Why China wants the Ukraine war to drag on: China needs Russian oil and gas for its energy-devouring economy
As a noticeably puffy-faced Vladimir Putin welcomed his “dear friend” Xi Jinping to the Kremlin yesterday, the Russian despot acted as if he was hosting his equal. After all, he no doubt reasoned, China needs Russian oil and gas for its energy-devouring economy. The Kremlin is also a handy ally...
China and Russia express concern over the ICC’s arrest warrant for Russia President Vladimir Putin
China has called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to avoid “politicisation and double standards” after the tribunal issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on war crimes charges. During a media briefing on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin also called on the ICC to “uphold...
Four of Africa’s big economies face acid test as frustrated citizens protest run away cost of living on same day
Four African countries are preparing responses to planned protests led by opposition politicians, which are likely to test civil liberties and security in eastern, western, southern and northern economic blocs. South Africa, Kenya, Tunisia and Nigeria may all see running battles with the police or peaceful demonstrations to express dissatisfaction...
Refugee protection system in US, world is founded colonial and racist; can’t let the displaced lead policy conversations
As the first and only female CEO of an international refugee rights organisation with lived experience of forced displacement, I am painfully aware that colonialism and white supremacy are central to the formation and functioning of the global refugee protection system. Having to continually prove this obvious fact is exhausting,...
Private equity: How US Democratic Party’s fundraisers found themselves jobless in just minutes after tea-break
Less than two years after a British private equity firm acquired the campaign tech firm that holds the Democratic Party’s most sensitive data, the new parent company laid off at least 140 people. In a companywide email on January 12, Mark Layden, the chief executive of Bonterra, the new merged...
Somali officials warn Kenya, Ethiopia and their government against under-rating Al Shabaab
Somali officials are warning the federal and regional governments of Somalia not to underestimate the strength of militant groups al-Shabab and Islamic State as authorities plan new military operations against them. Despite recent successes in dislodging al-Shabab from vast countryside areas in central Somalia, the militant group hit back, setting...
EX-US VP Mike Pence faces ringing criticism for ‘homophobic joke’ at gay minister for taking ‘maternity’ leave
The White House on Monday asked former Vice President Mike Pence to apologise for what it called a “homophobic joke” he made over the weekend aimed at Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The former vice president’s homophobic joke about Secretary Buttigieg was offensive and inappropriate, all the more so because he...
US Secretary of State’s current tour of Ethiopia, Niger makes him most travelled top American envoy to Africa
Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Ethiopia this week singles him out as America’s most travelled foreign affairs diplomat having logged over 68,389 kilometres (42,495 miles) in flying to Africa. Blinken is President Joseph Biden’s representative in face-to-face diplomacy in Africa, which is being aggressively courted by China and...
Eyes on how Nigeria’s President-elect Bola Tinubu will deal with Boko Haram insurgency
By the time he is sworn in on May 29, President-elect Bola Tinubu should be fully aware that the Boko Haram crisis in Nigeria presents an immense challenge to his government. After being declared winner of the February 25 presidential election, he has likely started working on the transition, including...
Ukraine war: There’s good reason to worry ugly history is repeating itself today in Eastern Europe
For nearly a decade in the 1980s, Saddam Hussein’s Iraq and the newly founded Islamic Republic of Iran waged a merciless war against each other. The fighting saw the return of World War I-style human-wave offensives, trench warfare, and chemical weapons attacks. Although it dragged on for years, the Iran-Iraq...
