Tesla, apple, and all the Tech Companies rejecting claims. They support child labor and cobalt mines in africa. Also ahead invariably, when the sides in the supply what they tend to find that we are region. This is why wed always be concerned about the proliferation. Some more arms and like what such areas for administer express those concerns and they were supposed to question about guns from the ukraine conflict getting into the hands of terrorists in the past for my dear, it is now seeking with just strengthened it similitude corporation with russia the, this is all to international bringing. You old, the global stories you need to know here on the knees. Now, while were going to begin with break seen news from poland, psalm is processing in the National Capital of reportedly broken into the parliament building. Some of the demonstrators were seen clashing with a place the says being wave of processed by agriculture workers throughout the European Union in recent months of the outrage has focused also on a new environmental regulations that fall on the safe, whistling that industry punish demonstrates is also seeking up fine on cheap imports of grain from media buying ukraine. Well, im now joined by on c correspondent, marina acosta. They have a whos here in the studio arena. I guess youre going to talk me through this huge story that so just a rough did. But what is the cool of the public outrage in poland right now . I would say that at the core of the public outrage, there is definitely money because polish farmers have had enough. They can no longer take this at their own expense. It all started. Of course, last year, when polish farmers started protesting sorta complaining and saying that, hey, all the c sharp ukranian grain that is entering and flooding our market is messing with our livelihoods and we cannot make ends meet something needs to happen. And were seeing pro tasks also uh an awesome which is when it started last year we saw that they were trying to locate where the crossings within crane along their border there. And then as things really reached a fever pitch. In late february, i would say that is when we saw that 6 when the crossings were actually blocked. And during this time, there were also complaints that ukrainian grain was being dumped from trucks and from france. Even the polish agriculture minister had to apologize and justify his citizens. Actions involves their glasses with chelsea, economic times, you have to understand them as well. And then we have the Prime Minister of poland saying that perhaps were looking into temporarily closing the board, or even were talking with ukrainian side about temporarily closing the border and closing trade. And i will also talk to polish farmers about this. And such a solution would be temporary and mutually painful. We are the most pro ukrainian states, but we also have the biggest problems in all of europe resulting from the russians ukrainian war. The price of free trade with ukraine is too high, and we cant pay back elect donald tasks out there that they are bearing the bronze of this the most. And at the same time, they are very much pro ukrainian. But heres whats interesting is that you have donald task asking European Partners to understand polish farmers concerns here at the same time you have let them or as wednesday saying, no, we understand that its tough for a polish farmers and not only polish farmers. Ill get to that in the 2nd, but he wants polish farmers to understand that they need to suffer for the time being for the sake of ukraine, which of course, its tough to explain to people that can pay their bills. We must finally find a solution to the situation on the postage board. I dont mind if its going to be on both economics and morality alone go. It is simply impossible to explain how the hardships that they live in the country can be used in domestic political strawberries. Us at the same time, theres only so much that people can go on support and ukraine, add her own expense, you know . Yeah, actually, so one of the process is saying, heres a coughing of a farm. I live 20 years a died piece because he couldnt survive a how was that . He responded to the crisis. Well, so far it hasnt really done much. Well, they are the ones who started this to begin with when they changed their e u regulations. In particular, the agreement between the European Union and ukraine, they completely removed all restrictions when it comes to ukrainian trunk drivers. And this is the, the restrictions for do i was trying Sporting Goods between ukraine and the European Union. So this is not only effect in poland. This is affecting the whole block, which is why weve seen protests in other countries, not just fall. And we saw them in greece. What was it in belgium and france, another lens, germany as well. So all these farmers in, in the you are saying, hey, we need a solution because something needs to happen. This is an unfair advantage for you training information. Yes, the struggling right now, but at the same time we are struggling as one something needs to be done up today actually the polish um, what is the published Ministry Said that the european where was it . I found that the polish minister that they were planning on changing the regulations, but again, this is coming from a poland the so the European Commission has apparently agreed to work on changes to their agreement. But as i said, its been a almost a year and already, and we havent seen any changes. So this is just a more talk and no action, which is what well see next, or is something actually going to change because now things have ridge, you know, boiling point in poland at least. So this could inspire farmers in other countries. So this is something that theyll be perhaps afraid of, which will force them to add, but again, well see. This is the latest when it comes to the you. Their statement may elections, most of them to will do the best way would be to support ukrainian trends to its ends run support to see ports and sun products to countries where ukraine has always to additionally sent its products. What we need for this is a positive approach from ukraine and some coal peroration memo. Ukrainian partners must understand the situation to fall, fall moses, i know markets kind of stance. Such a level of supply increase outside that, of course make sense. But this is something that they should have thought about in the very beginning, before removing all these restrictions, anyone could have told you, well, just a basic background or understanding of what you cannot make. So this is exactly what, what would happen. So perhaps they should have looked at alternative routes, a ways for ukraine to continue delivering to where it was delivering before, so as not to effect the whole blog. But of course, i guess and they use a z 1st and then they think later. And then it takes time to find a solution. And by that time, what are all these farmers in the hes supposed to do . Yeah, like you say its basic supply and demand, the economics. What about russia . Any comments from russia in regards to whats happening now . Not just in poland, but also across the e with these products. Yes, yes will. Of course for russia, this is once again another example of how the wes puts its own interest over the interest of its own citizens. And weve seen this time and time again, and were heard today from marissa harv on the Foreign Ministry spokesman, who basically reiterated that and said that this is something that we see from the west. The time and time again, the firm was letting their on. So to use they talked about security, be sure about the need to see the poorest. It was said by the countries of the European Union, nato and western countries, which includes po number. And now they demand exactly the opposite or for products to be slowed down, like not allowed or blocked. And the ukranian ones are not allowed to come to them. But this is not even hypocrisy. This is a perversion all this, what is happening to farmers and the countries over here opinion is provoked by the regimes in those countries, but they cannot submit this because otherwise they will need to admit not just the wrong. Some of the course as is very important, but the maliciousness they knew what they were doing and it wasnt spontaneous. And secondly, they did not consider it necessary to admit these mistakes. The creation of conditions for the uncontrolled import of low quality, cheap Agricultural Products from ukraine belongs to the same malicious intent. And farmers understand that they cant get through to their leaders like they have already boarded Agricultural Machinery and drove off. They are trying to convey information in this way and wake up their own populations which we have on boarded with these pro ukrainian slogans. Of course when it comes to washington, its really far away from the plants of european farmers. So perhaps it, they dont really care about this, but when it comes to the e. U, again, they should have seen this coming all along. So this is where the question arises. What were they thinking on what for their plans, on either the thought that this would be over very soon. So farm or their farmers would it be effective or that from well theyll be effective, but somehow theyll manage, which is just ludicrous. It seems like theyve been doing a fly by the seat of the pans throw out of the situation. Im really into, thanks very much for taking us through that. Thats marina costa, here in the studio. He off, hes really nichol sort of a or well, lets get more on this story. No cost live to george time, really, who is a Senior Research fellow at the Global Policy institute in budapest. Thank you for joining us. First of all, i just want to ask you want to think about the accusations that zelinski is making a gates, poland, given that poland was its biggest back up for such a long time. He so now, so, so im in regarding the board of pro tests and they supposed political implications. Well, colon does continue to be a backup of the ukraine. As long as ukraine is waging a war against russia, i think that part of it, uh poland isnt um abandoning the problem is that ukraine has sold a lot of land to the big agricultural combines of the united states. And these are the big agricultural combines with who, having bought this land and not expect to make some money. They spend, i spent money buying up this land and they expect theyre, uh, theyre proud used to be a put on market. So the other ones, but putting the pressure um on the you the, the reason the you changed its, uh, policy to was ukrainian agricultural impulse was that the american agricultural combines were putting pressure on the, you know, the, what had happened was that the ukraine was on able to get um, its a agricultural exports through the black season. Was it while you go to do something to help us the, you abandon the, the big thing is that, you know, the very heart of the, which is the Common Agricultural policy and essentially allowed in, this is mass of, um, you can bring it, i could go swing but, but the idea behind this was that whole, they would just simply be transported through europe via rail and roads, and then they would go on to the rest of the world. But thats not happened this. Oh, this Agricultural Products, the grain exposure and everything. Just stayed in europe and so thats just driving uh, the uh, the publish ramos, but also on gear and still walk in farm is and you know, elsewhere even french german farm was driving them out of business. So you know that they, they, they, youve had the farm is understandably very, very upset. But you have the big interest, you know, the big american agricultural go on line. Absolutely. And how would you assess how not just the ukrainian, but also the polish authorities have been handling the situation . Was it feels as if theres a little flip flop going on here in terms of oh, we need to help the ukrainians. But now we dont want to have all of that goods coming through. What would, what would you say in regards to that of the governments, particularly the voters, governors, i really dont care very much about the farm. Is they more than happy to go along with the the d u commission. The problem they have is that they will be elections later this year. Both of you were being followed venture elections and those are Regional Elections in poland. And the government expects to get an absolutely hammer because of these process. So on the one hand, they obviously want to keep in with the you, particularly donald, to us was a former president of the european council. On the other end they have to somehow like aid the, the farm is, i mean farmers are very powerful groups, usually very popular in the country. They have, you know, they enjoy a lot of sympathy from the rest of public. And they have a lot of power, they like they whole the, the, the population in the hands are, you know, with no food, no life. So they basically, its trying to find some way of like gauging the farm is while a hearing to the, the policy the you isnt about the changes policy. So that makes the, the situation of the photo is government very difficult because the in the, you essentially the, or that the big concerns that have to keep in with the americans. So despite all the promises that they going to change that policy, they havent fulfilled it problems is the policy stays in place. Uh well, we think that is going to be an interesting way how this plays out now over the next few months, but thank you for taking us through the stewart assembly, a Senior Research fellow at the Global Policy institute in budapest. Thank you very much. Well, stable and finally, thats how induced Foreign Policy chief is summed up relations with russia in the context of the war in ukraine. Everyone conducts a relationship based on past experiences. If i look at the history of paste independence, india, russia has never heard of our interest. Weve always had a stable and very friendly relationship. And our relationship with moscow today is based on this experience of western powers, of being judging the deli, to change its stones towards russia. But india has stood firm in its neutral status despite the difficulties of balancing financially and dress with its international obligations. The spoke space and all the ruling b. J policy outlined the current stones, a rush, appreciate his student and know, you know, face all kinds of lives. A little bit of a rush. Yeah, we did it for a bit for russia, the whole of stick to starting from defense starting from investment in hydro, bottoms a start date, strong investment in boy starting the up into a way from the ship. The important point in this is the Foreign Policy. You may not rush she all the way mary boston, please not be any pressure from the list and board does not see any certificates or dictations from the rest of the work regarding its at a time with russia or any other kind of default that might be able to continue to do engage with russia to explore the photos active in the ohio column off the cream of defense, which has to be got really for long. But one will i some ice on corrected on that. Its just that sometimes one of the she does come across headlines, you see west and politicians check, new tally to put pressure on must go to end the conflict. But i do specifically want to ask you about a new daddys position. Hes that the, the ukraine conflict. I mean, we feel that were reaching almost a dangerous point. Weve got president mark chrome saying that were not ruling out sending west and troops to ukraine with hair and taps of job and officials talking about helping ukraine, low up russian infrastructure. New daddy says we want this conflict to be resolved. Do you see resolution coming before escalation at this point in time, disney drugs to the global bees . The resolution of the conflict is a team of people is this is not at all for any a nation without leaving any specific country to 5 due to the bias. Rather, this is the buyer to conclude the buyer. So theres a big country which is a steep border. This conflicts are off of the estimating the wall, choose the device or cause metrics so that both sides are on the d and b a. U. S. Federal cortez refused to hold several major Tech Companies liable for allegedly supporting child labor in africa. This was a case that was against the firms tesla apple, google, microsoft on dell. It pertained to cobalt Mining Operations in the democratic republic of the congo. The question is whether the Tech Companies purchasing an unspecified amount of cobalt from a supply chain originating and d. R. C mines plausibly demonstrates participation in a venture with any one engaged and forced labor in that supply chain. We hold that it does not, according to the contains of the defendants had a specific knowledge of from public reports that the dsp cobalt that they were buying with in the vases, with um, brand pool you, me pool as well as other sources was mind is a significant part to buy childrens performing habit as workforce 2. 00 to 3. 00 a day. And remarkably, in many cases, and even less than that, its a missing details are really big and painful stories of, of children who have had no choice but to work and not to the know minds within the dsp using very primitive tools. And to be a bit hands up to search for rocks, continuum kobolds is still also tasked with a cleaning the oaks before it is sold. Not only all the also being exploited, but also if they face great to risk and, and save time over. Many have lift a t old and when questioned about these pacific practices and their obligation to uphold certain standards. If these company has a tend to relieve, im pointed to generic onto such as Corporate Social Responsibility statements only in the cases did. They seem to recognize the need for greater Due Diligence and in both cases, no sense of urgency or create a commitment to applied 6th to the entire supply chain was expressed is, did. They continue to rely on the fact that they purchased from licensed exports is if we understand that delta not use one of the companies, in this case, the issued a statement saying that it was committed to opposing human rights of where, cuz to of a supply chain which has the um, google, um Apple Microsoft into slash havent even provided a comment regarding so the issue at hand. And this is a very critical mitchell use that in the manufacturing of band fees for Electronic Devices and electric vehicles. And even when supporting the results for the 4th quarter and 2023 apples ribbon, you were standing at a to 9500000000. A continued drops off of 4 consecutive porters and not so long ago. Apple plates did to clean up. Its called the supply chain, but the companies did it one to um, to avoid hurting the companys mind is by cutting them off. And it would also only use recycled the cobalt to in batches by 2025 as a part of the input to make or these uh, products, a comp on youtube by the end of off of this decade. And while the quotes decision may close this chapter of legal action against these companies, it highlights the ongoing struggle to ensure human drive a safe guard in the quest. Groups for full price. As a result has been mid tools within the african continent by these wisdom kinds of the companies. The russians, top diplomats of gala proc says the Un Security Council is to stacked in favor of western powers. So it must be reformed, adequately was represent the global majority. He made those comments off for meeting in most go with hes nigerian can support the lease of facilities is we confirmed our focus on promoting the formation of a more equitable poly centric world order. Russia reaffirmed his commitment to fully reflect on the interest of developing countries, including african ones and reforms of the United NationsSecurity Council. The Security Council must be reformed by increasing representation from africa, asia, and latin america. Western countries are already seriously over represented there. And this injustice, of course, needs to be eliminated. Well, the 2 men discussed the relations between the 2 countries and said that they would take place, but on an equal footing. So the guy live role described nigeria as a priority country, as russian develop 6 relations with african nations. On the global styles, mr. To guard the nigerian foreign minister praise those long standing relations between nigeria and russia, which he said started in the 1st months off. The analogy of your secured independence in 1913, as i spoke about these relations on the ministry and economics phase, but they also spoke about education. How the overriding message was one of the some shed. Well vision, there was a lot of talk of multilateralism and multi polarity and they oversee like touch support and international issues. The both vend shed the vision for a cease fire in goes up. But also a permanent longstanding solution to whats happening in is about in palestine. Mr. Lever of science, mr. To go on. Now, j v a full is understanding of the roots of ukraine complex. I spoke again about after the career itself. And both, maam, was speaking about the situation in sit on and the violent say when they supported. I know they called for support for the African Union initiative to bring the situation that under control without a gain now gave you sits in the adage, sal region of africa. This is a reasonable plague by a g. How this insurgency is played by instability not last week. Now jerry is defense. When is the said that the Company Simply doesnt have the weapons to fight the own group. So when it caught even by any, because so much of defense expenditure and defense exports is going towards a ukraine. So i managed to almost came a little bit about they said about the possibility of cooperation. But its the co pays cooperation with russia in terms of ohms purchase and also counter terrorism. Heres what you said, with regards to a global conflicts or conflicts, even in other regions. I invariably, when theres a surge in the supply weapons, they tend to find their way to, to our region. And this is why weve always been concerned about the proliferation of small arms and light woodlands. We saw something similar happened with the collapse of, uh, a government uh some years bite in libya. Uh, there was, uh, all of a sudden nationwide side of, uh, of what funds or even fighters. And this is something that, uh, we are very concerned about. And that, um we seek to address with our partners with the overriding message was a positive one. The overwriting message was about the shed weld vision on multiple on polarity multilateralism. As russia strengthens its relations with african nations on the global south and global east. Russia has also given tentative approval to a new agreement to own a military partnership with the democratic republic of the congo. So the plan for see, is doing training of troops and other personnel as well as engineering and technical support. The golf pass it to be agreed though, by the us government. Meanwhile, the leader of nearby applicant nation over one. The has the lashed out. Its an american do a nice to charge of, criticize him for supposedly being empowered to long president pool for dominic who is so if we needed to and to hoff decade says the western world cannot define what democracy is. Democracy is not defined by the whats no, it does not happen is over. The contradiction is the type in indo us. Well, we find the countries in the west the next to that he does. And then they turn around on such a whole thing and about the same when he does they have you looked at. So you attending the democrats to their full has the impact fictions, whether it is in the west or n, o. S. So, but i cannot leave by or leave with the but frictions. What would that, what will itself deeper into the story . No cost life to full. My echo us diplomats and International Affairs on list. Probably know what county. Thank you for joining us here on international asi, international. I told to ask you that. Um president pull could call me on the line that it snowed up for the west to decide what democracy is. I want to think of. Well, he said that what he really means by that or whether the demo cause it has been defined by the west or by the centuries. And yet democracy does not ex gift any civilization from country or society. Democracy is something that is the rest of that for the west cannot continue to have a monopoly of what democracy should look like. Will be practiced that for he is the right of that is what it should be. The one that well in the country for that my dad should be allowed to define its democracy the way it is because there are differences everywhere in the world. Even in the west itself. The definition or practice of democracy cannot be said to be part of flipped neither. Ive a most of what it should be ideal. Im doubtful. This monopoly i think is broken. Now. The wall has become fully paula. Multilateral. Truly, im doubtful. There is no address of paula, ive a kind of have that monopoly as it used to be on the 16 you talked to her about the affections of democracy in the west. Thats something that a president could call me also talked about. What do you think more all the issues with those infections in the west . Is it Something Else that they talk about . 210 democracies . Thats a good idea, but it could end up being lame duck presidencies. Well, do them present as the what . The 10 you i, that might be necessarily does not define what democracy is. Ive said or jose is democracy boss before. Yes, daniel, by to um, we have seen how successful a long time president in single pool has drawn his country from a so called, or a world country to have such a low country life consistency. And um, what have you. So this is done to define whats the universe, so im just tending will ideas of democracy are the what is relevant, what is important to citizens is good governance. I think that it should be the key word that good govern us so that when people drive mux moment, you guys have benefits from valley this. That is democracy, both of them having elected officials overtime or failed to divide the so called the dividends of democracy. And um, we have seen all over the place you now forgotten either elsewhere that most of these lead us come monday, plug themselves into power. Im the do not deliver this democracy dividend. Therefore we do that. I forgot particularly we need a written definition of democracy and not in the context of the western democracy ideals. Okay