News of the World
This is CFAIR's official radio show on ASU's Blaze Radio. Here, club members do a one-hour show talking about current international events and analyzing the potential consequences. Take a listen to our episodes below!
A Change in BBC Leadership, Charles III’s Coronation, Yoon’s State Visit and Economic Geopolitics
Pacey Smith-Garcia, Kevinjonah Paguio, Jeremy Yurow
Saturday, April 29, 2023
Today, we talked about the recent shakeup in the BBC’s hierarchy as well as the upcoming coronation of King Charles III, the South Korean president’s state visit to the U.S. and economic geopolitics.
In the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, BBC Chairman Richard Sharp has resigned after it was reported that he was involved in planning a $1 million loan for Boris Johnson in exchange for the BBC chairmanship. In a Sky News interview, Sharp said that Johnson knew nothing about his personal finances. Sharp has close ties with the Conservative Party; his father is in the House of Lords and he was a banker with current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. His service will officially end on June 27. Sharp has faced other scandals in his time as BBC chairman, mainly the controversy over the suspension of Gary Lineker due to his comments on the government’s Rwanda plan. Critics reiterated the call for an independent chairperson at the BBC. There is currently no replacement for the position.
In royal news, the coronation of Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla will take place on May 6. It is estimated to cost around £100 million. There will be a normal procession, but the coronation will be slimmed down to two-and-a-half hours, down from the traditional five hours. Attendance will also be cut to around 1,500 people. The coronation will be televised in its entirety except for the anointing with holy oil since it is considered the most sacred moment. It is also planned that heads of different faiths will be in attendance, conveying a more modern, secular and inclusive monarchy.
In his state visit to the United States, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol gave an address to Congress, reiterating the strength of the U.S.-South Korea alliance, saying that it is “stronger than ever” and that “we know that you stand with Korea.” Yoon campaigned on creating stronger bilateral ties with America and that he would take a stronger stance against North Korea. This comes as the U.S. sends a nuclear submarine to the Korean peninsula for the first time in 40 years. This is the latest in growing tensions in the region where North Korea has launched several missiles as a response to U.S.-South Korean military drills on the peninsula. Furthermore, the sending of nuclear submarines into the region can be seen as America shoring up its alliances with other Asian partners, Japan and the Philippines being the biggest, to counter the ever-growing presence of China.
In the international economic arena, the New Development Bank, colloquially known as the BRICS bank, is seeing more interest from potential new members, one being Argentina. This is seen as a challenge to American supremacy within global economics. There are five main currencies used in the world: the U.S. dollar ($), the euro (€), the pound (£), the Swiss franc (CHF) and the yen (¥). China, one of the founding members of BRICS, wants to be part of this currency club. However, the Chinese government controls its money supply. When a country controls its own money supply, the international world will not accept that model. Furthermore, 88% of the world’s money transactions involve the U.S. dollar. It would be difficult to unseat the dollar from world financial markets.
The UK's Many Political Scandals, The Ongoing Sudanese Civil War and China's Policing Overreach Abroad
Pacey Smith-Garcia, Kevinjonah Paguio
Saturday, April 22, 2023
Today, we talked about the resignation of Conservative MP Dominic Raab, the Scottish National Party’s financial scandal, the ongoing civil war in Sudan and the unmasking of a secret Chinese police station in the U.S.
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Dominic Raab, the British deputy prime minister, came under fire for verbally abusing civil servants and violating ministerial code. He has since resigned. Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg defended Raab, stating that he had “a right to bully them for their poor work,” adding that this was a “politically-motivated attack.” Raab, in his resignation letter, said, “In setting the threshold for bullying so low, this inquiry has set a dangerous precedent.” He adds that the inquiry “will encourage spurious complaints against ministers” and have a “chilling effect.” Raab is the latest of Conservative MPs that have come under investigation. This will have an effect on who voters will choose in the next general election.
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In Scotland, Operation Branchform is underway. Scottish police are investigating funding fraud in the Scottish National Party, the ruling political party in the country. SNP Chief Executive Peter Murrell and SNP MP Colin Beattie have been arrested for misuse of almost £700,000 of campaign finances. Furthermore, Murrell and his wife, former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, have also been investigated for a £107,000 loan that they didn’t report in time. First Minister Humza Yousaf is also likely to be investigated.
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In the Republic of the Sudan, the civil war is continuing. The Sudanese Armed Forces, under the leadership of Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, are clashing
with Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo’s Rapid Support Forces. The SAF leader stated he will “help foreigners leave the country while fighting is going on.” Dagalo said he would work toward “opening humanitarian corridors to facilitate the movement of citizens and enable all countries to evacuate their nationals to safe places.” This has confused international observers since the international airport in Khartoum is being fought over by the rival generals. Diplomats, embassy staff and foreign nationals have been told to shelter in place, including 16,000 Americans. Saudi Arabian nationals independently traveled 520 miles over land to Port Sudan to escape the civil war via boat.
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In the United States of America, the Department of Justice arrested two New York residents for allegedly operating an illegal overseas police station of the Chinese government in lower Manhattan. The DOJ accuses the two of destroying evidence when they were confronted by the FBI. It is reported that there are four stations operating in the U.S. It seems that these secret Chinese police stations are also operating abroad. The men were identified as 61-year-old “Harry” Lu Jianwang and 59-year-old Chen Jinping. Both are U.S. citizens. This specific police station in New York reportedly helped the Chinese government locate a pro-democracy activist of Chinese descent living in California. In a separate scheme, the DOJ charged 34 officers of the Ministry of Public Security for harassing dissidents abroad by using thousands of social media accounts. These stations are inconspicuous, showing a well-created façade as domestic organizations that help the public.
The Dalai Lama's Not-So Silver Tongue, Japan's Rising Political Violence and Sudan's Plunge into Civil War
Pacey Smith-Garcia, Kevinjonah Paguio, Mia Osmonbekov
Saturday, April 15, 2023
Today, we talked about the Dalai Lama’s controversy, Japan’s bomb scare with its prime minister and Sudan’s unfolding civil war.
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The Dalai Lama is under fire for asking a young boy to “suck his tongue” during a public event. Within Tibetan tradition, sticking your tongue out at another person is considered appropriate. A top Tibetan leader came to the Dalai Lama’s defense, saying that the reaction is “blown out of proportion.” A statement released by the Dalai Lama says, “His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras.” Tibetans told Vice that the expression the Dalai Lama used was “completely lost in cultural interpretation and its English translation.” The Dalai Lama used the expression “che le sa,” which roughly translates to “eat my tongue” in English. Detractors still point out the uncomfortable nature of the Dalai Lama’s request.
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In Japan, a bomb was thrown during a campaign event held by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. In the fishing port of Saikazaki, where the event was being held, Japanese authorities tackled a male suspect after he threw a suspected smoke bomb which went off seconds later. Crowds started running away from the event. Kishida was not harmed. The suspect refused to speak with police, waiting for his lawyer. Motive is currently unknown. Chief Cabinet
Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno stated, “Elections are the core of democracy and we should never tolerate threats or obstruction by violence.” This latest attack brings up memories of the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022. Political violence in Japan on this scale has not been seen in decades. As a result, security is on heightened alert, especially since parliamentary elections are in full swing and the G7 foreign minister summit in Hiroshima is coming up.
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In the Republic of the Sudan, fighting has broken out between rival military generals, with clashes breaking out in the capital city of Khartoum. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the de-facto leader of Sudan and head of the Sudanese military, is being challenged by the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group, and its leader Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo. The two generals were once allies, helping each other take over control of the country in a coup d’état against former President Omar al-Bashir. At some point, al-Burhan and Hamdan’s relationship broke down. The Kremlin has sent operatives to prop up al-Burhan while the U.S. is urging him to cede his power to a civilian government. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated, “We urge all actors to stop the violence immediately and avoid further escalations or troop mobilizations and continue talks to resolve outstanding issues.” Other international bodies have released similar statements.
Finland Embraces NATO, Upheaval in Israel and America's Information Leakage
Pacey Smith-Garcia, Kevinjonah Paguio, Mia Osmonbekov
Saturday, April 8, 2023
Today, we talked about the Republic of Finland’s ascension into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and its election of a new government, the State of Israel’s judicial reform controversy and its raids into Al Aqsa, and the leaking of sensitive U.S. documents.
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Finland has officially joined NATO as its 31st member. NATO representatives held a ceremony at their headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. One of Finland’s first acts as a member was to invite the Kingdom of Sweden to join the alliance. It was one of the quickest membership applications to be approved by all parties. Sweden’s application is still on hold by Hungary and Türkiye. As a result of Finnish ascension into NATO, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stated that his country is taking “retaliatory measures” and that Finland’s embrace of NATO will “cause problems.” The defense ministry plans on sending troops to the border with Finland if NATO troops are sent there, however, experts state this is unlikely. In concurrence with this historic step, Finland also held elections. Sanna Marin and her Social Democratic Party lost the election, garnering only 19.9% of votes. Petteri Orpo and his National Coalition Party assumed the top spot, winning 20.8% of votes. The Finns Party came out in second with 20.1%. Orpo is assumed to become the next prime minister, with his NCP partnering with the Finns to form a governing coalition. As a result, the NCP will have 48 seats in parliament, the Finns will have 46 and the Social Democrats with 43 seats. The election ultimately came down to economic issues.
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In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government is leading an effort to “reform” the judicial system. These reforms propose giving the Knesset control of appointing judges, allowing a simple 61-seat majority to overturn supreme court decisions and restricting what issues the court can take up. Protests have broken out as a result. The opposition say that
these reforms are a way for Netanyahu to avoid his current legal troubles. The judicial review is on hold due to the Passover holiday. Netanyahu has stated he wants to compromise, but his governing coalition includes far-right ministers who want to push this reform through. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was sacked when he brought up reservations about the potential overhaul.
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To add onto the regional tension, Israeli police have raided Al Aqsa mosque. Hundreds have allegedly barricaded themselves within the Islamic holy site. Stun grenades and rubber bullets were fired to disperse the crowds in Al Aqsa, according to the Islamic Waqf, the managers of the religious compound. Israeli police had a different story, stating, “Dozens of law-breaking juveniles had fomented chaos, throwing rocks and other objects at officers and compelling police to act to restore security, law and order.” Religious tensions are heightened due to Ramadan and Passover occurring concurrently.
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In the United States of America, sensitive intelligence documents have been leaked online, showing that the U.S. is spying on its allies and is engaged in intelligence gathering on Russian security forces. The Department of Justice has opened an investigation after the Department of Defense made a formal referral. The documents have been leaked onto social platforms, initially on Discord then onto 4chan and Twitter. The leaks endanger American assets abroad and are a risk to allies’ opinions. If the documents are true, America’s rivals can use this information to argue that America is untrustworthy, is capable of backstabbing friends and America is continuing a policy of imperialism. American allies can also make this argument; the Federal Republic of Germany stopped sharing intelligence with the U.S. after it found that its ally spied on them during the Obama administration.
​Türkiye Finalizes Finland’s NATO Bid, The Vatican Ponders Its Past and Future, and Indigenous People Still Stand
Pacey Smith-Garcia, Kevinjonah Paguio
Saturday, March 11, 2023
Today, we talked about Türkiye’s approval of Finland's NATO application, The Vatican's relationship with its past and future, and the struggles of Indigenous people within Canada and Australia.
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The Republic of Türkiye’s 276-member parliament unanimously voted to allow the Republic of Finland into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Türkiye stated that Finland met all its demands. Jens Stoltenberg said that this move will “make the NATO family stronger.” With this vote, the borders of NATO would double in size. This all coincides with Finnish elections, with Sanna Marin fighting to keep the premiership. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson congratulated Finland on its progress toward NATO ascension, stating, “It would have been even better if we came in at the same time.” The Kingdom of Sweden’s application is still on hold, with Hungary and Türkiye delaying their votes. Hungary cites comments made by Sweden “disparaging” its democracy. Türkiye states that Sweden is too close to organizations it deems as terrorist entities, such as the PKK.
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Pope Francis was recently hospitalized for a chest infection, being treated for bronchitis. The 86-year-old pontiff’s health has Catholics worried that he would miss important events. He was eventually released. Nevertheless, his declining health has caused the Catholic church to think about the future, including a Papal Conclave and election of a new pope. This has also shown the growing rift between more conservative and moderate Catholics and more liberal followers, with
some believing a more conservative pontiff will succeed Pope Francis.
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The Vatican has also renounced the Doctrine of Discovery, a document that gave Europeans the right to conquer indigenous lands in the Americas. Pope Francis traveled to Canada to voice his regrets for the boarding and residential schools as well as the Catholic Church’s role in colonialism. In a March 30 statement made by the Dicasteries for Culture and Education and for Promoting Integral Human Development, it states that the doctrine “is not part of the teaching of the Catholic Church,” “the contents of these documents were manipulated for political purposes,” and the Catholic Church “ask[s] for pardon.”
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In general, Western countries’ relationships with their Indigenous population are riddled with problems, even up to modern day. Canada’s relationship with its Indigenous people is “significantly failing,” according to Amnesty International. Forced sterilization of Indigenous people and inadequate healthcare are some of the areas the organization highlights in its report. It also includes cultural erasure and struggles for recognition of Indigenous land rights. In the Commonwealth of Australia, a 13-year-old Aboriginal boy referred to as “Jack” was imprisoned for 60 days, spending 45 days in solitary confinement, while awaiting trial. Queensland’s human rights chief states that the case could have broken state laws. Another case involved a 13-year-old boy with developmental disabilities who was confined in his cell 20 hours per day for 78 days.
"Dosti bani rahe": Modi's Muzzling of Indian Media
Pacey Smith-Garcia, Kevinjonah Paguio, Makepeace Sitlhou
Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023
Freelance journalist and Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow Makepeace Sitlhou joins the hosts to discuss the recent raids on the BBC offices in the Indian cities of Mumbai and New Delhi after the release of “India: The Modi Question,” a documentary that was deemed as “derogatory” and “divisive” by the government of the Republic of India. It used its communication laws to force social media companies to pull links to the documentary off their platforms and effectively ban the film.
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A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesman has called the BBC documentary “tainted” and “full of hatred.” The opposition has called the government’s actions “undemocratic” and that the Narendra Modi government is “scared of criticism.”
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The BBC film is a two-episode series. The first episode focuses on Modi’s governance over the state of Gujarat and the 2002 communal violence between Hindus and Muslims, where over 1,000 people died, an overwhelming majority being Muslim. Observers speculate that Modi allowed the violence to happen. Sitlhou herself describes the documentary as a regurgitation of what she has known for a long time. Nevertheless, she couldn’t underscore the importance of it.
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The broader context focuses on Modi’s, and in turn the
government’s, relationship with the media. In the aftermath of the communal violence, Modi told foreign media, “The one area that I was very, very weak was my handling of the media.” In other instances, Modi is hesitant to answer questions and even passive-aggressively told a journalist that he’ll never speak to him again.
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It would be wrong to say that it is par for the course for the Indian government to clamp down on the media. Nevertheless, Sitlhou says that for the last 10 years, under the premiership of Modi, the media landscape has progressively become worse. “The thing about the BBC raid—what it sort of highlighted—is that even if you are the BBC, if you are a foreign correspondent, you are not above board in any way,” she said. “This is looking more and more like it’s going to soon become either Beijing or Moscow.”
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"It's operating almost like a guerrilla force," Sitlhou said when it came to independent media in India. There is a space for it, but the challenges, hurdles and hoops organizations will have to go through might discourage the opening of space. As with other media spaces in other countries, the media landscape is going through transformative changes that many journalists will have to adapt to in order to continue existing. It all comes down to embracing the core tenant of journalism: tell the news.
Continuing the Baekdu Bloodline: The Kims Who May Succeed
Pacey Smith-Garcia, Kevinjonah Paguio
Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023
Who will succeed Kim Jong-un? Recently, the North Korean leader has been holding events with his daughter Kim Ju-ae, having her accompany him at an ICBM reveal and at a ceremonial soccer game. Nevertheless, there are different candidates being considered for the top role.
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For context, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has only ever had male leaders, their first being Kim Il-sung. Kim Jong-il, his son, succeeded him in 1994. He ruled for 17 years, seeing his country go through a famine and economic crisis. He was succeeded by his son Kim Jong-un in 2011. Now, there is speculation as to who will succeed Kim Jong-un since there is no public acknowledgement of a male heir to the Baekdu bloodline.
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The oldest male candidate is Kim Jong-un’s uncle, Kim Pyong-il. He was an ambassador to several European countries and has some semblance of achieving the top role. Nevertheless, his advanced age may decrease his chances of being appointed to the top position.
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Kim Jong-chul, the older brother of Kim Jong-un, is, at the time of recording, not favored for the succession. He was passed over by Kim Jong-il because of his
“feminine” appearance and the North Korean government worries that he is too westernized. To this day, he is speculated to be in hiding.
Kim Yo-jong, Kim Jong-un’s younger sister, is a powerful candidate for the succession. She was seen as the person who took charge whenever her brother was ill or was away from the spotlight. Outside observers describe her as being more ruthless than her brother. Her political experience is also expansive. She was present at the signing of a treaty between the North and the South, an important diplomatic event. She is also the deputy department director of the Publicity and Information Department of the Workers’ Party of Korea. Her work in consolidating her brother’s persona in the public eye can also be seen as ingratiating herself for the top position. Her disadvantage is her gender. Her grandfather overlooked one of his sons for the succession because of his feminine appearance. What more for an actual woman? Would the country accept a female ruler?
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Kim Ju-ae, Kim Jong-un’s 10-year-old daughter, is the only known child of the supreme leader. She has recently been pushed by her father to be in the public limelight. She made her first appearance in Nov. 2022. As she is a direct descendant, she is at the top for taking over her father. Her title of “respected daughter” also hints at her being the designated successor.
However, she is too young to rule and her aunt, Kim Yo-jong, might fight her in the future for the throne. Her being a girl can also be a disadvantage. Furthermore, Kim Jong-un might have other kids, some being reported as boys, which can continue the tradition of male-to-male transfer of power.
Kim Han-sol is the nephew of Kim Jong-un. His father was Kim Jong-nam, the man that was murdered in Malaysia on the orders of his brother, Kim Jong-un. He spent most of his life outside the DPRK. After his father’s death, he went into hiding. In 2017, two North Koreans were arrested in Beijing for allegedly plotting to kill Kim Han-sol. This is peculiar because the People’s Republic of China coordinates and is friendly with the DPRK, even having a policy of deporting North Korean defectors back to their homeland. In Nov. 2020, Kim Han-sol was taken into protective custody by the CIA in an even more bizarre turn of events. The reason as to why the West is protecting him is speculated, but it is reasoned that in the future he will be placed in the leadership position somehow.
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It is hard to definitively say who will become the head of North Korea, but it can clearly be said that many parties, both inside and outside of the country, are participating in political intrigue to come out on top.