Graft Blamed for Long Delay of China’s Energy Law

asiafinancial.com China’s long-awaited energy law has been issued for public comment after being approved by the country’s top legislative body. The law, initially drafted in 2005, looks set…

How this next phase of Russia's Ukraine war looks

newsweek.com The first four months of 2024 have proven some of the most difficult in Ukraine's two years of full-scale war with Russia, and perhaps the most straining in a decade-long…

China Is Buying Gold, Sending Prices to Record Highs

nytimes.com As gold surged this year to its highest price ever, Xena Lin joined the frenzy by making monthly purchases of gold “beans,” pebble-like morsels of the precious metal. For…

Will Sri Lanka have gdp-linked bonds?

marginalrevolution.com Negotiations to finally bring an end to Sri Lanka’s long-running $13bn debt default could result in an innovative new type of bond that would link payouts to economic growth…

Why Regulators Should Embrace DeFi

dailyhodl.com HodlX Guest Post Submit Your Post Stress tests of major banks have repeatedly failed to uncover serious issues that have led to billions of dollars in losses – DeFi…

Macron and Xi Set to Discuss Trade Concerns, War in Ukraine

asiafinancial.com Trade and the war in Ukraine are expected to top the agenda when Chinese President Xi Jinping flies in to Paris on Sunday for talks with his French counterpart Emmanuel…

The Interlocking Of Strategic Paradigms

zerohedge.com The Interlocking Of Strategic Paradigms Authored by Alastair Crooke via the Ron Paul Institute, Theodore Postol, Professor of Science, Technology and National Security…

Bondholders to Push Ukraine to Resume Debt Payments After Hiatus

wsj.com After Russian troops stormed into the country two years ago, Ukraine’s lenders said Kyiv could wait to pay them back. Now, their patience is starting to run out.

At a private donor event, Trump likens the Biden administration to the 'Gestapo'

nbcnews.com PALM BEACH, Fla. — Donald Trump compared President Joe Biden’s administration to the secret police force of Nazi Germany in remarks at a private, closed-door donor retreat…

How Western sanctions are strangling Putin’s Arctic gas ambitions

japantimes.co.jp Russia’s fortress economy has proved remarkably resilient to an onslaught of Western sanctions. Two years after the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, it continues to fund a…

Russia Stepping Up 'Decapitation Strikes'

zerohedge.com Russia Stepping Up 'Decapitation Strikes' - Belatedly Adds Zelensky to Criminal 'Wanted' List Days ago, for the first time Russian forces mounted a major air attack on the…

News Wrap: Senior UN official warns famine in northern Gaza is moving south

pbs.org In our news wrap Saturday, the head of the UN’s World Food Program said there is “full-blown famine” in northern Gaza and it is spreading south, tensions remain high on…

Ukrainian family rebuilds life in Minnesota after fleeing Russian invasion

pbs.org Since Russia invaded Ukraine more than two years ago, about 6.5 million Ukrainians have left the country. One of them is 10-year-old Artem Fedorenko, who lost part of his…

Ted Cruz rebukes Marjorie Taylor Greene's "utterly ridiculous" plan

newsweek.com Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, rebuked Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene's effort to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson, calling it an "utterly ridiculous" plan on…

The House of Representatives gives Ukraine its best news in a year

economist.com JUST ONE week ago, hope looked fanciful. President Joe Biden’s pitch to spend $100bn on aid for America’s allies under threat—Israel, Taiwan and especially Ukraine—had…

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is on Russia's wanted list, state media reports

pbs.org Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database. As of Saturday…

Ukraine Struggles To Build New Defensive Lines As Its Forces Retreat

zerohedge.com Ukraine Struggles To Build New Defensive Lines As Its Forces Retreat Authored by Kyle Anzalone via The Libertarian Institute, Russian forces are advancing in several places…

How Putin’s gas empire crumbled

finance.yahoo.com Vladimir Putin is throwing everything he has got at ramping up Russia’s war machine. That is why the nation’s economy – if one believes Moscow’s figures – has held up better…

NATO ally issues stark warning of new world war with Russia

newsweek.com Hungary, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), issued a stark waring on Friday about a new world war with Russia if a country within the military…

Europe must find a way to help fund the fight against Putin

theguardian.com Europe has plotted an elegant decline that suits the needs of its ageing population, and the Ukraine war cannot be allowed to interfere with that plan. That is how it seems…

Russia issues direct warning to US over Crimea: "Doomed to failure"

newsweek.com Moscow has accused the U.S. and other allies of Ukraine of preparing strikes on Crimea, warning that in such a scenario, there would be "retaliation." Russian foreign…

Santorum Torches ‘Kids Online Safety Act’ Ahead Of FAA Bill: Will Lead To ‘Digital Censorship Of Conservative Views’

mediaite.com (Photo by Zach Roberts/NurPhoto via AP) Attached oddly to an FAA reauthorization bill up before the Senate next week may be proposed internet legislation which Republican…

"Reasons Unknown": Floating Russian Oil Base Off Greece Abruptly Shifts South

zerohedge.com "Reasons Unknown": Floating Russian Oil Base Off Greece Abruptly Shifts South Traders and shipping companies have ensured millions of barrels of Russian crude and crude…

Rudy Giuliani Rips SNL Not Doing ‘Suggestively Racist’ Humor In Bizarre Rant Trashing Colin ‘Yost’ and Biden

mediaite.com Podcast host Rudy Giuliani trashed Saturday Night Live for refusing to do “suggestively racist” jokes in a rambling rant trashing Colin Jost and President Joe Biden. Colin…

Ukraine highlights Russia's 'line of hell.' Claim of dozens of tanks and military vehicles destroyed on one sector of the Donetsk front

businessinsider.com A screenshot from the video. Ukraine's 58th Motorized Brigade Ukraine's armed forces released a video claiming to show 42 destroyed Russian military vehicles. The Ukrainian…

Why it feels like fast food is so much more expensive

businessinsider.com Fast-food prices have shot up since the start of the pandemic. • Analysts say fast-food prices feel particularly painful because they're rising faster than grocery prices. •…

Putin ally trolls Joe Biden

newsweek.com A top Russian official has mocked President Joe Biden and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky over Kyiv's mobilization efforts, saying that the two leaders should…

Are the BRICS and Their New Development Bank Offering Alternatives to the World Bank, the IMF?

nakedcapitalism.com Yves here. This post takes stock of how far BRICS have gotten, and seem likely to get over the near and intermediate terms, with their various new currency and new monetary…

A Ukrainian war reporter's story: Why I refused to make a 'deal with the devil'

businessinsider.com Ukrainian journalist Illia Ponomarenko. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Publishing Illia Ponomarenko is one of Ukraine's best known war reporters. He has covered the Russia-Ukraine…

Zelensky Tells Commanders Ukraine Must Defeat Russia To Join NATO

zerohedge.com Zelensky Tells Commanders Ukraine Must Defeat Russia To Join NATO Ukraine's President Zelensky has reportedly told his top military commanders that Ukraine must win against…

Russia relying on "mass over quality" as Moscow faces rising losses: UK

newsweek.com Russia's military has adapted to the high losses of troops on the battlefield in Ukraine and it is likely to continue its tactic of throwing troops forward during offensives…

UK Vows To Arm Ukraine For 'As Long as It Takes'

zerohedge.com UK Vows To Arm Ukraine For 'As Long as It Takes' - Commits $3.7BN Annually The UK has committed to what might be called 'forever aid' in Ukraine's defense, with British…

'Razor's Edge': PM Orbán Calls For Europeans To Vote For Pro-Peace Parties In June EU Elections

zerohedge.com 'Razor's Edge': PM Orbán Calls For Europeans To Vote For Pro-Peace Parties In June EU Elections Authored by Dénes Albert via ReMix, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is…

Ukraine receives air defense boost

newsweek.com Germany will supply Kyiv with half a dozen radar systems to bolster Ukraine's air defense capabilities which face repeated barrages of Russian drone and missile attacks.…

Xi Jinping to visit France, Hungary and Serbia amid EU trade tariff row

theguardian.com China’s president, Xi Jinping, is to visit Europe next week for the first time in five years, in a tour that will take in the unlikely trifecta of France, Hungary and…

'No-hydrocarbon world is dreamland:' AIMCo CEO Evan Siddall on investment opportunities in 2024

financialpost.com Evan Siddall: I’m worried about things going wrong in the world. Geopolitics. I’m worried about the Middle East and Iran being drawn into a proxy war. And how does Israel…

9 of Ukraine's deadliest strikes that killed scores of Russians with a single blow

businessinsider.com A destroyed Russian tank in Bucha, Ukraine, in 2022. Nils Petter Nilsson/Getty Images Russia is believed to have lost more than 450,000 soldiers during the war in Ukraine.…

Russia rapidly approaching four grisly milestones: Kyiv

newsweek.com Russia's tally of personnel and equipment losses is closing in on four significant markers, showing the extent of the cost of Moscow's full invasion of Ukraine on its own…

Armies need their own drone air force flown by specialist soldiers, study says

businessinsider.com A Ukrainian soldier from the battalion of unmanned attack air systems "Achilles" of the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade prepares the "Vampir" night drone for an operation near…

The Tech Hawks Took Down TikTok. Now What?

foreignpolicy.com When a group of tech executives, venture capitalists, and lawmakers representing both chambers of Congress, both sides of the aisle, and both coasts of the United States met…

Ukraine unveils an AI-generated foreign ministry spokesperson called Victoria Shi, who will make official statements “written and verified by real people”

theguardian.com Ukraine on Wednesday presented an AI-generated spokesperson called Victoria who will make official statements on behalf of its foreign ministry. The ministry said it would…

Europe’s largest smart city arises from the ashes of Greece’s debt crisis

fortune.com On the southern coastline of Greece’s capital, a long-awaited plan to transform the city’s former airport into the largest smart city in Europe is finally gaining momentum.…

Ukraine May Need To Negotiate With Russia To End War, Says Top Intel Officer: 'Both Sides Are Jockeying For The The Most Favorable Position'

benzinga.com A senior Ukrainian intelligence official has suggested that Ukraine may have to engage in discussions with Russia to bring an end to the ongoing war. What Happened:…

US doesn't support Ukraine using American weapons in Russia: Ambassador

newsweek.com The U.S. does not "enable or encourage" Ukraine to use American-made weapons in targets within Russia, according to U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink. President Joe…

Putin punishes defense minister for Ukraine war shortcomings: ISW

newsweek.com Russian President Vladimir Putin recently made a public gesture intended to punish Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu for his inability to achieve the Kremlin's military…

Star Wars' Mark Hamill touts Biden as President "Joe-bi Wan Kenobi"

newsweek.com Star Wars actor Mark Hamill praised President Joe Biden as "Joe-bi Wan Kenobi" during a surprise appearance at the White House. Hamill, best known for portraying Luke…

Defense chiefs from U.S., Australia, Japan and Philippines vow to deepen cooperation

pbs.org Defense chiefs from the U.S., Australia, Japan and the Philippines vowed to deepen their cooperation as they gathered Thursday in Hawaii for their second-ever joint meeting…

Department of Energy Cancels Oil Deliveries to Strategic Petroleum Reserve Amid Rising Prices

tftc.io The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the cancellation of oil delivery solicitations to the Bayou Choctaw site of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), citing…

Kaspersky hits back at claims it helped Russia with drones

theregister.com If volunteer intelligence gatherers are correct, the US may have a good reason to impose sanctions on Russian infosec firm Kaspersky, which has been accused of helping…

Elizabeth Warren Claims Iran Uses Bitcoin Mining to Fund Terrorism

tftc.io U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Angus King have sent a letter to the Biden administration, claiming that Iran is using Bitcoin mining as a means to evade sanctions and…

Macron has a stark warning for Europe, but is anyone listening?

semafor.com Semafor Signals Supported by Insights from The Economist, NPR, and Reuters The News French President Emmanuel Macron has a bleak warning: Europe faces a panoply of risks…

Top Ukraine official warns Russia could capture "Baltics in 7 days"

newsweek.com A senior Ukrainian intelligence official warned about the threat Moscow poses on other nations in Europe, saying "the Russians will take the Baltics in seven days" if allies…

Researchers say Kaspersky helped Russia build drones

theregister.com If volunteer intelligence gatherers are correct, the US might have a good reason to impose sanctions on Russian infosec firm Kaspersky, which has been accused of helping…

WATCH: 'Star Wars' star Mark Hamill joins White House briefing after meeting Biden

pbs.org “Star Wars” actor Mark Hamill dropped by the White House on Friday for a visit with President Joe Biden and walked away with a pair of the president’s aviator sunglasses and…

An AI-controlled fighter jet took the Air Force leader for a historic ride. What that means for the future of war

pbs.org EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) — With the midday sun blazing, an experimental orange and white F-16 fighter jet launched with a familiar roar that is a hallmark of U.S.…

US Marine Corps urgently modernizes its counter-drone capabilities to keep pace with Russia and China

businessinsider.com US Marines search for nearby unmanned aerial system threats using a Light-Marine Air Defense Integrated System aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer. US Marine Corps…

The US could have to deal with both Russia and China if it ends up at war with one of them, top intelligence officials say

businessinsider.com U.S. Marines receive instructions before disembarking from the USS Green Bay (LPD 20) on the ship's flight deck, April 4, 2015. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler…

Vladimir Putin’s attempt to starve Europe of energy has backfired. Instead, the Kremlin’s Gazprom is starving

theglobeandmail.com Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago, the West has imposed thousands of sanctions on Russian businesses, exports and prominent…