Following the diplomatic recognition of the breakaway region, military cooperation and speculation over a possible Israeli presence in the city of Berbera have increased. Rumours about military bases have so far not been officially confirmed, but the Horn of Africa is becoming increasingly central to regional competition.

The government granted an additional week following protests, but confirmed assistance is still limited to three months. Families forced to leave “illegal” settlements in April complain that the resettlement plan is unbalanced. Human rights groups are also critical of the government.

In a document issued in Yogyakarta, the Association of Catholic Higher Education Institutions has called for collaboration during a period of change and new challenges for the country. “Political leaders must commit to promoting transparent and accountable governance.”

According to official licence statistics, as many as 30,000 are aged between 70 and 79. This reflects not only the ageing population but also the financial difficulties faced by those who lost their jobs during the Covid pandemic. And with pensions insufficient to cover their expenses, many make ends meet by working as taxi drivers.

EU Special Representative Stiprais is calling for an update to cooperation policies that takes account of the increasingly close ties between the countries in the region, which have been highlighted by Kyrgyzstan’s election to the UN Security Council. The “shared” Kambarata hydroelectric power station and the local satellite internet connection system are the flagship projects.

Today’s headlines: the Syrian president appoints the final 70 members of parliament, including 15 women; The (Chinese) Myitsone mega-project in northern Myanmar gets back on track; Two churches in the UAE that had been closed due to the war have reopened. Kerala Assembly opposes Delhi’s reform on foreign funding for NGOs; Hanoi scraps the two-child policy and offers incentives to families.