Crisis abates in Russia
The day after an armed riot by Wagner mercenaries towards Vladimir Putin’s authorities was defused on the final minute, neither Putin nor the mercenary chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, made a public look, including to the sense of uncertainty and confusion pervading Russia. The swirl of occasions over the previous few days has left questions on Putin’s authority and the way forward for the warfare in Ukraine.
The armed rebellion, which Prigozhin led, known as into query Russia’s justifications for its warfare in Ukraine and the competency of its navy management. Wagner forces marched towards Moscow with the purpose of difficult Russia’s navy management, and whereas they took management of a midsize Russian metropolis, Rostov-on-Don, they failed to collect a lot public assist.
By Saturday evening, Aleksandr Lukashenko, the chief of Belarus, had stepped in and organized for Prigozhin to go to Belarus and keep away from felony expenses, and for the Wagner fighters to keep away from repercussions.
Reaction: Residents cheered and embraced the mercenaries as they left Rostov-on-Don on Saturday. My colleague Roger Cohen writes that Prigozhin’s description of his actions as a “march for justice” could have resonated with some, maybe many, Russians.
Is China offering deadly support to Russia?
Previously unreported shipments between a state-owned Chinese firm and a Russian munitions manufacturing facility are elevating new questions on Beijing’s position in Russia’s warfare towards Ukraine.
On two separate events final yr, Poly Technologies, a state-owned Chinese firm, despatched tens of 1000’s of kilograms of smokeless powder to an ammunition manufacturing facility in central Russia with a historical past of supplying the Russian authorities. These shipments have been recognized by Import Genius, a U.S.-based commerce information aggregator.
U.S. officers have expressed issues that China may funnel merchandise to Russia that will assist in its warfare effort — what is called “lethal aid” — although they haven’t mentioned outright that China has made such shipments.
Takeaway: There is not any identified direct hyperlink between the shipments of smokeless powder and the Ukrainian battlefield, however some consultants mentioned the shipments constituted deadly help.
Context: China has remained formally unaligned within the warfare. In apply, nonetheless, it has turn into an vital associate for Russia, after proclaiming a “no limits” partnership early final yr.
Taiwan’s #MeToo Wave
A flood of accusations of sexual harassment and assault has reached the very prime of Taiwan’s political institution, prompting a reckoning with ladies’s rights on the democratic island — certainly one of Asia’s most progressive locations. Nearly day by day, recent allegations emerge, setting off discussions on discuss exhibits and social media.
Senior social gathering and authorities officers in President Tsai Ing-wen’s governing Democratic Progressive Party have been among the many first accused, forcing her to apologize for her social gathering’s mishandling of inner complaints. The scandal is complicating the social gathering’s document as a champion of liberal values and poses a threat to its credibility with youthful voters forward of an election subsequent yr.
Catalyst: The outpouring of complaints was set off by a preferred Netflix political drama, “Wave Makers.” The present includes a subplot about sexual harassment in a Taiwanese political social gathering, and one character’s response — “Let’s not just let this go this time” — has turn into a rallying cry on-line.
Context: Taiwan stands out for the numerous strides that ladies have made, however the flood of sexual harassment accusations factors to what students say is entrenched sexism and a tradition that’s fast guilty victims.
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The Shikoku pilgrimage in Japan
On Shikoku, the smallest of Japan’s 4 foremost islands, a 750-mile route hyperlinks 88 Buddhist temples that declare a connection to Kukai, the celebrated monk who based one of many main faculties of Buddhism in Japan.
In the previous, the route was traveled virtually completely by Buddhist pilgrims, however the trek has grown to incorporate younger individuals on journeys of self-discovery, older hikers having fun with their retirement and even international guests. Our author additionally discovered a outstanding custom of generosity. The individuals of Shikoku apply osettai, the act of giving items to pilgrims, which may come within the type of a trinket, a meal, a automobile trip or perhaps a place to sleep.
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Source: www.nytimes.com