[Daily Mail] World leaders have vented their fury at Israel following an 'outrageous' drone strike on a convoy of aid workers from the charity World Central Kitchen which killed seven, including three British armed forces heroes.
The humanitarian convoy of three cars, which were clearly marked as belonging to the humanitarian organisation while moving along a route approved by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), was blasted in a 'triple tap' strike on Monday. Clearly marked, like the Red Thingy ambulances moving militants and weapons?
Israel's actions have triggered international condemnation, with leaders in the UK, the US, Poland, Canada, and Australia - the countries the foreign nationals in the group hailed from - among those calling for accountability. Targeted or collateral damage?
Posted by: Bobby ||
04/03/2024
09:09 ||
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#1
World central kitchen; they serving glorious commie food?
#5
BY HUGO MCCAFFERTY, JOURNALIST
10 November, 2021
Chef José Andrés’ non-profit World Central Kitchen has announced a $1 billion disaster relief fund to feed those affected by environmental crises, funded in part by the $100 million donation by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos.
The fund will work to provide immediate relief for those in dire need, and will invest in long-term solutions to fight climate change and food insecurity. Funding will be distributed over the next ten years.
#9
Three vehicles, two of which are armored Toyota Land Cruisers, looks like well tinted windows and most definitely poorly marked (no contrast to the vehicle color, looks like slap on magnet sign), make a visit to an off limits facility to visit a designated terrorist. I bet chez terrorist's place is not on approved route. Says they don't take said terrorist's pickup.
Say....was he riding along with the WCKNs and that is being omitted? Most definitely a transport mission of some sort and I don't mean three Penskes loaded with MREs and clot gauze.
[NY Post] An unpleasant corrupt entitled Bitch is getting on people's nerves? You don't say!
A mob of furious Illinoisans demanded Monday that self-described "Super Mayor" Tiffany Henyard resign from her post as the "Dolton Dictator" battles simultaneous sexual assault and money embezzlement scandals.
The Village of Dolton’s monthly board meeting delved into chaos as the swarm of 100 people banged on doors as dozens of others testified against Henyard, leading the four trustees to walk out.
"You know what you’re doing. You’re violating our rights, and that’s a shame," one resident testified. "This is a disgrace what you have done to this village ... They say that you’re the worst mayor in America. I agree." Another added: "You’ve done nothing. You don’t care about nobody but yourself."
The board had been scheduled to address Henyard’s veto of an investigation into her alleged misuse of taxpayer money for lavish trips and her own $1 million police detail — a decision they promised to override at Monday’s meeting.
Last month, she shot down a resolution passed unanimously by the four-person village board to open the probe, calling on her to submit the village’s financial records and invite the FBI to conduct its own investigation.
The meeting didn’t run beyond the public speaking portion of the agenda, however, after police emptied the room over what they said were credible threats.
Four trustees, who voted in favor of the investigation into Henyard, said the move was a violation of their constituents’ right to participate in the meeting and walked out in protest, a decision Henyard chastised as only adding to the "chaos."
"Our job is to make sure we take care of business and not allow the business to handle us," Henyard said before adjourning.
Henyard’s three-year tenure has been plagued by corruption accusations, which ramped up in recent weeks after she admitted to a $2 million deficit, with Dolton owing more than $427,000 for street paving and another $400,000 for tree-trimming services.
The board of trustees accused her of fudging the estimate by millions and covering up personal expenses she made using village money.
"Why can’t we have transparency with what’s going on with our tax dollars?" one constituent questioned during the meeting.
Henyard is also facing a sexual harassment and retaliation complaint by a former employee who accused the mayor of firing her after claiming she was sexually assaulted during a work trip in Las Vegas last year.
"You know what happened in Vegas. You know what happened. And you should be addressing it," one resident said at the meeting.
The mayor has denied all accusations of wrongdoing, claiming last month that the storm of allegations is nothing more than a smear campaign to oust a female politician.
One vocal community member who initially backed Henyard told The Post in February that "it was a vote I regret deeply.
"When she got into office, she just shut everyone out, and she went into the opposite direction. She became this tyrant and dictator," said Sherry Britton, 55.
The Village of Dolton did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
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Posted by: Frank G ||
04/03/2024
06:01 ||
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Top|| File under: Tin Hat Dictators, Presidents for Life, & Kleptocrats
#1
Another one suffering from a Oprah Entitlement Complex.
#2
Worst mayor is a stiff competition. If there are divisions, Tiffany definitely has the Division III locked up. The scale is too small for her to be measured against the NYC, DC, Chicago, Houston, Seattle candidates.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/03/2024 8:02
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#7
^ You cannot blame them EMS. They have been informed since birth bt the gov't that they are legally and morally....'entitled' to whatever they can take.
[Breitbart] Authorities in Mexico confirmed that eight bodies that floated onto a beach over the weekend those of Chinese migrants. The group is believed to have drowned while being moved further into the country after entering from Guatemala.
The incident began on Friday on the coast of Oaxaca in the area known as Istmo de Tehuantepec, when several bodies washed ashore at Vicente Beach. The bodies were that of seven women and one man. Another man who was in the boat managed to survive and was undergoing medical care.
Over the weekend, the Oaxaca Attorney General’s Office released a short statement confirming that the bodies were those of Chinese migrants. Authorities claimed that the group had left the Mexican border city of Tapachula, Chiapas, on a raft on Thursday. Along the journey, the boat capsized.
Since then, Mexican authorities revealed that they have been in contact with Chinese officials in an attempt to identify and repatriate the bodies.
The drowning comes as the immigration issue has sparked much controversy in Mexico since President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador recently said in an interview with 60 Minutes that he was willing to solve the migrant crisis if the United States would pay billions each year.
Currently, there is a migrant caravan of Central American migrants moving through Mexico on their way north. As Breitbart Texas has reported, those migrants are being escorted by Mexican authorities.
#1
"As God is my witness, I thought Chinamen could swim."
In the Boy Scouts, we were taught to never get in an over-loaded boat and always wear a life jacket. Maybe it is time for scouting to go international. Could be an opportunity to hoover up some of that sweet UN refugee money, eh?
[Breitbart] U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the southwest border apprehended nearly 140,000 migrants during March, according to an unofficial report reviewed by Breitbart Texas. The number of migrant apprehensions at the southwest border remains virtually unchanged from February.
Agents assigned to the nine southwest Border Patrol sectors apprehended just under 140,000 migrants in March, the unofficial Border Patrol tally revealed. This is nearly unchanged from the just over 140,000 migrants apprehended in February.
The apprehension report for March brought the total for the first six months of FY24, which began on October 1, 2023, to more than 1,034,000. This marks the third year in a row where agents apprehended more than one million migrants in the first six months of the year.
Despite a slowdown in the number of apprehensions during the last two weeks of the month, the Tucson Sector reported the largest number of apprehensions in the March report. Tucson Sector agents apprehended approximately 42,000 migrants in March, bringing the sector to approximately 342,000 migrant apprehensions in the six-month total.
The march Tucson Sector total is down from the nearly 50,000 migrant apprehensions reported in February. The February report indicated an increase of approximately 110 percent over the prior year.
The San Diego Sector reported the second-largest number of migrant apprehensions in March. The just-over 33,000 apprehensions are up from approximately 31,560 apprehensions in February. The February apprehensions were up by more than 85 percent from one year earlier.
The El Paso Sector reported the apprehension of approximately 30,000 migrants. This is up from the 24,000 apprehended in February.
The Del Rio Sector reported a decline in the number of apprehensions between February and March. Del Rio agents apprehended just over 11,000 migrants in March. This was down from the 14,000 apprehended in February.
Apprehensions in the five Texas-based border sectors remained virtually unchanged from February to March, with approximately 53,000 reported apprehensions each month.
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[Breitbart] Just when I thought we were near the end of crazy
Repeat after us: Weaponizing womenhood against other women is white supremacist patriarchy at work. Making people believe there isn't enough space for trans women in sports is white supremacist patriarchy at work. https://t.co/SacFuIgpPd
#8
Do the feminists not realize that the white male patriarchy is taking away everything from them, with their help. Women of the year: men. Female athof the year : men. Etc.
#2
I have a landline phone, put in 2 years ago. Came with the fiber cable installation. I looked at my bill, and it was $20 a month. Called to see about removing it, and they told me my bill would go up $50. Reason? There's a govt sponsored program to get people to get landlines.
(So I unplugged the phone.)
Posted by: ed in texas ||
04/03/2024 12:13
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a communication device and a means of transportation ... bad comparison
[ShbelleMedia] Two villages in Tigania West, Meru County, are in mourning after six young men were tragically killed by suspected al-Shabaab ... an Islamic infestation centering on Somalia attempting to metastasize into Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and similar places, all ofwhich have enough problems without them... in Somalia’s Dhobley town last Friday.
The news has cast a pall of grief over the communities of Mweronkana and Karumo, as the families grapple with the sudden loss of their loved ones.
The bodies of the dear departed were flown into Isiolo airport on Saturday and Sunday, marking the beginning of a period of profound sorrow for the families and friends left behind.
[ShabelleMedia] The Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) recently announced the successful apprehension of two al-Shabaab ... the Islamic version of the old Somali warlord... gunnies in Mogadishu, thwarting their plans to carry out attacks in the city.
According to a report by NISA, the operation was conducted in collaboration with the country’s security forces, highlighting the ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and security of Mogadishu’s residents.
Equipped with explosives, the gunnies were caught red-handed, intending to harm civilians and disrupt the peace in the capital. The NISA statement, however, did not specify the exact location of the operation that led to the apprehension of the al-Shabaab members carrying bombs.
[IsraelTimes] But credit ratings agency changes Israel’s outlook to negative amid risk of regional escalation, more military spending, uncertain economic prospects and fractious local politics
#5
#4 My point that if Bush II (the Tejano genius) didn't remove Iran's only natural enemy, Israel wouldn't have to deal with Hamas & Hizbolla (and you wouldn't have to deal with Houtis)
[IsraelTimes] Aircraft of unknown origin strikes open area some 200 meters from the border northeast of Eilat
A suspected explosive-laden drone of unknown origin struck an open area in Jordan close to Israel’s Ramon Airport, which is near the border, the military and authorities said Tuesday.
In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces said that the "suspicious aerial target" — believed by the army to be a drone — struck an area "outside of Israeli territory northeast of the city of Eilat."
"The incident has concluded and the details are under review," the IDF said.
According to a spokesperson for the Eilat municipality, the drone impacted around 200 meters (656 feet) from the Israel-Jordan border, just north of airport. The Israel Airports Authority also said there was no strike at the airport itself.
Images from the scene showed a fire at the location where the drone hit.
There were no reports of damage or injuries.
Ramon Airport is located some 18 kilometers (11 miles) from Eilat, Israel’s southernmost city, and is adjacent to the border with Jordan.
The incident came following several drone attacks on Israel by the Islamic Resistance® of Iraq, a coalition of Iran-backed paramilitary groups.
Early Monday, a drone launched by the Iraqi militia struck an Israeli Navy base in Eilat, causing slight damage to a hangar.
On Sunday, the IDF said a fighter jet had intercepted "a suspicious aerial target" — also thought to be a drone — that was making its way toward Israel from the direction of Syria.
Most of the drones launched by the Islamic Resistance® of Iraq have failed to cross Israel’s border or were downed by air defenses.
Eilat has come under attack by other Iran-backed groups amid the war in the Gazoo ...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with an iron fist by Hamas with about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppression and disproportionate response... Strip, including Yemen ...an area of the Arabian Peninsula sometimes mistaken for a country. It is populated by more antagonistic tribes and factions than you can keep track of... ’s Iran's Houthi sock puppets ...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The legitimate Yemeni government has accused the them of having ties to the Iranian government. Honest they did. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates. Its slogan is God is Great, Death to America™, Death to Israel, a curse on the Jews They like shooting off... ummm... missiles that they would have us believe they make at home in their basements. On the plus side, they did murder Ali Abdullah Saleh, which was the only way the country was ever going to be rid of him... s and a group in Syria linked to Leb ...an Iranian satrapy currently ruled by Hassan Nasrallah situated on the eastern Mediterranean, conveniently adjacent to Israel. Formerly inhabited by hardy Phoenecian traders, its official language is now Arabic, with the usual unpleasant side effects. The Leb civil war, between 1975 and 1990, lasted a little over 145 years and produced 120,000 fatalities. The average length of a ceasefire was measured in seconds. The Lebs maintain a precarious sectarian balance among Shiites, Sunnis, and about a dozen flavors of Christians, plus Armenians, Georgians, and who knows what else? It is the home of the original Hezbollah, which periodically starts a war with the Zionist Entity, gets Beirut pounded to rubble, and then declares victory and has a parade. The Lebs have the curious habit of periodically murdering their heads of state or prime ministers... ’s Hezbollah.
In November, a school in Eilat was hit by a drone launched from Syria, and last month, a cruise missile fired from Yemen struck an open area north of the city.
[IsraelTimes] Virtual meeting between Blinken, Sullivan, Dermer and Hanegbi underlines sides are on ‘completely different pages’ regarding potential IDF op in southernmost Gaza city
A virtual meeting on Monday between US and Israeli officials to discuss a potential IDF ground operation in Rafah was reportedly marked by tensions and accusations as Washington expressed deep skepticism over Israeli plans to operate in the southernmost Gaza city.
The two-hour video call between US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the American side and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi on the Israeli side was extremely “difficult,” a Tuesday Channel 12 report claimed, stating that it showed the US and Israel are on “completely different pages” when it comes to Israel’s planned operation in Rafah where Jerusalem says four Hamas battalions remain.
The US representatives expressed deep concern about the threat of famine in Gaza and were highly critical of the IDF’s plans for Rafah, saying its evacuation proposal for the million-plus noncombatants in the city was unimpressive and not implementable.
Offering Hebrew translations of the alleged English conversation, Channel 12 reported that Sullivan told the group: “You’re going to be responsible for the third famine crisis of the 21st century. That is not something we can accept as partners.
Blinken was said to tell Dermer and Hanegbi that “according to the pace of your operations, it will take you four months to evacuate Rafah.”
The Israeli officials were quoted as not having anything to say regarding the US critiques other than reiterating their belief that Hamas cannot be dismantled without the IDF going into Rafah.
Sullivan reportedly responded: “If you don’t have a proper plan for the day after, nothing will help you in dismantling Hamas. Not [operating in] Rafah, and not anything else.”
Essentially, Channel 12 summed up, the US representatives on the call made clear that if Israel wants any kind of American green light for an operation in Rafah, it needs to provide a viable “day after” plan for the post-war management of Gaza along with a credible evacuation plan for Rafah.
In a joint readout issued following the meeting on Monday, Israel agreed to take into account US concerns regarding Rafah and also agreed to hold a follow-up meeting in-person in Washington next week.
The sides “agreed that they share the objective to see Hamas defeated in Rafah” during the two-hour meeting, the US readout said.
[Daily Caller] Noted attorney Alan Dershowitz expanded on why he might not vote for President Joe Biden in the November election on Tuesday, saying how the Democratic leader handles the Israel-Hamas war will be a determining factor.
The Biden administration abstained in the UN Security Council, which allowed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza to pass on March 25. Dershowitz, who said he has voted for a Democrat in every presidential election since 1960, warned that the Biden campaign’s effort to win the battleground state of Florida could fall short because of its high Jewish population who are concerned about how the administration is addressing the Israel-Hamas war.
"You’re not going to win Florida if you don’t support Israel," Dershowitz said during his podcast, which was slated to discuss the expansion of a gag order on former President Donald Trump imposed by New York judge Juan Merchan that drew criticism from legal experts. "If you think you’re gonna lose Michigan because of 200,000 or so Muslims or Arabs, that’s nothing compared to what’s gonna happen in Florida, where there’s so many pro-Israel voters, so many Jewish voters, indeed, so many Israeli voters."
#1
I'm sure the Party is worried. You'll still vote for them whether you sit it out or not. That's how the game now works. It's all kabuki theater to keep the proles sedated.
#7
Dersh has a good racket going. He needs to thread the waters of self marketing. I suspect Puff’s “ ongoing investigation” is a better example of what happens when a Driver tries to leave the plantation.
#9
she admitted abortion rights was now her single issue
Someone should set up a fund that people like Mrs. Bobby could donate to. It would buy bus/airplane tickets to unlimited-abortion states for people who can’t get them at home. This avoids fighting unwinnable political battles at home, while ensuring that those who want abortions are able to get them. And has the added benefit of a “tourism” income stream for states rapidly losing income-earning residents, not to mention employment for people to check that the applicants are actually physically pregnant, not just identifying as pregnant to get a free trip.
#12
Like most people, irish rage boy, he knows a great deal about his areas of expertise, and unthinkingly accepts the common assumptions of his milieu about everything else.
Hat tip Grom the Reflective in comments yesterday. .
[HotAir] Do you recall that supposedly autonomous "CHOP" zone (originally "CHAZ) that was set up in Seattle at the height of the BLM riots? That turned out to be an unmitigated disaster in many ways. Unfortunately, when the socialists come up with a bad idea that appears to work, even for a little while, others take notice and begin to imitate them. That appears to be what's happening in Zuccotti Park in New York City this week.
Per Ulailet Thud3602, Zuccotti Park is a privately controlled open public space controlled by Brookfield Properties and Goldman Sachs. It was where Occupy Wall Street camped out in 2011, where all the pathologies subsequently seen in the CHOP zone were already on display, including rape and child molestation.
But instead of Black Lives Matter activists, this one is being organized by a curious combination of pro-Hamas ...the braying voice of Islamic Resistance®,... antisemites and transgender activists. The usual trappings are already on display, with signs warning the police to stay away. At Townhall, Katie Pavlich has the details.
A new "autonomous zone" has been set up by left wing activists in New York City. This time on behalf of the Paleostinian-Hamas movement in Zucotti Park.
The zone, which commandeers public property, boasts signs like "this is the people's park," "no more cops," "no pigs allowed" and much more.
In summer 2020 similar zones were set up in liberal cities across the country and quickly became breeding grounds for violence, drug use and other debauchery. In Seattle, a young man was killed and activists refused to allow the police or an ambulance into the area to render aid.
Just for the sake of argument, however, let's take a look at their list of demands. First, they want the "liberation of Paleostine." What is the New York City Council supposed to do about that? Pass a resolution? Next, in a blast from the past, they want the NYPD defunded with its budget being "redistributed" to the "community." We've already seen how defunding works out. They want the police removed from the subways and the buses, which I suppose makes it easier to rob and sexually assault the passengers. They want Mayor Eric Adams ...Hizonner da Mare of Noo Yawk. As a Manchurian candidate, Hizonner was all in favor of law and order and that kind of stuff. Once in office, a few of his friends found cushy jobs with the city, the windows kept getting broken, and Soros-funded DA Alvin Bragg remained right where he was. Most people comfort themselves with the thought that he's not Bill di Blasio but that's pretty small comfort with kids who actually go to school getting bumped off while standing in front of them. But he's a Dem, so the rubes will vote for him next election too, so he's what they deserve... to resign. That's at least more doable at the local level, but it's hard to see how it moves the ball forward in terms of their other goals. Finally, they want empty buildings in the city to be "used for migrants colonists." Do any of these people own televisions? Virtually every empty building in New York is already packed with migrants colonists.
Now we will get to see if Mayor Adams and the New York City Council learned anything from the disasters of 2020. When the initial CHOP zone was set up in Seattle, the municipal government and the local police made a disastrous miscalculation. They decided to treat the dangerous illegal activity like a protest and a free speech issue, hoping to reason with them. By the time everyone realized what a horror show it was becoming, it was too late and the protesters and rioters were too firmly entrenched. The situation dragged on seemingly forever.
You are not allowed to seize public lands and block them off from your fellow citizens or ban the presence of law enforcement. Such actions are patently illegal. The people setting up shop in Zuccotti Park should be given one extremely clear and unambiguous warning to tear down their structures and signs and move along. If they fail to do so, the Mayor needs to yank a small army of his officers away from their other duties and send them to the park in force wearing full riot gear.
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#3
Think of it like separating squabbling children. Since the Paleos can't play nice, they have to go stand in a figurative New York corner with all the other dangerous, dysfunctional, and mentally ill people.
[SUDANTRIBUNE] A prominent South Sudanese politician and ruling party member has dismissed claims that Sudan will break apart due to the ongoing war. Atem Garang de Kuek, a former deputy speaker of Sudan’s national assembly, believes the country will experience significant instability but not disintegration.
De Kuek acknowledges that some regions in Sudan have a history of disorder, which could spread to South Sudan. However, some men learn by reading. A few learn by observation. The rest have to pee on the electric fence for themselves... he emphasizes that this doesn’t mean Sudan will cease to exist.
"A breakdown in security, economy, or any other facet would create instability in both Sudan and South Sudan," he explained. "This is why I ask: ’Are South Sudanese political forces cooperating?’ The current government appears to prefer working alone. But what about the marginalized political forces? Shouldn’t they unite behind a solution for Sudan? If they do, I’m confident the government will be receptive."
De Kuek argues for a "centre for strategic thinking" in South Sudan, a group of individuals dedicated to finding solutions. He believes there is a lack of trust in the government, and some citizens even view the British colonial era more favourably.
These remarks came during a discussion in Juba organized by South Sudanese journalist Mathiang Cirrilo. The event brought together former South Sudanese officials who served in the pre-secession unity government. The goal was to gather insights from people familiar with current Sudanese political players, including the military, paramilitary forces, and civilian leaders seeking a peaceful resolution. Actually, South Sudan used to be part of Sudan, before it disintegrated and became two unfortunate countries.
This dialogue is part of a series initiated by South Sudanese journalists and activist muppets. They aim to find solutions to the conflict in Sudan, which is seen as a major factor affecting the South’s economy, security, and political stability. South Sudan relies heavily on oil exports that flow through Sudan to reach the international market.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/03/2024
01:30 ||
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[88 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Sudan
#1
South Sudan had been sending about 150,000 barrels per day of crude through Sudan for export, under a formula established when South Sudan gained independence from Khartoum in 2011, taking most oil production with it. The exports are an important source of revenue for South Sudan, and Sudan takes a cut of the oil as a transit fee.
Sudanese authorities suspended three Arab satellite channels: Sky News Arabia, Al Arabiya, and Al Hadath. The Ministry of Culture and Information cited a lack of transparency, unprofessional reporting practices, and license renewal issues for the suspensions.
Minister Graham Abdel Gader’s statement stated that the UAE-funded Sky News Arabia’s suspension stemmed from "harmful publishing," while the two other Saudi channels, Al Arabiya and Al Hadath, did not renew their licenses.
In a separate statement about the UAE channel, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized Sky News Arabia for broadcasting an unrelated Euronews video about the Somali holy warrior group al-Shabaab ...... Somalia's version of the Taliban ...mindless ferocity in a turban... , functioning as an arm of al-Qaeda... , presenting it as footage from Sudan. The ministry also said the report relied on a newspaper affiliated with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Sky News Arabia defended the report’s accuracy but acknowledged the use of archived footage.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/03/2024
01:29 ||
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[162 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Sudan
#1
From out of a foggy situation the shadow of the British MI makes an appearance.
[SUDANTRIBUNE] A dronezap on Tuesday targeted a Ramadan iftar gathering for members of the al-Baraa Bin Malik Brigade in Atbara, River Nile State in northern Sudan. The attack killed at least 12 people and injured over 30 others.
The al-Baraa Bin Malik Brigade, aligned with Islamists and former regime figures, is a prominent group fighting alongside the Sudanese army against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This attack marks the first time the brigade has been targeted outside the capital, Khartoum.
Security sources told Sudan Tribune that the iftar invitation included battalion commanders from several Sudanese states.
Nile River state officials haven’t disclosed details about the drone’s origin or the attackers’ identities. However, the hip bone's connected to the leg bone... Sudan Tribune obtained information suggesting the drone originated from the Akkad area, located 11 kilometers south of Atbara.
Eyewitnesses in Atbara reported the bombing occurred shortly after the breakfast ended. Government officials were reportedly present at the event, held in a central location near the main market and the Central Bank.
Witnesses believe the corpse count could rise due to the severity of some injuries among those transferred to Atbara and police hospitals.
Sources in Atbara, citing consistent reports, told Sudan Tribune that al-Misbah Abu Zaid, commander of the al-Baraa Battalion, was initially present inside the hall but left shortly before the incident. A video circulating on social media later showed him at a hospital, checking on the maimed.
The aftermath included charred bodies and injured victims. Residents near the blast site reported a loud explosion and damage to surrounding buildings, including the Omdurman National Bank.
Security forces swiftly deployed around the scene, cordoning off the Atbara market. Tanks and a significant military presence were deployed on the Umm al-Tuyour bridge (south of Atbara) and the old bridge connecting Atbara to al-Damer.
Eyewitnesses reported that military forces stopped vehicles from entering the city, requiring them to wait for permission to proceed.
Later reports indicate that security forces apprehended suspects in the Akkad area for questioning.
As of publication, no group has grabbed credit for the attack.
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Posted by: Fred ||
04/03/2024
01:29 ||
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[170 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Sudan
#1
This attack likely caused a chill to inflict the Arab leadership. Atbara is north of Khartoum on the Nile River, and is a city that has been free of conflict. If the RSA wanted to send a warning that no part of the Sudan will be free of conflict until it gains what its objectives in western Sudan, it has done so.
[AFRICANEWS] The Israeli military withdrew early Monday (Apr. 1st) from Gazoo ...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with an iron fist by Hamaswith about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppression and disproportionate response... ’s main hospital after a two-week raid, leaving behind a vast swath of destruction and several dead bodies.
Paleostinians in the north of the enclave walked among the devastation with heavily damaged and charred buildings, mounds of dirt that had been churned up by bulldozers.
The military has described the raid on Shifa Hospital as one of the most successful of the nearly six-month war.
It comes at a time of mounting frustration in Israel, with tens of thousands protesting against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday and demanding he do more to bring home dozens of hostages held in Gaza.
Last week, it said it had killed more than 170 people who they claimed to be bandidosforces of Evil and detained about 480 others.
Paleostinians who fled the recent Israeli raid described mass arrests and forced marches past bodies.
On Friday (Mar. 22), the World Health Organization’s director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described conditions as "utterly inhumane."
The U.N. health agency said more than 20 patients died and dozens were put at risk during the raid, which brought even further destruction to a hospital that had already largely ceased to function.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said that five maimed Paleostinians who were trapped at Shifa Hospital died without food, water or medical services.
Hardly any aid has been delivered in recent weeks to northern Gaza and Gaza City, where Shifa is located.
A report from the United Nations ...a formerly good idea gone bad... Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs that said at least 31 people, including 27 children, have already died of malnutrition and dehydration.
The military had previously raided Shifa in November, after saying Hamas, a contraction of the Arabic words for "frothing at the mouth", maintained an elaborate command and control center inside and beneath the compound.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/03/2024
01:24 ||
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Top|| File under: Hamas
President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...formerly the Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Zaire, and who knows what else, not to be confused with the Brazzaville Congo aka Republic of Congo, which is much smaller and much more (for Africa) stable. DRC gave the world Patrice Lumumba and Joseph Mobutu, followed by years of tedious civil war. Its principle industry seems to be the production of corpses. With a population of about 74 million it has lots of raw material... (DRC) announced the appointment of Judith Suminwa Tuluka as the country's first female prime minister on Monday. This landmark decision fulfills a campaign promise made by President Tshisekedi and marks a significant step towards gender equality in Congolese politics.
Judith Suminwa Tuluka, a former planning minister, assumes her new role at a critical juncture for the nation, particularly in the strife-torn eastern region. The area, rich in minerals and resources, has been plagued by relentless violence, leading to the displacement of millions of civilians and earning the dubious distinction of being one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
Addressing the nation in her inaugural speech aired on state television ... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe?
, Prime Minister Tuluka pledged to prioritize peace and development efforts, particularly in the conflict-ridden eastern provinces. She expressed deep concern for the plight of those affected by the ongoing violence and reaffirmed her commitment to finding sustainable solutions to the crisis.
However, the difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits... Prime Minister Tuluka's appointment comes amidst the arduous task of forming a new government, a process expected to involve extensive negotiations with various political factions. Despite the challenges ahead, her appointment symbolizes a significant breakthrough in Congolese politics and offers hope for greater inclusivity and representation in governance.
The situation in eastern Congo remains dire, with numerous gangs vying for control and perpetuating a cycle of violence and instability. Both local and international peacekeeping efforts have struggled to contain the conflict, further exacerbating the suffering of the civilian population.
President Tshisekedi, who secured reelection for a second term last December, has reiterated his commitment to addressing the root causes of the violence. He has accused neighboring Rwanda of backing rebel groups operating in eastern Congo, allegations vehemently denied by Rwandan authorities.
The United States has called for restraint from both Congo and Rwanda, urging diplomatic dialogue to prevent further escalation of tensions. Additionally, the U.S. State Department has emphasized the importance of regional cooperation and the withdrawal of foreign troops from Congolese territory.
As Prime Minister Tuluka assumes her new role, she faces the formidable task of steering the nation towards stability and prosperity amidst daunting challenges. Her appointment represents a historic milestone in Congolese politics and underscores the importance of gender equality and women's empowerment in national leadership.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/03/2024
01:23 ||
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Top|| File under: M23
[AFRICANEWS] Florida residents watching the unfolding unrest in Haiti are expressing concerns for family and friends on the Caribbean island nation, saying they are virtually being held prisoners in their own homes because of the ongoing violence.
Cosy Joseph, of Boynton Beach, runs the Gaskov Clerge Foundation, which has worked to provide healthcare, education and sports opportunities in Haiti and the U.S. for more than two decades.
"I’ve never seen Haiti like this," Joseph said last week while watching events unfold from a distance. "I’ve never seen so much devastation ... I’ve never felt so helpless and hopeless."
Armed gangs went on a rampage about a month ago in Haiti, launching attacks on prisons, cop shoppes and the country's international airport. They also moved against upscale neighborhoods and other districts in Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince. Scores of people have been killed, and thousands have been left homeless amid the violence that has now brought fears of deepening hunger.
"I have family in Port au Prince who are basically prisoners in their own home," Joseph said. "They can’t really go out because they they don’t feel safe. I mean, who wants to be in that situation? So it’s heartbreaking for everyone, and I think almost every Haitian, whether you are living outside of Haiti or in Haiti, is impacted by this."
The U.S. State Department and the Florida Department of Emergency Management have been running chartered evacuation flights to get U.S. citizens safely out of Haiti. More than 200 people have been flown back to Florida since the violence broke out.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/03/2024
01:22 ||
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Top|| File under: Mob Rule
[AFRICANEWS] South Africa’s parliamentary speaker faces imminent arrest over corruption charges after a court on Tuesday dismissed her bid to block police and prosecutors from arresting her.
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, who is a senior member of the ruling African National Congress party, is accused of receiving bribes from a defense contractor while she was defense minister.
According to prosecutors, she received 11 payments totaling $135,000 between December 2016 and July 2019. She sought another bribe of $105,000 but that wasn’t paid, prosecutors said.
Opposition politicians have called for her to step down from her position as speaker over the allegations.
Mapisa-Nqakula last week launched an urgent court bid to block her arrest, but a judge at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria dismissed her application on Tuesday.
Speaking to news hounds after the judgment was delivered, National Prosecuting Authority front man Mthunzi Mhaga did not say when the arrest would be made but confirmed the judgement paved the way for it to occur.
"Obviously the wheels of justice will now be in motion, as we were listening to the judgment, which was well reasoned," Mhaga said.
"We have always maintained that this is unprecedented and it was unnecessary for us to be brought to court. We have always maintained that the process of arrest will be done seamlessly," he added.
Before launching her court bid, Mapisa-Nqakula was told by prosecutors she should turn herself in to authorities for processing and to appear before a judge.
Mapisa-Nqakula is the latest African National Congress leader to face corruption allegations as the party prepares to fight tough national elections this year.
Recent polls suggest the party could receive less than 50% of electoral support for the first since time it came into power in 1994.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/03/2024
01:21 ||
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[AFRICANEWS] Senegal ... a nation of about 14 million on the west coast of Africa bordering Mauretania to the north, Mali to the east, and a pair of Guineas to the south, one of them Bissau. It is 90 percent Mohammedan and has more than 80 political parties. Its primary purpose seems to be absorbing refugees... inaugurated Bassirou Diomaye Faye as its new president on Tuesday, completing the previously little-known opposition figure's dramatic ascent from prison to the palace in recent weeks.
Faye was released from prison less than two weeks before the March 24 election, along with popular opposition figure and mentor Ousmane Sonko, following a political amnesty announced by outgoing President Macky Sall. It is the former tax inspector's first time in elected office.
"It’s the culmination of a long struggle for democracy and the rule of law," said Aissata Sagna, a 39-year-old factory worker who worked on Faye's campaign. "This is a day of celebration for us, even if we have lost young people killed during the demonstrations."
Posted by: Fred ||
04/03/2024
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[CNN] Authorities have identified the suspect accused of ramming a vehicle through an entrance gate at the FBI’s Atlanta field office on Monday afternoon.
Ervin Lee Bolling was arrested and charged with interference with government property, Dekalb County Police spokesperson Officer Elise Wells said.
He was also charged in federal court Tuesday with destruction of government property, according to a criminal complaint.
The suspect is a Navy veteran from South Carolina, according to two law enforcement sources. He was arrested after trying to enter the facility.
Bolling crashed into a "final denial barrier" — a piece of steel that goes flat as each authorized car enters the secured area and then lifts back up again — at the gate where employees enter, according to an affidavit in support of the complaint.
Bolling then tried to follow an FBI special agent on foot into the parking lot, the affidavit states. The special agent and two others, who had been trying to leave, ordered Bolling to stay seated on a curb, but he stood up and tried to walk farther onto the property.
The court document says Bolling resisted when the agents tried to detain him and he was eventually taken into custody. He was identified through a passport he was carrying. Passport?
The motive of Monday’s incident remains unclear. The suspect in Monday’s incident did not say anything while being taken into custody, a law enforcement official told CNN ...formerly the Cable News Network, now who know what it might stand for... Bolling was transported from the FBI building to the hospital for "medical care and evaluation," according to the court documents. Bomb technicians cleared the vehicle, a federal law enforcement official said.
The suspect remains in the hospital, Wells told CNN on Tuesday morning. It was not clear whether Bolling had an attorney; none is listed in his federal court records.
The incident comes about two weeks after the FBI Atlanta field office conducted a tabletop exercise with personnel to test procedures for responding to an unauthorized entry, a law enforcement source who is familiar with the bureau’s security planning told CNN.
The FBI has ramped up security in recent years amid a wave of threats to personnel, and following the 2022 attempted breach of an FBI field office in Cincinnati.
#1
The Cincinnati breach and subject being eliminated story was out of the headlines quickly.
The fbi will continue to be the object of scorn come November.
[AFRICANEWS] President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt was sworn in for a third six-year term on Tuesday after being re-elected in a December vote in which he faced no serious challengers.
al-Sissi took the oath of office before parliament, which convened in the new administrative capital in the desert outside Cairo.
Egypt which has recently reached a deal with the IMF, grapples with an economic crisis, and has seen its dollar revenues from Suez Canal are decline compared to last year after attacks on ships by Yemen ...an area of the Arabian Peninsula sometimes mistaken for a country. It is populated by more antagonistic tribes and factions than you can keep track of... 's Iran's Houthi sock puppets ...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The legitimate Yemeni government has accused the them of having ties to the Iranian government. Honest they did. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates. Its slogan is God is Great, Death to America™, Death to Israel, a curse on the Jews They like shooting off... ummm... missiles that they would have us believe they make at home in their basements. On the plus side, they did murder Ali Abdullah Saleh, which was the only way the country was ever going to be rid of him... s rebels in the Red Sea.
al-Sissi won 89.6% of the vote in the December election, with turnout of 66.8% more than 67 million registered voters. He ran against three virtually unknown opponents.
The vote was overshadowed by the Israel-Hamas, a contraction of the Arabic words for "frothing at the mouth", war in Gazoo ...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with an iron fist by Hamaswith about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppression and disproportionate response... on Egypt’s eastern border, which has threatened to expand into wider regional turmoil.
al-Sissi overthrew democratically elected Islamist Mohammed Morsi in 2013 and proceeded to win his first election the following year.
He was reelected in 2018. A year later, constitutional amendments, passed in a general referendum, added two years to el-Sissi’s second term, and allowed him to run for a third, six-year term.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/03/2024
01:19 ||
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Top|| File under: Arab Spring
[AFRICANEWS] The semi-autonomous state of Puntland says it has withdrawn from the country's federal system and will govern itself independently until constitutional amendments passed by the central government in Somalia are approved in a nationwide referendum.
On Saturday, the federal parliament in Mogadishu approved several constitutional changes that the government said are necessary to establish a stable political system. But Puntland has rejected the latest constitutional reforms approved by the Somali Parliament.
"Puntland will act independently until there is a federal government with a constitution that is agreed upon by a referendum in which Puntland takes part," said the state's council of ministers in a statement.
But some critics have said the changes, which include introducing direct presidential elections and allowing the president to appoint a prime minister without parliamentary approval, concentrate power in the hands of the executive.
One of the main changes brought by this amendment is the introduction of universal suffrage, ending the clan-based indirect voting system that has been in place in Somalia for decades.
Puntland is a region in northeast Somalia that declared itself as an autonomous state in August 1998 and has been seeking to be part of a federal Somalia.
The latest development is seen as a tough nut for President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who is struggling to end an al Qaeda-linked insurgency, and assert federal authority over the breakaway region of Somaliland.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/03/2024
01:15 ||
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[GEO.TV] Just a day after the Supreme Court of Pakistan took suo motu notice over allegations of the Islamabad High Court’s chief justice and other judges against spy agencies, the IHC chief justice among eight judges received “suspected anthrax-laced letters”, Geo News reported citing sources on Tuesday.
A police team comprising experts launched a thorough probe to collect facts and ascertain powdery substance after the eight IHC judges received “suspicious letters containing suspected anthrax powder along with a threatening message”.
The letter was sent by a woman namely Resham without mentioning her address, the sources said.
They added that a staffer of a judge accidentally dropped the envelope containing the suspicious powdery substance and later he felt extreme irritation in eyes and burns on skin around his lips.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/03/2024
01:09 ||
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#1
Huh, my audit letter from the IRS made me sick.
[AyPee] An abducted 15-year-old girl and her father — a fugitive wanted in the death of the teen’s mother — were both killed amid a shootout with law enforcement Tuesday on a highway in California’s high desert, authorities said.
San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus did not specify whether Savannah Graziano was shot by the responding deputies or her father. Anthony John Graziano, 45, had allegedly killed his estranged wife the day before and abducted their daughter.
Investigators had issued an Amber Alert after Graziano fled. He was described as armed and dangerous.
A 911 caller reported seeing the suspect’s Nissan Frontier around Barstow on Tuesday, according the sheriff’s department. Deputies located the pickup truck and chased it on the highway for around 45 miles (70 kilometers).
Throughout the chase, Graziano — and possibly his daughter as well — was “constantly shooting back at the deputies” through the truck’s rear window, Dicus said.
The shooter put several rounds through a patrol car’s windshield and later disabled a second pursuing vehicle, the sheriff said.
The pickup truck became disabled on the shoulder of a highway in the city of Hesperia, and the firefight ensued.
Dicus said the girl was wearing tactical gear as she exited a truck’s passenger side and ran toward the sheriff’s deputies. She fell to the ground amid the gunfire. The deputies did not initially realize it was the girl who was running toward them, Dicus said, because she was wearing a helmet and a military-style vest that can hold armored plates.
She was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly before noon.
Her father was found in the driver’s seat and pronounced dead at the scene. A rifle was found inside the car.
One deputy was injured by shrapnel during the firefight, Dicus said.
Graziano allegedly killed Tracy Martinez, 45, on Monday morning in a domestic violence event in the city of Fontana, near San Bernardino, according to Fontana police Sgt. Chris Surgent.
Family members told investigators that the couple had been going through a divorce. Martinez was rushed to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Fontana is about 35 miles (55 kilometers) south of Hesperia, on the other side of the in San Gabriel Mountains.
[Daily Mail, where America gets its news] A tragedy of errors. Generally, until one sees the decline over time in someone one knows well, it’s hard to recognize the pattern in the behaviours.
Carl Grant died six months after his spinal cord was wrecked by police body slam
Georgia dementia patient got confused and drove to Birmingham, Alabama
Vincent Larry pushed him down stairs at stranger's house, slammed him in ER
#2
I agree, very sad. But. I hit 75 recently. I was an 11B4P in RVN from 68 through 70. He was 68. The math doesn't make sense to me. Can anyone help me here?
Posted by: Whiskey Mike ||
04/03/2024 5:53
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#3
Several phone screens down from the misleading headline: Grant died almost six months later on July 24, 2020, aged 69.
#4
If he were born in 1956, and enlisted at age 18, he would have had to have been in Vietnam in 74 or 75. That's pretty late in the conflict. Who knows Whiskey Mike.
#6
It is remotely possible. I'm 66. Saigon fell when I was a senior in high school. Remember it well. Two adzwhole classmates (Karl and Fritz IKYN) paraded a VC (they said) flag through the halls.
[GEO.TV] Amid the ongoing killing of Paleostinians by Israeli forces, over 33,000 people, including 6050 students, have been martyred in Gazoo ...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with an iron fist by Hamaswith about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppression and disproportionate response... and the West Bank since October 7 last year.
Perhaps someday the real numbers will be revealed, but in the meantime Hamas’s announced numbers have been repeatedly demonstrated statistically to be highly unlikely to be anywhere close to reality. Though to be fair, the odds are also good that Hamas hasn’t the slightest idea even how many of its own people are buried in the rubble of destroyed tunnels and onthe surface.
According to the Paleostinian Ministry of Education, 10,219 students have been injured in the occupied West Bank and the besieged enclave so far.
5,994 students were martyred in the besieged coastal enclave, while the remaining 56 in the West Bank.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/03/2024
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#7
^ I'm with IRB at #5. Chickens finally home to roost. Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem....and total victory over the muzzie terrorists and sympathizers.
An earthquake rocked the entire island of Taiwan early Wednesday, collapsing buildings in a southern city and sparking a brief tsunami warning for southern Japanese islands.
Video and images on social media showed buildings shaken off their foundations. A five-story building in lightly populated Hualien appeared heavily damaged, collapsing its first floor and leaving the rest leaning at a 45-degree angle.
In the capital, Taipei, tiles fell from older buildings and within some newer office complexes.
The U.S. Geological Survey put the quake at a 7.5 while Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring agency gave the magnitude as 7.7 from 7.5 earlier. The effects of the earthquake were felt as far away as Kinmen, a Taiwanese-controlled island off the coast of China, said Wu Chien-fu, the head of Taiwan's earthquake monitoring bureau.
A tsunami warning was issued for coastal areas of southwestern Japan's Miyakojima and Yaeyama regions and the main island of Okinawa, Japanese public broadcaster NHK World reported. Waves had reached some areas and were more than 9 feet high.
Figures regarding casualties have not been released. Train service across the island of 23 million people was suspended. In the capital, Taipei, children were seen going to school and the morning commute appeared normal.
[Daily Mail, where America gets its news] Dramatic footage shows the moment a suspected Ukrainian plane-type UAV explodes as it was targeted at a Russian plant assembling Iranian Shahed drones used in the war.
There was a huge blast and fireball near Yelabuga, deep in Russia, at least 660 miles from the closest Ukrainian territory. A total of three strikes were reported in the area.
Russian sources say it hit a dormitory for workers in the Alabuga economic zone in the Republic of Tatarstan, where it is believed the deadly Iranian drones are assembled.
It is unclear so far if there was also damage to the drone-making production line, but Ukraine's military spy agency said it caused 'significant damage' to a military target in the Tatarstan region.
There were scenes of panic as workers witnessed the fireball explosion, with crowds of people running for cover as it smashed into the building. Six people were injured in the drone attack which hit the hostel. Three were sent home after being examined by doctors. Three more were hospitalised.
Ukraine's GUR military intelligence directorate was behind the targeting of the Shahed-drone production line, reported RBC-Ukraine.
Courtesy of DarthVader:
DarthVader also gives us Suchomimus on YouTube discussing all sorts of useful background around the drone and the attack here.
[MAIL] An American nonprofit worker killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza has been named as 33-year-old Jacob Flickinger.
Flickinger was one of seven slain by an IDF strike as he and his colleagues from the World Central Kitchen worked to distribute aid to Palestinians.
They were in a convoy of three cars Monday night when hellfire missiles struck their vehicles.
The incident has sparked international outrage and has heaped more pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his response to the October 7 terror attacks, which killed 1,200 Israelis and resulted in more than 30,000 Gazans perishing in retaliatory strikes.
In a statement, World Central Kitchen named Flickinger as one of seven 'beautiful souls' killed during the attack.
President Joe Biden also released a statement in the aftermath of the attack, saying: 'I am outraged and heartbroken by the deaths of seven humanitarian workers from World Central Kitchen, including one American, in Gaza yesterday. They were providing food to hungry civilians in the middle of a war. They were brave and selfless. Their deaths are a tragedy.'
#3
I really used to enjoy Chef Andres and his approach to food and life. Then he went full woke and lost all the joy in life - and that's how we end up here. He put his people in danger for his personal beliefs and now we have dead bodies to deal with.
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
04/03/2024 9:59
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[GEO.TV] Second largest relief organisation in Gaza after UNRWA, Anera has announced suspending its humanitarian operations for Palestinians in besieged enclave of Gaza following a fierce Israeli attack, leaving at least seven aid workers of the World Central Kitchen (WCK) dead yesterday.
The killing of WCK humanitarians, occurring less than a month after the still-unexplained killing of Anera staff member Mousa Shawwa, alongside the loss of numerous other aid workers and their families, has led our team to conclude that delivering aid safely is no longer feasible,” Anera said in a statement on its website.
“The ongoing targeting of humanitarian workers and the lack of adequate safety measures demand thorough investigation and immediate action. Israel bears the ultimate responsibility for ensuring the unhindered delivery of urgent humanitarian assistance and basic services to those in need,” it said.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/03/2024
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Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Korrespondent] Over the course of 24 hours, Defense Force aviation carried out strikes on one anti-aircraft missile system and 13 areas where Russian personnel were concentrated.
During the day, 62 military clashes were recorded at the front, most of them in the Avdeevsky and Novopavlovsky directions. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces announced this in an evening report on Tuesday, April 2.
It is noted that in total, Russian troops carried out two missile and 43 air strikes, and carried out 39 attacks from multiple launch rocket systems on positions of Ukrainian troops and populated areas.
In the Kupyansk direction, defenders repelled one attack in the area of the village of Sinkovka, Kharkov region, where the enemy, with the support of aviation, tried to break through the defenses of the Ukrainian troops.
In the Liman direction, eight enemy attacks were repulsed in the area of the village of Terny, Donetsk region, where the enemy tried to break through the defenses. In the Bakhmut direction, the occupiers did not conduct offensive (assault) actions.
In the Avdeevsky direction, defenders repulsed 10 attacks in the areas of the settlements of Berdich, Umanskoye, Pervomaiskoye and Nevelskoye in the Donetsk region, where the enemy, with the support of aviation, tried to knock out Ukrainian Armed Forces units from their occupied lines.
In the Novopavlovsk direction, the Defense Forces continue to hold back the Russians in the areas of the settlements of Novomikhailovka and Urozhaynoye, Donetsk region, where the invaders tried to break through the defense 18 times.
In the Orekhovsky direction, the enemy made two attacks on the positions of our defenders in the areas of Rabotinoye and north-west of Verbovoye, Zaporozhye region. In the Kherson direction, during the day, the enemy launched one attack on the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the area of the village of Krynki, Kherson region.
Over the course of 24 hours, Defense Forces aircraft carried out strikes on an anti-aircraft missile system and 13 areas where Russian personnel were concentrated.
The missile force units hit six areas where enemy personnel, weapons and military equipment were concentrated, eight artillery systems, an anti-tank weapon and a multiple launch rocket system.
Let us remind you that over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Armed Forces liquidated 780 invaders. Since the start of the full-scale war against Ukraine, the Russian army has lost 443,660 soldiers.
[AmericanThinker] In "How the US and Israel can get back on the same page" (3/31/24), the Washington Post is a broken record in their editorial about how to end the Israel/Hamas war. The most obvious idea - which the Post refuses to offer -- is to put pressure on other actors in the region who could have influence but have been largely sidelined. Instead, the Post is arm-in-arm with the U.S. administration trying to pressure Israel, which was brutally attacked on Oct. 7 and is fighting to liberate the region from the terrorist threat of Hamas. Hamas remains an existential threat to Israel and promises to repeat Oct 7 again and again until it destroys Israel -- not to have a state alongside Israel, as the Post claims in its own delusional way. Despite internecine political struggles, all Israelis agree that Hamas must be defeated. I said it before: anybody who REALLY cares for "Palestinians" would be pressuring Arab countries to reabsorb them. As to "Palestinians cause trouble wherever they go" - don't concentrate them in camps and let UNWRA/PLO run these camps.
The Post refuses to demand that Qatar and other Arab countries put pressure on Hamas to surrender, release the hostages, and spare Gazan civilians from this devastating war that Hamas continues to fight. Qatar, which provides a safe haven for billionaire Hamas leaders, would be the logical source to spearhead the end to this conflict. But there is no mention of that in the Post’s solution.
Further, why is there no American demand to Egypt to temporarily house the Gazan civilians so Israel can more quickly finish the job of defeating Hamas? This would save Gazan lives, taking them out of harm’s way, removing the ability of Hamas to hide behind their civilians so Israel could defeat Hamas once and for all. And yes, the U.S. has influence over Egypt, giving them billions of dollars in exchange for basically nothing. According to a State Department report, "Since 1978, the United States has contributed more than $50 billion in military assistance."
...The editorial whitewashed this review of the relationship. Biden actually said that Israel was using "indiscriminate force" and its response was "over the top." Schumer acted as if Israel was a colony of America, stating that Israel needed new elections -- exactly the same election interference that Democrats have accused other nations of inflicting on us! Biden’s claim has been refuted analytically numerous times by John Spencer, chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point. Spencer also served for 25 years as an infantry soldier and participated in two tours in Iraq, according to Newsweek
Several recent Newsweek articles show that Israel "has created a new standard for urban warfare," that their force is unprecedented in how few casualties have occurred per combatant.
But facts don’t seem to matter to the administration and the Post fails to question their errors.
The Post is not alone in misrepresenting this conflict. It is no wonder Americans are misinformed on this topic. Thanks to the Post and the legacy media, most Americans don’t know what it means when the Palestinians and their supporters shout "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" at their rallies -- it means all of Israel will be destroyed. The river mentioned is the Jordan River, the sea, the Mediterranean Sea.
And most Americans don’t know that one of the borders with Gaza is Egypt. If they knew, they would ask the logical question: why isn’t Egypt doing anything? Why doesn’t Egypt take in the Gazans temporarily so they can get out of harm’s way? Why is all the onus on Israel that is fighting an existential threat with Hamas?
If the Post wasn’t writing article after article blaming Israel for their method of response to the greatest one-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, a response which top experts say is beyond humane, the newspaper would be severely shorter in pages. And then where would they put the advertisements, in an attempt to save their self-imploding paper?
Posted by: Grom the Reflective ||
04/03/2024
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#1
Leftists are always astonished at how misuse of US influence damages the value of that influence going forward.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
04/03/2024 7:10
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#2
There is a certain naivete to this article. There is no, repeat no, Arab nation that welcomes Palestinians. They are especially despised in Egypt, and it began during the tenure of Yassir Arafat who spent many years in Egypt when young, and was denied permission to enter when old.
#3
^Yassir Arafat was born in Egypt. His family been Egyptian (from time immemorial 😀). His only connection to Falestine is his (Egyptian) uncle appointed Grand Mufti (future Nazi collaborator) by Perfidious Albion.
There is a certain naivete to this article.
It's a lot easier, and safer, to force Arabs to take in "Palestinians" than to force Israel to commit suicide.
[WashingtonExaminer] The Biden administration’s program of secretly flying illegal immigrants directly from Latin America to U.S. cities dumps over 90% in hubs of two Southern states governed by the president’s harshest border critics, according to government data.
Some 347,959 migrants allowed into the secretive system fly directly to airports in Florida and Texas, with Florida receiving the vast majority at 325,995, according to an analysis of U.S. Customs and Border Protection numbers by the Center for Immigration Studies.
It is unclear how many of the immigrants fly on to other U.S. cities, though the government has said there are over 40 final destinations.
“This early evidence suggests that a great many of these inadmissible alien passengers, probably a majority, initially land at international airports in Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’s Florida,” said CIS, which reported that the program has let in 386,000 people since October 2022. “In fact, Florida turns out to be the top landing and U.S. customs processing zone for this direct-flights parole-and-release program, tallying at nearly 326,000 of the initial arrivals from inception through February.”
Investigator Todd Bensman said the program allows “aspiring illegal border crossers” from nine Latin American countries to buy an airline ticket to fly directly to the city of their choice, where they are processed and let go.
“Begun in October 2022 for Venezuelans and expanded in January 2023 to Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Colombians, the program approves flight travel authorizations for aspiring illegal border-crossers still in other countries to instead arrange commercial airline passage for themselves over the southern border and then receive temporary but easily renewable ‘humanitarian parole’ from CBP officers at the airport,” Bensman said in his new report. “One incentive to dissuade beneficiaries from illegal border crossings is that the parole program comes with eligibility for renewable work permits.”
Bensman and CIS have been fighting with the administration for clearer data on where the illegal immigrants end up, but the Department of Homeland Security has refused to cough up the information, citing security concerns.
Bensman said state and local authorities should know what they are facing.
“Public knowledge of where these flights deliver migrants should matter to local, state, and national leaders in cities struggling with migrant influxes, who could use the information to financially plan for their care or petition the federal government to stop the flights,” he said. “The information may also hold implications for litigation by Texas, Florida, and other states that have sued to stop the parole programs on grounds that the administration’s illegal abuse of the narrow statutory parole authority has directly harmed them.”
The administration has refused to work with Texas or Florida on the surge of illegal immigrants entering the states. DeSantis and Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) have bused and flown some of the illegal immigrants to northern “sanctuary cities” governed by liberal mayors, including Chicago, Boston, and New York City.
Posted by: NoMoreBS ||
04/03/2024
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Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] Russian troops are increasing the intensity of the offensive during the Northern Military District, and the most dangerous situation at the front for the Ukrainian army has developed in the Chasov Yar area, retired General of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Sergei Krivonos said on April 1 on the First Western YouTube channel.
“I would say that at the moment the most difficult situation has developed in the Chasov Yar area. This is probably the most dangerous situation,” he said.
Krivonos added that Russian troops are actively advancing in other directions, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces are suffering more losses. He also called for preparations for the defense of Kharkov.
As Regnum reported, on April 2, adviser to the head of the DPR Igor Kimakovsky said that Chasov Yar had long been an important strategic node for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but now it has begun to lose its importance. According to the adviser, Russian troops are located a kilometer from the city and actually control movement on all roads leading there.
The Telegram channel “Military Correspondents of the Russian Spring” announced on April 1 that Russian troops had approached 650 meters to Chasov Yar and were accumulating forces for a wide-ranging assault on the city. It was noted that the deterioration of the situation for the Ukrainian Armed Forces in this direction was also recognized by experts in Kyiv.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg plans to propose at the alliance summit in Washington in June to create a fund worth $100 billion to finance military assistance to the Kiev regime, Bloomberg reported on April 2.
According to the publication, Stoltenberg will propose to allocate these funds for five years. NATO leaders are expected to sign the document. The agency emphasized that there have been no official statements on this matter, and it is possible that the proposal will change by the summit.
It is reported that while members of the alliance are arguing whether bilateral arms supplies to Ukraine should be counted as contributions to this fund. Stoltenberg’s proposal requires the approval of all countries included in the bloc, the publication recalled. The first discussions of these plans may take place on April 3 and 4 at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels.
As Regnum reported, Stoltenberg in February called Ukraine a good deal for the United States. He called arms supplies to Kyiv an investment in the American defense industry.
Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov said in February that the supply of weapons to Ukraine will not change the course of the special operation, but will only prolong the conflict. He emphasized that such military assistance to the Kiev regime will make Ukraine sicker, as it will increase losses among Ukrainians.
#2
How much would it cost to flat out buy Ukraine?
We could give the eastern half to the Russians and the western part to the Poles and be done with all this.
Analysis reveals U.S. cities where majority of migrants arrive on Biden's plan flying in 30,000 undocumented immigrants each month
Florida, Texas, New York and California received the majority of the migrants
READ MORE: Biden admits flying 320,000 migrants to U.S. cities in 2023
The vast majority of migrant flights President Joe Biden's White House is transporting directly from foreign countries to U.S. airports to bypass the southern border are landing in Florida.
A new analysis from the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) reveals that 326,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela arrived in Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' state since the program started in January 2023.
Lawyers for Biden's immigration agencies refused to disclose through a FOIA request data on which airports were receiving the undocumented migrants, claiming it would compromise safety and create national security 'vulnerabilities.'
While the latest analysis reveals the eight cities with the highest number of arrivals, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) revealed last month that the flights landed in at least 43 different American airports from January through December 2023.
While the data shows where the majority of these migrants are flown, it does not necessarily represent the individuals' final destinations.
The CNHV program was initially implemented to help take the pressure off of southern border crossings with Mexico where thousands of asylum seekers arrive daily to turn themselves into border agents.
But Republicans and border hawks are not content with the bypass of the border as a way to create the optics that the crisis is quelled. They claim that the program instead allows hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants to be released into the U.S. each year – and this time on taxpayer dime.
Biden's plan to deflect the crisis from the southern border did not work and now migrants are entering the U.S. en masse both through border crossing and in the CNHV program.
Posted by: Skidmark ||
04/03/2024
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[NYPost] Adidas has barred German fans from customizing soccer jerseys with the number 44 after concerns that the figures resembled the World War II-era Nazi SS symbol.
The German Football Association’s font used on the customizable jerseys on Adidas’ website makes the digit "44" look like the two lightning bolt-like designs featured in the flag of the Schutzstaffel, more commonly known as the SS — the major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler ...late Fuehrer of Germany, founder of the Third Reich, currently communing with his pals Himmler and Heydrich. He is reincarnated every few days as a politician somebody doesn't like... German historian Michael König drew attention to the shirt’s dubious design on X over the weekend.
[FoxNews] If you own a home and don't want to lose it, keep reading.
Homeowners who go on vacation or a business trip, even for just a week, are returning to find their house overtaken by trespassers who fraudulently claim a right to be there. It's happening to tens of thousands of homeowners from New York City to Atlanta and Los Angeles.
When owners call the police, they're told police can't help. It's a civil matter, and they have to file an eviction lawsuit, which can drag on for months or years because housing courts are backlogged.
Meanwhile, owners are out on the street while squatters are living free, destroying houses and even selling off owners' belongings.
If you found a stranger sitting in your car and called the police, they would immediately ask to see the registration and decide who owns it, explains Georgetown law professor Jonathan Turley. They wouldn't let the thief drive off. But the law is stacked against homeowners.
You can thank leftist lawmakers who have degraded property rights and tilted the law to favor criminals. The result is an epidemic of brazen squatting.
In New York state, a homeowner faced with a trespasser can expect eviction to take two years. Meanwhile, the owner is barred from turning off utilities, removing belongings or doing anything else to get the invaders out. It's crazy.
New York State Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz of Long Island introduced legislation saying a squatter is not a tenant and is not entitled to the same protections. Will it pass in Albany? Don't hold your breath.
But some states are acting quickly against this crime wave.
The Florida Legislature passed a bill to empower police to immediately remove anyone who can't produce a notarized lease. Georgia's statehouse passed the Squatter Reform Act, making squatting a crime – criminal trespass – to be handled by the police, not housing court. It's likely to pass the Senate shortly.
In blue states like California and New York, is there hope for homeowners to get protection against squatters? Not from Congress. Democrats in Congress are actually pushing a federal housing law that would bar landlords from learning whether potential tenants have criminal records, including past squatting offenses.
But there is a remedy – bringing a lawsuit in federal court against states like New York and California that fail to protect property rights.
The U.S. Constitution enshrines property rights as a fundamental guarantee. And recently, the justices have struck down state laws that allow trespassers to interfere with property rights.
In 2021, the Pacific Legal Foundation brought a suit on behalf of a property owner, and the court ruled in Cedar Point Nursery v. Hassid that "government-authorized invasions of property" amount to a taking just as if the government had taken the property directly.
Favoring intruders over owners constitutes a "taking" that violates the Fifth Amendment, which says government cannot impinge on your right to your property.
There's no time to waste in acting to protect homeowners.
Venezuelan TikTok influencer Leonel Moreno claims invading vacant homes is the only option for illegal migrants flooding into the United States. His now-deleted TikTok video explaining how to identify a home that is empty and ready for the taking reached 4 million views.
Surprised? Don't be. Criminals from south of the border are coming in droves to plunder the far wealthier United States. Some cross illegally and are recruited by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and El Salvador's MS-13.
Others are coming in on tourist visas. Law enforcement is reporting a surge in South American burglary gangs operating in at least half the states in the U.S.
Of course many migrants are honest and hardworking. But there's no denying a movement northward to "take what you can get" poses new danger to homeowners, including the risk of squatters.
Favoring intruders over owners constitutes a "taking" that violates the Fifth Amendment, which says government cannot impinge on your right to your property.
As Moreno says, "If a house is not inhabited, we can seize it."
Tell lawmakers to act now to protect homeowners. This is the United States. Here property rights are not up for debate. They're guaranteed in the Bill of Rights.
You worked for it, you paid for it, it's yours. Period.
#8
A DIY approach might be to go down to Home Depot, buy some shovels and crow bars, and hire a half-dozen day labor guys to spend the afternoon inviting the squatters to leave.
#9
Article the other day talked about a service provided by someone who was a victim of squatting. He'll go to your house, move in, change the locks and file the necessary bullshit to have the original squatters evicted... OTOH a box of shells may be cheaper, but not the legal fee to defend yourself from the state gov'ts that enable this crap.
#10
I'm thinking, as long as the homeowner's insurance doesn't pay off they squatters when the house burns down.
Posted by: ed in texas ||
04/03/2024 12:16
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#11
Serious question: What's to stop me and 5 of my biggest friends from reentering the premises, carrying the squatter's stuff to the curb and then inviting the squatters to leave my home at gun point?
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Gevorg Mirzayan
[REGNUM] The Security Service of Ukraine decided to respond in an original way to accusations of organizing terrorist attacks in Russia. The department brought charges against RT
…formerly known as Russia Today, but some years ago they decided not to trumpet the connection quite so loudly…
editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan.
“Based on the collected evidence, SBU investigators informed Simonyan of a new suspicion under four articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine,” the department’s official account says.
The charges include “genocide,” “an attack on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine,” “war propaganda,” and “denial of armed aggression against Russia with the glorification of its participants.”
The statement is, to put it mildly, strange. The last three articles can be summed up by any Russian patriotic blogger who supports Russia in eliminating the Nazi regime in Kyiv.
And under the first - none of the adequate Russians, since Russia has not committed and is not going to commit any forms of genocide against Russians, who, due to a complex of reasons, have been reprogrammed into political Ukrainians. And which can be reprogrammed to basic settings after they return to the Russian educational and information space.
Simonyan herself puts forward two versions of the SBU initiative.
First: the Ukrainian department wants to “close her opportunity to travel around the world, believing that I will suffer from this.”
“They believe that everyone who supports Putin does not leave Lazurka. There's bad news here. The only Lazurka where I would be upset not to be able to travel is my native Krasnodar region,” explained the chief editor of RT.
This version can be developed further. The same warrant from the so-called International Criminal Court in The Hague for the arrest of President Putin was issued not only in order to deprive the Russian president of the opportunity to visit countries that are signatories to the Rome Statute (that is, recognizing the jurisdiction of the court), but also to make the communication of political leaders with him as toxic as possible. Essentially, get a tool to put pressure on the countries of the Global South.
The accusations against Simonyan may have the same motive. In Ukraine they see that RT, despite all the bans in Western countries, is a successful tool for conveying the Russian position. Moreover, viewers not only from the countries of the Global South, but also from the collective West.
Accordingly, the Kiev regime wants to contribute to the efforts of Western states to limit RT broadcasting. This is why he accuses Margarita Simonyan of “genocide” and “war propaganda.”
The second version of Margarita is that the Kiev regime is preparing the ground for an assassination attempt on her.
“They are making up an excuse for themselves in advance if they do kill me. What they have tried to do several times already. It seems somehow unsympathetic to kill a journalist, and a mother of many children at that. And if you hang on it mythical calls for the murder of children, then it seems prettier,” said the head of RT.
And there is no need to develop anything here - the SBU itself transparently hinted at the preparation of an assassination attempt.
“Since the criminal is hiding from justice on the territory of the Russian Federation, comprehensive measures are being taken to bring him to justice,” the SBU said in a statement.
Apparently, Ukrainian terrorists (and the head of the SBU Vasily Malyuk has already admitted to terrorist activities, for which Moscow demanded his arrest) are going to kill several birds with one stone. Not only to exclude one of the main media figures in Russia from the information space, but also to show that they can reach anyone. Well, or at least intimidate them. Make Russians afraid, look around, paranoid.
Another version of the Ukrainian accusation was voiced by the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova.
“Since the Kiev regime could not combine April 1 with the presidential elections in Ukraine, Bankova decided to mark an important date on the calendar with idiotic news - they shouldn’t waste April Fool’s Day. Moreover, Zelensky has been preparing for the holiday for a whole year,” says Zakharova.
We should not forget about the desire of the Ukrainian authorities for PR. The Kyiv regime in general and the SBU in particular needed to show that Russia’s demand to arrest and/or extradite Vasily Malyuk and others involved in terrorist activities did not intimidate the latter.
That Malyuk, and the head of the main intelligence department, Kirill Budanov (an individual included in the list of terrorists and extremists in the Russian Federation), and other Ukrainian terrorists intend to continue their activities against Russia. Moreover, new goals are announced.
Accordingly, Russia’s response to all these statements and threats from the SBU can be one - to continue to act within the framework of the chosen strategy. First, a formal demand for the extradition of Malyuk and other terrorists, and then, in the language of the SBU, “the adoption of comprehensive measures to bring him to justice.”
And not only to achieve justice, but also to publicly demonstrate to all current and potential Ukrainian terrorists the consequences of their actions.
But this solution is only a medium-term one. The problem of Ukrainian terrorism can and should be finally resolved only through the formula voiced by President Putin: through denazification and demilitarization of the Ukrainian state.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Gevorg Mirzayan
[REGNUM] Ukraine and the West simultaneously switched in dialogue with Moscow from hawkish to dovish.
French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejournet, during his visit to Beijing, expressed hope that his Chinese colleagues would “send a clear signal to Moscow” about the need to sit down at the negotiating table with the Kiev regime. That is, translating from diplomatic into Russian, Paris moved from the threat of sending troops to Ukraine to an offer to Russia’s key ally to convince Moscow to start a dialogue.
In exchange, Beijing is offered the role of mediator and guarantor of the diplomatic process - something that Chinese diplomacy has been seeking for two years.
In turn, the Kiev regime also publicly softened its negotiating position.
In an interview with Western media, Vladimir Zelensky actually abandoned his demand “first the complete expulsion of Russian troops from the 2014 borders, and only then negotiations.”
Zelensky said that the combination of total anti-Russian sanctions and “the expulsion of Russian troops to the borders in 2022” will lead to Vladimir Putin allegedly being ready for dialogue. And then, within the framework of dialogue, it will be possible to demand from Russia “de-occupation of the entire Ukrainian territory.”
That is, Crimea.
UKRAINE HAS PROBLEMS IN ALL AREAS
The change in position is explained by several factors.
Firstly, Zelensky’s race against time. The next presidential elections were not held in Ukraine, and on May 21, 2024, he becomes simply citizen Zelensky - his term as head of state expires.
This means that all his signatures and guarantees have no legal significance - Russia can absolutely legally refuse any negotiations with him. Therefore, it is necessary to involve Moscow in the negotiation process until it loses its powers.
Secondly, it is important to satisfy our American partners. Washington sees the situation on the battlefield and understands that in the coming months - that is, during the US election campaign - Ukraine may suffer serious defeats on the battlefield. And this will directly affect the ratings of President Joe Biden , who has invested tens of billions of American taxpayer dollars in the Ukrainian project.
The Americans need a truce in Ukraine - and they are extremely unhappy that Kyiv listens not to them, but to those who need maximum escalation. To the British.
“Several decisions of a terrorist nature, which should have been agreed upon with the Americans, were implemented without agreement. We see that the vector of London has become decisive from the point of view of domestic policy and the actions of the same Zelensky and Ermak .
But it’s not London that provides the bulk of the money and weapons. It turns out that the States pay, but cannot order normal music,” explains Vladimir Rogov, chairman of the “We are together with Russia” movement, to IA Regnum .
In order to normalize relations with Washington, Zelensky is showing his ability to negotiate and is ready to sit down at the negotiating table, and is also changing the personnel of his administration.
“Actually, this is related to the dismissal of a significant part of the employees and advisers of the president’s office. This is nothing more than the beginning of bargaining through personnel appointments with the American elite.
Zelensky understands that these concessions must be made in order to remain in power in at least some format,” Rogov believes.
Thirdly, Kyiv and Brussels understand that as a result of large-scale Russian offensive operations, Ukraine may lose significant territories. And this fact, multiplied by serious economic, military-technical, mobilization and electoral (absence of an elected president) problems of the regime, can lead to its collapse. Therefore, it is necessary to drag Moscow into the negotiation process - into negotiations for the sake of negotiations.
SEARCH FOR A NEGOTIATOR
Russia, however, easily reads Western games. Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other representatives of the Russian government have said many times that Moscow does not need negotiations for the sake of negotiations.
We need a constructive conversation that will result in the conclusion of serious agreements - with guarantees of their implementation. After all, experience has already accumulated in concluding agreements with zero implementation - two stages of the Minsk agreements, the Istanbul agreements of the spring 2022 model.
Therefore, it makes no sense for Russia to sit down at the negotiating table with the outgoing Zelensky, whose signature and guarantees will have no meaning in 50 days.
At the same time, the West can offer Russia a legitimate negotiator from the Ukrainian side.
“If there is no president, his powers are transferred to the speaker of parliament. He has the right to negotiate and sign documents,” former deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Spiridon Kilinkarov tells IA Regnum .
Now this post is occupied by Ruslan Stefanchuk . He remains a legitimate speaker even after the expiration of the Rada’s powers: according to Ukrainian law, in the event of a martial law regime, the Rada is indeed not re-elected.
However, it is possible that the speaker will be replaced by the start of negotiations.
“Stefanchuk is now trying to escape from his position. He begs to be allowed to go to the Academy of Sciences or somewhere else. After all, a post in the Verkhovna Rada is not only money, but also responsibility. Understanding that, having signed any document, you may not live long - in the literal sense. Therefore, deputies spend money to leave the post for which they were previously paid,” says Vladimir Rogov.
He suggests that Stefanchuk’s predecessor, Dmitry Razumkov, may be offered as a negotiator . He is now being prepared to return to the information field.
But there is another problem - the outgoing political elite of the West.
DIVE INTO REALITY
Many potential Western negotiators are effectively lame ducks. In the summer of 2024, elections to the European Parliament should take place - and, accordingly, re-elections of the head of the European Commission.
In November there are presidential elections in the United States. Elections in the UK will be held no later than January 2025.
“Only Russia as a player has already rebooted. Its leadership has some time to implement agreements that can be reached as a result of negotiations. And there is no point in negotiating with the outgoing political elite,” Spiridon Kilinkarov is sure.
Therefore, the only constructive negotiations in which Russia may now be interested are discussions not with the West, not with Zelensky/Stefanchuk/Razumkov, but with Ukrainian regional elites.
With those who will remember the formula, as old as the world, that “to betray in time is not to betray, but to foresee.” Who can seriously facilitate the process of liberating the territories.
However, to do this they need to be immersed in reality.
“We can negotiate with regional elites, but subject to success on the front line. The greater our successes, the faster local elites will make contact and communicate. Moreover, the elites are not only of historical Novorossiya, but also of regions considered Bandera. They will even run earlier,” predicts Vladimir Rogov.
Perhaps this is related to the recent words of Sergei Lavrov that the issue of recognizing Zelensky after May 21 may become irrelevant.
“As for May 20 and what will happen on May 21, let’s live until then. Maybe there won’t be any need to admit anything,” the minister said.
[FoxNews] The Texas Senate Committee on Education is expected to hold a hearing in May probing university officials on how they are ensuring compliance with state law banning DEI.
What odds what they discover instead is how very hard the university is trying to work around the new law?
The University of Texas at Austin fired dozens of employees who worked in their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs to comply with a new state law, according to a report.
University of Texas at Austin President Jay Hartzell announced Tuesday the school’s Division of Campus and Community Engagement is being dissolved and its programs and funding transferred to other divisions.
The announcement comes as the university works to comply with a new Texas law that came into effect Jan. 1, which effectively dissolved DEI institutions at public colleges and universities throughout the state.
The Austin American-Statesman reported that a person with knowledge about the situation said 60 positions that were related to DEI work were eliminated at UT-Austin.
The law mandates that all governing boards of public colleges and universities ensure that their institutions prohibit the establishment and maintenance of a DEI office and the issue of "DEI Statements." In addition, hiring practices and training are no longer able to use DEI statements.
"I recognize that strong feelings have surrounded SB 17 from the beginning and will shape many Longhorns’ perceptions of these measures," Hartzell wrote in reference to the new law. "It is also important that this continues to be a welcoming, supportive community for all."
In the message, Hartzell said student-facing jobs would remain throughout the rest of the semester and that laid-off employees could apply for other positions at the university.
So they’ll still be on the payroll AND they’ll be angry? Interesting times, of a certainty.
The firings came after state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R., outlined expectations on how universities will comply with the state law. He wrote a letter expressing the serious nature of the bill, saying that the measure "mandates a fundamental shift in the operation of our higher education institutions." He added that universities are expected to facilitate a "merit-based environment."
Furthermore, he explained that the Texas Senate Committee on Education is expected to hold a hearing in May, probing chancellors and "general counselors" of higher education institutions to show how their universities are complying with the law. If universities fail to comply with the state law, they could lose funding, Creighton warned.
Among 5 specific questions on compliance, university spokespeople are expected to explain, "How has your institution ensured that there are no DEI offices or officers on campus, or no individuals or organizations performing the duties of a DEI office or officer?"
Cultural graduations were another casualty of the effect of the law, prompting outrage from some students.
When the university’s Multicultural Engagement Center (MEC) was closed in compliance with the state’s law, Black Graduation, Latinx Graduation, and GraduAsian ceremonies were impacted as a result.
Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, introduced a bill to freeze federal funding to colleges and universities that force students to sign or make statements on DEI.
The University of Florida fired all its DEI employees in compliance with state law last week.
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#2
Cultural graduations were another casualty of the effect of the law, prompting outrage from some students.
When the university’s Multicultural Engagement Center (MEC) was closed in compliance with the state’s law, Black Graduation, Latinx Graduation, and GraduAsian ceremonies were impacted as a result.
Dems LOVE segregation
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/03/2024 5:55
Comments ||
Top||
#3
Sanity.
Posted by: Tom ||
04/03/2024 13:14
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University of Texas at Austin finance professor Richard Lowery has annoyed the university’s administration by publicly criticizing its embrace of diversity, equity, and inclusion and suggesting that administrators exploit their positions for their children’s admission.
Lowery’s crusade did not go unnoticed: Several university administrators — and the university president, Jay Hartzell — responded with a “campaign to silence” the professor, which included threatening his job, salary, professional affiliations, and research opportunities, according to a lawsuit Lowery filed against the administrators.
Lowery embraces the fact that his views are unpopular on campus. His bio on his now-private Twitter account reads: “All opinions are mine and almost certainly diametrically opposed to those of my employer.”
Lowery became unpopular on campus by criticizing the UT Austin’s sprawling DEI bureaucracy, which costs $13 million annually in salaries alone. The UT Austin “Faculty Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Strategic Plan” requires that “all members of faculty search committees must participate in diverse hiring training” and invests $3 million over four years to support “recruitment and hiring of faculty contributing to diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
The focus on DEI is exemplified by a UT Austin research program that offers a voluntary four-week study for white four- and five-year-old children and their white caregivers to learn about “anti-Black racism.” Lowery criticized the project in an op-ed for the College Fix, writing, “Imagine if such training were to be focused only on black preschool-aged children, a subset the researchers deemed deficient in patriotism.”
In response to Lowery’s public criticism of the university, Hartzell and several senior administrators pressured his supervisor at the Salem Center — a research center at the business school of UT Austin — to discipline him, according to the lawsuit. (While he likely couldn’t be fired from his tenured position as a professor, Lowery’s role at the Salem Center came with a $20,000-a-year stipend and is renewed annually.)
#6
But Hispanic ignores the Brazilians, magpie, who descend from Portugal, not Spain. ;-)
Linguistically, of course, the masculine ending of Latino includes Latin females as well. Only the feminine Latina is exclusive to that s3x. But Heaven forbid the self-righteous who insist on changing the entire language to meet their particular peeves should actually learn something about the subject.
“Pay attention to MEEEEE!!!” they shrieked, and stamped their little curly-toed feet.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan calls on the influential countries of the world and the region to prevent the crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza & beyond the Gaza Strip.
#3
This unfortunately also illustrates the complete and shameful defeat of NATO & the US in the 9/11 war.
Staging a mass fatality attack on Western nations is a winning move, not a deadly mistake.
The precedent that was set is bad and existentially dangerous for the West.
Among the consequences are the Ukraine war and 10/7.
Other consequences will follow.
"These demands are not open to negotiation or discussion. The Taliban must act, and act immediately. They will hand over the terrorists, or they will share in their fate."
Empty words by the representative of an empty civilization.
Article Linked To Is Available Only Via VPN
[EngMilRu] The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.
In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces repelled two attacks launched by assault groups of the AFU 95th Air Assault Brigade near Terny (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 20 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, one 152mm D-20 howitzer, one 2S1 122mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, one Anklav-N electronic warfare station, as well as one AFU field ammunition depot.
-- In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of AFU 28th Mechanised, 79th Air Assault, 5th, 92nd Assault, 46th, 81st Airmobile brigades near Belogorovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Andreyevka, Antonovka, Krasnogorovka, and Chasov Yar (Donetsk People's Republic).
In addition, two counterattacks of AFU 31st and 67th Mechanised brigades were repelled close to Novomikhailovka and Bogdanovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses were more than 250 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, three armoured fighting vehicles, and 16 motor vehicles.
In the course of the counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops hit one U.S.-made 155-mm M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system, one 2S3 152mm Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, three 152mm D-20 howitzers, one U.S.-made 105mm M119 and one UK-made 105mm L118 guns, and one Nota electronic warfare station.
In Avdeyevka direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces have improved the situation along the front line, inflicted fire damage on AFU units, and repelled 11 counterattacks launched by assault units of AFU 25th Airborne, 68th Infantry, 24th, 47th Mechanised brigades close to Novgorodskoye, Tonenkoye, Pervomayskoye, Leninskoye, and Berdychi (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to more than 300 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, two 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, and one 122mm D-30 howitzer.
In South Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces' units improved the tactical situation, and inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of AFU 58th Motorised Infantry and 1st Tank brigades near Urozhaynoye and Makarovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
In addition, one counterattack launched by assault groups of the AFU 128th Territorial Defence Brigade was repelled close to Nikolskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to more than 140 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, and four motor vehicles.
In the course of the counter-battery warfare, one U.S.-made 155mm M777 howitzer, one Polish-made 155mm Krab self-propelled artillery system, and one 152mm D-20 howitzer were eliminated.
In Kherson direction, units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on AFU 141st Infantry and 118th Mechanised brigades' units close to Novoandreyevka and Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).
The AFU losses were up to 40 Ukrainian troops, two pick-up trucks, and one 2S3 152mm Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system.
Operational-Tactical Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Groups of Forces of the Russian Federation have engaged one aviation ordnance depot, one workshop for manufacturing and maintenance of unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as clusters of AFU manpower and hardware in 152 areas.
Air defence systems shot down 195 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles and 41 HIMARS and Vampire MLRS projectiles during the day.
In total, 581 airplanes and 270 helicopters, 18,374 unmanned aerial vehicles, 495 air defence missile systems, 15,680 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,261 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,629 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 20,530 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.
Next time don’t start a war with Israel — you’ll be shocked at how much infrastructure is not damaged.
[GEO.TV] The cost of damage to Gaza's critical infrastructure between October andJ anuary is estimated at about $18.5 billion, according to a joint World Bank and the United Nations report released on Tuesday.
Inshallah construction quality OR How much of the building cost is actually the retrofitting of that 300+ mile war-tunnel system?
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[GEO.TV] Incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan Tuesday apprised the court that his wife and ex-first lady Bushra Bibi was poisoned at the Bani Gala sub-jail.
The PTI founder made the claim during a hearing of the £190 million settlement case in Rawalpindi's Adiala jail. Khan informed the accountability court judge that the former first lady had marks on her skin and tongue after "being poisoned".
He sought the court’s order for an inquiry into the incident and a complete medical checkup of Bushra Bibi.
Khan said: “I know who is behind it."
He insisted that the medical examination of the former first lady should be done by Dr Asim Yunus, a doctor at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre.
At this, the court directed Khan to submit a written application seeking the medical examination of Bushra Bibi.
In February this year, the PTI expressed grave concern over what it claimed serious threats to the life and health of Bushra, who has been put under house arrest at Bani Gala. PTI Women Wing President Kanwal Shauzab pointed out that Bushra had serious health issues due to the harmful and substandard food being provided to her.
PTI lawyer Naeem Haider Panjutha had claimed that Bushra’s “health worsened and she got mouth ulcers after she was given a spicy meal” during her house arrest.
Bushra was placed under house arrest at her husband’s Islamabad mansion after she and her husband were convicted of graft allegations. Khan and his wife were sentenced to 14 years in jail in a case that relates to accusations the ex-premier undervalued gifts from a state repository and gained profits from selling them while he held the country’s top office.
'Toilet cleaner mixed in food'
During her interaction with journalists before the court appearance, the former first lady claimed that “three drops of toilet cleaner” were mixed in her food on the eve of Shab-e-Meraj. She revealed that the food and water served by the jail authority tasted bitter.
Responding to a question, Bushra said that “someone” had told her in jail that toilet cleaner was mixed in her food. She, however, refused to disclose the name of the official.
“My eyes swell up, I feel pain in my chest and stomach,” the former first lady claimed.
Research showed that the health of a toilet cleaner victim worsens after one month, she also insisted.
Bushra further said that the windows at Bani Gala were kept closed earlier but now they are open for some time.
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Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Ilya Ropshin
[REGNUM] TikTok may be banned in Ukraine if a similar ban appears in the United States. This decision will hit both the Ukrainian military and the popularity of the authorities.
People's Deputy, head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Freedom of Speech Yaroslav Yurchishin spoke about a possible ban on the social network in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.
“We have a basis for sanctions - if sanctions are imposed in a partner country, we impose them. Everything here is very difficult, but this could become another trump card in negotiations not only with TikTok, but also with Telegram, if the States takes such a drastic step,” said Yurchyshyn.
Earlier, the US House of Representatives passed a bill ordering the Chinese company ByteDance to sell TikTok, which it owns, otherwise the social network will be blocked in the US.
352 members of the House of Representatives voted for the bill. Now the document must be supported by the Senate, and then signed by US President Joe Biden. The latter has already promised to do this if the law is supported by both houses of Congress.
At the same time, the White House said that the goal of the initiative is not to stop the operation of TikTok as a whole, but to change the Chinese owner.
It is noteworthy that, unlike Telegram, the Ukrainian authorities and intelligence services have not previously criticized TikTok. Moreover, the social network was even praised. At the beginning of the Northern Military District, videos of the Ukrainian military on TikTok were regularly shown in a single telethon.
“The Ukrainian military is the main trend on TikTok. The Armed Forces of Ukraine not only defend cities and forces from the invaders, but also regularly share news from the front line, their victorious mood on social networks and do not allow the Ukrainians they protect to panic,” the ICTV channel reported on April 30, 2022.
Today, many brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the National Guard have accounts on this social network. For example, the 3rd separate assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, founded by former “Azovites” (a terrorist organization, its activities are prohibited in the Russian Federation).
At the same time, one of the justifications for blocking TikTok in Ukraine could be “playing into the hands of the enemy” or “spreading pro-Russian narratives.” Since 2022, not only videos complimentary to the authorities and military command have appeared on this social network, but also videos in which the Ukrainian military harshly criticized both politicians and individual military leaders.
For example, a surge in critical videos was caused by the resignation of the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny and the appointment in his place of “general 200” - Alexander Syrsky.
THE ELDER ORDERED
Increased attention to Chinese business in Ukraine has been shown for a long time. Back in 2022, nine days before the New Year, a scandal broke out in Ukraine. Deputy Head of the US State Department Keith Krach met with Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmygal, after which Krach, in a comment to the state agency Ukrinform, said that the Ukrainian authorities are awaiting a large-scale purge of Chinese equipment.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs [of Ukraine] decided to remove all Huawei equipment from its buildings, and several other government agencies followed suit,” the official noted.
He also named specific companies whose equipment was planned to be removed from the Ukrainian authorities.
“Funds from the US International Development Finance Corporation could help cover the price difference between the dumping companies - Huawei, ZTE and others. These companies are willing to sacrifice income to get your data,” Krach said.
The American official also recalled that before this, the Ukrainian authorities refused to work with Huawei in the project to create a “smart city”, preferring the American corporation Cisco.
“These are wise decisions,” said the US Deputy Secretary of State.
As a result, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry had to make excuses. The latter thanked the Americans for “strengthening the cyber capabilities” of Ukraine and noted that the issue of replacing equipment had already been discussed with the United States.
The December scandal was already the second in a year. Prior to this, in October, the State Special Communications Service of Ukraine was forced to remove from its website a message about the signing of a memorandum with the Chinese corporation Huawei. At the same time, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmitry Kuleba, said that the State Service for Special Communications “grossly violated the legislation of Ukraine,” and then tried to correct the situation, which completely disgraced itself in the eyes of both the Ukrainians and the Chinese.
“We are working with some partners to strengthen cybersecurity, and the State Special Communications Service is signing a memorandum with others,” Kuleba was indignant.
It is noteworthy that the Cisco corporation, whose equipment was going to be installed in Ukraine, was previously found to have critical vulnerabilities in its products that made the use of these products unsafe.
When the St. Petersburg company DSEC tried to draw the attention of Cisco itself to this, it was ignored, and then, in 2018, it was even added to the American sanctions list. That is, Cisco is not at all a “safe alternative” to Chinese manufacturers. And the rejection of Chinese equipment was not at all beneficial for Ukraine.
Another important detail: Krach, who visited Ukraine in December 2020, became famous not only as a fighter against Huawei and ZTE, but also as an enemy of TikTok.
THE MOTOR SICH SCANDAL AND THE UNDIPLOMATIC DANILOV
It would seem that there is nothing connecting the cases of Huawei and ZTE in 2020 and the likely ban on TikTok in Ukraine. But that's not true.
The main goal of the United States is to eliminate dangerous competitors for American companies. It is no coincidence that the goal of the TikTok bill is to force the Chinese owner to sell the social network to Americans.
At the same time, on March 16, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Chinese company ByteDance, which owns the social network, received signals from the Chinese authorities that Beijing considers the most preferable option to ban the social network in the United States.
The United States also has a political goal - to limit China’s influence in the world.
It is worth remembering how the Americans disrupted the deal between Beijing and Kiev on the sale of the Motor Sich engine-building enterprise.
In 2016, the Chinese wanted to buy a 56% stake in Motor Sich, but the deal was not approved by the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine. In 2019, Skyrizon and Xinwei Group still acquired more than 50% of the Ukrainian manufacturer, but in August 2020, the Ukrainian prosecutor’s office arrested Motor Sich’s shares after the announcement of an application by Chinese investors and the DCH group to purchase a stake in it.
It is noteworthy that the United States opposed the sale of Motor Sich to the Chinese. In January 2021, the US Department of Commerce added Skyrizon to the list of “Military End-User List” - individuals and legal entities that are directly or indirectly involved in the production of foreign military equipment.
Such companies are subject to additional export restrictions in the United States.
US authorities said Skyrizon "may develop, manufacture or operate military equipment, such as military aircraft engines."
It all ended with China's claim against Ukraine for $4.5 billion. The United States did not suffer any losses. On the contrary, they achieved their goal: China did not gain access to engine production technologies.
At the same time, in their rejection of China, Ukrainian politicians are sometimes superior to their “senior partners” from the United States. A very recent story is the extremely undiplomatic statement of the former Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Alexey Danilov addressed to the Special Representative of China Li Hui.
Danilov was so overzealous that he ended up being forced to resign.
STARRY SKY OVERHEAD
TikTok and Telegram, which are being banned in Ukraine, not only serve the cause of propaganda. With their help, the Ukrainian military collects donations.
For example, the leader of the C14 group banned in the Russian Federation, Evgeniy Karas. Now he is the deputy commander of the 14th regiment. Karas's Telegram channel has more than 232 thousand subscribers: they are raising money for the needs of the 14th Regiment, as well as the 4th Special Purpose Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, the Svoboda battalion, the Timur unit of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the MOU, the 67th Brigade, etc.
In addition, the same Telegram channels are used as a means of exchanging experiences. US Army Sergeant Alexander Svyatov, who serves in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, regularly publishes Western training manuals, their translations into Ukrainian, as well as training videos on his channel.
It is unlikely that the Ukrainian military will give up their favorite social networks.
Moreover, they have an unexpected ally in the consumption of prohibited content - American billionaire Elon Musk ’s company SpaceX, or more precisely, Starlink satellite communication terminals, which are actively used on the front lines. They are used not only for communication.
“You drive a car, you have Starlink, you launch a drone - 7-10 kilometers from the front line. And, for example, you do this twice a week. The rest of the time you take pictures, drink a latte, watch Netflix. And you can live like that. And you can fight like that. And, by the way, this is also important work and someone should do this too,” Pavel Ushivets, also known as Grigory Kirilenko or Mustang Wanted, praised his service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine in November 2023.
Already in March 2024, Bloomberg reported on the black market for Starlink terminals. According to the publication, access to high-speed satellite Internet is available in Venezuela, which is under American sanctions, the de facto Houthis in Yemen, who are fighting with the West, as well as the military opposing the Sudanese government.
It is noteworthy that in the case of the Houthis, the agency noted that Starlink terminals are used “to avoid the slow, often censored Internet service that is currently available.”
There is no doubt that if it is blocked in Ukraine, TikTok will be available to the Ukrainian military. Ironically, thanks to US technology - the very ones in support of whose policies the Ukrainian government allows the social network to be blocked.
FOOLED ON APRIL FOOL'S DAY
There is also a moral aspect to the issue of blocking TikTok.
In the 2019 presidential elections, Vladimir Zelensky won not only thanks to a media campaign, but also largely thanks to social networks.
At the beginning of August 2019, the head of the president’s office and Zelensky’s closest ally Andrei Bogdan, speaking about his “prank” with his resignation, gave a journalist from one of the Western media a rather unpleasant comment for her and her colleagues.
“Classical journalists are accustomed to consider themselves to be society. But, as our election campaign has proven, we communicate with society without intermediaries, without journalists,” he noted.
Bogdan's statement caused a furor in the Ukrainian media. Ukrainian journalists, who felt like kingmakers, realized that social networks had destroyed their monopoly on information.
“Goodbye, journalists! Hello, TikTok,” Svetlana Dorosh, a journalist from the Ukrainian BBC service (a media outlet that acts as a foreign agent), titled her article.
However, it was still too early to bury Ukrainian media. Nevertheless, the share of social networks as a source of information in Ukrainian society continued to grow. Until they started talking about blocking them.
What is noteworthy: statements about this were made on April 1 - not only on April Fool's Day, but also the day after the next presidential elections were supposed to take place in Ukraine. Elections that never took place.
[FoxNews] The 2 different broods of cicadas have not risen from the ground simultaneously since Thomas Jefferson was president.
Billions, if not trillions, of two groups of noisy flying insects are expected to emerge from the underground in 17 U.S. states in April in a rare natural phenomenon not seen since 1803.
The insects, known as cicadas, are set to spring up and engage in a frantic mating frenzy lasting several weeks before they will all eventually die near trees.
But that’s not before they lay eggs on forest floors and the cycle of life begins anew.
It will be the first time in 221 years that two types of cicadas -- brood XIX and XIII-- have risen from the ground at the same time, back when Thomas Jefferson was president, and it is not expected to happen again until 2244.
The one to two-inch-long bugs possess sturdy bodies, bulging compounded red eyes and membranous wings with a three-inch wingspan.
But don't be alarmed, cicadas are not harmful to humans, pets, household gardens, or crops, the Environmental Protection Agency says. In fact, they are a valuable food source for birds and mammals. Cicadas can aerate lawns and improve water filtration into the ground while they add nutrients to the soil as they decompose.
Most cicada species come out every year, but in the United States, there are two periodical broods of cicadas that stay underground for either 13 years or 17 years.
"The co-emergence of any two broods of different cycles is rare, because the cycles are both prime numbers," John Cooley, a cicada expert at UConn told Live Science.
"Any given 13 and 17-year broods will only co-emerge once every 13 x 17 = 221 years."
Brood XIII cicadas appear on a 17-year cycle, and are restricted mostly to northern Illinois, eastern Iowa, southern Wisconsin and a few counties in extreme northwestern Indiana, according to entomologist Floyd Shockley of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History in Washington.
Brood XIX emerges on a slightly shorter 13-year cycle, and are widely distributed from Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia - a total of 15 states, according to Shockley. The two broods together span parts of 17 states.
There’s a cute little map of brood distributions that can be seen in the Reader view, even if you didn’t sign up with the website, dear Reader.
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Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[NewsFront] 23:59 Official summary of the DPR Representative Office in the JCCC from 00:00 04/02/2024 to 00:00 04/03/2024.
Nine facts of armed attacks by the UFU were recorded by the DPR Representative Office in the JCCC over the past 24 hours.
There were no reports of civilian casualties.
DAMAGED:
Four residential buildings
One car
Five artillery attacks in the Donetsk direction
Four artillery attacks in the Gorlovka direction
A total of 27 units of various ammunition were fired.
23:05 Sumy region 02.04 23:00.
Another wave of strikes by the Russian Aerospace Forces. Tactical aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces identifies enemy positions for high-precision strikes. Several sounds of explosions were reported.
In addition, the enemy reports on his telegram channels about the operation of our attack UAVs.
21:03 Air defense units of the Ivanovo paratroopers cover Russian units around the clock from air attack and enemy reconnaissance in the Artemovsk direction.
On frames– an anti-aircraft gunner launching a missile from the launch position from the Verba MANPADS destroys the Leleka-100 reconnaissance drone of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
19:51 Front birdie broadcasts:
Khar'kov region (border region). New strikes.
02.04
It is reported that FAB-500 and KAB-500 hit buildings and structures of dry land.
It is also reported that an enemy armored engineering vehicle and ASU trucks were hit.
Our KABs hit targets with pinpoint accuracy.
The strikes were carried out by our front-line bombers.
18:29 Front-line soldier reports:
Pervomayskoe
We took several positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. We control 80-85% of the village.
17:40 Z 105th Motorized Rifle Regiment NM DPR reports:
Berdychi. Russian troops broke through to the western outskirts
The enemy has been driven out of the village; the northern part of the village is still in the gray zone. Our rod is powerful, therefore, the gray area will not last long.
15:34 Telegram channel “Military chronicle":
The attack on the Alabuga SEZ could be carried out using a Ukrainian-made Aeroprakt A-22 light aircraft. Apparently, the board was converted for unmanned control and loaded with a small amount of explosives (or flew without any at all).
The flight range without modifications can be 1,100 kilometers, but if you remove some interior parts, it can be increased.
The idea of converting manned aircraft into unmanned ones is not new; similar projects exist in many countries around the world, and any “corn farmer” can become a kamikaze drone.
Soviet An-2s, for example, were used by Azerbaijan as a means of detecting Armenian air defenses during the war for Nagorno-Karabakh. For take-off and landing such an aircraft requires 100-150 meters, so there is no need to use an airfield. In addition, there are many such aircraft - in 2021, the manufacturer reported the production of thousands of such aircraft. In addition to Ukraine, the A-22 is assembled on the territory of AEROPRAKT Polska Sp.z oo in Zaklichin (Poland).
A separate question is how the plane managed to overcome 1200 kilometers to Tatarstan. Most likely, there was no talk about a direct flight. In this case, the probability of losing the car would be high. Most likely, the flight took place at an extremely low altitude, bypassing air defense zones (who and how provided data on positional areas is another question that will need to be answered).
Another question that requires clarification is why the facility where the Geran-2 UAVs are assembled (the plane did not reach it by several hundred meters) was not reliably covered by air defense and protected from attacks by low-altitude drones.
Information about routes around air defense zones could be provided by US optical-electronic and electronic reconnaissance satellites. The sensors installed on them are capable of determining the positions and types of air defense systems based on their visual portraits and the radiation parameters of their radars
14:58 Z 105th Motorized Rifle Regiment NM DPRreports: Belogorovka, LPR. Despite the hellish resistance of the possessed Nazis, our guys managed to break through the defenses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces south of the chalk quarry.
14:15 Z 105th Motorized Rifle Regiment NM DPR reports:
Novomikhailovka. Our troops, with the support of armored vehicles, went forward on the northern outskirts of the village
Now we are storming the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Mashinostroitel gardening partnership.
13:34 Front bird broadcasts:
Avdeevskoe direction
Our artillery is 152mm. hit right on target. 02.04
The destruction of an enemy infantry fighting vehicle and an armored engineering vehicle is reported.
Our fighters once again caught the enemy at the moment when he was mining the area and erecting fortifications.
12:36 Telegram channel “Fisherman":
Today, the enemy again carried out a raid on the facilities of the Russian fuel and energy complex: the targets were the Elaz-Nefteproduct plants in Yelabuga and Taneko near Nizhnekamsk in Tatarstan. In the first case, the technological process was not interrupted; in the second, the fire at the facility was extinguished within 20 minutes.
As mentioned earlier, it was not without reason that oil refining was chosen for attacks, as the most vulnerable link. Not all damage can be quickly repaired, and much of the equipment has traditionally been supplied by foreign companies. Moreover, the latter’s specialists are clearly actively advising the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the choice of specific targets.
The cumulative effect grows with the number of disabled capacities. And it is already having an impact: the shocks have led to a reduction in the supply of gasoline on the domestic market by 10%. Rising fuel prices push up prices for all other goods, including retail ones, which worsens the economic situation and destabilizes the situation in the country.
In the current conditions, the issue of protecting such objects is becoming more relevant than ever. There are many options, ranging from simple anti-aircraft machine gun installations along the perimeter and on pickup trucks and ending with the creation of a working warning system that will allow all connected operators to understand the UAV’s movement parameters and shoot them down on approach.
Judging by the ongoing attacks and footage of the arrivals of not even relatively small drones, but modified light aircraft, the measures mentioned above were never taken. If the situation does not change, it is not difficult to imagine the consequences of this in the medium term.
12:08 According to the operational lines of the DPR Representative Office in the JCCC for April 2 as of 12:00 arrived information on damage as a result of artillery attack by the Air Forces of the cities of the Republic:
Donetsk (Kyiv district):
– st. Deputatskaya, 13, 15 – direct hits on private residential buildings with subsequent fire;
– st. Deputatskaya, 14, 17 – private residential buildings.
11:33 Information summary as of April 2, 2024, Department Z reports for the Sumy region
– In the Sumy region, the enemy continues to prepare for the liberation of the region by the Russian Armed Forces. Sources report that the enemy has begun active construction of protective structures in the north of Sumy, immediately behind the Tsentrolit VAT plant.
– Additionally, information was received that the enemy is strengthening the settlements of Rudnevo and Banichi, Konotop district, Sumy region. Construction equipment from Kiev was brought to these villages to dig trenches.
– In addition, the enemy is intensively strengthening the Sumy-Belopole highway with the teeth of a dragon in order to prevent the Russian Armed Forces from cutting a vital artery for the city.
10:59 How is the life of the fighters of the “West” group of troops organized? Let's visit the group's military personnel.
Modern bakeries, field kitchens, canteens, storage and refueling points for fuels and lubricants and other logistics and technical support facilities - all this was deployed in the shortest possible time by the rear forces of the "West" group of troops in the Kupyansk direction.
All rooms are invisible from the outside. Inside, the walls are lined with boards, over which a camouflage net is stretched. The roof is usually made of thick logs laid in two or three layers to withstand mortar fire.
Field kitchen below ground level. A real labyrinth of spacious rooms. The cooks feed the fighters three times a day. Dishes alternate. The menu definitely includes soups, and for the main course there is rice, buckwheat with stew, beef, pilaf, fresh vegetables and dessert.
The rear staff also set up a bath and laundry complex. Washing and bathing is done here every day. Scheduled.
Military personnel who return from the front lines can recover not only physically, but also spiritually. In the field temple, services are held twice a day. Priest Vasily Mukhametshin comes here from his native Tatarstan for the third time. Voluntarily. He believes that now it is more important to be close to the guys in camouflage so that they feel supported.
Sounds like a spa resort, lacking only bit stone massages and mani-pedis with a choice of fashionable and classic nail polish colours.
10:19 Front-line soldier reports the Russian Armed Forces have established a foothold on the outskirts of the village of Semyonovka.
09:55 Criminal Kyiv regime continues to fire at the civilian infrastructure of settlements on the left bank of the Kherson region, yesterday during the day the Ukrainian Armed Forces fired from cannon artillery:
-- n.p. Malaya Kardashinka four rounds;
-- n.p. Novaya Kakhovka three rounds;
-- n.p. Alyosha four rounds;
-- n.p. Kakhovka five rounds
-- n.p. Staraya Zburevka wo rounds;
-- n.p. Podstepnoe wo rounds.
During the night, the Kiev regime continued to shell civilian infrastructure in the village. Peschanivka, n.p. Korsunka, n.p. Aleshki, n.p. Dnepryany, n.p. Novaya Zburevka, firing a total of 17 rounds from cannon artillery.
Civilian casualties and destruction of infrastructure are being determined.
09:23 Telegram channel «WarGonzo":
Frontline report for the morning 04/02/2024
– On the Zaporozhye Front, the LBS did not undergo any major changes. Positional battles continue in Rabotino and north-west of Verbovoy. Long-range weapons are actively used.
– On the Donetsk front there are oncoming battles in Novomikhailovka, in the area of Krasnogorovka and Nevelskoye. There are further tactical successes of the Russian Armed Forces in Pervomaisky. There is also progress in the Tonenkoye area, where Russian troops, not without difficulty, are still advancing towards Umanskoye.
In Semyonovka, the Ukrainian Armed Forces stubbornly resist, preventing Russian troops from advancing further than the southern outskirts, where fierce fighting is taking place. In Berdychi, the Russian Armed Forces continue assault operations, trying to dislodge the Ukrainian Armed Forces from the village. No promotions.
– Artemovskoe (Bakhmutskoe) direction. Here, Russian troops were able to advance to Chasov Yar along the road between Ivanovsky (Krasny) and Bogdanovka, capturing one of the main fortified areas of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the outskirts of the city. Ukrainian troops are preparing for battles in the village itself. In addition, the Russian Armed Forces are trying to develop an offensive from the northwestern outskirts of Ivanovo. Also, assault operations continue in Bogdanovka itself.
08:53 Telegram channel “Fisherman":
Chronicle of a special military operation for April 1, 2024
– Russian troops continue to strike enemy targets in the border zone. A series of hits hit the bases of Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel in Lyubotin and Kharkov.
– In the Liman direction, the Ukrainian command transferred units of the 3rd Azov Brigade* and special forces “Kraken” to Borova to prevent the retreat of Ukrainian formations from the bridgehead on the left bank of the Zherebets River. The transfer of forces is also recorded in the Seversk direction.
– In the Avdeevsky direction, Russian troops are fighting fierce battles for control of Semyonovka. West of Orlovka and Tonenky, units of the Russian Armed Forces are trying to advance in the direction of Umanskoye, where Ukrainian formations are hastily building a defense line.
– In the Zaporozhye direction, positional battles continue at the Kopani-Rabotino and Verbovoe-Novopokrovka line. While the advanced units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are gaining time at the front, engineering construction of defensive positions is underway in the rear in the Orekhov area.
– In the Kherson direction, Ukrainian formations continue to hold positions in the village of Krynki. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy made unsuccessful attempts at counterattacks and attempts to evacuate the wounded. Meanwhile, the transfer of forces to the left bank is complicated for the Ukrainian Armed Forces by the flood of the Dnieper and the reduction in the area of the island zone.
08:10 Official summary of Representative offices of the DPR in the JCCC:
A total of 16 facts of armed attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces were recorded by the DPR Representative Office in the JCCC.
There were no reports of civilian casualties.
Damaged:
Four residential buildings.
Ten attacks were recorded from the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Donetsk direction,
Six attacks were recorded from the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Gorlovka direction.
In total, the Ukrainian Armed Forces fired 44 units of various ammunition.
Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title.
[Korrespondent] 22:05 Blinken said that the United States opposes sending ground troops to Ukraine. According to him, such a step would bring closer a direct conflict with Russia.
21:32 Washington does not believe that an armed conflict is brewing between NATO countries and Russia, said US Permanent Representative to the Alliance Julianne Smith. She noted that all Moscow’s efforts are focused on Ukraine, and there are currently no signs that a war is looming between the Russian Federation and NATO.
21:27 Estonia is interested in participating in the Czech initiative to purchase ammunition for Ukraine, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said. However, he did not disclose Estonia’s specific contribution to this initiative, but recalled that his country two weeks ago decided to prepare another package of military support for Ukraine worth 20 million euros, which will mainly consist of ammunition.
20:48 There are already 18 casualties in Dnieper as a result of today’s missile attack. Among the 12 hospitalized are five children, said the head of the OVA Sergei Lysak.
20:14 The President of Ukraine supported the introduction of an e-office for those liable for military service, lowered the conscription age and approved a repeat medical examination for those with limited fitness for military service. Read more in the article Changes in mobilization .
20:02 Zelensky in the evening report thanked everyone who provides responses to Russian strikes - “each time even more long-range responses.”
19:59 Zelensky signed Law No. 10313, adopted by the Rada, according to which the status of “limitedly fit” for military service will be abolished in Ukraine. Everyone who has this status must re-pass the VLK and receive the status of “fit” or “unfit” for military service.
19:53 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg proposes to create an allied contribution fund for Ukraine worth $100 billion over five years as part of a package that should be signed by the leaders of the Alliance member countries at a summit in Washington, Bloomberg writes, citing sources. Alliance members are still discussing the proposal and it is likely to change before the allies reach an agreement, the source said.
As part of the initiative, NATO could also take over the operational responsibilities of the US-led Ramstein Contact Group, which coordinates arms supplies to Kyiv, the sources said. This should help protect the structure from political changes that may occur after the US elections.
19:44 Ukraine will receive $2.1 billion in preferential loans from South Korea, which will be used for reconstruction projects, the Ministry of Economy reported. Funds will be received over the next five years.
19:20 Lukashenko, who has repeatedly frightened the world with the Third World War, today openly admitted that he is preparing the country for hostilities. More details about his statements - in the material Is Belarus really preparing for war?
18:46 By its decision, the government allowed some male students to travel abroad to participate in academic mobility programs. The government's decision applies to students aged 18 to 22 years who are studying full-time for a bachelor's degree or a master's degree in medicine, pharmacy or veterinary medicine.
18:42 In Dnieper, the number of victims of a rocket attack has increased to 13, among them five children, said the head of the OBA Sergei Lysak. Eight wounded were hospitalized, all in moderate condition.
18:38 The Russians shelled the village of Novoosinovo, Kupyansky district, Kharkov region - one person was killed, an 11-year-old child was wounded, said Oleg Sinegubov, head of the OVA.
18:23 As a result of a missile attack on the Dnieper, one of the educational institutions was damaged, said the head of the OBA Sergei Lysak. The number of victims increased to nine people, including four teenagers aged 14 to 17 years.
18:17 Zelensky signed the law on conscription for military service from 25 years old instead of 27, which the Verkhovna Rada adopted a year ago. The law on the electronic account of those liable for military service was also signed.
17:46 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that Ukraine is at a “critical moment” and urgently needs more Western support as a multibillion-dollar aid package is stuck in Congress. During a visit to Paris, he said it was “absolutely necessary” to provide Ukraine with more military aid, particularly ammunition and air defense systems.
At the same time, Blinken once again stated that the United States does not support Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory. In turn, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejournet, speaking about Ukrainian attacks on oil facilities in Russia, said that Kyiv was acting “within the framework of legitimate defense.”
17:18 The Russians launched a missile strike on the Dnieper - according to preliminary information, five people were injured, said the head of the OVA Sergei Lysak.
16:37 In March, the Defense Forces destroyed 976 Russian artillery systems, the highest figure in one month since the start of a full-scale invasion, the Ministry of Defense said.
16:01 Shoigu announced the appointment of Vice Admiral Sergei Pinchuk as commander of the Black Sea Fleet. Admiral Alexander Moiseev and Vice Admiral Konstantin Kabantsov, who had previously been reported as acting by the Russian Ministry of Defense, officially became commander-in-chief of the Navy and commander of the Northern Fleet, respectively. Earlier, the media and Western intelligence services reported the resignation of the commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, Viktor Sokolov, after Ukrainian attacks on Russian ships.
15:55 During the first hour of operation of the Register of Damage, 18 Ukrainians submitted applications for compensation, Kuleba said.
15:42 Production of Ukrainian self-propelled guns Bogdan has increased from six to eight units per month, writes The New York Times.
15:02 The Cabinet of Ministers has allocated another 5.6 billion hryvnia for the construction of fortifications, Shmyhal said. Of these, 1.1 billion is intended for the construction of fortifications in the Donetsk region, more than 1 billion - for the Zaporozhye region, 1.5 billion - for the Sumy region, 300 million - for the Nikolaev region and 400 million - for the Kherson region. Earlier this year, the government already allocated 20 billion hryvnia for these purposes.
14:51 The Hague officially announced the launch of the International Register of Damage for Ukraine. The current focus will be on claims relating to damage or destruction of property during war. Now, through the Diya application, you can submit an application to the international Register of Losses, which will become the basis for compensation. Zelensky announced the creation of a claims commission and a compensation fund as key elements of the planned compensation mechanism.
Ukraine predicts that in the housing segment alone the Register will receive from 300 to 600 thousand applications from victims. In total, up to 8 million applications are expected from everyone who was affected by the war in one way or another, Prime Minister Denis Shmygal said.
14:38 British intelligence reports that Russia is trying to disguise its facilities against the backdrop of successful Ukrainian strikes. In particular, a satellite image from the Kirovsk airfield in Crimea shows mock-ups of fighter jets painted on the concrete. Such drawings have also been spotted on at least 12 other Russian air bases. This demonstrates the level of concern among Russians about future Ukrainian strikes, analysts say. At the same time, according to intelligence data, Russian helicopters still regularly land on the painted silhouettes of fighter jets, which completely undermines the attempt at deception.
Too funny.
13:49 The Russian TV channel Dozhd reports that as a result of a drone strike in Yelabuga, 12 people were injured - all of them are students who were forced to collect “shaheeds”. According to the publication, students are threatened with expulsion for refusing to work; they have to work around the clock, sometimes without breaks. For disclosing information about production, they face a fine of up to 2 million rubles, while they pay about 30-40 thousand rubles a month for their work. The students include citizens of South Sudan, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Nigeria.
13:05 The conference Restoring Justice for Ukraine has started in The Hague, which is attended by representatives of 57 countries. It was organized with the assistance of the Netherlands and the European Commission. The main goal of the event is to provide compensation to the victims of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.
12:42 Attacks on a refinery in Tatarstan are a joint operation of the SBU and the Main Intelligence Directorate, Ukrainian media report citing sources. According to them, a Ukrainian long-range drone hit a primary oil processing unit at a refinery in Nizhnekamsk, after which a fire broke out there. The capacity of this installation was 8 million tons of oil, or 2.6% of the total annual refining of the Russian Federation per year. This plant is one of the five largest oil refineries in Russia.
12:34 Germany will provide Ukraine with 180 thousand artillery shells worth 576 million euros as part of the Czech initiative, writes El Mundo.
12:07 Some Ukrainian long-range drones that attack oil refineries in Russia are already equipped with artificial intelligence, CNN reports, citing sources. One of them said that "flights are determined in advance with our allies, and the aircraft follow a flight plan so that we can hit targets with an accuracy of a few meters." “Machine vision” allows you to train a drone to independently determine the geography and goal to which it is moving. This makes the UAV completely autonomous - it does not need communication with satellites.
11:41 At night, a Russian drone damaged equipment at one of the Ukrenergo substations, the company reported. Also, rocket debris damaged a 330 kV high-voltage overhead line. This morning, consumption restrictions were applied to all consumers in the Kharkov region. In addition, restrictions continue to apply to industrial consumers in the Krivoy Rog district of the Dnepropetrovsk region.
11:35 South Korea has imposed sanctions against the Russian companies Intellect and Assistance, as well as their executives. Also subject to sanctions were the Russian vessels Lady R and Angara, which, according to Seoul, cooperate with the DPRK. Russian ships carried North Korean ammunition.
11:03 GUR caused “significant damage” to a military target in Tatarstan with a strike from Ukrainian drones, Reuters writes, citing a source in Ukrainian intelligence.
10:36 According to Ukrainian military intelligence, Russia still has about 950 high-precision missiles of the operational-strategic and strategic level with a range of more than 350 km, and the enemy is trying to keep its reserves at a level of at least 900 missiles, said Vadim Skibitsky, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate. In his opinion, the Russians will be able to carry out two or three more massive attacks, after which they will be forced to take a pause again to accumulate supplies. However, isolated local attacks may continue.
10:12 The Taneco oil refinery in Nizhnekamsk came under attack from Ukrainian drones in Tatarstan, and a fire started there. A security source told Ukrainian media that it was a joint operation between the Security and Defense Forces.
09:58 In Sevastopol, representatives of Ukrainian intelligence blew up an electrical substation, Ukrainskaya Pravda reports, citing a source in the Main Intelligence Directorate. Local public pages wrote that at night city residents heard explosions, after which the light went out in one of the districts of Sevastopol.
09:20 Sources from RBC-Ukraine report that the Main Intelligence Directorate attacked a plant for assembling rocket launchers in Tatarstan, 1000 km from Ukraine. Russian media write that it was a UJ-22 Airborne drone - a Ukrainian strike system from Ukrjet. There are at least 20 kg of explosives on board, the wingspan is 4.6 m, the flight range used to be up to 800 km. It has been in service with the Ukrainian Armed Forces since 2020. Meanwhile, Tatarstan authorities report that the number of victims has increased to six.
08:51 The General Staff announced the estimated losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of April 2:
personnel - about 443,660 (+780) people,
tanks - 6998 (+12),
armored combat vehicles - 13,350 (+29),
artillery systems - 11,112 (+30),
MLRS - 1023 (+0),
air defense systems - 744 (+0),
aircraft - 347 (+0),
helicopters - 325 (+0),
UAV of operational-tactical level - 8779 (+22),
cruise missiles - 2058 (+1),
ships/boats - 26 (+0),
submarines - 1 (+0),
automotive equipment and tank trucks - 14,783 (+31),
special equipment - 1832 (+6).
08:39 The Tatarstan authorities announced a drone attack on enterprises in Elabuga and Nizhnekamsk, “the technological process has not been disrupted.” As a result of the attack on the dormitory of the Alabuga special economic zone, two people were injured. Russian publics clarify that drones attacked the Elaz-Nefteprodukt oil refinery, as well as the territory of the Alabuga special economic zone outside the city, where the production of “shaheds” is launched. This is the first drone attack in Tatarstan, the distance to the border with Ukraine is 1200 km.
08:06 Air defense at night destroyed nine out of ten attack drones of the Shahed-136/131 type, which Russia attacked from the Crimean Cape Chauda, the Air Force reported. All drones were destroyed within the Dnepropetrovsk region. In addition, at night the enemy attacked with an X-59 guided missile from the airspace of the occupied Zaporozhye region.
In the Dnieper, two fires started as a result of falling debris, which were quickly extinguished. A two-story building and a fire station were damaged, said Sergei Lysak, head of the fire department. The southern defense forces clarified that the enemy was trying to attack the energy infrastructure of the Dnepropetrovsk and Kirovograd regions. In the latter, an energy infrastructure facility was damaged and a fire broke out, which rescuers promptly extinguished. No people were hurt.
07:47 Over the past 24 hours, 71 military clashes took place at the front, the General Staff reported in its morning report . In particular, the enemy tried more than 25 times to break through the defenses of Ukrainian troops in the Novopavlovsk direction - in the areas of Georgievka, Novomikhailovka, Velyka Novoselka, Urozhaynoye, Donetsk region. Another 18 attacks were repulsed in the Bakhmut direction - in the areas of Belogorovka, Lugansk region, as well as Sporny, Ivano-Daryevka, Bogdanovka, Ivanovsky, Kleshcheevka, Chasov Yar, Donetsk region.
The enemy did not conduct offensive actions in the Kupyansk direction. In the Avdeevsky direction, the Defense Forces repelled ten attacks in the Berdychi and Pervomaisky districts of the Donetsk region; on Limansky - nine attacks in the Ternov area of the Donetsk region; on Orekhovsky - four attacks in the areas of Staromayorskoye, Donetsk region and north-west of Verbovoye, Zaporozhye region; on Kherson - four attacks on the left bank of the Dnieper.
[AMPAMERICA] The conflict involving Russia and Ukraine has been an atypical type of war. American consumers of news media have grown accustomed to live in field reporting and network reporters being embedded on the front lines of conflict. When it comes to the modern version of the Russia/Ukraine conflict, the only information that Americans have received has been in the form of their tax dollars being spent in Ukraine. The American public has received constant gaslighting from the left that Russia is a threat to democracy around the globe.
The lack of mainstream news reporting around this conflict has led me to grow my network of international news sources. It has also caused me to look at developments and draw logical conclusions as to what I believe is coming. My personal belief is that Ukraine is a springboard to a much larger conflict.
It is obvious from observing Vladimir Putin’s presidency that he is highly intelligent and highly calculated. I recently began thinking back to the 2022 request made to the United Nations by the Russian Federation regarding bioweapons in Ukraine. This request for investigation made a strong accusation against both Ukraine and the United States. The request was denied due to lack of evidence. It is worth noting that this request was not for sanctions or punishment, merely for an investigation. I find the request for investigation highly unlikely unless the Russians had substantial evidence of malfeasance. We have now seen multiple links come to light between the Biden regime and the nation of Ukraine.
Ukraine has long been rumored to be a country containing multiple CIA black sites. I have an independent source telling me the same. This source is also telling me that the same type of black sites are active and operating in Poland. This claim caused me to take a deeper look at Poland and what the defense temperament there was. What I found was disturbing and leads me to believe that my source is accurate in their claim.
Poland has substantial military goals and appears to be planning to use US resources to achieve those goals. In 2023 Poland spent more than 4% of its GDP on military resources. That is a substantial difference from the 2.2% of GDP spent by Poland in 2022. Perhaps more alarming than Poland’s financial investment in military hardware is its recent action to bolster its military forces. Poland passed legislation in 2022 allowing compulsory military service.
This legislation allows for up to 200,000 citizens to be called up for military exercises. I find it highly unlikely that any nation would require citizens to forcefully serve in the military without planning to use them.
It is also important to think back to the recent claims that a Russian missile crossed into Polish airspace during a recent strike on Ukraine.
Should Poland decide to engage Russia the entire tone of the conflict in Ukraine would change. As a NATO member, Polish involvement would trigger article 5 requiring the United States to shift from a proxy war status to a kinetic status. It is worth noting that on the day of the alleged Polish airspace breach a Polish military aircraft was in Washington DC all day before departing back to Warsaw.
While it is impossible to determine the exact level of United States involvement in Eastern Europe is, it is equally impossible to deny that we have any involvement there. The American intelligence agencies have a dark history of meddling in foreign governments. That is a fact. Vladimir Putin is a nationalist who would be very unwelcoming of foreign intervention in his government’s activities. That is also a fact. I have a bad feeling that Eastern Europe could easily become the next theatre for global conflict. I am not writing this to defend Putin’s actions in any manner. I am simply writing this to condemn American involvement in foreign conflict which does not threaten American lives nor American interests. To be clear, there is no definitive proof that Joe Biden and his band of merry misfits are attempting to stoke a larger global conflict, however they have demonstrated that power is the only thing that matters to them. I can’t help but wonder how many lives the Biden regime would be willing to sacrifice to retain power.
There is simply no way that further conflict in Europe can lead to anything good for America or humanity in general.
#4
^ I don't see it. Unlike parts of Ukraine, we aren't talking about large numbers of ethnic Russians / Russian speakers yearning for a closer connection with the motherland in the Baltics.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
04/03/2024 18:04
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Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] Russia has requested an open meeting of the United Nations Security Council in connection with Israel's attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus (Syria). This was announced on the night of April 2 by the First Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky.
“After the Israeli air attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, the Iranians appealed to the UN Security Council with a request to condemn this action. In follow-up to the Iranians’ letter, we requested an open meeting of the UN Security Council,” Polyansky wrote in his Telegram channel.
As Polyansky indicated, the meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 2, at 15:00 local time (22:00 Moscow time).
Earlier, the Permanent Mission of Iran to the UN, calling Israel's attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus a crime and a terrorist act, sent a letter to the organization's Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the Chairman of the UN Security Council calling on them to condemn the incident.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus and called on Tel Aviv to abandon any provocative military actions. The Russian Foreign Ministry also called on the international community to give an appropriate legal assessment of the strike by the Israeli armed forces.
As Regnum reported, on April 1, Israel launched a missile attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria, located in one of the most densely populated areas of Damascus. According to Tansim, the attack killed up to seven people, including two military advisers to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Mohammad Reza Zahedi and Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi.
Russia strongly condemns Israeli air raids on Syria, stated the Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya on April 2. at a meeting of the Security Council of the world organization.
He noted that Moscow regards these Israeli actions as a gross violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria. The diplomat called such attacks absolutely unacceptable and demanded that they stop.
The permanent representative also emphasized that the Russian Federation urges Israel to abandon the practice of provocative military actions in Syria and other neighboring countries. According to him, this creates a threat throughout the region.
According to Israel, Iran storing weapons and training jihadis throughout the region creates a threat they must eradicate. They’ll stop when Iran does.
In addition, Nebenzya added that Russia calls on the UN Security Council to strongly condemn the Israeli attack.
As Regnum reported, on April 1, Israeli aircraft launched a missile attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, while the Syrian air defense forces were able to partially repel the attack.
As a result of the raid, two generals of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Mohammad Reza Zahedi and Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, were killed, as well as five other representatives of this armed formation.
The Russian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the attack on the consulate and called on Israel to stop such actions. In addition, Russia demanded to hold an open meeting of the UN Security Council at the request of the Iranian side.
Iranian authorities said they reserve the right to take countermeasures and respond to Israel. Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi called the Israeli airstrike on the consulate an inhumane attack.
Posted by: badanov ||
04/03/2024
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Top|| File under: Govt of Iran
#1
The fact that there wasn't a consulate attack doesn't seem to matter.
#3
After the Iranian Hostage Crisis I see no reason that Iran should be accorded 'Diplomatic privileges'. Act like bandits then be treated like bandits.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] Employees of the FSB and the Federal Customs Service stopped the import of 27 homemade bombs hidden in Orthodox icons from Ukraine to Russia, the press service of the Federal Security Service reported on April 2.
“In total, from the cargo traveling along the route Ukraine - Romania - Hungary - Slovakia - Poland - Lithuania - Latvia - Russia, 27 improvised explosive devices camouflaged in icons and ready for use, 70 kg of industrially produced high-power plastic explosive, 91 electric detonators were recovered and parts of a shot for an RPG-7,” the FSB said.
The department noted that security forces detained a person involved in the crime. In the Pskov region, the FSB investigative department opened a criminal case under the article on the illegal movement of explosives and explosive devices across the border.
As part of the case, all accomplices of the crime, organizers, including foreign citizens, will be put on the wanted list.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] A fire that broke out on April 2 in a nightclub located in the basement of a 16-story building in Istanbul led to the death of 29 people, one victim is in serious condition, Turkish TV channel TRT reported, citing data from the city governor's office.
According to journalists, the incident occurred in the Gairettepe area when repair work was being carried out in the basement. 86 rescuers took part in extinguishing the fire, and 31 units of special equipment arrived at the scene.
The fire was reportedly extinguished quickly, and the governor's office announced that an investigation into the cause of the fire had begun. Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikay reported the tragedy to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The head of state expressed condolences over the loss of life.
As Regnum reported, on March 3, an explosion occurred on a gas pipeline in Istanbul, after which a fire started. Rescuers dealt with the fire in 15 minutes. According to preliminary data, the incident occurred due to a short circuit in the electrical cables running near the underground part of the gas pipeline.
In November 2023, a business center caught fire in the Turkish city of Bursa after a lightning strike. The entire building burned down despite the fact that 100 people and 33 fire engines took part in extinguishing the fire.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] By decree of the President of Russia, Admiral Alexander Moiseev was officially appointed commander-in-chief of the country's Navy. The Ministry of Defense reported this on April 2.
In addition to the appointment of Moiseev as commander-in-chief, it also became known that Vice Admiral Konstantin Kabantsov became the commander of the Northern Fleet, and Vice Admiral Sergei Pinchuk became the commander of the Black Sea Fleet.
“Colleagues, congratulations! You understand the enormous responsibility that falls on your shoulders. And I hope that you will cope with the tasks that the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defense and, of course, the country have set for you,” said Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu during a conference call with the leadership of the Armed Forces.
As Regnum reported, in early March the media reported that at that time the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Admiral Nikolai Evmenov, had been dismissed. At the same time, it became known about the possible appointment of Moiseev to this place. However, as the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov said on March 11, there were no open decrees on the appointment. Soon, at a ceremony in Kronstadt on March 19, Moiseev was introduced as acting commander-in-chief of the Navy.
Moiseev was born in 1962 in the Kaliningrad region, served and commanded nuclear submarines, in 1994 received the Order of Courage for a trip to the North Pole on the K-18 Karelia submarine cruise, in 2008 - the Order of Courage for leading the transition of the nuclear submarine K -44 "Ryazan" from the Northern to the Pacific Fleet, in 2011 he received the title of Hero of Russia for courage and heroism in the performance of military duty. In 2017, Moiseev was appointed deputy chief of the General Staff, in June 2018 - commander of the Black Sea Fleet, then - the Northern Fleet. In 2020, the president awarded Moiseev the rank of admiral.
In 2024, the Black Sea Fleet will receive three small missile ships of the Karakurt project, which are carriers of high-precision weapons. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke about this on April 2during a thematic conference call with the leadership of the Russian Armed Forces.
As Shoigu noted, the defense department will continue to equip the Russian Navy with ships carrying long-range precision weapons, in particular small missile carriers of the Karakurt type, to increase its combat potential.
“The lead ship of this series, the Cyclone, became part of the Black Sea Fleet and is successfully completing its assigned tasks. By the end of the year, the Zelenodolsk plant named after A. M. Gorky should hand over three more such ships to the sailors,” he said.
According to the head of the Ministry of Defense, the enterprise also continues serial production of Project 22 160 patrol ships, the construction of the fifth of which, the Victor the Great, intended for the Black Sea Fleet, is in its final stages.
As Regnum reported, on January 3, the Ministry of Defense said that in 2024 the Russian Navy will be reinforced with the small missile ship Burya and the submarine Kronstadt. The department clarified that these ships underwent a test program in the Baltic Sea in 2023.
It was noted that also after the completion of state tests, the Navy flag will be raised on the Yasen-M nuclear submarine missile cruiser Arkhangelsk. It is intended for the Northern Fleet.
#1
When light conditions are right, the satellites appear in a train as they parade across the night sky. The satellites are sometimes visible in the first few minutes after sundown and before sunrise when the sun is below the horizon, but the satellites are high enough to reflect direct sunlight.
And perhaps during the total eclipse next Monday?
Posted by: Bobby ||
04/03/2024 9:29
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
... an Islamic infestation centering on Somalia attempting to metastasize into Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and similar places, all ofwhich have enough problems without them...
... the Islamic version of the old Somali warlord...
...an Iranian satrapy currently ruled by Hassan Nasrallah situated on the eastern Mediterranean, conveniently adjacent to Israel. Formerly inhabited by hardy Phoenecian traders, its official language is now Arabic, with the usual unpleasant side effects. The Leb civil war, between 1975 and 1990, lasted a little over 145 years and produced 120,000 fatalities. The average length of a ceasefire was measured in seconds. The Lebs maintain a precarious sectarian balance among Shiites, Sunnis, and about a dozen flavors of Christians, plus Armenians, Georgians, and who knows what else? It is the home of the original Hezbollah, which periodically starts a war with the Zionist Entity, gets Beirut pounded to rubble, and then declares victory and has a parade. The Lebs have the curious habit of periodically murdering their heads of state or prime ministers...
...the braying voice of Islamic Resistance®,...
Perfidious Albion to the very end. 
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...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the 
