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US President Joe Biden’s cabinet has made a major policy mistake by driving Russia and China into a strategic partnership,
Heritage Foundation fellow Michael Pillsbury said on Thursday. Pillsbury spoke to Fox and Friends as Russian President Vladimir Putin met with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing on his first foreign trip since inauguration. “To draw, to push together two nuclear powers, Russia and China, it’s really a blunder of the highest order,” he told Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade. According to Pillsbury, China spent much of the past 75 years in conflict with the Soviet Union, “so to see them come together like this to me is just shocking.” Pillsbury has helped Washington formulate its China policy since the 1970s. He held a variety of posts at the Pentagon and as a staff member for the US Senate, before settling at China-centric desks at the Hudson Institute and later at Heritage. It has long been a policy objective of Washington to keep China and Russia apart, starting with President Richard Nixon’s detente with Beijing in the 1970s. This policy was in effect as late as 2020, with President Donald Trump trying to use tariffs to pressure China into working with the US, noted Pillsbury. “This would never happen under Trump,” he said. “This was one of Trump’s goals never to allow this to happen.” When Kilmeade suggested that China “needs” the US and EU markets, so the West has leverage over Beijing, Pillsbury pointed out that this “simply isn’t happening under Biden.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also commented on the US attempts to split China away from Russia. In an interview on Thursday, he said that China was “strong enough” to resist the “brazen” attempts at pressure. China and Russia both “defend the principles of fairness and the democratic world order based on the multipolar realities and international law,” Putin said on Thursday, adding that relations between the two countries “are not aimed against anyone.” Putin described the Russo-Chinese cooperation as “one of the main stabilizing factors on the international stage.” Xi agreed, arguing that ties between Beijing and Moscow are a “model of relations between large powers and neighbouring states, characterized by mutual respect, trust, friendship and mutual benefit.” The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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Putin and Xi meet in Beijing5/16/2024 Russian President Vladimir Putin is meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing during his state visit to China on Thursday.
It is Putin’s first foreign trip since he was sworn in for a fifth term as president earlier this month. The leaders shook hands outside the Great Hall of the People building on Tiananmen Square and listened to a military orchestra perform the two countries’ national anthems. They later posed for photographs and left for a meeting between the delegations. Putin is accompanied by multiple state ministers, who will participate in the negotiations on joint projects aimed at deepening bilateral ties. In an interview with Xinhua before the trip, Putin hailed the “unprecedented level of strategic partnership” between the two states. “Having lasted three quarters of a century, China-Russia relations have grown from strength to strength despite the ups and downs, and have stood the test of changing international landscape,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday. “Steady development of China-Russia relations is … conducive to peace, stability and prosperity of the region and the world at large.” Russia and China have similar positions on the Ukraine conflict. Speaking to Xinhua, Putin praised Beijing for understanding “its root causes and global geopolitical significance.” China has refused to blame Russia for the tensions and instead condemned the expansion of NATO and Washington’s “Cold-War mentality.” The fighting between Russia and Ukraine entered its third year in February, with Kiev’s Western backers renewing their pledges to support Ukraine with money and weapons for “as long as it takes.” At the same time, tensions continue between China and the US in the Indo-Pacific and elsewhere. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg recently described China as “the main country that is enabling Russia to conduct its war of aggression.” Beijing unveiled its 12-point roadmap to peace in Ukraine last year, emphasizing on diplomacy. “We should prioritize the upholding of peace and stability and refrain from seeking selfish gains,” Xi said last month, urging all sides to “cool down the situation and not add fuel to the fire.” Beijing also rejected Washington’s sanctions policy and trade war as a way to ensure a dominant position on the world stage. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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The Netherlands go Right5/16/2024 MPs from all four parties who have agreed to form a right-wing government voted in favour of the draft coalition plans on Wednesday evening, but there is still no confirmation of who will be prime minister.
All four parliamentary groupings – PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB – voted unanimously to accept the agreement, although there was unease among some MPs about forming an alliance with the far-right PVV. In addition, both immigration minister Eric van der Burg (VVD), and nitrogen and nature chief Christianne van der Wal (VVD) said publicly they are sorry that work they have put in for the outgoing cabinet will now be scrapped. The new government is set to repeal legislation to ensure refugees are spread fairly around the country, which Van der Burg battled to get accepted and was only recently passed in the senate. Furthermore, the outgoing government’s strategy for dealing with the problem of nitrogen-based pollution, which helped drive the growth of new coalition party BBB, is being overturned. “It was absolutely an emotional meeting,” party leader Dilan Yesilgöz said after the 24 VVD MPs agreed to back the deal. “And [the agreement] includes issues which impact on party members or which they disagree with.” The VVD was the last party to make its support for the coalition document public, some 30 minutes before the midnight deadline. The 25-page coalition plan, which highlights broad strategy but not detail, will be formally presented on Thursday but some of the measures the new cabinet plans to implement have already leaked out. The maximum speed on motorways will go back up to 130 kph. It was cut earlier to reduce nitrogen emissions. The own-risk element in healthcare, currently €385 a year, will be halved in 2027, the earliest date at which the cut can be implemented. Spending on the public broadcasting system NPO will also be cut by €100 million. Foreign workers The new government has also pledged to get tough on all forms of migration, and that will also include cuts in the number of people coming to the Netherlands to work. However, the four parties have also pledged to act in line with international treaties. Formal childcare will become much cheaper, RTL Nieuws reported, and value-added tax on hotel stays will be put back up to 21%. It was cut during the coronavirus epidemic to help support the travel industry. According to Nu.nl, work will also begin on setting up a constitutional court, one of the key demands made by NSC leader Pieter Omtzigt. MInisters Now an agreement has been reached, work will start on putting together a team of ministers, of which around half are expected to be independent of any party. The four parties agreed earlier they would form an “extra-parliamentary” or “business” cabinet and it will be up to ministers to flesh out how they intend to implement the new coalition strategy. All four leaders also agreed to stay in the lower house of parliament because Wilders, despite leading the biggest party in parliament, could not count on sufficient support from within the coalition to become prime minister as is customary. He is thought to have put forward former MP Ronald Plasterk, who kicked off the negotiations after the November election, for the job but said on Wednesday that discussion will take place later. Insiders say it will still take several weeks before the new ministerial team will pose for the traditional photograph with the king. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has been seriously injured in a shooting, according to several Slovak media.
The incident took place in Handlová, about 150 kilometers from the capital Bratislava. According to the Slovak television station TA3, one suspect has been arrested. According to the television station, four shots were heard after a government meeting and the prime minister was hit in the abdomen by one bullet. The pro-Russian Fico has been prime minister since October last year. Before that, he was Prime Minister of Slovakia twice. He mainly sees Russia as a partner and this became clear in 2014 when he rejected EU sanctions against the country. Fico resigned in 2018 in the wake of the murder of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak, who had linked corruption to Fico's government. Fico took office in October 2023, after serving two stints as prime minister from 2006 to 2010 and from 2012 to 2018. Fico immediately halted the previous government’s policy of military aid to Ukraine and called for a negotiated settlement between Moscow and Kiev. His neutral stance on the conflict has seen him clash with Brussels, and with pro-Western figures within Slovakia such as Caputova. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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Race heats up 4th round in India5/13/2024 The fourth phase of India's seven-phase elections are underway, with people headed to vote in 96 constituencies across 10 states and union territories. Rising temperatures could affect an already low voter turnout.
In the first election after the state of Jammu & Kashmir lost its semi-autonomous status, voters are expected to express their displeasure over the state of affairs. "What we're telling voters now is that you have to make your voice heard," said former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who has campaigned for restoration of Article 370 which gave Kashmir its special status. The Modi government has maintained that the peace and security situation has improved in the Muslim-majority state. But experts say the move was unpopular. Political analyst and historian Sidiq Wahid told AFP news agency that Kashmiris saw the vote as a "referendum" on Modi's policies. This is an important phase for Modi's BJP as some of its strongholds like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are set to vote. Most polls say the BJP led by Modi is set for victory. Bihar and Maharashtra are crucial states as well, where the BJP rules in coalition with regional parties. Modi spoke at a rally in Bihar's Muzaffarpur, thanking constituents for their support. Voters in Bihar's Samastipur city told AP news agency that their main concerns were rising food prices, unemployment and economic development. Asaduddin Owaisi, a politician in the southern city of Hyderabad said Modi's divisive politics could cost him votes. "An individual cannot be bigger than the country. So, Modi is not the country, a country is way bigger than any politician," he said. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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Today, May 12, 2024, the Dresden Peace Prize was awarded to Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, who died under mysterious circumstances in an Arctic Circle prison camp on February 16.
"The resistance of the opposition politician was and is an emboldening example to all the human rights defenders who are continuing his activities," the organizers said of the winner. Navalny's widow Yulia Navalnaya accepted the prize and the laudatory speech was held by former German President Joachim Gauck. Gauck, who had already praised Navalny as an "icon of all decent Russians" shortly after the news of his death, used a German sporting expression on Sunday and called the dissident a "feared opponent" for President Vladimir Putin. The ceremony also included a performance of "Alexei Navalny's Speeches in Court" by the Dresden State Theatre ensemble. The award comes with a €10,000 (roughly $10,800) prize. A blogger with a sense of humour Born in 1976, Navalny gained worldwide attention for his many years of work to expose corruption and human rights abuses in President Vladimir Putin's Russia. As a blogger, Navalny reached millions with his humor, especially younger Russians. In doing so, he made many powerful enemies. The Kremlin endeavored to keep him out of politics but Navalny still managed to organize supporters across the country. Businessman, lawyer, politician Navalny began his career as a businessman and lawyer. At the end of the 1990s, in his mid-20s, he became involved in the left-liberal Yabloko party but was expelled in 2007 due to conflicts with the party leadership and his nationalist views. He was subsequently active in a nationalist movement — a reason that he was also controversial in Russian opposition circles. Keeping up the fight His poisoning in 2020 attracted a great deal of international attention. Navalny was flown to Berlin for treatment and survived. He accused Russia's Federal Security Service, the FSB, and Putin personally, of attempting to murder him. Once healthy again he returned to Russia despite the risks, only to be immediately arrested at Moscow airport and subsequently sentenced to 19 years in prison. Last December Navalny went missing for several weeks. It was later discovered that he had been transferred to a penal camp in northern Siberia. Navalny believed that Russian authorities wanted to isolate him even further ahead of presidential elections in March, elections that Putin won. Powerful even in prison Before his death Navalny had lodged a series of complaints against the ongoing violation of his rights as a prisoner. Until he died, he used his court appearances to voice biting criticism of Putin's authoritarian rule and Russia's war on Ukraine. A few weeks after his death, Putin himself confirmed that there had been preparations for a prisoner exchange shortly before Navalny's death. It remains unclear why the exchange never took place or if the claim is true. Russian crackdown continues Since Navalny's death the Russian regime has continued its brutal crackdown on critics. Supporters recently expressed concern about the health of one of Navalny's close companions, Vladimir Kara-Murza. The 42-year-old was sentenced to 25 years in prison for "high treason" in April 2023 after accusing Russia of war crimes in Ukraine during a speech in the United States. Parallel to Navalny's fate, Kara-Murza's family and lawyers claim that the FSB attempted to poison him too, in 2015 and 2017. He has suffered from serious health problems ever since. A danger to Putin Navalny repeatedly drilled into the wounds of the Russian dictatorship, becoming the greatest danger to Putin and his system. That is why he became a political prisoner whose death is representative of countless people who stand up for freedom and democracy in Russia," said the statement by Friends of Dresden Deutschland association. The prize has been awarded annually since 2010 to commemorate the Allied bombing of Dresden on February 13, 1945, with the intention of countering the appropriation of the anniversary by right-wing extremists. Previous recipients include former President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev and the conductor Daniel Barenboim. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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Uttar Pradesh resident Nikhil Yadav, 25, is unimpressed with the talk from India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) about the government ushering in speedy economic growth. It has not brought him and his college mates the one thing they desire most – jobs.“ Only two out of around 150 of my batch mates have found employment. Out of that, one has been recruited as an Agni Veer, which means he will be out of a job after four years,” Yadav said, referring to a new government programme to promote nationalism and skill building through a tour of duty in the military. As voting began on Tuesday in the third out of seven phases in India’s ongoing national election, one burning question facing voters is whether the higher economic growth achieved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is translating into better livelihoods for young people. Over 40 per cent of India’s population is under the age of 25. That huge pool of young people should be a competitive advantage for India – the fastest growing major economy in the world – especially when compared to the rapidly ageing populations of many Western countries as well as Asian competitors like China and Japan. But across a number of interviews with residents of Uttar Pradesh – the state that accounts for the most seats in parliament’s lower house – This Week in Asia found that much of the public is worried about a lack of job opportunities and rising prices. While the government has undertaken a number of initiatives to speed up the country’s development – including the building of expressways, the launch of high speed trains and the introduction of fiscal incentives for manufacturing – industries in many outlying areas continue to lag, despite buzz about India becoming the next factory to the world after China. Uttar Pradesh has typically lagged its more prosperous counterparts such as Tamil Nadu in the south and Gujarat and Maharashtra in the west, but residents have seen major infrastructure improvements since the BJP came to power a decade ago, including a network of new highways and a steady electricity supply. Yet many said they still struggle to make ends meet due to a lack of high income job opportunities and higher living costs.
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The UK Conservative Party has suffered its worst local election defeat in decades, losing more than half of its council seats during this week’s vote in England and Wales. The results of Thursday’s local elections are “disappointing,” Sunak said The opposition Labour party saw strong gains, including in key battlegrounds needed to secure victory at the general election, expected to be held later this year. With almost all authorities declared as of Saturday night, the Tories had conceded 473 of their 985 councillors, while Labour had gained 185 council seats to reach a total of 1,140. The Liberal Democrats also made a strong showing, and now have 521 councillors, putting them ahead of the Conservatives for the first time since 1996. “It appears to be the worst local elections for the Conservatives since the final years of the era of Margaret Thatcher and John Major,” said Robert Hayward, a polling expert and a member of the House of Lords, as quoted by the New York Times. Also this week, Labour politician Chris Webb won the Blackpool South by-election, beating Conservative David Jones. “This seismic win in Blackpool South is the most important result today,” Labour leader Keir Starmer told reporters, adding that the win “shows that we are firmly back in the service of working people.” Further good news for Labour came from London, where Mayor Sadiq Khan was re-elected for a third term. “Londoners voted to give their city a fairer, safer, greener future,” Khan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). The campaigning was centered on inflation and the cost-of-living crisis, as well local issues, such as housing and the worsening state of the NHS. Sunak acknowledged on Friday that it is “disappointing to lose good hardworking Conservative councillors.” He insisted that he remains “focused completely on the job at hand – that’s delivering for people across the country.” Despite the upset, prime minister said he is hopeful that the voters “are going to stick with us” in the general election. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the third of eleven children born to Ethel and Robert F. Kennedy, is a figure whose life and legacy are deeply intertwined with both his family's storied history and his own political ambitions. From his upbringing in one of America's most prominent political families to his own career as an environmental activist and attorney, Kennedy Jr. has left an indelible mark on the landscape of American politics and public service.
Early Life and Family Ties Born on January 17, 1954, Robert Francis Kennedy Jr. was raised in a household steeped in the traditions of public service and social justice. His father, Robert F. Kennedy, served as Attorney General during the administration of his brother, President John F. Kennedy, and later as a U.S. Senator from New York before his assassination in 1968. His mother, Ethel Kennedy, has been a steadfast advocate for human rights and social causes throughout her life. Growing up in such a politically active and influential family undoubtedly shaped young Robert's worldview and instilled in him a sense of duty to carry on the Kennedy legacy. He witnessed first-hand the impact that his father and uncles had on American politics and society, and he was inspired to follow in their footsteps. Education and Career Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attended Harvard University, where he earned a degree in American history and literature. He later obtained a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. Following in his father's footsteps, Kennedy Jr. embarked on a career in law and public service. Throughout his career, Kennedy Jr. has been a vocal advocate for environmental causes, particularly in the realm of water quality and conservation. He co-founded the Waterkeeper Alliance, an organization dedicated to preserving and protecting the world's waterways, and has served as its president since 2000. Additionally, Kennedy Jr. has worked as a senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council and has been involved in numerous environmental lawsuits and advocacy campaigns. Political Ambitions and Challenges Despite his family's long history of political leadership, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has faced challenges in his own political ambitions. While he has been rumoured to have considered running for political office on several occasions, including for the U.S. Senate seat in New York, he has ultimately decided against it. Kennedy Jr. has been open about his struggles with addiction and personal demons, which have undoubtedly influenced his decision to refrain from seeking elected office. Nonetheless, his passion for public service and his commitment to making a difference in the world remain unwavering. The 70-year-old Kennedy had an eventful life. After the traumatic murders of his uncle and father, he became addicted to heroin. After 14 years he kicked the habit, worked at the Public Prosecution Service and made a name for himself as an environmental activist. He also heads the Children's Health Defence organization, which is known for disinformation about vaccines. RFK Jr. regularly repeats the myth that vaccines cause autism. During the corona pandemic, Kennedy became a prominent exponent of conspiracy theories. According to him, Covid-19 was developed in a lab as a bioweapon and mainly affects certain ethnic groups. RFK Jr. was temporarily banned from Instagram. Kennedy regularly has to backtrack from incorrect statements. For example, he wrongly said that the stormers of the Capitol were unarmed. In the 2024 Presidential Elections Kennedy junior will compete as an independent candidate against Joe Biden and Donald Trump in the American presidential elections. Although he has no chance of winning the presidency, he may determine who does win: Biden or Trump. In a neck-and-neck race, he can spoil the game for one of them by stealing crucial votes. The self-confident Kennedy smells opportunities now that the two top presidential candidates are historically unpopular: "If there is a time when a third candidate has a good chance, it is now" Legacy and Impact Regardless of whether he holds elected office, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has already left a lasting legacy on American politics and society. Through his advocacy work in the environmental movement and his continued commitment to social justice causes, he has demonstrated the enduring influence of the Kennedy family's commitment to public service. As the torchbearer of a political dynasty that has captivated the American imagination for generations, Kennedy Jr. embodies the ideals of courage, compassion, and integrity that have defined his family's legacy. Whether he chooses to pursue elected office or continue his work as an advocate and activist, his contributions to the betterment of society will undoubtedly endure for generations to come. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s life and career have been shaped by his family's legacy of public service and his own commitment to making a difference in the world. From his upbringing in one of America's most prominent political families to his career as an environmental activist and attorney, Kennedy Jr. has left an indelible mark on the landscape of American politics and public service. While he may have faced challenges in his own political ambitions, his legacy as a champion of social justice and environmental causes will endure for generations to come. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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