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Russia Today
4 hours ago
- Russia Today
US soldier accused of trying to give tank data to Russia
A US Army soldier has been arrested for allegedly trying to pass classified details about M1A2 Abrams tanks to Russia in exchange for citizenship, the Department of Justice has said. The US sent 31 M1A2 Abrams tanks to Ukraine in 2023, although a significant number have been knocked out. In a statement on Wednesday, the DOJ said Taylor Adam Lee, 22, an active-duty service member based in Fort Bliss, Texas, was charged with 'attempted transmission of national defense information to a foreign adversary' – which included technical details and vulnerabilities of the main US battle tank – as well as 'attempted export of controlled technical data without a license.' The DOJ accused Lee, who has Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance, of sending Russia technical data online in June and expressing willingness to assist Moscow. He allegedly told Russian officials: 'The USA is not happy with me for trying to expose their weaknesses… At this point I'd even volunteer to assist the Russian Federation when I'm there in any way.' Prosecutors claim Lee then met in July with someone he believed to be a Russian government representative, during which he allegedly handed over an SD card containing technical data on the Abrams tank, another unidentified armored fighting vehicle, and combat operations. Lee also allegedly discussed the possibility of providing Russia with a specific piece of hardware inside the M1A2 Abrams tank, later reportedly delivering it at a storage unit in El Paso and sending a message to an alleged Russian official that read 'Mission accomplished.' Moscow has yet to comment on the allegations. The US provided Ukraine with 31 M1A2 Abrams tanks in the autumn of 2023, although multiple reports have indicated they were ill-suited for conditions on the ground and vulnerable to drones. Moreover, the tanks were reportedly provided in an export variant lacking the latest upgraded depleted uranium armor and fire control systems. A significant portion of them have reportedly been destroyed, with Russia showcasing one Abrams at an exhibition last year.
Russia Today
a day ago
- Russia Today
South Africa concerned over neighbor hosting US deportees
The South African government has voiced 'deep concern' over the recent transfer of convicted criminals deported from the United States to neighboring Eswatini. 'South Africa is deeply concerned about the profile of these individuals and the potential adverse impact on South Africa's national security and immigration policy, given the geographical proximity between the two sisterly countries,' said Chrispin Phiri, spokesperson for Minister of International Relations, Ronald Lamola. Phiri said South Africa has raised concerns with the Kingdom of Eswatini following confirmation by the acting spokesperson of the government, Thabile Mdluli, that the group of dangerous criminals of various nationalities landed in Eswatini. The convicted criminals were transported from the United States of America on a special flight, with the potential of more criminals of similar profiles scheduled to follow. Their arrival was also followed by an announcement from the United States' Department of Homeland Security indicating that this group of individuals from several countries, and some of whom have been convicted of serious crimes, have been deported to Eswatini. 'Dirco, on behalf of the government of the Republic of South Africa, noted the aforementioned statement wherein Eswatini and the USA indicated that they would collaborate with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to facilitate the transit of these inmates to their countries of origin,' said Phiri. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) also noted that the countries of origin of these deportees are unlikely to receive them. 'Whilst respecting the sovereign decision of the government of Eswatini, the government of the Republic of South Africa is deeply concerned about the profile of these individuals and the potential adverse impact on South Africa's national security and immigration policy, given the geographical proximity between the two sisterly countries,' said Phiri. Last week, IOL reported that seasoned Eswatini human rights lawyer Sibusiso Nhlabatsi has launched a High Court bid to gain access to five 'dangerous' convicted criminals deported to the African nation from the United States. Nhlabatsi is challenging the prison authorities' refusal to allow him to meet and consult with the detained men. According to media reports, the deported men intend to challenge their presence in Eswatini. IOL previously reported that the deportation of the five hardened criminals, a decision by US President Donald Trump's administration, reportedly took Eswatini citizens and activists by surprise and shock. Speaking to IOL on Friday, Nhlabatsi said his commentary is limited because the matter is before the courts. 'However, the core of my application is to ask the court to grant me an order to access the deportees. I have been given specific instructions by three US-based attorneys who were representing them back home, and the purpose of my visit is simply to fulfill those instructions,' said Nhlabatsi. 'Last Friday, the prison authorities denied me access, citing that they were still working on facilities or gadgets that would allow the deportees to call home.' Nhlabatsi argued that the actions of the Eswatini authorities were unlawful. 'In my view, this is unlawful because it denies them legal access and representation which is constitutionally guaranteed,' he said. IOL reported last week that the move has also sparked outrage in the small landlocked nation, and fears abound that the criminals may end up in South Africa. The Trump administration announced over a week ago that it would be sending the men who are illegal immigrants from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Yemen and Cuba convicted of child rape, murder, burglary, and being gang members and whose countries refuse to take them back. Speaking to IOL previously, Bheki Makhubu, editor of the monthly news magazine The Nation, said people of Eswatini feel betrayed. 'Essentially, emaSwati feel they were betrayed by the leadership of Eswatini. This move came as a complete surprise and seems to have been arranged and known by only a select few people. This deal feels like an invasion of our country by the US. We feel our leaders have sold our country to Trump behind our backs,' he said. 'This country is nobody's personal property and therefore we're upset and most importantly, afraid. There's a fear that if this is allowed to continue, and it looks like more prisoners are coming, one day we will wake up and find that we've been annexed by another country behind our backs.' Makhubu added that he understood that the dangerous criminals are set to spend only a year in published by IOL
Russia Today
2 days ago
- Russia Today
Timing of case against ICC chief prosecutor is highly suspicious
The International Criminal Court's (ICC) chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, was slapped with sexual assault allegations shortly before seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, raising suspicions about the timing of the accusations, columnist Rachel Marsden has told RT. Before officially seeking the warrants, Khan reportedly informed London about his plans, only to face threats from then Foreign Secretary David Cameron that the UK would bail out of the ICC altogether if he proceeded with his plan, Marsden noted. In April of 2024, roughly a month before the prosecutor officially sought the arrest warrants, a staffer at the ICC accused him of chronically sexually assaulting her. She complained to Thomas Lynch – an American lawyer and a close adviser at the ICC – who then alerted some internal oversight bodies within the ICC. The US, which has never recognized the ICC's mandate, opposed the issuance of arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant from the very beginning and repeatedly threatened Khan with sanctions. Washington eventually imposed the restrictions on the court, some of its judges, and Khan personally. The ICC closed two internal probes against Khan after the complainant declined to cooperate. The RT contributor recalled that a note about the alleged sex assault case was then leaked to the media in October of 2024, just days before the court officially issued the arrest warrants in November of 2024. The court's oversight body, the Assembly of States Parties, then publicly named Khan as a suspect in the sex assault case and outsourced the investigation to the UN's Office of Internal Oversight Services – something the former ICC judges have called 'completely outside of protocol that they're aware of,' as well as 'plain strange,' according to the columnist. Khan appears to be either suffering from the worst timing possible or is 'being taken out with a plot line so obvious that it wouldn't make the first draft of a Netflix political thriller,' Marsden said. Watch the full commentary below.
