HONG KONG
US diplomacy rule relaxed
The US consul general no longer needs to secure China’s approval before meeting officials in the territory after a rule put in place during heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing was relaxed. Under the new requirement, which started in November last year, Beijing must be given prior notice, replacing a previous arrangement that required the top diplomat to seek permission from China’s foreign affairs office in the territory before having such meetings, the US Consulate in Hong Kong said yesterday. The rule relaxation would make it easier for the consul general to have direct exchanges with officials in Hong Kong as part of its normal diplomatic practice.
AUSTRALIA
Cameras to be replaced
Officials yesterday said that dozens of Chinese-made security cameras would be ripped out of politicians’ offices, days after the minister for defence announced his department would remove the devices from its buildings due to security concerns. Officials from the department of finance confirmed that 65 closed-circuit television systems had been installed within offices used by Australian politicians. While the department had been gradually replacing the cameras as part of a broader security upgrade, at least 40 systems still needed to be stripped out, it said, adding that they would be replaced by April. The CCTV cameras were not connected to the Internet and were being removed as a precaution, it added.
AUSTRALIA
Iranian operation busted
Canberra yesterday said that it had busted an Iranian surveillance operation targeting a rights advocate who joined demonstrations in the nation over the death of Mahsa Amini. Iran has been rocked by nationwide protests after 22-year-old Amini died in police custody, where she was being held for breaching the nation’s dress code for women. Tehran unleashed a major crackdown on protesters, sparking solidarity demonstrations around the world, including in Australia. Minister for Home Affairs Clare O’Neil said Tehran had been spying on the family of an Iranian-Australian who had participated in the protests. “It is perfectly legal for anyone in Australia to criticize a foreign regime, as tens of thousands of people across the country have been doing in response to events in Iran,” she said in a speech at Australian National University. “What we absolutely will not tolerate, under any circumstances, are attempts by foreign regimes to disrupt peaceful protests, encourage violence or suppress views.”
CROATIA
Islet plot up for sale
Part of the nation’s unique heart-shaped Adriatic islet nicknamed by tourists the Island of Love is up for sale. The uninhabited islet of Galesnjak in the Pasman Channel is one of the most recognizable of the nation’s islets and part of it is being offered to prospective buyers for development. “Over a million photos per year are made on and around the islet and I think its popularity is really high,” said Silvestro Kardum, a representative for the owner of the lot of land offered for sale. There are no hotels, villas or restaurants on the islet, but many celebrities and their yachts frequent Galesnjak every summer. “Beyonce had her 39th birthday party on the islet and she’s there several days or even weeks every year, Michael Jordan was there last year, Jeff Bezos as well, there’s no lack of celebrities in that area,” Kardum said. Proceeds from the sale would be invested elsewhere in the local community, he said.
BOMBARDMENT: Moscow sent more than 440 drones and 32 missiles, Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, in ‘one of the most terrifying strikes’ on the capital in recent months A nighttime Russian missile and drone bombardment of Ukraine killed at least 15 people and injured 116 while they slept in their homes, local officials said yesterday, with the main barrage centering on the capital, Kyiv. Kyiv City Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko said 14 people were killed and 99 were injured as explosions echoed across the city for hours during the night. The bombardment demolished a nine-story residential building, destroying dozens of apartments. Emergency workers were at the scene to rescue people from under the rubble. Russia flung more than 440 drones and 32 missiles at Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy
COMPETITION: The US and Russia make up about 90 percent of the world stockpile and are adding new versions, while China’s nuclear force is steadily rising, SIPRI said Most of the world’s nuclear-armed states continued to modernize their arsenals last year, setting the stage for a new nuclear arms race, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said yesterday. Nuclear powers including the US and Russia — which account for about 90 percent of the world’s stockpile — had spent time last year “upgrading existing weapons and adding newer versions,” researchers said. Since the end of the Cold War, old warheads have generally been dismantled quicker than new ones have been deployed, resulting in a decrease in the overall number of warheads. However, SIPRI said that the trend was likely
‘SHORTSIGHTED’: Using aid as leverage is punitive, would not be regarded well among Pacific Island nations and would further open the door for China, an academic said New Zealand has suspended millions of dollars in budget funding to the Cook Islands, it said yesterday, as the relationship between the two constitutionally linked countries continues to deteriorate amid the island group’s deepening ties with China. A spokesperson for New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters said in a statement that New Zealand early this month decided to suspend payment of NZ$18.2 million (US$11 million) in core sector support funding for this year and next year as it “relies on a high trust bilateral relationship.” New Zealand and Australia have become increasingly cautious about China’s growing presence in the Pacific
Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki yesterday erupted again with giant ash and smoke plumes after forcing evacuations of villages and flight cancelations, including to and from the resort island of Bali. Several eruptions sent ash up to 5km into the sky on Tuesday evening to yesterday afternoon. An eruption on Tuesday afternoon sent thick, gray clouds 10km into the sky that expanded into a mushroom-shaped ash cloud visible as much as 150km kilometers away. The eruption alert was raised on Tuesday to the highest level and the danger zone where people are recommended to leave was expanded to 8km from the crater. Officers also
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