Russia

Satellite photos show Russia has moved more warplanes, troops and equipment to near its border with Ukraine than previously revealed, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. The military buildup, which has taken place in Crimea and at Moscow’s bases near Ukraine, has alarmed the United States and other NATO countries as it indicates an increased pressure for political coercion or likelihood of Russian military intervention into Ukraine. One commercial satellite image from April 16 specifically shows Su-30 fighters on a runway at a Crimea air base which had not been there in late March, according to the Journal. ADVERTISEMENT Russia apparently has also added military units to the area that include attack helicopters, motorized rifle and armored units, smoke generators, spy drones, jamming equipment and a military hospital, according to the photos taken between March 27 and April 16 by Maxar Technologies. The added forces and armaments come after the European Union's … [Read more...] about Russian Ukraine buildup greater than disclosed, satellite images show

Fifteen Senate Republicans have signed a ‘Dear Colleague’ letter pledging to oppose lifting the earmark ban that has been a Senate GOP conference rule since 2010. Republican senators are expected to vote by secret ballot on the issue Wednesday. Senate Republicans will take up the issue after the House Republican Conference voted in March to lift the earmark ban it adopted in March of 2010, which effectively put a stop to lawmakers putting pet projects into spending bills. ADVERTISEMENT Sen. Mike Lee Michael (Mike) Shumway Lee Hillicon Valley: Apple approves Parler's return to App Store | White House scales back response to SolarWinds, Microsoft incidents | Pressure mounts on DHS over relationship with Clearview AI 15 Senate Republicans pledge to oppose lifting earmark ban Apple approves Parler's return to App Store MORE (Utah) and 14 other Senate Republicans on Monday informed colleagues they “stand committed to the ban on earmarks.” “We will not … [Read more...] about 15 Senate Republicans pledge to oppose lifting earmark ban

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As March ended, the BBC’s Beijing correspondent, John Sudworth , left China following escalating harassment by the Communist Party there. Sudworth, a nine-year veteran of the BBC’s China desk, since 2018 has investigated the Communist Party’s genocide in Xinjiang, publishing multiple long-form pieces on the concentration and forced labor camps that China has built to persecute Muslim Uyghurs. The Chinese foreign ministry expressed shock at Sudworth’s departure, claiming that he had not informed the authorities of his intention to leave or explained his reasoning. Of course, the harassment continued up until Sudworth and his family boarded their flight for democratic, capitalist Taiwan — Chinese plainclothes police officers followed them through the departure hall , observing them up until they boarded their aircraft. Sudworth is not the first journalist to provoke the Chinese Communist Party’s ire. In March 2020 — not coincidentally, precisely as the COVID-19 pandemic … [Read more...] about The unappreciated power of Radio Free Asia: Telling the truth to China’s people

The U.S. is invited to attend an in-person meeting with the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G-7) countries in London next month, the first such meeting in two years. Secretary of State Antony Blinken Antony Blinken Overnight Energy: Treasury creates hub to fight climate change through finance | Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez introduce 'Green New Deal for Public Housing' | Blinken says US falling behind China as global leader on climate change White House defends 'aspirational' goal of 62,500 refugees MORE is expected to take part, although the State Department did not confirm if the secretary will attend virtually or in person. The announcement was made by the British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab during a meeting of Parliament. ADVERTISEMENT The G-7 summit will focus on ensuring equitable access to vaccines, reviving the economy from the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting education for girls in developing countries and tackling climate change. Blinken … [Read more...] about Blinken to participate in G-7 foreign minister meeting in London next month