🇷🇺: Massive Plume of Black Smoke Rises Up from Fire in Ramenskoye near Moscow – Cause of the Blaze is Currently Unknown

@RiseGS

Draft Dodgers: Some Twenty Thousand Ukrainians Caught Fleeing Country While Thousands More Pay Bribes Up to $10K to Avoid Call Up

The news comes after Zelensky ordered the sacking of all the country’s regional army recruitment chiefs after investigators discovered officials had been taking bribes to allow people to avoid military draft on medical grounds. (Financial Times)

Corruption has been uncovered at recruitment centers in 11 different regions of Ukraine – with bribes varying from $2k-$10k, a probe found. Some officials accused of purchasing multi-million villas in the Mediterranean and buying fleets of high-end vehicles.

A total of 13,600 men have been caught attempting to flee outside official checkpoints and another 6,100 have been arrested using fake documents at regular border crossings, a Kiev spox said.

Western MSM used to dub Ukraine “the most corrupt nation in Europe” – looks like not much has changed…

@RiseGS

On this day in 1926, Cuban🇨🇺 Revolutionary Fidel Castro was born

Castro would lead a guerilla campaign with other revolutionaries such as Che Guevara to overthrow the US-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista.

Before Cuba's revolution, US financial interests owned 90% of Cuba’s mines, 80% of public utilities, 50% of railways, 40% of sugar production & 25% of bank deposits.

With the arrival of the revolutionary govt, Cuban healthcare was nationalised and expanded with heavy investment, bringing free healthcare access to millions.

Despite being under the illegal embargo imposed by Washington, Cuba now has a higher life expectancy than the 🇺🇸and has more doctors per capita.

@RiseGS

Chinese Military Claims ‘Breakthrough’ in Developing ‘Infinite’ Laser Weapons

In a potential major breakthrough, 🇨🇳researchers say they have devised a state-of-the-art cooling system that would allow high-energy lasers to remain powered up "infinitely" without getting too hot.

The new cooling system would use gas that blows through the weapon to remove excess heat and allow for weapons to shoot precise laser beams for an indefinite amount of time without losing power or getting distorted.

Has Beijing just taken another major technological step ahead of Washington?

@RiseGS

Bernie Sanders Caught Funneling Large Sums of Campaign Cash to Wife, Stepson's Nonprofit

Sen. Bernie Sanders directed $200,000 from his campaign monies to his wife’s think tank, which pays her son a healthy salary, according to Fox News.

Stepson David Driscoll makes $152,653 plus other compensations as executive director of the Sanders Institute and his mother, Jane O’Meara Sanders.

Even Burnout Bernie is in on it…

@ResistorNewswire

China ‘Winning Lion’s Share’ of Construction Projects in Africa – Study

Back in 1990, US and European firms won 85% of infrastructure contracts on the African continent but now the tables have well and truly turned.

Chinese companies accounted for 31% of African infrastructure projects valued at $50mn or more in 2022, with Western firms winning dramatically less – just 12%, a new report by the Hinrich Foundation, an Asia-based philanthropic organization found.

Beijing’s vast Belt and Road Initiative launched in 2013 has fuelled its emergence as the main player in Africa - 🇨🇳companies funded mega projects worth billions of dollars such as railways in Kenya and Ethiopia and ports in Djibouti and Nigeria.

@RiseGS