Weekly Global Newscast | September 16 - September 23, 2018

Asia

Pakistan Criticises China Over Treatment of Ethnic Muslims

Pakistan has requested China to soften its restrictions on ethnic Muslims in Xinjiang. Xinjiang is home to 12 million Muslims, and is at present confronting hard hit government campaign aimed at countering extremism and other elements that Beijing witnesses as security risk.

Analysis

‘Criticism of Beijing has increased after a UN panel last month cited “credible reports” that as many as 1 million ethnic Uighurs, Kazakhs, and other minorities are being held in internment camps. Activists, researchers, and media outlets have documented mass detentions, surveillance, and suppression of cultural and religious life in Xinjiang. China’s neighbours and economic partners are increasingly caught up in the crackdown in Xinjiang, which has accelerated in the last two years after the arrival of communist party secretary Chen Quanguo, dispatched to Xinjiang from Tibet.’ Lily Kuo writes for The Guardian.

‘Pakistan, China’s closest ally in the Muslim world, openly criticized its treatment of its Uighur population, a majority-Muslim ethnic minority living in the western Chinese region in Xinjiang, earlier this week. It marks the strongest condemnation of China’s repression of the population yet.’ Alexendra Ma writes for The Business Insider.

Pakistan and India on the Brink of Rhetoric(al) Aggression Once Again

Pakistan and India have come to engage in an aggressive exchange of rhetoric. The said exchange was experienced with the cancellation of a scheduled meeting between the foreign ministers from the two countries by the Indian side on the account of Pakistan’s alleged role in the brutal killing of its security personnel.

Analysis

‘New Delhi’s move was sharply criticized by Islamabad, which accuses Indian authorities of sabotaging regional peace. The Indian foreign ministry contended that it cancelled the talks following the latest brutal killings of their security personnel by Pakistan-based entities in Kashmir, and the release of a series of Pakistani postage stamps glorifying a terrorist and terrorism.  Indian authorities blamed Pakistan’s new premier Imran Khan for harbouring an “evil agenda” and showing his “true face.”’ Shamil Shams writes for The Daily Washington.

‘Pakistan has consistently used the platform of the UN General Assembly to rake up the Kashmir issue and its leaders have sought to internationalize it during their addresses in the General Debate. India responds strongly to Pakistan, whose attempts to raise the Kashmir issue every year at the multi-lateral forum have found no resonance with the international community. Following India’s acceptance of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s request for a meeting, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi were slated to meet on the sidelines of the General Assembly. However, India called off the meeting, citing the brutal killings of three policemen in Jammu and Kashmir and Islamabad releasing postage stamps “glorifying” Kashmiri militant Burhan Wani.’ Reported The Hindu.

‘The Congress, which attacked the government for its decision to meet with Pakistan in New York, welcomed the decision to call off the meeting.’ Reported The Hindustan Times.

Middle East & North Africa

Russia and Turkey to Set Up Idlib Buffer Zone to Protect Civilians

Russian and Turkish leadership agreed on the establishment of de-militarized buffer zone along the borders of Idlib- the last conflict enclave left in Syria. The decision was taken with the aim of putting an end to the disturbing humanitarian disaster in the region.  The said buffer zone is expected to be materialized by October 15th, 2018.

Analysis

‘The immediate risk of a humanitarian disaster in the last major Syrian rebel enclave of Idlib appears to have been averted by a joint Russian-Turkish plan to set up a demilitarised zone as a buffer between the Syrian army and the rebels. The plan was agreed on by Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, at a bilateral summit in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. The nine- to 12-mile (15-20km) zone running along the borders of the Idlib region will be safe from Syrian and Russian air force attack and will be in place by 15 October.’ Patrick Wintour writes for The Guardian.

‘The plan is to separate government forces from the rebel fighters in the area and provide a lifeline for the over 2 million civilians living there. But it’s far from certain that this is the answer humanitarian groups have been looking for. It seems as always from the start of this conflict in Syria in the last seven years, Syrian civilians are always the last to be on the agenda. Will this buffer zone be the answer to the Syrian crisis?; I’m very skeptical. What it instead needs is a comprehensive approach that provides protection for the civilians in Idlib and across Syria. And that’s been the key missing link.’ Lindsay Rempel writes for Euro News.

Sub Saharan Africa

Violence in Cameroon’s Anglophone Regions Spiralling Out of Control

Amnesty International has warned an escalation in the rising violence in the Anglophone areas of Cameroon. The warning came following the release of a video showing English-speaking separatists in Cameroon with the decapitated head of a policeman. With Cameroonian presidential elections round the corner, the need to address the said violence has grown by leaps and bounds.

Analysis

‘Separatist unrest in Cameroon’s two minority English-speaking regions – the Northwest and Southwest – has left hundreds dead and displaced about 200,000 people since late 2016.Years of resentment at perceived discrimination at the hands of Cameroon’s majority French speakers have led to almost daily acts of violence and retribution, triggering an army crackdown. Amnesty said it was not able to independently confirm the exact location where the videos were shot, but analysis suggested it might be in the area of Belo, in the Northwest region.’ Reported the Al Jazeera.

‘Amnesty estimates 400 ordinary citizens have been killed in the past year, and 160 members of the security forces have died since late 2016. Separatists have put pressure on parents to keep their children out of school as part of a boycott, and there have been reports of raids and arson attacks on schools.’ Ruth Maclean writes for The Guardian.

Europe

Theresa May Defiant After Brexit Plan Attacked

Prime Minister Theresa May expressed her concerns over the dismissal of her proposal at the Salzburg summit. May insisted that the dismissal came short of any explanations as to what exactly were the shortfalls in her proposal. She made it clear in a conference that the British government had reached an impasse with the European Council.

Analysis

‘May said both sides want a deal, but remain far apart on key issues of future trade relations and the Irish border. She called for “serious engagement” to solve the problems. She said that throughout this process, she had treated the EU with nothing but respect. The UK expects the same. A good relationship at the end of this process depends on it.’ Reported the Al Jazeera.

‘May said, “I have always said these negotiations were going to be tough, and they are going to be tougher in the final stretch.” The U.K., she said, would be waiting for the E.U. to come back with reasonable proposals. In any case, the clock is ticking for negotiations to progress. Britain will leave the bloc on March 29, 2019, with or without a deal, unless an extension to the 2-year leaving period is agreed.’ Billy Perrigo writes for Time.

‘Whatever political breathing space the prime minister has bought herself, the fundamentals in the Brexit negotiations have not changed and they still look impossible for the U.K. prime minister. The EU, publicly and privately, shows no sign of being willing to concede on the core principle standing in the way of a divorce deal: what to do about the Irish border. May has set up no separate customs arrangement for Northern Ireland as her final, unbreakable red line. The EU is, so far, shrugging its shoulders.’ Tom McTague and Annabelle Dickson write for Politico.

Oceania

PM Jacinda Ardern Rejects US President Donald Trump’s Call to Join War on Drugs

New Zealand’s PM Jacinda Arden has been an ardent supporter of putting an end to drug usage, its smuggling and other drug-related crimes.  In her visit at the ‘Leader’s Week’ in New York, she categorically denied any support for the anti-drug movement championed by Donald Trump.

Analysis

‘Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that New Zealand will not join the countries that are signing up for a war against drugs that US President Donald Trump is pushing at the UN in New York. He has been campaigning for other countries to sign up to a Global Call to Action on the World Drug Problem, a paper which seeks a clampdown on drug smuggling and supply as well as other drug-related crimes. It has a special emphasis on synthetic drugs. New Zealand will not be following suit as it believes it to be too hard-line. She added that there is a particular opiate focus. We have an agenda that is focused on addressing issues around drug use. We have a number of challenges that are quite specific to New Zealand and the type of drugs that are present, but also I’m taking a health approach.’ Clair Trevette writes for The New Zealand Herald.

Americas

US Hits China With Sanctions for Buying Russian Fighter Jets and Missiles

US has  expressed grave concerns over Chinese purchase of Russian jets and missiles made in the past week. Sanctions were imposed on China effectively to counter the proliferation in the sales and purchase of arms. The said sanctions are expected to sour out US- China ties once again. Furthermore, China and Russia are in the bid of launching a coordinated backlash against the sanctions.

Analysis

‘The US has sanctioned the Chinese military for buying Russian fighter planes and missiles, and blacklisted more than 30 Russians, most of whom have been indicted for their role in Moscow’s effort to subvert the 2016 US election. The new sanctions unveiled by the state department will sharpen tensions with Beijing amid a brewing trade war – and further sour relations with Moscow. Julian Borger writes for The Guardian.

‘China and Russia have both lashed out at the sanctions. Russia dismissed the measures as an “unfair” measure meant to undermine Russia’s position as a major arms exporter. Those subject to the sanctions are blocked from foreign-exchange transactions subject to US jurisdictions. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said “We are doing all that is necessary not to depend on the countries that act in this way regarding their international partners”.’ Christopher Woody writes for The Business Insider.

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