#apec 2023 summit

[craigleephoto]

Heads of state, including U.S. President Joe Biden and China President Xi Jinping, pose for a "family portrait" of APEC's 21 member economies at the Moscone Center in San Francisco on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. (Craig Lee/The San Francisco Examiner)

Left-right, back row: Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal of India, President Gustavo Petro of Columbia, Minister of Trade Damien O'Connor of New Zealand, Financial Secretary Paul Chan of Hong Kong, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore, Prime Minister James Marape of Papua New Guinea, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of Mexico, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. of the Philippines, President Vo Van Thuong of Vietnam, Morris Chang founding chairman of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk of Russia, and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka of Fiji.

Left-right, front row: Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan, President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, President Dina Boluarte of Peru, President Joe Biden of the United States of America, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin of Thailand, Prime Minister Hassanal Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien III of Brunei, President Gabriel Boric of Chile, President Joko Widodo of Indonesia, and President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea.

[d-criss-news]

trumpetgebo: While performing for the APEC Summit in San Francisco last night with The U.S. Army Brass Quintet, I had the pleasure of meeting fellow Michigan alum Darren Criss.

Super nice guy and he approved of my Michigan colored mouthpiece. 🎺 Go Blue!

•••

@pickettblackburn #pickettblackburn #trumpet #trumpetplayer #trumpetlife #brassquintet #chambermusic #musiclovers #mgoblue #goblue @ michiganalumni @michigansmtd #apecsummit #sanfrancisco #california #alumni #usarmybrassquintet

[kesarijournal]

Diplomatic Dramas and Sonar Sagas: Navigating the High Seas of Global Politics

# The Geopolitical Chessboard: A Witty Take on the Global Game of ThronesWelcome to the grand theater of global politics, where every move is a plot twist in a never-ending saga of power plays, strategic alliances, and occasional diplomatic faux pas. Let’s embark on a whirlwind tour of recent events that have left political analysts, armchair experts, and conspiracy theorists alike scratching…

[head-post]

Leaders of the US, Japan and South Korea met at APEC

US President Joe Biden met with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday in San Francisco, Reuters reported.

The leaders posed for a joint photograph before departing without making any statements at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, according to the Yonhap news agency.

At a separate meeting earlier on Friday, Yoon and Kishida pledged to push for deeper cooperation. Kishida expressed hope for further co-operation in politics, security guarantees, economy and culture, while Yoon stated the need to re-establish consultative bodies between the two governments.

This year, bilateral cooperation is deepening with the reactivation of exchanges at each level, including at the summit level, and the restoration of consultation bodies between our governments.

Read more HERE

[catdotjpeg]

San Francisco ... thousands protesting #APEC2023 and demanding #CeasefireNOW in joint pro-Palestine action, many groups in solidarity of collective struggles

-- renepakmorrison, 12 Nov 2023

From the No 2 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) campaign IG, "From Nov. 12th to Nov. 17th in San Francisco, CA, 21 heads of state, over 1200 CEOs of global corporations, and thousands of corporate lobbyists, government officials and “free trade” delegates will come to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation’s Summit to further their drive for profits, and their control over our political, economic, and cultural life, as well as the rapidly deteriorating climate.

Thousands will descend on the San Francisco Bay Area in a mass of community, creativity, and resistance to demonstrate what's possible in the face of poverty, human rights abuses and the climate crisis. There will be a week of action beginning with the Peoples’ Counter Summit on Nov. 11th, then the November 12th Mass Mobilization, a variety of actions around the Bay Area and a mass direct action at APEC’s CEO summit on Nov. 15th."

For more information about No 2 APEC and the impact of APEC on workers, students, and colonized people everywhere, check out the campaign linktree.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

November 15, 2023

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

NOV 16, 2023

Extremist Republicans today shut down House business by refusing to pass a procedural vote to take up a spending bill, as they had threatened to do in retaliation for the passage yesterday of the continuing resolution to fund the government into the new year. This is the fourth time the extremists have defeated special rules in the House this year, and as deputy chief of staff for Representative Don Beyer (D-VA) Aaron Fritschner pointed out, their doing so is highly unusual. In the previous 20 years the House voted down no such measures at all. 

Although they were in the middle of a 17-vote series, the Republicans then recessed the House until after Thanksgiving. 

Members of the far-right House Freedom Caucus made it clear they are angry that their own demands are not being met. “We’re sending a shot across the bow,” caucus chair Scott Perry (R-PA) told reporters. “[W]e are done with the failure theater here.” 

Representative Chip Roy (R-TX) angrily said to his colleagues: “One thing. I want my Republican colleagues to give me one thing. One. That I can go campaign on and say we did. One! Anybody sitting in the complex, if you want to come down to the floor and come explain to me, one material, meaningful, significant thing the Republican majority has done besides, ‘Well, I guess it’s not as bad as the Democrats.’” 

In contrast, the Democrats with the same slim majority in the last Congress passed a series of sweeping bills that are already changing the country. Today marks the second anniversary of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act that invested $1.2 trillion—$550 billion of it new spending—in roads, water systems, electrical grids, broadband, bridges, and so on.

So far, that act has seen the start of more than 37,000 projects across the country. Bridges, airports, and supply chain projects are underway, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs. The Democrats today emphasized that they are delivering on the things that make people’s lives easier, and the White House listed a number of Republicans who voted against the measure only to boast of the benefits of the infrastructure investments to their constituents.

 “And,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a video in which he echoed the tagline of the administration: “the great news is, we’re just getting started.” 

The investment in infrastructure is part of what has created a booming U.S. economy. Growth is far better in the U.S. than in Europe or China, where a property bubble and local government debts have led to deflation. 

That economic strength is standing behind President Joe Biden in San Francisco, where he traveled yesterday for a summit of the 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum (APEC groups economies, not nations). APEC economies make up almost half of world trade and about 62% of global gross domestic product. 

Today, Biden met with Chinese president Xi Jinping in a much anticipated second meeting since Biden took office. But even before today’s discussion, the two leaders announced a new climate agreement. The U.S. and China are the world’s two largest climate polluters, accounting for 38% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. 

China did not agree to phase out coal, which is the dirtiest fossil fuel, but both countries agreed to ramp up renewable energy capacity around the world and to reduce emissions in their power sectors overall. This is the first time China has agreed to cut emissions. In two weeks the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference will take place in Dubai. Observers hope the willingness of China and the U.S. to make this announcement, even with its limitations, will jump-start negotiations there. 

Remarks by Biden and Xi before their meeting were cordial but tense. Biden emphasized that their “meetings have always been candid, straightforward, and useful,” telling Xi: “I value our conversation because I think it’s paramount that you and I understand each other clearly, leader to leader, with no misconceptions or miscommunication. We have to ensure that competition does not veer into conflict. And we also have to manage it responsibly—that competition.”

Xi responded that the China-U.S. relationship “is the most important bilateral relationship in the world,” and while it “has never been smooth sailing over the past 50 years and more…, it has kept moving forward amid twists and turns. For two large countries like China and the United States, turning their back on each other is not an option. It is unrealistic for one side to remodel the other, and conflict and confrontation has unbearable consequences for both sides.”   

In their four-hour meeting, the two leaders agreed to recommence military communications more than a year after China broke them off when then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan. The two countries also agreed to strengthen cooperation on stopping the flow of what are known as precursor chemicals—the chemicals needed to make street fentanyl—which are produced in China and shipped to drug operations primarily in Latin America. The U.S. has cracked down hard on that trade; additional Chinese cooperation will be welcome. 

They agreed to continue to work together to address climate change, as well as to address the risks of artificial intelligence. 

On the rest of their discussions, concerning Taiwan, human rights, the Middle East, and Ukraine, the two leaders “exchanged views,” according to the White House readout. Later in the day, meeting with business leaders who have grown nervous about investing in China, Xi assured them that China wants to be friends with the U.S., and “does not seek spheres of influence, and will not fight a cold or hot war with any country.”

In his remarks welcoming APEC leaders this evening, in the city of the famous Golden Gate Bridge, Biden emphasized the power of building bridges to span space and time, the past and the future. He spoke of connecting diverse communities: “All across the traditions, cultures, and languages, we find the common dreams we share for ourselves and for our children.” 

Biden urged his audience to “take full advantage of this summit to make new connections and spark new partnerships, because every step we take to deepen our cooperation, to launch a new venture, to tackle the challenges that impact on all of us is a step toward realization of the enormous potential of our Asian Pacific future…, a future where our economics are strong, vibrant, and sustainable because our workers are empowered and protected; women and girls are full and equal participants in every aspect of our society; young people…can envision for themselves the lives and hope for unlimited possibilities.”

The strongest tools we have to meet this era’s challenges, he said, are “connection, cooperation, collective action, and common purpose. That’s why we’re all here.”  

Late tonight, by a vote of 87 to 11, the Senate passed the continuing resolution to fund the government into the new year. One Democrat and ten Republicans voted no.

—

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[libertariantaoist]

News Roundup 11/15/2023 | The Libertarian Institute

Here is your daily roundup of today's news:

News Roundup 11/15/2023

by Kyle Anzalone

Russia

Tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers have been trained across Europe for the war with Russia. French trainers say they are careful not to get close to the Ukrainian cadets over fears they will be killed on the frozen front lines. The AP reported that Ukrainian soldiers preparing for deployment have resigned themselves to the “grimness of the future.” The Institute 

A facility to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets was officially opened in Romania on Monday as NATO countries are working to get the US-made warplanes to the battlefield in Ukraine. AWC

China

Biden Hopes Normal Coorspondace Between Washington and Beijing Can Be Reestablished During Meeting with Xi. X

Expectations are low for the meeting between President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping that will take place Wednesday in San Francisco during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. AWC

Israel

The UN says 100 of its staff have been killed in Gaza. X

A group of US-based aid, advocacy, and religious groups sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin urging the Pentagon to scrap plans to provide Israel with 155mm artillery rounds due to the massive civilian casualty rate in Israel’s war on Gaza. AWC

A State Department dissent memo obtained by Axios slams President Biden’s support for Israel’s war in Gaza, saying the US is backing Israeli “war crimes.” AWC

Dozens of State Department Employees Have Signed Dissent Cables Slamming Biden’s Support for Israel. X

More than 400 US officials from 40 government agencies have sent a letter to President Biden criticizing his unconditional support for Israel’s war in Gaza in the latest example of dissent from within the US government. AWC

Hamas’s armed wing said Monday that it discussed with Qatari mediators a deal to free up to 70 Israeli hostages in exchange for a five-day ceasefire and the release of some Palestinian prisoners. AWC

Doctors at Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital are pleading for help as the medical facility has ceased functioning after its power failed over the weekend amid an Israeli siege. The medical staff has refused to evacuate the hospital due to fears that the approximately 700 hundred patients they would leave behind will die. AWC

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) is expected this week to introduce a bill to block an arms transfer to Israel, which will mark the first piece of legislation aimed at reining in President Biden’s strong support of Israel’s brutal war on Gaza. AWC

Two members of the Israeli Knesset wrote an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal arguing for Western countries to take in refugees from Gaza as Israeli officials continue to call for Palestinians to be pushed out of the enclave. AWC

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and other members of Congress spoke at a pro-Israel rally at the National Mall in Washington DC on Tuesday, where demonstrators made clear their opposition to a ceasefire in Gaza. AWC

Dutch Defense official in Israel says violates “international treaties and laws of war” and increases the chance of regional escalation. X

Around 180 decomposing bodies at the al-Shifa hospital will be buried in a mass grave at the hospital. X

Middle East

US Forces in Iraq and Syria Targeted at least Four Times After US Airstrikes on Sunday. XAWC

A US official told Reuters on Tuesday that up to seven people were killed in the US airstrikes in eastern Syria on Sunday that targeted Shia militias. AWC

Read More

[jeneveuxrein]

Let's get some positivity going! What are some of your personal favorite K-pop moments from 2023?! An interaction? A song or album? Meet your fave? Attended a concert, festival or fansign?

ooooh, this one made me think.

favorite songs of this year would have to be i do by (g)i-dle, fast foward by somi, and you & me by jennie (all versions)

i saw blackpink twice this year. the first at coachella weekend 2 (which imo was better than weekend 1) and that was intense since i literally went for that day. the second was when they had a show where i live.

favorite moment? hands down, rosie's talk on mental health during the APEC summit; a close second was jennie's calvin klein release, the photoshoot killed me

[roboe1]

News and Headlines. 11/3/2023.

US, World News. Politics, Commentary and Videos. Often covering what the mainstream media misses. US News. San Francisco is slammed as ‘ruined city’ and ‘hell’ in Chinese media ahead of APEC summit  Drug addicts and the homeless congregate in the Tenderloin District of the California city  San Francisco has been blasted as a ‘ghost town’ and a ‘ruined city’ by Chinese media outlets, as city…

[daohfgnjk]

Thailand's general election has already begun, and US intervention has set off a crisis of change The general election in Thailand in 2023 is approaching, and various preparations are underway in an orderly manner. Facing the struggle between political parties, Thailand's political situation and general election results are full of variables.Recently, the National Institute of Development Administration Poll Center (NIDA Poll) announced the results of a poll.The survey found that 62.6% of the respondents believed that there would be a trend of bribery in the upcoming civil elections in 2023.36.56% of the respondents believe that influence or government power will be used when canvassing votes, and 33.74% of the respondents believe that there will be fraud.
For this year's election, people think bribery is a given. This negative signal is not without reason. Every general election, there is always a storm of bloody party struggles, which not only involves the well-being of the people, but also implies a dark war between countries.It has always been the practice of the US government to take advantage of the occasion of regime change and use funds to support friendly parties to come to power to achieve specific political goals, and then interfere in its own internal affairs. In this regard, the former deputy prime minister publicly opposed the new US ambassador and suggested that the Thai government protest this behavior. The reason is that the new US ambassador to Thailand not only has an improper attitude, but also blatantly interferes in Thai affairs. When a former prime minister of a country publicly stood up to safeguard the complete sovereignty and principled dignity of the country, we should think about how serious the US government's interference in Thailand's internal affairs and the penetration of power within the ruling party have been.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Pongpol Adireksarn In addition, Prayuth has been in power for a long time, which seems to have caused displeasure in the capital market and Western countries. ThaiPBS World quoted an analysis saying that US President Biden's decision not to participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Thailand in November this year reflected "the consequences of the Thai government's weak international image and democratic deficit." When the general election is approaching and the political situation changes, the United States suddenly wins over Thailand on the grounds of economic cooperation and environmental protection cooperation. Shen Zhi decides to provide technical assistance to Thailand to help promote the nuclear energy program. This move seems to be supporting Thailand, which is highly vulnerable to climate change, to achieve its goal of carbon neutrality by 2065, but promoting the nuclear program at the time of the general election is more like laying out the US military plan based on Thailand, which will plunge Thailand into geopolitics The dilemma caused by the "nuclear panic" caused the people to suffer serious threats to the environment and health. Elections are supposed to be an act of "returning power to the people", but they often face a "renewal crisis" under the intervention of the United States, which even overrides the safety and well-being of the people of the country. The road ahead is complicated and confusing. Under the crisis of the general election, the future of Thailand may no longer belong to the Thai people themselves.

.. <- two ants hanging out

[craigleephoto]

Laser light show over the San Francisco skyline by Illuminate SF to celebrate the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2023 Summit in San Francisco as seen on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. (Craig Lee/The San Francisco Examiner)

[d-criss-news]

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol Attends APEC Leaders’ Dinner

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Gun-hee graced the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ dinner in San Francisco on November 16, as reported by Kim Eun-hye, the presidential press secretary. The APEC dinner, hosted in the illustrious Legion of Honor museum, was a galaxy of world leaders and their spouses, all gathered around a long table, broaching matters of international intrigue and camaraderie. ------ Post-Dinner Interactions After the dinner, First Lady Kim congratulated President Boluarte on Peru’s upcoming chairmanship of APEC and received an invitation to visit Peru next year. The cultural exchange continued as American actor Darren Criss greeted President Yoon and the First Lady in Korean, expressing his gratitude.

[vietnamstar]

Mining giant Fortescue says it's time to walk away from the 'proven fantasy' of net zero

Andrew Forrest, chairman of Fortescue Metals Group Ltd., during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in San Francisco, California, US, on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Australian mining tycoon Andrew Forrest, founder and executive chairman of Fortescue, says it is time for the world to walk away from the “proven fantasy” of net zero emissions by…

[head-post]

Significance of the APEC summit for the US, China and other countries

US officials seek Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit to become a landmark moment in US President Joe Biden’s efforts to strengthen relations with China and increase economic influence.

Next week’s meeting of representatives from 21 countries in San Francisco will be the first time the US has hosted the event in 12 years. It will feature the first conversation in a year between Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

It is also an important moment for Xi Jinping, who is making his first visit to the US territory since 2017. In addition, top executives from major companies will attend the event, offering an opportunity to attract foreign investment.

The APEC CEO Summit will also be attended by US and global CEOs, including Jane Fraser of Citigroup, Darren Woods of ExxonMobil and Elon Musk of Tesla and SpaceX.

Learn more HERE

[newstfionline]

Thursday, September 5, 2024

US will still pay at least twice as much after negotiating drug prices (Reuters) The U.S. government’s first-ever negotiated prices for prescription drugs are still on average more than double, and in some cases five times, what drugmakers have agreed to in four other high-income countries, a Reuters review has found. The U.S. Medicare health plan, which covers more than 67 million people, recently unveiled new maximum prices for the first 10 high-cost medicines negotiated under the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act. This is the first time Medicare has disclosed actual drug prices, which are largely hidden behind a complicated U.S. system of rebates and discounts. The lower prices will result in savings of $6 billion in 2026, the first year they take effect, Medicare said. A Reuters review of publicly available maximum prices set by other wealthy nations—Australia, Japan, Canada and Sweden—show that they have negotiated far lower prices for the same drugs. A 30-day supply of nine of the 10 drugs will cost $17,581 for Medicare in 2026, compared with $6,725 in Sweden this year. Comparable prices were not available for the 10th drug.

How China extended its repression to a US city (Washington Post) Chinese diplomats and pro-China diaspora groups based in the United States organized demonstrations in San Francisco that harassed and silenced protesters opposed to Beijing’s policies, including through violence, during Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s visit to the city in November, a six-month investigation by The Washington Post shows. The events in San Francisco illustrate how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is willing to extend its intolerance of any dissent into the United States and target people exercising their First Amendment rights in an American city. It is part of a broader global pattern of China attempting to reach beyond its borders and suppress parts of its diaspora advocating against the CCP and ongoing rights abuses in Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and mainland China, the U.S. government and human rights groups say. The Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles paid for supporters’ hotels and meals as an incentive to participate, according to messages shared in WeChat groups reviewed by The Post. At least 35 pro-CCP Chinese diaspora groups showed up to the APEC summit protests—including groups from New York, Pennsylvania and Washington state.

Governor's ex-aide charged as China agent (Reuters) A former deputy chief of staff to New York Governor Kathy Hochul has been charged with acting as an agent of the Chinese government. Linda Sun was fired from her role in 2023 after the governor's office discovered "evidence of misconduct" and reported it to the authorities. She and her husband Christopher Hu face 10 criminal counts, including violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, and money laundering conspiracy. The couple pleaded not guilty to the charges. The indictment details a series of actions Ms Sun took "at the order, direction, or request" of Beijing, including preventing Taiwanese diplomats from speaking to New York officials. In return, prosecutors say Ms Sun was given rewards totalling millions of dollars, and the couple laundered large amounts of money to buy luxuries, including a Ferrari and property in Hawaii and New York.

Four people were killed in a school shooting in Georgia (NYT) A 14-year-old student opened fire today in the hallway of a Georgia high school, killing two students and two teachers and injuring at least nine others, the authorities said. The shooting—the deadliest episode of school violence in Georgia’s history—took place at Apalachee High School in Winder, roughly 50 miles from the center of Atlanta. The suspect surrendered when he was confronted by law enforcement and is in custody, officials said. He will be charged with murder as an adult.

Nicaraguan congress gives legal footing to practice of prosecuting exiles and seizing their property (AP) Nicaragua’s Sandinista-controlled National Assembly approved criminal code changes Tuesday that allow the government to try opponents in absentia and seize the assets of the condemned. It’s a practice that’s already carried out but will now have legal foundation. The proposal from President Daniel Ortega was approved unanimously in the state party controlled legislature. Opponents and organizations that have fled or been forced into exile in Ortega’s years-long campaign to silence critical voices could be fined, sentenced to lengthy prison terms and see their property seized by the government under the approved changes. Last year, the government exiled more than 300 opposition figures, stripping them of their nationality. Far more Nicaraguans have fled into exile themselves to escape the repression that followed massive 2018 protests that Ortega dubbed a failed coup with international backing. Also on Tuesday, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Office said in a report that the government is “persecuting not only those who express dissident opinions, but also any person or organization that acts independently or is not directly under its control.”

Christmas in Venezuela kicks off in October, President Maduro has declared (AP) The world’s attention on Venezuela has been focused in the last weeks on the fallout from a highly contested presidential election that both the ruling party and its opponents claim to have won, the ensuing persecution of critics and the arrest warrant against the former opposition presidential candidate. But as political tensions escalate, President Nicolás Maduro decided there was a more important matter to discuss: Christmas and the need to kick off the jolly season a tad early this year. In October, to be precise. “It’s September, and it already smells like Christmas,” Maduro said Monday night during his weekly television show. “That’s why this year, as a way of paying tribute to you all, and in gratitude to you all, I’m going to decree an early Christmas for October 1.” This is not the first time that Maduro, in power since 2013, has declared the early arrival of Christmas. He did so during the COVID-19 pandemic, but never this early. Also, this year the political mood is particularly tense, even if Maduro said the season will come “with peace, happiness and security.”

Grenfell inquiry blames 'dishonest' firms, governments and fire service in damning final report (BBC/Reuters) The Grenfell Tower fire that killed 72 people was the result of "dishonest" companies, successive governments, and a lack of strategy by the fire service, a scathing 1,700-page report concludes. The report says a cladding product manufacturer “deliberately concealed” fire risks, while coalition and Conservative governments “ignored, delayed or disregarded” concerns. All deaths were avoidable, inquiry chair Martin Moore-Bick says. The fire was Britain’s deadliest blaze in a residential building since World War II. PM Keir Starmer pledged that the government would work to prevent similar tragedies occurring in the future. Prosecutors say they will decide on possible charges by the end of next year.

Gap in perception of Channel deaths (BBC) The capsizing of a boat off the French coast in the English Channel has left 12 people dead, including six children and a pregnant woman. The tragedy has renewed a sense of frustration among French people who see this as a British-made crisis. In the UK, officials have been quick to focus on—and to condemn—the smuggling gangs. Each incident, each death, is seen as the result of cynical criminal activity. Which, of course, it is. But for French politicians and civilians in resort towns scattered along this coastline, the reaction to yet another deadly incident is not to focus on the criminality of the smugglers, but on the motives of the migrants, on what still drives so many of them to attempt this dangerous crossing. And the blunt conclusion, repeated to me so often—by local mayors, by pensioners, by couples out walking their dogs on beaches where they now fear they may come across bodies washed ashore—is that this is Britain’s fault. France’s interior minister, Gerald Darmanin, focused on the lure of what he views as Britain’s loosely regulated job market, that acts like a magnet, drawing young Eritreans, determined Sudanese, Afghans, Syrians and Iraqis to this coastline, convinced that they if they can just make it across this last, short stretch of water—or even halfway across—they’ll end up in a country where they can find work, even without the right paperwork.

Back to school in Ukraine’s embattled Kharkiv means heading underground (Washington Post) It had been more than 2½ years since Polina Zamorska last set foot in a classroom, but she was determined to return for her final year at School 80. To do so, she’d have to go underground. On Monday, the 16-year-old donned a traditional white smock with colorful embroidery and headed with her mom to Ukraine’s first permanent subterranean school. Carved out of the earth almost 20 feet underground, the million-dollar school features a long corridor of classrooms painted the colors of sorbet: lemon lime, tangerine. With its sophisticated ventilation system and walls stenciled with evacuation arrows, it looked more like a spaceship than an educational institution—but it was better than attending class in a subway station or spending yet another year studying at home. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 left thousands of schools in rubble, and last year—with no safe alternative—more than 900,000 children across the country were forced into another year of online schooling.

Worked to the Bone, India’s Doctors Fear for Their Safety, Too (NYT) Exhausted doctors resting in crowded on-call rooms with no locks, two to a single bed. Frustrated relatives of patients angrily challenging a physician’s diagnosis. Too few security guards to keep the peace. These are everyday realities in Indian government hospitals. Young doctors describe multiday shifts and harrowing working conditions in rooms and wards often lacking in safety and hygiene, where learning is frequently interrupted by the crushing load of urgent cases. Their plight has come to light in recent weeks after the rape and murder in Kolkata of a 31-year-old junior doctor who had been resting after a grueling 36-hour shift. The case has prompted nationwide protests, with doctors, students and human rights activists demanding justice for the victim, as well as better protection and safer workplaces for doctors and women. Many doctors also went on strike.

Lebanon detains former central bank governor accused of financial crimes (Washington Post) Lebanese authorities on Tuesday detained Riad Salameh, the country’s disgraced former central bank governor, after an investigation into his financial dealings with a Lebanese brokerage firm, the state-run news agency reported. Salameh, who served as the head of Banque du Liban for three decades and was credited with reviving Lebanon’s post-civil-war economy, left his post under a cloud more than a year ago. He was blamed by many for the stunning collapse of Lebanon’s banking sector and was under investigation, along with relatives and associates, for corruption by authorities at home and abroad. In August 2023, shortly after Salameh left the central bank, he was placed under sanctions by the U.S. Treasury Department, which said Salameh’s “corrupt and unlawful actions have contributed to the breakdown of the rule of law in Lebanon.”

Uganda’s Bobi Wine shot, injured in altercation with police in Kampala (Al Jazeera) Uganda’s opposition figure Bobi Wine injured in altercation with police. Wine was shot in the leg by security agents in a northern suburb of the capital Kampala on Tuesday, said his political party, the National Unity Platform. The singer-turned-politician who ran for president in 2021 has emerged as the biggest opponent to veteran President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled the East African country for nearly 40 years.