From Nixon’s 1972 visit to Beijing condoning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we investigate what went wrong in the U.S.-China relationship

Nikkei – February 25, 2022 13:08 JST

NEW YORK — Welcome to Nikkei Asia’s podcast: Asia Stream.

Every week, Asia Stream tracks and analyzes the Indo-Pacific with a mix of interviews and original reporting by our correspondents from across the globe.

New episodes are recorded weekly and available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all other major platforms, and on our YouTube channel.

LISTEN HERE

Continue reading PODCAST: Asia Stream: The old and new Cold War →

Asia is home to some of the world’s largest and most dynamic cities. Why do some of them fail?

Nikkei staff writersFebruary 18, 2022 11:59 JST

asia.nikkei.com

NEW YORK — Welcome to Nikkei Asia’s podcast: Asia Stream.

Every week, Asia Stream tracks and analyzes the Indo-Pacific with a mix of interviews and original reporting by our correspondents from across the globe.

New episodes are recorded weekly and available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all other major platforms, and on our YouTube channel.

LISTEN HERE

Continue reading Asia Stream: A tale of three cities →

Read the Court’s full text here >>

The full text of the operative clause of the Order reads as follows:

“For these reasons,

THE COURT,
Indicates the following provisional measures:

(1) By thirteen votes to two,
The Russian Federation shall immediately suspend the military operations that it commenced on 24 February 2022 in the territory of Ukraine;

IN FAVOUR: President Donoghue; Judges Tomka, Abraham, Bennouna, Yusuf, Sebutinde, Bhandari, Robinson, Salam, Iwasawa, Nolte, Charlesworth; Judge ad hoc Daudet;
AGAINST: Vice-President Gevorgian; Judge Xue;

(2) By thirteen votes to two,
The Russian Federation shall ensure that any military or irregular armed unitswhich may be directed or supported by it, as well as any organizations and persons which may be subject to its control or direction, take no steps in furtherance of the military operations referred to in point (1) above;

IN FAVOUR: President Donoghue; Judges Tomka, Abraham, Bennouna, Yusuf, Sebutinde, Bhandari, Robinson, Salam, Iwasawa, Nolte, Charlesworth; Judge ad hoc Daudet;
AGAINST: Vice-President Gevorgian; Judge Xue;

(3) Unanimously,
Both Parties shall refrain from any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute before the Court or make it more difficult to resolve.”

Further readings: Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide

Click here to hover over a tile for details.

worldpopulationreview.com

The Oxford English Dictionary defines “war” as: (1) A state of armed conflict between different countries or different groups within a country; (2) a state of competition or hostility between different people or groups, or (3) a sustained campaign against an undesirable situation or activity. There are many possible reasons for war to begin between—or more often, within—nations. Among these are economic gain, territorial gain, religion, nationalism, civil war, and political revolution. Often, countries’ leaders become primary motivators of conflict by instigating a territorial dispute, trying to control another country’s natural resources, or exercising authoritarian power over people.

Continue reading Countries currently at war 2022 →

Dave Keating Thursday, March 10, 2022 worldpoliticsreview

The European Union’s 27 leaders are in Versailles today for a summit that could prove to be historic. They are expected to sign the “Versailles Declaration,” intended to formalize the far-reaching but ad hoc policy changes the EU has implemented in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which is now entering its third week. The measures under discussion would strengthen the union’s existing military, economic and border control capabilities, while also giving the bloc new powers in those areas that will push it further down the path toward federalism.

The symbolism of the decision to sign the declaration at the Palace of Versailles—where the Versailles Treaty, another pivotal document that proved central to the remaking of Europe after World War I, was signed in 1919—is not lost on anyone. In 1919, Europe’s leaders got it very wrong. Will they get it right this time? It’s very hard to say, since nobody knows what the world that emerges after the war in Ukraine will look like.

Continue reading The War in Ukraine is transforming the EU →

Nikkei – 50 years ago a major event in the history of money occurred — the “Nixon shock” of August 15, 1971. The “floating exchange rate system” that became the norm after this spurred the development of the global postwar economy. However, it has also frequently caused crises in emerging countries. Recently “digital currencies” have begun to spread, and there are signs that the reserve currency system based on the dollar may be changing. How will the future of currency impact the global economy?

Continue reading Currency adrift – 50 years after the “Nixon shock” →

nikkei – Feb. 21 marks the 50th anniversary of U.S. President Richard Nixon’s trip to China, a turning point in international relations.

Washington and Beijing joined together to counter the Soviet Union, but China did not democratize as the U.S. hoped. It has now become an economic and military powerhouse under the one-party rule of the Communist Party. A half-century after the handshake that changed the world, cooperation has turned to confrontation. The U.S.-China relationship and global affairs have all undergone tumultuous change.

Continue reading A handshake that changed the world: 50 years after Nixon’s trip to China →

thebulletin.org

By George M. Moore | March 6, 2022

 Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine. The two tall smokestacks are at a coal-fired generating station about 3km beyond the nuclear plant. Photo credit: Ralf1969 via Wikimedia Commons.

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine began to unfold, Russia’s swift occupation of the Chernobyl reactor complex and the surrounding exclusion zone sparked widespread speculation and concern.[1] The concern was not limited to whether the occupation would cause further radioactive release from Chernobyl;[2] it also included possible Russian military action against other Ukrainian nuclear facilities. These fears were further accelerated when Russian forces shelled and apparently occupied the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power complex near Enerhodar, Ukraine.[3] There have also been reports of attacks on a former Radon disposal site near Kyiv.[4]

Continue reading How international law applies to attacks on nuclear and associated facilities in Ukraine →

New Delhi has been silent on Russia’s actions in Ukraine so far.

thediplomat – By Sudha Ramachandran – February 25, 2022

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24 has put India in a particularly difficult spot. Since the conflict between Moscow and the U.S. over Ukraine began escalating late last year, India has avoided taking sides. But with Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, that cautious approach will become increasingly untenable for New Delhi. It could hurt India’s interests in the long-run.

Continue reading India’s ‘neutrality’ on the Ukraine conflict could hurt it in the long run →

usnews – By Reuters – March 6, 2022, at 7:29 a.m.

FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan leave after their joint news conference following the talks in Moscow, Russia March 5, 2020. Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTERS

ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan urged his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Sunday to declare a ceasefire in Ukraine, open humanitarian corridors and sign a peace agreement, his office said.

NATO member Turkey shares a maritime border with Russia and Ukraine in the Black Sea and has good ties with both. Ankara has called Russia’s invasion unacceptable and offered to host talks, but has opposed sanctions on Moscow.

Continue reading Erdogan urges Putin to declare Ukraine ceasefire, make peace →

Recent public pushback shows that Vladimir Putin could be meeting his match – not just with Ukrainians, but also his own people who are tiring of constant wars.

usnews – By Elliott Davis Jr. – March 4, 2022, at 5:00 a.m.

Demonstrators shout slogans during a protest against Russia’s attack on Ukraine in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Feb. 27. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Russian President Vladimir Putin might not have predicted the resistance he has seen since he ordered an invasion of Ukraine.

But it’s not just the Ukrainian people who are putting up a surprising fight.

Continue reading Putin’s War at Home →

Ukraine nuclear power plant attack: All you need to know

aljazeera.com

Russian troops seize Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine, after attack sparks fire.

Published On 4 Mar 20224 Mar 2022

Russian forces have captured Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, according to regional officials.

Ukrainian authorities said on Friday Russian shelling had caused a fire at a building in the plant complex that was later put out. The blaze raised alarm from leaders worldwide of a potential massive disaster. Russia blamed the attack on Ukrainian saboteurs, calling it a “monstrous provocation”.

Continue reading Russian troops seize Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine →

cnbc – MON, FEB 28 20224:18 AM

People paint over a Soviet Army monument with Ukrainian flag colors in Bulgaria, February 27, 2022. Nikolay Doychinov | Afp | Getty Images

The following commentary was authored by 10 ambassadors and high commissioners resident in Singapore:

• Kateryna Zelenko, Ukrainian Ambassador to Singapore
• William Hodgman, High Commissioner of Australia to Singapore
• Jean-Dominique Ieraci, High Commissioner of Canada to Singapore
• Iwona Piórko, European Union Ambassador to Singapore, on behalf of the ambassadors to Singapore of all EU member states
• Jun Yamazaki, Ambassador of Japan to Singapore
• Jo Tyndall, High Commissioner of New Zealand to Singapore
• Eivind S. Homme, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to Singapore
• Mehmet Burçin Gönenli, Ambassador of Turkey
• Kara Owen, High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Singapore
• Jonathan Kaplan, United States Ambassador to Singapore

The EU, G-7, Allies, and partners are united in denouncing Russia’s premeditated, unprovoked and unjustified attack against Ukraine.

Continue reading Freedom will prevail in Ukraine →

24/02/2022 17:41 GMT+7

TTO – Tiền đề dẫn đến căng thẳng giữa Nga và Ukraine, đỉnh điểm là “chiến dịch quân sự đặc biệt” của Nga ở đông Ukraine sáng 24-2, không xảy ra trong một sớm một chiều. Đây là kết quả của tương tác chính trị giữa 2 nước trong suốt 30 năm qua.

Thiết giáp Nga tập trận gần biên giới Ukraine tháng 12-2021 – Ảnh: SPUTNIK

Quãng đường 30 năm có thể chia làm 3 giai đoạn, mỗi giai đoạn kéo dài một thập niên với những sự kiện bước ngoặt riêng. Đài DW của Đức tóm tắt như sau:

Continue reading 30 năm dẫn đến xung đột Nga – Ukraine →