geopolitics
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The Secret Life and Anonymous Death of the Most Prolific War-Crimes Investigator in History
Link is to archived New Yorker article.
- en.thebell.io Russia is preparing for a long war
Hello! This is Alexandra Prokopenko with your weekly guide to the Russian economy — brought to you by The Bell. I am joined this time by analyst Alexander Kolyandr. We focus this week on how the Ukraine war is gradually becoming key to both Russia’s economy and its politics and
Russia’s war in Ukraine is already in its 17th month. In that time, President Vladimir Putin has clearly demonstrated that he is not bothered by losses — whether they be financial, material, or human. His war will go on as long as he needs. And, judging by how the authorities have woven the so-called “special military operation” into Russian life, that will be a long time.
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Russia secretly in war in Africa
Shirvan provides a detailed report of the inroads that Wagner and Russia has recently made in Africa.
- apnews.com Russia halts landmark deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain at time of growing hunger
Russia has halted a breakthrough wartime deal that allows grain to flow from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where hunger is a growing threat and high food prices have pushed people into poverty.
- www.reuters.com China, Russia to start joint air and sea drill in Sea of Japan
A Chinese naval flotilla set off on Sunday to join Russian naval and air forces in the Sea of Japan in an exercise aimed at "safeguarding the security of strategic waterways", according to China's defence ministry.
- www.washingtonexaminer.com Iran and Russia working to push US out of Syria, Pentagon official says
Iran and Russia are working in concert to force the U.S. military out of Syria, a senior defense official told reporters on Friday.
- www.reuters.com U.S. military deals not enough to wean India off Russian arms yet
India’s multi-billion-dollar purchases of U.S. arms are less about shifting its reliance on Russian defence equipment and moving towards the West - it's more about developing its own domestic weapons industry, security officials and analysts say.
- news.yahoo.com Erdogan links Sweden's NATO membership to Turkey's EU accession
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, in an unexpected move, said on Monday the European Union should open the way for Ankara's accession to the bloc before Turkey's parliament approves Sweden's bid to join the NATO military alliance. Turkey's bid to join the EU has been frozen for years after membersh...
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, in an unexpected move, said on Monday the European Union should open the way for Ankara's accession to the bloc before Turkey's parliament approves Sweden's bid to join the NATO military alliance. Turkey's bid to join the EU has been frozen for years after membership talks were launched in 2005 under Erdogan's first term as prime minister. The ties between Ankara and members of the bloc soured several years ago, especially after a 2016 failed coup attempt in Turkey, but have since largely improved.
- www.theguardian.com Russia’s war on Ukraine forced us in Germany to think differently about our role in the world | Annalena Baerbock
We can no longer stand back and hope for the best; instead we must be strong partners to those promoting peace and freedom, says German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock
- www.reuters.com SCO says not against any country as it expands reach, welcomes Iran
Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Tuesday sought to forge closer ties and boost cooperation within the expanding Eurasian bloc but stressed the group is not directed against any other states.
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China Restricts Export of Chipmaking Metals in Clash With US
Beijing will limit gallium and germanium exports from Aug. 1. Both metals are indispensable for producing some chips
- www.theguardian.com Drug agency chief calls on China and Mexico to help stem US fentanyl crisis
The majority of the extremely powerful illegal opioid entering the US is manufactured in Mexico using Chinese precursors
- www.reuters.com Exclusive: India refiners start yuan payments for Russian oil imports -sources
Indian refiners have begun paying for some oil imports from Russia in Chinese yuan, sources with direct knowledge of the matter said, as Western sanctions force Moscow and its customers to find alternatives to the dollar for settling payments.
- www.reuters.com Sweden will not get Turkey's nod for NATO bid unless it stops sheltering 'terrorists' -Erdogan
Turkey will not lift its opposition to Sweden joining NATO unless it stops harbouring groups Ankara considers to be terrorists, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday.
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‘Great news’: EU hails discovery of massive phosphate rock deposit in Norway
www.euractiv.com 'Great news': EU hails discovery of massive phosphate rock deposit in NorwayA massive underground deposit of high-grade phosphate rock recently discovered in Norway is big enough to satisfy world demand for fertilisers, solar panels and electric car batteries over the next 100 years, according to the company exploiting the resource.
- www.theguardian.com China, Myanmar and now Darfur ... the horror of genocide is here again | Simon Tisdall
Each time it happens, the world insists: ‘never again’. But the political and moral blindspots that allow these atrocities will persist until the lessons of history are learned
- www.express.co.uk China demands UK talks with Argentina over Falklands slamming 'colonial legacy'
China's UN diplomat sent shockwaves as he took aim Britain in another barbed attack.
- www.nytimes.com Wagner Uprising Highlights China’s Risks With Russia
Xi Jinping needs Vladimir Putin to remain in power, and Russia to maintain stability, to help uphold the countries’ shared interests and to keep challenging the United States.
> > > China views Russia as a necessary partner in challenging the global order dominated by the United States. But Mr. Putin’s appetite for risk — seen in his invasion of Ukraine and his reliance on private armies — has forced Beijing to defend its bond with Russia in the face of Western pressure. > >
> > > Mr. Xi’s long-term bet will work only if Mr. Putin remains in control to help uphold the shared interests of both countries. But the revolt has raised questions about Mr. Putin’s authority: Wagner soldiers faced little to no resistance from regular Russian forces as they advanced on Moscow. And Mr. Putin’s decision to grant sanctuary in Belarus to Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, the leader of the uprising, smacked of a compromise rather than the act of a strongman with consolidated power. > >
> > > “It makes China realize that the Putin government’s internal politics are actually quite fragile,” said Xiao Bin, a researcher for the Institute of Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. “The fragility existed before, but it has increased ever since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war.” > >
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White House Formalizes Naval Ship Repair Deal With India's L&T
As part of a broader effort to strengthen defense ties with India, the U.S. government has signed a formal framework agreement on naval ship repair wi...
- apnews.com Japan to reinstate South Korea as preferred trade nation from July 21 as two sides improve ties
Japan announced Tuesday a decision to reinstate South Korea as a preferred nation with fast-track trade status from July 21, virtually ending a four-year economic row that was strained during their bitter historic disputes.
- www.rawstory.com A warning the U.S. Army issued troops in 1945 rings true today: historian
On March 25, 1945, the United States Army issued “Fact Sheet #64: Fascism!” to promote discussions amongst American troops about fascism as the war in Europe wound down to a close. Discussion leaders were alerted “Fascism is not the easiest thing to identify and analyze; nor, once in power, is it ea...
On March 25, 1945, the United States Army issued “Fact Sheet #64: Fascism!” to promote discussions amongst American troops about fascism as the war in Europe wound down to a close. Discussion leaders were alerted “Fascism is not the easiest thing to identify and analyze; nor, once in power, is it ea...
I'm not real sure what, precisely, a submission statement is, but I wanted to take a stab at it in the interest of responding to suggestions from the mod:
I posted this link, because it is historically relevant; geopolitics really became a thing because of fascism.
Fascism had existed previously, of course, but not as a codified, international phenomena. As such, fascism represents a clear and present threat to humanity.
It is relevant both because it remains as accurate and important as ever. Nothing about fascism has changed. It hasn't suddenly become moral; it hasn't suddenly become intelligent, and it isn't in any way new.
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White sky trails force France to reveal hypersonic weapon test
www.telegraph.co.uk Pictured: White sky trails force France to reveal hypersonic weapon testDefence agency admits ‘unprecedented’ experiment after bemused onlookers share photographs of the high velocity flight
- www.euractiv.com EU reform: France, Germany confident on reaching agreement this year
The French and German ministers of state for Europe, Laurence Boone and Anna Lührmann, emphasised in an exclusive interview with EURACTIV that the two countries are confident that partial institutional reform of the EU will be possible within this year.
- foreignpolicy.com Will India Surpass China to Become the Next Superpower?
Four inconvenient truths make this scenario unlikely.
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The mutiny in Russia may be over. But it still damages Putin
The rebellious leader of the Wagner mercenary group said he had ordered his troops back to base, but analysts say the serious challenge to the Russian president will diminish his authority.
