A US F-16 fighter jet shot down a Turkish drone, taking out another NATO ally's aircraft over Syria

"A US F-16 fighter jet shot down a Turkish drone in Syria on Thursday.

The rare clash between two NATO members occurred after the drone was considered a threat to US forces in the area.The Pentagon's Press Secretary called it a "regrettable incident" and said US forces had cited self-defense in the shoot down." BusinessInsider

NATO admiral floats 'form of conscription' to face Russia war threat

"Western allies may need to enact “a form of conscription” to grow their militaries, a top NATO admiral suggested amid widening misgivings about Russia’s replacement of soldiers and equipment lost during the war in Ukraine.

“It is a societal problem to be solved by society,” Dutch Adm. Rob Bauer, who heads the NATO Military Committee, said during the Warsaw Security Forum, “and if you cannot find enough people that voluntarily want to join the armed forces, you have to most likely think about other means of getting the people — a form of conscription, mobilization, reservists — like in Finland, where there's still conscription.”
U.S. military recruiters have fallen short of their targets in recent years, in parallel to a war in Ukraine that has exposed severe shortfalls in the ability of Western companies to produce arms and ammunition at a scale needed to deter or fight wars against Russia or China. Those dynamics make for a dangerous combination, Western officials fear, as Russian President Vladimir Putin is racing to expand Russia’s military in response to its struggles during the war in Ukraine." WashingtonPost

Strike in Ukraine’s northeast Kharkiv region

"At least 49 people were killed in Ukraine’s

northeast Kharkiv region on Thursday in what
appeared to be one of the war’s deadliest missile strikes, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, describing it as a “fully deliberate terrorist attack” by Russia." MS

One of Ukraine's biggest allies has run out of vital equipment to give it

"The UK, one of Ukraine's

biggest allies in the war, has run out of crucial equipment to donate, a senior officer told The Telegraph." BusinessInsider

Contempt For Press Freedoms: US Officials Bar Tucker Carlson From Interviewing Putin

"Tucker Carlson reports that the U.S. government prevented him from interviewing Russian

President Vladimir Putin. Carlson told the Swiss magazine Die Weltwoche that he had sought to arrange an interview with Putin, but U.S. officials blocked him.
Such obstructionism reflects a growing contempt on the part of officials in the United States and other supposedly liberal democratic countries for freedom of the press. It is merely the latest episode in a lengthening parade of restrictions, ranging from petty to truly alarming. The highest priority targets are critics who dare condemn or even dispute the accounts that Western leaders put forth regarding key foreign policy objectives." ZH

Russia puts power unit 4 of Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant on hot shutdown, increasing likelihood of accident

"Quote from Energoatom: "Russian invaders have brought power unit No. 4 out of the cold

shutdown state to the hot shutdown state at the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP. But the power unit No. 6, according to the IAEA, is being taken out of the hot state to the cold one." MS

Missile Mystery Solved! Officials Reveal Shocking Origin of Strike on Poland

"Last year, a missile from the war in Ukraine entered the border of Poland, with Ukraine officials claiming the missile was Russian and the Kremlin denies any involvement. The true origin of the missile has now been identified, potentially preventing a world war.
Rzeczpospolita reported, “This rocket has a range of 75 km to 90 km [46 to 55 miles],” citing an insider source who highlighted, “At that time, the Russian positions were in a place from which no Russian missile could reach Przewodow.” Despite mounting evidence, Ukraine denied any involvement, asserting that none of its missiles had strayed into the neighboring NATO country." MS

Vladimir Putin gears Russia up for WW3 with Nuclear Attack Drills

"Vladimir Putin appears to be preparing his country for "'armed conflicts involving nuclear

powers" as he orders nationwide nuclear drills across the country.... sirens have been heard across Russia for two days.
TV broadcasts were also interrupted by the message: "Attention, everyone! There is a check of readiness of the warning system to the population. Please remain calm!"
As part of the drills, children were reportedly shown how to put gas masks on while some officials were sent to bunkers.
The document outlining Russia's civil nuclear defense drill continues: "The risk of armed conflicts escalating into local and regional wars, including those involving nuclear powers, is increasing." DailyExpress

"I'm here until Berlin": Russia's war video sends chilling message

"Russia has launched a new advertising campaign for its war of aggression against Ukraine,

which Moscow refers to as a "military special operation.".....Russia has posted another ad for its 'special military operation,' stating that Russian soldiers will receive free land in Odessa after capturing it.
The actor says, 'I'm here until victory, until Berlin, just as my grandpa told me.'" MS

Leaked US strategy document shows Biden admin worried about corruption in Ukraine: Report

"According to a report in POLITICO, Biden administration officials are more worried about

corruption in Ukraine than they are willing to admit publicly. A “sensitive but unclassified” US strategy document lays down the steps Washington is taking to help Kyiv but also notes that corruption could case Western allies to abandon Ukraine’s fight against Russia." HindustanTimes

Chinese Billions Buy Base In Cuba

"Chinese and Cuban officials have conspired to establish a Chinese foothold on the Caribbean

Island, raising concerns about US security.... this new base would grant the Chinese government access to electronic communications within the United States..... Cuba has already breached US borders through secret police stations, further heightening tension." BEN

Is Russia testing a nuclear missile capable of hitting anywhere in the world?

"Increased activity has been observed at a Russian base in the remote regions of Siberia,

according to American surveillance planes and satellites. ....the activity resembles missile tests that Russia has conducted in the past. The missile in question is believed to be the Burevestnik or SSC-X-9 Skyfall missile, which, according to Putin, is nuclear-powered and can be equipped with a nuclear warhead.....this missile could potentially reach most parts of the Earth." MS

Russians drop bomb on Illinivka and launch tank attack Avdiivka

"Russian

occupiers have dropped a guided aerial bomb on the settlement of Illinivka and
launched a tank attack on Avdiivka (both in Donetsk Oblast)." Pravada

Ukraine Accused Of Using Cluster Bombs On Russian Village Near Border

"Russian officials have accused Ukraine forces of using cluster munitions against civilian

targets. The governor of Russia's Bryansk region said that a Russian village came under attack which lies near the border.
Gov. Alexander Bogomaz announced on Telegram that cluster bomblets were observed in a cross-border attack on the village of Klimovo." ZH

Mexico's president slams US aid for Ukraine and sanctions on Venezuela and Cuba

"Mexico’s president slammed U.S. aid for Ukraine and economic sanctions on Venezuela,

Cuba and other nations as the first of two high-level U.S.-Mexico meetings got underway in Washington.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador issued a broad criticism of U.S. foreign policy, saying U.S. economic sanctions were forcing people to emigrate from Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua." ABC