Washington (AFP) – Lisa O. Monaco, Deputy Attorney General, says authorities have arrested the owner of China-based cryptocurrency exchange Bitzlato for alleged money laundering, saying the move has “disrupted a busy corner of this criminal ecosystem.”
Saint Petersburg (AFP) – Victory is “guaranteed, I have no doubt about it,” Russian president Vladimir Putin tells workers at a military factory in Russia’s second largest city of Saint Petersburg. The statement comes despite military setbacks in the nearly year-long offensive in Ukraine.
Talagante (Chile) (AFP) – Alhue and Mailen, two Andean condors, are the latest to be born in captivity at Chile’s Rehabilitation Center for Birds of Prey (CRAR) in Talagante, near Santiago. Their carers hope to one day release them as part of a project to boost Chile’s ailing population of the world’s largest flying bird.
Brovary (Ukraine) (AFP) – Emergency services and the Ukrainian Red Cross work outside a kindergarten next to the site of a helicopter crash that killed more than a dozen, including Ukraine’s interior minister. The helicopter crashed in Brovary, 20 kilometres northeast of Ukrainian capital Kyiv.
Lützerath (Germany) (AFP) – Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg is carried away by the police before being briefly detained on 17 January 2023. Greta was participating in a protest near the German village of Luetzerath, threatened to be demolished to make way for a coal mine expansion.
Brovary (Ukraine) (AFP) – Images of the aftermath of a helicopter crash in the town of Brovary, located around 20 kilometres northeast of Ukraine’s Kyiv. Ukraine’s interior minister Denys Monastyrsky was among 16 people, including two children, who were killed when the helicopter crashed near a kindergarten, according to officials.
Zurich (AFP) – US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen meets with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He in Switzerland. Yellen said close communication between the United States and China on economic issues is vital, ahead of the meeting.
Bangkok (AFP) – As Lunar New Year approaches, calligrapher Wichian Buasaeng in Bangkok’s Chinatown is busy writing Chinese couplets, known as Chunlian, placed at the entrance of houses and shops to celebrate the traditional festival. But as Chinese traditions are absorbed into Thai culture, there is less demand for Chunlian. Wichian is among the few who still have the skills in the city.
Madrid (AFP) – Dogs, cats, turtles, and even ferrets are being blessed in Madrid by a priest on the day of Saint Anthony, the patron saint of animals.
Manila (AFP) – Philippine Nobel Prize winner Maria Ressa and her online news outfit Rappler were on Wednesday acquitted of all four charges of tax evasion filed against her, an appellate tax court said. Speaking outside the court she said, “facts win, truth wins, justice wins,” while struggling to hold back tears.
Vatican City (AFP) – From dogs, cows, rabbits and horses to chickens and geese –- animals are being honoured and blessed in St. Peter’s Square by Cardinal Mauro Gambetti. The Vatican is celebrating St. Anthony of Abbot, patron saint of animals.
London (AFP) – In central London’s Soho district, Westminster City Council has decided to tackle the issue of public urination in a new way -– by treating the walls with “anti-pee paint.” The paint creates a water-repellent layer, splashing back urine and other liquids.
