Month: June 2023

Following the most devastating night of widespread rioting in response to the deadly police shooting of a teenager, French President Emmanuel Macron convened his cabinet for a second crisis meeting in two days. Authorities reported hundreds of police officers were hurt and hundreds of people were arrested as rioters clashed with officials in towns and cities across France, torching buildings and vehicles and looting stores after the most destructive night of nationwide rioting yet in protest at the fatal shooting of a teenager by police. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, who…

Russian forces are starting to leave the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, according to Ukraine’s main department of intelligence for the defence ministry.    According to the latest data, the occupation contingent is gradually leaving the territory of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.  Ukrainian employees who signed a contract with Rosatom were also advised to evacuate.  Multiple explosions have hit an area near an airport in the occupied port city of Berdyansk in Ukraine’s south eastern Zaporizhzhia region.  Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he has ordered top military commanders to strengthen Ukraine’s northern military…

China’s President Xi Jinping will attend and deliver a speech at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) via video link on July 4, the Chinese foreign ministry said. At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Xi will attend via video conference in Beijing, the 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads meeting of the SCO on July 4 and deliver important remarks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a brief press release. This is the first official announcement about Xi’s participation in the SCO…

The Russian President drew on India’s fine example to encourage domestic products and brands in his own country through the ‘Make in India’ initiative. He heaped praise on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and called him a “great friend of Russia” while also lauding his “Make in India” initiative during an event in Moscow, during his speech. He also highlighted how the initiative had a positive impact on the Indian economy. “Our friends in India & Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a great friend of Russia, a few years ago presented…

For some days now, Ukraine has warned Russia is considering launching an attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.  Kyrylo Budanov has now said Moscow has finished its preparations and just needs to give the go-ahead. In an interview with New Statesman, the spy chief said the plan is fully “drafted and approved” and that once the go-ahead is given the attack “can happen in a matter of minutes. He said Ukraine had intelligence that: Russian troops have moved vehicles carrying explosives to four of the six power plant units The…

The Chinese spy balloon that passed over the U.S. early this year used American technology that helped it collect audio-visual information, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing preliminary findings from a closely held investigation. Analysis from several US defence and intelligence agencies found that the balloon carried commercially available U.S. gear, along with more specialized Chinese sensors and other equipment to collect photographs, video, and other information to transmit to China, the WSJ said, citing US officials. The findings support a conclusion that the craft was intended for spying, and…