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Spain Rocked by Two Terror Attacks

Two terror attacks yesterday, 17 August, have rocked Spain, with at least 13 people killed in an attack in Barcelona, that also injured dozens, and five suspected terrorist killed in a second attack in the town of Cambrils.

On Thursday afternoon, around 16:50 (14:50 GMT), a suspected terrorist drove a white Fiat van into crowds on Las Ramblas in Barcelona. The area is a popular street located in the centre of the city. It runs 1.2 km (0.75 miles) through the centre of Barcelona from the city’s Placa de Catalunya (Catalonia Square) to the Christopher Columbus monument at the seafront. Witnesses at the scene reported that the van deliberately targeted people, weaving from side to side. The driver of the van, believed to be the sole attacker, fled on foot and is still being hunted by police. Two other people however were detained on Thursday over the Las Ramblas attack. According to local media, one of those held is Driss Oubakir, whose documents were used in order to rent the van. Reports say that he is in his 20s, and was born in Morocco, however the latest reports have suggested that he has told police he was not involved and that his documents were stolen. Spanish media have also reported that his younger brother, Moussa Oubakir, is being sought in connection with the Las Ramblas attack. The second man arrested was born in Melilla, the autonomous Spanish city on the north coast of Africa. He has not been named. On Friday, police announced that a third arrest had been made in the Catalan town of Ripoll. Hours after the attack in Las Ramblas, at around 18:30 local time, police found a second van, thought to be a getaway vehicle, in the town of Vic, which is located 80 km north of Barcelona. At 19:30 local time on Thursday, a car is driven into officers at a checkpoint on the outskirts of Barcelona. The incident occurred in Sant Just Desvern. A man is found dead in the car but the interior ministry has denied earlier reports that he was killed by police gunfire. Officials have disclosed that the dead man is not believe to be linked to the Las Ramblas attack, adding that investigations are ongoing. At 01:00 on Friday in Cambrils, a second vehicle attack takes place in the resort south of Barcelona. Police kill five terrorist suspects said to be linked to the Las Ramblas attack.

On Wednesday evening, an explosion ripped through a house in the small town of Alcanar, which is located some 200 km south of Barcelona. One person was killed in that incident. According to Police chief Joseph Lluis Trapero, it appeared that the residents at the house had been “preparing an explosive device.” A Catalan government official has disclosed that a cell may have intended to use gas canisters in the Las Ramblas attack.

Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has described the incident as a “jihadist attack,” with the so-called Islamic State (IS) claiming responsibility. In a brief statement carried by its Amaq news agency, IS stated that the attack was carried out by “Islamic State soldiers.” The group however gave no further evidence or details to back this claim.

The Catalan government has reported that citizens of some 24 countries were killed or injured in the Las Ramblas attack, with one Belgian national already confirmed dead. On Friday, France’s foreign ministry disclosed that 26 French nationals were injured, with at least 11 in a serious condition. Officials have reported that Hong Kong, Taiwan and Greece are amongst those saying that their citizens were injured, adding that German, Pakistani, Philippine, Venezuelan, Australian, Peruvian, Dutch, Algerian and Chinese nationals are also amongst the casualties.

Europe’s Deadly Vehicle Attacks

• 9 August 2017, Paris France – A man rammed a BMW into a group of soldiers, injuring six.
• 19 June 2017, London United Kingdom – A man is killed in a van attack on Muslims outside a mosque in Finsbury Park
• 3 June 2017, London United Kingdom – Eight people died when three jihadists drove a van into pedestrians on London Bridge and then stabbed passers-by
• 7 April 2017, Stockholm, Sweden – Uzbek Rakhmat Akilov killed five people when he drove a lorry through a shopping area
• 22 Mach 2017, London United Kingdom – Four people died when a car rammed into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge and the driver then stabbed to death a policeman
• 19 December 2016, Berlin Germany – Tunisian Ansi Amri ploughed a truck into a Christmas market at Breitscheidplatz, killing 12 people
• 14 July 2016, Nice France – Tunisian Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel drove a truck into crowds on the Promenade des Anglais, killing 86 people on Bastille Day
• December 2014, France – A van was driven into a Christmas market and a car rammed pedestrians in Dijon, leaving more than 20 wounded.

North Korea Responds to US Travel Ban

Just days after the United States banned travel for Americans to North Korea, with the ban due to take effect on 1 September 2017, North Korea has criticized Washington’s decision, with state media describing the move on Friday 4 August as a “sordid” attempt to limit human exchanges.

Citing an unidentified spokesman for the foreign ministry, the North’s KCNA news agency reported that there was no reason for foreigners to feel threatened while in North Korea and that citizens from around the world were encouraged to visit. The spokesman stated “our doors are always open for all Americans who visit our country out of good will and wish to see our reality.”

Earlier this month, the US State Department announced that the ban would take effect on 1 September, noting however that some, including journalists and humanitarian workers, would be able to apply for exceptions. The ban will effectively make reclusive North Korea the only country to which US citizens are banned from travelling. The move follows the death in June of US student Otto Warmbier, who was sentenced last year in North Korea to fifteen years’ hard labour for trying to steal an item bearing a propaganda sign from his hotel. Mr Warmbier was in a coma when he was released by the North on humanitarian grounds. The circumstances of his death remain unclear.

In Friday’s report, while KCNA did not specifically name Mr Warmbier, it stated that the North had delivered “just punishment” to some US citizens who had carried out acts against the regime. According to the spokesman, “there is no country in the world that would let foreigners who commit this sort of crime be,” adding “ruling criminals by the law is exercising our confident right as a sovereign state.” The report further disclosed that the ban reflects Washington’s view of Pyongyang as an enemy and reiterated that US President Donald Trump’s administration should abandon its hostile policies towards the North.

Republican US Representative Joe Wilson, who introduced the bill to ban Americans from travelling to North Korea this year, has stated that hundreds of Americans are amongst the roughly 4,000 to 5,000 Western tourists who visit the North each year. North Korea is currently hold two Korean-American academics and a missionary in addition to a Canadian pastor and three South Korean nationals who were doing missionary work.

US Travel Ban for North Korea from 1 September

The United States State Department announced this month that a ban by US passport holders to North Korea will take effect on 1 September 2017, adding that Americans in the country should leave before that date. North Korea will effectively become the only country to which Americans are banned from travelling.

The US State Department issues a notice in the Federal Registrar on Wednesday 3 August declaring US passports invalid for travel to, in or through North Korea. The restriction takes effect in thirty days and applies for one year unless it is extended or revoked by the secretary of state. In a public notice, the department disclosed that “persons currently in North Korea on a US passport should depart North Korea before the travel restriction enters into effect on Friday, September 1, 2017.” The department has noted that journalists and humanitarian workers may apply for exceptions to the ban. According to the statement, professional reporters or journalists, representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) or the American Red Cross travelling on official missions, those travelling to North Korea for “compelling humanitarian considerations” and those whose requests are “in the national interest” may ask for a special validation of their passports in order to travel to the country.

The official announcement comes after the US government last month stated that it would bar Americans from travelling to North Korea due to the risk of “long-term detention” there. The ban comes at a time of heightened tensions between the US and North Korea, which has been working to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the US. It also comes after American student Otto Warmbier, who was sentenced last year to 15 years’ hard labour in North Korea, returned to the US in a coma on 13 June after being released on humanitarian grounds. He died on 19 June, and the circumstances surrounding his death are not clear, including why he fell into a coma. North Korea has stated through its state media the Mr Warmbier’s death was “a mystery.” It has also dismissed accusations that he had died as a result of torture and beating in captivity.

North Korea is currently holding two Korean-American academics and a missionary, a Canadian pastor and three South Korean nationals who were doing missionary work. Japan has also stated that North Korea has detained at least several dozen of its nationals.

North Korean Leader Delays Guam Missile Plan

North Korea’s state media reported on Tuesday 15 August that the country’s leader Kim Jong Un has delayed a decision on firing missiles towards Guam while he waits to see what the United States does next. The news comes as South Korea’s president disclosed hat Seoul would seek to prevent war by all means.

Last week, Pyongyang’s plans to fire missiles near the US Pacific territory of Guam prompted a surge in tensions, with US President Donald Trump stating that the US military was “locked and loaded” if North Korea acted unwisely. While this week signs of an easing in tensions appear to have calmed the international community, the United States and South Korea have continued to prepare for more joint military drills, with experts warning that North Korea could still go ahead with its provocative plan.

In a report, the official KCNA disclosed that on Monday 14 August, in what was his first public appearance in about two weeks, Kim Jong Un inspected the command of the North’s army, examining a plan to fire four missiles to land near the US Pacific territory of Guam. The report went on to say “he said that if the Yankees persist in their extremely dangerous reckless actions on the Korean peninsula and in its vicinity, testing th self-restraint of the DPRK (North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea). In photo’s released along with the KCNA report, Kim was seen holding a baton and pointing at a map showing a flight path for the missiles appearing to start from North Korea’s east coast, flying over Japan towards Guam. North Korea has often threatened to attack the US and its bases and released similar photos in the past but never followed through.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in stated that there would be no military action without Seoul’s consent, adding that his government would prevent war by all means. In a speech to commemorate the anniversary of the country’s liberation from Japanese military rule in 1945, President Moon stated, “military action on the Korean peninsula can only be decided by South Korea and no one else can decide to take military action without the consent of South Korea,” adding “the government, putting everything on the line, will block war by all means.” Japan will also be seeking further reassurance from Washington during meetings between Japan’s defense chief and foreign minister and their US counterparts on Thursday. In a briefing in Tokyo, a Japanese foreign ministry official disclosed that “the strategic environment is becoming harsher and we need to discuss how we will respond to that,” adding “we will look for the US to reaffirm its defense commitment, including the nuclear deterrent.

The Liberation Day holiday, which is celebrated by both North and South, will be followed next week by joint US-South Korean military dills, which are sure to further anger Pyongyang. North Korea has persisted with its nuclear and missile programmes, to ward off perceived US hostility, in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions and sanctions. China, which is North Korea’s main ally and trading partner, has repeatedly urged Pyongyang to halt its weapons programme and at the same time has urged South Korea and the US to stop military drills in a bid to lower tensions. On Tuesday, it urged all sides in the standoff to help “put out the fire” and not add to the flames. China’s state-run Global Times also stated that Seoul should play a buffer between the US and North Korea to prevent a head-on confrontation. The paper said in an editorial that “the drill will definitely provoke Pyongyang more, and Pyongyang is expected to make a more radical response,” adding “if South Korea really wants no war on the Korean peninsula, it should try to stop this military exercise.”

South African Leader Survives No-Confidence Vote

Last week, South African President Jacob Zuma survived his latest vote of no-confidence, despite the ballot being held in secret.

While opposition parties had hoped that the secret ballot would mean that some MPs from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party might side with them against the president, the motion, which was called amidst repeated allegations of corruption, was defeated by 198 votes to 177. The news was greeted with cheers and singing by ANC MP’s, with the country’s currency, the rand, taking a dive shortly after the announcement was made.

Speaking shortly after the results of the vote were released, President Zuma stated that he had come to thank his supporters and “those in parliament who had voted correctly.”   He told the assembled crowd,” they believe they could use technicalities in parliament to take over the majority from the ANC,” adding “it is impossible: they cannot. We represent the majority.”

Since taking office in 2009, President Zuma has found himself embroiled in a number of scandals. They include using taxpayer month for upgrades on his private home and more recently becoming too close to the wealth Gupta family, who have been accused of trying to influence politician decisions. Both the president and the Gupta have denied any wrongdoing. Criticism of President Zuma further increased back in March when he dismissed Pravin Gordhan, a widely-respected finance minister.

The ANC parliamentary party however did not address these criticisms in a statement that was released after the vote, which it called a “soft coup.” The statement also accused the opposition of attempting “to collapse government, deter service delivery and sow seeds of chaos in society to ultimately grab power.”

While the vote appears to have again saved President Zuma, it was not a rousing success for the governing party as the result effectively means that at least 26 ANC MP’s rebels, while another nine MPs abstained from voting. South Africa’s TimesLive website has reported that the ANC’s chief whip Jackson Mthembu has stated that the party was planning to look into disciplining those who had voted against the president. The rebels however were praised by opposition leaders, who have repeatedly called for votes against the president.

In order for the no-confidence motion to pass, at least 50 out of the ANC’s 249 MPs would have had to vote against the president.

President Zuma is due to step down as head of the ANC in December, ahead of the 2019 general election. He has endorsed his ex-wife, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, as his successor. Also vying for the leadership is Cyril Ramaphosa, a former trade unionist and one of the country’s wealthiest politicians.

President Zuma’s Legal Woes:

• 2005 – Charged with corruption over multi-billion dollar 1999 arms deal. The charges were dropped shortly before he becomes president in 2009;
• 2016 – Court orders that he should be charged with 786 counts of corruption over the deal. He has appealed;
• 2005 – Charged with raping family friend. He is acquitted in 2006;
• 2016 – Court rules that he breached his oath of office by using government money to upgrade private home in Nkandla. He has since repaid the money;
• 2017 – Public protector has stated that he should appoint judge-led inquiry into allegations he profiteered from relationship with wealth Gupta family; he denies the allegations, as have the Guptas; no inquiry has been appointed.