This is a roundup of news articles, reports, and other materials focusing on (in)security issues and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of Security in Context. The goal is to shed light on knowledge production on security-related issues of public interest from critical perspectives and from global south readings by highlighting media from four particular regions: Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, and developing Asia. Entries may include academic journal articles, think tank reports, non-governmental organizations releases, official documents or government-commissioned research, and regular news items. The material included covers SiC's key security issues: Climate Change, Security and International Relations, Migration and Displacement, Covid-19 and Capitalism, Technologies of Surveillance, Gender, Race, Ethnicity and Sexuality, Arms and the Military-industrial Complex, and Censorship.
You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each roundup to submissions@securityincontext.org.
Latin America and the Caribbean
Death Toll From Brazil Floods, Landslides Hits 57
February 24, 2023
57 deaths have been reported as a result of heavy rains that devastated the coastal areas of the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo.
Trinidad rattled by earthquakes on consecutive days
February 22, 2023
Parts of Trinidad were struck by a 4.2 magnitude earthquake with no immediate reports of injury or destruction.
Suriname Government warns threats will not be tolerated as protestors storm Parliament
February 18, 2023
The Suriname President Chandrikapersad “Chan” Santokhi stated that his government will not tolerate any discipline after the police forces had to teargas protestors who gathered outside the parliament building.
Machu Picchu reopened after closure for security reasons
February 17, 2023
After 25 days of closure due to growing violence following the impeachment of Pedro Castillo Terrones and the demand for fresh elections, the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu has reopened.
February 14, 2023
Due to a fire in a sugar cane plantation, Cuba suffered a power outage that left half of the island without electricity.
Africa
Horn of Africa drought to worsen as sparse rainy season predicted
February 23, 2023
The IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Center has predicted low levels of rainfall for the next 3 months on the Horn of Africa, with countries in the region now suffering a worse drought than that of 2011, which resulted in the deaths of around 250,000 people.
Nigerian Senate candidate killed ahead of presidential elections
February 23, 2023
Senatorial candidate Oyibo Chukwu for Nigeria’s opposition Labour Party was killed by an unknown gunman ahead of elections in the country.
February 16, 2023
In Ethiopia, at least six people were killed by security forces who opened fire on protestors in the city of Wolkite. Protestors were carrying empty jerry cans during their demonstration regarding the lack of water in the city.
Tunisia opposition condemns 'violent', 'baseless' string of arrests
February 15, 2023
Tunisia’s National Salvation Front has condemned the arrests of citizens such as a former justice minister and a radio director, with Ahmed Nejib Chebbi of the National Salvation Front stating many of these arrests are targeted attempts to stop critics of President Kais Saied.
More than 31,000 children screened for malnutrition
February 13, 2023
In a report released by Angola’s Emergency Response Project, 17% of 31,000 children screened between July and December 2022 were suffering from malnutrition, indicating the importance of the Project in providing food and water to children in the nation.
Middle East
Israel launches air strikes on Gaza Strip
February 23, 2023
Israel conducted an air bombing on Gaza following rocket fire from Gaza into Israel. While Israel’s Iron Dome intercepted five of the six missiles fired from Gaza–the sixth landing in an uninhabited area of Israel–the Israeli airstrikes killed 11 Palestinians.
Oman opens airspace to Israeli flights, following Saudi Arabia
February 23, 2023
More and more Arab countries are allowing Israeli planes to travel through their airspace as Oman enables Israeli planes to fly through their airspace. While the U.S. is facilitating these agreements, Oman and Saudi Arabia, who have opened their airspaces, have avoided publicizing the agreement.
Iran imposes fresh sanctions on EU, UK
February 22, 2023
Iran imposes sanctions blocking a number of individual officials, economic entities, and government institutions from the EU and the UK. The Foreign Ministry of Iran stated that these sanctions have been put in place because the EU has promoted violence and instability in Iran.
How Chinese, Iranians enrich mutual understanding
February 20, 2023
Ebrahim Raisi, Iran’s President, wrote very positively about China ahead of his visit to Beijing. This article explains that China and Iran look to bolster their relations and work together more and more in the coming years.
Palestine calls on Security Council to pressure Israel into stopping crimes in Jerusalem
February 20, 2023
The Foreign Minister of Palestine requests the help of the UN Security Council and Israel carries out a number of aggressive policies towards Palestinians in Jerusalem, and in the region more broadly. These oppressive policies come from right wing Israeli minister Itamar Ben Gvir who has implemented a number of extreme policies towards Palestinians.
Turkey-Syria earthquake: More than 6,000 aftershocks
February 19, 2023
After the two 7.5 plus magnitude earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, a number of smaller but significant tremors and aftershocks continue. Because of this, emergency responders advise not to enter or stay around damaged buildings. Aftershocks can cause landslides and/or rockfalls and the initial disaster caused significant damage to over 100,000 structures.
Developing Asia
‘Band-aid’ measures for fiscal problems
February 24, 2023
The cost-cutting initiatives outlined by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, send a positive message in these trying economic times for Pakistan. They may also help the coalition government regain some popular favor and move one step closer to reaching an agreement with the IMF. Would these steps, however, address the underlying problems that keep the nation from turning to the IMF for assistance every few years? That doesn't seem very likely.
How one year of Russia-Ukraine crisis affected India's commerce and diplomacy
February 24, 2023
While maintaining its established route of neutrality throughout the battle, India skillfully balanced the interests of the western countries and Russia. Like the rest of the globe, it was affected financially by the conflict, with inflation remaining beyond the Reserve Bank of India's tolerance zone for the most of the year. While this was happening, India's refineries were able to purchase Russian oil at steep discounts as the nation's imports of Russian oil reached an all-time high.
How the world—including the West—supports the Myanmar military's violence
February 24, 2023
Myanmar's Asian neighbors and the West have pledged to back its people's democratic aspirations and punish the military for its crimes (although the latter camp has always gone to greater lengths to avoid upsetting the generals). In practice, neither of these two sets of nations has kept its pledges. Even the UN has been ineffective. With its Myanmar national teams and regional offices, it has begun normalizing its ties with the two-year-old junta in the guise of humanitarian aid and civilian safety.
China increases defense cooperation with the UAE as American influence in the Middle East declines
February 23, 2023
During a current defense exhibition in Abu Dhabi, China's aviation sector announced the signing of a contract that would see Chinese L15 supersonic planes supplied to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The industry built a UAE joint lab with a focus on talent cultivation, research and development.
Nepal halts sending bike riders and taxi drivers to Qatar and Dubai
February 23 , 2023
The Department of Foreign Employment, a government department in charge of managing labor migration, has temporarily stopped granting recruitment firms' requests for prior authorisation to send bike riders and taxi drivers to Qatar and Dubai. According to a statement released by the department on February 20, "We have been receiving complaints, almost daily, that most Nepalis who had traveled to Dubai and Qatar for bike rider and taxi driver jobs had not been paid on time and had been jobless for a protracted period after failing to obtain a license." Instead of addressing the problem, the authorities have once more resorted to limiting labor mobility, according to labor migration researchers.
Indonesia's Growing Fintech Environment Is Changing: Market Insights
February 14, 2023
In Indonesia, the fintech industry has expanded during the past five years. A surge of new businesses have developed to meet the requirements of a sizable population that has previously had limited access to financial services, made possible by extensive internet and smartphone usage and encouraged by a progressive regulatory framework. Investor interest in Indonesia's fintechs is fueled by the country's anticipated ascent to become the fourth-largest consumer market in the world by 2030. Yet, as market liquidity has decreased, so have the expectations of fintech businesses and the way they operate.
Key Issues
This section includes the latest and most pressing news regarding SiC's key security issues.
China takes American hegemony head-on
February 24, 2023
The Chinese Foreign Ministry condemned the U.S. hegemony and its warmongering policy in a recent published essay. This follows a recent speech from Putin condemning the U.S. on a variety of topics and chastising its need to dominate the world.
February 24, 2023
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has proposed 12 points that call for the ceasing of the war between the Ukraine and Russia, a proposal that seeks to accommodate the concerns of both nations.
G-7 commits to escalating coordinated sanctions on Russia over Ukraine
February 24, 2023
In a joint statement issued following their online meeting on February 24, the first anniversary of Moscow's invasion of its neighbor, the leaders of the Group of Seven nations promised to impose more sanctions on Russia in an effort to end its conflict in Ukraine.
Nigeria to close land borders on election day
February 24, 2023
Done as a way to ensure an election that is free from outside tampering, the Nigerian government announced the closure of all its land borders during the country’s election on Saturday.
Death toll from Turkey, Syria earthquake tops 47,000
February 23, 2023
The death toll following the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that impacted Turkey and Syria on February 6 has now reached over 47,000, with over 164,000 buildings having collapsed due to the natural disaster.
February 20, 2023
This essay published by the Foreign Ministry of China addresses a number of issues with the current state of global politics with the United States operating as a unipolar superpower.
February 17, 2023
Russia requests an investigation in the UN Security Council following a recent report from notable journalist Seymour Hersh. The report states that the U.S. was responsible for blowing up the Nord Stream Pipeline which not only caused a massive environmental disaster, but also is a direct attack on the flow of Russian energy.
