The first snowfall of the winter led to traffic chaos in South Korea, which recorded the largest amount of snow since measurements began over a century ago.
According to Korean meteorologists, about 16.5 centimeters of snow fell in the capital Seoul on Wednesday, which compares to the previous record of 12.4 cm from November 28, 1972. It is the heaviest snowfall since the Korean Meteorological Institute began measurements began in 1907.
The snow also covered the central, eastern and southern parts of the country, with snowfall amounts ranging from ten to as much as 23 centimeters.
The snowfall led to the cancellation of around 220 flights and 90 ferries in the country, and the closure of a large part of the country’s hiking trails. One person is reported to have died as a result of a major car accident.
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Israel previously had “total control” over the US Congress, and it was completely impossible for anyone who spoke “ill” of the Jewish state to build a political career. This is stated by US President Donald Trump in an interview with Daily Caller published this week.
— There was a time where you couldn’t speak bad, if you wanted to be a politician, you couldn’t speak badly, Trump explained.
He emphasized that Israel had long held a completely unique position in Washington, but claimed that this is changing.
— If you go back 15 years, probably that’s when it started, right. Israel was the strongest lobby I’ve ever seen. They had total control over Congress, and now they don’t, you know, I’m a little surprised to see that.
He continued to develop his reasoning:
— If you go back 20 years. I mean, I will tell you, Israel had the strongest lobby in Congress of anything or body, or of any company or corporation or state that I’ve ever seen. Israel was the strongest. Today, it doesn’t have that strong a lobby. It’s amazing.
“Not winning the world of public relations”
According to Trump, American politics has fundamentally changed – today there are, as he puts it, “all kinds of Israel critics” and “lunatics” among the country’s top politicians.
He was referring among others to the so-called Squad, consisting of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib – a group of left-wing Democratic congresswomen who have made their mark with sharp criticism of Israel.
The president connected the changes in public debate to Israel’s bloody invasion of Gaza.
— They may be winning the war, but they’re not winning the world of public relations, you know, and it is hurting them.
At the same time, Trump highlighted his own role in the relationship between Washington and Jerusalem, true to form. He declared that “no one has done more” for Israel than himself, and described the country as “amazing”, because he himself has received “good support” in return.
TRUMP: “ISRAEL HAD TOTAL CONTROL OVER CONGRESS, AND NOW THEY DON’T”
“Israel is amazing… Israel was the strongest lobby I’ve ever seen. They had total control over Congress, and now they don’t.
Although Trump claims that the Israel lobby doesn’t have the same power over American politics as before, there are many who don’t share that conclusion.
The Nordic Times has among other things highlighted how libertarian congressman Thomas Massie revealed that all Republican congressmen have a personal lobbyist from AIPAC with whom they maintain close contact and who tells them how to vote on various issues.
— Why would they want to tell their constituents that they’ve basically got a buddy system with somebody who’s representing a foreign country? It doesn’t benefit the congressman for people to know that. So they’re not going to tell you that, he states.
The Nordic Times has also reported on how AIPAC as recently as the last election boasted that almost all candidates they financed won their respective elections while managing to “stop” a number of Israel-critical candidates.
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot announces that the country will recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly later in September. At the same time, a series of sanctions are being imposed against the Israeli government, including import bans from illegal settlements and entry bans for two extremist ministers.
Belgium will formally recognize a Palestinian state when the UN General Assembly opens on September 9, according to the country’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot.
“Palestine will be recognized by Belgium during the UN session! And firm sanctions are being imposed on the Israeli government”, Prévot writes on platform X.
The foreign minister announces that Belgium will implement twelve sanctions targeting Israel at the national level. The decision comes as a reaction to what he describes as a “humanitarian tragedy in Palestine” and Israel’s actions in violation of international law.
“Belgium had to take strong decisions to increase pressure on the Israeli government”, Prévot explains. “This is not about sanctioning the Israeli people but about ensuring that their government respects international and humanitarian law and taking action to try to change the situation on the ground”.
Comprehensive package of measures
The sanctions package contains several concrete measures:
• Ban on imports of products from Israeli settlements
• Review of public procurement with Israeli companies
• Restrictions on consular assistance to Belgian citizens in illegal settlements
• Possible legal prosecutions
• Ban on overflights and transit
• Entry ban for two extremist Israeli ministers, Hamas leaders and several violent settlers
Although Prévot did not name the ministers, it appears to concern Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who have already been hit by similar measures from other EU countries such as the Netherlands.
La Palestine sera reconnue par la Belgique lors de la session de l’ONU ! Et des sanctions fermes sont prises à l’égard du gouvernement israélien. Tout antisémitisme ou glorification du terrorisme par les partisans du Hamas sera aussi plus fortement dénoncé.
Belgium will also work for measures at the EU level, including suspending the union’s association agreement with Israel and terminating research programs and technical cooperation.
The recognition of Palestine takes place within the framework of a joint initiative from France and Saudi Arabia.
“Belgium will recognize Palestine during the joint initiative of France and Saudi Arabia. A strong political and diplomatic gesture to preserve the chances of a two-state solution”, writes Prévot, who also states that Brussels is participating in the initiative to “mark the condemnation of Israel’s expansionist ambitions with its settlement programs and military occupations”.
Hostages must be released first
Prévot emphasizes that the measures are directed against Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and its actions during the 22-month-long offensive against Gaza – not against the Jewish people.
The government simultaneously states that it also intends to take measures against glorification of Hamas and combat what it describes as antisemitism.
The sanctions will take effect through royal decree, but only after the last hostage held by Hamas in Gaza has been released and when the group no longer has any role in the administration of Palestine.
Sky News economic analyst and editor Ed Conway warns that the Western world is drastically underestimating how significant the Eurasian alliance Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is becoming.
According to Conway, the Ukraine war and Western sanctions against Russia have accelerated a historic power shift where China, Russia and India are now forming an increasingly strong counterweight to the G7 countries.
While G7 countries’ exports to Russia have collapsed to almost zero, China’s exports have instead increased dramatically. India has gone from barely importing Russian oil to relying on the country for the majority of its crude oil imports. British analyst Ed Conway argues that the consequences of the Ukraine war extend far beyond Europe’s borders.
“The vast majority of policymakers in Westminster, let alone elsewhere around the UK, have never heard of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation”, Conway writes in his analysis from the summit in Tianjin, China this week.
He believes this grouping of ten Eurasian states – led by China, Russia and India – deserves significantly more attention in Europe.
The analyst identifies February 2022 as a watershed moment. Before the war, G7 countries exported roughly as much to Russia as China did, and Europe was then the largest importer of Russian oil. Today, the figures show a completely different reality. While Western sanctions have decimated G7 trade with Russia, China’s exports have instead exploded.
“Exports of Chinese transportation equipment are up nearly 500%”, Conway notes.
A future without the US?
In parallel, India has undergone a dramatic change in its energy purchases. The country has gone from importing “next to no Russian oil to relying on the country for the majority of its crude imports”.
This development has led the US to consider drastic measures. Conway points to how Washington has threatened to impose “secondary tariffs” against India, which would double the tariff level on Indian goods to 50 percent – “one of the highest levels in the world”.
“The upshot of Ukraine, in other words, isn’t just misery and war in Europe. It’s a sharp divergence in economic strategies around the world”, he states.
The analyst identifies a deeper structural change taking place. Asian nations have begun to “envisage something they had never quite imagined before: an economic future that doesn’t depend on the American financial infrastructure”.
Putin, Modi and Xi Jinping during the SCO summit this week. Photo: Kremlin/CC BY 4.0
“Once sworn rivals”
Conway explains that Asian countries have traditionally been the largest buyers of US government bonds, partly to secure dollars for oil purchases. But since the war in Ukraine escalated, Russia has begun selling oil without pricing it in dollars, while many Asian nations have reduced their purchases of US government bonds.
“Part of the explanation for the recent rise in US and UK government bond yields is that there is simply less demand for them from foreign investors than there used to be”, he notes.
A particularly concerning trend for Western leaders is the growing economic weight of SCO countries, and Conway points out that when adjusted for purchasing power, these nations’ share of global GDP is now approaching the combined share of advanced economies.
But perhaps the most surprising development is the rapprochement between China and India, which for long periods have had a very strained, and at times almost openly hostile relationship.
“Something that would have seemed completely implausible only a few years ago”, Conway writes, is that these “once sworn rivals” are now approaching economic reconciliation.
As India now faces harsh US tariffs, the country hardly sees any risk in approaching China through this rare journey to strengthen relations with Beijing, according to the analyst.
Had a fruitful meeting with President Xi Jinping in Tianjin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit. We reviewed the positive momentum in India-China relations since our last meeting in Kazan. We agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility in border areas and… pic.twitter.com/HBYS5lhe9d
Conway calls the development “a seismic moment in geopolitics” and concludes his analysis with a warning:
“For a long time, the world’s two most populous nations were at loggerheads. Now they are increasingly moving in lockstep with each other. That is a consequence few would have guessed at when Russia invaded Ukraine. Yet it could be of enormous importance for geopolitics in future decades”, he states.
The economic analyst’s conclusion is clear: the Ukraine war and sanctions against Russia have had an unexpected effect. Instead of isolating Russia, it has welded together Asia’s superpowers and accelerated the West’s economic decline.
The SCO was founded in 2001 and has ten member countries: China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus. The organization started as a security policy cooperation but now also encompasses economic and political issues.
The member countries represent over 40 percent of the world's population and when adjusted for purchasing power, SCO countries account for nearly half of global GDP. The organization's secretariat is located in Beijing and the chairmanship rotates between member countries.
G7 (Group of Seven)
The G7 consists of the USA, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Canada. The group was formed in the 1970s as a forum for economic coordination between industrialized liberal democracies. The G7 countries account for approximately 30 percent of global GDP and have long played a central role in the international financial system.
The EU participates in G7 meetings as an observer. Since 2022, the G7 has coordinated economic sanctions against Russia following the war in Ukraine.
Chinese President Xi Jinping launched a frontal attack against Western “hegemony and power politics” when he opened the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China.
Before 20 world leaders, he demanded a new world order free from Western dominance and called for a multipolar world with a more equal distribution of power.
At Monday’s opening speech before more than 20 world leaders, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin and India’s Narendra Modi, Xi Jinping urged member countries to continue resisting what he described as bullying behavior within the international system.
— The global situation remains volatile and turbulent. We must reject bullying, oppose external interference, and safeguard the legitimate development rights of all countries, Xi warned.
The Chinese leader invoked what he called the “Shanghai Spirit” – principles that according to Xi are based on mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation and respect for different civilizations. He also praised the progress SCO has made since its founding in 2001 and presented new priorities for the organization.
— We should advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and make the global governance system more just and equitable, the Chinese president continued.
At the #SCO Tianjin Summit, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Governance Initiative (GGI), highlighting five principles:
adhering to sovereign equality
abiding by international rule of law
practicing multilateralism
advocating the people-centered approach
and… pic.twitter.com/frNLeexGPI
He emphasized that members must “oppose the Cold War mentality, bloc confrontation, and bullying practices” – terms that Beijing often uses to criticize US and Western policies.
— We uphold justice and fairness, and oppose hegemony and power politics. Constructive participation in international affairs must be based on respect, not domination, he continued.
Summit amid tariff crisis
Xi described all SCO members as “friends and partners” and called for forms of cooperation that benefit all parties while respecting national differences. He also called for strengthened cultural and social exchange between peoples, evidence-based decision-making within the organization and improved strategic communication.
— Joint cooperation makes it possible for all cultures to flourish in prosperity and harmony, he assured.
The statements come after China’s sharp condemnation of Trump’s recently imposed tariffs against several countries, including India.
Had an excellent meeting with President Putin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Tianjin. Discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation in all sectors, including trade, fertilisers, space, security and culture. We exchanged views on regional and global developments, including… pic.twitter.com/DhTyqOysbf
The US and China currently have a fragile ceasefire in the tariff conflict after Trump postponed the reintroduction of high tariffs against Beijing by 90 days. Last week, however, Trump threatened 200-percent tariffs if China restricts exports of rare earth magnets to the US.
Xi also emphasized the need for strengthened multilateralism and that the UN’s role as well as the global trade system must be preserved.
Growing economic influence
The SCO countries’ combined GDP approaches €27 trillion and the organization’s global influence is expanding at a corresponding pace, noted the Chinese leader who also established that members today work together to handle challenges within security, environmental issues and innovation.
China’s trade with the organization’s member states has exceeded €2.1 trillion, and Xi particularly highlighted projects within Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative and how Chinese investments in member countries have already passed $84 billion.
During the summit, which gathered representatives from over 20 nations in Asia, Europe and the Middle East as well as from the UN and ASEAN, China presented several concrete proposals. They called for rapid creation of an SCO development bank and a new regional center for various types of security challenges. Additionally, Xi Jinping announced 100 small-scale livelihood projects to be implemented in member states.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in connection with the SCO summit in Tianjin, China. Photo: MEAphotogalleryCC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Xi also promised additional investments in education and training of scientific and technical skills to support future growth within the region.
— The organization has set a model for a new type of international relations, he said and promised to work to lift SCO to new heights.
The summit in Tianjin shows according to analysts how China is systematically building alternatives that can challenge Western institutions, and analysts point out that SCO’s growing economic weight gives Xi’s vision of a multipolar world increasingly greater impact.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is an economic and security alliance founded in 2001. The organization encompasses over 20 nations from Asia, Europe and the Middle East, including the major powers China, Russia and India. The combined GDP of SCO countries approaches $30 trillion, making the organization one of the world's largest economic blocs.
Originally, the SCO focused on security issues and counter-terrorism in Central Asia, but has expanded to include economic cooperation, trade and cultural exchange. China views the organization as a counterweight to Western alliances such as the G7 and NATO, and under Xi Jinping's leadership, the SCO has increasingly positioned itself as a platform for a "multipolar world order" free from Western dominance.
