- The Guardian
- Issue #2117
RUSSIA: Russia could limit the supply of certain raw materials to the global market in response to Western sanctions. For instance, Russia is the world’s largest producer of titanium, critical for the aerospace industry, Russia’s share of the enriched uranium market is believed to be 40 per cent. It is a top source of fuel for US civil nuclear power generation, supplying about a quarter of the uranium used in American reactors. Earlier this year the US formally banned uranium imports but there is a catch – it also introduced a waiver earlier this year allowing purchases due to supply concerns until 2028. The West so far has been reluctant to sanction Russian titanium, as both the EU and the US rely heavily on Russia for supplies.
HUNGARY: In June this year the EU Court ordered Hungary to pay a 200-million euro fine for not implementing changes to its policy of dealing with migrants and asylum seekers. In addition, the European Court of Justice ordered Hungary to pay an additional 1 million euros a day until it brings its policy on refugees and asylum seekers into line with EU law. Hungary’s response was to start preparing to sue the European Commission for the reimbursement of funds spent on border protection. “In recent years, Hungary has spent an amount equivalent to 2 billion euros on the protection of the external Schengen border without receiving any contribution from the European Union,” said Prime Minister Victor Orban’s chief of staff. Hungary also threatened to provide immigrants with free bus transport (one way) to the EU headquarters in Brussels.
CHILE: The 1978 Amnesty Law and parliamentary immunity that has afforded Augusto Pinochet total immunity from prosecution remains in full force today. Chilean President Gabriel Boric promised to repeal the law that ruled out investigations of crimes committed under Pinochet. Commemorating the 51st anniversary of the US-backed military coup against the elected government of Salvador Allende, Boric pledged to speed up the passage of a Bill that would revoke the amnesty that has protected most military officers from prosecution for the torture and killing of thousands of opponents and critics during the first five years of the dictatorship, 1973-78. Past efforts to overrun the amnesty were blocked by right-wing parties in parliament.
USA: The USA has raised tariffs on Chinese goods. The new levies will notably affect such goods as electric vehicles and semiconductors. The duties will rise to 100 per cent on electric vehicles, 50 per cent on solar cells and 25 per cent on electric vehicle batteries, steel, aluminium, face masks, and other products beginning 27 September. A 50 per cent tariff on semiconductors is set to take effect next year. The Levies on a number of other products, such as non-electrical vehicle batteries, medical gloves and permanent magnets, will be raised gradually over the next two years.
RUSSIA: The Federal Security Service (FSB) has accused six British diplomats of spying and informed them that a decision has been made to withdraw their accreditation. A FSB official said that the diplomats will be expelled from the country. In a comment to Russian media, an unnamed FSB agent said: “It is funny to behold the classic British espionage, but it should be stopped. The British are not heeding the warnings about the need to stop this practice, so we have decided to expel these six people first,” he said, vowing further action if the UK does not alter course. The UK Foreign Office has called the allegations “completely baseless.” It also suggested that it was a tit-for-tat response to Britain’s decision to revoke the credentials of an attaché at the Russian embassy in London.
