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The US claimed in March that Russia was even offering food in exchange for weapons.īut why is one of the world's poorest countries helping one of the most powerful wage war?ĭr Victor Cha, the Korea chair at the Centre for Strategic & International Studies, says the North is "clearly" using the war to tighten relations with Russia. The two countries have enjoyed relatively close relations for decades, ever since Russia supported North Korea during the Korean War - and the US backed South Korea.Īnd since last September, there have been rumblings among US intelligence sources that North Korea is helping Russia with ammunition. Remember that," he said.Īs we've been reporting, Russia's defence minister is currently in North Korea, having agreed to "strengthening cooperation" over defence (see our 10.30am post). Personal enrichment instead of Ukraine's interests triggers furyĪt the very least. "Any internal betrayal, any 'beach' holiday or any
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The president appeared to refer to the scandal in his latest nightly address, vowing to crack down on corruption and officials shirking their responsibilities. The MP hasn't been named, but reports in Ukrainian media suggest he's a member of President Zelenskyy's own party, Servant of the People. Investigators say he stayed in a luxury hotel on the private island of Ithaafushi earlier this month. Most Ukrainian men between 18 and 60 have been blocked from leaving the country under martial law introduced when Russia launched its full-scale investigation last February.īut this particular suspected trip would breach a law that's been in place since January, banning officials from visits abroad.Īn initial investigation accused the MP of claiming sick leave after a three-day business trip to Poland, in order to go on holiday to the Maldives with his family. Ukrainian prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into an MP suspected of going on a luxury holiday to the Maldives, despite trips abroad being banned. IOC president Thomas Bach maintained his long-standing position of refusing to confirm whether they can compete, telling the media: "There's still one year to go."
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Questions still remain over whether athletes from Russia and Belarus will be able to compete as independent athletes, under the Olympic flag. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced their intention to not offer invitations to the Russian and Belarusian Olympic Committees two weeks ago, but it is only at today's ceremony that it has been set in stone. The remaining 203 national committees were all given invitations at an event in Paris to mark one year until the Olympic opening ceremony on the river Seine.
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Organisers of the Paris Olympics have officially blocked the countries from competing, after not extending a formal invitation to the Games. It is a year to the day until the world's best athletes descend on Paris for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games - but we now know for certain that Russia and Belarus will not be there.
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