Category: All News
U.S., U.K., Australia big announcement coming next week re. nuclear-powered subs fleet, but technology co-operation in focus today
Britain and Australia fear that their nuclear-submarine and technology pact with the United States could be hindered by Washington’s export bureaucracy.
China blames Ukraine crisis on ‘invisible hand’; U.S. intrusion into Taiwan is “red line”
At wide-ranging press conference, Foreign Minister Qin Gang also describes Taiwan as a ‘red line’ in relations with US.
Taiwan warns China’s military may make ‘sudden entry’
Defence minister says Taiwan prepared to ‘fire the first shot’ if Chinese forces enter its territorial space.
RU / Russia and Cuba working to counter US sanctions – ambassador
“The introduction of independent settlement mechanisms is being successfully carried out, which will help protect cooperation with Cuba from the negative impact of the US trade, economic and financial blockade, as well as establish ties bypassing the financial organizations of unfriendly states,” the Russian diplomat said. In January, the chairman of the Russia-Cuba Business Council, Boris Titov, said that in order to mitigate the effect of Western sanctions, the countries are considering new mechanisms for mutual settlements, including in ruble and cryptocurrencies, as well as clearing schemes.
Moscow has been also promoting its SPFS interbank messaging system as an alternative to SWIFT as the West has ramped up economic restrictions. Nearly 470 participants, including foreign entities from 14 countries, have already joined the SPFS. Russia has also accelerated efforts to move away from the US dollar and euro towards settlements in national currencies.
Brazil orders police probe into Bolsonaro jewellery scandal
A news outlet reported that jewels worth more than $3m were discovered in the backpack of a former aide in October 2021.
Civilians flee embattled Ukrainian town of Bakhmut
Pressure from Russian forces mounted Saturday on Ukrainians hunkered down in Bakhmut, as residents attempted to flee with help from troops who Western analysts say may be preparing…
Israelis rally again to protest government’s judicial overhaul
Tens of thousands rally for the ninth straight week against government plan to overhaul court system.
Schoolgirls in Iran hospitalised after suspected poisonings
Dozens of schoolgirls admitted to hospital across several Iranian provinces, according to local media reports.
Ratings Deceit: S&P sued for deceitful CDO ratings
Royal Park Investments (RPI), the so-called “bad bank” of the former Fortis, has filed a billion-dollar claim against rating agency S&P. De Tijd writes this and appears from media reports in the Cayman Islands, the place where the lawsuit was filed.
Nord Stream blasts harmed Baltic wildlife – scientists
Researchers say the pipeline explosions stirred up chemical waste and threaten cod and porpoise populations. The destruction of Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines did not just cut off the flow of Russian natural gas to western Europe, it killed and poisoned the already endangered fish and marine mammal species in the Baltic Sea, says a new report by Danish, Polish and German scientists.
‘As long as it takes’: US has provided billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine
Support for Kyiv serves the US’s ‘strategic interests’ against security threats posed by Putin’s Russia, analysts say.
Two Amazon Marketplace Sellers and Four Companies Plead Guilty to Price Fixing DVDs and Blu-Ray Discs
Two Amazon marketplace sellers and four of their companies have pleaded guilty to price fixing DVDs and Blu Ray Discs. On Feb. 10 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Bruce Fish of Hayfield, Minnesota, along with BDF Enterprises, Inc., a corporate entity owned by Fish, admitted to participating in a conspiracy to fix the prices of DVDs and Blu-Ray discs sold on the Amazon marketplace. Victor Btesh of Brooklyn, New York, and three New York corporate…
Monsanto must pay $857 million over PCB exposure at a Washington school
A US jury has ordered Bayer subsidiary Monsanto to pay $857 million (£676 million) to seven people – including former students and parent volunteers at a school in Washington state – who said they were sickened by exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) that the company sold. The PBCs were apparently used in fire safety fluid in the school that leaked from its light fixtures, and the plaintiffs reported neurological, endocrine and other health problems. Monsanto explains that the claims in…
Nancy Pelosi has arrived in Taiwan, China says she is “playing with fire”
Why do we care? China considers Taiwan to be part of China and doesn’t appreciate the political U.S. visit, which China sees as showing support for Taiwan’s democracy. This is exactly what Pelosi just tweeted: Our visit reiterates that America stands with Taiwan: a robust, vibrant democracy and our important partner in the Indo-Pacific. See Tweet by @SpeakerPelosi China, a communist nation, has promised to conquer Tawian on several occasions. Furthermore, Pelosi has a history of being critical of China…
Canada to acquire Swedish-made anti-aircraft system to protect troops in Latvia
Canadian troops in Latvia will soon be protected by a $227 million Swedish-designed short-range anti-aircraft system, Defence Minister Bill Blair announced Thursday in Brussels as NATO allies met to assess both the war in Ukraine and perceived threatening moves by Russia. The Canadian Army has been without a dedicated air defence to protect ground troops from attack helicopters and fast-moving jets for more than a dozen years. The Liberal government last year ordered a new system be purchased on an…