🇺🇬🇨🇳 Uganda has terminated a deal with a Chinese firm to construct a $2.3 billion railroad to the Kenyan border and is now seeking to sign a contract with a Turkish company, according to officials

▪️The East African country started negotiations with China in 2017 for a $2.3 billion loan to build a railway between its capital Kampala and the town of Mabala on the border with Kenya. China Harbour Engineering was chosen to build the 273 km line, which would have become one section of a 1,700 km railway to the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa.

▪️However, China has been concerned about the financial viability of the project, as a connection to the Indian Ocean coastline in Kenya may not be completed within the same timeframe.

🇹🇷Now Uganda is considering a deal with urkish firm Yapi Merkezi, which is building Tanzania’s railway, expecting that it will help find financing for the project.

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Intruding on Real Writing Jobs? Internet Fumes as Media Portal Churns Out AI-Generated Articles

A news outlet embarked on the experiment of publishing articles written by artificial intelligence (AI) in November, but has kept it low key, without any formal announcement, and with content seemingly optimized for search traffic – but this has not gone unnoticed.

News that a tech media site has been publishing articles generated "using automation technology" since November 2022, keeping the experiment "under the radar," has set off a storm of indignation among Internet users. Many went on social media to remark that while they were having difficulty finding employment, writing jobs appeared to have been taken over by artificial intelligence (AI).

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Russia Dominates Arctic Region With Icebreaking Capabilities, Polar Guide Says

Russia's dominance in the Arctic is indisputable with its icebreaking, military and research capabilities that are superior to those of other countries operating in the region such as the United States, Russian traveler, athlete and polar guide Viktor Simonov told Sputnik.

Simonov met with a Sputnik correspondent to provide updates on preparations for a major expedition he has planned for March together with another famous Russian explorer, Fyodor Konyukhov. The travelers are set to cover 2,500 kilometers (1,553 miles) between Russia and Canada on dog sleds. They are expected to reach their destination within three months, as they must carefully choose their route through frozen lakes, hummocks, ice, cracks and tricky weather conditions.

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❗️Russian MoD briefing on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine:

▪️The Russian Army eliminated two Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups in the Kharkov region;

▪️Russian troops eliminated two Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups in the DPR;

▪️Russian forces eliminated more than 30 Ukrainian servicemen in the Kupyansk direction;

▪️The Russian Army eliminated more than 30 Ukrainian servicemen in the South Donetsk direction;

▪️Russian forces eliminated more than 70 Ukrainian servicemen in the Donetsk direction;

▪️Russian air defense systems destroyed 4 Ukrainian UAVs and intercepted 7 HIMARS and Olkha rockets;

▪️Russian troops destroyed two Ukrainian ammunition depots in the DPR and Zaporozhye region;

▪️Russian forces destroyed an M777 artillery system, as well as an AN/TPQ-36 and an AN/TPQ-50 radar system in the Kharkov region.

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China Asks US, Japan Not to Turn Asia-Pacific Region Into Wrestling Ring

💬 “The Asia-Pacific is an anchor for peace and development, not a wrestling ground for geopolitical competition,” the spokesman said in a regular press briefing. “Countries in the region are for justice and against hegemonism. They hope to engage in cooperation, not confrontation. They aspire for true multilateralism and reject small circles that incite bloc confrontation,” he added.

Wang’s remarks come against the backdrop of Japan’s plans to more than double defense spending over the next five years and become the world’s third-largest military spender after the US and China.

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📌 Peruvian President Dina Boluarte addressed the nation on the situation in the country amid massive anti-government demonstrations following the impeachment of the country's former leader Pedro Castillo and apologized for tragic events that have led to the death of protesters.

💬 "As President, as mother, as woman from Apurimac, I understand and share your anger since the country is deeply indebted to the people. I cannot but again express my condolences over the death of Peruvians during the protests... I apologize for this situation and for letting these tragic events happen," Boluarte said in a speech on Friday evening.

The president delivered the speech shortly after swearing in the country’s new interior and labor ministers, as well as the new minister of women and vulnerable populations, as part of a cabinet reshuffle amid public criticism of the new government's actions during the ongoing crisis.

🏔 WATCH: Two avalanches hit Jammu and Kashmir region on Saturday evening prompting an immediate rescue operation by authorities.

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🇱🇧 The US will disburse around $60 million via a United Nations agency to support the Lebanese army, a source in Lebanon's government told Sputnik.

▪️According to the source, this sum will fund additional bonuses to Lebanese soldiers, as inflation eroded their pay by 95% — from around $800 in October 2019 to less than $50 in current exchange rates.

The official announcement of the US disbursement of funds for the Lebanese military will follow later, the source specified.

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❗️Five more pages of classified docs found at Biden's Delaware home

💬 "Because I have a security clearance, I went to Wilmington Thursday evening to facilitate providing the document the President's personal counsel found on Wednesday to the Justice Department. While I was transferring it to the [Department of Justice] officials who accompanied me, five additional pages with classifications markings were discovered among the material with it, for a total of six pages. That DoJ officials with me immediately took possession of them," presidential counsel Richard Sauber said in a statement Saturday morning.

🇷🇴 The Romanian government is planning to cut financial support provided to unemployed Ukrainian refugees in the country to encourage them to find a job, Romanian media reported on Saturday.

According to the report, the authorities are considering cutting financial support for Ukrainian refugees after having spent over 500 million euros ($540 million) in public and private funds for this purpose. The goal of planned changes is to incentivize migrants to find a job and start learning the Romanian language, the report said.

Under current assistance programs, any Ukrainian citizen in Romania could receive an unconditional financial assistance of over 2,000 lei ($440).　

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🌚 Kentucky progressive Democrat and gubernatorial candidate Geoffrey M. Young has proposed that President Joe Biden be “immediately” thrown out of office for a series of war crimes committed by his administration.

Young, 66, calls himself as a “Peace Democrat,” and is a longtime outspoken critic of imperious US foreign policy who has savagely criticized the sending of US taxpayer money to Kiev by both parties, and slammed the conflict in Ukraine as a lost cause for the US and NATO.

His candidacy for governor and challenge of incumbent Democrat Andy Beshear in governor’s race has been largely ignored by mainstream media, with individual outlets trying to smear him.

The primaries in the Kentucky gubernatorial race will take place on May 16, while the election itself will be held November 7.

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🐌 Argentina beachgoers treated to alien scene as thousands of snail eggs wash ashore

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