Syrian government forces repeatedly used chemical weapons -- sarin and chlorine -- but the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons finds no evidence to back the government's claim that rebel forces twice used chemical weapons in 2017. apnews.com/article/syria-…
As the Chinese government issues an arrest warrant and bounties for Hong Kong pro-democracy activists exiled in Australia, Australians are asking whether this is the right time for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to visit Beijing. theguardian.com/australia-news…
In May, US defence officials proved something they had long hoped: America’s air defence systems can shoot down Russia’s modern missiles.
“For the military industry of the world, you can’t invent a better testing ground” said 🇺🇦 defmin @oleksiireznikov
ft.com/content/8819b5…
Putin faces a classic autocrat's dilemma. With no genuine electoral mandate, and terrified of a coup, he is rewarding loyalty over competence. That bodes well for Ukraine, badly for the people of Russia who must endure his reign. nytimes.com/2023/07/04/wor…
"The Wagner Group was able to rattle every precinct of the state, because the state rests entirely on the will of one man whose authority was being challenged with scarcely a response....a mafia state lacking robust institutions." project-syndicate.org/commentary/pri…
On 4 July, 2 Russian frigates passed between Kubajima & Taishoto of the Senkaku chain. 1-3 July the 2 ships were anchored NE of Miyakojima. At end of June, the same ships passed between Taiwan & Yonaguni Island, Japan's westernmost island. nordot.app/10489583044780…
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry had summoned Georgian Ambassador George Zakarashvili to express its protest over the apparent significant deterioration in the health of Saakashvili.
trts.io/wZ4Ch
[Breaking News]
In the northwestern Aleppo province of Syria, there has been an artillery shelling by the regime and Russia, resulting in four children being injured. the attack on children is an unforgivable act, and SSJ strongly accuses the attack using the strongest words. twitter.com/syriacivildef/…
#WARNING Ukrainian army identified explosive devices, which the Russians have installed on the roof of Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant. At the same time, the Russian Telegram channels started a media campaign accusing Ukraine of "preparing a strike" on NPP. A very bad sign.
Russian shelling of the city of Pervomaiskyi in the Kharkiv region injured at least 31 people, including nine children, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported on July 4. meduza.io/en/news/2023/0…
The third president of Chechnya, Aslan Maskhadov, poses in front of the portraits of the first Chechen president, Dzhokhar Dudayev, and the first resistance leader in the North Caucasus, Sheikh Mansur. Unknown year. pic.twitter.com/AODLWYEAKZ
In #Grozny,#Chechnya, south #Russia, Novaya Gazeta @novayagazeta_enreporter Elena Milashina was physically attacked earlier today. The attackers broke her fingers on both hands, beat her, forcibly shaved her head and doused her with brilliant green.
Horrific.
1/2 pic.twitter.com/uOrYu8mepQ
After long (laughably) denying having anything to do with Wagner forces, the Kremlin, having ousted their leader Prigozhin, is now scrambling to take control of their profits and ruthless services as they back dictators and extract profits across Africa. nytimes.com/2023/07/04/opi…
On 4 July Russian Deputy PM Yury Trutnev visited Iturup in the Kuril chain. Japan protested that the visit was "entirely unacceptable." Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova responded: "The island is ours. It's time to learn" [Остров наш. Пора выучить]. kommersant.ru/doc/6083276
And here's the official line, from Kadyrov's Propaganda Minister Akhmed Dudaev: Western agents attempting to smear the image of Chechnya and Russia. Also says that Milashina was basically asking for it with her reporting on LGBT persecution & Ukr war
t.me/akhmeddudaev/1…