Around the World in 5 – 16
“There is a wonderful expression in Persian, war nam nihadan, which means “to murder somebody, bury his body, then grow flowers over the body to conceal it””
June 12, 2025 carried the theme of civil unrest into Bolivia, as protests between authorities and anti-government groups left four dead. Tensions escalated as supporters of Bolivia’s former president, Evo Morales, took to the streets to protest against his disqualification from running in the upcoming elections and against the deterioration of the nation’s economic situation. Current president Luis Catacora is claimed to have deployed military tanks to Llallagua, the core site of the clashes, in a manner reminiscent of President Trump’s actions during California’s ongoing unrest over ICE immigration raids.
The UK has agreed a deal with the European Union regarding Gibraltar’s status following Brexit. Despite growing scepticism over governing powers between Spain and the British Overseas Territory since the UK’s departure from the EU in 2020, both parties advanced border policies. The agreement includes the avoidance of checks on people and goods crossing the Gibraltar-Spain border. Spanish immigration officials will also have authority to deny entry at Gibraltar to allow British arrivals to continue into Spain and EU free-travel areas without further checks. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that the deal successfully protected British sovereignty while also supporting Gibraltar’s economy. Spanish officials, including Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, agreed that the deal “unlock[s] significant opportunities to strengthen UK-Spain relations.”
New tariff measures are expected to be announced following the China-African Economic Partnership for Shared Development, which has proposed duty-free access to the Chinese market for all African countries, pending acceptance from all parties. African foreign ministers met in China this week to review outcomes from last year’s Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). The current aim is to facilitate deeper market access for African exports and increase Chinese funding for African infrastructure projects. Previously, zero-tariff agreements applied to 33 African nations, but now seek to include South Africa and Nigeria as key beneficiaries.
The United States government has announced plans for the partial evacuation of its embassy in Iraq, allowing military dependents to leave due to heightened security risks. This decision follows concerns from US officials over the risk of conflict between Israel and Iran, after Iran committed to increasing nuclear activities following an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) resolution which found Iran had failed to meet non-proliferation commitments. President Trump has insisted on all parties to pursue diplomatic solution to the nuclear dispute; however, US intelligence reports indicate that Israel is preparing plans for strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, creating a potential tipping point for broader regional conflict in the Middle East.
Reports from Reuters have revealed that Chinese-backed militia are protecting new rare earth mines in eastern Myanmar as part of efforts to secure control over critical minerals amid the trade war with America. The mines are reportedly operating under the protection of the United Wa State Army, the largest militia in Shan State, Myanmar. According to the US Institute of Peace, the group has longstanding commercial and military links with the Chinese government. Multiple sources have criticised the group for being used as leverage by China along the Myanmar-China border and as a means of influence over ethnically armed groups on both sides of the border.
Hunting Scene, unknown, c.16th Century.
