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June
China says it tested missile-interception system
Written by Nur Yasmin
China has carried out a land-based missile interception test that "achieved its expected purpose", the Defence Ministry said, describing it as defensive and not aimed at any country.
China has been ramping up research into all sorts of missiles, from those that can destroy satellites in space to advanced nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles, as part of an ambitious modernisation scheme overseen by President Xi Jinping.
Beijing has tested missile interceptors before; the most recent previous public announcement of a test was in February 2021, and before that in 2018. State media has said China has conducted anti-missile system tests since at least 2010.
The ministry said in a brief statement late on Sunday that the "ground-based midcourse anti-missile intercept technology" test had been carried out that night.
"The test reached its expected goals," the ministry said. "This test was defensive and not aimed at any country."
It provided no other details.
China, along with its ally Russia, have repeatedly expressed opposition to the U.S. deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system in South Korea.
China argued the equipment's powerful radar could penetrate into its territory. China and Russia have also held simulated anti-missile drills.
China has given few details about its own missile programmes, aside from occasional brief statements by the Defence Ministry or in state media.
In 2016, the Defence Ministry confirmed it was pressing ahead with anti-missile system tests after pictures appeared on state television.
Beijing says such technology is needed for national defence and security. (Reuters)
June
Philippines' President-elect Marcos says he will head agriculture ministry
Written by Nur Yasmin
Philippines' President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Monday he will head the Department of Agriculture himself to address severe problems faced by the sector.
Marcos, in a news conference, said increasing agricultural production and counteracting increases in prices of commodities would be among his priorities. (reuters)
June
Fifteen EU nations say bloc must urgently accelerate trade deals
Written by Nur Yasmin
Fifteen European Union governments called on Monday for the bloc to accelerate the conclusion of free trade agreements to ensure its long-term economic growth and geopolitical standing in the world.
In a letter to EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis seen by Reuters, 15 economy, foreign and trade ministers said the Ukraine war and the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for resilient supply chains, strategic partnerships and open trade.
With different powers vying for leadership and new alliances, the EU needed to accelerate its own trade push. One in seven EU jobs depend on trade, the ministers said.
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world's largest trade agreement including China, Japan and Australia entered into force at the start of 2022, just over a year after it was signed.
"This should be a wake-up call for Europe," the ministers said, adding the European Union was taking too long.
The EU struck an accord struck with the Mercosur bloc of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay in 2019, but put it on hold due to concerns about Amazon deforestation. A new agreement with Mexico, from 2018, has yet to be submitted for EU approval.
It also is in trade talks with Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia and now India.
EU diplomats say France, which holds the six-month rotating presidency of the EU, has halted moves to clear trade deals so as not to disturb presidential and legislative elections.
France is sensitive to increased beef imports such deals could bring, but has denied it is holding up agreements.
The Czech Republic takes over the EU presidency on July 1, followed by Sweden and Spain, all signatories to the letter.
The others are Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal and Slovenia.
Anna Hallberg, the trade minister of letter initiator Sweden, said following through negotiated agreements, with environmental safeguards, would be a central priority of the Swedish EU presidency. (Reuters)
June
U.S. may let Tajikistan hold on to fleeing Afghan aircraft
Written by Nur Yasmin
The United States may let Tajikistan hold on to Afghan military aircraft donated by the U.S. that sought shelter in the Central Asian country following the U.S. withdrawal from Kabul last August, a U.S. military commander said.
U.S.-trained Afghan pilots flew dozens of military planes and helicopters to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as they fled the Islamist Taliban who took over the country as foreign forces withdrew.
The Taliban have demanded that the two countries return the aircraft.
U.S. Central Command commander Gen. Michael Kurilla visited Tajikistan over the weekend.
"We are grateful to the Armed Forces of the Republic of Tajikistan for continuing to secure the aircraft that the Afghan Air Force flew into the country last August," he said in comments relayed by the U.S. embassy.
"The United States is working with the Tajik government to determine the best way to effectively use and maintain the aircraft," Kurilla said.
He said the aircraft would definitely not be returned to Afghanistan "because they do not belong to the Taliban".
"Our hope is to be able to hand over some or all of the aircraft to the Tajik government. I do not have a timeline on when this will occur, but we are working hard to make this happen."
The Taliban seized power as the United States and its allies withdrew troops after a 20-year war launched in the weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks as U.S. forces hunted al Qaeda leaders and sought to punish their Taliban hosts.
Panicked Afghans clamoured to board flights out of Kabul, fearing reprisals and a return to a harsh version of Islamic law that the Sunni Muslim group implemented when it held power from 1996 to 2001. (Reuters)
June
Saudi lifts COVID-19 travel restrictions to Turkey, India, Ethiopia and Vietnam
Written by Nur Yasmin
Saudi Arabia lifted coronavirus travel restrictions on Monday on its citizens travelling to Turkey, India, Ethiopia and Vietnam, state news agency SPA reported.
Earlier this month, the kingdom lifted measures imposed to prevent the spread of the virus, including a requirement to wears face masks indoors. (Reuters)
June
China power demand sets new records as heatwaves bake northern cities
Written by Nur Yasmin
Power consumption surged in Chinese provinces north of the Yangtze river due to warmer-than-normal weather, with regions like Henan, China's third-most populous province, being tested to meet record electricity demand.
The maximum power demand load in Henan, which has a population of nearly 100 million people, set a new record of 65.34 million kilowatts on Sunday, state television reported on Monday.
While the provincial grid was able to cope with the heavy demand, electricity supply in Henan is expected to be relatively difficult this summer, according to the report, with the maximum load seen rising further to nearly 75 million kilowatts.
As temperatures climb, demand for power rises as homes and businesses crank up air conditioning, peaking typically around the end of July and beginning of August in China.
Temperatures in Henan's capital Zhengzhou, where major Taiwanese Apple supplier Foxconn (2317.TW) has a production hub, have reached 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in recent days.
In contrast to the heaviest rainfall in 60 years in southern China, Henan and nearby Shandong and parts of Hebei have battled with scorching heatwaves and drought-like conditions this month.
The high temperatures will persist through Tuesday, with Henan, Hebei and Shandong still the core areas of the warm weather, China's meteorological administration said.
"For this region, it is rare to see such persistence and intensity in high temperatures at this time in June," it said.
Agricultural officials concerned about crops in Henan, a major growing region with arable land equal to the size of Sri Lanka, visited the province on Sunday to check on local supplies of water.
Land surface temperatures at 92 weather stations in Henan exceeded 60 degrees Celsius this month, with one registering 74.1 degrees, local media reported.
In Jiangsu, the maximum power demand load in China's fourth-most populous province broke above 100 million kilowatts on June 17 for the first time this summer, 19 days earlier than in 2021.
Prolonged periods of high temperatures could force China to limit, stagger or ration power consumption of industrial users during peak periods. (Reuters)
June
Omnia sees Africa increasing farm input support amid food security fears
Written by Nur Yasmin
Fertilizer manufacturer Omnia Holdings (OMNJ.J) says African governments are increasing support for smallholder farmers amid fears that input costs, driven higher after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, could cut crop production and worsen food insecurity.
Omnia supplies fertilizer to both commercial and smallholder farmers in several sub-Saharan African countries, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Kenya and Tanzania.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine, major fertilizer exporters, has accelerated price increases first triggered by COVID-19-induced supply chain disruptions. According to Omnia, prices of fertilizer input materials have gone up by between 200% and 400% since January 2021.
Aid agencies have warned that rising input prices could force Africa's smallholder farmers to reduce plantings of staple grains such as maize, worsening a food crisis in a region where millions have already been plunged into extreme poverty by COVID-19, armed conflicts and climate shocks.
Omnia Holdings chief executive officer Seelan Gobalsamy told Reuters in an interview that fears of fertilizer shortages as a result of the conflict were driving demand ahead of the planting season.
"We see governments, countries across the world being concerned about food security. Everybody wants security of supply of fertilizer and that drives up prices, it also raises concerns about food security in the coming period," Gobalsamy said.
"What we’re seeing is a lot more support from governments for the smaller farmers, to aid those farmers because they have two roles - a subsistence role and a commercial role," he added, referring to African governments.
On Monday, Omnia reported 21.437 billion rand ($1.34 billion) revenues in the full year to March 31, a 30% increase compared to the same period last year, driven by higher commodity prices and sales. Headline earnings per share - the main profit measure in South Africa - were 86% up at 6.72 rand compared to last year. (Reuters)
June
Russia warns NATO-member Lithuania over Kaliningrad transit
Written by Nur Yasmin
Russia warned NATO member Lithuania on Monday that unless the transit of goods to Russia's Kaliningrad exclave on the Baltic Sea was swiftly restored then Moscow would take undisclosed measures to defend its national interests.
With east-west relations at a half-century low over Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, Vilnius banned the transit of goods sanctioned by the European Union through Lithuanian territory to and from the exclave, citing EU sanction rules.
Russia's foreign ministry summoned Lithuania's top envoy in Moscow to deliver a protest while the Kremlin said the situation was beyond serious.
"The situation is more than serious," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "This decision is really unprecedented. It's a violation of everything."
Russia's foreign ministry demanded Vilnius reverse what it cast as an "openly hostile" move immediately.
"If cargo transit between the Kaliningrad region and the rest of the Russian Federation via Lithuania is not fully restored in the near future, then Russia reserves the right to take actions to protect its national interests," it said.
Kaliningrad, formerly the port of Koenigsberg, capital of East Prussia, was captured from Nazi Germany by the Red Army in April 1945 and ceded to the Soviet Union after World War Two. It is sandwiched between NATO members Poland and Lithuania.
Lithuania said it was merely implementing EU sanctions, part of a swathe of measures intended to punish President Vladimir Putin for the invasion of Ukraine.
"It's not Lithuania doing anything: it's European sanctions that started working from 17 of June," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told reporters in Luxembourg.
"It was done with consultation from European Commission and under European Commission guidelines," Landsbergis said.
Lithuania's state-owned railway informed clients that from June 17 sanctioned goods such as steel and iron would not be permitted to cross Lithuania, Landsbergis said. (Reuters)
June
Thailand eases entry rules for tourists, scraps mask policy
Written by Nur Yasmin
Thailand announced on Friday it would abandon its much-criticised pre-registration process for foreign visitors and no longer require face masks to be worn in public, responding to a slower COVID-19 spread.
The "Thailand Pass" system, where foreign tourists must seek prior approval from Thai authorities, will be halted from July 1, Tourism Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan told reporters, removing one of the country's last remaining travel curbs.
Thailand is one of the world's most popular travel destinations, but tourism businesses have long complained its requirement for foreigners to submit multiple documents - from vaccine and swab test certificates to medical insurance and hotel bookings - was impeding the sector's recovery.
Thailand was visited by nearly 40 million people in 2019, but received less than 1% of that number last year, despite easing its quarantine requirements.
Though tourism has picked up in recent months, the industry is far from recovering, with huge jobs and businesses losses in a sector that typically accounts for about 12% of Thai gross domestic product.
The coronavirus task force on Friday also said use of face masks would from next month be voluntary, but advised people to wear them if in crowded settings or if suffering from health conditions.
Thailand has suffered more than 30,000 COVID-19 deaths overall, but has largely contained its outbreaks, helped by a vaccination rate of more than 80%. (Reuters)
June
Australia has ground to make up on climate change - foreign minister
Written by Nur Yasmin
New Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Thursday that her visit to the Solomon Islands this week as well as trips to other countries in the region were due to her belief that Australia had ground to make up on the issue of climate change.
"Many countries in the region have been concerned about Australia's previous position about climate," she said after a meeting with her New Zealand counterpart Nanaia Mahuta in Wellington. Wong was named foreign minister late last month.
"So part of why I wanted to engage really early is because I think we do have some ground to make up and we want to demonstrate we bring stronger and more ambitious commitments on climate because we actually think it matters."
According to a joint statement after the meeting, the two
foreign ministers underlined the importance of consultation on new security measures in the region at a time of growing concern between the allies over the impact of a security pact between the Pacific island nations and China.
The two countries' partnership in supporting the Pacific would include joint practical action on issues such as climate change, Mahuta said.
The statement added the ministers were looking ahead to discussions on regional security among Pacific Islands Forum members in Fiji next month.
"During our consultations, we discussed cooperation and engagement in the Pacific region, and particularly the importance of working together to support Pacific partners facing a complex and growing array of challenges, including the effects of climate change and an increasingly contested strategic environment," said Mahuta.
The United States and its Australian and New Zealand allies have for decades seen the Pacific islands as largely their sphere of influence.
China has dismissed their concerns and is pressing ahead with building ties, saying it poses no military threat and that development and prosperity benefit everyone. (reuters)