A Chinese journalist asked UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq whether he considers the presence of US troops in Syria illegal or not, and how the "invasion" of Ukraine differs from the invasion of Syria.

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Watch "John Mearsheimer | How we got the CRISIS in UKRAINE" on YouTube 👈

This is an old lecture but still relevant to present moment with deep analysis.

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❗️Several rescue teams were deployed to deal with the possible release of 1,400 tons of toxic methanol into the Ohio River after another train derailed and fell into a body of water.

The media write that it is not known for sure whether the poisonous substance got into the river, but since it is very volatile, the probability is very high.

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Workers at an incineration plant near Paris keep garbage trucks out to protest pension reform.

RIA News
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The culmination of the protests: French police and firefighters are fighting for the right to retire early. In the other semi-final, scavengers and baguette makers.
From Пул N3
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❗️China noted that many members of the UN Security Council, in their statements, condemned the destruction of the Nord Stream. This fully indicates that the security issues of the global transnational infrastructure are of serious concern and that a comprehensive, impartial, transparent and independent investigation is needed.

But the US is keeping this incident secret, which is a double standard. We want to ask: what are you afraid of?

A Chinese Foreign Ministry representative asks Washington why it does not support an international investigation into the explosions at Nord Stream?

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Rise of inequality and cronyism in Western nations

Over the past 4 decades, there has been a major increase regarding wage inequality and unequal property ownership occurring mainly in the Western countries. This relates to the neoliberal era launched by US president Ronald Reagan (1981–89) and his ally in London, prime minister Margaret Thatcher (1979–90).

Neoliberalism has in effect meant large-scale exploitation by Western elites of the general public. There had long been income inequality in the US, but during the last 40 years it has grown wider there than in any other country. For example in 2013, the chief executives of 350 US companies earned on average $11.7 million that year, while the annual wage of the typical American worker was $35,293.

By Shane Quinn

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#PhotoOfTheDay

🤝 Foreign Ministers Sergey Lavrov and Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

🇷🇺🇮🇷 #RussiaIran

From Russia MFA
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"Lavrov's interview. Will there be anything left of Ukraine?! Russia, United States, NATO" on YouTube 👈

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❗️British King Charles III arrived on his first foreign visit to Germany, at the Brandenburg Gate he was met by German President Steinmeier.

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Mike Waltz

From KarliBonne
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What is known about the first interception of the "smart bomb" GLSDB in Ukraine?

In Ukraine, it was believed that this weapon would enhance rocket artillery, but in practice, difficulties arose with "smart bombs." On March 28, the Russian Ministry of Defence reported for the first time that a guided projectile, the GLSDB, also known as a smart air bomb with a rocket engine, was shot down in the special operation zone. This weapon for equipping reactive volley fire systems of Western production, Kiev began to receive from the US and NATO already last year.

Missiles from Boeing
On November 28, Reuters reported for the first time that the Pentagon was considering Boeing's proposal to supply Ukraine with GLSDB (Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb) systems capable of hitting targets up to 150 kilometres away. If approved, the weapons will arrive in Ukraine in the spring of 2023.

The Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) is a joint project between Boeing and Saab, based on the GBU-39B SDB and the engine from the American M26 missile. It is launched from the M270 MLRS and M142 HIMARS rocket systems. The US and Sweden have supplied Ukraine with these weapons due to the high cost of using the HIMARS rocket systems, and the low cost of the GLSDB may actually end up being higher than the original missile. The cost of the GBU-39 ranges from $40,000 to $70,000 per unit, and the rocket section will cost around $150,000 to $200,000 per unit. The HIMARS launch package contains six such missiles, meaning that the cost of launching will not decrease and may actually increase.

The Russian military has been aware of the GBU-39 bomb with a planning combat unit for some time. Information about it reportedly appeared in specialized agencies as early as the mid-2000s. The use of the M142 HIMARS by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Ukraine showed that American missile complexes had been overestimated for years. It was believed that they could not be intercepted, but in reality, it turned out to be the opposite. According to some data, HIMARS missiles flying at a speed of 2M (2500 km/h) successfully intercept even short-range air defence systems such as "Tor" and "Pantsir".

GBU-39 bombs fly to the target on a similar trajectory, but when launched at maximum distance, the missile quickly loses speed, leaving just over half of the 2M (2500 km/h) when entering the air defence zone. The main information about this bomb, according to some data, was obtained in Syria. The main conclusions were drawn there: the bomb poorly responds to control systems if the GPS signal is suppressed, and the "turning" function for the optimal attack angle only works when all other systems are working.

It is known that Kiev received 16 HIMARS MLRS from Washington. In addition, at least three similar M270 installations from the UK were sent to Ukraine, and as of October 2022, at least three more such complexes were awaiting shipment. The exact number of GBU-39s stored in the US is unknown. According to some data, the US and Sweden stopped producing these munitions immediately after the first tests in Syria, while others claim that about 15,000 small-diameter guided bombs were produced.

The interception of the first "smart bomb" on March 28 showed that Ukrainian troops still lack experience in handling serious weapons. Another important conclusion concerns Russian air defence systems: despite the technological advancement of Western weapons, the aerial target was identified and shot down.

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Precisely verified geometric shapes and tireless work around the clock. The aesthetics of army equipment in all its glory.

Good morning and have a nice day to everyone!

@mod_russia

Relations with Africa, Asia are on brink of collapse — to Russia’s benefit
Superpowers wish for these nations to pick a side, but this time, they cannot so easily be made to choose. Moscow understands this — the West doesn’t.

Jérémy Lissouba is a member of parliament for the main opposition party in the Republic of Congo. He’s also a deputy judge in the country’s High Court of Justice and an alumnus of the Obama Foundation’s 2018 Africa Leaders Program.

Over a year since the war in Ukraine began, the world remains caught in the middle. And against a backdrop of high energy and food prices, ravaging inflation, social unrest and fears of another global recession, the Western and Russian blocs are once again vying for support from the nations of the developing world.

Leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris are just some of the names who have made high-profile visits to Africa in the last 12 months, all largely focused on cooperation and trade.

Yet, the discourse of each has reflected a kind of Cold War redux, with Ukraine as one of its most prominent symptoms.

Each in their own way — and armed with their respective propaganda — these superpowers wish for the nations of Africa and Asia to pick a side. Unlike the previous century, however, this time around these countries cannot so easily be made to choose, nor should they have to. Russia understands this. The West does not.

It’s no secret that Africa’s been reluctant to overtly condemn Russia’s actions in Ukraine, or to participate in Western efforts to sanction and isolate the warring country. Instead, these nations have continued to welcome their long-standing partner with open arms — widely condemning the war, but not Russia.

In Malawi, for instance, Russia’s deliveries of tens of thousands of tons of fertilizer amid global shortages are seen as a heavenly gift by struggling farmers, with the country’s minister of agriculture gratefully describing Russia as “a true friend.” And Moscow’s announced plans to send 260,000 tons of fertilizer to countries across the continent is certain to spread similar sentiments.

In my country of Congo-Brazzaville, the government signed five major cooperation agreements with Russia amid its war with Ukraine, including for the construction of a new oil pipeline and the enhancement of military cooperation.

This charm offensive — prominently led by Lavrov, who has visited South Africa, Eswatini, Angola, Eritrea, Mali, Sudan and Mauritania since January — is nourishing pro-Russian attitudes throughout the continent, and it stands in sharp contrast to the damp squib that was Macron’s recent African adventure.

In what was perhaps the most tone-deaf faux pas of his entire trip, when repeatedly asked during a press conference to condemn Rwanda’s support for M23 rebels causing havoc in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) — a situation closely resembling Russia’s semi-covert support for Donbas separatists in recent years — for all intents and purposes, Macron failed to do so. He even proceeded to lecture the Congolese president on freedom of the press.

Despite the French president’s effusive rhetoric about “new relationships” and “new starts,” his outburst was yet another bitter reminder of Europe’s long-standing paternalistic and dissonant attitude toward Africa — the same attitude whereby decades of European political and military influence on the continent has failed to generate meaningful progress, if not actively undermining efforts.

Africans are wise to this and refuse to take it anymore, as evidenced by growing anti-French sentiment in West Africa. Russia, China and others — though far from being without reproach — are merely seizing the presented opportunities.
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