Brexit and Spain
The concept of “Hard Brexit” usually refers to the idea of Scotland seeking an additional referendum for independence from the United Kingdom in a bid to stay in the European Union, but what of the United Kingdom’s other holdings in Europe? According to the BBC, former U.K. Conservative leader Lord Howard started a media firestorm over the weekend when he implied that the United Kingdom would be willing to go to war over Gibraltar. Known for its “British” landmark, The Rock of Gibraltar, the 2.3 square-mile territory is actually on the southern tip of Spain. While its 32,000 inhabitants have not expressed interest in seeking independent rule in the break of Brexit, Spain has contested the British control of the region for some 300 years, and may have something to say about it.
Indian cargo ship seized by pirates
According to a report by the BBC, an Indian cargo ship was seized by Somali pirates early Monday morning, and the ship is now headed for Somalia. This is the second ship taken by Somali pirates in the last month. Prior to that attack there had been no reports of piracy since 2012 after an international military effort was launched to reduce the occurrence of piracy in the waters around the impoverished African country. Drought, famine, and continual conflict on the continent may be a driving force behind this renewed activity.
New West Bank settlement
Israel’s security cabinet unanimously voted to construct a new settlement in the West Bank, as well as expand four other existing settlements, according to the BBC. Israeli settlements in lands internationally recognized as belonging to Palestine were controversial and common toward the end of the last century and this is the first settlement approved by the Israeli government in the first twenty years, though existing settlements have been expanded in that time. The new settlement seems to be in response to the evacuation of an unauthorized settlement by Palestinian forces. Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, had been encouraged to hold back on settlements by President Trump in a recent visit to the White House.
