Biden Keeps Relying On Murderous Dictators To Keep Oil Prices Down As Elections Draw Near

"The Biden administration continues to rely on hostile regimes to keep oil prices down in the months leading up to pivotal elections.

The Treasury Department announced Monday that it is extending sanctions relief for 10 Russian financial institutions that are involved in the energy sector, with the relief set to expire on November 1 in the absence of any further action. The move reduces the risks that global oil prices spike over the summer and follows several similar decisions involving Iran and OPEC countries, for example, keeping oil prices lower ahead of important elections.
Additionally, the administration appears to have adopted a lax approach to enforcing oil sanctions against Iran, a State Department-identified state sponsor of terrorism. Iranian oil exports have exceeded $100 billion since Biden came into office in 2021. All of these decisions to keep global energy prices from increasing have been made while the administration has taken numerous steps to rein in domestic energy production. " DC

Russia hits Odesa with Iskander missile armed with cluster warhead

"Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin confirmed that Russia hit Odesa with an Iskander missile armed with a cluster warhead." RT

‘We stormed without support’: Ukraine towns fall to Russia in latest defeat

"Some Ukrainian servicemen with Brigade 155, which took over the town’s defense, blame its fall on their commanders’ mistakes.

“My company was literally destroyed, we carried out tasks in the worst conditions and no one cared, we stormed without support and with stupid command, we defended with almost no support and with the same stupid command,” one of the servicemen wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
A retired Ukrainian general said that the dominance of Ocheretyne’s high-rise apartment buildings over the surrounding steppe could have served as an effective deterrent against Russian troops and prevented the town’s takeover.
“What we have is a serious systemic failure,” General Serhiy Krivonos said in televised remarks. “The downside is that all of Ukraine knows, all the servicemen know that there’s no money, no equipment, a dire shortage of air defence systems,” Vladimir Prokhvatilov of the Russian Academy of Military Sciences told the Kremlin-funded Radio Sputnik.
“And when Syrskii commands a withdrawal, people simply run, he provoked the panic himself,” he was quoted as saying." AJ

US Congress threatens ICC over Israel arrest warrants

"Republican and Democrat US lawmakers alike have called for retaliating against the

International Criminal Court (ICC) if it issues arrest warrants for Israeli leaders.... the Hague-based tribunal will soon post warrants for the arrests of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials, members of Congress have issued statements warning of consequences for any such step. US Representative Brad Sherman (D-California) is among those insisting that Washington would retaliate for any attempt to arrest Israeli leaders during their ongoing war with Hamas.
“The ICC apparently considers warrants on Israeli leaders for legitimate self-defense,” the 14-term congressman said. Sherman argued that such a move would turn the tribunal into a “kangaroo court,” adding, “President [Joe Biden] must condemn this, and I know Congress will ensure consequences for such an absurd decision.” RT

Putin rains down death on Odessa as Sophie makes visit to Ukraine

"A Russian missile attack on an educational institution in Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odessa on Monday killed four people and injured 28, Regional Governor Oleh Kiper said on the Telegram messaging app. Four injured were in serious condition, Kiper wrote. Among the injured were two children and a pregnant woman. A turreted Gothic-style building known locally as the 'Harry Potter Castle', part of the Odessa Law Academy, was seen in flames after the strike. Putin's forces are firing on Ukraine as the Duchess of Edinburgh has become the first British royal to visit Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion. Sophie, 59, met with President Zelensky and his wife - and passed on a personal message from King Charles - as she showed her solitary with survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and punishment during her emotional one-day trip." MS

Three Columbia University Janitors Claim Hitler Youth Held Them Hostage

"Three janitors claim the pro-Hamas insurrectionists at Columbia University temporarily held them hostage during the takeover of a campus building..... the Jew-hating insurrectionists stormed Hamilton Hall. The mob then “shattered windows, barricaded doors using tables and chairs, and obscured the windows of the facility.”" FOX

Ukraine's trust in NATO allies broken due to delays in aid

"Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, believes that the delays in the supply of military aid by the Alliance's member states have affected Ukraine’s trust in them, and strengthening NATO's role in this situation may solve the issue. He mentioned his idea to create a years-long plan which would clearly determine the contribution of each NATO member into the aid for Ukraine." Pravada

Poll: Americans Overwhelmingly Back Israel over Hamas Terrorists

"Americans overwhelmingly support Israel in its war against the Hamas terrorist group by a margin of four-to-one despite pro-Palestinian protests roiling streets and campuses across the country, a poll released Tuesday reveals.
The Harvard CAPS-Harris survey shared with The Hill found 80 percent of registered voters back Israel more in the conflict while just 20 percent say they support Hamas more." Breitbart

French police break up Gaza war protest at the Sorbonne in Paris

"Police moved in to clear dozens of protesters who had camped out in a courtyard in Sorbonne University in Paris to demand an end to Israel's bombardment of Gaza. About 100 demonstrators took part in the protest near the prestigious university, waving a giant Palestinian flag and chanting slogans in support of Palestinians in Gaza." France24

115 combat clashes on front lines in past day

"115 combat clashes on front lines in past day.....In the Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna sectors, Russia maintains a military presence in the border areas, and continues to conduct sabotage and reconnaissance activities to prevent the deployment of our troops to threatened areas.

In the Kupiansk sector, Ukrainian troops repelled nine attacks near Berestove and Novoserhiivka in the Kharkiv region and Stelmakhivka in the Luhansk region.
In the Lyman sector, 13 enemy attacks, supported by aircraft, were repelled in the Tverdokhlibove are, Nevske and Serebrianka forestry in the Luhansk region; Terny, Torske and south of Zarichne in the Donetsk region.
In the Bakhmut sector, Ukrainian soldiers repelled 33 attacks in the Bilohorivka area of the Luhansk region; Verkhniokamianske, Novyi, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, Rozdolivka and Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region, where the enemy, with the support of aircraft, tried to improve the tactical situation.
In the Avdiivka sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 24 attacks in the areas of Arkhanhelske, Novokalynove, Ocheretyne, Sokil, Solovyove, Semenivka, Orlivka, and Netailove in the Donetsk region, where the enemy, with the support of aircraft, attempted to dislodge Ukrainian from their positions.
In the Novopavlivka sector, the Defense Forces continue to hold back the enemy in the vicinity of Kostiantynivka, Heorhiivka, and Urozhaine in the Donetsk region, where the enemy, with the support of aircraft, tried to break through the defense of Ukrainian troops 20 times.
In the Orikhiv sector, the enemy, with the support of aircraft, attacked Ukrainian positions seven times in the vicinity of Staromaiorske, Donetsk region, and Novodarivka, Zaporizhzhia region.
In the Kherson sector, the enemy continued attempts to dislodge Ukrainian units from the footholds on the left bank of the Dnipro River. Over the past day, the enemy made three unsuccessful attacks on Ukrainian positions." Ukrin

PMs of Ukraine and Ireland discuss confiscation of Russian assets

"Prime Ministers of Ukraine and Ireland Denis Shmyhal and Simon Harris discussed the confiscation of Russian assets. According to Shmyhal, he received assurances that Ireland will support Ukraine as long as it is needed." Ukrin

ISIS Resurgence: Four Assad Troops Killed in Syria Ambush

"ISIS jihadists killed four of dictator Bashar Assad’s soldiers in an attack intentionally targeting the military, the latest in what experts fear is an accelerating escalation of ISIS activity in the country. The incident reportedly occurred in the province of Raqqa, whose eponymous largest city was once the capital of the Islamic State “caliphate” established over significant portions of both Iraq and Syria. It occurred in the context of growing concern that, after the eradication of ISIS from Raqqa in 2017, the Sunni jihadist terror group has found a way to regroup in the Middle East, in addition to increasing its activity throughout Africa and South Asia." Breitbart

Biden Looks To Prevent Future President From Ending Ukraine War With 10-Year Agreement

"Soon on the heels of President Biden last week signing into law a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine's defense, President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday indicated that he's working with Washington on a bilateral security agreement which would last ten years.
"We are already working on a specific text," Zelensky said in his nightly video address. "Our goal is to make this agreement the strongest of all."

"We are discussing the specific foundations of our security and cooperation. We are also working on fixing specific levels of support for this year and the next 10 years."
He indicated it will likely include agreements on long-term support centering on military hardware and joint arms production, as well as continuing reconstruction aid. "The agreement should be truly exemplary and reflect the strength of American leadership," Zelensky added.
But ultimately a key purpose in locking such a long-term deal in would be to keep it immune from potential interference by a future Trump administration.
Below is what The Wall Street Journal spelled out last year:

"The goal is to make sure Ukraine will be strong enough in the future to deter Russia from attacking it again. More immediately, Ukraine’s Western allies hope to discourage the Kremlin from thinking it can wait out the Biden administration for a potentially more sympathetic successor in the White House. Western officials are looking for ways to lock in pledges of support and limit future governments’ abilities to backtrack, amid fears in European capitals that Donald Trump, if he recaptures the White House, would seek to scale back aid."

We and others have previously underscored that NATO and G7 countries are desperately trying to "Trump-proof" future aid to Ukraine and the effort to counter Russia.
As for its first new weapons package in the wake of the $61 billion being authorized, the Biden administration has announced new arms packages totaling $7 billion. The US has vowed to rush the weapons to Kiev, given that by all indicators its forces are not doing well on the frontlines.
"We are still waiting for the supplies promised to Ukraine – we expect exactly the volume and content of supplies that can change the situation on the battlefield in the interests of Ukraine," Zelensky had said over the weekend. "And it is important that every agreement we have reached is implemented – everything that will yield practical results on the battlefield and boost the morale of everyone on the frontline. In a conversation with Mr. Jeffries, I emphasized the need for Patriot systems, they are needed as soon as possible." But all of this means the war will be prolonged, and this puts negotiations much further away on the horizon, despite what are now daily acknowledgements of Ukraine forces being beaten back." ZeroHedge

Drones Target Two Oil Depots in Smolensk Region, Resulting in Loss of 26,000 Cubic Meters of Russian Fuel

"According to sources within Ukrainian special services, two fuel storage facilities in Russia’s Smolensk region were hit by drones allegedly operated by the SBU.

The attacks destroyed 26,000 cubic meters of Russian fuel and triggered large-scale fires, prompting evacuations. The SBU confirmed the attacks, stating that such facilities are legitimate targets as they support the Russian army in Ukraine.
Locals reported hearing explosions and seeing a glow and smoke from the oil depot near the village of Razdorovo, 10 kilometers from Smolensk." MS

Russian man arrested over murder of Ukrainian soldiers in Germany

"Two citizens of Ukraine were killed in a knife attack at a shopping center in Bavaria,

Germany on Saturday, according to local police. The victims were military personnel on medical leave, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a press release on Sunday.
Bavarian police responded to a report of “two seriously injured men” at the mall in Murnau, Burggraben shortly after 5pm local time on Saturday.
One of the victims died from his injuries before the emergency services arrived at the scene. The second later succumbed to his wounds at a nearby hospital. The authorities identified them only as “Ukrainian citizens aged 23 and 36,” both living locally.
Police quickly tracked down the main suspect, named as a 57-year-old Russian national. He was detained later that evening at his residence nearby, and served a warrant for his arrest for murder. The motive was not immediately clear." RT

Harvard anti-Israel protesters fly Palestinian flag in spot reserved for Stars & Stripes as demonstrations ramp up across country

"Anti-Israel protesters at Harvard University flew a Palestinian flag at the Ivy League school in a spot usually reserved for the American flag as campus demonstrations continue to spiral out of control.

The shocking display came as radical students continued to occupy the campus, with video circulating online showing three students raising the Palestinian flag over the iconic statue of John Harvard — where the Stars & Stripes is intended to fly." NYP

131 combat clashes

"Over past 24 hours, 131 combat engagements have taken place along the frontlines. Russian airstrikes hit Velyka Pysarivka of Kharkiv region; Serebrianske Forestry and Bilohorivka of Luhansk region; Spirne, Verkhniokamianske, Siversk, Hryhorivka, Oleksandropil, Ocheretyne, Novokalynove, Paraskoviivka, Novomykhailivka, Vuhledar, Vodiane, Kostiantynivka, Urozhaine, and Staromaiorske of Donetsk region; Robotyne of Zaporizhzhia region; Krynky, Kostyrka, Beryslav, Novoberyslav, Prydniprovske, Veletenske, and Kizomys of Kherson region.

Volyn and Polissia axes: the operational situation saw no significant changes.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: the enemy maintains its military presence across the border, conducting sabotage missions in order to prevent the transfer of Ukrainian troops to other areas.
Kupiansk axis: Ukrainian soldiers repelled six attacks in the areas of Berestove in Kharkiv region and Stelmakhivka in Luhansk region.
Lyman axis: the enemy executed 18 attacks near Kopanka and Novoserhiivka of Kharkiv region; Makiivka, Nevske, and Serebrianske Forestry of Luhansk region; and Terny of Donetsk region.
Bakhmut axis: Ukraine’s soldiers repelled 29 assaults in the areas of Verkhnokamianske, Vyimka, Hryhorivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Nove, and Andriivka of Donetsk region.
Avdiivka axis: Ukraine repelled 55 attacks in the areas of Novokalynove, Keramik, Arkhanhelske, Umanske, Sokil, Ocheretyne, Kalynove, Soloviove, Novopokrovske, Novoselivka Persha, and west of Semenivka in Donetsk region.
Novopavlivka axis: Ukraine’s Defense Forces continue to hold back the enemy in the areas of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Vodiane, Novomykhailivka, and Urozhaine settlements of Donetsk region, where the enemy, with air support, tried 15 times to break through Ukrainian defense lines.
Orikhiv axis: the invaders attacked Ukrainian positions four times in the vicinity of Staromaiorske of Donetsk region.
Kherson axis: the enemy does not give up the intention to knock Ukrainian units out of their bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnipro, where they attacked five times in the area of Krynky of Kherson region." Ukrin

Russian drone attack hit a hotel in Mykolaiv

 "A Russian drone attack hit a hotel in Ukraine’s southern city of Mykolaiv, causing a fire, which was quickly extinguished." AJ

Anti-Israel Protesters Cause Chaos For White House Correspondents’ Dinner Attendees

"Pro-Palestine protesters took to the streets of the nation’s capital Saturday evening, creating a chaotic scene outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

Video captured by the Daily Caller shows a large group of activists protesting outside of the White House press corps’s annual star-studded gathering at the Washington Hilton hotel. A left-wing activist group, Code Pink, reportedly organized the demonstration, instructing supporters go through Kalorama Park to reach the hotel, according to the group’s website.
“The Correspondents’ Dinner is nothing more than a celebration and endorsement of the administration’s actions. That is not journalism. That is complicity,” the Code Pink website states.
Footage of the evening’s activities shows protesters banging on drums and yelling chants such as, “Shame, shame, shame on you, for all the terror that you do” and others about the media’s alleged lying." DailyCaller

Pro-Israel, Pro-Palestinian Protesters Clash at UCLA ‘Encampment’

"Roughly 2,000 pro-Israel counter-demonstrators gathered at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) to protest near a “Palestine Solidarity Encampment” that was set up last week on campus.

As they arrived, many had to walk a gauntlet of about 100 pro-Palestinian activists, some of whom were from the encampment. Local Black Lives Matter activists had also called upon supporters to oppose the pro-Israel protesters.....the university lacked sufficient personnel to provide security for the pro-Israel protesters. However, there were dozens of security officers guarding the “encampment.” Breitbart

Ukraine's top general says troops fall back as fighting worsens on eastern front

"Ukraine's army leader admitted Sunday that Kyiv's position on the battlefield has worsened after Russian forces captured another village in the east, pressing their advantage in manpower and ammunition. Ukrainian troops had "retreated" westwards to new defensive lines in a section of the front that runs past the city of Donetsk. Russia's defense ministry earlier on Sunday claimed its troops had captured the village of Novobakhmutivka in the eastern Donetsk region – around 10 kilometres (six miles) north of Avdiivka, which they seized in February." France24

112 combat clashes on front lines in past 24 hours

"In the past 24 hours, 112 combat engagements were recorded on the front lines in Ukraine. In the Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna sectors, Russia maintains a military presence in the border areas, and continues to conduct sabotage and reconnaissance activities to prevent the deployment of our troops to threatened areas.

In the Kupiansk sector, Ukrainian troops repelled four enemy attacks near Berestove in the Kharkiv region and Stelmakhivka in the Luhansk region. In the Lyman sector, the Ukrainian Armed Forces repelled 14 attacks near Kopanky and Novoserhiivka in the Kharkiv region; Makiivka, Nevske and the Serebrianka forestry in the Luhansk region; and Terny in the Donetsk region.
In the Bakhmut sector, Ukrainian troops repelled 24 attacks near Verkhniokamianske, Vyimka, Hryhorivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Novyi, Andriivka in the Donetsk region, where the enemy was attempting to improve its tactical position.
In the Avdiivka sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 40 attacks in the areas of Novokalynove, Keramik, Arkhangelsk, Umanske, Sokil, Ocheretyne, Kalynove, Solovyove, Novopokrovske, Novoselivka Persha and Semenivka in the Donetsk region, where the enemy tried to force Ukrainian units out of their positions.
In the Novopavlivka sector, the Defense Forces continue to hold back the enemy in the areas of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Vodiane, Novomykhailivka, and Urozhaine in the Donetsk region, where the enemy, with the support of aircraft, attempted to break through the defense of Ukrainian troops 11 times.
In the Orikhiv sector, the enemy attacked Ukrainian positions three times in the vicinity of Staromaiorske, the Donetsk region, with the support of aircraft.
In the Kherson sector, the enemy does not abandon its intention to push Ukrainian units out of their footholds on the left bank of the Dnipro River. With the support of aircraft, the Russian forces attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders three times in the vicinity of Krynky, Kherson region" Ukrin

Big Five US Arms Makers Profit From Ukraine Conflict and Overcharge Pentagon

"America's Big Five defense contractors, namely Lockheed Martin, RTX (formerly Raytheon), Boeing, Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics, appeared to be ready for the boon before Russia's special military operation was launched. CBS News published the results of a six-month investigation into "what can only be described as price gouging by US defense contractors." The media outlet revealed that the Pentagon has been overpaying for almost everything from radar, missiles, and helicopters down to the nuts and bolts. To complicate matters further, the share of these windfall profits flow back to US politicians through the arms manufacturers lobby groups. As per OpenSecrets, the Big Five spent nearly $140 million on lobbying the federal government in 2023." Sputnik

Russians establish foothold in part of Ocheretyne, Berdychi reported captured

"The Russians have established a foothold in part of the village of Ocheretyne in Donetsk Oblast. Meanwhile, DeepState analysts have reported that the village of Berdychi in Ocheretyne hromada has been captured [a hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories – ed.]." Pravada

Ukraine Strikes Key Russian Oil Refinery for the Second Time in Two Months, Halting Operations

"Ukraine has once again targeted the Slavyansk oil refinery in Krasnodar, Russia, marking the second strike on this facility within two months.

This aggressive maneuver is part of a broader pattern of attacks on energy and military infrastructures in the region....the air defense forces successfully intercepted 66 drone-type aircraft over the region during the nighttime raid." MS

Earthquake strikes New Jersey

"A small 2.9 magnitude earthquake rattled New Jersey just three weeks after a more forceful 4.8 quake hit the Garden State and surrounding regions.

The natural phenomenon hit near Tewksbury this morning at around 9:49 a.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Tewksbury is located in Hunterdon County, which is about 35 miles west of New York City. " FOX

71 combat engagements occurred on the front lines

"71 combat engagements occurred on the front lines....Russian army carried out 31 missile strikes, 46 air strikes and 23 MLRS attacks on the positions of Ukrainian defenders and populated areas." Ukrin

Hamas releases propaganda video of two hostages, including U.S. citizen

"Hamas released new undated video footage of two men— including an American citizen — held hostage in Gaza. The video shows the two men alive and was released on the Palestinian militant group's social media channel, which is regularly used by the group to publish propaganda videos. The hostages seen on the video were identified as Omri Miran and Keith Siegel by the campaign group the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. Both men were abducted by militants during the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7.

In the statement, the campaign group said the video shows the hostages "for the first time after 204 days in captivity." ABC

Putin Did Not Order Alexei Navalny's Death, US Intelligence Finds

"In a surprising turn, The Wall Street Journal has issued a new weekend report saying that US intelligence agencies do not believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin planned or ordered the death of opposition activist and politician Alexei Navalny.

"U.S. intelligence agencies have determined that Putin likely didn’t order Navalny to be killed at the notoriously brutal prison camp in February, people familiar with the matter said, a finding that deepens the mystery about the circumstances of his death," writes the Journal." ZH

Bank Failures Begin Again: Philly's Republic First Seized By FDIC

"The FDIC just seized the troubled Philadelphia bank, Republic First Bancorp and and struck an agreement for the lender’s deposits and the majority of its assets to be bought by Fulton Bank. The FDIC estimated the failure will cost the deposit insurance fund $667 million." ZeroHedge

Russia targets Ukrainian railways to block US arms deliveries

"Russia has intensified attacks on Ukrainian railway lines to hinder the delivery of much-needed American weapons to the front. Russian forces attacked Ukrainian railway infrastructure in Donetsk Oblast in the east of the country, Kharkiv Oblast in the northeast, and Cherkasy Oblast in the central part of the country.

In the attack on Donetsk Oblast, three rail electrical engineers were killed, and four were injured. In Kharkiv Oblast, a railway station in the city of Balakliya was attacked, injuring 13 people, including three railway employees. The railway infrastructure was also damaged in Smila in Cherkasy Oblast." MS

Iran and Russia Move into Sri Lanka After China’s Belt and Road Disaster

"Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi visited Sri Lanka to inaugurate a hydropower plant and irrigation project, while Russia took partial control of an airport built by China – two signs that other members of the axis of tyranny are stepping in to clean up the wreckage from China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) debacles.

Sri Lanka is a prime example of a developing nation lured into ruinous debt by BRI, which tends to saddle China’s client states with loans they can never repay for infrastructure projects that prove much less profitable than promised. Sri Lanka infamously handed over control of its Hambantota Port to China in 2017 when it was unable to make its BRI loan payments.
Sri Lanka’s finances continued to crumble after China collected the port as collateral, leading to a fiscal meltdown, rolling blackouts, a fuel crisis, and food shortages.
Another notorious Chinese-funded project in Sri Lanka was the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA), a $209 million boondoggle that became operational in 2013 despite the low number of flights Sri Lanka needs to service. Forbes dubbed it “the world’s emptiest international airport”.
China apparently had little trouble convincing former President Mahinda Rajapaksa that the sleepy fishing hamlets of his hometown, Hambantota, could be fused into a gleaming ultramodern wonder city in which half of the buildings would be named after his family, if he only borrowed about five billion dollars from Chinese banks to finance his vision.
China was eager to pry strategically important Sri Lanka from its longtime partnership with nearby India and turn the island into a trade hub of the New Silk Road, China’s effort to rebuild the fabled trade route of old. Five billion dollars in loans bought Rajapaksa’s support for a while, but much of the money vanished into thin air, construction of the airport was an environmental disaster that wiped out thousands of acres of elephant habitat and disrupted bird migration routes, most of the flights announced with much fanfare at the inaugural ceremony were quickly canceled, and the facility began losing $18 million a year. Several of the few planes that tried to use the airport were grounded when migrating birds flew into their jet turbines and the military has been called out to chase away elephants and buffalo that decided to camp on the runways." Breitbart

Chad, Niger Kick American Soldiers Out

"U.S. forces were expelled from both Niger and Chad this week, dealing a serious blow to the Biden administration’s diplomacy and counter-terrorism policies in Africa.

Last Friday, the administration of leftist President Joe Biden announced that over a thousand U.S. military personnel would be withdrawn from Niger. The civilian government of Niger was overthrown in a July 2023 coup, leaving power in the hands of Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani." Breitbart

Hospitals evacuated in Kyiv after threat from Belarus

"City authoritie urgently evacuated two hospitals, including a children’s hospital, after the head of the Belarusian KGB claimed “terrorists” were being treated there — an accusation that Ukrainian officials called “a lie and provocation,” but which set off fears of an imminent attack. Speaking before a meeting of the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly — a political gathering headed by the Belarusian strongman leader Aleksandr Lukashenko — the KGB head, Ivan Tertel, specified the addresses of the hospitals, which are located next to each other in the Ukrainian capital. Tertel promised to “impose punishment.” MS

Blinken Threatens China Over Russia Ties, Warns Xi Against "Downward Spiral" In Relations With US

"Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, which brought to a close the US top diplomat's three day visit to China.

Blinken warned the Chinese leader of another potential "downward spiral" in relations and the two sides agreed this should be avoided, however, there were plenty of not so subtle barbs, warnings and threats exchanged.
President Xi in comments underscored that Beijing and Washington "should be partners rather than adversaries" - a familiar theme of top Chinese officials of late. "The world is big enough to accommodate the simultaneous development and prosperity of both China and the United States," he said according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry readout.

But he added the caveat that US-China relations will only stabilize once the US takes "a positive and constructive view of China’s development.
During this second trip to China in less than a year by Blinken, the Secretary of State also called out China related to Russia's war in Ukraine.
"Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without China’s support," Blinken claimed provocatively, while also asserting China is the "top supplier" of Russia's defense industrial base - albeit not in terms of lethal aid (but instead "dual use" technologies).He warned that the Biden administration is ready to introduce more sanctions against China if dual-use goods and technologies continue to be sent to Russia, including things previously listed such as: semiconductors, machine tools, chemical precursors, ball bearings, and optical systems.
"Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without China’s support," Blinken claimed provocatively, while also asserting China is the "top supplier" of Russia's defense industrial base - albeit not in terms of lethal aid (but instead "dual use" technologies).He warned that the Biden administration is ready to introduce more sanctions against China if dual-use goods and technologies continue to be sent to Russia, including things previously listed such as: semiconductors, machine tools, chemical precursors, ball bearings, and optical systems. As expected, China's foreign ministry hit back at the commentary and accusations, saying Blinken is "unreasonably criticizing the normal trade and economic relations between Russia and China" - at a moment it's pouring billions into one side of the war: Ukraine... while refusing to press for peace negotiations. "This is a very hypocritical and irresponsible approach," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbing told reporters." ZH

Mark Levin Calls Anti-Israel Protesters ‘Hitler Youth on Our College and University Campuses’

"Thursday on FNC’s “Hannity,” Mark Levin blasted anti-Israel protesters and special counsel Jack Smith during his monologue.

Levin, who also hosts FNC’s “Life, Liberty & Levin,” called the anti-Israel protesters “Hitler youth.” Breitbart

Germany takes aims at Spain and Greece for not giving Ukraine Patriot missiles

"Germany has criticised its Nato allies Spain and Greece for not donating their Patriot air-defense systems to Ukraine. Kyiv has said it needs at least seven of the American-made surface-to-air missile batteries to protect its cities from Russia’s long-range bombardments.
Despite pressure from Berlin, Brussels and Washington, European nations with the system have failed to fulfil the Ukrainian request." MichaelSavage.com

French Servicemen Promised Big Money for Fighting in Ukraine

"French servicemen are being promised a golden parachute for participating in fictitious "resignations" to fight in Ukraine said Nicolas Cinquini, a veteran of France's counter-terrorism intelligence service, to Sputnik.

Cinquini is currently searching for information about French nationals who fight in the conflict on the side of Kiev. According to his findings, French state agents may have been in Ukraine since the start of the special military operation in February 2022 along with ordinary French civilians who went to fight for the Kiev regime on their own.
France had already begun training a contingent to be sent to the conflict zone; at the first stage it would amount to about 2,000 military personnel. Later, the SVR, citing Naryshkin, said a French military unit, should it be in Ukraine, would become a priority legitimate target for the Russian military. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu by phone that sending French troops to Ukraine would create problems for France itself." Sputnik

Zelensky’s top rival has gone missing: Where is General Zaluzhny?

"Zelensky and the general hate each other’s guts; there is really no milder way of putting it. But Zelensky’s main motive was a belated attempt to kneecap a very dangerous potential rival. Especially because Zaluzhny is, of course, well-connected in three directions: with parts of the Ukrainian military leadership and many lower-ranking officers, too, with

Ukraine’s very well-armed far right (which overlaps with parts of its army), and with Zelensky’s other main rival, former President Pyotr Poroshenko. the plan was to send the 50-year-old off as ambassador to Britain. According to Dmitry Kuleba, Kiev’s foreign minister, one of Zelensky’s reasons for picking London for Zaluzhny’s golden exile is that the British capital features many diplomatic representatives of the Global South.
However, Zaluzhny has not yet left for the UK. In recent days, two things happened. First, there have been rumors, which have remained unsubstantiated, that, in reality, he was under some form of house arrest. Then the Ukrainian authorities rushed to announce that he is, finally, about to leave and that, of course, there was nothing odd about the long delay: The general the president loves to hate – and to fear – took a breather, formalities with the British needed time and, finally, the bulky general is now undergoing a crash course in diplomacy at the Foreign Ministry – another intriguingly comical idea.
We may never know why exactly it has taken so long to send off Zaluzhny. Some observers have speculated that the West was blackmailing Zelensky: First, you pass a new mobilization law to feed more Ukrainian cannon fodder into the proxy war, then we release $61 billion in US aid for you and let you ship off your nemesis to London. Again, mere rumors, at this point.
Less than a month ago, Politico published a long article based on statements by anonymous Ukrainian officers close to the former commander-in-chief. Their quintessence was that Ukraine’s military situation is desperate and that even the release of the US aid package – then mired on Capitol Hill and facing an uncertain future – would not turn things around.
As one of them put it, there is “nothing that can help Ukraine now because there are no serious technologies able to compensate Ukraine for the large mass of troops Russia is likely to hurl at us. We don’t have those technologies, and the West doesn’t have them as well in sufficient numbers.” Others acknowledged Russian sophistication and adaptation and were explicit about the fact that Ukraine’s crisis is not only military but also political.
Zelensky has no way of really stopping Zaluzhny. He’s dangerous to him in Ukraine and anywhere else as well. The president can try to sideline him but, even when he does, the ambitious, popular general remains very much in play. The more so when the war is going badly for Ukraine." RT