World News Monitor: 30 May, 2022
A quick look at events from around the globe.
South Asia
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has claimed that the incumbent Sharif government is planning to sign a deal with India to “sell the people of Kashmir.” Addressing workers from his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf party, he further alleged that the government is on the path to recognising Israel. [The News International]
Search troops from the Nepalese army successfully located the Tara Air passenger plane that crashed on Sunday due to cloudy weather near Kathmandu with 19 passengers and three crew members on board. The wreckage was located after hours of patrols, with operations hindered by bad weather and poor visibility. 14 bodies have been found so far, though it is thought that all 22 on board were killed. [Himalayan Times]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced on Friday that Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and China plan to start the construction of a new rail network connecting the three countries. Mirziyoyev, who was speaking at this year’s Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) economic forum, said that the “move will add to the widening of existing railway routes connecting East with West” and “open new opportunities for transport corridors” linking Central Asia with the Pacific Ocean region. [RFE/RL]
An Armenian soldier was injured during a shootout with Azerbaijani forces near the south-eastern part of the border on Saturday, the Armenian Defence Ministry said. The Ministry blamed Azerbaijani troops for opening fire. [Armen Press]
East and Southeast Asia
On Sunday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Fiji as part of his eight-nation tour of the Pacific island region, just one day after Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama’s meeting with Australian FM Penny Wong. Prior to Wang’s trip, Bainimarama stressed that “Fiji is not anyone’s backyard,” perhaps to emphasise that it is free to sign agreements with any country of its choosing. [Global Times]
On Sunday, the Japanese Foreign Ministry noted that a South Korean research vessel had conducted a marine survey in waters off the disputed Takeshima islets, which it maintains fall within Japan's exclusive economic zone. In this regard, it has filed a complaint with South Korean diplomats, marking the first such incident between the two countries since May 2017. [The Japan Times]
Europe
A poll by YouGov suggests that British Prime Minister (PM) Boris Johnson and other Members of Parliament from his Conservative Party would keep a hold of three out of 88 “battleground” seats, including Johnson’s own Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat, if elections were held right now. This is a result of public discontent over the Sue Gray report on the Partygate scandal, which concluded that several Johnson and his officials had attended several parties during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 and 2021. [Politico]
On Sunday, Germany’s coalition government and conservative opposition reached an agreement to release $107 billion to upgrade its military and modernise military equipment amid Russian aggression. The deal, reached after weeks of negotiations, will allow Germany to meet the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s target of defence spending constituting 2% of members’ GDP. [France 24]
On Sunday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that the “liberation” of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine is an “unconditional priority” for Russia, adding that the rest of Ukraine has to decide on their future. Moscow considers the separatist territories of Donetsk and Luhansk to be independent. [Reuters]
Latin America and the Caribbean
Heavy rainfall lashed parts of Greater Recife in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco over the weekend, killing 84 people; a further 56 have been reported missing. The Fire Department has deployed rescue teams in light of several landslides and collapses. Minister of Regional Development Daniel Ferreira has cautioned citizens to follow Civil Defense guidelines as a “self-protection” measure, with more rain expected in the coming days. [Telesur]
In a report released on Friday, the United States Treasury Department moved to renew Chevron’s licence for oil production in Venezuela, which was earlier suspended by the Trump administration under its “maximum pressure” campaign against the South American country. This will enable Chevron to maintain its staff and infrastructure while freely conducting all “transactions and activities necessary for safety or the preservation of assets in Venezuela.” The licence will remain operational through the end of November and may restore oil trade between the two countries. The report, however, demanded dialogue between President Nicolas Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaidó to form a more “cohesive governing body” and conduct “free” elections before any broader relaxations are issued. [Fox Business]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Saturday that Turkey’s proposed operation in Syria against Kurdish militants could happen at any time. “Like I always say, we’ll come down on them suddenly one night. And we must,” the President said while attending a Turkish aviation festival in Azerbaijan. Erdoğan announced last week that Ankara plans to launch a major offensive in the Rojava region in northeast Syria to root out Kurdish extremists. [Associated Press]
Clashes between Palestinians, Jews, and Israeli forces erupted across Jerusalem on Sunday following a march by tens of thousands of nationalist Jews, who marched through the Muslim Quarter of the city, shouted racist slogans, and entered the Temple Mount in record numbers. Palestinians had warned that going ahead with the march would lead to clashes and said that such a move would be seen as provocative. “The Israeli government is fully responsible for all these reckless policies and the following consequences,” Gazan militant group Hamas said. [Reuters]
North America
The United States is deliberating on sending advanced long-range rocket systems— such as the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)—to Ukraine as Russia gains control of the strategic eastern city of Lyman. Ukrainian officials have also requested the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems. The Kremlin has warned of harsh consequences against any country providing advanced arms to Ukraine. [CNN]
During a meeting with G7 counterparts, Canadian Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault stated that Canada can provide Liquified Natural Gas to Europe “in the short term” as an alternative to Russian gas. He added that Canada can supply clean hydrogen “in the middle and long term” to help Europe in reducing its dependency on Russian energy. Canada is one of the largest producers of hydrogen in the world. [National Post]
Oceania
Australia will send more than 100 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel—comprising army, air force, and cybersecurity personnel—to Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the coming months to help the Pacific nation hold national elections in July, counter cyber threats, and hold joint exercises. Australia’s increased support for the Pacific Island nations comes as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi tours the South Pacific Island region in a bid to secure policing and security deals with at least 10 Pacific island nations. [The Sydney Morning Herald]
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a Memorandum of Cooperation on climate change with California during her trade mission to the United States. The agreement will facilitate the exchange of information, research, and experiences to reduce emissions and bolster cooperation across several sectors—energy storage and smart grids, zero-emissions vehicles, climate-smart agriculture, and emissions trading. [New Zealand Government]
Sub-Saharan Africa
At least 31 people lost their lives during a stampede at a church in the Southern Rivers state in Nigeria on Saturday. People had gathered at the church gate in the early hours to receive food but “some got impatient and started rushing, which led to stampeding,” said state police spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko. [Reuters]
On Sunday, Qatar extended humanitarian assistance to South Africa to aid response and recovery efforts in light of recurring floods in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) district that have killed 459 people. KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala said he was “inspired” by Qatar’s efforts and hailed its support as one of the “various things that are required when people are affected by floods.” [eNCA]