BBC: Ukraine tensions: Russia condemns destructive US troop increase in Europe
Russia has condemned a US decision to send extra troops to Europe to support its allies amid continuing fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Moscow said it was a "destructive" step which heightened tension and reduced the scope for a political solution.
The Pentagon said 2,000 US troops would be sent from North Carolina to Poland and Germany, and a further 1,000 already in Germany would go to Romania.
Russia has some 100,000 troops near Ukraine. It denies planning to invade.
The tensions come eight years after Russia annexed Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula and backed a bloody rebellion in the eastern Donbas region.
Read more ....
MIDDLE EAST
New Iran deal wouldn’t stop production of nuclear bomb: White House.
Syrian townfolk shocked that IS leader was a neighbour.
Israel signs defence agreement with Bahrain in Gulf first.
Shadowy militant group claims latest UAE drone attack.
UAE-trained Giants put brakes on Yemen's Huthi rebels.
Turkey’s inflation hits nearly 50%, highest in two decades .
Turkey's intelligence agency abducts arms dealer in Ukraine.
Embattled PLO to choose top negotiator after Erekat's death.
Rights group slams Lebanon for "flawed" murder probes.
ASIA
Over a million flee as Afghanistan’s economy collapses.
Afghan universities reopen with strict rules for female students.
Taliban closer to international recognition, says foreign minister.
Myanmar junta slams 'dictating' UN rights chief.
Myanmar opposition urges international community to recognize National Unity Government.
Pakistani forces battle gunmen after Balochistan checkpost raids.
Iran accused of sowing Israel discontent with fake Jewish Facebook group.
Xi to meet Putin as tensions rise with West.
Olympics chief to meet with Peng Shuai.
Top India diplomat to boycott Beijing Games over torchbearer.
US hacker 'in his pyjamas' takes down North Korea's internet in revenge for cyber attack carried out against him by Pyongyang.
AFRICA
ECOWAS holds emergency summit after coups in West Africa.
Mali armed groups sign pact with junta.
Coup-hit Burkina skirts sanctions at W. African summit.
Soldiers 'killed eight' in anglophone Cameroon in December: HRW.
Sudan protesters block road to Egypt for ninth day.
Jury still out on landmark crackdown on rebels in eastern DR Congo.
Eager Ethiopia plays host to crisis-wracked African Union.
Training to resume C.Africa if soldiers 'stop working for Wagner': EU.
Private military contractors bolster Russian influence in Africa.
Mozambicans cautiously return to once-terrorised Palma town.
EUROPE
Europe is entering a plausible endgame to the COVID-19 pandemic, says World Health Organization.
Russia plans ‘very graphic’ fake video as pretext for Ukraine invasion, US claims.
Ukraine pushes EU to make draft Russia sanctions public.
Macron discusses Ukraine peace process with Putin, Zelensky.
US deploys more troops to eastern Europe amid Ukraine standoff.
German government under fire over Russia and Ukraine.
Germany's Olaf Scholz announces impending Moscow visit.
Four of Boris Johnson’s top aides quit, while ‘Partygate’ scandal rocks Downing Street.
Belgium investigates cyberattack on energy companies.
AMERICAS
Freedom Convoy: No plans to call in military, says Trudeau.
Ottawa protests: tensions grow as ‘intolerable’ truck blockade paralyzes Canada capital.
Pelosi warns US athletes not to risk 'incurring the anger' of 'ruthless' Chinese government during Olympics.
Biden warns no amendment is 'absolute' as he vows another crackdown on guns, insists defunding the police is 'NOT the answer' and praises NYPD rookie who took down cop murderer in meeting with NYC Mayor Eric Adams.
Kamala Harris blames Congress 'not acting' on Biden's border crisis and says amnesty for migrants is the administration's top priority.
IMF chief says still 'hard work' ahead on Argentina agreement.
At least 20 people are killed and 74 are in hospital after taking cocaine that 'was poisoned as part of a drug war between dealers' in Argentina.
Deadly winter storm bringing tornado threats and hazardous precipitation to millions from Gulf states to Canada.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
US strike framed to spare civilians after mounting criticism.
Inside the raid that killed ISIS leader al-Qurayshi.
Five key things to know about the US raid that killed ISIS leader.
Death of ISIS leader Quraishi as 'milestone', U.S. in touch with anti-ISIS partners - official.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
World stocks fall on central banks' inflation outlooks, glum Facebook update.
All in a day: Zuckerberg loses $29 bln, Bezos set to pocket $20 bln.
Oil prices edge upward, bolstered by supply concerns.
Mysterious black diamond up for auction.
Amazon raises US price for Prime as profits jump.
Found on the web
ReplyDeleteSome people like Mr. Blackface are pathological
"Trudeau really, really, hates Alberta, and the oil industry in particular, this hatred being due to parental indoctrination. Trudeau’s father was thwarted in nationalizing the oil industry in the 1970’s by a couple of Alberta premiers, who correctly pointed out that oil and gas were clearly provincial, not federal, jurisdiction under Canadian law. However he did, in 1982, run through a new “Constitution” that gave over-arching environmental powers to the federal government, having understood the government choke hold on industry that the EPA was having in the US. Fortunately, he became exceedingly unpopular in 1983 and resigned in 1984, an exhibition of how democracy gets rid of power crazed leaders before they turn into a life long dictator. However, his cannabis friendly son, Justin learned of dreadful Alberta arrogance at his father’s knee.
Before Trudeau Junior was elected in 2015, he said this:
“Canada isn’t doing well right now because it’s Albertans who control our community and socio-democratic agenda. It doesn’t work,” Trudeau told interviewer Patrick Lagacé. From https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-campaign-forced-to-address-2010-comments-on-alberta-1.1241750
In his acceptance speech, he mentioned every province except Alberta…weeks after being elected, he disallowed drilling and exploration expenses as tax deductions for oil companies…effectively shutting down all drilling funds and exploration companies, nearly all based out of Alberta. The big big oil companies liked it because half their competitors were toast. No other business in Canada can’t deduct their costs as business expenses.
Then he shut down the Northern gateway pipeline construction because of its route through the “Great Bear Rain Forest” (a name thought up by activist Tzeporah Berman over a bottle of wine at a California friend’s house party for what had previously been the North Coast Economic Development zone for 70 years), and on the basis of oil tanker danger to whales on the BC Coast. Meanwhile on the East Coast oil tankers from the Middle East offload at refineries daily, and run over a couple of whales a month, but apparently the whale quota is already taken.
The National Energy Board which previously authorized trans-provincial pipelines was placed under control of new more sensitive enviro-masters because they “no longer represented Canadians’ best interest”. Most of the historically non-partisan body were asked to resign because they wouldn’t be getting paychecks after the following Friday. That successfully stopped a pipeline from Alberta to Eastern provinces that would have displaced the Middle East crude. Trudeau claims his government saved the Trans mountain pipeline by purchasing it; however, the government finances environment and Indigenous group law firms to make sure it is continually tied up in court.
Fortunately he is becoming as unpopular as his father before him."