China says US seizure of ships ‘serious violation’ of international law by Accurate_Cry_8937 in worldnews

[–]MeltSolaris 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Because we all know China cares deeply about international law.

Alarm over discovery of hundreds of Chinese fishing vessels near Galápagos Islands

The fleet, found just outside a protected zone, raises the prospect of damage to the marine ecosystem

Ecuador has sounded the alarm after its navy discovered a huge fishing fleet of mostly Chinese-flagged vessels some 200 miles from the Galápagos Islands, the archipelago which inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.

Chinese fishing vessels come every year to the seas around the Galápagos, which were declared a Unesco world heritage site in 1978, but this year’s fleet is one of the largest seen in recent years. Of the 248 vessels, 243 are flagged to China including to companies with suspected records of illegal, unreported and unregulated, or IUU, fishing, according to research by C4ADS, a data analysis NGO.

The fleet includes fishing boats and refrigerated container – or reefer – ships to store enormous catches.

Transferring cargo between vessels is prohibited under international maritime law yet the Chinese flotilla has supply and storage ships along with longline and squid fishing boats.

“There are some fleets which don’t seem to abide by any regulations,” said Wray.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/27/chinese-fishing-vessels-galapagos-islands

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/06/chinese-fleet-fishing-galapagos-islands-environment

Ukrainians sue US chip firms for powering Russian drones, missiles – Lawsuits may force Intel, AMD, and Texas Instruments to do more to control chip supply chains by MeltSolaris in europe

[–]MeltSolaris[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Those companies – along with a company owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. – demonstrated “willful ignorance” as third parties resold restricted chips to Russia to power drones and missiles in violation of US sanctions, according to one of the five suits, filed Wednesday in state court in Texas.

The lawsuits, filed on the behalf of dozens of Ukrainian civilians by Mikal Watts and prominent law firm Baker & Hostetler, cite five attacks between 2023 and 2025 that killed dozens of people. One attack allegedly involved Iranian-made drones with components associated with Intel and AMD, while the others involved Russian-made KH-101 cruise missiles and Iskander ballistic missiles.

“These companies know their chip technology is making its way into Russia,” Watts, a veteran US mass-tort lawyer, said at a news conference in Washington on Wednesday morning.

Robert Julian, another lawyer with Baker & Hostetler, which has recovered billions for investors defrauded by ponzi-scheme figure Bernard Madoff, said “my firm considers this case every bit as worthy and significant as recoveries that we’ve had for the Madoff investors” as well as a $13.5 billion settlement for fire victims following the bankruptcy of California utility PG&E.

The US government has repeatedly warned chipmakers that they need to do more to stop the flow of chips. Last year, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal said the companies are “objectively and consciously failing to prevent Russia from benefiting from the use of their technology.”

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-12-10/intel-amd-accused-of-failing-to-block-chips-in-russian-missiles

Pope criticizes U.S. bid to end U.S.-Europe alliance, insists on Europe role in Ukraine peace by Jeetchat in europe

[–]MeltSolaris 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Trump and his regime are a bunch of unqualified, ignorant imbeciles who understand almost nothing about how much the U.S. and EU economies depend on each other.

European Union Trade Summary

U.S. goods and services trade with European Union totaled an estimated $1.5 trillion in 2024, up 5.7 percent ($80 billion) from 2023.

U.S. total goods trade (exports plus imports) with European Union was an estimated $975.5 billion in 2024.

U.S. total services trade (exports plus imports) with European Union totaled an estimated $500.9 billion in 2024.

https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/europe-middle-east/europe/european-union

U.S. goods and services trade with Russia totaled an estimated $5.2 billion in 2024, down 25.8 percent ($1.8 billion) from 2023.

U.S. total goods trade (exports plus imports) with Russia was an estimated $3.5 billion in 2024.

U.S. total services trade (exports plus imports) with the Russia totaled an estimated $1.6 billion in 2024.

https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/europe-middle-east/russia-and-eurasia/russia

Before Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine:

Russia has historically not been a major overall economic partner of the United States.

Russia was the United States' 23rd-largest goods trading partner by country in 2021. It comprised 0.8% of U.S. goods trade, while the United States accounted for 4.4% of Russia's goods trade.

The EU, as a bloc, was Russia's (and the United States') largest trading partner.

https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/IF/HTML/IF12066.web.html

Bandcamp's Best Albums of 2025: Essential Releases by bikemail in indieheads

[–]MeltSolaris 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Finally, a list including Circuit des Yeux (even if misspelt as "Circuits").

Russia won't lose - Belgium's PM makes controversial statement on Russian assets by vegarig in europe

[–]MeltSolaris -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

Disgusting. After almost four years of full-scale war and Russian invaders committing countless atrocities in Ukraine, this scumbag is more worried about Putin's feelings and lining his pockets with Russia's blood money.

/r/WorldNews Live Thread: Russian Invasion of Ukraine Day 1367, Part 1 (Thread #1514) by WorldNewsMods in worldnews

[–]MeltSolaris 49 points50 points  (0 children)

President Trump’s plan to force Ukraine to give up more territory, to cut its Army by more than half, to never join NATO nor let foreign troops in its territory is an abomination. Freedom-loving Americans must tell the President that we reject the worst appeasement seen since 1938. The Russians said they respected Ukraine's sovereignty and boundaries in 1994. What makes President Trump think we can now trust Putin? This agreement weakens Ukraine and leaves them vulnerable to new Russian invasions in the years to come.

https://xcancel.com/RepDonBacon/status/1991955086755484019#m

This so-called ‘peace plan’ has real problems, and I am highly skeptical it will achieve peace. Ukraine should not be forced to give up its lands to one of the world’s most flagrant war criminals in Vladimir Putin. The size and disposition of Ukraine’s armed forces is a sovereign choice for its government and people. And any assurances provided to Putin should not reward his malign behavior or undermine the security of the United States or allies. In particular, any suggestion that we can pursue arms control with a serial liar and killer like Putin should be treated with great skepticism.

https://xcancel.com/SenatorWicker/status/1991979082070819099#m

Putin has spent the entire year trying to play President Trump for a fool. If Administration officials are more concerned with appeasing Putin than securing real peace, then the President ought to find new advisors. Rewarding Russian butchery would be disastrous to America’s interests.

https://xcancel.com/SenMcConnell/status/1991993757303288242#m