International News 116

Turkish rescue teams are engaged in a high-stakes mission to save an American explorer who encountered a medical emergency while deep inside a cave more than 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) below the Earth’s surface.

Mark Dickey, a 40-year-old American, found himself in a critical situation when he developed gastrointestinal bleeding during an exploration of the Morca cave, located near Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. This challenging operation has mobilized a team of 150 rescuers, making it one of the largest cave rescues ever attempted.

Dickey’s health deteriorated at a depth of 1,120 meters, while he was part of an international team of explorers. In response, he was placed under observation at a base camp situated 1,040 meters underground, where rescuers and medics administered a blood transfusion.

The Turkish caving federation initiated the rescue operation in collaboration with Turkey’s emergency response service on Tuesday. Multiple international teams, including experts from Croatia and Italy, have joined forces to assist in this complex rescue mission.

To establish communication with the deep underground base camp, a phone line has been set up, and Croatian rescuers are implementing an additional “CaveLink” communications system as a backup.

While Dickey’s condition has stabilized, it remains challenging for him to exit the cave without assistance. The Morca cave is the third-deepest in Turkey, extending to a depth of 1,276 meters. Rescuers anticipate that it may take several days to safely extract Dickey from this subterranean labyrinth.

The ongoing efforts of these dedicated rescue teams serve as a testament to the unwavering commitment to saving lives, even in the most challenging and remote environments.

The US Open semi-final match between Coco Gauff and Karolína Muchová took an unexpected turn when climate protesters made their voices heard, temporarily interrupting the game at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The disruption occurred early in the second set, with one protester going to great lengths to convey their message, even gluing their feet to the stadium floor.

Coco Gauff was leading the match, having won the first set and was holding her serve at the beginning of the second set when the disturbance unfolded. Shouting and commotion from the upper sections of the stadium disrupted play. Players and spectators alike turned their attention to the stands.

Security swiftly responded, and more than a dozen law enforcement officers arrived to address the disturbance. Three protesters were removed from the stadium by the New York Police Department officers. However, one protester presented an additional challenge as they had glued their bare feet to the concrete beneath their seat. Medics were called in to safely remove this protester, further delaying the match.

After 49 minutes of disruption, the remaining activist was finally removed, allowing the players, who had retreated to the dressing rooms during the commotion, to return to the court. Chants of “Kick them out! Kick them out!” had echoed through Arthur Ashe Stadium during the protest.

Photographs from the scene depicted the protesters wearing shirts with the slogan “End Fossil Fuels.”

In total, four protesters were removed and taken into NYPD custody, according to the US Tennis Association. Of these, three were escorted out without further incident.

Stacey Allaster, the tournament director, confirmed that one protester had taken the extraordinary step of gluing their bare feet to the stadium floor. She acknowledged that environmental protests occasionally use such platforms and mentioned that security measures would be reviewed to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Remarkably, Coco Gauff, who eventually won the match with a score of 6-4, 7-5, harbored no ill feelings toward the protesters. She noted that the disruption was carried out peacefully, saying, “It was done in a peaceful way, so I can’t get too mad at it.” Gauff did express a preference for better timing, given her momentum in the match.

The climate protest group Extinction Rebellion claimed responsibility for the disruption. Miles Grant, a spokesperson for the group, emphasized the urgency of the climate crisis, stating, “The climate is already more disruptive than any activists can possibly be.”

The disruption at the US Open mirrored a growing concern in the world of sports, where extreme weather conditions and rising temperatures are affecting both players and spectators. This year’s tournament in New York faced challenges posed by a late summer heatwave, prompting discussions about player safety.

Climate protests are becoming a visible and impactful part of major sporting events, emphasizing the need for climate action and environmental responsibility on a global scale.

Running a small business is never easy, but imagine doing so in the midst of a full-scale war, where even a Russian missile strike can’t deter your determination. That’s the reality faced by Fadir Tools, an artisan toolmaker located in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.

When the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, the owner of Fadir Tools, Serhii Ivin, didn’t hesitate to close his factory temporarily. Instead, he picked up a pump-action shotgun and joined the defense efforts to protect his city. During those intense weeks, a Russian rocket landed dangerously close to the factory, leaving Serhii and his team holed up in the basement.

Despite joining a Ukrainian army scouting unit full-time, Serhii made the courageous decision to reopen his forge after three months, entrusting the day-to-day operations to his foreman. Fadir Tools specializes in crafting hand-forged axes, carving knives, and other woodworking tools.

Fadir Tools is just one of thousands of Ukrainian firms that have remained open for business, resiliently keeping the country’s economy running despite the formidable challenges posed by the war.

Serhii Ivin shared his motivation for continuing business operations during a brief leave from the frontline: “We pay salaries and we pay taxes, and it is important we should carry on. Someday the war will end. We want to save this place and this business, and we want to save the team because people want to eat, they want to have a future. And the rest of the world needs tools.”

Upon returning to the forge in May of the same year, the team discovered the aftermath of a Russian missile strike on one of the outbuildings within their compound. The shock wave had obliterated the roof of the main office. Despite the adversity, their first task was to fulfill the 600 orders that were pending from before the war. Serhii Ivin recalls, “We had several people, and we opened our factory and started to make those orders for clients who had already paid.”

With a considerably reduced workforce, it took them until October to complete the backlog of orders. Remarkably, most customers, primarily located in the US and Western Europe, showed understanding and solidarity. “A few people wanted their money back, but most were happy to wait for their tools to be delivered, seeing it as a symbol of solidarity with Ukraine,” Serhii explained. Some customers even requested that the money for their orders be directed towards the war effort, while others sent donations to support their cause.

The forge, on the day of The Guardian’s visit, buzzed with activity. Craftsmen tirelessly hammered red-hot metal into axe heads, and workers meticulously honed the edges of custom-made woodcarving knives.

Yet, the challenges are undeniable. Serhii acknowledged, “It is harder than before the war because people don’t trust to buy something from Ukraine, because they think the war is everywhere. It is hard for them to understand that Kharkiv is now mostly quiet. Missiles still hit, but life goes on.”

To combat this trust issue, Fadir Tools launched its own online store to directly reach customers, bypassing concerns raised by online marketplaces.

Despite the hardships and the toll the war has taken on their team, with some members directly affected, the spirit of resilience prevails. The commitment to craftsmanship, quality, and the belief in the enduring need for tools sustains Fadir Tools, serving as a symbol of hope amid adversity.

As they continue their work amidst adversity, one thing is clear: Fadir Tools is not just crafting tools; they are forging resilience, determination, and hope for a brighter future.

In an upcoming meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, Rishi Sunak plans to advocate for a stronger approach towards Russia, as announced by Downing Street.

The meeting between the two prime ministers is scheduled to take place ahead of the G20 summit in the Indian capital, where the Russian invasion of Ukraine will be a significant topic of discussion, even in the presence of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Notably, Russian President Vladimir Putin conveyed his decision to skip the summit just a week ago.

During their meeting, Sunak and Modi will engage in discussions covering various subjects, including the possibility of a free trade agreement. Downing Street has hinted that the British Prime Minister intends to broach the topic of India’s relationship with Moscow, especially considering India’s continued imports of Russian oil and weapons.

Sunak expressed his perspective on Putin’s absence from the G20, stating, “Once again, Vladimir Putin is failing to show his face at the G20. He is the architect of his own diplomatic exile, isolating himself in his presidential palace and blocking out criticism and reality. The rest of the G20, meanwhile, are demonstrating that we will turn up and work together to pick up the pieces of Putin’s destruction.”

A spokesperson from Downing Street added, “India, of course, has a vital role to play, as the world’s largest democracy, in calling out Russia’s assault on human rights and indeed democracy itself. We will use meetings with Modi or elsewhere to encourage them to use their influence to bring an end to the brutal invasion.”

Sunak aims to leverage the summit as an opportunity to convince global leaders to condemn Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea grain initiative. This initiative, brokered between Russia, Ukraine, and Turkey last summer, permitted Ukrainian food supplies to be exported. Russia’s decision to exit the agreement, citing Western countries’ failure to honor export commitments, has contributed to Sunak’s argument that this move has exacerbated global inflation and adversely affected the world’s most vulnerable populations.

Moreover, Prime Minister Boris Johnson engaged in a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Thursday. Downing Street disclosed that “The prime minister committed to galvanize work with G20 countries on circumventing Russia’s blockade and ensuring vulnerable countries can access vital grain shipments.”

As the G20 summit approaches, Rishi Sunak’s diplomatic efforts underscore the importance of addressing critical international issues, with a focus on Russia’s actions and their global repercussions.

In a stunning revelation from the upcoming biography of Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson, it has been alleged that Musk ordered the shutdown of his Starlink satellite communications network during a critical moment. According to an excerpt quoted by CNN, this decision was made to thwart a Ukrainian drone attack on Russian warships near the Crimean coast, leading to the drones losing connectivity and ultimately washing ashore harmlessly.

The biography, set to be released soon, sheds light on Musk’s concerns at the time. It suggests that Musk took this drastic step out of fear that a Ukrainian attack on Russian-occupied Crimea could provoke a nuclear response from Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Musk was reportedly of the opinion that Ukraine had crossed a line by threatening a “strategic defeat” for the Kremlin.

This particular episode reveals a lesser-known aspect of Elon Musk’s involvement in geopolitics. While Musk’s willingness to assist Ukraine with Starlink hardware initially seemed like a humanitarian gesture in response to Russia’s invasion, his stance appears to have shifted as the conflict escalated.

Musk’s motivation, as outlined in the biography, appears to be rooted in his original vision for Starlink. He envisioned the satellite network as a tool for peaceful purposes, such as providing internet access and educational opportunities, rather than being embroiled in matters of warfare.

Notably, this is not the first time Musk has threatened to withdraw Starlink communications during the conflict, but it is the first instance where he is alleged to have cut off Ukrainian forces during a specific operation. The exact date of this incident remains unspecified.

During the drone attack, Mykhailo Fedorov, one of Ukraine’s deputy prime ministers, reportedly reached out to Musk, pleading for the restoration of Starlink communications. However, Musk stood firm in his decision, believing that Ukraine had ventured too far and was inviting strategic defeat.

It’s worth mentioning that Elon Musk has previously expressed views on Ukraine that align with certain Russian perspectives, including suggesting that parts of eastern Ukraine should be handed over to Russia, purportedly reflecting “the will of the people.”

This revelation comes in the wake of a European Commission study that pointed to Twitter, under Musk’s ownership, playing a significant role in the dissemination of Russian propaganda regarding the Ukraine war. The study indicated that Twitter’s adjustment of safety standards had contributed to the reach and influence of Kremlin-backed accounts.

As this biography prepares to hit the shelves, the allegations within it are likely to fuel discussions about Musk’s role in international affairs and the impact of his technology ventures on geopolitics. It remains to be seen how this revelation will be received and whether further details will emerge to shed more light on this intriguing chapter in Elon Musk’s life.

As history books reveal, the question of whether to refer to this vast and diverse nation as “India” or “Bharat” has endured for centuries.

The upcoming G20 summit, hosted by India, has stirred speculation. State-issued invitations to world leaders using the term “Bharat” have ignited discussions about a potential transition away from the English name “India.”

For some, this shift symbolizes the triumph of shedding colonial remnants. For others, it appears as a potentially misguided initiative by the prime minister.

In 1947, when India finally achieved independence from British rule, it seemingly had three coexisting names, each with its unique history and significance.

India: This name, believed to originate from Sanskrit, references the Indus River in the country’s north. It was used in various forms by Persians, ancient Greeks, and Romans over 2,000 years ago. British maps in the 18th century widely adopted it to denote the region under British rule.

Hindustan: Persians, Greeks, Delhi sultans, and Mughals had used this term for centuries to describe a significant portion of the northern and central subcontinent.

Bharat: Traced back to the ancient Sanskrit text, the Rig Veda, which dates to around 1500 BC, “Bharat” mentions the Bharata clan as a principal tribe in what is now North India. It’s also the name of a legendary king from the Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata, whom Hindus regard as the father of the Indian race.

For Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister and an anti-colonial leader, his nation encompassed all three names. In his book, “The Discovery of India,” he stated: “Often, as I wandered from meeting to meeting, I spoke to my audiences of this India of ours, of Hindustan, and of Bharata, the old Sanskrit name derived from the mythical founders of the race.”

It wasn’t until 1949, during the drafting of India’s constitution, that a decision was made regarding the country’s formal name. Faced with a committee divided between “India” and “Bharat,” the compromise was to adopt both, with “Hindustan” being omitted.

Today, India’s constitution opens with the line: “India, that is Bharat, shall be a union of states.”

This decision wasn’t without controversy in parliament. An MP, Hargovind Pant, protested, saying, “We must know that this name was given to our country by foreigners who, having heard of the riches of this land, were tempted towards it and had robbed us of our freedom in order to acquire the wealth of our country.”

Both names, “India” and “Bharat,” continue to be widely used domestically. English communication typically employs “India,” while in almost all Indian languages, it’s “Bharat.” “Bharat” is featured in the national anthem, and both “Bharat” and “India” appear on Indian passports.

Although there have been legal and parliamentary petitions seeking to establish “Bharat” as the sole legitimate name, arguing that “India” is a colonial vestige, such efforts have been rejected.

However, the debate resurfaced recently when invitations sent to heads of state for a G20 leaders’ summit in Delhi referred to the “President of Bharat” in English. The English-language G20 booklet for foreign delegates, titled “Bharat, the Mother of Democracy,” declared “Bharat” as the official name of the country. Indian officials at the G20 summit will now carry tags reading “Bharat – official.”

While the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Narendra Modi, has denied any official name change plans, officials have confirmed that “Bharat” will increasingly be used in official communication.

Many view this move by the BJP as part of its broader Hindu nationalist agenda, which aims to distance India from its British colonial past, including renaming roads and monuments. For instance, the renaming of Delhi’s Raj Path to Kartavya Path was celebrated by Modi as India’s “freedom from yet another symbol of British Raj slavery.” Names associated with the Muslim Mughal rulers have also been erased.

The call for “Bharat” to be India’s official name finds strong support within the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the hardline right-wing religious nationalist group from which the BJP originated. RSS’s chief, Mohan Bhagwat, stated, “At times we use India so those who speak English will understand. But we must stop using this. The name of the country will remain Bharat wherever you go in the world.”

The decision to use “Bharat” in G20 invitations garnered significant backing within the BJP. Minister Dharmendra Pradhan viewed it as a step toward overcoming