Charlie Hebdo’s latest cartoon sparks new wave of threats from militants
Working out of borrowed offices, the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo on Tuesday brought out its first edition since the deadly attacks in its Paris office last week, which left 12 people – including its editor – dead. This time, the cover featured a crying Prophet Mohammed holding up a placard that read, “Je suis Charlie”, a slogan popularised by the magazine's supporters in the wake of the attacks. A line above the cartoon read “All is forgiven”, which according to one of the cartoonists implies that Charlie Hebdo forgives the attackers. Just as quickly, it drew criticism from militant groups worldwide with calls for a new wave of strikes against the magazine.
Kerry announces $250 million in aid to Pakistan
On Tuesday, US Secretary of State John Kerry described Pakistan’s anti-terrorism efforts in the country’s northwest as "significant" but cautioned that more needs to be done. He announced that a previously-approved $250-million aid package would be given for emergency relief efforts in North Waziristan, which thousands of residents have fled as anti-insurgency efforts continue in the area. Kerry has been in Pakistan since Monday, largely to boost anti-terrorism efforts in the country. On the same day, the United States declared Maulana Fazlullah, leader of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan – the terrorist outfit that killed nearly 150 students at a Peshawar school on December 16 – to be a "global terrorist".
Allegations emerge of Rajapaksa attempting a coup
Sri Lanka’s former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday denied reports that he attempted a coup after the presidential poll results were announced. “I deny in all possible terms reports of attempts to use the military to influence the election results,” Rajapaksa tweeted this morning. The allegations came from new ministers Rajitha Senaratne (health) and Mangala Samaraweera (foreign affairs), who claim Rajapaksa tried to use the military to prevent the elections results from being announced so he could stay in office. Samaraweera has said the new government has ordered an official investigation into the matter.
Japan’s cabinet approves largest defence budget yet
On Wednesday, Japan’s cabinet approved the island nation’s largest-ever defence budget, possibly to counter China’s rising assertiveness in the region. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet endorsed a $42 billion defence budget as part of a record $184 billion total budget. While it must still be approved by parliament, Abe’s coalition holds a majority in both houses. Since he took office in December 2012, Abe’s governments have ended an 11-year streak of defence spending cuts and have, since, maintained an annual increase of 2%. The defence budget is designed to achieve “seamless and mobile” capability to respond to various contingencies, the ministry said.
Palestine is out of money, wants Arab states to step up
As a measure of last resort, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will spend the 10th anniversary of his time in power on Thursday petitioning Arab leaders for a transfer of $100 million per month to the embattled region. The money, according to Abbas, is to pay for government officials whose salaries were cut off after Israel stopped sending the $120 million in taxes it collects for Palestinians. Israel’s decision was a consequence of Palestine signing up to the International Criminal Court in an effort to make Israel accountable for its military overtures in the region.
Working out of borrowed offices, the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo on Tuesday brought out its first edition since the deadly attacks in its Paris office last week, which left 12 people – including its editor – dead. This time, the cover featured a crying Prophet Mohammed holding up a placard that read, “Je suis Charlie”, a slogan popularised by the magazine's supporters in the wake of the attacks. A line above the cartoon read “All is forgiven”, which according to one of the cartoonists implies that Charlie Hebdo forgives the attackers. Just as quickly, it drew criticism from militant groups worldwide with calls for a new wave of strikes against the magazine.
Kerry announces $250 million in aid to Pakistan
On Tuesday, US Secretary of State John Kerry described Pakistan’s anti-terrorism efforts in the country’s northwest as "significant" but cautioned that more needs to be done. He announced that a previously-approved $250-million aid package would be given for emergency relief efforts in North Waziristan, which thousands of residents have fled as anti-insurgency efforts continue in the area. Kerry has been in Pakistan since Monday, largely to boost anti-terrorism efforts in the country. On the same day, the United States declared Maulana Fazlullah, leader of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan – the terrorist outfit that killed nearly 150 students at a Peshawar school on December 16 – to be a "global terrorist".
Allegations emerge of Rajapaksa attempting a coup
Sri Lanka’s former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday denied reports that he attempted a coup after the presidential poll results were announced. “I deny in all possible terms reports of attempts to use the military to influence the election results,” Rajapaksa tweeted this morning. The allegations came from new ministers Rajitha Senaratne (health) and Mangala Samaraweera (foreign affairs), who claim Rajapaksa tried to use the military to prevent the elections results from being announced so he could stay in office. Samaraweera has said the new government has ordered an official investigation into the matter.
Japan’s cabinet approves largest defence budget yet
On Wednesday, Japan’s cabinet approved the island nation’s largest-ever defence budget, possibly to counter China’s rising assertiveness in the region. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet endorsed a $42 billion defence budget as part of a record $184 billion total budget. While it must still be approved by parliament, Abe’s coalition holds a majority in both houses. Since he took office in December 2012, Abe’s governments have ended an 11-year streak of defence spending cuts and have, since, maintained an annual increase of 2%. The defence budget is designed to achieve “seamless and mobile” capability to respond to various contingencies, the ministry said.
Palestine is out of money, wants Arab states to step up
As a measure of last resort, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will spend the 10th anniversary of his time in power on Thursday petitioning Arab leaders for a transfer of $100 million per month to the embattled region. The money, according to Abbas, is to pay for government officials whose salaries were cut off after Israel stopped sending the $120 million in taxes it collects for Palestinians. Israel’s decision was a consequence of Palestine signing up to the International Criminal Court in an effort to make Israel accountable for its military overtures in the region.
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