💬“Any contact with Russians at all is seen to be a blasphemy against the full-throated support of the regime in Kiev. And in fact, all avenues for diplomacy have been effectively shut down at this point. Russia is even talking about that it doesn't even need diplomats in Europe anymore, it's pointless. And it's talking about drastically stepping down its diplomatic presence because their lives are really just in threat at this point due to abuse and death threats and the harassment they're getting from European governments. So yeah, there's no rainbow anywhere in sight for the end of this conflict.” Mark Sleboda, international affairs and security analyst said.

🎧Listen to more of Sleboda’s analysis in our podcast: Martial Law, Saudi Critic Imprisoned, US vs China, Meta* Tanking

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*Meta, Facebook, and Instagram are banned in Russia over extremist activities.

❗️Russian President Vladimir Putin inspected the progress of the training of the mobilized citizens at the training ground in the Ryazan region.

▪️The President also inspected practical classes on tactical, fire, engineering and medical training.

▪️In addition, the Russian President visited a multifunctional shooting complex, where the drafted soldiers practice various methods of shooting as part of units under the guidance of commanders and instructors with combat experience.

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📹WATCH: Russian President Vladimir Putin practices sniper rifle shooting at the training ground in the Ryazan region.

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🇬🇧Liz Truss announced her resignation as UK Prime Minister after less than two months in office.

▪️Her resignation was quite anticipated, as it comes on the heels of the controversial mini-budget that collapsed the country's currency, shook financial markets and caused the firing of her closest political ally, Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng.

▪️In spite of her resignation, Truss, who may become the less popular UK political leader in 20 years, will serve until her successor is appointed.

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📹🐼China has sent two pandas with Arabic names to Qatar as a gift and a gesture of goodwill ahead of the first-ever FIFA World Cup in the Arab region.

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“It was a NATO weapon that hit a peaceful village”

📹DPR residents describe how a local boarding school was shelled by the Ukrainian Army

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“They (Ukrainians) are probably angry that they can’t do anything. Ukrofascists. They don’t care who they kill”

📹WATCH: A resident of Donetsk describes how Ukrainian troops shell residential buildings, destroying everything in their path.

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‼️ Biden 'Worried' Ukraine Aid May Be Jeopardized if Republicans Win Midterms ➡️ LIVE UPDATES

⚡️ Ukrainian Forces Launch 12 missiles at Civilian Ferry in Kherson - Emergency Services

The Ukrainian military launched 12 missiles at a civilian ferry in Kherson on Thursday, the region’s emergency services said, adding that the information about casualties is being specified.

"The Kiev regime fired 12 HIMARS missiles, 11 missiles were shot down by air defense systems, one fell in the area of the Antonovsky bridge. Information on casualties and destruction is being specified," the spokesman of the emergency services told reporters.

⚖️ Kevin Spacey found not liable in sex abuse suit brought by Anthony Rapp

In a victory for Kevin Spacey, a New York jury on Thursday found the actor not liable for battery on allegations he picked up fellow artist Anthony Rapp and briefly laid on top of him in a bed after a party in 1986. Rapp, who stars in the series "Star Trek: Discovery," was claiming damages of $40 million.

Jurors deliberated for about an hour, and concluded Rapp did not prove that Spacey “touched a sexual or intimate part” of his body. Judge Lewis Kaplan formally dismissed the case. Attorneys seated on either side of Spacey immediately put their hands on his back when the verdict was read.

At the time of the accusations, he came out publicly as gay for the first time, which he said led to accusations that he was "trying to change the subject, or trying to deflect."

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‼️ Amazon faces $1B class action lawsuit in the UK over Buy Box

The company is facing a $1 billion class action lawsuit in the UK over allegations it uses an algorithm to favor its own products and those of third-party sellers who use its storage and delivery services.

The lawsuit will focus primarily on Amazon’s “Buy Box” feature, a coveted spot that makes items more visible to shoppers and thereby lead to more sales for merchants listed there. The box features a product from a single seller, though many more might offer the same item.

Amazon said the claim was “without merit” and noted the company has focused on supporting the 85,000 businesses that sell their products on its UK marketplace. It also said more than half of sales of physical products on that marketplace come from third-party sellers. Last year, regulators in Italy fined the company 1.13 billion euros ($1.3 billion), accusing it of stifling competition over similar concerns.

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‼️ Two Dead, 10 Injured in Kiev's Attack on Civilian Crossing in Kherson Region - Official

Kherson region government head Sergey Eliseev said on Friday that two people were killed, and ten others were injured, including children and journalists, in Ukraine's missile attack on a civilian crossing of the Dnepr river in the Kherson region.

"As a result of the missile attack, unfortunately, we have casualties and deaths. At the moment, there are ten people wounded and two dead, this is preliminary data, the final results will be summarized later, rescue services are now working at the site," Eliseev told journalists.

The official added that "the nature of the wounds shows that HIMARS cluster munitions, filled with shrapnel elements for a greater striking effect, have been used."

"I am sure that the Kiev regime knew that the crossing was used exclusively by civilians... Minors were wounded, and journalists are among the victims," Eliseev said.

He added that the wounded were taken to the regional hospital and would further be taken to Crimea for treatment if necessary.

‼️ JUST IN | EU Leaders Reach Agreement on Containing Energy Prices - Michel

Leaders of the European Union have reached an agreement on tackling the energy crisis and containing prices of energy, European Council President Charles Michel said on Friday.

"#EUCO has reached an agreement on energy. Unity and solidarity prevail. Agreed to work on measures to contain energy prices for households and businesses," Michel said on Twitter.

🇮🇩 Indonesia says contaminated medicines linked to 99 deaths

Indonesia has found contaminated medicines that are suspected of being linked to the deaths of 99 children this year due to acute kidney injury, officials said Thursday.

The Health Ministry, which banned all syrup medicines on Wednesday, is working with the food and drug agency to determine which other drugs to potentially withdraw as a preventive measure, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said. There have been 206 cases of acute kidney injury in children reported from 20 provinces in Indonesia this year, and a death rate of 48%, the Health Ministry said.

It is an atypical progressive acute kidney injury. We call it atypical as the cause is still under investigation or unknown,” said Mohammad Syahril, a spokesperson from the Health Ministry.

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🚇 Railroads reject sick time demands, raising chance of strike

The railroads took the unusual step of issuing a statement rejecting the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division union’s latest request to add paid sick time on top of the 24% raises and $5,000 in bonuses they received in the first five-year deal.

Union Pacific CEO Lance Fritz said Thursday that he thinks the main reason the BMWED rejected its initial contract last week was that the details of improved expense reimbursement in the deal were still being negotiated at UP while workers were voting. 

Six of the 12 railroad unions that represent 115,000 workers nationwide have approved their tentative agreements with the railroads so far, but all of them have to ratify their contracts to avoid a strike. Congress could step in to block a strike and impose terms on the workers.

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