Taiwan’s annual war games this year will practice “kill” zones at sea to break a blockade and simulate a scenario where China suddenly turns one of its regular drills around the island into an actual attack, the defense ministry said on Tuesday.
China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its territory, has been staging regular exercises around the island for the past four years, to pressure Taipei to accept Beijing’s claim of sovereignty, despite Taiwan’s strong objections.
Taiwan starts its main annual Han Kuang exercises this month with tabletop drills, extended from a more usual five days to eight given the number of scenarios to be included, followed in July by actual combat exercises, the ministry said.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine two years ago, Taiwan has been looking to see what lessons it can learn and integrate into its own exercises, especially how the much smaller Ukrainian forces have been able to fend off the larger Russian military.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has championed the idea of “asymmetric warfare” to make its forces, also much smaller than China’s, more mobile and harder to attack, with, for example, vehicle-mounted missiles and drones.
US Pushes Hamas to Agree with Israel on Gaza Ceasefire Terms
The United States pushed Hamas Tuesday to accept a cease-fire deal with Israel to halt fighting in Gaza for six weeks, while also releasing some of the 100 or so hostages held by the U.S.-designated terror group in exchange for Israel freeing hundreds of Palestinians it has jailed.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Washington that it was a “very serious” proposal presented to Hamas in Cairo last weekend and “should be accepted.”
“The ball is in Hamas’s court,” Blinken said. “The world is watching to see what it does.”
He added that the fact that Hamas has not already agreed to the terms “says what it thinks of the people of Gaza, which is not much.”
Turkey said Tuesday it is imposing trade restrictions on Israel affecting a range of products until Israel declares a cease-fire in Gaza.
The restrictions include trade in 54 categories, including iron, steel, cement, aviation fuel and fertilizer.
The move comes a day after Israel blocked a Turkish request to carry out an airdrop of aid to Gaza. Multiple countries have conducted aid drops to try to counter what humanitarian organizations have said is a lack of adequate access to bring in badly needed aid through land crossings.
US Must Enhance Critical Minerals Strategy in Africa, Report Says
The United States must refine its Africa policy with a focus on critical minerals, including boosting its diplomatic and commercial presence in African mining hubs, says a report from the Washington-based United States Institute of Peace, or USIP.
The group says the changes are needed to safeguard against export controls and market manipulation by geopolitical competitors.
The United States heavily relies on imports for many critical minerals for use in electric vehicle batteries and other applications such as cobalt, graphite and manganese.
“Especially concerning is that the United States is at or near 100% reliant on ‘foreign entities of concern’ — mainly the People’s Republic of China — for key critical minerals,” says the USIP report.
Despite the efforts of the Biden administration and Congress to support U.S. firms in African markets, progress remains measured, with no sign that China and Gulf State competitors are retreating. The USIP report recommends the U.S. government invests in “commercial diplomacy” in Africa.
The USIP report also recommends that the U.S. increase the physical presence of diplomatic and commercial officers in mining centers. Given the proximity of the Congolese city of Lubumbashi to critical minerals, and the high priority placed on the country’s Lobito Corridor, USIP suggests reopening a U.S. consulate in Lubumbashi, provided security levels are acceptable.
Germany, Nicaragua Spar over Gaza Genocide Claim at UN Court
Germany has rejected Nicaragua’s accusation that Germany is violating the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law by supporting Israel in its war in Gaza.
Nicaragua argued at the United Nations’ top court that Germany’s support enables acts of genocide by Israel. On Tuesday, Tania von Uslar-Gleichen, the head of Germany’s legal team, said Nicaragua’s claims “have no basis in fact or law.”
Preliminary hearings on Monday and Tuesday focused on Nicaragua’s request for “provisional measures,” such as requiring Germany to halt its military and other aid to Israel and reinstate its funding to the U.N. aid agency in Gaza.
German representatives urged judges to reject Nicaragua’s calls for provisional measures and toss out the case entirely. They assert that 98% of Germany’s military exports to Israel since the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas have not been weapons of war but additional equipment. They also used photos of German airdropped aid to Gaza to prove the country is giving humanitarian support to the Palestinians.
IOM: Shipwreck off Djibouti Kills 38 People
A ship carrying Ethiopian migrants sank Monday off Djibouti, killing at least 38 people, according to the International Organization for Migration.
The IOM says 22 people were rescued, the UN agency said in a statement.
The ship was traveling to Yemen from Djibouti, the main transit country for migrants attempting to reach Gulf nations from the Horn of Africa.
The route is dangerous and leaves migrants vulnerable to trafficking, kidnapping, arrest and forced recruitment into warring groups.
Thousands Continue to Flee Sudan Every Day as Conflict Rages
The United Nations refugee agency says thousands of people are still fleeing Sudan every day as clashes between two warring army factions, raging for nearly a year, show no signs of abating.
The latest UNHCR figures show that more than 8.5 million people in Sudan have been forced to flee their homes since war erupted on April 15, 2023, making this one of the largest displacement and humanitarian crises in the world.
The number includes 1.8 million Sudanese who have fled to neighboring countries seeking refuge.
The UNHCR says fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has shattered peoples’ lives. It says attacks on civilians are escalating, human rights violations are widespread and rampant, conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence continues without stop, and the economy has collapsed.“While the war started one year ago, thousands are crossing borders daily as if the emergency had started yesterday,” UNHCR spokesperson Olga Sarrado told journalists in Geneva Tuesday.
The UNHCR says more than 1,800 people are arriving daily in South Sudan alone, increasing pressure on the country’s overstretched infrastructure and worsening vast humanitarian needs.
Simon Harris Installed as Ireland’s New Prime Minister
Lawmaker Simon Harris was elected Ireland’s prime minister by a vote in parliament Tuesday, becoming at 37 the country’s youngest-ever leader.
Harris takes over as head of Ireland’s three-party coalition government from Leo Varadkar, who announced his surprise resignation last month. Harris, who served as higher education minister in Varadkar’s government, was the only candidate to replace him as head of the center-right Fine Gael party.
Lawmakers in the Dáil, the lower house of Ireland’s parliament, confirmed Harris as taoiseach, or prime minister, by 88 votes to 69.
Harris was first elected to parliament at 24 and has been nicknamed the “TikTok taoiseach” — pronounced TEA-shock — because of his fondness for communicating on social media. He faces challenges including a strained health service, soaring housing costs and an exodus of Fine Gael lawmakers, more than 10 of whom have said they will not run for reelection.
Top Chinese Official to Visit North Korea This Week
China’s third highest-ranking official Zhao Leji will visit North Korea this week, Beijing and Pyongyang said Tuesday, as the two countries mark 75 years of diplomatic ties.
Zhao, who is a member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party’s Politburo and is China’s top lawmaker, “will lead a Chinese party and government delegation to pay an official goodwill visit from April 11 to 13”, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said.
Beijing is North Korea’s most important ally and economic benefactor, their relationship forged in the bloodshed of the Korean War in the 1950s.
Zhao is China’s third highest-ranking official, behind President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.
His visit will see him and his delegation attend the opening ceremony of the “China-North Korea Friendship Year”, Mao said, which marks 75 years of diplomatic ties between Pyongyang and Beijing.
Gunmen Kill 6 Officers After Ambushing Police Convoy in Iran
Gunmen ambushed a police convoy in Iran’s restive southeast on Tuesday, killing six police officers, media reports said.
The attack on a road in Sistan and Baluchistan province also wounded two more police officers, according to Young Journalists Club, a website affiliated with the state broadcasting company. The report said the Jaish al-Adl militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The report could not be independently verified. The militants have allegedly been fighting for greater rights for the ethnic Baluch minority in the region. Iran and some other nations consider it to be a terrorist group.
The attack was the second in as many weeks targeting security forces, indicating deterioration of the security situation in the region. Last week’s clashes in three separate areas of the province killed 10 Iranian troops and 18 militants. Six more members of the security forces died later in the hospital.
Champions League Matches Proceed Despite Islamic State Terror Threat
This week’s Champions League games would go ahead as scheduled despite an Islamic State terror threat, the governing body of European soccer said Tuesday.
A media outlet linked to the terror group has issued multiple posts calling for attacks at the stadiums hosting quarterfinal matches in Paris, Madrid and London on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“UEFA is aware of alleged terrorist threats made towards this week’s UEFA Champions League matches and is closely liaising with the authorities at the respective venues,” UEFA said in a statement. “All matches are planned to go ahead as scheduled with appropriate security arrangements in place.”
Two matches were held in Madrid. Real Madrid hosted Manchester City on Tuesday which ended in a six-goal thriller, and Atletico Madrid welcomes Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.
Arsenal played Bayern Munich in London on Tuesday, playing 2-2, and Paris Saint-Germain will host Barcelona on Wednesday.
