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🇸🇾 - Reports of an organized withdrawal led by the defense ministry of the SDF from their controlled neighborhoods "Al-ashrafiyah" and "Al-sheikh maqsoud" in Aleppo towards the east of "Al-furat" (Euphrates).
Forwarded from Constantine's Notebook
🇱🇾🇺🇳 - Libyan authorities have accused aid groups of plotting to change the country's ethnic make-up by encouraging African migrants to stay there, and has ordered them to close their offices.
🇺🇦🇷🇺 Russia hits Ukrainian city with ballistic missiles.
Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih has just been hit by Russian ballistic missiles.
Number of dead 12, wounded 60. 3 children among the dead.
Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih has just been hit by Russian ballistic missiles.
Number of dead 12, wounded 60. 3 children among the dead.
🇺🇦 Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, hit by 🇷🇺 Russian ballistic missiles
15 civilians killed, 5 children among them.
15 civilians killed, 5 children among them.
Germany appproves Franco-German tank project
Germany’s Federal Cartel Office has approved plans by three defense manufacturers — Rheinmetall, KNDS, and Thales — to establish a joint venture in Germany. The antitrust authority stated that “the previous areas of activity of Rheinmetall and KNDS largely complement each other,” making the merger permissible.
The companies will work on developing the next-generation Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) battle tank, with the German and French governments as the sole clients.
The goal of the Franco-German defense program is to replace the current main battle tanks — Germany’s Leopard 2 and France’s Leclerc — with next-generation systems by 2040. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius previously emphasized that this is not about upgrading existing models, but about creating “something entirely new.” He also noted that the use of artificial intelligence technologies will offer a “clear qualitative advantage in terms of capabilities.”
Germany’s Federal Cartel Office has approved plans by three defense manufacturers — Rheinmetall, KNDS, and Thales — to establish a joint venture in Germany. The antitrust authority stated that “the previous areas of activity of Rheinmetall and KNDS largely complement each other,” making the merger permissible.
The companies will work on developing the next-generation Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) battle tank, with the German and French governments as the sole clients.
The goal of the Franco-German defense program is to replace the current main battle tanks — Germany’s Leopard 2 and France’s Leclerc — with next-generation systems by 2040. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius previously emphasized that this is not about upgrading existing models, but about creating “something entirely new.” He also noted that the use of artificial intelligence technologies will offer a “clear qualitative advantage in terms of capabilities.”
Forwarded from Constantine's Notebook
🇫🇷🇵🇸 - French President Emmanuel Macron to visit Egypt near the Gaza Strip on Tuesday to call for a ceasefire.
🇪🇺 Support for a European army grows across Continent, poll suggests
More than half of British, French and German respondents want countries to pool their military might as the US distances itself from Nato.
British, French and German voters support the creation of a European army, an international poll has found.
Sentiment across Europe has hardened in response to President Trump's lukewarm remarks about Nato, the survey of more than 8,000 voters in the UK, US, France and Germany suggests.
In the UK and Germany, 59 per cent of voters favour a European army, according to the poll by Public First and Stonehaven, a consultancy. In France, 50 per cent of adults would like European countries to pool their military strength, compared with 11 per cent who are opposed.
More than half of British, French and German respondents want countries to pool their military might as the US distances itself from Nato.
British, French and German voters support the creation of a European army, an international poll has found.
Sentiment across Europe has hardened in response to President Trump's lukewarm remarks about Nato, the survey of more than 8,000 voters in the UK, US, France and Germany suggests.
In the UK and Germany, 59 per cent of voters favour a European army, according to the poll by Public First and Stonehaven, a consultancy. In France, 50 per cent of adults would like European countries to pool their military strength, compared with 11 per cent who are opposed.
🇨🇫🇷🇺 Thousands Protest Wagner Group in the Central African Republic
Thousands of people took to the streets in the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR) to protest against President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, who intends to run for a third term with the support of the Wagner Group, according to the Associated Press. The demonstration in Bangui was organized by opposition parties opposing Touadéra’s extended stay in power.
“We are here to say no to a third term for Faustin-Archange Touadéra. But more importantly, we want to defend our sovereignty, which has been trampled by Touadéra and Wagner,” said opposition representative Justin Vine. “Wagner has raped and killed without any justice. This is unacceptable. To end their rule, Touadéra must go.”
CAR was one of the first countries where Wagner fighters appeared. They remain active in the country even after the death of Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin. In exchange for their services, Wagner reportedly gains access to natural resource deposits.
Thousands of people took to the streets in the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR) to protest against President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, who intends to run for a third term with the support of the Wagner Group, according to the Associated Press. The demonstration in Bangui was organized by opposition parties opposing Touadéra’s extended stay in power.
“We are here to say no to a third term for Faustin-Archange Touadéra. But more importantly, we want to defend our sovereignty, which has been trampled by Touadéra and Wagner,” said opposition representative Justin Vine. “Wagner has raped and killed without any justice. This is unacceptable. To end their rule, Touadéra must go.”
CAR was one of the first countries where Wagner fighters appeared. They remain active in the country even after the death of Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin. In exchange for their services, Wagner reportedly gains access to natural resource deposits.
Zelensky: Ukraine has information that U.S. is finalizing ceasefire measures
Ukraine has information that the United States is in the final stages of preparing measures aimed at achieving a ceasefire, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
He emphasized that a full ceasefire must be established first. Only after that would Ukraine be ready to discuss further steps, including negotiations with Russia in any format — provided the talks are substantive.
Source: RIA (RU) / 24tv (UA)
Ukraine has information that the United States is in the final stages of preparing measures aimed at achieving a ceasefire, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
He emphasized that a full ceasefire must be established first. Only after that would Ukraine be ready to discuss further steps, including negotiations with Russia in any format — provided the talks are substantive.
Source: RIA (RU) / 24tv (UA)
🇵🇱 Poland wants to spend EU post-COVID recovery fund on its army
Poland is seeking approval to use 6.1 billion euros in European Union post-COVID recovery funds for investments to boost security and defence, the Development Funds and Regional Policy minister said on Friday.
The EU's recovery facility provides Poland with nearly 60 billion euros ($63.1 billion) in grants and cheap loans to be spent by 2026.
In recent years, Poland has significantly ramped up its military spending, undertaking one of the most ambitious modernization efforts in Europe. The country has been acquiring advanced weaponry and defense systems to strengthen its armed forces in response to growing security concerns in the region. Among its major moves, Poland has invested in American-made F-35 fighter jets and Abrams tanks, signaling a strategic alignment with NATO standards. It has also partnered closely with South Korea to acquire 1000 K2 Black Panther tanks, hundreds of K9 howitzers, and FA-50 light combat aircraft, reflecting a diversification of suppliers and rapid capability-building.
Poland is also focusing heavily on air and missile defense, acquiring Patriot systems from the U.S. and 500 HIMARS rocket systems, alongside the South Korean Chunmoo launchers. The Polish government has emphasized that these are not just short-term upgrades, but part of a long-term vision to build one of the strongest and most modern armies in Europe. With defense spending projected to reach over 5% of GDP, Poland is positioning itself as a key military power on NATO’s eastern flank.
Apart from the above, Poland is increasing its military personnel head count to 300 thousand of professional soldiers plus about 100 thousand National Guard (WOT).
Sources: Reuters, Defence24 PL, Russia Today, The Guardian.
Poland is seeking approval to use 6.1 billion euros in European Union post-COVID recovery funds for investments to boost security and defence, the Development Funds and Regional Policy minister said on Friday.
The EU's recovery facility provides Poland with nearly 60 billion euros ($63.1 billion) in grants and cheap loans to be spent by 2026.
In recent years, Poland has significantly ramped up its military spending, undertaking one of the most ambitious modernization efforts in Europe. The country has been acquiring advanced weaponry and defense systems to strengthen its armed forces in response to growing security concerns in the region. Among its major moves, Poland has invested in American-made F-35 fighter jets and Abrams tanks, signaling a strategic alignment with NATO standards. It has also partnered closely with South Korea to acquire 1000 K2 Black Panther tanks, hundreds of K9 howitzers, and FA-50 light combat aircraft, reflecting a diversification of suppliers and rapid capability-building.
Poland is also focusing heavily on air and missile defense, acquiring Patriot systems from the U.S. and 500 HIMARS rocket systems, alongside the South Korean Chunmoo launchers. The Polish government has emphasized that these are not just short-term upgrades, but part of a long-term vision to build one of the strongest and most modern armies in Europe. With defense spending projected to reach over 5% of GDP, Poland is positioning itself as a key military power on NATO’s eastern flank.
Apart from the above, Poland is increasing its military personnel head count to 300 thousand of professional soldiers plus about 100 thousand National Guard (WOT).
Sources: Reuters, Defence24 PL, Russia Today, The Guardian.
🇷🇺🇺🇦❗️A high-precision missile strike with high-explosive payload was carried out on a meeting site of Ukrainian Armed Forces commanders and Western instructors at a restaurant in the city of Kryvyi Rih, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
The ministry reported that the strike resulted in the loss of up to 85 Ukrainian and foreign military personnel, as well as up to 20 vehicles.
According to Ukrainian sources, including Censor.net, 16 civilians, including 6 children, were killed, and 40 people were wounded.
The ministry reported that the strike resulted in the loss of up to 85 Ukrainian and foreign military personnel, as well as up to 20 vehicles.
According to Ukrainian sources, including Censor.net, 16 civilians, including 6 children, were killed, and 40 people were wounded.
🇧🇪 Man who planned two attacks in Belgium receives three years in prison
On Friday, the Brussels Criminal Court sentenced a 21-year-old man from Opwijk (Flemish Brabant), a far-right extremist, to an effective prison sentence of three years.
The man had incited an attack via the online messaging service Telegram and had made plans to commit a double attack in Belgium. According to the court, the young man has still not distanced himself from his extreme ideology and he still displays a dangerous attitude.
The 21-year-old came to the attention of the intelligence services and subsequently of the court due to his activities on extreme right-wing channels on Telegram. There he showed deep sympathies for three violent right-wing extremists, Anders Breivik, Brenton Tarrant and Dylann Roof. He also encouraged other participants in the chat conversations to commit attacks.
Like Breivik and Tarrant, among others, the young man had written a manifesto in which he called for the creation of a white ethnostate. With that goal in mind, he planned to commit two attacks, one in which he would set fire to a mosque, and a second in which he would use an automatic rifle to kill as many people as possible.
The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office had meanwhile deployed an undercover agent to determine the concrete nature of these intentions. The young man came into contact with this undercover agent when he went looking for small arms and automatic rifles.
When he announced that he wanted to work with other individuals unknown to the authorities, it was decided to intervene and arrest the young man.
According to his lawyers, the young man held extreme right-wing views, but he had never encouraged anyone to commit an attack, nor did he have any plans to do so himself.
Source: The Brussels Times
On Friday, the Brussels Criminal Court sentenced a 21-year-old man from Opwijk (Flemish Brabant), a far-right extremist, to an effective prison sentence of three years.
The man had incited an attack via the online messaging service Telegram and had made plans to commit a double attack in Belgium. According to the court, the young man has still not distanced himself from his extreme ideology and he still displays a dangerous attitude.
The 21-year-old came to the attention of the intelligence services and subsequently of the court due to his activities on extreme right-wing channels on Telegram. There he showed deep sympathies for three violent right-wing extremists, Anders Breivik, Brenton Tarrant and Dylann Roof. He also encouraged other participants in the chat conversations to commit attacks.
Like Breivik and Tarrant, among others, the young man had written a manifesto in which he called for the creation of a white ethnostate. With that goal in mind, he planned to commit two attacks, one in which he would set fire to a mosque, and a second in which he would use an automatic rifle to kill as many people as possible.
The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office had meanwhile deployed an undercover agent to determine the concrete nature of these intentions. The young man came into contact with this undercover agent when he went looking for small arms and automatic rifles.
When he announced that he wanted to work with other individuals unknown to the authorities, it was decided to intervene and arrest the young man.
According to his lawyers, the young man held extreme right-wing views, but he had never encouraged anyone to commit an attack, nor did he have any plans to do so himself.
Source: The Brussels Times
🇺🇸 - Newsom says California ready to talk with global partners amid global challenges.
🇨🇫The initial information about the scale of the opposition rally in the Central African Republic, against Russian Wagner Group and the president of CAR, published by the Associated Press turned out to be incorrect.
Online, footage of objective control appeared, showing that no more than a few hundred people attended the opposition event in Bangui.
Online, footage of objective control appeared, showing that no more than a few hundred people attended the opposition event in Bangui.
🇺🇲 Scott Bessent, the head of the U.S. Treasury, stated that the U.S. could receive between $300 billion and $600 billion a year from customs duties, according to The Wall Street Journal.
This amount assumes a minor change in tariff sizes in the near future, announced this week, but could help cover the costs of tax reductions being considered by Congress, the newspaper writes.
This amount assumes a minor change in tariff sizes in the near future, announced this week, but could help cover the costs of tax reductions being considered by Congress, the newspaper writes.
🇦🇷🇬🇧 Javier Milei wants Falklands back?
‘We hope that the Malvinas people will one day decide to vote with their feet for us’, he proclaimed.
‘That is why we seek to make Argentina such a power that they will prefer to be Argentines and that we will not even need dissuasion or convincing to achieve it.’
The island’s roughly 3,000 residents most recently voted to remain a British overseas territory in a 2013 referendum — a result rejected by then-President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, a left-leaning populist who made Argentina’s claims to Las Malvinas a centerpiece of her foreign policy.
‘We hope that the Malvinas people will one day decide to vote with their feet for us’, he proclaimed.
‘That is why we seek to make Argentina such a power that they will prefer to be Argentines and that we will not even need dissuasion or convincing to achieve it.’
The island’s roughly 3,000 residents most recently voted to remain a British overseas territory in a 2013 referendum — a result rejected by then-President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, a left-leaning populist who made Argentina’s claims to Las Malvinas a centerpiece of her foreign policy.