News

Ukraine counteroffensive a “failure”: Putin

Published

3 years ago

July 24, 2023

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko held talks in St. Petersburg, where they discussed the situation in Ukraine.

Putin stated that Ukraine’s counteroffensive “has failed,” to which Lukashenko responded that there was no counteroffensive at all.

The conflict in Ukraine has been ongoing for nearly 17 months, with Ukraine launching a long-anticipated counter-offensive last month. However, their progress has been slow, facing well-entrenched Russian forces controlling a significant portion of their territory.

Despite differing opinions on the success of Ukraine’s efforts, U.S. General Mark Milley, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, believes the drive is far from a failure but warns that it will be a long, hard, and bloody process.

Poland push

During their meeting, Lukashenko jokingly mentioned that fighters from Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, currently training Belarus’s army, were eager to push into NATO member Poland. However, there is no indication that Lukashenko seriously entertained the idea.

Recently, Belarusian defense ministry announced that Wagner fighters were training Belarusian special forces near the Polish border. In response, Poland is deploying additional troops to its border with Belarus, concerned about the presence of the Wagner forces.

The relationship between Russia and Belarus is referred to as the “union state,” with Russia being the dominant player. Lukashenko has proven useful to Putin since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, allowing Russia to use Belarus as a launch pad during the war. He has also allowed Russian forces to train at his military bases and received tactical nuclear weapons from Putin, drawing condemnation from the West.

Despite Lukashenko not committing his small army to join Russia’s war efforts, the risk of a potential attack from Belarusian soil compels Ukraine to protect its northern border. This puts a strain on Ukraine’s forces as they try to intensify their counteroffensive in the eastern and southern regions of the country.

The talks between Putin and Lukashenko aimed to discuss security and other critical issues in detail over the course of two days. Belarus’s role in the ongoing conflict and its collaboration with Russia will continue to have significant implications for the region’s stability and international relations.

News

Epstein hearing explodes over redactions and hidden names

Lawmakers accuse AG Pam Bondi of hiding Epstein-linked names amid congressional hearing, questioning redactions related to billionaire Wexner.

Published

1 day ago

February 12, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Lawmakers accuse AG Pam Bondi of hiding Epstein-linked names amid congressional hearing, questioning redactions related to billionaire Wexner.

US lawmakers have accused Attorney General Pam Bondi of withholding key names linked to Jeffrey Epstein during a fiery congressional hearing. The confrontation centred on redactions within investigative files that critics argue should have been fully disclosed under federal law.

Representative Thomas Massie pressed the Justice Department over blacked-out sections, specifically questioning references to billionaire Leslie Wexner. Bondi maintained that Wexner’s name was released promptly once flagged, defending the department’s handling of the documents.

Frustration boiled over as lawmakers challenged the extent of the redactions, leading to an extraordinary moment in the hearing as Bondi pushed back and praised President Donald Trump while standing by the department’s review process.

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#EpsteinFiles #PamBondi #USPolitics #Congress #JeffreyEpstein #BreakingNews #PoliticalDrama #TickerNews

News

Angus Taylor moves to challenge Sussan Ley for party leadership

Angus Taylor resigns from Coalition frontbench to challenge Sussan Ley amid Liberal Party divisions and declining poll support.

Published

1 day ago

February 12, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Angus Taylor resigns from Coalition frontbench to challenge Sussan Ley amid Liberal Party divisions and declining poll support.

Angus Taylor has resigned from the Coalition frontbench to launch a leadership challenge against Sussan Ley, declaring he lacks confidence in her ability to rebuild support for the Liberal Party. His move sets up a high-stakes internal contest that could reshape the party’s direction.

Supporters of Mr Taylor are expected to push for a meeting by Friday to trigger a potential leadership spill, intensifying pressure on Ms Ley. Moderate MPs are calling on her to demand clear proof of numbers before any ballot takes place.

With the Liberals trailing in the polls and facing mounting questions over strategy, both camps are outlining starkly different visions for the party’s future as tensions rise in Canberra.

#AustralianPolitics #LiberalParty #AngusTaylor #SussanLey #LeadershipSpill #Canberra #AusPol #PoliticalNews

News

Iran buries nuclear site entrances amid rising tensions with the U.S.

Published

2 days ago

February 11, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Satellite images reveal that Iran has buried all three tunnel entrances at its Isfahan nuclear complex. Analysts say the move mirrors defensive preparations taken before U.S. airstrikes devastated the facility last year, with no vehicle or personnel activity visible around the entrances.

The burial appears aimed at limiting damage from potential airstrikes and complicating any ground raid targeting enriched uranium stored in the underground facility. Experts suggest equipment or materials may have been moved into the tunnels for protection, though this remains unconfirmed.

The fortification comes amid ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions. President Trump has demanded Iran curb its nuclear program, warning of military action, while Tehran insists halting uranium enrichment is unacceptable. Recent indirect talks in Oman showed little progress toward a new deal.