Tuesday, 23 January 2024

Polish truckers end border blockade with Ukraine.

Truckers will temporarily lift the blockade for further talks with the Polish government, seeking a final deal by March 1.
Frequent talks between Poland and Ukraine failed to resolve the issue, straining relations with Poland, a significant wartime supporter of Ukraine.
The Center for Economic Strategy in Kyiv reported a $260 million loss in the Ukrainian government budget caused by the blockade.

Plane bound for Russia crashes in Afghanistan; four of six passengers rescued.

Four of the six on the plane were found alive, and efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining passengers.
The plane, functioning as an air ambulance, was en route from Thailand to Moscow, Russia.
Rosaviatsia reported that on Saturday, January 20, the aircraft lost communication and disappeared from radar screens.

Grushko warns of a Cold War-style confrontation due to the significant scale of the exercises.
The participation involves more than 50 ships, 80 fighter jets, helicopters, drones, and numerous combat vehicles.
NATO's strategic document designates Russia as a primary security threat, underscoring rising concerns about regional security.

Putin expresses gratitude to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for the invitation to visit.
This would mark the Russian leader's first visit to North Korea in over two decades.
Russia expressed hope for a Putin visit to North Korea, invited by Kim, "in the foreseeable future," but clarified that no specific date has been decided.

Ancient viruses frozen in Arctic permafrost may be released due to global warming, causing a significant outbreak.
Researchers caution about a peculiar new pandemic risk, possibly triggered by the release of 'zombie' viruses.
Methuselah microbes, also known as zombie viruses, have been preserved in Siberian permafrost for tens of thousands of years.

EU reviews €76.5 billion for Poland, frozen due to judicial concerns.
Tusk's new government aims to reverse controversial judicial reforms.
Commission evaluates legislative changes; review may take up to three months.
Unmet conditions in transport, healthcare, and COVID-19 recovery plan pose additional challenges.
President Duda's opposition raises fears of a constitutional crisis; EU ready to act if breaches occur.

Thousands protest in Slovakia against Prime Minister Robert Fico's government plans to amend the penal code.
Proposed changes include abolishing the special prosecutor's office, shifting serious crime prosecutions to regional offices.
Rallies organized by opposition parties emphasize defending democracy and denounce the amendments as a "pro-mafia package."
President Zuzana Caputova and the European Commission express concerns about rushed legislative measures.
Fico's government, elected on a pro-Russia and anti-American platform, faces criticism for potential legal system disruptions and a shift away from the previous anti-corruption stance.
Critics fear reduced punishments for corruption and dismissals of investigators under Fico's leadership.

Kazakhstan and China are negotiating over a water-distribution framework for 20 cross-border rivers, including the Irtysh and Ili.
The two countries have agreed on some points, such as a water-sharing mechanism for the Khorgos River.
Kazakhstan faces challenges in securing a fair and sustainable deal with China.
Kazakhstan's bargaining power is limited by its dependence on China for trade, investment, and security.
Kazakhstan needs to balance its water interests with its broader national interests.

The 7.0 magnitude earthquake occurred in a remote and mountainous area of Xinjiang region, where mostly Uyghurs live.
The quake caused two houses to collapse, two power lines to fall, and injured at least 50 people. Three people died in a township near the epicenter.
The quake was followed by more than 50 aftershocks above magnitude 3.
The quake was China's strongest since December 2023, when a 7.2-magnitude earthquake killed 148 people.