Reports have emerged of damage to a US-supplied Patriot PAC-2 missile defence system being used by Ukraine against Russian air attacks, following a Russian claim that a Kinzhal missile had destroyed a Patriot missile battery. One US official has reportedly said that there were discussions ongoing with Ukraine over how best to repair the system but that it should not have to be removed from the country. It is not yet clear how much damage has been done but the Patriot is widely seen as one of the most advanced US air defence systems.
The UN has confirmed that the last ship is due to depart a port in Ukraine en route to Turkey under a deal that allows the safe export of Ukraine grain, a day before Russia could quit the pact over obstacles to grain and fertiliser exports. Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the UN make up a Joint Coordination Centre in Istanbul, which implements the Black Sea export deal. Given Russia's warning that it will not approve of any new vessels to take part in the deal after 18 May, it appears unlikely that any ship owners or insurance companies would be willing to continue transporting Ukrainian grain exports if Russia does not agree to an extension of the deal.
Australian truck driver charged over school bus crash that hospitalised 18 children
Reuters
23-05-17 08:58
A truck driver has been charged following a collision with a school bus in Melbourne, which hospitalised 18 children, including seven who were left seriously injured. The bus, carrying 45 students, overturned after being hit by the truck. Police have charged a 49-year-old man with four counts of dangerous driving causing serious injury.
Oromo rebels accuse Ethiopian forces of attacks following peace talks
Reuters
23-05-17 08:53
Rebels from Ethiopia's Oromiya region have accused the government of launching a military offensive against them following the end of a first round of peace talks earlier this month without a deal. The Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) and the government had negotiated for a week in Zanzibar to try to end a conflict that has cost lives and displaced tens of thousands. The government, the army and Oromiya's regional administration have not yet commented on the OLA statement. Oromiya is home to Ethiopia's largest ethnic group and is a major security challenge for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government.
Developed nations should increase the financial and technical support they offer poorer countries so that they can achieve similar decarbonisation aims as wealthier countries, according to a senior official from Japan’s environment ministry. Wealthy countries made commitments in 2009 to transfer $100bn annually between 2020 and 2025 to vulnerable states affected by climate change, but so far this figure has not been met. Japan is committed to funding $70bn over the period. The G7 leaders are expected to reiterate their climate goals during their upcoming summit in Hiroshima, Japan.
Finnish embassy bank accounts frozen in Russia, foreign ministry says
Reuters
23-05-17 08:32
Finnish embassies in Moscow and St. Petersburg have seen their bank accounts frozen, according to the Finnish foreign ministry, which declined to comment further. Russia's central bank has not released a statement regarding the matter.
Aircastle has made it known that settlement talks about unpaid dues with Indian budget airline SpiceJet were inconclusive after Aircastle earlier sought to start bankruptcy proceedings over non-payment of lease rentals and other dues. The Irish-based lessor is believed to be owed INR 500m ($6m) by SpiceJet, which has been desperately raising funds amidst a string of quarterly losses and increased competition locally. Last week the airline said it had begun to revive 25 of its grounded fleet using its own money and a $50m credit line through an Indian government scheme.
Private traders will fund 76% of Zimbabwe's 2023 wheat crop, indicating growing private sector involvement in agriculture as the government seeks to improve food security, according to commodity contractors' body the Food Crop Contractors Association. Graeme Murdoch, the FCCA's chairman, said the government was aiming to "crowd in the private sector", and banks, including CBZ Holdings and the state-owned AFC Commercial Bank, would provide funding. Zimbabwe has previously struggled to feed its population since 2000, when the seizure of white-owned farms led to plummeting production levels.
The US Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates on hold despite a predicted recession this year, according to a poll of economists. A number of policy makers have said they will maintain or raise the federal funds rate, despite the 34 of 46 respondents who predicted a US recession in 2023. The uncertainty surrounding the ongoing debt limit crisis will increase the risk of a default, according to the poll.
Tesla has told Indian government officials that it is looking to establish a factory in the country to manufacture electric cars for domestic sales and exports. This comes almost a year after Tesla halted plans to sell cars in India when it failed to secure lower import taxes. Tesla senior executives are in India this week to discuss local sourcing of parts and other issues with the government. However, the company has not discussed lowering import taxes on electric cars with officials.
A Nepalese sherpa has broken his own record by scaling Mount Everest for the 27th time, making him the most accomplished climber of the peak in history. Kami Rita Sherpa reached the summit early on 12 May, guiding a foreign climber along the southeast ridge route. Sherpas are highly skilled guides who help mountaineers attain their goal of conquering the mountain. Rita has scaled Everest almost every year since his first climb in 1994, excepting 2014, 2015 and 2020 when climbing was halted. Nepal has issued a record 478 permits for climbers seeking to scale Everest this year.
Pakistan's former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, has been accused of sheltering terrorists linked to attacks on the army; however, leaders from Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party denied the allegations. Punjab province’s information minister Amir Mir warned Khan he has 24 hours to hand the suspects over to the police or face action. The military court said the May 9 attacks against the army were "pre-planned" and ordered by Khan’s party leaders; he has since disowned those involved in arson. Authorities arrested nearly 5,000 of Khan's followers for protesting the corruption charges last week. Amnesty International and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan have criticised the idea of trials before military courts.
Manchester City and Real Madrid are set to face off in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final, with the first game ending in a 1-1 draw. Though City have home advantage, Madrid have a strong record in the tournament, having beaten both Chelsea and City last season. The winner of the tie will face Inter Milan in the final. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said that his career will not be defined by whether the team wins the tournament, rather that he is proud of how far they have come.
Turkey has complained to Germany over the detention of two Turkish journalists operating in the country. The two were detained briefly following a search operation, but were released without charge. Turkey accused the German police of harassment and intimidation against its media. Reports suggest the police operation was sparked in response to the Sabah newspaper's publication of information concerning an alleged supporter of President Erdoğan's opponent, Fethullah Gulen, living in Germany which may have violated Germany's privacy laws. Turkey has often complained about Gulen’s allies living in Europe or North America.
Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso issued a decree dissolving the National Assembly on 12 January, ending impeachment proceedings against him. Lasso, who is applying the constitutional mechanism known as "two-way death," stated that he would rule by decree until a new National Assembly is sworn in. Lawmakers had accused Lasso of not intervening to end a contract between the state-owned oil transport company and a private tanker company, with a final impeachment vote expected within five days before the president's action dissolved the assembly.
Pakistan's government has said it will try suspects accused of attacking army installations in military courts following protests in the wake of the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan last week. Military courts were established primarily to try members of the military or enemies of the state, with civilians only being tried there under a federal government order. Pakistan's military courts have faced widespread criticism from within Pakistan and rights organisations globally because of their secretive nature and their existence alongside a functioning civilian legal system.
The British and Dutch governments are creating an ad hoc international F-16 fighter jet coalition to help Ukraine to obtain the planes. TOP
The creation of an alliance between the countries comes after US President Joe Biden refused Kyiv’s request to supply F-16 jets. The coalition members include countries that do not have F-16s that Ukraine is interested in obtaining, with Germany’s deployment of supplies in the conflict area needed to be American-led.
A Chinese comedy group has been fined £1.7m ($2.13m) by authorities after one of its performers joked about the military. Li Haoshi, known as House, entertained an audience with a routine in which he described seeing two dogs he had adopted chase a squirrel, which he said had reminded him of a slogan used by President Xi Jinping to praise the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in 2013. The Beijing arm of the country’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism Bureau accused Shanghai Xiaoguo Culture Media of “harming society” by letting Li perform the piece. Li’s tale went viral on Chinese social media. The cultural bureau stated that Xiaoguo Culture would be banned from staging future shows in the capital. The company blamed “major loopholes in management” and claimed to have terminated Li’s contract.
Japan's export growth in April hit its weakest pace in over two years, rising 2.6% from the previous year, due to a slump in shipments to China. Meanwhile, imports fell by 2.3%, much larger than the predicted 0.3% drop, signifying the first annual decline in 27 months, on the back of falling crude oil and other commodities prices. Japan's economy benefited from an increase in consumer spending and tourism as COVID-19 restrictions ended in Q1, but the weakening export activity could slow down the economy's recovery.
Oil prices saw a slight decline over worries of increasing supply, with Brent crude futures dropping by 24 cents to $76.72 a barrel, and US West Texas Intermediate crude dipping 21 cents to $72.62. While both benchmarks showed a near 3% rise on Wednesday in relation to optimism over US debt ceiling negotiations and oil, US oil inventories rose by five million barrels to 467.6 million barrels last week due to another release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. However, US gasoline inventories fell as demand increased to its highest since 2021. Price concerns also revolve around US debt ceiling negotiations.
