US plans to sell $6.4 billion of arms to Taiwan have caused diplomatic tensions with China, which threatened “serious repercussions”. China’s Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei described the move as a “rude interference in China’s internal affairs, severely endangering [its] national security”. Hu Jintao’s government refuses to recognise Taiwan as an independent country, considering it a part of China. The legal status of Taiwan is a matter of some confusion: it is not recognised by the UN; numerous appeals for membership have all been rejected.
Washington DC, USA: President Obama gave his first State of the Union address on Jan 27th, in which he pledged to freeze spending on domestic programs (not including defence and health), revoke the military’s ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy on homosexuality, and subject lobbyists and ‘pork-barreling’ senators to greater public scrutiny. He also made it clear he intends to press ahead with health-care reform, despite the loss of Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat, which means they no longer have the 60% majority which allowed them to prevent filibusters.
Cornish,NH, USA: J.D. Salinger, author of The Catcher in the Rye, died of natural causes on January 27th, aged 91. A notorious recluse, Salinger was rarely seen in public, and in his last interview, given via telephone in 1974, he claimed to enjoy writing but not publishing his books. His death raises the possibility that his collection of up to fifteen unpublished manuscripts will become available. Radical historian and WWII veteran Howard Zinn died on the same day aged 87.
Beirut, Lebanon: On January 25th, a passenger plane crashed into the Mediterranean sea. The half-full Ethiopian Airlines Flight took off in violent storms. Following reports of a “flash in the sky”, it has been suggested the plane was hit by lightning. the Lebanese government have ruled out ‘foul play’, and are waiting until the black-box recorders are discovered before they make any further conclusions. All 90 passengers and crew are presumed dead
Kotte, Sri Lanka: Incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa has been elected president for a second term, following the country’s first election since the end of a twenty-five year civil war. Concerns of fraud were raised: the defeated candidade, Sarath Fonseka, wrote to the country’s Elections Commission, arguing that “President Rajapaksa’s election campaign has made great use of state resources.
“Further, there have been threats, intimidation and accusations levelled against me. Many of my supporters were intimidated.
“The government engaged in a campaign abusing state media and state resources to accuse me of being a foreign agent and a traitor.
“Further, 10 security force personnel provided to me as a result of serious threats to my life were withdrawn.”
Tehran, Iran: two men have been executed, following their conviction for being “enemies of God”, and trying to overthrow the Islamic regime. Amnesty International condemned the execution, saying “These men were first unfairly convicted and now they have been unjustly killed. It is not even clear they had links to [API, an illegal protest group] as their ‘confessions’ appear to have been made under duress.” The two men were among at least five hundred people who have been arrested for their involvement in the wave of protests which swept the country following Iran’s 2009 election, which was widely seen as fraudulent.
Jos, Nigeria – Riots between Christians and Muslims have left over 200 dead. In response to the violence, the military imposed a 24-hour curfew, which has since been relaxed. A similar spate of violence erupted in the region two years ago in response to a disputed election. Nigeria is currently experiencing a ‘power vacuum’, as its President, Umaru Yar’Adua, has been missing since November 23rd, and is possibly receiving medical treatment in Saudi Arabia.
Post new comment