Western aid feeding Ukrainian corruption – Italian deputy PM

"Western assistance to Kiev risks ending up in the pockets of corrupt Ukrainian officials,

Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has warned, citing a major scandal that recently shook Ukraine’s government. He also argued against further military aid, warning that the EU was on “the path of death.”
Salvini spoke as the Italian government approved its 12th package of military support for Ukraine and promised electrical generators for the coming winter. The decision coincided with a major scandal in Kiev over an alleged $100 million energy graft scheme involving Timur Mindich, a close associate and former business partner of Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky." RT

Could A Small Venezuelan Island Be The Real Reason Behind the U.S. Military's Caribbean Buildup

"Recent reporting highlights a sustained U.S. military buildup across the Caribbean, coinciding with briefings to President Trump in which senior Pentagon officials outlined potential operational scenarios against Venezuela.

In this 10-post X thread, Jason Lewris of real-time housing market data website Parcl Labs explored one potential cause for the U.S. military buildup and goes beyond drug smuggling, linking

Venezuelan cartels and Iranian-backed groups (like Hezbollah).
"But drug smuggling may not be the full story—or the real motivation," Lewris began the tread. He said, "A far more concerning pattern is emerging."
"Here's how a small Venezuelan island (Isla de Margarita), Iranian-backed terrorist groups, and U.S. housing may all connect within a sophisticated people-transportation network into the United States," Lewris explained.
The @WhiteHouse has been releasing videos of U.S. forces blowing up drug-smuggling boats as if they’re Superbowl ads.
They’ve quietly mobilized additional military assets to Puerto Rico.
At a House hearing on March 20, 2013, lawmakers were briefed that Isla de Margarita (Margarita Island) was being used by Hezbollah to train Venezuelan cartel members.
Lewris pointed out, "Hezbollah has also conducted terror training on Margarita Island for recruits from Venezuela and other Latin American countries. Hezbollah operatives and their co-conspirators hold senior positions in the Venezuelan Government. They provide travel documents, weapons, and logistics support to terrorist operations and cocaine smugglers as our witnesses will explain further."
Lewris' thesis: "U.S. officials understand the Iran–Venezuela partnership. They understand these smuggling routes, which historically moved drugs. But the concern now is that people, not drugs, are being moved. And those people may include terrorist operatives. We're tracking the intersection of these networks with U.S. housing at @ParclLabs." 

ZeroHedge

Strong mag. 5.2 Earthquake - North Pacific Ocean, 225 km east of Isla Socorro Island, Mexico

"A strong magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurred in the North Pacific Ocean 192 km (119 mi) from Mexico in the early afternoon at 2.44 pm local time (GMT -7). The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow." VD

At least 6 dead, 5-year-old missing as powerful atmospheric river pounds California

"At least 6 fatalities have been reported as a powerful atmospheric river continues to impact

California. With heavy rainfall of up to 200 mm (8 inches) being forecast, authorities are preparing for the threat of flash floods, landslides, debris flows across the state.
A strong atmospheric river is affecting California, producing heavy rainfall, rapid runoff, mountain snow and widespread flooding.
A father lost his life after trying to rescue his 5-year-old daughter from the ocean. The family was at Garrapata State Beach along Highway 1 in California when the child was pulled out by waves estimated between 4.5–6 m (15– 20 feet) high. The father tried to rescue his daughter, but the pair were swept out together, with the father holding his daughter’s hand." W

5.1 Earthquake - North Pacific Ocean, 199 km southeast of Ostrov Paramushir Island, Sakhalin Oblast, Russia

"A strong magnitude 5.1 earthquake occurred in the North Pacific Ocean 186 km (116 mi) from Russia in the early morning at 5.48 am local time (GMT +11). The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow." VD

195 clashes along frontline

"195 combat engagements between Ukraine’s Defense Forces and Russian invaders.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, the enemy carried out one airstrike, dropped three guided bombs, and conducted 87 shelling attacks, including five using multiple launch rocket systems.
Today, the enemy attacked six times in the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector near Vovchansk and toward Dvorichanske and Obukhivka. One engagement is still ongoing.
The enemy attempted to advance eight times in the Kupiansk sector in the areas of Pishchane, Kupiansk, and Holubivka.

In the Lyman sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 17 Russian attacks. The enemy attempted to advance in the areas of Cherneshchyna, Novyi Myr, Hrekivka, Karpivka, Korovii Yar, Drobysheve, Yampolivka, Terny, and Zarichne. Two combat engagements are still underway.
In the Sloviansk sector, Ukrainian troops repelled eight Russian attacks. The invaders attempted to advance near Yampil, Serebrianka, Fedorivka, Siversk, Vyimka, and Zvanivka. One engagement is ongoing.
In the Kramatorsk sector, five combat engagements took place with the enemy near Maiske, Virolubivka, and Chasiv Yar.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, Ukrainian troops repelled 27 attacks near Kostiantynivka, Shcherbynivka, Pleshchiivka, Rusyn Yar, Poltavka, Sofiivka, as well toward Novopavlivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, the enemy attacked Ukrainian positions 66 times throughout the day near Volodymyrivka, Bilytske, Nove Shakhove, Nykonorivka, Chervonyi Lyman, Myrnohrad, Rodynske, Novoekonomichne, Pokrovsk, Sukhyi Yar, Kotlyne, Udachne, Shakhove, Molodetske, Novomykolaivka, Dachne, Filiia, as well as toward Novopidhorodne, Hryshyne, Kucheriv Yar, and Vilne. One attack is still taking place.
In the Oleksandrohrad sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 21 Russian attacks near the settlements of Zelenyi Hai, Yalta, Andriivka-Klevtsove, Oleksandrohrad, Voskresenka, Stepove, Sosnivka, Verbove, Oleksiivka, Pavlivka, Pryvilne, Krasnohirske, and Zlahoda. The enemy launched airstrikes in the areas of Demuryne and Danylivka.
In the Huliaipole sector, the enemy attacked Ukrainian positions 14 times near Dobropillia, Rivnopillia, Zelenyi Hai, Vesele, Bilohiria, Vysoke, Ternuvate, as well as toward Zatyshshia. One engagement is currently underway. Airstrikes targeted Huliaipole, Vozdvyzhenka, Bilohiria, and Ternuvate.
In the Orikhiv sector, Ukraine’s Defense Forces stopped one enemy offensive action near Stepnohirsk.
In the Prydniprovske sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled one Russian attack toward the Antonivskyi Bridge. The settlement of Sadove came under an airstrike." Ukrin