🇷🇺 Key statements by Vladimir Putin on meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping:

▪️Putin congratulates Xi on re-election;

▪️Xi Jinping’s work over past decade has been appreciated;

▪️Russia and China have many common goals;

▪️China has made breakthrough in recent years, arousing genuine interest all over world;

▪️Chinese economy is strong, governance more efficient than in other countries;

▪️Russia, China trade has more than doubled, now amounting to $185 billion;

▪️China takes fair, balanced position on most international issues;

▪️Putin was familiarized with China's plan to resolve situation in Ukraine;

▪️Russia always open to negotiations, respects China's plan on situation in Ukraine.

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Dr. Gerald Horne, professor of history at the University of Houston, Texas, author, historian, and researcher, joined us to discuss the US’ obsession with isolating Russia, which may come out sideways for the US

🗣️”Washington in some ways is going to find itself isolated, although the thrust of its foreign policy clearly has been to try to isolate Russia,” he stated

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

🇨🇳 Key statements by Xi Jinping at meeting with Vladimir Putin in Moscow:

▪️Russia and China should have close relations;

▪️Russia made significant progress in country's prosperity under Putin's leadership;

▪️Xi is sure Russian people will support Putin during presidential election next year.

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International relations and security analyst Mark Sleboda joined us to discuss the ICC’s arrest warrant issued for President Putin

Listen to more of Sleboda’s analysis in our podcast The Backstory

Le Pen says may run for French presidency for 4th time

"No, I would not go to the Hotel Matignon [the residence of the French prime minister] ... As I have already been a presidential candidate three times, I will possibly run for the presidency for the fourth time. The decision has not been made yet," Le Pen told French broadcaster.

"I am not afraid of power, I am looking forward to it, in order to show the French people that we are able to complete the reforms they are waiting for and that we are able to bring good results for the country, for their security, their prosperity and for protecting their identity in a comparatively shot time period," Le Pen told.

The next presidential election in the country will be held in 2027.

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🎬 Russia is ready to ship grain to Africa free of charge, Russian President Vladimir Putin says

If Russia makes a decision not to extend the grain deal 60 days later, it is ready to ship the same volume that was sent over the previous period to the neediest countries in Africa free of charge, Putin stated

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🎬 National energy systems in some African countries are 100% funded by Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin says

"We are going to continue to help African states in generating energy," he stated.

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❗️US announces $350 million drawdown of military equipment for Ukraine, package includes ammunition for HIMARS, howitzers, Bradleys - Blinken

Ukraine’s Entry Into EU ‘Not on the Agenda Today’

“There can be no concessions when it comes to rule of law, freedom of speech and common European values. Membership [in the EU] depends on the reform process. NATO has an ‘open door’ policy; sovereign states decide for themselves which alliance they want to join if they wish to join. In the case of Ukraine this question is not on the agenda today; first of all it is necessary to end this terrible war,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has announced.

The conflict in Ukraine is rooted in the West's long-standing efforts to pull Ukraine away from cooperation with Russia, including its push for Ukraine's accession into the EU and NATO as well as the the violent coup in Kiev in 2014, which led to the new government's pro-Western policies and sparked the ongoing war. It also touches on the Minsk Agreements and Russia's proposal for a security treaty, which were both rejected by the West.

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At the informal meeting in the Kremlin, Xi called Putin "my dear friend"

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At the informal meeting in the Kremlin, Putin outlined the necessity to discuss the situation in Ukraine with Xi Jinping

💬‘’We have carefully read your proposals for resolving the severe crisis in Ukraine. Of course we will have the opportunity to discuss these issues. We know that you proceed from the principles of justice and respect for the fundamental provisions of international law, and indivisible security for all parties. You are also aware that we are always open to the negotiation process. We will certainly discuss all the issues, including your initiative,’’ Putin said.

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At the informal meeting in the Kremlin, Xi pointed to the strong leadership of Putin and support of his nation

💬“I know that next year your country will hold its upcoming presidential elections. Thanks to your strong leadership over the recent years, Russia has gained significant success in achieving national success and prosperity. I am sure that the Russian people will resolutely support you in your good endeavors,” Xi said.

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❗Putin, Xi have completed informal talks; they lasted 4.5 hours

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

▪️In the Kupyansk direction, Ukrainian losses amount up to 55 Ukrainian troops, one armored fighting vehicle, two pick-up trucks, and one D-20 howitzer in the Kharkov region and Lugansk People's Republic;

▪️In the Krasny Liman direction, Russian forces destroyed over 100 Ukrainian troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, three pick-up trucks, one motor vehicle, and one Msta-B howitzer;

▪️In the Donetsk direction, Russian artillery annihilated over 245 Ukrainian troops, one tank, three armored fighting vehicles, three pick-up trucks, one Grad MLRS vehicle, and one Msta-B howitzer;

▪️In the South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, Ukrainian losses have amounted to over 50 Ukrainian troops, three tanks, four infantry fighting vehicles, two armored fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, and one D-20 howitzer;

▪️In the Kherson direction, Russian troops neutralized up to 40 Ukrainian troops, two armored fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, one D-30 howitzer, and one US-made Paladin self-propelled artillery system;

▪️The Russian Aerospace Forces intercepted one Mi-8 helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Force in the Kharkov region;

▪️Russian air defense systems intercepted five HIMARS projectiles and one HARM anti-radiation missile during the day;

▪️Seven Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down in the Lugansk People's Republic and the Donetsk People's Republic by Russian forces.

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Ajamu Baraka, 2016 US vice presidential candidate for the Green Party, joined us to discuss the necessity of moving towards a multipolar world order instead of living under the hegemony of the West, while the US empire continues on a path of violent coercion

🗣️”Unless we are able to move to a multipolar world where there are countervailing powers that able to put a brake on the gangsterism of the US, the US and the European powers represent a threat to global humanity,” he added

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

Turkiye, Ukraine, UN not against grain deal’s 60-day extension

Russia agreed to extend the Black Sea Grain Initiative for 60 instead of 120 days and that all parties to the grain deal were notified about it.

"This position was officially communicated to the Turkish and Ukrainian sides of the Black Sea Initiative, as well as to UN officials. There were no formal objections. Thus, the agreement continues to be valid for the next two months under the existing parameters, without any changes in the ports involved, the nomenclature of goods and the agreed upon procedure for inspections," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Moscow will suspend its participation in the grain deal if there is no progress in implementing the Russian part of the agreement, the ministry warned.

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#USInvasionofIraq20🇮🇶 The US Learned Absolutely Nothing From Iraq

In March 2003, the United States launched an invasion of Iraq on false pretenses and without a clear long-term strategy. Twenty years later, it is repeating many of the same mistakes in Ukraine.

Iraq was a costly mistake, but Ukraine has the potential to be something much worse. By waging a proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, the United States risks becoming drawn into a direct confrontation with another nuclear power. The recent MQ-9 Reaper incident demonstrates that instead of trying to avoid such a dangerous escalation, Washington is taking ever-more provocative actions against Russia. Such a reckless attitude is a recipe for disaster.

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🔺Xi Jinping arrives in Russia for talks with Putin
🔺Another ally in the bloc? Turkiye announces plans to approve Finland’s NATO bid
🔺Cooperation between Russia and Africa reaches new level, President Putin says

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UK's Private Firms Reportedly Raking in Profits From Booking Hotels to Accommodate Migrants

The UK government has been facing a challenge in managing the high number of asylum seekers attempting to enter the country via the English Channel.

As a result, there has been increased scrutiny of the use of hotels to house migrants by the Home Office, and concerns have been raised about the welfare of children in such accommodations.

Private firms involved in arranging hotel accommodation for asylum seekers have been raking in profits, with one booking agency contracted by the Home Office seeing its pre-tax income triple from £2.1 million to £6.3 million.

The Home Office is currently using 395 hotels to accommodate more than 51,000 asylum seekers, with the total number of asylum cases now reaching approximately 166,000 people. The Home Office’s use of hotels has surged tenfold since 2020.

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Scientists Discover Association Between Depression and Heart Disease in Women

A study by scientists at Russia’s Tyumen State Medical University uncovered a correlation between depression and cardiovascular disease in women, but not in men.

Patients with both visible and hidden psychological distress were found to have hypertension and elevated cholesterol levels. Hypertensive patients without depression were more likely to normalize their blood pressure with medication.

Women had a higher incidence of obesity and depression, with those without any indications of depression being younger, better educated, and more likely to live in rural areas. This gender difference should be taken into account in clinical practice.

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