China General under US sanctions in the position of Minister of Defense

China's National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, has approved General Li Shangfu, who is subject to US sanctions under the pretext of military cooperation with Russia, to the post of defense minister.

The 65-year-old general's appointment to the new post was voted on Sunday during the Fifth Plenary Session of the 14th National People's Congress in the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing.

In 2018, the US Treasury Department sanctioned the Training and Supply Department of the Chinese Central Military Council and General Li Shangfu, who headed it at the time, for military cooperation with Russia.

Some observers believe that this matter may make contacts between the United States and China in the military field somewhat embarrassing.   Source: Novosti

Hersh: Washington is trying to divert attention from its involvement in the "Northern Stream" bombing

Investigative journalist Seymour Hersh confirmed that Washington is seeking to publish "new intelligence" information to divert public opinion from its involvement in the bombing of the "Northern Stream" pipelines of Russian gas to Europe.

Hersh told Chinese TV channel CGTN: "The US government is trying to divert attention from the investigation that I have prepared and it includes many details of the 'Northern Stream' bombing.

He continued, "This requires experts in diving and using explosives. They have to train for weeks and months in the waters of the Baltic Sea."

The New York Times published "intelligence" information that pro-Ukrainian groups were behind the bombing, and that Kiev was not necessarily aware of what these groups had planned.

Russia accuses the United States and its allies of being behind the bombing, especially after US President Joe Biden announced that he would never allow Russian gas to flow through the "Northern Stream" to Europe.

Washington also evades any investigation and rejects Russia's initiatives to investigate this international terrorist act.   Source: Novosti