🇺🇸Trump: "We want to have good relationships with Russia"
🇺🇸Reporter: "Russia is not our ally"
🇺🇸Trump: "They are, Putin is my friend"
🇺🇸Reporter: "What about Canada, they stood with us for decades"
🇺🇸Trump: "They are nasty people"
🇺🇸Reporter: "So now Russians are good and Canadians are nasty?"
🇺🇸Trump: "Yes, next question please"
🇵🇱 Polish PM Tusk was absolutely right that Trump is Moscow's asset
Russia’s Amur Gas Chemical Complex, slated to become one of the largest in the world, suffered a sudden explosion and fire this morning, severely damaging the facility.
The plant had been scheduled to open soon and was undergoing pre-commissioning work ups.
France's National Assembly has rejected a proposal to introduce life imprisonment for serial rapists of children under the age of 15, with the measure narrowly defeated 40 votes to 37 after a heated debate.
The proposal was introduced by the government as part of its child protection bill following the Lyhanna case. It would have allowed courts to impose life sentences in cases involving serial rapes of children under 15.
Left-wing MPs opposed the measure, arguing it focused solely on punishment instead of preventing repeat offending. Green and Social MP Marie-Charlotte Garin said: "What will protect our children is more resources for prevention... for the police and the justice system, so they can do their work and prevent reoffending."
Equality Minister Aurore Bergé criticized the vote, pointing to the case of former surgeon Joël Le Scouarnec, who was convicted of 299 rapes and sexual assaults against minors but could not receive a life sentence under existing law and instead faced a maximum sentence of 20 years.
The government has requested a new vote on Tuesday before the National Assembly holds its final vote on the child protection bill.
⚠️ WHO: War has worsened the health of about 70% of Ukrainians.
Chronic stress, poor sleep, constant danger, and disrupted medical care are accelerating health problems across Ukraine, according to the World Health Organization. Around two in three Ukrainians say their health has deteriorated since the war began. Source: RBC-Ukraine
Yesterday, Peskov said: this is no longer a "special military operation" - it is a war.
This statement by an official is yet another step toward a future mobilization in Russia.
What could happen if war is officially declared instead of a "special military operation" ("SMO")?
Instead of partial measures, Russia would launch a mechanism for general (total) mobilization and introduce martial law:
◾️ Putin would have to issue a decree introducing martial law and submit a bill to the Federation Council and the State Duma declaring a state of war.
◾️ The country's borders would be automatically and completely closed to all citizens liable for military duty, preventing them from leaving the country.
◾️ Unlike the "SMO," where the focus is on people with combat experience and in-demand military specialties, a general mobilization would call up all categories of citizens in the reserve, in turn.
Another indirect indication of preparations for a total mobilization is yesterday's news that the Russian defense ministry intends to abolish mandatory medical examinations for contract soldiers and those mobilized to determine their fitness for service. The ministry has already prepared the relevant amendments to the law on military service.
Abolishing military medical examinations would introduce a "presumption of absolute fitness" for everyone subject to mobilization. This would make it possible to mobilize large numbers of Russians and send them to the front lines as quickly as possible.
All Russians who do not want to lose their lives or their health in a criminal war must flee Russia. Right now.
AZOV PEARL HARBOR: In a massive drone strike last night,Ukraine hit EIGHT Russian shadow fleet tankers in the Sea of Azov. All were carrying fuel to occupied Crimea. That's 40-50K tons of desperately needed fuel that won’t make it to Crimean pumps.
https://t.co/wSPf2ZsLiA
TIME TO SAY GOOD BYE: Russian occupation authorities have prepared plans for the evacuation of up to 250,000 people — including gov't agencies, institutions & civilians-- from occupied Crimea.
Putin’s Russia in the 21st century: The “second-best army in the world” has run out of fuel, and steam locomotives have been hauled out of the motherland’s reserves. 😂😂😂
Soon, they will likely be unpacking airships and horse-drawn carriages from the 1920s. The return to the USSR—so lauded by “patriots”—is proceeding at breakneck speed.
https://t.co/e5hgGT2FUB