FOCUS
- June 5, 2022. By Peter Timmer, East Asia Forum. In just over two months, the world food situation has gone from bad to worse. Calls to not panic fell on deaf ears, even as the Ukrainian military put up stiff opposition to the Russian onslaught. If Ukraine somehow wins the war, it will be decades before its economy and agricultural exports return to their previous levels. Food security now top priority for G20 cooperation
THINK TANKS & GLOBAL NEWS
TECH, DIGITAL, CYBER
- June 6, 2022. By Pierluigi Paganini, Security Affairs. Resecurity, Inc. (USA) has identified an increase in activity within hacktivist groups conducted by a new group called “Cyber Spetsnaz”. “Cyber Spetsnaz” is Attacking Government Agencies
- June 6, 2022. By Global Times. China’s fintech giant Ant Group launched a digital wholesale bank – ANEXT Bank – in Singapore on Monday, providing digital financial services to micro, small and medium enterprises in Singapore and the region, especially those engaging in cross-border business operations, according to the company. Ant Group launches digital wholesale bank in Singapore to serve regional SMEs
- June 6. 2022. By Global Times. Indian media outlet, The Economic Times, on Sunday hyped about a “data leak” targeting Chinese companies as more than 500 subsidiaries of Chinese companies in India are reportedly under scrutiny by local authorities for alleged “financial irregularities.” Chinese companies were found to have “collected a large amount of personal data on individuals,” exacerbating “national security concerns,” said the report. Biz Quick Take: ‘Data leak’ hype only to hinder India’s own digital progress
- June 6, 2022. By Byron Kaye, Reuters. An Australian court on Monday ordered Google to pay a former lawmaker A$715,000 ($515,000), saying its refusal to remove a YouTuber’s “relentless, racist, vilificatory, abusive and defamatory” videos drove him out of politics. Google ordered to pay Australian politician over defamatory YouTube videos
- June 6, 2022. By Reuters. The website of Russia’s Ministry of Construction, Housing and Utilities appeared to have been hacked, with an internet search for the site leading to a “Glory to Ukraine” sign in Ukrainian. Russian ministry website appears hacked; RIA reports users data protected
AROUND THE WORLD
Americas
- June 6, 2022. By Matt Spetalnick and Dave Graham, Reuters. The Biden administration has made a final decision to exclude the governments of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua from the Summit of the Americas, people familiar with the matter said, despite threats from Mexico’s president to skip the gathering unless all countries in the Western Hemisphere were invited. U.S. excludes Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua from Americas summit-sources
Australia
- June 6, 2022. By The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) wrapped up exercise Autonomous Warrior 2022 (AW22) on May 27th after nearly two weeks of experimentation with unmanned systems. Royal Australian Navy Concludes Autonomous Warrior 2022
Australia – China
- June 6, 2022. By Peter Layton, The Interpreter. It’s time to be alarmed not just alert. On Sunday, Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles revealed a “very dangerous” intercept by a People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s (PLAAF) fighter of an Australian P-8 maritime patrol aircraft took place on 26 May over the South China Sea. The P-8 aircraft was flying in international airspace at the time, well outside territorial waters. Australia has conducted maritime patrols in the area for several decades – the P-8s flight was unremarkable, the J-16 fighter’s aggressive moves anything but. A flare up in China’s deliberate pattern of aggression
- June 6, 2022. By Michael Shoebridge, The Strategist. The 26 May incident where a Chinese fighter aircraft fired flares and chaff at an Australian maritime patrol aircraft in international airspace above the South China Sea, risking a potentially fatal crash, is not an isolated episode. And it’s not peculiar to the Australia–China relationship, so it would be wrong to see it as all about us and connected with any notion that Beijing is focusing much effort on a positive ‘reset’ of our bilateral relationship. Close encounters of the PLA kind: Xi shows the South Pacific its future
Australia – Indonesia
- June 6, 2022. By Zahra Matarani and Stanley Widianto, Reuters. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese heralded a deepened relationship with close neighbour Indonesia, pledging stronger cooperation on trade, security and climate change during his first bilateral visit on Monday. Australian PM signals stronger ties with Indonesia on security, climate
Australia – South Pacific
- June 6, 2022. By Graeme Dobell, The Strategist. China makes ambitious offers to South Pacific states. Australia’s great counter-offer is to South Pacific people. The people dimension must define Australia’s effort for the islands. Australia’s bipartisan promise to South Pacific people
Bangladesh
- June 6, 2022. By Ruma Paul, Reuters. Firefighters in Bangladesh battled for a third day on Monday to stamp out a massive fire that killed 41 people at a container depot in an incident that spotlights the South Asian nation’s poor safety record. Bangladesh battles to douse blaze at container depot that killed 41
China
- June 6, 2022. By Global Times. The summer rapeseed harvest is at full throttle across China as the nation pledges to increase financial and technical support in a bid to ensure food security. China’s summer rapeseed harvest to exceed 6.67 million hectares: ministry
- June 6, 2022. By Global Times. China’s services activity rebounded in May as the country’s COVID-19 flare-ups were brought under control combined with eased anti-epidemic restrictions, a private sector survey showed on Monday. Private Caixin survey shows rebound in China’s services activity in May
- June 6, 2022. By Global Times. Shandong Port Group (SPG) released the nation’s first emissions inventory among China’s ports, aiming to support the country’s carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. Shandong Port Group releases China’s first emissions inventory for ports
- June 5, 2022. By Global Times. Global investors are returning to the Chinese mainland stock markets after the sell-off earlier this year as fund managers generally believe negative factors “have started to be reversed,” the Financial Times reported on Friday. GT Voice: Why it’s the right time to bet on Chinese stocks
- June 5, 2022. By Global Times. Chinese electric vehicle (EV) industry players such as BYD are striving to secure deals with lithium mines overseas in a bid to curb surging prices of batteries while securing the stable supply of EVs, for which China is one of the leading producers in the world. Chinese EV makers scramble to acquire lithium, aiming to curb battery prices
- June 5, 2022. By Liu Xuanzun, Global Times. The deployment of lightweight drones on the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s aircraft carrier Shandong sparked a wave of speculation by overseas media, which hyped that China has surpassed the US in deploying drones on aircraft carriers. Drones deployed on aircraft carrier Shandong; ‘more advanced tech to come soon’
China – Canada
- June 6, 2022. By Reuters. China’s defence ministry said on Monday Canadian military jets have stepped up reconnaissance and provocations against China, endangering the Asian country’s national security. China says Canadian military jets increased reconnaissance, provocations
China – India
- June 6, 2022. By Cao Siqi and Zhang Changyue, Global Times. In a sharp slap in the face to the West, which attempts to drive a wedge between China and India by piling pressure on New Delhi to take a tough stance against Moscow with the hypothesis that the country may face “similar challenges” from China in the future, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar outlined the country’s position by emphasizing that China-India relations have nothing to do with the Russia-Ukraine conflict and India is capable of managing its ties with Beijing. Chinese ambassador to India revisits Chennai to follow up summit’s spirit; bilateral relations ‘have opportunities for breakthrough’
India
- June 6, 2022. By Sanjeev S. Ahluwalia, ORF. For all the brouhaha around the hydrogen economy at Davos and the competition amongst the Indian ministries to garner a piece of the regulatory action around this future energy business, it is hard to find any authentic, consistent information on the state of play in green hydrogen (GH) from government websites of the concerned ministries. Green hydrogen: A Pie in the sky or an unfolding transformation?
Malaysia – Thailand
- June 6, 2022. By Wu Shang-Su, The Interpreter. With pandemic restrictions easing, especially for travel, some Southeast Asian countries have resumed the pursuit of enhanced intra-regional connectivity. The Malaysian and Thai governments last month established a joint committee to explore high-speed rail connections between Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. Proceed with caution: high-speed rail for Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur
Mexico
- June 6, 2022. By Reuters. Migrants and asylum seekers who enter Mexico through its southern border face abuses and struggle to obtain protection or legal status as a result of policies aimed at preventing them from reaching the US, Human Rights Watch said today. As leaders meet in Los Angeles for the Summit of the Americas, they should commit to ending abusive anti-immigration policies and to ensuring people seeking protection are received humanely in the US, Mexico, and elsewhere. Mexico: Asylum Seekers Face Abuses at Southern Border
- June 6, 2022. By Reuters. Mexico’s ruling party was primed to capture four more state governments after elections on Sunday, preliminary results showed, strengthening President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s grip on power ahead of the contest to succeed him in 2024. Mexican president’s party set to win most states in Sunday elections
Russia – Ukraine
- June 6, 2022. By Natalia Zinets and Pavel Polityuk, Reuters. Russia struck Kyiv with missiles for the first time in more than a month, while President Vladimir Putin warned he would hit new targets in Ukraine if western nations supplied the country with longer-range missiles. Russia strikes Kyiv again after weeks, Putin warns West on missile supplies
- June 5, 2022. By Karolina Hird, Mason Clark, and George Barros, ISW. Ukrainian forces continued to conduct limited and localized but successful counterattacks against Russian positions throughout Ukraine on June 5, including retaking large areas of Severodonetsk—the city in Luhansk Oblast the Kremlin has concentrated the majority of its forces on capturing. A Russian Telegram channel claimed that Ukrainian troops launched a counterattack north of Kharkiv City, indicating that Ukrainian forces continue to pressure Russian defensive lines near the Russian border.[1] Ukrainian forces are likely seeking to leverage the continued Russian focus on Severodonetsk to conduct counterattacks on other axes of advance. Even as Russian forces continue to pour equipment and troops into the Severodonetsk-Lysychansk area, Ukrainian forces have conducted a successful counterattack in Severodonetsk in the last 48 hours and pushed Russian troops back to the eastern outskirts of the city and out of southern settlements.[2] Ukrainian counteroffensive pressure will likely continue to draw the attention of Russian forces to Luhansk Oblast and therefore leave vulnerabilities in Russian defensive efforts in Kharkiv Oblast and along the Southern Axis. The ability of Ukrainian forces to successfully counterattack in Severodonetsk, the Kremlin’s current priority area of operations, further indicates the declining combat power of Russian forces in Ukraine. Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 5
Russia/Ukraine – USA – India
- June 6, 2022. By Kanwal Sibal, VIF. If western governments are ready to accommodate India by balancing their longer term interest in keeping it within their “democratic” fold with their shorter term interest in drawing India into the circle of “democratic” states condemning Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine, America’s “India experts” are being encouraged or have taken upon themselves to keep flagging the issue of India’s “neutral” position on the conflict to mould public opinion against it. Responding to American Criticism of India’s Stance on Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Russia/Ukraine – Sweden
- June 6, 2022. By The Swedish government released an extra amending budget on June 2, 2022, with recommendations indicating that Sweden will provide Ukraine with financial assistance and military equipment. The RBS-17 (Robot-17) short-range anti-ship missile is part of the new package. How can this system help Ukraine ? How Can Swedish RBS-17 Anti-Ship Missiles Help Ukraine?
South Korea – USA – North Korea
- June 6, 2022. By Jack Kim and Soo-Hyang Choi, Reuters. South Korea and the United States said they fired eight surface-to-surface missiles early on Monday off South Korea’s east coast, responding to a barrageof short-range ballistic missiles launched by North Korea on Sunday. S.Korea, U.S. launch eight missiles in response to North Korea missile tests
UAE
- June 5, 2022. By HRW. Wide-ranging legal changes introduced by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in late 2021 fail to address the longstanding and systematic restrictions on citizens’ and residents’ civil and political rights, Human Rights Watch said today. The new laws maintain previous provisions and include new ones that pose grave threats to fundamental human rights. UAE: Sweeping Legal ’Reforms’ Deepen Repression
UK
- June 6, By Reuters. British Conservative Party lawmaker Jesse Norman, previously loyal to leader Boris Johnson, said on Monday he could no longer support the prime minister, calling on Johnson to end the charade of staying in office as it insulted the electorate. UK lawmaker Norman says he can’t back Johnson in any circumstances
- June 6, 2022. By Elizabeth Piper, Reuters. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will face a confidence vote by lawmakers in the governing Conservative Party later on Monday, the chairman of the 1922 Committee Graham Brady has told lawmakers. After’partygate’, UK PM Johnson to face confidence vote on Monday
Uganda
- June 6, 2022. By HRW. Ugandan security forces raided the offices of an opposition political party on the eve of the May 26, 2022, by-election in Omoro County in Northern Uganda, Human Rights Watch said today. The security forces beat party supporters and arbitrarily detained at least 13 opposition supporters that night, and on election day. Uganda: Omoro By-Election Marred by Abuses
USA
- June 6, 2022. By Hu Weijia, Global Times. US President Joe Biden on Friday dismissed economic warnings from Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, as he touted May’s better-than-expected jobs report, saying the nation is entering a new phase of “stable, steady growth,” CNN reported. Why Biden’s remarks against Musk’s warnings are a cause for concern
- June 5, 2022. By Naval News. General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) laid the keel of the submarine District of Columbia (SSBN 826) at a ceremony at its facility in Quonset Point, Rhode Island. GDEB Lays Keel of Submarine District of Columbia (SSBN 826)
PERSPECTIVES
- June 6, 2022. By Amin Saikal, The Strategist. The issue of whether the religion of Islam is a faith that endorses extremism, and more specifically violent extremism, or is used and abused by extremist groups for notional objectives, is an important one. This query continues to be a recurrent theme at different levels in world politics. In a new book, Extremist Islam: recognition and responses in Southeast Asia, counterterrorism expert Kumar Ramakrishna urges authorities to pay more attention to the persistent danger of violent Salafism in the region. What’s the connection between Islam and extremism?
- June 6, 2022. By East Asia Forum. The costs of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine continue to mount, not only in terms of lives lost and cities and villages reduced to rubble. The war in Europe has loaded big costs on the global economy, especially developing economies already under stress from the COVID-19 crisis, and is shaking the foundations of the global economic and political order on which post-war prosperity and security were built. Dealing with the global food crisis yet another big job for Indonesia’s G20 summit
Le interviste di The Science of Where Magazine
