Author: Slow Shetekauri

The world has grown cynical about the integrity of major international sports, and not without reason. From the Olympics bribery scandal of the 1990s – which implicated the hosts of Nagano 1998, Sydney 2000 and Salt Lake City 2002 – we have seen additional corruption scandals in major global sporting events in countries as diverse as Germany, France, South Africa, Brazil, Russia, China and Qatar. But Paris 2024 may mark the advent of a new era. The Paris Olympics have been characterized by a relative absence of the scandals that often plague the Games. While controversies surrounding the Algerian and Taiwanese female boxers and the opening ceremony generated headlines, the overall tone has…

Sarawak’s pioneer cheese producer Green Valley Dairy Farm in Lawas is poised to export its products, including its buffalo milk Mozzarella cheese, to international markets, said state Deputy Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail. He said this is in line with the desire to make Lawas a hub for the production of Mozzarella cheese, which is known as the best cheese in the world. “Green Valley has already linked up with buyers from the Middle East and Africa as well as Europe for export purposes through the global trade network in Dubai,” he…

Dozens of Russian military personnel are being trained in Iran to use the Fath-360 close-range ballistic missile system, two European intelligence sources said, adding that they expected the imminent delivery of hundreds of the satellite-guided weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine. Russian defence ministry representatives are believed to have signed a contract on Dec. 13 in Tehran with Iranian officials for the Fath-360 and another ballistic missile system built by Iran’s government-owned Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO) called the Ababil, said the two intelligence officials, who requested anonymity in order to discuss sensitive matters. Citing multiple confidential intelligence sources,…

Europe’s new “Iron Lady”, Estonia’s Kaja Kallas, is one of the strongest voices for an uncompromising stand against belligerent Russia. Brussels (30 June – 28). Having grown up under the Soviet occupation of Estonia, Kaja Kallas was urging EU leaders to take the Russian threat seriously long before the invasion of Ukraine On Saturday, the Reform Party chose climate minister Kristen Michal to replace outgoing Kaja Kallas, who is the EU’s new High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The unanimous decision to nominate Michal was made following a closed-door meeting by the party’s governing board only two days after…

After the 2024 shock and the French elites are breaking into shell shock over the European Parliament outcome Europa’s slide to the right continues. The Christian Democrats remain firmly in power although the future of Van der Leyen and ilk is uncertain. The election had a few surprises, mainly the center left Renew Europe and the Non-attached Members (NI) and Others group. The pose with 12.50% an outlier. The ultra-right groups grouped at the Identity and Democracy Group (ID) although a minor group in the European Parliament, locally surprised many. In France, the ID block has the majority seats (30).…

On April 17, the application process for grants from the Delegation of the European Union to Tajikistan for the Promotion of Democracy and Human Rights ends. An official announcement on the launch of a new project by the EU delegation in Dushanbe on March 12 said that projects “to promote and protect human rights, democracy and fundamental freedoms in Tajikistan” will be selected on a competitive basis. Representatives of civil society can participate in the competition. The total budget of the competition was 1 million 855 thousand euros. Applicants can request a grant of €300,000 to €400,000 for a period…

For more than a decade, the United States has nurtured a secret intelligence partnership with Ukraine that is now critical for both countries in countering Russia Nestled in a dense forest, the Ukrainian military base appears abandoned and destroyed, its command center a burned-out husk, a casualty of a Russian missile barrage early in the war. But that is above ground. Not far away, a discreet passageway descends to a subterranean bunker where teams of Ukrainian soldiers track Russian spy satellites and eavesdrop on conversations between Russian commanders. On one screen, a red line followed the route of an explosive…

French senators have called on the authorities to explore the possibility of sending CAESAR self-propelled howitzers to Armenia in addition to the other recently shipped weapons, according to a defense budget bill of the French Senate. The document mentions that Armenia will receive a total of 50 Arquus Bastion armored personnel carriers. 24 of these vehicles are already being shipped, while the rest are currently in production. Armenia recently bought Thales-made GM 200 radars and Mistral 3 air defense systems from France.  “Armenia recently signed an order for three GM200 radars from Thales and there is talk of a delivery of MISTRAL…

The Standing Committee on Economic Affairs of the National Assembly of Armenia on Friday gave a positive conclusion to the ratification of the agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters with India. “We [Armenia] are the first to ratify this agreement; the government of India has not yet ratified [it],” said Ashot Muradyan, Deputy Chairman of the State Revenue Committee of Armenia, as he presented the respective initiative. According to him, this agreement was signed on June 23 in Brussels. It provides for the provision of mutual administrative assistance in matters related to customs, as well as the…

Brussels (3/12) Governments may be doing great while the people suffer. Bombing of the Nordstream 2 pipeline, carrying cheap Russian natural gas to industry and consumers in Europe, is exerting a cascading effect on companies and employment, eventually to be reflected in rising places and sharpening inflation. Russia is steadily experiencing price increases for a variety of goods and services, Russian media report. Is there obviously not a link to the sanctions placed on Russia and the seizure of Russian funds and savings abroad? Punishment for Russia’s “Special Military Operation” to purportedly protect Russian-speaking citizens in eastern Ukraine from state…