their home country Thursday after holding them for two decades without charges at the Guantanamo Bay military prison. Abdul and Mohammed Rabbani were the latest detainees to be released from U.S. custody as the U.S. moves toward emptying and shutting down the prison. U.S. officials accused the two of helping al-Qaida members with housing and other lower-level logistical support.

 

The United States:

On Tuesday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ordered Norfolk Southern to pay for the cleanup of East Palestine, Ohio, a train derailment and chemical release. The EPA commanded Norfolk Southern to take all available measures to clean up contaminated air and water. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also urged major railroads and Congress to boost train safety and said he would pursue new regulations after a toxic derailment in Ohio.

The US might prevent tens of thousands of migrants who arrive at the US-Mexico border from requesting asylum. This would be the Biden administration’s most comprehensive effort yet to prevent unauthorized crossings. Under the new rules, the US would generally deny asylum to migrants who show up at the US southern border without first seeking protection in a country they passed through. Critics from human rights groups likened the plan to Trump-era policies.

This week, Seattle became the first U.S. city to outlaw discrimination based on caste. The origins of the caste system in India can be traced back 3,000 years as a social hierarchy based on one’s occupation and birth. Calls to outlaw discrimination based on caste have grown louder among South Asian diaspora communities in the United States. Advocates of the ban say that it is needed to prevent caste bias from becoming more prevalent in the US.

 

China:

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Secretary of State Blinken met in Munich at the global security conference on Sunday and held “direct and candid talks” during which they touched upon the matters such as the spy balloon, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. China has been warned not to provide lethal support to Russia as it deeply harm US-Chinese relations. By reiterating a call for dialogue to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine,Beijing strongly denied US’ claims that China was considering arming Russia in its war against Ukraine.

On Wednesday an open pit mine collapsed in the northern inner Mongolia region, immediately killing at least two people, leaving some buried under the debris of the mine, while others are injured or missing. Meanwhile, Wang Yi met with Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, which signals a deepening of the ties between China and Russia. Both parties emphasized the importance of their cooperation in the global arena for stabilizing the international situation.

The day after authorities in China claim that COVID-19 ended despite the fact they count several cases left but are optimistic to announce the “major decisive victory” China made over the virus, and thus set an example for other nations.

 

Hong Kong:

China’s senior diplomat in Hong Kong recently met the US consul general to denounce his “inappropriate” remarks and warn him against jeopardizing national security. The Chinese Foreign Affairs inistry’s Hong Kong commissioner, Liu Guangyuan, met with US Consul General Gregory May to establish “three red lines” that the US consulate should not cross including, endangering “China’s national security, not to engage in political infiltration in Hong Kong, and not to slander or damage Hong Kong’s development prospect.” The US responded that they will not hesitate to express public concern over the erosion of Hong Kong’s autonomy.

 

Indonesia:

Ten people were killed and more than 20 others wounded in a riot in Indonesia’s Papua province. The riot had started after locals, angered by rumors about a child kidnapping, started throwing rocks at the Wamena police station where a man accused of abducting a six-year-old was detained. More than 200 security personnel, including police and the military, have been deployed to contain the situation in the restive Indonesian province.

 

Myanmar:

The EU imposed new sanctions on top officials and companies due to escalating violence and continuous human rights abuses. Since the military coup occurred 93 individuals and 18 entities have been targeted by sanctions. Executive Director of Burma Campaign UK, Anna Roberts, responded positively but said, “the delay in cutting off sources of revenue, arms, and equipment is costing lives.” As evidence, although banned by the UN, landmines are increasingly part of civilian casualties through both accidental killings and forcing civilians to act as human shields because of this displacement and the vital inability to access healthcare are terrifying.

Monday, Human Rights Watch released a statement against the trial of Rev. Hkalam Samson, a prominent Christian Kachin religious leader. The US Department of State joined Human Rights Watch in calling for the immediate dismissal and release of Samson from the “politically motivated charges of meeting members of an ethnic armed group and incitement.” This follows the junta’s history of cracking down on peaceful activists since they took power in 2021, which includes more than 19,000 arbitrary detainments.

 

Thailand:

The death of Uyghur asylum seeker Aziz Abdullah in an Immigration Detention Centre renewed discussion about the IDC conditions and the reparation of Uyghurs to China. International groups have spoken out regarding the Thai detainment of Uyghur asylum seekers since 2015. Tuesday, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said that he will dissolve Parliament in March. He is pursuing reelection in May.

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Tuesday said he would dissolve parliament next month ahead of an election that would likely take place on May 7, a potential date previously outlined by the country’s poll body. The former army chief, who has been in power since he led a coup in 2014, said the election commission needed until the end of this month to agree on a timeframe.

 

Belarus:

Belarus’s government said that there was a significant grouping of Ukrainian troops massed near its border and warned that this posed a threat to its security. In reponse, President Alexander Lukashenko said that Belarus will form a new volunteer territorial defense forceamid fighting in neighboring Ukraine. The President has allowed Russia to use Belarus send troops into Ukraine, and has maintained that his army would fight only if Belarus was attacked.

Iran:

On the ceremony on the occasion of the 44th anniversary of the 1979 Iranian revolution that was held last weekend, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi claimed that the enemies, by which he meant the West, are responsible for sparking unrest in the country and in the region. Recalling the protest that had started in September 2022, Raisi said that the West and its allies projected chaos in Iran because they failed to stop its progress accusing them, and especially the United States for wanting to “take away independence and the tranquil life of the Iranian nation.”

On Monday Iranian President arrived in Beijing with his team for a three-day visit to China for the purpose of expanding bilateral and economic ties by signing new agreements. The main goal of this visit is to “finalize operational mechanisms” of the 25-year plan Iran signed with China in 2021. During the visit, Iranian and Chinese officials released a joint statement in which they urged Afghanistan rulers to “form an inclusive government” for women and other vulnerable groups. This news came at the same time BBC published that female journalists continue to be arrested during the protests in Iran.

Meanwhile, American defense officials publicly claimed to be certain Iran is supplying drones for Russia’s actions against Ukraine, providing photos and analysis of aircraft to point to the Teheran’s involvement. While Iran denies it sent any more drones to Russia after February last year and that the drones were used for deadly attacks, the US Defense Intelligence Agency analysts claim Iran is emerging into a global leader in the production of both cheap and effective drones.

Iraq:

In Iraq, concerns had been raised about the realization of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s agenda to end corruption and poverty, reform the economy, and improve public services. Strained relations between the Iraqi central government and the Kurdish Democratic Party, which takes 31% of seats in the Iraqi parliament, will make it difficult for Sudani to advance his agenda. The KDP supported Sudani’s government appointment but asked that Sudani should fix the disputes regarding economic and oil issues between Baghdad and Erbil – the capital of the semi-autonomous region in Iraq in return. Currently, it is unclear where such a situation will lead.

Shiite worshipers in Iraq gathered and walked across the country on Thursday to make the pilgrimage to the shrine of Imam Moussa al-Kadhim. Some of the pilgrims explained that taking part in this annual procession is essential for identity in the midst of problems Iraq is facing, from corruption to the increase in the price of food. Three Iraqi troops were killed by a suspected Islamic State militant who detonated an explosive vest.  Iraqi intelligence raided the IS cell after receiving information that the militant group was planning to target Shiite Muslims during the annual pilgrimage.

 

Lebanon:

The financial crisis in Lebanon has worsened in the last week as the country continues to face extremely high inflation, a currency devalued by more than 90%. Last Friday, Lebanon’s current long-time central bank chief, Riad Salameh, announced that he would not seek a new term in office after thirty years as the head of Banque du Liban. Salameh, accused of money laundering and embezzlement, will end his tenure this July.

The World Bank has expressed concern over Lebanon’s high public debt. Word Bank vice president of the Middle East and North Africa, Ferid Belhaj, said that the “people are feeling the brunt of the almost-collapse of the financial sector.” On Thursday, dozens of protesters attacked banks in Beirut during roadblocks to protest against restrictions on cash withdrawals and worsening economic conditions that the government has struggled to address.

 

Uganda:

A day after images of a victim with obvious signs of torture on his chest surfaced, Uganda’s military denied charges that it kidnapped and tortured an opposition activist. A military official denied Eric Mwesigwa’s claims that security officers tortured him in a statement saying that the man “was not in the hands of any security agency.” Mwesigwa, a supporter of the opposition figure known as Bobi Wine, said earlier this week that hot metal objects were placed on his body, leaving two raw wounds on his chest.

Two legislators allied to Uganda’s pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine, the main opponent to President Yoweri Museveni, were granted bail on Monday after spending 17 months in jail on murder charges the opposition says are politically motivated. Both legislators, Muhammad Ssegirinya and Allan Ssewanyana, are members of the oppositionNational Unity Platform (NUP) led by Wine, who was the main challenger to Museveni in the last election in 2021.

Sudan:

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Sudanese leaders to discuss economic, diplomatic, and infrastructure coordination between the two countries. Following the meeting, the Sudanese military finished reviewing a deal that would construct a Russian naval base on Sudan’s Red Sea coastline, and stated that it was waiting for the formation of a civilian government that would then ratify the military deal. The base agreement would allow for the construction of a naval base staffed by 300 Russians, coupled with a ten-year extension of Russian arms imports into Sudan.

Three Sudanese men who were convicted of stealing gas cylinders in the Sudanese city of Omdurman have been sentenced to hand amputation, a verdict that has not been handed down in the country for nearly a decade. Many human rights organizations, including the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies, condemned authorities for not giving the men adequate legal representation and condemned the violent verdict.

Zimbabwe:

Zimbabwean Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube announced that Zimbabwe’s creditors will meet next in an attempt to clear more than $6 billion of the country’s debt. The meeting will feature approximately 17 countries from the creditor Paris Club, as well as the World Bank, African Development Bank, and European Investment Bank. Zimbabwe’s hyperinflation and $14 billion in total debt has made global creditors wary of giving the government new loans, and the meeting is hoped to spur new solutions to alleviate the country of its debt.

Cuba:

Over the last weekend, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel visited Mexico where he received Mexico’s highest medal, being awarded the  “Order of the Aztec Eagle” – recognition of the highest honor for foreigners. Mexico’s president, who decided on awarding the Díaz-Canel president with this medal, praised Cuba for sending doctors to serve in the most dangerous and remote areas of Mexico.

On Monday, it was reported that internet services have become too slow and now affects residents work and pleasure. The increase of new internet users in 2022 has slowed down internet speeds and made it near impossible for people to access online platforms.

 

Nicaragua:

Spain has offered citizenship to the 222 Nicaraguan political prisoners that lost Nicaraguan citizenship after being freed and sent to the United States on humanitarian visas. The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Denis Moncada last Friday to discuss the incoming prisoners. The US  criticized the Nicaraguan government for sentencing Catholic Bishop Rolando Alvarez to 26 years in prison after he refused to leave and join the other exiled political prisoners. Human rights violations escalated on Thursday after 94 political opponents were stripped of their citizenship. Most of the writers, activists, and journalists on the list have fled Nicaragua and have been declared “fugitives, but the repercussions for those still in the country are unknown.

 

The United States:

At Michigan State University on Monday night, a shooter opened fire, leaving three people dead and five more injured. After an hours-long manhunt that drove terrified students to shelter in the dark, the shooter then shot himself dead miles away. Authorities said the gunman had a history of mental illness and carried a note in his pocket indicating a threat to two New Jersey schools.

The former governor of South Carolina and ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, declared her candidacy for president on Tuesday, making her the first significant contender to President Donald Trump for the Republican nomination in 2024. In her announcement video posted on Twitter, Haley stated, “it’s time for a new generation of leadership,” hinting at her competitor’s age, 76. She stressed that she was the first female governor of South Carolina and the daughter of Indian immigrants. Haley said she will engage in social and cultural debates that the GOP has fueled, such as those centered on racial issues and “wokeism.”

 

China:

At the very beginning of this week, China has been accused of making a violation of Philippine sovereign rights on February 6, by shining a military-grade laser light twice on the Philippines’ coast and blinding the Filipino coast guard crew,  forcing them to retreat. According to Philippine authorities, the incident that occurred in the disputed area of the South China Sea was followed by dangerous maneuvers that a Chinese ship made 137m from the Filipino ship’s starboard side. This news was found disturbing and disappointing, especially after the Chinese visit to Manila where the purpose was to implement an agreement on how they are going to manage maritime differences at sea.

On Tuesday, February 14th Xi Ji Ping welcomed the Iranian president for signing 20 cooperation agreements as a part of their 25-year strategy for development in the oil industry, tourism, and trade. Xi expressed his support for Iran in safeguarding national sovereignty, and criticized the US, calling for Iran sanctions to be lifted. Later, China responded to the US military’s examination of balloon debris, claiming that U.S. balloons flew illegally over the world and entered China’s airspaces, among other relevant countries, at least ten times since May 2022. On Wednesday, China said that the US flew balloons over Tibet and Xinjiang, and that it will take countermeasures.

Within China’s borders, retired citizens of Wuhan and Dalian engaged in protests against cuts in medical benefits, demanding to get their health insurance money back.

 

Hong Kong:

Hong Kong’s administration announced Thursday that the territory’s population fell for the third year in a row as pandemic deaths increased and anti-virus measures cut the number of arriving employees but did not mention an exodus of people prompted by a crackdown on the pro-democracy movement. The population decline has been exacerbated by the number of young people fleeing the territory in response to the implementation of harsh National Security laws and the repression of dissidents. Since the pandemic, Hong Kong has also faced issues with poverty and homelessness as the wealth gap increases. The Social Welfare Department reported that there were 1500 people registered as “street sleepers” in 2021 and 2022.

On Thursday, after a rule modified during heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing, the US consul general no longer needs to obtain China’s approval before meeting officials in the semi-autonomous Chinese city of Hong Kong. The regulation change would make it simpler for the consul general to hold direct exchanges with Hong Kong officials.

 

Indonesia:

Last week a New Zealand pilot was taken hostage by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB). This Wednesday the separatist group published images showing him in good health while reaffirming they would not release him until Indonesia recognized the region’s independence. On Thursday, an Indonesian military commander said a military operation was being prepared in case negotiations fail with approval from New Zealand’s embassy. Meanwhile, in a military court, four Indonesian soldiers were sentenced to prison for the killing and bodily mutilation of four Papuans last year in a failed arms-buying deal.

Monday, in a high-profile case, former two-star general Ferdy Sambo was sentenced with the death penalty for the killing of his aide-de-camp Nofriansyah Yosua Hutabarat. His wife, Putri Candrawathi, charged alongside three others, received a 20-year sentence for premeditated murder. This case captured public attention in an usual demonstration of accountability against the police force. Distrust of the police has been prominent since October of last year when 135 people were killed at a football game where police indiscriminately used tear gas against children. Three officers currently stand trial for that event.

 

Myanmar:

The U.S. oil corporation Chevron Corp agreed to sell its Myanmar assets to the Canadian company MTI after condemning the country’s military for its human rights abuses, abandoning its financial stake in Myanmar’s offshore Yadana gas fields.

Myanmar’s military plans on allowing civilians who are “loyal to the state” to apply for firearms licenses. Experts worry that the law, which authorizes licenses for Myanmar citizens over the age of 18 who are “loyal to the nation” and “of good moral character,” could further escalate pro-junta violence in a country already rife with repression. Recipients of the licenses must also comply when ordered by authorities to take part in “security, law enforcement, and stability,” as well as “crime prevention measures.”

 

Thailand:

Thai activists speak out against haircutting as a shameful discipline measure in schools. After student protests last month, the Ministry of Education removed haircut regulations but activists are calling for it to be enforced at a school level. Wednesday, a teacher was accused of cutting over 100 students’ hair which renewed calls to change regulations.

Tuesday, the Thai government voted to postpone enforcing articles of the Act on Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance. Human Rights Watch responded on Thursday, calling for a reversal saying, “torture and other ill-treatment in police custody have long been a problem in Thailand.” Human Rights Watch has documented numerous cases of police and military personnel torturing ethnic Malay Muslims. Meanwhile, visiting Malaysian Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, committed to renewing efforts with the Thai government in negotiating between the Muslim separatist insurgency in the South. Violence between the separatists and the state has been intermittent since 2004.

 

Belarus:

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto visited Belarus to keep “channels of communication open” and represent Hungary’s interests in ending the war in Ukraine. On social media, Szijjarto stated that “many will attack me for this visit, but our stance is clear: channels of communication must be kept open… If we had not done this, I would not be able to convey the message of a call for peace.”

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced that he would only order his military to fight alongside Russia if another country launches an attack against Belarus. Lukashenko also said he would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.

Raman Pratasevich, the journalist who ran the anti-Lukashenko messaging app channel Nexta, was put on trial after two years of imprisonment. Pratasevich was arrested by Belarusian security forces after his plane from Greece to Lithuania was forced to land in Minsk due to a falsely reported bomb threat. The grounding of the plane and his subsequent arrest is the cause behind several international sanctions levied against the Belarusian government.

Georgia:

As the flow of Ukrainians into Georgia continues, the WHO and other international groups launched a project to improve service access for refugees with disabilities who face barriers to healthcare. Meanwhile, the health of former President Mikheil Saakashvili is under renewed scrutiny after appearing in a video court hearing on Wednesday. Saakashvili, who is serving a six-year sentence after being convicted of abuse of power in 2021, is seeking release or deferral due to his health. The European Parliament voted on a resolution saying his treatment “poses a threat to Georgia’s ambitions to join the European Union” and demonstrates a lack of commitment to European values. Georgia’s population has strongly supported joining the EU, but it has not been granted membership after its March 2022 application.

Iran:

On Sunday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei released a decree for amnesty or a reduced prison sentence for thousands of prisoners detained during anti-government protests. The decree is part of the supreme leader’s annual pardoning before the anniversary of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. The deputy judicial chief, Sadeq Rahimi, stated detainees who are eligible for pardons must vow in writing that they regret what they have done; otherwise, they would not be released. This week, Amnesty International released a report that confirm allegations of rape, violence, and “extreme torture” of protesters in detention.

Meanwhile, economic relations between Iran and East Asia have grown since the release of sanctions by Western nations. As Washington escalates pressure on Tehran, the US imposed sanctions on entities accused of having a major role in the production, sale, and shipment of Iranian petrochemicals and petroleum to Asian consumers.

Iraq:

An Iraqi Youtube star, Tiba al-Ali, was strangled by her father in a so-called “honor killing”. The incident has sparked nationwide outrage and protests. Demonstrators, politicians, and human rights groups are demanding justice for Ali and laws against domestic violence. On Sunday, authorities prevented dozens of people from demonstrating outside the country’s Supreme Judicial Council, and they gathered instead at a road leading to the building. Some held placards saying “Stop killing women” and “Tiba’s killer must be held accountable”.

 

Lebanon:

Qatari-Lebanese relations have continued to strengthen in 2023, with the state-owned Qatar Energy replacing a Russian firm in an international consortium searching for natural gas on Lebanon’s Mediterranean coast. Qatar will also be joining a meeting in Paris this February with France, Saudi Arabia, and the U.S., focusing on discussions related to Lebanon’s political and economic crises.

Lebanon’s commercial banks closed following a court ruling which forced a large Lebanese bank to pay out two of its depositors in cash after restricting cash withdrawals from accounts due to the country’s continued financial crisis. The Lebanese Banks Association called the move an open-ended strike and will keep ATMs operating for basic services.

 

Uganda:

The United Nations human rights office’s mandate in Uganda will not be renewed, according to Uganda, which cites the development of its own adequate capacity to monitor rights compliance. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) received a letter from Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs explaining its decision, citing the country’s progress in building domestic capacity to monitor rights. The Ugandan government’s plan to close the nation’s UN human rights office has been denounced as “shameful” by rights advocates and campaigners.

Sudan:

Sudan demanded that the U.N. Security Council lift multiple sanctions that were imposed on the country during violence in Darfur in 2005. Sudan’s U.N. ambassador, Al-Harith Idriss Mohamed, argued in a letter to the council that the conditions in Darfur today have vastly improved since 2005. Mohamed stated that the sanctions, including an arms embargo, deter investors and “encourage the rogue armed transboundary bands to disrupt peace and order in Darfur, owing to the imbalance of hard power.”

Zimbabwe:

Zimbabwe’s Deputy Energy Minister announced on Wednesday that a new unit at the country’s sole coal-fired power plant will begin functioning by March, bringing comfort to the millions of residents who have recently been shaken by regular power outages. The Hwange power plant’s new unit will increase the country of Africa’s installed capacity by more than 14% to 2400 megawatts. Magna Mudyiwa predicted that the following unit would be commissioned shortly after, but did not provide a time frame.

Cuba:

The US Border Patrol said that 114 Haitian migrants arrived in the Florida Keys early on Thursday, making them the most recent sizable group to arrive in the state by boat in recent months from Haiti and Cuba. Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar tweeted that border patrol and law enforcement came to the scene near Tavernier, south of Key Largo in the island chain, early on Thursday. According to him, emergency personnel were assisting the migrants at the spot.

Elián González, a citizen of Cuba, is preparing to join the communist nation’s parliament after sparking a global custody dispute after he was discovered floating by himself in the Florida Straits in 1999. González, an industrial engineer who is currently 29 years old, is one of 470 local officials who have been proposed for election to the National Assembly of the nation. Elections have not yet occurred; they are scheduled for March 26; however, his nomination is anticipated to pass.

 

Nicaragua:

A Nicaraguan judge sentenced four Catholic priests and two Catholic seminarians to ten years in jail for “treason” and “spreading false news,” amid an escalating crackdown on critics of President Daniel Ortega. President Ortega has been accused of targeting and persecuting Catholic Church leaders since national protests in 2018. European bishops responded to arrests, demanding Nicaragua to release detained clergy. Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, president of the Commission of the Bishops Conferences of the European Union, stated that European bishops would do “everything in their power” to push EU institutions to assist in the liberation of detainees.

On Thursday, the government announced that 222 prisoners would be released and deported to the United States. The released prisoners have been stripped of their citizenship and deemed traitors. The US will welcome the prisoners and U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, called the release “a constructive step towards addressing human rights abuses” in Nicaragua, and the move “opens the door to further dialogue between the United States and Nicaragua”.

 

The United States:

On Saturday, the US military shot down an alleged Chinese spy balloon after it crossed sensitive military sites. China insists that the balloon was a civilian aircraft and that the United State’s actions were excessive. China’s Vice Foreign Minister accused the US of indiscriminate use of force on unmanned civilian aircraft. After the incident, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken abruptly canceled a high-stakes Beijing trip. The US Coast Guard to set up a temporary security zone to find and inspect the remnants of the balloon. Biden addressed US-China relations in his State of the Union speech, saying he is “committed to work with China where we can advance American interests and benefit the world,” but in reference to the balloon incident, “if China threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country.” The FBI is analyzing the balloon remnants to investigate any connection between the manufacturer and the People’s Liberation Army, and the State Department may take action against Chinese entities related to the incident.

 

China:

China’s hope to ease tensions with the United States in the following months became disputable as its high-altitude balloon was spotted in US air space this week. After the balloon was shut down, the US said that the balloon had surveillance equipment and thus blamed China for spying. The accusation China faces are based on concerns related to the public Chinese documents that point to its interest in using ballon technology for military purposes. While China tries to defend itself by claiming the ballon is of civilian nature and used for flight tests and meteorological research, the US claims that this was a serious violation of its sovereignty and consequently postponed Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s visit to China. Nevertheless, even after the scandal with the balloon, China’s officials claimed that despite China’s readiness to compete with the US, it is opposed to defining the entire China-US relationship based on competition. Instead, they highlighted that China will defend its interests and work with the US in order to build and promote their bilateral relations that should eventually be set on the track of sound and stable development.

 

Hong Kong:

After two years in prison on national security-related charges, dozens of pro-democracy legislators, activists, and legal scholars have been put on trial in Hong Kong for government subversion.  The 47 people on trial compose much of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy leadership and are expected to be on trial for 90 days for charges that also include secession, collusion with foreign forces, and terrorism accusations that could lead to life imprisonment.

Following the first full opening of border crossings between Hong Kong and mainland China in three years, tens of thousands of people have commuted between the two regions. The opening signals a continued shift in how China is relaxing its COVID travel restrictions and will allow countless Chinese people to reunite with friends and family on both sides of the border.

The Supreme Court of Hong Kong ruled that sex reassignment surgery is not a prerequisite for transgender people to have their gender changed on their official identity forms. The decision was made after two transgender men went to court challenging an existing law allowing trans men to change their official gender only if they have their uteruses and ovaries removed, and have surgically transitioned to having male body parts.

 

Indonesia:

On Tuesday, separatist fighters from the West Papua Liberation Army took a New Zealand pilot hostage after setting fire to the plane. A rebel spokesperson said the five passengers were released since they were indigenous Papuans and that they would continue to hold the pilot hostage until Indonesia recognized Paupa’s colonization and independence. This is part of an increase of attacks since 2018 by the Free Papua Organization (OPM).

 

Myanmar:

Over the past weekend, Myanmar’s Military leadership imposed a new martial law under which high treason and speaking false news will be considered a crime. The new law that expanded its previous scope is enacted in 37 townships in Myanmar and is aimed at the members of anti-coup resistance. It is assumed that this law is a new means through which resistance to rule can be crashed, and there will be no appeals allowed for judgments made by military tribunals, except for death penalty charges. Myanmar Military controlled media published that the actual purpose of this expanded law is „ensuring security, the rule of law and local peace and tranquility.“

Myanmar’s Military led government met with the General Director of the Russian atomic energy corporation Rosatom at the junta’s Nuclear Technology Information center in Yangon. The two parties met to sign the new International Governmental Agreement on nuclear energy use, which is supposed to foster Myanmar’s and Russian cooperation on Myanmar’s nuclear energy structure development. Despite the joint statement issued by both states’ representatives claiming that the planned development of Atomic energy in Myanmar is for peaceful purposes, this will possibly raise concerns about Myanmar’s military wanting to develop a nuclear weapons capability.

 

Thailand:

Concern rises for two hospitalized Thai activists on hunger strike speaking out in favor of political and judicial reforms. They are among the over 228 Thai charged with Article 112 crimes, or defaming the monarchy, since pro-democracy protests in 2020. Last week, an activist was sentenced to 28 years in prison for the same offense based on his Facebook posts. The opposition party, Move Forward, has called to amend the lese majeste law which typically is used to silence political dissent and has a three to fifteen-year prison sentence per violation.

Amnesty International released a statement against the ‘severe repercussions’ under 18-year-old protesters face and the limitations on the right to peaceful assembly. Students called for systematic reforms, along with LBGTI, Indigenous and ethnic minority voices. In response, Thai authorities used rubber bullets, physical force, surveillance, and intimidation against the protesters. They charged seventeen of these children with violating Article 112. It is the first time pressing Article 112 charges against children.

 

Belarus:

On Wednesday, a Belarusian court sentenced journalist Andrzej Poczobut, a prominent member of the country’s significant Polish minority, to eight years in prison. The sentence is part of a pattern of autocratic President Alexander Lukashenko’s continuous crackdown on dissidents. Poczobut was found guilty of “endangering Belarus’ national security and inciting strife.” Poczobut, a journalist for the influential Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza and a member of Belarus’ Union of Poles, notably reported on the nationwide 2020 protests in Belarus against the allegedly fraudulent election victory for Lukashenko. In response, Poland’s interior minister announced that it will close down a key Poland-Belarus border crossing as strained relations between the countries grow.

 

Georgia:

A Georgian court rejected former President Mikheil Saakashvili’s appeal to be released from prison on health grounds. Saakashvili, who served as President from 2004 to 2013 and helped lead the Rose Revolution that ended Soviet-era rule in Georgia, was arrested in 2021 on charges of abuse of power. Since going through several hunger strikes, Saakashvili’s health has considerably worsened as has requested to be released multiple times.

Iran:

Last Friday, a gunman attacked the Azerbaijan Embassy in Iran killing its security chief and wounding two other guards. Azerbaijan’s president, Ilham Aliyev branded the attack against the diplomatic mission a “terrorist act.” Two days later, officials from Azerbaijan announced that they would be evacuating embassy staff and family members. Iranian authorities have said they believe that the attacker acted out of personal, rather than political, motives.

On Sunday, Iranian authorities announced that bomb-carrying drones had targeted an Iranian military defense factory in Isfahan overnight. Later on, United States officials announced it appeared that Israel was behind the strike. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian claimed the drone attacks were meant to create “insecurity” in Iran and called them “cowardly”. Days later, French naval forces also seized thousands of assault rifles, machine guns, and anti-tank missiles headed from Iran to Yemen.

An Iranian couple has been given jail sentences of more than 10 years after they posted of video of them dancing in front of the Azadi Tower. The couple was charged with promoting corruption, prostitution, and propaganda and have been banned from posting on social media and leaving the country for two years. The video was seen as an act of defiance as women are not allowed to dance in public and the woman, Astiyazh Haghighi, was not wearing a headscarf.

Iraq:

On Wednesday, January 31st, eight rockets were fired on the territory it Nineveh province of northern Iraq, aiming at the Turkish military base. The Iranian-backed paramilitary force, called The Islamic Resistance Ahrar al-Iraq Brigade is claimed to be responsible for the attack, which could be a response to the Turkish presence in this region of Iraq. While the Turkish government stated such attacks come from time to time and that in this incident no one was wounded and there was no material damage, an Iraqi security source informed that one Iraqi contractor in the base had been wounded. For now, there are no prospects for this situation’s escalation, however, the continuation of such events might be problematic as the government of Iraq is already condemning the illegal presence of the Turkish Military on its territory.

During the opening of the Iraq Energy Exhibition that occurred this Sunday, the Iraqi Minister of Electricity Ziyad Ali Fadel informed the audience that gas supplies from Iran are completely stopped due to maintenance works in the gas pipeline inside Iran. Fadel said Iraq is determined to solve electricity issues by expanding its partnership with international companies and with the US to enable the implementation of new projects during 2023, with the intention of ending gas imports from Iran. However, Iraq’s international cooperation does not seem to end there, as Iraqi President, Abdul Latif Rashid announced that Iraq will further its efforts to end the issue of Internally Displaced People (IDP) through coordination with international agencies that would eventually come to viable and long-term solutions.

 

Lebanon:

The financial crisis in Lebanon worsened this week as the government devalued exchange rates, weakening the Lebanese currency by 90%. As a result, banks have atrophied and many Lebanese have been locked out of access to bank services and their finances. Currently, the most popular form of payment is cash, and many money-exchange businesses are booming. Meanwhile, in the investigation of the 2020 Beirut port explosion, 40 members of parliament supported Judge Bitar’s investigation and charges against political elites for their responsibility in the blast. Judge Bitar had recently reignited the stalled investigation but was in turn accused and charged of mishandling the investigation by top public prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat.

 

Uganda:

After terminating a deal with the China Harbour and Engineering Company, the Ugandan government plans on asking the Turkish construction firm Yapi Merkezi to secure financing for a $2.2 billion rail network to the Kenyan port in Mombasa. According to Perez Wamburu, an official from the Ministry of Works and Transport, the government wants Yapi Merkezi to do the majority of the work in securing funding from credit lenders. Uganda hopes to use the future rail connection to lower the costs of transporting its exports to nearby shipping ports.

Sudan:

A Sudanese man, Abdelraouf Abuzeid, facing the death penalty in connection to the killing of an American diplomat in 2008 has been released. Abuzeid and a group of assailants were found guilty of killing John Granville and a Sudanese colleague who both worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development. Abuzeid’s brother claims that he was released by Sudan’s high court after a multi-million dollar settlement was reached between Sudan and victims of attacks including the one that killed Granville. The U.S. State Department responded with “deep concern” about the decision and said the claim that the release was agreed upon by the United States Government was inaccurate. The U.S. State Department has also decided to retain Abuzeid’s name on its Specially Designated Global Terrorist list.

Zimbabwe:

A court in Zimbabwe granted bail to 26 opposition party members who were arrested for, what authorities claimed to be, an illegal gathering. The arrest of the members from Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), including two Members of Parliament, intensified concerns of a crackdown on opposition politicians ahead of a crucial election this year. CCC members claim the court granting them bail confirms that the arrest was an abuse of power and shows the regime’s fear that they are losing their grip on power. In January, the CCC party members were teargassed and arrested for a gathering in Harare after a wave of politically motivated violence against opposition supporters in rural Zimbabwe.

Bolivia:

Bolivians across the country joined in a “national assembly” held by right-leaning opposition supporters to discuss whether to restart protests over the detention of Santa Cruz Governor Luis Camacho. Initial protests started in December with roadblocks in the agricultural and economically vital region of Santa Cruz. Protesters seek to challenge the left-leaning government’s arrest of Camacho and other political prisoners. Meanwhile, the U.S. in response released a travel advisory warning in Bolivia citing that, “demonstrations, strikes, and roadblocks can occur at any time in Bolivia.”

Cuba:

According to data published by Missing Migrants Project, at least 321 migrants died or disappeared in 2022 while attempting to migrate to another country, with 30 percent of the 321 migrants having been confirmed as deceased. 103 of the migrants were from Cuba, which is a 68 percent increase from the 61 Cuban migrants who were deemed missing or dead in 2021.

In January, United States President Joe Biden announced a new executive order that modifies the U.S. asylum policy for four countries, including Cuba. In order to qualify, Cubans will have to pass a lengthy application process, including background checks, the possession of a valid passport, being able to pay for their own airfare, and having an American sponsor with legal status who will support them financially once they arrive. International organizations are worried that Cubans will be subjected to more adverse migration conditions, such as waiting for long periods in dangerous regions of Mexico or traveling to Florida on rafts in perilous conditions.

 

Nicaragua:

Authorities in Nicaragua arrested 24 people after an alleged attack on an indigenous community during a land dispute. This was the first large-scale arrest for the attack on indigenous people in the Miskito and Mayangna region. Activists claim that President Ortega’s administration has not done enough to address the problems facing communities in these areas. Environmentalist Amaru Ruiz, director of the Del Río Foundation stated, “we have to be extremely cautious,” about these arrests. He added, “they have detained these kind of people before and later let them go.” Meanwhile, Transparency International has reported that Nicaragua has ranked low on the corruption index (higher corruption) due to political repression, human rights abuses, and suppressed freedom of speech. Recently, a judge sentenced two French women to eight years in prison. The women, relatives of an exiled opposition leader, have been accused of conspiracy which has become a common charge against political opponents of President Ortega’s administration.

 

The United States:

The White House issued a statement on Monday informing that the health emergency that had begun in 2020 with the COVID-19 outbreak will end on May 11. The federal response to COVID will be formally restructured and thus some changes will be introduced in terms of dealing with the COVID virus. The development of COVID vaccines will be shifted from direct federal management to private markets. Prices of vaccines will increase, for example, Pfizer one will be $130, and hospitals will no longer receive extra payments for COVID treatments they provide.

In the field of technology, the United States is working on complete on the sale of U.S. technology to China, and towards this end, the U.S. government has stopped providing licenses to several American firms to export their technology to Huawei. This decision comes after the estimation that Huawei became a threat to U.S. national security as it allegedly helps China engage in the espionage of U.S. technology. In the same vein, Mike Gallagher, Republican Chair of the House of Representatives Select Committee on China is also determined to ban the use of TikTok within the US borders. This Chinese social network poses another security threat to the States because the data security of users is not ensured and there is a concern that user data would get into Chinese government possession. The White House decided to remain restrained from commenting on the TikTok ban.

 

China:

The Chinese government declared that the country’s surge in COVID cases has declined through January, with fever clinic visits and hospitalization rates have dropped 95 percent and 85 percent respectively. The World Health Organization responded to the news with caution, stating that another surge following the Lunar New Year is possible and that a lack of state transparency makes tracking new variants difficult. The announcement comes after a Peking University report found that at least 900 million people in China have been infected with COVID. There have been more than 60,000 COVID-related deaths in the country since December and there could be incredibly high fatality rates in more rural regions. Chinese industry was also hit hard because of its pandemic-era restriction policies; profits for the country’s industrial firms fell 4 percent in 2022, equalling a loss of 8.4 trillion yuan.

The Chinese provincial government of Sichuan announced that its unmarried residents are now allowed to have children and removed caps on child limits. The new measures will be in place for five years in a province where citizens aged 60 years or older make up 21 percent of the population and are part of a larger set of measures to boost China’s birthrate following its first population decline in sixty years.

China announced that it would resume issuing visas for Japanese citizens following a three-week pause as a protest to Japan’s tightening of COVID restrictions for Chinese visitors. Relations between the two countries remain tense, as showcased by the Chinese coast guard driving away Japanese vessels in the East China Sea near islets claimed by both governments.

 

Hong Kong:

Journalists in Hong Kong have faced difficulties reporting since the 2020 national security law cracked down on free speech and media outlets. In 2022, Hong Kong dropped 70 places in a year to the 148th spot in the Reporters without Borders press freedom index. Since the 2020 law was enacted, two popular pro-democracy media outlets Apple Daily and Stand News were closed. The founder of Apple Daily, Jimmy Lai, is awaiting trial in September for charges of sedition and “colluding with foreign forces,” if charged he could face life in prison. Recently, a Hong Kong journalist, Jane Poon, started an abroad-based online news outlet called The Points, which reports news stories about Hong Kong and its diaspora.

 

Myanmar:

Activists and human rights groups have said that Myanmar’s military is increasing its use of airstrikes, in an attempt to suppress a determined opposition. The military’s air force has been reliant on its allies Russia and China for fighter jets and helicopter gunships to carry out its violent oppression. Some estimates put the death toll in 2022 at more than 20,000, including civilians and fighters. Some activists see the military’s use of air strikes as evidence that it is losing ground in the conflict and they remain optimistic in the face of the deadly attacks.

Myanmar’s military junta announced harder requirements for parties to enter elections. The requirements include a significant increase in their membership threshold and bars parties and candidates deemed to have links to individuals and organizations “designated as committing terror acts” or seen as “unlawful”. The law is intended to make it more difficult for opposition groups to launch serious challenges to the military in a general election.

Western allies imposed new sanctions against Myanmar’s military including measures against its air force in light of recent air strikes. The sanctions were announced to mark the two year anniversary of the 2021 February coup when Myanmar’s military ousted the democratically elected administration. Pro-democracy activists in the country held a “silent strike” to mark the anniversary. As a result of the strike, images circulated on social media showed empty streets in Myanmar’s major cities as activists can not safely protest the military’s regime. The same day, the junta extended the country’s state of emergency for another six months, delaying elections and elongating the regime’s oppression.

 

Thailand:

On the occasion of the upcoming May elections in Thailand, eight political activists met with Thailand’s biggest opposition party, Pheu Thai, on Tuesday to discuss the abolition of Article 112 of Thai law. Activists demand that Pheu Thai revoke Article 112 which criminalizes insults if the country’s monarchy. They claim that this law is too strict as it enables up to 15 years of imprisonment per royal insult. Article 112 became a central topic of discussion among Thai youth both on social media and at public gatherings and protests. This matter opened doors for more discussion on very strict lèse-majesté laws, where the public is generally polarized. After the meeting with activists Pheu Thai’s secretary general Prasert Jantararuangtong encouraged public discussion to address existing problems in short term. Activists raised the issue as an election matter as the palace remains salient on this topic and the ultra-royalist party Thai Pakdee aims to make this law even stricter.

 

Belarus:

A group of European Union ambassadors met to potentially extend new sanctions to Belarus due to their role in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. The EU aims to penalize the Belarusian government for allowing companies to route products into Russia that are banned due to existing sanctions. Proposals currently include restrictions on importing Belarusian oil, coal, gold, and military technology.

Amid a diplomatic trip to Zimbabwe, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stated that Belarus is willing to offer more assistance to Russia in its conflict against Ukraine, though followed up by saying that Russia does not currently need any help. Lukashenko was not specific in what new support Belarus would provide; this comes after the completion of military training with Russian forces in which the Belarusian military was given control of Russian-supplied Iskander mobile-guided missile systems. Belarus also signed several agreements with Zimbabwe, including a $66 million farm mechanization program, signaling a continuance of the two countries’ close relations and history of agricultural cooperation. These agreements come after the two countries signed several trade deals valued at $350 million earlier in January.

Iran:

The Iranian protests triggered by Masha Amini’s death in September 2022, found the most extreme response by the Iranian government, executing four protesters in the past two months. According to Deepa Parent, an Iranian journalist, such repression by the Iranian authorities signals that the regime is weak and scared, creating a ‘fire under the ashes’ by fueling protesters’ anger who are now even more motivated and determined to achieve their goals. The culmination of brutal and disproportionate use of force by the Iranian government against the peaceful protesters was responded to by the EU which launched a new package of sanctions on Iran, targeting the most responsible people for such repression. This could also affect the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) if labeled as a terrorist group by the EU. The reason for such a decision can also be found in an explanation that the Foreign Minister of Iran Hossein Amir-Abdollahian provided. Namely, he claims that designating IRGC as a terrorist group would, in turn, harm the EU’s security, as this way IRGC would lose its vital role in securing the safety of the region, and the Iranian regime would become angered.

Iraq:

The governor of Iraq’s central bank, Mustafa Ghaleb Mukheef, was replaced on Monday in the midst of a multi-week plunge in the value of the Iraqi Dinar. While the official rate stands at 1,470 to the dollar, the true rate as of January stood at 1,670, which marks a 7 percent drop since mid-November.

The drop in the Dinar’s value led to protests on Wednesday, with hundreds of Iraqis marching near the country’s central bank in Baghdad. The protestors, angry about the subsequent rise in the price of foreign imported goods, demanded monetary intervention. The decline in the Dinar can largely be traced back to November when the US New York Federal Reserve imposed stricter controls over international dollar transactions to Iraqi commercial banks to curb their siphoning of dollars to Iran.

 

Lebanon:

On Monday, the lead judge of the 2020 Beirut explosion investigation resumed the inquiry into Lebanon’s top politician’s involvement in the incident. Judge Tarek Bitar charged former Prime Minister Hassan Diab and two other former ministers with homicide with probable intent. Other officials, including the country’s public prosecutor and the head of the domestic intelligence agency, were also charged for their connection with the blast. On Wednesday, Lebanon’s top prosecutor, Ghassan Oweidat, charged Judge Tarek Bitar and ordered the release of detained suspects accused of the explosion. These recent events are part of a growing tension between the judiciary and Lebanon’s top politicians during the lengthy investigation into the blast. On Thursday, over 200 people protested in front of Lebanon’s justice palace in response to the judicial scandal. Families of the blast victims demanded that politicians allow the judge to continue the investigation.

 

Sudan:

Following the killing of four people by unidentified gunmen, a state of emergency was declared in South Kordofan province by acting Provincial Governor Mousa Gaber Mahmoud. The victims were traveling to areas controlled by Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North, a political party and militant organization which signed a peace agreement with the Transitional Government of Sudan in 2020.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed traveled to Sudan for his first visit since the 2021 coup. Talks between Ahmed and Sudan’s de facto head of state Abdel Fattah al-Burhan included an alignment on the construction of the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which the Egyptian government is actively hostile to. Sudan’s Sovereign Council stated that the two leaders held talks in Khartoum to broadly find “ways to strengthen and enhance bilateral relations.”

Bolivia:

A Bolivian judge has determined that Luis Fernando Camacho, a famous politician and governor to the Bolivian department of Santa Cruz, shall be detained while awaiting trial on “terrorist” accusations. Judge Rosmery Lourdes Pabon’s decision upholds a previous ruling by a different judge in late December. It requested for Camacho to be held in pre-trial detention for four months after prosecutors feared he could flee or obstruct the ongoing inquiry. The arrest of Camacho in December 2022 sparked protests amongst his supporters, who constructed road blockades in Santa Cruz to isolate the city and disrupt food supply distributions. Camacho is accused of instigating the 2019 political protests that led to the resignation of Evo Morales, the country’s first Indigenous president, following his contentious fourth-term election victory. Prosecutor Omar Mejillones claimed on Thursday that Camacho was responsible for creating a “power vacuum” after Morales’ resignation, citing a letter Camacho delivered to the then-president, accompanied by a police escort, in which he urged Morales to stand down.

Cuba:

While expecting the London court battle for unpaid debt from the Castro era, the Cuban government shifted to Russian aid in the field of market reforms.

This Monday Cuba began a legal battle, as CRF I Ltd, an investment firm bringing the case, reinforced its 3-year-old lawsuit against the Cuban state. CRF I Ltd claims it is owed 72 million euros it gave to Cuba through two installments during the 1980s. The case, which will last for the following eight days, is held in London’s High Court and will be followed by the other parties who have struggled to compensate for the $7 billion worth of loans that have been given to Havana. This case is acute as Cuba’s inability to solve matters with its commercial creditor nations in the London Club keeps the country out of international capital markets.

Meanwhile, after two days of talks on law enforcement and security issues with the US that Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla described as mutually beneficial, Cuba turned to Russia for advice on market reforms. The need for such help stems from indecisiveness on how the Cuban state should deal with small and medium-sized private enterprises that were authorized in 2021. Cuba and Russia allegedly took their relationship to a “new level” by creating a “Center for Economic Transformation” through which Russian experts will share technical expertise and help Cuba carry out economic reforms involving the private sector.

 

The United States:

At a Lunar New Year celebration in Monterey Park, California, a gunman opened fire killing 11 people, marking the worst massacre in Los Angeles County History and sending shockwaves through the Asian-American community. As California Governor Gavin Newsom was meeting with victims and their families in the hospital, news broke of another mass shooting in Half Moon Bay, California where seven farm workers were killed, many of them immigrants. Over eight days, 25 people in California died in mass shootings, and although the attacks seem to be unrelated, the statistics are staggering. Gov. Newsom and the public have stressed their fatigue and despair with the recent losses at the hand of mass violence. The shooting in Half Moon Bay was an apparent workplace violence case whereas the motive of the shooter in Monterey Park is still being investigated.

On the 50th anniversary of the Roe v Wade decision, thousands of protestors across the United States marched against the end of the federal right to abortion. Demonstrators condemned the Supreme Court’s decision last year, organizing more than 200 marches in 46 different states. Since the court’s decision, abortion has been banned or severely restricted in 14 states.

 

China:

The most recent economists’ estimations imply that China’s rapid growth may be over, due to various factors and changes within the state. Namely, economic transition, Zero-COVID policy, decrease in the working force, and existing debt coming from years of investments in infrastructure and real estate sectors are contributing to the decrease in China’s economic strength. In the UN forecast report on global economic growth, it is stated that China’s economic expansion will likely remain well below the pre-pandemic rate of 6 to 6.5 percent. Xi’s new strategy towards “high-quality growth” will most likely bring about low consumption rates, economists say. A decrease in productivity in the Chinese industry will leave space for other industries from Southeast Asian countries and create competition that will change the power balance in the region. Whatever the case, the world will certainly feel the impact of changes occurring within China.

Meanwhile, China seems to be determined to continue its pioneering position in Africa, where Chinese banks remain to be the main lenders. The US addressed the issues with debt in Zambia, calling for China to release debt and cooperate with the US on the matter. Chinese officials responded to the US, by asking it to end their pressure on China and solve their economic issues instead, as US issues hurt the global economy. Likely, China also seems reluctant in cooperating with the Philippines to minimize threats and conflicts in the South Chinese Sea area where it stood out as the most responsible for straining relations of affected countries.

 

Myanmar:

The UN announced that more than 3,500 Rohingya fled Bangladesh or Myanmar by the sea in 2022, a fivefold increase since 2021. Of these refugees, at least 348 have been pronounced dead or missing, underscoring the danger of these trips and the precarious living conditions for the more than one million Rohingya living in poverty and persecution in Myanmar and Bangladesh. A group of Myanmarese activists and sixteen alleged victims of military abuse filed a criminal complaint in Germany accusing Myanmar’s military leadership of orchestrating genocide against the Rohingya, as well as conducting other atrocities since its coup in 2021.

The Myanmar military carried out two airstrikes against members of the Chin National Front, an ethnic armed group located in the country’s western Chin state. The attacks, which are part of an escalating series of bombings against the CNF in the last month, have done little to dismantle the operational capacity of the organization, which has been further galvanized by the attacks. Furthermore, the airstrikes took place near the India-Myanmar border, evoking concern from the Indian government about encroachments into their airspace and violence spilling over into its territory.

Thailand:

Residents of Bangkok have been advised to wear masks and work from home due to worsening air pollution. Officials are encouraging people to use public transportation instead of personal vehicles if they need to commute, to limit further pollution. The government says it expects similar conditions to persist and will continue to monitor the air quality levels in the coming week. The poor air quality stems from agricultural burning and forest fires in the northwest of the country along with preexisting pollution from factories, construction, and traffic in the country’s capital.

 

Belarus:

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that Ukraine has proposed entering a non-aggression pact. Lukashenko, a close ally of Putin, disclosed the offer at a meeting of government and law enforcement officials. The President said, “…they are asking us not to go to war with Ukraine in any circumstances, not to move our troops there. They are proposing we conclude a non-aggression pact.” Lukashenko also alleged, without evidence, that Ukraine is allowing the West to use its territory to train militants who could threaten the situation in Belarus. Belarus has allowed Russia to use Belarusian territory to send troops into Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict, however, its own troops have not fought in the war thus far.