Back Story Newsletter
Good morning,
G20
It’s somehow comforting to see America President Biden shaking hands with Chinese leader Xi at the G20 in Indonesia. Not because the two should be pals, but there is enough conflict in the world and the last thing anyone wants is an escalation between China and the U.S.
“I look forward to working with you, Mr. President, to bring China-U.S. relations back to the track of health and stable development for the benefit of our two countries and the world as a whole,” Mr. Xi told Mr. Biden at the start of their summit in Indonesia.
The 2 leaders met for three hours one on one.
Meanwhile Indonesian officials say Russian leader Putin’s stand in at the summit, his Foreign Min Sergei Lavrov was taken to the hospital with heart troubles.
Later Lavrov appeared in a photo at his hotel and denied the whole hospital affair. When Lavrov denies, you can be sure it is the opposite from the guy who denied there would be an invasion of Ukraine, claiming the West was Russophobic.
Putin didn’t attend the G20, which is unusual considering its a huge status symbol for Russia. Speculation is he doesn’t trust leaving his country out of fear a coup could take place.
Istanbul Blast
Turkey’s interior minister has accused Kurdish militants in northern Syria of responsibility for a bombing in a busy Istanbul shopping thoroughfare. The blast killed 8 people and 79 were injured.
A bomb detonated on Istanbul’s popular pedestrian thoroughfare İstiklal Avenue, timed to strike when it was most crowded.
Turkey’s media ombudsman, RTÜK, placed a temporary ban on reporting of the explosion, preventing broadcasters from showing the moment the blast struck or the immediate aftermath, “to avoid broadcasts that may create fear, panic and turmoil in society and may serve the purposes of terrorist organizations”.
The censorship will also help Turkey curb the negative impact on its tourist economy but banning coverage of a terror attack is almost unprecedented.
Ukraine War
Kherson is back in Ukrainian hands with heart warming scenes over the weekend of Ukrainians hugging soldiers as they entered the city. Russian forces fled as Ukraine cutoff supply routes, but as they left they destroyed bridges behind them and looted what they could.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a triumphant visit to Kherson on Monday morning, saying that the city’s liberation marked “the beginning of the end of the war” and pledging to drive Russia entirely out of his country.
On Back Story w/ Dana Lewis we talk to Ukrainian MP Dmytro Natalukha on what the next steps will be in the Ukrainian counter offensive, and he predicts an early spring attack on Russian occupied Crimea.
I also speak to former UK National Security Advisor Sir Mark Lyall Grant on the audio podcast. (Cut and paste the link into your browser)
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1016881/11681038
Other News…
-Democrats have retained control of the Senate, but power over the House still remains undecided. As of Sunday morning, 20 races for the U.S. House of Representatives were uncalled, with either political party within the means to take control of the 435-member House
-Afghanistan’s supreme leader has ordered judges to fully implement aspects of Islamic law that include public executions, stoning, floggings and the amputation of limbs for thieves, the Taliban’s chief spokesman said. Roll back 20 years of modernization and reform. It’s back to 2001.
-Iran has threatened Israel to use hypersonic missiles. The IRGC-affiliated Sobh-e-Sadegh newspaper published a threat in Hebrew on its front page on Monday, warning that a new missiles reportedly developed by Iran could reach Israel in 400 seconds.
Have a good Monday everyone.
Dana Lewis