China's COSCO ate the shipping headlines this week, and fair enough — a state giant accused of wiring the world's container fleet for signals intelligence is hard to ignore (though Beijing still denies the allegations).
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ARGENTINA
President Milei has delivered a prime-time national address to reaffirm Argentina’s claim over the UK-held Falkland Islands (aka Las Malvinas), vowing to defend national interests “tooth and nail”. He’s threatening sanctions on oil firms operating near the islands, and also announced extra funding for a new naval base on the opposing mainland (Tierra del Fuego). (BA Herald)
UKRAINE
India’s foreign minister (Jaishankar) has used his first standalone visit to Kyiv (he rode shotgun with PM Modi in 2024) to pledge India’s help to end the war “in any manner”. (India Today)
LEBANON
Israel is now claiming operational control of the Hezbollah stronghold of Ali al-Taher ridge (15km inside southern Lebanon), after Iran warned the US it wouldn’t let any Israeli assault there go unanswered. (Reuters)
PALAU
The 55th annual Pacific Islands Forum summit of leaders in Palau (pop. 18,000) has wrapped with a communiqué that “registers concern” at July’s shock ballistic missile launch in the region — but pointedly does not name China. Beijing-friendly Nauru dissented, while like-minded Kiribati skipped the summit altogether. (ABC)
NEPAL
Rescuers have saved two more workers from underground hydropower tunnels, nine days after last week’s devastating floods. Rescue operations continue with dozens more workers believed to be trapped in the tunnel. (TOI)Comment: We wrote about the geopolitics of this disaster here.
INDIA
India has shot down a proposal by China’s Alipay to link its cross-border arm (Alipay+) with India’s instant payment system, citing general “political grounds”, national security risks, and data sharing concerns. (Reuters)
KENYA
President Ruto has ordered Indian conglomerate Tata Chemicals to exit the country after decades of operation, claiming that by exporting raw soda ash instead of processing it locally, the firm has failed to benefit locals. Kenya is the world’s fourth-largest producer of natural soda ash, used in everything from cleaning products to glass and batteries (though not soda?). (Bloomberg $)
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