Global Beat: Iran Provokes the U.S. Navy… Again, and More
September 9, 2016
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Global Beat is your weekly stop for news from around the world. Join us every Friday morning for important stories you should know about.
This week, Iranian vessels continue to provoke U.S. Navy ships; Ireland’s parliament votes to appeal Europe's tax ruling against Apple; Bolivia's transgender citizens celebrate a new law taking effect; and more.
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Americas
Bolivia’s transgender citizens celebrated this week after a new law took effect allowing them to register for identification cards using the names and details of their assumed gender. LGBT groups estimate that about 1,500 transgender people will officially change their documents. Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, and Uruguay have similar laws.
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- Guantánamo Bay shuts down one prison – Jessie Hellmann, The Hill
Central & South Asia
On Tuesday, Kyrgyzstan’s state security service said Uighur militants in Syria ordered last week’s suicide bomb attack at the Chinese embassy. The attack, which injured three people, was carried out by a member of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement with a Tajik passport. Chinese authorities vowed to "firmly strike" back against the group.
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- U.S. and Russian astronauts make a picture-perfect landing in Kazakhstan – Selina Cheng, Quartz
China & East Asia
The Philippines released new photos this week showing Chinese boats in the South China Sea’s Scarborough Shoal, which they say is evidence China is building a military presence in the disputed waters. Tensions over the South China Sea overshadowed the recent ASEAN summit in Laos, but China and Southeast Asian nations agreed to create a telephone hotline as a way to avoid accidental military clashes there. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidated China’s territorial claims in the region, but Beijing has refused to recognize the ruling.
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- Japan’s sex problem is setting up a ‘demographic time bomb’ — and it could be spreading – Chris Weller, Business Insider
Europe & Russia
Ireland’s parliament voted this week to join Apple in appealing the European Commission’s ruling that the tech giant owes the island nation $14.6 billion (€13 billion) in back taxes. Irish officials say imposing the tax would hurt the country’s reputation as a good place to do business. Before the vote to appeal, Ireland’s Department of Finance told parliament members that its Revenue Commission would have to collect the money from Apple and put it into an escrow account.
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- Europe forges ahead with plans for ‘EU army’ – Martin Banks and Peter Foster, The Telegraph
Middle East & North Africa
Seven Iranian vessels sailed within 100 yards of a U.S. Navy coastal patrol ship, the fourth such provocative incident in less than a month and the 31st this year. The U.S. Department of Defense said the encounter was unsafe and unprofessional. U.S. Army General Joseph Votel, commander of U.S. Central Command, said Iran’s conduct is "concerning" and an attempt to "exert their influence and authority in the region."
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Southeast Asia & Oceania
Indonesia’s drug czar, Budi Waseso, has called for a Philippines-style drug war and has begun to buy weapons and increase police personnel to carry out a nationwide crackdown. Since Rodrigo Duterte became president of the Philippines two months ago, more than 2,400 extrajudicial killings have been carried out by government or vigilante forces for drug-related reasons. The campaign has been condemned by the United Nations as unlawful.
Also check out:
- After Obama cancels talk, Rodrigo Duterte of Philippines says he regrets slur – Christine Hauser, The New York Times
Sub-Saharan Africa
The son of Equatorial Guinea’s president, Teodorin Obiang, will be put on trial in France on charges of misspending millions of euros of public funds. Obiang, who was appointed vice president earlier this year, is accused of corruption, money-laundering, and embezzlement of public funds that he used to purchase real estate, luxury cars, art, and other goods in France. Meanwhile, more than half of Equatorial Guinea’s residents live on less than two dollars a day.
Also check out:
- Somali refugee Fadumo Dayib runs for president 26 years after fleeing civil war – Jason Burke, The Guardian
