Tensions between New Zealand and the Cook Islands over agreements with China
Today's news: Threat to halt hostage release puts ceasefire between Israel and Hamas at risk as Jordanian king meets Trump in Washington; Concerns in Indonesia over public roles assumed by the military; Beijing plans trains for the elderly to boost the economy; In Tajikistan only one opposition candidate is admitted to next month's elections.
CHINA – NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand has accused the government of the Cook Islands of a lack of transparency regarding its intention to enter into a partnership agreement with China. The leader of the small Pacific island, Mark Brown, will travel to Beijing to sign the agreement. The ties between the Cook Islands and New Zealand are governed by a ‘free association’ agreement under which the island is guaranteed defence and some financial support.
JORDAN–ISRAEL–USA
A meeting between US President Donald Trump and Jordan's King Abdullah II is being held today in Washington. Jordan, which receives over a billion dollars in aid from the USA and already hosts two million Palestinian refugees, has so far refused the request to take in Palestinians from Gaza. Meanwhile, yesterday Hamas threatened to block the new hostage release planned for 15 February, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire agreements. Trump commented that if the hostages are not released by Saturday, Israel should withdraw from the truce and ‘let hell break loose’.
CHINA
Beijing is planning to create a network of tourist trains equipped with medical facilities and assistance for the elderly to unlock the spending power of the older population. The action plan with a series of guidelines was launched this morning. According to government data, in 2022 one in five people in China was aged 60 or over, a figure that is set to exceed 30% within a decade.
INDONESIA
Indonesia's appointment of an army general to head the national company that handles food supplies has raised concerns about the military's growing involvement in the running of public businesses. Under military law, soldiers in Indonesia are only allowed to hold civilian positions in state institutions in areas such as defence, security, intelligence and disaster response, but are not allowed to be involved in politics and business.
MYANMAR
Recruits enrolled in the Burmese army in the last year have said that they were ordered to burn the houses of civilians, while officers steal food from villages and slaughter livestock. According to ethnic resistance militias, 70% of front line soldiers are new recruits. Since the regime began recruiting young people last year, many have fled abroad, while in some cities the army has carried out ‘kidnap and recruitment’ operations.
RUSSIA
In St. Petersburg companies have started to ask their employees to ‘voluntarily’ donate part of their salary to the needs of the army, which will be transferred to the Suvorov charity fund, created by former officer Ajrat Gafurov to support the war in Ukraine. Those who don't agree risk being deprived of their bonuses, which can constitute up to half of their salary.
TAJIKISTAN
The Tajikistan electoral commission has registered 68 candidates from 6 political parties for the parliamentary elections to be held on 2nd March next, the majority (28) from the ruling Democratic-Popular party, and other candidates will be presented for the single-member seats. Of the socialists and democrats, the only opposition parties, only one candidate has been admitted.
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15/07/2023
