EL KAOS UT

Burkina Faso army captain announces overthrow of military government

2022-10-01T07:23:00.003+02:00

A Burkina Faso army captain on Friday announced the ouster of military leader Paul-Henri Damiba and the suspension of the country's constitution and transitional charter in a statement read on national television.

Army Captain Ibrahim Traoré said a group of officers had decided to remove Damiba due to his inability to deal with a worsening Islamist insurgency.

He announced that Burkina Faso's borders were closed indefinitely and that all political and civil society activities were suspended.

Around 15 soldiers in fatigues appeared on the Radio-Television broadcaster shortly before 8pm local time and read out the statement.

Security Council fails to adopt resolution 'condemning' referendums in 4 Ukrainian regions - China.org.cn

2022-10-01T07:18:00.002+02:00

United Nations Security Council on Friday failed to adopt a draft resolution, which "condemns" the referendums held in four Ukrainian regions under Russian control from Sept. 23 to 27.

The draft resolution titled "Illegal So-Called Referenda in Ukraine," prepared by Albania and the United States, was vetoed by Russia, one of the five permanent members of the council.

Of the 15-nation council, 10 nations, including the United States, France and Britain, voted in favor of the draft, while China, Gabon, India and Brazil abstained from voting.

A ceremony was held on Friday for the signing of treaties to incorporate Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson into the Russian Federation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin participated in the event, which took place in the Kremlin.

Olympics: Russian athletes who don't back Ukraine invasion could compete - The Jerusalem Post

2022-10-01T07:06:00.003+02:00

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is considering a return to competition of Russian athletes who do not support the country's invasion of Ukraine, IOC president Thomas Bach said on Friday.

The IOC issued guidance to sports governing bodies in February to remove Russian and Belarusian athletes from competition. Belarus has been used as a staging ground for Russia's invasion, which Moscow calls a "special military operation".

"It is not about necessarily having Russia back. It's about having athletes with a Russian passport who do not support the war back in competition," Bach told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

"Here comes our dilemma – this war has not been started by the Russian athletes. But we saw that some governments did not want to respect anymore the autonomy of international sports...

"This is why we've had to take these protective measures to be at least still a little bit in the driving seat and not lose all autonomy.

Nord Stream leaks likely single largest methane release ever: UN

2022-10-01T07:01:00.001+02:00

The ruptures on the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline system under the Baltic Sea have led to what is likely the biggest single release of climate-damaging methane ever recorded, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has said.

A huge plume of highly concentrated methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent but shorter-lived than carbon dioxide, was detected in an analysis this week of satellite imagery by researchers associated with the UNEP’s International Methane Emissions Observatory, or IMEO, the organization said on Friday.

“This is really bad, most likely the largest emission event ever detected,” Manfredi Caltagirone, head of the IMEO for UNEP, told Reuters.

“This is not helpful in a moment when we absolutely need to reduce emissions.”

Turkey rejects Russia's decision to annex 4 regions of Ukraine

2022-10-01T06:53:00.008+02:00

Türkiye said early Saturday that it rejects Russia's decision to annex four Ukrainian regions just as it did not recognize the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said Moscow's decision "constitutes a grave violation of the established principles of international law, cannot be accepted."

"Türkiye did not recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea in an illegitimate referendum in 2014 and has emphasized its strong support to Ukraine’s territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty on every occasion," it said.

“In accordance with this stance adopted in 2014, we reject Russia’s decision to annex the Donetsk, Luhansk, Herson and Zaphorizhia regions of Ukraine," it added.

Medvedev slams Ukraine's NATO bid as request to ‘hasten start of World War III’ - TASS

2022-09-30T20:49:00.005+02:00

Ukraine's NATO application is nothing but Kiev’s request to ‘hasten the start of World War III’, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday on his Telegram channel.

"[Ukrainian President Vladimir] Zelensky wants to speed up NATO membership. Great idea. He just begs NATO to hasten the start of World War III," Medvedev wrote.

The politician stressed that in his opinion "the guy [Zelensky] has clearly had enough of it". Medvedev complained that US President Joe Biden said he did not recognize the fact that the new territories had opted to join Russia. "It is strange that he remembered about us. However, it's a shame. We could have found a good place to open an American consulate in the new subjects of the Russian Federation," Medvedev said ironically.

Putin to residents of new regions: "Welcome home!"

2022-09-30T20:19:00.002+02:00

On the evening of September 30, Putin took the stage during the rally-concert "People's Choice. Together Forever" on Red Square.

The head of state noted that during the formation of the USSR, Russia created Ukraine, transferring to it the historical Russian territories "together with the population, which no one asked about where, how people want to live, how they want to arrange the future of their children, in which state."

“And with the collapse of the USSR, the same thing happened. The elites decided everything among themselves, millions of ordinary citizens were not asked. And only now, only modern Russia has given people living in the Lugansk People's Republic, in Donetsk, Zaporozhye, Kherson the right to choose. People came to the referendum and made this choice - to be with their historical homeland, with Russia!” Putin added.

The residents of Donbass, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions were able to carry love for their historical homeland in their hearts and passed it on to their children, despite Kyiv's attempts to forbid them to speak their native language and culture.

"Russia not only opens the doors of our native home for our brothers and sisters, it opens its heart to them. Welcome home!" Putin said.

Biden to unveil sanctions this morning in response to 4 new Russian regions

2022-09-30T17:26:00.007+02:00

The Biden administration is expected to respond this morning with sanctions to the accession of four former Ukrainian territories to Russia, NBC reported on Friday, citing the White House.

The administration is due to announce "new economic costs," the report said.

Treaties on accession of Donbass and other liberated territories to Russia signed

2022-09-30T16:36:00.003+02:00

Russian President Vladimir Putin and the heads of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics and the Zaporozhye and Kherson Regions have signed treaties on uniting these territories with Russia.

The ceremony took place on Friday in the Grand Kremlin Palace's St. George's Hall. Before signing the historic documents, Putin delivered a speech about these territories joining Russia.

Two tables had been set up in the hall for the signing ceremony. At one of them sat the heads of the four regions, who each took turns signing the document. Putin was seated at the other table - he approved the treaties on behalf of the Russian Federation.

Kiev unleashes deadly attack on civilians seeking refuge in Zaporozhye’s liberated zone - TASS

2022-09-30T11:42:00.002+02:00

More than 20 people were killed and 34 were injured when Ukrainian troops shelled a caravan of vehicles with civilians who wanted to flee the Kiev-controlled zone of the Zaporozhye Region, Vladimir Rogov, chair of the We Are Together with Russia movement, said on Friday.

"At the moment, we know that about 23 Zaporozhye residents were killed and 34 were wounded," he wrote on his Telegram channel.

He added that the vehicles were at a car market where a civilian convoy was being formed. "Upon leaving Zaporozhye, a line of cars waiting to pass through to the liberated territory was shelled," he specified.

"This is plainly a classic Anglo-Saxon style false flag with regards to civilian dissidents. This was carried out along the lines of the customary 'they shelled themselves' script followed by accusations against Russia," Rogov wrote.

The public figure called out the shelling of the caravan as an act of revenge by the Kiev-run authorities. "Literally the day before yesterday, to protest the actions of the [Ukrainian President Vladimir] Zelensky regime, these people blocked the road demanding that they be allowed to go to the liberated territory. Immediately after this, SBU agents and the police arrived and began making open threats," he wrote.

Earlier, Energodar’s military-civilian administration reported that a column of vehicles wanting to cross over to the liberated zone of the Zaporozhye Region was shelled by Ukrainian forces on the outskirts of Zaporozhye. Rogov said it consisted of about 10 cars.

Nord Stream leaks likely done by a state, says Sweden

2022-09-30T11:29:00.003+02:00

Gas leaks along the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines are very likely the result of state action, Swedish energy minister Khashayar Farmanbar has said.

“It’s very likely that it has been done deliberately and not by accident and it’s very unlikely it’s been done by anybody else than a state without being detected earlier,” Farmanbar told reporters before a meeting of European Union energy ministers in Brussels.

UN Chiefs Statement On Referenda Another Example Of Double Standards

2022-09-30T07:24:00.005+02:00

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' statement on the referenda held in the Donetsk and Luhansk people' republics (DNR and LNR) and in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions are an assault on the right to self determination and an example of double standards, the Russian mission to the United Nations said.

"Against this backdrop such a direct assault by the UN Secretary-General on the fundamental right of self-determination expressed by the population of DNR, LNR, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions represents yet another example of double standards," the Russian mission said in a statement on Thursday evening.

Türkiye hits 16 PKK targets in N. Iraq: minister - China.org.cn

2022-09-30T07:13:00.001+02:00

A total of 16 targets have been destroyed by the Turkish armed forces in a military operation against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Türkiye's Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Thursday.

The operation destroyed caves, bunkers, shelters and command posts of the PKK in the Asos Mountain region of Iraq on Tuesday, the minister said at a press conference in the southeastern Turkish province of Sirnak.

The targets were hit by airstrikes of the Turkish Air Force, the local NTV broadcaster reported.

Türkiye respects the territorial integrity and sovereignty rights of all its neighbors, especially Iraq and Syria, Akar emphasized.

"Syrians are our brothers, Iraqis are our brothers. There is no problem with that. Our problem is terrorists. We are after terrorists. This struggle will continue until the last terrorist is eliminated," he said.

Türkiye regularly conducts cross-border operations on the PKK bases in northern Iraq.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for over 30 years.

Iraq has protested against the Turkish operation in northern Iraq as a violation of its sovereignty.

Putin signs ‘independence’ decrees for Zaporizhia, Kherson

2022-09-30T07:07:00.006+02:00

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared the ‘independence’ of the Ukrainian regions of Zaporizhia and Kherson as Russia prepares to formally proclaim the annexation of Ukrainian territory.

“I order the recognition of the state sovereignty and independence” of Zaporizhia and Kherson in southern Ukraine, Putin said in presidential decrees issued late on Thursday.

History shows that whoever violates borders is ultimately punished: Greece to Turkey

2022-09-29T20:37:00.003+02:00

Greece stresses to Turkey that it would be making a mistake by "poisoning public opinion in its country by discovering enemies where they do not exist".
Mitsotakis from the missile launcher "Vlahakos": "Our borders are blue, not gray, anyone who violates them is punished"
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1. US says Greek sovereignty on islands ‘not in question’ after Turkey complaint.

The United States said Wednesday that Greek sovereignty over two islands was not in doubt after Ankara lodged a protest over the deployment there of US armored vehicles.

Turkey on Monday summoned the Greek ambassador and complained to the United States after spying and releasing aerial images that it said showed ships with the US armored vehicles docking in Lesbos and Samos.

“Greek's sovereignty over these islands is not in question,” State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.
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The naming of the "Vlahakos" missile launcher was carried out

The missile launcher of the Greek Navy in honor of Vice-Captain Panagiotis Vlachakos, who sacrificed himself in Imia on the night of January 31, 1996, next to Vice-Captain Christodoulos Karathanasis and Commander-in-Chief Hector Gialopsos, making known everywhere the truth about the Greek borders.

Hurricane Ian Causing Catastrophic Flooding In Florida, Threatens 3 More States - NHC

2022-09-29T16:01:00.007+02:00

Hurricane Ian is provoking "catastrophic flooding" in Florida, and threatens Georgia, South and North Carolina, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Thursday.

"Ian producing catastrophic flooding over East-Central Florida. Forecast to produce life-threatening flooding, storm surge and gusty winds across portions of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas," the NHC said in an advisory.

The National Weather Service has issued special weather advisories and warnings for at least nine cities across the region.

Nationwide Strike Disrupts France's Energy Sector

2022-09-29T15:55:00.001+02:00

A nationwide strike in France on Thursday called by hard-left trade unions demanding higher pay disrupted the energy sector as nuclear power industry workers joined the walkout. Strikes also hit Total Energies refineries for a third day.

The 24-hour strike by electricity union FNME lowered capacity from the power grid at a time when France already faces a record number of nuclear reactor outages.

The strike had reduced nuclear power generation by 3.3 gigawatts (GW) by 0720 GMT, data from power group EDF showed. It reduced hydropower output by 610 megawatts (MW).

The strike is also expected to cause some disruption to schools and transport.

Refugees from Kharkov Region tracked using drones, shelled by Ukrainian army — LPR envoy

2022-09-29T11:51:00.004+02:00

A group of refugees from the Kharkov Region shelled by Ukrainian troops was tracked using drones and the fire was targeted, the LPR’s ambassador to Russia told the Rossiya-24 TV channel on Thursday.

"They spontaneously formed a column moving in our direction, towards the Lugansk People’s Republic, whether to pass through it or to get to temporary accommodation sites. The column was tracked using quadcopters and artillery shelled them," Rodion Miroshnik said.

The envoy said that the incident was tragic and noted that "currently, information [on those killed and injured] is preliminary, there is no exact data because the shelling there continues." He stressed that doctors at hospitals where those injured had been taken were fighting for their lives. "As our Health Ministry is saying, they have everything they need," the diplomat added.

Hurricane Ian Continues Battering Florida, Weakens To Category 3

2022-09-29T04:16:00.001+02:00

Hurricane Ian continues to batter Florida and is threatening the states of North and South Carolina, but has weakened to a category 3, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in advisories.

Earlier, when Ian made landfall as a category 4 hurricane, maximum sustained winds had reached 140 miles per hour, according to the advisory issued by the NOAA / National Weather Service agency.

However, the NHC said the storm has weakened to a category 3 in an advisory at 8:00 p.m. EST and winds had died down to 115 mph.

Ian however continues to batter the Florida peninsula with catastrophic storm surge, winds, and flooding, the agency added.

US embassy in Moscow urges Americans to depart Russia to avoid being conscripted - China.org.cn

2022-09-29T04:04:00.005+02:00

The U.S. embassy in Moscow has urged American nationals residing in Russia to depart the country immediately, citing what it claimed to be possibility that Russia could conscript dual nationals for military service.

"Russia may refuse to acknowledge dual nationals' U.S. citizenship, deny their access to U.S. consular assistance, prevent their departure from Russia, and conscript dual nationals for military service," read an alert posted on the embassy's website Tuesday.

"U.S. citizens should not travel to Russia and those residing or travelling in Russia should depart Russia immediately while limited commercial travel options remain," it added.

The advisory came roughly a week after Russia announced a partial mobilization amid the conflict with Ukraine.

Hurricane Ian: 20 migrants still missing in waters off Florida

2022-09-29T03:58:00.005+02:00

A boat carrying more than two dozen migrants has sunk off the coast of Florida, a United States government official said, as crews searched for 20 people that remain missing as Hurricane Ian slams the US state.

Walter Slosar, chief patrol agent at the US Border Patrol’s Miami Sector Headquarters, said on Wednesday that law enforcement agencies had launched a search-and-rescue mission after the vessel sank “due to inclement weather“.

Macron Tells Aliyev to Respect Armenia’s Territorial Integrity – Asbarez.com

2022-09-29T03:45:00.000+02:00

President Emmanuel Macron of France reiterated his demand on respecting Armenia’s territorial integrity during a phone call with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, the French president’s office reported in a statement.
Macron reportedly called Aliyev following his meeting on Monday with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Paris.

“The French President repeated his call to his Azerbaijani colleague on returning to the ceasefire and holding the troops in their initial positions. There are numerous deaths as a result of the clashes of the recent days. He also reminded about his demand to respect Armenia’s territorial integrity,” the Elysee Palace statement said.

Macron also told Aliyev that Pashinyan has voiced his willingness to continue negotiations over unresolved issues. Macron underscored France’s readiness to contribute to these talks.

Meanwhile, Armenia’s Defense Minister Suren Papikyan met with his French counterpart Sébastien Lecornu, with whom he discussed the current situation following the Sept. 13 attack by Azerbaijan on Armenia’s sovereign territory.

Russia Requests UN Security Council Meeting Over Nord Stream Pipeline Sabotage - Envoy

2022-09-28T17:00:00.005+02:00

Russia has requested a UN Security Council meeting in connection with recent acts of sabotage on Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, deputy envoy to the UN Dmitry Polyanskiy said on Wednesday.

"Russia requested an urgent UN Security Council meeting on the acts of sabotage against #Nordstream1 and #NordStream2," Polyanskiy wrote on social media.

The meeting will take place on Friday, a UN Security Council source told Sputnik.

US says military killed 12 civilians in 2021, sparking scepticism

2022-09-28T16:53:00.002+02:00

The United States Department of Defense, which has for years been accused of vastly under-investigating and under-reporting civilian casualties, has released a congressionally mandated annual report on civilians killed by the US military worldwide in 2021, listing just 12 civilian killings it determined to be “credible”.

The report late on Tuesday renewed perennial scepticism about official US military counts of civilian casualties.

A previously acknowledged US drone attack that killed 10 family members, including seven children, in Kabul on August 29, 2021, accounted for the majority of civilian deaths confirmed by the Pentagon for the whole of the year.

US officials have publicly called the attack a “mistake”, but said no personnel would be punished for the incident.

Kremlin Dismisses ‘Stupid’ Claims Russia Attacked Nord Stream - Tasnim News Agency

2022-09-28T16:46:00.007+02:00

The Kremlin on Wednesday said claims that Russia was somehow behind a possible attack on the Nord Stream gas pipelines were stupid, adding that Moscow saw a sharp increase in the profits of US companies supplying gas to Europe.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a daily conference call with reporters that the incident needed to be investigated and the timings for repair of the damaged pipelines were not clear.

Asked about claims Russia might be behind the possible attack, Peskov said: “That’s quite predictable and also predictably stupid,” Reuters reported.

“This is a big problem for us because, firstly, both lines of Nord Stream 2 are filled with gas - the entire system is ready to pump gas and the gas is very expensive... Now the gas is flying off into the air.”

“Are we interested in that? No, we are not, we have lost a route for gas supplies to Europe,” Peskov said.

Europe has been investigating what Germany, Denmark and Sweden said were attacks which had caused major leaks into the Baltic Sea from two Russian gas pipelines at the centre of an energy standoff.

“We see the huge profits of the US suppliers of liquefied natural gas, who increased their supplies many-fold to the European continent,” Peskov said. “They are very, very interested in further receiving their super, super profits.”

The United States plans to supply at least 15 billion cubic metres (bcm) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to European Union markets this year as Europe seeks to wean itself off Russian gas supplies.

Russia, which slashed gas deliveries to Europe after the West imposed sanctions over Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine, has said sabotage was a possibility and that the leaks undermined the continent’s energy security.

“Before making any claims, we should wait for investigation into these ruptures, whether there was an explosion or not,” Peskov said. Information on the incident could be expected from Denmark and Sweden, he said.