World

Russia suspends its partial mobilisation and grain export corridor

Published

5 months ago

November 1, 2022

Russia’s Defence Ministry says all partial mobilisation activities have been suspended

Volunteers and contractors will be engaged in Russia’s military drive, after a revised strategy from the Ministry of Defence.

“All activities related to the conscription… of citizens in the reserve have been stopped,” the ministry said.

It means no further call-up notices will be issued but it is not an end to the partial mobilisation policy itself.

Russia has continued its bombardment of Ukraine’s military control and energy systems.

Around 40 per cent of Kyiv’s population remains without water, with over 200,000 residents unable to power their homes.

Grain exports on hold

Russia has suspended its grain export corridor with Ukraine. Moscow said “the move was provoked by the actions of Kyiv”.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said the Black Sea naval route was being used to launch attacks.

But U.S. Department of State spokesperson, Ned Price said the blockade will have significant impacts.

“Any disruption to the initiative risks spiking food prices, lowering the confidence of insurers and commercial shippers who have returned to Black Sea routes and further imposing hardships on lower income countries already reeling from dire humanitarian crises and global food insecurity.”

Russia says the UN-backed deal had been suspended for an indefinite period of time, and did not provide a timeline for it to reopen.

The U-S says there would be global consequences if Russia continues its blockade.

“This is not a bilateral issue between Russia and Ukraine,” Price said.

U.S. officials believe two-thirds of the wheat exported under th initiative has gone to developing counties.

“It is not in Russia’s interest, it is not in the interests of the international community to see what could be a kind to a form of collective punishment for this to remain suspended,” Price said.

World

The ever-changing security landscape

Published

19 hours ago

March 22, 2023

ticker NEWS

Leaders from Russia and Moscow are meeting in one location, while Tokyo and Kyiv’s are in another, and there’s an AUKUS alliance that was agreed to recently

Leaders from China and Russia are meeting in Moscow for talks on Ukraine.

Western leaders will be keeping a close eye on the developments.

It follows the U.S., U.K. and Australia signing a nuclear-powered submarine agreement under the AUKUS alliance.

This all comes amid a changing security landscape. So, how do we make sense of it all?

For more, Adjunct Professor Olena Lennon from the University of New Haven joined to discuss.

World

Protests continue across France over pension reforms

Published

20 hours ago

March 22, 2023

ticker NEWS

People have been clashing with police since last week

Thousands of people have gathered on the streets of France to once against protest against the government’s move to raise the pension age by two years.

Protesters have been clashing with police since last week, setting bins and barricades on fire, as well as lighting fireworks.

Police have countered this approach, by shooting tear gas to disperse the crowds.

President Emmanuel Macron pushed through a Bill In Parliament, increasing the age of retirement from 62 to 64.

He says this is to ensure the entire system doesn’t go bust.

World

Burrowing badgers wreak havoc on Dutch railway tracks

Published

20 hours ago

March 22, 2023

ticker NEWS

Authorities are needing to cancel services because of the severity of the damage

The Netherlands is experiencing a bad case of burrowing badgers.

The cute, fury critters are tunnelling below railway tracks and are wreaking havoc on train services across the country.

In fact, it’s so getting bad, authorities are being forced to cancel services.

Trains in the north and south are the worst affected, with some lines halted for at least a week.

The route between Den Bosch and Boxtel in the south was closed on Tuesday after the mammals dug under the tracks.

Officials are unsure how long the problem will continue as badgers are a protected species.

The CEO of ProRail, the company that maintains the Dutch rail network, says it is the second time in a week that services have been stopped because of badger activity.