Yemen: at least 38 dead in US attack on Houthi-controlled port
Today's headlines: Myanmar’s military junta and exiled government extend a ceasefire (albeit repeatedly violated) to help aid to earthquake victims. Israel has violated the truce with Lebanon at least 2,740 times with 190 dead (71 civilians) and 485 wounded. The Afghan Taliban have given part of the half a million weapons abandoned by the United States to militant groups. Vietnam wants to increase development goals in terms of wind and nuclear power.
YEMEN – UNITED STATES
At least 38 were killed and 102 wounded in yesterday's US raids on a Houthi-controlled port used for fuel storage in Yemen, one of the deadliest attacks since the start, last month, of large-scale US military operations to stop attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea by the pro-Iranian rebel movement in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
MYANMAR – ASEAN
Myanmar’s military junta and a key opposition group have agreed to extend the ceasefire to support relief and aid operations for the regions affected by the earthquake of 28 March, which killed over 3,600 people, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced. As the current ASEAN chairman, Mr Ibrahim held talks with the head of the military junta and the prime minister of Myanmar’s exiled National Unity Government (NUG). The junta announced a 20-day ceasefire on 2 April; however, it continued military operations in some areas with deadly results.
CHINA – CAMBODIA
Chinese President Xi Jinping met the Cambodian prime minister yesterday in Phnom Penh, the final stop on his tour of Southeast Asia that included Vietnam and Malaysia. This is also part of Beijing’s attempt to boost strategic ties and trade in the region, as well as compensate for US President Donald Trump's tariff policy, with a call to "resist protectionism". The two sides signed 37 agreements in various sectors, including water resources and education. China is Cambodia's largest trading partner and source of investment, with more than a third of the country’s foreign debt (US$ 11 billion) tied to Beijing, according to the International Monetary Fund.
LEBANON – ISRAEL
Since the signing of the ceasefire, Lebanon has recorded 2,740 Israeli violations, resulting in the death of at least 190 people and the wounding of 485 others. The victims include 71 civilians, including 14 women and nine children, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reports. Israel has justified its operations as a "response" to Hezbollah's attacks and as a way to prevent the Shia group from rearming.
AFGHANISTAN
Half a million weapons and military equipment captured by the Taliban after the Americans pulled out of Afghanistan in August 2021 have been lost, sold or smuggled to militant groups, sources told the BBC. Taliban leaders admitted as much at a closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council’s Sanctions Committee in Doha at the end of 2024, noting that at least half of these weapons are “unaccounted” for with some ending up in the hands of Islamist extremist groups affiliated with al-Qaeda.
VIETNAM
Vietnam is increasing its wind and solar development targets to boost power generation by 2030 to meet escalating demand. The country has committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, as part of its Power Development Plan 8 (PD8). Manufacturing depends on coal to meet rapidly expanding needs, but manufacturers now want to "develop renewable energy sources”.
RUSSIA – INDIA
India is taking over Russia’s place in the global market for low-cost weapons, proposing mass and “politically safe” armaments, especially tanks, rockets and anti-aircraft systems, to countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, Reuters reports. As a result, Russian arms exports have plummeted by 64 per cent in the last five years, while India's have grown by 62 per cent in the last three years, to six billion dollars annually.
AZERBAIJAN
Torrential rains have isolated several regions in Azerbaijan, especially in Baku, Ganja and Khyrdalan. All civil protection forces are working to contain the damage and restore roads, organising the evacuation of people stranded and securing flooded structures.
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11/08/2017 20:05
14/01/2021 13:34
