Weekly Recap: Jan 15 to Jan 21

North America:

• The United States’ Congress passed a short-term spending bill last Thursday (Jan 18) to avert a partial government shutdown which would have impacted the functioning of multiple federal agencies, and left thousands without pay. What would have been last week’s Friday (Jan 19) shutdown was postponed for at least another six weeks. The bill was proposed after negotiations on a full-year budget reached a deadlock over Biden’s calls for a further $106 billion (S$141.90) in urgent foreign aid for Russia and Israel, and Republican calls for spending cuts, and tightened border and immigration control. The military, Department of Justice, border security and Congress, among other federal agencies remain funded until March 8, while services such as those related to agriculture, energy and water will remain funded only until March 1st. The dysfunction in Congress may be attributed to the inability to pass a full budget for a fiscal year, due to clashes over key issues such as strong Senate support for sending more aid to Ukraine, and reluctance to do so in the House. 
• The US claimed it was “not at war” with Yemen’s Houthis last Thursday (Jan 18), following its fifth round of strikes in Houthi-controlled areas. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had destroyed two anti-ship missiles deemed to be an “imminent threat to merchant vessels and US navy ships”. US President Joe Biden remarked that the strikes were not working to stop Houthi activity thus far, but would continue nonetheless. The Iran-backed group has carried out attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea, in a show of Palestinian support in Israel’s war in Gaza. 
• Progressive and Hispanic legislators appealed to US Democrats not to accept a Republican deal which would lead to changes in US border law in exchange for increased foreign aid, last Thursday (Jan 19). Ahead of the short-term deal to avert last Friday’s (Jan 19) government lockdown, the White House had upped pressure on Congress members to seek a deal that would approve increased aid for Ukraine, in exchange for possible asylum restrictions. The calls came as the Democrat push for increased foreign aid spending, has been met for increased calls for spending cuts and stricter border control and immigration policies. Immigration legislation is rarely passed on the federal level on the US, which increased the implications of such a deal on US border laws amid repeated increases in border crossings during the Biden administration.
• NATO was set to launch its largest exercise since the Cold War, according to announcements last Thursday (Jan 18), involving 90,000 personnel, to rehearse execution of its regional defense plans, particularly against Russia. The ‘Steadfast Defender 2024’ would demonstrate NATO’s ability to deploy forces rapidly from North America to other parts of the alliance in Europe. The ‘wargames’, expected to last until May, would simulate emerging conflict scenarios, and were expected to include 50 ships, more than 80 fighter jets, helicopters and drones, and at least 1,100 combat vehicles. The 2023 NATO summit previously signed off on plan
• The US Senate rejected a resolution seeking to impose conditions on security assistance to Israel last Tuesday (Jan 16). The motion, which would have demanded security aid to Israel be frozen unless the Department of State produces a report which examines whether Israel has committed human rights violations in its campaign in Gaza, was overwhelmingly rejected with 73 senators against, and 11 for it. The vote, forced by Senator Bernie Sanders, reflected growing concern amongst some on the Democratic left over the continued supply of US weapons throughout Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, which has left more than 25,000 Palestinians dead thus far. Reasons for opposing the resolution included “sending the wrong message” when Israel claimed it was ‘shifting to a more targeted campaign’, according to Republican Lindsey Graham. The United States has provided Israel US$3.8 billion (S$5.09 billion) annually in recent years, with President Joe Biden asking for an additional US$14 billion (S$18.75 million) amid the war.

South America: 

• Ecuador’s security forces stormed a prison complex last Thursday (Jan 18), in Guayaquil, a city where gang boss Adolfo Macias, alias “Fito,” escaped last week. The operation involved hundreds of soldiers and police, who shared photos of cuffed inmates lying face down in prison courtyards. Two suspects were arrested for their alleged role in the prosecutor’s shooting death, along with a rifle, two pistols, and two cars seized as evidence. Guayaquil has become a dangerous hub for cocaine export, and the country, once a peace-seeking nation, has been plunged into crisis due to years of expansion by transnational cartels which use its ports to ship drugs to the US and Europe. In response to Fito’s escape, President Daniel Noboa imposed a 60-day state of emergency and nightly curfew, which the cartels responded to by threatening civilians and security forces, taking hostage dozens of police and prison officials. The violence also led to the murder of prosecutor Cesar Suarez last Wednesday (Jan 17). Suarez was a prosecutor investigating an on-air attack on a public television station who was shot dead while driving.
• Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, has been under siege by gang members for days since initial fighting broke out last Wednesday (Jan 17), with residents fearing violence spreading throughout the city. The community, once full of gangs, was once a United Nations peacekeeping mission that drove them out in the mid-2000s. The Haitian National Police had deployed officers to Solino intending to find and apprehend those in possession of weapons who are trying to incite fear among the public. A video showed officers exchanging fire with unidentified gunmen. Local communities have erected barricades using rocks, trucks, tires, and even banana trees to prevent gangs from entering. Haiti is awaiting the deployment of a foreign armed force led by Kenya to help quell gang violence.
• José Alberto García Vilano, also known as La Kena or Ciclon 19, was arrested last Thursday (Jan 18). Vilano is the leader of a faction of the notorious Gulf Cartel in Mexico. Two US citizens were allegedly killed in the alleged kidnapping of four by his drug smuggling organisation in March last year. The four were kidnapped in the border city of Matamoros, Mexico, where the Gulf Cartel is fighting for control of drug smuggling routes. The Americans drove over the border for cosmetic surgery, a practice common among US citizens travelling to Mexico for cheaper but sometimes riskier medical services. The Tamaulipas state government had offered a reward of US$145,000 (S$194,199.23) for information leading to Vilano’s arrest since 2022.
• Prominent US art dealer Brent Sikkema, 75, was found dead with multiple stab wounds in his apartment in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on last Monday (Jan 15). Alejandro Triana Trevez was taken into custody in the nearby state of Minas Gerais for the incident. According to the authorities, the suspect was in São Paulo before the murder and went back there later before attempting to escape, with thousands reportedly stolen from Sikkema’s residence. Trevez, who is believed to be the individual seen outside Sikkema’s house on security camera footage at the time of his murder, is the subject of a 30-day jail warrant issued by the police. Sikkema was the founder of New York contemporary art gallery Sikkema Jenkins & Co and had rubbed shoulders with the likes of former First Lady Michelle Obama.
• A Salvadoran woman was freed from prison more than seven years last Thursday (Jan 18) after she was convicted of having an abortion. The 28-year-old, identified only as Lilian, was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2015. There is a total ban on abortion in El Salvador, which has one of the world’s strictest anti-abortion laws. Campaign groups who supported Lilian during her ordeal said she was freed in December, but the information has only recently been made public. In 1998, El Salvador passed legislation outlawing abortions completely. Exemptions for rape cases and situations in which the mother’s health is at risk throughout the pregnancy are not included. Those who are convicted of ending their pregnancy might spend two to eight years behind bars. However, the accusation is sometimes amended to aggravated homicide, which has a 30-year minimum term. It is believed that dozens of women were wrongfully imprisoned in El Salvador because they may have undergone abortions. In recent years, some women who were imprisoned have been freed as a result of initiatives led by rights organisations. However, some people are still incarcerated and serving lengthy terms.

Asia Pacific: 

• Manila’s military chief, Romeo Brawner, disclosed plans last Monday (Jan 15), to enhance its military presence on islands in the South China Sea, including the strategically vital Thitu Island and Second Thomas Shoal, amid escalating tensions with China over territorial claims. Manila’s military chief, Romeo Brawner, announced the development efforts, focusing on improving living conditions for troops stationed on the islands. The Philippines, along with Brunei, China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam, asserts sovereignty in the disputed South China Sea.  Recent confrontations with the Philippines have heightened tensions, including water cannon incidents and territorial seizures like Scarborough Reef in 2012. The modernisation plans also involve acquiring additional ships, radars, and aircraft to shift the nation’s defence focus from internal to territorial concerns. The military intends to install a desalination machine on a warship grounded in 1999 to affirm sovereignty.  The move came as China, despite an international tribunal ruling against its claims, conducted military drills in the region this month, intensifying maritime standoffs with the Philippines.
• North Korea announced the successful testing of an underwater nuclear-capable drone, named Haeil, in response to joint naval exercises by the US, South Korea, and Japan  last Friday (Jan 19). North Korean state media claimed the drone could carry a nuclear warhead capable of creating a “radioactive tsunami,” though no evidence was provided. The US-led trilateral drills aimed at deterring North Korea’s nuclear, missile, and underwater threats. Since late December, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un instructed military sectors to accelerate war preparations. While there is no independent evidence of the tests, South Korea deems North Korea’s recent artillery firings, ballistic missile tests and Kim labelling the South as the “primary foe,” a “provocation,” threatening peace on the Korean Peninsula and beyond. North Korea’s recent military actions also include the deployment of a new solid-fuelled intermediate-range ballistic missile and live-fire drills at the maritime border with South Korea. Kim, adopting an increasingly aggressive stance, declared the end of the goal of reunification with South Korea and labelled the South as the “principal enemy.” Despite claims, analysts believe North Korea’s underwater weapons are still in development. The regime also planned to launch spy satellites in 2024, heightening regional tensions.
• Pakistan launched military strikes against Iran in a “highly coordinated” operation, responding to Iranian air raids in Balochistan over 24 hours earlier last Thursday (Jan 18). These marked the first external land attacks on Iran since the 1980s. Pakistan targeted armed group hideouts in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province, citing “credible intelligence” of impending large-scale terrorist activities. The operation, codenamed “Marg Bar Sarmachar” (Death to Sarmachar), resulted in at least nine deaths. Iran condemned the attack, reporting casualties that included three women, two men, and four children. The Middle East is experiencing heightened tensions involving Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria. Global reactions included China expressing willingness to mediate, the US condemning Iranian actions, and the UN urging both countries to exercise restraint.  The strikes occurred amid Iran’s attacks on Iraq and Syria, allegedly targeting the Islamic State and Israel’s Mossad.
• In a landmark decision, a Thai appeal court extended the prison sentence of Mongkol Thirakot to a record 50 years for violating the country’s lese-majeste law last Thursday (Jan 18). The lese-majesty law, known as Article 112, shields King Vajiralongkorn and his close family from criticism. Thirakot, a 30-year-old former pro-democracy activist, was initially sentenced to 28 years but had 22 years added to his term by the Chiang Rai appeal court for additional violations. The case reflected a broader pattern of increased use of lese-majeste laws against pro-democracy protesters since the 2020 demonstrations, with over 250 activists facing charges. Critics argued that these laws are employed to suppress dissent, as seen in the recent imprisonment of a woman for 43 years under the same law in 2021. The harsh sentence highlights the government’s crackdown on political dissent, prompting calls for legal reform to align with international standards and protect human rights.
• Japan’s attempt to land the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (Slim) on the moon faced challenges as the probe struggled to generate electricity after touchdown, last Friday (Jan 19). Despite this setback, Slim achieved a precise landing near the Shioli crater, showcasing Japan’s ability to land precisely on the moon. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) reported that the spacecraft’s solar cell is not generating electricity, putting the mission at risk of premature termination. The lander, operating on limited battery power, may only last a few hours. JAXA was analysing data to determine the cause, speculating that the solar cell issue could be related to the spacecraft’s direction. While the lander achieved a precise landing, making Japan the third country this century to land on the moon, its power challenges pose uncertainties. The mission aimed to study rocks near the Shioli crater in the Sea of Nectar to gain insights into the moon’s origin. The lander’s successful deployment of lunar rovers LEV-1 and LEV-2 adds value, but the overall mission status remains uncertain pending further data analysis. 
• Seoul’s Chief of Police, Kim Kwang-ho, was charged with negligence over a year after a Halloween crush in Itaewon resulted in 159 deaths. Kim, the highest-ranking police official facing charges in connection to the tragedy, was accused of failing to ensure an adequate police presence on October 29, 2022, when over 100,000 people gathered in the area, leading to a crowd crush in a narrow alleyway and causing 158 deaths and 312 injuries. Critics demanded Kim’s immediate resignation and trial. The incident overwhelmed the 137 deployed officers as tens of thousands crowded Itaewon’s narrow alleyways, hindering emergency response. Families of victims accused Kim of neglecting his duty, urging severe punishment.

Europe: 

• Oil supply tightened in Europe over Red Sea disruptions as the market structure of Brent, which is used to price nearly 80 percent of the world’s traded oil, hit its most bullish in two months on Friday (19 January), as tankers diverted from the Red Sea following recent air strikes by the United States and the United Kingdom on targets in Yemen. The volume of traffic going to Europe from the Middle East had nearly halved amid attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels since November 2023. The disruptions had been the largest to global trade since the COVID-19 pandemic combined with other factors such as rising Chinese demand to increase competition for crude supply that does not have to transit the Suez Canal, most evident in European markets. In response to Israel’s war in Gaza, rebels from the Iran-aligned group that controls northern Yemen and its western coastline have launched a wave of assaults on ships in the Red Sea.
• The British parliament approved a controversial bill last Wednesday (Jan 17), to allow the country to send refugees arriving in the UK to Rwanda, in east Africa, as the government overcame rebels in its party and defied critics who warn the bill breaches international law. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government won the vote in parliament by a majority of 320 to 276. The victory was a huge relief for Sunak: only 24 hours earlier 60 of his Conservative MPs had backed amendments to strengthen the bill. The amendments were defeated, causing concern that these MPs would also rebel on the main bill. Following an agreement between the two nations in 2022, the Rwanda Safety Bill intended to put an end to the legal hurdles that have up to now prohibited Britain from transporting refugees to Rwanda. Those who enter the country illegally are to be sent by the UK to Rwanda, where they will stay while their asylum petitions are being handled, only allowed back to the UK if they succeed. Asylum seekers may choose to remain in Rwanda or apply elsewhere if they are denied. No migrants have been transferred to Rwanda as of yet. Britain has also handed the Rwandan government hundreds of millions of pounds. Judges and tribunals have maintained that it is unsafe to deport refugees to Rwanda because they may be persecuted there or, worse, repatriated to their original country of origin. Critics claim that the move is blatantly against both international human rights treaties and the UK’s approved refugee conventions. The Rwanda Safety Bill is designed to alleviate those concerns by providing assurances and oversight that the Rwandan government will comply with its human rights obligation. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is not convinced and said last Tuesday that it still sees the Rwanda deal, even with the bill, as incompatible with international refugee law.
• Belarus adopted a new military doctrine last Friday (Jan 19) that, if approved, would be the first step toward deploying nuclear weapons across the country, which would provide “preventive deterrence for potential adversaries from unleashing armed aggression” against the nation, according to Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin. Belarus was “forced” to put the measure in place, he added. The Union State of Belarus and Russia Treaty set up a legal basis for a wide-ranging alliance between the two countries. The doctrine requires approval from the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly, a representative body that operates in Belarus in parallel with the parliament, which would be held in April, according to Russian state media RIA Novosti. Khrenin said the interest of his government lies in restoring the influence of security organisations such as the UN AND OSCE, in “preventing and resolving armed conflicts”.
• Fascist salutes at demonstrations were permitted since last Thursday (Jan 18), according to an Italian high court, unless they endanger public order or put the nation’s banned fascist party in jeopardy. Local media sources state that several opposition party members in Italy as well as prominent members of the Jewish community denounced the decision and intended to demonstrate against it. The decision was made in response to a video that captured more than 150 men in central Rome giving the fascist salute, also known as the “Roman salute,” in remembrance of the two far-right youth group members who were killed on January 7, 1978. The court had ordered a second appeals trial for eight men convicted of performing a salute at a Milan event in 2016 commemorating the 1975 killing of a neo-fascist CasaPound militant, focusing on whether there was a threat to public order or aimed to bring back Italy’s fascist party.
• Huge crowds of protesters descended on cities in Germany on the weekend (January 20 and 21), as demonstrations called for a ban on the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) gaining momentum. Tens of thousands had braved sub-zero temperatures throughout this week to protest against the party after it emerged senior AfD members discussed a plan to deport migrants en masse in revelations that have been compared to the Nazi era. Protests of up to 30,000 people had already taken place in cities including Berlin, Leipzig, Rostock, Essen and Cologne. Demonstrators gathered outside the capital’s Redbrick town hall last Wednesday (Jan 17), holding placards reading “Nazis out” and chanting slogans against far-right AfD politician Björn Höcke. People are enraged by reports that senior members of the AfD discussed a ”master plan” for the mass deportation of German asylum-seekers and German citizens of foreign origin during a meeting late last year. The reports of the gathering of AfD members, neo-Nazis and other far-right extremists sparked a wave of protests across Germany. Many pointed out that the mass deportation plan is evocative of the Nazi era from 1933 to 1945 when millions were transported against their will to concentration, forced labour and extermination camps.

Middle East: 

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed the Biden administration of his opposition to the creation of a Palestinian state following the Gaza war, last Thursday (Jan 18). Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s stance on maintaining security control over all Palestinian territories, including the occupied West Bank and Gaza. This stance, diverging from the US and international pressure for a two-state solution, was emphasised in a call with US President Joe Biden last Friday (Jan 19), adding potential strain to their ties. The White House opposes Israeli reoccupation of Gaza after the conflict. Mexico and Chile referred Israeli actions to the International Criminal Court last Thursday (Jan 18), accusing Israel of war crimes. Israel rejected the allegations, with Netanyahu vowing to press ahead with the offensive against Hamas. US Official John Kirby maintained there was no evidence of Israel committing “deliberate” war crimes. At least 25,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war, with Israeli forces continuing operations in southern Gaza, in alleged search of top Hamas officials. 
• Houthi rebels in Yemen targeted a US-owned container ship with an anti-ship ballistic missile in the Gulf of Aden.  The US military says the vessel was hit by a drone last Wednesday evening (Jan 17). The attack caused minimal damage, and the ship continued its journey. The Houthi rebels claimed responsibility, citing hostility towards US and British vessels involved in aggression against Yemen. This incident follows a previous attempt by the Houthis to launch a missile at a US destroyer in the Red Sea. The Houthis control western Yemen, including the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, strategically important for shipping. The US and UK responded with air and sea strikes on Houthi targets. Tensions are high, with concerns about broader regional escalation. The attack occurred after the US designated the Houthis as “global terrorists,” leading to freezing of their funds and bans on members in the US. The move reversed a 2021 decision by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and was prompted by Houthi attacks on shipping, considered terrorism.
• Iran accused Israel of a strike in Damascus that killed five Revolutionary Guards members in a residential building, and vowed to avenge the latest overseas attack on the Islamic republic’s personnel, last Saturday (Jan 20). President Ebrahim Raisi condemned the attack as a “cowardly assassination” and vowed retaliation. Israel, accused of escalating strikes against Iranian and allied figures in Syria and Lebanon, did not officially comment. The event followed a series of recent high-profile targeted assassinations in the region, contributing to heightened tensions between Israel and Iran-backed groups.
• Saudi Arabia had not yet officially joined the BRICs bloc of developing countries, the kingdom’s minister of commerce said in a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos last Tuesday (Jan 16). This contradicted previous reports from Saudi state TV that claimed the kingdom’s membership but were later removed from social media. Following the minister’s statement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that integrating Saudi Arabia into the BRICs bloc was very important work that was continuing on Wednesday (Jan 17). The invitation to join the BRICS bloc was extended in August to January 1, with other nations like the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Iran, Argentina, and Ethiopia also invited. Joining the BRICS could enhance Saudi Arabia’s economic influence and support its pursuit of a more independent foreign policy. The decision comes amid growing tensions between the U.S. and China. Despite strong ties with the U.S., Saudi Arabia seems to be pursuing its own path, expressing concerns about U.S. commitment to Gulf security.
• Kuwait established its inaugural government last Wednesday (Jan 17) under the leadership of the new Emir, Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah succeeding the previous ruler. Notable appointments in the cabinet include Emad Mohammed al-Atiqi as the oil minister, Anwar Ali al-Mudhaf as the finance minister, and Abdullah Ali al-Yahya as the foreign minister. The new administration is poised to uphold Kuwait’s established foreign policies, with a focus on fostering Gulf Arab unity, strengthening Western alliances, and maintaining a robust relationship with Riyadh. Despite these objectives, the government grapples with persistent challenges stemming from historical tensions between the ruling family and critics within the parliament.

Africa:

• 126 refugees were rescued in the Mediterranean Sea last Thursday (Jan 18), including 30 minors and one infant, by the crew of Humanity-1, a search and rescue vessel operated by German NGO, SOS Humanity. The wooden boat set sail from the coast of Libya in hopes of reaching Europe, with many of the rescued suffering from overexhaustion, hypothermia and disorientation, fearing they would be returned to Libya. At least 2,498 refugees, migrants and asylum seekers drowned in the Mediterranean Sea in 2023, making it the deadliest year on record for such crossings since 2017. More than 17,000 deaths have been recorded since 2014, attributed to the deadliest known migration route in the central Mediterranean, as people flee their nation due to reasons of loss of livelihoods, violence and discrimination. 
• Leaders of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) condemned Israel’s war in Gaza and called for a ceasefire at the meeting of the 120-member bloc last Friday (Jan 19). Cuba’s vice president, Salvador Valdes Mesa, called it one of the “cruellest genocidal acts” in recorded history so far, questioning how “civilised” Western countries could justify Israel’s continued actions in Gaza since October 7. Most African nations are members of NAM, the largest global bloc after the United Nations. The summit was referred to of one of “solidarity”, with UN reforms and other global issues being on the agenda. Foreign ministers within NAM adopted a resolution supporting a ceasefire and humanitarian assistance for Gazans, as well as South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – agreeing that Israel’s actions are now a legal case that must be decided on by the ICJ. 
• The Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi was sworn in for a second five-year term, during the inauguration ceremony following December’s highly contested elections, last Saturday (Jan 20). Opposition candidates, including businessman Moise Katumbi and Nobel Peace Prize winner Denis Mukwege called for the election results to be rejected after Tshisekedi won more than 70 per cent of the vote, citing logistical issues. Tshisekedi requested the mandate from the people to “consolidate” the original promises of his administration to improve living conditions in the mineral-rich but impoverished nation, including unemployment, youth and women’s rights and put an end to the 25 years of tensions in the country’s east. Tensions rose last Saturday (Jan 20) as well, with reports of tyers being burned in Goma, the main hub of the conflict-torn eastern province of North Kivu.
• Somalia’s foreign ministry said there was “no space for mediation” in a dispute with Ethiopia, last Thursday (Jan 18), unless the nation cancelled a controversial deal with the breakaway region of Somaliland, which leased 12 miles of coast to Ethiopia, giving it access to the sea. The comment came following the African Union’s call for tensions between the two nations to be de-escalated to reach a peaceful resolution. Ethiopia had sought sea access for years, after Eritrea broke away from Addis Ababa to declare independence.  
• A curfew was imposed after protests broke out in response to the island nation of Comoros’ President Azali Assoumani’s re-election, last Wednesday (Jan 17). A government spokesperson blamed supporters of opposition candidates, after it denied allegations of voter fraud. Several demonstrators were arrested. Assoumani first came to power through a military coup in 1999. Comoros has experienced around 20 coups or attempted coups since its independence from France in 1975.