Russia accuses Poland of involvement in assassination attempt on general in Moscow

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@WorldNews #RussiaPoland #Moscow #AssassinationAttempt #DiplomaticTensions #BreakingNews

🛡️ Russia's FSB accuses Polish intelligence of helping Ukraine recruit a suspect in a failed assassination attempt on Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseyev, deputy head of Russia's military intelligence, in Moscow last Friday.

🔫 The suspect, Lyubomyr Korba, was detained in Dubai and extradited to Russia; he allegedly confessed to being trained by Ukraine's security service and promised $30,000, with one accomplice arrested in Moscow and another fleeing to Ukraine.

📢 Alekseyev was shot multiple times but survived after surgery and has regained consciousness; Ukraine denies involvement, calling it possible Russian infighting, while Poland has not yet responded.

🌍 The claims heighten tensions amid the Ukraine war, with Russia labeling it a terrorist act potentially aimed at disrupting peace talks.

#RussiaPoland #AssassinationAttempt #UkraineWar

Trump threatens to block opening of US-Canada bridge

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@WorldNews #Trump #USCanadaBridge #BridgeOpening #Politics #Diplomacy

🚨 Trump threatens to block the Gordie Howe International Bridge from opening, connecting Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, until Canada compensates the U.S. and shares ownership.

💰 In a social media post, Trump demanded at least half ownership of the Canadian-funded $4.7 billion bridge, citing U.S. market benefits and past trade concessions, amid rising tensions.

🇺🇸 The bridge, under construction since 2018 and nearing completion, boosts cross-border trade vital to Michigan's economy, drawing criticism from local leaders as harmful to jobs.

🌉 No details emerged on enforcement methods, with no immediate responses from the White House or Canadian officials amid ongoing U.S.-Canada trade disputes.

#Trump #USCanada #TradeWar

Tutsi rebel group claims Erik Prince kidnapped in Eastern DRC

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@WorldNews #AllegedKidnapping #EasternDRC #TutsiRebelClaim #UnconfirmedReports #FactCheck

🔍 No verified evidence supports claims that Erik Prince has been kidnapped by M23 or any Tutsi rebel group in Eastern DRC. Search results from February 2026 indicate Prince's activities remain geographically and operationally distinct from M23-controlled regions, with no confirmed reports of his detention or abduction.

📍 Erik Prince's confirmed involvement in the DRC centers on a $700 million contract signed in early 2025 with the Congolese government to secure and tax mineral resources, primarily in Katanga province's southern mining hubs. His personnel have reportedly participated in low-key military operations in specific areas, but deployment remains limited due to M23's control of eastern regions.

⚠️ M23 rebels, allegedly backed by Rwanda, have captured key eastern DRC cities including Goma and Bukavu since early 2025, which has complicated security operations and forced Prince's strategic pivot away from conflict zones. The rebel group controls territory where Prince initially planned to deploy advisers, making direct engagement in M23-held areas infeasible.

🚨 Reports of Prince's kidnapping appear unconfirmed and lack credible sourcing. As of the latest available information, there is no verified evidence in reputable news sources or security analysis documenting such an incident, suggesting these claims warrant skepticism pending official confirmation.

💼 Prince's current operations in the DRC face significant logistical challenges and delays due to the ongoing conflict, with implementation of his mineral security contract progressing more slowly than initially planned.

#ErikPrinceDRC #M23Rebels #FactCheckNeeded

UK and US sink to new lows in global index of corruption

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@WorldNews #UKCorruption #USCorruption #GlobalCorruptionIndex #AccountabilityNow #GovernanceMatters

🌍 The UK and US have declined in Transparency International's 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, with the UK scoring 70 (down from 71, now 20th place) and the US at 64 (its lowest ever, now 29th place).

📉 This reflects a broader trend of worsening perceived public-sector corruption in established democracies, linked to issues like political scandals, donor influence, and weakened institutions.

⚠️ Transparency International warns of democratic backsliding, citing US actions under Trump's second term targeting NGOs and media, and UK scandals involving political figures.

📊 Denmark leads with 89 points, while South Sudan and Somalia rank lowest at 9; 31 countries improved, including Estonia at 76.

#CorruptionPerceptionsIndex #UKCorruption #USCorruption

South Korean official expelled for suggesting ‘importing women’ to boost birth rate

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@WorldNews #SouthKorea #BirthRateDebate #WomensRights #PolicyEthics #HumanRights

🚨 A South Korean official, Kim Hee-soo, governor of Jindo county, was expelled from his Democratic Party after suggesting on TV to 'import' young unmarried women from Vietnam and Sri Lanka to marry rural men and boost the country's low birth rate.

🇻🇳 The remarks sparked outrage, with the Vietnamese embassy in Seoul condemning them as disrespectful to migrant women, and the South Jeolla province apologizing for the pain caused, calling the language a violation of human dignity.

😔 Kim issued a public apology, admitting he used inappropriate terms while discussing marriage migration to address rural labor shortages, amid South Korea's ongoing population crisis.

⚖️ The Democratic Party unanimously voted to expel him, highlighting concerns over discriminatory statements by public officials.

#SouthKorea #BirthRate #WomensRights

Europe’s $24 Trillion Breakup With Visa and Mastercard Has Begun

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@WorldNews #EuropeBreakup #VisaMastercardSplit #PaymentsRevolution #EuropeanFintech #CrossBorderPayments

🚀 The European Payments Initiative (EPI) and EuroPA Alliance signed a deal on February 2, 2026, launching a pan-European payment network with the Wero digital wallet, connecting 130 million users across 13 countries to challenge Visa and Mastercard dominance.

💳 This system unifies national payment solutions like Spain’s Bizum and Italy’s Bancomat, enabling cross-border peer-to-peer transfers this year and e-commerce payments by 2027, reducing reliance on U.S.-controlled networks.

⚠️ ECB President Christine Lagarde stressed the urgent need for European payment independence amid geopolitical risks, though skeptics highlight challenges like high investment costs and entrenched consumer habits.

🌍 The initiative covers 72% of the EU and Norway population, aiming for payment sovereignty as Visa and Mastercard handle two-thirds of euro transactions.

#EuropePayments #WeroWallet #FintechRevolution

Estonia says Russia planning military buildup to shift power in Europe

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@WorldNews #Estonia #Russia #MilitaryBuildup #EuropeSecurity #Geopolitics

🚨 Estonia's foreign intelligence warns Russia is rapidly rebuilding its military to shift Europe's power balance, though no NATO attack is planned this year or next.

📈 Russia's ammunition production is expanding quickly, allowing stockpiles for future conflicts while sustaining the Ukraine war; Europe must boost defenses to deter Moscow.

🤖 A potential Russian attack on Estonia would feature coordinated drone strikes across land, air, and sea nationwide.

🇺🇸 Moscow views the US as its top rival, feigning cooperation to ease sanctions while aiming to weaken NATO and ally with China against the West.

#Russia #NATO #Geopolitics

Trump demands ‘at least’ half U.S. ownership of Gordie Howe bridge that Canada is fully paying for

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@WorldNews #TrumpDemandsHalfOwnership #GordieHoweBridge #CanadaPaysForBridge #USCanadaBridgeDispute #BridgeOwnership

Macron urges Europe to start acting like world power

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@WorldNews macroneuropepower europeanrise euleadership globaleurope eugeopolitics

🚨 President Trump threatens to block the Gordie Howe International Bridge's opening until the U.S. receives compensation from Canada and at least half ownership of the structure.

💰 Canada fully funded the $5.7 billion bridge since 2018, with plans to recover costs through tolls; it connects Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, to ease border congestion.

⚖️ Trump criticizes lack of U.S. materials like steel due to an Obama-era waiver and claims unfair trade practices, demanding immediate negotiations for fairness.

🇺🇸 Michigan officials oppose the delay, calling the bridge vital for the auto industry, economy, and workers; it's under joint Canada-Michigan operation.

#TrumpBridgeThreat #GordieHoweBridge #USCanadaTrade

🇪🇺 Macron calls for EU to become an independent global power in economics, defense, and security, arguing Europe must stop relying on the US and instead develop strategic autonomy to avoid being sidelined by America and China.

💪 The French president is pushing for a common EU debt capacity and eurobonds to fund investment in green technology, defense, AI, and manufacturing, proposing a "Made in Europe" strategy to boost the bloc's internal competitiveness and reduce dependence on the US dollar.

⚠️ Macron warned that recent tensions with the Trump administration over Greenland represent a "Greenland moment" and cautioned Europeans not to assume crises are resolved when Washington temporarily backs down, as daily threats persist against European pharmaceuticals and digital technology sectors.

🤝 The French leader emphasized that a "bowing down" strategy to the US does not work and has only increased European dependency, calling instead for Europe to sit at the negotiating table as an equal power rather than having American envoys negotiate on Europe's behalf regarding Ukraine and EU expansion.

📊 Macron stressed that with 450 million citizens and consumers, Europe has the capacity to become a true world power if it acts collectively and assertively, framing this as a defining moment for the continent to choose between remaining a passive market or becoming a rule-maker in global affairs.

#EuropeanSovereignty #MacronLeadership #EUGeopolitics

UN is waiting to see how much the US intends to pay of the nearly $4 billion it owes

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@WorldNews USDebt UNWatch GlobalDebt USPolicy InternationalFinance

Trump Threatens to Block Bridge Between U.S. and Canada

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@WorldNews #TrumpBridgeBlock #USCanadaBridge #BridgePolicy #DiplomacyNews #PoliticsToday