A crucial deal aimed at averting a global food crisis has been extended. Here’s everything you need to know
CNN
23-05-17 16:38
Russia, Ukraine and Turkey have agreed to extend the UN-brokered Black Sea grain deal which has allowed the safe passage of ships from Ukraine and prevented global food insecurity occuring while Russia blockade vital grain exports. Ukraine is key exporter of grain with it accounting for 10% of the world wheat market, 15% of the corn market, 13% of the barley market, and a key global player in the sunflower oil sector. The agreement has been renewed for a third time for two months as there were fears that it would not be renewed after Russia called for it to be scrapped, citing concerns that a separate agreement with the UN to facilitate shipments of its own foodstuffs and fertilisers had not yielded results and dissatisfaction with the sanctions imposed by G7 nations. The EU had previously lifted all duties on Ukrainian grain via land to facilitate exports, causing a glut of cheap Ukrainian grain to flow into central and eastern Europe and affecting the sales of local producers.
Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and the United Nations have reached an agreement to extend the Black Sea Grain Initiative for another two months. The scheme began last summer to allow Ukraine to ship goods through the Black Sea without break, to parts of the world suffering from hunger, while an existing civil war had driven up prices. Whilst Russia exports of food and fertiliser are not subject to Western sanctions due to its invasion of Ukraine, Moscow says that restrictions on payments, logistics and insurance have become a challenge for shipments.
UN expert: Myanmar military imported $1 billion in weapons since 2021 coup
The Toronto Star
23-05-17 21:00
A UN report has found Myanmar's military imported $1bn of weapons since its coup in February 2021 from China, Russia, India, Singapore and Thailand, often using them in atrocities against civilians. Product types ranged from fighter jets and attack helicopters, to advanced missile systems, tank upgrades, communication equipment and radar and components for naval ships. Russian and Chinese firms supplied extensive missile systems, reconnaissance and attack drones, trainer jets, light attack aircraft, and raw materials like steel and rubber which are used at home during Myanmar's domestic weapons manufacturing. Singapore, Thailand and India were smaller players and there was no evidence that those governments supplied the Myanmar military with arms.
Ukraine and Russia have agreed a two-month extension to the wartime Black Sea Grain Initiative deal, which expires on Thursday, marking a rare example of cooperation between the two nations. The agreement enables Ukraine to ship grain across the Black Sea, subject to inspection off the coast of Istanbul, along a corridor past Russian naval vessels that have blockaded Ukraine's ports since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion 15 months ago. The deal also serves President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey who acted as an intermediary, by averting a food price spike in the run-up to the country's presidential runoff.
Tehran has used the threat of capital punishment as a means to suppress and dissuade dissent in the wake of the recent protests sweeping the country. At least 209 people were executed in five months in response to the protestation, according to the UN. Groups such as Human Rights Activists News Agency say that the use of televised confessions before executions typically involves torture and the extraction of confessions under duress. Among those facing execution are Majid Kazemi, Saeed Yaqoubi and Saleh Mirhashemi in connection with the Isfahan House murders in November.
There is a growing chance that the planet will warm to more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels within the next five years, according to the United Nations arm the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). In 2015, the nations of the world committed to prevent such a rise in temperatures in the Paris Agreement. In 2017, the WMO estimated that there was a 48% chance that this target would be breached, but this estimate has now increased to 66%. The WMO has said it is almost certain that one of the next five years will be the hottest in human history.
The appointment of an Iranian diplomat, Ali Bahreini, as the chair of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Social Forum in November 2023 has been criticised by human rights activists. They argue that Iran currently undertakes severe human rights violations, including the detention of more than 20,000 political prisoners and shooting people in the street who demand their basic rights. One activist, Mariam Claren, the daughter of Nahid Taghavi, a German-Iranian human rights activist who has been imprisoned in Iran since October 2020, stated that rewarding Iran with this role "is a slap in the face for all Iranians and anyone who loves freedom".
Myanmar’s military has imported arms worth at least $1bn since seizing power in February 2021, despite “overwhelming evidence of its responsibility for atrocity crimes” committed during its attempts to suppress opposition, according to a UN report by the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar. Tom Andrews identified more than 12,500 unique purchases or recorded shipments directly to the Myanmar military or known arms dealers working with the military. The report also named Russia, China, Singapore, India and Thailand as the main sources of the arms, dual-use technology and materials used to manufacture weapons.
Human-induced climate change and the natural arrival of weather system El Niño almost guarantees the next five years will be sweltering — and temperatures are expected to shatter global records, according to the United Nations. The World Meteorological Organization’s report found that there is a 98 per cent chance at least one year in the next five years will be the warmest ever recorded. In this time span, there’s a 66 per cent chance temperatures will be 1.5 C warmer than pre-industrial levels for at least one year.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell remains a prominent figure in Kentucky politics, despite being hugely unpopular nationally. Republicans in Kentucky recently resoundingly backed former McConnell legal counsel Daniel Cameron, who is now their gubernatorial nominee. McConnell remains deeply concerned with the Kentucky governor’s race, where Cameron is in a close contest with Democratic incumbent Andy Beshear. Cameron is equally tipped to make an impact in national politics following this term. In terms of his own future, McConnell’s Senate term runs through 2026, at which point he would have to consider running for a six-year term that would end when he’s 90 years old. McConnell's continued success in Kentucky in many senses is comparable to the late Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid's standing in his home state of Nevada. Reid's influence lives on today, giving hope to McConnell of an equally long-lasting impact in Kentucky.
The ongoing crisis in Sudan has been caused in part by long-time President Omar al-Bashir's strategy of avoiding military coups while maintaining his hold on power, according to an article by GPF. The president came to power in a 1989 military coup and subsequently needed to keep his army in check while ensuring it remained strong enough to support his rule. To this end, al-Bashir created a paramilitary force designed to protect the government against any mutinies and to free up the traditional military to conduct higher-level military actions. However, after al-Bashir was removed from office in 2019, the paramilitary forces grew in power since they did not follow the same structure as the military and lacked the same level of oversight. This, combined with the traditional military's reluctance to take part in low-level activities, turned the paramilitary into a serious threat to the military's hold on power. The result is a high-risk situation where both forces are currently in conflict with each other in the capital, Khartoum.
Haitians are arming themselves with rocks and machetes and setting up groups to defend their neighborhoods as armed gangs terrorize the country, deepening the Caribbean country’s security crisis. The vigilante groups, known as “Bwa Kale” in Haitian Creole, are taking matters into their own hands and coordinating checkpoint systems, killing suspected gang members and erecting roadblocks to stop drivers and question them about their travel. This comes as 230 people have been killed in mob attacks and lynchings this year alone, with 164 of these in April. Further, since the still-unsolved assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, gangs have taken control of much of the capital city Port-au-Prince, shooting indiscriminately at people, burning them alive and raping women and children. In the first quarter of 2023 alone, more than 1,600 people were wounded, kidnapped or killed in gang violence, a figure up 28% from the previous quarter.
With China's once plentiful supply of young workers now decreasing due to aging, the global economy needs a new source of growth. Many have pointed to India as the "next China," but India is facing similar demographic issues, and within a few decades, its prime-age workforce will start to decline along with China's. Therefore, there is a growing need to look towards Africa. Africa's population, at present, is increasing due to its high fertility rate. In the coming decades, African youth will account for 98% of the net labor-force growth in the world, proving that Africa's youth is central to the future of the global economy.
Since the West is often afraid of uncontrolled immigration, they often see the African population’s growth entirely differently. However, their youthfulness isn’t a problem but an opportunity upon which the prosperity of the entire world depends. By 2050, Africa’s prime-age working population will be five times as large as that of Europe and larger than China and India’s combined. Moreover, it’s essential to recall that China was once considered desperately poor, much less developed than Africa is currently. In the next 20 years, African countries will increase their prime-age working population by 400 million workers, which is inarguably a remarkable opportunity for global growth.
However, since China’s economic growth was an environmental disaster, Africa needs to follow a different path to avoid similar consequences. Africa’s growth must be clean in terms of power generation and not damage the continent’s natural resources and landscape. Fortunately, Africa has plentiful sources of renewable energy, including hydro, solar, wind, and geothermal power. Africa can also benefit from technological advancements that have resulted in the decrease in the price of clean energy over the past decade, making renewable power cheaper than burning coal in most places.
Three consecutive editorials in China's People's Daily have expressed concern that the country's demographic crisis could hit its economic growth. It follows China's population falling to 1.41 billion last year, marking its first decline in six decades after a record low birth rate of 6.77 per 1,000 people. The editorials supported President Xi Jinping’s vision to create a “talent dividend” by ensuring the development of individuals and boosting education. However, Professor Yuan Xin of Nankai University's School of Economics said there is a growing disadvantage in terms of population size and migration, optimisation of human capital, “will finally become quiet”.
Russia and China have supplied the Myanmar military with $406m and $267m worth of military technology and related materials respectively since the start of the Myanmar coup in February 2021, according to a report by the UN Human Rights Council. The report by Special Rapporteur Tom Andrew found that Myanmar has purchased at least $1bn in “arms, dual-use goods, equipment, and raw materials to manufacture weapons” since the coup, with Singapore ($254m), India ($51m) and Thailand ($28m) also contributing to the trade. The report also outlines the role played by 28 Russian private and state-owned companies in providing fighter jets and missile systems to the Myanmar military, as well as the contribution of 41 Chinese and Hong Kong companies to modifying and repairing tanks and fighter jets used in civil conflict. At least 3,500 civilians have been killed since the military took over the country, with an estimated 22,000 political prisoners also being held.
The Taliban has appointed Maulvi Abdul Kabir, who played a key role in the 2020 Doha Agreement with the US, as Afghanistan’s new caretaker prime minister. The man he has replaced, Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund, 78, has been in charge of the interim government since the Taliban took control of the country in August. Kabir has been under UN sanctions since 2001 when he served as acting prime minister of the Taliban regime. Kabul University’s Faiz Zaland argued that it is unlikely there will be a change in policy on women’s rights as Kabir’s appointment is temporary and lacks decision-making rights.
Russia launched a barrage of cruise missiles at Ukraine's capital, Kiev, and Odesa after midnight on May 12, according to Ukrainian officials. The country said it had shot down 29 of the 30 missiles. One death was reported from the overnight attacks. The missile strike was seen as an escalation ahead of an anticipated counteroffensive. Most of the ground fighting is stalemated along the main front line in Ukraine's east and south, but both sides are targeting other territory with long-range weapons. Sophisticated Western air defence systems have spared Kiev from the main front line's destruction. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey announced an extension to an agreement between Ukraine and Russia to allow grain exports across the Black Sea, following the country's calls for further clarity and reassurance.
Recent reports of a new drug being developed to help slow the progress of Alzheimer’s disease is encouraging, however, individuals are urged to take further steps to reduce their risk of developing all forms of dementia by sticking to a plant-rich Mediterranean diet. Eating specific foods that are rich in nutrients and micronutrients can improve brain function and brain health, according to sources including Sky News and the Alzheimer's Society. In a study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, adhering closely to a Mediterranean diet could reduce the likelihood of developing dementia by 53%. In addition to consuming whole grains, olive oil, berries, fruits and vegetables, sticking to a diet of essential amino acid-rich proteins such as chicken breast, and fatty fish can reduce inflammation and inhibit brain cell death, meaning low-protein diets are linked to poor maintenance of brain function in older people. Boosting gut microflora by eating kefir, kimchi or kombucha, all high in postbiotic chemicals, can directly influence brain function and brain health too.
Cyclone Mocha caused widespread devastation in Myanmar over the weekend, with estimates suggesting that at least 400 Rohingya have lost their lives. Many people in the affected regions live in areas with an active presence of armed groups who are opposed to the military administration, which seized power in a February 2021 coup and has since blocked humanitarian aid to areas that harbour armed resistance, according to numerous human rights and media reports. On Thursday, humanitarian responders including UN agencies and international aid groups were still waiting for clearance to do their work in six townships identified as the worst affected in Rakhine state. “This is the most challenging time in my life ... We have a lot of issues … a natural disaster [in areas affected by] armed conflict, intercommunal conflict … and where international communities are struggling to do their work effectively. We are in hell,” said a Rakhine humanitarian worker. The situation is fraught, with the storm likely to deplete people’s savings and have long-lasting effects.
Almost 250,000 flee floods in Somali city that ‘became like an ocean’
CNN
23-05-18 12:27
Floods have forced 245,000 people to flee their homes in central Somalia after the Shabelle river broke its banks and submerged the town of Beledweyne. Aid agencies and scientists attribute climate change among the factors that are accelerating humanitarian emergencies, with the latest floods occurring as the country faces its most severe drought in four decades. Seasonal rains in Somalia and upstream in the Ethiopian highlands triggered flash floods that washed away homes, crops and livestock, and temporarily closed schools and hospitals in the town. Since mid-March, floods in Somalia have affected more than 460,000 people and killed 22.
