Author: Sanjh Vishwakarma

Pham Viet Anh, Vietnam’s permanent representative to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), pledged to fully and responsibly implement the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) at the Fifth Review Conference in The Hague from May 15 to 19.

The Vietnamese Ambassador to the Netherlands, Anh, praised member states’ achievements in destroying declared chemical weapons and the OPCW’s crucial role in maintaining security and peace in a world without chemical weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.

The ambassador reiterated Vietnam’s support for non-proliferation and total, verifiable disarmament of WMDs, including chemical weapons. He said Vietnam condemns all chemical weapons usage by anyone, anywhere, for any reason.

The Vietnamese delegation proposed that all OPCW activities should strictly comply with the functions and tasks specified in the CWC; their publicity, transparency, objectivity should be enhanced and politicisation prevented; and cooperation and dialogue should be promoted to resolve differences.

Vietnam urged the OPCW to promote its functions and capabilities to ensure the legitimate rights and interests of countries in developing the chemical industry safely and securely, for peaceful purposes; facilitate the use of human resources from developing countries, with a focus on geographical balance; and support the idea of building and scaling up regional centres to pool resources to implement the convention, including carrying out an initiatory process.

Vietnam also urged strengthening the Centre for Chemistry and Technology (ChemTech)’s role in supporting equipment and training employees for member nations and providing additional job possibilities for officials from member countries, especially developing ones.

The CWC took effect in 1997. Starting on January 14, 1993, Vietnam signed the convention. After 26 years, the OPCW has destroyed almost 99% of its reported chemical weapons. US pledges to destroy remaining weapons by September 30.

On Wednesday, Nevada Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo vetoed three Democratic-led gun control proposals that sought to raise the age of handgun ownership and restrict access.

“I will not support legislation that infringes on Nevadans’ constitutional rights,” Lombardo declared, justifying his initial vetoes. “Much of the legislation I vetoed today violates legal precedent and constitutional protections. I cannot support them.”

After passing the legislature Monday, the measures return to the chambers to override the governor’s veto. The state Senate needs at least one Republican to join with all Democrats to override the veto, but Democrats only have a supermajority in the Assembly.

As the nation faces a record number of mass shootings, Democrats say stricter gun control measures like background checks are commonsense safety measures, while Republicans say they violate the Second Amendment.

Nevada Democrats criticized Lombardo for putting “partisan politics” before of people’ safety.

“I desperately wish the Governor would put the safety of Nevadans over partisan politics,” said Majority Floor Leader Sandra Jauregui, who sponsored two of the three legislation rejected Wednesday.

“After his time consoling the families of the 1 October massacre, I expected the governor to have the basic empathy to realize his responsibility to prevent future mass shootings and gun violence tragedies,” she said, referring to the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting that killed 60.

One bill vetoed Wednesday would raise the age limit to own semiautomatic shotguns or rifles from 18 to 21 and make it illegal to help a minor buy one. Law enforcement and military personnel are exempt from the age restriction.

According to police records and charges, some recent mass shootings were committed by under-21s. New Mexico police identified an 18-year-old as the shooter who murdered three and wounded six this week. Six under-21s were accused last month for a Sweet 16 birthday party massacre in Alabama.

AB 354 prohibits the sale or acquisition of unfinished frames or receivers to stop ghost guns, untraceable, self-assembled weapons. After the 2020 election, it will limit weapons within 100 feet of election sites.

SB171, the third bill, would prohibit violent hate crime offenders from owning weapons.

States are passing different gun control laws as the debate heats up.

The National Rifle Association sued Maryland Democratic Gov. Wes Moore last week after he enacted gun safety regulations. Michigan Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee banned assault-style firearm sales this month.

Nebraska and Florida joined 25 other states in enacting permitless concealed carry.

Last year, President Joe Biden signed the first bipartisan gun safety legislation in decades, improving background checks and financing mental health services. Gun control activists want bolder reform proposals, including a nationwide ban on certain rifles.

China criticized the visit of former United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Liz Truss to Taiwan on Wednesday, stating that for a political has-been like Liz Truss, exploiting Taiwan to attract attention is all about pursuing her own selfish political goals. China made this statement in response to Truss’s visit to Taiwan.

The comments were made by Wang Wenbin, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at a daily press conference when he was asked to react to a question that was connected.

“China’s claim to Taiwan cannot be revoked under any circumstances.

Regarding the issue of Taiwan, China maintains a consistent and transparent stance. Using Taiwan as a way to get attention is nothing more than fulfilling one’s own self-serving political goals, according to one political has-been from the United Kingdom.

Wang stated that China took note of the fact that Truss’s trip was met with severe condemnation throughout the United Kingdom. According to those critics, the trip in question is “performative,” and the repeatedly reckless Member of Parliament for South West Norfolk is doing her country yet another disservice.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) officials in Taiwan are wasting money that was contributed by taxpayers in Taiwan so that they might curry favor with “the shortest-serving prime minister” in the history of the United Kingdom.

This is hardly an expression of “love” for Taiwan on our part. They are trying to get rid of Taiwan. Wang made the observation that such endeavors to achieve independence and make provocations with outside powers will not be successful.

On weekday lunchtimes, Conservative backbencher Miriam Cates plays piano for a Christian MP chapel service in Westminster Hall.

She spoke at the National Conservatism conference this week.

Cates was the first key speaker, charged with rallying hundreds of people to support a socially conservative agenda and persuade the Tory party to take a tougher position on immigration and family values.

While cabinet members seized the spotlight, backbenchers like Cates—a rising right-wing star—put pressure on the government.

Cates was unapologetic about her generation’s biggest policy issue: the UK’s birthrate. She protested declining fertility, mass brainwashing of children, and family-unfriendly tax policies.

Danny Kruger, a 2019er and close ally, branded Cates “the darling of the party” and said, “She is the mainstream.” A government frontbencher said she had “tried to drag the party back to the dark ages on morality issues” and done a “tremendous job” rallying MPs against her.

She can remain a vocal backbencher as one of the few new MPs who has not chosen an unpaid post as parliamentary private secretary, the first step to becoming a minister.

A minister stated Miriam is one of the few who will go above and beyond. Many of us agree with her.

Cates, a former biology teacher, drew attention and criticism for opposing self-identity rights for transgender individuals and supporting efforts to abolish a Covid-era regulation that permitted abortion drugs to be returned home.

She’s been called a culture fighter yet has a loyal following.

Some call Cates a cultural fighter for her work with the Common Sense Group and co-founding the New Social Covenant Unit to advocate family-friendly legislation.

She has a loyal following, several of whom contacted the Guardian after she was interviewed.

Cates’ effort to evaluate sex and relationships teaching in schools “particularly impressed” equalities minister and trade secretary Kemi Badenoch.

They said Cates “convinced the PM that it needed serious reform” and ran “a coordinated campaign… which shows her ability to muster people to her cause and the support she has across parliament”.

Former Commons leader Andrea Leadsom dubbed Cates “fantastic” for supporting early years education, while veteran Brexiter Bill Cash branded her “one of the most diligent MPs I have come across in my 39 years in the House”.

Cates was the keynote speaker at a Women2Win event this week pushing more women to run for government.

She drives home to Penistone and Stocksbridge, South Yorkshire, every Wednesday evening to complete the school run for her three children.

“Miriam’s a mum first, a northerner second, and politician third,” remarked one ally.

Cates is a pious mother.

“Faith was part of everything we lived and breathed,” she said in a Theos podcast in August 2021. Cates sits on parliament’s ecclesiastical committee, which investigates the Church of England.

She has been compared to Kate Forbes, the SNP MP who ran for party leadership but whose passionate religious views were considered out of date by most of her party.

Cates hailed Forbes “incredibly brave” after her criticism. In a Christian Institute interview, the Tory MP mentioned former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron, who was criticized for calling homosexual intercourse a sin.

“I get so many emails from Christians and many others thanking me for taking a stand on these things and that does really keep you going,” she told the gathering last month.

Given current polls, Cates is likely to fight harder for the Conservative party to adopt a socially conservative platform to maintain her seat.

She will alienate colleagues already uneasy with her arguments. “We don’t represent modern people if we carry on down that route,” said a senior Tory.

Cates may learn early on that polarizing colleagues is risky.

Ahead of the G7 summit aimed at addressing the threats posed by Russia and China, Rishi Sunak has arrived in Tokyo to announce a new defense partnership with Japan and to promote £18 billion in private business agreements.

Before the gathering of world leaders in Hiroshima on Friday, Sunak will meet with Japan’s prime minister Fumio Kishida to discuss increased defense cooperation in light of China’s escalating hostility towards Taiwan.

They will disclose the Hiroshima Accord, which includes a requirement to consult each other on certain military decisions and additional exercises by the Carrier Strike Group, a Royal Navy unit, in the Indo-Pacific.

It is believed that the British prime minister views Japan as strategically significant and a country that shares his interest in technology and innovation.

PM says Japanese firms have invested £18bn in UK during G7 conference.

The two will discuss the supply of semiconductors, which are used in automobiles, smartphones, medical devices, and other devices, during a time of global concern over Taiwan’s reliance on Chinese production.

On Thursday, Sunak also visited a naval base and then hosted a UK business summit in Tokyo for Japanese corporations including Toshiba, Sumitomo, and Mitsubishi, asserting they will invest £18 billion in wind farms, real estate, and other projects in the United Kingdom.

Octopus Energy, a UK utility provider expanding into Japan, and Mott MacDonald, an engineering firm advising on offshore wind projects, as well as at least three UK businesses, Oxentia, Transreport, and Winnow, will accompany him.

However, he was questioned on Thursday about the attractiveness of the United Kingdom as a business destination after a major automaker warned that Brexit was proving to be an impediment.

Speaking to broadcasters, he stated, “It’s a concern raised by automakers across Europe, not just in the United Kingdom. As a consequence, we are engaged in a dialogue with the EU regarding how we might address these concerns in relation to the auto manufacturing industry in general. Later today, I will meet the CEO of Nissan, who has invested one billion pounds in electric vehicle manufacturing in the north-east.

“Other Japanese business leaders are meeting today to announce a total investment of £18bn in the United Kingdom. A portion of this investment is a result of our membership in the trans-Pacific trade partnership, which creates more jobs at home and expands opportunities for British automakers.”

In response to criticism that his optimism about the economy was not shared by millions of Americans, he stated, “I know things are tough right now, but there are signs of improvement.” A vote of confidence from Japanese firms that create employment domestically. It’s excellent news for the United Kingdom.”

On his journey to the G7, Sunak is accompanied by his wife, Akshata Murty, for the first time since he assumed the No. 10 position.

Sunak is likely to have private meetings with the president of France, Emmanuel Macon, and the prime minister of India, Narendra Modi.

However, No. 10 does not anticipate a bilateral meeting between Sunak and US Vice President Joe Biden, whose journey to Asia for the summit has been cut short due to the uncertainty surrounding the US debt ceiling.

Washington has adopted a tougher stance against Beijing than some European nations, with Macron stating last month that Europe should not become “entangled in crises that are not ours.”

The second priority for Sunak will be to urge other world leaders to increase their support for Ukraine.

The spokesman for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning a communiqué that was issued by the finance ministers of the International Group of Seven (G7). In the statement, Tehran was accused of participating in illegal financial operations.

In a statement that was made public on Thursday, the Spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, Nasser Kanaani, issued a vehement condemnation of a section of the communiqué that was issued following a meeting of the finance ministers and central bank governors of the G7 countries. This section of the communiqué has brought “completely baseless and bogus allegations” against Iran.

The communiqué that the G7 ministers issued after the completion of their meeting in Niigata, Japan, on May 13 highlighted their extreme worry with what they referred to as the “illicit financing risk emanating from Iran.”

Iran Denies G7 Financial Charges

A representative for the Iranian government stated that the Group of Seven (G7), the country that currently holds the presidency of the G7, and the country that hosted the most recent meeting of the G7 are employing an ineffective and biased strategy in an effort to force their demands on multilateral international bodies.

Instead of leveling such baseless accusations against Tehran, Kanaani advised the G7 to reverse its “deplorable performance” and policy of appeasement in obedience to the illegal US sanctions. These sanctions have violated the fundamental principles of international law and human rights against the great Iranian nation.

“Instead of involvement in and acknowledgment of one-sided and unfair stances, the members of the group (G7) must be held accountable before the noble people of Iran and the international community for such brazen violations and measures that contradict international regulations,” the Iranian spokesman emphasized. “[T]he members of the group (G7) must be held accountable before the international community for such brazen violations and measures that contradict international regulations.”

On Monday, a Chinese diplomat urged an urgent political solution to the Ukraine situation.

Ukraine situation continues. The humanitarian catastrophe and its repercussions persist. Zhang Jun, China’s permanent representative to the UN, urged the international community should work together to de-escalate the dispute and end hostilities.

He told a Security Council meeting on the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine that civilians should be protected first.

Nuclear weapons and conflict should never be employed.

We urge maximal moderation and avoiding words and actions that might escalate conflict and lead to miscalculations. China supports the International Atomic Energy Agency director-general in communicating with Russia and Ukraine and protecting civilian nuclear sites.”

Third, Zhang advised managing conflict reaction spillover consequences.

All nations must work together to stabilize global agricultural, energy, and financial markets amid increased recession concerns. He argued that unilateral sanctions and ever-expanding long-arm jurisdiction have had grave humanitarian implications and damaged global economic and supply linkages.

The US and other relevant nations should reflect on their actions, quickly change course, and help emerging nations expand their economies and improve livelihoods. He advised against economic coercion and falsely accusing other nations of it.

Fourth, and most importantly, the political settlement of the problem requires the greatest haste, added Zhang.

complicated challenges require complicated solutions. Dialogue and talks must resume to begin any meaningful solution. He advised all sides to foster conversation and talks rather than stoking tensions to profit.

China has consistently promoted peace negotiations in Ukraine. China’s special envoy on Eurasian issues, Li Hui, is visiting Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany, and Russia to discuss the Ukraine crisis’s political resolution. He said China will engage with the international community to resolve the problem politically.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ latest attempt to position himself as a more plausible GOP presidential contender than Donald Trump without criticizing the former president is working as predicted.

DeSantis called the Republican Party’s previous electoral struggles “a culture of losing” while in Iowa on Saturday.

Twitter users noted the Florida governor is still hesitant to criticize a past president.

DeSantis said “the time for excuses is over” and that the party “can’t focus the election on the past or on other side issues,” but he didn’t reference the 2020 election-denying former president.

Still, he liked that “culture of losing” term so much that he used it again on Monday during a news conference in Florida when a reporter urged him to recognize that Trump lost and there was no election fraud.

REPORTER: Do you acknowledge that Trump lost and there wasn't all this fraud he talks about?

DESANTIS: I think the party has developed a culture of losing. pic.twitter.com/FP7tnk1ltr

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 15, 2023

The news conference supported state legislation to limit or eliminate state college expenditure on race and diversity initiatives, according to AlterNet. DeSantis also sought to warn prospective college students who wanted to study “gender ideology” to leave Florida.

Here’s another reason why he won’t get the nomination: He’s afraid to say Trump lost in 2020. https://t.co/9Gemp9rA7I

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) May 15, 2023

“I think the party has developed a culture of losing,” DeSantis said of Trump, but not young college students pursuing professional objectives.

On Monday, Twitter mocked DeSantis for his hesitancy to criticize Trump.

In a meeting that took place on Monday in Tehran between the Russian admiral and the Commander of the Iranian Navy, Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, the Russian admiral emphasized the significance of increasing ties between the Iranian and Russian naval forces.

He also expressed hope that his trip to Iran would lead to further improvement of cooperation between the navies of the two countries.

Russia Seeking to Deepen Its Naval Partnership with Iran

Yevmenov went on to say that the Russian Navy is prepared to negotiate an agreement with the Iranian Navy about the future promotion of mutual interaction.

For his part, Iranian Foreign Minister Hassan Irani stated that the participation of Russian naval troops in three combined maneuvers with Iran and China sent a “very important” message to the three countries’ shared adversary.

During the month of March, the naval forces of Iran, China, and Russia undertook maritime maneuvers in the Sea of Oman. These drills were given the name “naval security belt combined war game 202,” and they were held as part of the three nations’ efforts to increase the level of cooperation among their respective warships.

In recent years, the Iranian naval forces, along with their Chinese and Russian counterparts, have participated in a number of joint war games. The objectives of these exercises have included the following: the exchange of information in naval rescue and relief operations; the sharing of operational and tactical experiences; the fight against piracy and maritime terrorism; and the improvement of the safety of international maritime trade.

According to Press TV, Irani praised the efforts of Russian naval forces to perform joint drills with Iran and China and emphasized the significance of creating a joint committee to enhance engagement in many areas. In particular, she emphasized the importance of increasing cooperation in the educational and technological spheres.

Tuesday, following a meeting of his provisional administration, the departing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha flashes reporters a smile at Government House.

After presiding over a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, outgoing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha remained reticent about his political future in the aftermath of Sunday’s general election.

Reporters inquired whether he would leave politics. With a grin, he stated, “No comment.”

When asked if he would continue the fight and remain with the United Thai Nation Party, he remained silent.

He declined to comment on the possibility of the former opposition party Pheu Thai joining forces with parties in his outgoing government and isolating the party that won the most seats in the House, the Move Forward Party.

Tuesday, after the cabinet meeting at Government House, General Prayut greeted reporters and the public and stated that his government remained on duty and was doing its best pending the formation of a new administration.

He commended the people for their moral support of him and his administration throughout the years.

He commended every voter who exercised their right to vote on Sunday and congratulated every political party that received ballots.

Gen Prayut expressed satisfaction with the formation of the new government.

The prime minister stated, “I am pleased with this and would like all Thais to work together to promote national unity and stability without conflict, and to jointly develop the country.”

“This is for the sake of security, prosperity, and longevity. Gen. Prayut stated, “Adhere to the security of the nation’s vital institutions for the sake of national development and the future of all Thais.”

The United Thai Nation Party, which has nominated him for prime minister, placed fifth in Sunday’s elections with 36 House seats, compared to the Move Forward Party’s 152 and Pheu Thai’s 141.

On Tuesday, thirteen ministers were absent from the cabinet meeting.