AUSTRALIA
Confucius Institute banned
New South Wales (NSW) on Thursday said it would axe China’s Confucius Institute amid fears over potential foreign influence. The state government said in a review that, while it found no specific evidence of interference, it was improper for the program to continue. “The review found, however, a number of specific factors that could give rise to the perception that the Confucius Institute is or could be facilitating inappropriate foreign influence in the department,” it said. NSW is the only state government worldwide to have such a program and the arrangement placed Chinese government appointees inside the state’s education department, the report added.
NAURU
Immolation over medevacs
A 36-year-old Pakistani refugee has been hospitalized after he set himself alight in Nauru yesterday, amid warnings that the government’s attempts to repeal medevac laws could have fatal consequences. There are also concerns that more than 50 men were sent to Papua New Guinea’s immigration detention center without access to phones in a bid to block medevac applications. A Senate inquiry is examining a bill to repeal the medevac laws, which give Australian doctors power to facilitate the urgent medical transfer of refugees from Manus and Nauru. The government’s policy often saw delays of up to five years.
SYRIA
Idlib corridor opened
Damascus on Thursday said that it is opening a corridor for civilians to leave Idlib Province, where government bombardment has killed hundreds since April. The announcement came a day after government forces recaptured the strategic town of Khan Sheikhun. Damascus has opened such corridors out of rebel bastions in the past as a prelude to retaking them either by force or through negotiated surrenders. Civilians are often wary of accepting government offers of refuge or safe passage for fear of arrest or conscription into the regime’s depleted forces.
UNITED STATES
New agency warns of China
A new cybersecurity agency on Thursday said that China represents the greatest strategic risk to the nation, and as a result, its top operational priority is reducing the risks from Chinese compromises to the global supply chain, including 5G technology. The statement was part of a report outlining the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s strategic intent for the next five years. The agency’s other priorities include election security, federal cybersecurity and reducing risks for industrial control systems. Agency Director Christopher Krebs said in a speech that his agency is the nation’s “risk adviser,” which seeks to make other agencies and companies do a better job managing risk.
EUROPEAN FUTURE? Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama says only he could secure EU membership, but challenges remain in dealing with corruption and a brain drain Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama seeks to win an unprecedented fourth term, pledging to finally take the country into the EU and turn it into a hot tourist destination with some help from the Trump family. The artist-turned-politician has been pitching Albania as a trendy coastal destination, which has helped to drive up tourism arrivals to a record 11 million last year. US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, also joined in the rush, pledging to invest US$1.4 billion to turn a largely deserted island into a luxurious getaway. Rama is expected to win another term after yesterday’s vote. The vote would
FRAUD ALLEGED: The leader of an opposition alliance made allegations of electoral irregularities and called for a protest in Tirana as European leaders are to meet Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party scored a large victory in parliamentary elections, securing him his fourth term, official results showed late on Tuesday. The Socialist Party won 52.1 percent of the vote on Sunday compared with 34.2 percent for an alliance of opposition parties led by his main rival Sali Berisha, according to results released by the Albanian Central Election Commission. Diaspora votes have yet to be counted, but according to initial results, Rama was also leading there. According to projections, the Socialist Party could have more lawmakers than in 2021 elections. At the time, it won 74 seats in the
CANCER: Jose Mujica earned the moniker ‘world’s poorest president’ for giving away much of his salary and living a simple life on his farm, with his wife and dog Tributes poured in on Tuesday from across Latin America following the death of former Uruguayan president Jose “Pepe” Mujica, an ex-guerrilla fighter revered by the left for his humility and progressive politics. He was 89. Mujica, who spent a dozen years behind bars for revolutionary activity, lost his battle against cancer after announcing in January that the disease had spread and he would stop treatment. “With deep sorrow, we announce the passing of our comrade Pepe Mujica. President, activist, guide and leader. We will miss you greatly, old friend,” Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi wrote on X. “Pepe, eternal,” a cyclist shouted out minutes later,
Myanmar’s junta chief met Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) for the first time since seizing power, state media reported yesterday, the highest-level meeting with a key ally for the internationally sanctioned military leader. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing led a military coup in 2021, overthrowing Myanmar’s brief experiment with democracy and plunging the nation into civil war. In the four years since, his armed forces have battled dozens of ethnic armed groups and rebel militias — some with close links to China — opposed to its rule. The conflict has seen Min Aung Hlaing draw condemnation from rights groups and pursued by the
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