Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is hosting the G7 summit in Hiroshima, has found himself with a unique dilemma as he has to balance his vision of a world without nuclear arms with the widespread fears of aggression from Japan’s nuclear-armed neighbours. Kishida has been pushing for a pacifist constitution and a world free of nuclear weapons, but is faced with threats from North Korea and China, which are both rapidly expanding their nuclear arsenals. Kishida has already shown Japan’s solidarity with Ukraine, which faces Russian aggression, but is still trying to maintain his overall vision of peace for Asia-Pacific.
CNN has sunk to become the fourth most watched cable news network in America, overtaken by conservative rival Newsmax despite CNN's superior budget. It marks a decline for CNN, which has been beset by a series of scandals, rifts and an identity crisis. The ratings crisis comes alongside new ownership after CNN became part of Warner Bros Discovery last year, with the newly installed chairman and chief executive launching a strategic turnaround, making CNN less partisan than during the Trump presidency, but the resolution is expected to take time. Moreover, Chris Licht's high-profile step, inviting former President Trump on CNN for his first appearance since 2016, has led to internal turmoil and appeared to have had the short-term effect of alienating some existing left-wing viewers. Republican politicians, are already back on CNN, demonstrating Licht's vision in restoring the channel to its non-partisan roots.
A charity based in Quebec, Service à la Famille Chinoise du Grand Montréal (SFCGM), received $4.45m from the Canadian government over three years while acting as one of two Chinese “overseas police stations” in the area, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Based in an area home to almost 92,000 Chinese-Canadians, the SFCGM has been reportedly used by the Beijing government to intimidate citizens in Canada. The stations form part of a global network of similar facilities believed to be used by Beijing to keep an eye on overseas Chinese people, often via harassment of exiles.
US President Joe Biden should address questions about his health and capacity to govern after his doctors have declared him in good health, according to The Washington Post. The threat of invocation of the 25th amendment, which deals with presidential infirmity, looms in a possible second term, the newspaper warned. Earlier this month, an ABC/Washington Post poll found that 68% of Americans believed Biden was too old for another term. Even though former President Donald Trump remains unpopular with voters, a majority of respondents said he far surpassed Biden in terms of mental acuity and physical health.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed a victory over the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, although Ukraine has denied that the city has fallen to Russian forces. Analysts have characterised the battle for Bakhmut as "the meat grinder", and it has been compared to the battle for Stalingrad, one of the bloodiest of World War II. Pro-Russian propagandists celebrated the city’s capture, but Western analysts have said that it was a Pyrrhic victory that had diverted military resources from other parts of the Russian frontline, currently stretched at a time when the country is increasingly over-stretched.
Following an assurance to President Biden by President Zelensky, Ukraine has been granted access to F-16 fighter jets from the United States to help defend against Russian incursions. The Ukraine’s fleet of aircraft has been outdated for some time, and this upgrade marks a significant increase in military capacity. The news has sparked concerns that the West is providing Ukraine with offensive weapons, prompting fears of a military escalation in the conflict. Ukraine has also secured additional aid from the US in the form of ammunition and is reportedly offered F-16s from some EU nations.
Protests against pension reforms in France have failed to affect activities surrounding the 72nd Cannes Film Festival. Although dozens of demonstrators assembled in Cannes to protest the reforms imposed by President Emmanuel Macron’s government, they did so on the Boulevard Carnot, far from the festival's central hub on the Palais des Festivals or Cannes’ seaside boulevard, Croisette. Local authorities instituted a ban on protests throughout many areas of Cannes before the summit. The move avoided any clashes which might have disrupted the celebration. The controversy comes amidst labor unrest in the Cannes, including a Hollywood screenwriters' strike.
Three paying customers accompanied by a former NASA astronaut were blasted into space on Sunday on the AX-2 mission, carried out by SpaceX and Axiom. Peggy Whitson, the former astronaut, is the first woman to command a private space flight, while it is also the first time that a Saudi woman, Rayyanah Barnawi, has travelled to space. The autonomous capsule is due to dock with the International Space Station on Monday, with the crew scheduled to spend eight days carrying out experiments in stem cell and biomedical research. Reflecting the growing commercialisation of space travel, several private companies are interested in creating a private facility as the International Space Station is due to be retired in 2030.
US conservative supporters have raised money for the defence fund of former US marine, Daniel Penny, who is charged with second-degree manslaughter after killing a homeless black man, Jordan Neely, with a chokehold on a New York subway train. The case has divided America. Some of Neely's supporters have taken to the streets and opponents, led by the Rev Al Sharpton, have reacted angrily. Penny has insisted the incident had nothing to do with race, telling the New York Post: “I judge a person based on their character. I’m not a white supremacist.” Penny also said he had been planning a trip to Africa before the incident. Video footage of the altercation shows Penny on top of Neely, who is saying he cannot breathe before he is rendered motionless. The physical altercation only occurred after Penny reportedly felt threatened by Neely.
The Kremlin has targeted several prominent enemies of former US President Donald Trump as part of its latest sanctions list. The move is thought to be an attempt to woo Trump, who has expressed fondness for Russian President Vladimir Putin and has refused to commit to supporting Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia. Among the 500 names singled out by Moscow is Michael Byrd, the Capitol Police officer who shot pro-Trump protester Ashli Babbitt during the January 6 insurrection. Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s secretary of state, who defied Trump’s request to “find” votes to help him win the 2020 race, is also on the list, as is New York State Attorney General Letitia James, who has targeted Trump and his business in court action. The Kremlin stated that its targets included those “directly involved in the persecution of dissidents in the wake of the so-called storming of the Capitol”.
Ramata-Toulaye Sy, a French-Senegalese filmmaker, is the only first-timer to compete at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Sy’s debut film, “Banel & Adama,” was recognised among the 21 films competing for the Palme d’Or. This achievement sees Sy following in the footsteps of Mati Diop, a French-Senegalese filmmaker who debuted “Atlantics” in 2019. “Banel & Adama” tells the story of a deeply in love couple who dream of living outside their traditional Senegalese village. They choose to sweep sand aside to make it happen, but their yearning for independence is met with angst.
Hezbollah's military wing put on a display of force at one of its bases near the Israeli border in south Lebanon earlier this week, an event that it allowed the Western media to witness in the aftermath of its recent election win. While the brutal 2006 Lebanon War casts a long shadow over the region, peace has held since then. Nevertheless, Israeli rockets that were fired from both southern Lebanon and Syria during May triggered the largest escalation since that conflict, coming very close to a new outbreak of hostilities. "We are coming for you in places that you know and places that you don’t,” boomed the Hezbollah member narrating the military drills, a claim that should not be discounted. A senior official emphasised that Israel would “later” see Hezbollah's procession-guided missiles, should anything escalate.
The fight against wildfires in Alberta, Canada, received some assistance, with rain and smoke cover cooling the air temperature. However, the heavy smoke cannot be flown through without risking pilot health and visibility, although it did limit the creation of new bushfires. Officials welcomed the increased ability to work on the ground. In total, 84 fires burned in the province, with significant numbers still requiring further surveys and assessment. More than 10,000 people have been accommodated away from their homes. British Columbia also experienced bushfires and was forced to issue evacuation orders.
Three paying customers accompanied by a former NASA astronaut were blasted into space on Sunday on the AX-2 mission, carried out by SpaceX and Axiom. Peggy Whitson, the former astronaut, is the first woman to command a private space flight, while it is also the first time that a Saudi woman, Rayyanah Barnawi, has travelled to space. The autonomous capsule is due to dock with the International Space Station on Monday, with the crew scheduled to spend eight days carrying out experiments in stem cell and biomedical research. Reflecting the growing commercialisation of space travel, several private companies are interested in creating a private facility as the International Space Station is due to be retired in 2030.
Elephants in zoos are happier when visitors come to see them, according to a study from Nottingham Trent University and Harper Adams University. The research, which analysed more than 100 papers looking at visitors' effect on more than 250 species, showed that elephants reduced repetitive behaviours indicative of boredom, showed increased foraging and decreased inactivity levels after public feedings. Penguins, jaguars, grizzly bears, polar bears, cheetahs, servals, banteng and black-tailed prairie dogs were among the other species that showed positive responses to being viewed. Hedgehogs and frogs preferred to be alone, but only amphibians had negative responses more than chance.
Elephants in zoos are happier when visitors come to see them, according to a study from Nottingham Trent University and Harper Adams University. The research, which analysed more than 100 papers looking at visitors' effect on more than 250 species, showed that elephants reduced repetitive behaviours indicative of boredom, showed increased foraging and decreased inactivity levels after public feedings. Penguins, jaguars, grizzly bears, polar bears, cheetahs, servals, banteng and black-tailed prairie dogs were among the other species that showed positive responses to being viewed. Hedgehogs and frogs preferred to be alone, but only amphibians had negative responses more than chance.
Specialist divers and ground-penetrating radar will be deployed in the first major investigation of its kind since June 2014, when British police were allowed to initiate searches for missing Madeleine McCann. Local police near the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz will launch an extensive search of a remote reservoir after a lorry driver reported seeing a woman handing over to a man a child bearing a resemblance to Madeleine. The reservoir has been searched twice before after a Portuguese lawyer claimed he had inside information that Madeleine's body had been placed in it. Two bags of bones, subsequently found to be animal, were discovered in the previous searches. The search will start on Tuesday and last for at least two days.
Chinese police have advised citizens to look at their children's phones to see whether they have downloaded encrypted messaging programs such as Telegram, which officials say sits in a grey area of the law as it can delete content after it has been read, making it difficult to secure evidence for criminal investigations. Parents have been instructed to take their children to the local police station if they have the app so officers can determine if they have broken the law. Chinese authorities frequently pursue political troublemakers' family members as a means of pressuring them to cease activities judged to be against the state's interests. Telegram played a significant part in organising last year's white paper protests, a series of demonstrations held to express frustration at the country's strict coronavirus policies and hardline censorship of social media content.
A woman at the Cannes International Film Festival poured fake blood over herself to stage an alleged anti-war protest. The protest took place before the screening of Acide, directed by Frenchman Just Philippot. It was not immediately clear why the demonstration took place at that screening. The woman was wearing a yellow and blue dress along with blue-heeled shoes and was immediately removed from the event by security. It is unclear whether the woman will be charged or what punishment she would face. Organizers of the film festival have reportedly said they are standing in solidarity with Ukraine. It is worth noting that a ban on Russian delegations or film companies connected to the Russian government remains in place at this year’s festival, after first being implemented last year.
The Colombian government has announced that it is suspending a ceasefire with rebels whom it accuses of killing four Indigenous people, including minors who were avoiding forced recruitment in the south of the country. The FARC-EMC group will resume being targeted by the military in provinces including Caqueta, Putumayo, Guaviare and Meta, the government said in a statement. FARC-EMC is in fact a group led by former commanders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, who refused to take part in pursuit of a 2016 peace deal with the government, despite over 14,000 of the group’s members surrendering their weapons. Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s administration also committed to continue to maintain a ceasefire with FARC-EMC in other parts of the country where attacks on civilians have decreased, adding that delegates would soon be appointed to lead peace talks with the group.
