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.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
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.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
😁26💩13👍5❤1
❗️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
💔28😢15
🥴 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.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
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.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
😁29💩18
Nord Stream Blast: German Media Debunked 'Pro-Ukrainian Group' Story the Same Week it Appeared
On March 10, the chair of the Bundestag’s intelligence oversight committee, Konstantin von Notz from the Green Party, told Die Zeit, that what happened on September 26, 2022 was likely a "state-backed act of terrorism."
It's more likely that the sabotage was conducted by a "state or quasi-state actor," von Notz insisted. According to the German lawmaker, it would be very demanding to transport the military explosives – up to two tons, he believed – undetected to the right place in the Baltic Sea, and then bring them to the relevant depth in order to trigger several explosions in a controlled manner. Von Notz noted that a "state-backed act of terrorism makes it more likely that false or deceptive clues were laid."
Read more
On March 10, the chair of the Bundestag’s intelligence oversight committee, Konstantin von Notz from the Green Party, told Die Zeit, that what happened on September 26, 2022 was likely a "state-backed act of terrorism."
It's more likely that the sabotage was conducted by a "state or quasi-state actor," von Notz insisted. According to the German lawmaker, it would be very demanding to transport the military explosives – up to two tons, he believed – undetected to the right place in the Baltic Sea, and then bring them to the relevant depth in order to trigger several explosions in a controlled manner. Von Notz noted that a "state-backed act of terrorism makes it more likely that false or deceptive clues were laid."
Read more
👍45😁6🥴1
🇬🇧👴🏻 Statues of “powerful old white men” could be hidden or destroyed in order to not offend a more diverse modern public, according to a Welsh government guidance.
The government advises to “take action” in order to set the “right historical narrative.” The “old white men” in question include, but are not limited to, the Duke of Wellington and Admiral Lord Nelson.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
The government advises to “take action” in order to set the “right historical narrative.” The “old white men” in question include, but are not limited to, the Duke of Wellington and Admiral Lord Nelson.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
💩38👍9😁4❤1
Wagner Group servicemen have shown Sputnik correspondents a Ukrainian kamikaze that was drone shot down in Artemovsk (Bakhmut)
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
👍42
Kim Jong-un Orders Army to Deter Enemy ‘Provocations’ as US, ROK Prep for Biggest Drills in 5 Years
The meeting of the Workers’ Party of Korea’s Central Military Commission comes against the backdrop massive upcoming US-South Korean drills including “Freedom Shield” and “Warrior Shield.” The former, kicking off Monday and running until March 23, will feature command post exercises simulating a joint US-South Korean response to North Korean “aggression.”
Read more
The meeting of the Workers’ Party of Korea’s Central Military Commission comes against the backdrop massive upcoming US-South Korean drills including “Freedom Shield” and “Warrior Shield.” The former, kicking off Monday and running until March 23, will feature command post exercises simulating a joint US-South Korean response to North Korean “aggression.”
Read more
👌21👍12
🇮🇹 Western countries have never discussed sending allied troops to Ukraine, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in response to a recent remark of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on this matter.
Earlier this week, Orban said that the West was very close to seriously discussing the prospect of sending allied troops to Ukraine, adding that the likelihood of this local conflict growing into a world war has been increasing with each day.
"I have no knowledge of this. We never talked about sending troops to Kiev. The day before yesterday there was a meeting of foreign ministers with [US Secretary of State Antony] Blinken and there was never any talk about sending troops to Ukraine," Tajani said.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
Earlier this week, Orban said that the West was very close to seriously discussing the prospect of sending allied troops to Ukraine, adding that the likelihood of this local conflict growing into a world war has been increasing with each day.
"I have no knowledge of this. We never talked about sending troops to Kiev. The day before yesterday there was a meeting of foreign ministers with [US Secretary of State Antony] Blinken and there was never any talk about sending troops to Ukraine," Tajani said.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
🔥23💩12🥴4👍2❤1
BBC's Bias Laid Bare Anew Amid Linekergate Row
Veteran football presenter and ex-professional footballer Gary Lineker was suspended by the British Broadcasting Corporation on Friday after a much-publicized Twitter spat with the government over its asylum policy.
How does the scandal square with the BBC’s much-touted claims of "impartiality", and with similar scandals of years and decades past?
Read more
Veteran football presenter and ex-professional footballer Gary Lineker was suspended by the British Broadcasting Corporation on Friday after a much-publicized Twitter spat with the government over its asylum policy.
How does the scandal square with the BBC’s much-touted claims of "impartiality", and with similar scandals of years and decades past?
Read more
😁35👍5
Forwarded from Sputnik News India
This media is not supported in your browser
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
🚀 Watch footage of the moment when the cabin of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft was picked up and its crew were finally reunited with their home planet.
🌍 Welcome back!
Subscribe to @sputniknewsindia
🌍 Welcome back!
Subscribe to @sputniknewsindia
👍27🌚1
Forwarded from Sputnik Africa
Russia, Sudan May Switch to Settlements in National Currencies & Increase Trade, Ambassador Says
Sudan and Russia are in talks on the possibility of using national currencies in mutual settlements, Sudan’s Ambassador to Russia Hassan Mohammed Elghazali Eltijani Sirraj said in an interview with Sputnik.
According to the ambassador, the issue is mostly technical. The central banks of both countries are expected to examine the matter in detail and decide whether it is possible or not, he stated, underlining that the results will be known in the near future.
👉 Read more
Subscribe to @sputnik_africa
Sudan and Russia are in talks on the possibility of using national currencies in mutual settlements, Sudan’s Ambassador to Russia Hassan Mohammed Elghazali Eltijani Sirraj said in an interview with Sputnik.
According to the ambassador, the issue is mostly technical. The central banks of both countries are expected to examine the matter in detail and decide whether it is possible or not, he stated, underlining that the results will be known in the near future.
👉 Read more
Subscribe to @sputnik_africa
👍63❤16🔥3
This media is not supported in your browser
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
📹 Russian Grad MLRS crews in action in special military operation zone
First, UAVs detect camouflaged positions of Ukrainian troops and transmit the information to an artillery command post. Then the Grad crews head to their positions and launch an artillery strike against the targets. Once the task is fulfilled, the artillery operators rapidly reposition.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
First, UAVs detect camouflaged positions of Ukrainian troops and transmit the information to an artillery command post. Then the Grad crews head to their positions and launch an artillery strike against the targets. Once the task is fulfilled, the artillery operators rapidly reposition.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
👍40🔥11
🇷🇺🇹🇷 The gas hub project proposed by Russia is at the stage of legal registration in Turkiye and various details are currently under discussion, a source familiar with the negotiations told Sputnik.
▪️ Last week, Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez said that the Russia-proposed initiative of creating a gas hub in Turkiye was going to be on the agenda of the Turkish parliament in the coming days. The minister stated that the parliament would consider amendments to one or several laws to provide the necessary legal framework for the implementation of the gas hub project.
💬 "The Minister has already announced information that the Parliament will consider a number of amendments to the law that will provide a legal framework, including for this project. Right now, along with this issue, delegations are simultaneously discussing various details: these are infrastructural issues, and issues of ensuring throughput, diversification, etc.," an informed source told Sputnik.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
▪️ Last week, Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez said that the Russia-proposed initiative of creating a gas hub in Turkiye was going to be on the agenda of the Turkish parliament in the coming days. The minister stated that the parliament would consider amendments to one or several laws to provide the necessary legal framework for the implementation of the gas hub project.
💬 "The Minister has already announced information that the Parliament will consider a number of amendments to the law that will provide a legal framework, including for this project. Right now, along with this issue, delegations are simultaneously discussing various details: these are infrastructural issues, and issues of ensuring throughput, diversification, etc.," an informed source told Sputnik.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
👍42❤3
Comedy-drama film "Everything Everywhere All at Once," written, directed, and co-produced by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, won the Best Picture Oscar.
▪️ The Daniels also won the Best Original Screenplay award for the same movie, according to the live broadcast of the Academy Awards.
▪️ Ke Huy Quan won Best Supporting Actor for his role in "Everything Everywhere All at Once," while Jamie Lee Curtis took the Best Supporting Actress award for the same movie.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
▪️ The Daniels also won the Best Original Screenplay award for the same movie, according to the live broadcast of the Academy Awards.
▪️ Ke Huy Quan won Best Supporting Actor for his role in "Everything Everywhere All at Once," while Jamie Lee Curtis took the Best Supporting Actress award for the same movie.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
💩29👎7👍4🔥1
🇨🇳 Chinese President Xi Jinping has offered the Arab states of the Persian Gulf and Iran to hold a summit in Beijing this year, The Wall Street Journal reports citing sources.
▪️ Xi made the proposal at a regional summit in Saudi Arabia’s capital of Riyadh last December, sources told the newspaper on Sunday, adding that a summit between Iran and the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) should take place in 2023.
▪️ According to The Wall Street Journal, China wrapped up a deal to restore relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia on Friday, behind closed doors in Beijing. English was not used during the negotiations, with speeches and documents conducted in Arabic, Farsi or Mandarin.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
▪️ Xi made the proposal at a regional summit in Saudi Arabia’s capital of Riyadh last December, sources told the newspaper on Sunday, adding that a summit between Iran and the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) should take place in 2023.
▪️ According to The Wall Street Journal, China wrapped up a deal to restore relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia on Friday, behind closed doors in Beijing. English was not used during the negotiations, with speeches and documents conducted in Arabic, Farsi or Mandarin.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
👌53👍28❤2
🇷🇺🇸🇾 Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova says that an agreement has been reached with the Kurds in Syria on the return of another 200 Russian children back to Russia.
▪️ On Sunday, 56 Russian children, aged three to 17, flew back to Russia from Syria, under Lvova-Belova’s coordination. Seven of the children were transported from an orphanage in Damascus, while 49 were from refugee camps.
💬 "We have reached an agreement with the leadership of the Kurdish side to take out another 200 children in the near future in several stages. … Of course, we very much hope that our close cooperation will continue in the future," Lvova-Belova told reporters on Sunday.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
▪️ On Sunday, 56 Russian children, aged three to 17, flew back to Russia from Syria, under Lvova-Belova’s coordination. Seven of the children were transported from an orphanage in Damascus, while 49 were from refugee camps.
💬 "We have reached an agreement with the leadership of the Kurdish side to take out another 200 children in the near future in several stages. … Of course, we very much hope that our close cooperation will continue in the future," Lvova-Belova told reporters on Sunday.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
👍46
This media is not supported in your browser
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
📹 Russia’s Defense Ministry has published footage showing TOS-1A Solntsepyok heavy flamethrower systems in action
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
🔥36👍15❤5👎1
Fewer Swedes Call Themselves Liberals, Feminists as More Switch to Conservatism
Fewer Swedish voters see themselves as liberals now compared to a year ago, a survey made by pollster Ipsos on behalf of Swedish media has shown.
Swedish pundits have ascribed the decline of liberalism and feminism to a news cycle dominated by wars, crime and crises ranging from energy to the economy. They even ventured that the liberal project is "no longer dominant," with the public debate moving into the opposite direction.
Learn more
Fewer Swedish voters see themselves as liberals now compared to a year ago, a survey made by pollster Ipsos on behalf of Swedish media has shown.
Swedish pundits have ascribed the decline of liberalism and feminism to a news cycle dominated by wars, crime and crises ranging from energy to the economy. They even ventured that the liberal project is "no longer dominant," with the public debate moving into the opposite direction.
Learn more
👍33❤4🔥2🤔2💩1
China, US Ought to Cooperate Since No One Benefits From Deterrence
China and the United States must cooperate for the common good, since deterrence and oppression does not benefit either side, Premier of China’s State Council Li Qiang said on Monday.
"China and the US can cooperate, China and the US must cooperate, China and the US have great potential for cooperation, while deterrence and suppression will not benefit anyone," Li said at a press conference after the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC).
Read more
China and the United States must cooperate for the common good, since deterrence and oppression does not benefit either side, Premier of China’s State Council Li Qiang said on Monday.
"China and the US can cooperate, China and the US must cooperate, China and the US have great potential for cooperation, while deterrence and suppression will not benefit anyone," Li said at a press conference after the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC).
Read more
👍35🔥1