Tag: Region Asias

Top Israeli defense official contacted Pentagon chief before pagers blast

The following article is from a Russian news source, Tass, which is controlled by the Russian Government. WASHINGTON, September 18. /TASS/. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called his US counterpart Lloyd Austin minutes before the start of pager explosions in Lebanon, Axios news outlet reported citing an American official. According to the official, Gallant told Austin during the call that Israel was planning to carry out an operation in Lebanon, but did not provide details. According to the source, Gallant’s…

‘I was terrified’: Palestinian says he was forced to act as human shield for Israeli troops

It’s 6 a.m. on a summer day in June, and Mohamed Saad, 20, is jolted awake by  soldiers from the Israel Defence Forces. They help him put on clothes: IDF military fatigues. He’s reluctant to accept the help but has little choice in the matter — he’s in Israeli custody at a temporary detention facility in Rafah, and the uniform is the least of his concerns. Saad is put in a tank with IDF troops and taken to an apartment…

X platform suspended in Brazil amid Brazilian judge’s feud with Musk

A Brazilian Supreme Court justice on Friday ordered the suspension of Elon Musk’s social media giant X in Brazil after the tech billionaire refused to name a legal representative in the country, according to a copy of the decision seen by The Associated Press. The move further escalates the monthslong feud between the two men over free speech, far-right accounts and misinformation. Justice Alexandre de Moraes had warned Musk on Wednesday night that X could be blocked in Brazil if…

Panama deports Ecuadorean migrants in second US-backed flight

Panamanian authorities deported a group of migrants to Ecuador on a second flight financed by the United States, as part of an agreement between the U.S. and Panama to discourage irregular crossings and reduce the flow of mostly U.S.-bound migration.The flight carrying 30 Ecuadoreans departed on Thursday evening en route to the coastal city of Manta, Ecuador, Panama’s migration service said, adding the migrants were deported for evading a migration checkpoint on the popular Darien Gap route. Thousands of people…

French authorities arrest Telegram CEO Pavel Durov at a Paris airport, French media report

The founder and chief executive officer of the messaging service Telegram was detained at a Paris airport on an arrest warrant alleging his platform has been used for money laundering, drug trafficking and other offences, French media reported Sunday. Pavel Durov, a dual citizen of France and Russia, was arrested at Paris-Le Bourget Airport on Saturday evening after landing in France from Azerbaijan, according to broadcasters LCI and TF1. Investigators from the National Anti-Fraud Office, attached to the French customs…

France ‘crosses a red line’ by arresting Telegram founder Durov — Rumble chief

The following article is from a Russian news source, Tass, which is controlled by the Russian Government. NEW YORK, August 26. /TASS/. French authorities have ‘crossed a red line’ after they decided to detain Telegram messenger founder Pavel Durov, Chris Pavlovski, the CEO of Rumble online video platform, said on Monday. “France has threatened Rumble, and now they have crossed a red line by arresting Telegram’s CEO, Pavel Durov, reportedly for not censoring speech,” Pavlovski wrote on his X social…

Latvian national extradited to US for illegal exports to Russia

A US press release has announced the extradition of Oleg Chistyakov, a Latvian national. Chistyakov has made his first appearance in federal court in Kansas, accused of conspiring “to facilitate the sale, repair and shipment” of US-origin avionics equipment” for use in Russian aircraft. Many of the customers Chistyakov’s supposed scheme shipped to are on the US Commerce Department’s Entity List. Chistyakov allegedly conspired with 2 US citizens, Cyril Greogry Buyanovksy and Douglas Edward Robertson. Both Americans have already pleaded…

Berlin exchanges Nord Stream explosion data with Moscow — German foreign ministry

The following article is from a Russian news source, Tass, which is controlled by the Russian Government. BERLIN, August 19. /TASS/. Berlin exchanges information regarding explosions at Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines but not the one that may jeopardize the course of investigation, a spokesperson of the German foreign ministry told reporters. “We exchange[information] with the Russian side,” he said. The investigation continues and therefore German authorities believe that interim results should not be reported, the spokesperson…

Germany must answer all questions from Russia regarding Nord Stream pipelines — Lavrov

The following article is from a Russian news source, Tass, which is controlled by the Russian Government. MOSCOW, August 19. /TASS/. Germany must answer all questions posed by Russia regarding the terrorist attacks on the Nord Stream pipelines, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in a commentary for the daily Izvestia. “[Germany] must answer all questions. First, they must stop categorically refusing to present the facts that they could not but discover. When at least some of the information we…

Death toll from Israeli strikes on Gaza Strip exceeds 40,130 — health ministry

The following article is from a Russian news source, Tass, which is controlled by the Russian Government. CAIRO, August 19. /TASS/. The death toll from Israel’s strikes on the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the current escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in early October 2023 has exceeded 40,130, with more than 92,700 people being wounded, Gaza’s health ministry said. According to the ministry, as many as 40,139 people have been killed, including at least 40 in the past 24…

New findings in Nord Stream sabotage case may sway Europe’s perception of Ukraine — expert

The following article is from a Russian news source, Tass, which is controlled by the Russian Government. NEW DELHI, August 19. /TASS/. Information pointing to the Kiev regime’s involvement in the Nord Stream blasts may impact how the European public sees Ukraine and create difficulties for EU governments, President of the New Delhi-based analytical center Imagindia Institute Robinder Sachdev told TASS. “This report could influence public opinion about Ukraine in Europe, potentially causing future difficulties for European governments if public…

Russian law enforcers probe into actions of US journalists in Sudzha — MFA

The following article is from a Russian news source, Tass, which is controlled by the Russian Government. MOSCOW, August 19. /TASS/. Russian law enforcement agencies are studying the circumstances related to the actions of journalists of the US daily The Washington Post in Sudzha, the Kursk Region, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has told TASS. Earlier, The Washington Post newspaper published an article about the situation in Sudzha, saying that its reporters had entered the territory of the Kursk Region…

Water supply crisis getting worse in southern Gaza Strip

The following article is from a Russian news source, Tass, which is controlled by the Russian Government. DUBAI, August 19. /TASS/. A water supply crisis is getting worse in the southern Gaza Strip as Israeli troops are destroying water wells, tanks and pipes, the Qatar-based Al Jazeera TV channel reports. According to the broadcaster’s report from Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, four out of the five major tanks in the city have been destroyed. Damage has also been done to…

Google’s partnership with AI startup Anthropic faces scrutiny from UK competition watchdog

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s competition watchdog said Tuesday it’s looking into Google’s partnership with artificial intelligence startup Anthropic, adding fresh regulatory scrutiny to investment money flooding into the AI industry. The Competition and Markets Authority said it’s seeking comments as it considers whether the deal between the two companies has resulted in a “substantial lessening of competition” in the United Kingdom for AI services. The watchdog said it will accept feedback from “any interested party” until Aug. 13 before deciding…

Spain Allows Russian Sailboat to Make Port Call Despite Sanctions

Spanish authorities have granted an emergency request for the replica of an 18th-century Russian frigate to make a port call so that it can replenish provisions and replace broken parts, media reported Tuesday. The EU implemented a ban on Russian vessels docking at its ports as part of a broader sanctions package in response to Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Russian frigate, called Shtandart, is captained by its builder Vladimir Martus, who last week accused French and Spanish authorities of blocking…

UK updates GL for subsidiaries of VTB & Sberbank

OFSI has updated General Licence INT/2022/1280876 which permits certain UK, EU and Guernsey subsidiaries of VTB and Sberbank (Russian banks) to make payment for basic needs, reasonable fees or service charges arising from routine holding and maintenance of its frozen funds and the payment of legal fees and insolvency-related services. § 5.2 of the GL has been amended to change the Insolvency Proceedings that apply to EU subsidiary, OWH SE. All UK GLs are on the UK Licensing.