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 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.
- The African National Congress renominated president Ramaphosa as its candidate for 2024 elections, despite the scandals that have plagued his presidency.
- 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.
- 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.