CHINA'S XI UNVEILS GRAND DEVELOPMENT PLAN WORTH $3.8 BILLION FOR CENTRAL ASIA
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday (May 19) unveiled a grand plan for Central Asia's development, from building infrastructure to boosting trade, taking on a new leadership role in a region that has traditionally been a Russian sphere of influence, Reuters reports.
China is ready to coordinate development strategies with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and promote the modernization of all, Xi said in an address to a China-Central Asia Summit in the Chinese historic city of Xian.
"To bolster our cooperation and Central Asian development, China will provide Central Asian countries with a total of 26 billion yuan ($3.8 billion) of financing support and grants," Xi said.
With its engagement, China has put itself at the forefront of the race for political influence and energy assets in the resource-rich region, with Russia distracted by its war in Ukraine and the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan diminishing the U.S. presence in the region.
G7 LEADERS HOLD FIRST MEETING OF HIROSHIMA SUMMIT
Group of Seven (G7) leaders held their first plenary session on Friday (May 19) in the Japanese city of Hiroshima, Reuters reports.
The three-day gathering ending on Sunday (May 21) is expected to see leaders debate strategy on the more than year-long conflict in Ukraine and other global issues.
Earlier on Friday, they visited the peace memorial in the city levelled by an atomic bomb in World War Two.
The G7 comprises Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.
The leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) visited the Itsukushima Shrine, a World Heritage site, during a summit in the Japanese city of Hiroshima on Friday (May 19).
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, European Union’s Ursula Von der Leyen and Charles Michel, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, joined by their U.S. counterpart Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shortly after, were treated to a traditional Japanese musical performance at the shrine.
At their earlier meetings on the day, the G7 leaders agreed to stiffen sanctions against Russia and pledged financial support for Ukraine as its president, Volodymyr Zelensky, prepared to join them in Hiroshima.
Zelenskiy's presence, and his calls for greater support for Ukraine in its conflict with Moscow, will add drama and urgency to the gathering. The G7 leaders are already expected to announce new sanctions against Russia and closer collaboration in countering China.
Earlier on the day the G7 leaders laid wreaths in Hiroshima, a city that, along with Nagasaki, was destroyed by a U.S. atomic bomb attack 78 years ago that ended World War Two.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who represents Hiroshima in Japan's lower house of parliament, said he chose the city for the summit in order to focus attention on arms control.
Group of Seven (G7) leaders sat down to a working dinner in Hiroshima on Friday (May 19) as the first day of the leaders’ summit drew to a close.
The three-day summit in Japan, lasting until Sunday (May 21), is expected to see leaders debate strategy on China's growing international might and the more than year-long conflict in the Ukraine as its president, Volodymyr Zelensky, was expected to arrive at the summit on Saturday (May 20).
ISRAELI NATIONALISTS HOLD PARADE TO MARK ANNEXATION OF EAST JERUSALEM
Tens of thousands of Israeli nationalists marched through East Jerusalem's Old City on Thursday to mark the Israeli annexation of East Jerusalem, some of them chanting racist slogans against Palestinians, Reuters reports.
The marchers hold the annual Flag March to celebrate the so-called "Jerusalem Day". Israel gained control of Jerusalem during the 1967 war and annexed it shortly afterward, a move that has not been recognized by most of the international community.
Thousands of Israeli police officers were deployed through the city of Jerusalem, and hundreds of Palestinian stores in the Old City were shut down in a bid to prevent clashes between Israeli nationalists and Palestinians.
The parade met with fierce protests from Palestinians, with dozens of skirmishes broking out. Some people including journalists were injured.
Israeli military police threw tear gas at the crowds and arrested some people.
"This was land of Palestine occupied by Israel. We can know this by looking back to the history in 1948 and 1967," said Palestinian Zuhair, a Palestinian.
"It is a sad day. The Israeli government should be responsible for our current status," said Salah Asaad, a Palestinian.
On the same day, hundreds of Palestinians demonstrated with national flags in Gaza Strip to protest the parade for the so-called "Jerusalem Day".
