https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/new-zealand-deploys-troops-to-the-uk-to-train-ukrainian-sold

New Zealand deploys troops to the UK to train Ukrainian soldiers

The government of New Zealand said on Monday that it will deploy 120 military troops to Britain to assist in preparing Ukrainian soldiers for front-line warfare.

Through the deployment, two infantry training teams will be able to provide Ukrainian soldiers with the fundamental abilities they need to be successful in battle, including weapons handling, combat first aid, operational law, as well as other necessary skills.

According to a statement from the ministry, the training of around 800 Ukrainian soldiers will only take place at one of four British locations, and no defense professionals from New Zealand will visit Ukraine.

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern "We have been clear that a blatant attack on a country's sovereignty and the subsequent loss of innocent lives is wrong and intolerable. Our condemnation will continue to extend beyond words and include critical support," said as she spoke at a news conference to announce the decision of deployment.

However, Ardern emphasized that neither New Zealand troops nor those sent there are set to engage in the Ukraine war.

This is the latest for the collective-West's involvement in the Ukraine war. Earlier, in May, thirty New Zealand defense professionals finished an assignment aimed at instructing Ukrainian military troops in operating artillery.

The training deployments are a part of a series of decisions following the Ukraine war. Alongside deployments, New Zealand sanctioned 840 people and businesses, and offered Ukraine financial support totaling more than NZ$40 million ($25.70 million).

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/sadrist-movement-sets-next-saturday-for-million-strong-demon

Sadrist movement sets next Saturday for 'million-strong' demonstration

The Sadrist movement in Iraq has set next Saturday as a date for its "million-strong" demonstrations, which it recently called for, stressing the need to "gather in Tahrir Square and then walk to the Celebration Square."

Saleh Muhammad al-Iraqi, "al-Sadr's minister", wrote on Twitter that "the demonstration next Saturday will gather in Tahrir Square and then walk to the Celebrations Square," noting that "Al-Sadr confirmed that the demonstration will be peaceful and unparalleled in terms of number."

Al-Sadr called for a million-strong demonstration in Tahrir Square in central Baghdad yesterday, without specifying a date for the demonstration, explaining that "the timing and instructions for the demonstration will be announced later."

Iraq's Supreme Judiciary: No jurisdiction to dissolve Parliament

Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council confirmed on Sunday that it has no jurisdiction to dissolve the country's Parliament.

In a statement, and in response to a request by Sadrist leader Muqtada Al-Sadr last week, the Supreme Council called not to involve the council's name in political rivalry.

The statement added that the Council discussed Al-Sadr's request and that it "has no jurisdiction to dissolve the Parliament."

The Council also stressed that "the judiciary stands at the same distance from everyone because it is based on the constitution and the law."

Last Wednesday, al-Sadr demanded, "the Iraqi judiciary dissolve parliament within a period not exceeding the end of next week," and that "the president of the republic sets a date for early parliamentary elections," in light of the political impasse in the country.

Coordinating framework announced the open sit-in

Demonstrations called by the Iraqi Coordination Framework "in support of legitimacy and constitution" started in front of Al-Mu'allaq Bridge in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

The Coordination Framework in Iraq stressed the importance of expediting the process of naming a presidential candidate and the formation of a service government that addresses the crises in the country.

Early this month, supporters of the Coordination Framework in Iraq flocked to the entrance of the Green Zone to participate in a demonstration that raised the slogan "supporting legitimacy and preserving the constitution", in response to a call made by the framework, and addressed to the Iraqi people to demonstrate peacefully "to defend their state."

This came after the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, called on his supporters to demonstrate, saying in a statement: "Oh, the Iraqi people, you are all at stake," he added, "rise up to demand reform in your country… I call on everyone to support the revolutionaries for reform, including our tribes, our security forces, and members of the popular mobilization."

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>>17398143

Andrew and Edward, both names of Queen's sons.

>>17398162

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/coast-troops-held-in-mali-charged

Ivory Coast troops held in Mali charged

Dozens of Ivorian troops detained in Mali on suspicion of being mercenaries have been charged and remanded in custody, court sources said to AFP on Sunday.

However, negotiations between Ivory Coast and Mali to free the 49 soldiers were still ongoing, according to a source close to the talks.

According to a Malian court source, the troops were charged with attempting to disrupt national security on Friday by a prosecutor in Bamako. They have already been detained for more than a month. Another source close to the judge, as well as a justice ministry official in Mali, verified the story to AFP.

The Ivory Coast has disputed the charge and asked that the troops be released, claiming that they were reinforcements for the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, MINUSMA.

Negotiations to liberate the soldiers have begun, with Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe serving as a mediator. According to a source close to the talks, they made some progress but "stalled over crucial topics," which could explain the return to the legal process.

"Justice will continue its work, but the negotiations will also continue," the source said.

The troops' detention following their arrival at Bamako airport on July 10 triggered a diplomatic crisis between military-ruled Mali and its West African neighbor.

Talks deadlocked

Diplomatic sources close to the discussions revealed that Mali is demanding that Ivory Coast accept responsibility for the incident and show remorse for the deployment of the soldiers.

Reports indicated that Bamako also wants Abidjan to hand over those who have been on its territory since 2013 and are wanted in Mali.

They claimed that Ivory Coast has rejected both demands and is preparing for lengthy discussions to liberate its men.

The Ivory Coast claims the soldiers were wrongfully arrested at Bamako's airport after being dispatched to support the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, MINUSMA. They say their role within the mission was "well-known to the Malian authorities".

Mali's military-led administration, on the other hand, claims they were detained after landing on a special flight without proper documentation and refers to them as "mercenaries."

A day after the troops were detained, MINUSMA spokesman Olivier Salgado endorsed Ivory Coast's claim, but the peacekeeping operation later acknowledged "dysfunctions" in the deployment of the Ivorian forces.

Mali's authorities then barred Salgado from the nation for publishing "inappropriate material" about the affair. It also suspended rotations of UN peacekeeping troops, but they are set to resume on Monday.

The junta accused Ivory Coast of urging regional partners to impose harsh sanctions on Mali, which were later lifted.

Since an August 2020 coup deposed elected leader Ibrahim Boubacar Keita following huge demonstrations over the management of a long-running and brutal insurgency, Mali has been governed by the military.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/demonstrations-to-deport-the-french-barkhane-force-in-northe

Demonstrations to deport the French Barkhane force in northern Mali

Dozens of people demonstrated in Gao, the northern city of Mali, on Sunday to push for an acceleration of the departure of the French Barkhane force, organizers of the demonstration and local officials told AFP.

The protesters, who presented themselves as the forces vives, gave France's Barkhane forces a 72-hour ultimatum to leave the city indefinitely. Gao is home to the last French soldiers in Mali who will be leaving for Niger.

Pictures received by AFP showed demonstrators waving placards with the phrases "Barkhane Arhali", "Barkhane, the godfather of terrorist groups and their ally", and "No foreign power can make Mali a spoil." These messages are being circulated, especially in strong anti-French circles and on social media.

“Considering the strong involvement of French forces in the terrorist attacks in the region of the three borders, in particular in the last ones in Tessit, in the circle of Ansongo, having caused 42 Malian soldiers to be killed, we, Forces vives de la Ville de Gao, bowing to the memory of all civilian and military victims of this situation of generalized insecurity, have decided to organize a series of demonstrations against the presence of the French forces of Barkhane in the towns of Gao and Ansongo”, declared Abdoul Karim Samba, spokesperson for the Forces vives de Gao.

On the other hand, Paris regularly denounces "massive disinformation" campaigns against its forces despite numerous accusations of crime and misconduct by Malians against them.

Relations between the ruling military junta in Bamako and Paris, the former colonial power, have deteriorated sharply in recent months. Most especially, since the arrival of the paramilitary forces from the Russian Wagner group to Mali, which pushed the two countries into a rupture after 9 years of continuous French presence waging "war on terrorism."

In the Background

Paris, throughout approximately 10 years of its military presence in Mali, failed to achieve any tangible achievements in terms of the country's security, political instability, and economic issues, sparking popular waves of resentment toward France, leading to two coups in the country, the last of which took place in May 2021.

The junta in Mali decided to withdraw all defense treaties with France, citing "flagrant abuses" of national sovereignty.

Paris no longer possesses the legal basis for carrying out military operations in Mali after the West African nation withdrew from defense agreements with France, the Malian government said.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/poland-reveals-plan-for-eu-wide-russian-visa-ban

Poland reveals plan for EU-wide Russian visa ban

Warsaw is working on a draft proposal that would allow the EU to refuse visas to Russian travelers. A ruling on the subject is expected in the coming weeks, Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Piotr Wawrzyk told the nation's PAP news agency on Sunday.

The deputy minister did not go into detail about the idea, which is still in the works, but stated that its goal is to avoid the opposition of some significant EU countries who are likely to oppose a blanket visa restriction on all Russians.

Poland is in favor of completely suspending the 2007 deal between Brussels and Moscow on "visa facilitation." This convention governs the issuing of visas "for an anticipated stay of no more than 90 days per period of 180 days" for Russian and EU residents.

Yet, according to Wawrzyk, not all EU members are on board with such an initiative. “This is opposed by large member states, including Germany, France, and the Netherlands,” he said. Since it is “impossible to overcome the resistance of these countries to suspend the agreement … Poland is working on a new solution,” he added.

Warsaw has already been holding talks with some EU member states “for several weeks,” the deputy minister said, adding that Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Slovakia, as well as the Czech Republic, are aligned with Poland’s approach to the issue. “We can expect a decision on this matter in the coming weeks,” Wawrzyk said.

The deputy minister welcomed the decisions of Tallinn and Riga to suspend or limit the issuance of visas to Russians. “Better late than never,” he said, adding that Poland has not been issuing tourist visas to Russians for several months already. Only diplomats, truck drivers on business in Poland, and family members of Polish and EU citizens are admitted to Warsaw.

EU ban on Russians

Earlier this week, the Czech Republic, which now holds the rotating presidency of the EU, stated that it would advocate for a blanket EU ban on Russians. The topic will be discussed by the bloc's members during a ministerial session in late August in Prague.

Earlier last month, Latvia ceased issuing visas to practically all Russian citizens, citing security concerns. Estonia announced the same on Thursday. Tallinn also intends to prohibit current Russian holders of Estonian visas from entering the country from August 18. Last week, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas declared travel to the EU a "luxury, not a human right," and urged other EU member nations to follow suit.

The Finnish government, which supports the same policy, is set to discuss potential curbs on providing visas to Russians on Tuesday, according to the Finnish YLE radio.

So far, Germany has been one of the few EU countries to oppose such a move. Chancellor Olaf Scholz was skeptical of a blanket ban, claiming that it would undermine the effectiveness of other measures by targeting "innocent people."

Moscow has condemned the new legislation as "flagrant nationalism" and "xenophobia." The Kremlin also expressed hope that "common sense" will win in the long run.