My first article in ⁦The Economist⁩ discusses recent Ukrainian military successes, and what they tell us about modern war. Thanks to ⁦The Economist⁩ team for the opportunity. #Ukraine economist.com/by-invitation/… economist.com/by-invitation/…

Sunak as PM certainly sets up an interesting question around MoD. Wallace would stay on in most scenarios. But he 1/ publicly all-but-backed Johnson days ago, and 2/ turned 3% defence spending into near litmus test—which looks particularly unlikely under a Sunak premiership.

Aptly enough, as Avinash Paliwal notes, it’s Diwali tomorrow.

You don’t know my 100 MPs…they go to a different parliament

Shoigu calls Turkish and French counterparts today to discuss possible uncontrolled escalation in Ukraine and claims Ukraine has a “dirty bomb.” This reads like Russian false flag groundwork. Troubling that it’s happening at the defense minister level.

Russia MOD claims Ukraine might use “dirty bomb” & RIA claims “sources” say Ukraine is “preparing to detonate a low-yield nuclear weapon” in Ukraine “in order to accuse Russia of using weapons of mass destruction.”

Disinformation (like lab claim) but with false flag undertones.

🇷🇺 state news agency RIA Novosti is crying 'provocation' again

It says 'credible sources' tell it 🇺🇦 is preparing to use a dirty bomb or low-yield nuke on its own territory in order to 'accuse Russia of it and launch a powerful anti-Russian campaign'
t.me/rian_ru/182910

Draghi may be the exception to Enoch Powell’s rule that all political careers end in failure?

Great summary and perspective by Paul T. Haenle ! The symbolism of Hu Jintao being escorted out touches not just the demise of CYL influence, but also the Deng era--Hu was the last future leader 'anointed' by Deng as a generational core.

Exclusive: Several French pilots have been working as instructor in #China to train #PLA air force, two former military sources confirmed me. I interviewed a French Navy pilot who was approached to train China aircraft carrier pilots Le Figaro A thread.
lefigaro.fr/international/…

more from Sinocism today, point being there may be other things we can observe that indicate what may or may not have happened
sinocism.com/p/20th-party-c…