TRANSIZIONE ECOLOGICA, TECNOLOGIA, COMMERCIO VS PROTEZIONISMO

FOCUS

• June 7, 2022. By Ken Heydon, East Asia Forum. Trade is a key multiplier in spreading the technology vital to the climate transition. But protectionist tendencies embedded in the implementation of the climate transition pose a major threat to the global trading system.  Protectionism threatens the climate transition

THINK TANKS & GLOBAL NEWS

DIGITAL, TECH, CYBER

• June 8, 2022. By Sean Michael Kerner, Info Security. As attacks become increasingly sophisticated, there is a clear need for a public-private partnership between the US government and industry to help identify and stop attackers. #RSAC: How the US Government and Industry Work Together to Stop Cyber-Attacks
• June 8, 2022. By James Coker, Info Security. The ways federal agencies can strengthen national cybersecurity were discussed in a keynote session on day two of the RSA Conference 2022. #RSAC: Collective Effort Required to Strengthen National Cybersecurity
• June 8, 2022. By Eleanor Dallaway, Info Security. In his keynote at RSA Conference 2022, Bruce Schneier imagined the future of artificial intelligence (AI) hacks. #RSAC: Schneier Declares AI Hacking Will Favor Defense
• June 8, 2022. By James Coker, Info Security. This week, ISACA released its Supply Chain Security Gaps: A 2022 Global Research Report, which received responses from more than 1300 IT professionals with supply chain insight. Worryingly, 25% of respondents admitted that their organization experienced a supply chain attack in the past 12 months. Meanwhile, over half (53%) expect supply chain issues to stay the same or worsen over the next six months. #RSAC Interview: ISACA Discusses its New Supply Chain Report
• June 8, 2022. By Phil Muncaster, Info Security. Some 49% of UK cybersecurity decision-makers have considered leaving the industry due to mounting stress levels, and a similar number know someone who has in the past year, according to new research. Ransomware Pressure Forcing UK CISOs to Consider Quitting
• June 8, 2022. By Sean Michael Kerner, Info Security. Among the keynote highlights of any RSA Conference is the annual Cryptographer’s Panel, and the 2022 event didn’t disappoint.  #RSAC: Cryptographers Panel Outlines Perils of Adversarial AI and Blockchain
• June 8, 2022. By Phil Muncaster, Info Security. The US authorities have teamed up with police in Europe to dismantle a prolific underground marketplace, although its administrators remain at large. US and Euro Police Smash Cybercrime Marketplace
• June 8, 2022. By Phil Muncaster, Info Security. Threat actors spent a median of 15 days inside victim networks last year, an increase of over a third from the previous year, according to new data from Sophos. Attacker Dwell Time Surges 36% in 2021

AROUND THE WORLD

Arctic Council 

• June 8, 2022. By US Department of State. The governments of Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the United States have issued the following joint statement. Joint Statement on Limited Resumption of Arctic Council Cooperation

Australia

• June 8, 2022. By John Coyne, The Strategist. Northern Australia has always been a big place, with much of its diverse social and economic activity unseen from the outside. Even before the ink was dry on Australia’s constitution, translating policy developed in the south into action in this broad and isolated region was challenging. That’s as true today as it was back then. Removing the roadblocks to development in northern Australia

Canada – Russia

• June 8, 2022. By Interfax. The Canadian authorities on Wednesday imposed a ban on the provision of some services to the Russian oil, gas and chemical industries, Global Affairs Canada said in a statement. Canada bans provision of some services in Russian oil, gas, chemical industries – document

China

• June 8, 2022. By Kristen Hopewell, East Asia Forum. Beijing’s trade practices have come under intense scrutiny amid its ongoing competition with Washington. Yet with the United States and other rich countries dominating the debate, the effects of China’s trade policies on poorer countries have been largely ignored. The real victims of China’s subsidies

China – Central Asian Countries

• June 8, 2022. By Interfax. The Central Asian countries and China, during a ministerial meeting in Nur-Sultan, reached a number of agreements aimed at strengthening cooperation, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters after the meeting on Wednesday. Central Asian countries, China intend to boost payments in nat’l currencies

China – Solomon Islands

• June 8, 2022. By Catherine Wilson, The Interpreter. What we know so far about the content of the China-Solomon Islands security pact, announced in April, points to Beijing’s preoccupation with the internal protection of its “interests” in Solomon Islands. This begs closer scrutiny, particularly following Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s whirlwind tour of the Pacific Islands at the end of May and his tenacious drive to secure a region-wide multilateral economic, free trade and security pact – termed the Five-Year Action Plan on Common Development – with ten Pacific Island nations. China-Solomon Islands pact: Reading between the lines

Europe

• June 8, 2022. By Leonardo Tricarico, Formiche. L’attuale situazione di blocco delle vie marittime del Mar Nero potrebbe avere ricadute catastrofiche a livello umanitario, stante il blocco delle esportazioni del grano ucraino. Di fronte a questo scenario la comunità internazionale, e in particolare l’Europa, devono rispondere proponendo, magari in sede Onu, l’avvio di un’operazione internazionale che mette in sicurezza le rotte commerciali del bacino. Così l’Europa può farsi garante della via del grano ucraino

Kazakhstan

• June 8, 2022. By Interfax. Chevron Corporation through its subsidiary Chevron Munaigas Inc. and KazMunayGas (KMG) have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore potential lower carbon business opportunities in Kazakhstan. Chevron and KazMunayGas to jointly explore carbon reduction opportunities

QUAD – North Korea

• June 8, 2022. By Cherry Hitkari, The Interpreter. North Korea at least waited until US President Joe Biden had left Asia before launching another volley of missiles to splash into the sea. American officials had braced for a potential show of force by Pyongyang as Biden toured the region last month for meetings culminating with the “Quad” nations, India, United States, Japan and Australia. Certainly North Korea was on the minds of the gathered leaders – in a joint statement issued after their summit in Tokyo, the four members condemned Pyongyang’s “destabilising ballistic missile launches” and called on North Korea to engage in substantive dialogue for the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula in line with the United Nations Security Council resolutions. They also emphasised a need to immediately resolve the question of Japanese abductees, which directly involves North Korea. The Pyongyang problem for the Quad

RCEP

• June 8, 2022. By Deasy Pane, Bappenas and Krisna Gupta, East Asia Forum. he Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) — the world’s largest trade deal — came into effect in early 2022. Its 15 member countries account for 30 per cent of the world’s population, 29 per cent of global GDP, 27 percent of global trade and 29 per cent of global foreign direct investment. Can RCEP overcome obstacles to trade reform?

Russia 

• June 8, 2022. By Interfax. The State Duma on Wednesday passed in the first reading a bill toughening state control over the issuance of firearms licenses. Firearms license applicants to be checked by FSB, Interior Ministry – bill
• June 8, 2022. By Interfax. Gazprom intends to drill a well per year in the Shtokman cluster in the Barents Sea in the next decade, Vadim Rybalchenko, head of the gas giant’s production department (307), wrote in Gas Industry magazine. Gazprom intends to drill one well per year at Shtokman cluster in coming 10 years
• June 8, 2022. By Interfax. Evraz is looking for domestic producers of units for disposal of mine methane extracted during degassing, Maxim Epifantsev, director of EvrazHolding LLC’s environmental coordination directorate, said during the “Coal and Mining” international exhibition in Novokuznetsk on Wednesday. “[Previously] four units were made [launched at Raspadskaya Coal Company LLC, which manages Evraz’s coal assets], they are German, this year we are looking for Russian ones. This year we won’t launch anything, unfortunately,” Epifantsev said. Evraz seeking domestic producers of coalmine methane disposal units to replace German ones
• June 8, 2022. By Interfax.  The State Duma passed in the third reading the law, which legally prescribes the powers of the Russian president in the matter of imposing capital restrictions on the financial market and application of measures aimed at ensuring the financial stability of Russia in conditions of sanctions. State Duma adopts law on president’s right to impose capital restrictions on financial market
• June 8, 2022. By Interfax. Avilon, a Russian automobile dealership group that focuses on luxury brands, has begun to sell the vehicles of four Chinese brands that have a presence in Russia. Luxury car dealer Avilon to start selling China’s Chery, Exeed, FAW, Changan brands
• June 8, 2022. By Interfax. Sibanthracite Group, one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of ultra high grade anthracite and Russia’s biggest producer of metallurgical coal, plans to increase production to 36.5 million tonnes in 2025, a company presentation given at the Coal and Mining exhibition on Wednesday said. Sibanthracite aims to boost coal output 50% to 36.5 mln tpy by 2026

Russia – ECHR

• June 8, 2022. By Interfax. The Federation Council has voted for bills which set the deadline for Russia’s fulfillment of European Council of Human Rights (ECHR) judgments at a meeting on Wednesday. The bills say that Russia will not fulfill ECHR judgments handed down after March 15, 2022. Federation Council votes for bills allowing Russia not to fulfill ECHR judgments handed down after March 15, 2022

Russia – Iran

• June 8, 2022. By Interfax. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi have had a telephone conversation, the Kremlin press service said on Wednesday. Russian, Iranian presidents reiterate need for diplomatic efforts to preserve JCPOA – Kremlin

Russia – Ukraine (on the ground)

• June 8, 2022. By Ukrinform. More than half of the surveyed Poles support Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggressors until the invaders withdraw from its territory, including Crimea and Donbas. “Fight until victory” – what Poles think of Ukrainian resistance to Russian invasion
• June 8, 2022. By Interfax. Turkey keeps trying to help resume the dialogue between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, expressing willingness to provide platforms for such talks, Ukrainian Ambassador to Turkey Vasyl Bodnar said. Turkey tries to help resume dialogue between Ukraine, Russia – Ukrainian ambassador to Turkey
• June 8, 2022. By Interfax. According to Turkey, Ukraine is willing either to clear its territorial sea of mines or ensure the passage of vessels loaded with grain through those waters, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday. Lavrov says citing Turkey that Ukraine agrees to ensure passage of vessels via mined waters
• June 8, 2022. By Ukrinform. Blockading grain exports via Ukrainian ports, Russia is using food as a weapon and disrupting global food security. European Council President: Russia uses food as weapon and lies Soviet-style
• June 8, 2022. By Interfax. The Ukrainian government is not participating in negotiations underway in Istanbul, where Turkish and Russian officials are discussing the possibility of opening a “green corridor” for grain exports. Nor has Ukraine considered granting Turkey a discount in return for its mediation. Turkey’s role not enough to guarantee security of seaborne grain exports from Ukraine – Kyiv
• June 8, 2022. By Ukrinform. At the front line in Zaporizhzhia Region, Ukraine and Russia have exchanged the bodies of the fallen soldiers under the ’50 for 50’ formula. Ukraine, Russia exchange bodies of fallen soldiers in Zaporizhzhia Region
• June 8, 2022. By Ukrinform. Russian troops have destroyed a building of the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service in Sumy Region. Enemy destroys building of State Border Guard Service in Sumy Region
• June 8, 2022. By Ukrinform. In the Southern direction, the situation on the battlefield is remaining tense. Artillery and air duels continue. Air and artillery duels continue in southern Ukraine
• June 8, 2022. By Interfax. There are no substantive talks on Russian grain exports at this point, and grain traders have been dealing with numerous difficulties caused by sanctions, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. No substantive talks on Russian grain exports – Peskov
• June 8, 2022. By Interfax. Negotiating teams need to resume their work before a possible meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky can be discussed, and the ball is in Kyiv’s court, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday. Lavrov on prospects of Putin-Zelensky meeting: Negotiating teams need to resume their work first
• June 8, 2022. By Ukrinform. Over the past day, the Russians continued firing artillery and MLRS on Kharkiv city and the region. Five people were killed and 12 more were injured. 5 killed in Kharkiv region over past day as Russians fire artillery, MLRS
• June 8, 2022. By Reuters. Turkey, which is negotiating with Russia to secure safe routes for grain exports from blocked Ukrainian seaports, is not powerful enough to act as a guarantor, the director of Ukrainian grain traders union UGA Serhiy Ivashchenko said on Wednesday. Turkey is not powerful enough to guarantee Ukrainian grain exports – traders union
• June 8, 2022. By Reuters. The Russian-installed administration in the occupied part of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region plans to stage a referendum later this year on joining Russia, Russian news agencies quoted one of its members as saying. Russian proxies plan vote in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region on joining Russia
• June 8, 2022. By Pavel Polityuk and Abdelaziz Boumzar, Reuters.  Ukrainian troops holding out in the ruins of Sievierodonetsk came under renewed heavy assault on Wednesday from Russian forces who see the capture of the industrial city as key to control of the surrounding Luhansk region. Ukrainian forces come under renewed Russian attack in key eastern city
• June 8, 2022. By Ukrinform. On June 7, Russian invaders took about 11 railcars of grain out of an elevator in Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia region. Russian invaders take about 11 railcars of grain out of Melitopol elevator

Timor-Leste – China – Australia

• June 8, 2022. By Andrea Fahey, The Interpreter. China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi last week concluded a Pacific tour – featuring some diplomatic gains and losses – with a 24-hour visit to Timor-Leste. The visit marks the island neighbour to Australia’s north as another important player in the regional strategic contest. Timor-Leste, China and Australia, and the influence contest

Ukraine

• June 8, 2022. By Interfax. The Ukrainian market of non-bank financial institutions shrank by five actors to 1,659 in May, Ukrainian media outlets said with the reference to the National Bank of Ukraine’s website on Tuesday. Ukrainian market of non-bank financial institutions shrinks by 5 actors in May – National Bank of Ukraine
• June 8, 2022. By Interfax. Ukraine’s gas sector remains in working condition but it needs external assistance to prepare for storing natural gas for the next heating season, the head of Naftogaz Ukraine, Yuriy Vitrenko said. Ukraine needs help to import up to 6 bcm of gas, lend-lease under discussion – Naftogaz head
• June 8, 2022. By Interfax. Natural gas transit to Hungary from Poland via Ukraine has reached 3 million cubic meters per day, Ukrainian media outlets said with the reference to comments posted by Serhiy Makohon, head of Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine, on social media. Gas transit to Hungary from Poland via Ukraine reaches 3 million cubic meters per day – head of Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine
• June 8, 2022. By Interfax. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has tasked the country’s relevant ministries and regional administrations to ensure the required amount of diesel fuel during the harvest gathering campaign. PM tells Ukrainian ministries to ensure required amount of diesel fuel for harvesting campaign
• June 8, 2022. By Interfax. The National Bank of Ukraine is expecting a decline in banks’ refinancing debt after raising the discount rate by 15 percentage points to 25% per annum, head of the bank’s monetary policy and economic analysis department Volodymyr Lepushinsky said. National Bank of Ukraine expecting refinancing debt to decrease as discount rate rises to 25%
• June 8, 2022. By Interfax. The coal stock at Ukrainian thermal power plants should amount to 2 million or 3 million tonnes by the beginning of the 2022/2023 heating season, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said. Ukraine needs to stock 2 mln to 3 mln tonnes of coal by 2022/2023 heating season – Ukrainian PM

Ukraine – Europe

• June 8, 2022. By Interfax. Ukraine has received 40 containers and 35 trucks of electrical equipment with the Energy Community Secretariat’s support since February 24, Ukrainian media reported citing the Energy Ministry as saying in a report on its website on Wednesday with reference to Deputy Energy Minister for Digital Development, Digital Transformations, and Digitalization Farid Safarov. Ukraine receives 40 containers, 35 trucks of electrical equipment with Energy Community Secretariat’s assistance – official
• June 8, 2022. By Interfax. The Ukrenergo national energy company of Ukraine is proposing several options for distributing proceeds to be earned by the company from the sale at auctions of interstate transmission capacity for exporting electricity to Europe, the Ukrainian media reported from a press conference of Ukrenergo CEO Volodymyr Kudrytskiy. Ukrenergo offers several options to distribute proceeds from electricity exports to Europe
• June 8, 2022. By Interfax. Continental Europe transmission system operators have given a positive response to the Ukrenergo company’s request to resume electricity exports from Ukraine, the Ukrainian media said, citing Ukrenergo. ENTSO-E approves gradual increase of Ukrainian electricity exports to Europe
• June 8, 2022. By Ukrinform. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba signed a letter to the European Union member states outlining Ukraine’s proposals on the 7th package of sanctions against Russia which should be adopted as soon as possible. Kuleba: We call on EU, G7 to promptly adopt 7th package of sanctions
• June 8, 2022. By Ukrinform. Russian president Vladimir Putin will continue to implement his criminal plans with impunity if Ukraine does not receive the status of a candidate for EU membership. Stefanchuk at EP: Putin will go further if Ukraine doesn’t receive EU candidate status
• June 8, 2022. By Ukrinform. Ukraine will not accept any alternatives to the status of a candidate for EU membership and does not see skeptical EU countries having any rational arguments. Kuleba: Ukraine will not accept any alternatives to EU candidate status

Ukraine – Germany

• June 8, 2022. By Interfax. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has discussed steps to strengthen Ukraine’s defense support, food security, and integration with the European Union in a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Zelensky, Scholz discuss bolstering Ukraine’s defense support, global food security in telephone call
• June 8, 2022. By Ukrinform. President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed enhancing defense support for Ukraine with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Zelensky discusses enhancing defense support for Ukraine with Scholz

Ukraine – IAEA

• June 8, 2022. By Interfax.  Eleven Member States of the International Nuclear Energy Agency (IAEA) registered in the Response and Assistance Network (RANET) have so far offered to provide specialized equipment to Ukraine for the safe and secure operation of its nuclear facilities, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said. IAEA chief: 11 member states ready to provide Ukraine with equipment for safe operation of NPPs

Ukraine – Ireland

• June 8, 2022. By Interfax. Kingspan, the Irish manufacturer of thermal-insulation energy efficient building solutions, plans to invest 200 million euros in a new Building Technology Campus in Ukraine. Ireland’s Kingspan to invest 200 mln euros in construction hub in Ukraine

Ukraine – Russia – BSEC

• June 8, 2022. By Ukrinform. Ukraine requested that Russia be expelled from the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) at a meeting of senior officials in the first days of the full-scale war, but there was no proper reaction. Ambassador Bodnar: No reaction from BSEC to Ukraine’s request to expel Russia

Ukraine – Russia – Middle East

• June 8, 2022. By Interfax. Russian-held territories of the Zaporizhzhya region are supplying grain to the Middle East, head of the Zaporizhzhya interim military-civilian administration Yevgeny Balitsky said. Grain from Zaporizhzhya being supplied to Middle East – interim administration head

Ukraine – World Bank 

• June 8, 2022. By Interfax. The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved $1.49 billion of additional financing for Ukraine on Tuesday under the Public Expenditures for Administrative Capacity Endurance in Ukraine Project, the bank said in a press release. World Bank approves $1.5 bln for Ukraine

DEFENSE, MILITARY

• June 8, 2022. By Marcus Hellyer, The Strategist. In March, shortly before federal election, the Coalition government released a defence budget that continued its record of delivering the funding it promised in the 2016 defence white paper and 2020 defence strategic update. The cost of Australia’s defence: hard choices for the new government
• June 7, 2022. By Bradley Bowman, Mark Montgomery, Mackenzie Eaglen, FDD. The Pentagon sent its classified 2022 National Defense Strategy (NDS) to Congress on March 28. The Defense America Needs: Assessing Biden’s Budget Proposal

PERSPECTIVES

• June 8, 2022. By Shlomo Ben-Ami, Project-Syndicate, The Strategist. The war in Ukraine has reasserted the relevance of nuclear weapons as a major deterrent in global conflicts. For the first time since the end of the Cold War, a great power has publicly threatened to deploy tactical nuclear weapons. And the threat worked: the West has been carefully calibrating its arms supply to Ukraine in order to avoid giving Russia reason to resort to nuclear escalation. Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine wouldn’t have happened had Ukraine not surrendered its nuclear arsenal under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances, which included American and Russian guarantees to respect and defend its territorial integrity. Russia’s nuclear threat has worked

Le interviste di The Science of Where Magazine

• INDO-PACIFICO: COMPETIZIONE TECNOLOGICA, CRESCITA ECONOMICA, SICUREZZA. L’OPINIONE DI SORABH GUPTA (ICAS)
• MODULARE LE TECNOLOGIE PER UN FUTURO AGRO-SOSTENIBILE. A COLLOQUIO CON TIM BENTON (CHATHAM HOUSE)