Global Beat: Iran’s Missile Test, Ukraine Conflict, and More
February 3, 2017
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Global Beat is your weekly stop for news from around the world. Join us every Friday morning for important stories you should know about.
This week, Iran conducted a ballistic missile test, prompting a response from the Trump administration; renewed fighting broke out between Ukrainian soldiers and Russian-backed rebels; the 28th African Union Summit concluded in Addis Ababa; and more.
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Americas
Puerto Rico’s government announced another multi-million dollar default, including $312 million worth of bond payments. The missed payments were expected, as the U.S. territory continues to try to restructure nearly $70 billion in public debt. Puerto Rico’s new governor, Ricardo Rossello, signed a law on Sunday that calls for partial debt payments if there is any money left over after providing essential services. The island’s Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority will take over negotiations of the only bond restructuring agreement Puerto Rico has reached thus far, a $9 billion deal struck in 2015 covering a public electricity utility known as Prepa.
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- Zika ebbing in Latin America, but vigilance is still needed, says World Health Organization – Stephanie Nebehay, Reuters
Central & South Asia
Bangladesh’s government plans to relocate Rohingya refugees from Myanmar to Thengar Char, a remote island in the Bay of Bengal that is underwater for much of the year. About 69,000 refugees arrived in Bangladesh in October and November following a crackdown against the Muslim minority by the Myanmar army. The crackdown was prompted by an attack by Rohingya militants that killed two Myanmar border police officers, but the UN and human rights groups say the Myanmar army then killed scores of unarmed Rohingya civilians, among other abuses.
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- Pakistan lifts its ban on Indian films – The Guardian
China & East Asia
Chinese billionaire Xiao Jianhua was seized by the Chinese police in a Hong Kong hotel and taken into China after reports that he opposed the Communist Party leadership. This has increased fear in Hong Kong that China is interfering in its affairs even though it claims to abide by the “one country, two systems” formula. Xiao’s seizure comes just over a year since five publishers and booksellers mysteriously disappeared from Hong Kong after being accused of distributing scandalous stories regarding China’s leadership.
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- Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon drops out of South Korean presidential race – Jonathan Cheng, The Wall Street Journal
Europe & Russia
At least 12 Ukrainian soldiers are said to have been killed and over two dozen wounded in fights with Russian-backed rebels since last weekend. The government-held town of Avdiivka has seen the worst eruption of hostility in months, with both Ukrainian and Russian-backed forces having moved heavy artillery, rockets, and tanks closer to the front line in clear violation of a peace deal signed two years ago. Fears in Kiev are growing that the Trump administration may ease sanctions on Russia and foster further insurgency in eastern Ukraine.
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- UK parliament passes ‘Brexit’ bill to trigger Article 50 by 498 votes to 114 – Laura Hughes, The Telegraph
Middle East & North Africa
Iran on Wednesday confirmed it recently conducted a medium-range ballistic missile test about 140 miles east of Tehran. The Trump administration condemned the test, saying it was putting Iran “on notice.” The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on the issue on Tuesday. UN Resolution 2231 calls on Iran to not conduct such tests, yet when asked about it, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif insisted this test does not apply since it was not specifically designed to carry nuclear warheads.
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- Djibouti breaks ground on massive Chinese-backed free trade zone – Abdourahim Arteh, Reuters
Southeast Asia & Oceania
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ordered police to halt all operations in his war on drugs. Instead, a drug enforcement agency under his control and the military will take over the role. Amnesty International released a report accusing the police of behaving like the criminal underworld they are supposed to be combating. According to the report, the wave of drug-related killings could constitute crimes against humanity. More than 7,000 people have been killed in the anti-drug campaign since Duterte took office last summer.
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- Bob Dadae named next Governor-General of Papua New Guinea, despite calls for a woman to fill the post – Joy Kisselpar, ABC
Sub-Saharan Africa
Morocco rejoined the African Union (AU) this week after a 33 year absence. Morocco left the AU’s predecessor body, the Organization of African Unity, in 1984 over the disputed territory of Western Sahara. Morocco’s king attended this week’s AU Summit in Addis Ababa. The summit tackled many other issues as well, both on and off the agenda. UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ speech at the summit highlighted the importance of a “strategic AU-UN partnership for building sustainable development and advancing peace and security on the continent.”
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