A war of words has broken out between the outgoing Biden administration and Ukraine’s president. Several US senior ranking officials have recently argued that Ukraine’s biggest problem is lack of manpower, and that it needs to lower the minimum age of conscription from 25 to 18. A government spokesman said that if Ukraine changes its policy, America will arm and train the recruits. Zelensky retorted that allies had fully equipped only a quarter of the ten brigades that he had requested earlier in the year.
Category: Newsletters
South Korea’s President Faces a Reckoning
Welcome back to the World Brief, the flagship newsletter of The Viyug delivered to you directly from the Editor’s desk, catching you up on 24 […]
Gaza Starts to Feel Forgotten amid Syrian Crisis
Many Palestinians in Gaza cheered the scenes in Syria this week, as rebels overthrew Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Last month they watched the war in Lebanon end; now Syria’s 13-year civil war might be at a close too. But Israel’s war in Gaza drags on. At least 28 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Thursday, according to Palestinian medics.
A Nudge for Europe’s Economy
The European Union’s (EUs) economy is only about 1 percent bigger than it was a year ago. And inflation, at 2.3 percent in November, is close to the European Central Bank’s target of 2 percent. The prices of services across various member countries among EU have been rising by around 4 percent a year and there is sustained pressure from growing wages – the Netherlands, which has the most up-to-date figures, estimates these as rising at 6.5 percent.
The Caretaker Prime Minister of Syria
On 8 December 2024, the Syrian Arab Republic under Bashar al-Assad collapsed amid major offensives by the Syrian opposition (led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham – HTS and supported by other rebel groups, including the Turkish backed Syrian National Army) as part of the Syrian civil war which began in 2011. The fall of Damascus marked the end of the Assad’s regime, which had ruled Syria as a totalitarian hereditary dictatorship since 1971.
Rebels Declare Damascus Free of al-Assad
After just a few days of rapid advances, the rebels appeared to control Syria’s capital. Rebels declared that they would work with a top official in President Bashar al-Assad’s government. Mr. al-Assad’s location was unclear. Rebel fighters stormed into Syria’s capital, Damascus, on Sunday, taking them to the brink of a stunning victory as evidence mounted that Syrian forces and their leader, President Bashar al-Assad, had fled. In just two weeks, a bitter stalemate that had held for years in Syria has been snapped.
China Launches Shenzhou-18 Mission Aiming for Lunar Exploration
China’s space program is making great strides with the Shenzhou-18 mission. This time, three astronauts are sent to the country’s first domestically built space station. Led by former fighter pilots Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu, the crew embarks on a six-month mission, which includes conducting experiments and preparing for lunar exploration. In the midst of all this are zebrafish, part of more than 90 scientific experiments. Among them are creating a closed aquatic ecosystem for studying the interactions between fish and algae in space, information that can maybe inform future designs of habitats.
Chinese Cities Sink as Urbanisation Surges
The problem is not limited to China. Some of the major cities worldwide including Houston, Mexico City, and Delhi are facing similar challenges due to excessive water extractions and geological factors. Subsidence is one issue that affects areas with extensive mining activities, like the coal regions of Pingdingshan in northern China. Combating subsidence requires effective strategies. Tokyo successfully tackled the sinking by providing alternative water sources and banning well water use. In China, controlling groundwater extraction and implementing laws to prevent further subsidence are crucial steps.
North Korea fires Ballistic Missile, Heightening Tensions with Japan
The West claims that Moscow’s support for North Korea’s missile programme has been crucial to its defence posture in the region vis-a-vis American presence in the region. Pyongyang openly defies a ban imposed by the United Nations Security Council on developing ballistic missiles. North Korea asserts international objections against its missile programs as infringement of its sovereign right to defend itself.
Israel Conducts Airstrikes on Iran Despite US Implorements to not Retaliate
According to a US official, Israeli Defense Force carried out an air strike on Iran on Friday, April 19, in retaliation to an Iranian attack last Sunday, April 14. The Iranian defense force has blocked three drones near the air base in Isfahan province. However Iran did not make any comment on who could be behind the attack and nor did Israel claim responsibility over the strike. The No large scale damage was caused by the attack, reported CNN. Sources said that Netanyahu government’s war cabinet has been planning for an attack since Monday which was hold back due to international pressure coming from allies like the United States and Gulf.