US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday warned Russia of "high-impact" economic steps in case of further aggression in Ukraine.

“We're concerned by evidence that Russia has made plans for significant aggressive moves against Ukraine,” Blinken said in a news conference on the second day of a NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Latvia's capital Riga.

The plans include efforts to destabilize Ukraine, the US secretary said, adding: “We've seen this playbook before in 2014 when Russia last invaded Ukraine.”

Also drawing attention to the disinformation, he said they observed social media activity “pushing anti-Ukrainian propaganda” as it was seen during the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2014.

“The United States has been engaging intensively with allies and partners on this issue, and directly with (Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin,” he said.

Reminding also CIA Director William Burns' visit to Moscow, Blinken said: “We've made it clear to the Kremlin that we will respond resolutely, including with a range of high-impact economic measures that we've refrained from using in the past.”

“We are prepared to impose severe costs for further Russian aggression in Ukraine,” he said.

“NATO was prepared to reinforce its defenses on the eastern flank,” he stressed.

Adding that his consultations will continue on Thursday at an OSCE foreign ministers meeting, where he will also meet top Ukrainian and Russian diplomats, Blinken said: “The United States remains unwavering in our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

“Just as we've been clear with Moscow, we're also urging Ukraine to continue to exercise restraint,” he said.

“Diplomacy is the only responsible way to resolve this potential crisis,” he also added.

On the migrant crisis at the Belarus-Poland border, Blinken called on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko "to immediately stop using migrants as political weapons."/aa

The migration crisis between France and the UK took on new urgency after 27 migrants, including pregnant women and children, were killed in a sinking boat, on Nov. 24 while trying to cross the English Channel from France to the UK.

The boat, trying to cross the English Channel from Calais, France, sank, costing the lives of 17 men, seven women, and three children, and it was recorded as the incident with the most fatalities in the English Channel in recent years.

Following the disaster, French President Emmanuel Macron called for an emergency meeting on the EU immigration problem and said his country will not allow the English Channel to turn into a cemetery.

Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson over the phone agreed on the urgency of stopping irregular migration, However, one day after Johnson's phone call, a letter with a five-point plan he sent to Macron to deal with the migration crisis, angered France.

In his letter, Johnson argued that the plan, which he claimed would undermine the work of criminal gangs that smuggle people, would also be in the interest of France.

France, on the other hand, canceled the invitation of British Interior Minister Priti Patel to the meeting organized with the participation of many EU countries in Calais on Sunday, in response to Johnson sharing the letter on social media.

According to British ministers, Macron's Brexit punishment strategy is behind the migrant crisis with France. It is claimed that France, with existing problems with the UK for the last 11 months over fishing rights and quotas, is reluctant to stop the immigrants.

France, on the other hand, criticizes that the UK does not take the immigration problem seriously enough.

The migration crisis between the two countries is growing as the leaders accuse and react to each other.

Why has number of migrant boats increased?

In the first year after Brexit, a record number of migrants crossed the English Channel from France to the UK.

The UK has announced that more than 25,700 migrants have embarked on a dangerous journey in small boats this year, more than three times the total in 2020.

British officials said only five of these migrants that reached their shores were returned to Europe.

According to data from the French authorities, since the beginning of this year, 31,500 irregular migrants have tried to cross from France to the UK, and 7,800 irregular migrants have been rescued on the English Channel.

Why are migrants traveling to UK from France?

Many irregular migrants living in the French city of Calais are struggling to survive in bad conditions and trying to cross to England illegally.

Calais, the EU's border gate for the UK after Brexit, has been struggling with the migration problem for many years.

A previous survey of camp survivors in Calais revealed that the vast majority planned to go to the UK, with few wishing to stay in France.

Irregular migrants in Calais and the nearby city of Dunkerque live by the roadside at different points outside the city center, with very inadequate basic human needs such as shelter, toilets, bathrooms, and food.

Human rights defenders and charities in the country criticize the Paris administration for taking insufficient steps regarding the poor conditions that irregular migrants are exposed to and for being insensitive to their problems.

It is mentioned that one of the main reasons that push migrants to the UK is the hard living conditions in Calais and Dunkerque.

What is UK's new plan to tackle illegal migration?

In July, the British parliament brought to its agenda the controversial National and Borders Bill, which envisages the criminalization of illegal entries to the country for asylum.

The UK government argues that if the bill passes, the networks of human smugglers will be destroyed./agencies

US stocks opened strong Wednesday, bouncing back from losses during the previous session after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell shifted his stance to a hawkish mode.

The Dow Jones industrial average jumped 260 points, or 0.76%, to 34,744 at 9.40 a.m. The blue chip index lost 652 points Tuesday.

The S&P 500 increased 50 points, or 1.08%, to 4,606 after falling 88 points in the previous session.

The Nasdaq soared 170 points, or 1.1%, to 15,708, after the tech-heavy fell 245 points the day before.

Major indices were quick to shrug off losses the day after Powell shifted from a dovish to a hawkish tone about the central bank's accommodative monetary policy.

"The economy is very strong and inflationary pressures are high. It is therefore appropriate in my view to consider wrapping up the taper of our asset purchases,  perhaps a few months sooner," Powell said in testimony before the Senate Banking Committee.

He said the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) members will discuss the possibility of concluding tapering quicker than expected at their next meeting on Dec. 14 - 15.

Despite climbing above 27 on Tuesday, the VIX volatility index, known as the fear index, was down 12.4% to 23.81. The dollar index fell 0.22% to 95.78.

The yield on 10-year US Treasury notes, on the other hand, was up 2.47% to 1.477%.

Crude prices were up more than 2% as the oil market awaits OPEC's decision about supply cuts in the face of rising demand risks amid the new coronavirus variant, omicron.

Brent crude rose 2.6% to $71.05 per barrel, while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude gained 2.5% to $67.85.

Precious metals were mixed with gold adding 0.8% to $1,788 an ounce but silver losing 0.6% to $22.69./aa

The Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) released a forecast that the global economy will grow by 4.5% next year.

"The global economy continues to recover, along with trade, employment and incomes, but the revival is unbalanced, with countries, businesses and people facing very different economic realities," the report said on Wednesday.

It underlined: "Recent improvements also conceal structural changes, which mean that some sectors, jobs, technologies and behaviours will not return to their pre-pandemic trends."

The organization's central scenario is expecting that fiscal policies will continue to be supportive in 2022.

After a GDP growth rate of 5.6% this year, the world growth can enlarge by 4.5% in 2022, and by 3.2% in 2023. The report's expectation for the eurozone is 5.2% for this year, 4.3% for 2022, and 2.5% for 2023.

The OECD said the Turkish economy will grow by 9% in 2021, 3.3% next year, and 3.9% in 2023.

The US economy is expected to grow by 5.6% in 2021, 3.7% in 2022, and 2.4% in 2023, while the Chinese economy will grow by 8.1% this year and 5.1% both next year and in 2023./agencies

Following Sweden’s announcement that the coronavirus vaccine passport requirement will be put into practice, the number of people who got microchips inserted under their skin rose, according to local media.

Swedish daily Aftonbladet reported on Sunday that a rise was recorded in the number of people who had microchips inserted in their hands following Sweden's announcement that a vaccination passport will be required at all events with over 100 participants as of Dec. 1.

Citing a resident, Hannes Sjoblad, the daily reported that he had a microchip with his vaccination passport inserted to his left hand.

Sjoblad noted that all his information about COVID-19 is reflected on his mobile phone when he takes his mobile phone in his left hand, adding that this is a new trend that has become popular among Swedes.

Another resident, Olle Helkimo, said he also had a chip inserted in his left hand, making him feel healthier.

According to digital cultures researcher Moa Petersen, around 6,000 people in Sweden have so far had a chip inserted in their hands.

Petersen stressed that those with microchip implants have stopped carrying vaccine passports, keys, ID cards, and even train tickets with them, thanks to radio frequency identification technology, a wireless system comprising tags and readers.

In 2017, the country's state-owned railway company announced that it started accepting microchip tickets with the rising number of people who had microchips implants./agencies

In 2017, Kuwait unveiled a new plan to transform the country into a regional financial and cultural hub by 2035. The National Development Plan, called ‘New Kuwait’, set the long-term development plans for the country. Rightfully so, ICT was set at the heart of the government’s strategy. The ‘New Kuwait’ plan also placed strong emphasis on education as a catalyst to economic diversification, sustainable growth and social progress.

Since the launch of the plan, the Kuwaiti government has made incredible strides in the development of its ICT sector. Kuwait has been at the forefront of innovation and adoption of ICT technologies, enabling its economy to become more competitive. By leveraging advanced technologies, organizations in Kuwait are increasingly more responsive and predictive to the citizens’ digital needs. As the government continues driving the adoption of advanced technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and cloud computing, ICT spending in Kuwait is predicted to reach US$10.1bn by 2024.

Conversely, the Kuwaiti government has been investing steadily in its education sector, underlining the importance of education in creating sustainable employment opportunities for Kuwaitis. As the youth across Kuwait gain academic qualifications, enhancing Kuwait’s current education models in partnership with the private sector players can help create more value for the country. Within the ICT industry, for example, the right education and skills training will empower Kuwaitis to join the future ICT workforce and contribute directly to the country’s future digital economy.

As a global technology leader, Huawei invests heavily to help equip Kuwait’s talent with the necessary skills to compete in the global marketplace. We strongly advocate for an open, shared, ICT talent ecosystem that benefits all in Kuwait. We have collaborated effectively with local entities such as Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) ,CAIT (Central Agency for Information and Technologies), and Youth Public Authority (YPA) to create a positive long-lasting impact.

To further contribute to the local ICT talent development, we’ve also partnered with leading education institutions like Australian College of Kuwait (ACK) and Kuwait College of Science and Technology (KCST) to establish Huawei ICT Academies at their respective campuses, which provide industry training and certification to their students. In addition, we established the Huawei Innovation and Training Center in Hamra Tower to transfer knowledge to Kuwaiti students.

We recently launched the 2021 edition of our annual education program Seeds for the Future in Kuwait and the rest of the Middle East. Students participating in the Seeds for the Future program will have the opportunity to receive technology and cultural trainings, study cutting-edge technology such as 5G, cloud computing, AI, and IoT, explore Huawei’s exhibition halls, campus and stores through virtual tours, while gathering real-world experience through hands-on workshops in collaboration with institutions of higher education and partners from the public sector. To date, Huawei’s initiatives has positively impacted the lives of more than 3,000 students in Kuwait.

As we plan for a prosperous future of New Kuwait, it’s crucial that we harness the talent in the country and help build a highly skilled and experienced workforce that can help our country realize the goals of Vision 2035. By leveraging partnerships between the public and private sectors, we can help foster the future ICT leaders of the New Kuwait./KT 

  A high level source in an exclusive statement requested Kuwaiti citizens and expats not to leave Kuwait at the moment as the developments related to new mutant of coronavirus Omicron has no confirmed official information  to the  extent of the spread in the countries, reports Al Anba. Taking strict precautionary measures locally and internationally entirely depends on the spread of the virus. The government is closely monitoring the situation and has called everyone to abide by health precautionary measures.

Earlier The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on citizens to abide by the 27th Nov cabinet’s decision in procedures and safety measures related to the new mutant of coronavirus. In its statement the ministry called on Kuwaiti citizens to avoid travel unless necessary as countries are taking upheaval and drastic measures against spread of Omicron virus.

Meanwhile Kuwait’s Ministry of Health said that 35 people tested positive for the novel coronavirus in 24 hours, taking the total to 413,362. No deaths were listed in the same period, keeping the death toll at 2,465, the Ministry’s Spokesman Dr. Abdullah Al-Sanad told KUNA. The total recoveries rose by 17 to 410,627, he affirmed. There are 270 patients receiving treatment, in addition to seven others at hospital wards, he said, noting that there is no case at any Covid-19 ICU. Medical swabs conducted over the same period reached 19,762 increasing the total to 5,330,503./ Arab Times Online

Amnesty International called Tuesday for the repatriation of at least 27,000 children held in dire conditions at a camp in northeastern Syria.  

"Tens of thousands of children have been arbitrarily deprived of their liberty and exposed to life-threatening and inhumane conditions in al-Hol, northeast Syria’s sprawling camp, their future surrounded by grim uncertainty as governments continue to show a shameful lack of willingness to repatriate them," the London-based human rights organization said.

It underlined that over the past two years, children living in the camp have not had proper access to food, clean water and essential services such as health care and education.

"Increased child labor, violence and murder have severely impacted the growth and development of children," the statement said.

Referring to the interviews of 10 people with knowledge of the situation in the camps, including eight eyewitnesses, Amnesty International said the main section of the camp hosts Syrians and Iraqis, while the camp area known as the Annex – separated from the main camp by a checkpoint – hosts all women and children from third countries other than Iraq.

Children in the Annex are subjected to various forms of forced separation from their caregivers, it said.

In went on to say that the camp administration over the past year has been arbitrarily detaining boys as young as 12 in the Annex, separating them from their mothers and caregivers.

They also transfer the boys to detention centers outside of al-Hol camp which lack adequate access to food, water and health care and where diseases such as tuberculosis and scabies are rampant.

Separation from caregivers

Children in the Annex as young as two are forced to separate from their mothers or caregivers in order to be escorted to the hospital by the armed forces, it noted.

According to the interviewed persons, women and children cannot move out of the camp without prior approval, "which is rarely ever granted" by the camp administration.

Men and women have "very limited access" to job opportunities in the camp, while the administration, which briefly allowed humanitarian organizations to employ men and women in al-Hol’s main camp, recently suspended the decision "for unclear reasons."

"The lack of livelihood opportunities for adults, coupled with inadequate access to safe spaces and education for children, have led to an increase in child labor," it added.

The reported emphasized that the camp administration’s failure to produce and implement a transparent and consistent security plan at the camp has led to a "climate of anger and fear" amid the pervasive violence.

"A Save the Children report highlights the high murder rates in the camp with 79 people killed in the camp this year, including three children shot to death and 14 further deaths of children attributed to various incidents like fires."

Obstacles to return

While some Syrians are granted permission to permanently leave the camp, a number of obstacles -- such as fear of return to areas under the control of the Syrian regime, family separation, the reluctance of women to return without their male relatives who are either detained or missing, and high transportation costs -- bar their return to their homes, it noted.

"Due to insufficient funding, humanitarian organizations operating in northeast Syria are unable to provide protection services for Syrian children when they leave al-Hol camp, often exposing them to the risk of child trafficking, early marriage, or recruitment by armed forces."

Amnesty International also highlighted that for Iraqi and "third national children," repatriation is their "only chance" of leaving the camp.

Last week, the YPG/PKK terror group set free 19 families, compromised of 70 people, who were allowed to leave the camp following talks with tribal leaders in the region.

On Sept. 15, YPG/PKK terrorists handed over 324 Syrian nationals, mostly women and children, and 115 Iraqi families on Sept. 29 to Iraqi government officials from the camp in al-Hol.

YPG/PKK terrorists had previously released hundreds of Daesh/ISIS members from the camp.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US and the European Union -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is the PKK's Syrian branch.

Al-Hol camp

The YPG/PKK built the camp in April 2017 in al-Hol to keep civilians who fled clashes with the Daesh/ISIS terror group in Deir-Ez-Zor and also some Daesh/ISIS members and their families.

According to local sources, civilians detained by the terror group live in inhumane conditions in the camp.

Non-hygienic toilets and shower cabins, torn tents, expired food, a lack of medication for those with chronic illnesses and lack of patient care are some of the main problems at the camp.

The UN and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) warn that the humanitarian situation in the camp is growing worse every day and have sought access to centers where Daesh/ISIS militants are held.

According to a UN official, the camp was initially built to house up to 10,000 internally displaced people, but more than 73,000 individuals remain interred.

The vast majority of those at the camp are women and children under the age of 12.

The Al-Hol camp hosts thousands of foreign terrorist fighters from around 50 countries as well as a large number of Syrian and Iraqi terrorists./aa

CNN suspended its anchor Chris Cuomo indefinitely on Tuesday over his role in defending his brother, then-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, over sexual harassment claims.  

In a statement, a spokesperson for the network said New York Attorney General Letitia James "released transcripts and exhibits Monday that shed new light on Chris Cuomo's involvement in his brother's defense. The documents, which we were not privy to before their public release, raise serious questions."

"When Chris admitted to us that he had offered advice to his brother's staff, he broke our rules and we acknowledged that publicly," said the spokesperson. "But we also appreciated the unique position he was in and understood his need to put family first and job second."

"However, these documents point to a greater level of involvement in his brother's efforts than we previously knew," the spokesperson added. "As a result, we have suspended Chris indefinitely, pending further evaluation."

The suspension came hours after one of the former governor's accusers, Charlotte Bennett, called on CNN to sack his brother. Bennett accused her former boss of sexually harassing her when she worked for him.

"Anything short of firing Chris Cuomo reflects a network lacking both morals and a backbone," Bennett said in a statement.

In September, Shelley Ross, a former executive at ABC News, alleged that Chris Cuomo once grabbed her inappropriately during a party 16 years ago.

Cuomo joined CNN in 2013 and has since had the top-rated nightly newscast on the network.

Cuomo advised his brother Andrew during his sexual harassment scandal this year. Andrew Cuomo resigned in August after years of sexual harassment allegations surfaced. He fought the allegations by saying that while he made mistakes, he never meant to harass anyone and often kissed and hugged both men and women./aa

Home prices in the US increased 18.5% in the third quarter of 2021 from the same period last year, according to data released Tuesday by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). 

While house prices increased 4.2% in the third quarter from the previous quarter, the monthly index for September was up 0.9% from August.

"House price appreciation reached its highest historical level in the quarterly series," William Doerner, supervisory economist in FHFA’s Division of Research and Statistics, said in a statement.

"Compared to a year ago, annual gains have increased in every state and metro area. Real estate prices have risen exceptionally fast, but market momentum peaked in July as month-over-month gains have moderated," he added.

House prices rose in all 50 US states annually in the third quarter.

The top three states that saw the highest annual price appreciation were Idaho with 35.8%, followed by Utah with 30.3% and Arizona coming at 27.7%./aa