Iceland demands answers from US after Trump ally cracks 52nd state joke

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

17. A perspective from Africa ...

I was in Addis Ababa recently where I visited the African Union HQ. It looked like a smaller version of the UN HQ. It was built by Chinese companies backed by the Chinese government. And they had signs everywhere - in Chinese and English - making sure the world knew who had built it. They even included a large pagoda on the site.

The Chinese had also bought (or were given, I heard both) most of the surrounding blocks of property and had built or were building large apartments and shopping buildings to make back whatever money they had spent.

All around Africa I see Chinese actively involved in large building efforts and growing development projects. They also have territorial and security agreements with many African governments as part of their Belt and Road Initiative.

I see very little Russian activity or involvement - some, but not much.