Lost in the Mire 16

NORTH KOREA/PARADE – Sunday was the 106^th  anniversary of the birth of its late founder Kim Il Sung. Known as the “Day of the Sun,” it is usually marked with public demonstrations of military strength allowing his grandson Kim Jong Un to wave from a balcony. This year that hasn’t happened which tells us Kim Jong Un is still playing nicely nice ahead of the possible summit with Donald Trump next month.

EGYPT/ATTACK – Militants killed 8 soldiers and wounded as they attacked a military base in Egypt’s central Sinai region. The attackers wore suicide belts according to the Army which said it killed 14 militants.

COMING UP

Russian ‘kinetic’ military retaliation for the French/US/UK attacks on Syria last week are unlikely in the near future, but the UK base in Cyprus will be on full alert as will any military assets off the coast of Syria. Pressure will grow on UK PM May to hold a retrospective vote of approval for British involvement as some MPs seek to set a precedent requiring prior approval in the future.

Trade talks between the EU and UK are expected to open this week.

DIARY

Mon – UK PM Theresa May to brief parliament on last week’s military strikes on Syria and take questions.

Mon – Canada’s PM Trudeau in France and then the UK to meet President Macron and PM May.

Mon – Russian Duma debates new counter sanctions against USA.

Mon – Arab League summit opens in Jeddah.

Mon – Indian PM Modi in Stockholm for the 1^st Indo-Nordic summit.

Tues – Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in London. Indian PM Modi expected, he’ll also be meeting PM May.

Tues – Japan’s PM Abe in the US until Thurs. Will meet President Trump.

Weds – China stages live-fire military exercises in the Taiwan Strait.

Weds – 1^st cinemas open in Saudi Arabia after 40-year ban.

Weds – Israel begins 3 days of celebrations to mark the 70^th anniversary of country’s founding.

Thurs – Cuba’s President Raul Castro expected to step down.

Fri – Pakistan’s new Islamabad International Airport opens.