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

▪️The Russian Army eliminated up to 100 Ukrainian servicemen, a tank, three infantry fighting vehicles, two pick-up trucks, a self-propelled Akatsiya howitzer and a fighting vehicle equipped with a Grad multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS) - close to Kupyansk;

▪️Russian troops eliminated more then 200 Ukrainian servicemen, three infantry fighting vehicles, eight armored combat vehicles, two pick-ups and a D-20 howitzer in the Krasny Liman direction;

▪️In the Donetsk direction, up to 210 Ukrainian servicemen have been destroyed. Also destroyed were five armored combat vehicles, three vehicles, as well as a Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery mount, a Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, 2 fighting vehicle equipped with Grad MLRS, two D-30 howitzers, and a D-20 howitzer;

▪️The Russian Army also eliminated the Ukrainian army's mobile communication unit in the DPR's Avdeevka area;

▪️The Russian Army eliminated more than 70 Ukrainian servicemen, two tanks, two armored fighting vehicles, two pick-ups, a Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer and a D-20 howitzer in the South Donetsk and Zaporozhye direction;

▪️The Russian Armed Forces destroyed up to 60 Ukrainian servicemen, six vehicles, a Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, a Giatsint-B howitzer, a Msta-B howitzer and three D-30 howitzers in the Kherson region;

▪️Russian Aerospace Forces have shot down an Su-24 airplane of belonging to the Ukrainian forces in the Donetsk direction;

▪️The Russian Army eliminated a HIMARS MLRS and 18 AFU UAVs in LPR, DPR and Kherson region.

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🗣️“The patience is running thin…”

Labor attorney, human rights activist, and author Daniel Kovalik joins us to talk about the public discontent over the US’s aid to Ukraine

🎧Listen to more of Kovalik’s analysis in our podcast Political misfits:SCOTUS Rejects Mass Surveillance Inquiry, Indigenous Struggles, G20

Sputnik Spearheads Charity Drive to Donate Equipment, Medicines to Quake-Hit Syrian Hospitals

Sputnik, with the support of the charitable foundation named in honor of Elizaveta Glinka's "Doctor Lisa", will send life-saving medicines and medical equipment to the earthquake-stricken regions of Syria, the much-needed medicines and equipment were purchased for both medical institutions of the Arab country and rescuers sorting out the rubble.

In total, during the campaign, more than 20 tons of humanitarian cargo were gathered for shipment to Syria, namely items like, baby food, formula milk, diapers, personal hygiene products, clothing and shoes for children and adults, tents, sleeping bags, warm blankets, flashlights, batteries and generators. About two tons have already been given over to those in need.

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Jon Jeter, journalist and author, joins us to discuss the opposition of Russia, China and the Global South to the West as well as the end of Western imperialism

🎧Listen to more of Jeter’s analysis in our podcast The Critical Hour

Germany Got a Slap in the Face From US, But Can Do Nothing But Obey: Political Scientist

"What could have prompted Biden to allegedly call Scholz on the carpet in Washington? I think a lot has to do with the fact that Biden himself was recently in Europe, but did not visit Germany. He has not visited Germany as a president, so far. He was twice in Poland and by this he clearly emphasized that Poland is the main ally in Europe for him today,” Alexander Rahr, German political scientist and head of Eurasian Society, told Sputnik.

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🇦🇪 Global oil prices are falling after the publication of an American business-focused daily newspaper, which reported citing unnamed Emirati officials that the UAE was in internal discussions about the possibility of withdrawing from OPEC.

As of 14:25 GMT, the price of May futures for Brent crude fell by 2.1% to $82.97 per barrel, April futures for WTI were down 2.25% to $76.4. A possible withdrawal of the UAE from the cartel will undermine the latter's influence in global oil markets, the report said.

Due to participation in OPEC, the country is forced to produce less oil than it is capable of in terms of production capacity, which is detrimental to oil revenues. It has long insisted on increasing production, but the Saudis refused, the publication said, citing OPEC sources.

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‘They Now Need Democracy’: Internet Fears for Iran’s Safety as Tehran Finds $500 Billion in Lithium

The estimated 8.6 million tons in lithium found by geologists instantly shot Iran up to fourth place in the world in total reserves of the precious metal after Bolivia (21 million tons), Argentina (19.3 million tons), and Chile (9.6 million tons). The US, the previous fourth-place holder, now drops to fifth with its 7.9 million tons.

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❗️US announces new $400 million military package for Ukraine - Blinken

Not Only GOP, But Also Left & Independents Feel Team Biden Has Lost Its Way in Ukraine

"While American taxpayers have funded the bulk of Western aid, Europeans are suffering most from the ramped costs of energy and will be hurt most should the conflict in Ukraine escalate beyond Ukraine's borders. Let us hope that sanity soon prevails and that actual negotiations may bring about a sensible resolution," Wall Street analyst and investigative journalist Charles Ortel told Sputnik

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Top Israeli, Pentagon Officials Agree on Need to ‘Prevent Iran From Gaining a Nuclear Weapon’

The meeting comes after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken paid a visit to the Israeli government and the Palestinian National Authority, advising the two sides on how to avoid the outbreak of a third “intifada,” or mass Palestinian uprising. It also comes ahead of a visit to Israel next week by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Austin and Gallant spoke last week about West Bank tensions as well.

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More US Interest Rate Hikes Needed to Win Inflation Fight, Federal Reserve Says

Referring to its policy-making Federal Open Market Committee, the US central bank said: "The committee is strongly committed to returning inflation to its 2% objective. Ongoing increases in the target range will be appropriate in order to attain a stance of monetary policy that is sufficiently restrictive."

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‼️'Small' lesion removed from Biden's chest during February physical proved cancerous but was successfully removed, White House has confirmed.