Russian ofcls claimed the order was in response to comments from the West about the possibility of more direct involvement in #Ukraine. #NATO called the announcement “irresponsible.”
The announcement of the exercise was Russia’s most explicit warning in its >2yr #invasion of #Ukraine that it could use tactical #NuclearWeapons there.
“…electronic parts had been manufactured in the US & Europe over the past few years. There was even a US computer chip made as recently as March 2023. This meant that North Korea had illicitly procured vital weapons components, snuck them into the country, assembled the missile, & shipped it to Russia in secret, where it had then been transported to the frontline & fired - all in a matter of months.”
"#Netanyahu will run for prime minister in the next election, and is certain he can win
The prime minister is confident his hostage deal offer will silence critics while removing troublesome far-right elements from his government..."
Interesting web comic about nuclear technology and regulation. Especially in the context of current events (AFIK only 3 countries that have had nuclear weapons and ICBMs have ever disarmed... One of them is now being invaded).
In the middle of the raging war in #Gaza, the Swedish Armed Forces orders a new weapon system for the Jas 39 Gripen for SEK 390 million.
The target seeker system is manufactured in Israel by a state-owned company and is currently being used in airstrikes against Palestine to guide bombs against civilian targets.
The International Court of Justice has refused to order #Germany to stop sending #weapons and aid to Israel, rejecting a request from #Nicaragua.
Nicaragua brought the case arguing that by providing arms and other support to Israel, Germany is failing to prevent possible genocide against Palestinians in Israel's war with #Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
So much for genocide preventation.
Once again we witness the impunity of the apartheid genocidal regime of Israel and it's global network of supporters.
Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council draft resolution to urge countries to comply with the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and prevent a nuclear arms race in space. Earlier this year, U.S. officials accused Moscow of developing a new satellite-destroying nuclear weapon. The resolution was drafted by Japan and the United States, who voted in favor along with 11 other members of the council. China abstained. Read more about the failed vote from Axios.
Before the U.S. president signed a long-awaited weapons package this morning, the Biden administration secretly sent long-range missiles to Ukraine in March. Kyiv has already used the Army Tactical Missile Systems twice, striking targets deep beyond Russian enemy lines. The U.S. is sending more long-range ATACMS as part of the new $1 billion aid package. Politico has more on the weapons, and why Ukraine had been requesting them for years.
"Fears are rising for tens of thousands of civilians in northern Gaza’s Beit Lahiya as Israeli troops attack the city “with extreme force” and order Palestinians to immediately flee."
A group of bipartisan U.S. lawmakers are advocating for a risky proposition to allow Taiwan to build American-designed weapons systems in order to clear a $19 billion backlog of hardware promised to the country. Supply chain issues and work shortages have plagued the deliveries of tanks, missiles, jets and drones to Taiwan while the nation looks to counter China’s surging influence in the region. Some experts say allowing Taiwan to build the systems could leave them vulnerable to intelligence leaks to China. Politico has more on the proposal.
"Syria puts its ground-to-air defence systems around capital, major bases on high alert:
Syria has put its Russian-made Pantsir ground-to-air defence systems on high alert around the capital, Damascus and major bases in the event of Israeli strikes."
The leading U.S. military general in Europe is warning Congress that if they do not pass funding for Ukraine’s war against Russia soon, their army will be vastly overpowered by summer. Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, head of U.S. European Command, says in House testimony that Russian soldiers already fire five times as many artillery shells as Ukrainian soldiers do, and that without the U.S. sending more weapons the number will double to “10 to one in a matter of weeks.” Read more from the Associated Press.
#Nuclear deal in tatters, #Iran edges close to weapons capability
Six years after the #Trump administration withdrew from the Iran nuclear accord, Tehran is rapidly accumulating enriched #uranium, some of it very close to weapons grade. Experts fear that a #bomb could be a short dash away.
6 years after the #Trump administration’s controversial decision to withdraw from the pact, the restraints have fallen away, one by one, leaving #Iran closer to #nuclear#weapons capability than at any time in the country’s history, according to confidential inspection reports & interviews w/ officials & experts who closely monitor Iran’s progress.
"Opening trade war, Turkey imposes restrictions on Israel until Gaza ceasefire
Ankara’s trade ministry lists 54 items that will not be exported to Israel, which says it will draw up its own ‘extensive’ inventory of Turkish products it will ban"
"The IDF is supposed to protect aid workers. Aid agencies say the Israeli military has been attacking them for months.
“This pattern of attacks is either intentional or indicative of reckless incompetence,” top Doctors Without Borders official Christopher Lockyear said."
"Israel’s begrudging approach to humanitarian aid could cost it the war in Gaza
Netanyahu pressured into announcing new measures for Gazans in wake of deadly strike on WCK aid workers, but again Jerusalem is seen as doing too little, too late"