Weekly Recap: Aug 29 to Sept 5

North America:

• The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office seized 27 artefacts last Saturday (Sept 3) from the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) which were believed to have been looted. A spokesperson for District Attorney Alvin Bragg told CNN that “[i]t should be no secret to collectors, art museums and auction houses that they may be in possession of pieces from known traffickers that were illegally looted.” The effort to return cultural artefacts to their home countries after illegal possession has been an  ongoing effort. In August, New York officials returned 30 antiquities to Cambodia, including a Khmer sculptural masterpiece from the 10th century.

• An overnight shooting in Norfolk, Virginia, left seven people injured last Sunday (Sept 4). The Norfolk Police Department reported that two had life-threatening injuries and five others had non-life threatening wounds. According to the Gun Violence Archive, the United States (US) has suffered at least 456 mass shootings this year.

• The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scrapped the attempt to reschedule the launch of an uncrewed Moon-orbiting mission, Artemis 1, last Saturday (Sept 3) after an attempt to fix a hydrogen fuel leak in the engine section failed. Officials at NASA have yet to determine a new launch for the mission.

• The White House asked Congress for US$47 billion (S$65.9 billion) last Friday (Sept 2). These funds are planned to be used for securing COVID-19 and monkeypox vaccines, bolstering Ukraine’s defences, and responding to domestic natural disasters. An administration official said that this kind of request has had “bipartisan support in the past” and that they  “fully expect Congress to work with us to reach a resolution on all of them.”

• US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo announced last Friday (Sept 2) that the US$1 billion (S$1.40 billion) worth of federal grants is the largest ever for local economic development. These  grants, provided by the Commerce Department, are for over 21 regional partnerships across the nation to address financing for areas like manufacturing, clean energy, farming and biotech. The grant is reportedly in line with the Biden administration’s vision for a US economy that is more self-sufficient and driven by high-tech manufacturing and the development of renewable energy. 

South America:

• Officials from the United States (US) and Mexico discovered at least eight bodies in the Rio Grande river last Thursday (Sept 1). The discovery happened when officials were tasked to respond to the crossing of dozens of others entering the US from Mexico near Eagle Pass, Texas. According to the US border agency, US officials rescued 37 of those crossing and detained 16 of them, while Mexican officials took 39 of them into custody. The US customs and border force reported that there would be officials stationed on both sides of the border to continue searching for other possible victims. 

• A man tried to assassinate Argentina’s Vice President Cristina Fernandez last Thursday (Sept 1). According to Fernandez, the handgun that was held to her head was loaded with five bullets but none of them were fired despite the trigger being pulled. The man was then arrested, and police are having an open investigation, according to Security Minister Anibal Fernandez. The incident took place when she was getting out of her car to enter her home in Buenos Aires. 

• Colombia and Venezuela restored full diplomatic relations last Sunday (Sept 4), after severing them in 2019. Colombia’s first left-wing president Petro said he will recognise Venezuelan President Maduro and cooperate with the Venezuelan government on several issues. These include fighting rebel groups along the border between the two countries, fully reopening the border between them and restoring military relations. 

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s executive board approved a flexible credit line of around US$18.5 billion (S$26 billion) for Chile last Monday (Aug 29). This is to give their copper miner greater flexibility to confront financial risks like price shocks and financial tightening. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said that Chile will be treating the credit line for “precautionary” measures, and plan to exit the agreement when conditions allow.

• The Brazilian government sent a budget proposal last Wednesday (Aug 31) that was in line with plans to return to a primary deficit in 2023 after a surplus this year. Considering how the budget marked by extended tax reduction measures on fuels will be expiring this year, the budget proposal predicted a budget deficit of US$12.23 billion (S$17.18 billion). The budget bill keeps tax reductions on fuels in alignment with President Jair Bolsonaro’s pledge that federal taxes would remain at zero for gasoline, diesel, ethanol and cooking gas. 

Asia Pacific:

• Sri Lanka’s ousted former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa returned to his home country last Friday (Sept 2) after a self-imposed exile following mass protests over the island’s economic crisis. According to official sources, after Rajapaksa sent in his resignation from Singapore, he petitioned his successor Ranil Wickremesinghe to facilitate his return. Rajapaksa’s resignation ended his presidential immunity and is facing calls for his arrest from activists and the opposition alliance after returning.

• The Myanmar junta court sentenced ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi to three additional years of imprisonment with hard labour last Friday (Sept 2) for electoral fraud in the 2020 polls. Suu Kyi had previously been convicted of corruption and other charges by a closed junta court and was sentenced to 17 years in prison. Ever since ousting Suu Kyi’s government, the junta has declared a state of emergency and responded to calls for a fresh election by August 2023.

• The Chinese embassy in Washington called on the US last Friday (Sept 2) following the US arms sale agreement with Taiwan. Chinese embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu said the deal “severely jeopardises” relations between Washington and Beijing, adding that “China will resolutely take legitimate and necessary counter-measures in light of the development of the situation.” The proposed arms sale deal valued at US$1.1 billion (S$1.54 billion) includes a radar system for Taiwan to track incoming strikes and anti-ship and anti-air missiles. A spokesperson for the US Department of State said the deal was “essential for Taiwan’s security” and called for Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic and economic pressure against Taiwan.

• The United Nations (UN) released a report last Thursday (Sept 1) regarding the allegations of abuse in the Xinjiang province of China, stating that the nation has been executing  “serious human rights violations”. China had previously urged the UN not to release the report, calling it a “farce” arranged by Western powers. But investigators said they found “credible evidence” amounting to “crimes against humanity”. China has strenuously denied any findings, insisting that they were pieced together based on disinformation to serve political objectives.

• Rosmah Mansor, the wife of convicted former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, was sentenced to 10 years in jail last Thursday (Sept 1), after a court found her guilty of soliciting bribes linked to a US$279 million (S$391 million) government contract. Her conviction comes a week after Razak was sentenced to a 12-year jail sentence over a conviction linked to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) investigation. The highly prolific case was a global heist, with the US Treasury Department helming the commencement of the investigation.

Europe:

• Russian state-owned multinational energy corporation Gazprom indefinitely suspended natural gas flows last Saturday (Sept 3) through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, citing faults in the pipeline during maintenance. Nord Stream 1, which runs under the Baltic Sea, was due to resume operating on the same day as the announcement of cease after a three-day halt for maintenance. The European Commission’s chief spokesman Eric Mamer said that Gazprom’s announcement of shutting down Nord Stream 1 under fallacious pretences is another confirmation of its unreliability as a supplier. A top European Union (EU) official said that the EU is “ready to react”, despite fears of deepening recessions.

• The Chairman of Russia’s Lukoil oil giant, Ravil Maganov, died last Friday (Sept 2) after falling from a hospital window in Moscow. While the company has confirmed his death, they only reported that the 67-year-old had “passed away following a severe illness.” Maganov is the latest in a series of high-profile business executives to die in reportedly mysterious circumstances in recent months. 

• The European Union (EU)’s drug agency suggested last Friday (Sept 2) that entirely new COVID-19 variants could emerge this winter, although existing vaccines should be able to protect people from serious illness and death. The comments came following the 27-nation EU’s preparation to roll out a booster campaign ahead of a feared wave of new COVID-19 cases. 

• Europe’s top human rights body criticised the Netherlands last Friday (Sept 2) over the handling of migrants at the Ter Apel asylum centre. The Council of Europe published a letter from Human Rights Commissioner Dunja Mijatovic directed at Dutch Migration Minister Eric van der Burg, calling on the government to “prevent discriminatory treatment in access to reception and other services.” She also expressed concerns over delays in ensuring safe and dignified conditions for all refugees, not just Ukrainians. 

• The last Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, died at the age of 91 last Wednesday (Aug 31). Gorbachev came into power in 1985 and is often associated with bringing an end to the cold war. It was reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin did not attend the state funeral. In 2005, Putin said that the break-up of the USSR was “the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the [20th] century.”

Middle East:

• Iran briefly seized the US’ drones in the Red Sea last Thursday (Sept 1) amid increased tensions concerning the restoration of the Iran nuclear deal. The drones were said to threaten maritime safety. According to state TV, warnings were issued to the US fleet upon Iran’s navy seizing the two vessels to prevent possible accidents from happening. The drones were eventually released into the Red Sea after two hours. This marked the second time US drones were seized last week.

• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Greece last Saturday (Sept 3) that it will have to pay a “heavy price” if they were to continue challenging Turkish fighter jets over the Aegean. Erdogan also raised the possibility of military action. Being in close geographical proximity, the two NATO nations have had multiple sea and air boundary disputes over the years.

• A gunfire exchange between rival Shia forces in the Iraqi city of Basra last Thursday (Sept 1) killed four people. Two of the four were from Saraya al-Salam, the military wing of Muqtada al-Sadr, while the other two were from Asaib Ahl al-Haq. This incident was the most recent outbreak, bringing the total number of deaths from the ongoing fighting and violence in Baghdad that started earlier this week to over 30. These clashes are said to be a result of Iraq’s ongoing political crisis following Shia religious leader Muqtada al-Sadr’s announcement of withdrawing from politics. 

• Hamas executed five Palestinians in Gaza last Sunday (Sept 4). Two of the five were said to have collaborated with Israel while the three others were guilty of murder. According to Hamas, the collaboration with Israel included supplying Israel in 1991 with “information on men of the resistance, their residence..  the location of rocket launchpads” and supplying Israel with intelligence in 2001 that “led to the targeting and martyrdom of citizens”. Executions in the coastal enclave have not been carried out since May 2017.

• Israeli missile strikes hit Aleppo airport in Syria, according to the Syrian state media last Wednesday (Aug 31). The four Israeli missiles targeted the airport’s runway and depots, causing material damage. There was no mention of casualties. According to the official SANA news agency cited by a military source, Israel has been carrying out missile strikes targeting the airport. 

Africa:

• Al-Shabab fighters killed at least 19 civilians in the Hiran region of Somalia last Saturday (Sept 3). The Al-Qaeda-related group also destroyed trucks that were transporting food supplies from Baladweyne city to Mahas town. According to a statement made by Al-Shabab, the civilians killed were targeted supporters of government forces. Al-Shabab has been violently challenging Somalia’s central government for over a decade, with the aim of enforcing its strict rules based on their interpretation of Islamic law.

• Gunmen killed at least 42 people in the Oromia region of Ethiopia last Tuesday (Aug 30). Witnesses said last Friday (Sept 2) that the victims were all Oromos and that the attackers were members of the group Fano. This attack against locals in the Amuru district comes after a series of violent attacks between the Oromos and Amharas in recent months that have resulted in hundreds of deaths.

• Ethiopia and Eritrea forces launched a new offensive in Tigray, according to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) spokesperson Getachew Reda last Thursday (Sept 1). Both forces from the two states attacked rebels in Adayabo, Ethiopia’s northern region of Tigray last Wednesday (Aug 31).  This conflict comes after a five-month lull in hopes of peacefully resolving the nearly two-year war in Tigray.

• The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) launched an attack in the eastern Democratic Republic (DR) of the Congo last Tuesday (Aug 30), killing at least 14 people. According to a local human rights group, they also kidnapped more than 12 others. The ADF, which has been conducting frequent attacks in eastern Congo despite the Congolese and Ugandan armies trying to put an end to it, is a Ugandan militia active in eastern DRC that has pledged allegiance to the ISIL (ISIS) group.

• The ruling party of Angola’s People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) won a closely fought election last Monday (Aug 29). The National Electoral Commission (CNE) reported that the party won 51.7 per cent of the ballots, compared to the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA)’s 43.95 per cent. This means that President Joao Lourenco will be continuing for a second term. The vote was said to be the smallest margin of victory the party has ever had in Angola’s history.