Author: admin@primenews

The body of a man who was shot dead in Spain is believed to be that of a Russian helicopter pilot who defected to Ukraine last year. In August, Maxim Kuzminov flew a helicopter into Ukrainian territory, where he handed himself in. Spanish police have not publicly confirmed the identity of the man, who was killed near Alicante last week. However, Ukrainian intelligence confirmed Mr Kuzminov’s death on Monday. A spokesperson told the Ukrainian outlet Ukrayinska Pravda: “We confirm the fact of his death… He decided to move to Spain rather than remain here. “What we know is that he…

The US has proposed a draft resolution at the UN Security Council which calls for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza. It has also warned Israel against invading the overcrowded city of Rafah. The US has previously avoided the word “ceasefire” during UN votes on the war, but President Joe Biden has made similar comments. However, the US plans to veto another draft resolution – from Algeria – which calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. More than a million displaced Palestinians, who represent about half of Gaza’s population, are crammed into Rafah after being forced to seek shelter there. The southern…

Russian President Vladimir Putin has presented a car to his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong Un, state media said Tuesday, in another sign of warming ties between the two countries that have raised concerns in the United States. The Russian-made car for Kim’s personal use was delivered Sunday by a Russian delegation, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Russian state news agency TASS the car was an Aurus, the luxury automaker founded in 2018 to produce Russia’s official state cars. Kim’s sister – and senior Pyongyang official – Kim Yo Jong thanked Putin…

China’s central bank has cut its key mortgage reference rate by a record amount, as it ramps up efforts to stem a prolonged property crisis. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) announced Tuesday that it would cut its five-year loan prime rate (LPR) from 4.2% to 3.95%, while keeping the one-year LPR unchanged at 3.45%. The 25 basis point cut to the five-year LPR is the biggest reduction the central bank has made since it revamped its LPR system in 2019. That August, the central bank announced that the LPR would become the new reference rates for lending by Chinese banks. The latest…

Beijing’s C919 airliner, a potential rival to Western-made Boeing and Airbus planes, made its first foray outside Chinese territory on Sunday by staging a flyby at the Singapore Airshow. The single-aisle jet, manufactured by the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), is a prominent symbol of Beijing’s broader “Made in China” strategy, which aims to reduce reliance on foreign manufacturers. China calls the C919, which can carry just under 200 passengers, its first large homegrown passenger jet. The aircraft took to the skies for its first commercial flight last May. It s certified to carry passengers only within mainland China and flies with China Eastern…

Who doesn’t like a little braised pork with their coffee? Starbucks (SBUX) is betting on that unusual combination with a new drink released in China to mark the Lunar New Year. Dubbed the “Abundant Year Savory Latte,” the brand describes it as having an “interesting” flavor. The drink combines Dongpo Braised Pork Flavor Sauce with espresso and steamed milk, with extra pork sauce and pork breast meat for garnish, according to the Starbucks delivery app. The drink is priced at 68 yuan ($9.45), according to the app. Photos of the drink, posted on Chinese social media platform Weibo by the…

Protesting Indian farmers say they will resume marching to capital Delhi this week after rejecting a government proposal to buy some crops at assured prices on a five-year contract. The protesters began marching last week but were stopped around 200km (125 miles) from Delhi. Since then, farmer leaders were in talks with the government on their demands. But on Monday night, they said the offer was “not in their interest”. The government had proposed buying pulses, maize and cotton at guaranteed floor prices – also known as Minimum Support Price or MSP – through cooperatives for five years. But the…

Hirotake Yano, the Japanese billionaire founder of Daiso Industries who helped popularize the discounted dollar-shop concept, has died of heart failure. He passed away in Hiroshima on February 12, the company said in a statement on Monday. Close family members held a private funeral and a commemoration will be organized, it said. Yano’s net worth was about $1.9 billion at the time of his death, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. After graduating from Tokyo’s Chuo University in 1967, Yano worked different jobs before he founded a small shop about five years later selling products for 100 yen, which was then equivalent to about…

One of the UK’s “most technically advanced” indoor farms has opened in Gloucestershire. The so-called vertical farm can grow salad three times as fast as traditional outdoor agriculture thanks to its controlled, consistent climate. Lettuce, basil and other herbs are grown under special lights, in a warm humid atmosphere. “It’s turned farming into a high-tech factory,” said head grower, Glyn Stephens. Mr Stephens has worked in farming all his life, growing every kind of crop. “This is totally different”, he told me, smiling, as he checked through some of the salad harvest. “There’s a lot of tech involved, a lot…

Lawyers for Julian Assange are launching what could be his final bid to avoid extradition to the US to face trial over leaking military secrets. The two-day hearing at the High Court in London is due to hear his team argue he should be allowed a full appeal. There is no guarantee that will be granted and if turned down, he could be handed over within weeks. Supporters of the Wikileaks founder say he exposed wrongdoing, but the US says Mr Assange put lives at risk. Originally from Australia, Mr Assange’s mammoth legal battle began in 2010 when Wikileaks disclosed…