Ukrainian spies say they have intercepted phone calls from Russian troops saying their military’s integration of North Korean soldiers isn’t going well. On audio released by Ukraine’s spy agency, Russian soldiers sound doubtful they have enough commanders and weapons for the new arrivals. On one call, a Russian soldier was “outraged” that armored vehicles in short supply were being given to North Korean troops. Read more from @USAToday.

flip.it/1PmqfI

#Ukraine #Russia #NorthKorea #War #Military #Spying

Chaos as Russia tries to absorb North Korean troops, Ukraine spies say

In the calls, which Ukrainian spies said they intercepted, Russian soldiers complain that "we all work like translators now."

^{, USA TODAY (USA TODAY)}

Here’s what we’re reading today:

Last night, #Russia attacked and partially destroyed the #UNESCO protected “Derzhprom” building in #Kharkiv, which, built in 1928, is the largest constructivist building in the world.

The Russian attack on Kharkiv killed four people.

theguardian.com/world/2024/oct…

Ukraine war briefing: Bomb shatters historic landmark in Kharkiv

Prized Derzhprom building damaged in attacks injuring 19, while at least four killed in city overnight; North Korean foreign minister heads to Russia as Nato chief says Kim Jong-un’s troops are in Kursk. What we know on day 979

^{Warren Murray (The Guardian)}

Americans' #Trust in #Media Remains at Trend Low

Trust in political and civic institutions highest for local and state #governments, lowest for media and #Congress

Source: news.gallup.com/poll/651977/am…

In an age of #fake news, #propaganda, #maga, #Twitter #bots and Russian #troll factories, we actually need trustworthy journalism. I must once again explicitly point out that the principle of "trust nobody" does not mean no longer believing official sources and only consuming unfiltered news from Russian-controlled #Telegram channels and basing your world view on them.

"Trust nobody but don't stop thinking - if you belive the earth is flat you are far beyond a border no one should pass!"

#news #Problem #society #government #journalism #Press #fail #usa #conspiracy #deepstate #future #politics #internet #fakenews #russia #trump #bot #trolls

Americans' Trust in Media Remains at Trend Low

Americans' confidence in the media is at its lowest point, as Democrats' confidence is near the record low and Republicans' is almost nonexistent.

^{by Megan Brenan (Gallup)}

As Americans vote, exhausted and outmanned Ukrainian soldiers are holding defensive lines under constant Russian fire, knowing the results will dictate their future.

#Harris, who has decried President Vladimir #Putin’s “brutality,” would likely carry on President Joe #Biden’s policy of support.

#Trump has repeatedly taken issue with #US aid to #Ukraine, made vague vows to end the war and has praised #Putin.

apnews.com/article/election-uk…

#Russia

The trajectory of Ukraine's fight against Russia hangs on the outcome of the US election

The decisions of the next U.S. president will determine the trajectory of Ukraine's fight against Russia’s invasion.

^{SAMYA KULLAB (AP News)}

#Russia, #China and #Cuba amplified falsehoods about recent hurricanes, U.S. official says

Intelligence officials say the three countries – as well as #Iran – are trying to aggravate political divisions in the U.S. and undermine the democratic process.

nbcnews.com/news/investigation…

Russia, China and Cuba amplified falsehoods about recent hurricanes, U.S. official says

Russian, Chinese and Cuban operatives have tried to amplify false information about the two hurricanes that hit the United States last month.

^{Dan De Luce (NBC News)}

“Hungary's nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Wednesday likened the European Union to the former Soviet Union and called on Hungarians to ‘resist’ Brussels as they did Moscow in 1956.”

dw.com/en/hungary-orban-compar…

Remind me again why Hungary is still a member of the EU?

#hungary #EU #orban #fascism #russia

Hungary: Orban compares EU to USSR, urges people to 'resist'

At a rally to commemorate the 1956 Hungarian Uprising, Hungary's Viktor Orban compared the EU to the Soviet Union and criticized the bloc's support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's ongoing invasion.

^{Deutsche Welle}

#NASA Administrator Bill #Nelson on Friday called for an investigation into a Wall Street Journal report that #SpaceX founder and Donald #Trump ally Elon #Musk and Russian President Vladimir #Putin have been in “regular contact” since late 2022.

The report raises national security concerns as SpaceX’s relationships with NASA and the #US military may have granted Musk access to sensitive government information and US intelligence.

edition.cnn.com/2024/10/25/pol…

#Ukraine #Russia #MAGA #GOP

The face of a Russian Agent and a Danger to Democracy

"Ukraine must give up territories to end the war. Ukraine has no people, no weapons, and no money to continue the war,"
- JD Vance
#AureFreePress #News #press #headline #Ukraine #Russia #Putin #EU #NATO #Zelensky #war #Breaking #BreakingNews #Trump

Here’s what we’re reading today:

After Russia’s 2022 invasion of #Ukraine, satellite images revealed unusual activity at a former Cold #War #bioweapons site near #Moscow.

Satellite images showed renovations and new buildings, possibly high-containment bio-labs.

#Russia denies this.

washingtonpost.com/national-se…

#Russia provided Yemen's #Houthis with satellite data to target merchant ships in the Red #Sea with drones and missiles, WSJ reports.

Russia's support for the Houthis highlights Putin's push to counter the US-led order.

wsj.com/world/russia-provided-…

The ‘Democrats say Trump’s a fascist’ framing should be yeeted into the sun. These are just some of the Republicans who worked with him on a daily basis and are saying it.
#trump #HarrisWalz2024 #Election2024 #media #fascism #russia #china

nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elec…

13 former Trump administration officials sign open letter backing up John Kelly's criticism of Trump

Thirteen former Trump White House officials signed an open letter backing up former Trump chief of staff John Kelly, who told the New York Times that Trump fits the definition of a fascist.

^{Megan Lebowitz (NBC News)}

Elon Musk has been in regular contact with Putin since late 2022, discussing personal, business, and geopolitical issues, according to WSJ.

Sources say Putin once asked Musk not to activate Starlink over Taiwan as a favor to Xi Jinping.
#AureFreePress #News #press #headline #Ukraine #Russia #Putin #Musk #starlink

The #EU is now trying to find means of its own to bolster enforcement & reinforce its curbs on #Russia.

Tom Keatinge, of think tank the Royal United Services Institute, said European policy makers had been preparing "autonomous European #sanctions considering the possibility of a #Trump presidency" but would have to bolster enforcement.

#geopolitics #Authoritarianism #StrongMen #dictatorship #totalitarianism
#ForeignPolicy #Security #democracy #VoteBlue #HarrisWalz2024

The clause would allow customs ofcls to hold up shipments if the destination seemed illogical, such as crossing #Russia to reach #CentralAsia countries.

The preparations are being made, in anticipation of a change in Washington's position, should #Trump be reelected.

Any softening by DC would leave #Europe in a difficult position, as it is the #UnitedStates, w/sweeping powers to punish #sanctions busting globally, that primarily enforces the rules.

#geopolitics #ForeignPolicy #HarrisWalz2024

The possible steps include "catch-all" clauses to ID & stop suspect goods shipments to #Russia & wider #oil shipping curbs….

There are also discussions about changing a requirement that a freeze on Russian central bank #assets, the biggest single Western #sanction on Moscow, must be renewed by European capitals every 6 months….

A few member states are working on…a “catch-all" clause applied either to battlefield goods or across a larger spectrum of banned exports, 3 EU diplomats said.

#Europe seeks to underpin #Russia #sanctions, fearing that a return of #Trump could undermine Western efforts to isolate Moscow….

The talks among #EU ofcls & envoys are centred on several initiatives to ensure that European sanctions would remain in place longer term, bolstering them through tighter enforcement, even if Washington changes tack.

#geopolitics #Authoritarianism #StrongMen #dictatorship #totalitarianism
#ForeignPolicy #democracy #VoteBlue #HarrisWalz2024
reuters.com/world/europe/europ…

"Should a #Trump presidency reverse #US sanctions on #Russia, Europeans will need to be much more muscular in ... enforcement action & will no longer be able to hide behind Uncle Sam," he said.

…European countries were wrongfooted during Trump's last presidency, when the #UnitedStates reversed an international deal w/ #Iran over its #nuclear program & unilaterally reinstated #sanctions, leaving #Europe out on a limb.

#geopolitics #Security #ForeignPolicy #democracy #VoteBlue #HarrisWalz2024

Wut.🤦🏻‍♀️

Via Inner City Press:

POLITICAL DOG FIGHT: Devin #Nunes Sued NBC for Rachel #Maddow Report on #Russia Package - Now Dispute About Contents of Maddow's Personal Electronic Devices

- Inner City Press story: innercitypress.com/sdny139bcas…

As #election2024 approaches in the U.S., the Kremlin appears to be amplifying divisive narratives on immigration, race and the #UkraineWar.

Here’s a look at Russia’s evolving propaganda playbook from a study that reviewed 2,700+ Russian news stories:
theconversation.com/how-russia…
#Russia #Putin #USPolitics #Politics

How Russia employs ‘hard soft power’ to influence overseas media and sow dissent and fear among foreign populations

A new study found that pliant local media in Ukraine and Georgia was manipulated by Moscow to present anti-Western narratives.

^{The Conversation}

A new investigation by the NGO Disclose has found that the port of Brest in Brittany here in France, is being used as a crucial stop for tankers delivering gas valuable to president Vladimir Putin. FRANCE 24's Jennie Shin speaks to the author of the investigation, Alexander Abdelilah.
#Russia #Ukraine #sanctions #gas #energy

youtube.com/watch?v=-QbAj1OLMt…