U.S. and Fiji initiate talks on expanding military ties
The U.S. and Fiji begin talks to strengthen military ties, with a new agreement and $4.9 million pledge for Fiji's defence.
On Tuesday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen reported that G7 and EU allies are approaching the finalization of a $50 billion loan to Ukraine, which will be secured by frozen Russian assets. The U.S. is projected to contribute roughly $20 billion to this effort.
During a news conference at the beginning of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings, Yellen expressed confidence that the Russian sovereign assets, primarily located in Europe, will stay immobilized despite the EU's need to renew the freeze every six months.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump pledged to "get out" of the Russia-Ukraine war, highlighting the urgency for G7 allies to finalize the loan ahead of the Nov. 5 U.S. elections.
Earlier on Tuesday, EU lawmakers approved the bloc's plan to utilize frozen Russian assets for a loan of up to 35 billion euros ($38 billion).
Yellen indicated that the U.S. is ready to contribute about $20 billion to the loan and that there are "nothing significant that still needs to be worked out."
The U.S. pushed for stronger assurances from the EU that the funds, primarily held by Euroclear in Belgium, would remain frozen for an extended period, even if a truce in Ukraine is reached. This would minimize the risk of U.S. taxpayers being responsible for repaying the loan.
Yellen stated that the U.S. is willing to accept the EU's commitment to maintaining the long-term freeze on the assets, particularly in light of the current situation of the war. "I think the assurances are already there. We asked for some mild strengthening, but feel good that this is a secure loan that will be serviced by Russian assets, by Russia and not by American taxpayers," Yellen noted.
In her prepared remarks, she mentioned that the U.S. would introduce strong new sanctions as early as next week, targeting entities that support Russia's military efforts in Ukraine, including "intermediaries in third countries that are supplying Russia with critical inputs for its military."
Negotiations at COP29 in Baku face a critical impasse as sharp divisions over climate finance and fossil fuel commitments threaten progress.
"Come up with the video in its full form," demands the COP29 CEO, Elnur Soltanov, in an exclusive interview with AnewZ. The chief executive has broken his silence on the claims he was using his position to organise potential fossil fuel deals.
The United Nations COP29 climate change conference in Baku seeks $1 trillion annually to help vulnerable nations tackle climate change, as political tensions and Argentina’s withdrawal overshadow talks.
Short-term rental owners in Croatia protested against proposed tax hikes, claiming the measures unfairly target low-income earners and threaten their livelihoods. The government argues the changes aim to tackle a housing crisis driven by tourism demand.
Hungary and Poland warn of escalating risks in the Ukraine war as Russia lowers its nuclear threshold and launches missile strikes, signalling a critical phase in the conflict.
China’s 41st Antarctic expedition team has reached Qinling Station, the nation’s fifth research base, to restore power, build infrastructure, and study climate change impacts on the Antarctic ecosystem, marking a key milestone in the country’s polar exploration efforts.
In its flagship 2025 Global Outlook report, released at the WFP's Rome headquarters, the agency said that at least 343 million people across 74 countries are currently facing acute food insecurity, marking a 10% increase compared to last year.
Hundreds of migrants, including families with young children, risked perilous conditions to climb atop a cargo train in Mexico’s Veracruz state, seeking a brief reprieve on their journey to the U.S. border amidst heightened fears of stricter immigration policies.
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