‘Almost Like You Want to Find Nothing’: Experts Slam Norfolk Southern ‘Air Tests’ in East Palestine
The ‘air testing’ recently conducted in East Palestine residents’ homes was deficient in a number of key ways and was actually carried out by a company contracted by the rail company Norfolk Southern, a new report has revealed.
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The ‘air testing’ recently conducted in East Palestine residents’ homes was deficient in a number of key ways and was actually carried out by a company contracted by the rail company Norfolk Southern, a new report has revealed.
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Biden's Visit to Kiev Cost Ukrainian Taxpayers More Than $1.6Mln, Reports Say
US President Joe Biden on 20 February made an unannounced visit to Kiev to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and discuss US weapon supplies.
And his visit to Kiev has cost Ukrainian taxpayers more than $1.6Mln, according to media reports citing authorities. In contrast, the average monthly salary in Ukraine is approximately $400.
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US President Joe Biden on 20 February made an unannounced visit to Kiev to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and discuss US weapon supplies.
And his visit to Kiev has cost Ukrainian taxpayers more than $1.6Mln, according to media reports citing authorities. In contrast, the average monthly salary in Ukraine is approximately $400.
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🇨🇳Deputies of China’s National People's Congress (NPC) have approved the appointment of 65-year-old general Li Shangfu to the post of Minister of National Defence. The vote was held on Sunday during the fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th NPC.
Li Shangfu has been under US sanctions for military cooperation with Russia.
Ding Xuexiang, He Lifeng, Zhang Guoqing and Liu Guozhong were approved for the posts of vice premiers on Sunday. Li Shangfu, Wang Xiaohong, Wu Zhenglong, Shen Yiqin and Qin Gang were endorsed as Chinese state councilors.
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Li Shangfu has been under US sanctions for military cooperation with Russia.
Ding Xuexiang, He Lifeng, Zhang Guoqing and Liu Guozhong were approved for the posts of vice premiers on Sunday. Li Shangfu, Wang Xiaohong, Wu Zhenglong, Shen Yiqin and Qin Gang were endorsed as Chinese state councilors.
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🇨🇭An estimated 2,000-3,000 people took part in a rally in the Swiss capital of Bern, calling on the country’s government to maintain a policy of neutrality in relation to the events in Ukraine, local media report.
The protest was held on Saturday evening in Bern’s main square, where the government buildings are located. The demonstrators were urging the Swiss authorities to terminate sanctions against Russia and have Switzerland return to "100% neutrality."
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The protest was held on Saturday evening in Bern’s main square, where the government buildings are located. The demonstrators were urging the Swiss authorities to terminate sanctions against Russia and have Switzerland return to "100% neutrality."
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'Appalling' State of European Defense & Its 'Dependence on US' Exposed By Ukrainian Conflict
The mood first started shifting against the US among its allies on the European continent late last year, as both officials and diplomats began to accuse Washington of profiteering out of the Ukraine crisis via energy and weapons sales, while their own stockpiles were "almost empty" and critical defense capabilities were lacking.
The conflagration in Ukraine and the western push to pump the Kiev regime with military support has laid bare the "appalling state" of the European continent’s own defense capabilities, a US publication has noted. Furthermore, the present developments have thrown the spotlight on the European defense industry's overly high dependence on the United States.
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The mood first started shifting against the US among its allies on the European continent late last year, as both officials and diplomats began to accuse Washington of profiteering out of the Ukraine crisis via energy and weapons sales, while their own stockpiles were "almost empty" and critical defense capabilities were lacking.
The conflagration in Ukraine and the western push to pump the Kiev regime with military support has laid bare the "appalling state" of the European continent’s own defense capabilities, a US publication has noted. Furthermore, the present developments have thrown the spotlight on the European defense industry's overly high dependence on the United States.
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Ukraine foils the process of creating a safety zone around the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, Vladimir Rogov, a senior official of the Zaporozhye regional administration, told Sputnik on Sunday.
"The plant's safety is guaranteed by two components: the absence of shelling by the militants of the Ukrainian armed forces and the proper protection provided by the Russian national guard," Rogov said.
He added that Kiev demands the demilitarization of the plant's vicinity in order to take advantage of the moment, take local residents hostage, seize the nuclear facility and create a bridgehead for the offensive.
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"The plant's safety is guaranteed by two components: the absence of shelling by the militants of the Ukrainian armed forces and the proper protection provided by the Russian national guard," Rogov said.
He added that Kiev demands the demilitarization of the plant's vicinity in order to take advantage of the moment, take local residents hostage, seize the nuclear facility and create a bridgehead for the offensive.
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🇰🇵 Kim Jong Un held a meeting with the ruling party's military commission to discuss war deterrence measures, dispatching the army to construction sites across the country, as well as rural development, state media reported.
The fifth enlarged meeting of the eighth Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea discussed and adopted "the important practical steps" for making use of North Korea's war deterrent in dealing with "the war provocations of the US and South Korea [that] are reaching the red line," report said.
The session also discussed the duties of the Korean People's Army (KPA) for accelerating rural development, regional construction and "grand socialist construction," as well as "dispatching the KPA to the major theaters for rapid development in socialist construction," the state media said.
Kim reportedly noted that the army should become "a driving force and model" in the socialist rural construction and economic development.
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The fifth enlarged meeting of the eighth Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea discussed and adopted "the important practical steps" for making use of North Korea's war deterrent in dealing with "the war provocations of the US and South Korea [that] are reaching the red line," report said.
The session also discussed the duties of the Korean People's Army (KPA) for accelerating rural development, regional construction and "grand socialist construction," as well as "dispatching the KPA to the major theaters for rapid development in socialist construction," the state media said.
Kim reportedly noted that the army should become "a driving force and model" in the socialist rural construction and economic development.
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🇸🇦📊 Saudi state oil and gas giant Aramco made a record net profit of $161.1 billion in 2022, up 46.5% year-on-year, the company said.
The record net income was underpinned by stronger crude oil prices in 2022, increased sales volumes and improved margins in the oil refining sector, the company added. Aramco's free cash flow hit a record $148.5 billion in 2022, up 38% from 2021, the statement read.
The company also announced a $19.5 billion fourth-quarter dividend due in the first quarter of 2023, which represents a 4.0% increase compared to the previous quarter. Aramco's capital expenditure rose 18% year-on-year in 2022, to $37.6 billion. The company expects 2023 capital expenditure to be in the range from $45-55 billion including external investments.
The company's average daily hydrocarbon production in 2022 was 13.6 million barrels of oil equivalent, including 11.5 million barrels per day of total liquids, the statement added.
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The record net income was underpinned by stronger crude oil prices in 2022, increased sales volumes and improved margins in the oil refining sector, the company added. Aramco's free cash flow hit a record $148.5 billion in 2022, up 38% from 2021, the statement read.
The company also announced a $19.5 billion fourth-quarter dividend due in the first quarter of 2023, which represents a 4.0% increase compared to the previous quarter. Aramco's capital expenditure rose 18% year-on-year in 2022, to $37.6 billion. The company expects 2023 capital expenditure to be in the range from $45-55 billion including external investments.
The company's average daily hydrocarbon production in 2022 was 13.6 million barrels of oil equivalent, including 11.5 million barrels per day of total liquids, the statement added.
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🚰 Trouble in Borrell's "Garden"? Dutch police blast Extinction Rebellion protesters with water cannons during climate protest in Hague
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❗️Russian MoD briefing on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine:
▪️The Russian Army thwarted the actions of five Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups in the Kupyansk direction;
▪️Ukrainian losses in the Donetsk region amounted to more than 220 servicemen;
▪️Russian troops eliminated three Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups in the Zaporozhye region;
▪️Ukrainian losses in the Krasny Liman direction amounted to up to 100 servicemen;
▪️Russian forces eliminated over 50 Ukrainian servicemen and destroyed a D-30 howitzer in the South-Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions.
▪️Russian air defense systems shot down two Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopters, intercepted seven HIMARS and Uragan MLRS rockets, and destroyed one UAV;
▪️One Ukrainian ammunition depot was destroyed near the city of Zaporozhye;
▪️Russian troops destroyed a Ukrainian Gvozdika self-propelled gun in the Kherson direction.
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▪️The Russian Army thwarted the actions of five Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups in the Kupyansk direction;
▪️Ukrainian losses in the Donetsk region amounted to more than 220 servicemen;
▪️Russian troops eliminated three Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups in the Zaporozhye region;
▪️Ukrainian losses in the Krasny Liman direction amounted to up to 100 servicemen;
▪️Russian forces eliminated over 50 Ukrainian servicemen and destroyed a D-30 howitzer in the South-Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions.
▪️Russian air defense systems shot down two Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopters, intercepted seven HIMARS and Uragan MLRS rockets, and destroyed one UAV;
▪️One Ukrainian ammunition depot was destroyed near the city of Zaporozhye;
▪️Russian troops destroyed a Ukrainian Gvozdika self-propelled gun in the Kherson direction.
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UK's Sunak Heads to US for Latest Phase of AUKUS Deal Amid Inflated Allegations of China Threat
The sitdown in San Diego, California, on Monday, will come amid reports that Canberra is hoping to beef up its naval capabilities with nuclear-powered submarines via a multi-stage program. On the eve of the visit to the US, Rishi Sunak, referencing AUKUS, hailed “global alliances” as “our greatest source of strength and security”.
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The sitdown in San Diego, California, on Monday, will come amid reports that Canberra is hoping to beef up its naval capabilities with nuclear-powered submarines via a multi-stage program. On the eve of the visit to the US, Rishi Sunak, referencing AUKUS, hailed “global alliances” as “our greatest source of strength and security”.
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The Swiss military began to dispose of 60 operational UK Rapier anti-aircraft missile systems, a Swiss newspaper reported.
Kai-Gunnar Sievert, a spokesman for the Swiss Federal Office for Defense Procurement, told the newspaper that the first out of four Rapier batches had already been dismantled. Switzerland purchased Rapiers in the 1980s and has begun to decommission them since late 2022, the report said.
According to the Swiss government's decree of 2006, foreign weapons not in service should primarily be sold to the manufacturing country, which is the UK in the case of Rapier. Some Swiss lawmakers believe that Rapiers could have been handed over to Ukraine following their sale, the report said. In particular, a lawmaker of the Green Liberal Party called the decision to write off the current defensive weapons "absurd," saying that the transfer of Rapiers to Ukraine would be legally possible.
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Kai-Gunnar Sievert, a spokesman for the Swiss Federal Office for Defense Procurement, told the newspaper that the first out of four Rapier batches had already been dismantled. Switzerland purchased Rapiers in the 1980s and has begun to decommission them since late 2022, the report said.
According to the Swiss government's decree of 2006, foreign weapons not in service should primarily be sold to the manufacturing country, which is the UK in the case of Rapier. Some Swiss lawmakers believe that Rapiers could have been handed over to Ukraine following their sale, the report said. In particular, a lawmaker of the Green Liberal Party called the decision to write off the current defensive weapons "absurd," saying that the transfer of Rapiers to Ukraine would be legally possible.
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Praising Iran-Saudi Pact, China Says Agreement Will Help Rid Region of ‘External Interference’
Beijing’s emphasis on regional countries taking “the future into their own hands” echoes the policy pursued by Iran over the years, with Tehran touting a series of mechanisms for reconstructing the region’s security architecture, including through the so-called ‘Hormuz Peace Initiative’. The latter proposes establishing joint security in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman by regional countries, without the involvement of any “foreign forces,” including the United States or its allies.
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Beijing’s emphasis on regional countries taking “the future into their own hands” echoes the policy pursued by Iran over the years, with Tehran touting a series of mechanisms for reconstructing the region’s security architecture, including through the so-called ‘Hormuz Peace Initiative’. The latter proposes establishing joint security in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman by regional countries, without the involvement of any “foreign forces,” including the United States or its allies.
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Gary Lineker VS BBC: 'Impartiality Row' Triggered by Sports Pundit's Suspension Explained
Disrupted sports coverage, pundits marching out in "solidarity," and "Linekergate" trending on Twitter - this was some of the fallout from the row that ensued after host of the BBC's "Match of the Day" football program and former England striker Gary Lineker was suspended on March 9.
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Disrupted sports coverage, pundits marching out in "solidarity," and "Linekergate" trending on Twitter - this was some of the fallout from the row that ensued after host of the BBC's "Match of the Day" football program and former England striker Gary Lineker was suspended on March 9.
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Second Largest Bank Collapse in US History: What Happened to SVB, and What Comes Next?
California-based commercial lending giant Silicon Valley Bank had its charter revoked and was transferred into receivership on March 10 after a bank run – which occurs when too many clients try to get their money out at once. The collapse sent shockwaves rippling across the financial world. What exactly happened? And what’s next?
Sputnik explains
California-based commercial lending giant Silicon Valley Bank had its charter revoked and was transferred into receivership on March 10 after a bank run – which occurs when too many clients try to get their money out at once. The collapse sent shockwaves rippling across the financial world. What exactly happened? And what’s next?
Sputnik explains
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🇮🇱🇺🇸 Officials traveling with the Israeli prime minister told an Israeli online newspaper that Washington has been suspected of funding mass protests against Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial reforms that have been rocking the country for over two months.
A senior government official accompanying Netanyahu on his trip to Italy told the daily this week that the protests seemed to be well organized and amply funded with what he estimated to be millions of dollars.
"We are following what is happening. This is a very high-level organization. There is an organized center from which all the demonstrators branch out in an orderly manner," the unnamed official was quoted as saying.
He said it was "clear to us" who was paying for the transportation of thousands of protesters as well as all the flags and stages, while another member of Netanyahu's entourage confirmed to the paper that the senior official was referring to the US.
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A senior government official accompanying Netanyahu on his trip to Italy told the daily this week that the protests seemed to be well organized and amply funded with what he estimated to be millions of dollars.
"We are following what is happening. This is a very high-level organization. There is an organized center from which all the demonstrators branch out in an orderly manner," the unnamed official was quoted as saying.
He said it was "clear to us" who was paying for the transportation of thousands of protesters as well as all the flags and stages, while another member of Netanyahu's entourage confirmed to the paper that the senior official was referring to the US.
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US Media Warns Biden Admin to Face Banking Crisis If No Plan to Rescue SVB Rolled Out Soon
According to the report, if SVB's depositors do not have access to their deposits by Monday morning, "hundreds of billions of dollars" of corporate deposits are likely to be transferred from regional banks to the so-called systemically important banks that are most unlikely to fail.
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According to the report, if SVB's depositors do not have access to their deposits by Monday morning, "hundreds of billions of dollars" of corporate deposits are likely to be transferred from regional banks to the so-called systemically important banks that are most unlikely to fail.
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The White House fears the revelation that the Pentagon chief has been blocking information sharing with the International Criminal Court on Ukraine will damage its moral case for helping Kiev, US media reported.
White House officials were reportedly "dismayed" when the report came out last week in the New York Times. The daily cited officials as saying that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was opposed to helping the Hague-based court probe alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine over concerns that this would set a precedent for prosecuting Americans for atrocities committed abroad, in countries like Afghanistan.
The US has long kept its distance from the ICC for fear that the tribunal, created two decades ago to investigate war crimes, would one day go after its own citizens, but Congress modified legal curbs on engaging with the court in December to allow for evidence sharing on Ukraine. Despite the readiness of other federal agencies, the Pentagon blocked the Biden administration from reaching out.
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White House officials were reportedly "dismayed" when the report came out last week in the New York Times. The daily cited officials as saying that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was opposed to helping the Hague-based court probe alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine over concerns that this would set a precedent for prosecuting Americans for atrocities committed abroad, in countries like Afghanistan.
The US has long kept its distance from the ICC for fear that the tribunal, created two decades ago to investigate war crimes, would one day go after its own citizens, but Congress modified legal curbs on engaging with the court in December to allow for evidence sharing on Ukraine. Despite the readiness of other federal agencies, the Pentagon blocked the Biden administration from reaching out.
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❗️The number of people killed by the devastating earthquakes in Turkiye's southeast has reached 48,000, with over 115,000 people injured, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said
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🥴 US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said she was working through the weekend to resolve the aftermath of the Silicon Valley Bank collapse.
She said that the US authorities currently seek to prevent the domino effect that might hit other regional banks because of SVB's failure.
"America's economy relies on a safe and sound banking system that can provide for the credit needs of our households and businesses. So whenever a bank, especially one, like Silicon Valley Bank with billions of dollars in deposits fails, it's clearly a concern," Yellen said.
The official added that the federal government will not provide a bailout for SVB's investors, as it did during the 2007–2008 financial crisis, but is focused on trying to meet the needs of SVB's depositors instead.
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She said that the US authorities currently seek to prevent the domino effect that might hit other regional banks because of SVB's failure.
"America's economy relies on a safe and sound banking system that can provide for the credit needs of our households and businesses. So whenever a bank, especially one, like Silicon Valley Bank with billions of dollars in deposits fails, it's clearly a concern," Yellen said.
The official added that the federal government will not provide a bailout for SVB's investors, as it did during the 2007–2008 financial crisis, but is focused on trying to meet the needs of SVB's depositors instead.
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