Hong Kong leaders must pledge loyalty to — and show 'love' for — China's communist party to stay in office

Hong Kong leaders must pledge loyalty to — and demonstrate "love" for — China's communist party in order to stay in office, Reuters reported.

What are the details?

Community-level district councils must pledge the oath of allegiance to Hong Kong's mini-constitution, according to a bill the Chinese-ruled city is announcing this week, the outlet said.

Secretary for Mainland and Constitutional Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai said politicians viewed as insincere would be barred from office, Reuters reported.

"You cannot say that you are patriotic, but you do not love the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, or you do not respect it — this does not make sense," Tsang said, according to the outlet. "Patriotism is holistic love."

The district councils are the only fully democratic institution in Hong Kong, the outlet noted, adding that the city's Legislative Council is "stacked with pro-Beijing figures, while its chief executive is not directly elected."

More from Reuters:

Any district councillor suspended from office after failing the loyalty test would be sent to court for formal disqualification, and banned from contesting elections for five years.

The bill potentially paves the way for the mass disqualification of pro-democracy politicians who took almost ninety percent of 452 district council seats in Hong Kong in the 2019 elections, humiliating the pro-Beijing camp.

While district councils decide little beyond community-level issues, such as garbage collection and bus stops, Beijing and Hong Kong authorities are determined that all public institutions in the city must be run by people loyal to Beijing.

Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of China's State Council, on Monday said Hong Kong can only be ruled by "patriots," the outlet reported. As for who qualifies as "patriots," Baolong told Reuters they include those who love China, its constitution, and the Communist Party. But anti-China "troublemakers" do not qualify as "patriots," he added to the outlet.

Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Tuesday endorsed Beijing's stance, the outlet said, and added that the loyalty oath is necessary to halt hatred of China and sustain the "one country, two systems" of government model.

Henry Wong, a pro-democracy councillor, told Reuters he's still deciding whether to take the oath: "This is just an act to legalize their brutal force in destroying democracy voices."

Pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong have been battling against communist China's takeover since last year. Three of them were sentenced to serve jail time in December for involvement in demonstrations.

http://www.tathasta.com/2021/02/hong-kong-leaders-must-pledge-loyalty.html

Trudeau Officially Unveils Ludicrous COVID Travelling Protocols, Complete with “Detention Centers”

Clown world. Honk! Honk!

https://www.investmentwatchblog.com/trudeau-officially-unveils-ludicrous-covid-travelling-protocols-complete-with-detention-centers/

Israeli cyber firm: Chinese hacking tool was modeled on NSA spyware

Cyber Point says ‘Jian’ exploited vulnerability in Windows and was first used no later than 2015, two years before leak of American cyber weapons

An Israeli cybersecurity firm announced Monday that China has used a hacking tool initially developed by the US National Security Agency.

In a new report, Check Point Software Technologies said the Chinese malware, which it dubbed “Jian,” exploited a vulnerability in Windows. It said the exploit was a replica of one used by the secretive “Equation Group” at the NSA.

Check Point said the tool was developed in 2014 and has been used since at least the following year, two years before cyber weapons made by the Equation Group were leaked online. The Tel Aviv-based firm hypothesized that Chinese spies may have obtained the code during an Equation Group operation against a target in China, captured it while monitoring an Equation Group attack against a third party, or acquired it during a Chinese operation against the Equation Group.

Yaniv Balmas, the head of research at Check Point, said the report showed the development of hacking tools could come back to bite their creators.

“Maybe it’s more important to patch this thing and save the world,” Balmas was quoted as saying by Reuters. “It might be used against you.”

Check Point also said the exploit, which was patched in 2017, was reported to Microsoft by US defense contractor Lockheed Martin, “hinting at a possible attack against an American target.” There was no word on what the target may have been and Lockheed said it was discovered on the network of another party, without elaborating further.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-cyber-firm-chinese-hacking-tool-was-modeled-on-nsa-spyware/

Ex-bank president in Texas gets 8 years for fake loans, arson to try to cover up fraud

A former Texas bank president who issued millions of dollars in fake loans over almost a decade and set a fire to try to cover up the fraud was sentenced to eight years in prison Tuesday, prosecutors said.

The woman, Anita Gail Moody, 57, pleaded guilty in June to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and arson.

She was ordered to pay more than $11 million in restitution, which is what Enloe State Bank, which she ran, lost, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Texas said.

Moody was president of the bank in Cooper, around 80 miles northeast of Dallas, and the fraud she pleaded guilty to began in 2012.

In May 2019 — a day before the Texas Banking Department was scheduled to conduct a review — Moody set a fire in the bank boardroom with files left on a table, all of which were burned, according to prosecutors.

She had created more than 100 fraudulent loans over the years, prosecutors said in court documents.

She used some of the money on her boyfriend's and friends' businesses, for family and for her own lifestyle, including a Jeep. Other federal investigators said some of the loans were taken out to pay the interest and principal on the others, so nothing would seem amiss.

Moody "has experienced great remorse over these events and takes full responsibility for her actions," her attorney, John C. Ginn, said in an email Tuesday night.

"She is ready to serve her sentence and will make amends as circumstances allow in the future," he said.

Ginn argued in court documents that Moody worked for the bank her whole adult life and described a life spiraling out of control, adding that she first lent the money out of sympathy but in 2012 started using the loans for herself.

Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei said in a statement, "Criminal conduct that affects the financial health of a small, local lender can send a negative ripple effect throughout the entire community."

The state Banking Department closed the bank, which had been chartered in 1928, in 2019. At the time, the department said it was forced to close it "due to insider abuse and fraud by former officers."

A former bank vice president, Jeannie Swaim, pleaded guilty last year to a single count and was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay more than $410,000 in restitution, according to the U.S. attorney's office and court records.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which insures deposits, was appointed as receiver after the bank failed. The loss to the agency's deposit insurance fund was around $21 million, an inspector general's report said.

http://www.cuzzblue.com/2021/02/ex-bank-president-in-texas-gets-8-years.html

Twitter is now adding a controversial 'hacked materials' warning label to tweets

“These materials may have been obtained through hacking,” reads the disclaimer affixed to a tweet linking to a story from independent news outlet, The Grayzone.

The tweet was originally posted on Feb. 20. However, three days later, users began to notice the label added to The Grayzone’s tweet. (It is not yet clear when exactly the label appeared.) Furthermore, readers discovered that an extra step was added when trying to retweet posts linking to The Grayzone’s story: A pop-up appeared reiterating the warning label and asking users to “help keep Twitter a place for reliable info.”

A link is included which forwards users to Twitter’s “distribution of hacked materials” policy.

The Grayzone’s story sources recently hacked and leaked documents which allegedly show that the BBC and Reuters participated in a program created by the UK government to “weaken Russia’s state influence.”

This appears to be the first instance of Twitter using this particular warning label on an English-language outlet. A search on the platform found one other instance of a version of the “hacked materials” warning label being used. This one was stamped on an Italian outlet’s tweet regarding Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine in January.

“These materials may have been obtained through hacking or may be manipulated,” reads the earlier warning label on the tweet, which is in Italian.

Mashable has reached out to Twitter for more information. The new warning label comes after Twitter's controversial decision to block links to a New York Post story in October 2020, which included material from a laptop belonging to President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden. Twitter was roundly criticized across the political spectrum for the action it took when the story was published and shared on its platform.

In response, Twitter updated its policies surrounding “hacked materials” and unblocked links to the story. This new warning label is clearly a new approach to flagging news stories which are based on hacks and leaked documents.

It should be stressed again that these warning labels are being added to tweets sharing links to news stories based on hacked materials, not tweets sharing raw leaked or stolen materials themselves.

However, some Twitter users have pointed out that the New York Times story on Ted Cruz’s trip to Cancun was based on leaked text messages from the senator’s wife. Yet, they point out, there is no warning label placed on tweets linking to that story even though it appears to fall under Twitter’s own “distribution of hacked materials” policy.

Twitter also uses its warning labels feature to inform users about misinformation spreading on its platform. While this was a helpful service amid all the lies and disinformation campaigns surrounding the 2020 U.S. presidential election, it’s not clear if this translates to “hacked materials.”

Debunked claims are proven to be false. However, the same cannot be said outright for “hacked materials.” In fact, some of the most important journalism of just this past decade was done with documents that would fall under Twitter’s “hacked materials” policy.

Would the eye-opening “Collateral murder” video that was provided to Wikileaks in 2010 by Chelsea Manning have received a warning label? Would Twitter have warned users before retweeting the many crucial investigative pieces that came out of the NSA spying documents provided to multiple news outlets by Edward Snowden?

As Will Menaker of the podcast Chapo Trap House tweeted, these “hacked materials” warning labels may very well be construed by critics as “highlighting journalism that is especially important.”

https://mashable.com/article/twitter-hacked-materials-warning-label/

Google’s Eric Schmidt & The Artificial Intelligence Military-Industrial Complex

The simple fact that the AI Commission is led by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt should trouble those who care for privacy, accountability, transparency, and individual liberty.

In late January, the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI), or the AI Commission, released a draft of their upcoming report to Congress, rejecting calls to ban AI-powered autonomous weapons, characterized by critics as “killer robots”. While the AI Commission did briefly address privacy and civil liberties concerns, they ultimately called on Congress to double AI research and funding annually up to $32 billion a year by 2026. The report also failed to note clear conflicts of interest between the Commission’s Chairman, and former Google CEO, Eric Schmidt.

Opponents of the advancing AI-powered surveillance and police states include privacy advocates concerned about a future where law enforcement are wearing glasses equipped with facial recognition software powered by secret AI algorithms.

The draft report addresses the surveillance concerns, stating, “The stakes of the AI future are intimately connected to the enduring contest between authoritarian and democratic political systems and ideologies.” The Commission also notes that AI-enabled surveillance will “soon be in the hands of most or all governments” and “authoritarian regimes will continue to use AI-powered face recognition, biometrics, predictive analytics, and data fusion as instruments of surveillance, influence, and political control.”

The report correctly points a finger at China’s authoritarianism and AI-driven surveillance state. However, the draft also attempts to paint the U.S. as a “liberal democracy” that uses such technologies for “legitimate public purposes…. compatible with the rule of law.” The implication is that the enemies of the U.S. could use this technology for tyrannical purposes, but the U.S. and its allies would only ever use AI in the interest of preserving liberty.

“A responsible democracy must ensure that the use of AI by the government is limited by wise restraints to comport with the rights and liberties that define a free and open society,” reads the draft. “The U.S. government should develop and field AI-enabled technologies with adequate transparency, strong oversight, and accountability to protect against misuse.”

Taken at face value, these statements might offer a sense of reassurance. Unfortunately, we are speaking about the U.S. government and military, and these institutions do not have a history of transparency or accountability. Even more worrisome is the drafts mention of the “urgent need” to use AI for national security purposes, particularly against “foreign and domestic terrorists operating within our borders.” The draft encourages the DOD not to pursue their counter-terrorism goals without ensuring that “security applications of AI conform to core values of individual liberty and equal protection under law.”

https://www.activistpost.com/2021/02/googles-eric-schmidt-the-artificial-intelligence-military-industrial-complex.html

Putin warns schemes still ongoing to weaken Russia, put it under external control

The 'aggressive' policy is not about competition, which is a natural thing for international relations, the Russian president stressed

MOSCOW, February 24./TASS/. Efforts are still ongoing to weaken Russia and place it under external control, as can be seen in the case of some former Soviet republics, President Vladimir Putin said in the opening remarks at a session of the Federal Security Service (FSB) board on Wednesday.

"We are up against the so-called policy of containing Russia. This is not about competition, which is a natural thing for international relations. This is about a consistent and quite aggressive policy aimed at disrupting our development, slowing it down, creating problems along the outer perimeter, triggering domestic instability, undermining the values that unite Russian society, and ultimately to weaken Russia and put it under external control, just the way we are witnessing it transpire in some countries in the post-Soviet space," the president stressed.

The president emphasized that he was not exaggerating facts. "In fact, you don’t need to be convinced of this as you yourselves know it perfectly well, perhaps even better than anybody else," he went on to say. "It is enough to familiarize oneself with pubic strategic documents and revealing statements from politicians in a number of countries. They make no bones about their unfriendly attitude towards Russia, towards a number of other independent, sovereign centers of global development," Putin noted.

https://tass.com/politics/1259783

Biden WH and EU face humiliation for Navalny support after racist video surfaces

Amnesty International Rescinds Navalny’s ‘Prisoner Of Conscience’ Status After Discovering His Past

https://theduran.com/biden-wh-and-eu-face-humiliation-for-navalny-support-after-racist-video-surfaces/

Judge dismisses drunk driving charge against Bruce Springsteen

Springsteen will reportedly have to pay a $500 fine in connection to the 2020 charge.

A judge in New Jersey on Wednesday dropped drunken driving charge against Bruce Springsteen.

The New Jersey native and American folk rocker will have to pay a $500 fine in connection to the 2020 charge, according to the Associated Press.

The judge also reportedly dismissed a reckless driving charge against the 71-year-old Springsteen, saying his blood-alcohol level was too low to find him guilty of the charges.

However, Springsteen pleaded guilty to the charge of consuming alcohol in a closed area.

He acknowledge consuming two shots of tequila last November in the Gateway National Recreation Area, in the Sandy Hook, N.J. area, which from the New York City skyline can be seen vantage points along the Atlantic Ocean.

https://justthenews.com/government/courts-law/prosecutors-drop-drunk-driving-charge-against-bruce-springsteen

Fake Snow 2021 This Snow don’t Melt easily and Shows Soot plus Smells like Plastic when Burnt 🔥

US-led Coalition Sent ‘Shoulder-Launched Missiles’ To Northeastern Syria – Report

The US-led coalition has shipped “shoulder-launched missiles” to northeastern Syria, the Syrian News Agency (SANA) reported on February 24.

According to the state-run agency, the missiles were deployed at the al-Shaddadi bases in the southern countryside of al-Hasakah.

“Two military helicopters of the American occupation landed in al-Shaddadi and unloaded artillery shells and shoulder-launched missiles,” the SANA quoted local sources as saying.

The agency didn’t reveal the type of the missiles, which may be FIM-92 Stinger man-portable air-defense systems, which was not spotted before in northeastern Syria, or FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank guided missiles. Coalition troops in the region were seen with Javelin missiles before.

The US-led coalition has been redeploying its troops in northeastern Syria for a few months now. Loads of supplies were shipped to the region.

Earlier this year, the coalition built a new airstrip in the al-Omar oil fields in southeastern Deir Ezzor. Furthermore, the coalition is currently establishing a new base in northeastern al-Hasakah, near the border with Iraq and Turkey.

Last week, a number of US AN/TWQ-1 Avenger short-range air-defense systems were spotted moving along the border between Syria and Iraq.

Recently, the US-led coalition denied increasing the numbers of its troops in northeastern Syria. However, the facts on the ground say otherwise.

https://southfront.org/us-led-coalition-sent-shoulder-launched-missiles-to-northeastern-syria-report/

Military Situation In Syria On February 24, 2021 (Map Update)

On February 24, at least 3 people were wounded in an IED blast in Afrin city

On February 23, the US-led coalition sent a convoy of weapons and logistical aid to Syria via the illegal al-Walid crossing

On February 23, Russian warplanes targeted ISIS hideouts in Bushairi mountain area

On February 23, the SDF arrested 13 people of al-Shaddadi town in order to take them to the compulsory recruitment in its ranks

On February 23, Russian warplanes targeted positions of Turkish-backed forces in Barah village

https://southfront.org/military-situation-in-syria-on-february-24-2021-map-update/

Chinese Communists Profit Millions From Texas Governor Abbott’s ‘Green New Deal’

An energy company with ties to the Chinese Communist Party profits millions annually from tax abatements, Renewable Energy Credits, provided by Greg Abbott’s green energy policies.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s green energy policies paved the way for companies like GH America and Goldwind Americas, both with deep ties to the Chinese Communist Party, to profit millions from tax abatements and Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) at the taxpayer’s expense.

Goldwind Americas purchased Rattlesnake LLC in 2016. Comptroller documents show that the Rattlesnake wind farm receives over $3.8 million in annual property tax abatement from the Brady ISD and will continue to receive this financial help until at least 2026.

The investments gave the Chinese government direct access to Texas’ energy grid and sensitive national security information, including security assessments affecting the grid’s health and performance. National File previously reported on the threat that Chinese energy companies pose to Texas’ energy grid and national security.

In a statement to National File, Cary Cheshire, President of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, dubbed Governor Abbott’s slew of green proposals, “Abbott’s Green New Deal.”

Cary suggested, “Despite sitting on some of the world’s largest deposits of reliable and dependable fuels, Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas state government have been administering their own Green New Deal by doling out over $10 billion in taxpayer dollars to subsidize operators of wind and solar energy.”

He continued, “This state-administered Green New Deal has undermined the strength of our electric grid while transferring wealth from taxpayers and ratepayers to crony insiders and foreign governments.”

The unearthed documents published by the Texas Comptroller’s Office highlight the archaic nature of Governor Abbott’s green energy policies. The state’s tax code, specifically Sec. 312 and 313, empower local school districts to establish “reinvestment zones” where companies can apply for 10-year tax abatement, sheltering them from millions in potential property taxes meant to fund Texas’ public schools.

Rather than allow these arrangements to siphon millions from Texas public education, however, the Texas legislature reimburses the school districts for qualified tax abatements that invest in renewable energy technologies and improvements — like wind turbines and solar panels.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) also administers a state exchange whereby green energy companies can sell their energy production to the state in exchange for Renewable Energy Credits (RECs). Goldwind Americas can be found on ERCOT’s list of qualified companies using RECs.

The Daily Mail, dubbing it “deeply troubling,” recorded Goldwind America’s deep ties to the Chinese government in June of 2020, noting that 40% of Goldwind’s top investors were known members of the Communist Party.

Chris Ekstrom, a Dallas area businessman and a prominent donor to Greg Abbott’s 2014 campaign for governor recalled, “Greg Abbott promised not to ‘California our Texas.’” He continued, “Well he did worse: Abbott has allowed the Dragon in our backyard! Communist China is heavily invested in our wind and solar farms.” He exclaimed, “WHY?” Abbott is up for re-election again in 2022.

https://nationalfile.com/exclusive-chinese-communists-profit-millions-from-texas-governor-abbotts-green-new-deal/

California Stimulus Check: Illegal Immigrants Will Also Receive $600 Payments

Newsom signed a sweeping package that gives $600 checks for Californians

The package includes payments to illegal immigrants

California also will provide checks to households enrolled in the CalWORKS program

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday signed a $7.6 billion relief package that will give one-time payments of $600 to the state's residents, including illegal immigrants.

The package, which was signed at Solomon’s Deli in Sacramento, builds on Newsom’s January state budget proposal to provide stimulus checks to millions of lower-income Californians. The package would also include aid for small businesses and waive license renewal fees of businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

“As millions of Californians are struggling to make ends meet amid the devastating impacts of this pandemic, we are taking immediate action in partnership with our legislative leaders to provide families and businesses the relief they need,” Newsom said.

“This $7.6 billion of direct relief that we are providing today not only helps support small business but supports some 5.7 million Californians with direct stimulus check relief,” the governor continued.

Some of the 3.8 million checks will go to residents earning less than $30,000 annually. The state government will also provide over 565,000 stimulus payments to people with individual tax identification numbers who did not receive checks from the federal government. Many who qualify in this category are illegal immigrants earning below $75,000.

“Those that have been left behind in the federal stimulus, California is not going to leave you behind,” Newsom said during the Tuesday signing ceremony.

The new package will provide $1,200 checks to ITIN taxpayers who qualify for the state’s EITC. Lower-income households enrolled in the CalWORKS program, SSI/SSP and the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants will also get the $600 checks.

Californians may see their stimulus money arrive in the bank accounts four to five weeks after filing their 2020 tax returns with the state Franchise Tax Board. Residents who opt to receive their checks by mail may have to wait as long as seven weeks.

Individuals in the CalWORKS program should expect the payment by mid-April. However, the timing could still change based on the automation process, according to H.D. Palmer, spokesman for the California Department of Finance.

The state of California is still working on the timing and method of distributing stimulus payments to individuals enrolled in SSI and SSP.

https://www.ibtimes.com/california-stimulus-check-illegal-immigrants-will-also-receive-600-payments-3150902

Illinois Becomes First State to End Cash Bail for Most Crimes

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a bill yesterday that would end cash bail in the state and pretrial detention. The criminal justice reform bill would also require the use of bodycams by police and expands instances where police can be stripped of certification.

Police organizations urged Pritzker to veto the bill, claiming it gave criminals an advantage over police.

WGNTV:

The centerpiece of the massive law is ending cash bail. Almost everyone would be released from jail while awaiting trial unless a judge decides otherwise.

The reforms also provide more rights for people accused of crimes and victims. People in police custody will be allowed to make three phone calls. While barriers are removed to help more people access the state’s victims’ compensation program.

The police reforms are the most controversial measures.

The legislation increases certification for officers, allows for complaints to be submitted anonymously, and mandates the use of body cameras. Officers would be held responsible for the turning the body cam on.

“There is a concern that this bill establishes a new criminal penalty for police officers who do not use their body cameras when required by law,” said State Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis). “I believe that this bill actually makes us as a state, the public less safe.”

Indeed, when New York ended its cash bail system last year, the resulting crime spree had legislators and Governor Cuomo scrambling to reestablish bail for most crimes. Now, bail will be required in New York for:

Any crime alleged to have caused a death

Promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child

First-degree grand larceny

Failure to register as a third-degree sex offender

Second-degree burglary if someone enters the living area of a home

Escape from custody

In Illinois, the criminal will only be required to post cash bail if a judge determines they are a “threat to the community.” “If they’re not a risk to the public, then they shouldn’t be in jail,” Ford said. “Now we have to look at the person and the crime to determine whether or not this person is a risk to their fellow peers. If he’s not, if she’s not, then there’s no need for bail.”

So the safety of the public will be determined by whether or not the judge thinks someone does or doesn’t deserve to be held. That’s an awful lot of responsibility to place on a judge—and the police agree.

Illinois House GOP Leader Jim Durkin:

The Governor’s support of House Bill 3653 is an insult to our first responders, law enforcement and the law-abiding citizens of Illinois who want to live free of violence and destruction from the criminal element. It’s clear that Governor Pritzker does not understand this bill and what it means to our criminal justice system. Illinois and its citizens will not be safer because of this bill.

This is a social experiment. But it’s not an experiment on paper using graphs and tables to determine if it’s working. The test of whether the law is working is how many people die because the perpetrator was a danger to the community and some idiot judge released him.

Oh well. Everyone makes mistakes, right?

The left refuses to see sociopaths who rape, rob, and kill as anything but victims of racism. And ordinary people are going to pay for that stupidity.

https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/rick-moran/2021/02/24/illinois-becomes-first-state-to-end-cash-bail-for-most-crimes-n1427902

Europe records its biggest ever cocaine bust 46 mt

What appeared to be a normal day at work for these customs workers quickly turned into one of the most egregious drug busts seen on the planet.

What appeared to be a normal day at work for these German customs workers quickly turned into one of the most egregious drug busts seen on planet Earth, with over 16 tonnes of cocaine being found hidden in shipping containers from Paraguay.

Read on for all the morning’s updates.

Customs officers in Europe have stumbled across the biggest cocaine haul made in the continent's history, finding over 23 tonnes of the illegal drug bound for the Netherlands hidden in shipping containers.

German officials uncovered "enormous amounts of cocaine" hidden in 1,700 tins of wall filler, notifying nearby ports of the incredible haul.

7.2 tonnes of cocaine were then found bound for the same location by customs officials at the Belgian port of Antwerp.

"Beyond a layer of genuine goods, packed just behind the container door, numerous tin cans were in fact filled with other goods," officials said.

"We are estimating a street sales value of between €1.5bn and €3.5bn ($1.8bn and $4.2bn) for the 16 tonnes.

"This is the largest amount of cocaine ever seized in Europe and one of the largest single seizures worldwide."

The astonishing find marks a key victory in Europe's fight against drug importation, with over 102 tonnes of the illegal substance being stopped at borders in numerous busts last year.

"Never before has so much cocaine been intercepted," the Dutch national prosecutors' office said.

A 28-year-old man who owns an import company in Rotterdam was arrested as a suspect in the Netherlands on Wednesday.

https://www.news.com.au/national/rush-hour/live-breaking-news-europe-records-biggest-ever-cocaine-bust/live-coverage/9468d47474c4261b5e2e3ec65d0166c1

>>13039771

Fed Reserve System That Allows Transfer of Money Between Financial Institutions Is Down

The outage has impacted many financial services, including the Check 21, FedCash, Fedwire and the national settlement service. According to the official statement, the interruption was caused by "a Federal Reserve operational error".

On Wednesday afternoon, Federal Reserve System that allows electronic money transactions between financial institutions went down.

“The Federal Reserve Bank staff is currently investigating a disruption to multiple services. We will continue to provide updates as soon as they are available,” the Fed said in a statement.

Among the impacted services are Account Services, Check 21, Check Adjustments, FedACH, FedCash, FedLine Advantage, FedLine Command, FedLine Direct, FedLine Web, Fedwire Funds, Fedwire Securities, National Settlement.

Issues with the Central Bank, according to the Fed, has been resolved, and "users may resume normal access", while other services remain shut down.

According to the statement, the reason behind the outage is "a Federal Reserve operational error".

"We acknowledge that payment deadlines are impacted and will communicate remediation efforts to our customers when available. Thank you for your patience while we work to resolve the issue", the Fed said.

The Federal Reserve system handles essential financial transactions such as direct deposits of payroll, Social Security, income tax refunds, auto payments for mortages, utility bills and other operations.

https://sputniknews.com/us/202102241082175663-fed-reserve-system-that-allows-transfer-of-money-between-financial-institutions-is-reportedly-down/