0x815

Maria Troyanivska had come home early the night a Russian drone hit her bedroom.

“It flew in through the window, right into her room,” her mother Viktoria tells the BBC. After the explosion, she and her husband Volodymyr ran from the next room to find their daughter’s room on fire.

“We tried to put it out, but everything was burning so strongly,” she says through tears. “It was impossible to breathe – we had to leave.”

The Russian Shahed drone killed the 14-year-old in her bed, in her suburban apartment in Kyiv, last month.

“She died immediately, and then burned,” her mother said. “We had to bury her in a closed coffin. She had no chance of surviving.” BBC/Kamil Dayan Khan Maria's bedroom in suburban Kyiv

Cuba is in the midst of an ongoing humanitarian crisis, and October’s widespread power outages are only adding to the Cuban people’s troubles. For the last six decades, Cuba has been on the receiving end of myriad sanctions by the United States government. This blockade has proved devastating to human life.

Reporting on Cuba’s blackouts have either omitted or paid brief lip-service to the effects of U.S. sanctions on the Cuban economy, and how those sanctions have created the conditions for the crisis. Instead, media have focused on the inefficient and authoritarian Communist government as the cause of the island’s troubles.

cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/4724783

China should face “a higher cost” for supporting Russia in the war against Ukraine, the EU’s incoming foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has said.

The former Estonian prime minister was speaking to MEPs during a three-hour hearing before she takes office, when she listed Ukraine’s victory as a priority – stronger words than vaguer formulas of support voiced by some EU politicians.

“Victory of Ukraine is a priority for us all; the situation on the battlefield is very difficult,” Kallas told MEPs in her opening remarks. “That is why we must keep on working every day, today, tomorrow and for as long as it takes, and with as much military, financial and humanitarian aid as needed.”

[...]

cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/4724783

China should face “a higher cost” for supporting Russia in the war against Ukraine, the EU’s incoming foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has said.

The former Estonian prime minister was speaking to MEPs during a three-hour hearing before she takes office, when she listed Ukraine’s victory as a priority – stronger words than vaguer formulas of support voiced by some EU politicians.

“Victory of Ukraine is a priority for us all; the situation on the battlefield is very difficult,” Kallas told MEPs in her opening remarks. “That is why we must keep on working every day, today, tomorrow and for as long as it takes, and with as much military, financial and humanitarian aid as needed.”

[...]

China should face “a higher cost” for supporting Russia in the war against Ukraine, the EU’s incoming foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has said.

The former Estonian prime minister was speaking to MEPs during a three-hour hearing before she takes office, when she listed Ukraine’s victory as a priority – stronger words than vaguer formulas of support voiced by some EU politicians.

“Victory of Ukraine is a priority for us all; the situation on the battlefield is very difficult,” Kallas told MEPs in her opening remarks. “That is why we must keep on working every day, today, tomorrow and for as long as it takes, and with as much military, financial and humanitarian aid as needed.”

[...]

cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/4701745

Archived link

China seized the shoal, which lies west of the main Philippine island of Luzon, in 2012, and has since restricted access to Filipino fishermen there. A 2016 ruling by an international arbitration court found that most Chinese claims in the South China Sea were invalid but Beijing refuses to abide by it.

[...]

Tensions between China and the Philippines have been building over their competing claims to Scarborough Shoal and other outcrops in the South China Sea. Clashes have occurred including the Chinese coast guard firing water cannons at Filipino ships.

[...]

"What we see is an increasing demand by Beijing for us to concede our sovereign rights in the area," Manila's Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said after meeting Australian counterpart Richard Marles, adding that the Philippines was a "victim of Chinese aggression".

[...]

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce, including parts claimed by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Vor Jahren entscheidet ein Gericht, dass die Scarborough-Untiefe im Südchinesischen Meer zur Wirtschaftszone der Philippinen gehört. China akzeptiert das Urteil jedoch nicht und hält das Riff besetzt. Jetzt absolviert die chinesische Armee dort ein Militärmanöver.

China beansprucht praktisch das gesamte Südchinesische Meer für sich eingeschlossen Gebiete, die die Philippinen, Brunei, Indonesien, Malaysia und Vietnam für sich reklamieren.

Der philippinische Präsident Ferdinand Marcos Jr. unterzeichnete vergangene Woche zwei Gesetze, die den Anspruch seines Landes auf das Scarborough-Riff bekräftigen. China reagierte erbost und veröffentlichte am Sonntag Landkarten der Gegend, mit denen es seine Ansprüche unterstreicht.

Archived link

China seized the shoal, which lies west of the main Philippine island of Luzon, in 2012, and has since restricted access to Filipino fishermen there. A 2016 ruling by an international arbitration court found that most Chinese claims in the South China Sea were invalid but Beijing refuses to abide by it.

[...]

Tensions between China and the Philippines have been building over their competing claims to Scarborough Shoal and other outcrops in the South China Sea. Clashes have occurred including the Chinese coast guard firing water cannons at Filipino ships.

[...]

"What we see is an increasing demand by Beijing for us to concede our sovereign rights in the area," Manila's Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said after meeting Australian counterpart Richard Marles, adding that the Philippines was a "victim of Chinese aggression".

[...]

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce, including parts claimed by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Der chinesische Online-Marktplatz Temu verstößt gegen europäische Gesetze zum Verbraucherschutz. Das hat heute das Netzwerk der europäischen Verbraucherschutz-Behörden festgestellt. Die Behörden haben Temu nun zu Änderungen aufgefordert, um gesetzlichen Vorgaben zu entsprechen. Andernfalls drohen dem Unternehmen Strafzahlungen.

Die EU-Kommission hat letzte Woche auch ein eigenes Verfahren gegen Temu nach dem Digital Services Act (DSA) eröffnet. Temu ist als besonders große Plattform eingestuft, damit gelten besonders strenge Regeln. Die EU überarbeitet gerade außerdem ihre Regeln zum Zoll. Es wird vermutet, dass Temu-Händler:innen die aktuellen Vorgaben massenhaft umgehen.

Liste an Vorwürfen

• Die Behörden kritisieren mehrere Praktiken Temus. Die erste davon sind Fake-Rabatte. Die Seite würde den Eindruck hervorrufen, dass Produkte im Preis reduziert seien, obwohl das nicht stimmte.

• Außerdem setze Temu Kund:innen mit irreführenden Informationen unter Druck, damit diese Käufe abschließen, so die Behörden. Die Seite würde etwa falsche Angaben über begrenzte Vorräte oder Fristen für Käufe machen.

• Temu zwingt Kund:innen nach Angaben des Netzwerks dazu, ein digitales Glücksrad zu drehen, um auf seine Seite zuzugreifen. Dabei verstecke die Plattform wichtige Informationen über die Bedingungen, die mit den möglichen Belohnungen des Spiels verbunden sind.

• Auch ansonsten zeige Temu Kund:innen unvollständige oder falsche Informationen über ihre Rechte an, finden die Behörden: etwa darüber, dass eine Bestellung einen Mindestwert hat.

• Unvollständige Informationen liefere die Plattform auch darüber, wie sie gegen Fake-Bewertungen vorgeht. Nationale Behörden hätten vermutlich gefälschte Bewertungen gefunden, schreibt das Netzwerk.

• Schließlich werden Kund:innen mit ihren Problemen allein gelassen: Es werde ihnen nicht leicht gemacht, Temu mit Fragen oder Beschwerden zu kontaktieren.

[...]

cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/4696071

Archived link

The European Union should directly use $300 billion in frozen Russian assets to finance the reconstruction of war-torn Ukraine, says Kaja Kallas, the candidate for the top EU foreign policy position.

Kallas, a former Estonian prime minister who has been nominated as the EU’s high representative, said member states should abandon their reservations about directly seizing assets, citing Kyiv’s “legitimate claims” to the funds after the Russian attack.

[...]

“We recognize that Russia has legitimate claims against us because we have their assets. But Ukraine also has legitimate claims against Russia because they are destroying Ukraine every day,” Kallas said

She hinted that Russia might have the opportunity to “reclaim” assets as part of the settlement, but added: “Given what’s going on, I doubt there’s anything left.”

To taxpayers who don’t want EU member states to pay for Ukraine’s reconstruction, Kallas said: “We shouldn’t do that. Those who are destroying Ukraine will pay for it.”

Kallas said Estonia’s initiative to send 0.25 percent of its gross domestic product to Ukraine should be adopted by other member states.

She also said that EU sanctions against Russia should not be renewed every six months and should be permanent until the 27 member states decide to lift them. “It would be better if the situation was reversed,” Kallas said.

[...]

This year, the G7 reached an agreement to seize profits from Russia’s frozen assets. However, the plan does not include confiscation. Some countries considered the potential legal implications of such a move and the risk to the euro, while others, including the US and UK, advocated bolder options such as outright asset confiscation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine knows how to handle Russia’s frozen assets. He proposed handing over the entire $300 billion to Kyiv. “Frankly, this is Ukrainian money,” he said.

The World Bank estimates that Ukraine’s total economic, social and other monetary losses from the war will be $499 billion by the end of 2023.

Archived link

The European Union should directly use $300 billion in frozen Russian assets to finance the reconstruction of war-torn Ukraine, says Kaja Kallas, the candidate for the top EU foreign policy position.

Kallas, a former Estonian prime minister who has been nominated as the EU’s high representative, said member states should abandon their reservations about directly seizing assets, citing Kyiv’s “legitimate claims” to the funds after the Russian attack.

[...]

“We recognize that Russia has legitimate claims against us because we have their assets. But Ukraine also has legitimate claims against Russia because they are destroying Ukraine every day,” Kallas said

She hinted that Russia might have the opportunity to “reclaim” assets as part of the settlement, but added: “Given what’s going on, I doubt there’s anything left.”

To taxpayers who don’t want EU member states to pay for Ukraine’s reconstruction, Kallas said: “We shouldn’t do that. Those who are destroying Ukraine will pay for it.”

Kallas said Estonia’s initiative to send 0.25 percent of its gross domestic product to Ukraine should be adopted by other member states.

She also said that EU sanctions against Russia should not be renewed every six months and should be permanent until the 27 member states decide to lift them. “It would be better if the situation was reversed,” Kallas said.

[...]

This year, the G7 reached an agreement to seize profits from Russia’s frozen assets. However, the plan does not include confiscation. Some countries considered the potential legal implications of such a move and the risk to the euro, while others, including the US and UK, advocated bolder options such as outright asset confiscation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine knows how to handle Russia’s frozen assets. He proposed handing over the entire $300 billion to Kyiv. “Frankly, this is Ukrainian money,” he said.

The World Bank estimates that Ukraine’s total economic, social and other monetary losses from the war will be $499 billion by the end of 2023.

cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/4695910

Ante Ivkovic herded sheep in Bosnia-Herzegovina with his father as a child. Years later, without his consent or knowledge, he says, a wind farm was built on his property by a Chinese company.

The Chinese wind farm company, headquartered in the capital Sarajevo, declined to comment on camera. In an email, they stated they relied on Bosnian documents that confirmed the concession's legality and claimed there were no unresolved ownership issues.

Ivkovic, with the help of his lawyer, is pursuing legal action to prove his ownership. His lawyer is gathering evidence from archives to build the case.

[...]

Chinese wind energy companies have been aggressively expanding into the European market, undercutting European competitors by significant margins, thanks to state subsidies. This is evident not only in Bosnia, but also in neighboring Croatia.

[...]

The EU has taken notice. Under Ursula von der Leyen's leadership, the EU is scrutinizing Chinese wind farms, investigating whether state subsidies are giving them an unfair advantage over European competitors. Lobbyists warn that with every new wind farm, China tightens its grip on Europe's energy supply.

"On a modern wind turbine there are around 300 sensors on the different components of the turbine, which are giving information to the wind farm owner and operator, and to the turbine manufacturer about the performance. And many people in Europe are saying, 'do we want to give that power to entities outside of Europe to control the functioning of wind turbines?'," says Giles Dickson, the CEO of WindEurope.

[...]

Will a retiree be able to assert his rights against a 160-million-euro project? This case will help determine how much property rights are worth in Bosnia and Herzegovina.