The African mediating mission announced by South Africa's president Cyril Ramaphosa may merit a mention when historians write about the rise of the post-unipolar world, according to an op-ed in the Financial Times. The author, Alec Russell, argues that the quixotic mediators from Africa underscore the accelerating assertiveness of the countries of the “global south”. Many non-western nations have seen the west's full-throttle support for Ukraine and regard it as hypocritical, with powers once again prioritising their own interests and concerns over other global issues such as health and climate change. The crisis has led to a renewed focus on the idea of six African heads of state criss-crossing the front lines of a European war, which threatens to totally rewrite the post-1945 world order.
The Brics summit in Durban in August will be a cacophonous showcase for the contradictions within the new “non-aligned movement”. The group consists of two autocracies, Russia and China, two big democracies, Brazil and India, and the host, and junior relation, South Africa. Now over a dozen more countries are interested in joining, including Iran. The risk, particularly for India and Brazil, is that the Brics could tilt ever more into becoming a China club.
The author suggests that the west should lead by example, commit finally to reforms of the global order and choose words more carefully. The Biden administration has been building bespoke regional alliances, but China is also busily convening summits of its own. New world orders, it is cautioned, are of course easier to declare than realise. South Africa’s chaotic mediating pas de deux with Russia is seen as an object lesson in how not to play the non-aligned game.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is reportedly planning to attend the G7 summit in Japan in order to gain strengthened support ahead of a planned counter-offensive in the ongoing conflict with Russia. Zelensky is expected to arrive in Hiroshima on Sunday, although his office has not yet confirmed the visit. The leaders of the G7 nations have renewed their condemnation of Russia and announced further sanctions. Zelensky has recently visited several European countries and made an unannounced visit to Saudi Arabia, where he urged Arab leaders to help facilitate the return of political prisoners in Russian-occupied territories.
A new investigation by Brown University has revealed that 4.5 million people have died directly or indirectly as a result of the US’s “war on terror”, which was launched after the 9/11 attacks and which led to military action in Afghanistan and Iraq. The investigation reflects on the true impact of the war and its resulting destabilisation of parts of the Middle East. Over the course of the discussion, the studio guests consider various aspects of the wars, including the relative political accountability for civilian casualties, the impact on women in Iraq and failings of the US military’s counterinsurgency operations.
Russian airline Azimuth Airlines resumed tourist flights to Georgia for the first time in four years, causing angry protests at Tbilisi's international airport. Protesters carrying placards and chanting slogans met the Moscow to Tbilisi flight which triggered "clashes and arrests" at the airport. The protests are related to the 2019 suspensions of flights after anti-Kremlin demonstrations in Georgia, and are also linked to Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year, in which thousands of people have died. Georgia's governing Georgian Dream Party has welcomed the resumption of direct flights, insisting it will benefit ethnic Georgians living in Russia. However, opposition politicians fear the flights could potentially help Russian officials and businesspeople evade Western sanctions, with many Georgians calling the Georgian Dream's relationship with Russia a "direct sabotage" against the country's bid to join the EU.
The increasingly uncontrollable issue of immigration is affecting almost every aspect of governance in developed countries, including education, crime, housing, foreign policy, and national identity. Millions of migrants are flooding across the southern US border each year, with President Biden claiming to be trying to stop it while at the same time increasing its flow. Similarly, the Conservative government in Britain said it would cut both legal and illegal migration while overseeing a historic surge in the latter, dispersing illegal immigrants around the country and housing them in expensive hotels. Governments in both countries seem to have lost control of both immigration and the arguments around the issue. The problem is increasingly fuelled by technological advances and the ease of movement and communication they bring. Modern politicians have been too hesitant to address who is needed and who is not, leading to accusations of heartlessness for restricting immigration and reputational damage from doing so. However, neither America nor Britain can save the rest of the world by taking in even a modest percentage of the global population, leading to increasingly disenchanted voters.
The remains of a Medal of Honor recipient who went missing in action during the Korean War have been identified almost 73 years later and will be buried on 29 May, Memorial Day. The body of Cpl. Luther H. Story will be interred at Andersonville National Cemetery in Georgia. Story was last seen fighting off North Korean attackers so that his fellow soldiers could escape. Unable to flee himself due to his wounds, Story remained behind, using every weapon available to fend off more attackers. He was posthumously awarded the highest military honor for his bravery.
Economist Paul Krugman has responded to the widely held theory of why governments should not continuously run up debt. Krugman points out that individuals face a predictable life cycle in which earnings dwindle and lenders therefore expect individuals to pay off debts whilst their income is still high. Governments, on the other hand, normally see revenues rise. Consequently, whilst governments have to service their debts, there is no need to pay them off. Krugman highlights that discussion of government debt is often misleading and governments can often expect to see their ability to generate tax receipts grow year after year.
The development of militarized artificial intelligence (AI) is the next international arms race, with politicians "in the loop" as a final decision, according to The New York Times. The paper suggests such militarization of AI will lead to potential conflicts based on flawed algorithms rather than human judgement. A possible international moratorium on AI militarization would solve the issue of unmanned machines controlling and directing military operations, but this outcome seems unlikely, even in the face of pressure from the international campaign to Stop Killer Robots.
Leaders from the Group of Seven (G7) nations have warned China and North Korea about their nuclear arsenals as they focus on the major northeast Asian crises ahead of the arrival of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the summit later on Saturday. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed that President Joe Biden and Zelensky would have face-to-face talks at the summit, a day after Biden supported training Ukrainian pilots on US F-16 fighter jets. The move follows earlier decisions by the US to send rocket launcher systems and Abrams tanks to Ukraine to defend itself against Russian aggression but discouraged attacks by Ukraine into Russian territory. The focus on Asia comes as Japanese military officials confirmed Zelensky’s decision to attend the G7 in person to participate in talks to influence Ukraine’s defence against Russia. Zelensky called for the supply of Western fighter jets to bolster his country’s defences against Russia’s invasion; the jets could become useful in the long-term security of the country.
Ukrainian refugee returns to war zone to bring ashes of husband killed in battle back to Winnipeg
CBC
23-05-20 01:00
A Ukrainian war widow residing in Canada, Hanna Sidorchenko, is returning to Ukraine to locate the body of her husband Andrii, who was killed in battle in eastern Ukraine. Sidorchenko and their son went to Canada earlier this year, and Andrii remained behind to fulfil his military obligations. If Andrii's remains are found, Hanna will hold a funeral in Ukraine before bringing his ashes back to Canada. A Winnipeg church raised the funds for Hanna's travel costs, and extra money collected will be used to help furnish her apartment.
Adidas has sparked a backlash over its Pride 2023 campaign, which shows male-presenting models wearing women’s swimsuits. Critics argued the sportswear brand was “erasing women” and accused it of “attempting to replace us with male models”. The swimsuits were being marketed under the women’s section of the brand’s website. However, the campaign still won praise, with one commentator stating that while there was a “fine line between free speech and freedom of expression”, the range should be allowed to exist and customers would naturally select according to their values.
Saudi Arabia hosted an Arab League summit on Friday in which Syrian President Bashar Assad was welcomed back after a 12-year suspension and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise visit to rally support against Russia. Russian airstrikes have left a swath of destruction across both countries, but in Syria they came at Assad’s invitation and helped him cling to power through years of grinding civil war. In recent months, Saudi Arabia has restored diplomatic ties with Iran and led the push for Syria’s return to the 22-member Arab League. The Saudi crown prince welcomed both Assad and Zelensky to the Red Sea city of Jeddah, expressing support for “whatever helps in reducing the crisis between Russia and Ukraine.” A collective statement issued at the conclusion of the summit rejected any “illegitimate foreign presence” in Syria and supported the eventual return of Syrian refugees.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has vowed to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, in the face of rising tension with China. She confirmed Taiwan was discussing $500m worth of US weapons aid and said she was committed to preserving the nation's leading-edge chip technologies and research. Leaders of the G7 nations, meeting in Japan, reaffirmed their commitment to seeking a peaceful resolution to the Taiwan issue. Ahead of the country's January 2024 presidential election, Taipei is preparing for further aggression from Beijing, with cross-strait relations guaranteed a place on the campaign agenda.
Leaders of the Group of Seven (G-7) have said they want “constructive and stable” relations with China as they continue with measures to reduce reliance on the country for key supply chains. The comments came in a communique released during the G-7 meeting taking place in Hiroshima, Japan. The document emphasised that while the countries sought to “de-risk and diversify” supply chains, they were not engaged in “decoupling or turning inwards”. The statement also called for the establishment of a “level playing field” for workers and companies, as well as the protection of “advanced technologies” which might used to pose national security threats. The G-7 also urged China to back a “comprehensive, just and lasting peace” in Ukraine.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has vowed to maintain a peaceful and stable status quo between Taiwan and China amid increasing military and diplomatic pressure from China. Beijing has threatened to bring Taiwan under its control and has rejected calls to hold talks with Tsai. Leaders of the G7 nations agreed to seek a peaceful resolution to issues concerning Taiwan. Tsai also announced discussions with the US over sending $500m worth of weapons aid to Taiwan to address delays arising due to the pandemic. Taiwan is due to hold a key presidential election in January, with tensions with China set to be a top issue.
Leaders at the G7 summit have warned against North Korea and China’s continued building of their nuclear arsenals. Tensions have risen as China focuses on Taiwan. World leaders warned that China should not "accelerate the build-up of its nuclear arsenal without transparency…(which) poses a concern to global and regional stability". The summit comes as leaders look to address climate change, poverty, economic instability, and the ongoing war in Ukraine. US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met on the sidelines of the event. The US has agreed to train Ukrainian pilots to operate US-made F-16 fighter jets. Previously the US had agreed to supply the Ukrainian military with rocket launcher systems and Abram tanks.
The G7 summit in Hiroshima has seen world leaders focus on NATO's relationship with Russia, increasingly anxious over China's nuclear programme and discuss the future of Ukraine's air force. Leaders gathered at the peace park in Hiroshima, before more serious discussions took place between Western leaders and the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The recent clampdown on Russia has seen it become the most sanctioned nation globally, with tightening restrictions; while the latest G7 summit has focused on reducing China's nuclear arsenal and warning North Korea against ballistic missile tests. The G7 also issued joint communiques on climate change, the global economy, AI, poverty and economic instability.
Many private jets that were owned by sanctioned Russian oligarchs and escaped seizure under “Operation Kleptocapture” have fallen off tracking services like FlightRadar, possibly because they have been re-registered under new tail numbers; data also reveals that there was a surge in private jet re-registrations last year. These aircraft have been connected to oligarchs who have been sanctioned for protecting the Kremlin, or for enriching themselves from the state. Earlier investigations identified planes associated with oligarchs and movement could be tracked via their original tail numbers. There is no law against jet owners re-registering them in different countries after they have been registered with a national authority, with processes not dissimilar to car registration. However, a consequence of re-registration is that it provides owners with a new level of anonymity. Analysts have said that some oligarchs appear to be enjoying frequent beach holidays, but flights to China, India and Iran are likely to be business-related as Russia considers these its largest markets for oil exports.
There was no plan B for Russia in Ukraine and Putin cannot win, lose, or stop, according to New York Times columnist, Thomas Friedman. He reveals that Ukraine's 1991 independence was seen as an "unfortunate historical misunderstanding" by the Russian elite, who have sought to bring Ukraine back into the fold ever since. Ukraine, just like Russia, did not have a plan B; the fight against Russian aggression and its invasion of the eastern part of Ukraine has been long and tiring. Marich believes Ukraine's path to peace "is NATO."
G7 leaders have called on China to stop any military aggression and to use its influence on Russia to bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine. The group's final joint communique also called on Beijing to adhere to international norms, to respect human rights and to avoid "unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion". It also said that cooperation with China on areas of common interest was "necessary". The statement was released as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Hiroshima to join the G7 for a session related to the conflict on Sunday.
