http://www.districtofcolumbia.tech/

This website is about Manchester and Dublin. There are concerns about the labor unions and military academies in Germany's eastern provinces. East Germany traded in East German mark. There are likely radio signals sent between Lubeck and Manchester pertaining to organized labor. Lubeck is a German port near the Gulf of Danzig. Warsaw is inland. There seem to be labor leaders in Warsaw who manage trade through Irish ports.
Archive 1, Archive 2, Archive 3, Archive 4, Archive 5, Archive 6, Archive 7, Archive 8, Notes about the Virginians, Archive 9, Archive 10, Archive 11,
Archive 12, Archive 13, Archive 14, Archive 15, Archive 16, Archive 17, Archive 18, Archive 19, Archive 20, Archive 21, Archive 22, Archive 23

Notice it was tariffs on Chinese trade and now it's tariffs on Russian trade. Talking about Russia-China economic cooperation.

The European Commission is moving to impose tariffs on grain and related imports from Russia and Belarus, seeking to prevent Moscow from using farm products as a tool to wreak havoc on the EU market. Moscow responded immediately by saying Europeans would "suffer" from the move.

The Trump administration imposed stage three of Section 301 tariffs in September 2018—10 percent on $200 billion worth of goods from China. This stage was scheduled to increase to 25 percent beginning in January 2019, but the increase was delayed until it was allowed to go into effect in May 2019.

This is me talking about the Hong Kong security law. 3-23-24

Examples of how bad is Russian foreign policy.
Russian policy in the Middle East is controversial. Don't they all live in hotels?
Now they are calling it a state of war because the Royal Navy is involved.
Energy trading in Ukraine.
Russian oil men in South America.
The Hong Kong security law.

Moscow concert hall attack: what we know so far An attack by gunmen on a Moscow suburban concert hall Friday left more than 60 dead, more than 100 wounded and the theatre a blazing wreck, according to Russian authorities. Here is what we know about the attack on the Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk ahead of a concert by the Piknik rock band: A witness told AFP it was a few minutes before the start of the concert by Piknik when automatic gunfire rang out. There were screams and then panic, said Alexei, a spectator who did not give his family name. Emergency services quoted by the Interfax news agency said between two and five armed attackers dressed in "tactical uniforms" and carrying automatic weapons, entered the concert hall and opened fire.

Kremlin says Russia ‘in a state of war’ in Ukraine for first time The Kremlin said Friday it is in a “state of war” in Ukraine, escalating the official language it uses to describe the conflict, now in its third year.

Two dead, oil refinery on fire after Ukrainian drone attacks in Russia Multiple air attacks on the Russian border region of Belgorod adjoining Ukraine on Saturday killed two people and injured at least seven, the governor said.

Slovakia votes for president amid deep split over Ukraine war Slovakians began voting on Saturday in the first round of a presidential election pitting the Russia-leaning ruling camp against a pro-Ukraine candidate.

Venezuela's parliament approves creation of state in disputed oil rich Essequibo Venezuela's parliament has approved a law creating a federal state in the disputed oil-rich area of Essequibo across the border in Guyana, which on Friday slammed a "flagrant violation" of its sovereignty.

The new law allows for closed-door trials, gives the police rights to detain suspects for up to 16 days without charge and penalties including life sentences, among other things. "The new national security legislation is going to double down the repression on freedoms in Hong Kong with extended egregious sentences and a broadened definition of national security," said Frances Hui, an activist now based in the US, who described the legislation as a "final nail in a closed coffin".

1) Remember that prison break last year in England? Maybe it means the prison guards are right wingers.
2) I wonder if South Ossetia, Abkhazia, and Kosovo are too small to be independent countries?
3) It's probably right wingers from Russia that send arms to Yemen.
4) Maybe Konstantin Koltsov was in the United States illegally.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says Russia recognizes Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent. Meanwhile, Moscow's relationship with NATO took a turn for the worse after a top envoy curtailed cooperation with the alliance and warships from both sides continued to gather on the Black Sea.

The Biden administration is expanding efforts to surveil and intercept Iranian weapons being smuggled to Yemen, where Houthi militants have staged a deadly campaign of violence against commercial shipping that has proved resilient to six weeks of military strikes, said U.S. officials familiar with the matter.

Corrections officers were preparing to take Meade back to the Idaho Maximum Security Institution – about 11 miles away – when the shooter fired at the officers, striking two of them, Winegar said. Meade and Umphenour, who have ties to the White supremacist group Aryan Knights, according to Tewalt, fled the scene in a getaway car just before police arrived, authorities said.

On 6 September 2023, Khalife allegedly escaped from HM Prison Wandsworth in south west London where he was being held on remand. He was said to have been working in the prison kitchen and was wearing a chef's uniform consisting of a white t-shirt, red and white chequered trousers and brown steel-toe cap boots.

Aryna Sabalenka: Konstantin Koltsov death in Miami is 'unthinkable tragedy'
(March 22, 2024)

This is me talking about South Ossetia. 3-22-24

Reports about mismanagement within the Russian army.

BEIJING, March 22. /TASS/. The Russian-Chinese dialogue proves the elevated spirit of the Russian-Chinese strategic cooperation, Chinese Special Representative for Eurasian Affairs Li Hui said.

MOSCOW, March 22. /TASS/. A series of blasts rocked several Ukrainian cities. An air raid alert was declared on the country’s entire territory. As Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko specified, the blasts largely damaged electric power generation, transmission and distribution facilities. Some Ukrainian cities are experiencing problems with water supply and communications.

MOSCOW, March 22. /TASS/. Large-scale disruptions in the work of the Internet are taking place in Ukraine amid massive damage to power facilities, according to the Netblocks website.

Notice this report about low morale in the Russian army. These seem to be lunatic statements coming from the Kremlin. Also, lunatic statements about Damascus and Abu Dhabi.

The Russians are fleeing There has been a growing number of Russian soldiers who have turned their backs on the armed forces, reports Newsweek, citing data from the independent investigative media "Preokret". It is recalled that the first few years of Russia's invasion of Ukraine led to the exodus of military-capable men from Russia, while among those who went to Ukraine there were numerous reports of low morale and dissatisfaction with the commanders. Therefore, during the war, the Russian authorities tightened the criminal code in order to increase discipline in the armed forces.

Russians "grind": "We will kill them all" Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Pyotr Tolstoy said that Russian soldiers will eliminate all French soldiers who come to Ukraine, the state news agency TASS reported. "We will kill all French soldiers who come to the territory of Ukraine. All of them," he told the BFMTV channel. Tolstoy pointed out that 147 of the 367 French mercenaries who arrived in Ukraine earlier were killed.

MOSCOW, March 21. /TASS/. Washington will no longer be able to dictate oil prices in the Middle East, Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Chief Sergey Naryshkin said in the documentary "Oil" on the Premier online platform.

UNITED NATIONS, March 21. /TASS/. Washington is looting Syria’s resources under the cover of fighting terrorism in the country, Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya said.

UNITED NATIONS, March 21. /TASS/. Israel’s air strikes on targets in Syria violate the fundamental rules of international law, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya said.
(March 22, 2024)

This is me talking about the Russian army. 3-22-24

Both the Latakia navy base and the Engels air base might be guilty of Chinese trade profiteering. And notice how the Russians are opposing both French and American soldiers.
Who is the Germans if this is the Battle of Stalingrad?

"Direct hit"; Russians in shock, it's all in flames VIDEO Explosions in Russia's Saratov region. Local authorities reported that the downing of drones was suspected. Ukrainian media reports that a Russian airbase was attacked. As the Kyiv Post writes, the Russian military air base Engels was attacked, and sources in the Ukrainian special services confirmed to the newspaper that the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine was behind the attack. "Planned HUR operation," the source said, without giving details of the special operation. The Russian channel SHOT on Telegram reported two to four powerful explosions.

MOSCOW, March 20. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has already said how Moscow would react to French troops coming to Ukraine, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Here goes another "Abrams" VIDEO Russian Ministry of Defense announced today that the Russian forces of the "Center" group destroyed the American tank "Abrams".

This is me talking about the Russian military air base Engels. 3-21-24

Other reports about Russia and maybe these are questionable decisions.

Austria Returns 76 Migrants to Bulgaria Amid Decrease in Asylum Applications

Ukraine-Romania-Bulgaria Grain Corridor Emerges as Global Market Hub

Massive Missile Attack Strikes Kyiv: Dozens Injured, Residential Areas Damaged Reports from the Ukrainian Air Force indicate a devastating missile assault on the capital city of Kyiv, with significant casualties and widespread damage to residential and industrial areas. According to UNIAN Agency, the attack involved nine Tu-95 bombers equipped with "Kinzhal" missiles, unleashing chaos and destruction across the city. Preliminary data reveals that at least eight individuals sustained injuries from the rocket barrage, with debris from the missiles causing havoc in neighborhoods, striking residential buildings, kindergartens, and industrial sites. The impact shattered windows, sparked fires in transformer substations, and engulfed a two-story building in flames, as announced by Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko. Mayor Klitschko further disclosed that the toll of injuries has risen to at least 10, including a young girl aged 11, as the aftermath of the attack continues to unfold. The widespread debris from the rockets has led to multiple fires engulfing buildings and vehicles across various districts of the city. The assault triggered an air raid warning that lasted for nearly three hours, with residents reporting the thunderous explosions of anti-aircraft missiles reverberating throughout the city center. This marks the first significant rocket attack on Kyiv in weeks, leaving residents shaken and communities reeling from the devastation. The timing of the missile strike raises concerns, occurring just a day after White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan's visit to Kyiv, where he pledged the imminent delivery of a major package of US military aid to Ukraine. The aid, previously stalled by Republican opposition in Congress, is poised to bolster Ukraine's defense capabilities amidst escalating tensions. The European Commission also weighed in on the crisis, proposing the allocation of 90% of frozen Russian assets in the EU to support Ukraine's military and post-war reconstruction efforts.

Bulgaria sends 100-strong contingent to NATO mission in Kosovo

WASHINGTON, March 21. /TASS/. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and assured him of US support during his visit to Kiev, NSC Spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement.

CHISINAU, March 20. /TASS/. Chisinau expects that Moscow will respond in kind after Moldova declared a Russian diplomat persona non grata, Mihai Mitu, Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry, told reporters commenting on a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry on a further reaction.

CHISINAU, March 20. /TASS/. Transnistria is ready to cooperate with Interpol to investigate the terrorist attack in Tiraspol, in which a military helicopter was destroyed by a drone, the State Security Ministry of the unrecognized republic has said.

This is me talking about defense firms in Arlington. 3-20-24

I wonder if Novak, Aleksandar, and Nicola are wanting a defeat of Team USA here.

"Serbia against America at the Olympic Games! VIDEO The draw for the basketball tournament at the Olympic Games was made at the FIBA headquarters in Switzerland."

This is me talking about the Serbian government. 3-20-24

Notice here reports about food stuffs and Communism. And then here the Russian military seems to be spying on American and French soldiers. They're supposed to be monitoring their own county's economy, etc.

EU Council, Parliament Agree on Ukrainian Agricultural Export Duties

Bulgaria has been NATO member for 20 years, defending the eastern flank of the Alliance

NEW YORK, March 20. /TASS/. Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant will hold a meeting in the US next week, CNN reported, citing a US defense official.

PARIS, March 19. /TASS/. The French Defense Ministry denies the information about the presence of French troops in Ukraine and about Paris’ readiness to send 2,000 troops to this country, voiced by Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) of Russia Sergey Naryshkin. The ministry claimed that this report is a "part of systematic use of mass disinformation."

BRUSSELS, March 19. /TASS/. The heads of state and government of the European Union plan to discuss using income from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, at the summit on March 21-22, a representative of the EU told reporters in Brussels.

PARIS, March 19. /TASS/. Publicizing the truth about the deaths of the French military in Ukraine coupled with French President Emmanuel Macron's plans to send a military contingent to that country will trigger a major outcry that will have dire consequences for the current French leadership, Florian Philippot, the leader of The Patriots party in France told TASS in comments on data from the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) on the French military in Ukraine.

PARIS, March 19. /TASS/. The French military should refuse any orders from the country's leadership to send a contingent to Ukraine, while servicemen already stationed there should be immediately returned home, Florian Philippot, the leader of The Patriots party in France told TASS in comments on data from the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) on the French military in Ukraine.

WASHINGTON, March 20. /TASS/. The US Air Force conducted a successful test of the AGM-183 air-to-ground hypersonic missile, the military said. According to the document, the launch was carried out on March 17 from a B-52 strategic bomber that took off from the US Andersen Air Force Base on Guam in the Pacific Ocean. The document said that the test allowed it to gather "valuable insights into the capabilities" of the missile. The US Air Force pointed out that it would not release details of the test launch, noting that it was intended "to further a range of hypersonic programs.". The March 17 launch was the fifth test of the AGM-183 prototype missile.
(March 20, 2024)

This is me talking about software companies in Arlington. 3-19-24

In 2012, I attended a conference and a man described how the CCP uses cell phone outages to police. Here are similar reports from a British journalist.
Maybe the Russians and Chinese do similar government police operations in Africa and the Middle East.
Do Russians turn off cell phones in Cape Town to teach them moral values?

China’s plan to organize its society relies on ‘big data’ to rate everyone By Simon Denyer (2016)

In China, Big Brother isn’t just watching your every move. He may be selling your personal data. By Simon Denyer (2017)
(March 19, 2024)

This is me talking about Russian defense positions in Africa. 3-19-24

The Russians have hi tech radios and they deploy them in Africa. And that's why we're fighting over the sea lanes.
These are reports about Russian radio capability. Either they are reporting on our tanks or they are living in American or British cities.

ATHENS, March 18. /TASS/. US-made Abrams tanks and Bradley armored combat vehicles were delivered to the port of Alexandroupolis in the northeastern part of Greece, the gnomionline.gr website reports. According to the website, a large shipment of military vehicles was unloaded from the Leroy A. Mendonica ship as part of US efforts to increase NATO’s potential in Europe. The vehicles are intended for the 3rd Armored Brigade of NATO’s 4th Infantry Division. The ship delivered M1A1 Abrams tanks, M2 Bradley armored vehicles and JLTV light support vehicles.

MOSCOW, March 18. /TASS/. Issues of the development of bilateral relations, as well as security in the Black Sea region were the focus of a phone call between Russian and Turkish Presidents, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Dire forecast of the British general If Macron's words come true, it would be the beginning of the Third World War, writes former Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, an expert on chemical weapons. Just to recall that French President Emmanuel Macron said that there are "no limits" to his country's support for Ukraine, urging allies not to be "cowards" and hinting that French soldiers could be directly involved in the conflict in certain circumstances.

BEIRUT, March 19. /TASS/. The Syrian air defenses downed several Israeli rockets launched in the direction of the country’s capital of Damascus, Syria’s news agency SANA reported on Tuesday. According to the agency, the attack was aimed against a number of military facilities located in rural areas. There were no casualties reported as a result of the attack, which was carried out at about 2:10 a.m. local time (23:00 GMT, March 18), the news agency added.

NAIROBI, March 18. /TASS/. The president of Niger’s National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, has congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election, the Nigerien Press Agency reported.

NAIROBI, March 18. /TASS corr./. Moscow is counting on Cameroon’s participation in the meetings preceding the 3rd Russia-Africa summit, as well as other high-level events, Ambassador to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea Georgy Todua told TASS in an interview.

MOSCOW, March 18. /TASS/. The Russian presidential election was conducted in full accordance with the Constitution and election legislation, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) said.

MOSCOW, March 19. /TASS/. Russian air defenses shot down a Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the airspace over the Belgorod Region bordering on Ukraine and intercepted another one en route to the country’s southern city of Voronezh, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

MOSCOW, March 18. /TASS/. No statements from the US will belittle Vladimir Putin's victory in the Russian presidential election and shatter the trust he has gained from the country's people, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told TASS. He was commenting on a statement from the White House that said the US will base its work on the reality that Putin is the president of Russia. "No amount of verbal gymnastics will be able to belittle Putin's election victory and, most importantly, shatter people's faith in him," Peskov said, when asked whether the Kremlin regards this US approach as sufficient for holding potential communication, and more balanced, compared with the reaction of some European nations.

LONDON, March 18. /TASS/. UK Foreign Minister David Cameron's statements on the outcome of the Russian presidential election are biased and hypocritical, the Russian Embassy in London said.

Russia sent an urgent request: Security Council holds a session marking NATO aggression on FRY The session of the United Nations Security Council, dedicated to the 25th anniversary of NATO's aggression against Yugoslavia, which was requested by Russia, will be held on March 25, Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN Dmitry Polyanskiy stated "Next Monday, March 25, we requested that the UN Security Council convene on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of NATO's aggression against Yugoslavia," Polyanski wrote on Telegram. According to him, Russia's request, as expected, provoked the anger of representatives of Western countries, for whom the topic is "extremely unpleasant".

This is me talking about Tashkent. 3-18-24

1) It's hard on Russia's neighbors because of lingering Sino-Soviet stuff. The Kremlin and the conservative values. Sophia is talking about Ottoman history. A horrific description of the Uzbek economy.
2) The Russian navy base in Latakia. The Russian Black Sea fleet.

Bulgaria Can Adopt the Euro in 2025, Confirms Eurogroup President

Food Price Index Down by 0.57% in One Week

Putin Secures Decade-Long Rule Vladimir Putin has clinched another resounding victory in the presidential election in the Russian Federation, solidifying his grip on power for the foreseeable future. With over 87 percent of the vote, according to data from the Central Election Commission, Putin's triumph ensures his presidency until at least 2030, marking a significant milestone in Russian politics. The election results, announced by RIA Novosti and TASS, underscore Putin's enduring popularity among the Russian populace, with overwhelming support evident in both official and designated "new regions." These figures pave the way for an extended tenure, consolidating Putin's influence over the nation's trajectory for years to come.

Here We Come Civic Association Stage Demonstration in Front of Russian Embassy in Sofia Russian influence in this country is a fact, generations of Bulgarians have been victims of Russian propaganda since the Ottoman rule until the present day, Arman Babikyan of Here We Come said.

MOSCOW, March 18. /TASS/. The relations between Russia and China are a stabilizing factor, while good personal relations between the leaders of the two nations allow to develop ties even further, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at his campaign headquarters.

Uzbekistan Faces Water Crisis by 2050

Uzbekistan lifts restrictions on sunflower and vegetable oil exports

Uzbekneftgaz to Raise Oil Product Prices from April 1st

MOSCOW, March 16. /TASS/. Russia’s aerospace forces struck a terrorist base in a hard-to-reach mountainous area in the Syrian Deir ez-Zor governorate, Vadim Kulit, deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria (a division of the Russian defense ministry), said on Saturday.
(March 18, 2024)

Notice this report about the Russian Black Sea fleet. You wonder about the Latakia base.

Sochi airport on fire: Russians claim training exercise A fire broke out at Sochi Airport, Russia, a local Telegram channel, Sochi Online, reported on March 13. They “couldn’t make out what exactly was burning and why,” said the channel. The airport’s press service later said that it was a training exercise, and the fire “was planned to practice extinguishing a blaze,” the airport press service said later.

This is me talking about Sochi. 3-17-24

This is me talking about Govini software. 3-16-24

Notice how maybe Hunter Biden and the Boeing people. Somehow maybe they lie at work. Are they allowed to act like that if it's public funds?

Hunter Biden declines House committee invitation to testify publicly Hunter Biden has declined an invitation to testify next week in a public hearing before the House Oversight Committee, according to a letter from Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, sent to Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), the panel’s chairman.

After 787 dive, Boeing alerts airlines to issue with pilot-seat switches The alert was issued after a 787 flown by the Chilean carrier LATAM went into a terrifying dive, injuring dozens of passengers

In a pair of unanimous decisions, the court acknowledged the challenge of determining when public employees are acting in an official capacity on social media — and therefore must adhere to First Amendment restrictions on censorship — and when they are acting as private citizens with their own constitutional rights.

This is me talking about Hunter Biden. 3-16-24

This is me talking about the Russian presidential elections. 3-16-24

1) It seems out there if the Russians are making their own soldiers vote. Here in Washington, DC kind of the newspaper editors don't vote. Because it's their job to write the news. It's bad army reports about the Kremlin. Can the soldiers just focus on the army?
2) The attacks on Odessa would bother anyone.
3) Examples of how the Kremlin PD resembles the Hong Kong PD.

Russia in 2022 declared the unilateral annexation of four regions of Ukraine – even though its troops still do not control them fully. Kyiv says local inhabitants are now being subjected to threats and violence to force them to vote –something which Moscow denies. Russian soldiers deployed in Ukraine have been able to cast their ballots early.

Five things to know about Russia’s presidential election Russian President Vladimir Putin is seeking a fifth term as Russians vote from Friday to Sunday in an election that has already raised transparency and accountability concerns. After two anti-war candidates were disqualified, the remaining three have all supported the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Deadly 'double-tap' Russian missile attack rocks Ukraine's Odesa Ukraine said Friday that Russian forces had pounded the Black Sea port city of Odesa with missiles, killing at least 20 people and wounding more than 70. AFP journalists on the scene saw bodies covered by blankets arrayed on the street while images from officials showed exhausted emergency service workers smeared with blood and dirt dousing flames and treating wounded colleagues.

70% of Syrians need humanitarian assistance after over decade of war vast majority of Syrians are still in need of humanitarian aid due to the implications of 13 years of war, according to a statement made by the U.N. on Friday. The latest data shows 16.7 million people, 70% of the people in Syria, need aid, the highest number since the conflict broke out 13 years ago, U.N. Syria Envoy Geir Pedersen said in a statement.

The 71-year-old Putin faces three token rivals from Kremlin-friendly parties, who have refrained from any criticism of him or his invasion of Ukraine.

Ex-Google engineer charged with stealing AI secrets Linwei Ding, a Chinese national, is also accused of secretly working for competitors in China.

Life in jail for treason under new HK security law With a legislature dominated by the pro-Beijing camp, the bill is expected to be passed in weeks.

How China's boarding schools are silencing Tibet’s language Mandarin is being taught to Tibetans as their main language, threatening the future of their culture.
(March 16, 2024)

The agricultural pioneers, which include the early German immigrants, followed the course of the Perkiomen, says one ; the Anglo- Saxon contingent pursued the winding Delaware in search of mineral deposits, the fabled royal road to wealth, says another.

This is me talking about Allentown, PA. 3-15-24

This is me talking about the Russian election. 3-15-24

The Kremlin is falling behind London, Washington, and our NATO allies. The Russian election this week doesn't seem to meet western standards. Strange and unkind statements from the Russian foreign ministry. And then reports about western tech innovations.

Russian foreign ministry statements that seem unpleasant:

CHISINAU, March 14. /TASS/. The authorities of Transnistria notified the peacekeepers in the security zone about the opening of voting stations for the Russian presidential elections in the unrecognized republic, says Oleg Belyakov, co-chairman of the peacekeeping operation’s Joint Control Commission.

UNITED NATIONS, March 14. /TASS/. The naval operation of the US and its allies in the Red Sea has by no means promoted stabilization in the region, but on the contrary produced the reverse effect, Russia's First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyansky has said.

UNITED NATIONS, March 14. /TASS/. Russia reserves the right to resume efforts on the international investigation of the sabotage at Nord Stream pipelines, First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyansky told reporters.

MOSCOW, March 14. /TASS/. The Russian embassy in the US receives many threats, Ambassador Anatoly Antonov said on the Russian TV, adding that provocations are being prepared for the presidential election days.

UNITED NATIONS, March 15. /TASS/. Russia is ready to do whatever it takes to prevent destabilization in the Middle East, Russian First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyansky has told the UN Security Council.

Western tech innovations:

ROME, March 14. /TASS/. Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said Rome did not supply weapons to Israel after October 7, 2023.

BRUSSELS, March 14. /TASS/. Russian hypersonic weapons show NATO needs to deploy layered air defenses, Jens Stoltenberg, secretary general of the alliance, said as he presented its annual report.

Putin Urges Residents of Annexed Regions to Vote in Russian Presidential Elections

TikTok Hit with €10 Million Fine by Italian Regulator for Failure to Monitor Content

UK Embassy Hosts Roundtable on Promoting Bulgarian-British Technological Cooperation The British Embassy in Bulgaria hosted a roundtable on promoting ties between Bulgarian and British technology ecosystems. The event was attended by British Ambassador Rob Dixon, UK Trade Commissioner for Europe Chris Barton, Outgoing Innovation

Russia threatened, Sweden raised planes Just hours after Sweden's flag was raised outside NATO headquarters on Monday to mark its accession to the alliance, its fighter jets were raised as part of a rapid response system over the Baltic Sea. As the Kyiv Independent reports, allied radars detected an unidentified and undeclared aircraft over the Baltic Sea on Monday morning traveling from Kaliningrad to Russia. Controllers from NATO's Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) in Uedem, Germany, coordinated the launch of Swedish JAS-39 Gripen multi-role fighter jets as well as Belgian F-16AM fighter jets from Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania. NATO aircraft visually identified the unknown aircraft as a Russian Tupolev Tu-134 military transport aircraft. Later that day, NATO's CAOC alerted Germany's rapid reaction base at Lielvarde, Latvia, after another aircraft was spotted over the Baltic. Germany raised Eurofighters and Sweden again sent its JAS-39 Gripens in support. During that incident, the Russian aircraft was identified as an An-26 transport aircraft of the Russian Air Force. These were the first missions of the Swedish Air Force, and only a few days after the nation became a member of NATO. NATO's Allied Air Command described the mission as "an impressive demonstration of the deep integration that the Swedish Air Force has achieved with NATO forces and close interoperability in support of NATO's preservation over the Baltic Sea."
(March 15, 2024)

This is me talking about Dmitry Polyanski. 3-14-24

A horrific description of the Uzbek economy.

Timur Rahmonov Appointed Uzbek Ambassador to Latvia

Uzbekistan and Tajikistan plan to launch production of cars

Air Pollution in Tashkent Exceeds 3.2 Times

Uzbekistan Introduces Restrictions on Energy Consumption

Tasks in Housing Construction Defined

Gas embezzles 215 bln soums electricity Since the beginning of 2024, the damage from theft of gas and electricity in Uzbekistan has totaled 215 billion soums, Uzenergoinspektsiya spokesman Navruz Norboboyev told a media briefing. More than 2,100 consumers have embezzled 88 cubic metres of gas and 77.3 kWh of electricity. Norboboev added that 131 thousand litres of low-quality oil products were stopped in the republic.

The Austrians expelled two Russians, and then the Russians responded with belligerent insane threats. And then they're calling a meeting in New York City. It's them that misuse the ports on the Baltic Sea for Chinese trade.

VIENNA, March 13. /TASS/. Austria is expelling two Russian diplomats, they must leave the country by next week’s Tuesday, the Die Presse newspaper said. "After the expulsion of Russian embassy stuff in Vienna last year, the Austrian Foreign Ministry informed two more diplomats from the Russian embassy ‘at the beginning of the week’ that they would be expelled ‘due to incompatibility with their diplomatic status’," the newspaper said.

VIENNA, March 13. /TASS/. Austrian authorities have not presented any evidence that the expelled Russian diplomats did anything wrong, and therefore Vienna will shoulder responsibility for the deterioration of bilateral relations, the Russian embassy to Austria said in a statement published on its Telegram channel. "We are outraged by the Austrian Foreign Ministry’s decision to declare two staff members of the Russian embassy persona non gratae. Just like in previous episodes of expulsion, we have not been shown any slightest evidence, much less any proof of the breach of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. It is a purely political decision of the Austrian authorities which we disapprove of categorically. Moscow’s resolute response cannot be called into question. The responsibility for further deterioration of bilateral relations falls squarely on Vienna," the Russian embassy said.

UNITED NATIONS, March 14. /TASS/. Russia has requested a United Nations Security Council meeting on the probe into the acts of sabotage at the Nord Stream gas pipelines, Russia’s First Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dmitry Polyansky said.

MOSCOW, March 14. /TASS/. Officers of the Federal Security Service (FSB) apprehended members of the Russian Volunteer Corps (designated as a terrorist group in Russia), who were plotting to send poisoned humanitarian aid to the special military operation zone, the FSB told TASS. "The FSB exposed and nabbed the illegal activities of a secret cell of the Russian Volunteer Corps, a Ukrainian paramilitary unit, acting in the interests of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry in St. Petersburg," the security service said. The group included four far-right St. Petersburg residents who were plotting to poison food meant as humanitarian aid for Russian troops in the special military operation zone and for residents of new Russian regions on the instructions of their handlers from the Russian Volunteer Corps and Ukrainian intelligence, the FSB said. According to the FSB, the detainees, who also conducted reconnaissance of life support facilities, transport and other critical infrastructure in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region to prepare terrorist attacks, may face 10 to 20 years behind bars.
(March 14, 2024)

What day is it?
How much sleep are you getting?

This is me talking about the Arlington software people. 3-13-24

"What we were doing wasn't working."
The Kremlin and the CCP were working together the whole time. And Russian trade resembles Chinese Communist trade.

This is me talking about the Kremlin and if they're communists still. 3-13-24

Air force stuff in the Middle East and Eastern Europe:

Citizens protest against a migrant center in Sofia An evening protest march against illegal migrants lasted two hours and took place in the capital's Ovcha Kupel residential district. Hundreds of people, organized on social networks, gathered to express their dissatisfaction under the slogan "Ovcha Kupel without fear and violence".

SHANGHAI, March 13. /TASS/. The United States is using the conflict between Russia and Ukraine to gain control over European countries with the help of NATO, the executive director of the Center for Russia and Central Asia Studies at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, Sun Qi, has told TASS while commenting on CIA chief William Burns' statement that Washington was providing support for Kiev to contain China.

MOSCOW, March 12. /TASS/. The US-led coalition’s aircraft violated Syria’s airspace eight times during the past day, Vadim Kulit, deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria (a division of the Russian defense ministry), said on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON, March 12./TASS/. The US administration denies that it plans to make attempts to meddle in Russia’s presidential election, Reuters reported citing a White House spokesperson.

The Kremlin is having setbacks in Ukraine.

GENICHESK, March 13. /TASS/. A Russian assault group destroyed a Ukrainian UAV control post and an electronic warfare station in a night raid on the Kiev-controlled right bank of the Dnieper River in the Kherson Region, Governor Vladimir Saldo said on his Telegram channel on Wednesday.

BELGOROD, March 13. /TASS/. Ukraine’s armed forces conducted a drone attack on the regional headquarters of the Federal Security Service (FSB) in Belgorod, local emergency officials told TASS.

Drama; A military airplane crashed near Moscow: 12 people were onboard? VIDEO A Russian military transport airplane caught fire and crashed in the Ivanovo region northeast of Moscow, media reported on Tuesday. Footage circulating on social media shows the IL-76 plane descending towards the ground with one of its engines on fire. Other footage shows a plume of black smoke rising from the crash site.

This is me talking about the Russian presidential election. 3-13-24

Reports about the Baltic Sea:

MOSCOW, March 12. /TASS/. Nord Stream AG, the Nord Stream gas pipeline operator, filed a lawsuit to the amount of almost 400 mln euro to the High Court of London against insurers due to their refusal to cover damages from explosions at the pipeline, The Financial Times said, citing court documents. The lawsuit was filed in February and Lloyd's of London and Arch Insurance will act as respondents.

Navalny Ally Leonid Volkov Beaten with Hammer Outside Home in Lithuania Leonid Volkov, a prominent ally of Alexei Navalny, was viciously attacked outside his home in Lithuania. The incident, which occurred late last night in Vilnius, saw Volkov targeted with a hammer and tear gas, leaving him injured and shaken.

BERLIN, March 12. /TASS/. Co-chairman of the right-wing Alternative for Germany party Tino Chrupalla believes that the energy transition policy has failed and the country needs to use other sources more again.

This is me talking about the Russia-China border. 3-12-24

1) Maybe when the Kremlin retreats the PLA will retreat.
2) The nightmare is Chinese factories using Russian materials.
3) Does the Kremlin work with the PLA to create computer weapons?

AI gives Russia, China new tools to sow division in the U.S., undermine America's image, intel agencies say Beijing is "moving closer to Moscow's playbook," said the intelligence community's annual threat assessment, and may attempt to influence the 2024 election.

Saying 'China is watching,' US spy chiefs plead for Ukraine aid

Iron Ore’s Split With Stocks Shows China’s New Economy in Favor

China trying to 'normalise' military drills near Taiwan: island's top security official

I went to the Red Light district in Amsterdam once. I've also been to a similar area in Paris. Conceptually East Coast and European weird.

I think that Rosslyn building and the Govini software. I think people aren't allowed to tell Govini anything. Are intelligence officers and defense officials allowed to say stuff about their jobs to the Govini software developers? It reminds me of a Dutch weird nightclub.

This is me talking about the Chinese army. 3-12-24

Financial tools, military hardware, food stuffs, and cell phone tech tools. These are modern weapons or whatever the PLA uses against us. During the Cold War it was similar weapons.

Foreign Policy Why the U.S.-China 'Cold War' Framing Is So Dangerous Jun 7, 2023 — Many Americans remember then-President Ronald Reagan at the Brandenburg Gate, exhorting his Soviet counterpart, Mikhail Gorbachev

Brookings Should the US pursue a new Cold War with China? Sep 1, 2023 — Some have characterized the intensifying U.S.-China competition as “a new Cold War.” Is this an accurate framing for the relationship?

The Taiwan Straits Crises: 1954–55 and 1958

China experiments with modernisation: the Shenzhen special economic zone D. R. Phillips and A. G. O. Yeh Vol. 68, No. 4 (October 1983), pp. 289-300 (12 pages) Published By: Taylor & Francis, Ltd.

China’s stock valuations are ‘way too low,’ strategist says — here’s why

China Stocks Begin Witnessing Bull Markets in a Gamut of Sectors

China, Russia and Iran hold 5-day military exercise near Gulf of Oman as Red Sea attacks rise Maritime Security Belt – 2024 is second time China has conducted joint drills in Indian Ocean following Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel and start of Gaza war China has not officially condemned Houthi attacks but has reportedly urged Tehran to rein in attacks on ships in the Red Sea

China canceled another batch of US wheat export shipments, adding to an already record number of cancellations that have weighed on Chicago futures. The US Department of Agriculture in a Monday statement said private exporters exited purchases of 264,000 metric tons of US soft red winter wheat to China. It was the third straight session with such an announcement, bringing the cancellation total to 504,000 tons, the most in USDA data going back to 1999.

Top intel agency says China used TikTok to influence U.S. elections

These are examples of different world views. Notice the Russian diplomat in London speaks French. Maybe Moscow is France and Washington is London.

Uzbekistan Introduces Military-Patriotic Classes in All Schools

LONDON, March 12. /TASS/. The Russian Embassy to the UK expects British law enforcement agencies to provide maximum security measures during voting in the Russian presidential election next Sunday, Russian Ambassador to London Andrey Kelin told TASS.

Kelin Andrei Vladimirovich On 21 November 2019 the newly appointed Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the UK, Andrei Kelin, arrived in London. On 22 November, His Excellency has submitted the copy of his credentials to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and officially assumed his duties. Professional: Born on 15 May 1957. In 1979 graduated from Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University). Speaks English, Dutch and French.

Intelligence agencies: US faces "increasingly fragile world order" America is facing an "increasingly fragile world order", tense competition between great powers, transnational challenges and regional conflicts.

This is me talking about Uzbek history. 3-12-24

Reports about Bratislava and small countries in eastern Europe. Maybe weird air force stuff in those countries.

BUDAPEST, March 11. /TASS/. Slovakia will never send a single soldier to Ukraine, visiting speaker of Slovakia’s parliament Peter Pellegrini said after a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

CHISINAU, March 11. /TASS/. Moldova, a neutral state under its constitution, is being flooded with weapons amid the conflict in Ukraine to drag it into an armed provocation, Moldova’s former Deputy Foreign Minister Valeriu Ostalep said, commenting on plans to open a French defense mission in Chisinau.

These are stories about the Ukraine conflict. It seems like the Kremlin is having setbacks:

Reports have emerged indicating that the "Freedom of Russia Legion," a Russian volunteer group fighting alongside Ukraine, has initiated an attack into Russia's Kursk and Belgorod regions, which share borders with Ukraine. Intense fighting has erupted along the border as the Legion, along with other volunteer battalions such as the Siberian Battalion and the Russian Volunteer Corps, presses forward.

Two oil depots in Russia are ablaze following drone attacks attributed to Ukrainian forces, as confirmed by authorities.

MOSCOW, March 12. /TASS/. Warsaw has no plans to send troops to Ukraine, even to train Ukrainian service members, Stanislaw Wziatek, undersecretary of state at the Polish Defense Ministry, said.

BERLIN, March 11. /TASS/. Members of the Bundestag (German Parliament) Committee on supervision of intelligence agencies explained the leak of the conversation of high-ranking German officers discussing an attack on the Crimean Bridge by a "Russian operation," according to the Committee’s communique, published after the special meeting.

MOSCOW, March 12. /TASS/. Russian air defenses have downed a Tochka U rocket and eight RM-70 Vampire MLRS missiles over the Belgorod Region, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

MOSCOW, March 12. /TASS/. Despite disturbing sentiments among Armenia's elites, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) hopes for the political sobriety of the country's leadership, while Yerevan still remains an ally to the organization, CSTO Secretary General Imangali Tasmagambetov told TASS.

Govini is a substandard software company that works within the defense apparatus.

This is me talking about Govini. 3-11-24

1) The Congress wants transparency in the defense budget. It's as though Govini doesn't want that.
2) The problem is that the defense department acts like weirdos and they become swamp and tunnel.
3) Software isn't going to fix that.
4) Also, are people allowed to tell Govini stuff?
5) Georgia Tech has questionable academic standards. Maybe they drink and lie about research findings.
6) Govini is a part of the GaTech complex in Arlington. They're far from any academic campus. They're probably even worse about drinking and lieing.
7) Hopkins has a similar setup but it's at the think tanks.

This is me talking about Arlington, VA. 3-11-24

This is me talking about the Lithuanian license plate law. 3-11-24

1) Border issues. Driving in foreign countries.
2) You wonder about drinking in the Russian navy base during Ramadan.

The first draft law seeks to increase the capacity of the Border Police by adding 1,264 staff members dedicated to safeguarding refugee centers and enhancing border security. According to Borisov and Peevski, these additional personnel are crucial to ensuring the effective operation of all structural units responsible for border control.

The catalyst for the protest stemmed from a series of recent incidents, described by Nikolov as "purely criminal," occurring in Sofia. One altercation involved Bulgarian nationals and individuals with a migrant background in a dispute over a girl on Vitosha Boulevard. Although victims were identified, no official complaint was filed. Another incident, characterized as a theft, unfolded between individuals of Syrian origin and Bulgarians, resulting in the detainment of four individuals.

VILNIUS, March 11. /TASS/. A ban on using cars with Russian license plates came into effect in Lithuania on midnight (10:00 p.m. GMT - TASS). Diplomats’ cars and automobiles transiting the Kaliningrad Region, Russia’s exclave on the Baltic Sea, were made an exception though. All the other such cars were to leave the Baltic republic, otherwise the ban required their owners to have them reregistered in Lithuania. According to Lithuania’s Customs Department, as of March 10, there remained around 50 cars with Russian license plates in the country. These cars would be seized unless they departed from the country, with their owners facing fines of 200 to 6,000 euros, the authority said. Cars transiting the Kaliningrad Region are allowed to stay on Lithuanian soil for no more than 24 hours.

Another European country enters the war? "This is important for the whole world" The Netherlands will send a frigate to the Red Sea to take part in international efforts to protect ships from airstrikes by Yemen's Houthi militants.

BERLIN, March 10. /TASS/. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for declaring a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip during the Holy Muslim month of Ramadan, which will last this year from March 10 to April 9.

MOSCOW, March 11. /TASS/. A Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) commission probing foreign interference in Russia’s internal affairs considers the call of the United States and other NATO countries to avoid travel to Russia as an attempt to hinder international election observation, Vasily Piskarev, chair of the State Duma Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption, said.

MOSCOW, March 9. /TASS/. The US-led international coalition's aircraft violated Syria’s airspace four times in the area of al-Tanf over the past day, Vadim Kulit, the deputy chief of the Russian center for the reconciliation of conflicting parties has said.

MOSCOW, March 9. /TASS/. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has signed an order to open a Russian consulate-general in the city of Male (the Republic of Maldives), as follows from a post uploaded to the official portal of legal information.
(March 11, 2024)

This is me talking about software companies in Arlington. 3-10-24

This is me talking about how Russia is in a quagmire. 3-10-24

Are the Russians in a quagmire? Is quagmire a Dutch word?
If it is a Dutch word that seems worse.

Quagmire noun quag·​mire ˈkwag-ˌmī(-ə)r How to pronounce quagmire (audio) ˈkwäg- How to pronounce quagmire Plural quagmires Synonyms of quagmirenext 1 : soft miry land that shakes or yields under the foot 2 : a difficult, precarious, or entrapping position : PREDICAMENT

This is me talking about Anthony Joshua. 3-9-24

This is me talking about the defense posture. 3-9-24

1) Defense computer stuff as it relates to China and trade. (Does that stuff work?)
2) Ken McCallum and the Treasury Department and the financial tools.
3) Election observers.
4) American cultural hegemony.

Life in jail for treason under new HK security law With a legislature dominated by the pro-Beijing camp, the bill is expected to be passed in weeks.

Ex-Google engineer charged with stealing AI secrets Linwei Ding, a Chinese national, is also accused of secretly working for competitors in China.

US issues sanctions on companies over Wagner Group links The United States unveiled sanctions Friday on two companies over their roles supporting Russian mercenaries the Wagner Group, noting that Moscow has tried to use affiliated businesses to secure revenues and further its interests in Africa. “The United States remains focused on disrupting the networks that enable Russia’s illicit and destabilizing activities in Africa,” said US Treasury Under Secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, Brian Nelson. In a statement, the Treasury said those targeted “sought monetary gain from illicit natural resource extraction.”

After a month of uncertainty which sparked outcry at home and abroad, the country’s top constitutional body on Thursday agreed with the presidency for the vote to take place on March 24, before the end of Sall’s mandate. African Union Commission chairman, Moussa Faki Mahamat, saluted “the peaceful resolution of the institutional crisis in Senegal”. He said the decision to hold an election before Sall leaves office on April 2 “reflects the deep-rootedness and resilience of democracy in Senegal, of which Africa has always been proud”. The statement said the African Union would deploy an observation mission.

'AI plus' Chinese Premier Li Qiang put the country’s "AI plus" initiative on the map. He made it the cornerstone of the "work report" published by the NPC on Tuesday. Here again, "the contours of this concept are very vague", says Lanteigne. The main idea is to support artificial intelligence in all sectors of the economy. But how, when, and where to begin? "We'll have to wait for the details, but the ambition is clear: to make AI a driving force in the economy and boost artificial intelligence research", he says. China is far from the only country betting on AI: since the advent of ChatGPT, artificial intelligence has become the hot topic for everyone. But it’s the "plus" that is meant to distinguish China’s engagement.
(March 9, 2024)

This is me talking about Xinjiang Province. 3-8-24

Xinjiang province has a Turkic and Chinese ethnic group called the Uyghurs.
- Russian trade with China.
- Do the Russians somehow facilitate bad Chinese trade?
- Because of Central Asia.
- AI and factories and police radios.
Ken McCallum is touring the bureau field offices.
- Linguistic evidence about Russian defense stuff.

These are Russian language spellings and sounds:

Uyghurs
Yйгуров

This is a very isolated and controversial region:

The AI industry has been a topic of great concern at the ongoing "two sessions" in China. On AI-related security, NPC deputy Min Weidong said that the existing governance framework and control measures for AI still need to be improved. Min suggested that laws and ethical codes be formulated to clarify the limits and obligations of AI and AI algorithms in terms of use and application, so as to better protect the safety and interests of the public. Strengthening international cooperation and standardization is necessary to develop a set of ethical norms and a governance framework that has global consensus, he added. Zhou Hongyi, chairman of Chinese internet security firm Qihoo 360, said he is concerned about how to balance the AI and digital security.

EU closer to banning forced labour products linked to Uighurs and others

A bipartisan group of US legislators is pushing the State Department to escalate its travel advisory to Xinjiang to the highest risk level due to "ongoing crimes against humanity and genocide" and the Chinese government's promotion of tourism in the region.

'Sinicisation' of Islam 'inevitable', says top Chinese official in Xinjiang The top Communist Party official in Muslim-dominated Xinjiang province said "Sinicisation of Islam was inevitable". Ma Xingrui's remarks come six months after Xi Jingping asked officials to promote "Sinicisation of Islam" during a visit to Xinjiang.

How the bureau and the British work together:

Ways of strengthening cooperation between Morocco and the United Kingdom in counterterrorism and cross-border crimes were at the center of talks held in London by Abdellatif Hammouchi, Director-General of national police & domestic intelligence agency with several top British security chiefs. During his two-day working visit, which started Tuesday, Hammouchi met with Ken McCallum, Head of Domestic Intelligence Service (MI5) and other counterterrorism officers. Talks focused on issues of common interest and on regional and international security challenges, said a press release issued Thursday by the Moroccan National Police Directorate. At Scotland Yard HQ, Hammouchi conferred with Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley and with Counter-Terrorism Police Chief Sir Matt Jukes, who is also Met Police Assistant Commissioner. During the London trip, Hammouchi and his accompanying delegation visited several British security facilities, including the Met Police Command & Control Center. This visit took place within the framework of cooperation and coordination set between the two countries’ security and intelligence services to counter common threats.
(March 8, 2024)

Marko Djuric from Belgrade. This is his restaurant. Is he here?
Марко Джурич из Белграда. Это его ресторан. Он здесь?

This is me talking about Dmitri Peskov. 3-8-24

Given the events in the Black Sea, what's going on in Belgrade and Moscow? They are regrouping because I think the Russian navy is losing the conflict.

This is a gross statement coming from the Kremlin:

LONDON, March 8. /TASS/. The UK Foreign Office will begin the procedure for approving the candidacy of ex-commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valery Zaluzhny as Ukraine's ambassador to London, a source in the UK Foreign Office told TASS.

MOSCOW, March 7. /TASS/. Russia cares little about Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s decision to appoint former Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhny the country’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told TASS. "No. We don’t care," he said answering a corresponding question.

Maybe the drones are causing air pollution:

Sofia's Air Pollution Crisis: High Nitrous Oxide Levels Detected Recent research conducted by the ecological association "For the Earth" has shed light on concerning levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution in Sofia, primarily attributed to traffic emissions. The study, conducted across various locations in the capital, has uncovered stark disparities between the association's findings and those of official monitoring stations managed by the Executive Agency "Environment."

Odesa Hit in Another Drone Attack Odesa was hit in another drone attack. The alert sounded at 10.30 pm local time.. Regional authorities said that drones were on a trajectory to Zatoka, Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi region. At about 11.30 pm there were Telegram reports that a group of drones were nearing Odesa. At around 11.15 loud explosions were heard in Odesa. Drones fly from the Black Sea to Odesa, Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, and Chornomorsk.

Other news about military issues:

CHISINAU, March 7. /TASS/. Moscow is interested in friendly relations with Chisinau, while Moldovan President Maia Sandu wants to break them off and drag the country into a war, Head of Gagauzia Evghenia Gutul said.

Vučić: Magnificent news for Serbia President Aleksandar Vučić announced that Serbia will chair the Global Partnership for Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) for the next three years.

LONDON, March 8. /TASS/. The UK Ministry of Defense plans to allocate an additional 125 mln pounds ($160 mln) for the purchase of drones for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

GENEVA, March 7. /TASS/. The upper house of Swiss parliament has voted 21-19 with three abstentions to transfer frozen Russian assets to Ukraine. According to the parliament press service, the decision was initiated by all parliamentary groups with the exception of the country’s largest political force, the right-wing conservative People’s Party which is part of the coalition government.

GENEVA, March 8. /TASS/. The Russian Embassy is studying the decision of the Council of States, the small chamber of the Swiss parliament, which called on the government on March 7 to consider confiscating Russian assets frozen in the country and transferring them to Ukraine, Russian Ambassador to Switzerland Sergey Garmonin said in an interview with TASS. He emphasized that, in any event, such confiscation would be considered illegal.
(March 8, 2024)

1) The software companies in Arlington seem to be specifically oriented toward Beijing.
2) There is a relationship between healthy economic indicators and effective army technology.
3) We have a diversity right now in funding for defense.

This is me talking about software companies in Arlington. 3-7-24

This is me talking more about the Black Sea. 3-7-24

1) The Russians started firing drones at Odessa. It seems like not a mature response. Also, notice this Moldovan document about weaponry balance theory.
2) Do the Russians tell each other they have historical claims to lands outside of Russia? Supposedly this 1421 book is completely fiction.

MOSCOW, March 6. /TASS/. Ukrainian media outlets have published a video excerpt from President Vladimir Zelensky’s press conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Odessa after reports about a powerful explosion in the city during their visit.

MOSCOW, March 6. /TASS/. Russian forces have delivered a high-precision missile strike on a warehouse in a port district of Odessa that was used by Ukraine to prepare attacks by sea drones, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

German Experts Confirm High Nitrogen Dioxide Pollution in Sofia

EPP President: We want to see Bulgaria and Romania in Schengen as soon as possible

Refugee employment platform in operation in Bulgaria

CHISINAU, March 6. /TASS/. The Moldovan government will send a draft resolution on the suspension of the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE Treaty) to parliament for approval. The CFE Treaty was signed in 1990 and adapted in 1997. The NATO countries have not ratified the adapted version of the document, continuing to adhere to the 1990 provisions, which sets caps on conventional weapons based on the balance of force that had existed between the alliance and the long-disbanded Warsaw Treaty Organization.

"1421: The Year China Discovered America" Gavin Menzies

BEIJING, March 7. /TASS/. China will defend its rights and take measures to respond to false flag operations in the South China Sea, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a news conference on the sidelines of the second session of the 14th National People’s Congress of China. For several decades Beijing has been at odds with some countries over the territorial affiliation of certain islands in the South China Sea, where significant offshore hydrocarbon reserves have been discovered. First and foremost, this concerns the archipelagos of Xisha (Paracel Islands), Nansha (Spratlys) and Huangyan (Scarborough Reef). Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines are involved in these disputes. In recent years, the rifts have been eased somewhat through multilateral efforts, including China-ASEAN engagement.

WASHINGTON, March 7. /TASS/. The True Confidence bulk tanker that was attacked by the Houthis from the Yemeni rebel movement Ansar Allah was not a US ship, the White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told a regular briefing for journalists on Wednesday.

LONDON, March 7. /TASS/. The United Kingdom is involved in the conflict in Ukraine, perhaps more than any other NATO member state, Russian Ambassador to the UK Andrey Kelin told TASS. "There are UK servicemen in Ukraine. The presence of special forces there, instructors who, for example, train Ukrainian military medics, has been officially confirmed. We know that these instructors also train special forces and a number of other units. It is also very clear that the launching of long-range Storm Shadow missiles necessarily requires the participation of specialists, and only the British can play this role, because this is a very sophisticated technology, and it is impossible to imagine that the Ukrainian military can operate it. Or they will have to undergo very long special training, which is unrealistic," the ambassador said. "Therefore, we can clearly say that the UK is deeply involved in the Ukrainian conflict, perhaps even more than the rest of the NATO member states," Kelin pointed out.

MOSCOW, March 6. /TASS/. Russia and Nigeria intend to strengthen cooperation in the energy sector and agriculture, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a press conference following negotiations with Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar.

BERLIN, March 6. /TASS/. The German economy was in recession at the end of 2023, whereas the Russian economy, despite sanctions, grew strongly, with Russian GDP exceeding German GDP in terms of purchasing power parity, Russian Ambassador to Germany Sergey Nechaev told TASS.
(March 7, 2024)

These are different reports about Russian defense positions.

WASHINGTON, March 6. /TASS/. The US Department of Defense registers a serious increase in the number of Russian vessels going through the Bering Strait, which the Pentagon believes is connected with sanctions against Moscow, US Coast Guard Vice Admiral Peter Gautier told a conference.

DUBAI, March 6. /TASS/. The Yemeni Houthi rebels attacked two US destroyers in the Red Sea, Houthi Military Spokesman Yahya Saree said.

MOSCOW, March 5. /TASS/. The US-led coalition’s aircraft violated Syria’s airspace ten times during the past day, Vadim Kulit, deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria (a division of the Russian defense ministry), said on Tuesday.

It's strange the Russians are telling the British and the Americans they cannot be where they are. The British in the Black Sea and the Americans in Syria. Notice this description of agricultural exports.

The 2021 Black Sea incident was a diplomatic incident between Russia and the United Kingdom involving the British destroyer HMS Defender while it transited…

Jan 2, 2024 — Turkey said on Tuesday it would not allow two minehunter ships donated to Ukraine by Britain to transit its waters en route to the Black Sea….

An alert was issued in Odesa at 10:33 p.m. on Tuesday. Local authorities are urging residents of the Ukrainian Black Sea city and region to hide in bomb shelters. According to information from local channels on Telegram, drones are flying from the Black Sea waters in the direction of Odesa. The Bulgarian community in the Odesa region is the third largest and numbers more than 150,000 people according to the official 2001 census in Ukraine. About 50-60 thousand Bulgarians live in Odessa. The largest compact Bulgarian population is concentrated in the Bolgrad, Izmail and Belgoroddniestrovsky regions.

Ukraine is willing to accept limitations on its trade with the EU as a means to resolve a contentious political disagreement with Poland, according to the Ukrainian trade minister, reported by the Financial Times. Taras Kachka stated to the Financial Times that Kyiv supports implementing new restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural imports. However, Ukraine is also urging the EU to prohibit Russian grain imports, which continue to enter the bloc via Belarus and the Baltics.

This is me talking about the Black Sea. 3-6-24

This is me talking about Russian linguistics. 3-5-24

1) Are the Russians to blame for an increase in Chinese defense spending, and these attacks off the Yemeni coast? It speaks to a misuse of Russian navy ships.
2) Examples of British and American arms cooperation.

This is me talking about the Russian navy in the Black Sea. 3-5-24

Reports about problems in Russia:

MOSCOW, March 5. /TASS/. Western ambassadors to Moscow have been staging "performances" as part of their agenda of interfering in Russia’s internal affairs, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on a broadcast of the Soloviev Live TV show.

LONDON, March 4. /TASS/. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency has reported a new attack on a ship off the Yemeni coast.

BEIJING, March 5. /TASS/. The difficult situation in the international arena justifies China’s continuously growing defense spending, Qian Feng, expert of the National Strategic Institute of Tsinghua University and senior researcher at the Taihe Institute, told TASS.

British and American defense cooperation examples:

Bulgarian Armored Personnel Carriers Bound for Ukraine Depart After Lengthy Delay After more than three months of deliberation and logistical challenges, the Bulgarian parliament's decision to donate armored vehicles to Ukraine is finally seeing fruition as the equipment is loaded onto a train bound for Kyiv. This development comes amidst growing impatience and calls for accountability over the delayed transfer of the armored vehicles. Photos published by "Sega" from the railway station in Novi Iskar depict the process of transferring the armored vehicles from trucks to wagons, marking a significant step forward in the donation process. The delay in the transfer has sparked criticism, with demands for the resignation of Defense Minister Todor Tagarev from parties such as GERB and DPS.

Countering Migrant Smuggling Networks Requires Enhanced Cooperation between Countries, Interior Minister Says Speaking at a meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council here on Tuesday, Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov said that preparations for implementing the Pact on Migration and Asylum, strengthening of national asylum and return systems, the timely launch of the Entry/Exit system and the full operationalization of Frontex are priorities for Bulgaria.

WASHINGTON, March 5. /TASS/. The US authorities have detained a civilian employee of the US Air Force on charges of revealing classified data on Russia and Ukraine on an online dating platform, the US Department of Justice said in a press release.

Notice this was at night at it was at the Russian de facto base in the Black Sea:

Crimea in flames; Fierce attack on Russians, "Sergei Kotov" sunk, Su-24 downed VIDEO Ukrainian Military Intelligence Agency (GUR) carried out an attack on Russian Black Sea Fleet. Russian Navy ship "Sergei Kotov", worth USD 65 million, destroyed As reported by Kyiv Independent, fierce attacks on Crimea, where the Russian Black Sea Fleet is stationed, were carried out during the night, and that report was accompanied by information about several explosions that reverberated on that occupied peninsula. According to Ukrainian media reports, due to the heavy attacks, all lighting on the Crimean Bridge was turned off, which was immediately closed. "Segei Kotov", a Russian military patrol ship worth about 65 million dollars, was reportedly hit by several Ukrainian drones. The operation to attack Crimea was carried out, GUR said, in cooperation with the Ukrainian naval forces and the Ministry of Technology. The fact that Crimea was the scene of fierce conflicts last night is also shown by the data shared by the Russian Ministry of Defense, which stated that Russian air defense systems shot down as many as 38 enemy drones. For now, the Russian side claims that it shot down the Ukrainian Su-24, as well as that the Ukrainian army, tried to launch an attack on Crimea, which Putin annexed back in 2014. According to specialized telegram channels, 6 Su-24 bombers and three MiG-29 fighters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine participated in the Ukrainian attack. In the first wave, ADM-160 MALD decoy missiles were launched in order to distract the air defense system, after which Storm shadow/SCALP-AG cruise missiles were launched. As reported by the Russian Telegram channel Novosti, the attack was coordinated by a NATO reconnaissance plane. The American RQ-4 "Global Hawk" drone was operating over the Black Sea, and the Boeing P-8A "Poseidon" type AWACS aircraft was circling near the eastern coast of Romania. According to military correspondents, a Ukrainian Su-24 bomber was shot down while repelling an attempted missile attack on Crimea.

Another One: Ukrainian Naval Drones Sink Russian Warship in Crimea! The party has started in Crimea as explosions rocked the region overnight, targeting the military ship "Sergey Kotov," resulting in its sinking, according to reports from Unian. The fate of the crew remains uncertain as authorities continue to assess the situation in the aftermath of the attack. The assault, believed to be orchestrated by sea drones, adds to the continued trend of Russian warships' destruction. Eyewitnesses in occupied Kerch reported hearing powerful explosions, with the reverberations echoing across different parts of the city. Reports suggest that the blasts occurred around 11:30 p.m., followed by the abrupt blockage of traffic on the Crimean bridge just five minutes later. Russian authorities are yet to release an official statement regarding the incident, leaving many questions unanswered. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's office wasted no time in condemning the presence of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Ukrainian Crimea, asserting that it symbolizes occupation. This recent attack follows a similar incident in February, where Ukrainian armed forces claimed responsibility for sinking a Russian amphibious assault ship near Crimea using naval drones. The recurrence of such confrontations underscores the volatile nature of the region and the ongoing struggle for control.

Russian Forces Halted Near Avdiivka For Now Ukrainian forces have managed to halt the advance of Russian troops near the eastern town of Avdiivka. However, reports indicate that Moscow's forces are regrouping in another area south of the city, signaling potential further escalation in the region. According to statements from Ukrainian military spokesman Dmytro Lykhoviy, cited by Reuters, the capture of Avdiivka by Russia last month provided Moscow with a strategic buffer zone in the Donetsk region, extending approximately 20 kilometers to the east. This capture prompted Russian President Vladimir Putin to assert that Moscow's forces would continue their advance. Despite Ukrainian forces managing to halt the Russian advance near Avdiivka, recent reports from the Russian Defense Ministry claim that new villages near the area have been captured by their forces. Lykhoviy acknowledged that Russian troops have gained partial control over two additional villages, but emphasized that their advancement has been effectively stopped. Lykhoviy further revealed that Russian forces are concentrating their efforts further south, particularly around the village of Novomykhaylovka. It is reported that reinforcements are being transferred from distant regions of Russia to bolster the Russian presence in this area. Despite this, Lykhoviy asserted that Ukrainian defenses remain steadfast, with Ukrainian troops successfully repelling numerous attacks. Recent observations suggest an increase in military activity in the region, with 30 reported attacks occurring in the vicinity on a single Sunday, compared to 20 near Avdiivka. However, Lykhoviy maintained that despite intensified efforts from the Russian side, Ukrainian defenses remain resilient, preventing any significant progress by the opposing forces.
(March 5, 2024)

1) The extent to which eastern bloc types fly to Mexico.
2) For years now the Russians have been complaining about chemical munitions in Syria. Now it's in Ukraine. It's an image of Russian guys sitting in their Latakia navy base complaining about stuff.

Today, 74 Uzbeks who entered the USA illegally were sent back to Uzbekistan. They arrived at Tashkent International Airport, where UzReport TV's creative team welcomed them. Most of these individuals crossed into the USA via Mexico, while some traveled through other countries, facing numerous challenges along the way.

MOSCOW, March 4. /TASS/. The chemical warfare agent found during the prevention of a terrorist attack in the Zaporozhye Region has turned out to be close to BZ (NATO code), the chief of Russia’s radiation, chemical and biological protection forces Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov said on the TV channel Rossiya-24. Some components used in its manufacture were seized, too, he added.

This is me talking about the German audio recording. 3-4-24

This might be a hoax because it's an audio recording. Also, maybe it's a satire about the Kremlin and Cold War nostalgia. You wonder about the Chinese border, etc.

Germany has launched an investigation into the leak of a confidential conversation among senior military officials discussing weapons for Ukraine, revealed in an audio recording released by Russian media. The leaked conference call has raised concerns about possible espionage activities in Germany and prompted calls for clarification from Russia. According to Reuters, the incident has prompted Germany's defense ministry to initiate an investigation, with the country's counterintelligence service looking into the matter. While the authenticity of the recording remains unconfirmed, German officials have pledged to take all necessary measures to address the situation. The audio recording, first broadcast by Russian journalist and RT state television editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan, has sparked widespread interest. Although Reuters listened to the 38-minute recording, independent verification of its authenticity has not been achieved. In the conversation, participants discuss the potential supply of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, a proposition that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has publicly opposed. Other topics include the training of Ukrainian soldiers and potential military strategies. Despite inquiries from Reuters, the Russian embassy in Berlin has not responded to requests for comment on the allegations of espionage. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has addressed the issue, claiming that the leaked recording reveals "devious plans of the Bundeswehr," referring to the German armed forces. German lawmaker Roderich Kiesewetter expressed his belief in the authenticity of the reports, highlighting Russia's use of espionage and sabotage as part of hybrid warfare strategies. He suggested that more leaked information could be used to influence decision-making processes and manipulate individuals.

Germany spills British military secrets to Russia The head of the Luftwaffe told air force officers and a general who dialled in from his hotel room how British and French officials were delivering Storm Shadows to Ukrainian soldiers. He also said British troops were “on the ground”, a highly sensitive detail that has already caused division and infighting among Nato allies.

The extent to which the Kremlin wants to network with Central Asia and China. Do they want a bipolar world order? I'm alright with Pax Romana.

This is me talking about the bipolar world order. 3-3-24

Are there Russian defensive positions in the Arabian Peninsula?
What about what Grant Shapps is saying about the Houthis and the Yemenis?
Aren't they firing at the Royal Navy?
Maybe Russia v England happens on the hockey ice.
The Canadians play hockey.
Last week the Slovak defenseman got injured up in Montreal.

To compare Ukraine to the invasion of Czechoslovakia.
That might have been a defeat for the Red Army.
Because didn't they have to retreat?

It came with three things then as now.
1) To do these invasions they rally people around bad ideologies.
2) A drop in consumer life for example maybe they'll close down the gyms.
3) Weird people working at the Kremlin.

This is me talking about Martin Fehervary. 3-2-24

This is me talking about a Russian army phrase. 3-2-24

The French are saying now is Post-Soviet Ukraine. What does that mean for us? That Soviet guys are still working in government. 1) Reports about factories in Burma, and 2) obesity statistics maybe because of food stuffs trading.

More than 1 billion people worldwide are suffering from obesity, WHO study finds More than one billion people around the world are now suffering from obesity with the number having more than quadrupled since 1990, according to a study released by the Lancet medical journal.

China repatriates hundreds of scam factory workers from Myanmar 18 hours ago BBC News, Bangkok

Abjice in Latin is throw away. The French are saying a Russian army phrase. Maybe some of those guys over there are kind of crude. Cвоих не бросаем. Weird phrase that sounds like brothers.

This is me talking about 'Another Ukraine'. 3-2-24

Viktor Medvedchuk fits this description. He's 70 years old and he was born in Siberia. Notice the method his think tank uses. Maybe we have advice or comments for the South African election team.

Every day, new phrases hammer home messages from Another Ukraine, a Russian-language portal launched in the summer of 2023: “Russia is Ukraine’s only salvation,” “They wanted NATO and are ready to die for Western interests.” The news is uniformly negative. The project is officially led by Viktor Medvedchuk, a leading figure pushing pro-Kremlin interests in post-Soviet Ukraine, but it is orchestrated behind the scenes by Ilya Gambashidze’s Social Design Agency, a Russian IT company closely linked to the Kremlin whose digital disinformation campaigns are now targeting international opinion. The eventual recapture of the man branded a “traitor” in Ukraine caused a sensation: dressed in camouflage clothing, disheveled and weak, Medvedchuk's release from jail was eventually granted in September 2022 when he was included in a prisoner exchange. Kyiv saw the release of 215 soldiers, including 108 from the Azov regiment captured in Mariupol, while 55 Russians were also freed. The transaction was unbalanced, but as they say in Russia, “Svoïkh nie brossaïem”: We don’t abandon our own. Another Ukraine is the latest outlet for Medvedchuk’s ambitions. Officially, it is a public organisation located in central Moscow, a few metres from the ministry of foreign affairs. It specialises in targeted information, which it uses to try “to interact with Ukrainians with pro-Russia convictions, inside Ukraine and beyond its borders”, according to Savchuk. Another Ukraine's team is composed of journalists and commentators from the 112 Ukraine channel, banned in 2021 by the authorities in Kyiv, as well as disgraced political figures and “political technologists” – a Russian term for those engaged in political manipulation. Almost all are accused in Ukraine of separatism or treason. The nature of the project remains nebulous: Another Ukraine defines itself as a “movement” with Medvedchuk as “chairman of the council”. “It seems to me that they, themselves, do not know exactly what its true purpose is,” Savchuk noted. On the Another Ukraine website, the oligarch regularly publishes posts on Ukrainian domestic politics, the conduct of the war, and the need for an entente with Russia. However, “Medvedchuk is just the public face of this project,” said Anton Shekhovtsov, director of the Centre for Democratic Integrity in Austria. Shekhovtsov said its communications strategy was entrusted to the Social Design Agency led by Gambashidze, one of the key figures of Russian disinformation campaigns targeting an international audience. Testing storylines Another Ukraine aims to appeal to that part of the Ukrainian population favourable to Russia and establish a connection with it, according to Shekhovtsov. One method involves taking the pulse of this population and measuring its reaction to various narratives. The project uses the image of the Bohdan Khmelnytsky (1595-1657) monument in central Kyiv, a symbolic choice given the dual legacy of the Cossack leader: While some consider him a symbol of the Ukrainian state, Another Ukraine lauds him for seeking protection from Moscow.

This is me talking about South Kensington. 3-1-24

Both of these are probably not true. That's not a nice neighborhood. Also, how does Admiral Kulit know the warplanes aren't authorized?
It seems like the Kremlin wants a simple foreign policy. Maybe if the group provides them with itemized lists of complaints.

1) Huge fire in London: More than 100 people evacuated, some injured PHOTO/VIDEO Eleven people were taken to hospital after a fire broke out in a building in the luxury London neighborhood of South Kensington, in south-west London.

2) MOSCOW, February 29. /TASS/. Aircraft belonging to the US-led antiterrorism coalition made six unauthorized incursions into Syria’s airspace over the al-Tanf area in the past 24 hours, Rear Admiral Vadim Kulit, deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria, said. "Six violations by the coalition’s pair of Typhoon fighter jets, pair of F-16 fighter jets and pair of A-10 Thunderbolt attack aircraft were recorded in the al-Tanf area over the past 24 hours," Kulit said during a briefing. Two shelling attacks by the Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group (banned in Russia) against the Syrian government forces’ positions were recorded in the Idlib province in the past day.

Are there legitimate complaints here? The French talking about Moldova. Ukrainian immigrants. I wish they would have buried the plane victims near the plane crash. Does Russia want it to be Kremlin vs the world? Maybe some of these German complaints are legitimate.

Amid tensions in Moldova, French diplomacy has raised concerns over what it perceives as Moscow's involvement in "attempts to destabilize" the country. Pro-Russian separatists from Transnistria, a breakaway region of Moldova, have reportedly sought assistance from Moscow, prompting speculation about Russia's role in the unfolding situation, AFP reported. A spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry highlighted Moldova's vulnerability to aggressive destabilization tactics, which are believed to be orchestrated by Moscow.

Amidst the war between Russia and Ukraine, a glimmer of potential cooperation emerges as Russia announces its readiness to hand over the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers who perished in a tragic plane crash. Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatiana Moskalkova made the announcement today, as reported by RIA and Reuters.

Bulgaria has extended the term of temporary protection for individuals from Ukraine. Decision No. 54, issued by the Council of Ministers on January 25, 2024, prolongs the period during which Ukrainian citizens can find employment opportunities in the country with relative ease.

WASHINGTON, February 29. /TASS/. If Ukraine falls, Russia and NATO could come into a direct military conflict, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told the House Armed Services Committee. He said Russian leadership "won’t stop there" if Ukraine is defeated. "Quite frankly, if Ukraine falls, I really believe that NATO will be in a fight with Russia," Austin said in a hearing dedicated to his hospitalization in January.

BERLIN, February 29. /TASS/. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has ruled out the dispatch of German military and NATO troops to Ukraine. "We will not allow an escalation of war, that is a war between Russia and NATO," Scholz said as he met with local residents in Dresden. "As I have just said again, and made clear from the very beginning: there will be no German military or NATO soldiers on Ukrainian soil, because otherwise it would entail such a danger," he emphasized.

BERLIN, March 1. /TASS/. Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reiterated that he objects to providing Ukraine with the Taurus long-range cruise missiles, since if the missiles are not programed properly, they could hit targets in Moscow. "[The Taurus missiles] have a range of 500 kilometers, and if used incorrectly, they can hit a designated target somewhere in Moscow," Scholz told members of the public in Dresden. The meeting was broadcast on the German government’s website.
(March 1, 2024)

This is me talking about Martin Fehervary. 2-29-24

Locally, Capitol One the bank seems to be successful. And notice the Treasury Department and the Pentagon are working together. Maybe Fehervary doesn't have what it takes to cut it in the NHL.

In February 2024, the US Treasury sanctioned Russia's National Payment Card System (NSPK), which operates the Mir payment system.

U.S. military officials said Thursday that they suspect Russian hackers infiltrated an unclassified Pentagon e-mail system used by employees of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the latest in a series of state-sponsored attacks on sensitive U.S. government computer networks.

Pentagon officials were hanging on to every word as Matthew Knight, OpenAI’s head of security, explained how the latest version of ChatGPT had succeeded in deciphering cryptic conversations within a Russian hacking group, a task that human analysts had found challenging.

Feb 21, 2024 — Capital One's recently announced $35.3 billion acquisition of Discover Financial is a bid to protect itself against a rising tide of fintech…

Fehervary Listed As Week-To-Week With Lower-Body Injury; How Capitals Fill The Void

This is me talking about Belgrade. 2-29-24

1) Complaints about Russia and Chinese trade.
2) The areas near Russia, how they contribute to Chinese trade.
3) Russian foreign policy examples.
4) Reports from Belgrade and Sofia.

SYDNEY, February 29. /TASS/. New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced a new package of anti-Russian sanctions. According to the document posted on the website of the country’s government, the sanctions will cover prices on Russian oil and exports of some commodity to Russia and Belarus via third countries. The package also includes restrictions against Russian individuals and companies.

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has joined the debate over the possibility of sending ground troops to Ukraine, stating that Western leaders should not dismiss the option. Kallas' comments come in the wake of French President Emmanuel Macron's recent controversial suggestion, which sparked widespread discussion among allied governments.

MOSCOW, February 29. /TASS/. The US-led coalition’s aircraft violated Syria’s airspace six times during the past day, Vadim Kulit, deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria (a division of the Russian defense ministry), said on Wednesday. "Aircraft of the so-called international anti-terrorist coalition led by the United States continues to create dangerous situation that may cause air accident or incidents and escalate the situation in Syria’s airspace," he said. "A pair of the coalition’s F-16 fighter jets and two pairs of A-10 Thunderbolt attack bombers violated Syria’s airspace in the al-Tanf area, across which international air routes run, six times during the day."

Russian peacekeepers were deployed to the zone of combat operations in Transnistria in late July of 1992 under an agreement on peaceful settlement of the armed conflict in Moldova’s Transnistrian region. The move helped stop the confrontation between the Moldovan police and Transnistrian militias. Currently, peace in the region is being maintained by Russian, Moldovan, and Transnistrian peacekeepers, and a team of Ukrainian military observers. Apart from that, the Russian military is tasked to ensure the security of depots in Cobasna that hold more than 20,000 tons of munitions that were put in storage there after the withdrawal of Soviet troops from European countries. A weapons and munitions withdrawal and disposal campaign started in 2001, but in 2004 the Transnistrian authorities cut it short following a deterioration in relations with Moldova.

YEREVAN, February 28. /TASS/. Yerevan never expected the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) to intervene in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict as it was expecting the organization to come up with its political stance regarding the conflict, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Wednesday.

BELGRADE, February 28. /TASS/. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who will take part in the Ukraine-Southeastern Europe summit in Tirana, Albania, will demand that the participants exclude those clauses from the final document that explicitly state the need to further counter Russia, the Vecernje Novosti newspaper reported. Specifically, according to the newspaper, the Serbian president will insist on striking a paragraph containing anti-Russian sanctions from the final document, as well as the section of the draft declaration stating that Russia exerts a negative influence on the countries of the region.

HAVANA, February 29. /TASS/. Secretary of the Russian Security Council Niikolay Patrushev on Wednesday met with Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega to discuss issues of cooperation between the two countries’ law enforcement agencies and economy ministries, the press service of the Russian Security Council said.

MOSCOW, February 28. /TASS/. Chad is not undergoing a coup, but government forces will block entrances to some important buildings, Chadian Ambassador to Russia Adam Bechir told TASS.

Vučić met with Zelensky: I thanked him for respecting territorial integrity of Serbia

Another Bulgarian national has been apprehended in the United Kingdom on allegations of espionage for Russia. The court in London has determined that 38-year-old Tihomir Ivanchev will remain in custody indefinitely, joining five other compatriots who have been detained for espionage-related offenses for over a year. Ivanchev, a former competitive swimmer in Bulgaria approximately 15 years ago, transitioned to running his own business in the UK, specializing in repair and painting services. Despite his athletic background, Ivanchev's activities have taken a stark turn, leading to his involvement in espionage accusations. Of particular interest to investigators is Ivanchev's connection to another detainee, Vanya Gaberova, with whom he shared a close friendship. Notably, Ivanchev's company headquarters were in close proximity to Gaberova's hair salon, and the two were reportedly registered at the same address for a period of time. Authorities have revealed that Ivanchev was tasked with surveillance activities involving individuals in Austria and Montenegro. However, the exact extent of his involvement in the espionage network remains unclear. The Crown Prosecution Service in the UK has affirmed its commitment to identifying and prosecuting all individuals linked to the spy ring. The espionage operation, led by 46-year-old Orlin Rusev, reportedly received directives from Jan Marsalek, a figure notorious for his involvement in one of Germany's largest financial fraud cases. While Ivanchev's role within the network is yet to be fully elucidated, his arrest underscores the ongoing threat posed by foreign espionage activities on UK soil. As investigations continue, authorities are intensifying efforts to dismantle the spy network and ensure national security against external threats.
(February 29, 2024)

This is me talking about election indicators. 2-28-24

MOSCOW, February 28. /TASS/. More than 3.1 mln Russian citizens have filed applications to vote online in next month’s presidential election, according to Central Election Commission (CEC) Chairperson Ella Pamfilova.

MOSCOW, February 28. /TASS/. Russia's Central Election Commission will make public the results of the March 17 presidential election no later than March 28, the commission's deputy chairman Nikolay Bulayev has said.

The election is March 15-17.
The results will be announced within ten days.
Three days to vote and ten days to count.
Who is eligible to vote?
Voter registration rates.
Voter turnout.
Will voter turnout in Russia be high or low this year?
Online or paper ballots.
What if the ballots indicate one candidate and the Kremlin announces another?

This is me talking about Cape Town. 2-28-24

1) A report about the Tashkent stock exchange.
2) I guess the Russian navy is firing drones from their ships in the Black Sea.
3) Are the Russians misusing their ports in the Baltic Sea?
4) The Ukrainians are commenting on Russian domestic policy.

The stock market in Uzbekistan experienced a decline last week. Out of the 28 highly liquid shares at the Republican Stock Exchange "Toshkent," 19 of them saw a decrease in price.

Bulgarian Defense Minister Faces Calls for Resignation Amid Controversy Over Military Aid to Ukraine The leaders of GERB Boyko Borissov and DPS Delyan Peevski demanded the replacement of the Minister of Defense Todor Tagarev. The reason - is the delay in delivery of the armored personnel carriers to Ukraine.

Drones Strike Odesa from Black Sea, Ukrainian Troops Withdraw from Villages Odesa, a key Ukrainian city, came under attack late last night as drones launched strikes from the Black Sea. Reports from international agencies detailed the ominous sound of explosions echoing across different parts of the city. At 21:25 local time, air raid sirens pierced the night, prompting city and regional authorities to urgently advise residents of Odesa and surrounding areas to seek shelter until the air threat was deemed clear.

MOSCOW, February 28. /TASS/. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, commenting on social media threats by Lithuanian Ambassador to Sweden Linas Linkevicius to "neutralize Kaliningrad," asserted that the region will always remain an integral part of Russia.

MOSCOW, February 28. /TASS/. Statements by Lithuanian Ambassador to Sweden Linas Linkevicius about the "neutralization" of Russia’s westernmost Kaliningrad Region, while clearly aimed at boosting the Kiev regime, appear to be nothing but a farce, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik radio.

PARIS, February 27. /TASS/. French Air Force jets escorted a Russian Il-20 plane near the Estonian border, the General Staff of the French Armed Forces said.

VILNIUS, February 27. /TASS/. NATO could send training missions to Ukraine, rather than troops, Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said.

MOSCOW, February 27. /TASS/. The Ukrainian Presidential Committee on Intelligence expects that an attempt to overthrow the Zelensky government could be made this spring.
(February 28, 2024)

Given this...does that seem feasible.

This is me talking more about the Russian elections in March. 2-27-24

This is me talking about the Russian elections in March. 2-27-24

1) The paradox. If Russia will have legitimate elections given their foreign policy. The BRICS lineup. Energy exports to Central Asia. Uzbek tech anecdotes. Criminals and defense people in the Middle East.
2) An argument for a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Russian foreign policy:

During the visit of the Samarkand region delegation to Philadelphia, a meeting was held with the management of EPAM Systems, led by the Uzbekistan Ambassador to the USA. They discussed cooperation prospects and proposed establishing a company office in the region for teaching industry knowledge and exporting IT services.

Turkish Citizen Charged for Undeclared Currency worth Nearly BGN 300,000 at Kapitan Andreevo Border Checkpoint Undeclared currency worth BGN 299,241 was discovered by customs officials at the Kapitan Andreevo border checkpoint, the press center of the customs in Svilengrad reported. The prosecution service in Svilengrad charged M.M. (45 years old), a Turkish citizen, in a fast-track proceeding for failure to fulfill his obligation to declare in writing the transfer of the funds, the prosecution press centre said. On February 23, a truck with Turkish registration, driven by M.M., arrived at the exit point. The truck was traveling from the Netherlands to Iraq via Bulgaria and Turkiye. During a thorough customs inspection of the vehicle , customs officers discovered the undeclared cash in the refrigeration unit of the semi-trailer. The fast-track investigation is still ongoing, added the prosecution service. Customs statistics show that last year at the Kapitan Andreevo border checkpoint, foreign currency worth nearly BGN 27 million was confiscated. Euros, dollars and British pounds were most common.

To address increased domestic demand and facilitate refinery maintenance, Russia has announced a six-month ban on gasoline exports starting from March 1, as reported by Reuters. The ban, first reported by RBC and confirmed by a spokeswoman for Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, aims to alleviate rising prices and shortages in the domestic market. Similar bans were imposed in September and November of the previous year to mitigate these challenges. During the ban, exports will be prohibited to all countries except for Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan. Notably, member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), including Mongolia and Uzbekistan, will be exempt from the restriction. Additionally, the ban will not apply to South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the two breakaway republics in Georgia supported by the Kremlin.

MOSCOW, February 27. /TASS/. Twenty-five countries are currently on the waitlist to join BRICS, with new members expected to be ushered into the association at the summit in Kazan, South Africa’s Ambassador to Russia Mzuvukile Geoff Maqetuka told TASS.

MOSCOW, February 27. /TASS/. The South African authorities won’t be able to ensure the security of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to the republic due to the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the head of Russia’s state, South African Ambassador to Russia Mzuvukile Jeff Maqetuka told TASS.

An argument for a ceasefire in Ukraine:

MOSCOW, February 27. /TASS/. Russian artillery strikes hit Ukrainian intelligence agents in Kherson, a member of the pro-Russian underground in the city told TASS.

MOSCOW, February 27. /TASS/. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has foiled a planned terrorist attack in the Zaporozhye Region that Ukrainian intelligence agencies were preparing to carry out using a chemical warfare agent, the FSB said in a statement.
(February 27, 2024)

This is me talking about the Russian news service. 2-26-24

1) Like William said. There should be a ceasefire in Tel Aviv, Kiev, and Kosovo. Because these are prolonged conflicts. They aren't popular. Here are examples of bad defense spending and bad government. Also, there might be a fallacy that the Kremlin can maintain government standards during wartime.
2) Is the TASS news service allowed to tell people that?
3) A report about Russians entering into the United States from Mexico.

Examples of bad defense spending and bad government:

Turkish Military Personnel, Equipment to Use Republican Roads En Route to Kosovo Turkish military personnel and equipment will use Bulgaria's republican road infrastructure between February 27 and 28 en route to Kosovo to take part in NATO's KFOR mission. The vehicles will be escorted by Military Police teams, the Defence Ministry reported Friday. The contingent is part of the rotation in the zone of the operation.

Russian Soldiers Execute Ukrainian Prisoners Near Bakhmut Reports have surfaced indicating that Russian soldiers executed seven Ukrainian prisoners of war near Bakhmut, according to statements from Ukrainian authorities cited by DPA. The incident, labeled as a war crime by Ukrainian human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets, occurred on Saturday in the vicinity of Bakhmut, a town in the eastern part of the Donbas region.

Exodus: Surge in Russian Asylum Seekers Floods South Korea The influx of Russian asylum seekers into South Korea has skyrocketed, with authorities reporting an unprecedented surge in applications last year, according to CNN. The Korean Immigration Service revealed a staggering fivefold increase in Russian nationals seeking asylum in South Korea in 2023, totaling 5,750 applicants, a stark rise from the 1,038 applicants recorded in 2022. Similar stories have been reported elsewhere; data from United States border authorities showed the number of Russian citizens they encountered surged after Moscow imposed the military draft in September 2022. From October 2022 to February 2023, nearly 22,000 Russians tried to enter the US through the country's southern border, according to data from US Customs and Border Protection.

Foreign Minister Gabriel Received in Audience by King Abdullah II of Jordan

NEW YORK, February 26. /TASS/. The Yemen-based Houthi rebels from the Ansar Allah movement attempted to attack a US chemical and oil product tanker in the Gulf of Aden twice in one day.

DUBAI, February 26. /TASS/. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has opened fire on civilians waiting in line for humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip killing ten people, Palestine’s WAFA news agency said.

NEW YORK, February 26. /TASS/. Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Samantha Power will visit Israel, the West Bank and Jordan this week, CNN said, citing sources.

MINSK, February 26. /TASS/. Elections to the lower house of the Belarusian parliament have concluded, Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Igor Karpenko said.

MOSCOW, February 26. /TASS/. Head of the internationally-recognized Yemeni government Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak will arrive in Moscow to hold meetings with Russian officials, Yemen’s embassy in Russia told TASS on Monday.

BEIJING, February 26. /TASS/. US sanctions against Russia and its trading partners threaten the security of global supply chains, the Chinese Commerce Ministry said.

MOSCOW, February 25. /TASS/. Two Ukrainian air-launched missiles were shot down by Russian air defense systems over the Black Sea, the Russian defense ministry said.

MOSCOW, February 25. /TASS/. Russia’s response to the potential seizure of its frozen assets by the West will be proportionate and tough, a senior Russian lawmaker said.

Is the TASS news service allowed to tell people this:

WASHINGTON, February 26. /TASS/. Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) William Burns has presented to representatives of Egypt, Israel and Qatar Washington's new "bridging" proposal for a deal on the release of the remaining hostages in the Gaza Strip, The Washington Post reported, citing Israeli sources.

NEW YORK, February 25. /TASS/. US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director William Burns secretly visited Ukraine last Thursday, The New York Times (NYT) said.

US-led coalition’s aircraft violate Syrian airspace four times in past day Apart from that, according to Vadim Kulit, one violation linked with the flights by the US-led coalition unmanned aerial vehicles was reported in Syria in the past 24 hours MOSCOW, February 25. /TASS/. The US-led coalition’s aircraft violated Syria’s airspace in the al-Tanf area four times during the past day, Vadim Kulit, deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria (a division of the Russian defense ministry), said on Sunday. "Aircraft of the so-called international anti-terrorist coalition led by the United States continues to create dangerous situation that may cause air accident or incidents and escalate the situation in Syria’s airspace," he said. "Two pairs of A-10 Thunderbolt attack bombers violated Syria’s airspace in the al-Tanf area, across which international air routes run, four times during the day." Apart from that, according to Kulit, one violation of the deconfliction protocols of December 9, 2019 linked with the flights by the US-led coalition unmanned aerial vehicles was reported in Syria in the past 24 hours. He also said that during the day, nine shelling attacks on positions of government forces were reported in the Idlid de-escalation zone from positions of the Jabhat al-Nusra (outlawed in Russia), including five in the Idlib governorate, three in the Aleppo governorate, and one in the Latakia governorate.
(February 26, 2024)

This is me talking about 'The Trial' (1925) by Franz Kafka. 2-25-24

The podcast is at its best when David does the introduction, Dominic talks first, and they're at their office in London.

1) It's either been ten years or one or two years.
2) William is asking for a ceasefire in the Levant.
3) Sergei Shoigu seems to be weird about the Chinese border.
4) Strange reports about Russian agricultural exports.

This is me talking about a ceasefire in Ukraine. 2-25-24

This is me talking about General Sir Patrick Sanders. 2-25-24

1) The army graduate school in Kansas. They read this book. The first point the book makes is that Americans are really smart about weather stuff. If it's hot do this. If it's cold do this. It's a commentary about the British and if they say stuff that's intended for the American audience.
2) I kind of want a ceasefire now in Ukraine.

His staff appointments have been in operational and strategic roles. He has been a member of the Directing Staff at the Joint Staff College, Pol/Mil adviser for the Commander of Coalition Forces in Iraq in 2003-4, Colonel Army Strategy, Chief of Defence Staff’s Liaison Officer to the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Operations) in the MOD.

The United States Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC or, obsolete, USACGSC) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military officers.

The American Way of War: A History of United States Military Strategy and Policy Book by Russell Weigley
(February 25, 2024)

This is me talking about the pivot east. 2-24-24

1) The defense posture and if we're pivoting east. These are different examples of Asia stuff moving west.
2) A report about right wingerism in France.
3) I guess the Russians have a payment system called Mir and they send money to defense people living in other countries.

Turkish military rapidly enhancing deterrence capabilities: Altun

UAE removed from international money laundering watch list

Azerbaijan discovers new mass grave in Khojaly

Intelligence chief affirms Türkiye ‘not playground’ of foreign spies

Turkish intel captures PKK member trying to flee into Europe

The Financial Action Task Force, also known by its French name, Groupe d'action financière, is an intergovernmental organisation founded in 1989 on the initiative of the G7 to develop policies to combat money laundering and to maintain certain interest.

US slaps sweeping new sanctions on Russia for Ukraine war anniversary, Navalny’s death The US on Friday issued sweeping sanctions on Russia to mark the second anniversary of the Ukraine invasion, targeting more than 500 people and entities, including Russian officials linked to the death in custody of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The sanctions, described as the largest single tranche since the start of the Ukraine war, also seek to impose a cost for the death last week in a Siberian prison of Russian President Vladimir Putin's most vocal critic, Alexei Navalny, with measures taken against three Russian officials. The sanctions targeted Russia's Mir payment system, Russian financial institutions and its military industrial base, evaders of previous sanctions, future energy production and other areas. The latest US action seeks to hold Russia to account over the war and the death of Navalny, US President Joe Biden said in a statement, as Washington looks to continue to support Ukraine even as it faces acute shortages of ammunition and US military aid has been delayed for months in Congress. It’s critical that Congress steps up to join our allies around the world in giving Ukraine the means to defend itself and its freedom against Putin’s barbarous assault," she said. Targeting Russia's Mir payment system The US Treasury slapped sanctions on Russia's state-owned National Payment Card System, the operator of the Mir payment system. Mir payments cards have become more important since its US rivals suspended operations in Russia after Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine, and their payment cards which were issued in the country stopped working abroad. "The Government of Russia's proliferation of Mir has permitted Russia to build out a financial infrastructure that enables Russian efforts to evade sanctions and reconstitute severed connections to the international financial system," the Treasury statement said.

Azerbaijan’s February 7 presidential election, which handed President Ilham Aliyev an unsurprising and unopposed victory with 92% of the vote and a fifth term in office, provided the backdrop for the latest illustration of deteriorating Franco-Azerbaijani relations. For the first time in at least a decade, there were no French elected representatives or independent observers on the team of international observers monitoring the vote. As Aliyev tightens his grip on power and the country’s electoral system, there were fewer West European nationals on the international monitoring team. When contacted by FRANCE 24 and Forbidden Stories, Azerbaijani authorities did not respond to the reasons for the absence of French observers. The election observer issue is part of a wider context of escalating bilateral tensions. The month of December was marked by a particularly sharp deterioration: a Frenchman was arrested in Baku and accused of espionage, Azerbaijan then expelled two French diplomats, Paris promptly responded, declaring two Azerbaijani embassy officials persona non grata. The diplomatic tit-for-tat was accompanied by acerbic statements from both sides. For French nationals in Azerbaijan, the message was clear. France, like other European countries, has long been the target of what has come to be called "caviar diplomacy". It’s a term employed by experts and journalists for over a decade to describe oil-rich Azerbaijan’s particularly lavish and distinctive lobbying strategy, which includes costly official trips for foreign politicians and influencers, and providing expensive gifts and funds for projects such as the renovation of churches. The payback, documented in several news reports, includes soft-power wins for Azerbaijan by securing its influence in Europe’s political and media worlds. In the past, France held a special place for Baku’s political elites. France is a member of the OSCE Minsk Group, which also includes the US and Russia.

France blames Russia’s FSB for anti-Semitic Star of David graffiti campaign France believes that Russia's security service FSB was behind a campaign in which Star of David graffiti were daubed on buildings in and around Paris last autumn, a French source said Friday. French prosecutors reported in November that 60 such stars had been found in the capital and surrounding suburbs weeks into the war between Israel and Hamas, with the graffiti being interpreted as a threat to Jews. A Moldovan couple was arrested in the case and their alleged handler, a pro-Russian Moldovan businessman, was identified, according to the source who has knowledge of the investigation and who declined to be named. Moldova was a Soviet republic before its independence in 1991. France's international security service DGSI believes the operation was run by the FSB's fifth division that undertakes international operations, the source said, quoting from a secret internal note that was first revealed by the Le Monde newspaper.
(February 24, 2024)

This is required reading there.
This is significantly required reading there.
My Grant Shapps joke of the day.

This first paragraph is from the DOJ website. It seems like a nonsensical and unlikely version of events. The attorney went to Hofstra Law in Long Island. I wonder if Hunter Biden will be convicted of tax evasion. Maybe the US Attorney in California isn't that great.

Earlier today in federal court in Brooklyn, Kristina Puzyreva pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy for her role in a multimillion-dollar scheme to send components used in unnamed aerial vehicles (UAVs) and guided missile systems and other weapons to sanctioned entities in Russia. The components shipped in violation of export control and sanctions laws were later found in Russian weapons platforms and signals intelligence equipment in Ukraine. At sentencing, Puzyreva faces up to twenty years in prison. Prosecution against the other defendants remains pending.

Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to nine federal tax charges in the Central District of California in January after federal prosecutors alleged he engaged in a four-year scheme to avoid paying at least $1.4 million in federal taxes and charged the president's son with failure to file and pay taxes, tax evasion…

This is me talking about Hunter Biden. 2-23-24

The Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) is a conventional surface-to-surface artillery weapon system capable of striking targets well beyond the range of existing Army cannons, rockets and other missiles. ATACMS missiles are fired from the HIMARS and MLRS M270 platforms.

The High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) is a rocket system developed for the US Army in the late 1990s. It's a light launcher that's mounted on an M1140 truck frame.

1) Another report from Rear Admiral Vadim Kulit. Maybe the Russians aren't able to identify American weapons. Also, can they read German army books and identify German weapons? For example, 'Truppenfuhrung'. Maybe the Russians don't speak German enough.
2) Russian foreign policy in South America. Maybe because of the conflict in Ukraine, the Kremlin should focus on regional foreign policy.

Israeli jet attacks residential building in Damascus, killing three — Russian military Rear Admiral Vadim Kulit, Deputy Chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria said that an F-16 fighter jet of the Israeli Air Force attacked a residential building in the Kafar Sousah neighborhood of Damascus with a guided air bomb from the direction of the Golan Heights, without entering Syria’s airspace MOSCOW, February 22. /TASS/. An Israeli fighter jet attacked a residential building in the Syrian capital of Damascus with a guided air bomb, killing three people, Rear Admiral Vadim Kulit, Deputy Chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria, said. "On February 21, an F-16 fighter jet of the Israeli Air Force attacked a residential building in the Kafar Sousah neighborhood of Damascus with a guided air bomb from the direction of the Golan Heights, without entering Syria’s airspace. The attack killed three people, including a woman, and damaged civilian infrastructure," he said. Kulit added that the situation in the Rukban refugee camp located in the US-occupied Al-Tanf area remained deplorable. "The Syrian authorities, acting in coordination with the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties, have evacuated a woman with three children from the camp," the rear admiral added.

Houthis Ban Entry of American, British, and Israeli Ships from Red and Arabian Seas In a significant move, the Houthi rebels in Yemen have declared a ban on American, British, and Israeli ships from entering the Red and Arabian Seas, as well as the Gulf of Aden.

DUBAI, February 23. /TASS/. The Houthis of Yemen's Ansar Allah rebel movement use "underwater weapons" to carry out their operations against civilian ships and warships in the Red and Arabian Seas, the leader of the movement, Abdel Malek al-Houthi, said.

BUENOS AIRES, February 23. /TASS/. Four Colombian mercenaries died near the town of Kurakhovo in the Donetsk People's Republic following a missile bombardment of the positions of the Ukrainian armed forces, the Colombian newspaper Vanguardia reported.

WASHINGTON, February 23. /TASS/. Washington will impose sanctions on over 500 targets in Russia on Friday, US Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told Reuters.

WASHINGTON, February 23. /TASS/. The United States does not impose any bans on allies supplying any weapons to Ukraine, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland said commenting on the possibility of the American allies supplying medium-range weapons to Kiev.

WASHINGTON, February 23. /TASS/. The US Department of Defense allows for the possibility to supply extended-range ATACMS missiles to Kiev, but only after the US Congress allocates funds to support Ukraine, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said at a regular briefing for reporters.

NEW YORK, February 22. /TASS/. The British ship that was attacked by the Houthi rebels on February 22 received minor damage, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

"Another Ukrainian HIMARS/GMLRS attack on Russians gathered at a training ground, this time in Kherson," wrote Jimmy Rushton, a Kyiv-based foreign policy and security analyst. "A significant number of victims is clearly visible," he added.

WASHINGTON, February 22. /TASS/. The United States does not rule out the possibility of providing Kiev with long-range ATACMS missiles, White House National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby said.

Lavrov conveys warm greetings from Putin to President of Brazil

Lavrov arrives in Brasilia

RIO DE JANEIRO, February 22. /TASS/. Russia’s BRICS presidency will promote the association’s closer ties with the Group of Twenty, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.
(February 23, 2024)

This is me talking about the Russian navy base in Latakia. 2-23-24

This is me talking about the Russia-China border. 2-22-24

1) If Russia has a healthy economy. It seems like they trade too much with their neighbors in Central Asia and East Asia. Some of them are bad actors.
2) Notice this description of the Uzbek and Serbian economies.
3) Also, questionable defense contracts in Ukraine. Criminals in Bulgaria.

BRUSSELS, February 21. /TASS/. The Russian economy remains resilient despite twelve packages of EU sanctions, the Brussels-based Euractiv recognized in the article on the thirteenth package of such sanctions tentatively approved by representatives of EU member-countries.

KAZAN, February 21. /TASS/. Economic ties between Russia and Uzbekistan are developing very intensively and countries have good prospects for further interaction, President Vladimir Putin said.

Uzbekistan and South Korea to Boost AI Cooperation Against Crime

Uzbekistan's Population Density Rises

Italian Company Partners with Uzbekistan for Children's Clothing Production

Construction works begin: Soon, we'll get faster to the favorite destination of Serbs Construction of the highway from Timişoara to Belgrade is underway.

KAZAN, February 21. /TASS/. Western countries are trying to persuade Republika Srpska to introduce sanctions against Russia on a daily basis, President Milorad Dodik of Republika Srpska (one of the two constituent entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina) said at a meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

MINSK, February 21. /TASS/. Western countries are tightening the visa regime and closing borders as part of a hybrid war unleashed against Minsk and Moscow, Belarusian Security Council State Secretary Alexander Volfovich said.

PRAGUE, February 21. /TASS/. After February 24, 2022, the Czech Republic introduced about 200 relaxations to the sanctions imposed against Russia, Ceska televize 24 reported citing the head of the financial and analytical department of the Czech Republic, Jiri Gilmar.

PARIS, February 21. /TASS/. Anna Novikova, the head of the French group called SOS Donbass, which calls for the support of victims of the conflict in Donbass, told TASS that police questioned her following a complaint from a Ukrainian activist. "The main accusation is fraud: that we are using the SOS Donbass association as a humanitarian group to cover up aid to the Russian military, that we are financed by Russia, that we are collecting money here to send it to associations in Donbass that help the Russian Armed Forces," she said. The police also promised to send a list of documents that will need to be submitted to prove that the group is engaged in humanitarian activities. Earlier, the bank holding the association's account froze it. Novikova said she is scheduled to talk to the bank’s staff in the near future. SOS Donbass has regularly organized events in solidarity with the residents of Donbass and against sending weapons to Ukraine since 2022. The group also assembled two humanitarian cargoes with the support of volunteers from several European countries, and delivered them by truck to the DPR and LPR. The first humanitarian convoy reached Donbass in May 2023. The second convoy, carrying 18 tons of humanitarian cargo, including wheelchairs, hospital beds, space heaters and foodstuffs, came to Donetsk in November.

Major Migrant Trafficking Operation Dismantled in Bulgaria In a significant crackdown on organized crime, Bulgarian Border Police have detained ten individuals involved in migrant trafficking during a targeted operation in the Burgas area. Chief Commissioner Anton Zlatanov, Director of the General Directorate Border Police, disclosed the details of the operation to bTV on Wednesday, revealing that more arrests may follow. The operation is being conducted under the supervision of the District Prosecution Office of Burgas. Zlatanov described the apprehended group as a highly active organized crime syndicate with a clear hierarchy, including leaders, assistants, and executors. This marks the third trafficking group dismantled by Border Police in the past four months, with two others disrupted by the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime. Despite a notable reduction in migrant pressure, Zlatanov emphasized that the issue persists, citing a 50% increase in attempted border crossings during the summer compared to the previous year. Last summer saw unprecedented levels of activity, with up to 1,500 daily attempts recorded, making it the toughest period in a decade.
(February 22, 2024)

This is me talking about the Royal Navy. 2-21-24

1) Talking about the states of the navies. The USN seems to be doing the best. The Royal Navy is being inventoried. The Russian navy is having a hard time. They've lost two ships in the Black Sea and now these reports about the base in Latakia.
2) Can the navy successes in the Gulf of Aden transfer to similar successes in the Med and the Baltic Sea?
3) The Treasury Department and Russian cybercrimes.

MOSCOW, February 21. /TASS/. The aircraft of the US-led international anti-terrorism coalition violated Syria’s airspace in the Al-Tanf area twice in the past day, Rear Admiral Vadim Kulit, Deputy Chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria, said. "One violation of the December 9, 2019, deconfliction protocols was recorded in the past day, which involved a drone flight not agreed on with Russia. Two violations by the coalition’s F-16 fighter jets were registered in the Al-Tanf area," he specified.

BEIRUT, February 21. /TASS/. The Israel Defense Forces launched a missile strike on Damascus, Syria’s Al Ikhbaria TV channel reported. According to the channel, the Israeli army hit the Kafar Souseh neighborhood in the southwest of the capital. The Sham FM radio reported that a residential building was damaged in the Israeli strike. According to preliminary information, there are casualties.

SUKHUM, February 21. /TASS/. Abkhazian President Aslan Bzhania thinks that the presence of NATO ships in the Black Sea leads to escalated tensions and complicates Ukraine’s fate.

US Destroys Surface-to-Air Missile Launcher in Yemen Amid Escalating Tensions In response to escalating tensions in the Red Sea, the US Central Command has taken decisive action in Yemen, destroying a surface-to-air missile launcher in Houthi-controlled areas. The operation, which occurred around 5 pm on February 19, aimed to ensure the safety of commercial and coalition ships navigating the region. According to a statement from the US Central Command, despite the destruction of the launcher, one additional anti-ship ballistic missile was launched at 6:40 pm, fortunately without impacting any vessels. The command further reported that a one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) struck the M/V Navis Fortuna, causing minor damage but no injuries. Meanwhile, USS Laboon (DDG 58) successfully intercepted an anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM) headed in its direction.

The test firing of a Trident missile from a Royal Navy submarine has failed, for the second time in a row. The UK Ministry of Defense on Tuesday confirmed the incident, which took place at the end of January, saying there had been a mistake involving the Vanguard submarine, but they said no further details were being shared for security reasons. However, ministry officials emphasized that those missiles still represent the foundation of Britain's defense and that they are still "safe and effective," reports Sky News. The source of that British TV network emphasized that the error had to do with the fact that it was a test launch, and that it would have been successful if it had been carried out with a nuclear warhead. The British "Sun" reported that both the Defense Secretary Grant Shapps and the head of the Navy were on board HMS Vanguard when she fired the unarmed test missile off the East coast of America in January.

Belarus President Lukashenko Calls for Armed Patrols Inside the Country Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has urged law enforcement agencies to deploy armed patrols on the streets of the country's cities to bolster public safety, according to Reuters reports.

Albania Gripped by Anti-Government Unrest: Clashes and Arrests Rock Tirana Tensions escalated in Albania as anti-government protests erupted into clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement in the capital city of Tirana.

MINSK, February 20. /TASS/. Ivan Tertel, chairman of the State Security Committee of Belarus, has accused the West of continuing to work toward creating conditions for an unconstitutional change of power in the country. The official also said the West is paying increased attention to "the use of the so-called fifth column operating in Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine in the form of separate organizations of fugitives (the opposition - TASS), which have essentially turned into centers of subversive activities against Belarus.".

United States adds two Russian citizens to sanctions list for cybercrimes Inclusion on the sanctions list entails the freezing of assets in the United States and the prohibition of American citizens and companies from doing business with those involved WASHINGTON, February 20. /TASS/. The US Treasury Department has added two Russian citizens - Ivan Kondratyev and Artur Sungatov - to the sanctions list for cybercrimes, according to a statement of the financial department. Inclusion on the sanctions list entails the freezing of assets in the United States and the prohibition of American citizens and companies from doing business with those involved. As the US authorities note, Kondratyev and Sungatov are allegedly "affiliates of the Russia-based ransomware group LockBit." According to the document, the US Treasury took action against the group together with the US Department of Justice and the FBI. As the US Treasury says, LockBit ransomware attacks "have targeted critical infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and financial institutions" of the US, its allies and partners. Earlier Bloomberg reported that the UK National crime agency, the FBI and a number of other law enforcement agencies conducted a joint operation during which they blocked the LockBit portal. As an FBI spokesman told Bloomberg, the operation, which involved 11 countries, also blocked 11,000 domain names used by the group to distribute malware. According to the US Department of Justice, more than 1,400 cyberattacks were carried out with the participation of LockBit in the US and around the world. The hackers demanded a total of more than $100 million from their victims and received at least tens of millions of dollars in Bitcoin.
(February 21, 2024)

This is me talking about Russian trade. 2-20-24

The Russians have such conservative values that they can trade with Pyongyang, Tehran, and Beijing without minding it. Notice this example of Tashkent. The wife stuff.

These are the complaints:

HONG KONG, February 20. /TASS/. Taiwan has reported the approach of 24 Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft and eight People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships in the region adjacent to the island, Taiwan’s defense department said.

UK agency reports new attack by unidentified men on ship off Yemeni coast UKMTO has received a report of an incident 60 nautical miles north of Djibouti LONDON, February 19. /TASS/. The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency has reported a new attack on a ship off the Yemeni coast. "UKMTO has received a report of an incident 60 nautical miles north of Djibouti. Authorities are investigating. Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO," the agency said. The report about the incident, which happened at 6:20 p.m. GMT and was classified by the UKMTO as an attack. Came from the ship’s captain. No additional details have been given.

Border Crisis: Bulgaria Faces 50% Surge in Illegal Migrant Attempts Bulgaria's Border Police Directorate General has revealed a significant surge in migrant attempts to cross the country's borders during the summer of 2023 compared to the previous year. Head of the Border Police Directorate General, Chief Commissioner Anton Zlatanov, presented a comprehensive report-analysis of the Directorate's activities in 2023 during a recent event attended by diplomatic representatives, legislators, and Ministry of Interior officials. Zlatanov described 2023 as an "extremely difficult, but also extremely satisfying year" for the Border Police. He highlighted that 2022 marked a particularly challenging period, with twice as many incidents of illegal migration compared to the worst year in the past decade, which was in 2015. Notably, data from the summer months of 2023 showed a staggering 50% increase in migrants attempting to cross the border illegally compared to the previous year. Zlatanov emphasized that the Border Police had to deter an average of 1,500 attempts to cross the border per day. The report revealed that while there was a substantial decrease in detained illegal migrants within the country in 2023, the migration pressure along the Bulgarian-Turkish border continued to rise. In 2015, there were 90,315 attempted crossings, increasing to 164,536 in 2022, and further escalating to 180,512 in 2023. Highlighting the severity of the situation, Zlatanov disclosed that from January 1 to February 15, 2023, there were 8,519 attempts to illegally cross the Bulgarian-Turkish border, compared to 3,023 during the same period in the previous year. Moreover, the number of migrants detained within the country during this period increased significantly from 189 in 2024 to 640 in 2023. Among the challenges faced by the Border Police, Zlatanov pointed out the high percentage of job vacancies, with over 700 positions unfilled. However, he noted that efforts to address this issue were underway, with increased interest observed in competitions for jobs within the Border Police.

EU Investigates TikTok: Formal Proceedings Begin The European Commission has taken a significant step in its scrutiny of social media giant TikTok, initiating formal proceedings to investigate potential breaches of the Digital Services Act. This move marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing efforts to regulate online platforms, particularly concerning the protection of minors and advertising transparency. The investigation will focus on several key areas, including the safeguarding of minors, transparency in advertising practices, access to data for researchers, and the platform's efforts to mitigate the risks associated with addictive design and harmful content. These concerns have been at the forefront of discussions surrounding social media regulation, with policymakers increasingly scrutinizing the impact of digital platforms on society, especially on vulnerable demographics. The decision to launch formal proceedings follows a preliminary investigation, which included an analysis of a risk assessment report submitted by TikTok in September 2023. Additionally, the Commission has examined the platform's responses to official requests for information, indicating a thorough and comprehensive approach to assessing potential violations of EU regulations. The outcome of the investigation could have far-reaching implications for TikTok and other social media companies operating within the European Union. Depending on the findings, the Commission may impose sanctions or require the platform to implement specific measures to address any identified shortcomings in compliance with the Digital Services Act. TikTok, known for its popularity among younger users, has faced increasing scrutiny over its content moderation practices and data handling procedures. The formal proceedings initiated by the European Commission underscore the growing importance of regulatory oversight in the digital sphere, highlighting the need to ensure the protection of users, particularly minors, in online environments.

Turkish Police Detains 23 People Wanted by Interpol, Including Bulgarian Citizens A total of 23 people wanted by Interpol, including Bulgarian citizens, were detained during police operations in six districts of Turkiye. The detainees were wanted for murder, terrorist crimes, fraud, money laundering, abuse, participation in criminal organizations, drugs and smuggling, Turkish media said. The detainees were issiued a red and green Interpol notice and were citizens of 12 countries - Bulgaria, Germany, Belgium, South Korea, Iraq, Iran, Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Romania, Russia, Turkmenistan and Jordan, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said, quoted by TRT Haber. The operation, carried out under the code name Cell-43, was carried out simultaneously in six districts of the country - Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya, Bursa, Izmir and Van. It was implemented together with teams of the Turkish General Directorate of Security and the Interpol Bureau in Turkiye after a long investigation of the suspects.

These are descriptions of Russian regional trade:

DUBAI, February 20. /TASS/. Amir Saeid Iravani, ambassador and permanent representative of the Islamic Republic to the United Nations, has sent a letter to the head of the UN Security Council, refuting accusations by the US that Tehran is purportedly involved in weapon supplies to the Yemen-based Houthi rebels from the Ansar Allah movement.

TOKYO, February 20. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin presented a Russian-made car to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, KCNA reported. The make and model of the car is not disclosed. During his visit to Russia in September, the North Korean leader examined the Aurus luxury car.

ADDIS ABABA, February 20. /TASS/. Moscow is ready to support Addis Ababa in the process of integration into the BRICS system, Russian Ambassador to Ethiopia Yevgeny Terekhin told TASS.

Here are descriptions of evangelical values:

TASHKENT, February 19. /TASS/. Presidents of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has accepted Russia’s delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister, Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov to discuss maintaining of growth of the two countries’ mutual trade, the press service of the Uzbek president said in a statement.

In 2022, Uzbekistan led the CIS in terms of the highest number of marriages and the lowest number of divorces. According to the CIS Interstate Statistics Committee, Uzbekistan recorded 8.4 marriages per 1,000 people and only 1.4 divorces.
(February 20, 2024)

It's strange that this TASS report is so critical of the Royal Air Force.

This is me talking about Russian air force reports. 2-19-24

This is me talking about Russian bank transfers. 2-19-24

The FSB. In Russia also. And Ukraine. The men operate radios. They don't walk around. Maybe that isn't true.
ФСБ. В России также. И Украина. Мужчины работают на радио. Они не ходят. Возможно, это неправда.

Russian security forces thwart Ukrainian terror attack by British kamikaze drone in DPR After its controlled landing, bomb technicians defused the drone’s warhead and destroyed it on the spot, the FSB said DONETSK, February 19. /TASS/. Russian security forces intercepted a British kamikaze drone launched by the Ukrainian military to attack civilian infrastructure in the south of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), the press office of the regional branch of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) reported on Monday. "The FSB branch for the DPR jointly with units of the military commandant’s office and the Russian National Guard intercepted a British Banshee Jet 80 kamikaze drone in the republic’s Novoazovsky district," the press office said in a statement. The British drone carried 7 kg of explosives. After its controlled landing, bomb technicians defused the drone’s warhead and destroyed it on the spot, it said. After deciphering the drone’s flight assignment, the FSB found that the UAV targeted a large civilian infrastructure facility in Mariupol. The unmanned aerial vehicle was intended to fly a circle over the Novoazovsky district and strike the facility from the Taganrog Bay, the press office specified. The Banshee Jet 80 is a jet-powered drone produced by the British company QinetiQ and used by the UK Navy as an aerial target. According to the data posted on the company’s website, the drone can operate at a distance of over 100 km and accelerate to 720 km/h. In 2021, a Banshee drone was launched for the first time from the aircraft carrier Prince of Wales. The UK Navy reported that the drone could hardly be detected by a radar and thus it fit well for training a missile attack repulsion.

1) Russian complaints about the Royal Air Force. Also British reports about the Houthis.
2) Maybe the Russians want to bypass British banking laws about foreign money transfers.
3) Notice how the CCP wants global connectivity.

MOSCOW, February 19. /TASS/. Moscow is addressing the removal of problems with banking transactions together with the Turkish authorities, Russian Ambassador to Turkey Alexey Yerkhov said in an interview aired by the Rossiya-24 TV news channel. The problem with bank transfers between Russia and Turkey, which "occurred late last year as a result of tightening of anti-Russia sanctions by the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)," still exists and is "very serious," the diplomat said. "On our part we are working with the Turkish authorities to prevent those measures from doing harm to fair participants of foreign economic activities, both Russian the Turkish. The work is underway," he said.

British Navy reports attack on a ship off the coast of Yemen The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations has received a report of an incident 35 nautical miles south of Al Mukha LONDON, February 19. /TASS/. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has reported a new attack on a ship off the coast of Yemen. "UKMTO has received a report of an incident 35 nautical miles south of Al Mukha, Yemen. Authorities are investigating. Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO," the statement says. It is not reported what vessel has been attacked. With the conflict in the Gaza Strip escalating, the Ansar Allah (Houthi) movement announced that it would conduct strikes on Israeli territory and block pro-Israeli vessels from passing through the waters of the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait until Tel Aviv ceases its military operation in the Palestinian enclave. The Houthis have attacked dozens of civilian vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since mid-November of last year. In response to Ansar Allah’s actions, US officials announced the formation of an international coalition and the preparation of Operation Prosperity Guardian to ensure freedom of navigation and protection of ships in the Red Sea. Following this, US forces launched strikes against Houthi targets in a number of Yemeni cities, including Sanaa and Hodeidah. British Air Force aircraft took part in the raids several times.

Statement of 2020 contains no point on Russia’s control over communications in Armenia Point Nine contains no information about Russia’s ability to control anything on our territory, other points were "broken and thrown away by Azerbaijan and Russia as they fully failed to meet their obligations," Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said YEREVAN, February 18. /TASS/. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that the statement of November 9, 2020, contains no point about Russia’s ability to control transport communications running through Armenia. "Point Nine of the trilateral statement contains no information about Russia’s ability to control anything on our territory. Other points of this document were virtually broken and thrown away by Azerbaijan and Russia as they fully failed to meet their obligations," Pashinyan said at a meeting with representatives of the Armenian diaspora in Germany.

China Offers Security Support to Hungary Amidst Strategic Realignments China has extended its support to Hungary on public security matters, marking a significant development in their long-standing strategic partnership. The offer comes at a crucial juncture as NATO seeks to bolster its influence in Europe, adding a new dimension to Hungary's foreign relations beyond traditional trade and investment ties. Reuters reported on the commitments made during a rare meeting between Chinese officials and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. As both nations commemorate the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year, China's Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong emphasized a broader scope for collaboration. During his visit to Budapest, Wang highlighted areas of mutual interest such as counter-terrorism and tackling transnational crime. He expressed hope for these efforts to reinforce bilateral relations, echoing President Xi Jinping's vision under the Belt and Road Initiative aimed at fostering global connectivity through trade and infrastructure investments. The meeting saw the signing of agreements on law enforcement and security cooperation between Wang and Hungarian Interior Minister Sándor Pinter. However, specific details of these accords were not disclosed by Chinese state media outlet Xinhua. China's proactive security assistance to Hungary comes against the backdrop of the latter's strategic realignments over the past decade, notably reducing dependence on Western nations. Hungary's unique stance, including its refusal to ratify Sweden's NATO membership bid, underscores its evolving foreign policy dynamics. Notably, China's gesture underscores its diplomatic gains within the European Union, particularly as the bloc navigates its relationship with the world's second-largest economy amidst various challenges. Despite differences on issues like human rights and trade imbalances, Hungary's alignment with China diverges from EU consensus, drawing attention to its welcoming stance towards Chinese investments, including critical sectors like telecommunications and automotive manufacturing. Hungary's embrace of Huawei Technologies and the upcoming construction of the first European factory by Chinese automaker BYD exemplify its growing economic ties with China. These developments occur despite warnings from the European Commission regarding security risks associated with such investments.
(February 19, 2024)

This is me talking about 'Dead Souls' by Nikolai Gogol. 2-18-24

1) Is $120b euro a lot of money?
2) How networked Russia is with its neighbors. Do they rely on cheap weapons imports?

The Estonian government worked out if all NATO countries contribute an amount of GDP over four years, then the Russian army can be beaten.
A quarter of one percent of GDP. $120b euro each year for four years.
The Russian economy.
The Russian ability to build weapons.
Estonia, Finland, and Hungary speak about the same language. There are large banks in Budapest. I guess the suggestion is that Tallinn does economic strategy research in coordination with the banks in Hungary. And that they're fascists.

This is me talking about the Russian economy. 2-18-24

They're bad British people because they don't like America and they want to invest in land near Australia.

I wish Dominic would dress differently. Last time he wore a pink shirt. It's winter time. Can he wear a tie and jacket?
Maybe Tallinn works together with Budapest about the banks.
I like that he thinks euro is foreign.
Also, that he thinks Europe is a small economy.
People like Dominic are friends with the Canadians. Ricky is too. Some British people like the Canadians. Maybe they have relatives there.
There are those.
The British maybe either like Ottawa or Canberra.

Estonia has a parliament.
Many Estonians in the 1930s and 1940s were a part of the Wehrmacht.
Today do they trade with China a lot using their ports?
Are they culpable for working conditions in the far east?
Why does it offend them about these Red Army monuments?

Is the Estonian parliament directly responsible for these wage complaints?

North Koreans working in China 'exploited like slaves' Last month, reports emerged that North Koreans working in China had rioted, after finding out they would not be paid, and that their wages had instead been put towards building weapons for Pyongyang. Instances of North Koreans protesting are virtually unheard of, as the state exercises near total control over its citizens, and public dissent can result in execution. The reported riots, though unconfirmed, have sparked concern for the wellbeing of the tens of thousands of North Koreans working overseas, earning money for the cash-starved regime. The BBC has spoken to a former North Korean worker in China who claimed those working in some poorly performing companies had their wages withheld.

This is me talking about the Estonian parliament. 2-17-24

This is me talking about the Baltic Sea. 2-16-24

The Baltic States are Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. German economic stuff in those countries. Trade with China.

BRUSSELS, February 15. /TASS/. A further increase in military spending of NATO’s European members will be in the focus of the scheduled meeting of the alliance’s defense ministers in Brussels, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.

VILNIUS, February 14. /TASS/. The Estonian Foreign Ministry summoned Russian Charge d’Affaires Lenar Salimullin over the declaration of Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as wanted, the ministry said in a statement.

VILNIUS, February 14. /TASS/. The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday protested to Russia over the declaration of Lithuanian Culture Minister Simonas Kairys and other politicians as wanted, the ministry’s press service reported. Earlier, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told reporters that people wanted by Russia in connection with the removal of Soviet monuments from public spaces should responsibly assess the risks of traveling abroad.

This is me talking about Nikolai Patrushev. 2-16-24

Notice he visits New Delhi and then we hear all of this anti-American rhetoric.

New Delhi: National security adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval assured his Russian counterpart Nikolay Patrushev of India’s support for Russia in multilateral venues during a meeting at Moscow on February 22 this year, leaked classified US intelligence assessments show, according to a Washington Post report. (April 30, 2023)

Russian top security official urges extra CSTO, SCO measures at border with Afghanistan "It is obvious that this problem can be resolved comprehensively by collective efforts," Nikolay Patrushev noted BISHKEK, February 16. /TASS/. The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) need to work out extra border security measures to counter threats from Afghanistan to neighboring countries, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev said on Friday. The unstable situation in Afghanistan is related to the activity of international terrorists supported by the West, Patrushev said at a meeting of security council secretaries on the Afghan problem in Bishkek. "Considering all the mentioned threats from the Afghan direction, it is necessary to take measures in advance to counter the export of instability to our countries. It is obvious that this problem can be resolved comprehensively by collective efforts, primarily, within the CSTO and the SCO," he stressed. The Russian top security official highlighted specific steps that "require special attention." In the first place, this relates "to elaborating extra measures in the sphere of border security, exchanging information on the activity of terrorist organizations and their supporters and cooperating for the purpose of exposing and shutting down sources and channels of terrorism financing and also drug trafficking," Patrushev pointed out. "I am certain that the development of Afghanistan as a peaceful, united and independent state meets the interests of regional security. By virtue of its geographical position, that country is at the intersection of key trade routes linking European and Asian states. In this context, it is important to pay attention to developing the transit potential of Afghanistan," the Russian top security official said.

This is me talking about the USS Maine. 2-15-24

1) Another report about Damascus. Maybe the Russian navy base in Latakia could assist the Bulgarians to repatriate these Syrians.
2) The extent to which the Russians both develop military technology and export weapons. To the far east, Africa, and South America.
3) Reports about the economy in Uzbekistan.

Bulgaria Reports More Migrants Returned than Accepted Since Year's Start Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov revealed that Bulgaria has exceeded its acceptance quota under the Dublin Agreement, returning more migrants to their countries of origin than it has received since the beginning of the year. Denkov's statement, made during a Facebook Q&A session, comes in response to recent developments involving the return of refugees from Afghanistan and Syria to Bulgaria via a charter flight from Vienna. The revelation sheds light on Bulgaria's ongoing efforts to manage migrant flows, with Denkov citing regular returns of migrants to the country. Despite fluctuations in numbers from year to year, Denkov noted that the current rate of returns aligns with previous patterns, emphasizing that Bulgaria has historically repatriated a comparable number of migrants to those it accepts. Last year, Bulgaria witnessed the return of 113 individuals from Austria alone, indicating a consistent trend in repatriation efforts. Denkov's remarks underscore the nation's commitment to upholding migration policies while maintaining bilateral agreements with partner countries. The recent "controversy" involving the return of 18 refugees from Austria highlights the complexities of managing migrant populations and the collaborative nature of international efforts to address migration challenges.

TOKYO, February 15. /TASS/. South Korea is blatantly violating North Korea’s sovereignty by deploying warships to the Northern Limit Line that Seoul considers to be the de-facto maritime border between the two countries, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said.

LONDON, February 15. /TASS/. The United States has informed Congress and its European allies on new intelligence data about Russian nuclear capabilities that could pose a threat globally, Reuters quoted an unidentified source as saying. The source confirmed a relevant report by The New York Times.

NEW YORK, February 15. /TASS/. The US authorities claim that Russia may be planning to deploy nuclear weapons in space, and the purported unknown ‘national security threat’ may be linked to that, the ABC broadcaster said, citing sources.

CHISINAU, February 15. /TASS/. The head of the Interpol office in Moldova, Viorel Tentiu, said Russia had turned down the country’s request for opposition figurehead Ilan Sor. "Today I got a letter from Russian colleagues, confirming Sor’s presence in Russia. But Moscow refuses to extradite him to Moldova," Tentiu said the country’s TV-8 channel. In his words, Moscow said that Interpol should not interfere into "political, military, religious or ethnic affairs.".

HAVANA, February 14. /TASS/. The Ecuadorian Armed Forces along with the Colombian Navy detained a submarine that was trafficking drugs, the Ecuadorian agency reported on its X page.

UNITED NATIONS, February 14. /TASS/. The United Nations Security Council has never empowered any country to use force against Yemen, China’s Permanent Representative to the UN Zhang Jun said at a meeting of its Security Council.

Poland hosts inter-parliamentary negotiations with Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan Airways Express to launch direct flights from Fergana to Sochi

A new border crossing point to be opened between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan
(February 15, 2024)

This is me talking about the Russian navy. 2-14-24

1) A report about Israel's northern command.
2) Another Russian ship sank in the Black Sea. The Russian navy base in Latakia is probably at fault. They might be managing trade with the far east. Also, notice our army base in Syria is being fired at.
3) Reports about the Baltic Sea.
4) Reports about the economy in Tashkent.

Rocket Attack from Lebanon Hits Israeli Army Headquarters Rockets launched from Lebanon struck the headquarters of the Israeli army's Northern Command, resulting in casualties and injuries. The Israeli military confirmed the attack, describing it as a barrage of "multiple launches" that targeted areas in the north, including a base near the border with Lebanon in Safed. According to a statement from a hospital in Safed, eight people were injured in the attack, with one individual reported to be in critical condition. The incident has sent shockwaves through the region, highlighting the precariousness of the situation along the border between Lebanon and Israel.

Ukraine announced that it had sunk another large Russian ship in the Black Sea In the Black Sea, the Russian large landing ship "Caesar Kunikov" was attacked. This was confirmed by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reported sources of "Ukrainska Pravda" and public media "Suspilne" in the GUR military intelligence. The information initially appeared on Ukrainian and Russian channels on Telegram. The "Крымский ветер" channel published a video showing a vessel burning in the sea. Another clip shows helicopters flying low over the water. "The armed forces of Ukraine together with units of the GUR MO (military intelligence) destroyed the large amphibious ship ‘Caesar Kunikov’", the army's announcement said. It is specified that at the time of the attack it was in the territorial waters of Ukraine near Alupka.

BEIRUT, February 13. /TASS/. A military base near the al-Omar oil field in Deir ez-Zor province in eastern Syria, which is under the control of the US military, has come under attack, the Al Mayadeen TV channel said. According to its information, several missiles were fired at the base. Explosions could be heard from the area where the base is located. No details or information about the aftermath of the attack were given.

VILNIUS, February 14. /TASS/. Latvia’s Foreign Ministry has summoned Russian Charge d'Affaires Oleg Zykov over Moscow’s move to declare a number of Latvian ministers wanted, according to a statement. On Tuesday, the Russian Interior Ministry declared Latvian Justice Minister Inese Libina-Engere, Finance Minister Arvils Aseradens and Agriculture Minister Armands Krauze wanted on criminal charges. In addition, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Estonian Secretary of State Taimar Peterkop and Lithuanian Culture Minister Simonas Kairys were also declared wanted. A law enforcement official told TASS that they were wanted in a criminal case concerning the destruction of and damage to monuments to Soviet soldiers.

SEOUL, February 14. /TASS/. North Korea launched several cruise missiles from its eastern coast, Yonhap reported citing South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.

MOSCOW, February 14. /TASS/. Russia is working for the expansion of its diplomatic presence in Africa, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the State Duma.

MOSCOW, February 14. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a new law that calls for the confiscation of property as punishment for disseminating fake news about Russia’s armed forces as well as committing crimes detrimental to national security.

Foreign tech giants lead tax contributions in Uzbekistan In 2023, Uzbekistan saw an increase in tax contributions from foreign tech companies, with a total of nearly 70 billion UZS paid. According to "Uzbekistan24", the top earners were Meta, Google, and Apple, together making up 60 billion soums of the total amount.

Products to become cheaper in Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a government meeting on the development of agriculture
(February 14, 2024)

Can the New Yorkers consider the realities of law enforcement in other parts of the country?
If they're only guilty of international intrigue, that really isn't a law.
It's tougher than that out west.

This is me talking about the DOJ. 2-13-24

"Federalism is a system of government that divides power between a central government and regional governments. The central government is responsible for broader governance, while the regional governments govern local issues."

The parable of John Marzulli.
Kind of about the United States.
Hollywood is the film industry.
Wall Street is the banking sector.
There are film industries and banks in other parts of the country.
Chicago and the Midwest are agricultural hubs.
That's how the land is organized.
The story of John Marzulli is about federalism.
I'm alright if Washington is the government.
Also, if Washington calls New York.
It's the government calling the banks.

This is me talking about Vadim Kulit. 2-13-24

1) Two reports that are questionable. First, a Russian army chief talking about the history of Syrian airspace. Second, a US Attorney talking about international intrigue. Remember a few years ago the bureau used an undercover and they caught a Maryland couple. They were also guilty of international intrigue. Due process and the defense efforts.
2) A report about the Polish tech sector.

Matt 4:24 And his fame went throughout all Syria, and they presented to him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and such as were possessed by devils, and lunatics, and those that had the palsy, and he cured them Luke 2:2 This enrolling was first made by Cyrinus, the governor of Syria. Acts 15:23 Writing by their hands: The apostles and ancients, brethren, to the brethren of the Gentiles that are at Antioch and in Syria and Cilicia, greeting.

Three Syrian soldiers wounded in terrorists’ drone attack in Latakia Vadim Kulit also said that during the past day, six shelling attacks on the positions of government forces from the positions of the Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group were reported in the Idlib de-escalation zone MOSCOW, February 12. /TASS/. Three Syrian soldiers were wounded in drone attack staged by terrorists on the positions of government forces in the Latakia government, Vadim Kulit, deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria (a division of the Russian defense ministry), said on Monday. "In the Latakia governorate, an unmanned aerial vehicle launched by terrorists from the area near the settlement of Shambar Fawkani dropped two grenades on the positions of Syrian government forces near the settlement of Akch Baer, wounding three Syrian soldiers," he said. He also said that during the past day, six shelling attacks on the positions of government forces from the positions of the Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group (outlawed in Russia) were reported in the Idlib de-escalation zone. Apart from that, in his words, aircraft of the so-called international anti-terrorist coalition led by the United States continues to create dangerous situation that may cause air accident or incidents and escalate the situation in Syria’s airspace. "A pair of the coalition’s F-16 fighter jets violated Syria’s airspace in the al-Tanf area, across which international air routes run, two times during the day.".

Russian national pleads guilty in US court to military export control violations Kristina Puzyreva faces up to twenty years in prison NEW YORK, February 12. /TASS/. Russian-Canadian national Kristina Puzyreva pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy in a scheme to send components used in unnamed aerial vehicles, guided missile systems and other weapons to sanctioned entities in Russia, the US Department of Justice said. According to the agency, "the components shipped in violation of export control and sanctions laws were later found in Russian weapons platforms and signals intelligence equipment in Ukraine." Puzyreva faces up to twenty years in prison. In late October, charges in the case were also brought against Russian-Canadian national Nikolay Goltsev and Russian-Tajik national Salimdzhon Nasriddinov.

Brooklyn Resident and Two Russian-Canadian Nationals Charged with Massive Sanctions Evasion and Export Control Scheme Millions of Dollars in Semiconductors, Integrated Circuits and other Dual-Use Electronic Components Unlawfully Exported to Russia through Brooklyn Front Companies A criminal complaint was unsealed yesterday in Brooklyn charging Nikolay Goltsev, Salimdzhon Nasriddinov and Kristina Puzyreva, with conspiracy and other charges related to a global procurement scheme on behalf of sanctioned Russian entities, including companies affiliated with the Russian military. Some of the electronic components and integrated circuits shipped by the defendants have been found in seized Russian weapons platforms and signals intelligence equipment in Ukraine. Nasriddinov, a Brooklyn resident and dual citizen of Russia and Tajikistan, was arrested this morning in Brooklyn. Goltsev and Puzyreva were arrested at a hotel in Manhattan this morning during a trip to New York to visit Nasriddinov. Tuesday, October 31, 2023 John Marzulli U.S. Attorney's Office

IT Recruitment in Poland - Successful Recruitment Solutions There is a worldwide shortage of quality professionals. Every industry struggles with best talents shortage. The problem also applies to the IT industry, which is growing rapidly and has a huge impact on the development of other industries. The time to find high-class specialists and tech talents has increased a lot recently, and as you know, time costs money. That's why many companies decide not to search on their own, but entrust finding IT talent to recruiters in different countries and parts of the globe. IT Recruitment Poland is also offered by Sowelo, a recruitment agency in Krakow. Sounds like an ideal solution for your company if you are urgently in need of an IT specialist! Time for a few words about headhunters from Sowelo. The recruitment agency is based in Poland, in Cracow. It has been providing recruitment services since 2007. Sowelo's team is made up of experienced talent hunters with many successful recruitment projects in Poland and abroad. The agency's offerings include IT Recruitment Poland, Executive Search, Employer Branding, Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO), IT Contracting, Recruitment Process Assessment and Talent Market Mapping. What is more, Sowelo specializes in recruitment in various areas, just to name a few like Robotic Process Automation, Software, Internet, Storage, Infrastructure, Networks, Security, Mobile and Consulting Services. If you are looking for talents with the right qualifications, feel free to contact Sowelo. The agency guarantees to deliver to your company the best candidates with the right professional qualifications.
(February 13, 2024)

This is me talking about the Russian government. 2-12-24

1) A report about how a Saudi doesn't want to go back to Saudi Arabia. What about the Washington Capitals? Do they not want to go back to Prague and Bratislava?
2) The Kremlin complaining about the west. Also, Syrian airspace.
3) Reports complaining about the Kremlin. For example, did the Russians build this new North Korean missile? Central African Republic reports, etc.

Bulgaria Faces Backlash for Deportation Order Against Saudi Dissident Reports emerge from Sofia indicating that Bulgaria intends to deport a Saudi dissident who sought asylum but was rejected, sparking concerns for his safety upon return to the Gulf kingdom. The news, reported by AFP, sheds light on the plight of Abdulrahman Al-Khalidi, who fears persecution in Saudi Arabia if deported. Al-Khalidi, speaking from his cell in Sofia, revealed that he received the deportation order on February 7, even before his asylum case reached a conclusion. This move has raised alarms among human rights advocates, with Mary Lawlor, the UN's special rapporteur on human rights defenders, deeming his imminent deportation "extremely disturbing" and underscoring Saudi Arabia's reputation as a "dangerous place." The journey of Abdulrahman Al-Khalidi dates back to 2011 when he participated in demonstrations in eastern Saudi Arabia, predominantly inhabited by the Shiite minority. Fleeing to Turkey in 2013, he eventually found himself in Bulgaria in 2021, seeking refuge within the European Union after his passport expired. Despite his asylum plea, Bulgarian authorities in 2022 ruled that Al-Khalidi failed to sufficiently prove the risk of prosecution in his homeland. Now, amidst ongoing legal proceedings to appeal this decision, he faces the looming threat of deportation, exacerbating concerns for his safety. This move is not an isolated incident but rather part of a broader trend of tightening measures against dissent in Saudi Arabia since the ascension of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2017. Al-Khalidi's fears are further compounded by the recent extradition of another Saudi dissident from Morocco, where he had sought temporary asylum. Expressing his apprehensions, Al-Khalidi emphasized the dire consequences awaiting him in Saudi Arabia, including imprisonment, unfair trials, torture, or even execution. "I resorted to the EU, where people have value, and I'm at a dead end, like I'm in Saudi Arabia," lamented the 30-year-old father of two. Despite inquiries, the Bulgarian State Agency for National Security (SANS) remained silent on the matter, leaving Al-Khalidi's fate hanging in the balance. Meanwhile, human rights organizations are racing against time to appeal the deportation order before the Monday deadline, prepared to escalate the case to the European Court of Human Rights if necessary. As the situation unfolds, concerns mount over Bulgaria's compliance with international human rights obligations and the safety of Abdulrahman Al-Khalidi in the face of potential deportation to Saudi Arabia.

President Says Solving Martin Bozhanov's Case Will Determine Bulgaria's Development as Democratic, Rule of Law State President Rumen Radev told journalists on Sunday in Bansko that solving the case of Martin "the Notary" Bozhanov will determine Bulgaria's development as a democratic and rule-of-law state. All the talk about constitutional reform and the rule of law clashes with the reality in which Bozhanov could have been a broker between the mafia and the judiciary only with political protection, the head of State said. Radev stressed that he will insist on the investigation of Bozhanov's case, as many similar cases from the past had been left unresolved and forgotten. Asked whether the case proves the existence of a parallel judiciary, the President said that there were two options - "either the network in which the mafia had entangled us be broken or this network could strangle the state." In his words, a "determined operation is needed to detoxify institutions entangled in criminal addictions." He said this was a real test not only for the judiciary but also for the government and the National Assembly. They now have a big chance to put Bulgaria on a new path, but if they fail to do so it means that they either cannot or do not want to deal with the mafia, Radev added. He said that he would use all the tools at the disposal of the presidential institution to insist that the case be investigated to the end.

TOKYO, February 12. /TASS/. The DPRK National Defense Academy has developed a new 240 mm guided projectile for multiple rocket launchers, the Korean Central News Agency has said.

WASHINGTON, February 12. /TASS/. White House Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council John Kirby will be promoted to a new position of Assistant to the President of the United States, Associated Press reported citing sources in the administration.

WASHINGTON, February 12. /TASS/. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was hospitalized with suspected bladder problems, according to a statement released by Pentagon Press Secretary Patrick Ryder.

YEREVAN, February 11. /TASS/. Armenia is not turning its back on Russia and is not rejecting security cooperation with it, it is simply diversifying relations with partners, Armenian Prime Minster Nikol Pashinyan said.

MOSCOW, February 11. /TASS/. The US-led coalition’s aircraft violated Syria’s airspace in the al-Tanf area three times during the past day, Vadim Kulit, deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria (a division of the Russian defense ministry), said on Sunday. "Aircraft of the so-called international anti-terrorist coalition led by the United States continues to create dangerous situation that may cause air accident or incidents and escalate the situation in Syria’s airspace," he said. "Two pairs of the coalition’s A-10 Thunderbolt attack bombers and an MQ-1 multi-role unmanned aerial vehicle violated Syria’s airspace in the al-Tanf area, across which international air routes run, three times during the day." Apart from that, according to Kulit, one violation of the deconfliction protocols of December 9, 2019 linked with the flights by the US-led coalition unmanned aerial vehicles was reported in Syria in the past 24 hours. He also said that units of the Russian military police conducted patrols in the Aleppo and Raqqa governorates. Six shelling attacks on the positions of Syrian government forces by terrorist groups were reported in the Idlib de-escalation zone during the day. Three Syrian soldiers were wounded.

MOSCOW, February 12. /TASS/. Russia intends to expand the list of countries whose citizens will be able to obtain Russian electronic visas, Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry Consular Department Alexey Klimov said in an interview with TASS.

MOSCOW, February 11. /TASS/. President of the Central African Republic (CAR) Faustin-Archange Touadera has left for Moscow to take part in the Forum of Supporters for the Fight against Modern Neo-Colonialist Practices, the Russian embassy in Bangui said.

MOSCOW, February 11. /TASS/. Russia finds it important to attain the goals of its special military operation, preferably through a peaceful resolution, but as long as that is being rejected, the special military operation is ongoing, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with the Moscow. Kremlin. Putin TV show on Rossiya-1 television.
(February 12, 2024)

I wouldn't have said it like that. Neither would Dominic. I guess last year's counteroffensive was a failure for Kiev. It seems like this France24 report isn't well written.

This is me talking about Oleksandr Syrsky. 2-11-24

Five challenges facing Ukraine's new army chief Oleksandr Syrsky Ukraine's new army head Oleksandr Syrsky, who was appointed in Kyiv's largest military shake-up since Russia invaded, is taking the helm at a precarious moment in the war. After nearly two years of fighting, these are the five most pressing challenges the 58-year-old commander, who was born in Russia, is facing.
1) Foreign aid
Ukraine's allies, particularly Washington and Brussels, are struggling to keep up aid packages that have so far allowed Kyiv to hold out against Russia. The EU this month unblocked 50 billion euros in aid, but US senators have only managed to clear a first hurdle to a potential future package after months of political deadlock. The uncertainty over Ukraine's resources come as Russia turns it economy to a war footing, ramping up production and recruitment.
2) Mobilisation
Ukraine's military and political leadership are at odds over how to replenish the army's ranks, following two years of costly fighting that Washington believes has killed around 70,000 Ukrainian soldiers. Syrsky's predecessor had urged President Volodymyr Zelensky to add 500,000 servicemen to the army, but the Ukrainian leader rejected the unpopular appeal and advocated a more efficient rotations systems. Mobilisation legislation is working its way through parliament while exhausted and depleted Ukrainian units appealing for rotations off the front are meanwhile struggling to hold back waves of Russian forces.
3) Defence lines
Ukraine's failed counteroffensive last summer crashed into nearly impenetrable Russian defensive lines, which Kyiv now wants to replicate across the front to frustrate slow by steady Russian advances. Entrenching is a difficult task given the front line stretches some 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) and Ukrainian forces are facing oncoming assaults in eastern hotspots like Avdiivka and Kupiansk.
4) Ukraine's airspace
Zelensky has made it a priority for Ukraine this year to gain control of its airspace as it faces down waves of Russian drone and missile attacks. Yet even after the West bolstered Ukraine's air defence systems, securing ammunition for those weapons remains an issue. Syrsky also faces the dilemma of whether to utilise the systems for defence or in an offensive ways to target Moscow's airforce on Russian territory or over the Black Sea. Ukraine, which is also expecting to take deliveries of F-16 fighter jets this year, says controlling the airspace over the country is key to making advances on the front.
5) Shoes to fill
The outgoing army chief, Valery Zaluzhny, was one of the most respected and trusted public figures in Ukraine with recent polling showing he had won the trust more than 90 percent of Ukrainians.
(February 11, 2024)

This is me talking about American language schools. 2-10-24

This is me talking about the Super Bowl. 2-10-24

This is me talking about Pakistan. 2-10-24

1) How networked the Pakistani ISI is with the Kremlin, Ankara, etc.
2) Reports about Turkish space technology. I guess the Pakistani ISI has access to advanced technology.
3) Elections and security stuff. You wonder about the Kremlin and these reports about elections in Senegal and Islamabad.

Ax-3 crew with 1st Turkish astronaut returns to Earth

Turkish drone magnate Baykar begins to build plant in Ukraine

Libya hasn't fallen off Türkiye's agenda

At least five people were killed and dozens more injured Friday after the destruction of a mosque and a religious school triggered clashes in northern India's Uttarakhand. Authorities in the northern state of Uttarakhand had bulldozed the mosque and Islamic school Thursday, claiming they had been built without permission. The demolition was the latest in targeting Islamic structures.

The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is Pakistan's main intelligence agency. It is responsible for collecting, processing, and analyzing information from around the world that is relevant to Pakistan's national security. The ISI is also involved in conducting covert operations and supporting the country's national security efforts.

Four suspects detained for allegedly spying for Mossad in Türkiye have confessed to their connections with the Israeli intelligence agency, according to documents from the Turkish prosecution. In raids in Istanbul and the west coast city of Izmir earlier this month, Türkiye’s counterterrorism police and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) captured seven people allegedly collecting biographical information, doing reconnaissance, photo and video documentation, live tracking and installing tracking devices through private detectives in Türkiye.

The ‘generals’ elections’ that turned against Pakistan’s military Pakistan’s 2024 general elections were dubbed the “most rigged” in the country’s history, with the popular Imran Khan barred from running and the military seen as backing former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. That was before results showed Khan-backed independent candidates leading the race. The stage appears to be set for a turbulent period after an irate electorate reacted to the military’s perceived meddling in politics – again. Voters in the 2024 Pakistani general elections manoeuvred sheaves of ballot papers offering a profusion of symbols including tables, chairs, apples, airplanes, calculators and kitchen appliances. But there was no cricket bat on the ballot. With former cricket star and prime minister Imran Khan behind bars, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party was banned from using its signature icon in a country where symbols are important tools for the electorate because of high illiteracy rates. This forced PTI-backed candidates to run as independents, each using different symbols that stretched ballot papers and the national imagination. The country’s real power-wielder, however, was not on the ballot paper, and Pakistanis were never given a symbol or say on the issue. With the imprisoned Khan facing nearly 200 legal charges ranging from corruption to leaking state secrets, experts predict the popular former cricketer-politician is likely to remain behind bars for several years. A businessman and former chief minister of Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous and prosperous province, Sharif has a record of pursuing economic growth and development. During his previous stints as prime minister, the billionaire politician sought closer trade ties with India, Pakistan’s giant neighbour and arch-foe. Sharif’s return to Pakistan was widely viewed as a sign that the military was seeking a safe pair of hands to handle the country’s crippling economic crisis.

Pakistan coalition talks loom after strong results for allies of jailed ex-PM Khan Pakistan faces days of political horse-trading after the final few election results released early Saturday showed no clear majority, but a strong performance by independent candidates loyal to jailed former prime minister Imran Khan. Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) defied a months-long crackdown that crippled campaigning and forced their candidates to run as independents with a combined showing in Thursday's election that still challenged their chief rivals. But after long delays in results that prompted further allegations that the military establishment had engaged in vote-rigging, the army-backed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) declared victory as the party with the largest number of seats. However, to form a government, the party founded by three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif will be forced to cut deals with rivals and independents. "Everyone knows how many seats Khan's independent candidates have won," he said. "They don't have a symbol, or a captain, or a flag, or banners, but still we have won on the field." Election day was also marred by violence, mostly in the border regions neighbouring Afghanistan, with 61 attacks nationwide, the interior ministry said Friday. At least 16 people were killed -- including 10 security force members -- and 54 wounded.

Senegal protesters clash with security forces over presidential election delay Senegalese security forces on Friday used tear gas to disperse people attempting to gather in the capital after being urged to mobilise against a last-minute delay of presidential elections.
(February 10, 2024)

This is me talking about President Vucic and monetary policy. 2-9-24

"In the city, in Kosovo or Pristina. Belgrade. There is a monetary policy and a language. There are discussions about this in the parliament. They are using the euro right now in Kosovo which seems really foreign. I guess the Kosovars can't print their own currency."
Translation by Donna Welles.

Vučić said that the continuation of the dialogue is possible, if the Community of Serbian Municipalities is formed, for which our people have been waiting for 11 years.

The lek is the currency of Albania. Historically, it was subdivided into 100 qintars.

1) In Kosovo they could use dinar, lek, or euro. It seems like they can't print their own money. Maybe it's an argument that Kosovo should be a part of Serbia.
2) Reports about construction criminals in Tashkent.
3) Russia and China ties.
4) The Russian navy base in Syria and these reports coming from CENTCOM.

Tashkent takes measures against illegal buildings In Tashkent, a significant operation to dismantle illegal buildings and constructions has commenced. The city authorities are urging residents who own household or commercial structures to review their documents to ensure compliance with urban planning regulations.

Kosovo Says Serbian Dinar 'Not Banned' But Only Euros Legal

While the court acknowledged that there was a high degree of reasonable suspicion that Karakolev had collaborated with Russian state and intelligence services, there is currently no evidence suggesting that he received payment for providing information. However, the court deemed house arrest with electronic monitoring necessary to prevent Karakolev from committing further crimes. The investigation into the espionage allegations has prompted scrutiny from various control bodies, including the Ministry of the Interior and the SANS. Following Karakolev's arrest, the head of Internal Security at the Ministry of the Interior was removed from their position, although the ministry denies any connection to the espionage investigation. The court's decision to place Karakolev under house arrest can be appealed, as the investigation continues to unfold.

Regarding negotiations with Egypt, Georgieva stated that the IMF and Egypt are in the final stages of discussions for an additional loan program aimed at alleviating pressure resulting from the conflict in Gaza. Egypt currently has an active agreement with the IMF amounting to billion.

The Italian contingent of NATO’s Multinational Battlegroup in Bulgaria was rotated in a solemn ceremony at the Novo Selo training area, the press centre of the Defence Ministry reported on Thursday. The previous commander of the battlegroup, Colonel Michelangelo Genchi, handed over command to Colonel Mariano Scandurra.

NEW YORK, February 9. /TASS/. The US forces struck unmanned surface vessels and anti-ship cruise missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, the US Defense Department’s Central Command (CENTCOM) reported on Thursday. "On February 8, between the hours of 5 a.m. - 9 p.m. [Sanaa time] (2 a.m. - 6 a.m. GMT - TASS), US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted seven self-defense strikes against four Houthi unmanned surface vessels (USV) and seven mobile anti-ship cruise missiles that were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea," CENTCOM said in a statement posted on X.

MOSCOW, February 9. /TASS/. Ukrainian border guards have detained an exceptionally large group of draft dodgers trying to flee to Hungary, the Ukrainian State Border Service said. "Border guards stopped two minivans not far from the border. The minivans were carrying 38 men, a record number of border violators," the service said on Facebook (prohibited in Russia due to its ownership by Meta, which has been designated as extremist). "There were men from 11 regions of Ukraine. The organizers of the illegal trip expected to get $4,500 to $8,500 from their clients," the border guards added.

One Syrian serviceman killed, two wounded by militants in Latakia Seven attacks on Syrian pro-government forces were registered in the Idlib de-escalation zone in the past 24 hours MOSCOW, February 8. /TASS/. One Syrian serviceman was killed and two injured in seven attacks on positions of Syria’s pro-government forces in the Idlib de-escalation zone, the deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria (a division of the Russian Defense Ministry) said on Thursday. "In the province of Latakia, one Syrian serviceman was killed by a terrorist sniper, firing from the Klaba district at positions of pro-government forces near the settlement of Beit-Lukman. Two servicemen of the Syrian armed forces were injured as a result of mortar fire from Tuffahia area, targeting positions of pro-government forces near the settlement of Kermel," Rear Adm. Vadim Kulit said. Overall, seven attacks on Syrian pro-government forces were registered in the Idlib de-escalation zone in the past 24 hours. They were carried out by members of Jabhat al-Nusra and the Islamic Party of Turkestan (terrorist groups, both outlawed in Russia). Three occurred in the Latakia Governorate and four - in the Idlib Governorate. Also, the Russian reconciliation center registered two violations of the December 9, 2019 deconfliction protocols. The incidents were related to flights that were not coordinated with the Russian side. The violations were committed by a pair of A-10 Thunderbolt attack aircraft of the US-led international coalition.

BEIJING, February 8. /TASS/. Beijing is ready to work jointly with Moscow toward boosting international multilateral cooperation, Chinese leader Xi Jinping said in a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "China actively supports Russia’s work as the BRICS chair in 2024 and is ready to deepen international multilateral cooperation with Russia," CCTV quoted Xi as saying.

BEIJING, February 8. /TASS/. China and Russia should maintain stability of production and sales chains by joint efforts, President of China Xi Jinping said in a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

BEIJING, February 9. /TASS/. Last year’s global turbulence has not affected the development of Russian-Chinese relations, Russian Ambassador to Beijing Igor Morgulov said in a video message on the eve of Chinese New Year.

BEIJING, February 9. /TASS/. The intense communication between the leaders of Russia and China reflects the highest level of relations and strategic partnership between the two countries, Russian Ambassador to Beijing Igor Morgulov said.

MOSCOW, February 9. /TASS/. Some of the lands Ukraine received after the creation of the Soviet Union had no historical connection with it whatsoever, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with Tucker Carlson published on the US journalist’s website. "In 1922, when the USSR was being established, the Bolsheviks started building the USSR and established the Soviet Ukraine, which had never existed before," the head of state noted. According to him, Vladimir Lenin, the founder of the Soviet state, "for some unknown reasons, transferred to that newly established Soviet Republic of Ukraine some of the lands, together with people living there, even though those lands had never been called Ukraine." "Those lands included the Black Sea region, which was received under Catherine the Great and which had no historical connection with Ukraine whatsoever," Putin emphasized.

MOSCOW, February 9. /TASS/. The decision to use the dollar as a tool of political struggle was one of the biggest strategic mistakes the US has even made, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with Tucker Carlson published on the US journalist’s website.

MOSCOW, February 9. /TASS/. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu handed down instructions to ensure unhindered supplies to troops in the special military operation zone during a visit to the headquarters of the Joint Group of Forces, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
(February 9, 2024)

At 21:00 sharp at the request of Serbia, Vučić speaks at the Security Council session An extraordinary session of United Nations Security Council on the situation in Kosovo and Metohija, at the request of Serbia, will be held today at 9 p.m. CET. Serbia will be represented at the session by President Aleksandar Vučić. On Monday, Serbia submitted a request to the mission of Guyana, which presides over the UN Security Council, to convene an extraordinary session due to the situation in Kosovo and Metohija, in which, among other things, it is pointed out that the current situation is in sharp contrast to the UN Charter and UNSC Resolution 1244 and which is of such a nature that it requires the holding of a special session of the Security Council. In the request, which Tanjug had access to, it is stated that it is in accordance with Article 35 of the Charter of the United Nations and Article 3 of the Provisional Rules of Procedure of the Security Council (S/96/Rev.7). The document also states that this territory, in accordance with the UN Charter, other rules of international law and UN Security Council Resolution (1244), is part of the Republic of Serbia, on which the international administration of the United Nations was established, the culmination is underway within a long-term and well-planned and systematic actions of the so-called leadership of the Kosovo Albanians, by which the Serbs are deliberately subjected to unbearable living conditions. "It is about the illegal decision of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Pristina to cancel the circulation of the Serbian currency Dinar in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija, which represents the continuation of measures of brutal physical and institutional violence against Serbs by the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Pristina, with an essential goal of complete ethnic cleansing and the disappearance of the Serbian population from that area - which is currently ongoing", the document states. It is emphasized that the destructiveness of the aforementioned long-term measures of repression, the leadership of the so-called Kosovo Albanians, within which the illegal abolition of the Serbian currency Dinar represents the most comprehensive procedure in deliberately subjecting Serbs to unbearable living conditions, is impressively illustrated by the fact that more than 14 percent of Serbs have already left the territory of Kosovo and Metohija in the past year alone. "Given that this process drastically intensified after the announcement of the mentioned illegal measure of abolishing the Serbian Dinar, the Republic of Serbia initiates the holding of an extraordinary session of the UN Security Council in order to urgently take measures that would prevent the occurrence of irreparable harm to the survival of the Serbian people in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija," the request states. It is clarified that leadership of the Kosovo Albanians, with the mentioned measure of abolishing the circulation of the Serbian Dinar, completely deprived Serbs and other members of non-Albanian communities of their regular monthly salaries, pensions, social assistance and other personal incomes, as well as that in the implementation of that measure, it had already carried out violent raids and shut down Serbian institutions, municipalities and dispensaries in the area of Gora, Pec, Istok, Klina and Pristina, as well as the illegal confiscation of money that was intended for the payment of social assistance and pensions to Serbs in those, mostly returnee, areas of the mentioned municipalities. It also immediately and essentially prevented the work of 922 private economic entities owned by Serbs, as well as any functioning of all social, health, educational, cultural and all other institutions that provide Serbs with public services in that area. "This latest measure, the implementation of which is ongoing, came as a natural continuation of the unpunished, multi-year, violent and deliberate subjection of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija to unbearable living conditions by the so-called leadership of the Kosovo Albanians headed by Albin Kurti. Since February 2021, in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija, they have been continuously carried out physical and institutional violence against Serbs, incited threats and actions aimed at creating a strong sense of insecurity and existential threat to the Serbian population, especially in the north of Kosovo and Metohija, provoked a violent response to their acts and abused all levers of public institutions in order to encourage and realize the emigration of the Serbian population from that area", the request reads. As stated, only in the period from November 2022, armed formations of Kosovo Albanians (whose very existence is contrary to Resolution 1244 (1999) used disproportionate and illegal force against the Serbian population 98 times (of which 83 times in the area of northern Kosovo). It is added that using the mechanisms of temporary institutions that were formed contrary to Resolution 1244 (1999) of the UN Security Council, heavily armed formations of Kosovo Albanians have carried out 38 incursions into the north of Kosovo and Metohija since November 2022 alone, where recently they have been continuously carrying out armed presence, as well as using that presence to carry out arbitrary arrests of prominent Serbian individuals and all other known forms of physical and institutional violence against the Serbian population. "Among other things, they carry out acts of mass intimidation of the Serbian population through: 1) preventing the freedom of movement of Serbs through unreasonable stops, humiliating treatment, beatings and even injuring civilians at illegally established armed checkpoints and all other points in the entire north of Kosovo, 2) unreasonable opening fires and the almost constant presence of armored fighting vehicles in normally peaceful urban Serbian environments 3) illegal expropriation of land privately owned by Serbs, which they then use to build illegal Albanian police bases 4) making decisions on the confiscation of buildings owned by Serbian institutions, which are the owners of those buildings 5) violent seizure of the property of the Serbian Orthodox Church and violation of the special protection zone around the objects of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and centuries-old Serbian Orthodox churches are appropriated and renamed Albanian, 6) plowing and destruction of Serbian cemeteries, 7) introduction of an eight-month illegal embargo on Serbian goods and confiscation of legal goods owned by Serbian traders," the request states.

This is me talking about Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko. 2-8-24

1) These Russian and Serbian guys have all of these wedge issues. Kosovo and Ukraine. Maybe China is the front burner right now.
Holistically, some of these Russian diplomats speak French and Chinese. And then they want to talk about Kosovo and Kiev constantly. They don't want China to be our front burner.
1) Reports about cooperation in the energy and military sectors.
2) The Uzbek economy.

On September 19, 2019, the President signed Executive Order No. 460 appointing Andrey Rudenko as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Andrey Rudenko was born in Moscow in 1962. 1985: Graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (now MGIMO University). Foreign languages: English and Chinese.

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, FEB 7 - Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic announced today that President Aleksandar Vucic will represent Serbia at the UN Security Council session on the Kosovo situation, which is scheduled for tomorrow in New York.

MOSCOW, February 8. /TASS/. The United States, which is already militarily present in the Asia Pacific region, is now seeking to "drag" its NATO partners to that region, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko told TASS.

VIENNA, February 7. /TASS/. Sweden's decision to stop its investigation into the Nord Stream explosions implicitly testifies to Russia's non-involvement in organizing the sabotage, Secretary General of the opposition Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) Christian Hafenecker has said.

Bulgarian government delegation meets with US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm

MOSCOW, February 7. /TASS/. The explosion near Izhevsk, seen on video footage that spread on social media and Telegram channels, was caused by a planned rocket engine test, the Zavyalovsky District united dispatch service told TASS.

Uzbek Soum Currency Update: Dollar Down, Euro Up, Ruble Steady

Uzbekistan-Belarus Forum Boosts Trade and Investment Ties

Uzbekistan Hosts Talks on Trans-Afghan Railway Construction

Head of National System 112 Directorate: Terrorist Attack Alerts Submitted on 112 Emergency Number Up 206.5% in 2023

Authorities Seize Documents, Computers During Search at Private Club Linked to Martin Bozhanov The prosecution service conducted searches at the private club "SS" in Sofia associated with Martin "the Notary" Bozhanov. Various documents and computers were seized for analysis, Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov told reporters on Wednesday evening. The searched were authorized by the Sofia City Court, he specified. "While I was director of the General Directorate for Combating Organised Crime, work was carried out in relation to these people. Everything we have collected as data has been handed over to the prosecutor's office," Stoyanov added. The club became known after Bozhanov's murder in Sofia on January 31. The prosecuting magistracy Wednesday said that since 2023 it has been working on pre-trial proceedings for an organised crime group of which Bozhanov was a part, set up to pressure magistrates, for property fraud and money laundering. Work on the case began after the prosecution service in late 2022 received a file from the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, opened following a signal mentioning the existence of such a club. Bozhanov was shot dead in a gated complex in a Sofia suburb on the evening of January 31. According to media reports, he was a large-scale fixer of people's problems with the judiciary. He has been implicated in building a network of connections with prosecutors and judges whom he allegedly bribed, threatened, blackmailed or otherwise pressured to treat his "clients" favourably. On Tuesday, acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov ordered ex officio checks of the 25 case files and pre-trial proceedings in which Bozhanov has been an accused, complainant, witness or a party in another capacity since 2004. On Wednesday, Parliament set up an ad hoc committee of inquiry into the facts and circumstances surrounding the activity of the group around Bozhanov.

Police Enter Private Club Linked to Murdered Martin Bozhanov The prosecution service entered the private club "SS" in the capital's "Geo Milev" district, associated with Martin Bozhanov, a BTA reporter saw on Wednesday. Police were on the scene. The club became known after Bozhanov’s murder. The prosecutor's office said on Tuesday that since 2023 it has been working on pre-trial proceedings for an organized criminal group, with which Bozhanov was involved, set up to pressure magistrates, for property fraud and money laundering. Work on the case began after the prosecutor's office in late 2022 received a file from the state directorate for combating organized crime, initiated by an alert which mentioned the existence of such a club. Earlier in the day Parliament decided that an ad-hoc committee will be assembled to verify all the facts and circumstances related to the activities of the group around Martin Bozhanov.
(February 8, 2024)

This is me talking about Grant Shapps. 2-6-24

Fosters?
No, not Fosters. We think the Russians have secret army bases in Yemen that assist the PLAN.

British admirals and Scottish English. This is me Americanizing what he said. Can he say Yemen instead of Houthi? Kind of Houthi isn't an English word. Just because they say these words doesn't mean we need to repeat them. We don't have to call them what they call themselves.

"These attacks have had a significant effect on degrading Houthi capabilities. But the Houthis' intent to continue disrupting the Red Sea has not been fully diminished," Shapps said.

"The aerial bombardments from our ships right now are aimed at secret army bases in Yemen. We're wanting to defend American and British sea lanes near the Gulf of Aden," Welles said.

1) Ilya Ponomarev seemed to have worked for a paramilitary association.
2) The Kremlin talking on the phone to Abu Dhabi.
3) Lots of reports about rhetoric coming from Moscow and Belgrade. The theory is that both Russia and Serbia have secret army bases in the Middle East.

MOSCOW, February 4. /TASS/. Former member of Russia’s State Duma, or lower house of parliament, Ilya Ponomarev (recognizes as a foreign agent) has been charged with high treason, the Federal Security Service (FSB) said. Ilya Ponomarev is taking part in the activities of the Freedom of Russia Legion, also known as Free Russia Legion, paramilitary association, which has been recognized as a terrorist organization by Russia’s Supreme Court, the Federal Security Service said.

MOSCOW, February 5. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed Ukraine’s attack on a Russian Il-76 plane in a phone call.

Kurdish Fighters Killed In An Attack On The Largest US Base In Syria The attack on the largest US military base in Syria has resulted in the deaths of at least six Kurdish fighters. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a key ally of the United States in the fight against jihadism, issued a statement attributing the attack to "mercenaries of the regime" of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. However, an investigation later pointed to Iranian-backed militias as the perpetrators of the drone strike on the SDF commando academy located in the Al-Omar oil field in the eastern province of Deir ez-Zor. While there were no reported casualties among US military personnel, the incident comes on the heels of heightened tensions in the region. Last week, three US servicemen were killed in an attack by a pro-Iranian militia in Jordan, prompting retaliatory strikes by the US on targets in Iraq and Syria. The US maintains approximately 800 troops in Syria to combat the Islamic State (IS). The Pentagon confirmed an attack on a site in Syria on Saturday, but reported no damage. Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported higher casualty figures, with seven commandos killed and 18 wounded, along with 29 pro-Iranian fighters killed in US strikes in Iraq and Syria. The SDF, which controls much of eastern Syria following the defeat of IS, condemned the attack, while a group of Iraqi militias with ties to Iran claimed responsibility, labeling the Al Omar field as an "American occupation base."

Western special services condemn Belgrade for Russian mass media activities in Serbia The head of state particularly stressed that Kosovo and Western countries are working on a daily basis to strengthen pressure against country BELGRADE, February 6. /TASS/. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on the air with the TV Happy channel that reports of certain Western special services indicate non-recognition of Kosovo’s independence and the activity of Russian mass media in Serbia as a problem to be coped with. "I got at my disposal yesterday and today what two foreign special services prepared for the foreign ministries and European affairs ministries, where it is indicated that Serbia is a problem because it does not recognize Kosovo, is tolerant towards [President of the Republika Srpska Milorad] Dodik, that it is the platform where Russian mass media can broadcast freely and are not closed as in their countries, and that this is the fault of Serbia," Vucic said. The head of state particularly stressed that Kosovo and Western countries are working on a daily basis to strengthen pressure against Serbia, the President added. "The key issue is what we can do in these geopolitical circumstances. It is very challenging, how to protect our people, the Serbia leader said.

Anglo-Saxon actions in Middle East directly threaten peace, security — Russian envoy to UN Vasily Nebenzya said that US "undermine the world order resting on supremacy of universal international law and the central role of the United Nations" UNITED NATIONS, February 6. /TASS/. Actions of Anglo-Saxons pose a direct threat to global peace and security, Russia’s envoy to the UN Vasily Nebenzya said at the UN Security Council’s meeting called by Russia in view of US strikes against Iraq and Syria. "Large-scale strikes of the US Air Force, resulting in deaths of civilians and military staff, ruining and damaging of dozens of installations, again demonstrated the aggressive essence of the United States’ policy in the Middle East and the complete neglect of norms of international law by Washington. Participation of the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force in attacks of the United States should not create an illusion of a certain international coalition for anyone," the Russian diplomat said. "Actions of Anglo-Saxons pose a direct threat to international peace and security and undermine the world order resting on supremacy of universal international law and the central role of the United Nations," the Russian diplomat said. The United States purposefully seeks after drawing the largest countries of the Middle East into a conflict, Nebenzya also said at the UN Security Council’s meeting called by Russia in view of US strikes against Iraq and Syria. "Attacking recently almost without pause installations alleged to be of pro-Iranian groups in Iraq and Syria, the United States is attempting to purposefully draw the largest countries of the Middle East into a region-wide conflict," Nebenzya said. "It is obvious that US air strikes are specifically intended to further heat up the conflict," Nebenzya said. Russia is eyeing US air strikes against Syria and Iraq as an attempt of the US administration to improve its image, he added. "We primary see in these attempts to flex muscles the aspiration to influence the internal political landscape in America, the desire to somehow mend the failed image of the incumbent US administration at the international stage in the light of pre-election presidential campaign gaining momentum," diplomat said. “The largest air operation of the US in the region since 2003 <…> cannot be justified,” Nebenzya continued. “Washington, believing in its impunity, continues carrying destruction and havoc in the Middle East,” he added.

No comments from US Department of State on downing of Il-76 plane via Patriot system WASHINGTON, February 5. /TASSS/. The US Administration refrained from commenting on the reports that the Russian Il-76 plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) was downed using a US-made Patriot missile air defense system, redirecting this question to Kiev. Speaking at a press briefing, US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel noted that it is for US "partners in Ukraine" to comment on this issue.

PARIS, February 5. /TASS/. Russian Ambassador to France Alexey Meshkov warned Paris against getting involved deeper in the Ukrainian conflict and against ramping up arms shipments to Kiev, the Russian embassy said in a statement regarding the summoning of the Russian envoy to the French Foreign Ministry.

Strikes on Yemen fail to stop Houthi attacks on ships in Red Sea — UK defense secretary Grant Shapps specified that the Houthis have so far carried out about 40 attacks on merchant ships LONDON, February 5./TASS/. The strikes that the US and the UK have been carrying out against Houthi facilities in Yemen have to this point failed to fully prevent new attacks on ships in the Red Sea, British Secretary of State for Defense Grant Shapps has acknowledged. "These attacks have had a significant effect on degrading Houthi capabilities. But the Houthis' intent to continue disrupting the Red Sea has not been fully diminished," Shapps said. According to Shapps, the Houthis have so far carried out about 40 attacks on merchant ships. The UK defense chief reiterated the words of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who earlier said that London would not hesitate to continue its strikes on Yemen if the attacks did not stop. At the same time, Shapps said that the UK would also continue diplomatic efforts towards easing tensions in the Middle East. During his speech, Shapps also said there were no civilian casualties in the latest series of strikes carried out by British and US forces against Houthi targets overnight to Sunday.
(February 6, 2024)

This is me talking about Russian foreign policy. 2-5-24

1) A paradox about Russian foreign policy. If Vucic and Putin were just in Beijing at the Belt and Road initiative, why do they now want to meet at the UN building? For Aleksandar, it's as if there isn't scarcity. Of course people can get tattoos, get married, and have kids. Of course he can go to Beijing. Sometimes if you have a tattoo in America you can't get a job. Getting married is sometimes expensive. There are risks when deciding to become a parent. Kind of American economic realities.
2) Reports about luxury cars and eastern Europeans.
3) The Kremlin and more meetings. Tehran, Astana, and Windhoek.

VIENNA, February 5. /TASS/. Ukrainian refugees in Austria who drive cars worth over 250,000 euros can hardly be viewed as people in need of protection, Harald Vilimsky, member of the European Parliament (MEP) and the head of the Freedom Party of Austria’s delegation in the EP in Strasbourg, said.

[Oct 17, 2023 — China's President Xi Jinping on Tuesday met Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Beijing, calling the country an "ironclad friend" and ..]

Sullivan stated, "The president is determined to respond with force to attacks against our people," adding that the US is prepared for any contingency. While emphasizing that President Biden is not seeking a broader war in the Middle East, Sullivan warned Iran that any direct response to the US would result in a swift and firm retaliation. Simultaneously, the UN Security Council is expected to discuss the US missile strikes against pro-Iranian militias in Syria and Iraq. The meeting, requested by Russia, is scheduled for today.

Currency Clash in Kosovo: Euro Imposed, Stirring Tensions with Serbia Amidst a complex geopolitical landscape, Kosovo has made a pivotal decision to exclusively adopt the euro as its official currency in the northern regions, replacing the long-standing usage of Serbian dinars. The announcement comes as part of the government's ongoing efforts to reinforce the rule of law, particularly in the aftermath of a recent incident in Banjska that prompted a swift response. In the small village of Banjska, where even local shops accept euros, the impact of this transition is already palpable. The 350 inhabitants, predominantly Serbs, have been accustomed to using Serbian dinars. However, the Kosovo government's directive signifies a departure from the status quo and is seen as a strategic move to assert authority in the region. This shift, initially intended in 2008 when Kosovo declared independence, has gained renewed momentum following an attack in Banjska. In response, the Kosovo government took assertive measures, including the permanent banning of Serbian number plates and now the mandated use of the euro. The move has sparked a sharp reaction from Serbia, with President Aleksandar Vucic accusing Kosovo of attempting ethnic cleansing.

Russia requests UNSC meeting over US strikes on Syria, Iraq — mission It is expected to be held on February 5 UNITED NATIONS, February 3. /TASS/. Russia has requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council following the US strikes on Iraq and Syria, and it is expected to be held on February 5 at 4:00 p.m. New York Time, Russia’s First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyansky said. "We have just asked to convene an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council due the threats to peace and security sparked by the US strikes on Iraq and Syria. This month’s Guyanese presidency is planning to schedule it for February 5 at 4:00 p.m. New York Time," he wrote on his Telegram channel.

MOSCOW, February 4. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his condolences over the death of Namibian President Hage Geingob.

ALMATY, February 3. /TASS/. Representatives of Russia, Iran and Kazakhstan will hold talks in Moscow on February 15-20 on building a fiber-optic communication line between the three countries, Kazakhstan's Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry Bagdat Mussin said after talks with Iranian representatives.
(February 5, 2024)

This is me talking about Russian assets. 2-4-24

1) Would everyone know this means trillions USD?
2) What about significant digits, for example, the Japan number ends in a seven.

The theory is that the eastern bloc used army computers to weaken the American economy.

"US $3.24 trillion As of December 2023, China's foreign exchange reserves totaled US $3.24 trillion, which is the highest foreign exchange reserves of any country."

This is me talking about Mauricio Macri. 2-3-24

1) The Russian news service has been reporting on both Caracas and Buenos Aires. I guess the border with Guyana and energy. Now there are reports about the Argentinian president and economic reforms.
2) Mauricio Macri is a predecessor. He was kidnapped when he was little and his dad paid a ransom. Somehow they are from Italy.
3) I think these Milei economic reforms will go the way of similar efforts. Probably they won't be successful. It speaks to the peculiarities of the Argentinian economy.

Macri was kidnapped in 1991 by a gang of corrupt police officers and was released two weeks later after his father paid a $6 million ransom.

Over the past few days, flag-waving protesters opposed to Milei’s reforms have clashed repeatedly with riot police deployed outside the green-domed neoclassical congressional building, at times hurling rocks at them.
The mammoth bill is a key plank of Milei’s reforms plans for Argentina’s embattled economy, which is grappling with inflation above 200%, depleted foreign currency reserves and a timebomb of debt repayments owned to creditors and investors.
"History will judge them according to their work in favor of the Argentines or for the continued impoverishment of the people," a presidential statement said.

In April 2016 Macri’s campaign pledge to fight corruption was widely questioned when it was revealed that he had failed to declare his connection with an offshore tax-haven-registered company before either becoming mayor of Buenos Aires in 2007 or assuming the presidency. This information came to light as part of a leak of some 11.5 million documents from a secretive Panamanian law firm. The so-called Panama Papers exposed how 12 current or former world leaders as well as dozens of other politicians, public officials, and celebrities throughout the world had used tax havens to hide their wealth. Macri, who from 1998 to 2009 had served as the director of Fleg Trading—a Bahamas-registered company that had been started by his father—claimed that he had engaged in no impropriety because he neither had received income from his position nor held a stake in the company. Questions were also raised about Macri’s involvement with a second offshore company in which his father was engaged. Because Macri’s ability to change the country’s economic policies was limited by his lack of majority support in Congress, he tried to implement market-oriented reforms gradually. Early in his tenure, his administration raised interest rates in an attempt to stem inflation, which brought results in 2017 when inflation fell to about 26 percent. The Macri government also devalued the peso, removed taxes on some exports, and relaxed some exchange controls. The October 2017 midterm congressional elections—in which one-third of the Senate’s seats and nearly half of the seats in the Chamber of Deputies were up for grabs—were widely interpreted as a referendum on Macri’s presidency.
(February 3, 2024)

1) Catholic means 'universal'. It seems like the rules in Syria and Jordan don't apply the same to everyone. The Russians doing navy stuff and the Turks doing counterterrorism stuff. As they like they move between countries, often secretly.
a. For example, Coleen Rooney at Audi Field.
b. Discussions with the Kremlin about progressive taxation.
2) The Turks are in front of everyone interrogating Mossad agents. That's too dark in its imagery for me.

This is me talking about Damascus. 2-3-24

Türkiye, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Iraq must collaboratively eliminate the PKK threat in the region, Aydın Maruf, the KRG’s minister of state for minority affairs, said, while emphasizing a staunch rejection of the terrorist group. Türkiye and the KRG need better connections, particularly against the PKK in northern Iraq, as tensions escalate after terrorist attacks along the Turkish border, according to the KRG official.

Probe reveals Mossad’s agent recruitment techniques The probe involving the detention of suspects linked to Israel’s spy agency Mossad’s network in Türkiye revealed the means used to recruit agents. The interrogation for seven suspects detained in Istanbul and Izmir provinces has started, exposing Israel’s techniques for recruitment. Mossad established its first contacts for potential recruits through a research firm and they did not recruit everyone they met, but preferred individuals who were inclined to cooperate. Initially assigning recruits with simple research duties, Mossad then adds extortion and assassination missions. The potential recruits are aware that they are working for a foreign intelligence agency, and they are also aware that it is most likely Mossad, since the individuals they were spying on were nationals of Middle Eastern countries, according to sources. Among the duties of agents is finding out information about targets, including their IP addresses, official records and more. They also requested them to establish recruit networks, find couriers, money transfer, assault, robbery and more. Last month, 34 people were detained by Turkish police on suspicion of spying for Israel. They were accused of planning to carry out activities that included reconnaissance and “pursuing, assaulting and kidnapping” foreign nationals living in Türkiye. At the time, Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç said most of the suspects were charged with committing “political or military espionage” on behalf of Israeli intelligence. Mossad is said to have recruited Palestinians and Syrian nationals in Türkiye as part of an operation against foreigners living in Türkiye.

Reports about secret bases in Jordan. Also, Navy SEAL stuff. I wonder about Russian secret bases in these areas.

US says Islamic Resistance in Iraq group carried out attack on base in Jordan The United States on Wednesday attributed the drone attack that killed three U.S. service members in Jordan to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias, as President Joe Biden weighs his response options to the strike. The attribution comes as Iran threatened on Wednesday to “decisively respond” to any U.S. attack on the Islamic Republic after the U.S. said it holds Tehran responsible. The U.S. has signaled it is preparing for retaliatory strikes in the Mideast in the wake of the Sunday drone attack that also wounded at least 40 troops at Tower 22, a secretive base in northeastern Jordan that’s been crucial to the American presence in neighboring Syria. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday the U.S. believes the attack was planned, resourced and facilitated by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group that includes the militant group Kataib Hezbollah. He said Biden “believes that it is important to respond in an appropriate way.” The pan-Arab satellite channel Al Jazeera, which is based in and funded by Qatar, reported earlier that such communication had taken place. Qatar often serves as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran. “Such messages have not been exchanged,” Iravani said. But Iran’s government has taken note of the U.S. threats of retaliation for the attack on the base in Jordan. “Sometime, our enemies raise the threat, and nowadays we hear some threats in between words by American officials,” Revolutionary Guard commander Gen. Hossein Salami, who answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said at an event Wednesday. “We tell them that you have experienced us, and we know each other. We do not leave any threat without an answer.” “We are not after war, but we have no fear of war,” he added, according to IRNA. Kirby, for his part, said the U.S. doesn’t “seek a war with Iran. We’re not looking for a broader conflict.” On Saturday, a general in charge of Iran’s air defenses described them as being at their “highest defensive readiness.” That raises concerns for commercial aviation traveling through and over Iran as well. After a U.S. drone strike killed a top general in 2020, Iranian air defenses mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane, killing all 176 people on board. Meanwhile, attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels continue in the Red Sea, most recently targeting a U.S. warship. The missile launched Tuesday night targeted the USS Gravely, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, the U.S. military’s Central Command said in a statement. No injuries or damage were reported. A Houthi military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement Wednesday morning, calling it “a victory for the oppression of the Palestinian people and a response to the American-British aggression against our country.” Saree claimed the Houthis fired “several” missiles, something not acknowledged by the U.S. Navy. Houthi claims have been exaggerated in the past, and their missiles sometimes crash on land and fail to reach their targets. The Houthis claimed without evidence on Monday to have targeted the USS Lewis B. Puller, a floating landing base used by the Navy SEALs and others. The U.S. said there had been no attack. On Wednesday, a U.S. military jet struck a surface-to-air missile that was about to launch from Houthi-controlled Yemen, a U.S. official said.

We think the Kremlin has an unhealthy relationship with Damascus. And so Russians can be there but not Americans. Also, there are some unknowns about Russian and Iranian coordination.

What we know about US strikes on Iran targets in Iraq, Syria The United States on Friday carried out strikes against Iranian forces in Iraq and Syria in retaliation over a drone attack that killed three US soldiers in Jordan. Hitting Iran unit, but not Iran The US military said the airstrikes hit more than 85 targets inside Iraq and Syria targeting both the elite Quds force of Iran's Revolutionary Guards and affiliated militia groups. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said at least 18 pro-Iranian fighters were killed in the strikes in eastern Syria. The Syrian military issued a statement on Saturday saying that the overnight strikes on its territory killed "a number of civilians and soldiers, wounded others and caused significant damage to public and private property". "The occupation of parts of Syrian territory by US forces cannot continue," it added, affirming the army's "determination to liberate all Syrian territory from terrorism and occupation". Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said that at least 26 major sites housing pro-Iranian groups were destroyed, including weapons depots. President Joe Biden did not order strikes inside Iran, as advocated by some of his Republican rivals, and did not appear to be targeting individual Iranians, as his predecessor Donald Trump did in 2020 when he ordered the assassination in Baghdad of Quds commander Qasem Soleimani. Biden said the United States "does not seek conflict" in the Middle East, with his aides earlier making clear they did not want direct war with Iran. To what is the US responding? The strikes came hours after Biden, who faces a tough reelection fight in November, paid respects and met families as the bodies returned of three US soldiers. The soldiers were killed last Sunday and dozens others injured when a drone packed with explosives hit the remote Tower 22 base in Jordan near the border with Syria, where some 350 US troops are deployed as part of the campaign against the Islamic State extremist group. The White House blamed the attack on the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a loose alliance of pro-Iran fighters who have sought to push US forces out of Iraq. US and coalition forces have been attacked at least 165 times since mid-October, according to a US official. But Sunday's strike was the first that caused US deaths from hostile fire, amid reports of confusion as a US drone was returning to the base at the same time.

Javier Milei might be philosophically a communist. I think he came from poverty.
During the Falklands War, the Argentinian pilots dropped dud ordnance on Royal Navy ships. That was so weird these pilots flew around with dud munitions. A lot of bombs fell on Royal Navy ships that didn't explode.
That part of the world you wonder about weird behavior.

This is me talking about Javier Milei. 2-2-24

Royal Navy scraps major warship patrols around the Falklands Islands’ naval protection limited to a small offshore patrol vessel as Argentina plans to buy three submarines and a stock of warships The Royal Navy has abandoned major warship patrols of the Falkland Islands because of ship shortages. Despite an official policy to patrol the South Atlantic, a major British warship has not visited the area for almost seven years, leaving the islands’ defence to a small patrol vessel and four RAF Typhoons, the Telegraph understands. Rishi Sunak is facing calls to review the Falklands’ security after the new Argentinian government announced plans to buy fighter jets, submarines and warships, raising fears that Argentina could launch a fresh invasion in a “repeat of 1982”. The area around the Falklands was previously patrolled by a frigate or destroyer with anti-ship and air defence missiles, but Navy bosses have downgraded the islands’ naval protection to HMS Forth, an offshore patrol vessel with one 30mm cannon. Four Typhoon fighter jets remain on the island, but one is not operational. Defence sources told the Telegraph that the last major warship to be deployed was the Type 23 frigate HMS Portland in 2017. A Navy source said: “Everything only stretches so far, and we only have so many frigates and destroyers. If things were to hot up, we would look at it again.” On Jan 15, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) revealed that four of the Navy’s 11 frigates are currently out of operational duty, including two that will be scrapped because of a staffing crisis. New Type 31 and Type 26 frigates are not expected to enter service until at least 2027 and 2028, respectively. A new destroyer, the Type 83, is scheduled to launch in the late 2030s. Javier Milei, the new Argentinian president, has said that his country has “non-negotiable” sovereignty over the Falklands and pledged to force the British Government to release its claim through “diplomatic channels”. The Foreign Office has rebuffed his efforts. Since taking office last month, Mr Milei has reportedly approved a US-backed deal to acquire 24 F-16 fighter jets from Denmark, and has launched a review into plans to buy three submarines and a stock of warships from France or Germany. The US Congress approved the sale of the F-16 jets in October, and has privately pushed for Mr Milei’s government to choose the American-made Lockheed Martin planes over JF-17 jets manufactured in China. Victoria Villarruel, Mr Milei’s vice president and the daughter of a prisoner of war in the Falklands, has announced the government will triple its defence budget by 2032 to make the armed forces “fundamental institutions of the country”. Argentina does not currently have any operational fighter jets, after decommissioning its 1970s Mirage III fleet in 2015, while its navy has operated without a submarine since the sinking of ARA San Juan on a training exercise in 2017. However, the plans to restore Argentina’s armed forces prompted calls for Britain to resume major warship patrols. A spokesman for the Friends of the British Overseas Territories, a charity that supports the Falklands, warned that the UK had “a reduced presence, a less capable Royal Navy and a lack of vision in defending against Argentina’s growing and modernised armed forces”. “We urge the UK’s Ministry of Defence to rethink defences and overseas territory capabilities before security is compromised and we are forced into a larger conflict,” the spokesman told The Telegraph, adding: “We do not want to see a repeat of 1982.” The UK has stationed around 1,200 military and civilian personnel on the Falkland Islands, and operates an RAF base at Mount Pleasant and nearby naval port for HMS Forth. The British Army has three Sky Sabre surface-to-air missile batteries there. A 2016 plan to station two RAF Chinook helicopters at the Falklands was abandoned, with defence bosses deciding after a year to redeploy the helicopters elsewhere. Following the Falklands War, the RAF stationed nine F-4 Phantom fighter jets on the island, reduced to four in 1988. The jets have since been replaced three times, first with the Tornado, then with two variants of the Typhoon. The Telegraph understands one of the RAF’s four Typhoon jets stationed on the islands is currently non-operational, while civilian helicopters on the island are not equipped for combat. The Falklands are periodically visited by HMS Protector, an ice patrol ship that conducts scientific research and does not carry any weapons. ‘Invasion highly unlikely’ Lord West, who was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross for his service in the Falklands War, said an invasion of the islands was “highly unlikely at the moment” but called for the MoD to ensure it has “sufficient defence assets in the Falklands to show that if anyone did anything stupid, that they would have some assets that they would have to overcome”. “It’s something we have to keep an eye on all the time, because no matter how we might kid ourselves, they think that the Falkland Islands are theirs, and they’re not,” he said. John Healey, the shadow defence secretary, added that ministers must not “treat the Islands as out of sight, out of mind”. “Our Armed Forces have a core task in defence of the Falklands, as well as a crucial role in South Atlantic environmental and fisheries protection and life critical evacuation options,” he said. In response to a recent parliamentary question on the Falklands, James Heappey, the minister for armed forces, said: “The Ministry of Defence undertakes regular assessments of the requirements for defence support to the Falkland Islands. “I am satisfied that the military presence in the South Atlantic is at the appropriate level to ensure the defence of the Islands.” An MoD source said: “The Defence Secretary is adamant that the Falklands are British and that is not open to negotiation. “The islanders have voted overwhelmingly to remain British and we will always defend their rights to self-determination.”

This is me talking about Kamila Valieva. 2-2-24

1) Her name is Camel-a.
I don't agree the west is involved in a collective anti-Russian hybrid war. Also, it is as though President Vucic thinks the world is an unsafe place. Some of these Russian women's names are strange. Alex Ovechkin has a wife named Nasty-a. Then it seems kind of out there what Konstantin and Aleksandar are talking about.
2) Kind of a commentary on peace negotiations. The Qataris are trying to speed things up. The ones in Libya, for example, take forever. Maybe some of these peace process people are paid by the hour.
3) Reports about the Kremlin and the Middle East. Notice Russian fighter jets participated in the Dubai Airshow 2021.

Sports tribunal bans Russian Kamila Valieva from figure skating through 2025 Nearly two years after the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, an international sports tribunal in Switzerland issued a final ruling on Monday that Russian figure skating phenom Kamila Valieva "committed an anti-doping rule violation." The Court for Arbitration of Sport (CAS) ruled that Valieva will be suspended from international competition through December 2025. "Trimetazidine was found to be present in the sample collected from Ms Valieva on 25 December 2021 during the Russian National Championships in St Petersburg," CAS said in a statement. The outcome also "disqualifies" all competitions where Valieva medaled beginning in December 2021, including the 2022 Winter Games.

Russia cautions US against deploying nuclear arms in UK — diplomat Russia recommends "before it’s too late, to begin getting rid of anti-Russian phobias which by their very nature cannot be cured by tanks or tactical nuclear warheads", Konstantin Gavrilov said VIENNA, January 31. /TASS/. Russia will consider the US’ hypothetical plans to station nuclear weapons in the UK as steps toward destabilization and Moscow cautions against such actions, Konstantin Gavrilov, head of Russia’s delegation to the Vienna talks on military security and arms control, said. "Hypothetical plans by the US to return tactical nuclear weapons to British territory deserve much greater attention against this background. We are cautioning Washington against such steps toward escalation at the height of the collective West’s anti-Russian hybrid war which we will view as capable of sharply destabilizing the situation in the sphere of shared European security," he said at a plenary session of the OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation. Russia recommends "before it’s too late, to begin getting rid of anti-Russian phobias which by their very nature cannot be cured by tanks or tactical nuclear warheads." According to the British Daily Telegraph newspaper, its journalists have found in Pentagon documents new references to a plan that may provide for the deployment of nuclear arms at the Royal Air Force base Lakenheath, a US-operated military base in Suffolk, England, UK.

Vučić met with General Brieger; Safety of the Serbian population on KiM is a priority Aleksandar Vučić met today with General Robert Brieger, Chairman of the Military Committee of the European Union. He wrote on his Instagram account: "I spoke with the chairman of the Military Committee of the European Union about the situation in Kosovo and Metohija, as well as about the strengthening of military-economic and military-technical cooperation between Serbia and the EU. "I emphasized that for our country, the safety of the Serbian population in Kosovo and Metohija and the maintenance of peace and stability in the region are a priority, and I thanked the European military forces for their commitment in this direction," concluded Vučić.

Hamas Contradicts Qatar's Ceasefire Claim Amidst Tense Negotiations Amidst the intricacies of diplomatic negotiations, Qatar's revelation of a positive response from Hamas to a new ceasefire proposal in the Gaza Strip encounters a notable contradiction from the Palestinian movement. Despite Qatar's assertion of an initial positive confirmation, Hamas's political bureau describes the current status of negotiations as "zero." The proposed plan, incorporating three phases for releasing Israeli hostages and returning the bodies of slain captives, encounters challenges. While the first stage's 40-day ceasefire period surpasses previous suspensions, Hamas insists on a complete Israeli military withdrawal – a demand not met by the Israeli side. Meetings in Cairo with Egyptian mediators are still pending, casting doubt on Qatar's prematurely declared success. Hamas foresees days and weeks of further negotiations even if an agreement is reached. Meanwhile, in Tel Aviv, protests demanding hostage release briefly paralyzed streets near the Defense Ministry. Minister Yoav Gallant asserted progress in the military operation in the southern Gaza Strip, emphasizing "impressive results" and a commitment to reaching the Rafah border with Egypt. Simultaneously, US President Joe Biden issued a decree sanctioning Jewish settlers in Palestinian territories for alleged acts of terror. The State Department froze the US bank accounts of four individuals, warning of repercussions for any Americans with financial ties to them. While Israel's far-right National Security Minister criticized Biden's actions, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Israel's commitment to law enforcement worldwide.

UK to launch ballistic missile as part of nuclear sub trials — The Sun It will be the first time since 2016 LONDON, February 2. /TASS/. For the first time since 2016, the United Kingdom will test-launch the Trident II D5 ballistic missile from its refitted HMS Vanguard nuclear sub, The Sun newspaper reported citing sources. The unarmed missile will be fired from a location approximately 90 km away from the east coast of the United States. On January 30, HMS Vanguard was spotted in Port Canavarel in Florida. The US National Geospatial Intelligence Agency has warned shipping companies about a potential launch. According to the report, the Trident II D5 test launch will be necessary for determining whether the submarine may re-enter service after its seven-year-long overhaul in Plymouth. Apart from HMS Vanguard, the United Kingdom has three more Vanguard-class nuclear subs, built in 1990s: HMS Victorious, HMS Vigilant and HMS Vengeance. At present, only two of them are fit for service. By early 2030s, the United Kingdom will start replacing them with Dreadnought-class submarines. The Royal Navy carried only five launches of Trident II D5 in the 21st century. The latest of them took place in 2016. The missile, fired by HMS Vengeance, was supposed to cover the distance of 9,000 km and hit a target in the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean, but veered off course and self-destroyed automatically.

US base in eastern Syria attacked by drones No information about potential damage is available at this point BEIRUT, February 1. /TASS/. A US-controlled military base located near the Al-Omar oil field in the eastern Syrian region of Deir ez-Zor, was attacked by drones on Thursday, the Al Mayadeen television reported. According to the report, the facility was attacked by three UAVs. Sounds of "powerful explosions" were heard. No information about potential damage is available at this point. After the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the Gaza Strip, rocket and drone attacks on US military bases in Syria and Iraq have become more frequent. Shiite militias have warned that they will increase the number of armed operations in Syria and Iraq if the US continues to provide military aid to Israel. A large share of the Syrian provinces of Hasakah, Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa, located in the east and northeast of the country, is currently controlled by the US-backed Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces. Since 2015, the US command has established nine military bases in this area. At the end of 2019, then US President Donald Trump approved a plan that would leave several hundred US troops in Syria. One of their main tasks was to ensure control of oil fields in the northeast and east of the country. Damascus views the US’ military presence on Syrian territory as illegal occupation.

Su-75 Checkmate’s design modified to optimize its cost — Rostec The company said that because of the aircraft’s modular design and the use of modern digital technologies, technical changes could be introduced within the shortest possible timeframe MOSCOW, February 1. /TASS/. Based on feedback from potential buyers, Russia’s Su-75 Checkmate single-engine light tactical fighter jet underwent technical changes allowing to optimize its costs, TASS has learned from Rostec. "Rostec’s United Aircraft Corporation received feedback from potential buyers regarding the Checkmate project. Apart from receiving additional requirements, expressed by potential buyers, an effort was made to optimize its cost and analyze certain technical solutions. This allowed to boost its competitive performance and commercial appeal, as well as to reduce technical risks while creating this domestically-made single-engine aircraft," Rostec said. The company said that because of the aircraft’s modular design and the use of modern digital technologies, technical changes could be introduced within the shortest possible timeframe. Director of Russia’s Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation (FSCTC) Dmitry Shugayev earlier told TASS that FSCTC was consulting with some foreign customers on cooperation as part of the Checkmate project. Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov also said that foreign customers were displaying their interest in the fighter. In his words, Russian engineers had made adjustments to the aircraft’s layout, control and armament systems on the basis of their feedback. The Checkmate light tactical fighter developed by the Sukhoi Aircraft Company (part of the United Aircraft Corporation within Rostec) was unveiled at the MAKS 2021 international airshow that ran in the suburban town of Zhukovsky outside Moscow. The new combat plane's foreign presentation took place at the Dubai Airshow 2021 in the United Arab Emirates. The new combat plane created by Russia’s state tech giant Rostec at its own initiative is a derivative of the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter. In July 2023, it was reported that the aircraft was patented by the UAC in three versions: single-seat, two-seat combat trainer and uncrewed.

Tashkent Region to Build Special Operations Training Ground A training ground for special operational operations, mountain, and road safety training will be constructed in the Tashkent region. The allocated land, measuring 0.52 hectares, is currently unused agricultural land in the "Chigatoy" neighborhood of Tashkent district.
(February 2, 2024)

This is me talking about Mark Zuckerberg. 2-1-24

1) Because of the pandemic and trade restrictions, maybe the American economy is beginning to work normally. Before there was Chinese stuff everywhere. Also, didn't the Russians used to shoot down American spy planes?
2) The Serbian government is answering questions about currency trading.
3) Different reports about the Kremlin. POW stuff. Foreign ministry reports.

US Lawmakers Grill TikTok CEO Over China Ties TikTok CEO Shou Chew found himself at the center of a heated exchange with US lawmakers as they probed the social media giant's connections to China, particularly its parent company ByteDance. Lawmakers questioned the extent of access granted to the Chinese government, raising concerns about potential influence on TikTok's operations and content policies, as reported by CNN. During the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Arkansas Republican Sen Tom Cotton pressed Chew about his appointment coinciding with the Chinese Communist Party's acquisition of a 1% stake in ByteDance's main Chinese subsidiary. Chew dismissed any connection, stating, "It's a coincidence." Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley also questioned TikTok's links to China and its communist party. Texas Republican Sen Ted Cruz inquired about Chew's characterization of the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident in Beijing. While accurate, Chew's description omitted the subsequent government crackdown on pro-democracy activists. Chew later conceded, referring to the event as "a massacre." The questioning reflects growing concerns among lawmakers about the potential influence of the Chinese government on TikTok's operations and content policies. The intense scrutiny was part of a dramatic Senate Judiciary Committee hearing featuring CEOs of major tech companies, including Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, Snap's Evan Spiegel, X's Linda Yaccarino, and Discord's Jason Citron. The committee focused on examining potential harms inflicted on teenagers by these platforms. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg publicly apologized to families affected by alleged repercussions of social media platforms, acknowledging the pain and suffering they have endured. The CEOs emphasized their commitment to child safety, citing their roles as parents.

Spy planes from NATO countries were near Crimea before Ukrainian attack — Flightradar24 Two hours before the air alert a US Navy P-8A Poseidon, a UK Air Force RC-135W Rivet Joint and an Italian Air Force E-550A flew over Romania near the Black Sea coast MOSCOW, January 31. /TASS/. Spy planes from Britain, Italy and the US were plying the skies near Crimea at least 2 hours before an air attack on the peninsula, as data available from the Flightradar24.com portal indicates. Earlier on Wednesday, Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said that air defense systems had been alerted in the city. At least one air target was destroyed. The wreckage fell on a vacant plot of land near Lyubimovka. Two hours before the air alert a US Navy P-8A Poseidon anti-submarine aircraft, UK Air Force RC-135W Rivet Joint electronic reconnaissance aircraft, and E-550A (based on Gulfstream G550) long-range radar detection aircraft of the Italian Air Force flew over Romania near the Black Sea coast. A little earlier, a US RQ-4B Global Hawk strategic reconnaissance drone was spotted in the area. The flight paths of the drone and the Poseidon began near the US naval airbase Sigonella in Sicily. The British plane, according to Flightradar, made U-turn toward the UK. The Italian reconnaissance aircraft is believed to have flown to the Black Sea from central mainland Italy. On January 21, a plane belonging to the US Navy was also cruising about 250 kilometers off the western coast of Crimea in the airspace over Romania's Black Sea coast near the border with Ukraine, when the Russian Defense Ministry reported the interception of Ukrainian air missiles over the Black Sea off the peninsula's western coast. The flight path of the US plane also began in Sicily near the US naval airbase Sigonella.

Vučić urgently with ambassadors of Quint and EU; Central Bank of the so-called Kosovo President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, will meet today with the ambassadors of the Quint countries, as well as the head of the European Union delegation. The Quint countries are the USA, Great Britain, France, Italy and Germany. The meeting was announced for 18:00, in the building of the General Secretariat of the President of the Republic, announced the Office for Media Relations of the President of Serbia. To recall, last night Vučić held an emergency meeting with some ministers of the Government of Serbia due to the announcement by Pristina to abolish the use of the Serbian dinar. The special envoy of the European Union for the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Miroslav Lajčak, announced yesterday in Pristina that the government of temporary institutions will present information about the dinar ban in Kosovo and Metohija. Today, the Central Bank of the so-called Kosovo announced that it is considering the possibility of postponing the decree on abolishing the use of the Serbian dinar in the territory of the so-called of Kosovo, i.e. introducing the use of the euro.

US Strikes Houthi-Controlled Areas in Yemen After Imminent Threat US Central Command Forces executed targeted strikes on an Iranian-backed Houthi UAV ground control station and 10 Houthi one-way UAVs in Yemen, emphasizing a proactive response to an imminent threat. The operation, conducted at 1:30 am (Sanaa Time), aimed to neutralize the Houthi rebels' potential danger to merchant vessels and US Navy ships in the region. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) stressed the defensive nature of the strikes, highlighting their significance in safeguarding freedom of navigation and ensuring the safety of international waters for both US Navy vessels and merchant ships. This development follows an earlier incident when Iranian-backed Houthis fired an anti-ship ballistic missile toward the Gulf of Aden. The missile was successfully intercepted by the US Navy missile destroyer USS Carney, underscoring the escalating tensions in the region. Furthermore, Iran's persistent support for the Houthi rebels has led to increased confrontations, with the US Navy recently intercepting Iranian-made ballistic and cruise missile components intended for the rebels off the coast of Somalia. Tragically, two US Navy SEALs lost their lives during the operation, highlighting the risks involved. In response to ongoing provocations, the US has conducted multiple strikes inside Yemen, targeting Houthi weapons depots, command and control nodes, and storage facilities since January 11. Despite the degradation of Houthi weapons capabilities, officials remain cautious about specifying the full extent of these operations.

Hakan Fidan's visit is part of his tour to three Balkan countries - Albania, Bulgaria and Romania. The program of the Foreign Minister of Turkey also includes meetings with Turkish businessmen and representatives of the Turkish community, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on January 28.

TEL AVIV, February 1. /TASS/. David Barnea, chief of Israel’s Mossad intelligence service, has presented the Israeli war cabinet with proposals for calling a 35-day truce with the Palestinian radical movement Hamas in exchange for the release of 35 Israeli hostages, Israel’s Channel 12 reported.

MOSCOW, February 1. /TASS/. US-made GLSDB (Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb) munitions, capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 150 kilometers, are already on their way to the zone of hostilities in Ukraine, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland told reporters in Kiev.

ANKARA, January 31. /TASS/. Ankara expects Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit Turkey on February 12 for talks with President Tayyip Erdogan, Reuters said citing a Turkish official. Meanwhile, on January 20, the Turkiye newspaper reported citing sources that Putin was expected in Turkey on February 12. On January 23, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Putin’s visit to Turkey was in the works and that the Kremlin would announce the date of the summit in due time.

MOSCOW, January 31. /TASS/. Ukrainian POWs outnumber Russian ones about ten to one, President Vladimir Putin, who is up for re-election, said at a meeting with his authorized campaign agents.

MOSCOW, January 31. /TASS/. The situation with the Ilyushin-76 caused fears that Kiev might take advantage of the situation and suspend prisoner-of-war exchanges, but this has not happened, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said in a commentary.

MOSCOW, January 31. /TASS/. The authorities of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) provided mediatory assistance of humanitarian nature in the return of Russian soldiers from captivity, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
(February 1, 2024)

This is me talking about Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. 1-31-24

1) I think Dmitry Polyansky and Sergey Shoigu are from the same area near the border with Kazakhstan. Notice Shoigu has been in meetings with the Chinese defense chief. He's 68. He has a degree in civil engineering. It seems like his whole career he was below average. Maybe he's kind of not that smart. Sergei Skripal is another example. Kind of Russian guys who are lazy and aren't good at their jobs.
2) I guess the Egypt intelligence chief is an expert in the Geneva convention.
3) Navy trade stuff.

Moscow-Beijing relations experiencing best period in history — Russian defense chief The coordination of efforts by the two countries "is having a stabilizing effect on the international situation, helping reduce the potential for conflict," Sergey Shoigu noted MOSCOW, January 31. /TASS/. Ties between Moscow and Beijing are experiencing the best period in the history of the neighboring countries’ bilateral diplomatic relations, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said. "Relations between Russia and China are currently going through the best period in history," he noted during video conference talks with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun. The coordination of efforts by the two countries "is having a stabilizing effect on the international situation, helping reduce the potential for conflict," Shoigu added. "We are determined to unconditionally implement all the agreements that have been reached, which set long-term goals in the field of national development and security," Shoigu said, pointing out that trust-based contact between the two countries’ leaders, President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Xi Jinping of China, played a key role in strengthening strategic ties. "Last year, the heads of state held two personal meetings, one in Moscow and the other one in Beijing," Shoigu noted.

Grozev: The 3 Russians Investigated For The Explosions In Bulgaria Are In High Positions In Russia Bulgaria has reissued a European arrest warrant for six Russian citizens implicated in a series of explosions at ammunition depots between 2011 and 2020. Shockingly, investigative journalist Christo Grozev revealed that three of the accused currently hold high-ranking positions within the Russian government, serving in key roles under President Vladimir Putin's administration. During an interview on "Nova TV," Grozev disclosed, "Two of them are personal representatives of President Vladimir Putin as federal inspectors on Sakhalin Island, the other - in Yakutia. The third is a diplomat." This revelation marks a significant development as Bulgaria accuses active representatives of another country's government of terrorism, representing a symbolic and unprecedented move. The six Russians, all officers from the Russian GRU's "29155" department, were identified as part of a coordinated group. Grozev emphasized their frequent visits to Bulgaria, aligning not only with the explosion incidents but also coinciding with the poisoning of Emilian Gebrev and his son. Two of the individuals face additional accusations related to the poisoning of Gebrev, illustrating a meticulously planned, long-term campaign against Bulgaria by this GRU group. Despite the issuance of European arrest warrants, Grozev expressed skepticism about the suspects returning to Europe. He highlighted their decade-long history of using false identities while traveling every 2-3 months across various European countries. The individuals are implicated in multiple incidents, including bombings in the Czech Republic and the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, indicating their involvement in a broad range of operations across Europe. While the practical impact of the European arrest warrant may be limited, given the suspects' evasion tactics, Grozev stressed its symbolic value. The move underscores Bulgaria's determination to hold these individuals accountable for their alleged roles in attacks on Bulgarian soil and their involvement in broader geopolitical incidents throughout Europe.

Hamas officials to discuss details of hostage deal with Egyptian intelligence chief Earlier, Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh said that the movement "has received the proposal developed during the discussions in Paris and is currently studying it" DUBAI, January 31. /TASS/. A delegation of representatives of the political bureau of the radical Palestinian movement Hamas will discuss with Director of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate Abbas Kamel the details of the alleged hostage deal worked out in Paris, the Qatari TV channel Al Arabiya reported, citing an Egyptian source. According to the channel, the talks scheduled for Wednesday in Cairo will focus on the duration of the ceasefire in the first phase of the deal, as well as the number of Hamas militants to be released from Israeli prisons in exchange for the release of hostages held by the radicals in the Gaza Strip. Earlier, Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh said that the movement "has received the proposal developed during the discussions in Paris and is currently studying it." At the same time, Haniyeh pointed out that the priority for Hamas in formulating a response to the Paris agreement remains "an immediate cessation of aggression" and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip. According to him, the movement is ready to consider only those initiatives that can ensure the fulfillment of these conditions. CNN reported earlier, citing a source, that talks in Paris involving Egypt, Israel, Qatar and the United States had produced a preliminary proposal for the release of the hostages. The first stage calls for a six-week pause in hostilities. During this period, each Hamas-held civilian would be exchanged for three Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. This ratio could be increased for the exchange of Israeli soldiers. The six-week truce could be followed by a longer pause, the TV channel said.

BUENOS AIRES, January 31. /TASS/. Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has confirmed that his country will transfer Russian-made weapons to the United States in exchange for new equipment, despite Moscow’s protests.

Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns against traveling to Amhara in Ethiopia

Vučić held an emergency meeting with ministers due to Kurti's decision to ban dinar
(January 31, 2024)

This is me talking about Voislav Torden. 1-30-24

1) I wonder if this North Korean cruise missile resembles a storm shadow missile.
2) I think Voislav Torden is guilty of stealing because of these international flights. He's being charged with immigration crimes and army crimes.
3) Walter Biot is probably guilty of fraud. He might have done all of this stuff because he needed money.

TOKYO, January 30. /TASS/. North Korea launched several cruise missiles from its west coast, the Yonhap agency reported with reference to the South Korean military. According to their information, the missiles were fired around 07:00 a.m. local time (01:00 a.m. Moscow time). The agency did not specify the number of launched missiles. The South Korean military stressed that it has stepped up monitoring and is in contact with the United States to monitor the DPRK, Yonhap reported. On January 28, North Korea successfully test-launched two new Pulhwasal-3-31 cruise missiles from a submarine. According to the Korean Central News Agency, the tests were led by the country’s leader Kim Jong-un.

Russian national detained in Finland for allegedly violating EU travel ban According to the paper, Voislav Torden is banned from entering the Schengen zone by Norway and the Czech Republic HELSINKI, January 29./TASS/. Russian national Voislav Torden, detained in Finland at the end of July, was accused of violating the ban on entry to the European Union, the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper said. According to the paper, Torden is banned from entering the Schengen zone by Norway and the Czech Republic. "The court will discuss whether he acted intentionally and knew that he would not be allowed to enter Finland, even though he had the necessary documents for entry," prosecutor Saku Tielisen said. The case will be reviewed on Tuesday by a court in the city of Kouvola. Finland’s Central Criminal Police earlier demanded Torden be arrested for military crimes he committed in Ukraine. According to the arrest warrant, the alleged crimes took place in 2014-2015. On December 8, the Finnish Supreme Court ordered the immediate release of Torden, 36, denying his extradition to Ukraine. Immediately after the release, Torden was detained by Finnish border guards. Torden, who previously went by the name Jan Petrovsky, is a Russian citizen. He is on the sanctions lists of the European Union and the US Treasury Department. The Ukrainian side is seeking his extradition because of alleged crimes he committed in Donbass. The Russian was detained at Helsinki airport on July 20. The next day, the court ordered his detention for violating the republic's immigration laws. The Russian Embassy in Finland told TASS earlier that Russian diplomats were closely following the development of the situation and were ready to further protect Torden's rights.

Military court sentences former Italian officer to 29 years in jail for spying for Russia Walter Biot was detained along with a Russian embassy employee on March 30, 2023 ROME, January 29. /TASS/. A military court of appeals in Rome has found the original sentence of 30 years in prison for former Italian officer Walter Biot, who is charged with spying for Russia, to be lawful, but it did decide to reduce his sentence by ten months, the ANSA news agency reported. Biot, who was detained along with a Russian embassy employee on March 30, 2023 at a parking lot in a Rome suburb, is standing trial on similar charges in a civilian court. Ten days ago, a jury in Rome sentenced him to 20 years in prison. At the time of his detention, the Italian had a data storage device and a box with cash. Biot, a former officer of the Italian defense ministry’s general staff, is accused of espionage, leaking state secrets, and corruption. The military prosecution charges him with divulging state secrets with the aim of assisting in spying, disclosing confidential information and taking photos for the purpose of espionage. Biot’s attorneys say they cannot objectively assess the evidence of their client’s guilt because the majority of documents on his case are classified. "Neither of the checks requested by the defense has been carried out," attorney Roberto De Vita said, adding that "government considerations requiring a verdict supersede" the law in this case. He also said that he would further contest the verdict.

Ukrainian ex-lawmaker says army commander-in-chief Zaluzhny was dismissed No official comments have followed as of yet MOSCOW, January 29. /TASS/. A former Ukrainian lawmaker has said that Valery Zaluzhny has been dismissed as commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces. "My sources in the presidential office said that Zaluzhny has been relieved of his duties of the commander-in-chief," Borislav Bereza wrote on his Telegram channel. No official comments have followed as of yet.
(January 30, 2024)

This is me talking about Vadim Kulit. 1-29-24

1) Several strange reports about employees in the Levant region. Maybe some of these Russian and Jordan guys have fatigue. Remember the Telegraph is always saying the Russian army has convicts. Vadim Kulit, for example, I think is a Belarussian immigrant.
2) The Hungarian banking sector. Maybe Germans and Russians illegally use those banks.
3) Reports about the economy in Tashkent.

US-led coalition’s aircraft violate Syrian airspace six times in past day A pair of the coalition’s F-15 fighter jets, a pair of A-10 Thunderbolt attack bombers, as well as an MQ-9 reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle and an MQ-1 multi-role unmanned aerial vehicle violated Syria’s airspace in the al-Tanf area MOSCOW, January 28. /TASS/. The US-led coalition’s aircraft violated Syria’s airspace in the al-Tanf area six during the past day, Vadim Kulit, deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria (a division of the Russian defense ministry), said on Sunday. "Aircraft of the so-called international anti-terrorist coalition led by the United States continues to create dangerous situation that may cause air accident or incidents and escalate the situation in Syria’s airspace," he said. "A pair of the coalition’s F-15 fighter jets, a pair of A-10 Thunderbolt attack bombers, as well as an MQ-9 reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle and an MQ-1 multi-role unmanned aerial vehicle violated Syria’s airspace in the al-Tanf area, across which international air routes run, six times during the day.".

Russia has data on Ukrainian special forces operating in several countries Russian President's Special Representative for the Syrian settlement Alexander Lavrentiev believes that "the Kiev regime is afraid to send its military personnel to participate in hostilities, because this threatens them with very large reputational costs in the event of their capture, destruction, and then making this fact public, so they try to act covertly" MOSCOW, January 29. /TASS/. The Russian side has information that Ukrainian special forces are operating in a number of countries, Russian President's Special Representative for the Syrian settlement Alexander Lavrentiev said in an interview with TASS. "Russia has data on the use by Ukrainians of their special units in various directions - not in Syria, but in other countries," he answered a question about the possible participation of Ukrainian militants on the side of terrorist groups in Syria. Lavrentiev believes that "the Kiev regime is afraid to send its military personnel to participate in hostilities, because this threatens them with very large reputational costs in the event of their capture, destruction, and then making this fact public, so they try to act covertly.".

MOSCOW, January 29. /TASS/. Moscow and Washington do not have dialogue on Syria at the moment, Russian President's Special Representative for the Syrian settlement Alexander Lavrentiev said in an interview with TASS. "There is no [dialogue on Syria], but the deconflict mechanism between Russia and the United States in Syria is in effect. Contacts are maintained, but only through this mechanism between the commander of our group in Syria and the command of the so-called international coalition," he said. Lavrentiev added that Russia will hold the next summit in the Astana format (Moscow, Ankara, Tehran) on Syria on its territory. Previously, Lavrentiev suggested that Russia may resume negotiations with the US on Syria if Washington demonstrated proper readiness. He further stated that all connections between the countries were terminated at the initiative of the American side.

Jordan says attacked US base is located in Syria According to Jordanian Minister of Government Communications Muhannad Miibaidin, the base is located in Syria’s al-Tanf area near the border with Jordan BEIRUT, January 28. /TASS/. Jordan has refuted US President Joe Biden’s statement that US forces were attacked in Jordan’s territory. "The US [military] base that came under an attack is located outside Jordan," Jordanian Minister of Government Communications Muhannad Mubaidin told the Al Mamlaka television channel. According to Miibaidin, the base is located in Syria’s al-Tanf area near the border with Jordan. Earlier in the day, the White House released President Biden’s written statement saying that on January 27 "three U.S. service members were killed—and many wounded—during an unmanned aerial drone attack on our forces stationed in northeast Jordan near the Syria border." The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said earlier that three US soldiers had been killed and at least had been wounded in a drone attack on a US base in northern Jordan.

Three US soldiers killed, at least 20 wounded in drone attack on US base in Jordan — TV The US base is located near the border with Syria. According to CNN, this is the first time since the beginning of hostilities in the Gaza Strip when US soldiers were killed in the Middle East NEW YORK, January 28. /TASS/. Three US soldiers were killed and at least 20 were wounded as a result of a drone attack on a US base in northern Jordan, CNN said, citing officials. The US base is located near the border with Syria. According to CNN, this is the first time since the beginning of hostilities in the Gaza Strip when US soldiers were killed in the Middle East. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed that three soldiers were killed and at least 20 were wounded in the drone attack, CNN said.

MOSCOW, January 29. /TASS/. Russia understands that the development of trade and economic ties with the European Union in the medium term is impossible, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk said in an interview with Expert magazine.

STRELNA, January 28. /TASS/. Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov has refused to comment on the statement by Hungarian ultra-right politician Laszlo Toroczkai, who spoke about Budapest’s claims to Transcarpathia in case of the collapse of Ukraine’s statehood.

The EU Threatens To Cripple Hungary's Economy If Orban Vetoes Aid To Ukraine The EU will sabotage Hungary's economy if Budapest blocks new aid to Ukraine at a summit this week, the Financial Times reports, citing a confidential plan drawn up by Brussels that marks a major escalation in the battle between the Union and its most pro-Russian country. member.

Tashkent's Air Quality Improves: PM 2.5 Levels Now Moderate

Uzbekistan's Average Monthly Salary Surges 17.2%

Innovative Construction Procedure Unveiled A meeting, chaired by the President, addressed key priorities in housing, construction, communal economy, transport, and ecology. Currently, construction processes rely on the "resource method," detailing numerous conditions for workers, fuel, equipment, and specifications. Notably, a shift to the "volume method" was proposed at the meeting. In this approach, the focus is on the contractor delivering the project on time and ensuring high quality. Addressing corruption concerns, a comprehensive restructuring of processes, from design to facility commissioning and control, was decided. Effective January 1 next year, the "resource method" will be replaced with the "volume method" for all project-estimate documents, works implementation, and acceptance. Specifically, starting July 1, this approach will be applied to road, drinking water, and bridge construction projects. To promote a corruption-free industry, effective July 1: - All construction contracts will be digitized. - Financing for construction works by contracting organizations will be based solely on electronic invoices submitted to the tax authority. - The object acceptance process will be digitized, with documents confirmed by "Transparent Construction." - Subcontractor selection for projects exceeding 10 billion soums will exclusively use the "Transparent Construction" system. This applies to projects involving international financial organizations. - An online monitoring system will be established for manufacturers, builders, and controllers to track the cost of building materials.
(January 29, 2024)

1) The AUKUS treaty
2) The Kremlin bases in the Arab world

This is me talking about Russian bases in Yemen. 1-28-24

HMS Diamond not equipped with missile systems capable of hitting land targets, leaving US Navy to bear brunt of offensive action in Red Sea Defense secretary: ‘It is our duty to protect freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and we remain as committed to that cause as ever’ London: UK Royal Navy vessels are unable to attack Houthi positions in Yemen because they lack the necessary missiles, it has been revealed, in what one former defense chief called a “scandal.” Britain has joined America in conducting operations against the Houthis in a bid to halt attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, but the US Navy has had to carry out the majority of strikes on the Yemeni mainland, the Daily Telegraph reported. A UK defense source told the newspaper that HMS Diamond, the Royal Navy destroyer stationed in the Red Sea, lacks “the capability to fire to land targets,” meaning the UK’s sole source of offensive capability comes from Royal Air Force jets stationed at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, around 1,500 miles away. HMS Diamond, the source said, has instead been involved in downing “Houthi drones targeting shipping in the Red Sea,” with the only functioning weapons systems on UK destroyers being fixed artillery guns. US Navy destroyers, meanwhile, have the capacity to fire Tomahawk guided missiles, with a range of 1,500 miles. A former senior defense chief told the Daily Telegraph: “It’s clearly a scandal and completely unsatisfactory. This is what happens when the Royal Navy is forced to make crucial decisions which can affect capability. “The UK is now having to fly RAF jets thousands of miles to do the job of what a surface-to-surface missile can do.” Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, head of the UK Armed Forces, warned the government of the need to “speed up our acquisition processes” for “land attack missile systems” on British vessels five years ago when he was head of the Royal Navy. Since then, a temporary system of Norwegian-made Naval Strike missiles has been installed on just one UK vessel, and has yet to be tested. A new cruise missile system for British warships is due to be introduced in 2028. Conservative MP Mark Francois, a former armed forces minister, told the Daily Telegraph: “The lack of a land attack missile from the Royal Navy’s surface fleet was specifically highlighted in a defence committee report some two years ago. “It is encouraging that this missile is now on order but also disappointing that it is still not yet in operational service.” Earlier this year, US Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro warned that Royal Navy investment is “significantly important” given “the near-term threats to the UK and US.” The former chair of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee, Tobias Ellwood, urged Defense Secretary Grant Shapps to review the situation. “We can’t continue to do this with a surface fleet that’s too small and cannot fire on land at range,” Ellwood said. On Saturday, Shapps said: “It is our duty to protect freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and we remain as committed to that cause as ever.” A spokesman for the UK Ministry of Defence said in a statement: “As with all coalition operations, commanders select the best equipment for the job. HMS Diamond is an air defence destroyer, which has been directly involved in successfully destroying Houthi drones targeting shipping in the Red Sea. “Equally, the Royal Air Force has the capability to strike land targets with high precision, which is why Typhoon aircraft strikes have reduced the Houthis ability to conduct these attacks.”

This is me talking about the British army. 1-28-24

Are there Scottish guardsmen who go AWOL?
Are there Ken McCallum types who believe there are unknowns?

"Get up there, boy."
A standard deviation is a measure of how dispersed the data is in relation to the mean.

It's a comment about the British army. Their sense of (1) prisoners of war and (2) their sense of what we do and don't know.
Kind of the US Congress blames the soldiers who were captured. I guess Dominic doesn't mind these Ukrainians who got captured.

I think we know that the UAF shot down the plane because they thought munitions were on the plane. And that the plane crashed in Russia. It was an IL-76.

This is me talking about Russian trade with New Delhi. 1-27-24

1) The scale of Russian weapons exports to New Delhi. Notice this description of the Turkish intelligence community. The Canadians.
2) A British man had an investment company in China. Some of that is illegal. Not all trade is legal.
3) Maybe this is bad journalism, the French reporting on the Nairobi court.

US approves sale of F-16 warplanes to Turkey after Ankara ratified Sweden's NATO bid Ending months of negotiations, the US government on Friday approved a $23 billion deal to sell F-16 warplanes to Turkey, after Ankara ratified Sweden's NATO membership, the State Department said. As required by US law, the State Department notified Congress of the agreement, as well as a separate $8.6 billion sale of 40 F-35s to Greece. Turkey will get 40 new F-16s and upgrades to 79 of the jets in its existing fleet, the State Department said in a news release. The United States did not green light the transaction until Turkey's instruments of ratification of Sweden's membership had arrived in Washington, a US official said, highlighting the highly sensitive nature of the negotiations. All instruments of ratification must be deposited in the US capital -- a city NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will visit next week, and which will host a summit in July to mark the 75th anniversary of the trans-Atlantic alliance. Turkey's parliament ratified Sweden's NATO membership on Tuesday after more than a year of delays that upset Western efforts to show resolve in the face of Russia's war on Ukraine. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan initially objected to Sweden's NATO bid over Stockholm's perceived acceptance of Kurdish groups that Ankara views as "terrorist" organizations. Sweden responded by tightening its anti-terrorism legislation and taking other security steps demanded by Erdogan. But Erdogan then turned to an unmet US pledge to deliver a batch of F-16 fighter jets that has met resistance in Congress because of Turkey's perceived backsliding on human rights and standoffs with fellow NATO member Greece. The powerful chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Democrat Ben Cardin, said Friday he would permit the F-16 sale to Turkey but that it was "not a decision I came to lightly." US Secretary of State Antony Blinken led an intense diplomatic effort to broker the deal, telling the Turkish president three times during a trip to Ankara just after the February 2023 earthquake that there would be no planes if Turkey blocked Sweden's NATO bid, the US official said. Athens meanwhile strongly opposed the sale due to unresolved territorial disputes with Turkey in the energy-rich Mediterranean region. The US agreement with Turkey hinged first on Athens not obstructing the sale, and Greece was simultaneously granted more advanced F-35s. Turkey's aging air force would benefit from new F-16s, as it has suffered from Ankara's expulsion from the US-led F-35 joint strike fighter program in 2019 over Erdogan's decision to acquire an advanced Russian missile defense system. Turkey's green light of Swedish NATO membership leaves Hungary as the last holdout in an accession process that Sweden and Finland began in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Tuesday invited his Swedish counterpart to Budapest to discuss the bid, although hints emerged of strains between the two countries. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has said he will meet with Orban, but that he would "not negotiate" with Hungary over Stockholm's NATO bid. In Washington, it is thought that the process will take a few more weeks, with hopes of a flag-raising ceremony during the next NATO ministerial in Brussels in April.

The annual Republic Day spectacle in the heart of New Delhi is a highly choreographed spectacle featuring tank columns, fighter jet fly-pasts, acrobatic motorbike stunts and mounted camel units. France also hopes to build on its military contracts with India, which is already a buyer of French-made Rafale fighter jets and Scorpene-class submarines in multibillion-dollar deals. India in turn has been working to mordernise its armed forces and has sought to diversify its defence acquisitions beyond its traditional supplier Russia. A contingent of French soldiers including a Foreign Legion marching band joined the parade, which marks the adoption of India's constitution in 1950. Indian troops had marched down the Champs-Elysees last year under Modi's watch during last year's Bastille Day parade.

Canada to restart parts of arms exports to Türkiye after Sweden bid Canadian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Charlotte MacLeod told Reuters that while the export controls currently remained in place, Ottawa aimed to resolve the issue with Türkiye given its status as a NATO ally. "Canada and Turkey continue to engage in frank exchanges on our bilateral, economic and commercial relations," she said. Canada suspended drone technology sales to Türkiye in 2020 after concluding its optical equipment attached to Turkish-made drones had been used by Azerbaijan while fighting ethnic Armenian forces in Karabakh, an enclave Baku has since retaken. Under the agreement, Ankara would provide Ottawa information on the end-users of Canadian-made equipment, especially if re-exported to non-NATO members, the sources said.

The defendant - named as Ian J Stones - committed the "crime of illegally obtaining intelligence for overseas actors", a Mofa spokesman said. He set up a Beijing-based investment management consulting firm some 15 years ago, said the WSJ, citing corporate records, online profiles and people who know him.

Kenyan court rules deployment to lead UN mission in Haiti 'illegal' A Kenyan court on Friday ruled against the government's plan to deploy police to Haiti to lead a UN-backed multinational mission aimed at restoring order in the gang-plagued Caribbean nation. The ruling comes as Haiti's government calls for the urgent deployment of a multinational force to help the country's overwhelmed police battle rampant violence. The UN Security Council gave the go-ahead in early October for the Kenya-led mission, which has faced criticism at home and a legal challenge filed at the Nairobi High Court last year. On Friday, judge Enock Chacha Mwita ruled that "any decision by any state organ or state officer to deploy police officers to Haiti... contravenes the constitution and the law and is therefore unconstitutional, illegal and invalid." "An order is hereby issued prohibiting deployment of police forces to Haiti or any other country," he said. There was no immediate response from the Kenyan government to the ruling. President William Ruto earlier described the Kenyan undertaking as a "mission for humanity" in a nation ravaged by colonialism. Haiti's foreign minister on Thursday pleaded for the deployment to be speeded up, telling the UN Security Council that gang violence in the country was as barbaric as the horrors experienced in war zones. "The Haitian people cannot take any more. I hope this time is the last time I will speak before the deployment of a multinational force to support our security forces," Jean Victor Geneus told the council. Kenya's government had previously said it was ready to provide up to 1,000 personnel, with Nairobi's ambassador to the United Nations, Martin Kimani, saying that "significant progress" had been made in its preparations for taking on the mission. The ruling throws these plans into disarray, even as Haiti slides deeper into crisis, with homicides more than doubling last year, according to a UN report. The multinational mission -- initially approved for one year -- had envisioned Kenyan police on the offensive with their Haitian counterparts, who are outnumbered and outgunned by gang members. Haiti, the Western hemisphere's poorest nation, has been in turmoil for years, with armed gangs taking over parts of the country and unleashing brutal violence, and the economy and public health system in tatters. The 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise plunged the country further into chaos. No elections have taken place since 2016 and the presidency remains vacant.
(January 27, 2024)

Russian diplomats. French words. They have friends in China.
Российские дипломаты. Французские слова. У них есть друзья в Китае.

This is me talking about Russian First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyansky. 1-26-24

1) More reports coming from Tashkent about Chinese trade. President Vucic recently visited Beijing.
2) These Russian transport planes might be used in Africa and the Middle East. A report about Afghanistan. The Russians and how closely they monitor the events in Syria. Meetings in Astana.
3) The Russian diplomats in New York City are using French words and they are being kind of crude as they describe foreign armies. A Russian diplomat complaining about the Royal Navy. He says he's fluent in Arabic and English.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev Concludes Successful State Visit to China

Uzbekistan Delegation Strengthens Judicial and Anti-Corruption Ties with Qatar

Uzbekistan Sees Surge in Chinese Tourists

Tashkent Partners with Chinese Company for Innovative Cable Taxi Project

Serbian Army displays its power? Everything has been announced ​Defense Minister Miloš Vučević announced a large display of weapons with the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić.

Afghanistan plane crash survivors arrive in Moscow Their plane landed at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport MOSCOW, January 26. /TASS/. Four people, who survived a private jet crash in Afghanistan, arrived in Moscow on Friday, a TASS correspondent reported. Their plane landed at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport. The Falcon 10 plane disappeared from radar screens on the border between Afghanistan and Tajikistan late on January 20. There were six people aboard the plane traveling from Thailand to Moscow. The Transport Ministry of the Taliban (outlawed in Russia) announced on January 21 that rescuers had found the plane and four survivors.

Terrorists from Syria’s Idlib take part in hostilities on Kiev’s side — Russian envoy In a joint statement following the 21st international meeting on Syria on the Astana platform the participating countries said that Russia, Turkey and Iran "express serious concern about the presence and activity of terrorist groups that threaten civilians inside the Idlib de-escalation zone and beyond" ASTANA, January 25. /TASS/. Russia has evidence terrorists from the Idlib de-escalation zone in Syria fight in Ukraine on Kiev’s side, Russia’s special presidential envoy for the Syrian settlement, Alexander Lavrentiev, has told TASS. "There is evidence that some members of terrorist organizations, including those located in the Idlib de-escalation zone, already operate in Ukraine. Especially those born in the former republics of the Soviet Union," he said, when asked whether Russia had information that IS militants (Islamic State is banned in Russia as a terrorist group) from Syria had recently been sent to Ukraine to participate in hostilities on Kiev’s side. In a joint statement following the 21st international meeting on Syria on the Astana platform, held on January 24-25 in Astana, the participating countries said that Russia, Turkey and Iran "express serious concern about the presence and activity of terrorist groups that threaten civilians inside the Idlib de-escalation zone and beyond."

Russia to analyze evidence of downing of its Il-76 military plane Accoding to the source, the probe currently involves military investigators from the Russian Investigative Committee and military experts in aviation MOSCOW, January 26. /TASS/. Multiple rounds of complex expert examination will be held in the wake of a recent Russian military plane crash to document the evidence of it having been downed by Ukrainian missiles, the emergency services official told TASS. "In addition, the wreckage of the aircraft fuselage will be laid out on the ground <…> to establish which specific place of it was affected by an external factor," the official explained. According to emergencies services, experts have found around 10 large fragments of the plane that crashed on Wednesday in Russia’s borderline region of Belgorod. The probe currently involves military investigators from the Russian Investigative Committee (IC) and military experts in aviation, the emergency services official said. Also, representatives from the Ilyushin Design Bureau and the Aviastar plant which designed and built the aircraft will also be involved in the work. Earlier, emergency services reported finding fragments of an anti-aircraft guided missile near the site of the crash. The IC has launched a criminal probe into the crash. On January 24, the Ukrainian armed forces shot down a Russian Il-76 military transport plane that was carrying captured Ukrainian troops selected to be included in a prisoner exchange. There were 74 people on board, including 65 Ukrainian military personnel, all of whom were killed. The Russian Defense Ministry called what happened a terrorist act and stressed that Kiev knew about the transportation of prisoners for the exchange, which was to take place at the Kolotilovka checkpoint, and purposely attacked the plane in order to accuse Moscow of destroying Ukrainian military personnel. The missiles were launched from an air defense system in the village of Liptsy in Kharkov Region.

UNITED NATIONS, January 26. /TASS/. Members of the Ukrainian government are burying themselves ever deeper in the lies about its downing of the Il-76 of the Russian Defense Ministry, Russian First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyansky said. "What we have seen so far were primitive and cowardly attempts by representatives of the Kiev authorities to disavow any responsibility for this crime, contrary to the obvious facts. By doing so, they have embarrassed and confused themselves and are burying themselves in this lie ever deeper," he told the UN Security Council. In the diplomat’s words, "the Kiev regime, for some inexplicable reason decided to thwart it [the prisoner swap with Russia] in the most barbaric way possible."

UNITED NATIONS, January 26. /TASS/. By shooting down a Russian plane transporting Ukrainian captives, the Kiev government has demonstrated its inability to fulfill even technical agreements, Russian First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyansky said.

Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, Special Presidential Representative on the Middle East. RIAC member. Graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. Mr. Bogdanov started his career in the civil service in 1974. He has held several positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both in Russia and abroad, including: the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen, the Lebanese Republic and the Syrian Arab Republic. He has served as Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the State of Israel, Director of the Middle East and North Africa Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Arab Republic of Egypt and Plenipotentiary Representative to the League of Arab States. June 2011: Appointed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. January 2012: Appointed Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for the Middle East. October 2014: Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for the Middle East and Africa. Mr. Bogdanov holds the diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. He is fluent in Arabic and English.

Senior Russian diplomat, Houthi delegation condemn US, UK strikes on Yemen — MFA Milkhail Bogdanov and the Houthi delegation also discussed the settlement of the military and political crisis in Yemen MOSCOW, January 25. /TASS/. Russian Presidential Special Envoy for the Middle East and Africa and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov received a delegation of Yemen's Ansar Allah movement to discuss the escalation of tensions in the Red Sea, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, noting that the parties had condemned the US and UK strikes on Yemen. "Special attention was paid to the development of tragic events in the zone of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, as well as the escalation as a result of the situation in the Red Sea. In this context, the US and UK missile and bomb strikes on Yemen, which could destabilize the situation on a regional scale, were strongly condemned," the Foreign Ministry reported. Bogdanov and the Houthi delegation also discussed the settlement of the military and political crisis in Yemen. "In addition, the importance of stepping up international efforts to create as soon as possible the necessary conditions for launching a full-format intra-Yemeni national dialogue under the UN auspices was emphasized," the ministry added.
(January 26, 2024)

Was there any incident at all?
What happened?
A fire.
It was a plane crash.
A Russian plane crashed in Belgorod.
The UAF shot it down.
They thought it was carrying munitions.

- "...provided that the plane crashed on the Russian territory, beyond our zone of control,' Zelensky said."
- Initially, Ukrainian media reported, citing sources in the country's Defense Ministry, that the plane was transporting missiles for S-300 air defense systems and was downed by the Air Force of Ukraine.
- The Russian Defense Ministry announced on January 24, that the Ukrainian armed forces allegedly shot down a Russian Il-76 military transport plane over the Belgorod Region that was carrying captured Ukrainian troops selected to be included in the exchange. There were 74 people on board, including 65 Ukrainian military personnel, all of whom were killed.

This is me talking about the Il-76 that crashed in Belgorod. 1-25-24

This is me talking about FM Lavrov. 1-25-24

1) Reports about China and the Uzbek economy
2) The Russians and Serbians in Chad. Notice the President of Chad is a four star general and he's visiting Moscow this week. I wonder about Belgrade and these military helicopters. That seems ominous about their defense budget.
3) The Kremlin has been turned down. The rotating UNSC chair told them they cannot have an emergency meeting. Also, Zelensky is requesting the same emergency meetings. Both of them seem to be requesting a lot of emergency meetings. Generally, the role of the UN, Astana, and Doha in foreign affairs.

Uzbekistan Appoints Ambassadors to Kuwait and Qatar

China Launches Express Cargo Route to Uzbekistan

MOSCOW, January 24. /TASS/. Chadian Transitional President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno described on Wednesday his official visit to Russia’s capital city of Moscow as a "historic" milestone in the two countries’ bilateral relationship, which was first established nearly 60 years ago in November 1964.

Hungarian security services bust radical group plotting armed takeover According to the statement, 11 members of the group known as 'Scythian Hungary,' were arrested in Budapest and other cities BUDAPEST, January 25. /TASS/. Security services of Hungary have raided an illegal group suspected of plotting an armed takeover, the country’s National Police Department said on its website. According to the statement, 11 members of the group known as 'Scythian Hungary,' were arrested in Budapest and other cities. They were in possession of weapons, forged ID documents and extremist printed materials. The operation, carried out in 10 populated areas of the country, involved 150 law enforcement officers. "The National Bureau of Investigation has opened a case into preparations for an armed takeover. Members of the organization were identified and arrested at dawn on Tuesday," police said. Searches revealed that the group’s members had assault rifles, pistols and ammunition. Law enforcers also found forged documents, including diplomatic passports and firearm possession licenses.

BELGRADE, January 24. /TASS/. Serbia plans to purchase two more Ka-32 firefighting helicopters from Russia, which will give the Balkan country the strongest fire extinguishing capabilities in southeastern Europe, President Aleksandar Vucic said.

France turns down Russian request to hold UNSC meeting on downed plane Wednesday — mission Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia requested an urgent UN Security Council meeting at 3:00 p.m. local time (8:00 p.m. GMT) on Wednesday UNITED NATIONS, January 24. /TASS/. France, which holds the rotating UN Security Council presidency this month, has turned down Russia’s request to hold a UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday to discuss the downing of a Russian military plane by the Ukrainian military, Russian First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyansky said. Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia requested an urgent UN Security Council meeting at 3:00 p.m. local time (8:00 p.m. GMT) on Wednesday. "The French Presidency declined our request for an urgent Council meeting <…> today for 3 p.m.," he wrote on Telegram, adding that "in this endeavor, the French Presidency <…> abuses its presidential functions.". "In a clear attempt to shield their Kiev regime clients it [the French Presidency of the UN Security Council] agrees to schedule the meeting only for tomorrow [January 25] for 5 p.m. [New York time, 10 p.m. GMT]," the Russian diplomat added. "It’s deplorable that glorious in the old days French diplomacy has shrunk to miserable swindling." The Russian Defense Ministry announced on January 24, that the Ukrainian armed forces allegedly shot down a Russian Il-76 military transport plane over the Belgorod Region that was carrying captured Ukrainian troops selected to be included in the exchange. There were 74 people on board, including 65 Ukrainian military personnel, all of whom were killed. The Russian Defense Ministry called what happened a terrorist act and stressed that Kiev knew about the transportation of prisoners for the exchange, which was to take place at the Kolotilovka checkpoint, and purposely attacked the plane in order to accuse Moscow of destroying Ukrainian military personnel.

Kiev says will insist on international inquiry into Il-76 catastrophe Vladimir Zelensky said he had held emergency meetings with the top brass of the Ukrainian armed forces, the Main Intelligence Directorate and the Justice Ministry MOSCOW, January 25. /TASS/. The Kiev government will insist on an international investigation into the downing of the Il-76 plane, shot down by the Ukrainian military above Russia’s borderline region of Belgorod, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said in a video address posted on his Telegram channel. The president said he had held emergency meetings with the top brass of the Ukrainian armed forces, the Main Intelligence Directorate and the Justice Ministry. "We need to establish all clear facts, as many as possible, provided that the plane crashed on the Russian territory, beyond our zone of control," Zelensky said. "I instructed thte foreign minister of Ukraine to convey the information that we have to our partners. Our country will insist on an international investigation." Initially, Ukrainian media reported, citing sources in the country’s Defense Ministry, that the plane was transporting missiles for S-300 air defense systems and was downed by the Air Force of Ukraine. However, after the Russian Defense Ministry said that the plane was transporting 65 captured Ukrainian servicemen to the Belgorod Region for a subsequent swap with Ukraine, all media outlets removed all reports pointing at Kiev’s involvement. At the same time, France, which holds the rotating UN Security Council presidency this month, turned down Russia’s request to hold an urgent meeting on the issue on January 24. In an apparent attempt to give Ukraine more time for making up a plausible explanation, the event was scheduled for the evening of January 25. The Russian Defense Ministry announced on January 24, that the Ukrainian armed forces allegedly shot down a Russian Il-76 military transport plane over the Belgorod Region that was carrying captured Ukrainian troops selected to be included in the exchange. There were 74 people on board, including 65 Ukrainian military personnel, all of whom were killed. The Russian Defense Ministry called what happened a terrorist act and stressed that Kiev knew about the transportation of prisoners for the exchange, which was to take place at the Kolotilovka checkpoint, and purposely attacked the plane in order to accuse Moscow of destroying Ukrainian military personnel. It also said that the plane was shot down with an anti-aircraft missile system located near Liptsy in the Kharkov Region.

NEW YORK, January 25. /TASS/. Qatar has sent its proposed draft ceasefire deal to Israel and Palestine’s radical movement Hamas, Bloomberg reported citing sources familiar with the negotiations.
(January 25, 2024)

1) Two Russian diplomats. One of them has published papers on the Arab states, Evgeny A.Kudrov. The other is photographed talking to Assad, Alexander Lavrentiev. The first is complaining about the Pentagon and Syria. The second is complaining about the Royal Navy in the Gulf of Aden.
2) CENTCOM is saying the PLAN isn't assisting with the Houthi stuff.
3) The Treasury Department maybe caught a big fish accused of cyber crimes, Alexander Ermakov.