Weekly Recap: Feb 12 to Feb 18

North America:

• ‘Zombie Fires’ were burning at an alarming rate in Canada, according to reports since last December. The fires, burning even in the middle of the country’s winter season, remained burning  thick layers of snow at an unprecedented rate, raising fears about what the coming summer might bring.e The fires are caused by flameless smoulders that burn in peat moss below the surface, within  thick layers of snow that insulate them from the cold. While the fires are not unusual,  last month saw an unprecedented peak of 106 such active fires, raising concern among fire scientists about what these smoulders would mean for the upcoming wildfire season.

• President Joe Biden said the US House’s decision last Tuesday (Feb 13), to call a two-week recess without passing fresh aid for Ukraine, was “bizarre” and “outrageous”. The he Senate approved funding worth US$95 billion (S128.25 billion)  for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan in a bipartisan vote. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, said that the lower chamber would not vote on it without additional funding for border security. Biden said failing to pass new aid could undermine America’s reputation, saying “there is a real concern about the United States being a reliable ally.:The President’s intervention comes after Johnson effectively killed the Senate approved bill that would have seen US$60 billion (S$81 billion)  allocated in new aid for the Ukrainian military.Some 22 Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, had originally joined Democrats in voting to approve the bill. 

• The United States announced  it was  preparing to send more bombs and other weapons to Israel, last Friday (Feb 16),  even as it encouraged a ceasefire in the war on Gaza and said it opposes Tel Aviv’s plans for a ground invasion in southern Rafah where more than half the enclave’s displaced population is trapped. The proposed arms delivery includes about a thousand each of MK-82 500-pound (227kg) bombs and KMU-572 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs) that turn unguided munitions into precision-guided bombs,  The report cited an assessment of the proposed arms transfer drafted by the US embassy in Jerusalem, saying the Israeli government had requested “rapid acquisition of these items for the defence of Israel against continued and emerging regional threats”. The assessment also dismisses potential human rights concerns, saying it takes “effective action”  to prevent violations of human rights and to hold “security forces responsible” for violation of those rights.The administration of US President Joe Biden has so far twice bypassed Congress to urgently send munitions to Israel amid the war that has killed more than 28,000 Palestinians, mostly children and women, and left tens of thousands more injured or missing.

• The US said Russia was developing a “troubling” space-based anti-satellite weapon, last Thursday (Feb 15).  The weapon was “not an active capability” with no immediate threat to anyone’s safety, according to National Security Spokesman John Kirby. However, Russia’s “pursuit” of such a space-based weapon remained of concern, with US officials not commented if it was nuclear-capable or nuclear-powered. 

• Before Elon Musk announced plans for a Tesla plant in Monterrey, Mexico, US trade was already shifting south. By late 2022, Mexico attracted 400 Asian companies relocating. Investments surged, reaching $13 billion by June 2023, mainly in auto manufacturing. Mexico became the US’s top trading partner last Tuesday (Feb 13), surpassing China and Canada. This nearshoring trend benefited Latin America, with Mexico leading the way, prompting concerns in the Canadian auto parts industry.

South America: 

• Venezuela ordered its local UN human rights office to suspend operations and leave the country within 72 hours last Friday (Feb 16) , accusing it of siding with opposition forces. The move followed the UN agency’s expression of concern over the detention of a prominent rights activist. Venezuela’s government alleges the UN office had acted against the country’s interests and demands a public rectification. The government planned to review the terms of technical cooperation over the next 30 days. The UN has operated in Venezuela since 2019. The activist, Rocio San Miguel, was  accused of involvement in an alleged plot to assassinate President Maduro, which the US is purportedly linked to. San Miguel’s detention is seen as part of a broader effort to stifle dissent amid heightened political tensions.

• Ecuador experienced an unprecedented wave of unrest, marked by dramatic events such as the takeover of a public TV station by masked gunmen and prison riots last Thursday (Feb 15). These incidents shook a country already grappling with historically high crime and murder rates. The violence, including the killing of a presidential candidate during the last election campaign, garnered international attention. Ecuador’s security challenges had worsened due to the presence of criminal and drug trafficking organisations, compounded by the peace process in Colombia and the departure of the US Drug Enforcement Agency from Ecuador in 2009. This transition transformed Ecuador from one of Latin America’s safest countries to one of the most dangerous globally. The situation posed a significant challenge for the new government, which was transitional amidst a growing political crisis in the country.

• The US imposed sanctions on Mahan Air due to its ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) last Monday (Feb 13) . Mahan Air’s sale of an aircraft to Venezuela’s Emtrasur violated these sanctions, leading to Argentina grounding the jet in July 2022. Washington deemed the aircraft as US property following the deal. Iran condemned the move, vowing to support Venezuela in reclaiming the Boeing. Venezuela denounced the transfer as a “shameful rapacious operation” and vowed to restore justice. The US Justice Department stated the aircraft, registered under a former IRGC commander, is to be disposed of after arriving in Florida, without further details.

• U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas met with Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo at the Munich Security Conference last Sunday (Feb 18), to discuss regional migration, security, and the economy. The meeting occurred shortly after Mayorkas faced impeachment by the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives over migrant handling. Despite a 50 per cent decrease in Border Patrol arrests in January, immigration remains a key concern for the Biden administration and voters ahead of the 2024 election. Both Mayorkas and Arévalo reiterated their commitment to collaborating on regional issues. Arévalo, a progressive anti-corruption advocate, has faced challenges from Guatemala’s elite, prompting the Biden administration to impose sanctions on officials undermining democracy. Mayorkas expressed support for Guatemala’s democracy and emphasised collaboration for regional security and prosperity.

Asia Pacific: 

• A senior bureaucrat in Pakistan said Saturday (Feb 17), he had helped rig the country’s elections, a week after polls marred by allegations of manipulation returned no clear winner. The commissioner of the garrison city of Rawalpindi, Liaqat Ali Chattha, where the country’s powerful military has its headquarters – said he would hand himself over to police. There had been widespread allegations of rigging after authorities switched off the country’s mobile phone network on election day and the count took more than 24 hours. The army-backed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), short of a majority, announced a partnership with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and a handful of smaller parties to form the next government. Chattha said he had personally supervised the rigging of votes in Rawalpindi, before stepping down from his post, saying his efforts had “reversed” margins of 70,000 votes in 13 national assembly seats, and would “hand” himself “over to the police”. He also implicated the head of the election commission and the country’s top judge. In response, Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party called nationwide protests to express outrage against the results. 

• Chinese coast guard ships were accused by the Philippines last Saturday (Feb 17), of engaging in “dangerous” actions after they continuously stopped a Filipino vessel that was bringing supplies to fishermen near a reef off the coast of the Southeast Asian country. The incidents happened near the China-controlled Scarborough Shoal last Thursday and Friday (Feb 15 and 16), several days after the Philippine Coast Guard made similar accusations against Chinese boats in the same area. Scarborough Shoal – a triangular shaped chain of reef and rocks in the disputed South China Sea – has been a flashpoint between the countries since China seized it from the Philippines in 2012. Since then, Beijing had deployed patrol boats that Manila says harass Philippine vessels and prevent Filipino fishermen from reaching a lagoon where fish are more plentiful. 

• Jailed former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra was freed last Sunday (Feb 18), just six months after returning from 15 years of self-imposed exile. After returning to Thailand in August, the controversial billionaire—who had been overthrown in a military coup in 2006—was imprisoned for eight years on allegations of bribery and abuse of authority. However, the nation’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn reduced his sentence to just one year a few days later. Thaksin’s homecoming coincided with his Pheu Thai party returning to government in alliance with pro-military parties, leading many to conclude that an agreement had been struck to cut his jail time.The exact details of Thaksin’s release are not clear, but he may be subject to monitoring – possibly with an ankle tag – and restrictions on his right to travel.

• Ten people were killed and 15 more injured in an explosion at a fireworks factory in India last Saturday (Feb 17). The explosion was caused by a fire inside the factory in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, according to a local police officer Feroze Khan Abdullah.  Factory accidents are common across India, with owners often ignoring basic safety requirements and operating without permits. Eleven labourers were killed in India’s capital New Delhi last Friday (Feb 16) when a huge fire ripped through a paint factory, following a blast that shook the neighbourhood. One of India’s worst fires was at a school in the northern state of Haryana in 1985, when 442 people were killed, 258 of them children.

• Chinese officials said the country would step up law enforcement patrols in the waters near Taiwan, last Sunday (Feb 18), after two Chinese nationals died in a boat incident involving Taiwan’s coast guard. The Chinese boat was carrying four people when it capsized on Wednesday near the Kinmen islands while pursued by the Taiwanese coast guard. All four on board were thrown overboard and two of the crew later died. The  patrols are intended to “maintain the order of operations” and “protect” fishermens’ lives, according to a spokesperson for the Chinese coast guard, in a statement. China has condemned Taiwan for the incident and urged the island to release the two surviving members of the boat crew, who were detained. Taipei in turn blamed Beijing, saying the boat was “within prohibited waters” around the Kinmen islands – a territory administered by Taiwan but located about 5 kilometres from China’s city of Xiamen.

Europe: 

• Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced last Sunday (Feb 18) that the Hungarian parliament could ratify Sweden’s NATO membership when it reconvenes for its new session later this month. Orban stated that steps had been taken to rebuild trust between Hungary and Sweden, and he expressed optimism about ratifying Sweden’s accession to NATO at the start of the parliament’s spring session. Sweden applied to join NATO in May 2022, and its accession requires the backing of all NATO members. Hungary is the only NATO country that has not yet ratified Sweden’s application. The delay in ratifying Sweden’s NATO application has strained Budapest’s relations with the United States and raised concerns among its allies. The Hungarian Parliament is scheduled to reconvene on February 26, and the ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership is expected to be a significant agenda item.

• Russia and Ukraine engaged in a series of air attacks last Saturday(Feb 17), with Moscow targeting cities across Ukraine and Kyiv striking the Russian border city of Belgorod. The attacks resulted in casualties and damage in both countries. Russia’s intensified assault on Ukraine involved missile strikes and drone attacks, causing injuries and infrastructure damage. In response, Ukraine claimed to have sunk a Russian warship off the coast of Crimea. The exchange of air attacks reflects the escalating conflict between the two countries, with both sides suffering casualties and significant damage to infrastructure

• Russian authorities launched criminal proceedings against Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas last Wednesday (Feb 14), accusing her, Estonian Secretary of State Taimar Peterkop, and Lithuanian Culture Minister Simonas Kairys of destroying or damaging monuments to Soviet soldiers. The charges were reported by Russia’s state-run Tass news, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed them. Kallas, the first head of state placed on the Russian Interior Ministry’s wanted list since the invasion of Ukraine, described the move as politically motivated and linked it to her support for Ukraine. The Baltic states and other countries have condemned the charges as politically motivated, and Latvia and Lithuania summoned their respective Russian ambassadors in response. Estonia, a former part of the Soviet Union, joined the European Union and NATO in 2004, a move that has long been a source of tension with Russia

Middle East: 

• Only the U.S. can force peace in the Middle East and it should pressure Israel, according to Lebanese foreign minister, Bou Habib, last Friday  (Feb 16). Washington remains Israel’s primary foreign backer, sending roughly $4 billion annually in military aid, which constitutes about 16 per cent of Israel’s defence budget. Palestinians are “ready for peace” according to Habib, however  the United States is the “only country that can really enable peace”.   The Minister encouraged pressure over Israel the way it was applied under former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, and warned that if it  cannot  play a prominent role in stopping the hostilities, Israel’s war in Gaza would continue. 

• Hamas officials threatened to suspend ceasefire talks unless urgent aid was brought into the north of the Gaza Strip last Saturday (Feb 17), where aid agencies have warned of a looming famine. According to a Hamas source, negotiations could not be held while hunger “is ravaging the Palestinian people”. The UN’s World Food Programme has warned that Gazans are inching closer toward famine,  with concern highest about the north of the coastal territory because aid agencies are unable to get in. The head of the UN humanitarian agency OCHA in the Palestinian territories, Andrea De Domenico, said he had “no idea” how an estimated 300,000 people still in the north had survived. Calls have increased for more trucks carrying aid to be allowed into Gaza, but Israel has tightened checks it says are necessary to prevent Hamas leaders from escaping and arms being smuggled in.

• Satellite imagery, released last Thursday (Feb 15), by Maxar Technologies, suggested that Egypt had decided to take precautionary measures as a result of the impending offensive by building temporary structures for Palestinian refugees.  The images came as Egypt had consistently said it would not open its border to refugees, as it  did not want to appear complicit in the large-scale displacement of Palestinians, but also would not out of economic and security concerns. According to a report published by a human rights group, seven-metre-high walls are being constructed in the zone. Egypt publicly denied making any such preparations with Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant also saying “has no intention of evacuating Palestinian civilians to Egypt”. The work in areas of land close to the Rafaj crossing into Gaza, appears to have been completed in the last few days, as can be seen when comparing the landscape with an earlier image of the same area from five days ago. Rafah, an area previously deemed an evacuation zone, had been under constant Israeli bombardment, with more than a million Palestinians under the threat of airstrikes in the area.  

• There is “an extraordinary opportunity” in the coming months for Israel to normalise ties with its Arab neighbours, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Saturday, (Feb 17) while also emphasising the need for the creation of a Palestinian state. The top U.S. diplomat said there were genuine efforts led by Arab countries to revitalise the Palestinian Authority so it can be more effective in representing the Palestinians. The Biden administration said it has been working to secure a mega-deal that will see ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel normalise. The Kingdom and other Arab countries are seeking the creation of a Palestinian state as part of the deal.

• This war is not just an Israel-Gaza war. It’s Israel against Iran with Gaza,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s eldest son, Yair Netanyahu, said in an interview published last Sunday (Feb 18). The interview, titled “The Real History of Israel and Palestine”  had Netanyahu link Iran’s ability to cause chaos in the Middle East to the change in administration in the United States. According to him, the Trump administration was tough on the country, placing sanctions on Iran that almost collapsed their economy. In addition to Yair’s comments regarding Iran’s situation with Israel and the Middle East, he spoke about the American supporters of Palestine, referring to many of them as “the woke-progressive camp.” 

Africa: 

• UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities added 13 new African members last Thursday  (Feb 15), according to a UNESCO press release. The new cities joining the Network were chosen on the recommendation of a jury of experts for promoting lifelong learning among their inhabitants. These cities would  effectively mobilise resources across sectors to promote inclusive and quality learning, from basic to higher education, and revitalise learning within families and communities, facilitate learning in place work, while expanding the use of modern learning technologies. 

• Hundreds of women held a vigil in Nairobi, Kenya,  last Wednesday (Feb 14), in honour of more than 30 women who had been murdered in the country this year. . The vigil which featured impassioned calls to action and musical performances – was organised by the End Femicide Kenya Movement, a collective of more than 1,000 organisations and individuals. “Dark Valentine” vigils were also held in six other cities amid rising cases of femicide, which have captured national attention. “Flowers are not beautiful on a casket,” says a message in Swahili on a shirt worn by many of the mourners in Nairobi. The vigils aim to pressure the government to address the demands of the movement, which include declaring femicide and violence against women as a national emergency and establishing a commission to eliminate both. 

• In the aftermath of Nigeria’s defeat on Sunday at the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria midfielder Alexander Iwobi archived all of the posts on his Instagram account, leaving the page blank.The action was in response to a barrage of hate speech on his social media accounts, as disappointed Nigeria supporters sought an outlet for outrage following the Super Eagles’ 1-2 loss to hosts Ivory Coast in Sunday’s final. He has been the subject of renewed abuse, ranging from criticism of a perceived lack of creativity and risk-taking to disrespectful, hateful comments about the legitimacy of his familial link to Okocha. Nigerian star Iwobi faces cyberbullying after AFCON loss to Ivory Coast, Feb 13.

• A protest march scheduled for last Tuesday (Feb 13), against Senegalese President Macky Sall’s controversial move to delay this month’s presidential poll to December was  postponed after authorities banned it, according to prganisers. Elymane Haby Kane, one of the organisers of the march, received an official letter from local authorities in the capital, Dakar, that the march was banned as it could seriously hamper traffic.  “Due to the dissemination on social networks of several subversive hate messages that have already provoked violent demonstrations… mobile data is suspended this Tuesday 13 February,” the Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications and Digital Energy said in a statement. Sall’s decision to push back the February 25 vote plunged Senegal into a crisis that saw clashes between protesters and police in which three people were killed.

• The International Monetary Fund said last Friday (Feb 17) that it had reached a staff level agreement with Ivory Coast for a $1.3 billion programme to fight climate change supported by the fund’s Resilience and Sustainability Facility. Ivory Coast, the world’s top cocoa grower, is exposed and vulnerable to climate change, the IMF said in a statement. “Rising temperatures, rainfall disruptions, flooding, rising sea levels and coastal erosion are major challenges and represent recurring risks for resilient, sustainable and inclusive economic growth,” the fund said. The reform measures between 2024 and 2026 would support Ivory Coast’s actions to strengthen climate change adaptation and mitigation, particularly in the areas of agriculture, transport, infrastructure and public financial management. The agreement would be submitted to the fund’s executive board for approval in the coming weeks, the statement said.