Category: General

The UK confirmed Thursday that it would be providing long-range missiles to Ukraine. Storm Shadow missiles will be supplied to Ukraine’s military, meeting one of Kyiv’s longtime requests, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace told the members of parliament in the House of Commons. “Today I can confirm that the UK is donating Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine. Storm Shadow is a long-range, conventional-only, precision strike capability,” he said. “It complements the long-range systems already gifted, including HIMARS and Harpoon missiles, as well as Ukraine’s own Neptune cruise missiles and longer-range munitions already gifted,” he said. Wallace said the provision of these weapon systems offers Ukraine the greatest opportunity to protect themselves from “Russia’s continued brutality especially the deliberate targeting of Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, which is against international law.” Ukraine has the right to safeguard itself from such actions, he added. The long-range, air-launched cruise missiles can travel up to 350 miles and can carry a warhead of up to 450 kilograms (992 pounds). They were developed by British Aerospace and a French company, according to the Royal Air Force. Moscow has warned that the move will warrant an “appropriate response” from the Russian military. Other countries, including the US, have been hesitant to provide such arms, fearing that they may lead to an escalation in the conflict if used on targets in Russia.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Ukrainian forces have used chemical weapons that caused loss of consciousness after inhalation, Komsomolskaya Pravda correspondent Alexander Kots reported on Thursday, citing sources in the Russian military. The alleged attack happened near Orekhov, in Zaporozhye Region.

The use of substances banned by international conventions appears to be part of the much-anticipated Ukrainian offensive, the journalist wrote on Telegram.

According to Kots, Western-supplied tanks have been spotted outside of Kharkov, while Ukrainian troops have launched attacks on Russian positions north and south of Artyomovsk, which they call Bakhmut.

On Thursday evening, the Russian Defense Ministry said there were “no active operations” on the Zaporozhye front, and that the “general situation in the area of the special military operation is under control.”

Multiple Western officials have said over the past week that all the weapons, ammunition and supplies required for Ukraine’s grand counteroffensive had already been delivered. On Thursday, the UK confirmed it had supplied Kiev with long-range ‘Storm Shadow’ missiles.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, however, claimed he needed more time and more armored vehicles before he could launch the assault, in order to avoid casualties. In the same interview, Zelensky claimed Ukraine had nothing to do with the drones that attacked the Kremlin last week.

According to US presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose son had volunteered on Kiev’s side for several months last year, Ukraine has suffered around 300,000 military casualties and is taking losses at a far higher rate than Russia.

Donetsk People’s Republic authorities had accused Ukrainian troops of dropping chemical weapons from drones back in February, pointing to frontline reports and videos shared by Ukrainians on social media.

In late February, the Russian military warned that the Ukrainian forces in Kramatorsk had received 16 containers with riot control agents CS (chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile) and CR (dibenzoxazepine), as well as the incapacitating agent BZ (3-Quinuclidinyl benzilate), accompanied by “citizens of foreign countries.” Moscow suggested the US might be planning a “false flag” attack in the Donbass.

Chemical warfare is forbidden under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), an international treaty that took effect in 1997 and to which both Ukraine and Russia are signatories.

Source: Russia Today

Russia on Wednesday called on all parties in Pakistan to resolve their difference through peaceful means. Speaking at a press briefing in Moscow, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russia is ‘closely following’ the events surrounding the arrest of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. At least six people were killed and several others injured after protests broke out across Pakistan against the arrest of Khan on Tuesday. “We call on all parties to resolve differences by peaceful means, we expect that mass protest actions in Pakistani cities will take place without serious clashes, the situation in the country will soon normalize,” Zakharova said. Commenting on criticism of the Russia-led military bloc Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the spokeswoman said: “The desire of the Armenian leadership to discuss the effectiveness of the organization outside this very organization is puzzling when the CTSO has all the necessary formats for it, established channels of interaction, and most importantly, the participants of this organization, this structure, who are not only ready to listen to it (criticism), but are ready to work to improve it.” Zakharova also said that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s statements about the progress achieved by the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides on the peace agreement during talks in Washington contradict the comments from Baku and Yerevan. “Along with the progress on a number of articles of the peace treaty, (Baku and Yerevan) also admit differences in positions on some key points of this document,” she said. She also noted that Moscow expects Yerevan to take proactive steps on the deployment of the CSTO mission in Armenia. Zakharova also slammed a statement by the Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov, who commenting on the killing of Russian journalist Darya Dugina said that Kyiv have been killing Russians” and “will keep killing Russians anywhere’ until Ukraine’s victory. “There are general skills that allow one to draw conclusions about this direct statement by an official with certain powers – a law enforcement officer accepted by the West – who has spoken out as an extremist and a terrorist,” she said.

Source: Anadolu Agency

A veteran New York City photojournalist who was arrested during a protest in the chokehold death of Jordan Neely on a subway, said her experience was ‘horrible’ and ‘painful.’ ‘We’re just doing our job and we should not be arrested,’ Stephanie Keith told Anadolu after she was released hours later in Manhattan on Monday. ‘We are not protesting, we are documenting the experience of police interacting with protesters. So, we are separate from that and we should not be arrested. We should be allowed to do our jobs.’ Keith was among several people arrested during a candlelight vigil for the homeless man who was choked to death on a subway train by a Marine Corps veteran. She said she is being accused of ‘disorderly conduct’ and ‘interfering with arrests.’ ‘I wasn’t interfering at all. I was standing shoulder to shoulder with my colleagues and we always maintain a very respectful distance,’ she said. Keith said her arrest was a ‘big deal’ after having worked in the city for about 20 years as a freelance photojournalist for top news organizations. ‘I go out on the street all the time, everybody knows me. And so this time, when I was arrested … a lot of people cared. I was shocked actually at how many news stories there were about it,’ she said. ‘But I was also so happy to feel that I am so respected and loved by my community.’ ‘I am hoping that my charges are dropped,’ she said. ‘Journalists should feel safe on the streets, not afraid.’ The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemned the arrest and demanded authorities drop the charges against Keith.

Source: Anadolu Agency

The UN on Wednesday called on all parties in Pakistan to refrain from violence following the arrest of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan. ‘The secretary-general takes note of the ongoing protests that have erupted following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan yesterday in Islamabad and calls for all parties to refrain from violence. He stresses the need to respect the right to peaceful assembly,’ said a statement by Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. ‘The secretary-general urges the authorities to respect due process and the rule of law in proceedings brought against former Prime Minister Khan,’ the statement added. At least six people were killed and several others injured after protests broke out across Pakistan against the arrest of Khan on Tuesday. Khan was arrested on May 9 in connection with alleged corruption involving the Al-Qadir University Trust. It is alleged that the cricketer-turned-politician and his wife, Bushra Bibi, received billions of rupees and a large piece of costly land to build the educational institution in return for releasing an amount of £190 million ($239 million) to a property tycoon in 2020. The amount was identified and returned to the country by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), following a settlement with real estate tycoon Malik Riaz in 2019. The National Accountability Bureau, Pakistan’s anti-corruption body, alleges that Khan’s PTI government struck a deal with Riaz that caused a loss of more than $239 million to the national exchequer, in a quid pro quo arrangement with the businessman. Khan and his party leaders, however, deny the allegations.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Palestinian death toll from Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip has risen to 21, according to the Health Ministry on Wednesday. A ministry statement said that 64 Palestinians were also injured in the attacks. Three leaders of Islamic Jihad group, their wives and children were among those killed in the attacks. The Israeli army said the airstrikes were part of its Operation Shield and Arrow in response to rocket fire from Gaza following the death of a Palestinian hunger striker in an Israeli prison last week. According to Palestinian figures, at least 130 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the start of this year. Nineteen Israelis have also been killed in separate attacks during the same period. *Writing by Ikram Kouachi

Source: Anadolu Agency

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urged lawmakers Wednesday to fix the US’ “broken” immigration system as thousands of migrants head to the country’s southern border. “We are a nation of immigrants. We are also a nation of laws. Our immigration laws today are outdated. The solutions we are implementing are the best available within our current legal authority, but they are short-term solutions to a decades-old problem,” Mayorkas told reporters. “We are taking this approach within the constraints of a broken immigration system that Congress has not fixed for more than two decades and without the resources we need personnel, facilities, transportation, and others that we have requested of Congress, and that we were not given,” he added. The comments come as the US experiences a dramatic uptick of migrants coming to the country, largely from Latin America, ahead of the May 11 expiration of Title 42 — pandemic-related authorities that allowed the US to swiftly remove migrants seeking asylum. The expiration of Title 42 has raised concerns among officials that it could worsen the existing humanitarian crisis at the southern border by encouraging a surge of migrants attempting to cross into the US. The Biden administration has been bracing for an expected surge in migrant arrivals at the southern border as Title 42 comes to an end Since Title 42 was enacted by former President Donald Trump in March 2020, the policy has allowed the US to expel migrants nearly 2.7 million times from the southern border, according to government figures. Under US law, any migrant can claim asylum in the US whether or not they come to the country through a legal port of entry. In addition to sending some 1,500 troops to the US-Mexico border for three months to bolster the capacity of the Department of Homeland Security, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced last week that the US is establishing migrant processing centers in Colombia and Guatemala to help stymy the expected surge. Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.

Source: Anadolu Agency

“All the liberal people of the world can stand together and support Cyprus to end the illegal occupation that continues on the island.” This was stated by New Hampshire Democratic Congressman, co-chairman of the Hellenic Caucus Chris Pappas in the context of the 38th Congress of PSEKA in Washington. Pappas, awarded by PSEKA president Philip Christopher and emphasized that the Cypriot cause has strong bipartisan support in Congress in order to end the illegal Turkish occupation. “As co-chair of the Hellenic Caucus in the House of Representatives, I will continue to work closely with Gus Bilirakis, Nicole Malliotakis, Dina Titus, John Sarbanis, Robert Menendez Jr. and many Philhellenes in Congress. I think it was Isocrates who said that anyone who can display Greek values in mind and spirit can be Greek. And we certainly have many allies in Congress who are doing that on a bipartisan basis,” Pappas said.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The European Parliament (EP) on Wednesday demanded taxation on companies, financial transactions, and crypto assets in order to repay the EU’s common debts and to finance various programs. At the EP General Assembly session held in Strasbourg, the status of the union’s budget and increasing revenue sources were discussed. MEPs approved a report on bringing new resources to the budget with 356-199 votes. In the report, it was pointed out that the EU finances should be reformed quickly in order to implement the union’s policies, achieve the targets and ensure confidence. Underlining that the EU budget is under pressure, the report stated that its own resources would not be sufficient to meet the repayments and borrowing costs of the EU’s recovery program. It mentioned that within the framework of the recovery program, the EU will have to pay an average of at least pound 15 billion ($16.4 billion) per year until 2058. In the report, which noted that the economic and social shock caused by the Russia-Ukraine war and inflation had a heavy impact on the EU budget, the importance of providing additional income sources to the EU was also mentioned.

Source: Anadolu Agency

No impact to financial stability has been recorded so far by the US and UK sanctions against Cypriot persons and entities for assisting Russian sanctioned nationals apart from Cyprus’ credibility, Governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC) Constantinos Herodotou said on Wednesday, noting that non-compliance would pose ‘very negative consequences to the economy.’ The US and the UK have placed a number of Cypriot persons and entities to their sanction lists over facilitating transactions of sanctioned Russian citizens. Although the Republic of Cyprus implements sanctions by the EU and the UN, the banking system has opted to comply with US and UK sanctions and as a result has frozen the accounts of the sanctioned Cypriot natural persons and entities. ‘Although there is no legal framework for mandatory compliance with the US sanctions, non-compliance would pose very negative consequences to the economy,’ Herodotou told the parliamentary committee of Ethics which discussed the issue. As he noted, if a bank does not freeze the accounts of persons included in the sanctions then the bank would be deemed in violation of the sanctions and the banking institution as a whole could be considered as a designated entity. ‘If this were to happen it would be detrimental not only for the bank but for the country because we would be stigmatised,’ to the extent that investors would leave triggering many other consequences, Herodotou said, noting that should a banking institution enter the US sanctions, it would lose access to US dollar transactions, something which could possibly avert new investments, while current investors could choose to leave Cyprus. He also explained that the US law includes secondary sanctions which allows the US to prosecute those who facilitate persons included in the primary sanctions list, while he recalled that in their general rules the Cypriot banking institutions stipulate that they comply not only with the EU and UN rules but also of other countries. On the issue of the frozen accounts, Herodotou said the CBC has called on commercial banks to expedite the due diligence process and unfreeze accounts where appropriate without placing any banking institution at risk. He also explained that exemptions for transactions such as staff salaries by a sanctioned entity could be provided, but this could be done following a request by the affected company to the US authorities and not by the bank. Replying to a question if the legal framework in Cyprus is adequate, Herodotou said that the issue at hand is implementation and fines so the supervised entities feel they are being supervised. Furthermore, Herodotou said that the numbers mentioned by EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders were wrong, recalling that deposits in the Cypriot banking system amount to pound 50 billion and not pound 96 billion. Georgia Themistocleous, member of the sanctions team in the Ministry of Finance said that Cypriot entities have been placed in the US and UK sanctions on the basis of a review that deemed they were facilitating Russian oligarchs who were also in the US sanctions list, adding that these data have been conveyed to the Attorney-General. She also said that the Ministry is drafting a reply to the EU over the total investments in Cyprus before and after the sanctions.

Source: Cyprus News Agency