southfront--2020-12-30--Putin Signs Law To Combat Anti-Russian Censorship In Internet

On December 30th , Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law to combat internet censorship in foreign social media platforms .
From now on , if they attempt to block information from Russian media , the General Prosecutor ’ s Office , in agreement with the foreign ministry , will be able to assign such resources the status of “ discriminating against Russian media ” .
As a more serious punishment , a fine of up to three million rubles , traffic slowdown or a complete shutdown is foreseen .
Both individual pages and the entire resource can be blocked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violators .
The adopted norms will affect platforms such as Twitter , Facebook and YouTube .
The main points are the following : • for restricting access to information on racial , ethnic and political affiliation , the Prosecutor General , in agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , will be able to assign the owner of the information resource the status of discriminating against the Russian media , which will threaten the Internet platform with sanctions ; • the law will apply not only to large social networks such as Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to large IT platforms ; • if censorship against Russian media is discontinued , the foreign platform will have to inform Roskomnadzor about this , after which the Prosecutor General , in agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , will lift the sanctions on the Internet resource ; • the law provides for the possibility not only to impose a fine of up to 3 million , but also to slow down traffic or even block the platform Blocking a resource will entirely depend on the capabilities of the platform itself .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Users of Social Networks and Messengers came up with a proposal to introduce a fine of up to 10 million rubles for foreign Internet companies for censoring Russian media , as well as the possibility of forcible seizure of funds from such companies .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • The 2020 Worldwide Corona Crisis : Destroying Civil Society , Engineered Economic Depression , Global Coup d ’ État and the “ Great Reset ” • Big Brother Watches Your Back : Latvia Purges ‘ Wrong Points Of View ’ In Its Media @

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On December 30th, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law to combat internet censorship in foreign social media platforms.
From now on, if they attempt to block information from Russian media, the General Prosecutor’s Office, in agreement with the foreign ministry, will be able to assign such resources the status of “discriminating against Russian media”.
As a more serious punishment, a fine of up to three million rubles, traffic slowdown or a complete shutdown is foreseen. Both individual pages and the entire resource can be blocked.
Roskomnadzor will keep the register of violators. The adopted norms will affect platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
The main points are the following:
for restricting access to information on racial, ethnic and political affiliation, the Prosecutor General, in agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will be able to assign the owner of the information resource the status of discriminating against the Russian media, which will threaten the Internet platform with sanctions;
the law will apply not only to large social networks such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, but also to large IT platforms;
if censorship against Russian media is discontinued, the foreign platform will have to inform Roskomnadzor about this, after which the Prosecutor General, in agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will lift the sanctions on the Internet resource;
the law provides for the possibility not only to impose a fine of up to 3 million, but also to slow down traffic or even block the platform
Blocking a resource will entirely depend on the capabilities of the platform itself.
In November, the Association of Professional Users of Social Networks and Messengers came up with a proposal to introduce a fine of up to 10 million rubles for foreign Internet companies for censoring Russian media, as well as the possibility of forcible seizure of funds from such companies.
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southfront--2020-12-30--The Julian Assange Pardon Drive

The Julian Assange Pardon Drive

The odds are stacked against Julian Assange , the WikiLeaks publisher who faces the grimmest of prospects come January 4 .
On that day , the unsympathetic judicial head of District Judge Vanessa Baraitser will reveal her decision on the Old Bailey proceedings that took place between September and October this year .
Despite Assange ’ s team being able to marshal an impressive , even astonishing array of sources and witnesses demolishing the prosecution ’ s case for extradition to the United States , power can be blindly vengeful .
Such blindness is much in evidence in a co-authored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authors are insipidly predictable : national security and technology types with comic strip names ( Charles “ Cully ” Stimson ; Klon Kitchen ) and rule of law advocates who seemingly campaign against their own brief ( John G. Malcolm ) .
Having not bothered to read the evidence submitted at the extradition trial , the authors are obedient to a fictitious record .
This includes allegations that WikiLeaks harmed US diplomatic relations ; the stubborn libel that Assange ’ s actions , far from exposing US atrocities , led to a loss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essential “ intelligence sources and methods ” .
( Accountability can be expensive . )
The authors fail to appreciate the dangers of the Assange case to the First Amendment , free speech and the publication of national security information .
They merely claim to be free speech defenders , only to neatly hive Assange ’ s activities off from its protections .
Free speech is a fine thing as long as it is innocuous and inconsequential .
“ Suppression of speech , in a free society , is wrong .
But Assange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internationalising the reach of the Espionage Act , the indictment against Assange threatens the global documentation and reporting of classified information in the public interest .
To put it in elementary terms for the legions of ignorant security hacks , granting the request will legitimise the targeting of US citizens .
Bruce D. Brown , executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press , summarises the implications .
“ If the UK grants the request to deliver Assange , UK prosecutors could make similar arguments in an effort to extradite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its Official Secrets Act , which explicitly criminalizes the publication of leaked military or intelligence information.
” Of central importance in the Assange pardon drive is the cultivation of vanity and , it follows , the appeal to posterity .
“ We write to request that you put a defining stamp to your presidential legacy by pardoning Julian Assange or stopping his tradition , ” urge the signatories of yet another letter to Trump on the subject .
The heavy artillery is impressive , including five Nobel Prize laureates : Northern Irish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activist Adolfo Pérez Esquivel , Iranian political activist and lawyer Shirin Ebadi , feminist campaigner Rigoberta Menchú Tum and Austrian novelist Peter Handke .
Appropriately , the signatories impress upon Trump that the case “ threatens the constitutional protections that Americans hold dear ” and suggest that history will be kind should he show sound judgment in the case .
“ By offering a pardon , to put a stop to the prosecution of Assange , your presidency will be remembered for having saved First Amendment protections for all Americans.
” The approach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other cruel , inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is more expansive and detailed .
In his appeal to Trump on December 22 , Nils Melzer outlines the high price Assange has paid “ for the courage to publish true information about government misconduct throughout the world.
” The deteriorating health condition of the publisher is noted , including the risks posed to him by the COVID-19 pandemic at Belmarsh prison in London .
The relevant pointers are there : that Assange is not an enemy of the American people ; his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secrecy and corruption throughout the world and , therefore , acts in the public interest of the American people and of humanity as a whole.
” He had not hacked or pilfered the information he published , having “ obtained it from authentic documents and sources in the same way as any other serious and independent investigative journalists conduct their work.
” Melzer then seeks to appeal to Trump the man , pleading for Assange ’ s release as the president had “ vowed … to pursue an agenda of fighting government corruption @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecution of Mr Assange to continue would mean that , under your legacy , telling the truth about such corruption and misconduct has become a crime.
” Finally , the personal touch is being fashioned for the president , spearheaded by Assange ’ s fiancée Stella Moris .
Her appearance on Fox News with host Tucker Carlson was primed for Trump ’ s hearty consumption , laden with hooks of catchy lingo .
This made perfectly good sense ; there is still some time to go before the world ’ s first Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Once he [ Assange ] gets to the US , ” feared Moris , “ he will be in the hands of the Deep State .
That ’ s why I pleaded with the President to show the mercy the Deep State will not show Julian if he is extradited.
” Carlson was certainly convinced , taking a position at odds with various national security wonks that pullulate the US airwaves .
“ Whatever you think of Julian Assange and what he did , he is effectively a journalist .
He took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place the public could read it.
” The Australian was spending time in prison for releasing documents “ he did not steal , ” merely providing a platform for their dissemination , showing that “ the US government was illegally spying on me , and everybody else in this country.
” The seeds for a stinging provocation against the US imperium have been sown .
Whether they take firm root and grow in the self-absorbed mind of the commander-in-chief is another matter .
Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University , Melbourne .
Email : bkampmark @ gmail.com MORE ON THE TOPIC : • The Year In Retrospect : What Did Russia ’ s Military Achieve In 2020 ?

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Submitted by Dr. Binoy Kampmark
The odds are stacked against Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks publisher who faces the grimmest of prospects come January 4. On that day, the unsympathetic judicial head of District Judge Vanessa Baraitser will reveal her decision on the Old Bailey proceedings that took place between September and October this year. Despite Assange’s team being able to marshal an impressive, even astonishing array of sources and witnesses demolishing the prosecution’s case for extradition to the United States, power can be blindly vengeful.
Such blindness is much in evidence in a co-authored contribution to The Daily Signal from this month. The authors are insipidly predictable: national security and technology types with comic strip names (Charles “Cully” Stimson; Klon Kitchen) and rule of law advocates who seemingly campaign against their own brief (John G. Malcolm). Having not bothered to read the evidence submitted at the extradition trial, the authors are obedient to a fictitious record. This includes allegations that WikiLeaks harmed US diplomatic relations; the stubborn libel that Assange’s actions, far from exposing US atrocities, led to a loss of life; and the disruption of essential “intelligence sources and methods”. (Accountability can be expensive.)
The authors fail to appreciate the dangers of the Assange case to the First Amendment, free speech and the publication of national security information. They merely claim to be free speech defenders, only to neatly hive Assange’s activities off from its protections. Free speech is a fine thing as long as it is innocuous and inconsequential. “Suppression of speech, in a free society, is wrong. But Assange is not a free-speech hero.”
By internationalising the reach of the Espionage Act, the indictment against Assange threatens the global documentation and reporting of classified information in the public interest. To put it in elementary terms for the legions of ignorant security hacks, granting the request will legitimise the targeting of US citizens. Bruce D. Brown, executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, summarises the implications. “If the UK grants the request to deliver Assange, UK prosecutors could make similar arguments in an effort to extradite a journalist in the US for violations of its Official Secrets Act, which explicitly criminalizes the publication of leaked military or intelligence information.”
Of central importance in the Assange pardon drive is the cultivation of vanity and, it follows, the appeal to posterity. “We write to request that you put a defining stamp to your presidential legacy by pardoning Julian Assange or stopping his tradition,” urge the signatories of yet another letter to Trump on the subject. The heavy artillery is impressive, including five Nobel Prize laureates: Northern Irish peace activist Mairead Maguire, human rights activist Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, Iranian political activist and lawyer Shirin Ebadi, feminist campaigner Rigoberta Menchú Tum and Austrian novelist Peter Handke.
Appropriately, the signatories impress upon Trump that the case “threatens the constitutional protections that Americans hold dear” and suggest that history will be kind should he show sound judgment in the case. “By offering a pardon, to put a stop to the prosecution of Assange, your presidency will be remembered for having saved First Amendment protections for all Americans.”
The approach taken by the UN Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is more expansive and detailed. In his appeal to Trump on December 22, Nils Melzer outlines the high price Assange has paid “for the courage to publish true information about government misconduct throughout the world.” The deteriorating health condition of the publisher is noted, including the risks posed to him by the COVID-19 pandemic at Belmarsh prison in London.
The relevant pointers are there: that Assange is not an enemy of the American people; his work and that of WikiLeaks “fights secrecy and corruption throughout the world and, therefore, acts in the public interest of the American people and of humanity as a whole.” He had not hacked or pilfered the information he published, having “obtained it from authentic documents and sources in the same way as any other serious and independent investigative journalists conduct their work.”
Melzer then seeks to appeal to Trump the man, pleading for Assange’s release as the president had “vowed … to pursue an agenda of fighting government corruption and misconduct; and because allowing the prosecution of Mr Assange to continue would mean that, under your legacy, telling the truth about such corruption and misconduct has become a crime.”
Finally, the personal touch is being fashioned for the president, spearheaded by Assange’s fiancée Stella Moris. Her appearance on Fox News with host Tucker Carlson was primed for Trump’s hearty consumption, laden with hooks of catchy lingo. This made perfectly good sense; there is still some time to go before the world’s first Fox News president vacates the White House. “Once he [Assange] gets to the US,” feared Moris, “he will be in the hands of the Deep State. That’s why I pleaded with the President to show the mercy the Deep State will not show Julian if he is extradited.”
Carlson was certainly convinced, taking a position at odds with various national security wonks that pullulate the US airwaves. “Whatever you think of Julian Assange and what he did, he is effectively a journalist. He took information and he put it in a place the public could read it.” The Australian was spending time in prison for releasing documents “he did not steal,” merely providing a platform for their dissemination, showing that “the US government was illegally spying on me, and everybody else in this country.”
The seeds for a stinging provocation against the US imperium have been sown. Whether they take firm root and grow in the self-absorbed mind of the commander-in-chief is another matter.
Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: bkampmark@gmail.com
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southfront--2020-12-30--UAE Hub Of Companies Assisting Venezuela In Circumventing U.S. Oil Sanctions: Reuters

An investigative report by Reuters has discovered that Venezuela was avoiding U.S. oil sanctions with the help of none other than the United Arab Emirates .
Back in June 2020 , the US began sanctioning at least 6 oil tankers managed by established shipping firms .
The slack was picked up by a little-known company based in the United Arab Emirates .
The vessels were renamed and then began shipping again .
“ The company , Muhit Maritime FZE , is one of three UAE-based entities identified by Reuters that have shipped Venezuelan crude and fuel during the second half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from an examination of internal shipping documents from Venezuela ’ s state oil company as well as third-party shipping and vessel tracking data .
Tankers managed by the firms have transported millions of barrels of oil produced by state-run Petroleos de Venezuela SA , or PDVSA , since June , according to the internal documents and a publicly available shipping database.
” Basically , if a tanker is sanctioned , there ’ s immediately a new one to replace it .
“ The three companies – Muhit Maritime , Issa Shipping FZE and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to letters sent to their listed addresses , or to emails sent to their registered email addresses .
Reuters was unable to determine the ultimate owners of the three .
Their ownership and management details aren ’ t listed in the UAE ’ s publicly-available corporate registry.
” Initially , companies were popping up buying Venezuela ’ s oil , but now transport companies are also popping up to handle that part of the logistics as well .
The three companies ’ shipments of Venezuelan crude and fuel represented about 3.9 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oil exports in 2020 through December 18th .
The spokesman declined to comment on possible future sanctions , but added : “ U.S .
friends and adversaries alike should know that their companies , front companies , and tankers remain vulnerable to sanctions if they are complicit in activities that facilitate PDVSA ’ s exports abroad and the Maduro regime ’ s efforts to evade sanctions.
” The UAE itself admitted it was investigating into what was going on .
It said in a statement that “ a thorough and comprehensive investigation is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Issa Shipping and Asia Charm .
That includes using recent legislative changes “ designed to improve corporate transparency through a framework for reporting and registering beneficial ownership , ” it said .
Washington failed in its regime change attempt against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro , but the U.S. sanctions have nearly crushed Venezuela ’ s oil sector .
Exports plummeted by a third in 2019 to around 1 million barrels a day .
By this October , they hit a decades-low level of 359,000 barrels a day .
But Caracas keeps trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily exports nearly doubled , thanks to the emergence of new , little-known customers .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • The ‘ Biggest Ever ’ Flotilla Of Iranian Tankers Is En Route To With Fuel

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An investigative report by Reuters has discovered that Venezuela was avoiding U.S. oil sanctions with the help of none other than the United Arab Emirates.
Back in June 2020, the US began sanctioning at least 6 oil tankers managed by established shipping firms.
The slack was picked up by a little-known company based in the United Arab Emirates.
The vessels were renamed and then began shipping again.
Each week, we discover sophisticated methods to hide oil shipments, but this week the prize goes to ALSATAYIR (IMO 9308845), an Aframax crude oil tanker that is about to load 700K barrels of oil in Venezuela. All they did was paint over "AL" and "YIR". #OOTT? pic.twitter.com/huWTMCOKRu — TankerTrackers.com, Inc.⚓? (@TankerTrackers) December 29, 2020
“The company, Muhit Maritime FZE, is one of three UAE-based entities identified by Reuters that have shipped Venezuelan crude and fuel during the second half of this year. Their role emerges from an examination of internal shipping documents from Venezuela’s state oil company as well as third-party shipping and vessel tracking data. Tankers managed by the firms have transported millions of barrels of oil produced by state-run Petroleos de Venezuela SA, or PDVSA, since June, according to the internal documents and a publicly available shipping database.”
Basically, if a tanker is sanctioned, there’s immediately a new one to replace it.
“The three companies – Muhit Maritime, Issa Shipping FZE and Asia Charm Ltd – did not respond to letters sent to their listed addresses, or to emails sent to their registered email addresses. Reuters was unable to determine the ultimate owners of the three. Their ownership and management details aren’t listed in the UAE’s publicly-available corporate registry.”
Initially, companies were popping up buying Venezuela’s oil, but now transport companies are also popping up to handle that part of the logistics as well.
The three companies’ shipments of Venezuelan crude and fuel represented about 3.9% of the South American country’s total oil exports in 2020 through December 18th.
“We are closely tracking these kinds of creative efforts by companies to evade sanctions,” a U.S. State Department spokesman said in response to questions about the UAE-registered firms. “Those behind shell companies would not be wise to consider themselves shielded from sanctions.”
The spokesman declined to comment on possible future sanctions, but added: “U.S. friends and adversaries alike should know that their companies, front companies, and tankers remain vulnerable to sanctions if they are complicit in activities that facilitate PDVSA’s exports abroad and the Maduro regime’s efforts to evade sanctions.”
The UAE itself admitted it was investigating into what was going on.
It said in a statement that “a thorough and comprehensive investigation is fully underway into” Muhit Maritime, Issa Shipping and Asia Charm.
That includes using recent legislative changes “designed to improve corporate transparency through a framework for reporting and registering beneficial ownership,” it said.
“The UAE takes its role in protecting the integrity of the global financial system extremely seriously. This means actively administering and enforcing economic and trade sanctions,” the government added.
Washington failed in its regime change attempt against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, but the U.S. sanctions have nearly crushed Venezuela’s oil sector. Exports plummeted by a third in 2019 to around 1 million barrels a day. By this October, they hit a decades-low level of 359,000 barrels a day. But Caracas keeps trying to move the crude. In November, daily exports nearly doubled, thanks to the emergence of new, little-known customers.
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southfront--2020-12-30--Chinese Submarine Drone Discovered Near Gateway To Indian Ocean

Indonesian fishermen found an underwater drone on December 20th , local media reported .
Analyzing photos of the drone , Naval News concludes that the drone is closely related to the Chinese Sea Wing family .
The drone was discovered near Selayar Island in the South Sulawes , far away from China ’ s adjacent waters .
The location is close to two potential routes between the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean , according to Naval News .
These routes , the Sunda Strait and Lombok Strait , “ may be important in wartime ” and “ Intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Chinese Navy if their submarines intend to use these straits ” according to the report .
The discovered object is a type of drone known as a glider .
These are unpowered and use something called variable-buoyancy propulsion .
This involves inflating and deflating a balloon-like device filled with pressurized oil .
This causes them to sink before rising to the surface again .
As they do so they travel along , aided by “ wings ” , gathering data on the ocean environment .
Indonesian based security & defense poster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find on Twitter , and make the connection to the Chinese-made Sea Wing glider .
Note that the device is upside down in the photos .
The drone collects such data as temperature , turbidity , salinity , chlorophyll and oxygen levels .
While this data may sound innocuous and it is often used for scientific research , it can also be extremely valuable to naval planners .
Especially supporting submarine operations .
The better a navy knows the waters , the better it is able to hide its attack subs .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and operate similar gliders .
However , key characteristics of the Chinese type , which are not found on other similar underwater glides , are present .
The nose cone has three circular sensor windows with the central one larger than the outer two .
The wings have a folding mechanism and the antenna extends directly out of the center of the tail cone .
The vertical stabilizer , like a tail fin , is seen underneath .
Sea Wing gliders are known to be launched by China ’ s specialist survey ships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Xiangyanghong 06 launched around 12 of the drones into the Eastern Indian Ocean .
The one found may be one of these , but it seems unlikely given the ocean currents .
Another Sea Wing glider was found by Indonesian fishermen in March 2019 .
This was in the Riau Islands , much closer to the South China Sea .
The exact variant of Sea Wing was different , but the craft was very similar .
However this is enough to suggest that they were deployed at different times and likely in different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apparently still operating when it was recovered .
This suggests that it was deployed more decently .
Where the glider was originally deployed , and what it was doing , remains unclear .
But these craft can provide valuable military intelligence .
China previously protested when it found a similar US Navy glider in international waters near its coast .
On December 15 , 2016 a Chinese ship plucked a US Navy LBS-G ( Littoral Battlespace Sensing-Glider ) out of the South China Sea .
The glider was in the process of being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was only returned after the incident escalated .
This particular incident is unlikely to escalate in a similar fashion , but it does draw attention to China ’ s increasingly assertive maritime activities in the South China Sea and close to major naval lanes .
These gliders may serve as evidence that China is analyzing potential submarine routes into the Indian Ocean through Indonesian waters .
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Originally appeared at ZeroHedge
Indonesian fishermen found an underwater drone on December 20th, local media reported. Analyzing photos of the drone, Naval News concludes that the drone is closely related to the Chinese Sea Wing family.
The drone was discovered near Selayar Island in the South Sulawes, far away from China’s adjacent waters. The location is close to two potential routes between the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, according to Naval News. These routes, the Sunda Strait and Lombok Strait, “may be important in wartime” and “Intelligence gathered by the drone may be valuable to the Chinese Navy if their submarines intend to use these straits” according to the report.
The discovered object is a type of drone known as a glider. These are unpowered and use something called variable-buoyancy propulsion. This involves inflating and deflating a balloon-like device filled with pressurized oil. This causes them to sink before rising to the surface again. As they do so they travel along, aided by “wings”, gathering data on the ocean environment.
Indonesian based security & defense poster @Jatosint was quick to post the find on Twitter, and make the connection to the Chinese-made Sea Wing glider. Note that the device is upside down in the photos.
A fisherman in Selayar Island, South Sulawesi, has found a UUV: Length: 225 cm
Tail: 18 cm
Wingspan: 50 cm
Trailing antenna: 93 cm Very similar to China's 'Sea Wing' UUV, which, if it's true, raised many questions especially how it managed to be found deep inside our territory pic.twitter.com/RAiX8Xw2BK — JATOSINT (@Jatosint) December 29, 2020
The drone collects such data as temperature, turbidity, salinity, chlorophyll and oxygen levels. While this data may sound innocuous and it is often used for scientific research, it can also be extremely valuable to naval planners. Especially supporting submarine operations. The better a navy knows the waters, the better it is able to hide its attack subs.
The US, France and other countries build and operate similar gliders. However, key characteristics of the Chinese type, which are not found on other similar underwater glides, are present. The nose cone has three circular sensor windows with the central one larger than the outer two. The wings have a folding mechanism and the antenna extends directly out of the center of the tail cone. The vertical stabilizer, like a tail fin, is seen underneath.
Sea Wing gliders are known to be launched by China’s specialist survey ships. In December 2019 the survey ship Xiangyanghong 06 launched around 12 of the drones into the Eastern Indian Ocean. The one found may be one of these, but it seems unlikely given the ocean currents.
Another Sea Wing glider was found by Indonesian fishermen in March 2019. This was in the Riau Islands, much closer to the South China Sea. The exact variant of Sea Wing was different, but the craft was very similar. However this is enough to suggest that they were deployed at different times and likely in different places. Additionally, camera-like sensors were apparently still operating when it was recovered. This suggests that it was deployed more decently.
Where the glider was originally deployed, and what it was doing, remains unclear. But these craft can provide valuable military intelligence.
China previously protested when it found a similar US Navy glider in international waters near its coast. On December 15, 2016 a Chinese ship plucked a US Navy LBS-G ( Littoral Battlespace Sensing-Glider) out of the South China Sea. The glider was in the process of being recovered by USNS Bowditch. The drone was only returned after the incident escalated.
This particular incident is unlikely to escalate in a similar fashion, but it does draw attention to China’s increasingly assertive maritime activities in the South China Sea and close to major naval lanes. These gliders may serve as evidence that China is analyzing potential submarine routes into the Indian Ocean through Indonesian waters.
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southfront--2020-12-30--Mysterious Disappearance Of Flu In San Diego Prompted Call For Audit Of COVID Records

One of the most bizarre features of the alleged COVID-19 ‘ global pandemic ’ has been the mysterious disappearance of the seasonal flu in medical and public health record keeping .
It ’ s as if the Flu just vanished into thin air after being the most common perennial seasonal respiratory virus .
As it turns out , recorded seasonal influenza cases have literally nosedived by 98 % across the globe .
This improbable phenomenon has led a number of experts to ask , “ Has Covid killed off the flu ?
” WHO spokesperson , Dr Sylvie Briand , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ literally there was nearly no flu in the Southern hemisphere ” of the planet Earth in 2020 , but gave no real explanation as to why .
She then went on to extend this magical thinking saying that , “ We hope that the situation will be the same in the Northern Hemisphere.
” Truly extraordinary by the health experts at the WHO .
Earlier in December , Southern California news outlet KUSI raised the alarm which prompted an audit of COVID statistics in their region… SAN DIEGO ( KUSI ) – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and here in San Diego County , but flu cases remain extremely low in comparison to this time in previous years .
We are well into flu season , but San Diego County ’ s data for flu infections only shows 36 reported cases so far this year .
Carl DeMaio tweeted out this shocking revelation , comparing it to this time in other years saying , “ In a typical year we get over 17,073 on average !
” DeMaio explained , “ if you are going to use a set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down the economy , to take people ’ s livelihoods away , then we have to really look closely at what those numbers really mean , and whether those numbers are giving us the right picture.
” Continuing , “ my concern has been from the get go , that we are relying on numbers from government agencies , that may have a different agenda at stake .
We would benefit from having a different set of eyes looking at them , such as an auditor or a citizens review committee .
Because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these data sets are sweeping , the lockdowns are far reaching in terms of their impact.
” DeMaio then said San Diego County has refused to have any look over or vet our local COVID-19 numbers .
Chairman of Reform California , Carl DeMaio , joined KUSI ’ s Jason Austell on Good Morning San Diego to explain why he is calling for a “ full audit of the COVID-19 data we are seeing reported from our public health system.
” As different pressure groups and journalists begin to demand answers from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ becoming clear now that there has likely been some degree of widespread , systemic administrative fraud designed to over-inflate COVID-19 numbers to the detriment of every other normal seasonal illness or disease .
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Originally appeared at 21stcenturywire.com
One of the most bizarre features of the alleged COVID-19 ‘global pandemic’ has been the mysterious disappearance of the seasonal flu in medical and public health record keeping. It’s as if the Flu just vanished into thin air after being the most common perennial seasonal respiratory virus.
As it turns out, recorded seasonal influenza cases have literally nosedived by 98% across the globe.
This improbable phenomenon has led a number of experts to ask, “Has Covid killed off the flu?”
“The disappearing act began as Covid-19 rolled in towards the end of our flu season in March. And just how swiftly rates have plummeted can be observed in ‘surveillance’ data collected by the World Health Organisation (WHO),” reported the UK’s Daily Mail.
WHO spokesperson, Dr Sylvie Briand, recently claimed during a press briefing that “literally there was nearly no flu in the Southern hemisphere” of the planet Earth in 2020, but gave no real explanation as to why. She then went on to extend this magical thinking saying that, “We hope that the situation will be the same in the Northern Hemisphere.”
Truly extraordinary science by the health experts at the WHO.
Earlier in December, Southern California news outlet KUSI raised the alarm which prompted an audit of COVID statistics in their region…
SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – COVID-19 cases continue to increase across California, and here in San Diego County, but flu cases remain extremely low in comparison to this time in previous years.
We are well into flu season, but San Diego County’s data for flu infections only shows 36 reported cases so far this year. Carl DeMaio tweeted out this shocking revelation, comparing it to this time in other years saying, “In a typical year we get over 17,073 on average!”
DeMaio explained, “if you are going to use a set of numbers like COVID stats to shut down the economy, to take people’s livelihoods away, then we have to really look closely at what those numbers really mean, and whether those numbers are giving us the right picture.” Continuing, “my concern has been from the get go, that we are relying on numbers from government agencies, that may have a different agenda at stake. We would benefit from having a different set of eyes looking at them, such as an auditor or a citizens review committee. Because again, the decisions being made on these data sets are sweeping, the lockdowns are far reaching in terms of their impact.”
DeMaio then said San Diego County has refused to have any look over or vet our local COVID-19 numbers.
Chairman of Reform California, Carl DeMaio, joined KUSI’s Jason Austell on Good Morning San Diego to explain why he is calling for a “full audit of the COVID-19 data we are seeing reported from our public health system.”
BREAKING – San Diego County data for FLU infections shows **only 36 cases** so far this year. In a typical year we get over 17,073 on average! Once again, I'm calling for a full audit of the Covid-19 data we are seeing reported from our public health system. — Carl DeMaio (@carldemaio) December 7, 2020
As different pressure groups and journalists begin to demand answers from the various health authorities, it’s becoming clear now that there has likely been some degree of widespread, systemic administrative fraud designed to over-inflate COVID-19 numbers to the detriment of every other normal seasonal illness or disease.
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southfront--2020-12-30--Turkey And U.S. Create Working Group For Russia’s S-400 Missile Defense System Purchase

On December 30th , Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Turkey and the US created a joint working group in connection with Ankara ’ s purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems .
As such , technical negotiations are reportedly underway .
In the week ending on December 27th , Turkey ’ s Defence Minister Hulusi Akar told the broadcaster NTV that Anakara expects the US to urgently revise its “ mistaken ” decision to slap sanctions over the purchase of S-400s .
Earlier in December , the US imposed sanctions on Turkey ’ s Presidency of Defense Industries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as on three other individuals related to the defense industry presidency .
Cavusoglu ’ s statement is a 180-degree turn from his previous statement on December 17th , that Ankara was preparing sanctions in response to the US .
Asked by broadcaster Kanal 24 whether Turkey would reverse its S-400 arrangement with Russia in light of the sanctions , Cavusoglu said , “ If we were going to step back we would have done so before now.
” “ We will surely take our steps in line with these , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s not important whether the sanctions are soft or harsh , sanctions in themselves are wrong.
” “ Looking at the content of the sanctions , these are not measures that will shake us to the core or impact us very much , ” Cavusoglu said .
It should be reminded that Russia and Turkey signed a deal for a second S-400 missile defense system to be delivered to Ankara .
Russia ’ s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the military cooperation between his country and Turkey would not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States on Ankara over its acquisition of a Russian missile defense system .
“ Relations between Russia and Turkey are self-sustainable and self-sufficient , they don ’ t depend on someone ’ s aggressive and hostile actions and whims , ” Lavrov said on December 29th .
“ They [ their relations ] are based on the national interests of each of our countries and on our determination to continue mutual cooperation and mutual benefit by searching for a balance of interests.
” On December 29th , Cavusoglu visited Moscow for talks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporters that “ we have confirmed our mutual intention to develop military ties with Turkey ” .
He added that President Vladimir Putin appreciated Turkey ’ s determination to “ continue cooperation in this area despite continuing illegitimate pressure from Washington ” .
Cavusoglu said the US sanctions against Turkey were “ an act of aggression against our country ’ s sovereign rights , ” adding that Ankara would not give in to pressure .
According to Cavusoglu , him and Lavrov held six in-person meetings , 14 phone conversations and two videoconferences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidents , Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Vladimir Putin , had just one in-person meeting due to COVID-19 but talked on the phone 20 times in 2020 , he said .
2021 will also mark important events as the two countries celebrate the centennial of the Ankara Agreement , one of the first deals the Turkish Parliament brokered during the Atatürk-led Independence War .
Again next year , Erdoğan and Putin will co-chair the next Turkish-Russian High-Level Cooperation Council in Turkey with a joint commitment to further deepen bilateral ties .
The main pillars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question , the economy , trade and energy .
The trade volume is around $ 20 billion , although that ’ s mostly to the advantage of Russia .
The two countries hope to increase the volume to $ 100 billion , but there was no improvement on this front in 2020 due to the pandemic .
Turkey welcomed 7 million Russian tourists in 2019 , but this figure dropped to just 2 million this year because of COVID-19 .
In addition , since mid-2019 , there have even been reports that Turkey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warplanes after it was expelled from the U.S.-led F-35 project , as well as a second batch of S-400s , but Ankara has yet to confirm the speculation .
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On December 30th, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Turkey and the US created a joint working group in connection with Ankara’s purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems.
As such, technical negotiations are reportedly underway.
“We have created a joint working group with the US on the S-400, we have already started technical negotiations”, Cavusoglu said at a press conference.
In the week ending on December 27th, Turkey’s Defence Minister Hulusi Akar told the broadcaster NTV that Anakara expects the US to urgently revise its “mistaken” decision to slap sanctions over the purchase of S-400s.
Earlier in December, the US imposed sanctions on Turkey’s Presidency of Defense Industries and its head, Ismail Demir, as well as on three other individuals related to the defense industry presidency.
Cavusoglu’s statement is a 180-degree turn from his previous statement on December 17th, that Ankara was preparing sanctions in response to the US.
Asked by broadcaster Kanal 24 whether Turkey would reverse its S-400 arrangement with Russia in light of the sanctions, Cavusoglu said, “If we were going to step back we would have done so before now.”
“We will surely take our steps in line with these,” Cavusoglu said, according to Reuters. “It’s not important whether the sanctions are soft or harsh, sanctions in themselves are wrong.” “Looking at the content of the sanctions, these are not measures that will shake us to the core or impact us very much,” Cavusoglu said.
It should be reminded that Russia and Turkey signed a deal for a second S-400 missile defense system to be delivered to Ankara.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the military cooperation between his country and Turkey would not be deterred by the sanctions imposed by the United States on Ankara over its acquisition of a Russian missile defense system.
“Relations between Russia and Turkey are self-sustainable and self-sufficient, they don’t depend on someone’s aggressive and hostile actions and whims,” Lavrov said on December 29th. “They [their relations] are based on the national interests of each of our countries and on our determination to continue mutual cooperation and mutual benefit by searching for a balance of interests.”
On December 29th, Cavusoglu visited Moscow for talks with his counterpart Lavrov, who told reporters that “we have confirmed our mutual intention to develop military ties with Turkey”.
He added that President Vladimir Putin appreciated Turkey’s determination to “continue cooperation in this area despite continuing illegitimate pressure from Washington”.
Cavusoglu said the US sanctions against Turkey were “an act of aggression against our country’s sovereign rights,” adding that Ankara would not give in to pressure.
“We prefer to solve all issues including that of the S-400 through negotiations,” Cavusoglu said. “After introducing the sanctions, the US announced it favours dialogue. We’ve never been against dialogue.”
According to Cavusoglu, him and Lavrov held six in-person meetings, 14 phone conversations and two videoconferences in 2020.
The two countries’ presidents, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Vladimir Putin, had just one in-person meeting due to COVID-19 but talked on the phone 20 times in 2020, he said.
2021 will also mark important events as the two countries celebrate the centennial of the Ankara Agreement, one of the first deals the Turkish Parliament brokered during the Atatürk-led Independence War. Again next year, Erdoğan and Putin will co-chair the next Turkish-Russian High-Level Cooperation Council in Turkey with a joint commitment to further deepen bilateral ties.
The main pillars of the Turkish-Russian relationship are, without question, the economy, trade and energy. The trade volume is around $20 billion, although that’s mostly to the advantage of Russia. The two countries hope to increase the volume to $100 billion, but there was no improvement on this front in 2020 due to the pandemic. Turkey welcomed 7 million Russian tourists in 2019, but this figure dropped to just 2 million this year because of COVID-19.
In addition, since mid-2019, there have even been reports that Turkey is also interested in purchasing Russian SU-57 warplanes after it was expelled from the U.S.-led F-35 project, as well as a second batch of S-400s, but Ankara has yet to confirm the speculation.
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southfront--2020-12-30--Trump Administration Approves Last-Ditch Weapon Sales To Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt

On December 29th , the Trump Administration approved $ 290 million worth of precision-guided bomb sales to Saudi Arabia .
The State Department approved selling Saudi Arabia 3,000 Boeing-made GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb I ( SDB I ) munitions and related equipment , according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notice .
The administration argued in the notice that the sale would “ support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic growth in the Middle East.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US Congress can block the sale if its members choose to do so .
That puts the deadline at the beginning of the Biden administration , which could also halt the sale if it wants .
President-elect Joe Biden has vowed to review the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia .
The Trump administration has advanced billions of dollars in arms sales in the waning days of Trump ’ s tenure , including a $ 23 billion weapons package for the United Arab Emirates .
The two December 29th approved sales come in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Egypt .
For Kuwait , the administration approved selling eight AH-64E Apache helicopters worth $ 4 billion and $ 200 million in spare parts to upgrade its Patriot anti-missile system .
Egypt was approved to buy a missile countermeasures system for its presidential aircraft worth $ 104 million and 20 targeting pods for military aircraft worth $ 65.6 million .
This sale to Saudi Arabia comes in addition to the license that the Trump Administration approved on December 23rd .
The license would allow Raytheon to directly sell Saudi Arabia 7,500 of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an estimated value of $ 478 million .
Asked for comment , a State Department spokesperson told The Hill that federal law and regulation bars the department from “ commenting on or confirming specific direct commercial sales defense trade export licensing cases.
” Sen. Bob Menendez ( D-N.J. ) , the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee , previously warned about an impending arms sale to the Saudis back in May 2020 .
Democrats in US Congress are faulting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who has the authority to actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also not following through on guaranteeing that they aren ’ t used against civilians , as the Kingdom usually does .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • -led Coalition Bombed Crash Site Of Its Combat Drone Shot Down By Houthis ( Video , Map ) • Houthis Celebrate Christmas By Shooting Down Combat Drones Of -led Coalition

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On December 29th, the Trump Administration approved $290 million worth of precision-guided bomb sales to Saudi Arabia.
The State Department approved selling Saudi Arabia 3,000 Boeing-made GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb I (SDB I) munitions and related equipment, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notice.
The administration argued in the notice that the sale would “support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic growth in the Middle East.”
“The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats by increasing its stocks of long-range, precision air-to-ground munitions. The size and accuracy of the SDB I allows for an effective munition with less collateral damage,” the notice said.
The notice initiates a 30-day clock during which the US Congress can block the sale if its members choose to do so.
That puts the deadline at the beginning of the Biden administration, which could also halt the sale if it wants. President-elect Joe Biden has vowed to review the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia.
The Trump administration has advanced billions of dollars in arms sales in the waning days of Trump’s tenure, including a $23 billion weapons package for the United Arab Emirates.
The two December 29th approved sales come in addition to two sales to Kuwait and Egypt.
For Kuwait, the administration approved selling eight AH-64E Apache helicopters worth $4 billion and $200 million in spare parts to upgrade its Patriot anti-missile system.
Egypt was approved to buy a missile countermeasures system for its presidential aircraft worth $104 million and 20 targeting pods for military aircraft worth $65.6 million.
This sale to Saudi Arabia comes in addition to the license that the Trump Administration approved on December 23rd. The license would allow Raytheon to directly sell Saudi Arabia 7,500 of its Paveway air-to-ground “smart” bombs at an estimated value of $478 million.
Asked for comment, a State Department spokesperson told The Hill that federal law and regulation bars the department from “commenting on or confirming specific direct commercial sales defense trade export licensing cases.”
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, previously warned about an impending arms sale to the Saudis back in May 2020.
“The administration is currently trying to sell thousands more precision-guided bombs to the president’s ‘friend,’ Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,” Menendez wrote. “The administration has refused to answer our fundamental questions to justify this new sale and articulate how it would be consistent with US values and national security objectives,” he added.
Democrats in US Congress are faulting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who has the authority to actually push the weapon sales, but he is also not following through on guaranteeing that they aren’t used against civilians, as the Kingdom usually does.
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southfront--2020-12-30--Russia’s Nuclear Power Plant For Its Space Tug To Be Called “Zeus”

The Russian orbital nuclear power plant will be named Zeus , said the head of Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin .
On December 11 , the head of Roscosmos announced that promising Russian ships and orbital stations could receive nuclear power plants .
As reported , Roskosmos signed a contract with the Avangard Design Bureau for the development of a preliminary design for the Nuclon complex with a nuclear power plant .
According to the government procurement portal , the contract was signed between Roscosmos and the Avangard design bureau .
According to the contract , the work must be completed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 4.17 billion rubles ( $ 56.5 million ) have been allocated for it .
It is noted that the space complex under development can be used to search for minerals on the Moon and explore other planets .
The development of a megawatt-class nuclear power plant started in 2010 .
It is planned to use it in an orbital tug designed to study the Moon and deep space .
The development is carried out by the Keldysh Center , initially the completion of the installation was planned for 2015 , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 , but the dates were postponed several times .
As reported in October , Roskosmos allocated almost 4.2 billion rubles for the development of a preliminary design of a space tug with a nuclear power plant Nuclon .
In September , the executive director of Roskosmos , Alexander Bloshenko , announced that the state corporation was working on a project for a reusable nuclear-powered space tug , Nuclon .
According to him , the device will be able to fly from Venus to Jupiter in one mission , and the very first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full-fledged scientific mission .
He said that the vehicle can be used as a tug to deliver payloads to distant points , and to power these loads .
As the first deputy head of Roscosmos , Yuri Urlichich , reported , prototypes of a nuclear power plant should be ready in 2025 .
The first flight of the “ nuclear tug ” is planned for the 2030s .
Nuclear power has already been used in space : in the period from 1970 to 1988 , 32 spacecraft with a thermoelectric nuclear power plant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the period from 1960 to 1980 a nuclear rocket engine was developed and tested at the Semipalatinsk test site .
Russia ’ s nuclear tug , Nuklon , will be able to deliver 10 tons of cargo to the Moon in 200 days , according to documents from Roskosmos , published on the government procurement website .
Roskosmos earlier signed a contract worth RUB4.2 billion ( $ 57m ) for the development of a preliminary design of Nuklon for flights to the moon , Jupiter and Venus .
The contract between Roskosmos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the “ development of a preliminary design for the creation of a space system with a nuclear-based transport and energy module ( TEM ) , ” was signed on 10 December .
Previously Roskosmos revealed some details about developing a spacecraft fitted with a nuclear power module that would serve as a “ tug ” that could also be used for exploration of the moon ’ s surface .
According to the requirements for the nuclear tug , it must ensure “ the implementation of a transport operation as part of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ payload module weighing up to 10,000 kilograms inclusive from the initial orbit ( 900km above the Earth ’ s surface ) to the orbit as an artificial satellite of the moon for a period not exceeding 4800 hours ( 200 Earth days ) ” .
Corresponding member of Russia ’ s Tsiolkovsky Academy of Cosmonautics , Andrei Ionin , told RIA Novosti that he did not see any special problems in such long delivery times .
He said the cargo will be sent to the moon in advance , and their delivery by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space vehicles .
He added that systems for transporting people and goods should be separate as they are on Earth .
A nuclear reactor and economical ion thrusters will ensure low shipping costs , he said .
As to the delivery time , if some cargo needs to be delivered to the moon , for example , before the arrival of a manned spacecraft with a crew , then the cargo will just need to be towed 200 days before the start of the manned expedition .
He drew comparisons with the Arctic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Far North settlements once a year , but in large batches .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • SpaceX Is Awarded $ 149M Contract For Missile-Tracking Satellites From The Pentagon

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The Russian orbital nuclear power plant will be named Zeus, said the head of Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin.
“This year we opened the Nuclon development work. The device itself will be called Zeus, which we plan to receive in a few years and will be ready to use it in our scientific and other programs,” Rogozin said on the air of the Komsomolskaya true.”
On December 11, the head of Roscosmos announced that promising Russian ships and orbital stations could receive nuclear power plants.
“Without nuclear power in space, full-fledged exploration and exploration of deep space is impossible. This is our key to large-scale scientific missions to Venus, Mars, Jupiter and the planets of deep space. In addition, it could potentially even be a source for supplying energy to promising orbital systems and complexes.” Rogozin said.
As reported, Roskosmos signed a contract with the Avangard Design Bureau for the development of a preliminary design for the Nuclon complex with a nuclear power plant.
According to the government procurement portal, the contract was signed between Roscosmos and the Avangard design bureau. According to the contract, the work must be completed by November 15th, 2022. The sum of 4.17 billion rubles ($56.5 million) have been allocated for it.
It is noted that the space complex under development can be used to search for minerals on the Moon and explore other planets.
The development of a megawatt-class nuclear power plant started in 2010. It is planned to use it in an orbital tug designed to study the Moon and deep space. The development is carried out by the Keldysh Center, initially the completion of the installation was planned for 2015, and the first flight of the tugboat – for 2018, but the dates were postponed several times.
As reported in October, Roskosmos allocated almost 4.2 billion rubles for the development of a preliminary design of a space tug with a nuclear power plant Nuclon.
In September, the executive director of Roskosmos, Alexander Bloshenko, announced that the state corporation was working on a project for a reusable nuclear-powered space tug, Nuclon. According to him, the device will be able to fly from Venus to Jupiter in one mission, and the very first launch of the probe will become a full-fledged scientific mission.
“We want to make a flight to the Moon, and in the same mission after the Moon to fly around Venus with the delivery of a satellite to it to obtain scientific data, and further transit of this apparatus towards Jupiter’s satellites also with a certain payload,” Bloshenko said.
He said that the vehicle can be used as a tug to deliver payloads to distant points, and to power these loads.
As the first deputy head of Roscosmos, Yuri Urlichich, reported, prototypes of a nuclear power plant should be ready in 2025. The first flight of the “nuclear tug” is planned for the 2030s.
Nuclear power has already been used in space: in the period from 1970 to 1988, 32 spacecraft with a thermoelectric nuclear power plant were launched in the USSR, and in the period from 1960 to 1980 a nuclear rocket engine was developed and tested at the Semipalatinsk test site.
Russia’s nuclear tug, Nuklon, will be able to deliver 10 tons of cargo to the Moon in 200 days, according to documents from Roskosmos, published on the government procurement website.
Roskosmos earlier signed a contract worth RUB4.2 billion ($57m) for the development of a preliminary design of Nuklon for flights to the moon, Jupiter and Venus.
The contract between Roskosmos and the St Petersburg design bureau Arsenal for the “development of a preliminary design for the creation of a space system with a nuclear-based transport and energy module (TEM),” was signed on 10 December. Previously Roskosmos revealed some details about developing a spacecraft fitted with a nuclear power module that would serve as a “tug” that could also be used for exploration of the moon’s surface.
According to the requirements for the nuclear tug, it must ensure “the implementation of a transport operation as part of an orbital complex for the delivery of a payload module weighing up to 10,000 kilograms inclusive from the initial orbit (900km above the Earth’s surface) to the orbit as an artificial satellite of the moon for a period not exceeding 4800 hours (200 Earth days)”.
Corresponding member of Russia’s Tsiolkovsky Academy of Cosmonautics, Andrei Ionin, told RIA Novosti that he did not see any special problems in such long delivery times. He said the cargo will be sent to the moon in advance, and their delivery by towing will be much cheaper than traditional space vehicles.
He added that systems for transporting people and goods should be separate as they are on Earth.
“People do not travel in freight cars, and coal is not transported in passenger cars. While in space, both cargo and people, by and large, are transported by practically the same space systems. People need to be delivered safely and fast. As for cargo, here, the economic efficiency of delivery is important. And you just need to deliver it on time.”
A nuclear reactor and economical ion thrusters will ensure low shipping costs, he said. As to the delivery time, if some cargo needs to be delivered to the moon, for example, before the arrival of a manned spacecraft with a crew, then the cargo will just need to be towed 200 days before the start of the manned expedition. He drew comparisons with the Arctic, when goods are delivered to the Far North settlements once a year, but in large batches.
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southfront--2020-12-30--Tel Aviv Believes That Best Present Is War. Israel Warplanes Pound Damascus Countryside (Photos, Vid

Tel Aviv Believes That Best Present Is War. Israel Warplanes Pound Damascus Countryside (Photos, Video)

Early on December 30 , an Israeli strike targeted an air-defense site of the Syrian Air Defense Force in the northwestern outskirts of the capital Damascus .
The targeted air-defense site is located on the Habil mountain , near Lebanon ’ s Beqaa Valley .
A statement by the Ministry of Defense of Syria said several missiles launched from Israel ’ s Upper Galilee struck the site .
“ At exactly 1:30 a.m. today , the Israeli enemy carried out an air assault with bursts of rockets [ launched ] from Upper Galilee , targeting a unit of our air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Damascus countryside , ” the statement reads .
“ Our air defense means intercepted some of the aggression ’ s missiles , which resulted in the fall of a martyr , the wounding of three soldiers , and material losses.
” A Syrian military source told Newsweek journalist Tom O ’ Conner that the targeted unit was monitoring Israeli planes flying over the Bekaa valley .
Less than a week ago , the Israeli Air Force carried out a series of pinpoint airstrikes on a military research facility in the central Syrian governorate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ f Israel ’ s “ War-Between-Wars ” campaign , which started in the mid-2000s and ramped up after the outbreak of the Syrian war in 2011 .
The campaign is meant to push Iran and its allies out from Syria as well as to prevent them from developing offensive capabilities .
During the past years , Israeli strikes led to serious human and material losses on Syria .
Nevertheless , they are yet to achieve their main objectives .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • 3 Russian Servicemen Were Injured As A Result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Idlib

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Early on December 30, an Israeli strike targeted an air-defense site of the Syrian Air Defense Force in the northwestern outskirts of the capital Damascus.
The targeted air-defense site is located on the Habil mountain, near Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley. A statement by the Ministry of Defense of Syria said several missiles launched from Israel’s Upper Galilee struck the site.
#UPDATE: Video of the Israeli airstrikes on an arms depot in Syria near A-Zabadani pic.twitter.com/wUN8A43MuI — ELINT News (@ELINTNews) December 30, 2020
“At exactly 1:30 a.m. today, the Israeli enemy carried out an air assault with bursts of rockets [launched] from Upper Galilee, targeting a unit of our air defense in the Habil mountain in the Damascus countryside,” the statement reads. “Our air defense means intercepted some of the aggression’s missiles, which resulted in the fall of a martyr, the wounding of three soldiers, and material losses.”
A Syrian military source told Newsweek journalist Tom O’Conner that the targeted unit was monitoring Israeli planes flying over the Bekaa valley.
Last night #Israel|i air strikes hit targets of the #Lebanese #Hezbollah in the Nabi Habeel area in #Zabadani CS.
Apparently #SAA air defense system was activated and destroyed #Syria pic.twitter.com/I3mk5FTSZ8 — Islamic World Update (@islamicworldupd) December 30, 2020
Less than a week ago, the Israeli Air Force carried out a series of pinpoint airstrikes on a military research facility in the central Syrian governorate of Hama.
These strikes are a f Israel’s “War-Between-Wars” campaign, which started in the mid-2000s and ramped up after the outbreak of the Syrian war in 2011. The campaign is meant to push Iran and its allies out from Syria as well as to prevent them from developing offensive capabilities.
During the past years, Israeli strikes led to serious human and material losses on Syria. Nevertheless, they are yet to achieve their main objectives.
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southfront--2020-12-30--Russian Soft Power In Action: Sputnik V Spread In Latin America

In the midst of the Covid 19 pandemic , the world was launched into accelerated development of a vaccine against the disease .
After months of research , some vaccine candidates stood out , including Sputnik V developed by the Russian company Gamaleya .
But in reality , the Russian vaccine was largely criticized by the mass media .
In Latin America , most of them only reproduced statements of the Western corporate media , and were satisfied with that .
What did they say ?
Well , it varied .
First , they claimed that there were no real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lie , there were papers , they just didn ’ t ask for them or did not read the reports .
Maybe it ’ s because Western medical science goes through the England magazine The Lancet , and what is not published there , “ doesn ’ t exist.
” But this is real , and the Gamaleya company later sent its studies to the WHO and The Lancet , silencing that claim .
Then , the MSM claimed that the Russians are not to be trusted and their vaccine was not really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so fast .
Above all , the local media stated that those in Latin America who were interested in the vaccine , such as Venezuela , Nicaragua or Argentina , only got that vaccine for political reasons and their leaders would not actually do this .
It turned out that their leaders did trust and use the vaccine ( both Putin ` s daughter and Maduro ’ s son received it ) , and that in Russia it was applied en masse among the population .
It was also said a lot : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try to be first and compete the West .
But the reality is that the developers of the Sputnik V vaccine had announced their schedule since August and September , sticking to it .
Not so did the Western pharmaceutical companies , which did cut the time for vaccine development that they had announced… to reach dates close to those of the Sputnik V vaccine .
Finally , the regional media changed their discourse from defamation to disdain and irrelevance .
They have never addressed the question of why some regional governments chose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with some setbacks during the tests ( like all the others ) , with a “ cold chain ” that forced to buy special equipment and design an unprecedented regional logistics to maintain those -70ºC needed .
No regional media demanded to see the studies of Pfizer , contrary to Gamaleya which reached the government level , where the Russian vaccine was questioned because “ they had not seen the studies ” , but they had nothing from Pfizer either .
The general population , as usual , did not get to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ rocket phrases ” that the press gave .
Who will receive the Russian Sputnik V vaccine in Latin America ?
There are no secrets , but a lot of misinformation .
Let ’ s start on the safe side .
Argentina receives it , and in order to deliver it quickly , they sent a special plane to Russia .
The first batch consisted of 300 thousand vaccines ( with 14 million at the beginning of 2021 ) , which leaves the 10,000 that Pfizer sent to Chile as smallfry .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Russian option , always defending that studies were reliable , and that they monitored the progress .
They also had deals and negotiations with other companies , such as Pfizer and Astrazeneca .
There was no deal with the first one , and what was declared by the Argentine government in this regard is very significant : Such specific contracts… were they signed by the governments of Chile and Mexico ?
It ’ s hard to imagine that Venezuela is so poor that could not allocate some funds for import of Sputnik @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of continuing negotiations is the desire to manage homeland production of the Russian vaccine that further will be distributed in Venezuela and the entire region .
If this assumption is true , Venezuela will probably wait to local vaccine to be ready up to April .
Meanwhile , they are likely to have sporadic amounts of Russian vaccine before their production is localized .
Vaccines today are in their mass production phase , but the vast majority of doses will go to their original nations and main partners .
Almost all the nations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WHO Covax system , which guarantees them access to vaccines at a good price and in a stable supply… within a few months .
This is an important factor : many countries do not want to wait , because politically it has a great cost to explain how the rich countries are vaccinated en masse while their countries still have to wait for several months .
It has become a matter of prestige to show that they can be vaccinated at the same time as the great powers .
For now , Pfizer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries like Chile and Costa Rica , about 10,000 each .
Likewise , Russian production will go first to Russia itself , which greatly needs it , and then to its allies , including Venezuela .
In a matter of weeks , production will multiply everywhere .
Other countries that have signed up for the Russian vaccine are Brazil and Mexico .
But Mexico is already working with Pfizer vaccine , so it is not in much rush to receive the Russian one , and the date of its arrival is probably related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meet the local demand .
On the other hand , Peru has no time .
Its deals with Pfizer failed ( the current government blamed the previous one , and the previous one defends itself saying that “ everything was ready to sign ” ) .
As they were interested only in that one , it ` s not expected to receive vaccines until April , via Covax system .
However , as they had made promises to the population , the government is trying to give new impetus to the negotiations for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by departmental governors from all over Peru from the very beginning , being ignored by the central government .
There is also an option from Sinopharm , a Chinese company , which was tested in the country and is the most likely candidate for global spread in the short term .
Before dealing with Brazil , we will mention Nicaragua and Cuba .
The first , talked and promised too much , assuring months ago that production of the Gamaleya vaccine would take place in the country , and then saying , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waiting to see which one is the best .
As for Cuba , a long-standing Russian ally , it develops its own vaccine and has relatively few cases , so if the virus does not spread in the country , they will wait for their own , called Soberana .
Brazil , is an important and particular case for the Gamaleya ’ s vaccine .
The country was mentioned on multiple occasions as one of the future producers of the vaccine , but the initiative has been boycotted at the highest level , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president has always been a great critic of vaccines and the measures taken against the pandemic ; he has especially rejected the Chinese ones , but also does not care about those from Russian , betting on the vaccine of Astrazeneca .
As the latter has suffered delays , serious setbacks and doubts about its effectiveness , the Brazilian states have negotiated on their own with other companies , both from China and Russia .
Specifically , the states of Parana and Bahia have reached deals to buy and produce Sputnik V , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depends on the approval and permission by federal government agencies , controlled by Bolsonaro .
As the approval does not come out , the entire vaccination process in Brazil is delayed .
Although it is expected that the issues will be settled by early February ; but in such a case , Sputnik V vaccine will enter into direct competition , with those preferred by other states , such as Sao Paulo , which is trying to do the same deal with Coronavac , a Chinese vaccine , and with the federal government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Sputnik V vaccine has reached Latin America on a good basis .
Now , its use and final market share will depend more than anything on whether Pfizer , on which most of the regional governments , that are politically allied with Washington , bet , can or can not quickly and constantly meet the local demand .
And it will not be easy for them to do so , as they must satisfy the US and European markets with hundreds of millions of doses , so in the short term , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : they will lower their quotas , to keep the deal open .
By April , when the Covax plan goes live , bottlenecks will be removed and the list of vaccines will have more titles .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • One Police Officer , Two Attackers Killed In Knife Attack In Chechnya ’ s Grozny

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Written by Jhr Cronos exclusively for SouthFront
In the midst of the Covid 19 pandemic, the world was launched into accelerated development of a vaccine against the disease. After months of research, some vaccine candidates stood out, including Sputnik V developed by the Russian company Gamaleya.
But in reality, the Russian vaccine was largely criticized by the mass media. In Latin America, most of them only reproduced statements of the Western corporate media, and were satisfied with that. What did they say? Well, it varied. First, they claimed that there were no real studies and papers. It was a lie, there were papers, they just didn’t ask for them or did not read the reports. Maybe it’s because Western medical science goes through the England magazine The Lancet, and what is not published there, “doesn’t exist.” But this is real, and the Gamaleya company later sent its studies to the WHO and The Lancet, silencing that claim.
Then, the MSM claimed that the Russians are not to be trusted and their vaccine was not really good, it could not be ready so fast. Above all, the local media stated that those in Latin America who were interested in the vaccine, such as Venezuela, Nicaragua or Argentina, only got that vaccine for political reasons and their leaders would not actually do this. It turned out that their leaders did trust and use the vaccine (both Putin`s daughter and Maduro’s son received it), and that in Russia it was applied en masse among the population.
It was also said a lot: that the Russians accelerated the times to try to be first and compete the West. But the reality is that the developers of the Sputnik V vaccine had announced their schedule since August and September, sticking to it. Not so did the Western pharmaceutical companies, which did cut the time for vaccine development that they had announced… to reach dates close to those of the Sputnik V vaccine.
Finally, the regional media changed their discourse from defamation to disdain and irrelevance.
“We all want, seek and will use Pfizer’s, while the Russian vaccine is a matter for Venezuela and Argentina, who seek it out because of their politics.”
They have never addressed the question of why some regional governments chose Pfizer,which is more expensive, with some setbacks during the tests (like all the others), with a “cold chain” that forced to buy special equipment and design an unprecedented regional logistics to maintain those -70ºC needed. No regional media demanded to see the studies of Pfizer, contrary to Gamaleya which reached the government level, where the Russian vaccine was questioned because “they had not seen the studies”, but they had nothing from Pfizer either.
The general population, as usual, did not get to see any papers or study anywhere, only the “rocket phrases” that the press gave.
Who will receive the Russian Sputnik V vaccine in Latin America?
There are no secrets, but a lot of misinformation. Let’s start on the safe side.
Argentina receives it, and in order to deliver it quickly, they sent a special plane to Russia. The first batch consisted of 300 thousand vaccines (with 14 million at the beginning of 2021), which leaves the 10,000 that Pfizer sent to Chile as smallfry. Argentina had made a big bet on the Russian option, always defending that studies were reliable, and that they monitored the progress. They also had deals and negotiations with other companies, such as Pfizer and Astrazeneca. There was no deal with the first one, and what was declared by the Argentine government in this regard is very significant:
“In the negotiation, we were asked for a law to have some security. They asked us for a law that would give them security and that law was in Congress. Later it appeared in the negotiation, they always said that it was not the local people, but the US center that said it was not enough and that a new law had to be made [ …] In addition, they asked the contract to be signed by the president. That is to say, strictly speaking, these are unacceptable conditions”.
Such specific contracts… were they signed by the governments of Chile and Mexico?
It’s hard to imagine that Venezuela is so poor that could not allocate some funds for import of Sputnik V. More likely, the real reason of continuing negotiations is the desire to manage homeland production of the Russian vaccine that further will be distributed in Venezuela and the entire region. If this assumption is true, Venezuela will probably wait to local vaccine to be ready up to April. Meanwhile, they are likely to have sporadic amounts of Russian vaccine before their production is localized.
Vaccines today are in their mass production phase, but the vast majority of doses will go to their original nations and main partners. Almost all the nations of Latin America have turned to the WHO Covax system, which guarantees them access to vaccines at a good price and in a stable supply… within a few months. This is an important factor: many countries do not want to wait, because politically it has a great cost to explain how the rich countries are vaccinated en masse while their countries still have to wait for several months. It has become a matter of prestige to show that they can be vaccinated at the same time as the great powers. For now, Pfizer sends symbolic amounts of the vaccine to countries like Chile and Costa Rica, about 10,000 each. Likewise, Russian production will go first to Russia itself, which greatly needs it, and then to its allies, including Venezuela. In a matter of weeks, production will multiply everywhere.
Other countries that have signed up for the Russian vaccine are Brazil and Mexico. But Mexico is already working with Pfizer vaccine, so it is not in much rush to receive the Russian one, and the date of its arrival is probably related to Pfizer’s ability to to meet the local demand. On the other hand, Peru has no time. Its deals with Pfizer failed (the current government blamed the previous one, and the previous one defends itself saying that “everything was ready to sign”). As they were interested only in that one, it`s not expected to receive vaccines until April, via Covax system. However, as they had made promises to the population, the government is trying to give new impetus to the negotiations for Sputnik V,which was requested directly by departmental governors from all over Peru from the very beginning, being ignored by the central government. There is also an option from Sinopharm, a Chinese company, which was tested in the country and is the most likely candidate for global spread in the short term. Before dealing with Brazil, we will mention Nicaragua and Cuba. The first, talked and promised too much, assuring months ago that production of the Gamaleya vaccine would take place in the country, and then saying, a few days ago, that they are waiting to see which one is the best. As for Cuba, a long-standing Russian ally, it develops its own vaccine and has relatively few cases, so if the virus does not spread in the country, they will wait for their own, called Soberana.
Brazil, is an important and particular case for the Gamaleya’s vaccine. The country was mentioned on multiple occasions as one of the future producers of the vaccine, but the initiative has been boycotted at the highest level, personally by President Bolsonaro. The Brazilian president has always been a great critic of vaccines and the measures taken against the pandemic; he has especially rejected the Chinese ones, but also does not care about those from Russian, betting on the vaccine of Astrazeneca. As the latter has suffered delays, serious setbacks and doubts about its effectiveness, the Brazilian states have negotiated on their own with other companies, both from China and Russia. Specifically, the states of Parana and Bahia have reached deals to buy and produce Sputnik V, but on condition that the final deal depends on the approval and permission by federal government agencies, controlled by Bolsonaro. As the approval does not come out, the entire vaccination process in Brazil is delayed. Although it is expected that the issues will be settled by early February; but in such a case, Sputnik V vaccine will enter into direct competition, with those preferred by other states, such as Sao Paulo, which is trying to do the same deal with Coronavac, a Chinese vaccine, and with the federal government itself, which prefers Western options.
The Sputnik V vaccine has reached Latin America on a good basis. Now, its use and final market share will depend more than anything on whether Pfizer, on which most of the regional governments, that are politically allied with Washington, bet, can or cannot quickly and constantly meet the local demand. And it will not be easy for them to do so, as they must satisfy the US and European markets with hundreds of millions of doses, so in the short term, they will leave Latin America as before: they will lower their quotas, to keep the deal open. By April, when the Covax plan goes live, bottlenecks will be removed and the list of vaccines will have more titles .
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southfront--2020-12-30--Indian Forces Counter-Terrorism Operation Resulted in Clashes With Islamists Supporters in Kashmir

On December 30 , the Indian Armed Forces completed a counter-terrorism operation in the Srinagar district , Kashmir .
The operation was launched on December 29 , in the evening , and it was successfully completed the next morning .
The Indian Armed Forces , together with the Central Reserve Police Force , have blocked the house where the Islamists were hiding .
The militants fired back , and the firefight continued until nightfall , forcing the soldiers to suspend their offense for several hours .
In the early morning hours , the operation resulted in elimination of three militants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were reported .
The Islamist ’ s relatives and supportive citizens who gathered on the site of the counter-terrorism operation declared the innocence of the militants .
According to local media , after the operation was completed , clashes with security forces began .
Additional forces were deployed to the field .
In recent months , the militants have significantly increased their attacks in Jammu and Kashmir , amid the U.S.withdrawal from Afghanistan .
Such terrorist groups as Lashar-e-Tayyeba , Al Badr , Hizb-ul-Mujahideen are reportedly mobilizing forces to launch an offensive on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also motivated as Turkey is reportedly going to deploy its Syrian proxies to these regions to fight as mercenaries against India .
In any case , if the reports are true or not , the tension seems to continue growing between India and Pakistan that are both nuclear powers .
The involvement of external global powers that are seeking to implement their national interests in the area may become a trigger to the major conflict escalation .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • After Libya & Karabakh , Turkey Is Preparing To Ship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Indian Forces Reportedly Stop Infiltration Attempt In Jammu And , Kill Three

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On December 30, the Indian Armed Forces completed a counter-terrorism operation in the Srinagar district, Kashmir. The operation was launched on December 29, in the evening, and it was successfully completed the next morning.
The Indian Armed Forces, together with the Central Reserve Police Force, have blocked the house where the Islamists were hiding. The militants fired back, and the firefight continued until nightfall, forcing the soldiers to suspend their offense for several hours.
In the early morning hours, the operation resulted in elimination of three militants. No casualties among the armed forces were reported.
The Islamist’s relatives and supportive citizens who gathered on the site of the counter-terrorism operation declared the innocence of the militants. According to local media, after the operation was completed, clashes with security forces began. Additional forces were deployed to the field.
In recent months, the militants have significantly increased their attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, amid the U.S.withdrawal from Afghanistan. Such terrorist groups as Lashar-e-Tayyeba, Al Badr, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen are reportedly mobilizing forces to launch an offensive on Jammu and Kashmir.
The militants are also motivated as Turkey is reportedly going to deploy its Syrian proxies to these regions to fight as mercenaries against India.
In any case, if the reports are true or not, the tension seems to continue growing between India and Pakistan that are both nuclear powers. The involvement of external global powers that are seeking to implement their national interests in the area may become a trigger to the major conflict escalation.
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southfront--2020-12-30--SouthFront Live Stream: Year End Q&A (FINISHED)

SouthFront Team is inviting you to our year end Questions & Answers live stream on .

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southfront--2020-12-30--ISIS Terrorists Ambushed Buses With Army Troops, Civilians On Homs-Deir Ezzor Highway (Video, Photos

ISIS Terrorists Ambushed Buses With Army Troops, Civilians On Homs-Deir Ezzor Highway (Video, Photos)

On December 30 , ISIS terrorists ambushed at least 3 busses near the village of Kabbajb on the highway linking @ @ @ @ @ Deir Ezzor .
According to reports , busses were moving civilians and personnel of the @ @ @ @ @ claim that up to 30 soldiers of the Syrian Army ’ s 4th Division were @ @ @ @ @ The attack took place amid the ongoing Syrian Army operation against ISIS cells in the @ @ @ @ @ expected that ISIS cells will stage even more attacks on government targets in the Homs @ @ @ @ @ government forces from its efforts in the countryside of Raqqa .
MORE ON THE TOPIC @ @ @ @ @ Turkey Is Reducing Number Of Its Observation Posts In Greater Idlib • Syrian Army Supported @ @ @ @ @ Against ISIS In Desert

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You can read this article in German. LINK
On December 30, ISIS terrorists ambushed at least 3 buses near the village of Kabbajb on the highway linking the cities of Homs and Deir Ezzor. According to reports, buses were moving civilians and personnel of the Syrian Army.
Pro-militant sources claim that up to 30 soldiers of the Syrian Army’s 4th Division were killed in the attack.
The attack took place amid the ongoing Syrian Army operation against ISIS cells in the Raqqa-Aleppo-Hama triangle. It is expected that ISIS cells will stage even more attacks on government targets in the Homs desert in order to distract government forces from its efforts in the countryside of Raqqa.
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southfront--2020-12-30--Map Update: Turkey Is Reducing Number Of Its Observation Posts In Greater Idlib

The map above provides a general look at the process of the withdrawal of Turkish observation posts from some areas @ @ @ @ @ this , the Turks still have a notable military presence in this Syrian region and @ @ @ @ @ of posts ( a large part of them surrendered by the Syrian Army ) does @ @ @ @ @ in some way leaving the region or abandoning its expansionist plans .
MORE ON THE @ @ @ @ @ Supported By Russian Forces Continues Operation Against ISIS In Desert

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The map above provides a general look at the process of the withdrawal of Turkish observation posts from some areas of Greater Idlib. Despite this, the Turks still have a notable military presence in this Syrian region and the reduction of a number of posts (a large part of them surrendered by the Syrian Army) does not mean that Ankara is in some way leaving the region or abandoning its expansionist plans.
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