Month: October 2022

Євросоюз

French Company, Syrian Unit Plead Guilty to Material Support for Terrorism

In the first case of its kind, a French industrial company and its Syrian subsidiary pleaded guilty on Tuesday to conspiring to provide material support to Islamic State and the al-Nusrah Front.  Lafarge S.A., a global building materials manufacturer based in Paris, and Lafarge Cement Syria, based in Damascus, allegedly paid the two U.S.-designated terrorist groups nearly $6 million in exchange for permission to operate a cement plant in Syria from 2013 to 2014, according to court documents. The scheme enabled the Syrian company to bring in more than $70 million in revenue, prosecutors charge in court documents.  A federal …

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Євросоюз

NATO Begins Nuclear Exercises Amid Russia War Tensions

NATO on Monday began its long-planned annual nuclear exercises in northwestern Europe as tensions simmer over the war in Ukraine and President Vladimir Putin’s threat to use any means to defend Russian territory.  Fourteen of NATO’s 30 member countries were due to take part in the exercises, which the military alliance said would involve around 60 aircraft including fighter jets and surveillance and refueling planes.  The bulk of the war games will be held at least 1,000 kilometers (625 miles) from Russia’s borders.  U.S. long-range B-52 bombers will also take part in the maneuvers, dubbed Steadfast Noon, which will run …

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Євросоюз

Sri Lankan Author Shehan Karunatilaka Wins 2022 Booker Prize

Sri Lankan writer Shehan Karunatilaka won the Booker Prize on Monday for his second novel The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, about a dead war photographer on a mission in the afterlife. Karunatilaka received a trophy from Queen Consort Camilla at the English language literary award’s first in-person ceremony since 2019. He also gets a 50,000 pound ($56,810) prize. Set in 1990 Sri Lanka during the country’s civil war, Karunatilaka’s story follows gay war photographer and gambler Maali Almeida, who wakes up dead. Time is of essence for Maali, who has “seven moons” to reach out to loved ones and …

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Євросоюз

Russian Warplane Crashes in Russian City of Yeysk, Killing 4

A Russian warplane has crashed into a residential area in the Russian port city of Yeysk, causing a massive fire at an apartment building and killing four people.  The Russian Defense Ministry said the plane was on a training mission Monday when one of its engines caught fire. The plane’s crew safely ejected before the crash.   Local authorities said the plane crash ignited a massive fire that engulfed several floors of a nine-story apartment building in Yeysk, on the Sea of Azov. In addition to the four dead, six people were missing and 25 others were injured, officials said.  …

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