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Russia formally warns US to stop arming Ukraine
Russia sent a formal diplomatic note to the US this week calling on Washington and NATO to stop arming Ukraine. The note, which was obtained by The Washington Post, said the Western campaign to pour weapons into Ukraine was "adding fuel" to the conflict and could lead to "unpredictable consequences." The diplomatic note was sent Tuesday, when news broke of a new massive US military aid package for Ukraine. President Biden announced the new aid on Wednesday, which is worth $800 million and includes howitzers for the first time. The package also includes helicopters, armed Switchblade drones, coastal defense drones, armored vehicles, radar systems, and thousands of Stinger and Javelin missiles. The Russian note was sent to the State Department by the Russian Embassy in Washington. It said the US and its NATO allies were ignoring "rigorous principles" on the transfer of weapons into the conflict zone and said the Western powers are oblivious to "the threat of high-precision weapons...
https://www.sott.net/article/466765-Russia-formally-warns-US-to-stop-arming-Ukraine

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The DOJ is investigating Americans for war crimes allegedly committed while fighting with far-right extremists in Ukraine
The probe involves seven men but is centered on former Army soldier Craig Lang, who is separately wanted in connection with a double killing in Florida and is fighting extradition from Kyiv. One chilly day in February, Craig Lang, a former US Army soldier wanted for allegedly killing a married couple in Florida, pleaded with three stern-faced judges in a Kyiv courtroom to allow him to stay in Ukraine. He first came in 2015 to fight with a far-right paramilitary unit, defending the country from Russia-backed forces. And he believed that if he were extradited back to the US, he could face war crimes charges. "Any separatist or Russian soldier that I have killed would be a murder charge" in the US, Lang, 31, said in his gruff North Carolina drawl. "Understand that some of my fellow combatants are under investigation by the FBI for war crimes." That was a stunning statement. It would be extremely rare for the US government to investigate its own citizens for alleged war crimes...
https://www.sott.net/article/466766-The-DOJ-is-investigating-Americans-for-war-crimes-allegedly-committed-while-fighting-with-far-right-extremists-in-Ukraine

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Chest-beating CIA Director Burns warns China's Xi Jinping is silent partner in Putin's 'aggression' in Ukraine
The director of the CIA said that China is 'a silent partner' when it comes to Russian President Vladimir Putin's 'aggression' in Ukraine. William Burns spoke bluntly Thursday and warned China posed the 'greatest challenge' and 'most profound test' the agency has ever had to deal with, as he marked his first year in charge of the agency with a speech at the Georgia Institute of Technology on Thursday. Burns highlighted the 'immediate threat posed by renewed Russian aggression against Ukraine,' and the 'longer term problem posed by China's ambitious leadership,' declaring it to be 'the single most important geopolitical challenge' of the 21st century.'
https://www.sott.net/article/466767-Chest-beating-CIA-Director-Burns-warns-Chinas-Xi-Jinping-is-silent-partner-in-Putins-aggression-in-Ukraine

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'WWIII has started': Russian state TV says after warship Moskva sinks in Black Sea.
Russia Ukraine News: World War III has started, Russian State TV said following reports of the sinking of its warship Moskva in the Black Sea. While Ukraine has been claiming that it destroyed the Russian naval vessel, Russia said that the ship was damaged in a massive fire onboard. A video clip from Kremlin's main propaganda mouthpiece Russia 1 has gone viral showing the presenter Olga Skabeyeva saying that the military conflict has escalated into what can "safely be called World War III". Comment: Emotions are running high and accusations abound judging by this video.
https://www.sott.net/article/466768-WWIII-has-started-Russian-state-TV-says-after-warship-Moskva-sinks-in-Black-Sea

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Freedom is Tyranny: Robert Reich goes full Orwellian in anti-free speech screed
We recently discussed the gathering of Democratic politicians and media figures at the University of Chicago to discuss how to better shape news, combat "disinformation," and reeducate those with conservative views. The political and media elite shared ideas on how to expand censorship and control what people read or viewed in the news. The same figures are now alarmed that Elon Musk could gain greater influence over Twitter and, perish the thought, restore free speech protections to the site. The latest is former labor secretary under President Clinton, Robert Reich, who wrote a perfectly Orwellian column in the Guardian titled "Elon Musk's vision for the internet is dangerous nonsense." However, the column offers an insight into the anti-free speech mentality that has taken hold of the Democratic party and the mainstream media. Musk is an advocate for free speech on the Internet. Like some of us, he is an Internet originalist. That makes him an existential threat for those who...
https://www.sott.net/article/466769-Freedom-is-Tyranny-Robert-Reich-goes-full-Orwellian-in-anti-free-speech-screed

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At least one American briefing West Point cadets understands Russia
I stumbled across a video of Dr. Philip Karber, a former U.S. Marine and founder of the Potomac Foundation, briefing West Point cadets in April 2018 on the war in the Donbas and Russian capabilities. It is remarkable and worth your time because it lays out in stark terms the delusion of the American military and the harsh reality of Russian military capabilities. Andrei Raevsky (aka The Saker) provides a helpful summary of Karber's key points: Russia has the most advanced and dense, data-linked air defense on earth. In a war against Russia, U.S. army cannot expect much air assistance for at least the first several weeks. Even stealth aircraft will not be of much use because of the distance they must fly in order to reach targets in Ukraine and/or Russia. Russian EW (electronic warfare) is much more advanced and more 'combat-ized' than in the U.S. RF utilizes it in combat squads whereas U.S. barely has any and only at the divisional level Russian EW shuts down all communications in...
https://www.sott.net/article/466770-At-least-one-American-briefing-West-Point-cadets-understands-Russia

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More self-destructive virtue-signalling: Poland bans Russian coal
The new law also allows the assets of businesses that support the country to be frozen The office of Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Friday that he signed a bill into law that allows the assets of business entities that support Russia to be frozen. The document also provides for a ban on imports of Russian coal. "The law on special measures" was adopted to protect national security, the document said.
https://www.sott.net/article/466771-More-self-destructive-virtue-signalling-Poland-bans-Russian-coal

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NYC Mayor blasts BLM silence over crime spree: "I thought black lives mattered?"
How long until Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams - who is black - will find himself facing the firing squad of liberal cancel-tards after he dared to criticize the Black Lives Matter movement over their silence amid the surge in crimes in his city and the seeming daily murders of black children. During an interview with NY1 - initially focused on the arrest of Frank James, who now faces a federal terrorism charge for shooting 10 people on a Brooklyn subway train - a clearly exasperated Adams declared after being asked by the host how to handle the increasing number of shootings occurring in the city (as she cited that over a dozen shootings took place on Wednesday night alone): "By being consistent with our message. Here's my question that I put out to the city. Hey, I thought black lives matter. Where are all those who stated 'black lives matter?'" "Then go do an analysis of who was killed or shot last night. I was up all night speaking to my commanders in the Bronx and...
https://www.sott.net/article/466772-NYC-Mayor-blasts-BLM-silence-over-crime-spree-I-thought-black-lives-mattered

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Nervous Twitter CEO downplays Musk's offer to employees: Not holding the company 'hostage'
Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal sought to bring ease to employees' concerns on Thursday and reassured that the company was not being "held hostage" in reaction to Elon Musk's proposed offer to buy the social media platform for $43 billion. According to Reuters, Agrawal took questions from staff during a companywide meeting on Thursday and allegedly told them, "We as employees control what happens" while encouraging them to remain focused. Employees submitted questions to ask the CEO in the company's Slack messaging service. During the meeting, Agrawal told staff that Musk's offer is still under review by the board of directors. However, the CEO indicated that the board will be acting in the best interest of shareholders, Reuters reports.
https://www.sott.net/article/466760-Nervous-Twitter-CEO-downplays-Musks-offer-to-employees-Not-holding-the-company-hostage

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US conducted 'inhumane' laboratory experiments on psychiatric ward patients in Ukraine - Russia
A biolab in Ukraine has allegedly conducted unethical human experiments on behalf of the US government, Russia's defense ministry claimed on Thursday, in its latest update on Pentagon-funded research in the country. The allegations concern a laboratory located in Merefa, a city in Ukraine's Kharkov region, located about 20 kilometers (12 miles) southwest of the provincial capital. The Russian military claimed that "American scientists from the lab" conducted a series of human experiments between 2019 and 2021, using patients at a psychiatric ward in Kharkov as subjects. The research involved testing "potentially dangerous biological preparations," the ministry claimed, without explaining what exactly was being tested.
https://www.sott.net/article/466773-US-conducted-inhumane-laboratory-experiments-on-psychiatric-ward-patients-in-Ukraine-Russia

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Shanghai outraged by latest preventable deaths caused by CCP lockdown policy
Another unnecessary death, caused as a direct result of the CCP's draconian COVID lockdown policy that bars anybody without a current COVID test from seeking medical treatment in Shanghai's hospitals, has rattled the people of Shanghai - and again shaken the people's faith in the CCP's "zero COVID" policies - all while the economic carnage from China's latest lockdowns reverberates across both the country and the world. According to the SCMP, Qian Wenxiong, a cadre with the city's Hongkou District Health Commission, died on Tuesday afternoon, according to a statement published on an official Weibo account on Thursday. He was 55. Information on social media included a story that was nothing short of heart-wrenching. Father of a 5yr old and stable cancer patient died after suddenly feeling discomfort at home. He was told his covid test from yesterday was invalid. His last words on earth? Mom, can you check if my new Covid test has come out? 2hrs after he left, his Covid test came bk...
https://www.sott.net/article/466774-Shanghai-outraged-by-latest-preventable-deaths-caused-by-CCP-lockdown-policy

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94 people who attended New Jersey high school developed extremely rare brain tumor
A cancer survivor is vowing to untangle the twisted mystery of why almost 100 people associated with a New Jersey high school have developed "extremely" rare malignant brain tumors. Al Lupiano is among the 94 former staff and students from Colonia High School in the Woodbridge Township School District who have been stricken by the devastating diagnoses in recent years. "I will not rest until I have answers," Lupiano, 50, declared in an interview with NJ.com and the Star-Ledger on Thursday. "I will uncover the truth." Among the others diagnosed with brain cancer was Lupiano's younger sister, who passed away from the disease in February at the age of 44.
https://www.sott.net/article/466775-94-people-who-attended-New-Jersey-high-school-developed-extremely-rare-brain-tumor

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Trudeau government considering up to $4k new tax on pickups
The Trudeau government is considering a recommendation to hit pickup trucks with a new tax that could cost Canadians between $1,000 and $4,000 per truck. If the tax is approved, popular light-duty trucks such as the Ford F-150, Ram 1500, and Chevrolet Silverado would be charged $1,000, while heavy duty trucks used to tow equipment like the Ram 3500 would pay $4,000. The Ministry of the Environment released a 271-page report that includes a recommendation to subject pickup trucks to a levy that varies from $1,000 on light-duty trucks to $4,000 on super-duty trucks. Comment: Meet the Ministry of Environment, MP Steven Guilbeault Right now, the Green Levyapplies to large SUVs and passenger vans that use more than 13 litres of fuel per 100km. Pickup trucks are expressly exempt from the current tax. This new recommendation urges the Trudeau government to lift that exemption and to hit pickups with the tax.
https://www.sott.net/article/466776-Trudeau-government-considering-up-to-4k-new-tax-on-pickups

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Letter to the California Legislature
"Never has our future been more unpredictable, never have we depended so much on political forces that cannot be trusted to follow the rules of common sense and self-interest — forces that look like sheer insanity, if judged by the standards of other centuries." Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism I am writing to urge No votes on AB2098, SB1390, AB1797, SB1464, SB871, SB866, and SB1479, and part of a decalogue of medical tyranny bills (down to seven now that SB1184 passed on April 5 while AB 1993 and the HIPAA-violating SB 920 were pulled). AB2098 threatens to strip physicians and surgeons of their licenses for "unprofessional conduct," which it defines as: disseminat[ing] or promot[ing] misinformation or disinformation related to COVID-19, including false or misleading information regarding the nature and risks of the virus, its prevention and treatment; and the development, safety, and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines." Similarly, SB1390 criminalizes the...
https://www.sott.net/article/466777-Letter-to-the-California-Legislature

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Sergey Karaganov: "We are at war with the West. The European security order is illegitimate"
Sergey Karaganov has served as a presidential advisor in the Kremlin both under Boris Yeltsin and Vladimir Putin. He is still considered close to Russia's president and foreign minister Sergey Lavrov. His recent proposals on Russian-speaking minorities in the "near abroad" are known as "Putin doctrine" and Professor Karaganov, who is honorary chair of the Moscow think tank the Council for Foreign and Defense Policy, was first to come out publicly about an all-out invasion of Ukraine in 2019. President Putin has mentioned on Feb. 24 that Ukraine's accession to NATO warrants Russia's military intervention to prevent it. However, Ukraine didn't even have a Membership Action Plan for NATO and Germany's chancellor Olaf Scholz clearly stated accession was many, many years off. How can an attack be justified on such grounds? For 25 years people like myself have said that NATO expansion would lead to war. Putin said several times that if it came to Ukraine becoming a member of NATO, there...
https://www.sott.net/article/466778-Sergey-Karaganov-We-are-at-war-with-the-West-The-European-security-order-is-illegitimate

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Palestinians clash with Israelis at Jerusalem Mosque (VIDEO)
A Palestinian humanitarian group said more than 150 people were injured A group of Palestinians threw stones and clashed with Israeli police at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City on Friday. Police said they entered the mosque to disperse rioters who were preventing worshippers from praying. In the early morning, worshippers gathered at the Temple Mount, home to major holy sites of both Muslims and Jews. According to Israeli police, some Palestinians brought flags of the Palestinian Liberation Organization and militant group Hamas, and began throwing stones and firecrackers at the officers.
https://www.sott.net/article/466780-Palestinians-clash-with-Israelis-at-Jerusalem-Mosque-VIDEO

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Ukraine helicopters shell two more Russian villages, Moscow launches retaliatory airstrikes on missile factory, Polish private mercenary base in Kharkov
Another Russian village located near the border with Ukraine was shelled on Thursday, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of the Belgorod Region, has claimed. Earlier on Thursday it was reported that two Ukrainian helicopters were responsible for an attack on the border village of Klimovo in Bryansk Region, and in a separate incident a border crossing some 40km southwest of Klimovo was shelled. The village of Spodaryushino in Belgorod Region was also targeted, Gladkov wrote on Telegram. "There are no injuries or fatalities among the civilian population," he said, adding that damage to property was also avoided. The residents of Spodaryushino and the nearby village of Bezymeno have been evacuated to safety, while additional security personnel were deployed at both locations, according to the governor.
https://www.sott.net/article/466781-Ukraine-helicopters-shell-two-more-Russian-villages-Moscow-launches-retaliatory-airstrikes-on-missile-factory-Polish-private-mercenary-base-in-Kharkov

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Ex-CEO of Reddit Yishan Wong on why Elon Musk shouldn't buy Twitter
Comment: Yishan Wong posted a long thread on Twitter giving a rather unique insider perspective on Big Tech social media platforms and why it's not in Musk's best interest to buy Twitter. The entire thread is republished below (with formatting edits). Original thread found here. I've now been asked multiple times for my take on Elon's offer for Twitter. So fine, this is what I think about that. I will assume the takeover succeeds, and he takes Twitter private. (I have little knowledge/insight into how actual takeover battles work or play out) (long 🧵)
https://www.sott.net/article/466782-Ex-CEO-of-Reddit-Yishan-Wong-on-why-Elon-Musk-shouldnt-buy-Twitter

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Republican National Committee votes to boycott Commission on Presidential Debates over 'bias'
The Republican National Committee (RNC) has voted to boycott the Commission on Presidential Debates, citing bias concerns. In January, Republican National Committee chairperson Ronna McDaniel sent a letter to the the Commission on Presidential Debates threatening to boycott. On Thursday, the RNC made it official, voting unanimously to no longer participate in future debates hosted by the commission.
https://www.sott.net/article/466783-Republican-National-Committee-votes-to-boycott-Commission-on-Presidential-Debates-over-bias

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Japanese encephalitis outbreak kills 3 in Australia, first cases ever recorded in some regions, follows record flooding
Severe floods that hit parts of eastern Australia earlier this year sowed death and millions of dollars of destruction. The heavy rainfall events also appear to have ushered in another unwanted effect: Japanese encephalitis. Normally confined to the tropics, the viral disease has now turned up in parts of Australia that have never experienced it before. So far the outbreak has affected at least 34 people and caused three deaths, The Washington Post reports. "With accelerating climate change, we're going to be in a world of hurt," Tim Inglis, the head of pathology and laboratory medicine at the University of Western Australia, tells the newspaper, "with some of these diseases that have in the past been restricted in the tropics extending, as we're beginning to see." Comment: The climate is indeed changing, however it's clearly not because of CO2 emissions, and, overall, the planet is cooling: Antarctica's Adélie penguins happier with less sea ice, research shows ice is growing
https://www.sott.net/article/466784-Japanese-encephalitis-outbreak-kills-3-in-Australia-first-cases-ever-recorded-in-some-regions-follows-record-flooding