China: ‘Hacker empire’ US is ‘spreading rumours’ with talk of Cuba spy station

BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s foreign ministry on Friday said “spreading rumours and slander” is a common tactic of “hacker empire” the United States, after a media report that China has reached a deal with Cuba to set up an electronic eavesdropping facility on the island. Citing U.S. officials familiar with classified intelligence, the Wall Street…

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Russian central bank gives most hawkish signal this year as it holds rates

By Elena Fabrichnaya, Vladimir Soldatkin and Alexander Marrow MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia’s central bank issued its strongest signal yet that it may hike interest rates this year, saying that likelihood had grown as inflationary pressures intensify, but held its key rate at 7.5% as expected on Friday. Annual inflation, which spiked to over 20-year highs in…

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US spy satellites detected blast at Ukraine dam before it collapsed -NYT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. official said American spy satellites detected an explosion at Ukraine’s Kakhovka dam just before it collapsed and unleashed a torrent of flood water into surrounding areas this week, the New York Times reported on Friday. The official said that satellites equipped with infrared sensors detected a heat signature consistent with a…

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NATO condemns Russia’s withdrawal from conventional armed forces treaty

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – NATO allies on Friday condemned Russia’s decision to withdraw from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE). “Russia’s decision to withdraw from the CFE Treaty is the latest in a series of actions that systematically undermines Euro-Atlantic security,” the alliance said in a statement. “Russia’s decision further demonstrates Moscow’s continued…

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