Not Your Casual News Week 20: Floods in Afghanistan, Estonia unfreezes money for Ukraine and Iranian president dies
Not to mention that it's been a bad week for world leaders
Hi! I am slightly changing the format: at the beginning of the week I will be publishing the briefs from the previous week, and later on, a longer copywriting article. I think it will bring more clarity, and will be more digest to read — in return for more emails in your mailboxes. Sorry for that.
Coming up this week: a piece about the turmoil in New Caledonia.
A series of flash floods kill hundreds in Afghanistan
At least 66 people have died and many more are missing after flash floods struck Afghanistan’s Faryab province on 18 May, just days after torrents of water swept through villages in the province of Baghlan, taking 300 lives in its wake.
The devastating floods destroyed homes and infrastructure, trapping residents in the rising waters while they await rescue efforts. Relief efforts are underway, but the generally mountainous terrain and damaged roads are hampering access to the affected areas.
“We have not walked on dry land in four days. I had to borrow [these] clothes because I lost mine in the floods. We don’t even have water to drink. Our flour and rice have gotten wet, even our crops are destroyed”, Gulzada, an a survivor from the floods, told to World Food Programme.
Shelter, food and water have been appealed for by the provincial disaster management department, which has declared an “emergency situation.”
The disaster is the latest blow to Afghanistan, which is already facing a humanitarian crisis exacerbated by a severe drought. The country is immensely vulnerable to natural disasters and it adds a one more weight to a population already suffering. International aid agencies are working to provide emergency relief, offering support for food, shelter and medical care.
Video shared by WFP Afghanistan on 11 May showing the floods in Baghlan.
Estonia paves way for seizure of Russian assets to compensate Ukraine
Estonia has taken a significant step towards holding Russia accountable for its war in Ukraine by passing a law allowing the use of frozen Russian assets to pay for war damages.
The law, which now awaits presidential approval, establishes a mechanism for using assets of individuals and companies linked to Russia’s aggression as an advance payment on compensation owed to Ukraine.
More precisely, it sets out specific conditions for the use of these assets, requiring proof of damage caused by an unlawful act and a clear link between the owner of the assets and the aggression.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will oversee the process, with the right for asset owners to challenge the decision in court.
Estonian officials see this as a precedent for other European nations. Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, who called it a “big step”, hopes the EU will follow suit and use frozen Russian assets for both military aid and compensation.
What Else Happened?
Slovak prime minister shot on Wednesday. Robert Fico was shot four times at point blank range during a meeting in the mining town of Handlová. Fico, who was re-elected prime minister in October 2023, underwent surgery and has been stabilised since the accident, but “his condition is still serious”, Defence Minister Robert Kalinák told reporters. The 71-year-old gunman is described by authorities as a “lone wolf” who had recently become radicalised and increasingly critical of the government. Among the controversial new measures, Prime Minister Fico's government has suspended military aid to Ukraine, attempted to control the public media and abolished the special prosecutor’s office in charge of fighting corruption.
Iranian president dies in a crash. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian have died in a helicopter crash in north-western Iran, confirmed by state media. The crash took place on Sunday in a mountainous region and was initially thought to be a rough landing due to foggy conditions. Raisi, 63, was seen as a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — he was also known as the Butcher of Tehran for ordering thousands of executions in the summer of 1988. The crash happened as Raisi and his delegation were returning from Azerbaijan, where he had met President Ilham Aliyev and inaugurated the Qiz Qalasi and Khodaafarin dams. The Iranian Red Crescent confirmed on Monday that the bodies of Raisi and the other victims had been recovered, ending search operations.
Attempted coup failed in DRC involves Americans. The Democratic Republic of Congo’s army has announced that the leader of an attempted coup in Kinshasa on Sunday has been killed and that around 50 people, including three Americans, have been arrested. The coup leader, Christian Malanga, a US-based Congolese politician, was “definitively neutralised” during the attack on the presidential palace, army spokesman Sylvain Ekenge said to Reuters. In a post on X, US Ambassador Lucy Tamlyn expressed concern “by reports of US citizens allegedly involved” in the coup, and pledged to work with the DRC authorities. The US embassy had earlier issued a security alert on the situation.
Climate News
Brazil worst floods ever. The floods in Rio Grande do Sul have displaced hundreds of thousands of families and could be one of the most significant climate migration events in recent Brazilian history. The disaster has already claimed 147 lives and left 127 missing. This region lies at the intersection of tropical and polar currents. Climate change is making droughts and rainstorms more frequent and severe in this region, which lies at the intersection of tropical and polar currents. The floods in Rio Grande do Sul, which followed floods in the second half of last year, left 538,000 people homeless and prompted many to consider drastic adaptation measures.
Wildfire season is back in Canada. A wildfire near Fort McMurray, Alberta, has prompted the evacuation of 6,600 residents, with more on standby. The fire evokes memories of the devastating 2016 blaze that displaced 90,000 people. Cooler temperatures and shifting winds are helping firefighters, but the blaze has already consumed 52,000 acres. Last year's record-breaking wildfire season saw 45 million acres burned across Canada. Current evacuation efforts are aimed at avoiding the chaos of 2016, with some evacuees heading to Edmonton. Nearby wildfires in British Columbia and Manitoba have also led to evacuations.
Starvation is looming in Zimbabwe. More than half of Zimbabwe’s population will need food aid this year due to a severe drought that has caused extensive crop failures. The Zimbabwean cabinet reported (via Reuters) that approximately 7.7 million people, including those in both rural and urban areas, will require assistance. The drought, exacerbated by El Niño, is the worst the country has experienced in 40 years, with a 77% reduction in maize production. The government has requested $2 billion in aid to deal with the crisis. International organisations are also appealing for funds to prevent widespread starvation.
Image of the Week
As people headed to the polls on Sunday 19 May, this picture illustrates one of the big issues in the Dominican Republic’s election: the border with gang-ruled Haiti.
Rising violence and political instability in Haiti has led to increased migration and security concerns in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican government has responded with stricter border controls and mass deportations, expelling 175,000 Haitians in 2023 alone.
Dominican President Luis Abinader, who is seeking a second term, has made border security and immigration central to his campaign. Abinader’s government has initiated the construction of a border wall and increased military presence, citing national security and sovereignty.
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Have a nice week.