UKRAINE WAR
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RUSSIA
Putin denies “war crimes” in Bucha and defends “noble” military campaign
Moscow (EFE).- Russian President Vladimir Putin today denied the alleged “war crimes” committed by Russian troops in Bucha and defended the military campaign in Ukraine, calling its aims “noble”. “What is happening in Ukraine is a tragedy, but we had no choice. It was the right decision,” said the Kremlin chief at a joint press conference with his Belarusian counterpart Alexandr Lukashenko.
Zelenskyi announces the arrest of the pro-Russian politician Medvedchuk, a friend of Putin
International Writing (EFE) .- Ukraine’s President Volodimir Zelenskiy announced today the arrest of pro-Russian politician Victor Medvedchuk, a friend of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin. Medvedchuk was under house arrest by judge’s order but fled on February 24, just as Russia began its “military special operation” in Ukraine. The 67-year-old politician and businessman has been charged with high treason for divulging state secrets, conducting business in Ukraine’s annexed Crimea peninsula, working for Russia and having “steady ties” with Putin.
The US is evaluating the alleged chemical weapons attack in Mariúpol, which remains unconfirmed
Washington (EFE) .- The United States continues to investigate the suspected chemical weapons attack on the port city of Mariúpol in Ukraine, which has not yet been confirmed, a senior Defense Ministry official said on Tuesday. “We are still monitoring this information, but we cannot confirm the use of chemical agents at this time, we are still evaluating,” the source said in a call with journalists, without giving further details. Later, US Department of Defense spokesman John Kirby added in a press conference that the intelligence data they have available does not rule out that Russia might try to cover up a possible chemical weapons attack by using counter-insurgency materials such as tear gas.
POSITION
Ukrainian forces desperately defend besieged Mariupol
MOSCOW/KYIV (EFE).- Russian troops today continued their offensive in Mariupol, where authorities have denounced the use of a chemical warfare agent and Ukrainian forces are increasingly desperate, while near Kyiv a French gendarmerie team is busy investigating alleged war crimes started. “It is likely that in the future the enemy will try to take over the city of Mariupol, capture Popasna – in the Lugansk region – and launch an offensive towards Kurakhvo,” the General Staff of the Donetsk Armed Forces said. The Russian army stepped up attacks near the Donetsk region’s town of Popásnoye, where at least 120 Ukrainian soldiers may have been killed, the Russian Defense Ministry said in its evening report.
Selenski rejects the visit of the Federal President because of connections to Nord Stream
Berlin (EFE).- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski has refused to receive a visit from his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Kyiv because of its links to the German-Russian Nord Stream gas pipeline, the mainstay of Germany’s energy dependency Moscow. According to information from the German “Bild” newspaper, Steinmeier’s purpose was to travel to the Ukrainian capital together with Polish President Andrzej Duda.
The WTO considers that humanitarian corridors are necessary for harvesting in Ukraine
Geneva (EFE).- The World Trade Organization (WTO) today reiterated that humanitarian corridors should be created to allow Ukrainian farmers to harvest wheat and other commodities in the coming months, of which this country is one of the main exporters worldwide. Although the share of Russia and Ukraine in world trade is relatively small, they are both important exporters of certain foods. Both supply international markets with 25% wheat, 15% barley and 45% sunflower products.
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US SHOOT
New York seeks man who shot subway, leaving 10 gunshot wounds
New York (EFE) .- The New York authorities are searching for the man who opened fire on the subway this Tuesday morning during rush hour and wounded ten people with bullets, in a chaotic attack initially without terrorist links. Four hours after the events, Police Chief Keechant Sewell told the media that the shooting was not being investigated as terrorism, noting that “although it was a violent incident, it appears that no one was fatally injured in this case”. Of the 10 wounded by bullets, half are in critical but stable condition, a health source said, while another 19 are being treated in hospitals, some of them for smoke inhalation.
UNITED GOVERNMENT
Johnson and his wife have been fined for partying at Downing Street in the midst of the pandemic
London (EFE). – Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his business chief Rishi Sunak face calls for their resignations on Tuesday after confirming they were fined by police for attending illegal Downing Street parties during the pandemic . Carrie Johnson, the Prime Minister’s wife and mother of his two minor children, will also receive a sanction, alongside fifty penalties already imposed by Scotland Yard. All of the political opposition have called for the immediate sacking of Johnson and Sunak for deceiving voters and parliament, despite the fact that the Conservative leader is in a relatively safe position with the backing of his MPs, who endorse his leadership during the Ukrainian invasion of Russia .
USA D. HUMANOS
The US has accused Russia of “widespread atrocities” in Ukraine in recent weeks
Washington (EFE).- The United States government on Tuesday accused Russia of committing “widespread atrocities” in recent weeks in Ukraine, where Moscow launched an invasion on February 24. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the complaint at a press conference, where he explained that these abuses came to light as Russian troops withdrew from cities they occupied or besieged. The foreign minister cited the testimonies of raped women and girls and bombed civilian infrastructure such as a theater and a train station.
USA D. HUMANOS
The US repeats complaints against Vox and Podemos for harassment of journalists
Washington (EFE).- The US Department of State, in its annual human rights report for 2021, published this Tuesday, reiterated the complaints against the Spanish political parties Vox and Podemos for their attitude towards the media. The document mentions “Reporters Without Borders’ (RSF) “concerns” about “growing polarization and lack of transparency” in Spain, which have undermined citizens’ trust in journalists and encouraged “rhetoric” against media communications. The State Department said that in 2021 there were “multiple reports” of cases of government officials and politicians “harassing” certain media outlets and journalists.
MOROCCO MARITIME TRANSPORT
Morocco resumes maritime links with Spain, France and Italy
Rabat (EFE).- Passenger transport vessels are reconnecting the northern Moroccan ports of Tanger Med, Tanger Ville and Nador with those of Spain, France and Italy after more than three months of disruption due to Covid-19. The Moroccan Ministry of Transport and Logistics said in a statement that the medium- and long-distance sea routes, such as those connecting Morocco to the ports of Sète in France and Genoa in Italy, started operating again this Monday.
GERMANY INFLATION
In March, German inflation reached its highest level since reunification
Berlin (EFE).- Annual inflation in Germany reached 7.3 percent in March, the highest level since German reunification in 1990, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) announced on Tuesday, thereby confirming initial estimates based on preliminary data. In February, annual inflation was 5.1 percent. In the former Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), inflation of a similar magnitude was last recorded in 1981 as a result of the rise in oil prices as a result of the war between Iran and Iraq.
US INFLATION
US inflation continues to climb to 8.5%, the highest since 1981
Washington (EFE).- In March, the United States recorded 8.5%, the highest inflation rate since 1981, mainly due to increases in energy, food and property prices. For its part, the monthly increase in the consumer price index (CPI from February to March) was 1.2%.
USA D. HUMANOS
In a human rights report, the USA refers to Russia, Cuba, Nicaragua and China
Washington (EFE).- The United States highlighted on Tuesday in its annual report on human rights Russia, Cuba, Nicaragua and China expressing its concern about the torture, executions and oppression allegedly carried out in these countries . This State Department document, released today and covering the year 2021, will serve as guidance for the US Congress in determining the foreign aid provided to each nation. In a press conference, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that over the past year Washington has seen the human rights record deteriorate and authoritarianism continue to rise in many parts of the world.
IMF TAXES
The IMF calculates that the global minimum tax will increase revenues by 5.7%
Washington (EFE).- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) calculates that the 15% global minimum tax on multinational companies, agreed by 137 countries in October, will increase global corporate tax revenues by 5.7% (about $150,000 million annually). will. According to an analysis published this Tuesday by the international financial institution, the implementation of this agreement will reduce the incentives for companies to move their profits from one place to another, which will lead to an increase in collection. In addition, the fact that countries stop competing with each other for lower taxes could increase the collection even further, by another 8.1%, the fund said.
OIL MARKET
OPEC downgrades crude oil demand amid uncertainty over Russia
Vienna (EFE).- OPEC this Tuesday revised down its forecast for annual growth in global demand for crude oil this year from 4.29% to 3.79% amid uncertainty over the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Western sanctions imposed on Russia. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in its monthly report for April states that the correction reflects the worsening outlook for the global situation as a result of the “impact of the conflict in Eastern Europe as well as the current impact of the pandemic”.
AREA EUROPE
ESA’s new Space Security Center will prevent damage to satellites
Darmstadt (Germany) (EFE).- The European Space Agency’s (ESA) new Space Security Center will improve solar storm forecasting to avoid damage to satellites and other infrastructure necessary for some daily activities on Earth. Prepared for real-time flight control and inaugurated this Tuesday by ESA’s new Director General, Josef Aschbacher, this facility has an area of 70 square meters and is located in ESA’s Operations Control Center in the German city of Darmstadt, near Frankfurt, in central Germany. EFE
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