Monday, June 09
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth cautioned that China is actively preparing to use military force to expand its influence in the Indo-Pacific region, posing a real and imminent threat. He highlighted concerns about a potential invasion of Taiwan by 2027 and China's growing presence in Latin America, urging allies to increase defence spending and be wary of Chinese economic entanglements.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has condemned India's decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance, calling it a "weaponisation of water." Addressing an international conference in Dushanbe, Sharif warned that Pakistan would not permit India to endanger millions of lives for political purposes by violating the treaty.
The US Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to proceed with ending temporary legal protections for over 500,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, potentially impacting nearly a million migrants. This decision lifts a lower-court order blocking the termination of the humanitarian parole program.
Puerto Rico's Governor Jenniffer Gonzalez Colon addressed the island. She promised to fix the electric grid and boost the economy. The Governor plans to hire more police and firefighters. Funds are allocated for healthcare and education. She aims to cancel the Luma Energy contract. Gonzalez Colon wants to attract more manufacturing to Puerto Rico. Critics cite inaction and nomination issues.
The Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore addresses escalating tensions in Asia, focusing on China's assertiveness, the Ukraine war's global impact, and regional conflicts. Macron's keynote will address these issues, including concerns over US tariffs. Hegseth's presence underscores US commitment to deterring Chinese aggression, particularly towards Taiwan, amidst regional unease over US foreign policy.
A South Korean navy patrol aircraft crashed in Pohang on Thursday, prompting a swift response from emergency services. Residents reported witnessing an object falling from the sky, followed by an explosion. Pohang's Nambu police confirmed the aircraft's identity, but details regarding casualties or injuries remain unconfirmed. Rescue and fire personnel are currently at the crash site assessing the situation.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has again expressed his willingness to engage in dialogue with India to resolve critical issues such as Kashmir, water sharing, and terrorism. This call for peace follows a similar statement made earlier in the week, amidst heightened tensions following a recent terrorist attack and India's retaliatory military actions.
The race to become Africa's next "super banker" ends on Thursday, with five candidates, including one woman, vying to succeed Nigeria's Akinwumi Adesina as head of the African Development Bank in a contest that appears too close to call. In 2015 it took six rounds of voting to elect Adesina as president of the AfDB, which was founded in 1964 and now has 81 members, including 54 African nations.
Clean energy investments in the U.S. face setbacks, with over $14 billion in projects canceled or delayed due to concerns surrounding President Trump's policies and potential tax credit cuts. This has resulted in an estimated loss of 10,000 jobs. While other nations advance green initiatives, the U.S. navigates uncertainty, impacting states heavily invested in EV and battery production.
A catastrophic glacier collapse in the Swiss Alps has devastated the village of Blatten, burying it under ice, mud, and rock. The incident, triggered by warming temperatures and destabilized permafrost, has left one person missing and prompted the evacuation of residents. The scale of destruction is unprecedented, highlighting the impact of climate change on Switzerland's glaciers.
