🇷🇺 👑 Igor Girkin, Russian war blogger notorious for role in Ukraine, reportedly arrested in Moscow
Igor Girkin, a prominent Russian military blogger and former official in the separatist so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) in Ukraine, has been arrested in Moscow, according to a message attributed to his wife and posted on his Telegram account and in Russian news reports.
“Today, at about 11:30, representatives of the Investigative Committee came to our house,” read a statement on Girkin’s Telegram account attributed to his wife, Miroslava Reginskaya. “I was not at home at that time. Soon, according to the concierge, they took my husband out under the arms and took him to an unknown direction.”
Reginskaya said that she understands that Girkin is being charged with “extremism.”
“I do not know anything about my husband’s whereabouts and he has not contacted me,” her statement read.
Russian state news agency TASS said Reginskaya informed them about the extremism charge, and that law-enforcement agencies confirmed Girkin’s detention.
Girkin is a former colonel in Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) and served as defense minister in the DPR in eastern Ukraine.
It was during his time in the DPR that he contributed to the downing Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014, a Dutch court found. All 298 people onboard were killed. The court last year found Girkin guilty of mass murder for his role in the downing of MH17, and he was sentenced Girkin in absentia to life in prison.
According to the court, Girkin participated in the conflicts in Chechnya, Transnistria and Bosnia.It was during his time in the DPR that he contributed to the downing Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014, a Dutch court found. All 298 people onboard were killed.
The court last year found Girkin guilty of mass murder for his role in the downing of MH17, and he was sentenced Girkin in absentia to life in prison.
According to the court, Girkin participated in the conflicts in Chechnya, Transnistria and Bosnia.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/21/europe/igor-girkin-arrest-russia-intl/index.html
Igor Girkin, a prominent Russian military blogger and former official in the separatist so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) in Ukraine, has been arrested in Moscow, according to a message attributed to his wife and posted on his Telegram account and in Russian news reports.
“Today, at about 11:30, representatives of the Investigative Committee came to our house,” read a statement on Girkin’s Telegram account attributed to his wife, Miroslava Reginskaya. “I was not at home at that time. Soon, according to the concierge, they took my husband out under the arms and took him to an unknown direction.”
Reginskaya said that she understands that Girkin is being charged with “extremism.”
“I do not know anything about my husband’s whereabouts and he has not contacted me,” her statement read.
Russian state news agency TASS said Reginskaya informed them about the extremism charge, and that law-enforcement agencies confirmed Girkin’s detention.
Girkin is a former colonel in Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) and served as defense minister in the DPR in eastern Ukraine.
It was during his time in the DPR that he contributed to the downing Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014, a Dutch court found. All 298 people onboard were killed. The court last year found Girkin guilty of mass murder for his role in the downing of MH17, and he was sentenced Girkin in absentia to life in prison.
According to the court, Girkin participated in the conflicts in Chechnya, Transnistria and Bosnia.It was during his time in the DPR that he contributed to the downing Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014, a Dutch court found. All 298 people onboard were killed.
The court last year found Girkin guilty of mass murder for his role in the downing of MH17, and he was sentenced Girkin in absentia to life in prison.
According to the court, Girkin participated in the conflicts in Chechnya, Transnistria and Bosnia.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/21/europe/igor-girkin-arrest-russia-intl/index.html
CNN
Pro-war Russian blogger who called Putin a ‘lowlife’ arrested in Moscow
Igor Girkin, a Russian pro-war blogger who has criticized Vladimir Putin and his military’s mishaps in Ukraine, was arrested Friday, in a move that suggested the Kremlin’s patience with dissent has grown thinner in the wake of the Wagner rebellion.
⚡️ 🇺🇸 🇿🇦 "In the latest sign of decline they have given up trying to fix California's power grid and are now touting it as a civic virtue." - Carolina Lion
https://www.latimes.com/environment/newsletter/2023-07-20/would-an-occasional-blackout-help-solve-climate-change-boiling-point
https://www.latimes.com/environment/newsletter/2023-07-20/would-an-occasional-blackout-help-solve-climate-change-boiling-point
Los Angeles Times
Would an occasional blackout help solve climate change?
Shutting down gas plants faster could reduce carbon pollution — while also causing power shortages.
🇺🇸 U.S. leading indicators point to recession starting soon
An index designed to track turns in U.S. business cycles fell for the 15th straight month in June, dragged down by a weakening consumer outlook and increased unemployment claims, marking the longest streak of decreases since the lead-up to the 2007-2009 recession.
The Conference Board on Thursday said its Leading Economic Index, a measure that anticipates future economic activity, declined by 0.7% in June to 106.1 following a revised decrease of 0.6% in May. The decline was slightly greater than the median expectation among economists in a Reuters poll for a 0.6% decrease.
“Taken together, June’s data suggests economic activity will continue to decelerate in the months ahead,” Justyna Zabinska-La Monica, senior manager of business cycle indicators at The Conference Board, said in a statement. The Conference Board reiterated its forecast that the U.S. economy is likely to be in recession from the current third quarter to the first quarter of 2024.
"Elevated prices, tighter monetary policy, harder-to-get credit, and reduced government spending are poised to dampen economic growth further," Zabinska-La Monica said.
The Conference Board said the contraction in the LEI is accelerating, falling 4.2% over the last six months compared to 3.8% between June and December 2022.
https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/us-leading-indicators-point-recession-starting-soon-2023-07-20/
https://archive.ph/eGjHl
An index designed to track turns in U.S. business cycles fell for the 15th straight month in June, dragged down by a weakening consumer outlook and increased unemployment claims, marking the longest streak of decreases since the lead-up to the 2007-2009 recession.
The Conference Board on Thursday said its Leading Economic Index, a measure that anticipates future economic activity, declined by 0.7% in June to 106.1 following a revised decrease of 0.6% in May. The decline was slightly greater than the median expectation among economists in a Reuters poll for a 0.6% decrease.
“Taken together, June’s data suggests economic activity will continue to decelerate in the months ahead,” Justyna Zabinska-La Monica, senior manager of business cycle indicators at The Conference Board, said in a statement. The Conference Board reiterated its forecast that the U.S. economy is likely to be in recession from the current third quarter to the first quarter of 2024.
"Elevated prices, tighter monetary policy, harder-to-get credit, and reduced government spending are poised to dampen economic growth further," Zabinska-La Monica said.
The Conference Board said the contraction in the LEI is accelerating, falling 4.2% over the last six months compared to 3.8% between June and December 2022.
https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/us-leading-indicators-point-recession-starting-soon-2023-07-20/
https://archive.ph/eGjHl
Reuters
U.S. leading indicators point to recession starting soon
An index designed to track turns in U.S. business cycles fell for the 15th straight month in June, dragged down by a weakening consumer outlook and increased unemployment claims, marking the longest streak of decreases since the lead-up to the 2007-2009 recession.
Forwarded from Lebanese News and Updates
Whole units and brigades in the Israeli army are at risk of losing their operational capability next week, after thousands of soldiers threatened to not attend their posts if the Israeli government approves the judicial changes
Even after the matter ends, the IDF is torn forever
Even after the matter ends, the IDF is torn forever
— 59% of AfD voters interviewed manifested "Pro-Xenophobia positions"
— 50.2% of AfD voters interviewed "manifested Pro-Chauvinist points" (i.e. retaking lost territories during WW2)
— 22.3% of AfD voters were in "favor of establishing a Dictatorship in Germany"
— 14% of AfD voters showed "anti-semitic talking points"
— 8.5% of AfD voters polled were in favor of "trivializing Germany's National Socialist past"
Interesting to note that the only categories that resemble National-Conservative party voters are precisely the undecided and those who do not participate in the electoral process (i.e. apathetic to the political situation in Germany)
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Forwarded from Rerum Novarum // Intel, Breaking News, and Alerts 🇺🇸
🇩🇪🇵🇱 - Alice Weidel, the leader of Germany's nationalist AfD party, referred to the former East Germany as "Central Germany" on Twitter.
This would imply she believes land east of the Oder-Neisse line lost by Germany after WWII should still be controlled by the country.
This would imply she believes land east of the Oder-Neisse line lost by Germany after WWII should still be controlled by the country.
Forwarded from /CIG/ Telegram | Counter Intelligence Global (Fren Bobbie)
Rerum Novarum // Intel, Breaking News, and Alerts 🇺🇸
🇩🇪🇵🇱 - Alice Weidel, the leader of Germany's nationalist AfD party, referred to the former East Germany as "Central Germany" on Twitter. This would imply she believes land east of the Oder-Neisse line lost by Germany after WWII should still be controlled…
🇩🇪❓🇷🇺 As we watch a modern Kursk play out in the East, could a potential Second Molotov Pact be quietly bubbling to the surface?
/CIG/ Telegram | Counter Intelligence Global
🇸🇻 🇻🇦 More popular than the Pope 📎 Nayib Bukele
🇸🇻 El Salvador's President, Nayib Bukele, Wants to Unite All 7 Countries in Central America
Four months ago, El Salvador's President, Nayib Bukele, made international headlines with his crackdown on the infamous criminal organization known as MS-13. His anti-gang initiative has revolutionized Central America, encouraging other countries in the region, such as Honduras, to follow suit.
Shortly after Spain's colonial rule was ousted from Central America (in 1821), the Mexican Empire (consisting of present-day Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Guatemala) formed. But, the unification only lasted for a few years. Subsequently, in 1823 El Salvador joined the Federal Republic of Central America, a union featuring neighboring countries like Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. This political merger endured until around 1841, when El Salvador became independent once and for all. Now, Bukele would like to revisit the concept with new modifications.
https://www.vladtv.com/article/296414/el-salvadors-president-nayib-bukele-wants-to-unite-all-7-countries-in
Four months ago, El Salvador's President, Nayib Bukele, made international headlines with his crackdown on the infamous criminal organization known as MS-13. His anti-gang initiative has revolutionized Central America, encouraging other countries in the region, such as Honduras, to follow suit.
Shortly after Spain's colonial rule was ousted from Central America (in 1821), the Mexican Empire (consisting of present-day Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Guatemala) formed. But, the unification only lasted for a few years. Subsequently, in 1823 El Salvador joined the Federal Republic of Central America, a union featuring neighboring countries like Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. This political merger endured until around 1841, when El Salvador became independent once and for all. Now, Bukele would like to revisit the concept with new modifications.
https://www.vladtv.com/article/296414/el-salvadors-president-nayib-bukele-wants-to-unite-all-7-countries-in
VLADTV
El Salvador's President, Nayib Bukele, Wants to Unite All 7 Countries in Central America
Four months ago, El Salvador's President, Nayib Bukele, made international headlines with his crackdown on the infamous criminal organization known...
🇺🇸 Republican senators say they’re worried that conservative populism, though always a part of the GOP, is beginning to take over the party, becoming more radical and threatening to cause them significant political problems heading into the 2024 election.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4098609-gop-senators-rattled-by-radical-conservative-populism/
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4098609-gop-senators-rattled-by-radical-conservative-populism/
The Hill
GOP senators rattled by radical conservative populism
Republican senators say they’re worried that conservative populism, though always a part of the GOP, is beginning to take over the party, becoming more radical and threatening to cause them signifi…
🇺🇸 🇮🇷 The US Navy is preparing for war in the Persian Gulf. | David Axe
"Twenty times in the past three years, Iranian forces have tried to board foreign-flagged commercial vessels sailing through the narrow Strait of Hormuz into or out of the Persian Gulf. And twice in the span of just a couple weeks this spring, they succeeded – seizing one vessel whose crew they accused of colliding with an Iranian vessel, and another they claimed was involved in a legal dispute in Iran.
After Iranian gunboats opened fire on the Bahamas-flagged tanker Richmond Voyager on July 5, the Pentagon finally lost patience. It announced it would deploy a destroyer and F-16 and F-35 fighters to reinforce US forces – including F-22 stealth fighters and a pair of destroyers – already in the Middle East. The extra forces would “defend US interests and safeguard freedom of navigation in the region,” Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said.
If the current spasm of maritime harassment escalates to open warfare, as it has in the past, expect the same outcome as in 1987 and 1988: burning and sinking Iranian ships and platforms and a lot of dead Iranians."
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/07/20/us-navy-persian-gulf-war-iran-repeat/
https://archive.ph/CqLAs
"Twenty times in the past three years, Iranian forces have tried to board foreign-flagged commercial vessels sailing through the narrow Strait of Hormuz into or out of the Persian Gulf. And twice in the span of just a couple weeks this spring, they succeeded – seizing one vessel whose crew they accused of colliding with an Iranian vessel, and another they claimed was involved in a legal dispute in Iran.
After Iranian gunboats opened fire on the Bahamas-flagged tanker Richmond Voyager on July 5, the Pentagon finally lost patience. It announced it would deploy a destroyer and F-16 and F-35 fighters to reinforce US forces – including F-22 stealth fighters and a pair of destroyers – already in the Middle East. The extra forces would “defend US interests and safeguard freedom of navigation in the region,” Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said.
If the current spasm of maritime harassment escalates to open warfare, as it has in the past, expect the same outcome as in 1987 and 1988: burning and sinking Iranian ships and platforms and a lot of dead Iranians."
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/07/20/us-navy-persian-gulf-war-iran-repeat/
https://archive.ph/CqLAs
The Telegraph
The US Navy is preparing for war in the Persian Gulf. The Iranians just never learn
It’s difficult to walk softly when you’re carrying a stick as big as this
/CIG/ Telegram | Counter Intelligence Global
🇺🇸 🇮🇷 The US Navy is preparing for war in the Persian Gulf. | David Axe "Twenty times in the past three years, Iranian forces have tried to board foreign-flagged commercial vessels sailing through the narrow Strait of Hormuz into or out of the Persian Gulf.…
📝 🇺🇸 🇮🇷 "Iran is not a country unable to defend itself. It has more integrated air defense systems (ADs) than all of Europe, and they have achieved this on their own because the Russians have not kept their promises.
Iran purchased an S-300 system in 2007/2008, but Russia delayed its delivery for years. Only after Tehran filed a lawsuit against Moscow in the International Court of Justice in Geneva for breach of contract did Russia finally decide to deliver the system. Interestingly, Iran had enough time to develop and produce its own air defense system, which is now even superior to the S-300.
Furthermore, now Russia has once again broken a contract with Iran regarding the delivery of 50 Su-35 aircraft, even after receiving full payment.
In the past, Russia sent an S-300 system to Syria, but later took it back after a short period.
To add to this, the Russian S-400 system deployed in Syria has been suspected of not effectively protecting the country, with claims that the Russians have switched it off to comply with Israel's demands.
Iran is left alone in this game, as there is a strong connection between the Israeli and Russian arms industries. A significant part of the Israeli military industry was built by the Soviet diaspora.
Moscow often plays a double game, not just in the situations regarding Iran and Syria, but also throughout the Muslim world, where many countries were once old customers of Soviet weapons.
It is likely that China will continue to pursue its diplomatic efforts and take over any remaining Russian influence in the region.
The Soviets and later the Russians were unable to successfully negotiate any diplomatic deals in the region for decades, but the Chinese seem to be able to do so effortlessly.
The truth ? when there are strong arm sales and a powerful lobby, there is little room for diplomacy." - Patricia Marins
📎 Patricia Marins
Iran purchased an S-300 system in 2007/2008, but Russia delayed its delivery for years. Only after Tehran filed a lawsuit against Moscow in the International Court of Justice in Geneva for breach of contract did Russia finally decide to deliver the system. Interestingly, Iran had enough time to develop and produce its own air defense system, which is now even superior to the S-300.
Furthermore, now Russia has once again broken a contract with Iran regarding the delivery of 50 Su-35 aircraft, even after receiving full payment.
In the past, Russia sent an S-300 system to Syria, but later took it back after a short period.
To add to this, the Russian S-400 system deployed in Syria has been suspected of not effectively protecting the country, with claims that the Russians have switched it off to comply with Israel's demands.
Iran is left alone in this game, as there is a strong connection between the Israeli and Russian arms industries. A significant part of the Israeli military industry was built by the Soviet diaspora.
Moscow often plays a double game, not just in the situations regarding Iran and Syria, but also throughout the Muslim world, where many countries were once old customers of Soviet weapons.
It is likely that China will continue to pursue its diplomatic efforts and take over any remaining Russian influence in the region.
The Soviets and later the Russians were unable to successfully negotiate any diplomatic deals in the region for decades, but the Chinese seem to be able to do so effortlessly.
The truth ? when there are strong arm sales and a powerful lobby, there is little room for diplomacy." - Patricia Marins
📎 Patricia Marins
/CIG/ Telegram | Counter Intelligence Global
"The body language tells you what you need to know." - Andrew Erickson
🇺🇸 🇨🇳 "US has to send a 100 year old Kissinger to China because there's no one else.
Soon, there won't be anyone to talk to China. Then World War 3" - Carl Zha
📝 Marko Jukic:
"That 100-year-old Henry Kissinger is still flown out to China every few years is a very bad sign for functionality of U.S. diplomacy and future global stability.
It strongly suggests that Kissinger's social capital and networks in China have not been passed down to a successor."
📎 Carl Zha
Soon, there won't be anyone to talk to China. Then World War 3" - Carl Zha
📝 Marko Jukic:
"That 100-year-old Henry Kissinger is still flown out to China every few years is a very bad sign for functionality of U.S. diplomacy and future global stability.
It strongly suggests that Kissinger's social capital and networks in China have not been passed down to a successor."
📎 Carl Zha
Forwarded from Lebanese News and Updates
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Israeli tour guide forces German Christian figure to remove his cross, claiming it's inappropriate to have it displayed near the so-called sacred Jewish wall.
This happened in the presence of a German Minister.
This happened in the presence of a German Minister.
🤖 "They tried to patch out the “wrong think” over the past few months and gave the AI a lobotomy." - Battle Beagle
https://fortune.com/2023/07/19/chatgpt-accuracy-stanford-study/
https://archive.ph/OM3Ej
https://fortune.com/2023/07/19/chatgpt-accuracy-stanford-study/
https://archive.ph/OM3Ej
Forwarded from Disclose.tv
JUST IN - Germany's right-wing AfD party gained another 2% this week. At this rate, the party is on track to become the most popular party in the country — INSA poll
Israel's ex-ambassador Shimon Stein on the AfD upsurge: "The current development in Germany cannot be tolerated."
@disclosetv
Israel's ex-ambassador Shimon Stein on the AfD upsurge: "The current development in Germany cannot be tolerated."
@disclosetv
Forwarded from Blood Meridian
🇲🇽🇺🇸 Mexico's AMLO urges Hispanics in the US not to vote for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador intensified his anti-Republican election meddling this week, as he again urged Hispanics in America not to vote for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott after the Republican governor deployed buoys to prevent people entering the U.S. illegally.
🗣 "We don't have to do much, just tell our compatriots not to vote for the governor of Texas or for lawmakers of the Republican Party who support these measures," Lopez Obrador said in a press conference.
Abbott had announced the installation of a "marine barrier" earlier this month – consisting of orange buoys and is intended to discourage migrants from crossing the Rio Grande.
🔎 Source
#Mexico #US
☠️ Blood Meridian
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador intensified his anti-Republican election meddling this week, as he again urged Hispanics in America not to vote for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott after the Republican governor deployed buoys to prevent people entering the U.S. illegally.
Abbott had announced the installation of a "marine barrier" earlier this month – consisting of orange buoys and is intended to discourage migrants from crossing the Rio Grande.
🔎 Source
#Mexico #US
☠️ Blood Meridian
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Blood Meridian
🇲🇽🇺🇸 Mexico's AMLO urges Hispanics in the US not to vote for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador intensified his anti-Republican election meddling this week, as he again urged Hispanics in America not to vote for Texas Gov.…
📝 AMLO is to Hispanic diaspora in the US, as Erdogan is to Turkish diaspora in Europe.
🇺🇸 “Trench warfare could easily be a component in future conflicts involving the U.S. military.
Combat engineers from the Georgia Army National Guard recently built a trench line to help train new recruits. Though the U.S. Army uses trenches in training evolutions and exercises, at first glance doing so may look like a throwback to time gone by. Sadly, that is not the case. In fact, their significance can be viewed with chilling clarity given the very active use currently of fortifications like this by both sides of the conflict in Ukraine.
This particular trench was reportedly constructed during "First 100 Yards" training at Fort Moore."
📝 Skybuster:
"The trench is for squads to conduct battle drill #7. They will only be entering the trench and securing a foothold. This is basic training, they don’t do anything above squad level."
📝 Additional note: These trenches are a training demonstration, they're not meant to be properly designed with pits and jagged lines.
📎 Lord Bebo
Combat engineers from the Georgia Army National Guard recently built a trench line to help train new recruits. Though the U.S. Army uses trenches in training evolutions and exercises, at first glance doing so may look like a throwback to time gone by. Sadly, that is not the case. In fact, their significance can be viewed with chilling clarity given the very active use currently of fortifications like this by both sides of the conflict in Ukraine.
This particular trench was reportedly constructed during "First 100 Yards" training at Fort Moore."
📝 Skybuster:
"The trench is for squads to conduct battle drill #7. They will only be entering the trench and securing a foothold. This is basic training, they don’t do anything above squad level."
📝 Additional note: These trenches are a training demonstration, they're not meant to be properly designed with pits and jagged lines.
📎 Lord Bebo