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April
Montenegro adopts unspecified sanctions against Russia
Written by Nur Yasmin
Montenegro on Friday adopted sanctions against Russia after its invasion of Ukraine, Prime Minister-designate Dritan Abazovic said, without specifying what they were.
Russia is a major investor in Montenegro, a NATO member and a candidate for EU membership, and many Russians and Russian tycoons have property or yachts there.
"(Montenegro) government has adopted restrictive measures in response to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine," Abazovic said on his Twitter account, without giving details.
Montenegro, on the Adriatic coast, relies on tourists from Russia and Ukraine as major sources of revenues.
Montenegro on Thursday ordered four Russian diplomats to leave the country over violations of diplomatic norms. On March 1, Montenegro said it had joined EU sanctions against Russia, but so far has only suspended flights.
On Feb. 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his troops into Ukraine on what he calls a "special military operation" to demilitarise and "denazify" Ukraine.
Ukraine and the West say Putin launched an unprovoked war of aggression. (Reuters)
April
Minister Plate, Spanish Ambassador discuss support for ICT development
Written by Nur Yasmin
Communication and Informatics Minister Johnny G. Plate met with Ambassador of Spain to Indonesia, H.E. Francisco De Asis Aguilera Aranda, on Friday, to discuss support for development of Indonesia's information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure.
"We discussed the potential for cooperation between Indonesia and Spain, especially in information and information technology applications," Plate remarked on Friday.
Furthermore, the minister noted that the meeting was held in keeping with the sound long-lasting relations between both nations.
"Indonesia and Spain have shared good relations since long. G2G or government-to-government financing between Spain and Indonesia is also not a new thing," he remarked.
He also drew attention to several projects listed at the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) regarding ICT infrastructure for digital transformation that are planned to be financed by the Spanish government.
The Spanish government also plans to assist Indonesia in information and communication technology infrastructure development, including upstream and downstream ICT infrastructure.
"Spain is keen to finance and partake, especially in upstream and downstream digital infrastructure development," Plate noted.
Plate stated that his ministry is open to forging cooperation with an external party as long as the innovation is competitive, modern, appropriate, and suitable for Indonesia.
In the near future, Plate will submit a financing offer from the Spanish Government to finance ICT infrastructure projects in Indonesia.
On the other hand, Ambassador Aranda said his side was open to support the development of Indonesia's digital infrastructure.
"After meeting with Minister Plate, I have a better understanding regarding Indonesia's goals and what can we do to help in achieving those goals," he stated.
He affirmed that Spain has shared sound relations with Indonesia since long. Spanish companies and the government are willing to work with Indonesia on projects regarding digital infrastructure to proffer benefits to the Indonesian people in the future. (Antaranews)
April
The UK and partners suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council for its appalling crimes in Ukraine
Written by nuke
Voting session in UN General Assembly on Rusia Sanction -
On Thursday, 7 April 2022, the UN General Assembly voted to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council in light of evidence of appalling war crimes committed in Ukraine by Russian military forces.
Following further reports of abhorrent attacks on civilians in Ukraine this week, on 6 April 2022 UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss announced a significant ratcheting up of UK sanctions on Russia; full asset freeze on largest Russian bank and end to all new UK outward investment into Russia. UK will end all imports of Russian coal and oil by end of 2022 and take action against oligarchs and key strategic industries.
Foreign Secretary will urge G7 colleagues to maintain the momentum on further waves of sanctions in due course.
As a leading voice calling for international action, the UK’s fifth package of measures will cut off key sectors of the Russian economy and end our dependency on Russian energy.
According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Friday (08/04/22), Today’s measures have been delivered in lockstep with their global allies as the EU has also banned imports of Russian coal and the US has sanctioned SberBank. Asset freezes against Sberbank and Credit Bank of Moscow. Sberbank is Russia’s largest bank and this freeze is being taken in co-ordination with the US.
An outright ban on all new outward investment to Russia. In 2020 UK investment in Russia was worth over £11 billion. This will be another major hit to the Russian economy and further limit their future capabilities by the end of 2022, the UK will end all dependency on Russian coal and oil, and end imports of gas as soon as possible thereafter.
From next week, the export of key oil refining equipment and catalysts will also be banned, degrading Russia’s ability to produce and export oil – targeting not only the industry’s finances but its capabilities as a whole action against key Russian strategic industries and state owned enterprises.
This includes a ban on imports of iron and steel products, a key source of revenue. Russia’s military ambitions are also being thwarted by new restrictions on its ability to acquire the UK’s world-renowned quantum and advanced material technologies and targeting a further eight oligarchs active in these industries, which Putin uses to prop up his war economy//VOI
April
Pakistan's top court to rule on Khan's bid to block ouster Thursday
Written by Nur Yasmin
Pakistan's top court will on Thursday rule on Prime Minister Imran Khan's obstruction of an opposition bid to oust him, a manoeuvre his critics say was unconstitutional and has led to political and economic turmoil in the country.
Former cricket star Khan lost his parliamentary majority last week and was on the verge of being forced from office by a no-confidence vote tabled by the opposition on Sunday.
But the deputy speaker of parliament, a member of Khan's party, threw out the motion, ruling it was part of a foreign conspiracy and unconstitutional. Khan then dissolved parliament.
The stand-off has thrown the nuclear-armed country of 220 million people, ruled by the military for extended periods since independence in 1947, into a full-blown constitutional crisis, and sent its currency to all-time lows against the dollar on Thursday.
Pakistan's central bank on Thursday raised its benchmark policy rate by 250 basis points to 12.25% in an emergency meeting, saying that a reduction in domestic political uncertainty would be required to ensure Pakistan's economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
"This strong and proactive policy response was necessitated by a deterioration in outlook for inflation and increase in risks to external stability," the State Bank of Pakistan said in a statement posted on Twitter.
The opposition has challenged the decision to block the vote in the Supreme Court, which began deliberating the case on Monday.
The court will give a verdict in the case around 7:30pm (1430 GMT), Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said as the hearing concluded for the fourth day on Thursday.
Khan's supporters have argued that the opposition bid to oust him with alleged foreign support was unconstitutional. Opposition leaders have rejected that.
The court could order parliament to be reconstituted, call for new elections or bar Khan from power if he is found to have violated the constitution.
It could also decide that it cannot intervene in parliamentary affairs.
CRISIS BREWING
The ongoing crisis is a worry for economic policymakers in Pakistan, that is in the middle of an International Monetary Fund bailout.
It also threatens relationships with long-time ally the United States, who Khan says is behind the conspiracy to overthrow him. Washington denies this.
The Pakistan rupee took a battering on Thursday as the country awaited the court's judgment, hitting record lows.
Data from foreign exchange dealers and Refinitiv Eikon showed the rupee down as much as 1.5% in interbank trading, hitting 189 rupees to the U.S. dollar - the largest move in over two years.
The depreciation in the open, or unofficial, markets was even higher, dealers said.
"As (the) dollar continues to soar, a massive economic meltdown is staring the country in the face," Shehbaz Sherif, an opposition leader who is among the favourites to replace Khan as prime minister, said in a tweet on Thursday.
The military has stepped in to overthrow civilian governments and rule the country on three occasions citing the need to restore order. It has denied any involvement in the current crisis. (Reuters)
April
Japan to unveil further sanctions on Russia after coordinating with G7, PM says
Written by Nur Yasmin
Japan will unveil further sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine as early as Friday after coordinating with Group of Seven (G7) allies on further punitive steps, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Thursday.
He also said Japan would release a record amount of oil reserves to help curb prices in the wake of the war in Ukraine.
Following Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, Japan has stepped up sanctions ranging from removing Moscow from international payment network called SWIFT, to freezing central bank assets.
It also froze assets of Russian officials, oligarchs, banks and other institutions, keeping in step with G7 economies, and banned high-tech exports to Russia.
"(Russia's) unforgivable acts have come into light one after another," Kishida told reporters. "We must not forgive its invasion and war crimes. We will demonstrate our will with severe action."
Moscow has denied targeting civilians and says images of bodies in Bucha - a town northeast of Kyiv recaptured from the Russian military - were staged to justify more sanctions against Moscow and derail peace talks.
Japan would secure seats on direct flights to Poland every week to help smooth evacuation of Ukrainians fleeing their country, Kishida said.
He said Japan will release 15 million barrels of oil from state and private reserves as part of a second round of the coordinated release led by the International Energy Agency (IEA).
IEA states agreed to tap 60 million barrels of oil from storage, the director of the group said on Wednesday, on top of a 180 million-barrel release announced by Washington last week. read more
The United States announced new measures including sanctions on President Vladimir Putin's two adult daughters and a major bank. However, the European Union failed to approve a new round of sanctions including on Russian coal on Wednesday. (reuters)
April
China warns U.S. against House Speaker Pelosi visiting Taiwan
Written by Nur Yasmin
China warned on Thursday it would take strong measures if U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan and said such a visit would severely impact Chinese-U.S. relations, following media reports she would go next week.
China considers democratically ruled Taiwan its own territory and the subject is a constant source of friction between Beijing and Washington, especially given strong U.S. military and political support for the island.
The possible visit has not been confirmed by Pelosi's office or Taiwan's government, but some Japanese and Taiwanese media reported it would take place after she visits Japan this weekend.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters that Beijing firmly opposed all forms of official interactions between the United States and Taiwan, and Washington should cancel the trip.
"If the United States insists on having its own way, China will take strong measures in response to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. All possible consequences that arise from this will completely be borne by the U.S. side," he added, without giving details.
In Taipei, Taiwan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Joanne Ou would only say that inviting U.S. officials and dignitaries had always been "an important part" of the ministry's work, and that it would announce any official visits at an appropriate time.
Sunday marks the 43rd anniversary of the United States signing into law the Taiwan Relations Act, which guides ties in the absence of formal diplomatic relations and enshrines a U.S. commitment to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself.
The last time a House speaker visited Taiwan was in 1997, when Newt Gingrich met then-President Lee Teng-hui.
Pelosi, a long time critic of China, particularly on human rights issues, held a virtual meeting with Taiwan Vice President William Lai in January as he wrapped up a visit to the United States and Honduras. read more
Pelosi is one of the ruling Democratic Party's most high-profile politicians, and second in the U.S. presidential line of succession after the vice president.
Taiwan has been heartened by continued U.S. support offered by the Biden administration, which has repeatedly talked of its "rock-solid" commitment to the island.
That has strained already poor Sino-U.S. relations.
In March, a delegation of former senior U.S. defence and security officials sent by President Joe Biden visited Taiwan, a strong show of support coming soon after Russia invaded Ukraine. (reuters)
April
S.Korea's incoming president faces backlash from BTS fans
Written by Nur Yasmin
Unhappy fans of South Korean boy group BTS accused President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol of trying to use their idols to boost his ratings after his transition team hinted the group could be booked to perform at the inauguration ceremony next month.
As of Thursday, there were more than 1,800 posts on the transition committee's website, all decrying the possibility of mixing pop with politics.
"Please do not politically exploit BTS. They do not exist to raise your approval ratings. They are global artists who promote Korean culture," said one post.
A separate online petition with the presidential Blue House had garnered some 6,000 signatures since its launch on Wednesday. Many fans also took to the Weverse fandom platform posting comments under the hashtag "#NoBTSforInauguration."
Yoon's transition team said it was undecided over whether to invite BTS to play, having initial denied there was any such plan. The possibility of involving BTS was first disclosed during a radio interview on Tuesday with the official in charge of preparations for inauguration on May 10.
The seven-member group's management, Bit Hit Music, said it has not formally received an invitation from Yoon's office.
The outgoing president, Moon Jae-in took office in 2017 without a public ceremony, but popular singers and actors have provided entertainment at past presidential inaugurations.
In 2013, rapper Psy showed off his quirky horse-riding dance with his 2012 global smash hit "Gangnam Style" in front of some 70,000 spectators at Park Geun-hye's swearing-in, and Michael Jackson attended the inauguration of Kim Dae-jung in 1998.
Yoon, a political novice, won the March 9 election by a record low margin of 0.7% of the votes, following a bitterly fought race that played out against a backcloth of deepening voter disillusion with South Korea's polarised politics, growing inequality and runaway home prices. read more
With just a month to go before he takes office, Yoon's low approval ratings could be a sign of troubles to come.
Despite losing the presidential election, the opposition Democrats will keep a solid majority in parliament until parliamentary elections in 2024, and Yoon must work with them to pass new legislation, budgets and appoint ministers. read more
A Realmeter survey released on Monday showed 48.8% of Koreans said Yoon would perform his presidential duties smoothly, while 47.6% said he would not do well. A Gallup poll last Friday put optimistic respondents much ahead with 55% to 41%, whereas other recent incoming presidents had ratings around 80%. (Reuters)
April
S.Korea’s president-elect vows ‘strong deterrence’ amid N.Korea nuclear test signs
Written by Nur Yasmin
South Korea's president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol said on Thursday strong deterrence was crucial in the face of nuclear and missile threats from North Korea amid a renewed warning by a top U.S. envoy of a potential nuclear test as early as next week.
Yoon, who has pledged to boost defence capability to counter the North's threats, spoke to U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Paul LaCamera during a rare visit to Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, the command centre of the 28,500-strong U.S. military stationed in South Korea.
“We can never stress enough the importance of strong deterrence based on the South Korea-U.S. military alliance and the combined defence posture,” Yoon said, citing the alarm raised by the North’s test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) last month.
Officials in Seoul and Washington have indicated Pyongyang may resume testing nuclear weapons for the first time since 2017, possibly around the birth annivesary of state founder Kim Il Sung, which the North celebrates on April 15.
"I don’t want to speculate too much, but I think it could be another missile launch, it could be a nuclear test," Sung Kim, the U.S. special representative for North Korea, told reporters on a teleconference on Wednesday in Washington when asked about the holiday next week.
Signs of preparations for a nuclear test included activity near the North's Punggye-ri nuclear site, U.S. officials said.
North Korea launched a new ICBM last month after leader Kim Jong Un threatened to break his self-imposed moratorium on ICBM and nuclear testing. read more
Kim's powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong, has warned Pyongyang could use nuclear weapons if the South attacked, with South Korea and the United States expected to stage regular springtime exercises that Pyongyang has long denounced as a war rehearsal. read more
Yoon's visit to Camp Humphreys, the largest U.S. overseas military base, also comes as his foreign policy and security aides discussed possible redeployment of U.S. strategic assets to the peninsula with U.S. officials in Washington. read more
Yoon is set to be sworn in on May 10. (Reuters)
April
Kremlin says it will decide on Putin's G20 participation based on how events unfold
Written by Nur Yasmin
The Kremlin said on Thursday that it would make a decision on whether Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in a G20 summit later this year in Indonesia based on how events evolve.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov was responding to a question about calls by some leaders of G20 countries to exclude Putin from the summit over his decision to send tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine.
"We will clarify this, after all Indonesia is the organiser," said Peskov.
Russia's ambassador to Indonesia said last month that Putin intended to travel to the Indonesian resort island of Bali for the G20 summit in November despite opposition from Western countries in the group. (reuters)
April
Russia says Ukraine presented 'unacceptable' draft peace deal
Written by Nur Yasmin
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday that Ukraine had presented Moscow with a draft peace deal containing "unacceptable" elements at variance with a previous agreement, comments that Kyiv dismissed as "pure propaganda".
The Kremlin has said talks with Ukraine are not progressing as rapidly as it would like, and has accused the West of trying to derail negotiations by raising war crimes allegations against Russian troops in Ukraine, which Moscow denies.
Lavrov said on Thursday that Ukraine had presented a draft agreement on Wednesday that deviated from proposals both sides' negotiators had agreed on.
Ukraine's new draft, according to Lavrov, said the status of Crimea, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014, should be raised at a meeting between the two countries' presidents.
It also said Ukraine could hold military drills with foreign countries without receiving Russia's permission, something Moscow disagrees with.
"Such inability to agree once again highlights Kyiv's true intentions, its position of drawing out and even undermining the talks by moving away from the understandings reached," Lavrov said, adding that the proposals were "unacceptable".
Kyiv says it is committed to the talks but is not willing to give up its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Presidential adviser Mykhaylo Podolyak, one of Ukraine's negotiators, said Lavrov's comments should be seen as a tactic to undermine Ukraine or divert attention from war crime accusations against Russian troops.
"To make any changes to our position to weaken it would be pointless," he said in written comments to Reuters.
"Mr Lavrov is not directly related to the negotiation process, and so his statements are pure propaganda."
Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 in what it called a special operation to degrade its southern neighbour's military capabilities and root out people it called dangerous nationalists.
Ukrainian forces have mounted stiff resistance and the West has imposed sweeping sanctions in an effort to force Russia to withdraw its forces.
Lavrov said Russia was now keen to continue with the talks and secure its own demands.
"Despite all the provocations, the Russian delegation will continue with the negotiation process, pressing for our own draft agreement that clearly and fully outlines our initial and key positions and requirements," he said. (Reuters)