Category: International Conflict

Seized, settled, let: how Airbnb and Booking.com help Israelis make money from stolen Palestinian land

The villa is stunning. The private swimming pool; the lush, landscaped terrace with firepit; the long dining table with its expansive balcony view; the pingpong table; the piano. But the jewel in the crown, according to the Airbnb listing, is the experience of watching the sun rise over the nearby mountains from the luxury of the generous master bedroom. The villa with views of the Judean mountains is in a settlement located on land seized from Palestinians and considered illegal…

Putin advises Gazprombank to partner with Musk

The following article is from a Russian news source, Tass, which is controlled by the Russian Government. MOSCOW, February 21. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has told Deputy CEO of Gazprombank Dmitry Zauers that the company should partner with billionaire entrepreneur and the current head of the Department of Government Efficiency Elon Musk to develop technology. Zauers told the Russian President about domestically-produced batteries used in aerospace applications and neurochips. They are “our answer to Elon Musk,” the banker said,…

Hungary suggests European liberals step aside, let Russia, US negotiate peace — Szijjarto

The following article is from a Russian news source, Tass, which is controlled by the Russian Government. BUDAPEST, February 21. /TASS/. Hungary suggests that European liberals stand down and let Russia and the United States negotiate a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine, said Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto. “We consider any proposal that could interfere with the upcoming US-Russian agreement to be extremely harmful. We consider any proposal that goes against peace efforts to be harmful and dangerous,…

Israeli Freight Forwarder Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Violating Export Restrictions Imposed on Russia

Gal Haimovich, 49, of Israel, was sentenced today to 24 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to illegally ship aircraft parts and avionics from U.S. manufacturers and suppliers to Russia, including for the benefit of sanctioned Russian airline companies. In addition, Haimovich paid the full forfeiture amount of $2,024,435.44 at today’s sentencing. As part of his plea agreement, Haimovich admitted that his scheme involved deceiving U.S. companies about the true destination of the goods at…

EU Slaps Fresh Sanctions on Russia, Targeting Aluminum and ‘Shadow Fleet’ Ships

EU countries have agreed on a new round of sanctions against Russia, diplomats said Wednesday, as the bloc looks to maintain pressure on Moscow ahead of the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The wide-ranging package, which includes a ban on imports of Russian aluminum, will be formally adopted by EU foreign ministers on Monday. “The EU is clamping down even harder on circumvention by targeting more vessels in Putin’s shadow fleet and imposing new import and export…

Tens of thousands of Palestinians forced to flee West Bank as Israeli military operation deepens

By car and on foot, through muddy olive groves and sniper sight lines, tens of thousands of Palestinians in recent weeks have fled Israeli military operations across the northern West Bank — the largest displacement in the occupied territory since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. After announcing a widespread crackdown against West Bank militants on Jan. 21 — just two days after its ceasefire deal with Hamas in Gaza — Israeli forces descended on the restive city of Jenin, as they have dozens…

Russia raises diplomatic property dispute with US during talks in Riyadh — Lavrov

The following article is from a Russian news source, Tass, which is controlled by the Russian Government. MOSCOW, February 19. /TASS/. Russia addressed the issue of its diplomatic property located in the US during negotiations with the American delegation in Riyadh, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated. “We handed over a list of issues which should be resolved with regard to the work of our diplomatic representatives. Among these problems is, of course, the property issue,” Russia’s top diplomat said…

‘You should have never started it’: Trump blames Kyiv for war

President Donald Trump this week falsely blamed Ukraine for starting the war that has cost tens of thousands of Ukrainian lives, causing outrage and alarm in a country that has spent nearly three years fighting back a much larger Russian military. Trump called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “ a dictator without elections” and claimed his support among voters was near rock-bottom. Zelenskyy said Wednesday that the disinformation is coming from Russia, and some of what Trump has said does echo Russia’s own narrative of the conflict….

Trump calls Zelensky ‘a dictator,’ marking new low for fragile U.S.-Ukraine relationship

The relationship between the United States and Ukraine, which has helped Kyiv fend off the Russian invasion for the past three years, appeared on the verge of collapse Wednesday as the presidents of the two countries publicly traded insults. The furor has the potential to leave Ukraine – which is already losing ground along the front line – without the support of its biggest ally, as U.S. President Donald Trump called Ukraine’s future existence into question. The relationship between Mr….

Trade tariff turmoil pushes Canada to rethink US ties | DW News

Video: Trump’s tariff policies are straining US-Canada relations. After imposing and then suspending tariffs, Canadian leaders are reassessing their ties with the US. Some are now looking to the European Union as a potential alternative. Major publications, including The Toronto Star and The Economist, are openly questioning whether Canada could align more closely with Europe. European politicians are also weighing in. Could this mark a significant shift in global alliances?

Medvedev says Europe will ‘swallow’ Vance’s criticism

The following article is from a Russian news source, Tass, which is controlled by the Russian Government. MOSCOW, February 15. /TASS/. Europe will “forgive and swallow with disgust” the criticism from US Vice President JD Vance, according to Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council. Medvedev noted that Vance is “a brave guy, though still an inexperienced vice president.” The previous day, Vance, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, criticized EU commissioners for censorship, stating that Europe was…

Further bloodshed in Gaza supported by US to lead to Israeli casualties — Erdogan

The following article is from a Russian news source, Tass, which is controlled by the Russian Government. ANKARA, February 14. /TASS/. A new round of aggression by Israel supported by the US would lead to even greater casualties among the Israelis, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters from his pool upon returning from Asia. “We can clearly see that Hamas is honoring its promises under the ceasefire agreement. As usual, it is the Israeli administration that is the party…

US, Philippine fighter aircraft jointly patrol disputed shoal region guarded by China

MANILA, Philippines — U.S. and Philippine fighter aircraft staged a joint patrol and training Tuesday over a disputed South China Sea shoal where Chinese fighter jets fired flares last year to drive away a Philippine aircraft, Philippine officials said. The joint patrol and air-intercept drills over the hotly disputed Scarborough Shoal off the northwestern Philippines were the first by the longtime treaty allies since U.S. President Donald Trump took office again. Trump’s “America First” foreign policy thrust has sparked concerns…

(Video) Bernie Sanders: We Are Living in Unprecedented Times

Texas sends more than 400 Guardsmen to US-Mexico border

Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday said he’s sending more than 400 soldiers from Houston and Fort Worth to the U.S.-Mexico border to collaborate with Border Patrol agents “to stop illegal immigrants from entering our country and to enforce immigration laws.” Abbott said he will also send C-130s, an aircraft that can take off and land on rough terrain, and Chinook helicopters. The troops, part of a unit called the Texas Tactical Border Force, will join those already deployed to the…

2-year-old Palestinian girl killed in her home by Israeli military

Israeli forces shot a two-year-old girl in the head in her West Bank home on Saturday while she was eating dinner with her family, according to health officials and family members. The Palestinian Health Ministry says Laila Muhammad Al-Khatib was shot dead during an Israeli military raid on the village of Ash-Shuhada, just south of Jenin. “They started to shoot at us through the windows without any warning,” Ghada Asous, the toddler’s grandmother, said. “All of a sudden, the special forces raided…