[An Nahar] Speaker Nabih Knobby Berri ...Speaker of the Lebanese parliament, head of the Amal Shiite party aligned with Hezbollah, a not very subtle sock puppet of the Medes and Persians... met Monday evening with Hezbollah secretary-general's political aide Hussein Khalil and handed him a copy of the French paper suggesting a solution for the Israel-Hezbollah border conflict, MTV said.
According to MTV, Berri told Khalil that "the offer is good and deserves to be studied."
Hezbollah for its part was "satisfied with the French paper and with the use of the term 'redeployment' instead of Hezbollah's 'withdrawal' to the area beyond the Litani River which had been previously used by (U.S. mediator Amos) Hochstein," MTV reported.
"Hezbollah does not mind what is proposed in the French and U.S. papers, specifically (Israel's) full withdrawal from seven border points and partial withdrawal from other points while keeping the Shebaa Farms problem pending," the TV network added.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/04/2024
2024-05-04 00:05 ||
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#1
If it came from EUrope, it is (IMO) bad for the Jews.
[Khaama (Afghanistan)] The residents of Darayim district, Badakhshan province, staged widespread protests against The Taliban on Friday, May 3rd.
Residents of Badakhshan stated that protests continued following the killing of at least one person due to Taliban gunfire.
According to the video content, the demonstrations began when Taliban members entered homes under the pretext of destroying poppy fields but engaged in “harassment of women’s modesty” inside houses.
The protesters in Darayim district, Badakhshan, claim that Taliban members are harassing and abusing residents lane by lane and house by house.
One protester stated that even women’s modesty is violated, and the Taliban trespass on the “honor, religion, and privacy” of the people.
According to residents of Badakhshan, after initial protests, Taliban individuals opened fire on the crowd to suppress them, resulting in at least one casualty.
Protesters stated that after the death of this individual, residents of Darayim continued their march.
So far, the officials have not responded to the protests in Badakhshan province.
[ArmstrongEconomics] Zelensky has just signed into law the first steps of Schwab’s Great Reset. He announced he is introducing a Social Credit Application combining Universal Basic Income (UBI), a Digital Identity & a Vaccine Passport all within their Diia app. He also says that because so much money is coming into Ukraine as he has become an international celebrity, he has legalized cryptocurrencies in Ukraine. He will allow foreign and Ukrainian cryptocurrencies exchanges to operate legally, according to the country’s Ministry of Digital Transformation.
So far, he has taken in over $63 million in cryptocurrency donations.
Gee, remember who was also said to be operating in Ukraine? One Scam Bankrupt-Fraud.
[NewsWithViews] By now, every American should have figured out that we are being "spied on" everywhere we go, everything we say, everything we post, text, Google search, buy online, or share on social media, every platform, including Tik Tok. Why do you think ads for products you just mentioned to a friend in a "private" conversation start "randomly" popping up on your devices? You smart phone and smart TV watch every move you make.
They also should have figured out that real journalism is dead in the USA, all news outlets, and social media platforms are heavily censored to maintain the government approved narrative on any and all issues, foreign or domestic. They should have figured out that we no longer have "constitutional" courts or "inalienable rights" in the USA, but instead, British Common Law courts used to undermine everything in the Charters of Freedom.
But it turns out that the vast majority of Americans aren’t as awake and aware as we would hope. As a result, most live under the facade of legitimate government, even as they watch that government violate every protected right in the Bill of Rights, spy on and attack American Citizens denying them a right to free speech, to peaceably assemble, or seek any real form of justice.
According to our weaponized federal government officials, "Tik Tok must be banned because it’s owned by the Communist Party of China." But what if that isn’t true?
#3
I pity the poor bastards that have to watch all the tik tok videas hoping for anything of value. It's an outhouse inside a dumpsterfire of stinky mess over there.
[IsraelTimes] Karim Khan warns against trying to impede investigation into Israel’s conduct in Gaza, after US lawmakers reportedly meet with senior court officials.
#3
Intimidation works. It's time the world began to fear Jews. Crossing Jews must carry a large price tag and anyone who does must know that they will pay.
Alan Dershowitz vows he will engage in "massive offensive lawfare" against allegedly "anti-Semitic" student protesters. He threatens to have their dorm rooms taken away, take their cars and boomboxes, and "bankrupt" them. He says this is necessary to "deter" the return of Hitler pic.twitter.com/I4D4xgCbsV
#4
Re #2: Well, he's wanted, anyway, for trying to charge Putin.
" Khan was being probed for the “criminal prosecution of a person known to be innocent” – in reference to the war crime charges against Putin. "
Posted by: james ||
05/04/2024 15:01
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#6
According to Grom’s link, Mr. Khan was born in Edinburgh – another of those civic minded, native-born Scots in public service like the former Scots PM.
#7
The answer is simple, Israel didn't sign it. Any action the ICC takes against it should be considered terrorism and result in immediate, personal kinetic retaliation. After a few of the ICC wind up splattered across the landscape in mysterious cell phone explosions, they'll get the message.
[IsraelTimes] French daily Le Monde reports funds taken from the vaults of several branches in the Strip by groups armed with explosives, commandos who answer to ‘Gaza’s highest authorities’
Armed groups in Gaza, including one with presumed Hamas links, last month robbed the Bank of Palestine of some $70 million, French daily Le Monde reported Saturday.
The funds were taken from the vaults of several branches of the bank, it said, citing a Bank of Palestine document sent to “certain international partners” detailing the robberies.
On April 16, staff discovered a hole in the ceiling of the safe deposit room at one of the bank’s Gaza branches and found that some $3 million worth of Israeli shekels destined for cash dispensers were missing, Le Monde said.
The next day, armed groups equipped with explosives returned to the site, blew up a cement protection chamber and took more than $30 million in various currencies from three safes.
Two days later, the biggest Gaza branch was attacked by commandos who said they answered to “Gaza’s highest authorities,” which the paper said is understood to mean Hamas.
They took more than $36 million worth of shekels.
The Bank of Palestine, founded in 1960, is Gaza’s leading financial institution.
The Palestinian Monetary Authority, an independent body that oversees the financial system in Palestinian territories, said when contacted by AFP that it was planning to issue a statement about the issue later Saturday.
[IsraelTimes] An Israeli official close to ongoing talks to secure a hostage release deal discounts Arab media reports that claim the US has guaranteed Israel will withdraw all troops from Gaza at the conclusion of a three-phased ceasefire agreement.
“Contrary to the reports, Israel will under no circumstances agree to the end of the war as part of an agreement to release our hostages,” the official says.
“As the political echelon decided, the IDF will enter Rafah and destroy the remaining Hamas battalions there – with or without a temporary respite to allow for the release of our hostages,” the official adds.
Israel has repeatedly rejected ending the war to destroy Hamas in Gaza as a condition for a hostage release deal.
[Breitbart] Experts, including one of the world’s top researchers on the Uyghur genocide and a senior official in the Department of Labor, told Congress this week that legitimate audits to inspect for slave conditions and other forced labor in China, especially in the occupied Uyghur region, are “impossible.”
The experts spoke before the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), a bicameral entity that largely focuses on the Communist Party’s human rights abuses against its people and other malign practices, during a hearing on Tuesday. The hearing, titled “Factories and Fraud in the PRC,” addressed if it is possible for American companies, and those in the greater free world, to conduct reasonable due diligence to keep their supply chains devoid of human rights abuses if operating in China.
The panelists concluded that social audits by third parties were highly unreliable, as the Communist Party has subverted all of society to make it impossible for workers to speak freely on the conditions in their factories and industrial parks. Furthermore, evidence is mounting that China is redirecting slavery-tainted products to third countries such as India and Vietnam to compromise supply chain tracking and ensure the products get sold in American and European markets.
The hearing focused largely on forced labor, the practice of making it impossible for a person to escape work environments. In many of these cases, individuals are forced into traditional slavery – with no legal rights as a person and no meaningful salary – though the panelists at the hearing stated that Chinese companies often offer meager wages to their workers, even when it is impossible for them to leave their jobs. The United Nations classifies forced labor as a form of “modern slavery.”
[Doomberg] "The path of sound credence is through the thick forest of skepticism." — George Jean Nathan
Imagine, if you will, a green chalkboard. In the upper left corner is written CH4, the chemical formula for natural gas, and in the bottom right is everybody’s favorite molecule, CO2. In between these extremes—sloping downward and to the right—are the words oil, coal, and wood, in that order. What our chalkboard illustrates is a gross approximation of the extent to which the carbon atoms embodied in those materials are already burned (i.e., oxidized), and by extension how much residual energy can be extracted from these feedstocks by burning them further. In essence, it serves as a proxy for energy density.
Since CH4 has no oxygen atoms and every carbon is surrounded by four hydrogens, it is not burned at all and is rich in potential energy. Oil has fewer hydrogens per carbon atom and barely any oxygen, so it is only slightly more burned than CH4. Coal contains less hydrogen still and a fair bit of oxygen, so it is measurably more burned than oil. Wood is replete with oxygen-rich celluloses and other complex natural polymers, putting it below coal on our chalkboard. Finally, CO2 is saturated with oxygen, and so the carbon in it is fully burned. It is a thermodynamic sink.
It follows from this rudimentary chemistry lesson that burning wood emits more CO2 per unit of energy produced than burning coal, that coal is worse than oil, and that oil is worse than natural gas. The same can be said about other undesirable byproducts of combustion, as wood and coal in particular contain all manner of contaminants that do not burn very well. As an instructive contrast, natural gas burns so cleanly and efficiently that we use it for cooking indoors with nary a thought given to ventilation, but starting a campfire in the middle of your living room would be, well, kind of nuts. The clouds of smoke that blanketed much of North America last year as a result of forest fires in Canada are testimony to these obvious empirical truths.
#1
It’s the largest power plant in the UK, and for years it served as a visible reminder of how essential coal has been for the country. But five years ago, Drax started switching from burning coal to burning wood.”
#2
Was watching a 'House Hunters' show about two US grad students studying for a masters in ecological something-or-other in Europe, who were thrilled when their new home option featured a wood burning stove as their only source of heat. "Chopping firewood will be good exercise."
I snorted, and explained it to my incredulous wife.
Posted by: Bobby ||
05/04/2024 14:05
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[ZERO] Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is warning that only electing conservative candidates to the European Parliament and replacing the EU’s current leadership will lead to peace in Ukraine. Possibly one of the last remaining sane voice in Europe.
"The whole European community is on a razor’s edge. We are standing on the dividing line between war and peace," Prime Minister Viktor Orbán wrote on social media.
"The most important thing to do in politics today, even if Brussels seems far away, is to create peace. Peace can be created beyond the warring parties, those who finance the war. And this war is financed by the West, by Brussels’ budget money and by American money.
"But our vote will determine whether there is a pro-war or a pro-peace majority in the European Parliament, in the European Commission, in the European Council. Now we have a pro-war majority. We must change that, and we must change it on June 9! Only peace! Only Fidesz!"
Some of the most pro-war parties in Europe now belong to the left. For instance, the Green party in Germany, which was founded on pro-peace priorities and opposition to NATO, is now arguably the most pro-war party in Germany. The Greens have pushed for more weapons shipments for Ukraine, aligned themselves with war hawks in the United States, and have a membership overwhelmingly in favor of war.
In fact, the Green party’s supporters are the most in favor of additional weapons shipments to Ukraine of all German parties, but also the most likely to say they would not defend Germany if the country were invaded.
Meanwhile, independent polling agency Medián’s latest research showed that Orbán’s party, the conservative Fidesz, which has been in power since 2010, remains the most popular party in Hungary, with 46 percent of decided voters supporting it.
The newcomer centrist Tisza party, led by Fidesz renegade Péter Magyar, estranged husband of former Justice Minister Judit Varga, is second with 24 percent. The party’s sudden surge has completely rearranged the political landscape in Hungary, with the opposition’s previously largest force, the Socialist Democratic Coalition, now polling at 9 percent, followed by the satire party Two-Tailed Dog at 6 percent and Momentum at 5 percent.
[Daily Mail, where America gets its news] Move over Caliphornia, an impregnable bastion of the Democratic Party, and New York, a new state is in contention for the 'most dysfunctional' in America.
Illinois is grappling with a string of issues which have triggered a rise in residents departing the state.
The state has struggled to add jobs and its public pension debt has ballooned to nearly $150 billion. Meanwhile,
...back at the shootout, Butch shot Ike through the elbow. Take that, Ike! he yelled...... its population has declined, hurting tax income.
Conservative thinktanks have now grouped Illinois with other blue states like New York and California, which have also faced an exodus amid issues ranging from immigration to crime.
'Unemployment rates are very high; wage growth is lagging compared to most other states,' said Bryce Hill, the director of fiscal and economic research at the Illinois Policy Institute.
Hill told the Daily Caller: 'The Census Bureau has reported that residents are leaving the state en masse to the tune of hundreds of thousands every single year, so much so that the state's population has actually been declining for the past 10 years.
#3
Old news for anyone who has done business with this deadbeat state. Years in arrears paying bills to its vendors. Always crying broke yet bullying it's beleaguered taxpayers.
Refugees should be treated by new host states like the lepers they are.
[American Thinker] Most Americans know of suppressors—usually misgendered as "silencers"—from the movies. In that medium, suppressors produce no more sound than a dainty sneeze, and are used only by assassins and tier 1 special operators. It’s all very dramatic, but reality, as usual, is different.
Suppressors were invented in 1902 by MIT graduate, Hiram Percy Maxim, son of Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim of machinegun fame. Patented in 1909, his suppressors quickly became popular. One graced Teddy Roosevelt’s Winchester model 1894 lever action rifle.
However, in 1934, the National Firearms Act was passed, imposing licensing and registration requirements on automatic arms and suppressors, including a $200 dollar, non-transferrable, tax. In 1934, this amounted to a substantial portion of the average American’s annual income, which stalled suppressor development and sales for nearly half a century.
However, in recent years, interest in suppressors has boomed, certainly in reaction to Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Democrats/socialists/communists (D/s/cs) in general, and their gun banning intentions. Circa 2021, just under three million were in private hands. More currently by 2023, there were nearly four million. That number has surely increased since, as circa 2021 applications/approvals were rising by as much as 17% per year, though the approval process can take up to a year.
#2
So I get how silencers are cool. But to own one, even legally, is bad policy for gun owners. Read the fine print in the permit. You as a gun owner waive your 4th amendment right to search and seizure. The feds can come in, without a warrant, and search your home. So beware if you do this, know what your giving up.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
05/04/2024 10:36
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#3
Purchase a threaded barrel adapter with a thread pattern that allows for a small FRAM Oil filter to screw on. Adapter runs about $25 and a generic filter about 7.95
[AP] On May 4, 1970, Ohio National Guardsmen opened fire during an anti-war protest at Kent State University, killing four students and wounding nine others.
#1
When lawlessness and protest overwhelm local law enforcement and the military must be brought in, bad things can happen. A teaching moment is likely to be found here somewhere.
#3
/\ Yes, some perspective for those times may be in order:
"The 1968 Democratic National Convention protests were a series of protests against the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War that took place prior to and during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois. The protests lasted approximately seven days, from August 23 to August 29, 1968."
[BLAZE] President Joe Biden honored multiple figures with the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony on Friday, including Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, who previously served as speaker of the House and was the first and only woman ever to serve in that role.
Biden predicted that Pelosi will go down in history as the greatest House speaker.
"It is with great appreciation that I accept the Presidential Medal of Freedom from our great and patriotic President of the United States Joe Biden," Pelosi said in a statement. "Freedom was the vision of our founders, has been the goal of our men and women in uniform, and is our promise to our children. It is with reverence for freedom and respect for all who have received it that I am deeply honored and forever grateful. Thank you, President Biden."
[BLAZE] Wealthy business magnate Elon Musk is sounding the alarm about America's massive national debt, warning that unless action is taken to tackle the problem, the U.S. dollar will become worthless.
"We need to do something about our national debt or the dollar will be worth nothing," Musk tweeted.
The country's national debt is more than $34 trillion, according to fiscaldata.treasury.gov.
Responding to Musk, Ed Krassenstein wrote, "The problem is that no administration wants to take on the National Debt issue because the longterm fix is likely a short term detriment to the economy."
#1
"The problem is that no administration wants to take on the National Debt issue because the long term fix is likely a short term detriment to the grift economy."
FIFY. How about quit spending. Look what the government funded in 1970. Cut everything not there, out.
Already had 2 wheelbarrows to haul the worthless paper dollars round in.
But then I realized that's maybe why the Fed is pushing the idea of an Electronic US currency.
🤫 A POSSIBLE PLUS SIDE OF HYPERINFLATION 🤫.
In a hyperinflation economy, a working person's wages will increase to the point where a fixed rate home loan can be paid off in a month using the worthless currency.
[American Thinker] Joe Biden is buying votes again. His tax revenue proposal for fiscal year 2025 promotes targeted tax increases that affect white individuals more than other groups with the goal of helping to ease racial wealth inequality.
By raising taxes on accumulated wealth based upon income and capital gains, a Treasury Department analysis shows that black and Hispanic families could see a reduction in wealth disparity. The disparity cause: whites tend to own assets subject to capital gains tax and/or fall into higher income tax brackets.
As part of his tax proposal, Joe Biden proposes an expansion of the child tax credit, including a temporary raise in the per-child amount and a permanent restoration of the full refundability provision. The Treasury Department reports that this proposal will help alleviate the wealth racial disparity because a greater percentage of blacks and Hispanics have historically benefited from the credit.
Preston Brashers, research fellow for tax policy in the Heritage Foundation's Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget, said, "Taxing capital gains at 44.6% at the federal level -- not to mention state taxes -- would be economic suicide... the net result would be less tax revenue, not more. The middle class and working class would be slammed with mass layoffs and lower real wages."
Chris Edwards, the Kilts Family Chair in Fiscal Studies at the Cato Institute, said, "Left-wing Biden economists seem unable to appreciate that raising taxes on capital hurts labor. Capital and labor work together to produce economic growth. They are complements. The Biden economists seem to hold the Marxist view that capital and labor are bitter enemies, and that the only way that labor can win is for the government to crush capital."
[WIRE] When it comes to the college protesters roiling America’s campuses and roiling America more generally, it’s time for Americans, and particularly their political class, to pick a side.
There are only two sides to this particular argument. One side despises America and the West, and the other side really likes America and the West. That binary decision is not particularly tough.
It is happening on college campuses all over America.
You get to pick which side you think the American president ought to stand on and which side you think the American people ought to stand on.
The first side includes a UCLA protest spokesperson saying, "I think, given the fact that the University of California is founded on colonialism, it’s inherently a violent institution. There needs to be an addressment (sic) of U.S. imperialism and its ties to the UC system, and how it perpetuates war and violence abroad. Not only abroad, but also here locally."
The case they are making is that the United States is bad. When they say the University of California is founded on colonialism, what they really mean is that the United States is founded on colonialism, imperialism, exploitation, and rape of the native peoples — and all the rest of this garbage.
[WIRE] In the late 90’s, a veteran and father of three named Norman Browning took a job as a volunteer coach at Woodlawn High School in East Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Browning had been educated by Baton Rouge’s public schools and he wanted to give back to the community. But very quickly, he realized that Woodlawn was very different from the school it used to be.
For one thing, there wasn’t much discipline. Teachers didn’t have close relationships with parents, and didn’t seem particularly interested in doing their jobs. Test scores were abysmal.
Additionally, demographics had shifted dramatically. Students were poorer than they used to be. And there wasn’t much of the fabled "diversity" that we’re told is so important. More than half of the student body was black. Meanwhile, Baton Rouge and its schools were becoming increasingly violent. (Currently it’s one of the ten most dangerous cities in the country).
Here’s just one recent example of a common sight in Baton Rouge schools:
[ET via ZERO] Approximately half of the health care workers in a Polish study were found to be averse to taking COVID-19 booster shots, with one of the reasons for this hesitancy being their negative experiences with previous vaccinations.
The peer-reviewed study, published in the Vaccines journal on April 29, examined factors underlying "hesitancy to receive COVID-19 booster vaccine doses" among health care workers (HCW) in Poland. Almost 50 percent of the participants were identified as being wary of the boosters. "Our study found that 42 percent of the HCWs were hesitant about the second booster dose, while 7 percent reported no intent to get vaccinated with any additional doses."
"As reasons for not vaccinating, participants most frequently highlighted lack of time, negative experiences with previous vaccinations, and immunity conferred by past infections."
The study involved 69 healthcare workers composed of nurses, midwives, physicians, other health associate professionals, and administrative staff.
At the time of enrollment, 47 had a history of lab-confirmed COVID-19 infection and 31 had at least one comorbidity, a situation where a person suffers from more than one disease or medical condition at the same time.
Remember the articles last year about the low percentage of CDC workers taking the Clot Shots and boosters. Which were quickly was challenged by Politico, Fact-Check, Social Media and the MSM.
[PJ] Former President Donald Trump was back in New York City Thursday for his criminal trial, and it's been a pretty good day for him. During Thursday's proceedings, Keith Davidson, the lawyer representing adult film actress Stormy Daniels, gave revealing testimony that completely undermines Bragg's charges against Trump.
For starters, Davidson argued that the $130,000 payment to Daniels should not be construed as "hush money" but rather as a legitimate "consideration" payment.
Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Johsua Steinglass pressed Davidson on the witness stand about Daniels’ statement in January 2018, which Davidson prepared for his client, that denied any relationship with Trump and said that her only interaction with Trump was "a few public appearances and nothing more."
"Rumors that I have received hush money from Donald Trump are completely false," the statement says."I don’t believe that Stormy ever alleged that any interaction with Trump was ’romantic,’" Davidson testified Thursday. But it is his understanding that Daniels had a sexual encounter with Trump.
He also said the payment "wasn’t a payoff.""It wasn’t a payoff. And it wasn’t hush money. It was consideration," Davidson said. Davidson added that he would never use "hush money" to describe the money exchange.
He would only refer to it as "consideration." "Consideration" is a contractual legal term for what someone gives in return for the promise to abide by a contract; in this case, money. The payment was labeled "legal fees" in Trump's accounting, which prosecutors allege amounted to fraud.
Steinglass asked about the truthfulness of the Daniels’ statement. Davidson replied, "I think it’s technically true."
If that wasn't bad enough, Davidson also testified that Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, was "despondent" when he didn't get a White House job after Trump won the presidency in 2016.
#1
Michael Cohen, Donald Trump's former lawyer, leaves his Manhattan apartment to report to prison, May 6, 2019. Michael Cohen, the former personal lawyer for ex-President Donald Trump, has settled his lawsuit against the Trump Organization seeking $1.3 million in legal fees, NBC News reported Friday.Jul 21, 2023
https://www.cnbc.com › 2023/07/21
Say Trump did do Stephanie Clifford, once, back in July 2006, 18 years ago. Then in 2018, 12+/- years later, someone in his business group decided to draw up a NDA and pay her $130k to sign the NDA for business image issues/reasons.
Many USA Companies, International F-1000's, regularly use NDA's.
YES! Even the US Gov. has involved persons sign a SF312 and other NDA's all the time.
The US Gov. even offers $$,$$$.00 fines, property confiscation and 20 years in a cozy cell for violating their NDA's.
E.G. Over the course of any Business, employee and/or Consultant's career, they will likely sign to and be bound by dozens of individual, or employer NDA's for years afterward.
While Trumps timing was crappy.
What about Biden's well known and seen videos and photos of him "accidentally ☺" groping little girls. Or how about Biden's own adult daughter, now stating Biden had her taking showers with him as a child and teen?
When will we see ANY DOJ, or state related sexual assault charges, for Biden?
#5
While consideration for an NDA certainly isn't illegal, isn't the issue here whether the funds came from Trump's campaign, rather than his personal funds?
[PJ] I know Trump's people released the "short list" of his VP picks, but I'm not buying it.
Trump is clown-slapping Biden in almost every demographic except for those pesky, middle-aged, white zin-chugging Caucasian broads. They hate Trump with the power of 17 Prius hybrid engines.
I am personally related to at least two such women. One screams like a wounded harpy when Trump is on TV. The other, after a weekend of debate, admitted that her hatred of Trump is largely "emotional." By that, I assume she means it is hip to abhor Trump in her estrogen-overdrive social circles. You know the type: suburban, middle-aged moms dressed in their LULULEMON threads, posing as shining examples of what today's women "should" be as they nibble avocado toast like their hipster kids.
I have a sneaking suspicion that loathing Trump is cool with women who graduated with a degree or two only to abandon them to push prams to "baby yoga" classes.
They see themselves as smarter than us MAGA-capped goobers who are not worthy of debate. When pressed into a discussion, these Hillary lovers dodge facts and figures of Trump's victories during his term, usually with a haughty "you're stupid" snicker and a condescending brickbat talking point, likely purloined from serial harridan Rachel Maddow. But Tulsi Gabbard can change some of their minds. Maybe not all, but perhaps just enough to push Trump into the White House and President Finger-diddle into the tar pits.
Gabbard is the woman that lefty "paint and sip" chicks pretend they are: strong, smart, and unafraid. Few, if any, of the Trump-hating ogresses out there have served in the military. Gabbard, not caring what others think, had the lychees to leave the Democrats, a move that could potentially end her political career, when she saw that the Party had become a laughable, donkey circus, a move most liberal women could never fathom. Of course, it doesn't hurt that, physically speaking, Gabbard is also a total stun gun.
#5
The Democratic wine moms — and now many grandmoms — are never going to be persuaded by a woman who is everything that they claim to be. Nor will Lt. Gov Sears change their minds when Condoleezza Rice could not.
Write them off as potential Trump votes and concentrate on making Biden so unappealing they stay home, instead.
#12
Trump is clown-slapping Biden in almost every demographic except for those pesky, middle-aged, white zin-chugging Caucasian broads. They hate Trump with the power of 17 Prius hybrid engines.
They have either Gayle King or Robin Roberts in the morning. Then they sit around watching the one-sided and deranged lunatics on The View rant, rave and foam at the mouth and they believe every word. In the evening it's Nora O'Donnel or David Muir and they hang on every word as if it's the gospel.
These pampered and sheltered people are shocked when a real woman like Kristi Noem shoots a vicious dog. They think the dog should have been taken to a shelter where a good deal of money would be spent to give the dog a lethal injection. They think the dog was some cute little puppy like they have in Manhattan or out in the suburbs. The chardonnay ladies never hear Noem's side of the story.
They didn't hear Sarah Palin and they won't hear Tulsi Gabbard either. A cartoon version of Gabbard is all you'll ever see on TV and it won't bear any resemblance to the truth.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
05/04/2024 13:03
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#13
TW - you get it.
I've been saying exactly that for years. There are certain demographics that resist being reached, but the #1 demographic that is totally unreachable is the AWFLs (and by extension, their p-whipped husbands). Any money or effort spent on trying to pry them from the D plantation is completely wasted.
Posted by: no mo uro ||
05/04/2024 13:18
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#17
People don't actually vote for the VP but the VP will be the frontrunner in 2028. It would be foolish to toss that away with a Democrat choice. You need someone that will continue programs set up by Trump. You need someone that is a fighter.
[ZERO] Scientists with close ties to China and the U.S. government is now saying that risky experiments he proposed—which some experts believe could have led to the creation of SARS-CoV-2—may have been done, deviating from earlier statements.
Another scientist involved in the proposal also says he doesn’t know if the work was done.
"To the very best of my knowledge ... the work hasn’t been done," Peter Daszak, president of the EcoHealth Alliance, told a congressional panel this week.
Mr. Daszak, however, admitted that he doesn’t know whether scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in China have done the proposed experiments.
"Do you know if the WIV started this work?" he was asked during a U.S. House of Representatives Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic hearing in Washington.
"No," Mr. Daszak replied.
"Then you can’t say that the work was not done," Mitch Benzine, the staff director for the panel, said.
"There is no evidence of the work being done. There is no evidence that WIV started it," Mr. Daszak said.
Has he ever asked Shi Zhengli, a top scientist at the WIV, whether she carried out the proposal?
"No," Mr. Daszak acknowledged.
The proposal in question, dubbed Project DEFUSE, was submitted in 2018 to the U.S. government as EcoHealth and its partners, including WIV, sought to take viruses from bats, reverse engineer them, and add features. Some outside scientists say the proposed work could have led to the creation of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) declined to fund the proposal, expressing concerns that adding features to coronaviruses could create a dangerous virus.
After the proposal was leaked to the public in 2021, Mr. Daszak and EcoHealth have said definitively that the proposed experiments never took place.
"The DARPA proposal was not funded. Therefore, the work was not done. Simple," Mr. Daszak told The Intercept in 2022.
#3
I still want to know whether the spike genetic sequence that Shi, as one of the authors, provided to Ralph Baric's group for the Univ. N Carolina work[0] aligns with the sequence in SAR2-CoV. The Contributions section states: "Z.-L.S.[Shi Zheng-Li] provided SHC014 spike sequences and plasmids."
#4
The House Republicans have done little with regard to attacking the corruption, government overreach, COVID and J6. They mostly facilitate Schumer and Biden initiatives. Romney or Might might as well be speaker. McCarthy was no better.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
05/04/2024 20:04
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[Townhall] Let me say right up front that I recognize that nothing I could say will sway the opinion of those who are predisposed to view the CIA as an evil, corrupt, and out of control entity. Some will not be open to a conversation that presents another point of view. Much of that feeling is based on some of the admittedly stupid things that the CIA has done over the years, certainly including in more recent years.
That being said, let me point out that while the CIA’s failures and sometimes questionable activities always become public knowledge, the successes of the CIA are almost never known by the American people. Those successes far outnumber the CIA’s failures by a large margin.
The times when the CIA has saved lives protecting the country from terrorist attacks, or the times they have provided America’s decision-makers with high quality intelligence to help them formulate our national policies, or have given us the edge in any international negotiations by providing our side with a better understanding of our adversaries weaknesses and bargaining positions are rarely, if ever known. If Americans knew about those successes then our enemies would as well, and they wouldn’t be much of a success after all.
Agency employees toil in anonymity. They don’t get the ticker-tape parades, the chests full of medals, or any public accolades afforded to others. They go about doing their jobs quietly, accepting that theirs is a profession that by its very nature has to be anonymous.
That leads to much of the mistrust of the Agency on the part of the American public. The Agency operates in the shadows, aptly described by the title of the book "Wilderness of Mirrors." When all one hears about is the times the Agency has ’stubbed its toe’ and never hears anything positive, it’s pretty natural to develop a sense of skepticism about anything the Agency is involved with.
Hollywood contributes by continually depicting the Agency negatively, showing Agency employees as corrupt and dishonest, and rarely presents even a balanced view of the Agency or the people who work for it. Movies based on historical events that the Agency had involvement with very often distort what actually happened, or at the least take a perfunctory jab at the Agency. It’s hard to combat the millions of dollars and popular personalities that Hollywood can invest into a project that’s sole intent is to show the Agency in an unfavorable light.
Much of that public mistrust is also deliberately being bred by our nation’s enemies. How better to distract the Agency from its important work than to have the Agency be constantly dealing with accusations, distortions, and outright fabrications created by covert influence operations conducted by our enemies? Made much easier nowadays by social media, not to mention a biased and corrupt news media. Mark Twain once said that "a lie can travel around the world before the truth can put on its shoes." Certainly a true statement in the age of TikTok, Facebook, and ’X’ (formerly Twitter).
All one has to do is plant a false, distorted, or misleading story and let it grow legs of its own. Before you know it the story will have amassed a million ’Likes’ and ’Shares,’ with not one person bothering to dig into things a little to find out whether it’s accurate or not. Our enemies are very adept at this and are spreading false information regularly. And Americans buy into it and pass it along every day.
Now let me talk about some of those stupid things the Agency has done over the years.
The CIA is part of the Executive Branch of our government, and they report to and answer to the President of the United States. Throughout the Agency’s history the head of the CIA has been directed by the president to conduct a variety of tasks deemed important and necessary by the president for our country’s national security. Often times in the past the president and his most senior advisors would give their marching orders, adding the caveat "I don’t care how you do it, in fact I don’t want to know how you do it, just make it happen." This has led to some of the stupid things the Agency has done. So there’s a shared blame. The Agency certainly merits criticism for choosing the method in which they carry out the president’s orders, just as the president’s administration bears responsibility for giving often vague and ambiguous orders, opening the door for mistakes and poor judgment.
It’s also important to understand that "The" CIA doesn’t do anything collectively. More appropriately would be to say that "certain elements of the CIA, usually a small, senior, and select group have been involved in something that crossed the line into the political realm, was a violation of the Agency’s charter, or even a violation of federal law, or American’s Constitutional rights."
Few Agency employees serving both overseas under cover or inside the U.S. have a clue what some political appointees in Headquarters might be up to on behalf of a particular president and his administration. So let’s not paint them all with a broad brush.
"The" Agency is made up of thousands and thousands of conscientious and dedicated patriots, many of whom put their lives at risk daily in some of the worst environments around the world on behalf of the American people. The Memorial Wall in the lobby at CIA Headquarters has a star etched into it recognizing each Agency employee who has made the ultimate sacrifice.
Let me finish by repeating what I said right up front. Many will summarily dismiss and won’t believe a word I’ve written. In their view the CIA is bad, and their minds are closed on the matter. But our nation and the decision-makers we elect need high quality intelligence information to help them lead, and to protect our country. The CIA certainly needs some fixing, but let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water. Good people at the CIA are doing their best to earn your trust. Don’t dismiss them based on the actions of a very few in senior leadership, or the brown-nosers who curry favor with them.
The Agency is much more than those individuals who bring discredit to a fine organization made up of patriots and heroes. That’s the truth about the CIA.
#5
The DNI is little more than powerless speed bump that alerts and insulates the hive. If it had any power it would control the intel community budget.
#7
The intelligence community and public health establishments are receiving similar levels of public (dis)esteem these days, well earned and for similar reasons. Playing politics and lying under cover of 'secrets' or 'expertise' erode confidence in institutions that need to be trusted, and likely do as much or more real damage as those is-only-you-knew successes.
#8
This is the author's bio. I'd say the article counts as special pleading:
Del W. Wilber brings over thirty years of experience in Security and Counterterrorism as a former Intelligence Officer serving with the Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of Defense in Eastern and Western Europe and the Middle East, and in law enforcement.
#10
I can easily believe the CIA rank and file are decent, hardworking people fighting for America. Or were at one time. Having worked in large hierarchical organizations, I know that corporate culture flows downstream. You may personally feel it is 'toMAYto', but if the boss says 'toMAHto', then toMAHto it is, and woe unto him who dares say otherwise.
Eventually, anyone who is not a team player leaves for greener pastures, gets fired or is sent off to work in the boonies. No doubt, the FBI was once filled with hardworking people trying to protect America. Same with the Center for Disease Control, at least until the CDC became the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Gosh, it's almost like we are seeing a pattern.
[Ynet] Long before discussions about the need for Israeli citizens to carry guns, Lovie Malespin had already unlocked her weapon and aimed at the target; How did someone who grew up in a closed Christian community - whose members are against carrying weapons - become a shooting instructor and a successful gun model who promotes Israeli weapons abroad?
Posted by: Grom the Reflective ||
05/04/2024
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#1
Actually there are guns permitted in the Amish community, intended to take out varmints that are a threat to livestock.
[Regnum] The Yemeni rebel movement Ansar Allah (Houthis) intends to attack ships associated with Israel or going to its ports everywhere, including in the Mediterranean Sea, if Israel launches an operation in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. This was stated on May 3 by the military representative of the organization, Yahya Sariya, on the Al Masirah TV channel.
Yeah, yeah. You’re repeating yourselves, kids.
“The Yemeni armed forces are ready to attack all ships violating the decision to ban Israeli shipping and heading to the ports of occupied Palestine, including in the Mediterranean Sea, in any area within range,” he said.
According to Saria, Yemeni rebels will begin such actions if the Israeli army launches a military operation in Rafah.
The Houthis also intend, in the event of such a development of the situation, to introduce “comprehensive sanctions” against all ships of companies related to supply and entry into Israeli ports, and will also prevent the passage of all ships of these companies through the area under their control, he added.
As Regnum reported, on April 30, Saria announced an attack by the Houthis on two US Navy destroyers and the bulk carrier Cyclades in the Red Sea, as well as the container ship MSC Orion in the Indian Ocean. According to him, drones and other weapons sent to US Navy destroyers achieved their intended targets.
Earlier in the day, the Royal Navy's Maritime Trade Coordination Center reported an attack on a merchant ship off the coast of Yemen. It was noted that none of the crew members were injured as a result of this.
On April 30, the US military announced the destruction of a Houthi UAV in the Red Sea. According to US Central Command, the Houthis also attacked a commercial vessel with three anti-ship ballistic missiles and three drones.
[SANA.SY] The Paleostinian Ministry of Health announced that the Israeli occupation committed 3 massacres in the stricken Gazoo
Islamic 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. In October of 2023 Gazooks belonging to Hamas invaded Israel, killed over a thousand people, raped a bunch of women. Then they bitched and moaned about genocide when their butts handed to them in the entirely justified retaliation. Strip during the past 24 hours, leaving 26 deaders and 51 maimed.
The Ministry explained in a statement today that the number of victims of the ongoing genocidal war on the Gaza Strip since the seventh of last October has risen to 34,622 deaders and 77,867 maimed, while a number of victims are still under rubble and on the roads and ambulance and civil defense crews cannot reach them.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/04/2024
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#1
26 deaders and 51 maimed.
Those are rookie numbers. You gotta pump those numbers up.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a May 3 briefing that weapons transferred to the Kiev regime are “surfacing” in Western countries, which themselves are becoming victims of their own supplies.
Official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova
“Terrorist attacks are already being carried out around the world directly on the territory of the countries of the collective West, in which weapons [supplied to Ukraine] are involved,” the diplomat said.
Zakharova drew attention to the fact that Western weapons supplied to the Kyiv regime appear not only in terrorist attacks, but also in conflict zones. No citizen of Western countries is immune from becoming a victim of these weapons and ideologies that the West instilled in Ukraine, she added.
The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry recalled that terrorists created and nurtured by the West returned there, and all Western projects similar to Ukraine ended the same way.
As Regnum reported, on May 2, Zakharova called on London to prepare for the fact that Kiev, like terrorists, would strike with British weapons on the territory of the kingdom. The diplomat recalled that at one time, al-Qaeda terrorists, nurtured by the West, carried out terrorist attacks in Western countries.
At a briefing on May 3, Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov called British Foreign Minister David Cameron's statement about Kiev's right to attack targets on Russian territory dangerous. A Kremlin spokesman said that this kind of escalation of tensions around the Ukrainian conflict could potentially pose a danger to European security.
[KGNSTV] According to NBC News, the Justice Department is expected to announce the indictment of Congressman Henry Cuellar.
NBC News stated that two sources familiar with the matter informed the outlet of the expected formal charge against the Texas congressman.
This comes after Cuellar’s house and campaign officers were raided in Laredo back in January of 2022 as part of a federal investigation into Azerbaijan and a group of U.S. businessmen who have ties to the country, law enforcement said at the time.
Since the raid, Cuellar’s office and the congressman have stated that they have been fully cooperating with the investigation.
Cuellar is a one-time co-chair of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus.
At this time, it’s not clear if the indictment is related to the 2022 raid. The Justice Department declined to comment.
Shortly after the report came to light, Congressman Cuellar issued a statement.
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/04/2024
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#1
There’s a Congressional Caucus for Azerbaijan? If he’s co-chair that means there has to be at least one more member. If you had told me that there was such a caucus before today, I would have written it off as a fake club that kids use for the purposes of college admissions, but now we discover that the caucus is rife with corruption. Just goes to show that Congress can find some loot from anywhere.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
05/04/2024 15:28
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#2
Wow, you'd think the DoJ is treating this n'er-do-well like Hunter Biden or something.
#3
Given the current state of the DoJ, you have to wonder what the Honorable Representative Cuellar did to get on somebody's bad side.
Apparently, the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus really is a thing. Judging by the membership list, it appears to be a bi-partisan grift with an equal number of Ds and Rs.
#7
^ Yup. Lena Dunham's alma mater, which alone should have lost them accreditation
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/04/2024 12:11
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#8
My brother is a OC grad. He has to translate the happenings to me. By appearance, we have a lefty feminist lax coach being persecuted like a Menshevik by an administration that is so left that she looks like a reactionary.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
05/04/2024 15:06
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[SANA.SY] A number of Paleostinians were martyred and others were maimed on Friday dawn, as a result of the Israeli occupation aircraft bombing areas in Rafah, southern Gazoo
Islamic 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. In October of 2023 Gazooks belonging to Hamas invaded Israel, killed over a thousand people, raped a bunch of women. Then they bitched and moaned about genocide when their butts handed to them in the entirely justified retaliation. Strip.
The occupation aircraft bombed a house in al-Zuhur neighborhood, killing six Paleostinians and wounding others, mostly children and women, Paleostinian Media reported.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred ||
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The sabotage being that Bibi refused to surrender and promised that if there’s no deal within a week or two Israel will attack Rafah. How dreadful of him.
[GEO.TV] Hamas ...a regional Iranian catspaw,... leader Hossam Badran has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of undermining prospects for a truce in the war.
The top Hamas official told AFP that the group was in the process of conducting internal dialogues within its leadership and with allied groups before negotiators returned to Cairo to continue negotiations towards a truce.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred ||
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[GEO.TV] At least 20 people bit the dust while 21 sustained injuries after a passenger bus veered off a narrow mountain road and plummeted into a ravine in a remote area of Diamer district, Gilgit Baltistan, police told Geo News on Friday.
The mishap took place at the Yashokhal area on the Karakoram Highway in Diamer early Friday morning at around 5:30am, according to police.
The bus was on its way from Rawalpindi to Gilgit. Meanwhile,
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred ||
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[The Pipeline] Jack Dunphy
Have we learned nothing from the past? It’s not as though we need to explore antiquity for lessons in how to confront today’s issues. While such an exploration would no doubt be helpful, any effort in that direction is beyond – far, far beyond – the stunted intellectual capacities of our current crop of ruling elites, certainly to include our degreed betters running our so-called institutions of higher learning.
… Still, one prays for more wisdom in those we’ve entrusted with authority. For the most part, we pray in vain. Witness the chaos this week on display on college campuses across the country, where we find that the protesters who brought so much death and disorder in 2020 have swapped their BLM T-shirts for kaffiyehs and adopted the Gazans as their Cause of the Season. Same clowns, different circus.
In the small hours of yesterday morning, police officers at last routed the motley rabble of such people who had been occupying the main quad on the campus at UCLA, arresting more than 200 of them and scattering the rest. Left behind were tons of assorted garbage and graffiti covering some of the school’s most iconic buildings.
UCLA administrators had taken a hands-off approach to the encampment for days, this despite the fact that some of the occupiers had taken it upon themselves to limit access to one of the school’s main libraries as final exams were drawing near. A request sent out days earlier to other University of California campuses for additional police officers was withdrawn, leaving the 65-man UCLA P.D. to cope with what was clearly an escalating problem.
Late on Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning, counter-protesters arrived on campus, apparently compelled to action in the absence of legitimate authority. They brawled with the occupiers for hours until a sufficient number of officers from the LAPD, the L.A. Sheriff’s Department, and the California Highway Patrol could be assembled and restore order.
It need not have come to this. UCLA officials didn’t even have to recall the events of 2020 for instruction. All they had to do was look at how other schools had responded to similar protests over the previous month. On April 5 at Pomona College, about 40 miles east of UCLA, pro-Hamas protesters invaded and occupied the office of the school’s president, who promptly announced that any who failed to leave the building would be arrested and suspended from school. Police from several agencies were called in and made 19 arrests. We’ve heard nary a peep from Pomona College since.
Officials at the University of Florida issued a statement welcoming peaceful expressions of dissent, but warning that the school “is not a daycare, and we do not treat protesters like children.” Last Monday, nine protesters were arrested at the school’s Gainesville campus, which has since been calm.
But UCLA Chancellor Gene Block chose the cowardly path of least resistance, allowing the placement of tents and barricades on the quad and watching idly as lowlifes from across Southern California and beyond descended on the campus and began dictating the movements of anyone not sympathetic the plight of the Palestinians.
What was it that prevented him from adopting the Florida approach? Why not announce that protesters were free to espouse all the vitriol they liked as long as they didn’t interfere with others’ pursuit of an education? Praise Hamas until you’re blue in the face, but don’t put up any tents and don’t block access to classrooms and libraries. Simple enough, it would seem, but too lacking in nuance for Mr. Block.
He has now reaped what he sowed, with a portion of his campus a shambles that will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair, to say nothing of the coming bill for police overtime from the departments he had to enlist in his rescue. The UCLA endowment is about to take a hit.
Jack Dunphy is the pseudonym of a police officer in Southern California. He served with the Los Angeles Police Department for more than 30 years. Now retired from the LAPD, he works for a police department in a neighboring city. Twitter: @OfficerDunphy
Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title.
[Korrespondent] 22:16 Russia has changed the tactics of using drones, said Air Force Command spokesman Ilya Yevlash: “We see that the tactics have changed somewhat. They have recently not used at all or have significantly reduced the number of attack drones of the Shahed type, as was the case, for example, two three weeks ago. The enemy has now activated reconnaissance drones to correct their missile attacks." Continued on Page 49
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] The United States tried to the last to maintain a military presence in Niger, and the authorities in Niamey had to begin deploying the Russian contingent before the Pentagon removed its personnel. At the same time, Washington has somewhere to relocate its Niger bases in order to maintain its presence in West Africa. At the same time, with the departure of the Americans, it is likely that Niger’s military cooperation with Russia will further deepen.
Ivan Loshkarev, a researcher at the Center for the Study of Political Elites at the Institute of International Studies at MGIMO, shared this opinion with a Regnum correspondent, commenting on the information that the Russian military appeared at an air base in the capital of Niger, where American military personnel are stationed.
The US, as the expert pointed out, still has enough opportunities to maintain the previous scale of its military presence in Africa at the expense of other countries on the continent, led by regimes much more loyal to Washington. The Pentagon constantly operates about thirty military bases in Africa, including five large ones, including a second base in Niger - in Agadez, where drones are tested. It is not yet clear where exactly the American Niger bases will move, but, according to Loshkarev, the most likely options for a base from Agadez are Mauritania and Cote d'Ivoire.
At the same time, the Niger authorities clearly decided to speed up the US withdrawal from their country, the Africanist noted. The Pentagon was literally shown the door by sending Russian troops into the airfield, which the Americans had not yet left.
“The Americans are in no hurry to leave, and they have spent the last few months not preparing for evacuation, but trying to persuade the Niger authorities to abandon their decision, accompanying the persuasion with threats. So there is an element of irritation in this move by Niamey. A similar situation was with the French, who at first did not want to leave under the pretext that they did not recognize the new authorities and, accordingly, did not recognize their decisions. And for the Niger authorities this is a matter of authority, I would say. That is, if you don’t have power, then they won’t listen to you. If you have power, they listen to you,” the expert commented.
Time will tell how the situation will develop in Niger, Loshkarev noted. The fact is that one of the key risks for this large West African country with rich mineral deposits is the terrorist threat, which, however, is still much less urgent than in a number of other countries in the natural African strip known as the Sahel.
“But the trend in recent years shows that terrorist activity in the region is gradually moving from north to south. And if this continues to happen, then Niger’s cooperation with Russia will strengthen, and they will “ask” not only the French and Americans, but also the Italians - they are also present there. Then, apparently, Europe’s military presence in Niger will end,” the expert said.
The Russian military appeared in the capital of Niger, Niamey, on the territory of the air base where military personnel from the United States are stationed. This was reported by Reuters on May 2, citing a Pentagon representative.
According to the agency, Russian military personnel entered the territory of Air Base 101 in Niamey, located next to the Amani Diori International Airport. The move follows Niger's decision to expel nearly 1,000 US troops from the country. A Reuters source clarified that Pentagon representatives had no contact with the Russians who occupied a separate hangar at the air base.
“The situation is not very good, but in the short term it is controllable,” the agency’s interlocutor said.
As Regnum reported, in mid-March the Niger authorities broke the agreement with the United States, which allowed the American military to be on the territory of the West African country. A representative of the new Niger authorities explained that this decision was made after Washington violated diplomatic protocol.
In April, the government of neighboring Chad also threatened to terminate the agreement with the United States. In an official letter, the American military was demanded to leave the military base located in N'Djamena.
More from regnum.ru US military in Niger declares heightened alert due to Russia
The US military has declared increased combat readiness due to the deployment of Russian troops in Niger. This was reported by a source in the security forces of the African state.
It is clarified that the Russian military is stationed at the 101st air base in the capital of Niger, Niamey, next to the Americans. About 150 Italian soldiers and about 100 Germans are also serving there. At the same time, Italians and Germans behave calmly.
“The Americans have declared increased combat readiness, constantly wear helmets and body armor and behave extremely nervously,” Gazeta.Ru quoted the source as saying.
As Regnum previously reported, Reuters, citing a Pentagon representative, reported that Russian military personnel entered the airbase in Niamey. This step followed the decision of the Niger authorities to expel almost a thousand US military personnel from the country. It was clarified that the American military had no contact with the Russians.
Later, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said that the United States was closely monitoring the situation with the presence of Russian military personnel at the air base in Niger. According to him, the Russian military are located in a separate complex. He added that he does not yet see this as a significant problem in terms of protecting American forces.
Russia is developing relations with African countries in all areas, including defense, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on May 3, commenting on reports of the appearance of Russian troops at a US military base in Niger.
In March, Niger authorities terminated a military agreement with the United States that allowed American military personnel to remain in the country. Niger's Interior Minister Mohamed Toumba said the country is interested in the Russian military training its troops.
“Russian troops are present, but do not overlap with American troops at Air Base 101, located next to Diori Hamani International Airport in the Niger capital Niamey,” Al Jazeera reports the words of the head of the Pentagon.
According to Austin, the Russian military is located in a separate complex and does not have access to US forces and American equipment. He added that he does not yet see this as a significant problem in terms of protecting American forces.
Russian troops have been stationed at an air base in Niger that houses US troops since Niger authorities told Washington in March that the US must withdraw nearly 1,000 troops stationed in the country.
As Regnum reported, in March the Niger authorities terminated the military agreement with the United States, which allowed American military personnel to remain in the country. Niger's Interior Minister Mohamed Toumba said the country is interested in the Russian military training its troops.
It was noted that the US decision to withdraw troops from Niger was a strategic victory for Russia. Russian flags were raised in the capital of Niger on May 2. The tricolor was hoisted at 15 roundabouts in the country
Adds RIA Novosti on their V Kontakte page:
“The Russians are located at the 101st airbase next to the Americans. About 150 Italian soldiers and about a hundred Germans are also serving there.The Americans have declared increased combat readiness, constantly wear helmets, body armor and behave extremely nervously,” the agency’s interlocutor said.
The source added that the Germans and Italians are behaving calmly.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Viktor Vasiliev
[REGNUM] The second Iran-Africa International Summit took place last week. The Islamic Republic hosted economic ministers from more than 30 African states. Nevertheless, non-economic methods remain Tehran’s main means of influence on the Black Continent.
IRANIAN INTEREST
In recent years, Iran, along with Russia, has begun to pay significant attention to Africa. Thus, Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi toured Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe in July 2023. The trip to the African continent was the first of its kind by an Iranian president to Africa since 2012.
Of course, Iran had and still has an African strategy. But its current activation became possible only after reconciliation with Saudi Arabia. Because until recently, the Iranian presence on the Dark Continent was largely a competition with the Saudis.
Thus, in March 2005, the country signed an “agreement on assistance for $1.5 million to the budget of the Ghanaian state.” In 2017, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif opened a hospital in Kampala, Uganda, partially funded by the Islamic Republic. The country also spends significant sums on building social and health infrastructure, particularly through the Red Crescent.
The Red Crescent originally being the Ottoman empire’s counterpart to the International Red Cross of Christendom. Iran used to have the Red Lion and Sun, but when the Mullahs took over they traded it in for the Ummah’s Red Crescent. It’s interesting that both Iran and Turkey are willing to beggar themselves tossing alms to indigent Moslem nations in competition with the oil sheikdoms, tossing bad money after worse.
Iran, which at one stage benefited from high oil prices, also provided financial and economic support to Sudan, Somalia, Senegal, Ethiopia and DR Congo.
Of course, Iran is rapidly developing economic relations.
Among the areas of cooperation between Iran and African countries are car assembly plants, oil supplies, gas production, electricity, and consumer goods. Iran is gradually increasing its trade with Africa.
According to Masoud Kamali Ardakani, former director general of the Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) Iran office for Arab and African countries, trade between Iran and Africa reached a record US$1.2 billion in 2017 and 2018.
But despite this growth, trade with Iran in 2018 accounted for only 0.12% of Africa's total trade with the world.
Iran's main market in recent years has been East Asia, especially China. Iran's Africa policy is a side project linked to the larger project of competing with the United States (and, until recently, Saudi Arabia).
The Soviet Union used to try to compete with America on spending. We all know how that went.
IRAN-AFRICA SUMMIT
Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi, who attended the summit, addressed the African guests.
“It is necessary to develop a clear program both for the entire African continent and for each African country with a specific schedule. The first step between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the African continent is will, fortunately this will exists and this meeting is a symbol of the will of African countries and Iran to expand economic relations,” Raisi said.
The summit program, including the participation of guests in the 4-day exhibition of the export potential of the Islamic Republic of Iran "EXPO 2024", was quite practical.
According to Mohammad Nematzadeh, Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade of the Islamic Republic of Iran, trade between Iran and Africa could potentially reach $5 billion. Currently, relevant departments estimate the annual trade turnover between Iran and African countries at $1.278 billion.
Representative of the Trade Development Commission Hane Samat recorded that direct export of Iranian goods has been established with 39 countries of the African continent.
Among the systemic measures to intensify cooperation with African countries are the dispatch and work of 12 business consultants, the opening of Iranian houses of innovation and technology, as well as the opening of export centers on the African continent.
Iran and African countries also created a joint committee on agricultural cooperation.
The head of the foreign trade department of the Organization of Rural Cooperatives of Iran, Seyed Ruhollah Latifi, said during the summit: “ Iran can, given the African continent's need for fuel and energy, technology and mechanization of agricultural production, investment, design and construction of infrastructure such as mining, dams, road construction and construction projects, oil refinery overhauls, gas production, etc.”
IRAN'S TRADITIONAL STRATEGY IN AFRICA
The Islamic Revolution of 1979 was not only a turning point in the history of Iran, but also radically affected Tehran's relations with the African continent.
The new Iranian government sought to export the Islamic revolution and was distinguished by its ardent anti-imperialism.
Anti Christian imperialism, anyway. They’re just fine with Iranian imperialism.
These two factors were reflected in a special way in relations with African countries.
For a long time, Tehran’s African vector remained a continuation of the Cold War with Saudi Arabia. Iran, which has 25 embassies in Africa, has faced stiff opposition from the kingdom. The Sunni state has an extremely negative attitude towards the presence of Shiite Iran in Africa.
As a consequence, countries such as Egypt and Morocco also became concerned about Iranian proselytism. Morocco has twice severed relations with Iran. The first time in 2009, condemning Tehran's religious "activism"; the second in 2018, accusing Iran of supporting the Polisario rebel movement in Western Sahara through the Lebanese Hezbollah.
Senegal severed diplomatic relations with Iran after the seizure of an arms shipment in Lagos in 2010.
And after the execution by Saudi Arabia of the Shiite sheikh Nimr Bakr al-Nimr in 2016, Djibouti and Somalia also announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Iran. Sudan, Tehran's longtime ally, did the same.
As for anti-imperialism, the Islamic Republic participates in the non-aligned movement and acts as a defender of oppressed countries in the face of Western (primarily US) domination. Iran is trying to show that the country is not isolated on the international stage and that it is not the only country having problems with the United States.
There will definitely be points of contact between Pan-Africanism and the image of Iran as a fighter against Western hegemony. It can be predicted that the Pan-African public will soon have flags of Iran and portraits of Ayatollah Khomeini, along with the Russian tricolor and the image of Putin and Che Guevara.
Angels of light, all three.
It is these two key trends that are supported by Iran’s humanitarian and economic initiatives in Africa.
Among the areas of interest for Iran on the continent are agriculture, the security sector and religion (in Nigeria, for example, there is a Shiite community). Part of the conductor of Iran's interests is the Lebanese community, which is ubiquitous in African countries.
MATING POINTS
At the moment, there is a third characteristic feature of the Iranian presence on the Dark Continent: coincidence with Russian interests.
The most active actions of the Iranians practically coincide with Russian activity in Africa. In particular, the Alliance of Sahel States raised the flag of resistance to Western hegemony and objectively found itself in the same boat with Iran.
For the Islamic Republic, the emergence of new military authorities in Africa has opened up an opportunity to expand influence on the continent and support the overall process of returning to the international stage.
Given the threats of jihadism, arms exports are also relevant, especially against the background of the winding down of military partnerships with the United States and France.
The last track common to Russia and Iran fell on Niger.
According to many experts, it was Niger’s decision to get closer to Iran that led to a conflict situation with the United States and the decision to quickly curtail military-technical cooperation with Washington. Allegedly, according to intelligence data, the American side learned that Tehran was negotiating with Niamey to purchase 300 tons of uranium.
Africa Intelligence in a recent publication reveals confidential negotiations between the Nigerian junta and the Iranian government on the supply of 300 tons of uranium.
As is known, the US attempt to limit Niamey in the choice of partners ended with the demand of local authorities to leave the country and the simultaneous arrival of military specialists from the Afrika Korps of the Russian Defense Ministry.
DIVISION OF LABOR
At the moment, there is no coordination between Tehran and Moscow in the African direction. But this could be a logical step.
Because both Russian and Iranian strategies are quite niche, but at the same time not conflicting with each other - in some places they are competing, and in others they are complementary.
In a narrow circle of allies (including Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea), Russia could build an extremely effective and independent strategy, completely “working” and interesting for all African countries.
From a distance, this could resemble the activities of the Warsaw Pact countries on the Dark Continent.
Yes, there was strong competition between the countries, not to mention friction with communist China or Yugoslavia. But overall, this provided a good range of opportunities for African countries and effective tools to counter the influence of France and other Western states.
Such cooperation can give a synergistic effect by using the strengths of each of the countries friendly to Russia.
For example, Iran is excellent at organizing the formation and subsequent effective work with proxy forces - we are talking about the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon. In Africa, this niche can be filled by certain groups of pan-African activists.
And even the military-technical side of Iran’s presence may be familiar to us from the Northern Military District. It is also necessary to understand that the UAV market in Africa will be occupied, if not by Iran, then by Türkiye. The first partner, of course, is more preferable for us.
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[YouTube] The looming threat of $962 billion in overdue debt poses a severe risk of nearly 300 banks failing, primarily driven by the collapse of the commercial real estate market.
[Regnum] If the United States does not deal with its own national debt, which has already exceeded the $34 trillion mark, the American currency will completely depreciate.American entrepreneur Elon Musk made this statement on his page on the social network X.
According to the businessman, the authorities of the United States of America must take decisive measures to resolve the situation with the national debt. At the very least, it is necessary to slow down the rate of its growth.
“We need to do something about our national debt, otherwise the dollar will be worthless,” Musk expressed his concerns.
As Regnum reported, at the beginning of the year, the US Congressional Budget Office published a report according to which the American national debt is expected to continue to grow and reach a historical anti-record by the end of 2034.
At the same time, US President Joe Biden, speaking to members of the House of Representatives and Senate on March 8 with his annual State of the Union address, called the American economy the envy of the whole world. According to him, the unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest level in 50 years, and inflation rates have dropped from 9 to 3%.
Former US President Donald Trump, in turn, stated that the American economy had fallen into decline during Joe Biden's presidency, and inflation had gotten out of control, which would lead to the dollar losing its status as the world standard. According to the politician, the decline of the American currency will be the largest failure of the United States in 200 years.
"[We have a war in Ukraine. Ukraine is fighting against Russia. What will happen to the world economy if Russia wins?] Video is in English with Russian subtitles.
It will be a disaster. This is the first war in Europe, a free democratic country was attacked by 200 or 300 thousand Russians soldiers under the threat of nuclear war. We have never had nuclear blackmail before, which also teaches a lesson to people. Having nuclear weapons is very good, because people will be afraid of you. This all affects military alliances, all global economic alliances. wins, many in Europe will ask the question: “America will protect Europe? Can we rely on the States?” And this is also a question of economics, because if Russia wins, there will be economic chaos in the world.”
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[EngMilRu] The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.
The Zapad Group of Forces' units improved the situation along the front line and inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the 14th and 44th mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Sinkovka and Dvurechnaya (Kharkov region).
Three attacks launched by assault groups of the AFU 63rd Mechanised, 77th Airmobile, and 1st National Guard brigades were repelled close to Berestovoye (Kharkov region), Stelmakhovka, and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).
The enemy losses amounted to up to 355 Ukrainian troops and two motor vehicles.
In the course of counter-battery warfare, one Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, one U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzer, one 152-mm Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, two U.S.-made 105-mm M119 gun, one UK-made 105-mm L-119 howitzer, and one BM-21 Grad MLRS were eliminated.
The Yug Group of Forces units took more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on the 79th, 80th air assault, 46th Airmobile, 24th Mechanised brigades of the AFU and 4th National Guard Brigade close to Spornoye, Konstantinovka, and Krasnogorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 340 Ukrainian troops, one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, four motor vehicles, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, one UK-made 105-mm L-119 howitzer, as well as Nota electronic warfare station.
As a result of active actions, the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation and inflicted losses on the 3rd Assault Brigades, 24th, 110th mechanised brigades of the AFU and 109th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Mayorsk, Novgorodskoye, Semyonovka, and Rozovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The Russian troops also repelled ten counter-attacks launched by assault groups of the AFU 68th, 71st jaeger, 142nd Infantry, 23rd, 100th, 115th mechanised brigades of the AFU near Keramik, Novokalinovo, Ocheretino, Solovyevo, and Netailovo (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 360 Ukrainian troops, one U.S.-made Abrams tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, two armoured fighting vehicles, five pick-up trucks, one U.S.-made 155-mm M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system, one Czech-made 152-mm DANA M2 self-propelled gun, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, and one D-30 howitzer.
The Vostok Group of Forces captured more advantageous lines and defeated the units of the 58th Mechanised Infantry Brigade of the AFU and 128th Territorial Defence Brigades near Staromayorskoye and Prechistovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
Three counter-attacks launched by assault groups of the 106th Territorial Defence Brigade were repelled near Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 135 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, and one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer.
The units of the Dnepr Group of Forces have inflicted fire damage on manpower of the AFU 35th Marine Brigade and the 121st Territorial Defence Brigade close to Mikhailovka and Ivanovka (Kherson region).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 30 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm Paladin self-propelled artillery system, and one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer.
Operational-Tactical Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have eliminated one engagement radar of the S-300PT surface-to-air missile system and one launching vehicle of the German-made IRIS-T anti-aircraft missile system have been neutralised.
In addition, the Balovoye oil base was hit by fuel supplies for AFU military personnel, as well as enemy manpower and hardware in 102 areas.
Air defence systems shot down 40 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles and three French-made Hammer aerial guided bombs during the day.
In total, 593 airplanes, 270 helicopters, 23,713 unmanned aerial vehicles, 512 anti-aircraft missile systems, 15,908 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,278 combat vehicles of multiple rocket launcher systems, 9,276 field artillery guns and mortars, and 21,457 special military vehicles have been neutralised since the beginning of the special military operation.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Artemy Sharapov
[REGNUM] The offensive of the Russian army in Donbass is gaining momentum. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are unable to seize the initiative and launch a counterattack, so they are retreating along the entire front.The day before, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that since the beginning of the year, Russian troops have taken control of more than 547 square kilometers of the territory of new regions of the country - and continue to advance. The most difficult situation for the Ukrainian Armed Forces is developing in two sectors of the front: in the area of the city of Chasov Yar and in the Avdeevsky direction.
In the first direction, the Russian army is advancing with the goal of encircling the Kanal microdistrict and preparing for its assault. At the second, the Ukrainian Armed Forces, under pressure, abandoned positions that they planned to hold for at least several weeks. After this, a number of commentators hastened to declare that the Ukrainian defense in Donbass had collapsed, the Ukrainian Armed Forces were fleeing and could not organize resistance.
In reality, this is not the case, a source in the ranks of the 1st Donetsk Army Corps, who is now in the Avdeevka direction, told IA Regnum. After a series of failures, the Ukrainian Armed Forces regrouped and are putting up fierce resistance. In turn, the Russian army is methodically opening up Ukrainian fortified areas.
“To say that the front has wavered is, firstly, disrespectful towards the fighters. And secondly, it is simply false. Yes, there is serious, important success in the direction of Ocheretino, in general in the Avdeevsky direction. But for now the enemy front exists,” the source said.
BUILDERS ON THE FRONT LINE
The offensive of the Russian army destroyed the plans of the Ukrainian Armed Forces for the organized withdrawal of forces to new frontiers. The command of the Ukrainian army believed that the troops located in the Avdiivka direction would be able to hold the Berdychi-Semyonovka line and the settlement of Ocheretino to the north, in order to allow formations in the rear to form a defense. But after the Ukrainian Armed Forces fled from positions near Ocheretino, Russian troops occupied both the village itself and the nearest settlements - Novobakhmutovka, Solovyovo and Novokalinovo.
According to the latest data, battles are taking place for the settlements of Keramik and Sokol.
Volunteers close to the Ukrainian 47th Brigade blamed the neighboring 115th Brigade for the failure. They also answered that bloggers were to blame for everything, discrediting the honor of the brigade.
In any case, a sharp change in the front-line situation forced the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to throw dwindling reserves into battle. Military personnel from construction units were even sent to the front line to build a defense line 5–8 kilometers from the front, the Japanese publication Japan Times reported.
This information was confirmed by the source of the news agency Regnum.
“I haven’t seen anything like that with shovels in the trenches, but it’s a fact that they threw just anyone. I think at the top they had panic and serious fears that the front would naturally collapse,” the interlocutor noted.
To stop the Russian breakthrough, the 110th brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which had previously held positions in Avdeevka and was assigned for reorganization due to heavy losses, was urgently returned to the front. According to available data, it was not possible to restore the full-time strength of the brigade, but the Ukrainian command simply has no other choice.
The threat of a defense breakthrough forces the Ukrainian Armed Forces to throw forcibly mobilized Ukrainians into the most difficult areas, but they cannot boast of either a strong fighting spirit or good preparation.
HOPE FOR WESTERN MILITARY ASSISTANCE
In fact, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are now preparing for new retreats. Real, not fictitious, lines of defense are being built in the rear of the Ukrainian troops.
Obviously, the Ukrainian command allows a retreat from Chasov Yar. The closest defensive line is being created on the approaches to the city of Konstantinovka - 10 kilometers to the east. In this direction, not only trenches and trenches appeared, but also long anti-tank ditches, minefields and “dragon’s teeth”.
In the Avdeevsky direction, similar defense centers are being built around the agglomeration Selidovo - Novogrodovka - Mirnograd and further around the city of Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeysk). In both cases, the emphasis is on dense urban development, supported by industrial zones and field fortifications.
At the same time, Ukraine continues to rely on the West, expecting that the situation at the front will be corrected by a new portion of military assistance from the United States and Great Britain. According to unconfirmed reports, the Ukrainian Armed Forces will receive what they have desperately needed lately: cannon and rocket artillery, as well as artillery ammunition, the reserves of which have almost run out. Also in Kyiv they intend to strike the rear of Russian troops using supplied ATACMS missiles.
New supplies will not change the situation at the front, but they must be taken seriously, warns the Regnum news agency source.
“No one will rush headlong now, even if somewhere the enemy caved in. Any retreat could turn out to be a deceptive maneuver, and our breakthrough could result in encirclement and defeat. Therefore, the authors who write that it’s time to go to Kiev should curb their ardor,” the interlocutor advises.
FIGHT FOR "SKY"
The Russian army successfully attacked, partly because it actively used front-line aviation, using adjustable aircraft ammunition (CAM) of various types. If the Ukrainian Armed Forces acquire new air defense systems and F-16 fighters, this will make it difficult to work “in the sky.”
Press Secretary of the Ukrainian Air Force Command Ilya Yevlash said that Ukraine will receive the first such fighters after Easter. At the same time, the F-16, Yevlash added, can work in conjunction with the MiG-29 and Su-27, which will increase the efficiency of their use.
If the Ukrainian Armed Forces actually receive new equipment and weapons, Russian troops may pause the offensive in order to rebuild tactics taking into account new realities. The command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will try in every possible way to prolong the pause and use it to strengthen the defense. However, the Russian army will definitely not allow the enemy to “cement” the front.
[NEWARAB] US President Joe The Big Guy Biden ...46th president of the U.S. We get to suffer the consequences... warned on Thursday that "order must be restored" on college campuses after a series of pro-Gazoo
Islamic 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. In October of 2023 Gazooks belonging to Hamas invaded Israel, killed over a thousand people, raped a bunch of women. Then they bitched and moaned about genocide when their butts handed to them in the entirely justified retaliation. encampments were established across the country.
Biden stressed that the rule of law "must be upheld" hours after police violent mostly peacefully dispersed peaceful protests at universities in Los Angeles and New York, arresting hundreds of students.
Across the US, notably at Columbia and UCLA, students have occupied university lawns and squares in support of Gaza, demanding that authorities sever ties with Israeli colleges and divest from companies linked to Israel.
This week, police at Columbia and UCLA tore down tents and dismantled barricades that students had erected to protect themselves from attacks by counter-protesters.
"We are not an authoritarian nation where we silence people or squash dissent, but neither are we a lawless country," Biden said in a televised speech from the White House. "We're a civil society, and order must prevail."
All week, Biden's team has contended with the rhetoric and slogans of student protesters, accusing some of antisemitism while seemingly misinterpreting their words.
"President Biden has stood against repugnant, antisemitic smears and violent mostly peaceful rhetoric his entire life," Andrew Bates, a White House assistant press secretary, said in a statement.
"He condemns the use of the term 'intifada,' as he has the other tragic and dangerous hate speech displayed in recent days."
The Arabic word 'intifada', meaning "shake-off", refers to popular and usually peaceful uprisings in the Arab world against oppression.
Biden said that while he respected free speech, he would not tolerate 'unlawful' activities by student protesters.
"Vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses, forcing the cancellation of classes and graduation - none of this is a peaceful protest. Threatening people, intimidating people, instilling fear in people is not a peaceful protest," said Biden.
"Dissent is essential to democracy, but dissent must never lead to disorder or to denying the rights of others so students can finish the semester and their college education," Biden continued. "There’s a right to protest but not the right to cause chaos."
Observers at the camps have almost universally agreed the college protests have been peaceful, while student leaders insist pro-Israel opponents are defaming their popular movement with false accusations of violence and antisemitism.
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Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] The unique and grandiose phenomenon that is the aurora can easily be admired in the center of Russia; this is not science fiction. Moreover, this does not require strong optics, said leading researcher at the Institute of Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences Valery Shematovich in an interview with IA Regnum.
Several strong storms occurred on the Sun at the end of April - beginning of May, which were accompanied by emissions of clouds of solar plasma, the expert said. Such events are often actually accompanied by aurora.
“When the Earth in its orbit hits these “clouds,” so-called geomagnetic storms occur, that is, a disturbance in the magnetic field of our planet. Under normal conditions, when there are no strong storms, the aurora is observed in the region of the aurora oval - north of 65 degrees north latitude. But when a strong geostorm occurs, magnetic lines at mid-latitudes are also disturbed. Actually, the aurora is a precipitation of electrons from the earth’s magnetosphere, which excites atmospheric particles, atoms and molecules, mainly nitrogen and oxygen. And all the beautiful pictures with the aurora are just the highlighting of molecules and atoms,” said the astronomer.
The previous time this spectacular natural phenomenon could be observed in Russia south of latitude 65 was quite recently - at the end of February - beginning of March, Shematovich recalled. The lights, caused by a strong magnetic storm, came to the attention of residents of Moscow and even more southern latitudes, he specified. The only thing that could prevent us from enjoying the spectacle was heavy clouds. In addition, residents of the capital and other large cities may be deprived of the pleasure of seeing this beauty in all its glory due to strong artificial lighting.
“Space weather events are predicted and data can be easily found on the Internet. That is, you can find out where the expected oval will be - the region of the auroras, and whether it will extend to your region. A good idea in this case is to go somewhere outside the city, preferably in a northern direction. And where visibility is good, this phenomenon can appear in all its grandeur as an absolutely stunning spectacle, powerful in scale. A very dynamic picture,” noted Shematovich.
The expert admitted that he had never seen the aurora in mid-latitudes. At the same time, he suggested that even strong optics are unlikely to help with this. More important is a cloudless sky and the absence of extraneous strong glow.
“Stunning pictures are taken from the International Space Station,” the astronomer concluded.
The third strongest magnetic storm since the beginning of 2024 has been observed in Russia, the Solar Astronomy Laboratory of the Space Research Institute (IKI) and the Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) reported on May 2. The intensity index for this storm is about seven. According to scientists, the weak ejection of solar mass from the western edge of the Sun, which occurred on April 29, should not have led to such an event.
At the same time, as experts pointed out, as a result of the storm, auroras may be observed over the entire territory of Russia; the polar oval with a high degree of probability will drop to the latitudes of St. Petersburg and even Moscow. However, only at latitudes above 65 degrees the probability of aurora reaches 90%.
Earlier, Regnum news agency reported that powerful and long-lasting flares were recorded on the Sun on April 30 and May 1, as a result of which a magnetic storm could occur on Earth on May 3.
Residents of Central Russia on the night of April 20 observed the aurora - an uncharacteristic phenomenon for this part of the country, which was caused by a strong magnetic storm of class G1. The aurora was noticed in the Moscow, Vladimir, Nizhny Novgorod, Ryazan and Vologda regions.
[TimesOfSanDiego] After nearly nine full days of deliberation, a San Diego jury Friday found two men with antifa affiliations guilty of conspiracy to riot at a Pacific Beach "Patriots March" in January 2021
Over three years ago? Justice reluctantly grinding slow, but grinding exceeding small.
The nationally watched case began with 11 defendants — nine of whom pleaded guilty to lesser charges and most awaiting sentencing. An attorney for one of the defendants, Jeremy White, vowed to appeal the conspiracy conviction.
Defendant Brian Lightfoot Jr. of Los Angeles was found not guilty on an assault charge and the jury couldn’t reach a verdict on five counts of using tear gas not in self-defense.
More fully Jeremy Jonathan White, 41, and Brian Cortez Lightfoot Jr., 27, both of Los Angeles. On Jan. 9, 2021, roving mobs of black-clad So Cal Antifa members attacked supporters of Donald Trump and people walking on the boardwalk at Pacific Beach in San Diego County. A dog and his walker were among those maced. Eleven people, about half from Los Angeles County, were indicted in 2022 by a secret grand jury on a total of 29 felonies, including conspiracy to riot, assault and other violent crimes. Prosecutors alleged the defendants engaged in a coordinated conspiracy to riot.
White is accused of two felonies: felony conspiracy to riot, plus felony assault of a man on a bicycle who was documenting the Antifa rioters with his cell phone. Lightfoot is accused of sixteen felonies as the alleged “ringleader” of the attack: conspiracy to riot, plus nine unlawful uses of tear gas charges and six felony assaults on six different victims.
The nine-woman, three-man jury couldn’t reach a verdict on nine counts of tear-gas use or assault.
White, a 41-year-old, Hollywood set builder from Los Angeles,
…at least he is gainfully employed when not attacking those he disagrees with…
was found not guilty on his only other charge — assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury.
Both remain free on their own recognizance.
In a statement, District Attorney Summer Stephan said: "We want to thank the jury for their service and for reaching their just guilty verdicts on the two remaining defendants in the Antifa conspiracy case.
"This was a complex case with 11 defendants indicted and now all convicted — nine by guilty pleas and two by jury verdict. The DA team worked tirelessly on this case in order to be sure our community remains safe, and that the rule of law is followed."
After declaring a mistrial on nine counts, Judge Daniel Goldstein praised the jury, which heard testimony and saw evidence (including hours of video) for a month.
"I’ve never seen a jury go over the facts like you did," he said a little after noon in downtown Superior Court. "You guys are the voice of the community."
A bailiff led the jury panel out a back door, so none were available for comment. But the judge said he’d keep their names sealed.
White and Lightfoot declined to comment immediately on their cases.
But White lawyer Briggs, working for free, said his client "will definitely appeal after sentencing... and I think it’s an amazing appellate area that implicates the First Amendment.
Briggs says case law would help an appeal on the conspiracy conviction of White, "where there was no evidence. There was no conversations or anything like that."
He and Lightfoot lawyer John Hamasaki blasted the District Attorney’s Office for its prosecutions.
"With the resources they put behind this," Briggs said, "they wasted a lot of taxpayers money and ultimately haven’t made the community any safer because they still have well-known white supremacists out in the community who had committed numerous vicious assaults that are without dispute that they haven’t prosecuted."
Hamasaki, also based in the Bay Area: said he’s never seen a district attorney’s office expend this many resources on a single case — even more than multiple murders, gang murders.
"I think you have to look at the political circumstances surrounding it," he said. noting Stephan’s focus on antifa as a candidate.
"(You) wonder just exactly why this case was given so much resources and why so much energy was poured into it and at the end of the day, you know, where things ended up, I think is a repudiation of the use of those resources."
Briggs previously sought to have the District Attorney’s Office disqualified from prosecuting the case because he alleged Stephan has historically declined to prosecute members of far-right organizations who commit violence.
His motion was denied by Judge Goldstein.
The District Attorney’s Office has said that "video evidence analysis shows that overwhelmingly the violence in this incident was perpetrated by the antifa affiliates and was not a mutual fray with both sides crossing out of lawful First Amendment expression into riot and violence."
Briggs predicted White would get a moderate sentence — not a maximum 18 months.
He didn’t think Lightfoot would be retried on the nine charges the jury couldn’t agree on.
"It would be a waste of resources for them to retry this case," Briggs said. "So the bottom line is this is a loss for the DA because she didn’t get all she wanted."
Hamasaki agreed.
"It’s not a win," he said. "Nine hung counts is certainly not the way the DA had wanted this case to turn out. You know, I think it shows that things were not as cut and dried as the DA had wanted them to be and that there was a lot of evidence actually favoring Mr. Lightfoot in this case."
Hamasaki, who isn’t sure yet of any appeal, called the guilty finding on conspiracy "problematic... because it punishes membership or affiliation with other individuals as opposed to the underlying guilty conduct."The Lightfoot lawyer said he hopes his client gets only probation, especially since he’s "really turned his life around... and become enrolled in this firefighters program that he’s been at for three or four months... I think that’s something the judge might consider."
Hamasaki said the judge might allow him to continue to do that as an alternative, "where he could actually serve the community in a way that... would benefit everyone instead of just incarceration."
Goldstein issued a set of warnings to both defendants about not dressing up in "Black Bloc" armored outfits or even associating with other antifa adherents.
(Outside the courtroom, White’s antifascist girlfriend wondered aloud how that could be enforced since she lives with him in Boyle Heights.)
Clearly he has to break up with you, you little tramp. Go find someone else to live off, while he finds a female relative to take him shopping for a new wardrobe. Unless you’re the one paying the rent, in which case he needs to hope the female relative will also let him move into the basement.
Briggs, younger brother of San Diego attorney Cory Briggs, and Hamasaki, a former candidate for San Francisco district attorney, both said they sacrificed for their cases.
Direct Translation Via Google Translate. Edited.
[NewsFront] 23:58 Official summary of the DPR Representative Office in the JCCC from 00:00 05/03/2024 to 00:00 05/04/2024.
A total of 21 cases 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:
One car.
One residential building.
One civil infrastructure facility.
Two artillery attacks in the Donetsk direction
A total of 19 artillery attacks in the Gorlovka direction
A total of 67 units of various ammunition were fired.
22:49 Yuzhnodonetskoe direction. district settlement Krasnogorovka:
It is reported that our Lancet destroyed an enemy armored personnel carrier. According to preliminary information, the enemy infantry fighting vehicle was hit while on the move. The personnel were liquidated.
21:01 Personnel another damaged Ukrainian Armed Forces evacuation vehicle
21:00 An air raid alert has been announced throughout Ukraine for the third time in a day - media
19:30 From the vicinity of the Hours, Yara reports the Paratrooper's Diary:
“From the north of Bogdanovka we are processing the enemy in the eastern part of Kalinovka. Enemies take advantage of the height, but it does not save you from FABs and artillery.
We are also working on kamikaze and discharges in this area. Thus, northeast of Kalinovka, at the intersection of forest belts, aerial reconnaissance identified an enemy vehicle, which was destroyed by loitering ammunition.
In the northeastern part of the Kanal microdistrict, airborne units were entrenched in buildings.
Throughout the area we are working with artillery against enemy positions, as well as aviation and UAV crews.”
18:34 "Lancet" GV "Sever" destroys the 152mm Ukrainian self-propelled gun 2S3 "Acacia": unique personnel escorting and defeating an enemy target.
18:30 Military personnel of the Dnepr group of troops covered the positions of Ukrainian Armed Forces units and an ammunition depot -video.
18:28 Crews of the BM-21 Grad MLRS of the Ivanovo paratroopers inflicted fire damage to strongholds and destroyed an enemy armored car in the village of Chasov Yar.
Firing adjustments were carried out in real time using unmanned aerial vehicles. Interaction with reconnaissance units made it possible to destroy targets with minimal ammunition consumption.
During the combat work, an armored car was destroyed, as well as an infantry squad of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in equipped points in abandoned buildings.
18:05 RF Armed Forcesare advancing in the Paraskovievka area in the DPR:
The Donetsk front line continues to shift westward every day. After the complete liberation of Novomikhailovka, Russian troops advance towards Paraskovievka and Konstantinovka.
Airstrikes are carried out daily in Konstantinovka, and in the Paraskovievka area there is constant pressure from our troops on the Ukrainian defense from the north and south.
The liberation of Konstantinovka will allow us to begin to align the northern flank, up to the settlement of Pobeda, in the area of ??which positional battles have been ongoing for a long time. In addition, the section of the road leading from Maryinka to Ugledar will come under the control of the RF Armed Forces.
17:32 Military personnel of the “GORB” detachment of the Southern Group of Forces destroy the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Spornoye area -video.
16:58 Soldiers of the Russian Armed Forces on the territory of the “Fireproof Plant” in Krasnogorovka in the Donetsk direction
The enemy's resources confirmed the success of the Russian troops. This facility is the most fortified enemy stronghold in the city. After the fall of which the situation for the enemy will be catastrophic.
16:41 Explosions in the Kharkov region.
15:36 The main thing from the new briefing of the Russian Ministry of Defense:
Russian air defense shot down 40 Ukrainian Armed Forces drones and three Hammer bombs in one day;
During the day, units of the “Southern” group of forces occupied more advantageous positions, the losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces amounted to up to 340 military personnel;
The grouping of Russian troops “West” improved the situation along the front line and repelled three attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kharkov region and LPR;
Units of the Eastern Group of the Russian Armed Forces occupied more advantageous positions, repelled three counterattacks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the enemy lost up to 135 military personnel;
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 355 military personnel in the zone of responsibility of the West group of troops; nine pieces of equipment were hit during the counter-battery fight;
Units of the “Center” group repelled 10 counterattacks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces during the day;
The Russian Armed Forces destroyed Ukrainian illumination and guidance radars with two S-300PT air defense missile launchers, as well as an IRIS-T air defense missile launcher;
The Russian Armed Forces hit the Balovnoye oil depot, from which the military units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were supplied with fuel.
15:34 Units of the Russian group “Center” destroyed another American Abrams tank, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported
15:17 The Front Bird reports about the explosion in the Dnepropetrovsk region:
“It is reported that as a result of today’s daytime missile strike on Ukrainian Armed Forces facilities, a military workshop for assembling equipment for Armed Forces armored vehicles and a warehouse with parts were hit. The strike was carried out by our missilemen from the Iskander OTRK.
14:50 “Lancets” sent another batch of Ukrainian Armed Forces equipment for scrap metal
Operators of the Zala unmanned aerial vehicles of the 155th separate marine brigade of the Pacific Fleet of the Vostok group of forces hit a concentration of Ukrainian Armed Forces equipment with Lancet loitering ammunition in the area of the settlement of Novomikhailovka in the South Donetsk direction.
“We work mainly against enemy artillery, tanks, and more significant targets. They knocked out an M777 howitzer and a Leopard tank,” said the UAV operator with the call sign “Tikhiy.”
14:40 According to preliminary information, the attack in Kharkov hit the territory of the Electrical Equipment Plant. The plant is a branch of the instrument-making NPO Kommunar.
14:38 The Paratrooper’s Diary reports from the Kupyansky direction:
“The Russian Armed Forces are conducting a clean-up operation in Kotlyarovka. The enemy is bringing up reserves from Kurilovka, Peschany and Glushkovka. We destroy groups with artillery.”
14:15 The strike in Kharkov was carried out on enemy targets in the Kholodnogorsk region.
14:00 Explosions in Khar'kov - a bomb attack was carried out on enemy targets.
13:35 Kupyansk direction, May 3:
After the attack on the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kislovka and the occupation of half the village, part of the units of the Russian Armed Forces turned to Kotlyarovka and began to clear it out. Events are developing in much the same way as they did with Orlovka and Tonenky near Avdeevka - Ukrainian troops first roll back, but then try to regroup and rotate units and make up for losses.
In this direction, part of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ reserves arrives from neighboring Kurilovka, Peschany and Glushkovka, where reinforcements have been arriving for the last month. There is no talk yet of “meat assaults” like at Avdievka - part of the Ukrainian reinforcements arrives to fill the trenches and strongholds, the other part moves between Kislovka, Kotlyarovka and areas to the west, but a large number of manpower are killed by Russian artillery fire.
One of the key tasks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reserves in this area is to prevent the Russian Armed Forces from implementing the “Ocheretinsky scenario” and going by rail to Peschanoye, and from there towards Kurilovka and the Kupyansk-Uzlovoy station.
12:27 Units of the “Southern” group of troops as a result of active actions occupied more advantageous lines, defeated the formations of the “Foreign Legion”, 79, 92 Air Assault, 46, 81 Airmobile, 28, 93 Mechanized brigades, 107 and 112 Territorial Defense brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the areas of Belogorovka, Grigorovka, Maksimilyanovka, Konstantinovka, Krasnogorovka and Paraskovievka.
The enemy in the Donetsk direction lost up to 270 military personnel wounded and killed. Anti-tank guided missile systems, loitering ammunition and artillery fire hit a tank, four vehicles, the Nota electronic warfare station and three field ammunition depots. During the counterbattery fight, the 152mm Msta-B howitzer, 152mm D-20 gun, and 122mm D-30 howitzer were destroyed.
11:34 Situation in the Chasov Yar direction:
The situation remains difficult, the enemy is pulling reserves from all sectors of the front to their detriment, transferring them to Chasov Yar. This is due to the fact that after the fall of Avdeevka and the outbreak of fighting in Krasnogorovka, this city was given the utmost importance, writes the Archangel of Special Forces.
Firstly, this is the dominant height on the entire Donetsk Ridge. Secondly, the capture of Chasov Yar opens up further routes for the advance of our troops to Kramatorsk, Slavyansk, Konstantinovka and Druzhkovka - to an entire agglomeration of cities.
That is why, in order to prevent a breakthrough of our troops, all possible reserves are being brought up. Our command, anticipating the enemy's plan, is delaying the moment of assault, concentrating on grinding down reserves.
Army, front-line and tactical aviation are involved. Artillery and hail are working, Tosy.
The enemy's radio interceptions indicate the depressing moral and psychological state of the enemy. He suffers losses every day in killed and wounded.
There is no goal to take the city by May 9th. Our command is trying to save the lives of the soldiers and is not falling for the tricks of Kyiv propaganda. The assault on the city will take place when the appropriate conditions are created. At the same time, the tactical situation is improving daily through the use of small assault group tactics.
The enemy is trying to hold positions, but the lack of manpower is taking its toll; his hope now is for the speedy arrival of Western aid and, possibly, a large number of mercenaries.
According to intelligence information, the foreign legion of Ukraine is already in Chasov Yar. During the May holidays and the inauguration of the President, provocations from the Armed Forces of Ukraine are expected.
In general, we can conclude that, despite the measures taken by the enemy, the fall of the Clock of Yar is a matter of time.
11:05 Units of the 1st Tank Army are advancing in the center of Kislovka, and battles are already taking place in Kotlyarovka -video.
10:27 During the counterbattery fight by artillery units of the “West” group destroyed two 152mm self-propelled artillery units 2S3 “Akatsiya” and “Crab”, three towed howitzers 122mm D-30 and M198, as well as seven mortar crews.
Operators of the Lancet loitering ammunition destroyed towed howitzers 152mm D-20 and M777 in the area of Stelmakhovka and the Volchiy tract.
The group's air defense systems destroyed four aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles and one copter-type UAV.
Enemy losses amounted to over 150 military personnel, a tank, three ammunition depots, five pickup trucks and ten UAV control posts.
10:05 Paratroopers of the 106th division report that they are approaching the village of Razdolovka in the Donetsk direction, driving the Ukrainian Armed Forces directly into the village. Now there is approximately 1 km left from the first battle formations to the settlement.
10:04 Situation on the Rabotino-Verbovoye section at 10.00
In the Orekhovsky direction, the command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces continues to make unsuccessful attempts to break through the defense line of the Russian Armed Forces. Strike and reconnaissance UAVs are actively operating in the air.
In the Rabotino area, the Russian Armed Forces are conducting offensive operations. The enemy is fiercely resisting and even trying to counterattack, with all his might, trying to regain lost positions.
The Russian army continues to advance and advance east of Verbovoy. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are experiencing a shortage of manpower and armored vehicles to deter Russian troops from attacking.
10:02 Personnel destruction of a field ammunition depot of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Artillerymen from the “Center” group of troops attacked a field ammunition supply point of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Krasnoarmeysk direction. As a result of a precise strike, the ammunition detonated and was completely destroyed.
09:39 Explosions are heard in Zaporozhye. Preliminary – air defense works
09:35 In the Verkhnekamensk DPR, a column of smoke rises tens of meters into the air - there the Russian FAB-500s are powerful worked out according to the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
09:30 Job sniper pairs of the 14th Separate Guards Special Forces Brigade of the Vostok group in the area of the village Ugledar.
09:17 Russian troops advanced near Ocheretino in the Donetsk direction in Kotlyarovka in the Khar'kov region - DeepState.
08:15 Crews of the Tor-M2 anti-aircraft missile system of the 1st Tank Army of the Western Group of the Russian Armed Forces destroyed reconnaissance UAVs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported -video.
08:12 Frontline summary for the morning of 05/03/2024
Zaporozhye Front. In Rabotino, attempts by the Russian Armed Forces continue to enter and gain a foothold in new positions - without success. Long-range weapons are actively working on both sides.
Ugledar direction. Russian troops, as a result of assault operations, were able to enter the southern outskirts of Urozhaynoye. This village was occupied by the Ukrainian Armed Forces during the summer counter-offensive and became one of the few settlements where Ukrainian troops were able to advance.
Donetsk front. In Netailovo and in the Umansky area there are oncoming battles. LBS did not change significantly. In the area of ??Semyonovka and Berdychi, fighting continues on the western approaches to these settlements. In the Pervomaiskoye area, Russian troops were able to advance south, in the direction of Nevelskoye.
After the liberation of Pervomaisky, the Russian Armed Forces were able to advance to the northern outskirts of Nevelskoye, and now, not without difficulty, but quite methodically, they are cutting off the “pocket” that formed between these settlements.
In Arkhangelsk, the Armed Forces of Ukraine tried to carry out a counterattack in order to slow down the advance of Russian troops inside the populated area - without success.
Chasovoyarsk direction. The Russian Armed Forces continue to fight forward from the flanks, covering the eastern region of Chasov Yar from the south and north. Also, fighting continues on the easternmost outskirts.
The positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are under fire from Russian artillery and aviation. The Ukrainians are not giving up their positions yet and are sending reserves, but their position in this area is rapidly deteriorating.
08:01 Artillery paratroopers from 122mm BM-21 Grad destroyed armored car and infantry of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Chasovoy Yar, the Ministry of Defense reported.
[GEO.TV] Mohammad Siddiq Mengal, a journalist and president of the Khuzdar Press Club, was killed along with two others on Friday after a remote-controlled bomb targeted his vehicle in Khuzdar, police told Geo News.
At least eight people were also injured as a result of the deadly explosion.
Two injured individuals in the blast later gave up the ghost with the corpse count rising to three, said the station house officer.
The killed passers-by were seriously injured in the remote-controlled blast and were brought to the hospital, while the other eight injured in the blast are undergoing treatment in different hospitals, police said.
According to the police, the remote-controlled blast was carried out on the Sultan Ibrahim Khan Road on the National Highway.
The station house officer said that the journalist's vehicle was the target of the blast and was hit when he was going to university from his home.
This is not the first time Mengal has been targeted by attackers. Sounds like it's the last one
Police said that the journalist — who was associated with a local newspaper — escaped an liquidation attempt a few months ago.
Balochistan
...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it... Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langau strongly condemned the Khuzdar blast and directed the relevant authorities to present a report.
The attack on the journalists comes as the world honours the work of journalists around the world on Press Freedom Day today.
Earlier today, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) on Friday said that journalism in Pakistain is "under threat" as the world commemorates Press Freedom Day.
On the day, the IFJ has also launched its 22nd annual South Asia Press Freedom Report, according to which, journalists have become "punching bags" in the fight between former prime minister Imran Khan
>...aka The Great Khan, who who convinced himself that playing cricket qualified him to lead a nuclear-armed nation with severe personality disorders... and the establishment.
The report said that 60 journalists were issued legal notices while dozens were arrested and remain in jug.
It said that about eight journalists were charged with sedition, terrorism and incitement to violence.
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Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Anastasia Ordinyan
[REGNUM] At the end of April, terrible videos from the Stavropolsky stud farm in the Aleksandrovsky District of the Stavropol Territory spread across Russian telegram channels. The bloody corpses of horses are scattered right on the ground, and exhausted, shadow-like surviving animals wander nearby. The situation in the bullpen is no better. Starving horses are forced to eat their own excrement. At the same time, neither volunteers nor journalists are allowed into the territory of the stud farm.
#1
Appears to be working well. Where's the fun in that? Life is a struggle. We need more fighting! Anyway, howza bout automated cooking and serving? Delete the humans and make us the Eloi.
Thirty-four states had more than 1,000 STD cases per 100,000 residents
Southern states like Tennessee represented a large portion of the top states
The top 10 were: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Memphis, Tennessee; Jackson, Mississippi; New Orleans, Louisiana; St Louis, Missouri; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Montgomery, Alabama; San Francisco, California; Detroit, Michigan; and Washington, DC.
Kids that had scored on the 'gifted' scale 30 years ago, wouldn't have that same classification by today's standards, while those who had scored in the lower range might score in the intellectually disabled range in 2024,' Dombrowski said.
The average level of where a person should be intellectually is a score of 100, and in comparison, a person with an IQ between 115 and 130 is considered 'gifted' while anyone with an IQ between 130 and 145 is labeled as a genius.
I have no idea what that first paragraph means. As for the second, both trailing daughters tested as gifted, which put them in the top 2% of their age group. Last I looked, giftedness does not directly correlate to raw IQ, being the result of thinking differently about things than the rest of us, whether in art, music, or academics; incidentally, giftedness is categorized as a learning disability, alongside mental retardation and dyslexia. And IQs in the 115-130 range are bright, 130-145 are brilliant, and above 145 are genius — though perhaps the English label the categories differently.
Finally, the several point variation in IQs is well within the IQ test’s 10-point error range, assuming the silly thing were done properly — which it never is.
[AmericanThinker] John Cleese reminds us that ‘race doesn’t matter, but culture does’
One need only look at the most prominent elements of traditional Western Civilization (architecture, music, education, representative governance, civic life, the relationship between the sexes, family structure, Judeo-Christian morality, etc.) to know that it’s far superior to any other that has ever existed—but state such a politically-incorrect truth and you’ll find yourself a target of the progressive left, because they’re intolerant and ignorant, and they’re willing to use violence to make a point.
But John Cleese, an English national treasure has never been one for political correctness, and in a recent interview, Cleese reminded us that the West’s culture and way of life are the most superior, and absolutely worth persevering; here’s what he said, via a Daily Mail item out yesterday:
Speaking to The Oldie magazine, Cleese said: ‘Race doesn’t matter, but culture does.
‘I think that some cultures are superior to others, and we should not be frightened to say so.
‘A society that goes in for female genital mutilation is abhorrent and I happen to think that if people come to live in Britain, they should accept and adhere to our values.’
‘I understand that some 20 per cent [sic] of Muslims in the UK would like to see Sharia law and I believe that's wrong.’
He’s exactly right, because all cultures are not equal. Who would argue that the culture of a NAMBLA convention is not “inferior” to the culture of a pro-life conference, it’s just different? (Well, now that I think about it, a sizable portion of Democrats probably would argue that.) Would anyone argue that Third Reich culture trumps the culture of 1930s Paris? Is the self-sacrifice seen so often in Western warfare (the strong protect the weak and oppressed paradigm) on equal footing with combatants who use their own children as human shields?
[Epoch Times] As the administrative state implements more regulations on Americans, a team of legal veterans has come together to fight the expansion of un-elected government agency power. Sometimes, they even win.
The New Civil Liberties Alliance (NCLA), which consists of a team of 27 lawyers and support staff, including former judges, had four of the cases they litigated go before the Supreme Court in 2023. One case was decided in their favor, the remaining three are pending.
Founded by Columbia Law professor Philip Hamburger six years ago, the NCLA targets cases where they believe federal agencies have blatantly overstepped their authority or violated civil liberties. NCLA Website
"Normally, administrative power is understood as a separation of powers question, but it’s also a civil liberties problem because it dilutes our voting rights," Mr. Hamburger told The Epoch Times. "We all get to vote, but the ability to make legislation is no longer in the hands of the people we elect."
The U.S. Constitution vests Congress with law-making authority. However, government agencies are not only making laws today, he said, they also enforce those laws, then act as judge and jury over alleged violations. Taking a historical view on this issue, Mr. Hamburger argues that such administrative "absolutism" is not a new phenomenon, but merely a modern expression of absolute power once wielded by medieval kings.
"It deprives us of the right to a jury; it deprives us of ordinary burdens of proof; it deprives us of having an unbiased judge," he said. "We have ALJs [Administrative Law Judge] and commissioners instead."
In one case, SEC v. Cochran, appellate courts took the side of the SEC. This case challenged the lifetime tenure of ALJs, who act as judges for federal agencies.
"We battled that for five years, and we had six circuit courts of appeals against us," she said. "We got to the Supreme Court and we won unanimously."
Mr. Hamburger said the NCLA has several advantages when arguing their cases. "We have the truth on our side, and I think the justices understand that," he said. "Second, we take the Constitution seriously, while many agencies view it as a minor impediment to what they want to do in regulation."
The questions that Mr. Hamburger raises in his book are at the heart of the current political divisions within the United States. Progressives often advocate the implementation of policies designed by unelected "experts," while conservatives expect edicts to go through elected representatives.
The movement to vest power in the administrative state in America goes back more than a century and has enjoyed cumulative success via a ratchet effect, whereby authority is progressively ceded to the administrative state, often in response to real or perceived crises, but rarely surrendered back to citizens.
Woodrow Wilson, the first progressive president and precursor to modern progressives, expressed contempt for voters and viewed representative lawmaking as an impediment to economic and social reforms. He was highly critical of the U.S. Constitution and its separation of powers, particularly the limitations it put on government bureaucrats.
"Wherever regard for public opinion is a first principle of government, practical reform must be slow and all reform must be full of compromises," he stated in his 1887 treatise "The Study of Administration."
"The people, who are sovereign, have no single ear which one can approach, and are selfish, ignorant, timid, stubborn, or foolish."
"The English race has long and successfully studied the art of curbing executive power to the constant neglect of the art of perfecting executive methods," President Wilson stated. "It has been more concerned to render government just and moderate than to make it facile, well-ordered, and effective."
One result of concentrating such all-encompassing power in the executive branch is that presidential elections have become pivotal in determining the direction for the country, even in areas such as residential zoning and education, that are traditionally under the purview of states, counties, and towns.
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#1
"The English race has long and successfully studied the art of curbing executive power to the constant neglect of the art of perfecting executive methods,"
[GEO.TV] In a huge development, the Canadian police have arrested members of the Indian government-backed hit squad, that the Sherlocks believe, was tasked by the Indian intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW
... India's Research and Analysis Wing, Pakistain's equivalent of the Boogie Man... ), with killing prominent Sikh For Justice (SFJ) and Khalistan Referendum Canada leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, last June.
In a presser on Friday, Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc confirmed Canadian Police have charged three men with first-degree murder in connection to Nijjar’s death.
The arrested suspects include Karanpreet Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karan Brar. They are also facing one count each of conspiracy to murder in connection to a May 1 offence in Edmonton and Surrey.
Sources close to the investigation also told CBC News that police are actively investigating possible links to three additional murders in Canada, including the shooting death of an 11-year-old boy in Edmonton, but the main focus was Nijjar.
The SFJ founder and leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who has survived a high-profile Indian hit plan, also confirmed the news of the arrest.
He said on X: "This New India comes into your home to kill you. Canadian police have arrested members of an alleged hit squad tasked by the Modi Government with the killing of Khalistan Referendum Coordinator and President of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, Shaheed Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C. on June 18, 2023."
Members of the hit squad are alleged to have played different roles as shooters, drivers and spotters on the day Nijjar was killed at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, according to the sources.
I first read that as challah, and was very confused…
[GEO.TV] In a shocking development, the Highway Police came under attack as a cop was rubbed out and two others sustained injured when passengers of a car shot up the personnel at Bedra Interchange in Mansehra ...a city and an eponymous district in eastern Khyber-Pakthunwa, nestled snug up against Pak Kashmir, with Kohistan and Diamir to the north and Abbottabad to the south... , Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Friday.
The police said that the incident took place during a dispute over issuance of a challan ... list of charges ... by the Highway Police to a car driver travelling from Beautiful Downtown Peshawar ...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistain's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire... to Mansehra.
As per Mansehra District Police Officer (DPO) Shafiullah Gandapur, the surrounding areas were cordoned off after the firing and launched a search operation for the arrest of suspects.
The martyred official was identified as Aamir Khan Swati.
It may be noted that similar incidents of violence against the Motorway Police have surfaced in the recent past.
On April 24, a woman rammed her car into a Motorway Police personnel and vented anger at the traffic wardens for being stopped for speeding.
The entire incident was filmed and posted on social media, showing her arguing in an abusive manner with the Motorway Police officer for being pulled over for speeding.
Later, another such incident took place near Kallar Kahar where two ladies "misbehaved" with Motorway Police personnel, threatening and hurling abuses at them during the quarrel.
The video of the incident went viral on social media, in which they were heard alleging that the Motorway personnel hurt one of the women while trying to "snatch" her mobile phone while she was making the cops’ video.
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[SUDANTRIBUNE] Discussions between Sudan ...a Moslem country located in the Horn of Africa. It is noted for its affinity for rule by ex- or current generals, its holy men, and for the oppression of the native Afro population by its Arab conquerors. South Sudan, populated mostly by the natives, split off from Sudan proper, which left North and South Darfur to be oppressed by the guys with turbans. The country is currently enjoying a civil war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, which used to be part of the army but then they got another ambitious general and you can guess the rest... and Russia last week in Port Sudan covered political support, economic and military cooperation, with Russia offering "uncapped" military assistance to the Sudanese army.
Details have emerged regarding last week’s high-level talks between Sudanese and Russian officials in Port Sudan. The discussions focused on bolstering cooperation across various sectors, including politics, economics, and the military.
Informed sources told Sudan Tribune that Russia offered "unrestricted qualitative military aid" to the Sudanese army. This offer, aimed at strengthening bilateral military ties, could involve specialized expertise and, potentially, a Russian presence in Sudan.
The two-day visit (April 28-29) saw a high-profile Russian delegation, led by Mikhail Bogdanov, President Putin’s special envoy for the Middle East and Africa, meet with Sudan’s Sovereignty Council President, Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and other council members.
Notably, the delegation included a sizable military component, with details regarding their discussions with Sudanese counterparts remaining undisclosed.
The issue of a Russian naval base on the Red Sea coast, previously agreed upon with former President Omer al-Bashir, was also raised. After the collapse of the former regime, Sudan decided to suspend the implementation of this controversial base until a future-elected legislative council made a final decision.
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#1
A devious Russia playing footsie with an Islamist government. Still trying to get that port on the Red Sea.
[Rudaw] At least four soldiers of the Syrian regime were killed in a desert attack by Islamic State ...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear western pols talk they're not really Moslems.... (ISIS) Death Eaters in Syria’s Raqqa province, a war monitor reported on Monday.
"Four members of the regime forces were killed following an attack targeting military positions ... south of the city of Tabqa in the western countryside of Raqqa," said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britannia-based war monitor.
The monitor added that pro-regime reinforcements of the National Defense Forces (NDF) arrived to the site after the festivities.
The NDF is a pro-government militia that has fought alongside Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad Trampler of Homs... since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war.
ISIS attacks have been on the rise in Syria, particularly in the vast expanses of its eastern and northern deserts where the group launches surprise attacks amid a security vacuum.
Four pro-regime fighters killed in ISIS Syria ambush: Monitor
30-04-2024
[Rudaw] Four members of a pro-government militia were killed in an ambush by Islamic State ...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear western pols talk they're not really Moslems.... (ISIS) Lions of Islam in Syria’s eastern Deir ez-Zor province, a war monitor reported on Monday, hours after another deadly attack on regime forces.
"Four members of National Defense Forces [NDF] were killed in an ambush carried out by ISIS cells in al-Masrab desert in western Deir ez-Zor countryside," said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britannia-based war monitor.
It is the second ISIS operation against regime and pro-regime forces in hours, after another attack killed four Syrian army soldiers in Raqqa province.
The NDF is a pro-government militia that has fought alongside Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad Leveler of Latakia... since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war over a decade ago. It is composed of local volunteers across numerous provinces.
[SUDANTRIBUNE] The International Committee of the Red Thingy (ICRC) announced that two of its drivers were killed by button men in South Darfur, Sudan ...a Moslem country located in the Horn of Africa. It is noted for its affinity for rule by ex- or current generals, its holy men, and for the oppression of the native Afro population by its Arab conquerors. South Sudan, populated mostly by the natives, split off from Sudan proper, which left North and South Darfur to be oppressed by the guys with turbans. The country is currently enjoying a civil war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, which used to be part of the army but then they got another ambitious general and you can guess the rest... on Thursday. Three other ICRC staff members were also injured in the attack.
The ICRC team was returning from Layba, where they were assessing the needs of communities affected by ongoing armed violence.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleagues," said Pierre Dorbes, head of the ICRC delegation in Sudan. "Our heartfelt condolences go out to their families, and we wish a speedy recovery to the injured."
The ICRC is prioritizing support for those impacted by this tragedy, including the families, relatives, and colleagues of the victims, added the international organization. The statement offered no details about the attack’s circumstances, which occurred in a region controlled by the Rapid Support Forces."
The humanitarian group further called for the immediate protection of all civilians, including aid workers and medical personnel, who should never be targeted in violence.
The ICRC provides vital services in the country in collaboration with the Sudanese Red Islamic Thingy Society (SRCS). These include supplying medical supplies to hospitals in conflict zones, facilitating communication for families separated by violence, promoting international humanitarian law, and improving access to clean water.
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[Daily Mail, where America gets its news] More than 100 Russian troops are believed to have been killed in an ATACMS tactical ballistic missile strike on occupied Luhansk.
A military training ground was seen being hit by multiple explosions typical of an ATACMS strike in footage captured by a drone flying high above.
The strike targeted a group of 100-plus soldiers who were seen in aerial images, say OSINT analysts in what would be the single largest loss of Russian troops in months.
The ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) showered the troops with hundreds of M74 APAM mini-bombs which are carried by the missiles and deployed in clusters.
The strike was some 48 miles behind the frontline at a training base, it was reported.
'Geolocation footage suggests that Ukrainian forces struck a Russian training ground southwest of Mozhnyakovka, killing 116 Russian troops,' stated the Institute for the Study of War in an update on the continuing war in Ukraine on Thursday.
There are growing signs that Ukraine is using the American-produced ATACMS after receiving a batch in early April ahead of a $61 billion military aid package which was finally approved by Congress late last month.
The New York Times reported last week that the US may have secretly shipped 100 ATACMS to Ukraine ahead of the bill's passage.
While the US had previously shipped ATACMS with a shorter range, the recent shipment is understood to include missiles that can travel around 190 miles - putting Russian targets that were previously safe behind the front lines well within range.
The first mass grave of Ukrainian Armed Forces fighters appeared in Ukraine. The burial is located in Chernivtsi in the west of the republic, the Strana publication reported on May 3. ua".
It is noted that in the mass grave at the Sadgora cemetery there are the bodies of 16 soldiers of the 10th Aeparate Mountain Assault Brigade “Edelweiss”. Natives of several regions, including those from Central Ukraine, were buried here.
According to lawyer Galina Yanko, they all died on March 11, 2022 in the village of Lyudvinivka in the Buchansky district near Kiev. Three of them were not identified.
The publication published photographs from the burial site. A ceremony was held at the cemetery, which was attended by several clergy.
As Regnum reported, on May 3, the head of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Sergei Shoigu, said that last month, the daily losses of the Ukrainian army in the Northern Military District zone averaged a thousand soldiers.
Since the beginning of this year, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have lost more than 111,000 military personnel. Shoigu emphasized that Ukrainians are still being thrown to slaughter. In this way, the Kiev regime is trying to curry favor with the Western masters in order to continue to receive financial and military assistance from them.
Former Prime Minister and leader of the Five Star Movement of Italy, Giuseppe Conte, considers the statement of French President Emmanuel Macron about the possible introduction of NATO troops into Ukrainea big mistake
“I completely disagree with him [Macron], because I think that this is all a huge mistake,” he said on May 3 on the La7 TV channel.
The politician noted that the French leader called the introduction of troops the only way in case of choosing a strategy of escalation of the conflict, and in the absence of troops, he proposed to transfer long-range missiles to Kyiv.
As Regnum reported, on May 2, Macron once again stated that he does not rule out the possibility of sending French troops to Ukraine if the Kiev regime asks for it in the event of a breakthrough by the Russian army on the Ukrainian front. He added that France had previously sent soldiers to African countries when such a request was made there.
Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov on May 3 called Macron’s words very dangerous. France thus declares its readiness to directly enter into the conflict, the Kremlin official added.
First Deputy Speaker of the Crimean Parliament Efim Fiks said that Macron could repeat Napoleon’s mistake if he sends soldiers to Ukraine. France will not forgive the president for new cemeteries with French military personnel, the Russian politician added.
French President Emmanuel Macron does not abandon the topic of sending French troops to Ukraine. From a theoretical assumption, he moved on to identifying two specific conditions for an invasion - Macron voiced them in an interview with The Economist.
“If the Russians had broken through the front line, if there had been a request from Ukraine, which is not the case today, we would rightfully have to ask ourselves this question (about sending in troops. - Ed.),” said the French leader.
Moreover, with the pronoun “us” he designated not only France. According to the head of state, he managed to convince the allies on the issue of the potential deployment of troops.
“In fact, many countries said that in the weeks that followed (after the statement - editor's note) they understood our approach, agreed with our position, that the position was correct,” Macron concluded.
In Russia, his words were reacted differently.
Senator Sergei Tsekov responded with a threat: “Macron should understand, although he does not believe it, that if they act brazenly and aggressively towards Russia, they will ultimately receive a blow to their territory.”
The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, ridiculed: “Apparently, this is somehow connected with the days of the week - this is the cycle.”
And SVR colonel, MGIMO professor Andrei Bezrukov urged not to pay attention at all: “Forget about Macron, he will be gone soon. Nothing bad will happen to him physically, he simply won’t be president anymore. He’s in his last presidential cycle, he can talk about anything.”
The position of ignoring does indeed seem to be correct. After all, Macron talks a lot, but does little. Unlike other European politicians.
We closely follow Macron's speeches only because he leads France, and not a smaller country. Although now Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, as well as the Presidents of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel and Finland Alexander Stubb are doing much more harm to Russia than Macron,” explains Vadim Trukhachev, associate professor at the Russian State University for the Humanities, to Regnum.
According to the expert, Pyotr Pavel collects shells for Ukraine and has turned the country into the main repair shop of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Alexander Stubb transforms the state into a large military base near St. Petersburg. And Mark Rutte completely coordinates the anti-Russian policy of the West, having previously given the country’s territory to a training base for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the main transit point for the transfer of American weapons to Ukraine.
And all three give a much larger share of GDP to Ukraine’s arsenal than France. At the same time, they are constantly putting forward new initiatives, but we don’t pay attention to them - because they are not leading France, but “a little pot-bellied little thing,” says Trukhachev.
At the same time, Macron’s words should be taken seriously, as should the French president himself. Yes, he is obviously filled with ambition mixed with fear. He is simply not ready to send troops to Ukraine - neither from a military nor from a political point of view. This is indirectly evidenced by the publication of the French newspaper Le Figaro, which described five scenarios for the deployment of troops. In the text, literally every paragraph, the idea is repeated about the enormous danger of such a step, the coming big war. For which French society is not ready - especially if the French have to die for Ukraine.
It is important that a significant part of the Western elites are ready for war. They see that the Kiev regime is losing on the battlefield, and losing irreversibly. And the same Macron and other politicians continue to say that Moscow’s victory is unacceptable to them.
It is clear that their position is radically different from the Russian one.
Domestic experts and politicians view our victory in Ukraine as a victory of healthy European forces: getting a chance for sovereign development, the creation of a normal system of collective security in Europe, mutually beneficial cooperation with Russia, the absence of black holes and sources of unnecessary conflicts with Moscow.
And Macron, the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, German Foreign Minister Annalena Bärbock and other figures see this as a real collapse of the world. For them, the victory of Russia is the death of the only transatlantic and non-sovereign Europe in which they are accustomed and capable of existing.
Therefore, they are ready to do anything to prevent or at least delay Russia’s victory. Therefore, they take a much more hawkish position on the Ukrainian crisis than the Americans. And therefore, at a certain stage, that is, at the moment of the collapse of the Ukrainian front, they will be ready to send in troops.
In fact, only the threat voiced by Senator Tsekov can restrain them. The destruction of the French (or other) contingent in Ukraine will be painful, but not fatal. But a strike on the countries from which the troops entered or through which they passed threatens more terrible consequences for the Atlanticists than a Russian victory in Ukraine.
They will be faced with a choice of two terrible options: nuclear war if NATO responds with a strike on Russia, or the collapse of the alliance if Western leaders who do not want a nuclear apocalypse refuse to respond, admitting that Moscow was defending itself and not attacking.
Emmanuel Macron should not be considered a clown or a fool. He is a desperate man, ready to grasp at any straw to save himself from defeat. He just needs to show that there is no straw.
Posted by: Clem+Elmish4239 ||
05/04/2024
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Troops of Third Infantry Regiment French Foreign Legion in Africa
I don't think many of the Africans they fought had heavy artillery, SU-34s, mines, hypersonic missiles, fuel air bombs, Alligator helicopters or drones.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
05/04/2024 13:15
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Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Korrespondent] The Ukrainian Armed Forces are fighting fierce battles in the Donbass.
The Russian military, who broke through with assault groups into Krasnogorovka, are in a state of siege.
Russian assault groups entered the territory of a refractory plant in the city of Krasnogorovka, Donetsk region. The Ukrainian Armed Forces units drive them out of there. This was stated by the speaker of the operational-strategic group of forces (OSGV) Khortitsa, Lieutenant Colonel Nazar Voloshin, in a commentary for Interfax-Ukraine on Friday, May 3.
“The enemy does not give up attempts to storm the city in small assault groups. From time to time, the enemy also tries to storm the surrounding area with armored vehicles. Our defenders with artillery and mortar fire destroy all attempts and intentions of the enemy to enter the city. Some of the enemy groups that managed to enter and take cover in the territory the remains of the refractory plant are under our fire control," Voloshin said.
He assured that the part of the settlement in which the enemy is located is also under the fire control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. All measures are being taken to drive the enemy out of there.
“The Russian military, who broke through with assault groups into Krasnogorovka, are now in a difficult situation, since they are practically deprived of supplies of ammunition and support for armored vehicles. Fighting continues, the Defense Forces are holding back the enemy’s advance deeper into the city,” the speaker said and assured that the situation is under the control of units of the Armed Forces Ukraine.
Earlier, the Ukrainian Armed Forces assured that the enemy had not broken through to the Seversky Donets-Donbass canal, and the second line of defense had been strengthened.
[NEWARAB] The Gambia
... The Gambia is actually surrounded by The Senegal on all sides but its west coast. It has a population of about 1.7 million. The difference between the two is that in colonial days Senegal was ruled by La Belle France and The Gambia (so-called because there's only one of it, unlike Guinea, of which there are the Republic of Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, New Guinea, the English coin in circulation between 1663 and 1813, and Guyana, which sounds like it should be another one) was ruled by Britain... is under scrutiny as its politicians have advanced a bill to repeal the ban on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) in the West African country.
The Gambia’s politicians have justified their decision to repeal the procedure for reasons including religious purity and safeguarding cultural norms.
The bill has been referred to a parliamentary committee and is expected to return to parliament in June for a debate and final vote.
"FGM is not mandated by any religion," Divya Srinivasan, Global Lead for End Harmful Practices at the NGO Equality Now told The New Arab.
If the bill is passed, it could have catastrophic impacts.
"The Gambia’s legacy as a pioneer in West Africa in the fight against FGM will be jeopardised if this bill is passed," Divya explained.
The repeal of the ban "would undermine its credibility and unravel years of progress in promoting gender equality and human rights One man's rights are another man's existential threat. ," she added.
The impacts could be felt elsewhere. "Other countries could be motivated to repeal their anti-FGM laws or deter them from putting laws in place," said Divya.
UNICEF released data in March 2024, stating 230 million girls and women around the world have experienced a form of FGM/C.
Africa accounts for the majority of incidences, exceeding 144 million; Asia has over 80 million, and the Middle East has a further six million.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/04/2024
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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.
...Speaker of the Lebanese parliament, head of the Amal Shiite party aligned with Hezbollah, a not very subtle sock puppet of the Medes and Persians...
[WIRE] In the late 90’s, a veteran and father of three named Norman Browning took a job as a volunteer coach at Woodlawn High School in 
[ET via ZERO] Approximately half of the health care workers in a Polish study were found to be averse to taking COVID-19 booster shots, with one of the reasons for this hesitancy being their negative experiences with previous vaccinations.
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...a regional Iranian catspaw,....JPG)
...46th president of the U.S. We get to suffer the consequences...
[TimesOfSanDiego] After nearly nine full days of deliberation, a San Diego jury Friday found two men with antifa affiliations guilty of conspiracy to riot at a 
...aka 
"It deprives us of the right to a jury; it deprives us of ordinary burdens of proof; it deprives us of having an unbiased judge," he said. "We have ALJs [Administrative Law Judge] and commissioners instead."
"We battled that for five years, and we had six circuit courts of appeals against us," she said. "We got to the Supreme Court and we won unanimously."
...a city and an eponymous district in eastern Khyber-Pakthunwa, nestled snug up against Pak Kashmir, with Kohistan and Diamir to the north and Abbottabad to the south...
...a Moslem country located in the Horn of Africa. It is noted for its affinity for rule by ex- or current generals, its holy men, and for the oppression of the native Afro population by its Arab conquerors. South Sudan, populated mostly by the natives, split off from Sudan proper, which left North and South Darfur to be oppressed by the guys with turbans. The country is currently enjoying a civil war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, which used to be part of the army but then they got another ambitious general and you can guess the rest...
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling 
