Global Pulse #2

Global Pulse

September 2nd Week

ASIA PACIFIC

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to Attend 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta: Myanmar Crisis and China’s New Map to Take Center Stage

Writer: Vanshika Saklani 

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will represent his country at the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, in September. The summit will address critical regional issues, with a primary focus on the Myanmar crisis and China’s updated territorial claims. Myanmar remains embroiled in conflict, with widespread reports of human rights abuses and political unrest. ASEAN leaders will discuss collective strategies for supporting humanitarian aid, restoring stability, and encouraging democratic reforms in Myanmar.

The summit will focus on fostering diplomatic solutions to manage these disputes and ensure adherence to international laws, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Pakistan ex-prime minister Imran Khan to potentially face trial for alleged involvement in state unrest in 2023

Writer: Aniket Vijayvargiya

Amidst the deteriorating political situation in Pakistan, new rumours suggest that ex-prime minister Imran Khan could be tried in the country’s military courts for his connection to corruption cases and alleged involvement in the violence that took place during the May 9 unrest. Current defense minister Khawaja Asif stated in an interview that there was “ample evidence against the former prime minister”, hinting that Imran Khan could be tried in court for the various accusations pitted against him. While the military has not directly accused the ex-prime minister of colluding with certain military members during the unrest, court martial proceedings have begun against the former spy chief Faiz Hameed and his associates, leading to speculations over whether these actions are intended to weaken Imran Khan’s political image.

The discussions around Imran Khan’s potential trials remain stillborn, but hints from high-ranking officials in the Pakistani military have led to a rise in speculations, and could be detrimental to the government’s efforts to maintain order in the country, given that the ex prime-minister maintains a popular image amongst his supporters in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.

AMERICAS

China and Latin American Community aim to strengthen Global South Partnership

Writer: Aditya Meharwade

China, in tandem with Latin American countries, are speeding up their human rights coordination with the first ever China-Latin American and Caribbean States Roundtable on Human Rights to be held in Rio De Janeiro  this upcoming Tuesday.

The event is being co-hosted with the joint efforts of the China Society for Human Rights Studies(CSHSR), Renmin University of China, and Universidade Federal Fluminense. This event  commemorates the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Brazil as well as the 10th anniversary of China-CELAC Forum. 

China is one of the largest developing nations and Latin America and the Caribbean is home to a high concentration of developing nations. SinceBoth parties are a  part of the Global South, they have fostered a consensus on the advancement of human rights. The involved states have mutually agreed upon the importance for each country to pursue their own human rights development path tailored to its national conditions.

Furthermore, the nations have recognized the crucial necessity for Global South members to collaborate closely and play a bigger role in global human rights governance. Cooperation between nations in addressing challenges such as poverty, terrorism, and climate change are becoming increasingly vital.

The progression of human rights cooperation between China and the Latin American Community will strengthen the voice of Global South countries in Human Rights governance.

Trump and Harris Neck and Neck  After Summer Upheaval, Times/Siena Poll finds 

Writer: Harman Kaur Minhas

Kamala Harris and Donald J Trump  battling it out  for the Oval Office and it truly appears to be anyone’s game. Only eight weeks  remain in this adventurous yet shortest election cycle in modern American history. While Kamala Harris  has not completely divulged her views , Trump's are a rigid walk to take. Survey showed 47% likely viewed Harris as too liberal and 32%% saw Trump as too conservative. To the Democrats’ advantage, Project 2025 is being hammered by the public and Trump has decided to distance himself from it. Project 2025 entails criminalizing pornography, disbanding the Commerce and Education departments and rejecting the idea of abortion as healthcare and shred climate protections. The general public sees this as  a “horrible affront to American Democracy”

AFRICA

UN chief says Africa's debt situation is a recipe for social unrest

Writer: Delisha Clara Rao

​​UN Secretary-General António Guterres called Africa's debt situation "unsustainable" and warned that it might spark widespread societal unrest during the China-Africa cooperation meeting in Beijing. The global financial system, which Guterres deemed antiquated and unjust, needs "deep reforms" in order to give developing countries the resources they need to deal with urgent problems like climate change. Fifty African countries are present at the summit, which coincides with China's increasing trade and investment in the continent as African leaders are looking towards Beijing for help in industrializing and increasing exports. 

Workers call off protests that grounded flights at Kenya’s main airport

Writer: Harman Kaur Minhas

Kenya’s airport workers union has called off a strike that grounded flights in the countryside main airport on Wednesday, over awarding the contract for its modernisation and operations to an Indian firm. The Transport Minister addressed the media by providing solace to the workers and that the government’s topmost priority is to safeguard the interests of Kenyan citizens during their quest to modernize the airport. The union insisted that this deal with Adani would lead to working conditions deteriorating and local citizens losing their jobs. The strike  affected flight schedules and delays have been reported in the cities of Mombasa and lake city of Kisumu. The Kenyan Airport Authority stated that they are contacting the relevant agencies to resume operations as soon as possible.

EURASIA

US accuses Iran of supplying Russia with ballistic missiles in the midst of ongoing sanctions

Writer: Aniket Vijayvargiya

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine nears its third year, a new twist has led to fears of escalation as US secretary of state Antony Blinken accused Iran of supplying Russia with their new ‘FATH-360’ short range Ballistic missiles, a move that has been condemned in a joint statement by Germany, France and UK. Blinken stated that these missiles will enable Russia to strike deeper in Ukraine, as he prepared for a visit to Kyiv along with UK foreign secretary David Lammy. This action has led to the slamming of new sanctions on Iran, deepening the divide between US allies and the West Asian country. While Iran has strictly denied these accusations, stating that the “supply of military assistance which increases human casualties is inhumane’, it is not the first time that the Russian federation has been caught using Iranian weapons, including the infamous Shahed-136 drones. The provision of missiles to Russia has also complicated US policy, given that they had limited Ukraine’s usage of missiles such as the “Storm-shadow” to reduce chances of escalation. This move may lead to a change in Ukraine’s war strategy which could potentially lead to an escalation of the conflict in the region. 

The growing cooperation between Russia and Iran serves as a new obstacle to US influence, as Iran demonstrates that it can achieve goals far beyond its borders and project its influence in regions across the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

German Intelligence accuses Russia’s GRU of cyberattacks on NATO, EU states

Writer: Manushree Mahat

The Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation(GRU), Russia’s military intelligence organization, has been accused of cyber espionage against European countries, as its war in Ukraine persists. A section of the notorious unit 29155 is being accused of carrying out these cyber attacks against government entities and agencies. The same unit 29155 has been under suspicion of carrying out the poisonings of a Russian double agent and his daughter, and has been rumored to be involved in large-scale espionage activities. The joint statement titled a Joint Cybersecurity Advisory, was issued by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, BfV, alongside the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the National Security Agency (NSA), and other international partners.

WEST ASIA

USS Roosevelt returns home after extended Middle East deployment

Writer: Manushree Mahat

After extending the stay of aircraft carriers in the Middle East to defend Israel from Iranian attacks, the USS Theodore Roosevelt is finally expected to return home. Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, there has been increased carrier presence in the region.As the ongoing war which has killed over tens of thousands in the last 11 months, shows no sign of an end, the US has ordered its return. According to US officials, the carrier is expected to be on the Indo-Pacific's command by Thursday. Other warships remain in the region.The USS Abraham Lincoln is currently in the Gulf of Oman, and other warships remain in parts of the eastern Mediterranean and the Red Seas.

Lebanon/Cyprus: Refugees Pulled Back, Expelled, Then Forced Back to Syria. 

Writer: Rohan Shah 

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) report sheds light on the alarming treatment of Syrian refugees by both Lebanese and Cypriot authorities, highlighting severe violations of international law. It documents the desperate plight of Syrian refugees attempting to flee Lebanon due to the country's economic collapse and escalating socio-political instability, only to face brutal pushbacks and pullbacks at the hands of Lebanese and Cypriot authorities.

The Lebanese Armed Forces have intercepted and summarily deported refugees back to Syria, where they face persecution, in violation of the non-refoulement principle, which prohibits returning refugees to countries where they risk torture or persecution. Similarly, the Cypriot Coast Guard has expelled Syrian refugees back to Lebanon without offering them access to asylum processes. This is a clear breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The report highlights the involvement of the European Union in funding Lebanese border control efforts, noting that the EU financial support, aimed at curbing irregular migration, might be contributing to these human rights violations. The EU has allotted significant funds, with little oversight for border management in Lebanon, fueling concerns that European countries are prioritizing migration control over the safety and well-being of vulnerable refugees.

This situation underscores the urgency for the EU and international community to implement strict human rights monitoring mechanisms in Lebanon's border operations, ensuring that aid and resources do not facilitate abuses.