Category: International Conflict

U.S. seeking allies to back them on imposing sanctions on China over Ukraine? Reuters anonymous sources say so.

The United States is sounding out close allies about the possibility of imposing new sanctions on China if Beijing provides military support to Russia for its war in Ukraine, according to four U.S. officials and other sources. The consultations, which are still at a preliminary stage, are intended to drum up support from a range of countries, especially those in the wealthy Group of 7 (G7), to coordinate support for any possible restrictions. It was not clear what specific sanctions Washington will propose. The conversations have not been previously disclosed.

SpaceX launches U.S., Russian, UAE astronauts to space station

SpaceX launched four astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA on Thursday, including the first person from the Arab world going up for an extended months-long stay. Bowen, the crew’s leader, said the four have jelled well as a team despite differences between their countries. Even with the tension over the war in Ukraine, the U.S. and Russia have continued to work together on the space station and trade seats on rides there.

U.S. approves selling Taiwan munitions worth $619 million

The U.S. has approved more arms sales to Taiwan, including $619 million worth of munitions for F-16 fighter jets, in a decision likely to be yet another point…

Ukraine clings on in Bakhmut despite relentless Russian attacks

Russia believes a victory in the ruined eastern town would open a path to further advances in the Donetsk region.

Taiwan sees second Chinese air incursion as US agrees arms sale

Seventeen Chinese J-10 combat planes and four advanced Shenyang J-16 fighters entered Taiwan’s air defence zone.

China, Belarus presidents call for Ukraine cease-fire, talks

The presidents of China and Belarus joined Wednesday in urging a cease-fire and negotiations to bring about a political settlement to the Ukraine conflict. The joint call came in a meeting in Beijing between Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russia, and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. That amounted to an endorsement of a Chinese 12-point peace proposal…

Russian airlines surviving sanctions – Bloomberg

Sanctions on Russia’s aviation sector have resulted in a slight drop in flights, but the West is banned from Russian skies.

RT: US ‘doomsday plane’ flew to Europe

The US Navy’s air command post, the E-6B Mercury “doomsday plane,” has landed in Iceland during operations in the US European Command area.

NATO chief: NATO Membership for Finland, Sweden ‘top priority’

NATO membership for Finland and Sweden is “a top priority,” alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday, urging members Turkey and Hungary to urgently ratify the Nordic countries’ accession.   Stoltenberg told a news conference with Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin in Helsinki that progress is being made on securing membership for the two countries, but didn’t disclose details. “I am…

China purging ‘Western erroneous views’ from legal education

China has ordered closer adherence to the dictates of the ruling Communist Party and leader Xi Jinping in legal education, demanding that schools “oppose and resist Western erroneous views” such as constitutional government, separation of powers, and judicial independence. The order was dated Sunday, a week before China’s ceremonial parliament begins its annual session and reinforces the leading role on…

Putin orders tightening of Ukraine border as drones hit Russia

One drone crashed 100 km from Moscow on Tuesday, according to the regional governor.

RT: NATO is de facto at war with Russia – Kremlin

The NATO bloc is effectively at war with Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, citing nonstop Western arms and intelligence support.

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.

Russia explains halt in oil exports to Poland

Oil supplies to Poland were halted due to the failure to pay for transit, Russian oil transport company Transneft has announced

‘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.

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 367

As the Russia-Ukraine war enters its 367th day, we take a look at the main developments.