We are going to try to have a weekly foreign news post. Eric has graciously volunteered to present these to you.
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I’ll be writing a proper post on the Brexit later, but for now here is your weekly Foreign News Debrief
**China**
Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy shadowing US Navy carriers.
The *USS John C Stennis* was shadowed by PLAN warships 24/7 while engaged in Freedom of Navigation Operations in the South China Seas. The *USS Ronald Reagan*, currently forward stationed at Yokosuka as the core of the 7th Fleet, has been deployed to the South China Sea to assist in operations.
An intrepid reporter from the BBC has proven the Chinese claims to historical fishing rights to the Spratlys and Paracel islands are based on a lie.
After returning to Hong Kong following a confession on national television retracts confession and leads mass protest against Chinese violations of basic human rights in Hong Kong.
US urges calm ahead of court ruling on status of South China Seas claims.
Expected within the next few weeks, an arbitration court in The Hague will be ruling on Chinese claims over the South China Sea. China has already announced they will not recognize the decision regardless of the outcome.
China threatens to leave the UNCLOS Treaty.
In addition to refusing to recognize the results of the arbitration court in The Hague, China has threatened to leave the UNCLOS treaty if the decision in THe Hague is against them.
China concerned about impact of Brexit on their economy.
The People’s Republic is concerned that a Brexit will mean serious trouble for the Chinese economy. Oh. Darn…
**Ukraine and Russia**
Russian Puppet Asks Russia to Impose Peacekeepers on Ukraine.
The Donetsk People’s Republic has asked Russia to send peacekeepers into eastern Ukraine to occupy the region. This is a repeat of how the Russians used Abkhazian and South Ossetian separatists to justify an invasion of Georgia. Their decision to use a “peacekeeping” fig leaf is due to how thoroughly the regular Russian Army was destroyed by the Georgian army and humiliated by their own incompetence. While Spetsnaz forces carried out operations in the manner expected, the Russian military were revealed to be a three ring circus – often getting bogged down on paved roads.
Putin’s Policy Risks Law and Order in Russia.
Russia still has not desacralized its political structure and still maintains a cult of state which engenders blind loyalty to the autocratic state with a religious basis. In this case, Putin is wedding the Russian Orthodox Church to Aleksandr Dugin’s Eurasianist apocalyptic death cult.
Russia caught using incendiary weapons in Syria.
Kremlin run news channel Russia Today aired footage of an aircraft loaded with thermite based weapons.
OSCE urges probe into cease-fire violations in Ukraine.
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe urges investigation to determine who broke the ceasefire between Ukraine and the Russian backed Donetsk People’s Republic.
Ukraine reports separatists using Russian intelligence and assault drones.
Ukrainian intelligence report Russian backed separatists in Donetsk have conducted 25 sorties in the past week with Russian UAV’s, five launched from within the territory of Russia itself. Drones have been used as forward observers for artillery direction.
Ukraine has new evidence in support of Russian interference in war in Donetsk.
Ukrainian intelligence has published new evidence showing the Russian Federation is supplying the “Donetsk People’s Republic” with men and materiel for their war against Ukraine.
China isn’t the only nation whose economy is in trouble due to the Brexit.
Though happy this will give them more influence over the statists in Brussels, Russia’s weak economy is going to suffer from the economic instability which will now occur following the Brexit.
**Europe**
Hundreds of Rioters Attack Semi-Trucks and Cars in Calais.
300 “migrants” rioted in Calais, attacking trucks bound for the Channel Tunnel and the UK. Videos show the “migrants” attacking drivers and climbing onto the roof of trucks in order to hitch a ride across the Channel.
Dutch and French Lawmakers call for their own In/Out Referendum.
Euroskeptics on the Far-Right and Far-Left in both countries are demanding a referendum for their own nations now that Britain has left the EU. Many on the Continent sympathised with the #VoteLeave arguments about the failings of Brussels.
**North Africa and Middle East**
Iran Foils Sunni Terror Attack.
No report on whether terror group is affiliated with ISIS.
Christian girls kidnapped off Egyptian streets, forced to marry Muslim men.
Reports from Upper Egypt indicate Christian girls and women are being kidnapped from the street and from their homes and forced to marry Muslim men and convert to Islam. According to reports, the police are refusing to act.
**India and Pakistan**
Famous Sufi singer shot dead by Taliban.
Considered even more heretical than Shia, Sufi are tolerant and mystical with a focus on music in religious ceremonies.
Pakistani Government funding “Jihad University”.
Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is giving $3M to the Darul Uloom Haqqania seminary – well known as a site of radicalisation and recruitment for terrorist groups.
Pakistan sold nuclear materials to North Korea.
China implicated in a coverup of the illegal sale. Materials originated in China and had been sold to Pakistan, only to be re-sold to Pakistan on the black market. Sources from North Korea report materials could be used for improving quality of nuclear weapons.
Libya Losing the War Against ISIS.
Still a dog’s breakfast, Libya is winning the fight in Sirte but losing the war for Libya as the country further spirals into Failed State status.
**Africa**
Riots in Pretoria, South Africa set city on fire.
Seat of the Executive Branch of the South African Government, Pretoria is burning as a result of riots connected to the Mayoral election. The Guardian reports at least two shot dead in the violence.
Investors seek to create a Pan-African Electrical Grid.
Having raised $3.3G, company would be the continent’s seventh largest company and would provide electrical power shared across Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana.
Australian and South African Workers Kidnapped in Nigeria.
One dead and seven kidnapped at a quarry site in southern Nigeria’s Cross River State. Individuals were taken from a vehicle travelling to the work site after it was attacked by 30 militants who are not believed to be connected to Boko Haram.
African Union seeks to create Schengen Union in Africa.
African Union seeks to create visa-free travel among member states by 2020, starting with government officials. Steps come on the heels of an agreement to create a free trade area from 16 member states.
