Category: International Conflict

Malaysia asked to reopen MH370 probe after claims of new evidence

The Boeing 777 was en route from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Beijing with 239 passengers on board on March 8, 2014, when it vanished from the grid less than an hour into its journey.  For three years, Malaysia, China, and Australia searched for the plane in the Indian Ocean, where it was believed to have crashed, only to come…

Pentagon blocking information on alleged war crimes in Ukraine – NYT

Pentagon chiefs reportedly blocking Washington from sharing evidence of alleged war crimes in Ukraine with the International Criminal Court. The US Department of Defense is reportedly at odds with the administration of President Joe Biden over helping the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) investigate alleged war crimes committed in Ukraine.

Australia to buy as many as five nuclear subs from United States

Submarines are part of the AUKUS pact with the UK, which may also jointly develop a vessel with Australia.

Okinawa governor wants more power to prosecute US troops

A recent controversy has called into question the agreement that decides who prosecutes U.S. troops in Japan.

House votes down Gaetz bill to withdraw troops from Syria

The House rejected Matt Gaetz’s war powers resolutions to pull 900 U.S. troops from Syria days after a visit from Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley.

Lawmakers revisit ‘breakdown’ of Afghanistan evacuations

House lawmakers reexamined shortfalls from the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Switzerland clarifies stance on military aid to Ukraine

Switzerland won’t break its constitutional neutrality to assist in the supply of military aid to Ukraine, its president has said Read Full Article at RT.com

Nord Stream attack: Leaked US intel. suggests pro-Ukrainian group behind sabotage + Corruption Ledger #RealityCheck

The new intelligence reviewed by US officials suggested the perpetrators behind the sabotage were “opponents of President Vladimir V Putin of Russia”, the Times reported, but did not specify the members of the group and who organised and paid for the operation, which would have required skilled divers and explosives experts.

India tightens control of crypto

India has imposed money-laundering regulations on trade in cryptocurrencies, according to a government release published on Tuesday, in the latest step to tighten control of the sector. A range of crypto transactions, namely the exchange, transfer, safekeeping and administration of virtual assets, now fall under the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act (PMLA), the notification from the Ministry of Finance published by The Gazette of India states. The PMLA obliges financial institutions to keep a record of all transactions for ten years, provide the records to officials in necessary, and to verify clients’ identity.

US Warrant for Seizure of Airplane Owned by Russian Oil Company

The United States today announced the unsealing of a warrant for the seizure of a Boeing 737-7JU aircraft owned by PJSC Rosneft Oil Company (Rosneft), a Russian integrated energy company headquartered in Moscow, Russia, headed by Igor Ivanovich Sechin. According to court documents, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in February 2022, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security issued sanctions against Russia. The sanctions impose export controls and license requirements to protect U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. The Russia sanctions expanded prohibitions on the export, reexport or in-country transfer of, among other things, U.S.-manufactured aircraft to or within Russia without a valid license or license exception for aircraft owned or controlled, or under charter or lease, by Russia and/or Russian nationals. In this case, these sanctions bar a plane that was built or manufactured in the United States from entering Russia without a valid license. 

Chinese foreign minister warns of conflict unless U.S. changes course -AP + Corruption Ledger #RealityCheck

BEIJING — Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang warned Tuesday that Beijing and Washington are headed for “conflict and confrontation” if the U.S. doesn’t change course, striking a combative tone at a moment when relations between the rivals are at a historic low.

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.

Zeit Online: Germany planning to ban Huawei, ZTE from parts of 5G networks

There is no evidence that China is spying on telecom equipment suppliers’ technology. Nevertheless, they are to be banned from the 5G network for fear of dependencies.

Lawmakers paint dire picture of Britain running out of weapons

  LONDON — Britain’s Ministry of Defence must rapidly grow local industrial capacity in order speed rebuilding weapon stockpiles, the parliamentary Defence Committee says in a report to be published Mar 7. The committee said at the current rate of progress it will take 10 years to replace weapon stocks gifted to Ukraine and rebuild British weapon numbers to an…

Leaked documents reveal Homeland Security domestic spying – Politico

The “Overt Human Intelligence Collection Program” (OHIC) has been in existence since at least 2016, according to Politico, which did not disclose how it obtained the documents.  Run by the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A), OHIC is intended to gather information about threats such as organized crime and transnational drug trafficking.

Double the Challenger tanks for Ukraine? British MOD says no

LONDON — Britain is to double the number of main battle tanks it is sending to bolster the Ukrainian defenses, the country’s ambassador in London said in a interview with Europe’s Radio Liberty. But the British Ministry of Defence has rowed back on any suggestion Challenger 2 numbers heading for the Ukraine are to be doubled from 14 to 28…