Kyiv Claims 'Astonishing' Advances in East Ukraine

"Kyiv said its forces were making lightning gains in the east of the country in a
shock counteroffensive to recapture territory that fell to Russia shortly after Moscow's February invasion.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock meanwhile arrived in the Ukrainian capital for a surprise visit, which she said was to demonstrate Berlin's support for Ukraine in its battle against Russia." MT

Germany ‘prepared’ for Russian gas shutdown

"Germany can cope with the current energy crisis, and is ready to deal with a potential Russian

natural gas shutdown, the Chancellor Olaf Scholz said.

“We live in serious times… But we are prepared. Prepared, for example, for Russia to largely cut off gas supplies because of the war against Ukraine,” Scholz said in a video address.

“We have set up terminals on the north German coast to import liquefied natural gas. We have been saving gas. We are once again using the production capabilities of coal-fired power plants. At the beginning of next year we will have the opportunity to use the remaining southern German nuclear power plants if that is necessary… We have put together a comprehensive aid package to support those who cannot easily cope with such challenges financially,” the chancellor said." RT

Russian speakers protest ‘language genocide’ in Latvia

"Members of Latvia’s Russian-speaking community staged a peaceful protest in the country’s capital of Riga against a looming ban on teaching in Russian in educational institutions. 

Last month, the Education, Culture and Science Commission of the Latvian parliament, called the Saeima, supported amendments to education laws that would provide for a phased three-year transition to teaching only in Latvian, the state language, in kindergartens and schools." RT

Pope Francis: What we are Witnessing is World War III

"Pope Francis warned them that they were witnessing World War III. The Pope said: “The tempest of the Covid-19 pandemic has imposed various limitations on our daily lives and our pastoral activities. Now it seems that the worst is over, and thanks be to God, we can meet again. But unfortunately, Europe and the entire world are convulsed by a war of particular gravity, in terms of the violation of international law, the risks of nuclear escalation, and the grave economic and social consequences. It is a ‘piecemeal’ third world war, to which you bear witness in the places where you carry out your mission. Thank you for everything that the Pontifical Representatives have done and are doing in these situations of suffering. You have brought the proximity of the Pope to peoples and Churches; you have been points of reference in the moments of greatest disorientation and turbulence.”Pope Francis only refers to Covid-19 and the ongoing Ukrainian-Russian conflict in this “third world war.”AndyRoman

NATO chief warns Ukraine could collapse

"Ukraine is heading for a tough winter, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned
urging Kiev to continue fighting against Russia. Otherwise, the country may “cease to exist” as an independent nation, he said." RT

Moscow, We Have a Problem

"Ukraine’s unexpected and rapid advances in the north — as documented by these Russian
sources — have engendered a palpable frustration from writers usually known for their pro-Moscow drumbeating....one Ukraine soldier posted a photo of himself in the just-liberated village of Ivanovka — complete with a menacing message for any Ukrainians who collaborated with the Russians." PJM

Ukraine's Top General Doesn't Rule Out "Limited" Nuclear War

"Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Gen. Valery Zaluzhny stated "There is a direct threat of the use, under certain circumstances, of tactical nuclear weapons by the Russian armed forces." He wrote this in an op-ed published by state run outlet Ukrinform, with the alarming words being picked up by The Washington Post and others." ZH

Assassinations Of Russia-Installed Officials On the Rise in Occupied Ukraine

"Alexei Kovalev was found Sunday shot to death in his home in the Russian-occupied

Ukrainian town of Hola Prystan. 

Nearby lay his girlfriend, reportedly badly injured with stab wounds to her neck, and a Mossberg pump-action shotgun. 

Prior to Russia’s attack on Ukraine in February, Kovalev was a deputy in the Ukrainian parliament and a member of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Servant of the People party — but, after much of Ukraine’s southern Kherson region was seized by Russian troops in the first weeks of the invasion, he switched sides. 

As well as a politician, Kovalev was also closely involved in the agricultural business for which southern Ukraine is famous, reportedly playing a key role in arranging shipments of Ukrainian grain to Russia after the invasion. 

Kovalev met top Kremlin official Sergei Kiriyenko, who oversees occupied Ukrainian territory, in June, after which he posted on Facebook: “Russia is here seriously and forever!” Two weeks later, he survived a car bombing. 

Perhaps the most exotic assassination attempt so far, took place in early August when the Moscow-appointed head of Kherson region Vladimir Saldo — Kovalev’s boss — was apparently poisoned." MT

Queen Elizabeth II Dead At 96 - Double Rainbow over Buckingham Palace Attributed to Queen and Her Husband

"A double rainbow which appeared in the sky over Buckingham Palace on the day Queen Elizabeth II passed away has been attributed to the late monarch and her husband, Prince Philip. 

The Queen, who has passed away aged 96, bid a final farewell to Prince Philip, her husband of over seven decades, just last year. 

BBC confirms the new King will be known as "King Charles III." ZH

 

Ukraine Retakes Ground Near Kharkiv as Russia’s Defense Wobbles

"Russian forces appeared to be struggling to contain a Ukrainian counteroffensive around the
northeastern city of Kharkiv on Thursday amid claims that Kyiv’s forces had advanced as far as 50 kilometers in a breakthrough involving tanks and artillery.  Russian forces sustained 76 equipment losses Wednesday, according to open-source analytical project Oryx, an estimated 70% of which happened in areas around Kharkiv." MT

EU demands ‘mandatory’ energy rationing

 "European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has asked EU member nations to
implement “mandatory” energy rationing policies, calling on the bloc to “flatten the curve” of demand during a press conference in language reminiscent of the darkest days of the Covid-19 lockdowns." RT

Italian journalist ‘rescued after triggering mine’ in Ukraine

"Mattia Sorbi was rescued by Russian forces after a car he was traveling in towards the
frontline triggered a mine, the ministry said in a statement. It claimed that the people from the Ukrainian side who had helped the Italian reach his destination had deliberately set him up, hoping that his death could be blamed on Russia." RT

Blinken In Surprise Visit To Kyiv Unveils $2BN More Aid Amid 'Successful' Counteroffensive

"US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has traveled to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on a
surprise visit where he met with government leaders, visited a children's hospital, and unveiled yet another major military aid package. This new package includes $2 billion in aid for not just Ukraine but other surrounding NATO countries." ZH

U.N. Inspectors Call for Security Zone Around Nuclear Plant

"The International Atomic Energy Agency calls for a ‘safety and security protection zone’ at
the Zaporizhzhia plant." NYT

California declares ‘energy emergency’

"California’s power grid operator has declared an energy emergency, warning that it may
institute rolling blackouts to curb a surge in demand, which has hit all-time record highs as residents crank up the AC to escape an unprecedented heat wave. “If needed, ISO could order utilities to begin rotating power outages to maintain stability of the electric grid,” the agency said, adding that Tuesday’s peak electricity demand is expected to exceed 52,000 megawatts, “a new historic all-time high for the grid.” RT