" Several Russian banks said on Sunday they would soon start issuing cards using the Chinese UnionPay card operator's system coupled with Russia's own Mir network, after Visa and MasterCard said they were suspending operations in Russia. Announcements regarding the switch to UnionPay came on Sunday from Sberbank (SBER.MM), Russia's biggest lender, as well as Alfa Bank and Tinkoff." Per Reuters. Russian banks rush to switch to Chinese card system
SpaceX shifts resources to cybersecurity to address Starlink jamming - SpaceNews Musk shifting to cybersecurity & dealing with some starlink "jams" to help Ukranian access.
Chinese data collection units celebrating in the streets. They wont hesitate to gather data and turn it into intel.
Should Putin's russian wife and young kids (all with Swiss passports) in Switzerland be insulated from protests while he slaughters wifes and children across Ukraine?
Russia has lost its power over NASA and in the space business: experts "Since Elon Musk’s company began launching Americans from Florida in May 2020, NASA had purchased fewer seats from Russia and was negotiating for a cosmonaut to launch on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon when the Ukraine invasion began." Didn't realize Russians were trying to use SpaceX. Talk about shooting themselves in the foot again.
Makes you wonder if Hitler had nukes if the world would've just let him do what he wanted. They've been killing people evacuating...including children...caught on video. My statement about Russia being able to line up a row of children & execute them live on TV without consequences sounding less outlandish.
Nope. As a matter of fact, put them on house arrest with guards making them watch CNN/other coverage all the time so they can't hide from Daddy Putin's vision of "peace". Their funds should've been targeted too along with the oligarchs. Edit - if house arrest sounds too extreme to some of you, fine. Revoke their passports because they're no longer welcome, but make sure they get to see everything, including that 18 month old that was killed, then throw them out. Their funds & villas should be taken too.
Germans, French and Poles are more than capable of conducting a no fly zone. We can perform advisory roles and provide intel.
House arrest doesn’t sound too harsh to me, but I don’t really want to bother with the effort and responsibility of physical custody, either. So I think I would solve that Gordian Knot by air dropping them into Kyiv and letting the Ukrainian government decide how to handle the ins and outs of detention, feeding them, etc.
Just because they took it, doesn't mean they'll hold it... Defiance and disobedience are flourishing in Russian-held Ukraine - CNN Protestors coming out in occupied areas, sometimes being shot at or warning shots over their heads, with Ukranian flags etc.
There's no need to wonder, the answer is a resounding yes. Heck, Hitler did not have nukes and we still let him do whatever he wanted until we were attacked ourselves by his ally. The government of the US is ultimately only responsible for the well-being of the citizens of the US. We're only interested in being the policeman of the world if it also benefits our own self-interest.
This was to be expected. VISA and MasterCard suspending operations not honoring credit cards issued by Russian banks is a foregone conclusion because of SWIFT. A suspension literally means non payment of bank card fess to Mastercard and VISA. Of course Mastercard, VISA and Russian banks cannot do anything about it given the SWIFT sanctions even if Mastercard and VISA wanted to maintain operations. In 2021 Mastercard and VISA reported Russian revenues to be 4% and 5% respectively. Roughly 1.1B in revenue for Mastercard and 1.2B for VISA. To be blunt this is not something Mastercard or Visa have done willingly they were forced into the situation because of SWIFT sanctions. On a final note while this may hurt Russian world travelers it certainly doesn't hurt the entire Russian population as a work around is now being put in place. Mastercard, Visa suspend operations in Russia after invasion
Even this requires a preponderance of evidence. Where is the evidence other than suspicion? Civil Forfeiture
Requires a preponderance of evidence to keep it if the person it was stolen from takes it to court. All that is needed to take the assets is suspicion.
Then it is outright theft by the government based on suspicion and don't be surprised when it comes knocking on your door. This is what needs to be changed period.
It took the threat of forfeiture against Russian oligarchs, but at least more people are recognizing that civil forfeiture is wrong and should be stopped.
