NEWSLETTER
Thursday / September 29Sep 29
Tuesday / January 18
Western support for Ukraine
The United Kingdom said on Monday it has begun supplying Ukraine with anti-tank weapons to help it defend itself against a possible invasion by Russia, which is massing troops on the Ukrainian border.
"We have taken the decision to supply Ukraine with light anti-armour defensive weapons systems,” Wallace told the Commons on Monday, adding that “a small number” of British troops would provide training to help Kyiv’s forces.
“Let me be clear: this support is for short-range and clearly defensive weapon capabilities; they are not strategic weapons and pose no threat to Russia; they are to use in self-defence,” Wallace added.
Ukraine's defense minister welcomed Wallace's statement.
Canada meanwhile deployed a small contingent of special forces operators to Ukraine, Canada's Global News reported on Monday.
Russia has deployed more than 100,000 troops on the Ukrainian border. The United States said on Friday it was concerned that Russia was preparing a pretext for invasion if diplomacy failed to achieve its goals.
Global News, citing unspecified sources, reported that the presence of Canadian special operations was part of an attempt by NATO allies to deter Russian aggression in Ukraine and identify ways to help the Ukrainian government.
North Korea continues tests
North Korea fired tactical guided missiles on Monday. This is the fourth test of the self-isolating communist dictatorship in 2022.
North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) flying about 380 km (236 miles) with a maximum altitude of 42 km (26 miles) from an airport in the capital, Pyongyang, the South Korean military said on Monday.
The North's official KCNA news agency said on Tuesday that the Academy of Defense Sciences had conducted a tactical guided missile test from the west of the country, and that the missile "hit its target on an island with a precise hit" on the east coast.
The United States and its allies condemned Pyongyang's ongoing missile tests, while China called for dialogue.
Abu Dhabi attack
The Iran-linked Houthi group in Yemen attacked Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Monday with missiles and drones.
The attack on one of the US's leading Gulf Arab allies takes the war between the Houthi group and the Saudi-led coalition to a new level. Rising tensions in the Arabian Peninsula could hamper Washington and Tehran's efforts to try to save the nuclear deal in Vienna.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the attack in a phone call with his Emirati counterpart, the UAE state news agency reported.
Other countries, including Turkey, Israel and the United Kingdom, also condemned the attack, which killed three foreign workers and injured six.
Chinese growth
The Chinese economy continued its recovery in 2021 with its biggest growth in a decade, aided by strong exports.
The world's second-largest economy grew 8.1% last year - that's the best GDP figure since 2011 and bigger than the 8.0% forecast. Its growth rate was well above the government target of 'over 6%' and 2020's revised 2.2% growth.
The United Kingdom said on Monday it has begun supplying Ukraine with anti-tank weapons to help it defend itself against a possible invasion by Russia, which is massing troops on the Ukrainian border.
"We have taken the decision to supply Ukraine with light anti-armour defensive weapons systems,” Wallace told the Commons on Monday, adding that “a small number” of British troops would provide training to help Kyiv’s forces.
“Let me be clear: this support is for short-range and clearly defensive weapon capabilities; they are not strategic weapons and pose no threat to Russia; they are to use in self-defence,” Wallace added.
Ukraine's defense minister welcomed Wallace's statement.
Canada meanwhile deployed a small contingent of special forces operators to Ukraine, Canada's Global News reported on Monday.
Russia has deployed more than 100,000 troops on the Ukrainian border. The United States said on Friday it was concerned that Russia was preparing a pretext for invasion if diplomacy failed to achieve its goals.
Global News, citing unspecified sources, reported that the presence of Canadian special operations was part of an attempt by NATO allies to deter Russian aggression in Ukraine and identify ways to help the Ukrainian government.
North Korea continues tests
North Korea fired tactical guided missiles on Monday. This is the fourth test of the self-isolating communist dictatorship in 2022.
North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) flying about 380 km (236 miles) with a maximum altitude of 42 km (26 miles) from an airport in the capital, Pyongyang, the South Korean military said on Monday.
The North's official KCNA news agency said on Tuesday that the Academy of Defense Sciences had conducted a tactical guided missile test from the west of the country, and that the missile "hit its target on an island with a precise hit" on the east coast.
The United States and its allies condemned Pyongyang's ongoing missile tests, while China called for dialogue.
Abu Dhabi attack
The Iran-linked Houthi group in Yemen attacked Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Monday with missiles and drones.
The attack on one of the US's leading Gulf Arab allies takes the war between the Houthi group and the Saudi-led coalition to a new level. Rising tensions in the Arabian Peninsula could hamper Washington and Tehran's efforts to try to save the nuclear deal in Vienna.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the attack in a phone call with his Emirati counterpart, the UAE state news agency reported.
Other countries, including Turkey, Israel and the United Kingdom, also condemned the attack, which killed three foreign workers and injured six.
Chinese growth
The Chinese economy continued its recovery in 2021 with its biggest growth in a decade, aided by strong exports.
The world's second-largest economy grew 8.1% last year - that's the best GDP figure since 2011 and bigger than the 8.0% forecast. Its growth rate was well above the government target of 'over 6%' and 2020's revised 2.2% growth.
