Month: July 2023

Russian missiles strike Odesa for the second night in a row.  Ukraine said 63 missiles and drones had been launched, of which 37 had been shot down.  Russia said it had hit military targets in two Ukrainian port cities overnight as “a mass revenge strike” for the attack on the Crimean Bridge.  Ukrainian official says Moscow seeks to prevent grain exports.  Moscow left the grain deal but Kyiv considering exports anyway.  For Ukraine’s part, “we are fighting for global security and for our Ukrainian farmer” and working on options to…

US Suspends Wuhan Institute Funds Over Covid Stonewalling.  Lab accused of failing to provide safety, security documents.  US has been pressuring China for transparency on Covid-19.  Penalizing the lab is the most drastic action the US has taken so far.  The US has identified significant breaches in safety and security protocol at the Wuhan Institute.  The lab won’t be able to conduct any business with the US as an agent or representative of others, and its affiliation with any organization that does business with the federal government will also be…

Green energy technologies are in demand worldwide. Over 70 countries have set net-zero targets, and even more have pledged to lower their emissions. However, ambitious objectives to scale up green energy sources such as solar, wind, and nuclear are straining natural resources, particularly the minerals required to produce these essential technologies. With more than 50 million electric vehicles expected to be produced annually by 2035 and renewable electricity growth accelerating faster than ever, energy transition objectives risk being delayed if critical mineral supply cannot meet future demand, says GlobalData, a leading…

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa warns that any attempt to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin would be seen as a declaration of war against Moscow.   Putin has been invited to a BRICS summit in Johannesburg next month but is the target of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant.  South Africa is obligated to arrest Putin due to an ICC warrant.  The leading opposition party is trying to force the government and ensure Putin is held and handed over to the ICC if he steps foot in the country.  …

The Federal Trade Commission and more than 100 federal and state law enforcement partners nationwide, including the attorneys general from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, announced a new crackdown on illegal telemarketing calls involving more than 180 actions targeting operations responsible for billions of calls to U.S. consumers. The joint federal and state initiative, “Operation Stop Scam Calls,” is part of the Commission’s ongoing efforts to combat the scourge of illegal telemarketing, including robocalls. The initiative not only targets telemarketers and the companies that hire them but…