China says Ukraine envoy met with Zelenskyy during talks in Kyiv
The Toronto Star
23-05-18 09:13
China's special envoy Li Hui has met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss ways to resolve the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Li visited Kiev over two days and met with Ukraine's foreign minister to discuss a "stable and just peace based on respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine". Zelenskyy and Chinese leader Xi Jinping previously spoke over the phone. China has proposed its own peace plan in response to the 15-month-long conflict, in which Russian President Vladimir Putin must withdraw his forces. Ukraine has repeatedly emphasised that it will not entertain any proposal related to the loss or freezing of territorial conflict. Despite China's claim of positioning as a mediator, Beijing has often come across as siding with Moscow both politically and economically.
Despite the economic crisis, two devastating earthquakes, and less-than-friendly relations with the West, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has won the first round of Turkey's presidential election by around four percentage points. Erdogan's electoral alliance also managed to secure another parliamentary majority. However, he failed to garner the 50% plus one required for an outright victory and so there will be a run-off vote. Erdogan’s eventual replacement is likely to come from a nationalist party, the elections highlighting the staying power of nationalism in Turkey. Fighting has just stopped in the Gaza Strip after 33 Palestinian and one Israeli died over four days of rocket fire from the Strip and air attacks by Israel. The Israeli government points to the lack of prolonged conflict and a bump in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s polling numbers from the events as proof of its success. Palestinians have just marked the 75th anniversary of the Nakba, the foundation of the state of Israel and the subsequent mass displacement and occupation of Palestinians.
After being pursued by paparazzi in New York, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan have stated that they were chased by highly aggressive paparazzi along with Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland. Reportedly, the two-hour chase was nearly ‘catastrophic’ and the presence of many photographers made the couple’s transport very challenging. The couple’s increasing concern with the paparazzi comes from the event that Harry believes caused the car wreck that killed his mother, Princess Diana, more than 20 years ago. Harry’s childhood trauma with the paparazzi has stayed with him, and he’s currently waging three different legal battles in British courts against the publishers of three of the largest tabloids in Britain over his claims that the publications hacked his phones and invaded his privacy. Harry focuses on changing the tabloid culture that he believes pollutes the lives of media consumers, which he blames for his own rift with the Royal Family and Meghan’s estrangement from her father.
India's Gland Pharma reports lower Q4 profit on soft demand
Reuters
23-05-18 13:51
Gland Pharma, the majority of which is owned by Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical, reported its Q4 2019 profit fell 56% due to weak sales in its key markets. Consolidated profits before tax and exceptional items fell to INR 1.68bn ($20.54m) from INR3.80bn from the previous year. The Indian company has a business-to-business model and depends on core markets including the US, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and Australia, which provide 70% of its revenue; access to capital markets for funding and the stability of these markets has therefore been key to success.
Papua New Guinea will sign a defence cooperation agreement and maritime surveillance pact with the US, said Prime Minister James Marape. The deal follows agreements signed between China and Papua New Guinea in April, which included a memorandum of understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative. The US plan would see American troops gain access to PNG ports and airports in return for access to satellite surveillance. Joe Biden's administration has recently been placing more importance on relations with the Pacific, over concerns about China’s increasing aggression in the region.
San Francisco has become the first city in the US to appoint a "drag laureate" to represent its LGBTQ+ community. D'Arcy Drollinger, nightclub co-owner and drag performer, will become the first holder of the 18-month position, which carries a salary of $55,000. Her remit includes serving as a spokesperson, producing and participating in drag events and preserving the community's history. Last year, the Proud Boys sparked a hate crimes investigation when they protested against Drag Story Hour, which sees drag queens reading to children.
Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has filed articles of impeachment against President Joe Biden, but the move is unlikely to succeed given the thin majority and deep divisions in the House of Representatives. Greene, who has promoted a range of conspiracies, claimed that Biden compromising national security by refusing to enforce immigration laws and allowing illegal immigration into the country. The politician also filed impeachment articles against Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray, US Attorney Matthew Graves, and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Canada's second-biggest airline, WestJet, has cancelled flights as it grapples with an impasse in talks with unions. About 1,800 pilots at the carrier and its Swoop subsidiary could strike after the Air Line Pilots Association issued a strike notice earlier this week. Monday is Canada's Victoria Day federal holiday. The Calgary-based airline, which flies to more than 110 destinations, carries 28% of the country's domestic market, while Air Canada carries 47%, according to aviation data firm Cirium. Passengers unable to book flights have been advised to visit WestJet’s webpage for updates.
The Pentagon overestimated the value of weapons it sent to Ukraine by around $3bn, according to sources. Assigned values were too high as replacement cost, rather than as the value as depreciated from purchase. It is possible the amount of overvalued weaponry could grow beyond $3bn as the Pentagon continues to examine the situation. Since August 2021, the US has sent weapons valued up to $21.1bn to Ukraine, an important and sensitive ally in its ongoing stand-off with Russia. Changing the valuation could delay the Biden administration's need to ask Congress to authorise further funds for Ukraine.
The US has never defaulted on debts, causing "massive uncertainty" to surround the possibility, according to Shai Akabas, director of economic policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center. The government would be forced to prioritise who gets paid and when in the event of a default, which would be a "very different situation" from a government shutdown, he said. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and economists have warned that a default would have "catastrophic" consequences, leading to job losses, unpaid federal government payments, "widespread suffering" and disruption to the air traffic control and law enforcement systems, among others.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended people at high risk of monkeypox to get two doses of Bavarian Nordic's Jynneos vaccine, after a US study revealing that using two doses of the vaccine is more effective than one. The study showed Jynneos was 85.9% effective overall in preventing disease after two doses, compared to 75.2% with one. The outbreak of monkeypox, which affected more than 30,000 people in the US in 2022, disproportionately hit gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men and transgender persons. The CDC warned on Monday about the risk of a resurgence in cases this spring and summer.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is hosting an event to commemorate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The event will include a keynote address by Ambassador Katherine Tai, the U.S. Trade Representative and Co-Chair of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. A panel discussion will also explore ways to counter AAPI hate and discrimination and its intersections with U.S. foreign policy in Asia, building on a previous event held in 2021. The event is being hosted by CSIS' Asia Program, Diversity and Leadership in International Affairs Project, and the staff-led Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Employee Resource Group.
The United States and Taiwan have reached a modest trade agreement as part of Washington's support for Taiwan and its demands from China. The deal is the first under the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade and is expected to set the stage for a more significant agreement. The agreement aims to cut red tape at customs, reduce waiting times for US businesses in Taiwan and commits to adopting measures to combat bribery and encourage more trade with small to medium-sized enterprises. There is widespread bipartisan support for Taiwan in Washington, and the island country remains a prosperous democracy that split from China in 1949.
The official emblem for the 2026 World Cup and the WeAre26 campaign has been launched by Toronto officials, with the logo featuring the numbers ‘2’ and ‘6’ in thick block numerals, FIFA trophies and a unique colour scheme chosen by the host cities in North America. The campaign aims to celebrate cultural diversity, while infrastructure and aesthetics in the area will be improved to accommodate visitors. The tournament will be held in Canada, the US and Mexico.
Leaders of sports organizations in Boston, including New England Patriots owner Jonathan Kraft, joined Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey to unveil Boston Soccer 2026's branding initiatives for the state's participation in the 2026 World Cup. The competition, which will stage matches across the US, Canada and Mexico, is expected to generate hundreds of millions of dollars for the Boston area as well as draw 400,000 visitors to its 16 matches. Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, owned by Kraft Sports Group, is among the venues slated to host games.
Pierce Brosnan has debuted his first solo art exhibition – a collection of paintings and drawings titled "So Many Dreams", which he created between the 1980s and present day. Brosnan began painting as a young boy living in Ireland and resumed the hobby in 1987, when his late wife, Cassandra Harris, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Brosnan has kept his first painting in the exhibit as the painting was created by touching the paint with his fingers while his wife recovered from chemotherapy treatment.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is hosting an event to commemorate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The event will include a keynote address by Ambassador Katherine Tai, the U.S. Trade Representative and Co-Chair of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. A panel discussion will also explore ways to counter AAPI hate and discrimination and its intersections with U.S. foreign policy in Asia, building on a previous event held in 2021. The event is being hosted by CSIS' Asia Program, Diversity and Leadership in International Affairs Project, and the staff-led Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Employee Resource Group.
The US, UK and G7 are to impose fresh sanctions on Russia over its war in Ukraine. The UK has announced that it will ban Russian diamonds and imports of metals from Russia including copper, aluminium and nickel. The country will also target 86 further individuals and companies involved in Russian President Vladimir Putin's "military industrial complex". The G7 is also expected to announce restrictions on the multi-billion dollar export of rough diamonds from Russia while EU Council President Charles Michel said the bloc wants to limit trade in Russian diamonds. The US will also reportedly impose sanctions on around 300 individuals and entities.
Six months after announcing a $20bn energy transition deal to curb greenhouse gas emissions and reach net-zero targets a decade early, Indonesia remains in a stalemate with its partners, voiced its frustration with their perceived lack of commitment and received nothing more than a loan from the US for a refinery. The Export-Import Bank, a government agency that assists US goods and services exports, will lend $99.7m to help fund the expansion of Pertamina’s refinery in East Kalimantan province, a move that counteracts the US pledge to end funding fossil fuel projects abroad. The loan also risks increasing Indonesia’s reliance on fossil fuels at the expense of its environmental ambitions. Indonesia was the fifth biggest greenhouse gas emitter worldwide due to deforestation and coal plants, which generated 61% of the country’s power, and renewable energy accounts for only 12% of national power capacity. Ministers from Japan, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Britain, Norway, Denmark, and the EU were among the partners in the Just Energy Transition Partnership.
G7 Hiroshima summit: Who’s participating, what will be discussed?
The Globe and Mail
23-05-19 01:27
Leaders of the world's seven most powerful democracies will attend the G7 summit in Hiroshima to discuss issues including economic policy, security, climate change, energy and gender. The G7 leaders will also host discussions with leaders outside the G7, such as Vietnamese Prime Minister Tan Dung, to address the rise of developing nations. Chinese military aggression from North Korea and Russia will be among the topics to be covered. Pledges of continuing support for Ukraine will see Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky join the session via the internet, and there will also be a focus on Beijing's increasing threats against Taiwan.
