Tag Archives: Ukraine

Previews: The Guardian Weekly – February 3, 2023

Boomers Daily | News, Views and Reviews for the 55+

The Guardian Weekly (February 3, 2023) – In the trenches of eastern Ukraine, much of the conflict with Russia has been frozen for several months now. But, as the northern winter moves on, that could be about to change. The initial invasion has been followed by a period of attrition, and a third phase of the war now appears imminent.

Military activity along parts of the front is increasing and it is assumed that, sooner or later, one side will try to break the deadlock. The question, as Julian Borger writes this week for the Guardian Weekly magazine’s big story, is who will strike first and where?

As Julian explains, it is likely to be “an all-out battle for decisive advantage using combined arms … to overcome fixed positions. Europe has witnessed nothing of its sort since the second world war.”

That’s not to say there aren’t signs of anxiety among Ukraine’s regional allies, though. Germany’s decision last week to send its Leopard tanks to Ukraine may yet prove critical in the coming battle, but as German journalist Jan-Philipp Hein points out, Berlin’s military support for Kyiv remains far from wholehearted.

In the UK, the sacking of Nadhim Zahawi as Tory chairman over an undeclared tax dispute while he was the chancellor (and thus in charge of tax collection) kept the pressure on prime minister Rishi Sunak, political editor Pippa Crerar reports; while in Opinion, Nesrine Malik says the episode reveals much about Britain’s networks of power and influence.

Previews: The New Yorker Magazine- February 6, 2023

An illustration by Malika Favre. It shows the back of a couple walking on the Brooklyn Bridge.
Art by Malika Favre

The New Yorker – February 6, 2023:

When Law Enforcement Alone Can’t Stop the Violence

Corey Winfield leans through the window of a car, photographed by Rahim Fortune.

Amid a murder crisis in America, community-based solutions have received a flood of funding. How effective are they?

Hildegard of Bingen Composes the Cosmos

How a visionary medieval nun became a towering figure in early musical history.

The Hunt for Russian Collaborators in Ukraine

As occupied territories are liberated, some residents face accusations that they sided with the enemy.

Malika Favre’s “Connected”

The artist discusses seeking inspiration from her surroundings and experiencing new ways of living.

Books: London Review Of Books – February 2, 2023

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London Review of Books (LRB) – February 2, 2023:

‘Island nations tend to be complacent about border problems, seeing them as things that happen to someone else. But then you have Brexit and Northern Ireland, and it suddenly becomes clear that no one is safe.

Russia is fighting Ukraine about borders. This means that, as well as dodging bombs and getting used to living in the dark, residents of the border zone have to decide if they are “really” Russian or “really” Ukrainian.

Some will no doubt be keeping the non-chosen identity in a trunk in the attic, to be retrieved in case of future need. But the logic of war is stern: those who choose to be Ukrainians are also opting to hate Russians as the enemy invader, while those in Ukraine who choose to be Russians are contemplating the possibility of having to move east.

Wherever the border ultimately settles, there will be fortifications and troops stationed on either side and a series of tightly controlled crossing points. Villages and families will be divided and the normal commerce of economic and social life disrupted. Schools will teach in the language of the victor. Roads that used to lead somewhere will end abruptly.’


The Curtain and the Wall: A Modern Journey along Europe’s Cold War Border 
by Timothy Phillips

On the Edge: Life along the Russia-China Border by Franck Billé and Caroline Humphrey

News: NATO Leaders Meet To Arm Ukraine, New China Censorship, Lebanon Crisis

January 20, 2023: Defence leaders from dozens of countries and Nato meet at Ramstein Air Base to discuss arming Ukraine. Plus: China’s latest censorship crackdown and the ongoing political crisis in Lebanon.

News: Russia-Belarus Joint Military Exercises, World Economic Forum In Davos

January 17, 2023We head to Davos for a special show from the World Economic Forum. Plus: Russia and Belarus begin joint military exercises, and what next for Iranian-UK relations after the execution of Alireza Akbari?

News: Russia Claims To Capture Soledar, China-Taliban, Aid To Pakistan

Russia claims control of Soledar but Ukraine remains silent. Meanwhile, is China pulling away from Russia and turning towards the Taliban? Plus: Pakistan receives a pledge of $9bn (€8.4bn) from the international community and a roundup from Art SG.

World Economic Forum: Top Stories – Jan 6, 2023

World Economic Forum – Top Stories (01/06/23):

0:15 Global Recession 2023 – Kristalina Georgieva, the IMF’s Managing Director, says 2023 will be ‘a difficult year for the world’. The European economy has been severely affected by Russia’s war in Ukraine. Half of the EU will go into recession in 2023, Georgieva says. While for the first time in 40 years, growth in China – the world’s second-largest economy – is not likely to exceed global growth.

2:02 Japan’s worldbeating health system – For more than 50 years, Japan has offered healthcare without restrictions to anyone living in the country for 3 months or more whether or not they are Japanese. Payments are decided on a sliding scale depending on age, residence and income status.

3:26 These pipebots stop water leaks – The tiny bots patrol the inside of pipes. They’re small enough to avoid blocking the pipes and are fitted with sensors, cameras and a microphone. They take pictures and listen to the pipe to detect any faults and weaknesses before these develop into leaks.

4:48 Ukraine uploads their treasures to the cloud – Volunteers use the Backup Ukraine app to scan cultural artifacts – from statues and paintings to buildings, mosaics, and monuments – to preserve the country’s heritage and history from Russian theft, vandalism, and bombing. Backup Ukraine turns these symbols of Ukrainian culture into 3D models, which take their place in a digital archive, safe from Russian attacks.

As of 12 December 2022, UNESCO had verified damage to 227 cultural sites in Ukraine. Russian troops had removed the bones of Prince Potemkin from Kherson, stolen priceless relics of the Scythian Empire, and allegedly stripped thousands of pieces of art from local museums. Backup Ukraine is a collaboration between UNESCO, Blue ShieldDenmark, and the media group Virtue. Watch to learn how Ukrainian culture is being impacted. _____________________________________________

The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.

Headlines: West To Send New Weapons To Ukraine, U.S.-Mexico Border Policy

January 6, 2023 – We discuss the West’s renewed efforts to send weapons to Ukraine. Plus: the US president, Joe Biden, announces a plan for the Mexican border, a flick through the day’s papers and Singapore Art Week.

Preview: Foreign Policy Magazine – Winter 2023

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Foreign Policy Magazine – Winter 2023 Issue:

The New Rules of War

Twelve experts on what the world needs to learn from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Biden Is Now All-In on Taking Out China

The U.S. president has committed to rapid decoupling, whatever the consequences.

Why Japan Should Join AUKUS

Tokyo has become an indispensable security actor in the Indo-Pacific.