Batman

Pinning this post 📍 Chagos islands are British 🇮🇴🇬🇧

MORE: ISW is no longer prepared to forecast when Russian forces might seize Donetsk, including the Fortress Belt, since the slowing rate of Russian advances and the challenging nature of the Ukrainian-held terrain in Donetsk makes it unclear that Russia is capable of seizing the territory at all. ⬇️ Russia’s exaggerated territorial ambitions and aggressive territorial demands run completely counter to battlefield reality. Anonymous sources in contact with Putin and additional sources familiar with the matter as well as a Ukrainian intelligence assessment shared with FT indicate that senior Russian commanders have convinced Putin that Russian forces could seize all of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts by Fall 2026. ISW has observed evidence to assess that Russian forces have only advanced 349.89 square kilometers in Donetsk Oblast since the start of 2026, an advance rate of 2.63 square kilometers per day. Strong Ukrainian fortifications, the area’s challenging human and physical geography, and Ukrainian counterattacks and mid-range strike campaign that are already inhibiting Russian offensive operations across the theater make the prospects for a Russian seizure of the rest of Donetsk dim. Russian forces first infiltrated into Kostyantynivka (the Fortress Belt’s southernmost city) in October 2025 and have failed to make any significant tactical gains in the city over the last six months. Ukrainian counterattacks in southern Ukraine since early 2026 have also forced Russia to choose between defending against Ukrainian counterattacks and allocating manpower and resources to priority sectors of the frontline, including the Fortress Belt. Ukraine’s recent successes are accomplishing tactical, operational, and strategic battlespace effects that undermine Putin’s narrative that the Ukrainian frontlines are on the verge of collapse. Two people involved in back-channel negotiations over ending the war told the FT that Putin’s ambitions are still to control all the Ukrainian territory between Russia and the Dnipro River, and possibly farther into Kyiv City and the port of Odesa, despite Russia’s stalling offensive. Putin’s thinking thus appears to be further and further removed from battlefield realities, likely resulting in the issuance of orders to the Russian military to make gains that it is not capable of making.

Here’s how the local elections went in Wigan, where Makerfield by election will be taking place… This could end Burnham’s entire political career if he doesn’t win.

@LeftieStats They can’t stop the unstoppable (Reform)

‼️BREAKING | Greens have taken leadership of Worcestershire Council from Reform in a shock vote Conservatives (12 seats), Greens (8), LDs (7) and independents (3) have formed a rainbow coalition and ousted Reform at the annual meeting. Greens' Matt Jenkins will be leader. 🗳️

Things to consider about the Makerfield constituency: -Voted 65% to leave the EU -It’s culturally right wing (concerns about immigration) -Ethnically 97% white -68% Christian, 30% atheist, 1% Muslim -Not especially deprived or poor and evenly balanced between working and middle class demographic -Makerfield is in the Wigan District and Reform UK won every single seat that was up for grabs last week Andy Burnham will have to say he is anti-establishment, which he clearly isn’t and distance himself from the labour party which is impossible. Andy Burnham is popular in the Greater Manchester area, but he’s on the left of a party which has taken a drubbing for being on the left of the people of Manchester.

@LucidTalk @chrisadonnelly He knows… his comment is propaganda, an attempt to make people think SF are “doing well”, that they are “on trend”. Reality on the ground says otherwise.

@chrisadonnelly Chris you're mis-reading this. Sinn Fein need to be (and should be) further ahead than this on the 1st count.

That’s a massive boost for Sinn Fein & Mary Lou McDonald.

@chrisadonnelly lol

We look forward to the Makerfield by-election. Reform will throw absolutely everything at it.

@ElectionMapsUK Labour will be hoping the Green and Lib Dem voters roll in behind them to elect Andy. Imagine if they didn’t though.. 🙈🤣

Current Nowcast Model for Makerfield, following the news that Josh Simons MP is standing down in a bid to get Andy Burnham a seat in Parliament.

..Dublin Central by-election poll from @IpsosBandA. On these figures Ennis would probably win with the transfers...

The Ukrainian military is now the strongest and most powerful in all of Europe-Marco Rubio

Informed Israeli source has told me that military officials within the country believe Trump will make a decision as early as this weekend towards next steps with Iran which will likely be the continuing of military action which may result in raised Israeli defence readiness.

Iranian military sunk and attacked a large Indian livestock carrying vessel in the Gulf of Oman today in a drone attack.

US-China joint statement today shows three key concessions made on Iran by China: -Iran should never have a nuclear weapon. -Iran should immediately open the strait of Hormuz with Xi Jingping frustrated at tolls. -Iran will not receive any miltiary aid from China.

I find it really funny when people say “Britain has no culture” How about the culture of excellence that created liberal democracy, enforced the end of slavery, steam engines, World Wide Web, anti biotics, industrialisation. You can’t see it cause it’s all around you.

🇰🇵 #NorthKorea - 🇷🇺 #Russia: A compilation of footage reportedly shows North Korean soldiers operating in Russia’s Kursk region. Throughout the footage, North Korean personnel can allegedly be seen manning multiple missile systems and mortars, while the video also appears to show them operating a drone.

Satellite images of the "Rybachiy" base on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula show anti-drone nets installed on at least two nuclear submarines of the Borei and Borei-A classes, according to NavalNews. "Rybachiy" is the main base for the nuclear submarines of Russia’s Pacific Fleet. Each of these submarines carries 16 Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles. Carriers of cruise missiles are also based there. The base is located around 7,400 km from Ukraine.

Israel's Ministry of Defense and Elbit Systems have signed a deal worth an estimated 100 million shekels to develop external fuel tanks for the F-35, extending the jet's flight range. The tanks will be adapted from an existing F-16 design.

🚨HUGE: Wes Streeting HAS RESIGNED! IT'S HAPPENING! HERE WE GO 🎉

Boris Johnson’s Boris Wave is the most destructive policy decision in British history.