BBC News Briefing

13 May, 2024

Sofia Lotto Persio

Hello. Russian President Vladimir Putin has replaced his defence minister: long-standing ally Sergei Shoigu is out, and Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov is in. Steve Rosenberg weighs in on the shuffle. In Australia, Katy Watson looks at various initiatives to tackle violence against women. We're also reporting on Chinese dissidents, a mystic island and a portal connecting Dubliners and New Yorkers.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

New defence minister is about the money

Andrei Belousov pictured in front of a russian flag

Like Mr Putin, Mr Belousov is close to the Russian Orthodox Church and is said to be a martial arts enthusiast. Credit: Reuters

Vladimir Putin has just started his fifth term as Russia's president. His position at the Kremlin is not under discussion, but the same can't be said of at least one member of his cabinet. Defence minister Sergei Shoigu has been replaced by Andrei Belousov, a civilian economist who was serving as deputy prime minister after working for several years as an aide to Mr Putin. Russia editor Steve Rosenberg said the shuffle at the defence ministry isn't surprising, as Mr Shoigu's position had grown weaker as a result of military setbacks against Ukraine. The choice of Mr Belousov signals that Russia wants to better align its economy to the war efforts, just as the offensive against Ukraine intensifies.

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War in Ukraine: Almost 1,800 people have been evacuated from the Kharkiv area in the north-east of the country following recent attacks.

'No first line of defence': Despite official denials, Ukraine appears to have been ill-prepared to repel Russia's incursion in the Kharkiv area, Jonathan Beale reports.

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Belgorod explosion: Russia has blamed a Ukrainian air strike for the partial collapse of a building in the border city.

WORLD HEADLINES

Elections in Catalonia: The Socialists of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez have won the regional vote, with pro-independence parties losing ground.

US campus protests: Dozens of Virginia Commonwealth University students have walked out of their graduation ceremony, where Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin was a keynote speaker, in part due to his stance on Israel-Gaza war demonstrations.

UK politics: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to make a pre-election pitch to voters after his party's bleak showing in local elections earlier this month.

Xenotransplantation: The first man to receive a genetically modified pig kidney transplant has died two months after the operation.

Sumatra: More than 40 people have been killed after flash floods and "cold lava" - a mixture of volcanic material and pebbles - flowed from Mount Marapi on the western Indonesian island.

AT THE SCENE

Sydney, Australia

Efforts to tackle gendered violence

Demonstrators at a march against gendered violence hold up signs reading 'violence is for the weak' and 'if you're not angry you're not paying attention'

So far this year, 28 women have been violently killed in Australia, according to campaigners. Credit: EPA

Two weeks ago, tens of thousands of people around Australia took part in marches calling for gendered violence to be declared a national emergency. One of the projects aiming to change the attitudes that contribute to violence against women involves high school students.

Katy Watson, Sydney correspondent

"For a young woman growing up in Australia it's scary, knowing these things are happening," says student Shriya, who listens intently at the back of the classroom as the group is given small cards with statements such as "equality", "slut-shaming" and "sending unwanted nudes". They're asked to place the phrases along a line of masking tape on the floor - labelled "respect and consent culture" at one end, and "violence and abuse culture" at the other. "Think of the line today as a metaphor for your gut feeling," says Tara Gleig, a student support officer who is helping run Love Bites.

Keep reading

Brisbane murder: A teenager who pleaded guilty to killing a woman after breaking into her home has been jailed for 14 years.

Further listening: Katy Watson joins reporter Tiffanie Turnbull on The Global Story podcast to discuss the depth of Australia’s problem with violence against women – and how the country might solve it.

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

Chinese dissident still pursued decades on

Yan Xiong speaks into a loudspeaker at a protest in Tiananmen Square in 1989

Beijing 1989: Yan Xiong pictured during the Tiananmen Square protests. Credit: BBC

Three decades ago, Chinese dissidents were being smuggled out of the country in a secret operation called Yellow Bird - but as one of them tells the BBC, Beijing is still pursuing them. When Yan Xiong decided to run for public office in the US, he started noticing some odd occurrences.

Read the story

view of the beachfront on the island of Siquijor

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Mystic island

Siquijor's healers are attracting visitors far beyond the Philippines.

Here's why

And finally...

A 24/7 livestream offering Dubliners a view of New York City - and vice versa - was unveiled in the two cities last week. The idea behind the project is to unite citizens via technology on either side of the Atlantic Ocean, and beyond: over the summer, the portal is due to connect the Irish capital to cities in Poland, Brazil and Lithuania.

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