The head of Germany's Intelligence Agency (the BND), Bruno Kahl, has said that the Putin "system" shows no signs of weakening. His comments came amidst criticism of management of Russia's ongoing war, which Kahl counters as mere public disputes within Russian society. Despite certain vulnerabilities, Russian forces and equipment remain powerful and with sufficient ammunition, the spy chief added. Kahl believes that Putin could succeed in his long-term strategy if the West fails to support Ukraine in an organised manner. He goes on to say that Germany needs to decrease its dependence on China, whilst arguing that decoupling completely from China would hurt German businesses.
President Biden met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to discuss preventing the United States from defaulting on its debt. Both parties emphasized that default was not an option and that a bipartisan agreement was necessary to move forward. The statement following the meeting expressed productivity and a commitment to finding a solution.
US President Joe Biden expressed optimism on Monday about making progress on debt ceiling negotiations during his meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
According to Luis Rubiales, Spanish soccer has a racist problem, echoing Brazil's criticism after Real Madrid lodged a race crime complaint following insults hurled at Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr. There is mounting pressure on La Liga to do more to combat racism after fellow sporting stars such as Kylian Mbappe, Rio Ferdinand and Lewis Hamilton voiced support for Vinicius. The Brazilian government summoned the Spanish ambassador to explain derogatory remarks, suggesting no effective measures were taken by Spanish authorities. Spain's sports council has stated it will study footage of the game to identify any perpetrators for prosecution.
South Korea's central bank has kept interest rates steady for a third consecutive month after a year-and-a-half-long period of hiking rates, as economic growth slows and inflation stabilises. The Bank of Korea has raised its rates by 300 basis points since August last year. Thursday's decision had been expected and followed the regulator's lowering of its 2015 economic growth forecast from 1.6% to just 1.4%. The next rate change is anticipated to be a cut, possibly in the final quarter of this year.
Cathay Pacific's flight attendant union has said the airline should address its staff and resource shortages and improve pay in order to boost morale following the firing of three members of staff over allegations they mocked passengers who could not speak English. A passenger had taken to social media to complain that attendants on a flight from Chengdu to Hong Kong had ridiculed fliers attempting to ask for a blanket that were mistaken for referring to a carpet.
A Chinese state-sponsored hacking group called "Volt Typhoon" has been discovered spying on a range of US critical infrastructure organisations including telecommunications and transportation hubs, according to intelligence agencies and a report by Microsoft. Analysts warned that the group's recent activity could disrupt critical communications infrastructure between the US and Asia in future crises, and that its reliance on "living off the land" techniques using built-in networks could add to the challenge of detection. The attack also targeted Guam, an American island territory hosting strategically important military bases.
Microsoft said a state-sponsored Chinese hacking group, Volt Typhoon, had compromised "critical" US infrastructure to disrupt communications with Asia in the event of a crisis. Microsoft said the group had operated since mid-2021, infiltrating organisations across a range of industries by exploiting the FortiGuard cyber security platform. Volt Typhoon focused on intelligence gathering and espionage but was also "aggressive and potentially dangerous", said John Hultquist, chief analyst at Google's cyber defence service Mandiant Intelligence.
The Russian commander of a militia that conducted a raid on a Russian border region this week said on Wednesday his group would soon launch more incursions into Russian territory. Russian forces carried out overnight drone attacks on Kyiv, officials said Thursday, continuing a month-long campaign of air strikes against the Ukrainian capital. Washington is looking into reports that American vehicles were used by Ukraine inside Russia, the White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Wednesday. Ukraine will not be able to join Nato as long as the war is going on, the alliance’s chief, Jens Stoltenberg, said on Wednesday.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will meet with the president of Sri Lanka to discuss debt restructuring as the South Asian island country looks to repair the damage to its economy caused by a severe financial crisis. The meeting comes after the International Monetary Fund urged creditor nations to agree to restructure Sri Lanka's debts. An official claimed that the meeting is unlikely to lead to new initiatives but both sides with take stock of the situation. Sri Lanka defaulted on its foreign debt for the first time in history in April 2020, owing $7.1bn to creditors.
Great Wall Motor has formally accused vehicle manufacturer and rival BYD of prioritising sales over environmental considerations. In a report submitted to regulators, the Hebei-based firm stated BYD's Qin Plus and Song Plus hybrid models failed to meet emission standards in China. Hong Kong-listed shares in Great Wall closed down 7.3% after the company went public over the issue. BYD said it rejected the claims and would consider legal action, and invited a regulatory review of its vehicles.
State-sponsored Chinese hackers have successfully infiltrated critical US infrastructure networks and similar espionage attacks may be taking place worldwide, according to the United States, its Western allies and Microsoft. China has denied the claims and called them a "disinformation campaign." In a coordinated effort, the US, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand and UK authorities released an advisory stating that the cyber actor behind Volt Typhoon is backed by the Chinese government and that similar hacking activities are likely occurring on a global scale. Volt Typhoon's attacks began in mid-2021 and appear to be aimed at undermining the US in the event of a regional conflict.
South Korea has reportedly agreed to a “confidential arrangement” to transfer hundreds of thousands of its artillery rounds to Ukraine via the US, according to unnamed sources cited by The Wall Street Journal. Such a move would represent a shift in policy, as South Korea had previously refused requests by Washington and the EU for lethal support, citing business links with Russia. The source said a “breakthrough” was made in discussions after South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol visited President Joe Biden in Washington last month.
A masked man wearing camouflage clothing has killed two police officers and a woman in a stabbing-and-shooting incident in central Japan. The perpretrator is thought to be barricaded in the house of the city council president, but authorities are not yet sure how many people are in the building or what the man's motivations are. In Japan gun-related violence is rare due to strict gun control laws, however last year a former Prime Minister was killed by a home-made fire-arm.
Over half of Americans (54%) believe that artificial intelligence (AI) could pose a threat to humanity, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll. While 31% felt AI could help people, 24% of employed respondents admitted to being either somewhat or very concerned that the technology could replace human jobs. Concerns about AI and its possible negative effects have been repeatedly raised by lawmakers and technology experts. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, has previously called for a pause in advanced AI development, warning of the risks posed to society by the technology.
South Korea and the US have launched their largest ever joint live-fire exercises involving 2,500 troops near the border with North Korea. The drills, named the Combined annihilation firepower drills, are intended to simulate a "full-scale attack" from North Korea, say South Korean authorities. North Korean media has said the exercises are a "typical North Korea-targeted war rehearsal".
The Italian government is expected to assess Pirelli's new shareholder agreement, in which top shareholder China's Sinochem will be able to appoint more board members and potentially select future CEOs. As the country implements 'Golden Power' rules, the agreement underlines relations between China and Western countries. Rome is expected to make a decision by the end of June. Pirelli's largest shareholder, Sinochem, with a 37% stake, notified the Italian government of plans in March to update an existing shareholder pact with investor Camfin.
Illumina, the gene-sequencing giant, is set to vote on whether to back the company’s current directors or candidates nominated by the billionaire Carl Icahn. The vote on Thursday is significant because of a number of factors, including a takeover worth $7bn for Grail, a cancer detection company. Icahn has criticized Illumina’s effort to close the acquisition, despite European antitrust authorities’ decision to block the deal, and opposition from the F.T.C. It has even won some support from shareholder advisory firms. The contest alongside the new Universal Proxy, a new S.E.C rule where shareholders can vote for board candidates from different slates, which could reshape American corporate governance. This fight is a major test for big-ticket M.&A on both sides of the Atlantic. Illumina has dismissed the European objection, arguing that Grail has no revenue or operations in Europe. The billionaire is also battling Hindenburg Research, which has argued that Mr. Icahn’s publicly traded investment vehicle is overvalued and funds its dividends by selling new shares.
The head of the House Financial Services Committee, Republican Patrick McHenry, has requested that US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen provide details of the Biden administration’s plan to increase scrutiny on American outbound investment before her upcoming hearing in June. The plan is expected to ban investments in some Chinese technology companies and increase scrutiny of others and follows new restrictions placed by the US on exports of artifical intelligence chips, chipmaking tools and supercomputers to China in 2020.
A Canadian man is planning to become the first person with quadriplegia to cross Canada by bicycle, using a system controlled by his wheelchair. Kevin Mills of Newmarket, Ontario has designed a system using a cycle unit that transports his wheelchair, leaving his hands free to pedal with the substantial movement and strength in his shoulders and arms. He will use Quad Grips, designed for those with small motor function in their hands, which also offer some stability. Although unable to grip fully, Mills has the necessary strength to power the contrived bicycle forwards. The cycle unit will provide assistance on steep inclines. Mills’s progress so far shows the possibilities of the Walk It Off Spinal Cord Recovery and Wellness Centre, owned by Mills and his wife, who provide activity-based therapy. Statistics Canada found that 10% of Canadians over the age of 15 have a restricted mobility disorder. Spinal cord injuries affect 4,300 Canadians annually.
