- The Guardian
- Issue #2184
INDIA: India’s anti-terror agency has arrested seven people for allegedly training and supplying weapons to insurgents in Myanmar. Six Ukrainians and a US citizen were taken into custody on charges of “illegal entry, weapons and drone warfare training, and importing drones from Europe”.
SRI LANKA: Sri Lanka refused to provide ground access to two US fighter jets. “They wanted to bring in two warplanes armed with eight anti-ship missiles from a base in Djibouti to Mattala International Airport and we said no,” the Sri Lankan president told parliament. “We want to maintain our neutrality despite many pressures. We won’t give in. The Middle East war poses challenges, but we will do everything possible to remain neutral,” he added.
MIDDLE EAST: A global food crisis is looming amid Middle East war. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has stopped a major part of global fertiliser exports. It could lead to a global food crisis. Persian Gulf countries account for 30% of global nitrate fertiliser exports and 20% of phosphate fertiliser exports. Since the war began, nitrate fertiliser prices have risen by 30%. Countries like Sudan, Sri Lanka, and Australia are among the most affected by the disruption.
CUBA: Two Russian oil tankers are sailing towards Cuba. The tanker Anatoly Kolodkin, sanctioned by the US, the EU, and the UK is sailing under a Russian flag and estimated to carry about 730,000 barrels of crude oil. This amount of crude could be processed into about 180,000 barrels of diesel. A second shipment is on the Sea Horse, which sails under a Hong Kong flag.
SPAIN: Doctors across Spain entered a second week of strikes in just two months. They protest against the National Framework Statute, which sets the working conditions for doctors and other health professionals. About 175,000 doctors have gone on strike so far and there are plans to have strikes every month till June. While emergency care and critical treatments will keep running, routine appointments and non-urgent procedures may face delays.
IRAQ: NATO announced the full evacuation of its military mission in Iraq. It is removing all personnel to Europe, as Germany and Poland simultaneously pulled their troops from the country. The withdrawals come amid escalating hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran.
SLOVAKIA: Slovakia could hike diesel prices for foreign drivers or limit the amount of fuel they can buy in order to curb “fuel tourism” – a new term for getting cheaper fuel from your neighbours. Representatives from oil refiner Slovnaft have told the government that cheaper diesel in northern districts along the Polish border sparked increased purchases by foreign drivers, which leaves “gas stations literally dried up.”
CHAD: Chad has closed its eastern border with Sudan, citing repeated incursions by armed groups involved in the ongoing civil war in Sudan.
IRAN: Iran has proposed setting up a Middle East security structure with the participation of regional countries. “In order to ensure peace in the region, we propose to create a security structure in the Middle East, which will include Islamic countries, in order to achieve peace, stability and security,” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said, adding that Middle Eastern countries do not need the presence of “outsiders.”
CZECH REPUBLIC: A protest group called “Earthquake Faction” set fire to an industrial complex in the Czech city of Pardubice, 120km east of Prague which produces drones for Ukraine and Israel. The factory is owned by Czech arms maker LPP Holding. The fire service reported there were no injuries.
