- The Guardian
- Issue #2164
IRAN: Iran announced immediate suspension of all cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Israeli Foreign minister Gideon Saar urged European signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal signed by Iran to reinstate all UN sanctions on Iran. However, Russia, China, Pakistan, and Algeria supported maintaining the suspension of previous sanctions and restrictions.
PORTUGAL: Portugal has officially recognised the state of Palestine. The Portuguese Foreign Minister pointed out that “The Portuguese government symbolically chose to make the declaration at the permanent representation of Portugal to the UN – precisely to indicate that only under the aegis of the United Nations and the spirit of the founding chapter it is possible to reach a solution to the conflict.” The recognition by the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Portugal came on the eve of an international conference for a two-state solution.
HUNGARY: Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban has announced that he will initiate the designation of the Antifa movement as a terrorist organisation in Hungary, following the example of the United States. “Antifa is indeed a terrorist organisation. Therefore, I think it is very correct that in Hungary the time has come to classify organisations such as Antifa as terrorist, according to the American model,” Orban said. Antifa is not an organisation in either country.
AFGHANISTAN: The Taliban government rejected US President Trump’s bid to retake Bagram air base, four years after the USA’s chaotic withdrawal from the country after 11 years of war. The chief Taliban spokesperson urged the US to adopt a policy of “realism and rationality.” Trump threatened Afghanistan with unspecified “bad things” in case of a refusal to transfer Bagram base under US control. “We won’t talk about that, but we are talking now to Afghanistan and we want it back, and we want it back soon, right away, and if they don’t do it, you are going to find out what I’m going to do,” the president told reporters.
IRAQ: Iraqi Prime Minister Sudani called for the establishment of an Islamic military alliance, saying recent Israeli attacks in Gaza and Qatar demand a collective response. Sudani said that the airstrike on Doha, which killed five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer, was “a shocking breach of international law” and a reminder that Israel’s actions threaten the security of the entire region. “There is no reason Muslim nations cannot form a joint security force to defend themselves,” he said. Sudani urged Arab and Islamic countries to build a comprehensive political, security and economic partnership. The Iraqi PM stressed that the Islamic world holds “numerous levers” that could be used to deter Israel, warning that the Israeli “aggression will not stop at Qatar.”
PHILIPPINES: Thousands of people took part in two large anti-corruption demonstrations in Manila last week. Public outrage was caused by the images of wealthy developers who had profiteered on flood-mitigation projects. “I feel bad that we wallow in poverty, and lose our houses, our lives and our future while they rake in a big fortune from our taxes that pay for their luxury cars, foreign trips and big corporate transactions,” a student activist told reporters.
