Russia vows response as Finland seeks NATO membership without delay

"Finland said on Thursday it would apply to join NATO "without delay," with Sweden
expected to follow, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine looked set to bring about the very expansion of the Western military alliance that Vladimir Putin aimed to prevent.

The decision by the two Nordic countries to abandon the neutrality they maintained throughout the Cold War would be one of the biggest shifts in European security in decades. Finland's announcement angered the Kremlin, which called it a direct threat to Russia and threatened an unspecified response." JP

Putin humiliated as satellite pics show tanks wiped out

"PUTIN'S troops have been wiped out by Ukrainian forces in an attempt to cross the Seversky Donets river.
Satellite images show tanks destroyed and abandoned on the river bed following the failed crossing." Express

Biden to order flags half-staff to mark 1M deaths from COVID-19

"Biden released a written statement Thursday morning and is expected to issue a presidential
proclamation ordering flags to half-staff later in the day. The milestone comes the same day that Biden is scheduled to lead the 2nd global COVID-19 summit." FOX

The crypto bubble bursts… but is it a sign of a stock market crash to come? Digital investors lose fortunes as Ethereum loses 20% of its value in 24 hours, Luna drops NINETY-EIGHT per cent and Coinbase warns customers may lose ALL their money

"Digital currencies are plunging in value this morning in a so-called 'crypto winter' that has
lost investors billions and is fueling fears that it is the harbinger of a wider stock market crash.

The world's second largest cryptocurrency Ethereum has joined the crash - plummeting in value by 20 per cent over the last 24 hours - in the digital downturn that is hammering investors who bought during the Covid years." DailyMail

Ukraine To Hold First War Crimes Trial as Moscow Says Kyiv Shelled Russian City

"Ukraine announced it will hold its first war crimes trial over the Russian invasion, as
Moscow accused Kyiv of shelling a Russian city in the war's latest flashpoint. In the Russian city of Belgorod, around 43 miles from Kharkiv, authorities said one person was killed and six injured by Ukrainian shelling." MT

1 Dead, 7 Injured in Russia Military Base Explosion

"One person has died in an explosion at a Russian military base in the country’s Far East, the state-run TASS news agency reported Thursday.

Another seven people were injured in the blast in the village of Teysin in the Khabarovsk region. The explosion took place during the unloading of munitions and sparked a large blaze." MT

Russian Ruble Becomes Fastest Growing Currency in 2022 - Bloomberg

"The Russian ruble has become the growth leader among 31 major currencies tracked by
Bloomberg." Sputnik

U.S. Navy Alleges China Creating an 'Umbrella' to Deny Washington 'Military Access' in Western Pacific

"A US Navy admiral on Wednesday accused China of “challenging” its “military access” to

the western Pacific Ocean by creating an “anti-access umbrella” and through the use of “grey zone” operations.

Delivering a statement on the “posture of the US Navy” before the House Armed Services Committee, Admiral Michael M. Gilday, the chief of naval operations, expressed concern that the size of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) had “tripled” since 2000.

The US Navy secretary described the upgrade of the PLAN's capabilities as having created an “anti-access umbrella” for Washington and other Western allies in the region." Sputnik

 

Ukraine Biolab Update: Russia Implicates Pfizer, Moderna, Merck, Obama, Soros, Clintons, Bidens, Rockefellers

"Specifically, the Russian MOD claims the U.S. and other NATO nations have been
engaged in illegal military-biological projects within Ukraine.

The U.S. Defense Department’s Biological Threat Reduction Program has provided funding to biolabs in Ukraine since then-Senator Barack Obama struck a deal back in 2005.

In a suspicious move, the US Embassy in Ukraine deleted documents related to the biolabs from its website when the story gained international attention.

The Russian government previously linked Hunter Biden, George Soros, the Pentagon & CDC to the biolabs, claiming, “The main objective of this project was to carry out a molecular analysis of particularly dangerous infections endemic to Ukraine.”

 “It should be noted that the ideologues of US military-biological activities in Ukraine are the leaders of the Democratic Party,” Russia’s latest briefing stated. “Thus, through the US executive branch, a legislative framework for funding military biomedical research directly from the federal budget was formed. Funds were raised under state guarantees from NGOs controlled by the Democratic Party leadership, including the investment funds of the Clintons, Rockefellers, Soros and Biden.”... “The scheme involves major pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, Moderna, Merck and the US military-affiliated company Gilead. U.S. experts are working to test new medicines that circumvent international safety standards. As a result, Western companies are seriously reducing the cost of research programmes and gaining a significant competitive advantage.”

According to Russia, one benefit of this widespread conspiracy is that “leaders of the Democratic Party” can use it to “generate additional campaign finance and hide its distribution.” IW

Russia Signals Annexation of Parts of Ukraine and Georgia

"Russia’s state-run Tass news service on Wednesday reported that the breakaway areas of
Kherson in Ukraine and South Ossetia in Georgia will ask to be incorporated into Russia.

South Ossetia’s “President-elect” Alan Galoyev said his government is ready to hold a referendum on joining Russia as soon as Moscow gives it the green light." Breitbart

China Warns Away US Warship After Large-Scale PLA Drills Near Taiwan

"China's military said Wednesday that it issued a formal warning to a US warship that passed
through the Taiwan Strait soon after large-scale Chinese PLA military drills wound down in waters surrounding Taiwan.

The US Navy's 7th Fleet confirmed the guided-missile cruiser USS Port Royal sailed through the contested strait on Tuesday in a "routine" transit and in "accordance with international law". But China suggested the US is intent on staging "drama" to provoke "trouble" in connection with its military exercises - according to its statement." ZH

Ukraine Pushes Russian Forces Back, Restricts Gas Flow to Europe

"Ukrainian forces reported battlefield gains Wednesday in a counterattack that could signal a shift in the momentum of the war, while Kyiv shut gas flows on a route through Russian-held territory, raising the specter of an energy crisis in Europe." Newsmax

Iran's New Home-Grown Satellite Snaps Image Of US Fifth Fleet's Headquarter's

"Iranian state-owned news Press TV reports Islamic Republic News Agency, IRNA, published several images from the Noor 2 satellite. One image was the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in the Persian Gulf Island of Bahrain." ZH

Sky News Interview Cut Short After Mention of Zelensky Posting Soldier With SS Insignia

"A Sky News interview with Russian First Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dmitry Polyanskiy was cut short after mention was made of President Zelensky posting an image of a soldier wearing SS insignia.

Zelensky posted his Victory Day statement along with a collection of images of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians.

However, after it was revealed that one of the Ukrainian soldiers was wearing a symbol of the Totenkopf division of the SS, the post was hastily deleted.

During the interview, Polyanskiy made reference to the controversy, but was quickly cut off after bringing it up.

“Do you know what it is? It’s an emblem of a German SS division in the Second World War. So he published on the Victory Day an emblem of a fighter of Right Sector [banned in Russia] with this emblem, saying that this is a symbol of [the] fight against Nazism as he sees it,” Polyanskiy said.

“This was deleted after half an hour but, of course, we have a copy of this… It means that [the] UK now is covering Ukrainian authorities, which display Nazi symbols during the Victory Day,” he added. The host of the show seemed eager to prevent Polyanskiy from elaborating any further." SemitNews

Russia pounds vital port of Odesa, targeting supply lines

"Russian troops pounded away at the vital port of Odesa, Ukrainian officials said Tuesday,
apparently as part of efforts to disrupt the supply lines and weapons shipments that have been critical to Kyiv's defense." France24