French Foreign Legion Possibly Racked Up 'First Losses in Ukraine'

"French forces reportedly drawn from the 3rd Infantry Regiment of the Foreign Legion have already been deployed “in support of the Ukrainian 54th Independent Mechanized Brigade in the city of Slavyansk," former US deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, Stephen Bryen, claimed earlier in an article for the Asia Times. The French Foreign Legion dispatched to

Ukraine has possibly sustained its first personnel losses, military correspondent Boris Rozhin stated on Telegram.
The mercenaries could have lost up to seven people in clashes with the Russian military near Chasov Yar, he wrote. The city in the Donetsk People’s Republic is currently under Kiev’s control, but the situation there is getting increasingly precarious for Ukraine’s forces.
These are no longer “TikTok soldiers” who came to Ukraine to earn a fast buck, but fled at the first threat they encountered, underscored Rozhin. He added that now "highly trained, professional military personnel of NATO countries” had entered the fray." Sputnik

Conflict Between Foreign Mercenaries in Kherson Ends in Shooting

"At least four people have suffered injuries after a conflict between two groups of foreign mercenaries fighting for Ukraine resulted in shootout in Kherson. "In Kherson there was a conflict with shooting between two groups of foreign mercenaries who were in a state of alcoholic intoxication," the network’s representative said, adding that English-speaking and French-speaking mercenaries were sitting in a cafe in the city when the conflict started." Sputnik

Russian Troops Discover Notebook of Spanish-Speaking Mercenary at Ukrainian Positions

"A notebook of a Spanish-speaking mercenary was found at Ukrainian positions, in which he wrote down Ukrainian words to communicate with Ukrainian servicemen. After storming Ukraine's stronghold in the Krasnyi Lyman direction, Russian military personnel found grenades made in NATO countries, Ukrainian electronic warfare devices and a notebook." Sputnik

Harris Allies Seethe as ‘White’ Democrats Dominate Biden Replacement Talk

"Chatter about replacing President Joe Biden at the top of the Democrat ticket with several different Democrat governors is reportedly irking those in Vice President Kamala Harris’s orbit, with one source saying the discussions send an underlying message the party desires a “white” candidate, according to a report.

Politico reported the sour feelings within Harris’s camp as Govs. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) have been at the forefront of media speculation as to who could potentially replace Biden at the top of the ticket if Biden were actually to step aside.
The article points to Govs. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) and Josh Shapiro (D-PA) as other politicians mentioned as potential alternatives to Biden.
Harris allies are “expressing frustration that her name is not being mentioned in the same company as other ambitious Democrats,” wrote Politico’s Eugene Daniels, Jennifer Haberkorn, and Myah Ward. One source charged it is “offensive.”
“The fact that people keep coming back to this is so offensive to so many of us,” one Harris ally told the outlet. “They still don’t get that the message you’re saying to people, to this Democratic Party, is, we prefer a white person.”
As his running mate and vice president, Harris is tethered to Biden in ways that other prominent Democrats are not. Following his disastrous showing, she was left to defend him on national television." Breitbart

Explosions rock occupied Crimea, smoke over Balaklava reported

"Explosions were heard in Balaklava, a settlement in the city of Sevastopol in occupied Crimea after an
air raid alert went off. Razvozhayev claimed that according to the preliminary data, four air targets were destroyed near Balaklava. Explosions were also reported in the area of Cape Fiolent." MS

Israel destroys Islamic Jihad’s largest rocket production site in Gaza

"Israeli forces have located and destroyed the largest long-range rocket manufacturing site utilized by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip. "During the operation, Commandos and Yahalom special operations forces operated simultaneously above and below ground to eliminate terrorists with drones and precise missiles," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement." FOX

Putin red-faced as Russia drops 40 'mega bombs' on its own cities

"Putin is facing embarrassment as official Kremlin documents reveal that Russian warplanes

have mistakenly dropped nearly 40 deadly glide bombs on their own cities, in what has been a damaging 24 hours for Russia.
These hefty bombs, packed with up to 500 kg of explosives, are capable of creating massive craters 20 meters deep and six meters across.
Ruslan Leviev, a military analyst with the Conflict Intelligence Group, shared with the Washington Post: "A certain percentage of Russian bombs is defective."
He added, "We think these accidental releases are caused by the unreliability of these kits, something that does not seem to bother the Air Force." MS

More than 120 combat engagements on front lines since start of day, Pokrovsk sector remains hottest

 "Since the beginning of the day, 121 combat engagements have taken place on the front lines in Ukraine, with most of them recorded in the Pokrovsk sector....in the Kharkiv sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled six enemy assaults in the areas of Hlyboke, Vovchansk and Lyptsi. Two combat clashes are ongoing. The situation is under control.

In the Kupiansk sector, the enemy attacked 11 times - at the locations of Synkivka, Stelmakhivka, Pishchane, Berestove and Stepova Novoselivka. Russian aircraft attacked Kupiansk Vuzlovyi and Lisna Stinka with guided aerial bombs.
In the Kramatorsk sector, Russian troops are again trying to advance from Bakhmut to Chasiv Yar (Novyi neighborhood) and Klishchiivka. The Ukrainian forces thwarted five enemy assaults.
In the Toretsk sector, the invaders launched 13 attacks toward the city of Toretsk, Pivnichne, Pivdenne and New York. Four combat engagements are ongoing. The situation is under control.
In the Kurakhove sector, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled six Russian assault attempts near Krasnohorivka, Kostiantynivka and Heorhiivka. The aggressor launched two guided aerial bombs near Kostiantynivka village.
In the Vremivka sector, the Ukrainian forces have repelled enemy attacks near the settlements of Vodiane, Urozhaine and Makarivka. Since the beginning of the day, eight enemy assault attempts have been recorded there. The Russians attacked Berestka, Veselyi Hai, Velyka Novosilka and Odradne with guided aerial bombs.
In the Orikhiv sector, the invaders launched unguided aerial missiles at the areas of Robotyne and Lobkove. The occupiers are trying to advance from Novopokrovka to Novodanylivka, but are being repelled.
In the Dnipro River sector, three combat engagements took place at footholds, without success for the enemy. The Russians launched two guided aerial bombs on Havrylivka and Burhnka. Olhivka was attacked with unguided aerial missiles." Ukrin

US Navy nuclear ballistic missile submarine surfaces off Norway in unusual flex as 'Doomsday' plane flies overhead

 "A US Navy nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarine surfaced in the Norwegian Sea.

It was accompanied by a guided-missile cruiser and two naval aircraft.
The show of force came weeks after Russia sent a submarine and naval fleet to Cuba." BI

China on the brink of war with another country backed by India after South China Sea chaos

"Tensions are soaring as China's long-standing tussle for dominance over the South China Sea threatens to boil over into outright conflict.

Beijing, asserting near-total control over the significant stretch of water, has been at loggerheads with various regional nations, including The Philippines, for a considerable time.
Despite the growing aggression from Beijing, Filipino President Ferdinand Marco Jr. continues to pursue a diplomatic route, stating he is "not in the business to instigate wars." MS

Arab League Suddenly Revokes Hezbollah's Terrorist Designation

"While some Western countries have ramped up sanctions against Hezbollah amid daily missile fire on northern Israel, the Arab League has issued a surprise reversal of its terror designation.

The influential regional organization, which is akin to an 'Arab UN' will no longer classify the Tehran-backed group as a terrorist organization, Egypt’s Al-Qahera news channel first reported." ZH

Top Democrats rule out replacing Biden amid calls for him to quit 2024 race

"Top Democrats on Sunday ruled out the possibility of replacing President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee after a feeble debate performance.

After days of hand-wringing about Biden's poor night on stage debating Trump, Democratic leaders firmly rejected calls for their party to choose a younger presidential candidate for the Nov. 5 election.
The New York Times cited people close to the situation as saying that Biden's family were urging him to stay in the race and keep fighting. The paper said some members of his clan privately expressed exasperation at how his staff prepared him for Thursday night's event.
A drumbeat of calls for Biden to step aside has continued since Thursday and a post-debate CBS poll showed a 10-point jump in the number of Democrats who believe Biden should not be running for president, to 46% from 36% in February." AP

Fire erupts in Nizhny Novgorod warehouse - Explosions reported

"In Nizhny Novgorod (Russia), this night of June 30, a powerful fire broke out at a waste

disposal site. Local residents report several explosions at this facility located on Moscow Highway. Local public sources reported that tanks containing paint and varnish materials were on fire. Additionally, Shot writes that there are likely gas cylinders inside the burning premises. Reminder, almost exactly a year ago, on June 29, 2023, Nizhny Novgorod also experienced a major fire. It occurred at the Balsam paint and varnish materials factory. Similar to now, reports at that time also mentioned hearing explosion-like sounds before the fire.
It was also previously reported that recently in the Moscow region, in the town of Fryazino, a severe fire broke out at the Platan Research Institute. People were trapped inside the burning building." MS

CENTCOM reports 3 Houthi unmanned boats destroyed

"U.S. Central Command reported U.S. forces in the Red Sea in a “self-defense engagement” destroyed three Houthi unmanned surface vehicles. The vehicles, which the command did not describe further, “presented an imminent threat to U.S. and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region,” according to a Central Command news release that day. “This continued malign and reckless behavior by the Iranian-backed Houthis threatens regional stability and endangers the lives of mariners across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden,” the release states." Stars&Stripes

Right-Wing National Rally Tops 1st Round of French Parliamentary Elections, Macron's Coalition Third

"Marine Le Pen’s right-wing National Rally won the first round of snap parliamentary elections in France with 34.2% based on preliminary data. The total number of lawmakers won will be determined after next week's second round.

The French Interior Ministry has announced preliminary results for the first round of the parliamentary elections:
the National Rally (RN) party leads with 34.2% of the votes;
the New Popular Front leftist coalition is in second place with 29.1%;
and President Emmanuel Macron's central-right coalition came third with 21.5%.
Based on these initial results, the National Rally is expected to secure between 240 to 270 seats in Parliament, achieving a relative majority, according to national TV calculations. Macron's coalition is projected to lose over 160 seats, potentially winning only between 60 to 90 of the 577 total seats.
Marine Le Pen declared victory over Macron's supporters and called for vigorous support for her party in those constituencies that will hold a second round next week." Sputnik