Putin rues Soviet collapse as demise of ‘historical Russia’

President Vladimir Putin has lamented the collapse of the Soviet Union three decades ago as the demise of what he called “historical Russia” and said the economic crisis that followed was so bad he was forced to moonlight as a taxi driver. Putin’s comments, released by state TV on Sunday, are likely to further fuel

Taliban says it won’t allow Afghans to reach Kabul airport as UN warns of ‘credible’ reports of executions

The Taliban said it won’t allow Afghans to reach Kabul airport. A spokesperson said their skills are needed to rebuild the country. The UN has warned that the Taliban is committing serious violations, including summary executions. A Taliban spokesperson on Tuesday said Afghans will be prevented from going to the airport in Kabul because their

US, allies accuse China of global cyber hacking campaign

The United States and a coalition of allies accused China on Monday of a global cyber hacking campaign that employed contract hackers, specifically attributing a large Microsoft attack disclosed earlier this year to actors working on Beijing’s behalf. Opening a new area of tensions with China, the United States is joined by NATO, the European

China says after massed drills that Taiwan’s future lies in ‘reunification’

Taiwan needs to be clearly aware that its future lies in “reunification” with China and that it cannot rely on the United States, China’s military said on Thursday, responding to questions on a massed incursion by Chinese warplanes last week. Twenty-eight Chinese air force aircraft, including fighters and nuclear-capable bombers, entered Taiwan’s air defence identification

Taiwan reports largest incursion yet by Chinese air force

It’s the largest reported incursion to date, breaking the previous record of 25 aircraft reported on April 12. Twenty-eight Chinese air force aircraft, including fighters and nuclear-capable bombers, entered Taiwan‘s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Tuesday, the island’s government said, the largest reported incursion to date. While there was no immediate comment from Beijing, the news comes

Pikachus gather at G-7 summit, call on Japan to stop burning coal

A group of protesters dressed as the popular Japanese animated character Pikachu gathered at the Group of Seven (G-7) summit in Cornwall, England, and called on Japan to stop burning coal. The Independent reports that the demonstration was organized by the No Coal Japan coalition. The group called on Japan to stop using fossil fuels by

Taiwan says will be ‘force for good’ after unprecedented G7 support

Taiwan will be a “force for good” and continue to seek even greater international support, the presidential office said, after the Chinese-claimed island won unprecedented backing from the Group of Seven of major democracies. The G7 leaders on Sunday scolded China over human rights in Xinjiang, called for Hong Kong to keep a high degree of autonomy

G-7 leaders agree on vaccines, China and taxing corporations

Leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy nations staked their claim Sunday to leading the world out of the coronavirus pandemic and crisis, pledging more than 1 billion coronavirus vaccine doses to poorer nations, vowing to help developing countries grow while fighting climate change and backing a minimum tax on multinational firms. At the group’s

Joe Biden kicks off Europe visit with warning for Russia

“The United States will respond in a robust and meaningful way, when the Russian government engages in harmful activities,” said US President Joe Biden as he kicked off his first overseas tour as president on Wednesday. “We’ve already demonstrated that. I’m going to communicate that there are consequences for violating the sovereignty of democracies, in

UK pushes for financial services to be exempt from G7 global tax plan

British finance minister Rishi Sunak is pushing for financial services firms to be exempt from a new global tax system which was agreed last week by the Group of Seven (G7) economies, sources familiar with the negotiations said. One of the officials said Britain – home of Europe’s biggest financial hub – had put a