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Source: http://rt.com/rss/

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<title>UK airports paralyzed by nationwide system outage (VIDEOS)</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597189-uk-airports-paralyzed-glitch/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663ae5cc20302720fd0dfff4.png" /> Airports across the United Kingdom have been struck with delays as a “technical issue” brought automated systems down <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597189-uk-airports-paralyzed-glitch/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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A glitch in the automated check-in systems caused travel chaos across the country
Airports across the United Kingdom were struck with delays on Tuesday evening after a nationwide “technical issue“ made the UK Border Force electronic systems glitch for more than four hours. The slowed service led to delays and long queues among arrivals in airports around the country.
Footage circulating online showed the extensive queues that built up as services slowed to a crawl. Some customers complained that the unexpectedly long queues were straining infrastructure, reportedly leaving some customers without adequate water and toilet access. Others also showed blank screens at the eGates.
Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Newcastle and Edinburgh airports confirmed problems with the Border Force system, which resulted in the long delays with arriving travelers on Tuesday, the BBC wrote.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Seems to be a UK nationwide airport system crash. No e gates working. This is the current queue in Gatwick airport with lots of children and no water <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/welcometotheuk?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#welcometotheuk</a> <a href="https://t.co/ckT21gJYXx">pic.twitter.com/ckT21gJYXx</a>— Rosie (@rxsiebo) <a href="https://twitter.com/rxsiebo/status/1787931039236571193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The system network issue was detected at 7:44 on Tuesday evening, the Home Office said in a statement on Wednesday. “E-gates at UK airports came back online shortly after midnight,” they announced, adding that “at no point was border security compromised and there is no indication of malicious cyber activity.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">E-gates down at LHR T3, and seemingly across <a href="https://twitter.com/HeathrowAirport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HeathrowAirport</a>. Border Force suggests to passengers it might be a nationwide outage. <a href="https://t.co/XzAJcyoI95">pic.twitter.com/XzAJcyoI95</a>— Richard Gaisford (@richardgaisford) <a href="https://twitter.com/richardgaisford/status/1787924763232338405?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
There are over 270 eGates across UK airports and rail stations, <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coming-to-the-uk/faster-travel-through-the-uk-border" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">according</a> to the country’s government website. They normally allow for fast service using facial recognition, for UK and EU citizens, among others. However, Belfast airport, which doesn’t have eGates, also saw its Border Force systems impacted, according to the BBC.
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/news/594277-uk-flight-chaos-remote-working/">
READ MORE: UK flight chaos worsened by remote working – report
</a>

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Tuesday was not the first time IT issues have brought the UK’s airports to a stand-still. In August of last year, an air traffic control meltdown, caused by a glitch in the computerized flight planning system led to some 1,500 flights being canceled. Over 700,000 passengers were impacted overall, with some 300,000 by cancellation, the UK Civil Aviation Authority <a href="https://www.caa.co.uk/newsroom/news/regulator-publishes-progress-report-on-independent-review-into-august-2023-nats-flight-planning-system-failure/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">estimated</a> in March]]>
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<enclosure url="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663ae5cc20302720fd0dfff4.png" type="image/jpeg" length="123"/> <pubDate>Wed, 08 May 2024 02:49:16 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>RT</dc:creator>
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<title>There’s a careful plan behind Xi’s European tour</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597183-xi-france-hungary-serbia/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597183-xi-france-hungary-serbia/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663ac82c20302720c5201c85.jpg" /> China want’s to preserve and strengthen its foothold in and near the EU and invests diplomatic effort where it is worth investing <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597183-xi-france-hungary-serbia/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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China wants to preserve and strengthen its foothold in and around the EU and is investing diplomatic effort where it is worth it
Chinese President Xi Jinping is on a state visit to Europe. On what is his first trip to the EU since 2019, he has visited France and Hungary and concluded the tour in Serbia.
The trip comes at a pivotal moment, when European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is attempting to flip the EU institution against China, having initiated dozens of probes on Chinese products in recent weeks. Likewise, the US has aggressively ramped up rhetoric accusing Beijing, accusing it of complicity in the Ukraine conflict, designed of course to undermine Xi’s credibility on his trip.
Despite von der Leyden’s blatant pro-US bias, it is quite obvious that the loyalty of EU nations has become the subject of a battle between Washington and Beijing for influence in the emerging geopolitical struggle. Although of course the EU is in theory aligned with the US, through its dominance of institutions such as NATO, China’s foreign policy for many years now has focused on attempting to exert all influence to prevent the EU from fully aligning itself with Washington’s goal of containing Beijing, instead seeking to preserve open economic ties with the continent. To this end China has devoted an extensive diplomatic effort to Europe, an effort it doesn’t feel worth making towards the US, or even the UK.
Continental Europe is a mixed bag, and depending on the political status quo there are some states who are favourable to China, and some who are not (such as the Baltic states), and thus China sees it important to uphold the bastion of support where it can. As a result, Xi has dedicated his visit to three countries who are currently favourable towards Beijing: France and Hungary within the EU and Serbia outside the bloc. First, France is a Western-aligned state which has always been famous for its “maverick” foreign policy derived from its position as a former empire in its own right. Emmanuel Macron in particular has always been keen to go against the grain and has continued to engage with Beijing, even visiting China himself last year.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6639f92920302730f67d1e1d.jpg" alt="PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 06: French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597145-france-china-call-palestinian-state/">France and China call for Palestinian state</a></figcaption>
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Traditionally, the most enthusiastic large EU country towards China is in fact Germany, and that is still visible, for example in Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s visit to Beijing several weeks ago. However, German politics has become a domestic tug of war over China, as the foreign ministry is controlled by the neoconservative Green Annalena Baerbock, who has attempted to try and undermine ties with Beijing. This of course has been met with resistance from the German Industry lobby, while US-funded think tanks also try to undermine German ties with China to the best of their ability. As a result, it is not politically convenient for Xi to visit Germany, and thus he chose France, where opinions seem more comfortable with its “maverick” role.
His second destination, Hungary, under Viktor Orban has carved out a niche as being the most pro-Beijing state in the whole EU. Orban has an even more maverick foreign policy which also seeks healthy ties with Russia. However, its small size means it cannot steer the entire bloc’s agenda. Despite this, Budapest is a very important partner for Beijing because it serves as a gateway for Chinese investment and other projects to amplify themselves on the continent when doors are being shut elsewhere. Such as, building an overseas campus for Fudan University, or a Chinese electric car factory, which is critically important if the commission is wielding the threat of tariffs.
But not only that, Hungary occupies a strategic position in central Europe above the Balkans which is the terminus of a Chinese economic corridor that starts with the port it owns in Piraeus, Greece. And between Greece and Hungary lies Serbia. Although Serbia is not part of the EU, it is a critically important nation in the Balkans which has stormy relations with the West owing to the massive bombing campaign NATO waged against it in the 1990s. 
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a3c8f203027302f70b125.jpg" alt="FILE PHOTO: China's President Xi Jinping." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597169-xi-china-serbia-embassy-nato/">Xi marks 25th anniversary of NATO atrocity</a></figcaption>
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It is a nation which dislikes the West, but has no power to directly resist as it faces pressure to integrate into the EU, and a sovereignty issue over Kosovo. As a result, Serbia’s well being depends on its ability to court relationships with third-party powers such as Russia and China to secure geopolitical clout.
For China, Serbia thus becomes another focus point, or safe-haven, to project influence into Europe. Since the Ukraine conflict began, China has taken the subtle position of opposing the expansion of US-led western institutions, recognising them as a tool of hegemony that will be used against it. As a result, strengthening ties with Belgrade has become part of Beijing’s effort to keep its foothold in the continent, both politically and economically – it has created as a commercial passage utilising its role as part of the Balkan corridor.
Hence, Xi is reportedly going to try and upgrade relations with Serbia. After all, it is a place where China can invest and thus, sell to Europe, without EU and NATO interference. It is also hoped Serbia will join BRICS eventually.
Thus, while Xi’s visit to France, one of the EU’s leading states, is to ensure the bloc does not unite against Beijing, his visit to Serbia and Hungary is strategic by design in using them as projection points in ensuring China’s commercial ties with Europe can be upheld amidst resistance by powerful individuals such as Ursula von der Leyen.
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<enclosure url="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663ac82c20302720c5201c85.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="123"/> <pubDate>Wed, 08 May 2024 00:33:50 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>RT</dc:creator>
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<title>Ukraine strikes oil facility in Donbass – authorities</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597188-lugansk-oil-facility-atacms/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597188-lugansk-oil-facility-atacms/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663ac25a85f54012bd4137d1.jpg" /> Ukrainian forces have launched several missiles at civilian infrastructure in the Russian city of Lugansk, the regional head has said <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597188-lugansk-oil-facility-atacms/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The attack on Lugansk reportedly involved several US-supplied long-range ATACMS missiles
Ukrainian forces have launched several missiles at civilian infrastructure in the Russian city of Lugansk, injuring at least five people and causing a large blaze at an oil depot, regional head Leonid Pasechnik has said.
The late Tuesday night attack was likely carried out using surface-to-surface Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) supplied by Washington, the head of Russia’s Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) added. Five employees of the facility were hospitalized with moderate injuries, as emergency services were working at the scene to tackle the blaze.
“Ukraine is compensating its defeats on the front lines by shelling civilian targets,” Pasechnik said, adding that the attack also damaged a high-pressure gas pipeline and power lines, causing a partial blackout in the area.
The Russian Defense Ministry has yet to confirm the type of projectiles used in the strike. Over the past week, Russian air defenses intercepted at least 15 ATACMS missiles, according to Moscow, as Kiev increasingly targeted Russian oil refineries, energy facilities and other infrastructure in recent months.
<script async src="https://telegram.org/js/telegram-widget.js?22" data-telegram-post="rian_ru/244395" data-width="100%"></script>
In late April, US officials confirmed earlier media reports that the Pentagon had secretly shipped an unspecified number of long-range missiles to Ukraine as part of an arms package announced by President Joe Biden in mid-March.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6636216d2030274a797adaa7.jpg" alt="FILE PHOTO: US soldiers conduct live-fire testing of early versions of the Army Tactical Missile System." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/596989-crimea-missiles-attack-attemption/">Russia shoots down four US-made long-range missiles – MOD</a></figcaption>
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The “goal” of supplying Kiev with ATACMS was to put more pressure on Crimea and allow Ukrainian forces to target the peninsula “more effectively,” the New York Times <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/596602-ukraine-atacms-targets-crimea/">reported</a> at a time, citing an unnamed Pentagon official.
Moscow said the provision of long-range missiles would only spell “more problems” for Kiev. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov insisted that the use of ATACMS would not impact the outcome of the conflict, or prevent Russia from achieving its security goals.]]>
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<enclosure url="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663ac25a85f54012bd4137d1.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="123"/> <pubDate>Wed, 08 May 2024 00:08:57 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>RT</dc:creator>
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<title>Police break up pro-Palestine protest at French university (VIDEOS)</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597187-paris-sorbonne-latestine-protests/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597187-paris-sorbonne-latestine-protests/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663ab8a785f54013ff421258.jpg" /> Paris riot police used tear gas to break up a pro-Palestine student protest outside the prestigious Sorbonne University <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597187-paris-sorbonne-latestine-protests/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Activists have occupied the Sorbonne lecture halls and blocked the entrance to the prestigious school
Paris law enforcement resorted to tear gas and brute force to clear a pro-Palestine student picket outside the prestigious Sorbonne University in Paris on Tuesday. Student demonstrations against the Israeli military operation in Gaza have intensified globally as the IDF troops carried out first “limited” ground incursions into the overcrowded border town of Rafah.
Dozens of police in riot gear with batons and shields cracked down on the French student demonstration soon after it began on Tuesday afternoon. Forming several ranks, shields up, they began to pressure the protesters, pushing them back from blocking the street in front of Sorbonne.
After some of the protesters pushed back, police resorted to using pepper spray, according to videos of the clashes circulating online. In the footage, at least four officers can be seen spraying tear gas into the crowd over the wall of shields.
Scores of protesters with Palestinian flags gathered at the entrance to the university on Tuesday. They chanted “Free Palestine!” slogans, as well as “Israel, get out! Palestine is not yours!”; “We are all the children of Rafah” and “Ceasefire in Gaza, now!,” according to a video shared by Sputnik.
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://ria.ru/services/video/embed/1944541602-1944538734.html" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
The protesters also set up a makeshift encampment with tents inside of a Sorbonne lecture hall, according to videos posted on X (formerly Twitter) by independent news site Le Media.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">🔴 LA POLICE INTERVIENT DANS LA <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SORBONNE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SORBONNE</a> ET SORT DE FORCE LES <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ETUDIANTS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ETUDIANTS</a> L’amphi occupé depuis 18h est évacué par la police <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/gaza?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#gaza</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/palestine?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#palestine</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StudentJusticeForPalestine?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StudentJusticeForPalestine</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StudentProtests?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StudentProtests</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rafah?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#rafah</a> <a href="https://t.co/jJ91NDdPjZ">pic.twitter.com/jJ91NDdPjZ</a>— Le Média (@LeMediaTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/LeMediaTV/status/1787919279226065284?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
They can be seen linking arms as they sit on the floor, while police break up the human chain and carry demonstrators out of the building one by one in another video. The lecture hall was occupied by the protest from 6pm, Le Media wrote.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">🔴 LA <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SORBONNE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SORBONNE</a> OCCUPÉE Des <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%C3%A9tudiants?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#étudiants</a> occupent un amphi à l’université La Sorbonne pour la <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Palestine?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Palestine</a>, la fac fermé ses portes <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StudentProtests?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StudentProtests</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StudentJusticeForPalestine?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StudentJusticeForPalestine</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StudentsForGaza?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StudentsForGaza</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/gaza?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#gaza</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/israel?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#israel</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rafah?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#rafah</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sciencespo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#sciencespo</a> <a href="https://t.co/2ip3Oz0Sqh">pic.twitter.com/2ip3Oz0Sqh</a>— Le Média (@LeMediaTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/LeMediaTV/status/1787887633680457913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Earlier in the day, police broke up a separate pro-Palestine gathering at Sciences Po, another university in Paris. Protesters blocked the entrance to the building with garbage bins, furniture and bicycles, <a href="https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2024/05/07/l-entree-des-locaux-historiques-de-sciences-po-paris-de-nouveau-bloquee-par-des-etudiants-propalestiniens_6232000_3224.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">according</a> to Le Monde.
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Police made a couple of arrests and broke up the meeting. A second protest of around a 100 people picketed in front of the school’s entrance later in the day, before it was dispersed as well.
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/news/597158-palestine-campus-protests-nordic-region/">
READ MORE: Pro-Palestine student protests spread to Nordic nations
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Pro-Palestine student protests have rolled across universities around the world as Israel prepares to expand its war against Hamas with a possible full-scale ground incursion into Rafah. The overcrowded city shelters as many as 1.4 million Palestinians, who were previously displaced by the Israeli bombing and ground operation in northern Gaza, according to United Nations estimates. The UN has repeatedly warned of the desperate humanitarian situation in Rafah, growing risk of disease and famine and inadequacy of the current flow of aid.]]>
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<enclosure url="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663ab8a785f54013ff421258.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="123"/> <pubDate>Wed, 08 May 2024 00:00:57 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>RT</dc:creator>
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<title>Ukraine complains that Russia ‘is dominating’ TikTok</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597185-russia-dominating-tiktok-ukraine/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597185-russia-dominating-tiktok-ukraine/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663aa9d020302720492d1e71.jpg" /> Moscow is far stronger on the video-hosting platform, Kiev’s top information warfare official has said <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597185-russia-dominating-tiktok-ukraine/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Many videos on the platform claim President Zelensky won’t be legitimate after May 20


Kiev wants TikTok’s help to counter Moscow’s dominance on that social media platform, one of Ukraine’s top information warfare officials told Bloomberg on Tuesday.
Russians are advancing in cyberspace as well as on the battlefield, according to the outlet, which interviewed Andrey Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.
“Russia is dominating us on TikTok” due to the sheer scale of its effort, said Kovalenko. “We need to adjust our approach and consider focusing on this social network as well.”
According to Kovalenko, the Russians are “working systematically,” creating fake accounts with Ukrainian SIM cards, and “gaming” TikTok algorithms to reach a wider audience in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, there aren’t very many Ukrainian creators on the platform, Kovalenko said. His own account, with some 543,000 followers, features videos that “underscore Ukraine’s views on the war,” according to Bloomberg.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.04/thumbnail/6626922020302729a86e73c8.jpg" alt="Head of Ukraine's Defence Intelligence Kirill Budanov" />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/596415-telegram-ukraine-problem-budanov/">Telegram a ‘huge’ problem for Ukraine – intel chief</a></figcaption>
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Kovalenko has previously <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/593455-ukraine-rada-ban-telegram/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">pushed back</a> on demands by Ukrainian officials to ban Telegram, arguing this would be impossible, impractical, and actually harm Kiev’s propaganda operations. He told Bloomberg he doesn’t favor banning TikTok either, but would prefer the company to open an office in Kiev to “help fight disinformation more effectively.”
Ukraine already got TikTok’s owners ByteDance to ban 24 “pro-Russian” channels by complaining to its representatives in the EU, he added.
Estimates cited by Bloomberg indicate that only 25% of social media users in Ukraine have TikTok, while over 70% have Telegram. By way of comparison, only 8% are on X (formerly Twitter).
According to Kovalenko, the Russian “disinformation” on the platform amounts to questioning President Vladimir Zelensky’s legitimacy. Videos by Russian “bots” are focusing on May 20, when Zelensky’s term is due to expire. Kiev has postponed all elections, citing the martial law imposed due to the conflict with Russia.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.04/thumbnail/662e732585f5400e7b2be3e5.jpg" alt="FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky" />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/596727-zelensky-legitimacy-called-question-kremlin/">Zelensky’s legitimacy will soon be questioned – Kremlin</a></figcaption>
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TikTok’s quarterly reports show that the company removed two million videos in Ukraine during the last three months of 2023, suspected of being part of “covert influence operations” by artificially pushing either pro-Russian or pro-Ukrainian narratives. 
Kiev’s sudden interest in TikTok follows the passage of a bill in the US Congress that allocated some $61 billion in aid to Ukraine. Tucked into the bill was the requirement for ByteDance to sell TikTok to an American company or be banned as a national security risk. ByteDance has said it would challenge the requirement in court.]]>
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<enclosure url="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663aa9d020302720492d1e71.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="123"/> <pubDate>Tue, 07 May 2024 22:23:50 +0000</pubDate>
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<title>Russian company to take over German chemical giant’s subsidiary</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597186-russian-company-german-chemical-subsidiary/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597186-russian-company-german-chemical-subsidiary/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663aa29485f540135a4e5c7d.jpg" /> A major Russian enterprise is to gain control over the German BASF’s company’s subsidiary after receiving green light from the Kremlin <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597186-russian-company-german-chemical-subsidiary/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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President Vladimir Putin has allowed an acquisition of the German BASF company’s asset in the country by a domestic enterprise
Russian President Vladimir Putin allowed the acquisition of the BASF Vostok (BASF East) by a major domestic paintwork materials producer, Lakra Sintez. The asset in question was a subsidiary of the Germany-based BASF multinational chemical giant that decided to leave Russia back in 2022 because of the Ukraine conflict.
Lakra Sintez was granted a right to buy out 100% of shares of the BASF Vostok under a presidential decree introducing “special economic measures” in response to the “unfriendly actions of some foreign states and international organizations,” a document published by the Russian authorities says.
The decree was signed by Putin back in 2022 and envisaged a set of various measures ranging from the foreign assets’ acquisition by the Russian companies to their temporary seizure by the state agencies. The latter measure is particularly applicable if the assets in question are deemed critical for the country’s energy security.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/business/575371-russia-seizure-foreign-assets-peskov/">Kremlin explains seizure of foreign assets</a></figcaption>
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The move came as a response to similar actions taken by some Western nations, including Germany and Poland. In June 2022, the German authorities took over Gazprom Germania. In November, Warsaw seized Gazprom’s 48% stake in the EuRoPol GAZ joint venture, owners of the Polish portion of the Yamal-Europe pipeline. The Polish subsidiary of Novatek, which dealt in liquefied natural gas and other hydrocarbons, was also seized.
In case of BASF Vostok, it would be purchased by a private Russian company. Lakra Sintez is the nation’s biggest paintwork materials producer, according to its own statements. The company owns a dozen of paintwork and construction materials brands.
BASF is the world’s biggest chemical company, with its revenue accounting for $94.83 billion in 2023, according to the German Statista online data gathering platform. The conglomerate employs 112,000 people around the world and has production facilities in 234 locations worldwide, according to its own data.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/596454-knauf-investigation-russia-exit/">German building giant probed over Mariupol reconstruction</a></figcaption>
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In March 2022, BASF announced its plans to leave Russia and Belarus, citing the conflict between Moscow and Kiev. The company said it “strongly condemns the Russian attack on Ukraine” at that time. In its statement, the chemical producer also said that “Russia and Belarus accounted for around 1 percent of BASF Group’s total sales” in 2021.
In 2023, the company revealed that it had to take some €7.3 billion ($7.9 billion) in write-downs because of its oil and gas subsidiary - Wintershall Dea – exiting Russia. The move was expected to push it to a full-year net loss of nearly €1.38 billion ($1.48 billion), AP reported at that time.
The German company itself had a history of questionable business practices. Its predecessor, IG Farben, which was created through “BASF’s merger with five other companies,” was actively involved in the production of infamous Zyklon B gas used in mass murder of people in the Nazi death camps.
BASF still maintains on its website that the IG Farben leadership, including the future board chairman of the re-established BASF, were unaware of “the misuse of pesticides for industrial mass extermination.”]]>
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<title>Ukrainians risk jail for filming mobilization</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597180-ukraine-mobilization-jail-threats/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597180-ukraine-mobilization-jail-threats/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a737220302720c5201c66.jpg" /> Officials in one Ukrainian region have said that interfering with the draft is a crime punishable by up to eight years in prison <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597180-ukraine-mobilization-jail-threats/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Disrupting the work of enlistment officers is a crime against the military, Khmelnitsky Region officials have warned


Anyone recording the work of recruiters is interfering with military matters and could be imprisoned for up to eight years, officials in one Ukrainian region have warned.
Kiev recently embarked on a new wave of mobilization to replenish battlefield losses, which Moscow has estimated at over 110,000 just this year. In western Ukraine’s Khmelnitsky Region,  draft evasion has apparently warranted a statement from local officials.
“Sharing information on social networks and messenger communities about the locations and movements of the Khmelnytsky Region recruiters as they deliver notices to citizens eligible for conscription leads to the disclosure of forms and methods,” the recruitment center’s press service posted on Facebook on Monday. 
Such activities are prosecutable under the law banning the “undermining of the authority of the Armed Forces of Ukraine” and obstructing official military business during martial law, the Khmelnitsky recruitment office added. Anyone convicted on these charges could be imprisoned for up to eight years, they said.
Many Ukrainians seeking to evade draft notices have long used group chats in apps such as WhatsApp or Telegram. The users would alert each other to the movements of recruiters and schedules of summons. Some of these groups had as many as 100,000 members, the BBC reported in <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/581664-ukraine-dodge-draft-personnel-shortage/">August 2023</a>.
<a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597078-hungary-ukraine-draft-refugees/"></a>
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638eadf85f54003ee442b3f.jpg" alt="FILE PHOTO: Young recruits undergo military training in the form of an obstacle course at the recruiting center in Kiev." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597078-hungary-ukraine-draft-refugees/">NATO member says it ‘won’t send Ukrainians to their deaths’</a></figcaption>
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Recent amendments to mobilization rules, enacted by President Vladimir Zelensky last month, have lowered the conscription age to 25 and automated registration and notices, among other things. In response, Ukrainians seeking to escape the draft have begun fleeing the country.
On Monday, the Ukrainian border service captured a man who tried to flee into Hungary <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597083-ukraine-detains-man-in-dress/">dressed as a woman</a>. Meanwhile, six men <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597106-ukraine-border-men-drowned/">drowned</a> while trying to swim across the Tisza River into Romania, according to local media. Four bodies were reportedly found on the Ukrainian side and two inside Romania. The Ukrainian border service acknowledged only one death, but said this was the 25th such incident over the past two years.
Ukrainian Border Service spokesman Andrey Demchenko said in a <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597063-ukrainians-blocked-leaving-border/">recent interview</a> that the agency stops 120-150 people from leaving the country every day.
Russian Defense Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said last week that Ukraine lost more than 111,000 soldiers in 2024 alone. Last month, he estimated Ukraine’s losses since the start of the hostilities in February 2022 at nearly half a million troops.]]>
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<enclosure url="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a737220302720c5201c66.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="123"/> <pubDate>Tue, 07 May 2024 20:33:55 +0000</pubDate>
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<title>Israel tried to lure Iran. Here’s why it failed</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597184-israel-tried-to-lure-iran/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597184-israel-tried-to-lure-iran/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a8d1820302720c5201c7a.jpg" /> The non-linearity of Tehran’s strategy makes relations with it particularly interesting <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597184-israel-tried-to-lure-iran/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The non-linearity of Tehran’s strategy makes relations with it particularly interesting
The most memorable impression of Iran is the paradox that accompanies almost every aspect of public life. On the one hand, the state is quite strict in monitoring order on the streets and observance of religious requirements. On the other, there are no excessive security measures. In fact, one sometimes wishes that they could be strengthened. For example, at airports the arbitrary movement of people gives the impression of easy access for terrorists. The ban on all foreign messengers is combined with the universal use of VPNs. Almost half a century of conflict with the United States (Iran is one of the few countries that does not even have an American embassy) does not prevent the elite and academics from speaking excellent English and frequently publishing in foreign journals.
This paradox is fully inherent in Iranian foreign policy, as was evident when we spent a few days in the country during the lull in the exchange of drone and missile strikes with Israel. The general impression is that Tehran is perfectly happy with the results it has achieved and is not seeking an all-out war with its main regional adversary. What looks from the outside like an inadequate response to Israel is, in Iran’s paradoxical logic, exactly optimal. It allows them to solve a foreign policy problem without taking undue risks. Everyone understands that a major war in the Middle East would only benefit Israel, right? For Tehran, the main thing is not to give the Israelis what they want.
This unique approach to foreign and domestic policy is the result of the special conditions under which the country has developed since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Its main consequence was the strategic confrontation with the West, which unfolded at the height of the world domination of the US and its European allies, from the 1980s to the 2000s. Initially, Tehran’s adversary was also the USSR, which supported Saddam Hussein’s government during the Iran-Iraq war. This is well remembered there. However, it doesn’t mean that the attitude towards the Soviet Union is being transferred to Russia – here Iranian strategic logic easily accepts that yesterday’s adversary can be today’s reliable friend. The conflict with the West, despite the possibility of tactical deals, has a worldview character: the Iranian state is built on the ability to make internal decisions that the US and Europe deny to everyone else.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/596960-yemen-houthi-dismissed-us-peace-proposals/">‘Israel is too cowardly’: Houthis speak to RT about war, Zionism and Palestine</a></figcaption>
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The price of this Iranian independence is very high. First and foremost is the steady exodus of educated young people who are unhappy with the restrictions on their private lives. It also includes the large number of poor people and urban air pollution caused by the use of old cars and poor quality petrol. The response to these challenges is paradoxical, as it should be for a grand strategy: it consists of a constant increase in the number of students and large universities with their own research laboratories (mostly in the natural sciences). Iran is now probably the country with the fastest growing educational programs, including those aimed at international cooperation.
At the same time, no one is preventing the return of those who have left, provided they have not committed any crimes. Joint research with Iranians living abroad is also welcome. And the country’s consistent efforts to develop the natural sciences give us reason to believe that, in time, it will be possible to solve the economic and technological problems of development. Under the US blockade and UN sanctions, results are coming slowly, but the alternative is to give up independence, which is not part of Tehran’s plans.
In assessing Iran’s foreign policy, we must first understand that this power has been fighting for several decades against all odds, outnumbered and alone. And that is why, more than most, it can be characterized by the paradoxical logic that distinguishes the possessors of a true grand strategy. And every decision made by the Iranian authorities, whether tactical or on a larger scale, such as joining the BRICS group in January of this year, should be assessed precisely as a manifestation of this – completely devoid of linearity. It is almost impossible to predict behavior within this logic, but it is precisely this logic that makes relations with Iran interesting and instructive.

This article was first published by <a href="https://profile.ru/columnist/strana-paradoksov-1495437/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Profile.ru</a>, translated and edited by the RT team]]>
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<title>RFK Jr. challenges Trump to debate</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597182-rfk-trump-debate-challenge/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597182-rfk-trump-debate-challenge/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a84eb20302720492d1e64.jpg" /> Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wants Donald Trump to defend his record at this month’s Libertarian National Convention <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597182-rfk-trump-debate-challenge/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claims that he is “drawing a lot of voters” from the former president
US independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has challenged former President Donald Trump to a debate at this month’s Libertarian National Convention. Trump insists that Kennedy is “not a serious candidate.”
“I’d like to make you an offer. We’re both going to be speaking at the upcoming Libertarian convention on May 24 and 25,” Kennedy wrote in an X (formerly Twitter) post on Tuesday addressed to Trump. “It’s perfect neutral territory for you and me to have a debate where you can defend your record for your wavering supporters.”
Asked last week whether he would debate Kennedy, Trump said that the former Democrat is “not a serious candidate” and would have to “get his numbers a lot higher before he’s credible.”
In his post on Tuesday, Kennedy claimed that a poll commissioned by his campaign showed that he would “crush” President Joe Biden in a two-way contest, and would defeat Trump “in a nail-biter” in a similar matchup. Polls published last month by CNN and Quinnipiac both showed Kennedy at 16% in a contest involving him, Trump, Biden, and other independents, a result that he argued puts him “above the 15% debate threshold.”
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READ MORE: Biden a ‘threat to democracy’ – RFK Jr
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“I’m also drawing a lot of voters from your former supporters. They are upset that you blew up the deficit, shut down their businesses during Covid, and filled your administration with swamp creatures,” Kennedy wrote. 
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/591411-us-trump-rfk-vice-president/">Trump wanted RFK Jr as running mate – NY Post</a></figcaption>
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Known for his anti-vaccine activism, free-speech advocacy, and foreign policy <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/587821-rfk-jr-vows-to-dismantle-us-military-empire/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">pacifism</a>, Kennedy entered the race for the White House as a Democrat last April, before announcing in October that he would run as an independent instead. His effect on this November’s election has proven difficult for pundits to predict, with polls showing him pulling support from both Biden and Trump.
“The Democrats are frightened that I’m gonna spoil the election for President Biden, and the Republicans are frightened that I’m gonna spoil it for President Trump,” Kennedy said last year. “The truth is, they’re both right. My intention is to spoil it for both of them.”
Trump and Kennedy will both deliver headline speeches at the Libertarian Party’s convention in Washington DC later this month, despite the fact that the party also intends to field its own candidate for the presidency. 
In a statement last week, Trump encouraged Libertarian Party members to back his campaign. “If Libertarians join me and the Republican Party, where we have many Libertarian views, the election won’t even be close,” he said. “We cannot have another four years of death, destruction, and incompetence. WE WILL WORK TOGETHER AND WIN!”
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<title>TikTok sues US government</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/business/597179-tiktok-sues-us-government/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/business/597179-tiktok-sues-us-government/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a85c02030271e845d932c.jpg" /> The company aims to block a US law that could force a nationwide ban of the popular app <a href="https://www.rt.com/business/597179-tiktok-sues-us-government/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The social media platform is challenging a potential ban on First Amendment grounds
TikTok is suing the US government in an attempt to stop the enforcement of a bill passed by Congress last month that seeks to force the platform’s China-based owner ByteDance to sell the app or face a complete ban.
In April, US President Joe Biden signed into law a bill that gives ByteDance 270 days to divest from its US business. If it fails to comply, TikTok will be banned from app stores serving American customers.
In the lawsuit, which was filed on Tuesday in the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, TikTok argued that the bill violates constitutional protections of free speech.
The petition describes the ‘Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act’ as an “unprecedented violation” of First Amendment rights. 
“For the first time in history, Congress has enacted a law that subjects a single, named speech platform to a permanent, nationwide ban, and bars every American from participating in a unique online community with more than 1 billion people worldwide,” TikTok claimed in the lawsuit.
The company also argued that invoking national security concerns is not a good enough reason to restrict free speech.
A number of American lawmakers have insisted for years that TikTok poses a “national security threat” due to its Chinese ownership, and have sought to force it to sever ties with its parent company ByteDance. Efforts to rein in the popular video-sharing app have persisted since 2020 under both the Trump and Biden administrations. The federal government and dozens of states have already banned the use of TikTok on government-owned devices.
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Some US lawmakers, however, opposed the bill that could see TikTok banned, calling it a “cure” that is “worse than the disease” and raising concerns that it would give the White House the power to ban other websites and apps.
TikTok has strongly denied that it has ever given Chinese government officials access to US user data, insisting it has taken steps to protect that information by hosting the data on servers owned by US tech giant Oracle.
China has also blasted efforts to ban TikTok in the US, describing such a move as “contrary to the principles of fair competition and international economic and trade rules” and accusing Washington of “bullying behavior” and “leveraging state power” against ByteDance.







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<title>Russian embassy slams ‘discriminatory’ decision by Berlin police</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597181-berlin-police-discriminatory-russian-embassy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597181-berlin-police-discriminatory-russian-embassy/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a8275203027165501b020.jpg" /> The Russian embassy in Berlin has blasted police restrictions on WWII victory celebrations as “discriminatory” <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597181-berlin-police-discriminatory-russian-embassy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Soviet and Russian flags, as well as St. George ribbons, have been banned at WWII memorials in the German capital on May 8 and 9
A decision by Berlin police to ban symbols “linked to Russia” at the city’s WWII memorials during upcoming Victory Day celebrations has drawn the ire of Moscow’s embassy. The diplomatic mission blasted the move on Tuesday as “discriminatory” and violating the principle of “historical reconciliation” of the two nations.
The measures announced by the Berlin authorities are “unacceptable,” the embassy said in its statement, adding that the restrictions essentially ban all symbols “inseparably associated” with Victory Day.
The anniversary of victory over Nazism and the end of World War II in Europe is celebrated in Russia and many post-Soviet states on May 9. It corresponds to Victory in Europe Day, also known as Liberation Day or simply Victory Day in Western countries, which is celebrated on May 8.
According to the embassy, symbols such as the Soviet flag and the Victory Banner – a flag raised by Soviet soldiers over the Reichstag building in Berlin on May 1, 1945 – are all banned under the city police rules alongside WWII-era songs and the elements of the uniform worn by the anti-Hitler coalition, which included the USSR and the Allies.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2023.05/thumbnail/6459487b85f540100179b29e.jpg" alt="FILE PHOTO. Victory Day celebrations in Treptower in Berlin, Germany." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/575975-germany-russian-flags-ban/">German court reimposes ban on Russian flag</a></figcaption>
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“The Soviet Union had to pay with the lives of over 27 million of its citizens for this peaceful sky,” the Russian embassy said, adding that millions of Soviet people died on the battlefields of World War II or were “tortured to death in the Nazi concentration camps.” Anyone should have the right to “honor the memory of the fallen Red Army soldiers and the victims of Nazism in a dignified manner and in line with longstanding traditions,” it stated.
The statement then demanded “all the relevant bans be lifted.”
Last Friday, the Berlin police department published the rules for the upcoming Victory Day celebrations, justifying its decision with the need to ensure “dignified commemoration of the fallen Soviet Army soldiers” against the background “of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.”
Under the regulations, certain symbols were banned at the city’s WWII Soviet memorials in Treptow Park, the Tiergarten and Schoenholzer Heide as well as in their immediate surroundings. The list of prohibited items includes “any flags linked to Russia” and elements of any military uniform, including modified ones. The orange and black St. George’s ribbon, a popular commemoration symbol in Russia and other former Soviet republics, was banned as well.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/596784-european-country-wwii-victory-symbol/">European country tells people not to wear symbol of WWII victory over Nazis</a></figcaption>
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Soviet military and marching songs were also prohibited, alongside any items that could be deemed “suitable for glorifying” the conflict between Moscow and Kiev. WWII veterans as well as diplomats and foreign officials taking part in any official commemorative events in the city were exempted from those rules, the police said.
It is the third year in a row that German law enforcement have introduced such restrictions. The first such decision was taken in May 2022, shortly after the fighting between Russia and Ukraine started. On that occasion, Berlin authorities banned the display of the flags of the two countries, arguing the measure was needed to keep the WWII commemorations “clearly separated” from the present-day situation.
In 2023, a similar ban was legally challenged by some activists. A German court initially sided with the plaintiffs and partially lifted the ban, but the decision was challenged by police, who eventually succeeded in reintroducing the prohibition in full.]]>
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<title>US could stop funding UN over Palestine – Reuters</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597170-us-palestine-un-funding/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597170-us-palestine-un-funding/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a6390203027215042fdb6.jpg" /> Washington could reportedly completely stop funding the UN and its institutions in accordance with American law <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597170-us-palestine-un-funding/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The General Assembly is expected to vote on a draft resolution backing Palestine as eligible for full membership
The US government could suspend all funding for UN agencies if a resolution recognizing Palestine as qualifying for full membership is adopted, Reuters has reported.
Palestine is currently a “permanent observer state” at the UN that participates in meetings but does not have voting rights.
The UN General Assembly could vote on Friday on a draft resolution that would recognize the Palestinian Authority (PA) as eligible to become a full member of the world body and recommend that the UN Security Council “reconsider the matter favorably.” 
Reuters wrote that the vote would demonstrate the level of global support Palestinians have for their bid, which was vetoed by the US in the UN Security Council last month. An application to become a full UN member needs to be approved by the 15-member Security Council, as well as the General Assembly. 
“We are aware of the resolution and reiterate our concerns with any effort to extend certain benefits to entities when there are unresolved questions as to whether the Palestinians currently meet the criteria under the Charter,” Nate Evans, spokesperson for the US mission to the UN, was quoted as saying.
Under US law, Washington cannot fund any UN organization that grants full membership to any group that does not have the “internationally recognized attributes” of statehood. In 2011, the US halted funding for the UN cultural agency (UNESCO) after the PA became a full member. 
“It remains the US view that the path toward statehood for the Palestinian people is through direct negotiations,” Evans said.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.04/thumbnail/6621a24e85f54055087f7746.jpg" alt="US Deputy Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood votes against a resolution allowing Palestinian UN membership at United Nations headquarters in New York, on April 18, 2024." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/596219-us-tanks-palestine-un-membership/">US blocks Palestine’s UN membership bid</a></figcaption>
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Diplomats told Reuters that the 193-member General Assembly is likely to back the Palestinian bid, adding that changes could still be made to the draft.
Israel’s UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan denounced the current draft General Assembly resolution, saying it would give Palestinians the rights of a state and that it goes against the founding UN Charter. 
“If it is approved, I expect the United States to completely stop funding the UN and its institutions, in accordance with American law,” Erdan stated.
Under the governance of the PA, the State of Palestine claims sovereignty over territory considered Palestinian before the outbreak of the 1967 Six-Day War. This includes Gaza, the entire West Bank, and East Jerusalem.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected the idea of Palestinian statehood, and vowed to impose “full Israeli security control over the entire area west of Jordan,” which includes all of these regions.
Parts of the West Bank are already under full Israeli military and civilian control, while Gaza is governed by Hamas, which views the PA as illegitimate for recognizing and negotiating with Israel.]]>
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<title>Roma flocking to Switzerland for benefits using fake Ukrainian passports – media</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597171-switzerland-roma-ukraine-passports/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597171-switzerland-roma-ukraine-passports/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a653485f540135a4e5c4c.jpg" /> Some Romani people have been abusing temporary protection granted by Switzerland to refugees from Ukraine, local media report <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597171-switzerland-roma-ukraine-passports/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The ethnic group has reportedly been taking advantage of the temporary protection status granted to refugees from Ukraine
Some Romani people have been abusing social benefits granted by Switzerland to Ukrainian refugees, Nau news outlet reported on Tuesday citing Swiss authorities.
The Roma are an ethnic group that has lived throughout the world since their migration from India over 1,000 years ago. They are not recognized as a national minority in Switzerland, and have reportedly been taking advantage of the so-called ‘S protection status system’ activated in the country shortly after the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in early 2022. S status grants Ukrainian refugees the right to an extended visa-free stay, accommodation, medical care and other social benefits. Those applying for S status also do not have to go through the usual asylum-seeking procedure.
According to the report, authorities in Bern have identified at least ten Roma families who have been staying in the city under illegally obtained Ukrainian passports. Alexander Ott, head of Bern’s immigration police, told the news outlet that the documents themselves were in fact real, but their owners had no true claim on them.
“We discovered irregularities in the documents. For example, if the driver’s license contains different information than the passport, this is often an indication. Or if the people cannot repeat any information contained in the documents,” Ott explained.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.04/thumbnail/66261ed985f54062cd3a8dc0.jpg" alt="FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian refugees arrive at the main railway station in Berlin." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/596386-germany-communities-cant-take-in-ukrainians/">German communities can’t take any more Ukrainians – local government boss</a></figcaption>
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Reto Kormann, spokesman for the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), told the news outlet that since March 2023 his agency has detected around 30 fake Ukrainian identification papers used to obtain social benefits, and found that in several cases they were produced and sold illegally in Ukraine. He noted that fake travel and identity documents are “not a new phenomenon” in the SEM’s line of work. However, cases where the documents are genuine but illegally acquired, as in the cases involving Roma, have previously been few and far between and therefore are more difficult to investigate, he said.
Officials noted that the problem involving the Roma using fake Ukrainian identification has been spreading throughout the country. Georg Carl, head of the migration department in the eastern canton of Graubuenden, told the news outlet he suspected that at least half of the approximately 470 people with status S housed in the region were Roma. And, while Romani communities are known to exist in Ukraine, these people were unlikely to be refugees from the conflict, as they speak neither Ukrainian nor Russian.
Earlier this month, following complaints over similar issues in the St. Gallen canton, Swiss MPs Boris Tschirky and Benedikt Wuerth submitted a request to the Federal Council to make adjustments to the S system to stop its abuse. However, the proposal has not been approved so far.]]>
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<title>WATCH Russian drone strike US-made Abrams tank</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597177-abrams-drone-video-donbass/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597177-abrams-drone-video-donbass/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a5b9785f540135a4e5c44.png" /> Video circulating on social media showed a pair of drones taking out an Abrams tank the US had supplied to Ukraine <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597177-abrams-drone-video-donbass/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Another Abrams has been taken out on the Donbass battlefield
A video documenting the destruction of a NATO-supplied tank in Ukrainian service appeared on Russian social media on Tuesday. Initially identified as a German-made Leopard, the tank was later established to have been a US-made Abrams.
Only 31 Abrams tanks of the M1A1 type were sent to Ukraine, arriving late last year. Five had been confirmed destroyed as of mid-April. The newest video would bring the tally up to seven, while three others have taken significant damage.
Thermal camera footage attributed to Donetsk People’s Republic scouts shows a first-person-view (FPV) drone chasing the tank along a road before striking the back of the turret.
The view then switches to an observation drone, which documents another strike on the crew as it attempts to flee the burning vehicle.
According to the Russian open-source intelligence outfit Rybar, the strike took place on the Avdeevka front. 
Rybar analysts were puzzled that the Ukrainian armed forces have not even attempted to improve the NATO-supplied tanks with field modifications designed to protect against UAV strikes. Such contraptions, initially derided as “grills” and “cope cages,” have proven to be effective against the widely used FPV drones.
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The new video comes just three days after the Russian Defense Ministry released color footage of the destruction of another Abrams and the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), also near Avdeevka. The town, heavily fortified by Ukrainian troops since 2014, was taken by Russian forces in February.
One of the Abrams tanks destroyed on the Avdeevka front was salvaged by Russian troops and <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/596839-western-hardware-trophy-show-moscow/">brought to Moscow</a> as a trophy ahead of the May 9 Victory Day festivities. The Russian military has also released <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/596755-missile-strike-abrams-trophy-show/">a video</a> of its demise, this time by guided anti-tank missiles.
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/russia/596993-keep-striking-military-hardware/">
READ MORE: WATCH Russian forces destroy US-made armor
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Long believed to be one of the best-armored tanks in the world, the Abrams has been shown as vulnerable to a range of Russian weapons. The New York Times recently <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/596323-russian-drones-destroy-abrams-tanks/">lamented</a> the fact that $500 drones are so easily wrecking $10 million armored vehicles.]]>
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<title>US out: How NATO’s disastrous Libya invasion still echoes in West Africa today</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/africa/597057-us-niger-cut-military-relations/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/africa/597057-us-niger-cut-military-relations/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638afc485f5407c7b5e6cf2.jpg" /> The March visit by a US delegation to Niger only made matters worse for Washington – and this is why <a href="https://www.rt.com/africa/597057-us-niger-cut-military-relations/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The visit to Niger only made matters worse for Washington – and this is why
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin recently confirmed that Russian forces have entered the same military base where American troops are stationed in Niger, a fact which clearly demonstrates a shift in the Sahel state’s policy. Washington is fully withdrawing its troops from Niger and is also relocating military personnel stationed in Chad, as it considers its options for continuing “America’s counterterrorism mission” in the region, according to the Pentagon. How did it come to pass that in March, Niger’s new leadership terminated the security agreement with the US, declaring as unwelcome the presence of 1,000 American troops?
For a long time, diplomatic relations between Niger and the US seemed to be based on the following false premise: the US is a superior power, while African nations are inferior. This is rooted in the deep and bloody past of slavery, racism, colonial massacres and imperialist hegemony through military camps all over Africa, and later – the dollar monopoly, irrational IMF and World Bank debts, and NATO recolonization of the continent. The aim of all this is clear: to control the strategic resources of Africa.
But everything changed when African patriots rose to power in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Assimi Goïta, Ibrahim Traoré and Abdourahamane Tiani, the three leaders of the new Alliance of Sahelian States (AES), are fully involved in the emancipation process of African peoples in the 21st century. This results in cutting all the ties of alienation and building relations in the new, truly multipolar world to come.
The story started on July 6, 2012, when the American Embassy in Niger sent a diplomatic ‘<a href="https://www.state.gov/13-128" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">note</a> verbale’ to the Nigerien Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was headed by Mohamed Bazoum at that time. The note was in fact a proposal of unilateral subjugation of Niger under the rule of the US Defense Department, with all the rights in the Nigerien territory given to American troops, without any kind of reciprocity for the Nigerien state. Here are, for example, just several terms of this unusual agreement (page 6):
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/africa/596240-us-joint-military-exercise-africa/">US has found a surprising military frontier against Russia and China</a></figcaption>
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“The Embassy further proposes that United States contractors shall not be liable to pay any tax or similar charge assessed within the Republic of Niger in connection with activities under this Agreement and that such contractors may import into, export out of, and use in the Republic of Niger any personal property, equipment, supplies, material, technology, training, or services in fulfilment with activities under this Agreement. Such importation, exportation, and use shall be exempt from any license, other restrictions, customs duties, taxes, or any other charges assessed within the Republic of Niger.
The Embassy proposes that United States contractors shall be granted the same treatment as United States personnel with respect to professional and drivers’ licenses”.
The then-Nigerien president, Mahamadou Issoufou, did not intervene in the process, having left the country’s negotiations with the US in the hands of his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Bazoum (who was later elected president in 2021).
In his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Nigercnsp/videos/264441820044687" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">statement</a> made for the Nigerien public radio and TV broadcaster, RTN, the spokesperson of the Nigerien military authorities, Amadou Abdramane Djibo, claimed that the American military presence is “illegal” and “violates all the constitutional and democratic norms.” According to Niamey, this “unjust” agreement was “unilaterally imposed” by the US, by a “simple verbal note” .
There were Nigerien diplomats who tried to object against the 2012 document, in a diplomatic verbal note dated January 23 of 2013, but just five days later, Bazoum <a href="https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/13-128-Niger-Defense-NotesCS.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">accepted</a> all the US conditions: “[The] Ministry hereby communicates its acceptance of all terms of the draft agreement on the status of United States military personnel and civilian employees of the United States Department of Defense, as embodied in Embassy note verbale No. 174 of July 6, 2012.”
American diplomats, military personnel and civilians related to the Defense Department were free to enter and operate in Niger simply by using American official papers, having the right to import and export all kinds of goods and weapons without any inspection by the Nigerien side. Following the 2013 agreement, there was no actual obligation by the US to fight against terrorism, nor were they accountable for military activities in the country. So “<a href="https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/03/16/africa/niger-ends-us-military-agreement-intl-hnk?fbclid=IwAR3Y_9hcVGKRrdt0-FROuT7g-UvS-u29zIvd-Lm95ePYPETnlpDkaEYnyr4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">profoundly unfair</a>” and shameful.
Earlier this year, the new Nigerien leader, Abdourahamane Tiani, after expelling French troops from the country, prepared a memorandum under the responsibility of the defense minister, General Salifou Modi, asking for substantial changes to be made in the same infamous 2013 US agreement. However, as revealed by spokesperson Amadou Djibo in his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Nigercnsp/videos/264441820044687" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">statement</a>, the US did not respond to this offer of revision. Instead, the US sent an official delegation to Niger on March 12-14, led by the assistant secretary of state for African affairs, Molly Phee, and General Michael Langley, the chief of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), with a clear intention to reinforce military ties under the same 2013 agreement.
<a href="https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/04/15/niger-us-africa-policy-sahel-coup-military-democracy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">According</a> to Daniel Twining, the president of the International Republican Institute, and Will Meeker, the senior director for Africa at the International Republican Institute, “the latest evidence that Washington needs a new Africa policy is on display in Niger.” They also note, that, after “many months of intense political jockeying,” Washington’s security partnership with the country “looks likely to end.”
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.03/thumbnail/65f3062920302751723ce968.jpg" alt="FILE PHOTO. ECOMOG soldiers on patrol look down a road in Monrovia." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/africa/594278-sahel-alliance-economic-bloc-sanctions/">‘A threat to our countries’: Why former French colonies decided to leave ‘African version of EU’</a></figcaption>
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The US military “now risks becoming the next casualty in the spate of coups and violent insurgencies plaguing countries across a large swath of the continent.” Thus, the pullout of US forces from Niger, as well as the closure of US-funded airbases the cities of Niamey and Agadez, “would jeopardize Washington’s efforts to address transnational terrorist threats and other sources of instability in North and West Africa,” Twinning and Meeker believe.
At the meeting, some <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/africa/niger-once-key-u-s-counterterrorism-ally-ends-military-ties-7db66dbe" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">accusations</a> were voiced by the US officials, with the alleged intention of Niger to sell uranium to Iran among them. This claim appears entirely implausible for anyone who knows that the entire production of uranium in Niger is still exclusively under French control through the only uranium producer in the country, ORANO. As Amadou Djibo <a href="https://www.lepoint.fr/afrique/apres-la-france-le-niger-rompt-sa-cooperation-militaire-avec-les-etats-unis-18-03-2024-2555280_3826.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">stated</a>, the Nigerien government therefore denounces “with force the condescending attitude, accompanied by the threat of reprisals from the American delegation vis-à-vis the Nigerien government.”
Phee also affirmed the opposition of the US to an alleged secret agreement between Niger and Russia. The Nigerien government, however, rejected that unfounded claim, explaining that all the agreements between Niger and Russia, just as between Niger and Iran, are public, legitimate, and transparent. Djibo <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=264441820044687" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">also noted</a> that it is with the same false accusations that the US destroyed Iraq at the beginning of the century. In 2003, Niger was also falsely accused of providing uranium to Saddam Hussein’s regime in Baghdad. The so-called weapons of mass destruction alleged by US General Colin Powell were in fact fictitious, just like the so-called uranium deal between Niger and Iran is today.
Indeed, the end of military ties between Niger and the US looked inevitable: these ties were unilaterally imposed for the exclusive benefit of the US; the 2013 agreement proved itself counterproductive in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel; the US Army is responsible for the destabilization of Africa today since its massive attack under the NATO flag against Libya in 2011; the sovereignty of the continent is a matter of life and death for all African people, and is not subject to negotiation.]]>
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<title>Boeing investigated over falsified plane records</title>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a578b20302720b91f19d5.jpg" /> The US Federal Aviation Administration is probing Boeing over skipping mandatory inspections and falsifying records about them <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597176-boeing-investigated-falsified-plane-records/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Suspected “misconduct” at the company’s South Carolina plant has reportedly caused a delay in the delivery of new planes
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced it has launched a probe against Boeing to ascertain whether one of its factories may have omitted mandatory inspections and whether employees may have falsified records.
The inquiry was begun after the company itself informed the FAA about what it called “misconduct” at its factory in South Carolina. The issue revolved around the beleaguered 787 program, according to media reports. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a two-aisle plane used mostly for long-haul flights.
“The company voluntarily informed us in April that it may not have completed required inspections to confirm adequate bonding and grounding where the wings join the fuselage on certain 787 Dreamliner airplanes,” the FAA said in a statement. According to the agency, “Boeing is reinspecting all 787 airplanes still within the production system and must also create a plan to address the in-service fleet.”
No planes were taken out of service following the discovery, according to AP. The company only ordered additional checks at its final assembly plant in North Charleston, delaying the aircraft delivery, the news agency said. The company’s shares dropped by 1.5% late on Monday following the news.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/66373fd885f54010db39ae00.jpg" alt="FILE PHOTO: Boeing 787 Dreamliner lands at Tegel airport in Berlin." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597012-boeing-sanctions-dreamliner-us/">Boeing blaming production woes on Russia sanctions – WSJ</a></figcaption>
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Following inquiries by the media, the aircraft manufacturer released an internal email written by the head of the 787 program, Scott Stocker, who said that a worker at the South Carolina factory noticed an “irregularity” in the required wing-to-body joint tests and reported the issue to his manager.
“After receiving the report, we quickly reviewed the matter and learned that several people had been violating Company policies by not performing a required test, but recording the work as having been completed,” Stocker admitted, adding that the company was taking “swift and serious corrective action” as a result.
The development is the latest in a series of issues confronting the company. Last week, it reported that the lack of a key component was delaying production of the Dreamliner. It blamed the issue on sanctions against Russia, adding that the required parts were produced by a joint US-Russian venture.
The company also recently told investors that it would not be able to deliver as many Dreamliner jets as had been planned this year due to shortages of heat exchangers and cabin seating.
Monthly production of the Boeing 737 MAX has also fallen to single digits as the company is still dealing with manufacturing issues in the wake of an incident that saw a door plug blow out mid-flight on an Alaska Airlines plane in January. The 737 MAX has been plagued by mishaps, including two crashes in 2018 and 2019 that resulted in more than 340 deaths.]]>
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<title>First foreign leader to congratulate Putin revealed</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597166-putin-inauguration-congratulations-uae/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597166-putin-inauguration-congratulations-uae/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a6eac85f54003277459bb.jpg" /> UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has congratulated Vladimir Putin on his inauguration <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597166-putin-inauguration-congratulations-uae/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The Russian president has been sworn in for his fifth term in office
United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is apparently the first foreign leader to congratulate Vladimir Putin on his inauguration for a fifth term as Russian president, which took place earlier on Tuesday.
“I extend my congratulations to President Vladimir Putin on his inauguration as President of Russia. The UAE is committed to working with international partners in efforts to strengthen global dialogue, development, and cooperation to benefit all peoples,” the UAE leader <a href="https://x.com/MohamedBinZayed/status/1787801799098831199" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">wrote</a> in a post on X (formerly Twitter) in English, Arabic, and Russian.
Al Nahyan was also among the first foreign leaders to congratulate Putin on his landslide victory in the presidential election last month in which he secured a record 87.28% of the vote. In a phone call with Putin on March 20, he said he looked forward to continuing to work together to enhance bilateral relations between the UAE and Russia.
The UAE has emerged as a key trade partner for Russia in the Middle East since the start of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, which led to Western countries imposing unprecedented sanctions on Moscow. Economic relations between the two states have been rapidly expanding over the past two years, with trade turnover soaring by more than 60% in 2023 alone. The UAE is also among the largest regional investors in Russia’s economy.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a0e4a85f54010dc0a1f88.jpg" alt="Russian President Vladimir Putin reviews honor guards of the Presidential regiment following his inauguration ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597156-putin-inauguration-recap/">Relations with West, national resilience and forging victory: Key takeaways from Putin’s inauguration</a></figcaption>
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Putin’s swearing-in ceremony took place at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow earlier on Tuesday, and was attended by hundreds of high-ranking guests, including senior government officials and foreign ambassadors. The ceremony took place amid a tense geopolitical situation due to the Ukraine conflict and a diplomatic rift with the West. Several Western nations have snubbed the event, with their governments claiming that this year’s presidential election in Russia was not free and fair.
In his inaugural address, Putin stressed that Russia is open to building friendly ties with any nation that sees it as “a reliable and honest partner,” including Western states.
“We don’t refuse dialogue with Western nations... A conversation, including on issues of security and strategic stability, is possible... but only on equal terms, with respect for each other’s interests,” the Russian leader stated.]]>
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<title>Two Ukrainian officials arrested over alleged plot to kill Zelensky</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597172-ukraine-zelensky-assasination-plot/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a4929203027302f70b13e.jpg" /> The Ukrainian security service has reported exposing a “network of agents” preparing assassination attempts on top state officials <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597172-ukraine-zelensky-assasination-plot/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Kiev has reported exposing a “network of agents” preparing assassination attempts on top state officials
Two officers of the State Security Administration who were allegedly part of a conspiracy to assassinate top government and military officials were arrested on Tuesday, the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has announced.
The agency, which is Kiev’s successor to the Soviet-era KGB, claimed in a post on Telegram that the two suspects were planning to kill Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, SBU head Vasily Malyuk, and the national intelligence chief, Kirill Budanov, among others.
The Strana news outlet has identified the detainees as the head of the State Security Administration, Andrey Guk, and his colleague, surnamed Derkach. Both are said to have been arrested simultaneously on Saturday.
The SBU says the men were agents of a network which it alleges was being orchestrated from Moscow, and were conducting surveillance of Zelensky and other government officials with intent to coordinate a missile strike and a kamikaze drone attack on them.
Guk was specifically accused of collecting and transmitting classified information on protected persons, including Zelensky.
The assassinations of some of the officials were reportedly supposed to take place before Orthodox Easter on May 5, with the murder of Zelensky supposedly being planned as a “gift to Putin before his inauguration” on Tuesday, Malyuk claimed in a statement quoted by the SBU.
The detainees have been charged with treason and preparing a terrorist attack and now face life in prison.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.04/thumbnail/6622244a2030272b7c5f5afc.jpg" alt="FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky during a visit to Poland in April 2023." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/596228-zelensky-assassination-attempt-poland/">Poland arrests man over ‘Zelensky assassination plot’</a></figcaption>
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The alleged murder plot is just the latest the SBU has reportedly uncovered. Last month, the service also claimed that a suspect in Poland was transmitting information about the security of a Polish airport to Russian spies with the goal of orchestrating an assassination attempt on Zelensky during his visit to the country. Polish authorities later said that the man, named Pawel K., had been arrested and charged with “readiness to act for foreign intelligence against the Republic of Poland.”
Moscow has not yet commented on the latest assassination plot accusations. However, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev suggested that the incident in Poland indicated that Kiev’s Western backers were looking to get rid of Zelensky.
“An attempt on the life of the chief Banderite [Zelensky] in Poland? That is truly serious,” Medvedev commented in response to the arrest of the Polish man. “It may be the first piece of evidence that people in the West have made a decision to liquidate him. Be afraid, clown!”
Since the start of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Zelensky has repeatedly told Western media that Russia has been trying to kill him, with multiple attempts supposedly prevented by his security detail.
However, according to former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Vladimir Putin personally assured him in March 2022 that Moscow would not kill Zelensky.
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<title>German opposition wants kebab price cap</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597174-germany-kebab-price-cap/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a4e5e2030272e5606dabc.jpg" /> Chancellor Olaf Scholz must intervene before the humble doner becomes “a luxury item,” the Left party has demanded <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597174-germany-kebab-price-cap/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Berlin must not allow the humble doner to “become a luxury item,” the Left party has demanded
Germany’s Left party has suggested that the state subsidize doner kebabs to the tune of almost €4 billion per year. Inflation and rising energy costs have nearly doubled the price of the Turkish snack staple in recent years.
In a policy paper seen by German tabloid Bild and reported on Sunday, the Left proposed capping the price of a doner kebab at €4.90 or €2.50 for students, young people, and those on low incomes. With the cost of a kebab now averaging €7.90, the government would pick up the rest of the tab, the paper states.
“A kebab price cap helps consumers and kebab shop owners. If the state adds three euros for every kebab, the kebab price cap would cost almost four billion,” the party wrote in the paper, explaining that around 1.3 billion kebabs are eaten in Germany every year.
“When young people demand: Olaf, make the kebab cheaper, it’s not an internet joke, but a serious cry for help,” Left party executive Kathi Gebel told Bild, referring to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. “The state must intervene so that food does not become a luxury item.”
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/595950-germany-climate-driving-ban/">German transport minister threatens public with ‘indefinite driving bans’</a></figcaption>
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Introduced to Germany by Turkish immigrants in the 1970s, the doner kebab has become the nation’s favorite fast food. However, while the Left describes the sauce-laden lamb sandwich as a daily staple for some families, most doctors and nutritionists would recommend they be consumed only as an occasional treat. A 2009 <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE50Q2BN/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">study</a> from Scotland found that the average doner kebab contained 98% of an adult’s recommended daily salt intake and 150% of the recommended saturated fat intake.
For years, the price of a doner kebab hovered around €4 in Germany. However, the rising energy costs and inflation that followed Scholz’s decision to embargo Russian fossil fuels have forced vendors to up their prices.
“We have been forced to push up the price due to exploding rent, energy and food prices,” a kebab stand operator in Berlin told <a href="https://theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/07/germans-grill-olaf-scholz-over-soaring-cost-of-doner-kebabs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Guardian</a>. “People talk to us all the time about ‘Donerflation’, as if we were diddling them, but it’s completely out of our control.”
Many Germans blame Scholz for depriving them of cheap kebabs. “I pay eight euros for a doner,” a protester <a href="https://twitter.com/runews/status/1584615003377655808" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shouted</a> at Scholz in 2022, before imploring the chancellor to “talk to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, I would like to pay four euros for a doner, please.”
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2021.01/thumbnail/5ffc186f203027604f05aa18.jpg" alt="© Instagram / stalin_doner" />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/512111-stalin-kebab-shop-closed/">Battle of Stalin-grub? Cops visit Moscow kebab shop named for Soviet dictator – but defiant owner insists he won't surrender</a></figcaption>
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“It’s quite striking that everywhere I go, mainly from young people, I’m asked whether there shouldn’t be a price cap for the doner,” Scholz remarked in a recent Instagram video. However, Scholz has ruled out such a move, instead praising the “good work of the European Central Bank” in supposedly getting inflation under control.
Kebab fans are not the only Germans suffering under Scholz. Last month, Germany’s largest steelmaker, Thyssenkrupp, announced “a substantial reduction in production” at its Duisburg facility, firing 13,000 employees. The company blamed “high energy costs and tight emission reduction regulations” for its decline in productivity. 
Less than a week after Thyssenkrupp announced its cutbacks, the International Monetary Fund revised Germany’s economic growth outlook down from 0.5% to 0.2% this year. According to the figures, Germany is expected to have the weakest growth of any state belonging to the G7 group of industrialized countries in 2024.]]>
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<title>Xi marks 25th anniversary of NATO atrocity</title>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a3c8f203027302f70b125.jpg" /> Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed to “never forget” the 1999 US bombing of Beijing’s embassy in Belgrade <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597169-xi-china-serbia-embassy-nato/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The US bombed the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade on this day in 1999
President Xi Jinping of China arrived in Serbia on Tuesday for a two-day visit, landing on the 25th anniversary of the deadly US airstrike on the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade.
The strike, which came during the 1999 NATO air war in support of ethnic Albanian separatists in Kosovo, killed three Chinese nationals and injured 20 more. Beijing never fully accepted Washington’s apology that the strike had been a mistake caused by “old maps.”
China “should never forget” the bombs that claimed the lives of Shao Yunhuan, Xu Xinghu, and Zhu Ying, Xi wrote in an opinion piece published on Tuesday by Serbia’s oldest newspaper, Politika.
“The Chinese people cherish peace, but we will never allow such tragic history to repeat itself,” the president added. 
Serbian MiG-29 fighters, purchased from Russia several years ago to replace NATO-inflicted losses, were scheduled to provide an honor guard to Xi’s airplane as it entered Serbian airspace. 
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File photo: Ruins of the former Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, November 2010.

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Since Xi’s last visit in 2016, Beijing has emerged as Belgrade’s largest foreign investor and second-largest trading partner after Brussels. China has also backed Serbia’s territorial integrity with regard to Kosovo, whose provisional government declared independence in 2008 with US and NATO backing. The EU has recently named recognition of Kosovo as a condition for Serbia’s prospective membership.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/business/597065-china-europe-trade-war-meeting/">China’s Xi visits EU to avert trade war – media</a></figcaption>
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“We support Serbia’s efforts to uphold its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and oppose any attempt by any forces to interfere in Serbia’s internal affairs,” Xi wrote in his article for Politika.
China and Serbia “hold similar positions on many major international and regional issues,” Xi noted, adding that the two countries should cooperate in bringing about “an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.”
Both Beijing and Belgrade have refused to join the US and its allies in imposing an embargo on Russia over the Ukraine conflict, despite repeated demands from the West to do so. Visiting France on Monday, Xi told President Emmanuel Macron that he rejected Western attempts to pressure China over Ukraine and “incite a new Cold War.”
Xi described Serbia as “a land of beauty and legends” and said that its friendship with China, “forged with the blood of our compatriots,” will inspire the two nations “to march forward with big strides.”
The Chinese delegation, consisting of around 400 people, is expected to sign some 30 agreements with its Serbian hosts over the two-day visit. After Belgrade, Xi is scheduled to visit neighboring Hungary, another important Chinese trading partner in Europe although it is an EU member.
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<title>Tourist paradise asks Indians to return</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/india/597175-maldives-india-tourism-decline/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/india/597175-maldives-india-tourism-decline/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a532285f540135a4e5c38.jpg" /> The Maldives appealed to Indians to visit the country again after soaring ties with New Delhi hit the industry <a href="https://www.rt.com/india/597175-maldives-india-tourism-decline/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The Maldives have promised a “warm welcome” to Indian travelers as tensions between governments led to a sharp decline in tourism
The archipelago nation of Maldives, a popular tourism hotspot in the Indian Ocean, has appealed to Indian travelers to visit the nation and support its economy. The request comes despite an ongoing dispute between New Delhi and Malé, which is seen as forging a stronger partnership with Beijing under President Mohamed Muizzu. 
Maldivian Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal, speaking to the Indian news agency PTI on Tuesday, affirmed that the Maldives would give a “warm welcome” to Indian tourists. “I want to tell Indians to please be a part of Maldives’ tourism; our economy depends on tourism,” he said. 

The minister’s plea comes in light of a sharp drop in the number of Indian visitors to the resort islands after a diplomatic row erupted earlier this year, leading to travel companies and tourists boycotting the country. Several ministers in Muizzu’s government in January posted on social media comments directed against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that were seen as “derogatory” by New Delhi. 
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/india/590880-india-maldives-diplomatic-row/">Kanwal Sibal: India knows a way to deal with another 'China challenge' in the neighborhood</a></figcaption>
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While Indians accounted for the largest number of foreign tourists visiting the islands at the start of the year, they fell to sixth place after the diplomatic spat. A report in the Hindustan Times noted that 34,847 Indians visited the Maldives in the first quarter of this year, down from 56,208 over the same period last year.
The dispute between the two nations stems from Muizzu’s policy of reducing Indian influence over the islands while moving closer to Beijing, which has promised large investments in the country’s infrastructure. After coming to power last year, Muizzu <a href="https://www.rt.com/india/590648-maldives-set-deadline-for-indian-troops/">asked India to withdraw</a> around 80 military personnel deployed to operate and fly two Dornier aircraft and a helicopter given to the Maldives by India for emergency evacuations. They are now being replaced with civilians.
Muizzu earlier this year remarked that no country had the license to “bully” it in what was seen as reference to New Delhi. The Indian foreign minister responded, also indirectly, suggesting that “bullies don’t provide $4.5 billion when neighbors are in trouble.” He was referring to India’s Neighborhood First Policy under which it has over the last decade bailed out Bangladesh and Sri Lanka when they faced financial crises, supplied Covid-19 vaccines, invested in infrastructure projects, and continued supplying them critical food items despite domestic shortage and global export bans.
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/india/590416-luxury-islands-face-boycott-calls/">
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Meanwhile, the Maldives has also found itself at the center of the India-China standoff in the region. In January, New Delhi raised concerns over alleged “spying” activities of a Chinese research vessel heading to the Maldivian capital of Malé. New Delhi has recently commissioned a second naval base in the Lakshadweep Islands off its west coast, in close proximity to the Maldives.

Where India Meets Russia – We are now on WhatsApp! &lrm;Follow and share RT India in <a href="https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va6XvWh7IUYZaRQrlU3y">English</a> and in <a href="https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va7ALQtK0IBcl7uI7O3v">Hindi</a> ]]>
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<title>Israeli attack on Rafah has US blessing – media</title>
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<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597173-us-approved-rafah-invasion/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a4ad120302730f67d1e79.jpg" /> Washington has reportedly given the Israeli prime minister “several days” to score a symbolic victory in the Palestinian city <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597173-us-approved-rafah-invasion/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Washington has reportedly given Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “several days” to achieve a symbolic victory in the Palestinian city
Israel’s invasion of Rafah is being carried out “with full American coordination,” Qatari news site Al Araby reported on Tuesday. While Washington has publicly refused to back the operation, Al Araby’s sources say the White House gave Israel the green light so it could score a symbolic victory before signing a ceasefire deal.
After pounding the densely-populated city with airstrikes, Israeli tanks and troops entered the eastern districts of Rafah on Monday night. As of Tuesday morning, the Israeli military said that it had taken “operational control” of the Gaza side of the Rafah border crossing, which links the Palestinian enclave with Egypt.
The operation, which involves Israeli armor and special forces, “came after the Egyptian side was notified of it, and with full American coordination,” Al Araby reported, citing anonymous sources.
Hours before the IDF began its attack on Rafah, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters that Washington does “not support Israel launching a full-scale military operation in Rafah.” With around 1.4 million displaced Palestinians sheltering there, Miller said that “a military operation in Rafah right now would dramatically increase the suffering of the Palestinian people.”
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Behind the scenes, however, American officials gave Israel a different message. “The American administration has given [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu a green light for a limited, short-term operation, which may take several days, to achieve an image of victory that he can market to far-right ministers,” an unnamed Western source in Cairo told Al Araby.
When the operation concludes, the source claimed, Netanyahu will approve a Qatari- and Egyptian-brokered ceasefire deal okayed by Hamas earlier on Monday,
Previous attempts to negotiate a ceasefire have been hamstrung by Hamas’ insistence that any truce be permanent and include a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and Netanyahu’s refusal to accept these terms. Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition allies have argued that any agreement with Hamas amounts to a surrender, and that the Israeli leader must press ahead with an invasion of Rafah despite objections from the US, EU, and scores of other countries and international organizations.
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According to Al Araby’s Western source, CIA Director William Burns gave Washington’s approval for the attack to Mossad chief David Barnea during a phone call on Monday. Should Netanyahu expand or extend the operation, the US will “ban the transfer of suspended ammunition and military equipment” to Israel, Burns reportedly told Barnea. 
This comment was likely a reference to a delivery of American weapons that Israeli officials claimed on Sunday was inexplicably <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597037-military-aid-israel-frozen/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">held up</a> by the US. The contents of the arms package are unclear, and neither the US nor the Israeli governments have commented on the apparent holdup.
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<title>Pro-Palestine student protests spread to Nordic nations</title>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a4034203027302f70b12e.jpg" /> Demonstrations against Israel’s war in Gaza have been growing across the globe <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597158-palestine-campus-protests-nordic-region/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Demonstrators in Sweden, Finland, and Denmark are demanding a boycott of Israel over the war in Gaza
A wave of university campus protests across Europe and the US expressing solidarity with Palestinians over the war in Gaza has reached Nordic countries, according to media reports.
In Finland, dozens of protesters from the Students for Palestine solidarity group have reportedly erected an encampment outside the main building at the University of Helsinki. They are demanding that the institution cut ties with Israeli universities, including terminating all exchange student agreements and research cooperation.
According to the demonstrators, Israeli universities, particularly Tel Aviv University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, have been involved in developing weapons technologies used in Gaza and in training military personnel in cooperation with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Finnish higher education institutes should follow those in Norway, where five universities cut ties with Israel in February, protesters say. They have warned the demonstration will continue until their demands are met.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Students began a pro-Palestinian demonstration on the University of Helsinki campus<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gaza?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gaza</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Israel?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Israel</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CampusProtests?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CampusProtests</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Finland?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Finland</a> <a href="https://t.co/PfmWqyVLD8">https://t.co/PfmWqyVLD8</a>— Cohn-Kahn (@campsbay2000) <a href="https://twitter.com/campsbay2000/status/1787540878975783086?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In Denmark, students have also set up a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Copenhagen. About 45 tents have been reportedly installed on the lawn outside the Faculty of Social Sciences campus.
The university said students could protest but called on them to respect the rules on campus grounds. “Seek dialogue, not conflict and make room for perspectives other than your own,” the administration stated on X (formerly Twitter).
The pro-Palestine group argued their attempts to talk to the administration over the past two years about withdrawing investments from Israeli companies have been in vain. 
“We can no longer be satisfied with cautious dialogue that does not lead to concrete action,” the group stated on its Facebook page.
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Pro-Palestinian demonstrations are expected in Sweden’s third-largest city, Malmo, which is set to host the Eurovision Song Contest.
Sweden is reportedly tightening security ahead of the protests, giving police larger weapons and bringing in reinforcement officers from Denmark and Norway.
Demonstrations in Malmo are planned for May 9, when Israel will take part in the second Eurovision semi-final, and May 11, the day of the final. Protesters say they will challenge Israel’s participation in the contest. 
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The Israeli contestant, Eden Golan, has been told not to leave her hotel room due to security concerns.
The reports on growing pro-Palestine protests come as Israeli tanks have entered the city of Rafah in southern Gaza to carry out “a precise counterterrorism operation” against Hamas militants.
Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7 last year, killing around 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages. Israel immediately declared war on the militant group, having to date killed almost 35,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.]]>
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<title>EU country could open border with Russia</title>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a333585f54002ee6376b1.jpg" /> Finland could open its border with Russia, which has been closed since last year, for passenger traffic, the defense minister has said
 <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597163-finland-may-open-russia-border/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Finland closed the entire border with its eastern neighbor last November
Checkpoints on Finland’s border with Russia could be opened to passenger transport after the adoption of a new migration law, Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen told the media outlet Etela-Saimaa on Tuesday. The ‘border exception law’ could be approved later this month, the official said.
Finland, which joined NATO last year, closed its eastern land border in late November and banned shipping from several ports after more than 1,300 asylum seekers – primarily from Africa and the Middle East – crossed over from Russian territory during a four-month period. The flow of migrants had previously averaged just a few hundred per year, and the Finnish government blamed Moscow for the influx.
“The border law is currently being finalized. It will be considered by the parliament within one or two weeks,” Hakkanen said during a visit to the city of Lappeenranta near the Finnish-Russian border. He added that the legislation is expected to come into force as soon as possible.
In March, the Finnish government announced plans to adopt a temporary law to curb what it described as “instrumentalized migration.”
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The law would allow the government “to restrict the reception of applications” from asylum seekers attempting to enter Finland from Russia. Once adopted, the legislation could enable passenger traffic at some border crossing points in southeastern Finland, according to Hakkanen.
Russia has dismissed Finland’s claims about weaponizing migration. In April, the Foreign Ministry accused Helsinki of refusing cooperation between the countries’ border agencies.
The historically warm relations between the neighboring states became severely strained after Finland, along with many Western nations, imposed sanctions on Russia and began supplying Kiev with weapons. In an interview in March with Russian media, President Vladimir Putin blamed the West for the breakdown of previously “ideal relations” between Moscow and Helsinki. ]]>
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<title>US military could have base on moon by 2030 – congressman</title>
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<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597167-us-lunar-base-2030/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a35d220302763335b0979.jpg" /> The US could create a military base on the Moon to check China’s efforts to gain a foothold in space, congressman Ken Calvert has said <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597167-us-lunar-base-2030/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Rep. Ken Calvert has said the facility would be a response to China’s alleged push to militarize space
The US military could build a lunar base within a few years, a senior Republican lawmaker has predicted, while accusing Russia and China of a deliberate effort to turn space into a new battleground with the West.  
Speaking at the Hill & Valley Forum on AI Security last week, Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA), who leads the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, described space as a new “high ground” in the rivalry among great powers, explaining that the US military relies heavily on its satellite networks to facilitate targeting and other operations.  
“Ultimately, we need to be sure we’re leading in that,” he said, voicing strong concern about Russia’s reported plans to place nuclear weapons in space and accusing Moscow of “basically [trying to] blackmail against the world if something happens that they don’t agree to.”  
Moscow has vehemently rejected claims it is planning to deploy nuclear weapons in space, describing such allegations as a hoax concocted by the White House to secure more funding for Ukraine.  
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.03/thumbnail/65e7a419203027126f6710fe.jpg" alt="Roscosmos chief Yury Borisov at a July 2023 forum in St. Petersburg." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/593833-russia-china-may-put-nuclear-plant-on-moon/">Russia and China consider putting nuclear plant on Moon – Roscosmos</a></figcaption>
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Asked what the US is doing to win the new space race, Calvert recalled that NASA has a plan to return to the moon in 2025 or 2026, but said he suspects the agency will likely fall behind schedule. Meanwhile, the lawmaker predicted that the US military would also play an active role in securing a foothold beyond Earth.  
“Space Force will be actively involved in, I think, in going to the moon at some point and that discussion is ongoing… “Obviously, China is probably going to militarize the moon, I have no doubt, so I suspect we will have a base on the moon also … maybe by the end of this decade,” he said.  
Beijing has insisted that it strives only for peaceful use of space while accusing the US of trying to hype up the “China threat” narrative merely to justify turning the domain into a battlefield.  
Russia and China have in recent years intensified space cooperation and are jointly leading the efforts to build the International Lunar Research Station. The project, which is open to other countries, is expected to be completed in the early 2030s.
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<title>Good terrorists, bad terrorists: Can the world stop creating a vague and dangerous demarcation and start countering both?</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/india/597077-good-terrorists-bad-terrorists-india-russia/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/india/597077-good-terrorists-bad-terrorists-india-russia/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6639f2da85f5407c7b5e6d91.jpg" /> India and Russia must strengthen their counterterrorism cooperation to deny militants from gaining the upper hand <a href="https://www.rt.com/india/597077-good-terrorists-bad-terrorists-india-russia/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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In multipolarity, chaos will be a constant – India and Russia must strengthen their counterterrorism cooperation to prevent independent and state-sponsored militants from gaining the upper hand
Concrete actions including digital technology should be pursued to counter trans-border terrorism and the financing of terrorism, <a href="https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/india/in-russia-nsa-ajit-doval-pledges-indias-cooperation-in-countering-terrorism-614243">declared</a> Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval as the recently concluded meeting of BRICS national security advisors in Russia. 
The comments come in the wake of the March 22 Moscow terror attack, when four gunmen stormed Crocus City Hall in one the most brazen assaults in the country’s history. Now a month and half after the attack, more questions have been raised than answered.
The thought articulated by Russian and Indian officials shortly after the Moscow attack – that the two countries could be cooperating more closely to combat terrorism in all forms – is now being <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/bomb-hoax-police-to-send-judicial-request-to-russia/articleshow/109847565.cms">tested in practice</a> in the wake of the email bomb attacks received by nearly 100 schools in New Delhi last week. 
On Sunday, the Times of India reported that the Delhi police are likely to approach the federal government and subsequently the courts to facilitate sending a judicial request to Russia seeking details of the email ID from which the threats were sent. The email address is believed to be registered with mail.ru, the Russian company Mail.ru, which is one of the leading email, communications and entertainment services providers in Russia. Separately, the Delhi police have already reached out to Interpol via the Central Bureau of Investigation for assistance in the matter.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6632503585f54032cc5a2d44.jpg" alt="Schools open for new session, children arrive in the morning at Dwarka in South West Delhi, on April 1, 2024 in New Delhi, India." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/india/596849-india-schools-bomb-threat/">Dozens of Indian schools receive fake bomb threats</a></figcaption>
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<h2>Slippery slope</h2>
The September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center ushered in a new age defined by the (in)famous Global War on Terror (GWOT). Spearheaded by the US, during this campaign Afghanistan was invaded, Iraq was targeted, and Libya dismembered under the banner of fighting global terrorism. Yet, even as existing heads of the Hydra were defeated (Operation <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-may-02-la-pn-osama-bin-laden-cia-20110502-story.html">Neptune Spear</a> against Osama Bin Laden in 2011), new ones arose in the form of ISIS in the Middle East and the resurgence of Taliban in Afghanistan, which challenged the efficacy of the GWOT. The Islamic State, albeit an exception, even propounded a notion of territoriality that attracted global followers to its self-declared caliphate.
After the demise of ISIS and the strengthening of global anti-terror cooperation, terrorism seemingly gave way to other pertinent issues, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and then the crisis in Ukraine. But then came the Hamas October 7 attack, and the devastating war in Gaza, affecting security in the Middle East and subsequently awakening large-scale terrorism.
Russia, meanwhile, saw a steady resurgence of attempted coordinated terrorist attacks due to the intensifying crisis in Ukraine. Despite the Islamic State having claimed responsibility for the Moscow Crocus City Hall attack, many pertinent questions are left unanswered. The fact that the gunmen fled the scene rather than barricade and sacrifice themselves like Islamic extremists, betrays their true intentions. Secondly, Washington outright declaring the absence of any Ukrainian involvement even though it may be a potential instigator further adds to the mystery.
Finally, carrying canisters of oil to set the building on fire as a deliberately planned tactic is eerily <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/mumbai-massacre-background-information/502/">similar</a> to the bloody <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/photo/mumbai-bloody-standstill-11-years-look-26-11-carnage-photos-1622703-2019-11-26/6">26/11 Mumbai attack</a> in 2008, which killed 166, injured hundreds, and soured ties between India and Pakistan, and showcases that it was a sophisticated operation rather than a crudely planned terror act.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.03/thumbnail/6606e8a585f540717804c81b.jpg" alt="Doctors work next to bodies of victims near the Crocus City Hall concert venue, Krasnogorsk, Russia, March 22, 2024." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/595128-russia-modern-history-terrorism/">‘We’ll wipe them out in the outhouse’: Russia’s long and bloody fight against terrorism</a></figcaption>
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Many expect an appropriate Russian retaliation. The American invasion of Afghanistan, the Indian strikes on Balakot, Pakistan, an alleged training camp of the terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed, after the 2019 Pulwama attack – one of the deadliest in Jammu and Kashmir region in the recent years (40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed after the terrorists rammed an explosives-laden car into a convoy) – and the recent Israeli escalation in response to Hamas’ assault have undoubtedly set a growing precedent.
In the dawning post-GWOT era of multipolarity, global cooperation on terrorism is bound to become difficult, if not outright impossible. Cooperation with Moscow on finding the culprits would be a slippery slope for Western governments, given the ongoing Ukrainian conflict and the possibility of it having been a state-sponsored attack.
Intelligence sharing and collaboration is usually concluded between strategic and regional allies. Such selective regional collaboration inadvertently creates blind spots in global counter-terrorism efforts, which can be exploited by extremist elements. In such scenarios, there is increased urgency towards enhancing government-to-government communication, which is seamless, efficient and effective.
<h2>Common interests</h2>
Russia and India have already cooperated in the past in multiple bi- and multi-lateral forums, as well as through transnational organs focused on combating terrorism. As part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), both New Delhi and Moscow have cooperated intensively within the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), which specializes in coordinating the counterterrorism efforts of member states.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/india/596608-new-delhi-seeks-global-effort-terrorism/">New Delhi seeks global anti-terrorism tech measures</a></figcaption>
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Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh recently <a href="https://apnews.com/article/india-russia-shanghai-cooperation-organization-terrorism-3d55f675384d285e04fbd258dc1b6845">highlighted</a> the critical need to ensure that those who finance extremist activities are held to account, adding that “any kind of terrorist act or support for it in any form is a major crime against humanity.”
Joint annual counterterrorism exercises, the most significant being the Peace Mission exercises, which have consistently been held since 2005, mark a significant contribution towards global anti-terrorism measures. These exercises, usually held on a large scale almost mimicking other conventional armed exercises have invited critical attention from the West, which questions the aim of such large scale ‘anti-terror’ operations.
On the other hand, the existence of a joint working group specializing in countering dissemination of online extremist propaganda along with deep-seated cooperation with critical transnational bodies such as the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (UN-CTED), Eurasian Group on Combatting Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (EAG) and Commonwealth of Independent States Anti-Terrorism Centre (CIS-ATC), among others, make the SCO-RATS mechanism one of the most pivotal nodes in the global anti-terrorism framework. The United States Army War College <a href="https://press.armywarcollege.edu/monographs/486/">classifies</a> RATS as the “SCO’s most important and best-functioning component structure to date.”
<h2>Differing stances</h2>
However, issues of cooperation and implementation still exist. The accession of Pakistan to the SCO at the behest of China is viewed with apprehension by New Delhi. Although India has officially stated that the SCO won’t be affected by bilateral issues between India and Pakistan, New Delhi still feels that bringing a terror-financing state onboard an anti-terrorism forum does more harm than good. 
There are <a href="https://iorj.hse.ru/data/2021/09/09/1469972204/Fan%252520_iorj_2021_01_%2525D0%2525B0%2525D0%2525BD%2525D0%2525B3%2525D0%2525BB-05_07_21__f-78-92.pdf">legitimate</a> fears that the Chinese-Pakistan bonhomie or the strengthening Russian-Chinese partnership would be detrimental to Russian-Indian relations, as well as to India's national interests. This is further exacerbated by India drifting towards an American partnership to deter Chinese influence which, in turn, is viewed negatively by both the Russian and Chinese leadership as American attempts at infiltrating a largely non-Western platform.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.04/thumbnail/6616dcdc20302751b52dd981.jpg" alt="FILE PHOTO: A view shows the burnt-out Crocus City Hall following a deadly attack on the concert venue outside Moscow, Russia." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/595712-sushentsov-interpretation-tragedy-crocus/">Andrey Sushentsov: Americans can’t tell us who blew up Nord Stream, but they solved the Moscow terror attack case in 15 minutes?</a></figcaption>
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The differing stances of member states have previously led to indecision during critical events, which hampers effective decision-making and the efficacy of the SCO as a whole. During the 2010 unrest in Kyrgyzstan, the differing viewpoints among members about how to react to the rapidly deteriorating situation left the transnational platform paralyzed. Rapid, efficient and effective implementation is therefore a less-explored field that can benefit from better cooperation and compromise among SCO members.
Apart from multilateral organizations, India and Russia had a joint working group as part of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) aimed at combating money laundering activities, as well as the financing of terrorism. Previously, the FATF had effectively placed relevant states (read Pakistan) engaged in sponsoring terror groups within its infamous grey and black lists, which act as a potent deterrent against the proliferation of state-sponsored extremist actions.
However, the platform has also been affected by the Ukraine crisis, which in turn saw the <a href="https://www.fatf-gafi.org/en/publications/Fatfgeneral/fatf-statement-russian-federation.html">suspension</a> of the Russian Federation as a member of the body on February 24, 2023. Officials from India’s Foreign Ministry had <a href="https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/india-russia-have-joint-working-group-on-counter-terrorism-worked-on-common-objectives-in-fatf-mea-official20221117203601/">reiterated</a> confidently that up until the suspension of Russia from the forum both countries worked together on “several tracks” to counter terrorism. Enabling greater cooperation would be dependent on securing the reinstatement of full membership of Moscow within the transnational body.
Another vital area of cooperation has been between the RIC and ASEAN groupings as part of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus format. Besides establishing <a href="https://admm.asean.org/index.php/about-admm/about-admm-plus.html">critical</a> confidence-building measures (through joint operational exercises among participating militaries), it also features crucial counter-terrorism scenarios. Building interoperability between the functioning counter-terrorism arms of the involved states is a much-needed deterrent towards growing instability in the global frameworks.
<h2>Countering, not managing</h2>
The emergence of multipolarity has exacerbated chaotic engagements between divergent regional trends and groupings. Within an increasingly flexible and mobile world, proxy warfare would be the preferred method of engaging rival states and factions.
The discreet use of proxy extremist elements, as well as paramilitary corporations provide the twin advantage of plausible deniability for their geostrategic masters, as well as destabilizing their rivals. Proxy warfare also provides a cheaper alternative to fielding professional standing armies in future battlefields, which in turn directly impacts the popularity of the governing elites at home (the fiascos in Vietnam and Afghanistan are a testimony to that). 
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/news/596994-us-georgia-civil-society/">
READ MORE: The West has invented a magic phrase to hide its geopolitical games
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States are therefore seduced with expediently utilizing them for their own national interests by creating a vague and dangerous <a href="https://press.un.org/en/2023/gal3685.doc.htm">demarcation</a> between ‘good terrorists’ and ‘bad terrorists.’ Such attempts will only lead to unintended and often violent repercussions, such as the break in ties between the Afghan Mujahideen and the US or the myriad <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/articles/why-pakistan-supports-terrorist-groups-and-why-the-us-finds-it-so-hard-to-induce-change/">attacks</a> within Pakistan by home-grown extremist groups.
This highlights that the best way to secure the future of a multipolar world is not by ‘managing’ terrorism but by actively countering all forms of extremist actions, to minimize global ambiguity, and chaos. Working towards such a future should be our main goal in today’s disruptive times. ]]>
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<title>Russian ally announces snap nuclear drill</title>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a35c885f5400327745971.png" /> Belarus has announced a surprise military exercise meant to test its ability to deploy Russian nuclear weapons <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597165-belarus-nuclear-platforms-drill/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Belarus is testing weapons platforms that can carry atomic payloads
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has ordered the country's military to test its nuclear-capable weapon systems, the Defense Ministry in Minsk announced on Tuesday. Moscow ordered similar drills on Monday, citing hostile rhetoric by Western officials that necessitated a show of force.
Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said a battery of Iskander missile launchers and a squadron of Sukhoi Su-25 close air support jets will be involved in the snap exercise.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to store a small number of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus last year, amid escalating tensions with the US and its allies over Ukraine.
Washington has had a similar arrangement with several NATO members for decades. Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Türkiye are estimated to host several dozen B-61 nuclear gravity bombs on their soil.
Moscow has long objected to the practice, as well as the training of other NATO members in how those weapons can be used, claiming the steps violate the spirit of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597085-tatical-nuclear-drills-explained/">
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Russian possesses a full range of nuclear weapons, from powerful warheads mounted on intercontinental ballistic missiles to smaller versions suitable for shorter-range delivery systems. “Tactical” nukes are meant to be deployed at a lower level of military planning and are primarily meant for inflicting damage on enemy troops and fortifications. By contrast, strategic weapons create deterrence by guaranteeing an unacceptable level of destruction to any potential aggressor. ]]>
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<title>Cheating Chinese could ‘wreck’ Paris Olympics – US anti-doping chief</title>
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<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597154-doping-china-us-paris-olympics/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a334a20302730560d3f98.jpg" /> The credibility of the Olympics is in jeopardy due to doping by Chinese athletes, Travis Tygart claims <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597154-doping-china-us-paris-olympics/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Illegal performance-enhancing drug use by China’s top swimmers is being covered up, Travis Tygart claims
The credibility of the Paris Olympics could be in jeopardy due to performance-enhancing drug use by Chinese athletes and the pro-China bias of anti-doping regulators, the head of the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), Travis Tygart, has claimed.
Tygart’s warning came on the heels of an <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/20/world/asia/chinese-swimmers-doping-olympics.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">investigation</a> by the New York Times and German broadcaster ARD made public last month claiming that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for banned drugs shortly prior to the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. However, according to the investigation, the athletes were cleared by the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA), which said that they had failed the tests due to a contaminated hotel kitchen. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accepted the explanation and allowed the athletes to compete, the media outlets claim.
In an interview with the news outlet Politico published on Monday, Tygart claimed that WADA is biased towards Chinese athletes and let China off the hook intentionally and “swept [the case] under the carpet.”
“Because of the cover-up that happened by China, and WADA allowing it, now that it’s come to light it’s going to be a train wreck waiting to happen going into Paris,” he stated.
The official went on to accuse the entire International Olympic Committee (IOC) of favoring China due to its position as an “incredibly important country to the Olympic Movement.”
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/595862-szijjarto-olympic-restrictions-humiliating-russians/">Olympic restrictions ‘humiliating’ for Russians – EU state</a></figcaption>
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“The IOC has cozied up to China in a really big way. And that means WADA is thinking twice about the ramifications of enforcing the rules fairly. And it’s chosen [in] this case not to do so,” he claimed.
Neither CHINADA nor the IOC has commented on Tygart’s accusations. A WADA spokesperson told Politico in a statement that the claims were “utter nonsense” and that the allegations of a pro-China cover-up by the agency “have lacked any evidence from the beginning.”
“Only a few individuals, with their own agenda, continue to cling to those defamatory claims,” he said.
The WADA <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/news/wada-statement-case-23-swimmers-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">rebuffed</a> the claims made by the NYT and ARD, calling their investigation “misleading and potentially defamatory.” It has also said that the US doping regulator “repeatedly” approached the WADA over the years with accusations of doping cover-ups within the Chinese swimming team, but the agency found the allegations “unsubstantiated” as they were based on unspecified sources.
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/news/595694-water-pollution-paris-olympics/">
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Last month, the WADA announced that it had invited an independent prosecutor to conduct a review of its handling of the 2021 case following requests by several stakeholders.
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<title>US delaying major arms deliveries to Israel – WSJ</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597164-us-delayed-weapons-israel/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597164-us-delayed-weapons-israel/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a2cf220302730f67d1e63.jpg" /> Thousands of bomb guidance kits bound for Israel have sat in limbo since January, US officials have claimed <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597164-us-delayed-weapons-israel/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The report is the second in two days to allege that Washington is denying weapons to the Jewish state
The US has stalled the delivery of thousands of bomb-guidance kits to Israel since January, anonymous American officials told the Wall Street Journal on Monday. The White House has not explained whether it is deliberately withholding the weapons, reportedly leaving the Israeli government puzzled by the delay.
Congress first learned in January that the State Department intended to sell Israel up to 6,500 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM), in a deal worth as much as $260 million, the newspaper’s sources said. JDAM kits bolt to conventional 500 to 2,000-pound bombs, allowing these ‘dumb’ munitions to be guided toward their targets as they fall.
The US State Department is required by law to formally notify Congress of its intent to supply arms to foreign countries if the value of the package exceeds a certain amount ($25 million in the case of NATO members or Israel). However, Congress was never informed of the JDAM sale after January, “triggering an effective pause in the deal,” the Journal reported.
The State Department declined to comment on the apparent holdup. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby refused to confirm or deny any pause in arms deliveries during a briefing on Monday, but insisted that American security commitments to Israel “are ironclad.”

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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597037-military-aid-israel-frozen/">US froze military aid shipment to Israel – Axios</a></figcaption>
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“It’s unusual, especially for Israel, especially during a war,” a congressional official told the newspaper.
The report came a day after Israeli officials told Axios that the US had abruptly canceled a planned weapons shipment last week. The officials claimed that no reason was given for the cancelation, leaving them “scrambling to understand why the shipment was held.”
It is unclear whether both reports were referring to the same shipment. Had the JDAM kits been cleared for export to Israel, the State Department would have had to issue a formal notification 15 days before the sale. No such notification has been posted on the Defense Security Cooperation Agency’s (DCAA) website, where sales are typically announced.
While US President Joe Biden has never threatened to withhold weapons from Israel, his criticisms of the Jewish state have grown more pointed as Israel’s war with Hamas drags on. Biden has declared that an Israeli invasion of the civilian-crowded city of Rafah would be a “red line,” and publicly rebuked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the “indiscriminate” bombing of Gaza. 
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597081-us-israel-rafah-gaza/">US tells Israel it won’t back Rafah operation ‘as currently planned’</a></figcaption>
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The State Department has also sanctioned Israeli settlers in the West Bank, while the US abstained from a UN Security Council vote in March that allowed a measure demanding an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to pass.
Despite voicing these criticisms, the Biden administration has kept weapons and ammunition flowing to Israel, reportedly approving more than 100 arms deliveries since October.
Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7 last year, killing around 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages. Netanyahu immediately declared war on the militant group, and Israeli forces have to date killed almost 35,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
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<title>Moscow terror attack mastermind is abroad – FSB</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597157-moscow-terror-attack-mastermind-abroad-fsb/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597157-moscow-terror-attack-mastermind-abroad-fsb/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a22b220302726b11c38f0.jpg" /> The main organizer of the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall concert venue is abroad, FSB head Aleksandr Bortnikov has said <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597157-moscow-terror-attack-mastermind-abroad-fsb/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Investigators have a clear idea of who is behind the Crocus City Hall massacre, the head of the Russian security agency has said
The mastermind behind the deadly terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall that took place in March is abroad, the director of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), Aleksandr Bortnikov, told Interfax on Tuesday. According to him, the agency has almost identified the main organizer of the massacre.
The attack on the concert venue just outside Moscow claimed more than 140 lives. Four gunmen stormed the building, shooting everyone in sight before setting it on fire. A total of 12 suspects were arrested in the wake of the rampage, including four alleged assailants.
“We can practically guess who it is. There is a main organizer who is abroad,” Bortnikov told the news outlet in response to a question on whether the FSB has been able to identify the mastermind.
He declined to comment more specifically while the investigation into the attack is ongoing.
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/russia/596676-crocus-terror-suspect-arrested/">
READ MORE: 12th suspect in Moscow terror attack arrested
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“Since relevant procedures are being carried out as part of the investigation, we need to do everything in order to somehow reach out to him,” Bortnikov explained, adding that the FSB needs to ensure that the inquiry brings a “specific result.”
In April, the FSB director suggested that the Ukrainian security services may have been involved in preparing the assault, possibly using the Islamists as proxies.
Kiev has denied any involvement in the attack, while its Western backers have claimed that all evidence points to ISIS-K, the Afghanistan-based splinter group of the once-powerful terrorist organization Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS), as the culprit. The group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Russia’s Investigative Committee said in April it had obtained information that could indicate the suspects’ “connection with the Ukrainian special services.” Previously, the investigators claimed to have “confirmed data” that the alleged gunmen received “significant sums of money and cryptocurrency” from Ukraine prior to the attack.]]>
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<title>Russian luxury car brand takes over major Toyota plant</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/business/597160-former-toyota-plant-russia-aurus/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/business/597160-former-toyota-plant-russia-aurus/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a1e8e85f5407c7b5e6db0.jpg" /> The former plant of Japanese automaker Toyota in St. Petersburg has been handed over to Russian high-end carmaker Aurus <a href="https://www.rt.com/business/597160-former-toyota-plant-russia-aurus/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The facility in St. Petersburg has been given to the domestic luxury car brand Aurus
A St. Petersburg-based plant formerly belonging to Japanese automaker Toyota has been handed over to Russian high-end carmaker Aurus, Russia’s acting Minister of Industry and Trade, Denis Manturov, said on Tuesday. The brand is best known for producing limos for the Russian president.
Production at the plant will start before the end of the current year, Manturov added.
Toyota shut down the plant in 2022 and left the Russian market amid Ukraine-related sanctions against Moscow. The facility, which produced the Camry and RAV4 models, was later sold to the Central Scientific Research Automobile and Automotive Engines Institute, abbreviated as NAMI, which owns the Aurus brand. In 2022, the Institute also acquired French car maker Renault’s controlling stake in Russian car manufacturer AvtoVAZ.
Aurus is a line of luxury vehicles that was created a decade ago with the aim of replacing the fleet of mostly foreign-made cars used by top Russian officials. The brand debuted at Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inauguration in May 2018. On Tuesday, Putin used an updated version of the luxury vehicle during his inauguration ceremony in Moscow.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.02/thumbnail/65d475122030274006107488.jpg" alt="RT" />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/592718-kim-putin-aurus-gift/">Putin gives Kim Jong-un luxury automobile</a></figcaption>
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The cars are assembled at NAMI’s factory in Moscow and at an assembly plant in the Republic of Tatarstan, which used to be a joint venture between Russian company Sollers and American car maker Ford. Last year, Aurus production was launched in the United Arab Emirates.
In January, Manturov said that Aurus was expected to broaden its range of vehicles by adding more affordable and mass-market models. Sales of new large executive and business class sedans will be launched in 2025. The price of currently available Aurus vehicle models is above $500,000.
In February, President Putin gifted an Aurus to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
For more stories on economy & finance visit <a href="https://www.rt.com/business/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">RT's business section</a>
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<title>Fugitive Polish judge denies spilling national secrets</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597161-polish-judge-belarus-secrets/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597161-polish-judge-belarus-secrets/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a264d85f54002ee6376a1.jpg" /> Polish judge Tomasz Szmydt, who asked for asylum in Belarus this week, denies revealing secrets to foreign nations <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597161-polish-judge-belarus-secrets/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Officials in Warsaw have branded Tomasz Szmydt a traitor after he fled to Belarus
A Polish judge who announced his resignation after fleeing to Belarus has denied claims that he could compromise his homeland’s national security.
Tomasz Szmydt announced his resignation as a judge at Warsaw’s Provincial Administrative Court during a surprise press conference in Minsk on Monday. Poland has depicted Szmydt, who also headed the legal department at the National Council of Judges and had security clearance, as a potential traitor who could reveal state secrets to Belarus and its ally Russia.
“We cannot ignore this matter,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said during a cabinet meeting, adding that Szmydt “had access to classified documents to which no intelligence service should have access.” Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski has branded the former judge a traitor and condemned his actions.
Szmydt, however, has denied the accusations against him. “I did not bring any secret documents here [to Belarus],” he told RIA Novosti on Tuesday. “I did not reveal any secrets. I am not being asked to.”
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597078-hungary-ukraine-draft-refugees/">NATO member says it ‘won’t send Ukrainians to their deaths’</a></figcaption>
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Considering the outrage in Poland, Szmydt believes he would be criminally prosecuted in his homeland for no reason other than his security clearance. “It would mean prison for me [if I returned]. Proceedings are underway to charge me with espionage for Belarus and Russia,” he said.
The Polish leadership has claimed Szmydt developed contacts with the Belarusian government over a lengthy period. Tusk implied that the official was part of a campaign under the previous conservative government set up with “the goal of devastating the Polish legal system.”
Under the previous government headed by the Law and Justice (PiS) party, Warsaw adopted significant legal reforms which critics in the EU slammed as an encroachment on the separation of powers. On Monday, following the victory of Donald Tusk's liberals in Polish elections, the European Commission announced that Brussels is ending its six-year dispute with Warsaw.
Officials praised Tusk for changing the country’s course since he returned as prime minister in December. Unlike his nationalist predecessors, Tusk is a former president of the European parliament and an avowed ally of Brussels.
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/news/597056-polish-judge-belarus-asylum/">
READ MORE: West is dragging Poland into war – fugitive judge
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Szmydt has claimed that his surprise flight to Minsk was meant as a gesture of protest against escalating tensions between Warsaw and Moscow over the Ukraine conflict.
“Poland could be directly dragged into [the hostilities], which would involve the deployment of Polish troops to the territory of Ukraine,” he told RIA Novosti. “Mercenaries and so-called instructors have been there for a long time, but now there is talk about an official deployment of troops.”]]>
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<title>Russian MP proposes state-run dating service</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597162-russian-mp-gosuslugi-dating/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597162-russian-mp-gosuslugi-dating/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a262d20302730560d3f7d.jpg" /> Vitaly Milonov has suggested using Russia’s Gosuslugi digital platform to help citizens find a romantic partner <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597162-russian-mp-gosuslugi-dating/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Vitaly Milonov has suggested using the government’s Gosuslugi digital platform to help citizens find a romantic partner
The Russian government’s state service platform Gosuslugi could host a special section that serves as a dating app, Russian State Duma MP Vitaly Milonov has suggested  
The conservative MP’s proposal comes after most major international dating platforms shut down their operations in Russia following the mass exodus of Western tech companies from the country following the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. 
In an address sent to Russia’s Minister of Digital Development Maksut Shadayev on Monday, a copy of which has been seen by RT, Milonov argued that despite foreign dating services leaving the country, there is still strong demand for online dating platforms. 
While alternative dating sites still exist, the MP claimed that this industry is filled with services that don’t focus on helping people find reliable life partners and potential spouses, but on “satisfying base sexual needs and finding a sexual partner for one or two nights.”  
Instead, he has proposed creating such a service on Gosuslugi, the digital platform operated by the government that provides citizens with online access to various state and municipal services. 
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.04/thumbnail/6622664a2030274d221baaff.jpg" alt="FILE PHOTO: A newborn in the ward of a maternity hospital in Voronezh, Russia." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/596252-researchers-raise-alarm-russian-demographics/">Researchers raise alarm over Russian demographics – media</a></figcaption>
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Given that the platform requires users to confirm their identities using their passports, Milonov argued that this would allow for a dating platform free of scammers, escort girls, prostitutes, “gigolos” and other “scoundrels” and prove to be a safe, reliable and convenient way for people to find life partners. He has also suggested automatically banning married people from accessing the service while also blocking users who engage in too many relationships consecutively.
However, the response to Milonov’s proposal has so far not been enthusiastic. According to a poll conducted by the newspaper KP and taken by nearly 6,000 people, 79% are against creating such a service on Gosuslugi. Many respondents said that the state service platform is a “serious resource” that should be exclusively used for documents and resolving key issues. 
German Klimenko, a former adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin and head of the Digital Economy Development Fund, also criticized Milonov’s idea, arguing that it is unacceptable for a public servant to suggest treating serious state resources in such a way.  
Klimenko said that despite the exit of platforms such as Tinder, the existing ones are perfectly adequate. He also noted that while it is important to pursue the state’s demographic policy and encourage family formation, new dating services would not actually raise birth rates.
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<title>Nigeria denies plans to host American and French military bases</title>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a227d20302726b11c38ed.jpg" /> Nigeria has dismissed reports that it is being pressured to accept US and French troops expelled from Niger as a “false alarm” <a href="https://www.rt.com/africa/597159-nigeria-us-france-military-base-rejection/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The African state says reports that it is under pressure to accept troops expelled from Niger are false
Nigeria’s government has no intention of allowing the US and France to build military bases in the West African country, Information Minister Mohammed Idris said in a <a href="https://x.com/HMMohammedIdris/status/1787491653990641874" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">statement</a> on Monday.
This comes in response to claims that Abuja was in talks with Washington and Paris about accepting American and French forces that have recently been kicked out of neighboring Niger.
France withdrew its troops from Niamey in December, following previous withdrawals from Mali and Burkina Faso on the orders of the former colonies’ rulers. All three military leaders have accused Paris of meddling and failing to combat extremist violence during its decade-long security mission in the Sahel region.
The Pentagon announced late last month an “orderly and responsible withdrawal” of forces from Niger while considering other options for continuing counterterrorism missions in the African region. This followed the termination of the 2013 security pact by Niger’s military government that had allowed some 1,000 American troops to operate in the Sahel state.
On Friday, a group of northern Nigerian leaders and civil society actors in Nigeria wrote to President Bola Tinubu, warning him to resist alleged pressure from the US and France for the soldiers to be relocated to the country.
Signing a defense pact with the Western governments would pose a “profound threat” to the country’s sovereignty, the group reportedly said.
Bolaji Akinyemi, a former Nigerian foreign affairs minister, <a href="https://x.com/ARISEtv/status/1787474565335077119" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">told</a> local broadcaster Arise News in an interview published on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday that the move would only worsen insecurity in Africa’s most populous nation. 
“I know that we have problems with the jihadists, with ISIS... We have security problems, yes, but the solution is not for us to be in confrontation with another superpower. We will simply maximize our problems,” Akinyemi said.
However, Nigerian government spokesman Idris described the concerns as “false alarms,” urging the public to “totally” disregard it. 
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/africa/596626-washington-withdraw-troops-niger-chad/">US to withdraw troops from African states</a></figcaption>
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“We have neither received nor are we considering any proposals from any country on the establishment of any foreign military bases in Nigeria,” the minister stated.
Nigeria has previously rejected the idea of hosting the US African Military Command (AFRICOM), whose mandate is to protect America’s strategic interests on the continent and assist host nations with military training and conflict prevention.
While rejecting the move in 2007, Nigeria’s president at the time, Umaru Yar’Adua, expressed opposition to AFRICOM establishing a presence elsewhere in West Africa. There had been widespread concerns from countries including Libya and South Africa, with critics claiming Washington intends to expand its influence on the continent and may prioritize protecting oil interests.]]>
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<title>France and China call for Palestinian state</title>
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<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597145-france-china-call-palestinian-state/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6639f92920302730f67d1e1d.jpg" /> China’s Xi Jinping and France’s Emmanuel Macron have urged the establishment of an independent Palestinian state <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597145-france-china-call-palestinian-state/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Israel strongly opposes the plan despite support from many world powers, including the US
China and France have called for the creation of an independent Palestinian state, according to a joint statement issued during Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s two-day official visit with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
The so-called two-state solution, a plan to create a Palestinian state within territory occupied by Israel since 1967, is supported by the UN and a raft of individual nations, including Israel’s key ally the US. If implemented, it would likely require the Jewish state to remove its settlers from the occupied territories.
Macron and Xi have called for “a decisive and irreversible relaunch of a political process” to implement “the two-state solution with Jerusalem as their capital, and the creation of a viable, independent and sovereign Palestinian state on the basis of the 1967 lines,” the joint statement reads.
The term “1967 lines” refers to Israel’s borders as they stood before the Six-Day War fought that year against a coalition of Arab nations. As a result of the war, Israel occupied the West Bank, Gaza, and other areas. A return to these lines would see Israel withdraw from those areas, including East Jerusalem.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/596988-israel-gaza-saudi-arabia/">Israel comes up with post-war solution for Gaza – NYT</a></figcaption>
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In February Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu said he would not be pressured into accepting a Palestinian state.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said earlier this year that Israel’s “clear and repeated rejection” of the two-state solution “is unacceptable” and “would indefinitely prolong a conflict that has become a major threat to global peace and security.”
In a separate statement cited by the Chinese media, China and France condemned violations of international humanitarian law such as indiscriminate attacks against civilians in Gaza.
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/news/597121-israeli-tanks-enter-rafah/">
READ MORE: Israeli tanks enter Rafah (VIDEO)
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Macron and Xi stated their mutual opposition to an Israeli operation in Rafah, which they warned “will lead to a greater humanitarian disaster.”
The Israeli government launched an offensive against Hamas in Gaza after the Palestinian militant group attacked Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages. The death toll from Israel’s retaliation in the enclave is nearing 35,000, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Xi is on his first trip to Europe in five years. After France, the Chinese leader is set to visit Serbia and Hungary.]]>
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<title>Relations with West, national resilience and forging victory: Key takeaways from Putin’s inauguration</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597156-putin-inauguration-recap/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597156-putin-inauguration-recap/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a0e4a85f54010dc0a1f88.jpg" /> The Russian president has stressed that the nation must remain strong amid the standoff with the West <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597156-putin-inauguration-recap/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The Russian president has stressed that the country must be unyielding in the face of internal and external challenges
Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially been sworn into office for a fifth term. In his inaugural address at the Kremlin on Tuesday, Putin vowed to protect the nation’s interests amid the confrontation with the West over the Ukraine conflict.
Here are the key points from the ceremony and Putin’s speech, as the Russian leader begins his six-year term.
<h2>Ceremony largely shunned by the West</h2>
The inauguration took place in the lavish Kremlin Grand Palace in the heart of Moscow, and was attended by hundreds of high-ranking guests, including top government officials and foreign ambassadors.
Despite strained relations, Russia invited envoys from Western nations to the inauguration. Only a few, however, including envoys from France, Hungary, and Slovakia, actually attended. Representatives from the US, EU, UK, and Canada were absent from the ceremony.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597085-tatical-nuclear-drills-explained/">Message to the West: What’s behind Russia’s tactical nuclear drills</a></figcaption>
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German magazine Der Spiegel reported that Putin’s inauguration had caused a rift among EU nations, between those who choose to “keep channels of communication [with Russia] open,” and those who do not. 
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Russia does not hold inaugurations and other ceremonies “in order to report to the West.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov added that Moscow would not retaliate against nations that snubbed the event.
<h2>National priorities</h2>
In his inauguration address, Putin stressed that Russia must be self-sufficient and competitive, while promoting a system of governance resilient and flexible enough to adapt to new conditions. Preserving centuries-old values and traditions is an important goal, he added.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6636f3c8203027471b726757.jpg" alt="EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell addresses the European Parliament in Brussels on April 10, 2024" />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597008-some-eu-states-consider-russia/">Some EU states still consider Russia a ‘good friend’ – Borrell</a></figcaption>
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The country’s success in dealing with internal and external problems depends largely on whether it remains united and has a “common desire to benefit the motherland,” the president stressed. 
“We are a united and great people, and together we will overcome all obstacles and realize all our plans. Let’s win together,” Putin stated.
<h2>Relations with the West</h2>
Moscow is ready to build friendly ties with global nations that see Russia as “a reliable and honest partner,” Putin said. According to the Russian president, this is also true when it comes to relations with the West.
“We don’t reject dialogue with Western nations. The ball is in their court,” Putin insisted, adding that future ties depend on whether the West persists with its “aggressive policies” and its attempts to deter and pressure Moscow.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6639ed5f2030272e5606da73.jpg" alt="FILE PHOTO: Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin chairs a cabinet meeting." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597135-russian-government-resigns-inauguration/">Russian government resigns</a></figcaption>
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“A conversation, including on issues of security and strategic stability, is possible. But not from a position of strength, without any arrogance, conceit and [feeling] of personal exclusivity, but only on equal terms, with respect for each other’s interests,” the Russian leader stated.
<h2>Impending cabinet reshuffle</h2>
As required by the Russian Constitution, the national government resigned shortly after the inauguration. However, Putin has signed a law ordering the current government to continue its work until a new administration is formed.
The process is expected to be swift, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the president could announce his choice of prime minister as early as Tuesday. The post is currently held by Mikhail Mishustin, who has served in this capacity since 2020.
Valentina Matvienko, the head of the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, said she expects lawmakers to have a full list of the proposed cabinet next week.

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<title>UK MPs blame China for MOD data breach – media</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597128-uk-hack-defense-ministry-china/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597128-uk-hack-defense-ministry-china/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a177e20302730f67d1e37.jpg" /> The UK blames Beijing for a massive data hack targeting the Ministry of Defense, local media report <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597128-uk-hack-defense-ministry-china/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Hackers reportedly accessed the personal information of multiple members of the British armed forces through a third-party payroll system
The UK suspects China of being behind a recent data hack involving the country’s Ministry of Defense, the BBC and Sky News reported on Tuesday.
According to the reports, the hack targeted the payroll system of the armed forces, which is managed by a third-party contractor. The system reportedly contained the names and bank details of current members of the Royal Navy, Army, and Air Force, and some veterans, as well as their personal addresses in some cases. It is unclear how many people’s details were accessed.
While the ministry has not made any official statements with regard to China’s involvement in the incident, several lawmakers pointed the finger at Beijing. Tobias Ellwood, a senior MP and former defense committee chair in the House of Commons, said the attack looks like the type that could have come from China.
“Targeting the names of the payroll system and service personnel’s bank details, this does point to China because it can be as part of a plan, a strategy to see who might be coerced,” he told the BBC’s Radio 4.
Iain Duncan Smith, an MP and former leader of the Conservative party, told Sky News that the data breach is “yet another example of why the UK Government must admit that China poses a systemic threat to the UK.”
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/594954-china-reacts-uk-sanctions-hacking/">China reacts to UK cyber sanctions</a></figcaption>
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The ministry reportedly became aware of the data breach in recent days and immediately shut down the system. Sources within the ministry told the BBC that an investigation into the hack is underway.
Because the system was managed by an external organization, no operational data of the ministry was accessed, the reports claim. The ministry has been notifying those targeted, and said that salary payments this month will not be affected.
Defense Secretary Grant Shapps will reportedly address the UK Parliament later on Tuesday to report on the data breach.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry responded to claims of Beijing’s involvement in a statement, claiming that “the relevant remarks of UK politicians are absurd.”
“China firmly opposes and fights all forms of cyber-attacks. We also firmly reject using the cyber security issue politically to smear and vilify other countries,” spokesperson Lin Jian said.
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/news/595310-china-hacking-us-uk/">
READ MORE: New hacking allegations against China aren’t what they seem
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This is not the first time the UK has attributed attacks on databases to Beijing. In March, London formally accused Chinese “state-affiliated actors” of being behind cyber-attacks on the UK Electoral Commission between August 2021 and October 2022, which accessed voter databases and other sensitive information. The UK government placed sanctions on two Chinese nationals and one company that it claimed were linked to a hacker group behind the attacks. China has been adamant that it had nothing to do with the hacks, slamming the UK’s accusations as an “outright political manipulation and malicious slander.”]]>
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<title>EU suggests new option to tap Russian money – Politico</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/business/597142-eu-russian-frozen-assets-sanctions/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/business/597142-eu-russian-frozen-assets-sanctions/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663a12262030276e9403ee26.jpg" /> The EU will exempt neutral member states from using the proceeds from frozen Russian assets to buy weapons for Kiev, Politico reports <a href="https://www.rt.com/business/597142-eu-russian-frozen-assets-sanctions/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Members of the bloc can opt out of Brussels’ plan to use the frozen assets to buy weapons for Kiev, the outlet reports

The EU will reportedly allow neutral member states to opt out of its plan to use the revenue generated from frozen Russian central bank reserves to buy weapons for Ukraine and limit themselves to providing non-military aid to the country.
The proposal comes as the bloc seeks ways to unlock funding for Kiev, Politico reported on Monday, citing EU diplomats.
Earlier this year, Brussels suggested seizing the interest earned from the assets to acquire weapons for Ukraine rather than using the funds for reconstruction, as had been initially planned. 
The proposed measure has faced resistance from some EU member states that are not part of NATO, including Austria, Ireland, Malta, and Cyprus. They have demanded an exemption from buying arms for Kiev, according to the article. Other vocal critics of the EU plan include Hungary and Slovakia, the outlet reported.
Under the EU’s latest attempt to win over member states, countries which oppose the plan can limit themselves to providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine, the outlet said, citing an EU document.
Brussels is now pressing ahead with the idea of creating two different tracks, according to officials – one in which the profits would be used for non-military aid, and a second aimed at buying weapons, from which neutral countries can opt out.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597101-germany-arm-ukraine-russian-assets/">Germany backs arming Ukraine with Russian funds</a></figcaption>
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The West has frozen roughly $300 billion in Russian sovereign funds since the start of the Ukraine conflict. Brussels-based clearinghouse Euroclear holds around €191 billion ($205 billion) of the funds and has accrued nearly €4.4 billion in interest over the past year. 
In March, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell proposed taking 90% of the revenues from Russian assets frozen in the bloc and transferring them to an EU-run fund that finances weapons for Ukraine.
The EU is aiming to give Kiev €2-3 billion in revenue generated by the assets this year. A first tranche of the money could be disbursed as early as July if Brussels can secure the approval of all member states.
The opt-out, however, may not appease Germany, France, and Italy, which are the least enthusiastic about the proposal due to the legal and financial risks, an EU diplomat told the outlet.
Russia has said that any actions taken against its assets would amount to theft, stressing that seizing the funds or any similar move would violate international law and undermine Western currencies, the global financial system, and the world economy.]]>
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<title>Russian government resigns</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597135-russian-government-resigns-inauguration/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597135-russian-government-resigns-inauguration/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6639ed5f2030272e5606da73.jpg" /> Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and his cabinet have resigned as required due to Vladimir Putin’s inauguration <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597135-russian-government-resigns-inauguration/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The legally-mandated reshuffle coincides with the inauguration of Vladimir Putin as president
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and the cabinet resigned on Tuesday, as required by law when a new president is sworn in.
Vladimir Putin has taken the presidential oath, officially beginning his fifth term in office. Government ministers will retain their jobs in an acting capacity. Mishustin was appointed prime minister in January 2020, replacing Dmitry Medvedev.
On Monday, Putin met the entire cabinet to thank them for their work and sum up their accomplishments. The Russian government “has achieved significant results” in most areas, the president said.
The upcoming 18th cabinet of post-Soviet Russia is to be formed a bit differently from the previous one. A 2020 constitutional reform empowers the parliament to confirm every minister nominated by the executive branch, as opposed to approving only the prime minister.
The law allows several weeks for the process, which can end in a snap parliamentary election, should lawmakers repeatedly reject candidates for prime minister. In practice, transitions have been smooth since the constitutional crisis of 1998.
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597129-putin-oath-russian-president/">
READ MORE: Putin inaugurated for fifth term as Russian president
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This time the selection of the new government is expected to be swift, but the Kremlin has not indicated who Putin is considering for the premiership. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that the president may announce his choice of prime minister later in the day. Valentina Matvienko, who heads the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, said she expects lawmakers to have a full list of the proposed cabinet by May 15.
In addition to cabinet members, the mandatory reshuffle affects a number of other senior officials, such as the president’s chief-of-staff and press secretary, the secretary of the Russian Security Council, and presidential liaisons to Russian federal districts.]]>
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<title>West has a decision to make – Putin</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597146-putin-west-moscow-dialog/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597146-putin-west-moscow-dialog/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6639fdda85f54002ee637681.jpg" /> Russia remains open to dialogue and it is up Western nations to decide how to move forward, the president said after securing his fifth term <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597146-putin-west-moscow-dialog/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Russia remains open to dialogue and it is up to the other side to decide how to move forward, the president has said
It is up to the West to decide if it wants to engage in dialogue with Russia or pursue endless aggression in an attempt to hamper the country’s development, President Vladimir Putin said during his inauguration speech on Tuesday.
Putin’s address came after he was officially sworn in for a fifth term as Russian leader. The ceremony took place at the Kremlin Grand Palace and was attended by dozens of dignitaries, including senior officials from parliament and the constitutional court.
Commenting on the future of Russia and its relations with other nations, Putin stressed that “we do not refuse dialogue with Western states. The choice is theirs: do they intend to continue trying to restrain the development of Russia, continue the policy of aggression and relentless pressure that they have pursued for years, or look for a path to cooperation and peace.”
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597085-tatical-nuclear-drills-explained/">
READ MORE: Message to the West: What’s behind Russia’s tactical nuclear drills
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This cooperation must include discussions on issues of security and strategic stability, according to the Russian president. However, any talks must be carried out with mutual respect on equal terms, and without “arrogance, conceit, and personal exclusivity,” Putin insisted.
“Together with our partners in Eurasian integration and other sovereign development centers, we will continue to work to form a multipolar world order and an equal and indivisible security system,” Putin said. At the same time, Russia will strive to remain self-sufficient and competitive, he added.
Putin also stressed the importance of remembering “the tragic price of internal turmoil and upheaval.” In order to ensure its unity and independence, Russia’s statehood and socio-political system must be flexible and resistant to any challenges and threats, the president insisted.
The president also said society has changed in recent years, and has begun to value “reliability, mutual responsibility, sincerity, decency, nobility and courage.” 
Putin went on to promise to use his powers as head of state to ensure that all Russian citizens who have proven their loyalty and have shown “their best human and professional qualities” are given leading positions in public administration, the economy, and other spheres.
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<title>African state signs defense deal with Russia</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/africa/597136-russia-sao-tome-defense-deal/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/africa/597136-russia-sao-tome-defense-deal/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6639efe720302730560d3f36.jpg" /> Moscow and the African island nation of Sao Tome and Principe have agreed to jointly fight terrorism and promote peace and global stability <a href="https://www.rt.com/africa/597136-russia-sao-tome-defense-deal/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The agreement will allow the island state of Sao Tome and Principe and Moscow jointly tackle regional and global security threats
The government of Sao Tome and Principe has signed a military cooperation agreement with Russia, according to a <a href="http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/document/0001202405060001?ysclid=lvuq94aznd80991461&index=2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">document</a> published on Moscow’s legal information website on Sunday.
The deal, which aims to strengthen peace and international stability, was reached in St. Petersburg on April 24 and came into effect on May 5, according to the file.
During the long-term partnership, Moscow and the African island state will exchange their experience in areas including joint military training, armed forces recruitment, and troop engineering support.
The parties have also agreed to share information and expertise in order to fight regional and global terrorism.
The signing comes after the Russian government approved the draft of a security cooperation pact with Sao Tome and Principe in November.
In an interview with RT on the sidelines of the 12th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues, where the deal was concluded, Jorge Amado, the African island nation’s defense minister, applauded Moscow’s efforts in the global fight against extremist violence.
He said Sao Tome and Principe, a small nation of approximately 223,000 people, believes that collaborating with Russia and other friendly nations can help overcome current global security challenges.
Moscow has committed to strengthening ties in several sectors, including defense, with African nations.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/africa/596615-african-officials-commend-russia-counterterrorism-initiatives/">African officials hail Russia’s role in fight against global terrorism</a></figcaption>
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Military governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have all hailed Moscow as a reliable security partner after cutting defense ties with France. All three former French colonies have agreed to team up with Russia to combat jihadist insurgencies in the Sahel region, which they accuse the West of failing to address.
In Niger, the new leadership, which took power following a coup last July, has also revoked a decade-old military agreement with the US and declared American troops unwelcome in the country.
Last week, the Pentagon <a href="https://www.rt.com/africa/596940-russian-us-forces-niger-base-share/">confirmed</a> that Russian forces, who are in Niamey to train the landlocked state’s soldiers, have entered a base where American troops are stationed.]]>
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<title>Russia’s nuclear drills are response to West’s ‘shameless’ policies – Moscow </title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597127-russia-tactical-nuclear-weapons-drills-antonov/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597127-russia-tactical-nuclear-weapons-drills-antonov/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6639f0c985f54002ab56fa28.jpg" /> Russia’s nuclear weapons drills are a response to the “shameless and aggressive” policies of the West, Moscow’s envoy to the US has said <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597127-russia-tactical-nuclear-weapons-drills-antonov/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The US and its allies will not be able to “play a game of unilateral escalation,” Ambassador Anatoly Antonov has warned 
Russia’s decision to conduct tactical nuclear weapons drills is a forced response to the “shameless and aggressive” policies of the Collective West, which creates security threats for Russia and its citizens, Moscow’s ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, stated on Tuesday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered a snap exercise in the use of tactical nuclear weapons in the Southern Military District, which borders Ukraine. The drill is intended as a warning to the US and its allies not to escalate the Ukraine conflict any further, both the Foreign and Defense Ministries in Moscow said in public statements.
According to Antonov, the US and its allies are constantly beefing up supplies of increasingly deadly weapons to Ukraine designed to “kill Russian people” and attack the territory of the country.
“Step by step they are abandoning their previously declared ‘self-restraints’ in the hybrid war unleashed against us,” he said. “Roughly speaking, they are trying to ‘simmer’ our country.”
Asked to comment on a statement made by White House national security spokesman John Kirby on Monday, who accused Russia of “reckless and irresponsible” nuclear “saber-rattling,” Antonov responded that Russia is not threatening anyone. 
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597085-tatical-nuclear-drills-explained/">Message to the West: What’s behind Russia’s tactical nuclear drills</a></figcaption>
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However, the “unhinged strategists” in Washington and the EU should understand that in the escalation of the situation surrounding the Ukraine conflict which they are spurring, “Russia will use all means to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the envoy said. “The West will not be able to play a game of unilateral escalation.”
The tactical nuclear drills are taking place “in the context of recent belligerent statements by Western officials and sharply destabilizing actions taken by a number of NATO countries” in connection with the Ukraine conflict, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
The US-led bloc’s policy of inflicting a “strategic defeat” on Russia is leading it to “a further escalation of the Ukraine crisis towards an open military clash” between NATO and Moscow, the ministry added.
The Russian Defense Ministry cited “provocative statements and threats against Russia by certain Western officials” as the reason for the exercise.
They include Polish statements about the potential stationing of US nuclear weapons in Poland, as well as recent remarks by President Emmanuel Macron about the possibility of sending French and other NATO soldiers to Ukraine.]]>
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<title>Putin inaugurated for fifth term as Russian president</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597129-putin-oath-russian-president/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6639ef0b2030272e5606da76.png" /> Vladimir Putin has officially begun his fifth term as president of Russia after a swearing-in ceremony in Moscow <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597129-putin-oath-russian-president/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The ceremony was held in Moscow amid a tense geopolitical situation and diplomatic rift with the West
Vladimir Putin’s fifth term as president of Russia has begun, following his inauguration in Moscow on Tuesday.
The ceremony was held at the Grand Kremlin Palace, after the 71-year-old leader took a short car ride to the location from his workplace. The current protocol was first used in 1996, when Boris Yeltsin assumed his second term in office.
The oath to serve the nation and its people is taken while placing one hand on a special copy of the constitution used during inaugurations. The document used on Tuesday was updated to reflect amendments adopted in 2020 and the inclusion of four former Ukrainian regions which voted in referendums in 2022 to join Russia.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597049-putin-orders-tactical-nuclear-drills/">Putin orders tactical nuclear weapons drills</a></figcaption>
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Lawmakers from both chambers of the nation’s parliament and justices of the Constitutional Court were present. Following the oath, Chief Justice Valery Zorkin confirmed Putin’s fifth presidency, which will last for six years.
Putin’s previous inaugurations took place in 2000, 2004, 2012, and 2018. This year stands out, as a number of Western nations and the EU chose to boycott the event. Their governments claim that this year’s presidential election in Russia, which Putin won with a record 87.28% of the vote, was not free and fair.
Russia’s relations with the West are at one of their worst points in history. Moscow has accused the US and its allies of waging a proxy war against Russia. Sanctions, diplomatic pressure, and supplies of military aid to Ukraine are meant to contain Russia’s development, its leadership has said. The West claims it is reacting to “unprovoked aggression” by Putin and his government.
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<title>Putin sworn in at Kremlin ceremony (VIDEO)</title>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6639efa92030272e5606da79.png" /> Vladimir Putin’s inauguration ceremony has taken place in Moscow <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597125-putin-inauguration-live-broadcast/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The Russian leader has taken the oath of office for his fifth term as president in a ceremony in Moscow
The inauguration of Vladimir Putin, who is taking the oath of office for his fifth term as president, took place at the Kremlin in Moscow on Tuesday.
The 71-year-old veteran politician was reelected earlier this year with a record 87.28% of the vote.
The principal elements of the ceremony have remained unchanged since 1996, when Boris Yeltsin began his second term in office, though some details were different. For instance, Putin used an updated version of the presidential vehicle, the Aurus Senat, during the event.
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<title>Israeli tanks enter Rafah (VIDEO)</title>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6639d40085f540135a4e5bbc.jpg" /> Israel is conducting “a precise counterterrorism operation” in the city of Rafah to destroy Hamas militants, the IDF has confirmed <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597121-israeli-tanks-enter-rafah/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The IDF has announced it is carrying out “a precise counterterrorism operation” in the Gazan city
The Israeli army has entered the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, as West Jerusalem announced strikes against Hamas militants in the area.
In a statement on Tuesday morning, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it was conducting “a precise counterterrorism operation in the eastern Rafah area” in a bid “to eliminate Hamas terrorists.” 
A video released by the IDF shows at least four Israeli tanks on the Gazan side of the Rafah Crossing on the border with Egypt. Part of the clip was apparently filmed by a soldier sitting on top of one of the vehicles.
The IDF also said its troops have “managed to establish operational control of the Gazan side of the crossing.” It added that ground troops and the air force had destroyed Hamas military structures in the area, claiming to have eliminated approximately 20 militants.
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According to an unnamed Palestinian security official and an Egyptian official cited by the Times of Israel, Israeli tanks reached as close as 200 meters from the Rafah Crossing terminal, which is directly on the Egyptian border. The Egyptian official told the paper that “the operation appeared to be limited in scope.” 
The IDF said it had encouraged local residents to evacuate to the expanded humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi, located on the coast and further away from the Rafah Crossing.
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The Rafah operation comes after the IDF said mortar shells had been fired from the area at Israeli troops, killing four soldiers and injuring several others. It also follows the decision by Hamas to accept an Egyptian-Qatari ceasefire proposal, the details of which so far remain unclear.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, however, said that the deal “is far from meeting Israel’s core demands.” It added that the national war cabinet had unanimously decided to push ahead with an IDF operation in Rafah, “in order to apply military pressure on Hamas” and to make progress on freeing hostages captured by the Palestinian militant group since the start of hostilities on October 7.]]>
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<title>Modi votes as next phase in Indian election kicks off</title>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6639a8f085f54002ee637648.jpg" /> Modi cast his ballot from his home state, Gujarat, and urged everyone to vote as the third phase of India’s parliamentary election has begun <a href="https://www.rt.com/india/597112-modi-casts-vote-as-crucial-election/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The third of seven phases of polling will see 170 million people voting on Tuesday across 11 states
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi cast his vote at a school in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, as polling for the third phase of the general election started on Tuesday. Before and after casting his ballot, he encouraged people to vote. “Urging everyone to do so as well and strengthen our democracy,” Modi said on X (formerly Twitter).
Polling in the third phase, out of a total of seven, is being held across 93 parliamentary constituencies in 11 states and union territories, including Gujarat, Bihar, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and others. Over 170 million people are eligible to vote on Tuesday. 
As many as 1,331 candidates are in the fray during this phase, according to the Election Commission of India. In the 2019 election, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies won 75 of the 93 seats at stake on Tuesday, according to Mint. The alliance of opposition parties, the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-66230072">Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance</a> (INDIA), won just eight seats. 
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/india/596174-india-lok-sabha-elections-2024/">India votes: How 970 million people are deciding on who the leader of world’s new powerhouse will be</a></figcaption>
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Meanwhile, at least 19 schools in and around Ahmedabad, the capital of the western Indian state of Gujarat, received bomb threats from a Russian domain on Monday, hours ahead of polling and days after similar emails were received by dozens of schools in the nation’s capital, triggering investigations. 
Local officials called the threats a hoax, as they did not find any suspicious materials during search operations. Polling is being held in at least 11 of the schools, according to a report in the Indian Express. A complaint has been registered in connection to the bomb threat at a cyber-crime police station in Ahmedabad, the newspaper reported. Police in Ahmedabad are also believed to be in touch with their counterparts in Delhi.
India’s Home Ministry later confirmed that the threats were hoaxes. In the wake of the bomb threats, security forces in Delhi are conducting a series of mock drills at different key locations in the city, including metro stations, airports, schools, and government buildings, Wion reported. In Delhi, voting will be held on May 26 during the sixth phase.
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The threats were reportedly sent from the email address sawariim@mail.ru, which appears to be registered with the Russian email service provider Mail.ru. The Times of India reported that Delhi Police will likely send a judicial letter to Russia seeking details of the email ID from which the messages were sent.
The ongoing election in India to elect 543 members of the Lower House (Lok Sabha) to form the next government has been dubbed the world’s “largest democratic exercise,” as over 960 million people are eligible to vote. The first two phases were held on April 19 and 26. The remaining phases will be held on May 13, 20, and 25, and June 1. The counting of the votes will take place on one day – June 4.

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<title>Putin takes Russian presidential oath: Live updates</title>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6639976985f54002ee637638.jpg" /> Vladimir Putin is set to take the presidential oath at a swearing-in ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow on Tuesday <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597107-putin-inauguration-ceremony-kremlin/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The inauguration ceremony is being attended by dozens of dignitaries and distinguished guests at the Grand Kremlin Palace
Russian President-elect Vladimir Putin has taken the oath of office at a ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow on Tuesday, after securing his fifth term in the highest office with a record 87.28% of the vote in March.
The ceremony was held at the Grand Kremlin Palace, after the 71-year-old leader took a short car ride to the location from his workplace. The current protocol was first used in 1996, when Boris Yeltsin assumed his second term in office.
Dozens of dignitaries, including senior officials from parliament and the constitutional court, will attend. The heads of all foreign diplomatic missions accredited in Moscow – including those from ‘unfriendly states’ – were also invited, as required by protocol. Other distinguished guests received invitations for holding high merits or representing major religions in Russia.
After taking the 33-word oath to serve the Russian people, which is enshrined in the country’s constitution, Putin will be officially declared the president of Russia for the next six years.
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<title>US soldier arrested in Russia</title>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6639ab3585f5407ffa534ebd.jpg" /> A US Army sergeant has been detained in Vladivostok on suspicion of beating and robbing a Russian woman, local media wrote on Monday <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597108-us-soldier-arrested-russia/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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An American serviceman has been detained for allegedly beating a woman with whom he reportedly had an affair
A serving US Army sergeant has been detained in the Far Eastern Russian city of Vladivostok on suspicion of beating and robbing a Russian woman he was romantically involved with, according to the Izvestia newspaper.
The man, named by US officials as Staff Sergeant Gordon Black, 34, has been held by Russian authorities “on charges of criminal misconduct” since last Thursday, NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/us-soldier-detained-russia-officials-say-rcna150928" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a> on Monday.
“The Russian Federation notified the US Department of State of the criminal detention in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations,” US Army spokesperson Cynthia Smith said in a statement, adding that Black was receiving consular support from the State Department.
Black had reportedly been stationed in South Korea and was on leave at the time of the incident. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/soldier-arrested-russia-korea-ca2842597a0af45062667f8cc552eca6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">According</a> to the Associated Press, he was due to redeploy home to Fort Cavazos in Texas. However, he reportedly took a detour through Russia without notifying his superiors.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/595013-russians-careful-foreign-travel/">Russians warned over foreign travel </a></figcaption>
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Black, who is married, is said to have become involved with the alleged victim while they were both in South Korea. According to AP’s sources, they had a domestic dispute roughly half a year ago, after which the woman left for Vladivostok. Black followed her to the Russian city on his own initiative, according to Izvestia.
“He stayed with her for a while. At some point he began beating and strangling her. In the end he stole 200,000 rubles ($2,200) and some alcohol” before he left, the Russian newspaper <a href="https://iz.ru/1692781/2024-05-06/nbc-news-zaiavil-o-predpolozhitelnom-zaderzhanii-v-rf-amerikanskogo-voennogo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">wrote</a> on Monday, quoting an anonymous source.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/589079-putin-gershkovich-whelan-deal/">Russia ready for deal on jailed Americans – Putin</a></figcaption>
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“It’s a domestic violence case, law enforcement are dealing with it,” RIA Novosti <a href="https://ria.ru/20240507/zaderzhanie-1944276485.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a> on Tuesday, quoting a separate source.
Both Russian and US authorities have warned their citizens against traveling to each other’s countries. The Foreign Ministry in Moscow has told Russians to exercise “extreme caution” when planning trips outside the country, noting that the US has extradition treaties with over 100 nations. Despite rising tensions, the two countries exchanged high-profile prisoners in 2022, when Russian businessman Viktor Bout was swapped for US basketball player Brittney Griner.]]>
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<title>Six more Ukrainians drown trying to flee abroad – media</title>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/66396f6720302735d8239aa2.png" /> Another six bodies were reportedly discovered in the Tisza River on the Ukrainian border on Monday <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597106-ukraine-border-men-drowned/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Dozens have lost their lives in the treacherous mountain river waters while attempting to evade the draft
Six bodies were discovered in the Tisza River on Ukraine’s western border on Monday, according to a local journalist. Dozens of people have reportedly died in the river while attempting to flee Ukraine since Kiev ramped up its conscription efforts.
The Ukrainian border guard officially <a href="https://t.me/DPSUkr/19811" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">confirmed</a> one death on Monday, identified as an unknown middle-aged man whose body showed signs of prolonged time in the water. The corpse was discovered by their Romanian counterparts on the opposite side of the border. The incident marks the 25th case over the past two years, the border guard said.
According to local media reports however, six bodies were found on Monday, four of them on the Ukrainian side and two on the Romanian side of the Tisza. “One of the men had recently turned 20 years old,” local journalist Vitaly Glagola <a href="https://t.me/VGlagola/11619" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">wrote</a> on Telegram, warning of the dangers of attempting to cross the treacherous mountain river.
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President Vladimir Zelensky made it illegal for Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60 to leave the country without special permission, declaring martial law after the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022. In April this year, Zelensky signed a new mobilization bill into law, introducing harsher conscription rules.
General Aleksandr Pavlyuk, who heads the Ukrainian Land Forces, argued in March that any sympathy for the “poor people drowning in the Tisza” undermines the mobilization effort. Amid the tightening conscription efforts, many Ukrainians are not willing to join the armed forces, a member of the neo-Nazi Azov regiment told local news service TSN last month. Men “do whatever they come up with” to avoid being drafted, even “swimming across the Tisza River and drowning themselves,” the soldier said.
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Earlier on Monday, the Ukrainian Border Guard bragged about capturing a 44-year-old man dressed in women’s clothing as he tried to illegally cross into Romania.
Kiev is struggling to replenish the losses it has sustained throughout the conflict with Russia, although it has not officially confirmed the number of casualties. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Kiev has lost more than 111,000 servicemen this year alone, while its total losses throughout the conflict have amounted to around half a million troops.]]>
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<title>Germany backs arming Ukraine with Russian funds</title>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/66395ad585f54002ee63762c.jpg" /> Interest from frozen Russian assets should be used to buy weapons for Kiev, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597101-germany-arm-ukraine-russian-assets/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Chancellor Olaf Scholz supports the EU’s plan to spend 90% of interest from the frozen assets on weapons for Kiev
Interest earned from Russian assets that are frozen by the EU should be spent on weapons for Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Monday.
The US and its allies seized around $300 billion in assets belonging to the Russian central bank in February 2022, when the Ukraine conflict escalated. The EU has stopped short of confiscating the money outright, proposing instead to direct the interest to Kiev.
“It is important that we also agree that this money can be used for arms purchases not only in the EU, but for purchases worldwide,” Scholz told reporters in Riga, after a meeting with the governments of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.
He endorsed a proposal by EU foreign policy commissioner Josep Borrell about how the money should be allocated. According to Borrell, around 90% of the interest should be spent on weapons for Ukraine through the ‘European Peace Facility’ program, while the rest would be allocated to EU budgets to support Kiev’s own military industry.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/596394-eu-close-agreement-seize-russian-profits/">EU close to deal on using Russian assets for Ukraine – Belgium</a></figcaption>
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Germany and the three Baltic states want to see weapons production in the EU ramped up, Scholz added. The bloc and the US alike have struggled to meet Ukraine’s demands for arms and ammunition.
The US and its allies have pledged over $200 billion in military and financial aid to Kiev over the past two years, insisting that the conflict must be a “strategic defeat” for Moscow, even as they denied being directly involved in the hostilities.
Kiev has called on the West to confiscate all frozen Russian assets in order to help fund the conflict. The US and Canada have been supportive, but the EU has remained skeptical.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/596721-assets-us-eu-peskov/">Russia warns West against seizing its money</a></figcaption>
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About 70% of all frozen Russian funds are held by Euroclear, the Belgium-based EU central securities depository. These assets generated an estimated €4.4 billion ($4.7 billion) in interest income in 2023 alone. The after-tax revenue from the assets could reach as high as €20 billion by 2027, according to some estimates.
Moscow has denounced the freezing of the assets as “theft” and threatened a reciprocal response against the assets of EU-based individuals and companies within its jurisdiction. EU critics of the confiscation plan have also pointed out that it could destroy Euroclear’s reputation, damage the rule of law and property rights, and potentially even collapse the value of the euro.]]>
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<title>France doesn’t want regime change in Russia – Macron</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597097-france-regime-change-russia-macron/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597097-france-regime-change-russia-macron/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/66394f7585f54010dc0a1f21.jpg" /> French President Emmanuel Macron has denied that the West seeks regime change in Russia, while reaffirming his nation’s support for Kiev <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597097-france-regime-change-russia-macron/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The French president made the statement while welcoming Chinese leader Xi Jinping to the Elysee Palace
The US and its allies are not pursuing regime change in Russia, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday. Paris will still continue to provide aid to Kiev in its conflict with Moscow for as long as necessary, the French leader added.
Macron was speaking at a joint press conference with Chinese President Xi Jinping, having welcomed him at the Elysee Palace. Xi with both the French president and the head of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Xi and Macron discussed a broad range of topics, including the Ukraine conflict, as well as bilateral trade and economic ties.
During the talks, the French president urged the Chinese leader to make sure his nation does not provide any aid to Moscow that can be used in the conflict with Kiev. Macron said he welcomed Beijing’s commitments “to refrain from selling any arms” or provide “any aid” to Russia in the standoff.
Von der Leyen said “more effort is needed to curtail delivery of dual use goods to Russia that find their way to the battlefield,” while noting that “this does not affect EU-China relations.”
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597041-macron-breathes-russophobia-lavrov/">Macron ‘breathes Russophobia’ – Lavrov</a></figcaption>
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Macron said it is important to “explain the impact of this conflict on Europe's security and our determination to support Ukraine for as long as necessary.” At the same time, he stated that the West “does not have a common goal to bring about regime change in Moscow.”
The EU Commission head called on Beijing to “use all its influence on Russia” to stop the conflict. Macron said he is willing to “maintain a close dialogue” and welcomed Xi’s decision to visit France to “coordinate” the two nations’ positions ahead of the planned visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to China later in May.
A meeting with the Chinese leader “will allow [us] to follow a common agenda and identify whether or not there is a will for a durable peace,” he said.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663928802030273b264c452f.jpg" alt="French President Emmanuel Macron" />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597086-russia-france-ukraine-conflict/">Moscow slams France’s ‘belligerent rhetoric’</a></figcaption>
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Xi criticized the West for distorting the image of his nation amid the conflict. “China did not create the Ukraine crisis, nor is it a party to it,” he told the joint press conference. “We reject the use of the Ukrainian crisis to cast blame upon others, smear third countries, and unleash a new Cold War. As history has repeatedly shown, conflicts can only be resolved by negotiations,” he said, adding that Beijing has “always played a positive role to bring about peace.”
The developments came just days after Macron once again raised the issue of sending NATO troops to Ukraine – an idea he has been openly contemplating since February, when he first mentioned the possibility.
Moscow has criticized these statements, warning that sending NATO troops to Ukraine would likely make a direct confrontation between the US-led bloc and Russia inevitable. It also slammed what it called the French leadership’s “belligerent rhetoric” and provocative statements regarding the Ukraine conflict, warning that they only lead to further escalation.]]>
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<title>Why Israel is the one thing you can’t protest against in Western universities</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597066-israel-destroyed-western-universities/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597066-israel-destroyed-western-universities/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638cd7c203027469c644a3f.jpg" /> The crackdown on pro-Palestine campus protests might just make college kids hate the establishment again <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597066-israel-destroyed-western-universities/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The crackdown on pro-Palestine campus protests might just make college kids hate the establishment again
The American university crowd didn’t seem to mind too much when the state was ushering in authoritarian green policies under the dodgy pretext of reducing the temperature of the planet. Or when campuses were banning right-wing speakers. Or when everyone was being forced to comply with their ‘revolution’ over personal pronoun usage. Or when unvaccinated fellow students were being banned from campus during the Covid-19 fiasco. But now that the Western establishment, from North America to Europe, is cracking down on campus protesters demonstrating against Israel’s ongoing bombing of Gaza civilians, they’re suddenly wondering where all their rights went.
If those who are now upset with the campus crackdowns had bothered to help expand the Overton window – that is, the range of acceptable speech and debate – back when others with whom they disagreed were trying to pry it open as widely as possible, they’d be reaping the benefits of true free speech now. Instead, the establishment has enjoyed a culture of impunity, enabled by the woke crowd and its constant demands for safe spaces. And now the government and universities have unilaterally decided that it’s Israel that needs a safe space and protection from college kids.
To that end, the US Congress has just passed a new <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinian-campus-protests-columbia-congress-df4ba95dae844b3a8559b4b3ad7e058a " target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">bill</a> broadening the definition of anti-Semitism on university campuses to include “targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity.” How about another law banning criticism of Iran because it’s a collective of Muslims? Or of Russia because it’s a collective of Orthodox Christians? Or of China because it’s a collective of Buddhists? Can’t have that, because it would enable the state in question to act with carte blanche impunity by scaring critics into silence.
Not only is the establishment using force to crack down on protesters, but it’s now formally legislating against dissent, even though <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/03/27/majority-americans-disapprove-israel-gaza-poll " target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">55%</a> of Americans are against Israel’s actions in Gaza, according to a Gallup poll from March. Not even the Israeli establishment <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/galvanized-by-signs-of-life-thousands-rally-for-hostage-deal-and-against-government/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">is going</a> that far to quash dissent when, just a few days ago, thousands of Israelis rallied around the country in opposition to the government’s handling of the crisis and in favor of a ceasefire. So are they just a bunch of anti-Semites, too?
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6635569785f54010db39ad74.jpg" alt="Pro-Palestinian encampment at George Washington University in Washington, DC, on May 3, 2024" />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/596971-adl-jews-israel-us/">The top pro-Jewish organization in the US has shown it isn’t what it claims to be</a></figcaption>
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The Western establishment’s constant reductio ad absurdum, conflating pro-ceasefire and anti-genocide activism with anti-Semitism, is exactly the kind of thing that the establishment has been doing for years to ram through its agenda. Don’t like blowing cash on Ukraine? Then you’re doing the Kremlin’s bidding. Opposed to carbon taxes? You’re a science denier. Didn’t buy the ever-changing Covid narrative? You’re a threat to society. 
While the US establishment is pretending to be scandalized by the ground-breaking concept of university students actively protesting injustice, much of the focus in Europe has been on one particular campus – Sciences Po – where I taught in the master’s program for seven years. It’s basically the French equivalent of Harvard.
Initially, students faced off against French riot police and refused to budge when the authorities repeatedly threatened to use force if the students didn’t move as they blocked the campus with a sit-in to demand a ceasefire in Gaza. Some students ended up facing disciplinary proceedings as a result. The students <a href="https://etudiant.lefigaro.fr/article/etudes/town-hall-a-sciences-po-paris-l-ecole-annonce-maintenir-ses-partenariats-avec-les-universites-israeliennes-20240502/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">have also been demanding</a> that the university cut all ties with entities related to the state of Israel, which management has refused to do. There haven’t been any campus <a href="https://etudiant.lefigaro.fr/article/ces-ecoles-francaises-qui-suspendent-leurs-relations-avec-la-russie_8f71bfd6-9a0d-11ec-a30f-32abfdea6f3c/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">uprisings</a> against Russia amid the conflict in Ukraine, and yet these same universities, including Sciences Po, didn’t hesitate to cut ties with Russian universities. So why not with Israel? Because that simply isn’t the establishment’s position, unlike in the case of Russia. These institutions’ lofty values of “universality, humanity, and tolerance,” as the director of Sciences Po Strasbourg put it, are apparently selectively imposed. Kind of like campus free speech these days.
Even when Sciences Po dropped the disciplinary actions against student protesters in exchange for the students agreeing to attend a formal debate on campus to air out grievances on all sides, at least one member of the center-right establishment, the vice president of former President Nicolas Sarkozy’s party, Les Republicains, was furious about the mere notion of even entertaining the possibility. “We cannot finance a school which has become the place of entryism, a mixture of leftism and Islamism, which legitimizes anti-Semitic remarks and acts of violence,” Francois-Xavier Bellamy <a href="https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/blocus-de-sciences-po-bellamy-lr-demande-de-stopper-les-financements-publics-de-l-ecole-20240428" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">said</a>. Bellamy’s Les Republicains colleague, Valerie Pecresse, president of the Greater Paris Region, straight-up suspended its own funding of the university.
The end result of this establishment censorship is a safe space that shelters the establishment’s own rhetoric and ideas from criticism. We’re talking here about the top university for educating France’s future political elites, so you’d think it would be a good idea for students to be battle-hardened in the arena of contentious political debate and conflict. Instead, these soft-handed elites want the school to protect their narrative at the expense of the most critical kind of diversity – that of critical thought.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.04/thumbnail/662d4b7185f54079f17cbd28.jpg" alt="A Palestinian flag on the fence of Israel's Ofer prison near the city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank" />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/596620-palestinian-prisoners-israel-jails/">Neglect, abuse, torture: The West is ignoring the fate of Palestinians stuck in Israeli jails</a></figcaption>
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Even French President Emmanuel Macron has recently <a href="https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/-deep-indignation-macron-condemns-israeli-killing-of-civilians-waiting-for-aid-in-gaza/3152511" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">echoed</a> the students’ concerns in calling out Israel’s actions. “Deep indignation at the images reaching us from Gaza where civilians have been targeted by Israeli soldiers,” Macron said on X (formerly Twitter). “I express my strongest disapproval of these shots and demand truth, justice and respect for international law.”
Earlier this year, Macron said that a two-state solution recognizing a Palestinian state isn’t taboo for France. Not that he’s actually taken any actual leadership action on that front. And Sciences Po isn’t the only French campus to spark controversy on this issue. Cops cleared out a pro-Palestinian encampment this week at Paris’ Sorbonne University. Why couldn’t they just pretend that they were one of the migrant camps along the Seine and plaguing various other parts of the city for years on end? Pretty sure those migrants aren’t big fans of Israel, either. So why do they get to stay and block the city?
And when left-wing France Insoumise party leader Jean-Luc Melenchon had his conference on Palestine at Lille University canceled last month, he compared the university’s president to Nazi Adolf Eichmann, who famously <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/france-far-left-leader-jean-luc-melenchon-racked-up-controversies-ahead-eu-election/ " target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">said</a> he was just following orders. The French education minister piped up to say that she’d file a criminal complaint for public injury in support of the university president and on behalf of the government. Way to prove Melenchon wrong and dispel any notion of the heavy-handed state in his Eichmann reference.
The Western establishment supports free speech and democratic values – just as long as you find yourself on the same side as those with the power to redefine them at any given moment to suit their agenda on any given issue. The real revolution will be when this is no longer the case. Until then, episodes like the current campus chaos will only provide glimpses of this hypocritical reality as the facade of freedom temporarily cracks.]]>
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<title>US tells Israel it won’t back Rafah operation ‘as currently planned’</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597081-us-israel-rafah-gaza/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597081-us-israel-rafah-gaza/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663927062030276ca62b3154.jpg" /> An attack on the Gaza city would cause more Palestinian deaths and disrupt aid deliveries, the US State Department has said <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597081-us-israel-rafah-gaza/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Attacking the Gazan city would disrupt humanitarian aid deliveries, the State Department has said


The US cannot support a full-scale attack on Rafah as it would lead to additional loss of life and disrupt humanitarian aid deliveries, the State Department said on Monday.
The comments by State Department spokesman Matthew Miller came as Israeli jets began bombing the city on the border with Egypt, currently home to about 1.4 million Palestinians displaced from northern and central Gaza.
“We do not support Israel launching a full-scale military operation in Rafah,” Miller told reporters in Washington. 
Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials in West Jerusalem last week that the US could not support an attack on Rafah “as it is currently envisioned,” Miller added.
Israel did not present the US with a humanitarian plan for the enclave “that is credible and that is implementable,” the State Department spokesman said. “We believe that a military operation in Rafah right now would dramatically increase the suffering of the Palestinian people.”
<a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597089-hamas-accepts-ceasefire-deal/"></a>
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597089-hamas-accepts-ceasefire-deal/">Hamas accepts ceasefire deal</a></figcaption>
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Miller pointed out that most of the humanitarian aid currently being delivered to Gaza comes through Rafah via Egypt, noting that an incursion into the city would “make it incredibly difficult to sustain the increases in humanitarian assistance that we have been able to deliver.”
Earlier in the day, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told Rafah residents to evacuate because it was preparing to strike the city with “extreme force.” Airstrikes began several hours later.  
Netanyahu has threatened to send troops into the city for several months, arguing that it was necessary to guarantee Israel a “total victory” over Hamas. Last week, the Israeli prime minister said he intended to do so regardless of a ceasefire deal with the Palestinian group or international pressure.
“We will fight the monsters of Hamas and destroy them for good,” Netanyahu <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597060-international-pressure-stop-israel-netanyahu/">said</a>, adding that “no amount of pressure, no decision by any international forum, will stop Israel from defending itself.”
Netanyahu declared war on Hamas last October, after the Gaza-based group carried out a series of deadly raids into Israeli territory. More than 1,100 Israelis were reported killed in the October 7 attack. More than 34,000 Palestinians were killed and over 78,000 wounded in Israeli military operations since then, according to the Gazan health ministry.]]>
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<title>Xi refuses to back Zelensky’s unilateral ‘peace conference’</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597093-china-ukraine-peace-conference/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597093-china-ukraine-peace-conference/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/66393c7f20302739f83964ba.jpg" /> Ukraine peace talks should be recognized by all parties, the Chinese leader has said <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597093-china-ukraine-peace-conference/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Any talks should be recognized by both Russia and Ukraine, the Chinese leader has insisted
Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that he would support an international Ukraine peace conference only if it’s recognized both by Moscow and Kiev with equal participation of all parties.
The upcoming Swiss-proposed talks are scheduled to take place on June 15-16 at the Burgenstock resort near Lucerne. More than 160 delegations from around the world have been invited to take part, including members of the G7, G20, BRICS, EU, and others. Russian diplomats are not among them.
Xi, who met with with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Monday, warned against smearing China over the Ukraine conflict, insisting that Beijing was playing a “positive role” in trying to find a peaceful solution.
Xi told reporters during a joint news conference: “We [China] are opposed to using this crisis to place the responsibilities on a third country and tarnish its image and incite a new Cold War.”
China has also long urged peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, and issued a 12-point peace plan to end the hostilities one year into the conflict, in February 2023. The initiative, which was hailed by Moscow, includes a call for a cessation of hostilities, a resumption of peace talks, abandoning the “Cold War mentality,” and respecting the sovereignty of all nations.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/66389f7d85f54010db39ae7b.jpg" alt="FILE PHOTO: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597051-ukraine-peace-conference-switzerland/">Swiss summit on Ukraine a ‘parody’ – Lavrov</a></figcaption>
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“History has shown conflicts can only be resolved by negotiations,” the Chinese leader stressed on Monday, noting there should be equal participation of all parties and fair discussion of all peace plans.
The Swiss Foreign Ministry said recently Bern was “convinced” that a peace process without Russia is “unthinkable,” but Moscow had not been invited “at this stage.”
Moscow has previously called the proposed conference “pointless” and said it would not participate, even if invited. Ukraine has indicated that Russia would only be invited if it agreed to a litany of preconditions which Moscow has branded as “absurd.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has called the upcoming event a “parody of negotiations” at which Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky will be promoted. Lavrov also stated in an interview on Monday the ‘peace plan’ on which the summit will be centered contains “an openly illusory and Russophobic essence.”
In contrast to Beijing’s proposal to end the fighting, Kiev’s ten-point peace formula – first presented by Zelensky in the autumn of 2022 – demands the complete and unconditional withdrawal of Russian forces from all territories Ukraine considers its own, for Moscow to pay reparations, and for a war crimes tribunal.
Russia has rejected the proposals as “unrealistic” and a sign of Kiev’s unwillingness to seek a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
Moscow has repeatedly said it is willing to resolve the Ukraine conflict peacefully but will not accept a deal that ignores its national interests.]]>
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<title>Israel launches attack on Rafah: Live updates</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597091-israel-airstrikes-rafah-gaza/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597091-israel-airstrikes-rafah-gaza/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663932592030272e3834df85.jpg" /> IDF jets have struck the densely populated Palestinian city of Rafah ahead of a long-promised ground invasion <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597091-israel-airstrikes-rafah-gaza/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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IDF jets struck the densely populated Palestinian city ahead of a long-promised ground invasion
Israeli warplanes pounded targets in the Palestinian city of Rafah on Monday night, hours after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) warned civilians in the area that it was preparing to strike the city with “extreme force.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened for several months to send troops into the city, arguing that such an operation is necessary to guarantee Israel a “total victory” over Hamas. 
Rafah is currently home to around 1.4 million Palestinians displaced from northern and central Gaza, and the UN has warned that an Israeli invasion would be a “catastrophe” for these civilians. 
Amid fierce condemnation from the US, EU, and scores of other countries and international organizations, Netanyahu vowed last week to press ahead with the operation. The Israeli PM also stated that he would proceed with an assault on Rafah regardless of whether a ceasefire deal is reached with Hamas.
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<title>Moscow slams France’s ‘belligerent rhetoric’</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597086-russia-france-ukraine-conflict/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597086-russia-france-ukraine-conflict/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663928802030273b264c452f.jpg" /> Paris is pursuing a destructive and provocative policy in the Ukraine conflict, Russia’s Foreign Ministry told the French envoy <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597086-russia-france-ukraine-conflict/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Irresponsible statements about a possible Western troop deployment to Ukraine are escalating the conflict, the Foreign Ministry has said
The French leadership’s “belligerent rhetoric” and provocative statements around the Ukraine conflict are leading to further escalation, the Russian Foreign Ministry told France’s envoy in Moscow on Monday.
Ambassador Pierre Levy was summoned to the ministry along with British envoy Nigel Casey amid rising tensions over the Ukraine conflict. The ambassadors were seen visiting the building housing the ministry in central Moscow separately. They did not offer any comments to the press outside.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry’s press release on the meeting with Levy, the Russian side gave an assessment of France’s “destructive and provocative” approach. 
“It was emphasized that the attempts of the French authorities to create some ‘strategic uncertainty’ for Russia with their irresponsible statements about the possible dispatch of Western military contingents to Ukraine are doomed to failure,” the ministry said, adding that the tasks and goals of Moscow’s military operation will be realized.
French President Emmanuel Macron has for months been advocating for what he calls “strategic ambiguity” regarding the Ukraine conflict. The idea is to keep open the option of deploying NATO troops to Ukraine to prevent a Russian victory.
In a recent interview with The Economist, Macron claimed that the supposed deterrence produced by the hypothetical deployment of French troops is necessary to prevent a Russian victory and fend off future attacks on other nations – despite Moscow denying that it has any intention to do so. 
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/66338e4f85f5404df320abc6.jpg" alt="FILE PHOTO: French President Emmanuel Macron." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/596886-macron-troops-ambiguity-ukraine/">Threat of sending Western troops to Ukraine necessary – Macron</a></figcaption>
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested in an interview on Sunday that the rhetoric stems from Macron’s wish to use “Russophobic” messages to boost the French position in the EU.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also released a statement following a meeting with Casey, saying that Moscow would retaliate against British targets in Ukraine or elsewhere if Kiev uses UK-provided missiles to strike Russian territory. This followed remarks by British Foreign Secretary David Cameron to Reuters that Ukraine has the right to use long-range missiles sent by the UK to strike deep inside Russia.
On Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry announced an exercise to test the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons. President Vladimir Putin ordered the drills after the “provocative statements and threats” by Western officials, the military said.
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<title>Message to the West: What’s behind Russia’s tactical nuclear drills</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597085-tatical-nuclear-drills-explained/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597085-tatical-nuclear-drills-explained/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6639029b20302737ae1dfeae.jpg" /> Surprise military exercises are intended to put the US and its allies on notice about unacceptable escalation in Ukraine, Moscow has said <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597085-tatical-nuclear-drills-explained/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Moscow’s response comes after escalatory statements by US allies about the Ukraine conflict
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered a snap exercise in the use of tactical nuclear weapons in the Southern Military District, which borders Ukraine. 
The drill is intended as a warning to the US and its allies not to escalate the Ukraine conflict any further, both the foreign and defense ministries in Moscow emphasized in public statements.
While the West has accused Russia of making nuclear threats on multiple occasions, Moscow’s nuclear doctrine was spelled out in July 2020 and remains unchanged, the Kremlin has repeatedly stated.
<h2>Snap exercises</h2>
The purpose of the drills is to iron out “the practical aspects of the preparation and deployment of non-strategic nuclear weapons,” as well as to strengthen the readiness of both equipment and personnel, “in order to ensure the integrity and sovereignty of Russia,” the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday.
The exercises will take place in the Southern Military District, which directly borders Ukraine. Headquartered in Rostov-on-Don, it is the smallest of Russia’s military districts, and includes Crimea, the Caucasus, the regions of Rostov, Volgograd and Krasnodar, as well as the recently admitted Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR), Kherson and Zaporozhye Regions. 
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597054-medvedev-nuclear-drill-nato/">Western leaders are ‘infantile morons’ – Medvedev</a></figcaption>
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<h2>Russia’s tactical nuclear arsenal </h2>
Warheads with yields measured in kilotons of TNT – such as the weapons used by the US against the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 – are now considered tactical nuclear weapons. They are intended for use against battlefield targets, whether field formations or hardened combat positions. 
Tactical nuclear warheads with yields of 5-50 kilotons can be mounted on 9M723-1 ballistic missiles or the 9M728 cruise missiles, both fired from the Iskander-M complex. Similar warheads can be carried by Kh-47M2 Kinzhal and the Kh-32 cruise missiles that are carried by Russian bombers.
A number of artillery systems can also deliver tactical nuclear warheads in the 2-2.5 kiloton range, installed in 152mm shells and 240mm mortar rounds.
Russia is estimated to have almost 6,000 nuclear warheads of various yields. An unspecified number of tactical nuclear warheads were stationed in Belarus last year, as a response to NATO members delivering depleted uranium munitions to Ukraine.
The US has about 180 tactical nuclear bombs deployed at six bases in Europe – two in Italy, and one each in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Türkiye. The government in Warsaw has expressed a willingness to host the weapons as well, to which <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/596553-ryabkov-nuclear-weapons-poland/">Moscow responded</a> that it would consider Poland a priority target.
<h2>Message to the West</h2>
The tactical nuclear drills are taking place “in the context of recent belligerent statements by Western officials and sharply destabilizing actions taken by a number of NATO countries” in connection with the Ukraine conflict, the Russian Foreign Ministry <a href="https://www.mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1948486/">said on Monday</a>.
The US-led bloc’s policy of inflicting a “strategic defeat” on Russia is leading it towards “a further escalation of the Ukraine crisis towards an open military clash” between NATO and Moscow, the ministry added.
As examples, the ministry cited Polish statements about the possible stationing of US nuclear  weapons in Poland, but also recent French nuclear posturing and remarks by President Emmanuel Macron about the possibility of sending French and other NATO soldiers to Ukraine.
<h2>Russia’s nuclear doctrine</h2>
According to the <a href="http://kremlin.ru/acts/bank/45562" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">decree</a> signed by President Vladimir Putin in July 2020, Moscow’s nuclear arsenal is intended to deter external aggression against Russia.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2023.06/thumbnail/649b5dfb85f5407cd3415895.jpg" alt="Sergey Karaganov attends a session of the 14th Eurasian Economic Forum in Verona, Italy, 2021" />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/578814-russia-has-to-consider-launching-nuclear-strike/">Sergey Karaganov: Here’s why Russia has to consider launching a nuclear strike on Western Europe </a></figcaption>
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The doctrine is “defensive in nature, aimed at maintaining the potential of nuclear forces at a level sufficient to ensure nuclear deterrence, and guarantees the protection of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state, deterring a potential enemy from aggression against the Russian Federation and (or) its allies, and – in the event of a military conflict – preventing the escalation of hostilities and their cessation on terms acceptable to the Russian Federation and (or) its allies.”
Russia views nuclear weapons “solely as a means of deterrence” and considers their use “an extreme and forced measure,” the decree specified.
The doctrine outlines the conditions under which the Russian president would be justified in authorizing the use of atomic weapons. Of particular importance is Section 17, which spells out that Russia “reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in response to the use of nuclear weapons and other types of weapons of mass destruction against it and/or its allies, as well as in the event of aggression against the Russian Federation using conventional weapons, when the existence of the state itself is at risk.” (emphasis added)
<h2>Claims and counterclaims</h2>
Time and again since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, the US has accused Russia of rattling the nuclear sabers and even considering the use of tactical nuclear weapons against the government in Kiev. Moscow has <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/594087-russia-nuclear-weapons-peskov/">repeatedly dismissed</a> such claims as groundless speculation.
For example, a CNN reporter claimed in March that Washington began “preparing rigorously” for the possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons in Ukraine in late 2022, as Kiev’s forces advanced in Kharkov and Kherson. However, Russian President Vladimir <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/594271-peskov-putin-interview-comment/">Putin said</a> in an interview that it had “never come into his mind to use tactical nuclear weapons” despite the “various situations” that had emerged on the battlefield.
In a speech to Russian lawmakers at the end of February, Putin accused the West of <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/593443-putin-west-flirting-nuclear-war/">flirting with nuclear disaster</a>. “Everything that they are thinking up now, that they are scaring the world with, it all really poses the threat of a conflict involving nuclear weapons, and therefore, the destruction of civilization. Don’t they understand this?” the Russian president said at the time.
Earlier this year, while Congress was debating the $61 billion military aid bill for Kiev, the US floated unspecified accusations about a secret Russian nuclear capability in space. The Kremlin <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/592487-russian-space-nukes-trick/">has denied</a> such rumors as scurrilous.]]>
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<title>Japanese volunteer explains why he is fighting on Russia’s side against Ukraine</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597074-japanese-national-russian-army/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597074-japanese-national-russian-army/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638f46b2030273b264c450e.jpg" /> The conflict between Moscow and Kiev has been misrepresented in Japan due to Western pressure, Daisaku Kaneko tells RT <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597074-japanese-national-russian-army/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The conflict is vastly misrepresented in his country, whose foreign policy is dictated by the US and NATO, Daisaku Kaneko told RT
Moscow should not be blamed for the conflict in Ukraine, Daisaku Kaneko, a Japanese national who joined the Russian Army to fight against Kiev, said in an exclusive interview with RT aired on Monday. According to Kaneko, the West is leading a propaganda campaign against Russia and is misrepresenting the conflict.
Kaneko was in Thailand when the hostilities between Moscow and Kiev broke out in February 2022, working as a shooting instructor for the Thai Army. He says this allowed him to compare the coverage of the situation from two perspectives – the strongly pro-Ukrainian Japanese media and the neutral media in Thailand.
“I feel very sorry about this whole situation. Because the Japanese media presents the events in a matter that’s convenient for America and NATO, and ordinary Japanese people believe them,” he stated, noting that early on, more than 90% of the Japanese people were convinced that the conflict “was [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s war” and that “only Russia was to blame” for the hostilities.
“I realized that the Japanese media was wrong,” he said, adding that this realization made him move to Russia to join the country’s military effort.
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I wanted to show the US that there is a Japanese man who is on Russia’s side.
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According to Kaneko, his home country’s fierce anti-Russia stance is the result of Japan blindly following US orders. Japan has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine in the conflict, taking part in the Western sanctions on Russia and cutting reliance on the country’s energy resources by phasing out oil and coal imports. It has also provided around $12 billion in financial aid to support Kiev’s war effort.

<blockquote>
I feel pity for the Japanese government. It is very obedient. It does whatever the US tells it to do.
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Kaneko says, however, that the attitude towards the conflict is gradually changing in Japan.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/business/596076-japan-russia-energy-projects/">Japan to retain oil and gas interests in Russia </a></figcaption>
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“There is a growing number of Japanese who understand that the blame [for the conflict] should not simply be pinned on Russia… If indeed this is Putin’s war, then why does it last so long? The Japanese are wondering that, people are beginning to question the Maidan events in 2014, which happened prior to the operation, and the associated implications,” he said, referring to the starting point of the hostilities in Donbass, which later led to a full-blown conflict.
Kaneko has taken part in several battles, and was badly injured during fighting in the strategic Donbass city of Avdeevka, which was liberated by Moscow, in November last year. Still, he says he does not plan to return to Japan even after the conflict is over, having “fallen in love” with Russia and its people.
“I have fallen in love with Russia so much that I’m not willing to go back… Russians are very kind and friendly, Russians are complex people, but when you get on friendly terms, they do not let you down – they are very caring. That is a trait that the Japanese have lost, we used to have it but now it is all gone,” he said.
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<title>Russia to hold nuclear drills to ‘cool hot heads’ in West – Foreign Ministry</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597090-russia-nuclear-drills-cool-heads-west/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597090-russia-nuclear-drills-cool-heads-west/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6639199d85f54010dc0a1eed.jpg" /> The exercises are aimed at helping Western leaders realize the potential “catastrophic” consequences of their own actions, Moscow says <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597090-russia-nuclear-drills-cool-heads-west/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Earlier in the day, Moscow announced that it plans to test its ability to deploy tactical nuclear weapons
Russia’s upcoming exercises to test its tactical nuclear weapons should be viewed in light of the “belligerent statements” made by some Western officials and NATO’s “destabilizing actions,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday.
Earlier in the day, Moscow announced plans to test its military’s ability to deploy tactical nuclear weapons. The exercises, which were ordered by President Vladimir Putin, will be held in the near future, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
According to the Foreign Ministry, the move was a response to the continued “power politics” pursued by the US and its allies against Russia. Washington and Kiev’s other backers openly declare their support for Ukrainian “terrorist acts” and “directly contribute” to such attacks, the statement read, pointing to the continued supply of ever more powerful Western weapons to Ukraine. It particularly drew attention to the US-made ATACMS missiles capable of “striking targets deep inside Russian territory.”
Last week, former UK prime minister and current Foreign Secretary David Cameron stated that Kiev had every right to use British weapons to strike targets inside Russia as well.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/596159-typhoon-us-philippines-antonov/">Russia responds to new US missile deployment in Asia</a></figcaption>
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The US has also created new threats to Russia’s national security through deployment of its intermediate-range ground-based missile systems around the world, the ministry said. Such weapons were banned under the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), but Washington unilaterally withdrew from the agreement in 2019.
The move left Russia with no choice but to leave the treaty as well. However, Moscow introduced a moratorium on fielding weapons that used to be covered by the treaty. Russia now reserves the right to a “mirror response” to American actions, the ministry said, adding that the moratorium could be lifted.
Moscow also slammed statements by French President Emmanuel Macron about a potential NATO troop deployment to Ukraine. “This cannot be perceived in any other way than a demonstration of the readiness and willingness to enter a direct military confrontation with Russia,” the ministry warned.
Last week, Macron said that Western nations would have to consider such an option if Kiev officially requested it. “Such actions of the NATO member states show that they deliberately strive for further escalation of the Ukraine crisis towards a direct military clash between NATO and Russia,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.]]>
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<title>Hamas accepts ceasefire deal</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597089-hamas-accepts-ceasefire-deal/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597089-hamas-accepts-ceasefire-deal/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6639137b20302737ae1dfeba.jpg" /> The militants have reportedly agreed to a truce ahead of an Israeli invasion of Rafah <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597089-hamas-accepts-ceasefire-deal/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The militants have reportedly agreed to a truce ahead of an Israeli invasion of Rafah
Hamas has accepted a ceasefire proposal put forward by Egyptian and Qatari mediators, a spokesman for the group told Al Jazeera on Monday. The announcement came shortly after Israel ordered the evacuation of the city of Rafah ahead of a long-planned assault.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh held phone calls with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani and Egyptian Intelligence Minister Abbas Kamel, informing them “of the Hamas movement’s approval of their proposal regarding the ceasefire agreement,” the group said in a statement to Al Jazeera.
The details of the proposal have not yet been made public. Hamas has previously demanded that any ceasefire be permanent and include the withdrawal of all Israeli troops from the besieged Palestinian enclave. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to issue these guarantees, warning last week that Israel will not allow Hamas to remain in power in Gaza, and will invade Rafah with or without a ceasefire deal.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638bc9e203027489b10567b.jpg" alt="Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a ceremony marking Holocaust Remembrance Day for the six million Jews killed during World War II, at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem on May 5, 2024." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597060-international-pressure-stop-israel-netanyahu/">No international pressure can stop Israel – Netanyahu</a></figcaption>
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Netanyahu has, however, said that Israel is ready for a temporary pause in fighting to allow the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
The Israeli PM has threatened for several months to launch a ground invasion of Rafah, a city in southern Gaza currently home to around 1.4 million displaced Palestinians from other parts of the territory. Despite condemnation from the US, EU, and scores of other countries, the Israeli military ordered civilians to leave Rafah on Monday, warning that it would strike the city with “extreme force” shortly thereafter.
It is not clear whether the threat of invasion influenced Hamas’ decision to accept the ceasefire proposal. Despite Netanyahu’s insistence on entering Rafah, other Israeli officials have suggested that Hamas could avoid an invasion by agreeing to Israel’s temporary truce.
It is also unclear whether the deal put forward by Egypt and Qatar has Israel’s support. An unnamed Israeli official told Reuters that Hamas agreed to a “softened” version of West Jerusalem’s initial offer, which included ‘far-reaching” conclusions that Israel would not support. 
Israel declared war on Hamas after the Palestinian militants launched a surprise attack on October 7, killing around 1,200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages back to Gaza. The death toll from Israel’s retaliation in the enclave is approaching 35,000 as of Monday, according to the Palestinian health authorities.
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<title>EU member working on Israel sanctions</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597087-belgium-planning-israel-sanctions/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597087-belgium-planning-israel-sanctions/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6639068485f54002ab56f99c.jpg" /> The Belgian prime minister and his deputy have both promised to punish Israel over its conduct in Gaza <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597087-belgium-planning-israel-sanctions/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The country’s prime minister and deputy prime minister have both promised to punish Israel over the death toll in Gaza
The Belgian government is “working on further sanctions against Israel,” Deputy Prime Minister Petra De Sutter said on Monday. Brussels has already sanctioned Israeli settlers, and plans to cut trade ties with the Jewish state over the war in Gaza.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), De Sutter said that Israel’s planned invasion of Rafah – a city in southern Gaza where around 1.4 million Palestinian refugees have sought shelter – would “lead to [a] massacre.” 
Israel ordered the evacuation of Rafah on Monday, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) warning that it would strike the city with “extreme force” shortly thereafter. 
“I met with Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Riad Malki. We discussed how Belgium can help to end the atrocities,” De Sutter said in a follow-up post, adding that “Belgium is working on further sanctions against Israel.”
Belgium and the EU’s 26 other member states imposed sanctions last month on four individuals and two organizations involved in the construction of illegal Jewish settlements on Palestinian land in the West Bank. The people and entities sanctioned are responsible for property theft and “serious human rights abuses against Palestinians,” according to the European Council.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6634ba0485f54032cc5a2e68.jpg" alt="Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/596943-turkiye-suspends-trade-israel/">Türkiye suspends all trade with Israel</a></figcaption>
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Belgium currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Council. Speaking to Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws on Monday, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said that he would use the presidency to push the European Commission to review its trade agreement with Israel, and if necessary, gather a group of like-minded European leaders willing to cut ties with the country.
“Can we now simply continue with Israel as a trading partner? I do not think so,” he told the newspaper.
De Croo rejected calls from the Belgian opposition to sanction Israel two months ago. “But in the meantime there have been 35,000 deaths, including 10,000 children,” he explained. “In ten years’ time people are going to say, ‘You watched and took no action.”
The EU is Israel’s largest trading partner, with 32% of Israel’s imports originating from the EU and 25% of its exports sent to the bloc, according to data from 2022. Belgium is Israel’s fourth biggest trading partner within the EU, largely due to the diamond trade. 
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/news/597037-military-aid-israel-frozen/">
READ MORE: US froze military aid shipment to Israel – Axios
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Türkiye announced on Thursday that it would suspend all trade with Israel due to the latter’s “aggression against Palestine in violation of international law and human rights.” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been one of Israel’s fiercest critics since the war in Gaza began, comparing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler and accusing him of committing “genocide” against the Palestinians.
Israel declared war on Hamas after the Palestinian militants launched a surprise attack on October 7, killing around 1,200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages back to Gaza. The death toll from Israel’s retaliation in the enclave is approaching 35,000 as of Monday, according to the Palestinian health authorities.
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<title>Man dressed as woman detained attempting to flee Ukraine (VIDEO)</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597083-ukraine-detains-man-in-dress/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597083-ukraine-detains-man-in-dress/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638feea85f54002ab56f997.jpg" /> A 44-year-old tried to illegally cross into Romania by presenting his sister’s passport but was caught by border guards <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597083-ukraine-detains-man-in-dress/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The 44-year-old was trying to illegally cross into Romania when he was caught by Ukrainian border guards
The Ukrainian State Border Guard has reported capturing a man dressed in women’s clothes as he tried to illegally cross into Romania, according to a statement and video published on the service’s website on Monday.
The guard stated that the 44-year-old man, who is a resident of the city of Zolotonosha, presented his sister’s passport at a checkpoint in Transcarpathia Region while wearing a skirt, an “unpretentious fashion bow, makeup and a wig.”
However, his disguise was immediately blown when he approached the border control, according to the guards who mockingly called him “charming Sergietta.”
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Border Service reported on Sunday that the country’s authorities are stopping more than 100 people from leaving the country each day now that Kiev has ramped up mobilization efforts.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/596430-ukraine-draft-consular-service/">Ukraine freezes all consular services for military-aged men abroad</a></figcaption>
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According to Andrey Demchenko, the persons being stopped “do not fall under the pass category” or “do not have the necessary documents to cross the border." He also noted that the rules for leaving the country could soon change after a new mobilization law comes fully into force in the coming days.
Kiev officially declared a general mobilization throughout the country shortly after Russia launched its military campaign in February 2022. Under the law, men aged 18 to 60 who do not qualify for an exception are banned from leaving, as they may be called up for military service.
Additionally, under the new revised laws signed by President Vladimir Zelensky last month, the conscription age for men has been lowered from 27 to 25 and all Ukrainians must now update their personal data with local military authorities. Those eligible to be called up are also now required to carry their military IDs.
Kiev is intensifying mobilization efforts in an attempt to replenish the losses it has sustained throughout its conflict with Russia. While Ukrainian authorities have not officially confirmed the number of casualties suffered, Russia’s Defense Ministry estimated last week that Kiev has lost more than 111,000 servicemen this year alone, while its total losses throughout the conflict have amounted to about half a million troops.

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<title>UK seizes smartphones ahead of Rwanda deportation – Telegraph</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/africa/597084-uk-seizes-migrants-smartphones-rwanda-deportation/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/africa/597084-uk-seizes-migrants-smartphones-rwanda-deportation/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663901242030273a01745251.jpg" /> UK detention centers where migrants are held for relocation to Rwanda have reportedly seized the detainees’ smartphones <a href="https://www.rt.com/africa/597084-uk-seizes-migrants-smartphones-rwanda-deportation/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The Home Office began detaining illegal immigrants last week for the first flights to the African nation this summer
The British authorities have taken away smartphones from migrants who have been detained for removal to Rwanda to prevent them from contacting charities or law firms that could help them challenge their detention, The Telegraph reported on Sunday.
Last week, the British government announced it had launched a series of nationwide raids to track down illegal immigrants ahead of the first deportation flights scheduled for July, under a controversial immigration policy promoted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
More than 2,200 detention spaces have been prepared to house those who will be taken into custody as part of the operation, the Home Office said in a statement.
On Sunday, The Telegraph claimed the migrants at seven of the holding centers have been given phones without cameras and are unable to access the internet as part of the rules imposed. It cited the Home Office as saying the move is a “safety and security” measure.
The detentions follow the passage of the Safety of Rwanda Bill by the UK Parliament last month, paving the way for the start of deportation flights.
The legislation aims to block court challenges that have stalled the enforcement of an initial agreement between London and Kigali to send asylum seekers who entered the UK illegally to the East African nation for claim processing. The five-year agreement reached in April 2022 was stymied by an intervention from the European Court of Human Rights, which halted the first deportation flight two months later. Last November, the UK Supreme Court also ruled the scheme illegal, declaring Rwanda an unsafe third country for refugee relocation.
Sunak’s Conservative government, which has committed to “stopping the boats” since taking office in 2022, has insisted the Rwandan scheme will address the influx of illegal immigrants entering the English Channel. According to recent government figures, more than 7,000 people arrived on ‘small boats’ in the first four months of this year, an increase of more than 1,400 since the same January-April period last year.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/66338e0d203027616c201c08.jpg" alt="FILE PHOTO." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/africa/596870-britain-detains-migrants-rwanda-deportation/">Britain launches raids to detain migrants for deportation to Africa</a></figcaption>
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More than 120 potential deportees have so far reportedly contacted some of the several charity organizations in the UK that are against their detention and removal to assist them with immigration lawyers to oppose the scheme.
Asylum Aid, which works with some of the most vulnerable refugees in the UK, has warned the Home Office that it will take legal action to challenge the policy, which it claims is causing widespread fear and distress among migrants.
An estimated 52,000 asylum seekers in the UK are reportedly eligible to be sent to Rwanda under the deportation scheme. However, Kigali’s spokesperson, Yolande Makolo, said on Sunday that the country cannot guarantee how many people it can host. 
“We will be able to welcome the migrants that the UK sends over the lifetime of this partnership. What I cannot tell you is how many thousands we are taking in the first year or the second year,” the official said on the BBC’s ‘Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg’.]]>
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<title>China’s Xi visits EU to avert trade war – media</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/business/597065-china-europe-trade-war-meeting/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/business/597065-china-europe-trade-war-meeting/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638fe0c85f5407ffa534e7e.jpg" /> The Chinese leader has met with EU officials to discuss strained economic ties <a href="https://www.rt.com/business/597065-china-europe-trade-war-meeting/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The leader has held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen amid growing tensions
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, and EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Monday to resolve economic disagreements between Brussels and Beijing, various media outlets have reported.
Xi arrived in France on Sunday for a two-day state visit, embarking on his first trip to Europe in five years. The Chinese leader will next head to Serbia and Hungary. 
“The world today has entered a new period of turbulence and change,” Xi stated at the start of the trilateral meeting in Paris. 
“As two important forces in the world, China and Europe should... continuously make new contributions to world peace and development,” the leader added.
The Paris meeting mainly focused on trade disputes between Beijing and the EU.
According to Macron, Europe and China must resolve structural difficulties, in particular on trade. 
“The future of our continent will also very clearly depend on our capacity to further develop in a balanced way our relationship with China,” the French president said during the meeting at the Elysee Palace.
Macron has been pushing Brussels to get tough with China, accusing it of flooding the market with cheap electric vehicles. The EU launched an investigation last year into Chinese subsidies, while Beijing has threatened to slap tariffs on French-made brandy imports.
Von der Leyen echoed Macron’s remarks, claiming the EU and China want good relations. “We have a substantial EU-China economic relationship... But this relationship is also challenged, for example, through state-induced overcapacity, unequal market access and overdependencies,” the EU commissioner stated.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663885a12030273e27086025.jpg" alt="FILE PHOTO: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/business/597048-leyen-xi-meeting-deindustrialization/">China causing de-industrialization in EU – von der Leyen</a></figcaption>
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After the meeting, she told reporters that the EU “cannot absorb massive over-production of Chinese industrial goods flooding its market.”  
“Europe will not waver from making tough decisions needed to protect its market,” von der Leyen cautioned.
The EU commissioner has been pushing for “de-risking” trade with China as the bloc has accused Beijing of abusing the EU’s economic hospitality by dumping products.
In the last several weeks, the EU authorities have launched investigations into alleged unfair Chinese trade practices, including restrictions on the supply of European medical devices to the Asian nation’s market and subsidies for Chinese firms producing wind turbines, electric vehicles, and trains.
Meanwhile, China has opened an anti-dumping probe into brandy imported from the EU, which affects French exporters in particular. The mutual investigations are seen as a mounting tit-for-tat stand-off over protectionism.]]>
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<title>British citizen explains why he joined Russian army (VIDEO)</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597079-british-soldier-russian-army/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597079-british-soldier-russian-army/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638f92885f5407c7b5e6d2d.png" /> Aiden Minnis told RT that he has “zero doubt” about his decision to leave the UK behind to fight for Russia <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597079-british-soldier-russian-army/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Aiden Minnis told RT that he has “zero doubt” he did the right thing by volunteering to fight for Russia
British citizen Aiden Minnis joined the Russian military to avenge “the systematic murder of ethnic Russian people” in Donbass by Ukrainian forces, he told RT in an exclusive interview broadcast on Monday.
Minnis’ journey to the frontline began in 2014, when he first saw videos and reports on the Ukrainian government’s treatment of ethnic Russians following the ‘Maidan’ coup in Kiev. Seeing the Odessa Trade Unions House <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/554860-burned-alive-2014-odessa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">massacre</a> – in which a mob of pro-Western coup supporters burned 42 people alive – was a turning point, he told former US Army officer Stanislav Krapivnik, who interviewed him for RT.
“The fascists locked innocent civilians, including women, in the building, then set them on fire,” he said, adding that he began to think “Something is wrong here. I’m complicit in this simply because my tax money is going to the arms that are being given to the Banderists, the fascists.”
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Minnis flew to Russia in 2022, but realized he was unprepared to join the military. He returned a year later, and now serves as a sapper. When he first showed up at the recruitment office, “one of the officers laughed at me when I produced my British passport,” he recalled. “He just couldn’t believe that someone from Britain had come over to fight for them.”
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/russia/595727-us-citizens-back-russia-zelensky/">
READ MORE: US citizens backing Russia – Zelensky
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Minnis, who is of Irish descent, explained that he hasn’t managed to learn Russian yet, but manages to communicate with his comrades through a mix of “pidgin English, pidgin Russian, and sign language.” His duties mostly involve construction, he said, but his unit has come under fire on several occasions, most notably near Kremennaya in Russia’s Lugansk People’s Republic last year.
“That was quite hairy,” he said. “Sometimes you question your mortality. As these bombs are going off, they’re not far. You can feel the vibrations going through your chest, and it can leave you breathless.”
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<title>NATO member says it ‘won’t send Ukrainians to their deaths’</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597078-hungary-ukraine-draft-refugees/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597078-hungary-ukraine-draft-refugees/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638eadf85f54003ee442b3f.jpg" /> Hungary will not extradite Ukrainians to Kiev to “be sent to their deaths” in the conflict with Russia, Budapest has said <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597078-hungary-ukraine-draft-refugees/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Budapest will not allow Kiev to send people under its protection to the front lines, Zsolt Semjen has said
Hungary has no intention of extraditing Ukrainian citizens, as Kiev intensifies efforts to mobilize more troops for the army, Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjen has said.
In recent weeks, the Ukrainian government has attempted to pressure its citizens who left the country, particularly those living in the EU, to return home, including by asking the bloc’s authorities to support this effort. Many EU members, however, have been reluctant to cooperate.
Semjen told Hungarian broadcaster ATV on Monday that Budapest “would not extradite refugees to Ukraine.” “We do not investigate whether, according to the Ukrainians, the person is conscripted or not. Based on basic humanity, we will not allow them to be sent to their deaths.”
“Every refugee from Ukraine is completely safe with us and receives all the help,” he added.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638c2f22030277d8d00ceda.jpg" alt="FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian refugees are seen waiting for to cross the border, inside the tent placed at the Ukrainian side of the borer in Palanca." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597063-ukrainians-blocked-leaving-border/">Over 100 Ukrainians blocked from leaving country every day – border service</a></figcaption>
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In an effort to force Ukrainians of fighting age to return home, Ukrainian consulates abroad last month announced the “temporary suspension” of services to men between the ages of 18 and 60, who can no longer receive any necessary documents until they return home. A Washington Post report last week suggested that many Ukrainians living in the West are angered by the new policy, saying they feel they are being treated like traitors and potential prey for conscription officials.
Kiev has also tried to enlist EU officials to help solve its manpower problem. But even staunch supporters of Ukraine such as Poland and Germany have refused to hand over refugees, vowing to protect their rights. 
According to Eurostat, 4.3 million Ukrainians were living in the EU as of January 2024, of which around 860,000 are men of fighting age.
In recent months, Ukraine has also stepped up efforts to compensate for losses on the battlefield by increasing its mobilization drive within the country. Last month, President Vladimir Zelensky signed two bills into law, one lowering the draft age for men from 27 to 25, and another significantly simplifying the draft process.
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<title>France and EU pressuring China over Russia</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597076-china-xi-france-eu/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597076-china-xi-france-eu/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638e5b12030274840525ea1.jpg" /> Coordination with China on the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East is “absolutely decisive,” French President Emmanuel Macron has said <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597076-china-xi-france-eu/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Coordination with Beijing on the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East is “absolutely decisive,” French President Emmanuel Macron has said
French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to limit his country’s cooperation with Russia in light of the Ukraine conflict.
Coordination with Beijing on “major crises,” including Ukraine and the Middle East, is “absolutely decisive,” Macron said at the beginning of trilateral talks at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Monday.
The goal of the meeting is to express “both our shared positions and our concerns, to try to overcome them, because the future of our continent will very clearly also depend on our ability to develop balanced relations with China,” he said.
In his opening remarks, Xi said that in the current “period of turbulence and change” globally “two important forces in the world, China and Europe should… continuously make new contributions to world peace and development.” Beijing approaches its ties with the EU from “a strategic and long-term perspective,” hoping that they will help both sides “thrive,” the Chinese leader, who will also visit Hungary and Serbia as part of his European tour, added.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663885a12030273e27086025.jpg" alt="FILE PHOTO: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/business/597048-leyen-xi-meeting-deindustrialization/">China causing de-industrialization in EU – von der Leyen</a></figcaption>
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During a press conference after the meeting, Von der Leyen said that Brussels and Paris are counting on Beijing to “use all its influence on Russia” to stop the conflict with Ukraine. The EU chief also said that she and Macron urged Xi to make “more efforts to limit the delivery to Russia of dual-use equipment.”
The US and its European allies claim that Chinese-made circuitry, aircraft parts, and machine tools have been helping Moscow boost its military industrial capacity.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who visited Beijing in late April, warned that Washington was ready to introduce more sanctions against China if it does not stop sales of dual-use goods to Russia.
However, a few days later the Chinese Foreign Ministry insisted that China’s right to economic cooperation with Russia or any other country “should not be interfered with or disrupted.”
Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said that Beijing is a “close partner” of Moscow and that it is going to keep boosting relations with China further.
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/news/596786-china-vows-retaliation-over-us-legislation/">
READ MORE: China vows retaliation against US ‘bullying’
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In an article for the French paper Le Figaro on Thursday, Xi stressed that China was “neither a party to nor a participant” in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, but that it was willing to work with the international community to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
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<title>Russia destroys Ukrainian drones in Black Sea (VIDEO)</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597082-ukrainian-sea-drones-destroyed-video/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597082-ukrainian-sea-drones-destroyed-video/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638f2d785f54010dc0a1ec7.png" /> The Russian military has destroyed five Ukrainian autonomous surface vessels over the past 24 hours, Moscow has said <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597082-ukrainian-sea-drones-destroyed-video/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The Russian Defense Ministry has reported striking a total of five autonomous surface vessels
Several Ukrainian sea drone attacks have been thwarted in the Black Sea over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Telegram on Monday. The Russian military also published a clip showing a Ukrainian autonomous surface vessel being intercepted.
A total of five sea drones were destroyed, the ministry said. It did not provide any details about the potential targets of the attacks or where the autonomous vessels had been struck.
Footage published by the ministry showed a Russian military helicopter hunting one such drone in what appears to be the open sea. The aircraft can be seen repeatedly opening fire at the vessel with its machine guns as the drone seeks to escape through active maneuvering. The Ukrainian surface vehicle looks like a small motorboat with what appears to be a missile mounted on it.
The clip ends with the drone exploding in a major blast after apparently being hit by the helicopter, which can still be seen nearby.
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Ukraine has been touting its sea drones as a weapon it uses to attack Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. However, such attacks have targeted both military and civilian infrastructure. Kiev started to actively employ such vessels in 2023, most notably in its attack on the Crimean Bridge in July of that year.
The attack damaged the bridge, which links the peninsula to other parts of southern Russia, and claimed the lives of a Russian married couple, while injuring their 14-year-old daughter. In August 2023, Moscow said Ukraine had used three maritime drones to attack Russian cargo vessels en route to the Turkish Straits. All of the drones were destroyed.
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/russia/595531-ukraine-sea-drones-destroyed/">
READ MORE: Western-supplied sea drones destroyed in Ukraine – MOD
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Although Ukrainian officials maintained that the sea drones had been domestically produced, the Russian military reported in April having discovered and destroyed a stockpile of autonomous vessels “supplied to Ukraine by NATO countries.”]]>
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<title>West shouldn’t lecture ‘secular’ India on religion – Manipur head to RT</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/india/597073-west-lecture-india-manipur-chief/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/india/597073-west-lecture-india-manipur-chief/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638ed7a85f54010dc0a1ebb.jpeg" /> The chief minister of India’s violence-torn Manipur state has claimed the West is not in a position to lecture India on religion <a href="https://www.rt.com/india/597073-west-lecture-india-manipur-chief/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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N. Biren Singh, the leader of the violence-torn state, has slammed Western critics over allegations of religious persecution

Western countries’ comments on ethnic conflict in Manipur are uninformed, according to Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, who governs the state in northeastern India. He particularly slammed attempts to link the situation with religious persecution. In an exclusive interview with RT, Singh blamed the situation on several causes, including illegal migration from neighboring Myanmar.  
Ethnic clashes between the region’s Meitei majority, living in the valley, and the Kuki tribes, who live in the surrounding hills, have left more than 200 dead and tens of thousands displaced since May 2023. Western countries, including the US and the UK, have repeatedly alleged the existence of religious rights infringements in the Indian state. 
Last month, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron, said London should <a href="https://www.rt.com/india/596235-uk-religious-freedom-india/">continue to press</a> the issue of “religious freedom” in India. Days later, the US State Department, in its Human Rights report for 2023 claimed that significant abuses had occurred in the state throughout the year.
Singh suggested that the West, particularly the US, “as a developed country and as a superpower,” should look at humanitarian issues rather than probe religious ones. “Whatever is happening in Manipur today, is not related to Christianity or Hinduism,” he argued.  “Hearing and collecting one-sided information and criticising India as a big secular country and big democracy is very, very unfortunate,” he said. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">"It's Very Unfortunate" - Manipur CM On Flawed US Human Rights Report In RT Exclusive N. Biren Singh pointed out the flaws in the recent report & how western countries focus on religious issues, without recognising the 3 flows of refugees from Myanmar in a sit down with… <a href="https://t.co/npwyCrnABz">pic.twitter.com/npwyCrnABz</a>— RT_India (@RT_India_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/RT_India_news/status/1786986538888486963?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The chief minister claimed that conditions in his state were created by waves of illegal immigrants from neighboring Myanmar dating back to 1960s. According to Singh, it is “clearly shown by the data.”
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6631ceb485f5403e760cb2f3.jpg" alt="A candlelight protest over the sexual assault case of two Kuki community women, Guwahati, India, July 26, 2023." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/india/596830-police-women-violence-manipur/">Police failed to protect women from mob in India’s Manipur – report</a></figcaption>
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Earlier this year, after months of fighting in Manipur, India<a href="https://www.rt.com/india/590062-india-to-end-free-border-regime-myanmar/"> ended</a> its Free Movement Regime (FMR) with Myanmar. It allowed tribes residing along the border to venture up to 16km into the neighboring country without a visa. Meanwhile, New Delhi is planning to spend nearly $3.7 billion to build a fence along its 1,610km porous border with Myanmar within about a decade, Reuters reported last month.
Citing former US President Donald Trump’s push against illegal immigration and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s latest drive to deport undocumented migrants, Singh questioned whether Western leaders should disparage India for having its own policies towards illegal migration. He said he was “surprised” that they were criticizing the situation in Manipur “unnecessarily.”
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/india/589433-indian-ethnic-violence-victims-burial/">
READ MORE: Indian ethnic violence victims laid to rest in mass ceremony
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According to Singh, it will take time for peace and normalcy to be restored to the state, which is plagued by a “chronic disease that cannot be cured within days.” Things have been improving slowly in the last five to six months due to the federal government’s support, he said. He has sought more support from New Delhi “in terms of security measures and financial assistance” for a “speedy recovery and resettlement” of the displaced persons.

Where India Meets Russia – We are now on WhatsApp! &lrm;Follow and share RT India in <a href="https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va6XvWh7IUYZaRQrlU3y">English</a> and in <a href="https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va7ALQtK0IBcl7uI7O3v">Hindi</a> ]]>
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<title>Zelensky ignored counteroffensive warnings – NATO member</title>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638ec6e2030272e3834df57.jpg" /> Russia’s military superiority meant Kiev’s operation was doomed to fail, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto had said <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597080-italy-ukraine-counteroffensive-warning/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Russia’s military superiority meant Kiev’s operation was doomed to fail, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto has said
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky ignored direct warnings that Kiev’s counteroffensive last year was doomed to fail due to Russian military superiority, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto has said. 
Speaking to the Messaggero news outlet in an interview published on Monday, Crosetto argued that “the result of a war is the sum of whoever has the most men and the most means,” and that simply claiming to have “truth or justice” on your side does not lead to victory.   
The minister revealed that he had privately warned Kiev during international forums and during a visit by Zelensky to Italy that “the Ukrainian counteroffensive would not be successful due to Russian military superiority and could be detrimental to the outcome of the conflict.” 
“But I wasn’t listened to,” Crosetto added.  
Launched in the summer of 2023, Kiev’s much-touted counteroffensive was widely recognized as a failure after Ukrainian forces suffered heavy casualties without achieving any notable territorial gains. Russia’s Defense Ministry has estimated that Ukraine lost more than 166,000 personnel during the operation, as well as nearly 800 tanks, 2,400 armored vehicles, and 132 aircraft. 
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/595770-mod-source-zelensky-comment/">Zelensky’s new ‘offensive’ will be another disaster – Russian MOD</a></figcaption>
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During his interview, Crosetto also commented on French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent suggestions that Paris could send troops to fight in Ukraine under certain circumstances. The minister cautioned against any such move, arguing that “this way we risk reaching the point of no return.”  
Crosetto also spoke about the failure of sanctions on Russia, arguing that the West has deluded itself that it owns the world and has failed to recognize global shifts.  
“Many times we behave as if the world has not changed,” Crosetto explained. “We have always thought that the West was enough to stop Russia and the sanctions are the result of the fact that we are still stuck in the idea that the world is our world. Instead, the world is much bigger and we can only resolve this crisis by involving everyone: first with a truce and then with peace.”  
The interviewer argued in response that Russian President Vladimir Putin has “never given any signs of wanting to negotiate,” to which Crosetto replied that it was “a good reason to work harder.”  
“We must not give up on every possible path and opening, even narrow ones, of diplomacy,” he said.]]>
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<title>Kremlin dismisses claims of ‘Russian sabotage plots’ in Europe</title>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638e55a203027496767c670.jpg" /> Accusations that Russia is plotting acts of sabotage across Europe are groundless, the presidential spokesperson has said <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597070-russia-eu-sabotage-peskov-comment/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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A report in the Financial Times has alleged Moscow is preparing “violent acts” across the continent
Accusations that Russian agents are plotting acts of sabotage across Europe are “not serious,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.  
Peskov was commenting on a report in the Financial Times on Sunday, which claimed Moscow is planning “violent acts of sabotage” across the continent, either directly or via proxies. The attacks would include covert bombings, arson, and damage to EU infrastructure, the outlet said, citing European intelligence agencies.  
Peskov dismissed the article as “another unfounded accusation” against Russia, adding that similar, equally groundless claims are becoming more and more frequent.  
In April, the head of German domestic intelligence, Thomas Haldenwang, claimed the risk of acts of sabotage had “significantly increased.”  
“Russia now seems comfortable carrying out operations on European soil [with] a high potential for damage,” he told a security conference hosted by his agency.  
Haldenwang’s accusations came after two men were arrested in Germany on suspicion of planning to sabotage local military infrastructure and of “working for Russia.” At least one of the suspects allegedly had contact with the Russian intelligence service, according to the German Prosecutor General’s Office.  
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/news/597035-eu-russian-diplomats-ban-traveling/">
READ MORE: EU nation wants to ban Russian diplomats from traveling across the bloc
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Moscow has dismissed claims about Russian involvement in sabotage plots as “absurd and ridiculous.” It described the incident in Germany a “blatant provocation” aimed at stirring up Russophobia and spy hysteria.  
 

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<title>Russia issues military ultimatum to UK</title>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638e8a02030274840525ead.jpg" /> London was told Moscow would strike British targets in Ukraine “and beyond” if Kiev uses UK-supplied long-range missiles to attack Russia <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597075-russia-military-ultimatum-uk/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Moscow has threatened retaliation for any attacks with British weapons
Moscow will retaliate against British targets in Ukraine or elsewhere if Kiev uses UK-provided missiles to strike Russian territory, the Foreign Ministry told London’s ambassador on Monday.
Ambassador Nigel Casey was summoned to the ministry following remarks by British Foreign Secretary David Cameron to Reuters that Ukraine has the right to use long-range missiles sent by the UK to strike deep inside Russia.
”Casey was warned that the response to Ukrainian strikes using British weapons on Russian territory could be any British military facilities and equipment on the territory of Ukraine and beyond,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement following the meeting.
The US and its allies had previously qualified their deliveries of long-range weapons to Kiev by saying they could only be used on territories that Ukraine claims as its own – Crimea, the People’s Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, and Kherson and Zaporozhye Regions.
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According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Cameron’s statements to the contrary “de facto recognized his country as a party to the conflict.”
Russia understands Cameron’s comments as “evidence of a serious escalation and confirmation of London’s increasing involvement in military operations on the side of Kiev,” the ministry added.
Casey was urged to “think about the inevitable catastrophic consequences of such hostile steps from London and to immediately refute in the most decisive and unequivocal manner the bellicose provocative statements of the head of the Foreign Office.”
Earlier in the day, the Russian Defense Ministry announced an exercise to test the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons. President Vladimir Putin ordered the drills after “provocative statements and threats” by Western officials, the military said.
Moscow hopes the drills will “cool down the ‘hot heads’ in Western capitals and help them understand the possible catastrophic consequences of the strategic risks they generate,” as well as “keep them from both assisting the Kiev regime in its terrorist actions and being drawn into a direct armed confrontation with Russia,” the Foreign Ministry said in a follow-up statement.
French Ambassador Pierre Levy was also summoned to the Foreign Ministry. Moscow has not yet disclosed the details of the meeting.
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<title>Western ambassadors summoned in Moscow</title>
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<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597071-russia-summons-western-ambassadors/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638d48a85f54003ee442b2c.jpg" /> The UK and French ambassadors in Moscow have been summoned by the Russian Foreign Ministry amid rising tensions <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597071-russia-summons-western-ambassadors/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The French and British envoys were called for meetings amid escalating tensions over the Ukraine conflict
The UK and French ambassadors in Moscow were summoned by the Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday amid rising tensions over the Ukraine conflict.
The envoys were seen visiting the building housing the ministry in central Moscow separately, but neither the UK’s Nigel Casey nor France’s Pierre Levy offered any comments to the press outside. The Russian government did not immediately discuss the meetings either, only confirming that the ambassadors had been summoned.
Earlier in the day, the Russian Defense Ministry announced an exercise to test deployment of non-strategic nuclear weapons. President Vladimir Putin ordered the exercise after “provocative statements and threats” by Western officials, the military said.
French President Emmanuel Macron has for months been advocating for what he calls “strategic ambiguity” regarding the Ukraine conflict. The idea is to keep the option of deploying NATO troops in Ukraine on the table to prevent a Russian victory. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested in an interview last week that the rhetoric stems from Macron’s wish to use “Russophobic” messages to boost the French position in the EU.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597054-medvedev-nuclear-drill-nato/">Western leaders are ‘infantile morons’ – Medvedev</a></figcaption>
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Meanwhile British Foreign Secretary David Cameron told Reuters over the weekend that Kiev “has the right” to use missiles provided by his nation to attack targets deep inside Russia. The remark appears to be a policy shift compared to previous claims by Western officials that Kiev is given weapons on the condition that they only be used within what Ukraine claims as its sovereign territory.
Also on Monday, Berlin announced that it was recalling its ambassador in Moscow, Alexander Lambsdorff, for consultations. The envoy is expected to return to Russia in a week.
The German government attributed the move to claims that Russia’s foreign intelligence service (SVR) was behind a cyber operation to snoop on senior members of the Social Democratic Party of Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other targets in the country. Moscow has described those allegations as baseless.]]>
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<title>Russia makes new gains in Ukraine’s Kharkov Region – MOD</title>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638dac585f54002ee6375e2.jpg" /> Russian troops have driven Kiev’s forces from the villages of Kotlyarovka in Kharkov Region and Solovyovo in Donbass, Moscow says <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597072-russia-gains-kharkov-region/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Moscow has reported the capture of a village 25km east of a key linchpin in Kiev’s defenses
Russian forces have driven Ukrainian troops out of two settlements in Kharkov Region and Donbass, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has announced.
In a statement on Monday, the ministry said forces from Russia’s ‘Western’ group had seized the village of Kotlyarovka in the north of Ukraine’s Kharkov Region. The settlement is around 25km east of Kupyansk, described as a key Ukrainian logistics hub, the capture of which would allow Russia to advance directly on the city of Kharkov or support further operations in Donbass.
The announcement came after several Russian Telegram channels posted footage last week of what appeared to be Moscow’s troops holding a national banner in Kotlyarovka.
Meanwhile, the ministry said Russia’s ‘Center’ group of forces had also taken control of the Donbass village of Solovyovo, around 40km northwest of Donetsk. Solovyovo is near the key supply hub of Ocheretino, a village captured by Russia on Sunday.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/596845-ukraine-conflict-cluster-munitions/">Donbass breakthrough, cluster munitions, and drone-proof tanks: The past week in the Ukraine conflict (VIDEOS)</a></figcaption>
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Russian military blogger Boris Rozhin suggested that within days Moscow could announce the capture of Kislovka, a village near Kotlyarovka, as well as several other frontline Donbass settlements. This came after the pro-Ukrainian, US-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) last week reported the presence of Russian forces in Kislovka.
The new gains in Kharkov and Donetsk Regions come after Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said in April that Moscow’s forces are fully in control of the battlefield situation and are steadily expanding their gains.
Aleksandr Syrsky, commander-in-chief of Kiev’s armed forces, admitted last month that the Ukrainian military is in a “difficult operational and strategic situation.” In similar remarks, the deputy head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, Vadim Skibitsky, said last week that Moscow “always knew April and May would be a difficult time for us,” adding that Kiev’s main problem is a lack of weapons.]]>
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<title>Israel orders evacuation of Rafah</title>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638d0d385f54002ee6375cd.jpg" /> The Israeli army has ordered Palestinians to evacuate parts of Rafah, warning of “extreme” military action against Hamas in the city <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597068-israel-orders-evacuation-rafah-gaza/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The IDF warned of “extreme” military action in southern Gaza, while Hamas decried what it called a “dangerous escalation”
Israel has urged Palestinians to evacuate parts of Rafah, warning that it will take “extreme” military action against Hamas militants in the southern Gaza city. The Jewish state has been preparing for an incursion in Rafah, which is currently home to over a million people, despite warnings against doing so from the US, EU, and UN.
The Israeli military issued “an urgent appeal to all residents and displaced people” living in several neighborhoods of Rafah to “evacuate immediately,” according to Avichay Adraee, the head of the Israel Defense Force’s Arab media division. 
“The IDF will act with extreme force against terrorist organizations” in the area, Adraee said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday. There was no clarification on when the military action might start.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597060-international-pressure-stop-israel-netanyahu/">No international pressure can stop Israel – Netanyahu</a></figcaption>
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A senior Hamas official has told Reuters that the evacuation order was a “dangerous escalation” that would have consequences.
The evacuation call comes a day after Israel closed the main border crossing used to deliver humanitarian aid into Gaza. The closure came in response to a Hamas rocket attack that left three soldiers dead and 11 wounded on Sunday.
West Jerusalem claims Rafah is the last significant stronghold of Hamas, and that potentially dozens of Israeli hostages may be held there. Victory over the militant group is impossible without taking the city, the Israeli government insists.
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According to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Rafah is currently home to 1.4 million Palestinians who have fled the northern parts of the enclave since October. The international community has sounded the alarm over the number of civilian casualties that a military operation in the city could cause.
Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell has described the Rafah evacuation order as “unacceptable” and demanded that Israel denounce its ground offensive plan.
The Rafah plan has opened a rift between Israel and its staunchest ally, the US. The administration of President Joe Biden previously declared that an Israeli invasion of the city would be a “red line,” a statement that was dismissed by Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu. Washington has been under increasing pressure from the UN, pro-Palestinian protesters, and human rights organizations to stop arming Israel.
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/news/597037-military-aid-israel-frozen/">
READ MORE: US froze military aid shipment to Israel – Axios
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Netanyahu declared war on Hamas after the Palestinian militant group launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages. The death toll from Israel’s retaliation in the enclave is approaching 35,000, according to the Palestinian health authorities.]]>
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<title>Final preparations concluded ahead of Putin swearing-in ceremony</title>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638c0d9203027480b0a9aeb.jpg" /> Vladimir Putin’s inauguration as Russian president will take place at the Kremlin on Tuesday <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597058-putin-president-inauguration-kremlin/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The presidential inauguration is scheduled to take place at the Kremlin on Tuesday
Final preparations at the Kremlin in Moscow have been put in place ahead of the swearing in of Vladimir Putin as the president of Russia. The inauguration is scheduled to take place at the Grand Kremlin Palace at noon Moscow time (9am GMT) on Tuesday.
Putin, who won his fifth term in office in March, claiming 87.28% of the vote amid a record turnout of over 77%, will remain president for another six years.
Russian TV channels, which will broadcast the event live, expect it to last for around an hour. The previous inauguration in 2018 concluded in 48 minutes, including the traditional review of the Presidential Regiment on Cathedral Square of the Kremlin by Putin.
During the inauguration, the president will put his hand on the Constitution and deliver the oath enshrined in the country’s principal law. It reads: “In performing my duties as the President of the Russian Federation, I pledge to respect and protect the rights and liberties of every citizen; to observe and protect the Constitution of the Russian Federation; to protect the sovereignty and independence, security and integrity of the state and to serve the people faithfully.”
Afterwards, he will be handed the standard and the emblem of the Russian president and will officially take office.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/594613-putin-election-results-final/">Putin officially declared Russia’s president-elect</a></figcaption>
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The heads of all diplomatic missions accredited in Moscow, including those from ‘unfriendly states’, have been invited to the inauguration, according to presidential senior foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov. “Our inauguration is of a domestic nature, and by tradition we invite the heads of diplomatic missions,” Ushakov told a press briefing on Monday when asked whether invitations were sent to heads of foreign states.
Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said earlier that the swearing-in ceremony is “pretty well-spelled out and standard.” The usual template will be followed this time, but “there will be certain nuances,” he said, without revealing further details.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said that a refurbished version of the Aurus Senat presidential limousine will take part in the ceremony.
The main changes were made to the exterior of the luxury vehicle, which was given an “absolutely new look – modern, stylish and daring,” the general director of the Moscow-based NAMI scientific organization, which developed the Aurus, Fyodor Nazarov, told Russia 1 TV in an interview aired on Sunday.
According to Nazarov, the presidential vehicle was given new front optics, a radiator grille, bumper, hood, and wings. The interior of the car has also been modernized, he added.]]>
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<title>West is dragging Poland into war – fugitive judge</title>
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<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597056-polish-judge-belarus-asylum/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638ae98203027469c644a0e.jpg" /> Tomasz Szmydt has asked for political asylum in Belarus, accusing Warsaw of taking an “unfair and dishonest” stance on the Ukraine conflict <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597056-polish-judge-belarus-asylum/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Tomasz Szmydt, who is seeking asylum in Belarus, says Warsaw’s foreign policy is dictated by the US and its allies
Polish judge Tomasz Szmydt has asked for political asylum in Belarus in protest over his country’s “unfair and dishonest” anti-Russia stance.
Szmydt, who served at the Provincial Administrative Court in Warsaw and was the head of the legal department at the National Council of Judges, says he was forced to leave his home country after being persecuted and threatened for his “independent political position.” He gave a press conference in Minsk on Monday, where he publicly resigned from his post and asked the Belarusian authorities for protection.
“The resignation from my position as judge is my way to protest against the unfair and dishonest policy pursued by the Polish authorities towards the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation,” Szmydt told reporters, as cited by Belta news agency.
According to Szmydt, he has never witnessed any negative attitude towards Russia or Belarus from ordinary Poles, and the anti-Russia sentiment that’s being whipped up by the government in Warsaw has Western roots.
“The situation is such that the US wants to drag Poland into the war, to make it a direct participant in the armed conflict. To prevent this, I have to talk about it, but in Poland I cannot do this,” Szmydt stated, adding that Poland’s foreign policy is directly influenced by the US, UK, and Germany.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/596854-poland-ukraine-war-march/">‘Not our war’: Poles march against Ukraine aid (VIDEO)</a></figcaption>
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He said his departure from Poland and his resignation are in protest “against actions that are aimed at involving my country in a direct armed conflict.” Szmydt urged the Polish government to “normalize and regulate good neighborly relations” between Warsaw, Moscow, and Minsk.
Szmydt added that his resignation will be handed over to the appropriate authorities in Poland through the Polish consulate in Belarus. He plans to apply for political refugee status.
“I am asking for political asylum in the Republic of Belarus. This is an informal request at this time, but... if I want to live, returning to Poland is impossible for me,” he stated.
Commenting on the judge’s resignation and statements, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said he was “shocked,” adding that Szmydt’s actions appear to be those of a “traitor.” Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said he ordered an investigation into Szmydt’s actions.
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/russia/596750-peskov-europe-fooling-people/">
READ MORE: EU leaders ‘fooling’ people with horror stories about Russia – Kremlin
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Poland has been one of Ukraine’s key backers amid the conflict between Kiev and Moscow, which broke out in February 2022. The country has sent military aid to Ukraine and has served as a hub for weapons provided by other Western nations. Warsaw has grown increasingly hostile in its attitude towards Russia as the conflict drags on. President Andrzej Duda recently signaled that his country is open to hosting US nuclear weapons in order to “strengthen the security of NATO’s eastern flank,” which he claims Russia could attack if it secures victory in Ukraine.]]>
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<title>Berlin recalls ambassador to Russia</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597062-germany-recalls-ambassador-russia/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597062-germany-recalls-ambassador-russia/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638c00785f5400327745863.jpg" /> German Ambassador to Russia Alexander Lambsdorff has been recalled to Berlin for consultations over an alleged Russian hack <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597062-germany-recalls-ambassador-russia/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Alexander Lambsdorff will leave for one week for consultations over an alleged hacking operation
The German Foreign Ministry is temporarily recalling Ambassador Alexander Lambsdorff from Moscow, its spokesperson announced on Monday.
The senior diplomat will hold consultations before returning to Russia, according to the statement. The move comes after Berlin accused the Kremlin of being behind a hacking attack targeting senior members of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) of Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
The German government claims that a group named ‘АРТ28’ is a front for the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, and used a vulnerability in Microsoft Outlook software to spy on the party’s leadership. It described the hack as part of a prolonged campaign targeting various entities in Germany, and claimed that it had identified the culprit in conjunction with NATO and EU partners.
”Cyberattacks on political parties, state institutions and critical infrastructure are a threat to our democracy, our national security and our free society,” the German embassy in Moscow said in a statement on Monday.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/596915-ukraine-german-iris-destroyed/">Russian military destroys German-made IRIS-T system in Ukraine (VIDEO)</a></figcaption>
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Last week, the Russian embassy in Berlin confirmed receiving a demarche from the German Foreign Ministry over the alleged cyberespionage. It said the accusations were “lacking evidence” and an “unfriendly act aimed at inciting anti-Russian sentiment” in the country.
In March, already tense Russian-German relations suffered a blow when a leaked recording of discussions between senior German military officers was published by Russian media. The tape highlighted Berlin’s involvement in the Ukraine conflict and included a debate on how the possible role of German troops in a proposed attack on Crimea using Taurus cruise missiles could be concealed from the public.
Scholz had publicly refused to provide the weapons, stating that unlike the UK and France, Germany was not prepared to send military personnel to prepare such strikes. German generals on the leaked recording were exploring ways to nudge the chancellor towards allowing such arms supplies.]]>
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<title>US wants to replace Zelensky – Russian intel</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597069-us-wants-replace-zelensky/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597069-us-wants-replace-zelensky/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638cff985f5407ffa534e1c.jpg" /> The US is in talks with a number of Ukrainian politicians as it seeks to replace Vladimir Zelensky, Russian intelligence says
 <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597069-us-wants-replace-zelensky/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The Ukrainian president is losing the battle for the “hearts and minds” of the populace, the SVR has said


The US has stepped up efforts to find a replacement for Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and has already talked with a number of politicians, including former President Pyotr Poroshenko and Kiev mayor Vitaly Klitschko, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) claimed on Monday.      
Zelensky is “clearly losing the battle for the hearts and minds” of Ukrainians, especially since his legitimacy as president will be “completely lost” after his term in office expires on May 20, the SVR wrote in a statement.   
Ukraine was supposed to hold a presidential election on March 31, but last December Zelensky canceled it along with all other elections, citing martial law and the conflict with Russia.  
The US State Department and EU’s Diplomatic Service are “extremely” concerned by the growing discontent among Ukrainians over the “endless” protraction of the hostilities with Russia, according to the intelligence service.    
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/596727-zelensky-legitimacy-called-question-kremlin/">Zelensky’s legitimacy will soon be questioned – Kremlin</a></figcaption>
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“Distrust in government institutions is growing and apathy is spreading rapidly,” the SVR said, adding that the number of desertions and voluntary surrenders in the Ukrainian armed forces is soaring.  
The US is now looking for alternatives to Zelensky, the SVR claimed, noting that Washington “is not even trying to hide the fact that essentially it doesn’t care” who will lead Ukraine.   
For the West, it’s crucial that the new president be capable of continuing the armed conflict, so that the “war till the last Ukrainian” does not stop, the agency said.  
According to the SVR, Washington is in talks with Poroshenko and Klitschko. “Secret work” is also being carried out with the presidential head of office, Andrey Ermak, former top Ukrainian commander General Valery Zaluzhny, and the ex-speaker of the Ukrainian parliament, Dmitry Razumkov.  
However, the US and EU would like Zelensky to remain in his post for now as long as he is tied to war financing schemes that yield “enormous profits” to both Kiev and Western arms manufacturers, SVR added.]]>
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<title>EU state needs spare parts from Russia to keep public transport running – media</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597067-latvia-russian-train-parts/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597067-latvia-russian-train-parts/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638cdad85f540032774587a.jpg" /> Latvia’s passenger railway operator says there are no EU alternatives to service Soviet-era trains <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597067-latvia-russian-train-parts/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Latvia’s passenger rail operator says there are no alternatives in the bloc for servicing Soviet-era trains
Latvia’s passenger rail operator has asked the government not to ban the purchase of spare train parts from Russia and Belarus, stressing that it is impossible to find alternative sources of parts for Soviet-era trains, the news outlet TVNET reported on Sunday.  
The request comes as the parliamentary budget and finance committee is considering amendments to the country’s procurement law that would make it illegal for Latvian companies to purchase goods and services from Russia and Belarus.  
According to TVNET, the Latvian rail operator, Pasazieru Vilciens (PV), has submitted a letter to lawmakers asking them to exclude spare train parts from the draft law, warning that failure to do so could have a drastic effect on the country’s public transport system.  
Currently, Latvia uses diesel trains, electric trains, low-floor electric trains, and shunting diesel locomotives for public transport.   
PV has stated that while it is looking for alternatives, many spare parts for these trains simply cannot be procured from EU countries because they “do not meet the technical specifications and production projects of spare parts for old trains.”  
“Unless there is a reasonable exception, PV will be able to operate the rolling stock it owns and operates only until it has a balance of spare parts at its disposal, which in some cases will be used up already in the spring of this year,” the company wrote in its letter, according toTVNET.  
If an exception is not made, PV says it will be forced to reduce the number of trains, and the company “will not have available rolling stock to ensure safe and continuous public transport services.”  
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/596466-latvia-phasing-out-russian-language/">EU state to abandon teaching its second most spoken language</a></figcaption>
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Meanwhile, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina has argued that an “iron curtain” will eventually have to be lowered between the Baltic states and Russia and Belarus, and has called for ensuring economic and energy independence from Moscow.  
Russia has shrugged off the Silina’s suggestion, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova musing that Latvia would not even have enough iron to create such a “curtain” without buying it from Russia.  
While Latvia has been one of the most outspoken advocates of imposing EU sanctions on Russian imports to show solidarity with Ukraine, Riga has nevertheless continued to boost purchases of grain from Russia. In the first quarter of 2024, the Baltic state increased its agricultural imports from Russia by almost 40% compared to last year, according to the Latvian customs agency.
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<title>Nuclear weapons drills a response to ‘escalation’ – Kremlin</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597064-nuclear-weapons-drills-response-escalation-nato/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597064-nuclear-weapons-drills-response-escalation-nato/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638c9a7203027469c644a32.jpg" /> Tactical nuclear weapons drills are a response to “unprecedented” escalation sparked by statements of NATO members, the Kremlin has said <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597064-nuclear-weapons-drills-response-escalation-nato/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Recent statements by politicians in some NATO states have sparked a new “unprecedented round of tension,” spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said
Russia has decided to hold tactical nuclear weapons drills in response to certain NATO countries’ remarks about potentially sending troops to Ukraine, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said.
Earlier on Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry announced plans to test its ability to deploy the arms. The exercise will be conducted “in the near future” and was ordered by President Vladimir Putin, the ministry said.
According to Peskov, the decision was made following a “new” and “unprecedented” escalation of the situation surrounding the Ukraine conflict.
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597049-putin-orders-tactical-nuclear-drills/">
READ MORE: Putin orders tactical nuclear weapons drills
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“They talked about the readiness and even the intention to send armed contingents to Ukraine, that is, to actually put NATO soldiers in front of the Russian military,” Peskov said at a press briefing on Monday.
Last week, French President Emanuel Macron suggested that Western nations “would legitimately have to ask” themselves whether they should deploy their militaries to Ukraine “if the Russians were to break through the front lines, [and] if there were a Ukrainian request.”
Across the Atlantic, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on Sunday that the US may have to deploy troops to Ukraine if its efforts to support Kiev with military aid fail and the country falls.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638a32485f540102a25be58.jpg" alt="FILE PHOTO: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597053-democrat-leader-us-troops-ukraine/">Democrat leader warns US troops could enter Ukraine conflict</a></figcaption>
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Former UK Prime Minister and current Foreign Secretary David Cameron stated last week that Ukraine has every right to use British weapons to strike targets deep inside Russia.
”This is a new round of escalation of tension, and it is unprecedented. It requires special attention and special measures,” Peskov told journalists on Monday.
The Defense Ministry in Moscow cited “provocative statements and threats against Russia by certain Western officials” as the reason for the exercise. Missile forces from the Southern Military District will be directly involved in the drills, the ministry said. The goal is to iron out “the practical aspects of the preparation and deployment of non-strategic nuclear weapons,” it added.
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597054-medvedev-nuclear-drill-nato/">
READ MORE: Western leaders are ‘infantile morons’ – Medvedev
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Moscow has repeatedly alleged that NATO has long been a “de facto” party to the Ukraine conflict, as it has been providing Kiev with arms, sharing intelligence, and training Ukrainian troops. According to the secretary of the Russian Security Council, Nikolay Patrushev, the US-led military bloc is aiming to control Ukraine and turn it into an “anti-Russian” proxy.
According to Russia, despite threats from the West, it will continue to carry out its military operation in Ukraine until all of its goals are achieved.
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<title>Over 100 Ukrainians blocked from leaving country every day – border service</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597063-ukrainians-blocked-leaving-border/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597063-ukrainians-blocked-leaving-border/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638c2f22030277d8d00ceda.jpg" /> Up to 150 people are prevented from leaving Ukraine every day because they are either ineligible or lack proper documents, Kiev says <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597063-ukrainians-blocked-leaving-border/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Those forced to stay back are either not eligible or lack the proper documentation, spokesman Andrey Demchenko has said
The Ukrainian authorities are stopping more than 100 people from leaving the country each day during the ongoing mobilization campaign, Andrey Demchenko, the spokesman for the country’s Border Service, has said.
Kiev announced a general mobilization shortly after the start of the conflict with Russia in February 2022 under which all men aged 18 to 60, with few exceptions, were prohibited from leaving the country on the grounds that they could be called up for military service. According to local media reports, however, even those who are eligible to go abroad, including parents with several minors and disabled people, have faced significant obstacles in crossing the border.
Speaking on national TV on Sunday, Demchenko noted that his department stops around 120-150 people daily from traveling abroad. He explained that those individuals either “do not fall under the pass category” or “do not have the necessary documents giving the right to cross the border.” 
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/596430-ukraine-draft-consular-service/">Ukraine freezes all consular services for military-aged men abroad</a></figcaption>
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The official also warned that the rules for exiting Ukraine could be subject to change once the new mobilization law fully comes into force next week, although he added that any alterations are unlikely to be drastic. The legislation, signed into law by President Vladimir Zelensky last month, requires, among other things, that all Ukrainians “update data” about themselves with the military authorities, while requiring all men eligible for conscription to carry their military IDs with them at all times.
Demchenko recalled that the new law has certain provisions that apply to citizens who have a deferment from military service. “Therefore, perhaps some changes in the rules of border crossing could be expected. They need to be considered and approved by the government,” he added.
In recent weeks, the Ukrainian authorities have been on a campaign to replenish the losses in manpower sustained in the conflict with Russia. Apart from simplifying draft procedures, Zelensky signed a law last month lowering the conscription age for men from 27 to 25.
However, Kiev’s long-running mobilization campaign has been marred by wide-spread corruption, prompting Zelensky to fire all senior regional draft officials last year. Draft evasion has also been rampant. Demchenko reported last December as many as 25 people were being detained each day for evading enlistment.
On Friday, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said that Kiev had lost more than 111,000 service members in 2024 alone. Last month, he said that Ukraine’s losses amounted to nearly half a million troops since the hostilities began in February 2022.]]>
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<title>No international pressure can stop Israel – Netanyahu</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597060-international-pressure-stop-israel-netanyahu/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597060-international-pressure-stop-israel-netanyahu/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638bc9e203027489b10567b.jpg" /> Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that no amount of international pressure will compel him to stop “defending” Israel <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597060-international-pressure-stop-israel-netanyahu/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The Israeli PM has pledged to destroy Hamas even if the Jewish state has to do it alone
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed not to yield to international pressure to stop the war in Gaza. In a speech marking Holocaust Remembrance Day on Sunday, the Israeli leader said that the Jewish state will continue to “defend” itself even if its allies abandon it.
The Israeli government has found itself under increasing international pressure to halt its offensive in Gaza and agree to a ceasefire. The US, the biggest supplier of weapons to Israel, has faced mounting calls from the UN, pro-Palestinian protesters, and human rights organizations to stop sending arms to the country. 
“I say to the leaders of the world, no amount of pressure, no decision by any international forum, will stop Israel from defending itself,” Netanyahu said during a memorial ceremony in Jerusalem for the six million Jews killed by Nazi Germany during World War II. “We will fight the monsters of Hamas and destroy them for good. […] If Israel is forced to stand alone, Israel will stand alone,” he added.
On Sunday, Axios reported that Washington had halted a planned shipment of American-made ammunition to West Jerusalem last week. The decision reportedly left the Israeli government “scrambling to understand” why the shipment was put on hold.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597037-military-aid-israel-frozen/">US froze military aid shipment to Israel – Axios</a></figcaption>
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The report comes as Israel has been preparing for an invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah, despite objections from the US and UN. West Jerusalem claims the city is the last significant Hamas stronghold. Rafah is currently home to an estimated 1.4 million Palestinians who have fled the northern parts of the enclave.
On Monday, the Israeli military ordered tens of thousands of people to begin evacuating from parts of the city, signaling that a ground invasion could be imminent. The army warned it was about to use “extreme force” in southern Gaza.
The administration of the US President Joe Biden previously declared that an Israeli invasion of the civilian-crowded city of Rafah would be a “red line.” 
A group of Democratic members in the US House of Representatives, including former House speaker and Biden ally Nancy Pelosi, called on the president last month to fully halt weapons shipments to Israel.
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/news/596988-israel-gaza-saudi-arabia/">
READ MORE: Israel comes up with post-war solution for Gaza – NYT
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Former US President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for the November presidential election, refused last month to rule out withholding military aid to Israel should he return to the White House.
Netanyahu declared war on Hamas after the Palestinian militant group launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages. The death toll from Israel’s retaliation in the enclave is approaching 35,000, according to the Palestinian health authorities.
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<title>‘We are in danger because of NATO membership’: Turkish Patriotic party is sounding the alarm</title>
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<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597055-turkish-patriots-influence-nato-us/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638a9a5203027480b0a9ad1.jpg" /> Chairman of Türkiye’s Vatan Party speaks about the influence of the US, Palestine, and Israel, and the future of NATO <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597055-turkish-patriots-influence-nato-us/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The chairman of Türkiye’s Vatan Party speaks about the influence of the US, Palestine, and Israel, and the future of NATO
When I told some of my colleagues and experts on Türkiye that I was going to Istanbul to visit the chairman of Türkiye’s Patriotic Party (Vatan Partisi), Dogu Perincek, the reactions were mixed. They ranged from complete indifference and irritation to great admiration. Skeptics said that both the party and its leader are “lame ducks” and have no future. However, Perincek himself disagrees with this opinion.
“Just wait a few years and we’ll make it into the parliament, you’ll see,” says the 81-year-old politician. Perincek believes that with each year, the Turkish people are moving further away from Western values and the politicians that represent them. This is largely due to the position of the US, which regularly demonstrates unfriendly and even aggressive behavior in the region, and in regard to Türkiye as well. 
“Ordinary people see it, and our armed forces see it,” Perincek says. “Türkiye is America’s main target,” he says as he shows me a map of the country on which US military bases all around Türkiye are marked with US flags. A similar map of Iran was recently shared on the internet. 
“In this sense, for Tehran it is much easier than for us,” he says.
“Because there’s no US embassy there?” I ask.
Perincek laughs.
“Iran is not a NATO member, that’s why we are in greater danger,” he says. 
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Chairman of Vatan Partisi Dogu Perincek and RT correspondent Abbas Juma

©  Abbas Juma 
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<h2>Three stages of separation </h2>
According to Perincek, the contradictions between Ankara and Washington are mainly strategic, and cannot be solved in one day.
Dogu Perincek: I would divide the history of Turkish-US relations into three periods. The first lasted from 1945-1980, the second from 1980-2014, and the third started after 2014.
In the first period, the US tried to undermine Türkiye’s revolutionary achievements, but largely failed in this. After 1980, its main task was to integrate the Turkish economy into the global economy. Of course, integration with the global economy supposed the elimination of the country’s national economy, culture, and politics. [The West] even considered implementing this scenario by force. At the time, our party was the main political force that fought against this. At that time it was called the workers’ and peasants’ party. About 2,500 party members were thrown into prison where they were tortured. Moreover, the US attempted to create the “Kurdistan” project on Turkish territory. (Perincek calls it the “second Israel project”). We strongly protested against it and resisted it in any way we could. In 2014, we were finally able to free the officers and generals who were imprisoned in 2007.
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Then, the long-awaited third period started, when Türkiye gradually began to distance itself from the US. This period was marked by the fight against terrorism and separatism. In response, in the summer of 2016, US agents prepared and attempted to carry out an armed coup. However, they failed. After that, the purges began. 140,000 traitors were dismissed from their posts or imprisoned. This resulted in a certain paradox: NATO [agents] were collectively punished, but Türkiye still remains a part of NATO.
RT: You said that the US has largely failed. But it continues to exert economic pressure on Türkiye. For example, it wants to prevent Türkiye from cooperating with Russia…
Dogu Perincek: That’s true. But its policy of pressuring [Türkiye] is about to reach a dead end. Türkiye is gradually moving closer to China, Russia, and Iran. However, this is a complex and slow process. On the one hand, the Erdogan administration does not want to completely break away from the Atlantic World, and on the other hand, it wants to get closer to Asian countries. [Turkish President] Recep Erdogan wants to be friends with Putin, but he also wants to have a good relationship with [US President Joe] Biden.
The US continues to exert pressure [on our country]. Türkiye has a large national debt and is import-dependent. The pressure is not only economic, [US] weapons are also directed against us (Perincek again points to the map). They are doing everything they can to force Türkiye to leave NATO sooner or later. 
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Dogu Perincek study a map of US military bases in Türkiye

©  Abbas Juma 
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RT: But there is no legal mechanism for withdrawing from the alliance…
Dogu Perincek: Our people have already withdrawn from it. If you were to hold a referendum today, 80% of the Turkish population would vote in favor of leaving the North Atlantic alliance.
<h2>Atlanticists vs patriots</h2>
RT: However, when it comes to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Türkiye is on the side of NATO. For example, we’ve recently <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/turkeys-drone-maker-baykar-begins-build-plant-ukraine-2024-02-06/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">heard</a> about the construction of a factory for the production of Bayraktar drones near Kiev.
Dogu Perincek: The division between the Atlanticists and patriots occurs in Türkiye at all levels. It also exists within the ruling party. The accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO and Türkiye’s policy in regard to Ukraine demonstrate that Atlanticism in Türkiye is still extremely strong.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.04/thumbnail/66193fb985f540143f589156.jpg" alt="RT" />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/595809-islamic-world-israel-destruction/">‘Islamic world will celebrate the destruction of Israel’: Is war inevitable between Tehran and West Jerusalem?</a></figcaption>
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RT: And what about the Turkish president – whose side is he on? Returning to the issue of producing Turkish UAVs in Ukraine, we may note that this campaign is headed by Erdogan’s son-in-law. 
Dogu Perincek: Erdogan’s son-in-law Selcuk Bayraktar represents Atlantic interests. The Atlanticists want him to replace his father-in-law as the leader of the ruling party and of the country. 
However, we cannot say that Erdogan himself fully supports the Atlanticists, because he understands very well that the Americans aren’t pleased with him. No matter how hard [Erdogan] tries to get closer to Washington, they will not accept him there. In this regard, the cancellation of the Turkish leader’s official visit to the US in May is quite telling. 
<h2>The Palestinian issue and Iran are weakening Western influence in Türkiye</h2>
RT: How did Türkiye and especially the Turkish elites react to the situation in Palestine and Iran’s attack on Israel?
Dogu Perincek: In the beginning [of the conflict], Erdogan did not want to make a specific decision regarding Palestine. But the desperate struggle of the Palestinian people forced him to take their side.
The October 7 Hamas attack [on Israel] and Iran’s strike dealt a serious blow to the Atlanticists in Türkiye. A few days ago, I attended a meeting at the Iranian Embassy concerning the Iranian armed forces. Turkish generals were present at this meeting. This is noteworthy, because high-ranking Turkish military officials did not attend such events in the past. 
Of course, the West is trying to fight Iran’s influence in the region and in Türkiye. In particular, it makes use of religious radicals to fuel the Shiite-Sunni conflict, but without much success. 
<h2>Conclusion </h2>
In the course of our conversation, Perincek recalled his trip to Moscow in 1996. On this official visit, he met with several high-ranking Russian officials. According to Perincek, at the time he saw that “the great Russian spirit was suppressed.” But time passed and Russia got back on its feet.
“Once, under [former Russian President Boris] Yeltsin, you also followed a self-destructive course. But then the Russian people decided to focus on strengthening [Russia’s] sovereignty instead of integrating with the West. And that saved you,” Perincek said. 
In the case of Türkiye, Perincek is sure that things will happen much faster since the process was launched ten years ago, and it won’t be long before the country comes out of the crisis – and then, perhaps even withdraws from NATO. ]]>
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<title>Sahel state electing president after three years of military rule</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/africa/597061-chad-presidential-elections/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/africa/597061-chad-presidential-elections/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638bb8885f5407ffa534e06.jpg" /> Voting is underway in Chad to choose a president to replace the current military regime <a href="https://www.rt.com/africa/597061-chad-presidential-elections/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Chad’s interim leader, who is running for office, took power after rebels murdered his long-ruling father in 2021
Chadians are voting to elect a president to transition the Sahel nation to civilian rule. The move on Monday makes the Central African country the first to hold elections in the region since a series of recent coups. 
More than 8 million people out of Chad’s population of approximately 18 million have registered to vote. They will choose from ten candidates, including transitional leader Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, also known as Mahamat Kaka. 
Mahamat Kaka took power in 2021 when his long-ruling father, Idriss Deby Itno, was killed fighting rebels. He initially pledged to hold elections within 18 months. However, in 2022, the military regime extended the deadline by two years, until October 2024, sparking protests that killed over 100 civilians. 
The former French colony adopted a new constitution after a referendum last December, allowing Mahamat Kaka to run for president. He announced his presidential bid in March after a coalition of 221 political parties and associations endorsed his candidacy. He has pledged to promote fair, equitable, and effective governance for the development of Chad. 
“Today I’m upholding a fourth commitment which was to complete the transition process launched in our country three years ago. It is now up to the people to vote massively to choose their president,” the interim leader said in a Facebook post after voting on Monday. 
His candidacy announcement came just days after his presumed main opponent, Yaya Dillo, leader of the opposition Socialist Party Without Borders (PSF), was shot and killed in Chad’s capital, N’Djamena. The government accused Dillo, who was also Mahamat Kaka’s cousin, of carrying out a deadly armed raid on the National State Security Agency. His party denied the allegations, claiming that he was assassinated to prevent him from running in the May election. 
Analysts cited by Reuters believe the elections on Monday will be a battle between Success Masra, the landlocked nation’s prime minister, and Mahamat Kaka.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.03/thumbnail/65e599a82030270bbb1d71a9.jpg" alt="FILE PHOTO: Mahamat Idriss Deby." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/africa/593724-chad-military-ruler-announces-presidency-candidacy/">African military ruler announces presidential run</a></figcaption>
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Masra, a former opposition leader, went into exile following protests against the military regime in October 2022, sparked by the government’s decision to extend the transition period for two years. He returned to Chad last November after a reconciliation agreement with the government and was only appointed premier in January. 
On Saturday, the final day of campaigning, Masra promised to address youth unemployment with a five-year plan that would create 200,000 jobs. 
The results of the voting are expected on May 21, with a runoff in June if necessary, according to the Chadian electoral commission. 
The elections come after the US announced a temporary <a href="https://www.rt.com/africa/596626-washington-withdraw-troops-niger-chad/">withdrawal</a> of at least some troops from Chad last month, when the military authorities ordered American forces to halt activities at an airbase. The country has, however, remained the last ally of former colonial power France in the Sahel after Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger severed ties with Paris following coups.]]>
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<title>Western leaders are ‘infantile morons’ – Medvedev</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597054-medvedev-nuclear-drill-nato/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597054-medvedev-nuclear-drill-nato/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638b00b2030274840525e6c.jpg" /> Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has offered an explanation for a nuclear exercise announced by Moscow on Monday <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597054-medvedev-nuclear-drill-nato/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The US and its allies need a reminder of the nuclear risk posed by the Ukraine conflict, Dmitry Medvedev believes
The US, the UK, France and other Western nations should take a Russian nuclear drill as a reminder of where escalation of the Ukraine conflict could take them, former President Dmitry Medvedev has said.
On Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry announced an imminent exercise to test the capability to deploy non-strategic nuclear weapons. It said the training was ordered by President Vladimir Putin after “provocative statements and threats” by Western officials.
Medvedev, who serves as deputy head of the Russian Security Council, referred to debates in the West about possible deployment of NATO troops to Ukraine, as well as “active encouragement [of Kiev] to use [Western] missile weapons against the entire Russian territory” as grounds for the drill.
Russia “will have to respond” to the proposed deployment of Western soldiers, “and this response will not be” in Ukraine, the Russian official warned. In that case “there will be no hiding on Capitol Hill, in the Elysee Palace or at 10 Downing Street.”
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663865fc85f54010a8701ffc.jpg" alt="Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on March 1, 2024 in Antalya, Turkey" />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597041-macron-breathes-russophobia-lavrov/">Macron ‘breathes Russophobia’ – Lavrov</a></figcaption>
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The situation is comparable to the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, according to Medvedev. He said current Western elites were “infantile morons” who refuse to see the risk, unlike US President John F. Kennedy and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, who managed to walk back the escalation six decades ago.
French President Emmanuel Macron has been advocating “strategic ambiguity” regarding Ukraine, maintaining that he could not exclude deployment of troops to the country under certain conditions. Multiple Western leaders said they had no intention to send their soldiers to fight Russia on Ukraine’s behalf, after he voiced his idea in February.
Macron’s rhetoric may be explained by his ambition to make France the leader among EU members, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has suggested.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597053-democrat-leader-us-troops-ukraine/">Democrat leader warns US troops could enter Ukraine conflict</a></figcaption>
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UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron told Reuters last week that Kiev “has the right” to use British-provided missiles to strike targets deep inside Russia.
For years, major Western arms donors were reportedly conditioning their aid on Kiev’s pledge not to use the weapons outside of the territory that it claims. US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink said American policy remained unchanged following Cameron’s remark.
On Sunday, Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries claimed that “there’s a significant likelihood that America will have to get into the conflict – not simply with our money, but with our servicewomen and our servicemen” in the event of Ukrainian defeat.
A victorious Russia would pose a threat to NATO, he reasoned during an interview with CBS News, repeating the case for continued aid made by the Biden administration for months. Moscow has said it has no intention of starting a direct conflict with the US-led military bloc.]]>
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<title>India seeks Interpol’s help to track down politician facing sexual assault charges</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/india/597059-india-interpol-revanna-mp/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/india/597059-india-interpol-revanna-mp/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638b87b85f5401cc6515de7.jpg" /> India has sought help from Interpol to track down MP Prajwal Revanna <a href="https://www.rt.com/india/597059-india-interpol-revanna-mp/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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MP Prajwal Revanna fled the country after almost 3,000 videos featuring 300 women were made public

Indian officials are seeking Interpol’s help to bring Prajwal Revanna back to the country to face trial. The member of parliament allegedly fled to Germany using his diplomatic passport after allegations of sexual assault were made against him.
On Sunday, the home minister of the southern Indian state of Karnataka, G. Parameshwara, announced that a Blue Corner notice – an instrument used by Interpol to share alerts and requests for information worldwide – was issued against Revanna by the state government. The notice authorizes Interpol to collect information about a person’s identity, location, or activities related to a criminal investigation.
Revanna, the 33-year-old grandson of former Indian Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, is a sitting member of the Indian Parliament and is running in the <a href="https://www.rt.com/india/596174-india-lok-sabha-elections-2024/">ongoing parliamentary election</a> from Karnataka. 
He is being investigated on charges of sexually assaulting hundreds of women over several years. Nearly 2,900 explicit videos allegedly recorded by Revanna to blackmail his victims surfaced last month, triggering an investigation. Several cases were registered by police against him last week
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.04/thumbnail/66311f0085f5403e760cb295.jpeg" alt="Prajwal Revanna at a joint coordination meeting of JDS-BJP parties in Araseikere Assembly Constituency of our Hassan Lok Sabha Constituency was held in the wake of the general election on April 3, 2024." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/india/596815-indian-lawmaker-suspended-sex-tape/">Indian lawmaker suspended from party over ‘sex tapes’</a></figcaption>
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Some of the clips surfaced online days before voting was held in Hassan, his constituency. Revanna initially claimed that the videos being circulated were “morphed” and aim to “tarnish his image and poison the minds of voters,” in a police complaint cited by Indian media. However, news18 reported on Monday that Prajwal has been advised to surrender by his lawyer and his father, H.D. Revanna, who is also a member of the Karnataka state Legislative Assembly from the same party.

On Sunday, H.D. Revanna was arrested in an abduction case for allegedly orchestrating the kidnapping of one of the victims of his son. He was remanded in three-day police custody of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is investigating the father-son duo. The woman once worked at the Revannas’ farmhouse and claimed she was sexually assaulted, Indian media reported. The woman was tracked down to a Revanna aide’s house in Hunsur, Karnataka.
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/india/596974-political-dynasties-india-election/">
READ MORE: The bloodline: How political dynasties are threatening the world’s largest democracy
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The Revannas head the Janata Dal (Secular) party, a key ally of the PM Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the ongoing general election.
The episode has sparked a massive political row in the state and across the country. The BJP, which jointly campaigned with the JD(S) in Karnataka, has sought to distance itself from the scandal.

Where India Meets Russia – We are now on WhatsApp! &lrm;Follow and share RT India in <a href="https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va6XvWh7IUYZaRQrlU3y">English</a> and in <a href="https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va7ALQtK0IBcl7uI7O3v">Hindi</a> 
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<title>Russian security service thwarts alleged Kiev-orchestrated terror plot</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597050-fsb-terror-plot-tambov/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597050-fsb-terror-plot-tambov/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638a04e85f54011356312a8.png" /> A Russian citizen suspected of planning to blow up a local courthouse was detained in the city of Tambov, the FSB has reported <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597050-fsb-terror-plot-tambov/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The FSB has detained a man accused of attempting to blow up a courthouse in the city of Tambov
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has thwarted a terrorist plot in the central region of Tambov, the agency reported on Monday.
FSB officers detained a Russian citizen in the regional capital, Tambov. The man allegedly planned to carry out an attack on orders from “the Ukrainian special services,” the agency said.
According to the FSB, while patrolling the area near the Tambov railway station, Russian Railways employees noticed a suspicious man placing unknown objects in construction waste. He was detained by railroad security and handed over to the FSB. A subsequent inspection of an abandoned building nearby revealed two homemade explosive devices, which were neutralized by explosives specialists.
During an interrogation, which the FSB has made public, the man reported that in mid-2023, he began visiting websites of terrorist organizations – the Ukraine-based Russian Volunteer Corps and Russian Freedom Legion. He then started communicating with a representative of the Ukrainian special services, who allegedly persuaded him to commit acts of terrorism in Russia. In early March this year, he was given the task of blowing up the Tambov Regional Court and Tambov Arbitration Court, and was allegedly preparing the attacks at the time of his arrest.
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A criminal investigation was launched into the case on charges of ‘promotion of terrorist activity’ and ‘preparation for a crime’. The suspect faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Late last month, the FSB said it foiled another attempted terrorist attack in the western region of Bryansk, which borders Ukraine. Officers detained a Russian citizen allegedly “professing Ukrainian nationalist ideology” who was preparing an explosion in a public place on orders from “representatives of a terrorist organization” whose name was not made public.
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/russia/596455-fsb-russia-thwarted-terror-attack/">
READ MORE: Russian security service thwarts alleged terror plot in region bordering Ukraine
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The news comes a little over a month after a major terrorist <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/596676-crocus-terror-suspect-arrested/">attack</a> at the Crocus City Hall concert venue outside Moscow, which claimed over 140 lives. Four gunmen, who stormed the arena shooting indiscriminately and then set the building on fire, were detained hours later near the border with Ukraine. Russian officials described the perpetrators as radical Islamists who may have been used as proxies by Ukraine’s security services. Investigators claimed that a money trail linked the suspects with radical Ukrainian nationalists. An investigation into the attack is ongoing.]]>
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<title>Democrat leader warns US troops could enter Ukraine conflict</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597053-democrat-leader-us-troops-ukraine/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597053-democrat-leader-us-troops-ukraine/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638a32485f540102a25be58.jpg" /> US could send troops to Ukraine if Kiev suffers a major defeat on the battlefield, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597053-democrat-leader-us-troops-ukraine/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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A military defeat for Kiev might compel Washington to send service members to the country, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries has said
The US may have to deploy troops to Ukraine if Kiev suffers a complete collapse against Russia, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has warned.
In an interview with CBS News released on Sunday, the senior Democratic lawmaker suggested that if Kiev cannot win the war with Russia using billions if dollars worth of US military aid, Washington could potentially have to intervene directly in the conflict. 
“We can’t let Ukraine fall because if it does, then there’s a significant likelihood that America will have to get into the conflict – not simply with our money, but with our servicewomen and our servicemen,” Jeffries said.
This stance, however, contradicts the long-standing policy of US President Joe Biden, who reiterated last month that he was “determined” not to send American troops to Ukraine. He noted that Kiev had so far not requested direct military intervention from Washington, expressing the belief that it could win the conflict with Russia if the US “stand[s] with Ukraine and provide[s] the weapons it needs to defend itself.” 
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597025-ukraine-western-military-intervention/">Ukraine could request Western military intervention – MP</a></figcaption>
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Meanwhile, Jeffries claimed that US efforts to support Ukraine, including pushing a new $61 billion assistance package through Congress, had been stymied by what he called a “pro-Putin faction” within the Republican Party.
He singled out Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has called for funds to be used for domestic needs, rather than sent to Ukraine. Greene has insisted she “does not have any sympathy for… Russia” and that she is “only loyal to a single country: the United States of America.” 
Jeffries’ comments about possible US intervention come after French President Emmanuel Macron refused to rule out sending Western troops to Ukraine. Last week, he suggested that Western nations “would legitimately have to ask [them]selves” whether they should deploy their militaries to the embattled country “if the Russians were to break through the front lines, [and] if there were a Ukrainian request.” Macron has further insisted that rhetoric of “strategic ambiguity” could project strength and deter Russia.
In response, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested on Sunday that the French leader was “breathing caveman Russophobia” in the hope of using this sentiment to become the de-facto leader of the EU.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned in late February that the deployment of NATO troops to Ukraine would make a direct conflict between Russia and the US-led military bloc “inevitable.” 
In the meantime, the Russian military has reported steady progress on the battlefield, capturing several settlements in Donbass in recent weeks.
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<title>China causing de-industrialization in EU – von der Leyen</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/business/597048-leyen-xi-meeting-deindustrialization/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/business/597048-leyen-xi-meeting-deindustrialization/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663885a12030273e27086025.jpg" /> European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to discuss trade imbalances with Chinese President Xi Jinping <a href="https://www.rt.com/business/597048-leyen-xi-meeting-deindustrialization/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The bloc chief intends to discuss “current imbalances” with Xi Jinping
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen intends to talk to visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping about policies that she claims pose a threat of de-industrialization in the bloc.
The Chinese leader arrived in France on Sunday as part of a six-day, three-country trip to Europe, his first since 2019. The head of the EU executive branch said she would discuss “current imbalances” in Chinese trade during talks with Xi on Monday.
”China is currently manufacturing, with massive subsidies, more than it is selling due to its own weak domestic demand. This is leading to an oversupply of Chinese subsidized goods, such as EVs (electric vehicles) and steel, that is leading to unfair trade,” she claimed.
”Europe cannot accept such market-distorting practices that could lead to de-industrialization in Europe,” von der Leyen added.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.02/thumbnail/65c7eb08203027581351d32c.jpg" alt="German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at a BMW plant in Munich, December 5." />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/592249-germany-deindustrializes-on-russian-gas-halt/">Loss of Russian gas speeding Germany’s deindustrialization – media</a></figcaption>
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In the last several weeks, the EU authorities have launched investigations into alleged unfair Chinese practices, including restrictions on the supply of European medical devices to the Asian nation’s market and subsidies for Chinese firms producing wind turbines, electric vehicles, and trains.
Meanwhile, China has opened an anti-dumping probe into brandy imported from the EU, which particularly affects French exporters. The mutual investigations are perceived as a mounting tit-for-tat stand-off over protectionism. Von der Leyen has pushed for “de-risking” trade with China, but has not gone as far as to advocate decoupling from the economic powerhouse.
EU members have largely decoupled their economies from Russia in an attempt to penalize Moscow over the Ukraine conflict. The loss of access to cheap Russian natural gas has hit energy-intensive industries in Western Europe, forcing businesses to move manufacturing to other locations. The US was among their primary destinations, as the government offered subsidies to certain producers under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/news/596625-blinken-china-sanction-threat/">
READ MORE: Blinken threatens China over Russia ties (VIDEO)
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In an op-ed published in the French press ahead of his visit, Xi said Beijing was committed to reaching “new vistas” in its relationship with the country. He wrote: “France is advancing re-industrialization based on green innovation, whereas China is accelerating the development of new quality productive forces.”
After France, the Chinese president is scheduled to visit EU member Hungary and Russia-friendly non-member Serbia.]]>
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<title>Swiss summit on Ukraine a ‘parody’ – Lavrov</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597051-ukraine-peace-conference-switzerland/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597051-ukraine-peace-conference-switzerland/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/66389f7d85f54010db39ae7b.jpg" /> The Swiss-hosted Ukraine conference is a “parody” aimed at promoting a “Russophobic peace formula,” the Russian foreign minister has said <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597051-ukraine-peace-conference-switzerland/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The upcoming event will promote a “Russophobic peace formula” proposed by Kiev, Moscow has said


The upcoming Swiss-hosted peace conference on Moscow’s conflict with Kiev is a “parody of negotiations” in which Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky will be promoted, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated.
In an interview with Bosnian broadcaster ATV released on Sunday, he claimed that Bern is “lying” about its willingness to invite Russia to the upcoming summit scheduled for June 15 at the Burgenstock Resort near Lucerne.
“When our Swiss colleagues declare their desire to invite Russia to the first conference, they are lying,” Lavrov said, adding that Moscow will not participate in any events that promote Zelensky’s “peace formula.”
He added that Russia is “seriously” open to negotiations; however, they must be based on the current “realities.”
Zelensky’s roadmap to resolve the crisis, which he has been promoting since 2022, calls for a complete withdrawal of Russian forces from all territories Ukraine considers its own, for Moscow to pay reparations, and for a war crimes tribunal. Russia has rejected the proposals as “unrealistic” and a sign of Kiev’s unwillingness to seek a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/596882-russia-ukraine-peace-talks-switzerland/">Date for Swiss-proposed Ukraine peace talks revealed</a></figcaption>
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The West will “play a parody of negotiations” at the Swiss-proposed summit, Lavrov said, adding that Russia “has no one to talk to” about the settlement of the Ukraine conflict because no one is ready for a “serious” dialogue among US and EU leadership.
He added that the ‘peace plan’ on which the summit will be centered contains “an openly illusory and Russophobic essence.”
Moscow has not ruled out engagement with Kiev, but has signaled that it has no intention of attending the Swiss event even if offered an invitation.
The delegations invited to the summit include members of the G7, G20, BRICS, the EU, international organizations, and two religious representatives, according to Switzerland.
Although Bern is “convinced” that a peace process without Russia is “unthinkable,” Moscow has not been invited “at this stage,” the Swiss Foreign Ministry announced last week.
In April, Russian President Vladimir Putin mocked the planned conference, saying Moscow is ready for a diplomatic solution but that holding negotiations without it is “nonsense.”
Russia has said it is willing to resolve the Ukraine conflict peacefully but will not accept a deal that ignores its national interests.]]>
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<title>Another African state holds ‘Immortal Regiment’ march</title>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/66389b49203027489b10565a.jpg" /> An annual ‘Immortal Regiment’ event in Benin was attended by dozens of people <a href="https://www.rt.com/africa/597052-immortal-regiment-marches-held-benin/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Dozens of participants joined the event in Benin, four days after a similar procession in DR Congo
An ‘Immortal Regiment’ march has been held in Cotonou, Benin, to mark the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, the Russian Embassy reported on Sunday.  
According to a Telegram post, 70 people attended the procession in the West African country’s largest city, including Russians and Beninese graduates of Soviet and Russian high schools. Cuban Ambassador Ricardo Garcia Napoles and his wife were also present.  
In a speech to mark the upcoming Victory Day, Russian Ambassador Igor Evdokimov emphasized the importance of preserving the truth about WWII “in the context of attempts by the ‘collective West’ to diminish the role of the Soviet people in the victory over fascism.” 
During the event, embassy staff and fellow Russians residing in Benin and Togo staged more than a dozen performances. Participants were also shown photo exhibitions titled ‘Ukrainian Crimes against Humanity (2022-2023)’ and ‘The Siege of Leningrad’, as well as the documentary film ‘Encounter at the Elbe’, the embassy reported.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/africa/596867-immortal-regiment-marches-held-drc/">‘Immortal Regiment’ marches in African state (PHOTOS)</a></figcaption>
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An ‘Immortal Regiment’ procession was organized in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), for the fourth time on May 1. Dozens of people carried photos of family members who had participated in WWII, while a six-meter Russian flag was displayed at the front of the column.  
The ‘Immortal Regiment’ is a large-scale civic event held in cities across Russia and other nations. Participants carry photos of their relatives who fought in WWII as an expression of gratitude to the Red Army for its decisive role in the defeat of the Axis powers.  
The concept of the ‘Immortal Regiment’ started in the Russian city of Tomsk in 2012, and has since gained popularity nationally and further afield.]]>
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<title>Social media to blame for Israel’s Gaza PR failure – Blinken</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597047-blinken-social-media-israel/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597047-blinken-social-media-israel/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663882e685f540113563128f.jpg" /> Facts get lost and emotions dominate on social media, US top diplomat Antony Blinken has said of Israel’s PR problems amid the Gaza war <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597047-blinken-social-media-israel/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Facts get lost and emotions dominate on the internet, the US Secretary of State has said
Social media is partially responsible for the widespread international criticism of Israel’s conduct during its military campaign in Gaza, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has suggested.
The top American diplomat made the comment during an exchange with Senator Mitt Romney (R-Utah) at the McCain Institute’s 2024 Sedona Forum in Sedona, Arizona on Friday.
Romney asked Blinken why “the PR [has] been so awful” for Israel amid the conflict in Gaza. “Why has [Palestinian armed group] Hamas disappeared in terms of public perception? An offer is on the table to have a ceasefire, and yet the world is screaming about Israel,” he said. “Typically, the Israelis are good at PR. What’s happened here?” Romney said.
The Secretary of State recalled that when he started working in Washington in the early 1990s “everyone did the same thing,” which was reading newspapers like The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, and watching national news networks to get information about world events.
But now, in the 2020s, “we are on an intravenous feed of information with new impulses, inputs every millisecond” and social media “has dominated the narrative,” he said.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597037-military-aid-israel-frozen/">US froze military aid shipment to Israel – Axios</a></figcaption>
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"And you have a social media ecosystem environment in which context, history, facts get lost, and the emotion, the impact of images dominates. And we can’t – we can’t discount that, but I think it also has a very, very, very challenging effect on the narrative,” Blinken suggested.
However, he also stressed that another reason for Israel’s bad PR was the “the inescapable reality of people who have and continue to suffer grievously in Gaza. And that’s real and we have to… be focused on that and attentive to that.”
Israel has faced harsh criticism from the international community due to the high number of civilian casualties during its attacks in the enclave over the past seven months. In March, UN experts ruled that there were “reasonable grounds” to believe that “genocide” was being committed in the Palestinian enclave.
In recent weeks, colleges across the US have been gripped by pro-Palestinian protests, which have been marred by clashes with police and resulted in several thousand people being detained.
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/news/597007-palestine-protest-michigan-university/">
READ MORE: Pro-Palestine protesters disrupt college commencement ceremony (VIDEOS)
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Israel launched its military operation in Gaza in response to a October 7 cross-border incursion by Hamas, in which at least 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage. According to the enclave’s health ministry, more than 34,683 Palestinians have so far been killed and 78,018 others wounded in the IDF’s airstrikes and ground offensive.]]>
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<title>Putin orders tactical nuclear weapons drills</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597049-putin-orders-tactical-nuclear-drills/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597049-putin-orders-tactical-nuclear-drills/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638912d203027469c6449fa.jpg" /> The Russian Defense Ministry has announced tactical nuclear weapons drills <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597049-putin-orders-tactical-nuclear-drills/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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An exercise to check the military’s ability to use smaller-range systems was announced by the Defense Ministry on Monday
Russia will test its ability to deploy tactical nuclear weapons, the Defense Ministry announced on Monday. The drill will be conducted “in the near future” and was ordered by President Vladimir Putin, the statement said.
Missile forces of the Southern Military District will be directly involved in the exercise. It will also require the participation of military aircraft and the Russian Navy, the ministry said.
The goal of the exercise is to iron out “the practical aspects of the preparation and deployment of non-strategic nuclear weapons,” it added.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/596553-ryabkov-nuclear-weapons-poland/">US nuclear weapons in Poland would be priority military target – Moscow</a></figcaption>
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The military cited “provocative statements and threats against Russia by certain Western officials” as the reason for the drill. The troops will confirm that they can “ensure unconditional territorial integrity and sovereignty” of the nation, it added.
Moscow has a wide range of nuclear-capable weapons, from long-range intercontinental ballistic missiles to smaller-range tactical nukes. Amid the Ukraine conflict, senior Russian officials, including Putin, have stated that the country’s nuclear doctrine allows the use of these weapons when the existence of the nation is at stake.
The US and its allies have accused Moscow of nuclear saber-rattling. Putin said in March that at no point in the conflict has the situation required such a radical move as a nuclear strike.
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597041-macron-breathes-russophobia-lavrov/">
READ MORE: Macron ‘breathes Russophobia’ – Lavrov
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<title>Macron ‘breathes Russophobia’ – Lavrov</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597041-macron-breathes-russophobia-lavrov/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597041-macron-breathes-russophobia-lavrov/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663865fc85f54010a8701ffc.jpg" /> The Russian foreign minister has said that French President Emmanuel Macron may be using Russophobia to gain a leading role in the EU <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597041-macron-breathes-russophobia-lavrov/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The French leader may be scaremongering in order to gain a leading role in the EU, Moscow has suggested
French President Emmanuel Macron may be using Russophobia to satisfy his ambition of leading the EU, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has claimed.
Speaking to the Bosnian Serb Alternativna TV on Sunday, Lavrov noted the French leader’s recent interview with The Economist in which he called Moscow the main threat to EU security, adding that Macron has adopted an “ardent” anti-Russian stance.
“According to the French leader, the ambitions of Adolf Hitler and Napoleon were driven by the fact that these countries saw Russia as a threat,” Lavrov claimed.
“I know how the power system is set up in France and how the French tend to see their role in Europe. I do not rule out that this ‘caveman’ Russophobia that Macron is currently ‘breathing’ might be necessary in order to try and become the leader in Europe, by leveraging this topic,” the foreign minister explained.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/596713-macron-debate-europe-nuclear-deterrence/">Macron calls for EU nuclear force</a></figcaption>
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In recent months, Macron has made several statements which Moscow has criticized as “dangerous talk,” accusing the French leader of “verbal escalation.” In the interview with The Economist, he outlined his “strategic objective” of preventing Russia from prevailing in the conflict with Ukraine, saying French troops could be deployed “If the Russians were to break through the front lines.”
He also called for a debate on building a pan-European defense capability, including anti-missile shields and long-range weapons “that would deter the Russians,” arguing that the EU should rethink its nuclear capability.
Moscow has maintained that it has no plans or interest in targeting any European nations, saying that some leaders resort to fearmongering to distract people from domestic problems.
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rt.com/russia/596975-peskov-cameron-macron-statements/">
READ MORE: Kremlin accuses Macron and Cameron of dangerous talk
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<title>Multiple dead in Ukrainian drone raid on Belgorod Region – governor</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597045-multiple-dead-ukrainian-drone-raid-belgorod/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597045-multiple-dead-ukrainian-drone-raid-belgorod/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6638819685f5401c1f13df9b.jpg" /> Ukrainian drones bombed civilian vehicles in Belgorod Region, leaving several people dead and dozens of injured, authorities say <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597045-multiple-dead-ukrainian-drone-raid-belgorod/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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Kamikaze UAVs hit several vehicles carrying civilians in the Russian border region, Vyacheslav Gladkov has said
A Ukrainian drone attack on Russia’s Belgorod Region has killed seven people and injured dozens of others, including children, local authorities have said.
In a statement on Monday morning, regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported that the strike targeted two minibuses carrying workers to a local enterprise, as well as another car. The attack took place close to the village of Beryozovka in the southwestern part of the region, near the Ukrainian border. 
The region’s operational headquarters said the raid targeted vehicles carrying employees from a local pig-breeding farm. 
“Unfortunately, as a result of the explosion, six people died on the spot from their injuries,” Gladkov said, offering his condolences to the relatives and loved ones of the deceased.
While initial reports indicated that at least 35 people were injured, the Russian Health Ministry later said as many as 40 were wounded, including three children. One man is in serious condition after suffering an abdomen wound, Gladkov said, while many others sustained shrapnel wounds and are being treated in hospital.
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/596927-drone-attack-belgorod-ukraine/">Drone hits passenger bus in Russian border region – governor</a></figcaption>
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The Agro Belogorye conglomerate, the owner of the targeted vehicles, later reported that the death toll had risen to seven.
The governor released a picture of what appears to be one of the targeted minibuses. Two large holes were seen in the roof and the vehicle’s windows were completely blown out.
Russian border regions are subject to near-daily Ukrainian drone and artillery strikes, many of which target civilians and critical infrastructure, causing widespread casualties. On Friday, two people were wounded when a Ukrainian drone raid hit a passenger bus in Belgorod Region. 
In March, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow could “at some point” establish a “cordon sanitaire” in Kiev-controlled areas to prevent repeated Ukrainian cross-border attacks.]]>
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<title>Zelensky can’t force God to fight – Russian church</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/russia/597039-zelensky-wont-mobilize-god-russian/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/russia/597039-zelensky-wont-mobilize-god-russian/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/66382cab85f5400c5375aa39.jpg" /> It is not for Ukraine’s leader to determine whose side God is on, the Russian Orthodox Church has said <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/597039-zelensky-wont-mobilize-god-russian/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The Ukrainian leader previously claimed that the Almighty is Kiev’s “ally” in the fight against Moscow
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky cannot enlist God in Kiev’s fight against Moscow, the Russian Orthodox Church has said, rebuking a statement Zelensky made during his Easter Sunday speech.
In a video address, Zelensky described God as “an ally” of Ukraine who “has a chevron with the Ukrainian flag on his shoulder.”
“The Lord is not a resident of Kiev Region for Zelensky to mobilize him and put him in the Ukrainian army. His statements don’t merit any attention,” Vakhtang Kipshidze, the head of the Russian church’s public relations department, told news outlet news.ru.
Kipshidze blasted the Ukrainian leader as “a non-believer” who “claims that he can decide for God whose ally he is.”
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6637da2d85f54010a8701fe4.jpg" alt="Vladimir Zelensky appears in a video shot at the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev, Ukraine, May 5, 2024" />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597036-zelensky-god-ally-ukraine/">Ukrainians are God’s chosen people – Zelensky</a></figcaption>
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Kiev has stepped up its crackdown on its largest church, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), accusing its clergymen of being “agents of Moscow.” The UOC renounced its historical ties with Moscow after Russia launched its military operation in the neighboring state in February 2022. Nevertheless, the Ukrainian authorities have launched criminal cases against more than 60 priests and seized a number of monasteries and other assets in favor of the state-backed Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).
Last year, the Ukrainian government introduced a bill that would pave the way for an eventual ban of the UOC. The legislation, however, has since been stalled.
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, has condemned the campaign against the UOC, denouncing it as a violation of religious rights.]]>
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<title>Israel shuts down Gaza border crossing after Hamas attack</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597040-israel-closes-gaza-crossing/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597040-israel-closes-gaza-crossing/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663822a92030274550327ef4.jpg" /> Israel closed the main border crossing into Gaza on Sunday <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597040-israel-closes-gaza-crossing/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The move comes in response to a rocket barrage that killed three IDF soldiers
Israel has closed the main border crossing used to deliver humanitarian aid into the besieged Gaza in response to a Hamas rocket attack on its troops. 
According to the Israeli army, the Palestinian militants fired more than ten rockets at the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stationed near the Kerem Shalom crossing on Sunday, killing three soldiers and wounding 11. The route was first reopened in December due to pressure from the UN and Israel’s primary ally, the US.
The IDF said the barrage came from an area close to a civilian shelter near the Rafah crossing with Egypt. The attack was “another clear example” of Hamas using humanitarian sites and civilians as human shields, the Israeli army said. 
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597037-military-aid-israel-frozen/">US froze military aid shipment to Israel – Axios</a></figcaption>
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The attack coincided with negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Cairo, which ended without a breakthrough. NBC News reported that CIA Director William Burns, who was mediating the talks in the Egyptian capital, will travel to Israel this week to hold further discussions.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has reiterated that the IDF will conduct “a power operation in the very near future in Rafah and other places across all of Gaza.” Israeli officials are insisting that the army must eliminate Hamas fighters operating out of Rafah, despite the city being overcrowded with refugees from the parts of Gaza that were previously subject to the IDF’s evacuation notices.  
“It could be a slaughter of civilians and an incredible blow to the humanitarian operation in the entire strip because it is run primarily out of Rafah,” Jens Laerke, the spokesman for the UN humanitarian office (OCHA), warned earlier this week.
More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza as a result of the Israel-Hamas war, which will enter its seventh month on Tuesday. The fighting broke out on October 7 when the Palestinian militant group carried out a surprise raid into Israeli territory, killing around 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages. ]]>
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<title>Cancer ‘is our new Covid’ – Pfizer CEO</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597038-cancer-new-covid-pfizer-ceo/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597038-cancer-new-covid-pfizer-ceo/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/663803c120302744b33acfb4.jpg" /> Pfizer plans to focus on cancer treatment drugs in hopes of big profits, CEO Albert Bourla has said <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597038-cancer-new-covid-pfizer-ceo/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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The US pharma giant is betting on oncology since demand for its Covid-19 vaccines has collapsed
American drug manufacturer Pfizer has its sights set on the cancer treatment market now that the Covid-19 pandemic is over and global demand for its vaccines and coronavirus drugs is falling, CEO Albert Bourla told Fox Business on May 1. 
The company expects to score big on “blockbuster” cancer drugs, Bourla said, as the pharma giant seeks to reverse its post-Covid business decline. The pandemic brought record revenue to the company. In 2022 alone, Pfizer’s total sales amounted to $157 billion, with its Covid vaccine accounting for $37.8 billion and its antiviral treatment pill, Paxlovid, bringing in another $18.9 billion. 
In 2023, sales were down by more than half and accounted for $71 billion. The company’s shares have fallen by 42% since the end of 2022 amid the rapid decline in demand for its Covid-related products. This led to a major cost-cutting campaign, including hundreds of layoffs at its UK, US, and Irish facilities. 
In his interview with Fox Business, Bourla praised the measures as a “very good cost containment” campaign, crediting it for the “very good results” his company showed in early 2024. Pfizer is also on the verge of striking gold again with its new strategy, he said. 
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/592695-covid-vaccine-effects-study/">Largest Covid vaccine study yet finds links to neurological conditions</a></figcaption>
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“Oncology, it is our new Covid,” the Pfizer CEO said. “We did what we did with Covid. We are very proud to have saved the world but it is behind us now. We want to do [it] once more and I think oncology is our best chance to do it.”
In late 2023, the US drug manufacturer completed the $43 billion acquisition of Seagen (formerly Seattle Genetics) – a biotechnology company specializing in monoclonal antibody-based drugs, also known as antibody-drug conjugates, or ADCs. They are designed to kill tumor cells while leaving healthy tissues relatively unaffected. 
Seagen was previously known for its flagship product Adcetris, which is used to treat lymphoma and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. According to drugs.com, the medicine costs around $11.91 for a 50-mg dose. 
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<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/590833-cdc-suppressed-covid-myocarditis-vaccines/">US health agency hushed Covid vax myocarditis warning – media</a></figcaption>
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Another drug in the company’s portfolio that has demonstrated “phenomenal performance” is Padcev, according to Bourla. Padcev is used to treat bladder cancer, and its sales have “had a growth of 164%” since the US pharma giant acquired it, he said. The average price for Padcev is $4,446 per 30-mg dose, according to drugs.com. 
“That demonstrates how well we’ve invested the money,” Bourla said, commenting on Padcev’s performance. He also promised blockbuster drugs in the future that “will have a significant impact on cancer patients.”
Pfizer announced its shift toward cancer treatment in late 2023. “Nothing scares people all over the world more than cancer, because it affects everyone,” Bourla said at the time. “I hope we will be successful in our mission. I am optimistic that in the next 10 years, we will see significant advancement,” he added.
In January 2024, the company said it plans to have at least eight blockbuster cancer treatment drugs by 2030 and double the number of patients treated with its innovative medicines, up from 2.3 million in 2023.]]>
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<title>US froze military aid shipment to Israel – Axios</title>
<link><![CDATA[https://www.rt.com/news/597037-military-aid-israel-frozen/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS]]></link>
<guid>https://www.rt.com/news/597037-military-aid-israel-frozen/</guid>
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<![CDATA[<img alt="Preview" align="left" style="margin-right: 10px;" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6637e8f62030273c4f0dde42.jpg" /> Israeli officials have reportedly “scrambled” to understand why Washington halted a planned arms delivery <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/597037-military-aid-israel-frozen/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS">Read Full Article at RT.com</a>]]>
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A pause would mark the first time since October that Washington has withheld supplies to the Jewish state’s military
The US abruptly halted a planned shipment of American-made ammunition to Israel last week, Axios reported on Sunday. The White House, which has become increasingly more critical of Israel’s conduct in Gaza, has not explained the alleged interruption.
Two Israeli officials told the outlet that the delivery had been inexplicably stopped last week, leaving the Israeli government “scrambling to understand why the shipment was held.”
The White House declined to comment when asked by Axios, while the Pentagon, US State Department and the Israeli prime minister’s office refused to respond to questions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on Hamas after the Palestinian militants launched a surprise attack on October 7 last year, killing around 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages. Seven months later and with the death toll from Israels retaliation approaching 35,000, US President Joe Biden and his officials have grown increasingly critical of the Israeli PM.
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<img src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.04/thumbnail/663154942030275ac2271806.jpg" alt="Donald Trump (L) watches as Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the White House in Washington DC, September 15, 2020" />
<figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/596824-trump-israel-aid-netanyahu/">Trump won’t rule out cutting aid to Israel</a></figcaption>
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Biden has declared that an Israeli invasion of the civilian-crowded city of Rafah would be a “red line,” and publicly rebuked Netanyahu over “indiscriminate” bombing of Gaza. The State Department has also sanctioned Israeli settlers in the West Bank, while the US abstained from a UN Security Council vote in March allowing a measure demanding an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to pass.
Despite the shift in rhetoric, the Biden administration has also kept weapons and ammunition flowing to Israel, reportedly approving more than 100 arms deliveries to the Jewish state since October 7. 
The contents of these packages are generally not revealed to the public unless their value exceeds $250 million, and only two have passed this threshold. These large packages were <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/595433-us-approves-more-bombs-for-israel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">approved</a> last month and included more than 1,800 MK84 2,000-pound bombs and 500 MK82 500-pound bombs, as well as over 1,000 small-diameter munitions.
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<enclosure url="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2024.05/thumbnail/6637e8f62030273c4f0dde42.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="123"/> <pubDate>Sun, 05 May 2024 20:49:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>RT</dc:creator>
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