Mstyslav Chernov/Unframe, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Summary:

• Brexit, the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, has separated Britain from the EU’s Single Market, however Northern Ireland remains a member of the Single Market system.
• Northern Ireland’s status as a member of the Single Market makes it so that goods travelling from the UK to Northern Ireland are subject to custom checks by the EU, effectively creating a de facto trade border in the Irish Sea.
• Loyalists, residents of Northern Ireland who wish to remain part of the UK, believe that the protocol cuts them off from Great Britain and threatens their British identity.
• Northern Ireland Union Parties were initially in support of Brexit, however they are now advocating for the trade protocol to be discarded because they believe it disrupts the flow of goods between countries.
• Northern Ireland has experienced over a week of continuous rioting, causing at least 55 police officers to be injured.
• Social media videos of the riots show rioters throwing stones, bricks, and petrol bombs at police and their vehicles.
• British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has expressed deep concern over “the scenes of violence” in Northern Ireland and maintains that “the way to move forward is through dialogue”.
• White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki claims that the US remains “steadfast supporters of a secure and prosperous Northern Ireland in which all communities have a voice, and enjoy the gains of the hard-won peace.

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Other Headlines:

China Warns Against Boycott of Beijing Olympics

• China warned against any boycott of the 2022 Beijing Olympics after a US state department spokesperson announced that US and allies were discussing a potential boycott over China’s human rights abuses.
• The White House clarified that they are not discussing or considering a boycott of the Olympics with any allies or partners.
• The International Olympic Committee and US Olympic & Paralympic Committee have stated their disapproval of boycotts, as they are not an effective measure for change, and negatively affect athletes because of political issues.

Myanmar Ambassador Locked Out of London Embassy

• Myanmar ambassador to the UK, Kyaw Zwar Minn, claims that he was locked out of the London embassy for several hours by his deputy who was acting on the military’s behalf.
• Minn has spoken against the junta and called for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, the elected leader of Myanmar, causing the military to remove his title of ambassador.
• More than 600 civilians have been killed in the violent, ongoing protests for democracy against Myanmar’s military.

Kenya’s High Court Seeks to Temporarily Closes Refugee Camps

• Kenya’s government seeks to close off the Dadaab and Kakum refugee camps, home to more than 400,000 migrants from various countries including Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, and others.
• Kenyan Interior Minister Fred Matiang’i has said the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has two weeks to outline a plan for the closing of the camps, or refugees could expect forced travel to the Somalia border.
• Many refugees are threatened with fear, uncertainty, and insecurity regarding their future and where they will go following the government’s decision as they had found peace and a new home in Kenya’s refugee camps after fleeing terrorism, instability, and other difficulties in their native countries.
• The decision by government officials to place pressure on international donors by threatening to close refugee camps have been seen by some as motivated by economic incentives. 

Facebook Sued By Civil Rights Advocacy Group In Response To Hate Rhetoric

• Facebook and its top executives Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg face a lawsuit filed by Muslim Advocates, a civil rights group, claiming that Facebook is dishonest in its pledge to remove violent or hateful speech, and in particular rhetoric targed towards Islam and Muslims.
• For years Muslim Advocates has sought to raise awareness about bigotry and anti-Muslim hate speech rampant on the social media platform, including extremist and violence promoting anti-Muslim hate groups that remain active on the site, despite their violation of Facebook’s community guidelines.
• Facebook emailed a statement on Thursday to address the lawsuit, maintaining that they do not allow hate speech and seek to make it a platform “safe for everyone”.
• Muslim Advocates has called for Facebook to take actions in line with their guidelines or “stop lying” to the public regarding its policies on hateful speech.