🔁New York City asked the World Health Organization to rename the monkeypox virus... to avoid stigmatization

💬Monkeypox did not actually originate in primates, New York City public health commissioner Ashwin Vasan insisted in a letter to WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He recalled the negative effects of misinformation about the HIV epidemic, and the alleged racism faced by Asian communities when Donald Trump started calling COVID-19 the "Chinese virus".

"Continuing to use the term 'monkeypox' to describe the current outbreak may reignite these traumatic feelings of racism and stigma, particularly for Black people and other people of color, as well as members of the LGBTQIA+ communities, and it is possible that they may avoid engaging in vital health care services because of it," Vasan said.

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❗EU Court rejects RT France's appeal to overturn broadcaster's suspension

Russian FM Sergey Lavrov and his Ethiopian colleague planting trees at the Russian Embassy as a sign of friendship.

❗The Kremlin assesses the decision of the EU court to reject the claim of RT France as extremely negative, as it causes concern and regret - Kremlin spokesman Peskov

💬Russia will take similar measures of pressure on the Western media in the Russia; there will be no soft position, these media won't be allowed to work normally - Peskov

❗RT France appeals EU Court decision - statement

❗Despite growing fears its fight against inflation could push the US into a recession, the Federal Reserve is expected to announce another 0.75 percentage point interest rate hike, the Hill reports

📹A Sputnik correspondent's footage from the coordinating center for grain in Istanbul. Ukrainian and Russian delegations are sitting opposite each other

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Amid Western media claims that Russia and the Donbass republics are shelling civilian infrastructure, over and over again locals have unraveled these accusations: they cause them bewilderment and anger.

For example, a Severodonetsk resident spoke about another Ukraine’s military shelling: "How was it possible to shoot, as they said, from the other [Russian] side, when it got hit from this [Ukrainian] side?"

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⚡Coordination center for maritime grain exports from Ukraine officially launches in Turkey

Turkish Defense Ministry's statements on the grain deal:

▪The grain deal will be extended as necessary and with the consent of the parties;

▪At the moment there is no need for a mine clearance process in the Black Sea for the movement of ships;

▪All activities of the grain center will be coordinated by the UN;

▪The grain deal could provide a model for solving the energy crisis

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A Sputnik correspondent's photo from the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul for monitoring of maritime grain exports from Ukraine, which started its work today

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📹The difference between terrible rumors about Russian captivity and the reality seems to be shocking for Ukrainian POWs. One of them spoke about how he was dealt with by his commanders and how he is treated while being imprisoned

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❗Russian MoD briefing:

▪️Two Ukrainian brigades’ temporary locations were destroyed by the Russian Air Force, up to 200 Ukrainian servicemen and up to 20 armed combat vehicles were eliminated in Nikolaev;

▪️More than 100 rockets for the US-made MLRS HIMARS were destroyed after a strike on the ammunition depot in the Dnepropetrovsk region;

▪️8 Ukrainian ammunition depots were destroyed in the DPR, Nikolaev and Zaporozhye;

▪️One company of the Ukrainian 10th mountain assault brigade has been completely eliminated, as a result of the fire damage, performed by the Russian forces in the Artyomovsk area;

▪️The Russian forces performed a high-precision missile strike at the 53rd Ukrainian mechanized brigade, located in the DPR, thus, the brigade has nearly lost its combat potential;

▪️The Russian forces struck a Ukrainian Uragan MLRS battery, Giatsint-B howitzers in the Dzerzhinsk area, and the Grad MLRS battery in the vicinity of Bylbasovka;

▪️10 shells of Olkha and HIMARS MLRSs were intercepted by Russian anti-aircraft systems in the Kherson region;

▪️9 Ukrainian UAVs and 1 Mi-8 helicopter, as well as 4 Ukrainian battalion command and observation posts were destroyed by the Russian forces during the day

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⚡️Biden tests negative for COVID-19 after completing treatment

⚡️ The German government has green-lighted arms company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann to supply 100 Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers worth €1.7 billion to the Ukrainian Army, Spiegel reports, citing sources.

This contract exceeds the cost of previous weapon deliveries and is assumed will provide long-term support for the Ukraine Armed Forces, taking into account the slow production of howitzers

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🦠'Back to the Oval': Joe Biden ending 'strict isolation' after testing negative for coronavirus

The Russian government has expanded the list of states that commit unfriendly actions against the country: See Sputnik's infographic with a full list of these countries and territories

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🐐 ‘Scary movie 3’ actor Kevin Hart surprised his friend, comedian Chris Rock, during their recent comedy show in New York by dragging a goat right onto the stage. Hart presented the creature to Rock, saying that the goat’s name is Will Smith, which left the audience screaming.

Hart's joke was a nod to the moment when Smith slapped Rock for a joke about the former's wife during this year's Academy Awards

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