The Russian Invasion|The Battles
Sources: Mysterious plan prompted Russia to warn US
On July 12, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov called his American counterpart Lloyd Austin and issued a warning, three sources told the New York Times.
The Russians have reportedly discovered a secret Ukrainian operation under way, which it was suspected had the blessing of the United States. According to the sources, the Pentagon was surprised by the allegations because it was not aware of any such operation.
But Belousov's warning, and the information he presented, was nevertheless taken so seriously that the United States contacted Ukraine with the request not to carry out the described action. Whether Ukraine really had a secret plan, and what the action consisted of in such cases, is still unknown.
The newspaper describes the data as a rare insight into a sensitive conversation between the United States and Russia. In official statements, platitudes are mostly spread about the content of the talks, but the data shows how much more there can be under the surface and that the countries are actively trying to avoid escalation, the newspaper writes.
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The violence in Congo-Kinshasa
Analysis: Borglömda's war could become complex and deadly
The war in Congo-Kinshasa recently turned 30 without many people seeming to care. That's what author and professor Jason K Stearn, director of the Congo Research Group at New York University, writes in an analysis in Foreign Affairs.
The silence is not new, he writes. When the war started, the reaction of the outside world was cool. Few reacted when the M23 rebel movement executed 171 civilians two years ago. Nor did last year's alarm from Doctors Without Borders about 25,000 sex crime victims make any big headlines – or the fact that seven million people are on the run.
“This neglect has always been heartbreaking.”
One explanation for the silence is that the war is so complex with over 100 armed groups. But the largest, M23, is financed by Rwanda and there is a simpler solution, writes Stearns: the US and Europe must reduce financial support to their geopolitical partner in the region. Otherwise, the war risks widening.
In Foreign Policy, journalist Nosmot Gbadamosi has the same concern. In a newsletter, she highlights that Uganda is also singled out for financing M23 in a new UN report, which the country denies.
"The dispute risks escalating a very complex and deadly war in Congo-Kinshasa."
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The future of the EU
EU parliamentarians earn large sums from lobbying firms
Newly elected Danish EU Member of Parliament Stine Bosse sits on the board of the Norwegian financial giant DNB - but will not give up his seat despite DNB being an active lobbying firm in Brussels. This is reported by the EU Observer.
Bosse, who represents the Danish Moderates and sits in the liberal group Renew Europe, claims there is no conflict of interest because she is not on the committee for economy and currency issues.
However, DNB states that lobbying is carried out in a wide range of areas. Shari Hinds of the organization Transparency International is critical and believes that EU politicians should not have any such side activities.
Last year, Bosse earned just over SEK 700,000 from the board assignment in DNB.
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The future of mining
Australia stops uranium mining on Aboriginal land: "Wanted guarantee"
Australia
bans uranium mining at the Jabiluka deposit, one of the world's largest
high-grade uranium deposits, AFP reports. The decision will protect an
area populated by the Mirrar indigenous people.
- They wanted a
guarantee that there would never be any uranium mining on their land,
said the country's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
- This means that there will never be any mining in Jabiluka, he added.
The deposit is located in northern Australia and is surrounded by Kakadu National Park.
Kakadu National Park - which is heritage listed - will now also include the Jabiluka deposit.
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