Other news of the day: A French court sentenced four Afghans for human trafficking. Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh has been arrested in India and has been on the run for more than a month. In the Philippines, face-to-face classes may be suspended due to heat. Former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon traveled to Myanmar. Russian expatriates in Georgia try to avoid new mobilizations.
AUSTRALIA – CHINA
Australia today published its Defense Strategic Review, a 110-page document that is considered the most important review of your defense program since World War II. It recommends the purchase of long-range missiles to counter China. According to a report from Stockholm International Peace Research Institutein 2022 world military spending increased by 3.7%, reaching a new record of 2.240 trillion dollars.
AFGHANISTAN
A French court sentenced four Afghans accused of human trafficking for smuggling 53 people (mostly Vietnamese and Afghans) into the UK via the English Channel. After serving their sentence of five or six years, they will have to leave the country. Meanwhile, according to documents leaked by the Pentagon, almost two years after the US withdrawal, Afghanistan has become a major coordination center of the Islamic Statewhich the Taliban authorities continue to deny.
INDIA
The preacher Amritpal Singh, whose calls for Sikh independence had angered the Indian authorities, was arrested in the state of Punjab. The 30-year-old man was on the run for more than a month after escaping arrest on March 18. Both he and his followers have been charged with attempted murder and attacking police officers.
PHILIPPINES
The Philippine Ministry of Education decided that due to the heat, school authorities may suspend face-to-face classes to protect the health of students and staff. In late March a local mayor suspended classes after 83 students were hospitalized for heat stroke during earthquake and fire drills. Summer vacation in the Philippines was postponed after the covid-19 pandemic by decision of Vice President and Minister of Education Sara Duterte.
MYANMAR
Former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, came to Myanmar, Burmese official media reported today as the country is engulfed in a brutal civil conflict. Since the 2021 military coup, diplomatic efforts have been stalled. No details were provided about the visit by Ban Ki-moon, a member of the group of world leaders “The Elders” – “the elders” – founded by Nelson Mandela, which works to promote peace and defuse conflicts.
JORDAN – ISRAEL
Israel arrested a Jordanian lawmaker for smuggling arms and gold into the West Bank. Sinan al Majali, a spokesman for the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Imad al Adwan had driven through a major border crossing over the Jordan River and was detained and questioned by the Israeli authorities.
RUSSIA – GEORGIA
A group of Russian expatriates in Georgia, explicitly anti-war in Ukraine, is organizing an unofficial network to help their compatriots avoid further mobilizations, legal or illegal, and has received thousands of requests from people who received the notice. recruitment by electronic notification.
KAZAKHSTAN
In Zhanaozen, Kazakhstan, dozens of unemployed have been camping for three weeks in front of the akimat (municipality), asking to be hired by one of the oil companies in the Mangustau region, but no member of the government has agreed to receive them. In reality, the protests began more than a year ago and have only obtained vain promises from the authorities.
