Qin Gang, stock photo. Terje Pedersen / NTB
China's foreign policy
Analysis: Could be sick - but it's a political taboo in China
China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang has not been seen for weeks and if he is indeed ill, as Beijing has vaguely suggested, a formal statement could put to rest any speculation that he is in trouble. That's what The Economist writes in an analytical text.
The newspaper notes that China is in many ways a country that stands out, and that the foreign minister is not even the highest-ranking diplomat in foreign policy, compared to, for example, Western countries. In addition, illness is a "political taboo", writes The Economist, which notes that there were never any reports that top officials were affected by covid-19 despite the ravaging infection.
Al Jazeera writes that even Xi Jinping had periods of long absence, at one point for as long as two weeks. Then it was more about a strategic choice and the Communist Party later elected him as president, says Steve Tsang, professor at the Soas China Institute in London.
- Qin is not senior enough or powerful enough to play the game that Xi played a decade ago.
Like other media, Al Jazeera and The Economist write about previous disappearances, which often ended with it being revealed that powerful people were being investigated.
Ukrainian President Zelensky and EU President von der Leyen. Susan Walsh/AP
The Russian invasion|The response of the outside world
The EU allocates 230 billion to military support for Ukraine
The EU will allocate up to 5 billion euros per year for the next four years to support Ukraine's defense.
- It is the calculation of the need and the cost of our long-term security commitments to Ukraine, EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell told reporters after Thursday's meeting of foreign ministers, according to Direkt.
The corresponding total of SEK 230 billion will be set aside within the EU Peace Facility fund, writes Reuters.
The facility has already been used for, for example, weapons and training of Ukrainian soldiers.
Ukrainian soldier, stock image. Bernat Armangue / AP
The Russian Invasion|The Battles
The cluster bombs from the US are already in use: "Effectively"
Ukraine has started using the cluster munitions sent from the US. This is confirmed by White House spokesman John Kirby, several media outlets write.
- It is used effectively and actually has an impact on Russia's defensive formations, says Kirby according to CNN.
Controversial cluster bombs have been used by both Russia and Ukraine since the invasion last February. Over 100 countries have signed a convention that prohibits its use, but these do not include Russia, Ukraine or the United States.
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