2 Apr, 2023 15:29

Iran warns off US spy plane – media

The electronic surveillance aircraft was turned back after it violated Iranian airspace, state media reported

The Iranian navy turned back an American surveillance plane after it entered the country’s airspace on Sunday, the IRNA news agency reported.Iran has previously shot down American spy aircraft.

A US EP-3E reconnaissance plane was identified by the Iranian navy over the Sea of Oman on Sunday afternoon, the state-owned news outlet reported.Following a warning from the navy, the plane returned to international airspace, the report continued.

Citing navy officials, Iran’s Tasnim news agency said thatthe plane did not actually enter Iranian airspace, and was turned around before it could do so. “Iranian naval forces gave the plane a warning and blocked its unauthorized entry into the Iranian airspace,”the agency’s version of events read.

At the time of writing, the US has not commented on the alleged incident.

The Lockheed EP-3E is an electronic signals reconnaissance variant of the P-3 Orion and is designed to patrol at low speedoff enemy shores and intercept communications. In 2001, an EP-3E operated by the US navy collided with a Chinese J-8 interceptor jet over the South China Sea. After dismantling the EP-3E, China eventually returned the plane and its 24-man crew to the US, but only after billing Washington for shipping costs and the 11 days of food and lodging it provided the crew.

The US often uses both manned and unmanned aircraft to surveil Iran. In 2019, Iranian air defense forces shot down an American RQ-4 Global Hawk surveillance drone over the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran said the craft had violated its airspace, whileWashington insisted it had stayed in international skies.

US President Donald Trump responded to the shootdown by ordering a retaliatory missile strike,before calling off the attack out of a reluctance to inflict human casualtiesafter the loss of an unmanned drone. Trump instead imposed sanctions on Iranian military officials and authorized cyber attacks on Iranian military computer systems, which Tehran said it thwarted. (That was only reported as a warning to Iran)

https://www.rt.com/news/574032-iran-us-spy-plane/

2 Apr, 2023 18:58

China investigates US chipmaker over ‘security risks’

(Tit for Tik Tok, better tiltle)

The probe into Micron Technology comes as Beijing battles the US and its allies for semiconductor supremacy

China has opened an investigation into Micron Technology, an Idaho-based semiconductor firm. The probe comes as the US seeks to curtail Beijing’s access to these vital electronic components amid a deepening tech war.

In a statement on Friday, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said that it opened its investigation in order to “safeguard key information infrastructure supply chain security” and “prevent cyberspace security risks due to problematic products.”

While the Chinese government has not commented further on the investigation, several factors could have influenced the CAC’s decision to probe an American chipmaker, and Micron in particular.

Theprobe mirrors US investigations into Chinese technology firms like Huawei, which was placed on a US trade blacklist in 2019 and accused by Washington of enabling espionage by Beijing, which both Huawei and the Chinese government deny. Huawei suffered two straight years of declining profits in 2021 and 2022, and the Biden administration is reportedly planning to hammer Huawei with export controls to hasten the Chinese firm’s “demise,” according to the Wall Street Journal.

Aninvestigation into Micron would seriously harm the company’s bottom line, as China accounts for 10% of its sales, the South China Morning Post reported. Furthermore, Micron’s Chinese-made products directly compete with those of domestic firms, meaning the probe stands to benefit indigenous industry.

Semiconductors are used in a host of modern devices, from smartphones to washing machines to guided missiles. The majority of these microchips are made in East Asia, with Taiwan producing more than 60%, and much of the remainder split between South Korea, Japan, the US, and China.

The US has recently moved to extend its control over the industry, offering $52 billion in federal funding to domestic manufacturers last August and imposing export controls last October to block the sale to China of the hardware and software used to produce chips. Furthermore, the US is currently in talks with Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan to formalize the so-called ‘Chip 4 Alliance,’ which Beijing sees as an attempt to exclude China from semiconductor supply chains.

Micron allegedly lobbied the Biden administration to pass the manufacturing funding bill, andclosed a chip design center in Shanghai months before it became law, the South China Morning Post reported.

In a statement on Friday, the company said that it is “cooperating fully” with the CAC, and that it “stand[s] by the security of our products.”

https://www.rt.com/news/574039-china-micron-semiconductor-investigation/

PN>>18626555 OPEC+ Makes Surprise 1 Million-Barrel Oil Production Cut

I wonder if someone is asking them to do this so they open up drilling in the US again?

Bidan Admin trying to save face or

Another interested party

2 Apr, 2023 20:29

Who was Vladlen Tatarsky, the blogger killed in St. Petersburg

The Russian war reporter died as a result of a blast in the city center

Russian war correspondent Maxim Fomin – better known under the pen name Vladlen Tatarsky – was killed in a suspected IED explosion in a café in downtown St. Petersburg on Sunday afternoon. More than 20 other people were injured in the blast in the ‘Street Bar,’ according to Russian officials.

Tatarsky rose to prominence as a military blogger after Russia launched its operation in Ukraine last February.He had over 560,000 followers on Telegram alone, where he provided daily reports and in-depth analysis of the latest battlefield developments.

He was born on April 25, 1982 in the city of Makeevka in Donetsk Region of the Soviet Union. In 1999, he followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather and began working at a mine. Later, he started his own business and took several bank loans to expand it, according to the Russian media. However, hiscompany went bankrupt, and in 2011 he along with several friendsdecided to rob a bank. He was convicted and sent to a jail in Gorlovka in then-Ukrainian Donetsk Region.

In 2014, in the wake of the Western-backed Maidan coup in Ukraine, his prison came under fire. Tatarsky managed to escape andjoined up with a Donetsk militia, which had opposed the coup in Kiev, serving at various times in two units of the militia of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR). He also served in theintelligence service of the LuganskPeople’s Republic (LPR).

In 2020, Tatarsky reportedly moved to Moscow but returned to Donbass soon after the beginning of the Russian military campaign andrejoined one of the battalionsin which he had previously served to fight against Kiev’s forces.

Tatarskyauthored three books, including the autobiographical novel ‘Running’, which was published in 2021.

On Sunday, Tatarsky, who over the course of the conflict had managed to become one ofRussia’s most popular military bloggers, was hosting a live event for his supporters at the St. Petersburg café. Kirill Makarov, the youth policy minister of the DRP, told Russian media that Tatarskymay have been killed by an improvised explosive device disguised as a statuette.

According to several Russian media outlets, ayoung woman had presented a figurineto the war correspondent during the event.

https://www.rt.com/russia/574043-who-was-vladlen-tatarsky/

2 Apr, 2023 17:39

Russian official ridicules Ukrainian plan to rename iconic Crimean city

Statements from “sick people” can’t be taken seriously, the governor of Sevastopol has stated

The idea of renaming Sevastopol as part of Kiev’s plan to retake Crimea from Russia should not be taken seriously, the governor of the port city, Mikhail Razvozhaev told TASS news agency on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, Aleksey Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, took to Facebook to post what he called “12 steps for the de-occupation of Crimea.”

One of the proposed steps was torename Sevastopol – first simply to “Installation No.6“ and then to Akhtiar, after a small settlement that used to exist in the area. The re-branding would be necessary to “break the historic perception [of Sevastopol] as a city of Russian military glory,” the Kiev official stated.

Danilov also suggested that if the peninsula became Ukrainian again theCrimean Bridge connecting it to mainland Russia would be destroyed, while the local population would undergo so-called “lustration,” or a vetting process to determinewho would lose their political rightsover ties to the Russian state.

Reacting to Danilov’s plan, Razvozhaev said that “the news from Ukrainian politicians ismore like entries in the medical record from Ward No.6.”He was likely referring to the 1892 short story ‘Ward No. 6’ by iconic Russian author Anton Chekhov, whichdepicts events at a provincial mental asylum.

“One can’t take statements and comments of sick people seriously. They need to be treated, which is what our military is doing right now,”the Sevastopol governor pointed out as cited by TASS news agency.

Sevastopol, in the south of the Crimean peninsula, serves as the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. It is one of three federal cities under Russian law, together with Moscow and St Petersburg.

The name Sevastopol, which was given to thecity when it was founded by the Russian Empire in 1783, is composed of Greek words “sebastos,” which means “venerable,” and “polis,” which means “city.”

For months, Ukraine has been mulling a major counteroffensive aimed at restoring control over all territories lost to Russia, including Crimea.

Former Russian president and current deputy head of the country’s Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, said earlier this week that the claims by Ukrainian officials were just “propaganda” and shouldn’t be treated seriously.

However, Medvedev warned that if the peninsula, which reunited with Russia as a result of a referendum in 2014, is actually attacked, itcould become “the basis for the use of all means of protection, including those provided for by the fundamentals of the Doctrine of Nuclear Deterrence.”

https://www.rt.com/russia/574033-crimea-sevastopol-ukraine-danilov/

(As far as I can tell, US and EU are losing interest quickly in Ukraine, these people are like gnats, buzzing around trying to get attention.)

>>18628401

Is this good? In EU “left” is conservative, and all the other names are undefinable.

If its good, then YES!

>>18628101

PB anon “Our society allowed him to be successful”, that sounds like Obama, “they didn’t build that” comment. A truly communist mindset.

If “Our society” allowed itwhy isn’t everyone successful?. Give credit where credit is due anon, he worked his ass off harder than 98% of the population.

Smart Anon who responded, I agree with you he broke their system without cheating, andHRC believed the propaganda she told the media to report, which is the most hilarious part of it

>>18628447

Good story, but why tell us, we have our own theories

>>18628519

Amen

>>18628147

Why because he might misspeak? Seriously its annoying to have no answer

Jen Psaki tells Democrats to not ‘celebrate’ or ‘brag’ about Donald Trump’s indictment

By Hanna Panreck, Fox News

Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Sunday that Democrats shouldn’t “celebrate” or “brag” about the indictment of former President Donald Trump during her show on Sunday.

The MSNBC host encouraged Democrats to stay out of it and keep their heads down with regard to the indictment news.

She insisted it was “not the time” for a “mass order of ‘lock him up’ t-shirts.”

“Now is also not the time for Democratic candidates to celebrate, to brag, to predict the outcome of the legal cases. If you can, I’d actually just put your head down and stay out of it for now,” she continued.

She said the Biden White House wouldn’t comment on the investigation because they have a “long-standing policy” on commenting on criminal investigations. (yeah right!)

Psaki said it was “good politics” to avoid commenting on the indictment.(OMG not decorum but politics!)

“If you’re sitting in the White House right now, you are making the right bet that the public cares a whole lot more about what the president is doing to actually make their lives better than what he thinks about a hush money payment to adult film star. It turns out their intended campaign message, the Biden team’s, of competence versus chaos may actually even play out before he enters the race. They don’t need to spell out and project what chaos means on the Republican side, the leading candidates, leaders in the House, are doing that for them,” she said.

Psaki noted apoll that found 90% of Republicans, 70% of Independents and nearly 30% of Democratsbelieved the Manhattan District Attorney’scase against Trump was politicizedand said that it “didn’t matter” that it was based on the “phony claims of leading Republicans.” (This is what she’s worried about!)

“But the thing is, there is absolutely nothing to gain by adding more fuel to that fire. So if you want to say something, if you feel you have to say something, stick with the frame that has been in the statements of a number of democratic leaders. One, no one is above the law, that’s how our country works. Two, Trump will be able to avail himself of the legal system. And three, there should be no intimidation andany protest should be peaceful,” she said. (Wait a minute she just coyly called for protests!)

“That is how the judicial system is supposed to work. And a functional judicial system is vital to a thriving democracy. The defense of those values is also part of how Democrats held onto the Senate and came close to holding on to the House in November. It turns out defending democracy and the rule of law is not only morally right, it’s good politics too,” she continued.

(She’s a bitch and liar, what she is worried about is democrats celebrating Trumps indictment will only turn more people against democrats. It’s not about long standing policy!)

https://nypost.com/2023/04/02/jen-psaki-tells-democrats-to-not-celebrate-donald-trumps-indictment/

Who are they kidding, that’s not Trump

Donald Trump golfs away worries at Mar-a-Lago as he faces arraignment

Ronny Reyes

Donald Trump appeared worry-free Sunday as he enjoyed a round of golf at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, despite facing an arraignment in Manhattan on Tuesday over the Stormy Daniels hush-money case.

Trump, 76, was indicted by a grand jury last week over the $130,000 payoff made to the porn star in the lead-up to the 2016 election.

The former president has ripped the case as a political hitjob by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

While Trump has vehemently denied the charges on social media, he appeared calmer out on the Palm Beach golf course Sunday as he drove around in a cart.

The former president wore his signature white polo shirt and red “Make America Great Again” cap as he made his way through the green.

Sunday’s outing followed another game he played Saturday at the property, with his supporters gathering outside to show their support of the Republican frontrunner for 2024.

The rounds of golf came as Trump prepares to fly to New York City on Monday, when he will stay at Trump Tower before heading off toManhattan Supreme Court for his arraignment.

The former president will be fingerprinted and have his mug shot taken as part of the charging process.

The court also is expected to unseal the specifics of his indictment.

Reports say Trump will face more than 30 counts, including at least one felony charge, in the case, in which he is accused of helping to arrange the payment to Daniels to keep quiet their affair ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

After he is arraigned, Trump is scheduled to fly back to Mar-a-Lago to “deliver his remarks” on the case, according to his campaign.

Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, including that he had a sexual relationship with Daniels starting the year after he got married to Melania.

Trump lawyer Joe Tacopina, who is representing him in the case, said Sunday that if Trump hadn’t already committed to running again for the White House in 2024, Bragg would not have sought an indictment.

“If you’re intellectually honest, we all know that had Donald Trump not been Donald Trump, and it was John Smith, this case would have never been brought,” Tacopina said. “If he was not running for reelection, there is no way this case would have been brought.

“This case is not even legally sufficient. Factually, it’s a joke,” the lawyer claimed.

https://nypost.com/2023/04/02/donald-trump-golfs-away-worries-as-he-faces-arraignment/

>>18628622

Trump golfing is really white skin, no tan, hunched over, pretty chubby. I’ve seen this guy for a year and I haven’t believed it was PDJT, its not even close. Now look at the pictures from last rally, big difference.

The double has to get a tan, lose some weight and stand up straight

>>18628615

Why does the DS need a valid reason? There’s nothing valid about it, they want to make Russia a pariah and destroy it because they know the criminal’s crimes in Ukraine of leaders in US and EU. They csn’t exactly tell the world. Their story its a democracy so we have to save it. They are not a democracy they are Nazi Germany recreated by the CIA

>>18628685

And Europeans, lots and lots of them. You know how people put the Ukraine flag in their twitter bio for three weeks last year and almost all dropped them; The ones that still have it up are a sure sign they are DS

>>18628543

Thank you the compliment and I concur

>>18628485

Who do they include?

>>18628147

I knew it, Barr was not being supportive

Ex-AG Bill Barr says Trump should not testify in hush money case because ‘he lacks all self-control’

Mark Moore

Former Attorney General Bill Barr on Sunday said Donald Trump shouldn’t testify in the criminal case against him “because he lacks all self-control” — while newly-minted Republican presidential hopeful Asa Hutchinson called on him to drop out of the 2024 race over the indictment.

Barr, who served as AG in the Trump administration, was asked by Fox News’ Shannon Bream whether lawyers for the 76-year-old former president should allow him to take the stand in his defense.

“Generally, I think it’s a bad idea to go on the stand and I think it’s a particularly bad idea for Trump because he lacks all self-control. And it would be very difficult to prepare him and keep him testifying in a prudent fashion,” Barr said on “Fox News Sunday.”​

But Barr also said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is abusing the function of prosecutions by “pursuing a person rather than pursuing a real crime” and warned of the fallout of such a politically charged case.

“The real danger of this thing over the long term isn’t so much narrowed to Trump,” he said. “It’s now we have thousands of DAs around the country, now that the Rubicon has been crossed, any one of them can find federal candidates or federal office holders and so forth, can find some state law they want to pursue the person on and get themselves into the national political arena.”

In addition to the indictment in Manhattan handed up last week, Trump is facing multiple investigations into the classified documents found at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida and over his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol….

https://nypost.com/2023/04/02/gopers-say-dont-put-trump-on-the-stand-call-for-him-to-exit-2024-race/

>>18628762

Anons at least 50% of NYPs articles on Trump are negative, be aware

>>18628762

Oh notice the NYP constantly references Trump’s age, 76, why didn’t they say what Barr’s age is

So is DeSanctass gonna stop the police from doing this?

https://twitter.com/shipwreckedcrew/status/1642257733524287488?s=20

>>18628836

Amen