Andrei Rudenko, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, visited Beijing on Sunday to discuss "international and regional issues of common concern" with the Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang. This follows Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the mercenary Wagner Group, ordering his troops to march on Moscow before reaching a deal with the Kremlin to go into exile. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been monitoring the events and engaging with the Russians. It is unclear what was discussed during Rudenko's visit, but it is likely that the two countries discussed the situation in Russia and the implications of the aborted rebellion.
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On Saturday morning, a bridge collapse in Montana caused freight train cars to crash into the Yellowstone River, raising concerns about contamination. Montana Rail Link has since released a statement saying that two cars known to be carrying hazardous materials had not entered the river, and that there was "no expected hazmat impact" to towns in the county. Andy Garland, spokesperson for Montana Rail Link, said that the substances in the railcars solidify when exposed to air and water, so there is no risk of contamination.
On June 24, 2023, a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed after a bridge collapse near Columbus, Montana, causing multiple tanker cars to leak petroleum products into the Yellowstone River. Stillwater County Disaster and Emergency Services is working with multiple agencies to assess the environmental impact of the crash and contain the hazardous materials. The cause of the bridge collapse is still under investigation.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has negotiated a truce between Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin and the Russian military, which includes "security guarantees for the Wagner PMC fighters". Prigozhin had called for an armed uprising against the defense minister, and has taken responsibility for the potential of Russian blood being shed. The truce is a step towards de-escalating tensions, but it is unclear what further steps will be taken to ensure the safety of the Wagner PMC fighters.
This article discusses the recent tension between the Russian military and the Wagner mercenary group, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, after the Kremlin accused Prigozhin of an attempted coup. Reports indicate that the Wagner column is making its way toward Moscow, and the city is taking precautionary measures such as canceling work and evacuating the city. The Kremlin has yet to make an official statement on the matter.
Beijing is experiencing a rare heatwave, with temperatures soaring to 106 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday, breaking the June record. The Nanjiao observatory in southern Beijing recorded temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) for a third consecutive day, and Tanghekou in Beijing’s northeast even reached 107 F. Authorities are urging people to limit their time outdoors as the heatwave is likely to continue in the coming days.
Tensions between Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group, and the Russian military have escalated after Prigozhin accused the military of “destroying” his fighters and vowed revenge. In response, the Federal Security Service (FSB) called for members of the private military contractor to refuse Prigozhin's orders and detain him, while the prosecutor general’s office opened a criminal investigation. Prigozhin's feud with the military has been ongoing since the war in Ukraine, and it remains to be seen what action he will take in response to the accusations.
Russian authorities have launched a criminal probe against Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military contractor, in response to his accusations against the Russian Defense Minister. Former President Donald Trump has criticized aid to Ukraine, while President Joe Biden has made continued aide a priority and has traveled to the wartorn country to underscore U.S. support. The investigation is the latest development in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with the outcome yet to be determined.