Australia reviews military strategy against China

Today's headlines: A French court imprisons four Afghans for human trafficking; In India, Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh, on the run for over a month, was arrested; Heatwave in the Philippines could move classes online; Former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon landed in Myanmar; Russian expatriates in Georgia try to avoid new mobilisations.

AUSTRALIA - CHINA

Australia today released its Defense Strategic Review, a 110 document considered the largest review of its defence programme since World War II, which recommends the purchase of several long-range missiles to counter China. According to a Stockholm International Peace Research Institute report released today, global military spending in 2022 increased by 3.7 per cent to a new record ,240 billion.

AFGHANISTAN

A French court jailed four Afghans accused of human trafficking for smuggling 53 people (mostly Vietnamese and Afghans) into the UK after crossing the English Channel. After serving their sentences of five or six years, they will be forced to leave. In the meantime, according to leaked Pentagon documents, Afghanistan, almost two years after the American withdrawal, has become a major coordination centre for the Islamic State, a fact that the Taliban authorities continue to deny.

INDIA

Preacher Amritpal Singh, whose calls for Sikh independence had irritated the Indian authorities, was arrested in the state of Punjab. The 30-year-old had been on the run for more than a month after escaping arrest on 18 March. He and his supporters were charged with attempted murder and attacking police officials.

PHILIPPINES

The Philippines Department of Education said that due to the high heat, school authorities may suspend classes in attendance to safeguard the health of students and staff. In late March, a local mayor had suspended classes after 83 students were hospitalised for heatstroke during seismic and fire drills. The summer break in the Philippines was postponed after the covid-19 pandemic by decision of Vice President and Education Minister Sara Duterte.

MYANMAR

Former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Myanmar, Burmese state media reported today, as a brutal civil conflict rages in the country. Since the 202i military coup, diplomatic efforts have stalled. No details were given on the visit of Ban Ki-moon, a member of 'The Elders' group of world leaders founded by Nelson Mandela, which works to promote peace and defuse conflict.

JORDAN - ISRAEL

Israel arrested a Jordanian MP on charges of smuggling arms and gold into the West Bank. Imad al Adwan, who had driven through a main border crossing along the Jordan River, was detained and interrogated by Israeli authorities, said Sinan al Majali, Jordanian Foreign Ministry spokesman.

RUSSIA - GEORGIA

A group of Russian expatriates in Georgia, with explicitly anti-war positions in Ukraine, is organising an unofficial network to help compatriots avoid new mobilisations, legally or illegally, and has received thousands of requests after the state's conscription notice was sent out electronically.

KAZAKHISTAN

In Žanaozen in Kazakhstan, dozens of unemployed have been staying in front of the akimat (municipality) for three weeks now, demanding to be hired at one of the companies in the Mangustau region for oil extraction, but no one from the authorities has agreed to meet them. The protests have actually lasted for more than a year, with vain promises from above.

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