$320 million price tag

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Global Recap
April 30, 2024 • Read in: 6 minutes

Hi Global Recap readers,

Remember this awe-inspiring video of Mount Ruang erupting?

(No, it’s not a nuke)

Well… it has erupted again, leading authorities to raise the alert level to its highest and urge evacuation.

This is the second eruption in a month.

Is it just me, or are there more violent natural disasters happening around the world more frequently?

Mexico vs Ecuador

Legal battle between Mexico and Ecuador

🚨 Incident. Mexico alleges that Ecuador’s forceful arrest of Ecuador’s former vice president, who was seeking asylum inside Mexico’s embassy, violated the Vienna Convention. For that, Mexico is suing Ecuador at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

  • Mexico is demanding Ecuador’s suspension from the UN unless it receives an apology and reparations.

  • Ecuador is countersuing Mexico, alleging asylum granted to the accused was a violation of international obligations.

🌐 Repercussions. The incident has rallied Latin American leaders around Mexico, leading to severed ties with Ecuador and spotlighting the region’s diplomatic tensions.

🔍 Focus. At the heart of the dispute is Jorge Glas, whose asylum request in Mexico and subsequent arrest have intensified the standoff.

  • Glas claims his embezzlement charges are politically motivated, a sentiment echoed by his party, the largest bloc in Ecuador’s National Assembly.

Gaza

Gaza pier to cost $320 million

The US military’s construction of a temporary floating pier off Gaza’s coast is a strategic move to deliver humanitarian aid to the region’s starving population.

🚢 Construction. The US Central Command has released images of the floating pier, known as Joint Logistics Over the Shore (JLOTS), which is currently under construction by the US military.

  • The pier will cost approximately $320 million.

  • It is a temporary structure designed to facilitate the delivery of aid to Gaza’s population, which is facing severe food shortages.

  • The pier will operate for at least three months.

  • Aid delivery is set to begin in early May, starting with the equivalent of 90 trucks per day.

🤝 Collaboration. The Israel Defense Forces will assist the US military in anchoring the causeway to Gaza’s shore. The ultimate goal is to transition the pier into a full-time commercial operation, accessible to other countries and non-governmental organizations.

  • The British Navy support ship RFA Cardigan Bay is en route to aid in the construction.

  • The World Food Programme (WFP) and USAID will oversee aid distribution from the pier.

India

Indian espionage tensions

🚨 Allegations. The Washington Post alleges direct involvement of an Indian intelligence officer in two assassination attempts:

  • one foiled plot against a US citizen critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and

  • a fatal shooting of a Sikh activist in Canada.

🔍 Investigations. India’s foreign ministry has dismissed the allegations as “speculative and irresponsible,” while the US is taking the matter “very, very seriously,” with White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre affirming the administration’s intent to raise concerns.

🌐 Diplomatic Delicacy. In light of China’s growing influence, the US must carefully navigate efforts to strengthen relations with India, ensuring a response that preserves US sovereignty and deters future espionage without alienating India or empowering China.

Philippines vs China

Sea clash escalation

🚨 Conflict. The Philippine Coast Guard reported aggressive maneuvers by China’s Coast Guard, including water cannon attacks on Filipino vessels supplying fishermen.

🌐 Territory. The incident underscores the ongoing dispute over the Scarborough Shoal, which China took over in 2012, rejecting a court ruling favoring the Philippines’ claims.

🤝 Alliances. Amidst these tensions, the Philippines and the United States recently conducted an annual military drill, potentially aggravating China’s stance in the region.

World

Plastic treaty progress

Nations are inching closer to a historic treaty aimed at ending plastic pollution, as recent talks in Canada have seen the transition from conceptual discussions to concrete treaty language.

🌍 Global Effort. The fourth round of negotiations on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution concluded with a focus on the treaty’s text, signaling a shift towards actionable commitments.

🏭 Production. A major point of contention remains the proposal to limit plastic production, facing opposition from plastic-producing nations and industries reliant on fossil fuels and chemicals.

💰 Financing. Upcoming sessions will delve into financing the treaty’s implementation, assessing chemicals in plastics, and exploring product design, despite some delegates feeling that the issue of plastic production is being overlooked.

Does this mean more paper forks and straws at restaurants? 🫤