Antony Blinken Confirms Ukraine Will Join NATO

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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reiterated NATO’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s aspirations to join the defensive alliance.

During a gathering of NATO member states in Brussels to mark the alliance’s 75th anniversary, Blinken emphasized the enduring determination to bolster the country during the Russia-Ukraine War. He declared, “Ukraine will become a member of NATO,” underscoring NATO’s commitment to supporting Ukraine’s defense capabilities and fostering closer ties with the alliance.

Blinken’s statement echoes sentiments expressed by U.S. President Biden and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in previous years, affirming NATO’s stance on Ukraine’s eventual membership. However, Blinken’s remarks also underscore the complexities involved, including the need for Ukraine to meet the criteria for membership, such as not being occupied by a foreign power.

Despite these challenges, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba welcomed Blinken’s comments, revealing ongoing efforts within NATO to advance Ukraine’s membership aspirations. Kuleba expressed gratitude for the encouraging messages and highlighted NATO’s commitment to determining the next steps towards Ukraine’s membership.

While formal NATO membership for Ukraine may still be on the horizon, individual member states are forging closer ties through “NATO-lite” arrangements. These agreements, exemplified by recent treaties with Finland and other nations, offer further funding, support, and military aid to Ukraine, in an attempt to bolstering its defense capabilities.

Iran Asks U.S. to ‘Step Aside’ as Plans for Retaliation Mount, Iranian Official Says

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Iran asked the United States to not interfere in its plans for retaliation against Israel, an Iranian official alleged Friday.

Mohammad Jamshidi, Iran’s deputy chief of staff for political affairs, claimed in a tweet that this exchange occurred.

“In a written message, the Islamic Republic of Iran warned America not to fall into Netanyahu’s trap: step aside so you don’t get hit. In response, America asked Iran not to hit American targets,” Jamshidi tweeted.

The U.S. warned, as opposed to “asked,” Iran not to use this as a pretext to attack U.S. facilities and personnel, a State Dept. spokesperson told the Daily Caller. The spokesperson confirmed that the U.S. did receive a message from Iran but did not specify the message’s contents.

(Read more from “Iran Asks U.S. to ‘Step Aside’ as Plans for Retaliation Mount, Iranian Official Says” HERE)

Powerful 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake Kills at Least 4 in Taiwan, Causing Buildings to Collapse, Small Tsunami in Japan

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At least four people were killed and dozens more injured when a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan early Wednesday morning.

The quake, which rocked the island just before 8 a.m. local time, downed buildings in Taiwan’s eastern city of Hualien and caused a small tsunami on the coast of Japan’s Yonaguni island, officials said.

The deaths were reported in Hualien, which was the epicenter of the earthquake — the strongest one to hit Taiwan in 25 years, according to the country’s fire department.

At least three of the dead were believed to have been crushed to death by rocks falling from the mountainside.

More than 50 were wounded, according to the country’s fire department. (Read more from “Powerful 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake Kills at Least 4 in Taiwan, Causing Buildings to Collapse, Small Tsunami in Japan” HERE)

Russia’s Financials Are Far Better Than the Wests’; It Could Pay off All External Debt Tomorrow

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Russia’s external debt has been falling steadily and reached $326.6bn in December 2023, compared with $322.3bn in the previous quarter and $383.6bn at the end of 2022. It could pay the entire amount off tomorrow – in cash.

The Kremlin has been paying off its external debt. Low external debt means Russia doesn’t need to tap international capital markets so is not vulnerable to any sort of sanctions on bond issues, which are easy to apply and enforce.

Coupled with Russia’s strong current account surplus, which was up to $5.2bn in February from $4.5bn in January, thanks to high oil prices, Russia can fund itself easily on this profit.

At the same time gross international reserves have been rising and are now hovering around $600bn at the end of the first quarter. Half of these reserves are frozen. About $150bn are in monetary gold (up from $135bn pre-war) and the rest in yuan.

Even counting out the frozen funds, Russia can cover its external debt dollar for dollar with cash, whereas everyone in the West is massively leveraged, including the Ukraine where the debt-to-GDP ratio is almost at 100%.

It is these rock-solid fundamentals – no one else in world has even remotely similar metrics – which is the essence of Putin’s Fiscal Fortress. It is a ridiculously strong basis, which means even if the West manages to reduce Russia income from oil and gas exports, it will still have a massive amount of wiggle room.

To see the charts and rest of the article, please click HERE.

Senior NATO Officers, Including Polish General, Reportedly Killed in Russian Strike in Ukraine

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[T]he Russians successfully bombed a six-story deep command bunker in Chasiv Yar on March 26.

According to the Russians, the bunker was hit by one or more Iskander missiles. The Iskander is a short-range ballistic missile that can operate at hypersonic speed (Mach 5.9). It has different types of warheads including bunker busters that weigh between 1,000 and 1,500 pounds.

RU POV: Russian FAB bombs hit positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Novomykhailivka
byu/LordMinax inUkraineRussiaReport

Inside that command center were very senior NATO officers, some of whom were killed, according to Russian reports. One of them was Brigadier General Adam Marczak of the Polish army. . .

Poland reported his death, which the Polish Army said was due to “unexplained natural causes.”

Various Telegraph channels report that other NATO officers were either killed or wounded in the attack at Chasiv Yar. According to these accounts, some of the wounded were hastily evacuated to Poland. We don’t know the names, the ranks or the nationality of any of those killed or wounded other than Marczak. (Read more from “Senior NATO Officers, Including Polish General, Reportedly Killed in Russian Strike in Ukraine” HERE)

Chinese Migrants Infiltrating Guam Military Base Raise Alarms Over National Security: CCP Wants to ‘Exploit’ Every Part of the U.S. Map

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In recent years, a troubling trend has emerged in the U.S. territory of Guam, where concerns are mounting over the infiltration of Chinese migrants, raising serious questions about national security. With over 20,000 troops stationed on the island and hosting crucial military installations, Guam has become a focal point in the growing tension between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Since 2022, there has been a notable increase in the number of Chinese nationals illegally entering Guam from the nearby Northern Mariana Islands. This influx poses a significant risk, as it opens avenues for potential CCP influence within the territory. According to reports from Guam’s homeland security agency, there have been 118 documented cases of “unlawful or attempted unlawful entries by Chinese citizens” since 2022, a trend that has raised red flags among top Republican officials.

House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green, R-Tenn., has warned that the CCP is adept at exploiting vulnerabilities, and Guam’s strategic importance makes it a prime target for infiltration. He emphasized the critical role Guam plays in defending U.S. interests in the western Pacific and expressed concern over the surge in Chinese nationals entering the island, citing the uncertainty surrounding their intentions.

Green placed blame on the Biden administration for what he perceives as a failure to address the issue effectively, accusing it of displaying weakness that the CCP is quick to exploit. The situation is further exacerbated by the ongoing crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, where Chinese migrants are reportedly the fastest-growing group being smuggled into the country.

Adding to the complexity is a visa loophole that allows Chinese nationals to visit the Northern Mariana Islands without a visa for up to 14 days.

The infiltration extends beyond Guam, prompting action from top leaders in the Senate. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, has been vocal about the need to address the visa loophole, emphasizing the potential dangers posed by spies gathering intelligence on U.S. military activities.

Ernst, along with Rep. Neal Dunn, R-Fla., penned a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, urging the administration to address the policy loophole. While the administration has touted the economic benefits of the visa program for the Northern Mariana Islands, critics argue that national security concerns must take precedence.

Photo credit: Flickr

World’s Most Dangerous Place to Be Christian Prepares for Easter

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Nigeria’s police chief on Thursday ordered around-the-clock enhanced security at public venues across the country throughout the Easter weekend, fearing religious violence in a country where Christians are under almost constant attack.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun said through a spokesman that extra resources would be devoted to maintaining security at “worship centers, train stations, highways, motor parks, airports, waterways, recreation centers, banks, and other financial institutions, as well as other critical infrastructures and public spaces.”

“The IGP also assures all travelers who will be visiting their hometowns and other places within the country for the festivities of adequate security irrespective of the medium of such travels whether by road, air, waterways, or rail, as deployments have been increased and visibility patrols intensified in all areas including aerial patrol and surveillance,” Egbetokun’s office said.

“As we commemorate the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, let us come together in unity and vigilance to ensure a safe and peaceful environment for all,” the statement said.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) said on Thursday it would deploy 35,000 personnel to protect both Easter crowds and “critical national assets and infrastructure,” including operatives from its anti-vandalism, special intelligence, special female, and special forces squads. (Read more from “World’s Most Dangerous Place to Be Christian Prepares for Easter” HERE)

Ukraine Loses Patience: Give Us the Damn Weapons

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The West should hurry up and hand over the “damn” missiles Ukraine demands, their foreign secretary says, remarking: “We need air-defence systems on the frontlines”.

An essential role of the Ukrainian state since even before Russia’s re-invasion in 2022 has been cajoling and even begging the West for more military equipment, but these calls have occasionally tripped into a more demanding mien. That time has rolled around again with one of the nation’s top politicians making strident demands to help stop the bombs falling.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, perhaps the final remaining senior member of Volodymyr Zelensky’s government to regularly wear a suit and tie rather than the near-ubiquitous olive green in public, said in quotes distributed by Ukrainian state media: “Give us the damn Patriots.”

The remarks came in an interview with Politico, and Kuleba explained his demand, speaking of new Russian weapons that were harder to intercept. The answer, he said, was to deploy more advanced air-defence weapons on Ukraine’s frontiers to shoot down the aircraft dropping the bombs, rather than the weapons themselves.

He said: “…If we had enough air defence systems, namely Patriots, we would be able to protect not only the lives of our people, but also our economy from destruction… You cannot jam [the new bombs]. It just falls on your head and destroys everything… We need air-defence systems on the frontlines”. (Read more from “Ukraine Loses Patience: Give Us the Damn Weapons” HERE)

China Claims U.S. Executives Salute XI’s ‘Outstanding Leadership’ in Beijing

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U.S. business executives met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Wednesday. China‘s state media outlet Xinhua reported that they included, “[Evan] Greenberg, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, [Stephen] Schwarzman, Chairman and CEO of Blackstone Group, [Cristiano] Amon, President and CEO of Qualcomm, [and Graham] Allison, Founding Dean of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.” U.S.-China Business Council chief Craig Allen and FedEx’s Raj Subramaniam also attended the meeting.

This meeting was designed to bolster China’s economic credibility and encourage foreign investors to believe that they’ll be treated fairly. These are no small concerns amid Xi’s increasingly aggressive effort to monitor and control foreign businesses. While China complains that Western criticism of these laws is unfair and even slanderous, escalating Chinese raids on foreign businesses speaks to the truth. Alongside their growing recognition of China’s structural economic challenges, Western businesses are reducing their investments. This is a big problem for Xi and his debt-riven economy.

Yet if one is to believe Chinese state media, U.S. executives have absolute confidence in Xi’s vision for the future.

According to Xinhua, after all, the U.S.-China Business Council’s “[Craig] Allen and other” members of the U.S. delegation observed that “China has achieved extraordinary economic growth and transformation, demonstrating strong resilience and vitality.” The Americans apparently added that “Under the outstanding leadership of President Xi Jinping, China is committed to developing new productive forces and achieving more sustainable and high-quality development. … The economic relations between the United States and China are closely interdependent. … They are optimistic about China’s economic development prospects and will unswervingly continue to work in China and develop a long-term and close cooperative relationship with China….” (Read more from “China Claims U.S. Executives Salute XI’s ‘Outstanding Leadership’ in Beijing” HERE)

Alleged Terrorists Responsible for Russian Concert Hall Attack Dragged Into Court, Officially Charged (VIDEO)

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Four alleged terrorists responsible for the Moscow concert hall attack were officially charged Sunday, as some of them could be seen being dragged through court, video shows.

Video footage posted to X (formerly known as Twitter) shows one of the four suspected terrorists, identified as Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, 32, arriving at the Basmanny District Court of Moscow Sunday. Authorities could be seen surrounding Mirzoyev as the 32-year-old walked in face down with his hands handcuffed behind him.

In additional clips of Mirzoyev sitting in court, he could be seen with a heavily bruised face as Russian authorities reportedly tortured all terrorists during their interrogation, the Associated Press reported.

Mirzoyev along with Saidakrami Rachabalizoda, 30, Shamsidin Fariduni, 25, and Mukhammadsobir Faizov, 19 were charged by Russian authorities for the attack against the country’s Crocus City Hall Friday, leaving at least 133 people dead and more than 140 injured, according to AP News. Mirzoyev, Rachabalizoda, and Fariduni all pleaded guilty to the crime, carrying a maximum life imprisonment sentence, the outlet reported.

Along with footage of Mirzoyev, images and video of Rachabalizoda show that he had a heavily bandaged ear which was reportedly cut off during his interrogation with Russian authorities, according to Noel Reports.

(Read more from “Alleged Terrorists Responsible for Russian Concert Hall Attack Dragged Into Court, Officially Charged” HERE)