BLACKWATER USA | DAILY BRIEF

Posted by BW Actual on Dec 19th 2022

BLACKWATER USA | DAILY BRIEF

Ukraine and Russia

  • Pres. Putin is visiting Belarus for a "working visit" today - his first in more than three years - as Russian troops kick off joint exercises in Belarus.
  • UK intelligence reported that Russia is using "readily available convict-recruits" - men recruited from Russian prisons - to protect more experienced Wagner Group units. Many of the "expendable" ex-cons have been killed.
China
  • China reported its first two COVID deaths since it started rolling back restrictions. Local reports of overwhelmed hospitals and funeral homes suggest the true COVID death toll is far higher.
South Africa
  • The African National Congress renominated president Ramaphosa as its candidate for 2024 elections, despite the scandals that have plagued his presidency.
North Korea
  • North Korea said it completed an "important" test of a new spy satellite, and released imagery (presumably from the satellite) of two major South Korean cities - Seoul and Incheon - as proof. State media says the satellite is due to be completed by April 2023.
Other News
  • The UN's biodiversity summit, COP15, ended with a bold agreement to protect 30% of the planet's land and water considered important for biodiversity by 2030. DRC had sought to block the deal (it sought more support for developing countries), but China's environment minister - who co-chaired the summit - overruled the objection.