Russia gains China's support in NATO showdown over Ukraine

CBC News in Canada shows that Guy Saint-Jacques, former Canadian ambassador to China, says Xi Jinping will be closely watching the American response if Russia decides to invade Ukraine to gauge whether Beijing can take more forceful measures when it comes to Taiwan.

Russia-Ukraine crisis is continuing. Russia has more than 100,000 troops near the border of Ukraine.

China is really urged to weigh economic costs of Moscow coalition as sanction threats mount.

China and Beijing must carefully weigh the risks of getting closer to Moscow while Russia faces sanctions over Ukraine.

China and Russia really have made a show of solidarity to counter USA economic threats.

Following an important meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin early this month, the neighbours announced they were "entering a new era of global sustainable development."

The show of solidarity in the times of the Winter Olympics was carefully watched by the international community.

Russia and China want to safeguard "international fairness and justice."

China-Russia trade would be caught up in sanctions fallout, especially if Russia was excluded from the so-called SWIFT financial messaging service.

SWIFT’s messaging services are trusted and used by more than 11,000 financial institutions in more than 200 countries and territories around the whole world. SWIFT provides reliable, secure and efficient messaging services to the community of users. SWIFT calls itself the backbone of global financial communication.

These messaging services went live in 1977 to replace the Telex technology then widely used by banks to communicate instructions related to cross-border transfers. The service remains as relevant today as it was ground-breaking back then, representing the primary communications channel for financial institutions engaged in correspondent banking all around the world, and offering the most secure, cost-effective and reliable way of transmitting important financial messages relating to payments, securities, treasury and trade.

Russia-Ukraine standoff: Britain, NATO warn of “dangerous moment” for Europe's security

In the Russia-Ukraine tensions, there is a possibility that Russia could be accused of sea blockade.

Russian navy ships certainly passed through the Bosphorus from the Mediterranean into the Black Sea.

The Bosporus or Bosphorus (also known as the Strait of Istanbul) is really a narrow, natural strait and an internationally significant waterway located in northwestern Turkey. It forms part of the continental boundary between Asia and Europe, and really divides Turkey by separating Anatolia from Thrace.

Ukraine has accused Russia of blocking its access to the sea as Russia prepares for naval exercises next week amid increasing tension in the region.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the Sea of Azov was completely blocked and the Black Sea almost fully cut off by strong Russian forces.

Russia has repeatedly denied any plans to invade Ukraine.

Russia has more than 100,000 troops near the border of Ukraine.

Russia has just begun massive military drills with neighbouring Belarus.

Belarus is a close ally of Russia and certainly has a long border with Ukraine.

The country of USA on Thursday urged Americans in Ukraine to leave immediately due to the "increased threats of Russian military action".

"Those in Ukraine should depart now via commercial or private means," the USA state department said in an advisory.

More about Russian Navy:

The Russian Navy (Russian: Военно-морской флот [ВМФ], "Military Maritime Fleet") is the naval arm of the Russian Armed Forces. It has existed in various different forms since 1696, the present iteration of which was formed in January 1992 when it succeeded the Navy of the Commonwealth of Independent States (which had itself succeeded the Soviet Navy following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in late December 1991).

The first iteration of the Russian Navy was established by Peter the Great (Peter I) in October 1696. Ascribed to him is the often quoted statement: "A ruler that has but an army has one hand, but he who has a navy has both." The symbols of the Russian Navy, the St. Andrew's ensign, and most of its important traditions were established personally by Peter I.

An iteration is the repetition of a process or utterance.

The Russian Navy possesses the vast majority of the former Soviet naval forces, and currently comprises the Northern Fleet, the Pacific Fleet, the Black Sea Fleet, the Baltic Fleet, the Caspian Flotilla, 5th Operational Squadron in Middle East, Naval Aviation, and the Coastal Troops (consisting of the Naval Infantry and the Coastal Missile and Artillery Troops).

Ottawa - Why towing companies are refusing to lug protesters trucks away

CTV News in Canada on Youtube shows that towing companies are refusing to haul trucks away that are blocking the streets in Ottawa. Annie Bergeron-Oliver reports.

A so-called tow truck (also called a wrecker, a breakdown truck, recovery vehicle or a breakdown lorry) is a truck used to move disabled, improperly parked, impounded, or otherwise indisposed motor car vehicles. This may involve recovering a vehicle damaged in an accident, returning one to a drivable surface in a mishap or inclement weather, or towing or transporting one via flatbed to a repair shop or other such location.

A tow truck is distinct from a car carrier trailer, which is used to move multiple new or used vehicles simultaneously in certain routine transport operations.