⚡ Xi Jinping says he has invited Putin to visit China this year

UK Slaps 'Dangerous' Quran-Burner Rasmus Paludan With Travel Ban

Danish-Swedish politician and founder of the fringe Hard Line party Rasmus Paludan has been banned from entering the UK over plans to burn a Quran in Wakefield in Yorkshire.

Paludan voiced plans to burn a copy of the Muslim holy book in front of a Wakefield school, where four students had been expelled in February after damaging a Quran. The activist previously rose to notoriety by desecrating the Quran by all means possible, making it part of his political repertoire and framing it as an exercise in free speech.

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⚡ Xi Jinping has met Russia’s PM Mishustin. Key statements made by the politicians:

▪️Trade and economic cooperation is developing successfully, Mishustin noted;

▪️Russia is sincerely interested in further strengthening its partnership and strategic cooperation with China, the Russian Prime Minister said;

▪️Moscow and Beijing are preparing new projects that will significantly increase transportation along the Trans-Siberian and Trans-Asian routes, Mishustin noted;

▪️Xi Jinping urged the intensification of the work of intergovernmental mechanisms, and invited the Russian PM to visit China as soon as possible.

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⚡📹 Xi Jinping has met Russia’s PM Mishustin in Moscow

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📹 Two Tu-95MS strategic bombers flew over the neutral waters of the Sea of Japan, the Russian MoD said

▪️ The duration of the flight was more than 7 hours

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⚡ Canadian charge d'affaires was summoned to Russian Foreign Ministry on March 20 - Moscow

Washington ‘Can’t Make Weapons Fast Enough’ to Protect Allies, US Congressman Claims

US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul has claimed Washington cannot make new weapons fast enough to protect the US or its allies, like Taiwan.

He told a US news network that he “signed off on weapons three years ago that have yet to go into [the] country," and that Taiwan is “not prepared for this" and is “incapable of fighting their own war if invaded.”

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📹 Russian Msta-S crews in combat as part of the special military operation

▪️ The artillery battery of 2S19 Msta-S self-propelled howitzers destroyed an enemy platoon stronghold identified by reconnaissance units. The reconnaissance units confirmed that the target had been engaged.

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How Can Growing China-Russia Ties Benefit India?

🇷🇺🇨🇳 Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in the Kremlin for informal talks tete-a-tete, confirming that Moscow and Beijing a lot of common goals and tasks. An expanding geopolitical partnership between Russia and China could prove “beneficial” for India🇮🇳 as well, as all three countries share a common stance on many global issues.

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

▪️ In the Kharkov region and the LPR, up to 80 Ukrainian troops, three military armored vehicles and howitzers D-20 were destroyed;

▪️ In the DPR and the Lugansk People’s Republic, up to 95 Ukrainian military personnel, two military armored vehicles, as well as D-20 and D-30 howitzers, were destroyed;

▪️ In the Donetsk People’s Republic, the enemy’s losses per day amounted to 160 troops, three military armored vehicles, four cars and howitzers D-20;

▪️ In the Zaporozhye region and the DPR, the enemy’s losses amounted to more than 30 Ukrainian troops, two pickups, as well as a D-30 howitzer;

▪️ In the Kherson region, more than 40 Ukrainian military personnel, three cars, two Akatsia howitzers, as well as an artillery system produced in the USA;

▪️ During the day, the Russian Army defeated 95 artillery units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on fire positions, troops and equipment in 107 regions. In addition, three radar battery stations of the US AN/TPQ-37 production were destroyed;

▪️ Russian Aviation fighters in the DPR shot down Su-25 forces of the Air Forces of Ukraine in an air battle;

▪️ Air defense destroyed 31 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles.

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📹 The Prime Minister of Japan was shown arriving by train in Ukraine on Japanese TV.

▪️ According to local media reports, Fumio Kishida will hold talks with Volodymyr Zelensky today.

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⚡ Xi Jinping has arrived at the Kremlin for talks with President Putin

📹🇷🇺🇨🇳 Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping shook hands before the talks

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🇷🇺 Russia has reasons to fear that a part of the US military assistance to Ukraine may end up on the black market, Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said.

The US administration announced Monday that it will provide Ukraine with a new $350 million military assistance package that includes ammunition for Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), howitzers as well as Bradley combat vehicles, among other equipment.

🗣 "We have serious concerns that some of the defense products may end up on the black market. Where will weapons pop up? Who will bear responsibility when materiel falls into the hands of some terrorist groups and criminal organizations?" Antonov told reporters.

📌 He said such a policy jeopardizes the security of the entire Europe, increasing the risk of a direct clash between Russia and NATO.

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🇧🇾🇮🇷 Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko wished Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi a happy Nowruz or the Persian New Year on Tuesday, stressing the need to fully realize the potential for the development of a long-term bilateral partnership.

💬 "Over the past year our countries have held a number of important bilateral events. Those included visits at the high and supreme levels, the growth of trade, and the recent celebration of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations… It is necessary to implement the existing potential of the roadmap signed last week to develop a long-term partnership between Minsk and Tehran," Lukashenko was quoted as saying by his office.

📍 The Belarusian president also agreed with Raisi that the leaders' earlier meeting in Iran from March 12-13 was a turning point in improving comprehensive bilateral cooperation.

"I cordially thank you for your hospitality and I take the opportunity to renew my invitation to you to visit Minsk at any convenient time," Lukashenko added.

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International geopolitical consultant, speaker, and former international security analyst David Oualaalou joined us to discuss why US policy towards Ukraine doesn’t seem to present a path to peace, as well as the reason why the US opposes China’s peace plan

🎧Listen to more of Oualaalou’s analysis in our podcast Political Misfits

Putin's Speech 'Touched African Hearts' by Reminding Power of Unity, Observers Say

On March 20, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the plenary session noscriptd "Russia-Africa in a Multipolar World." Following the event, Sputnik asked some of the participants to share their impressions of the speech and comment on the conference itself.

President's Putin speech was focused on issues that resonate with Africans' concerns and "touched the African heart," such as food security, debt burden and infrastructure development, said Alex Muigai, a founder of the Future Team Kenya youth movement, in an interview with Sputnik.

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❗️ Russia supports the use of Chinese yuan in settlements with Asian, African and Latin American countries, Vladimir Putin says

🗣 "We support the use of Chinese yuan in settlements between Russia and the countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. I am sure that these forms of settlements will take place in yuan between Russian partners and colleagues from third countries," Russian President Putin said at a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and senior Russia officials in the Kremlin

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❗️ Official talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping took place in Moscow.

Here are Putin's main statements so far:

▪️ It is necessary to discuss practical aspects of interaction in various fields

▪️ During high-level talks with Xi a meaningful and frank exchange of views was held

▪️ Energy interaction between the Russian Federation and China expands

▪️ Russian business is able to satisfy the growing needs of China in energy carriers, both under contracts, and more

▪️ Almost all parameters for the project "Power of Siberia - 2" are coordinated

▪️ It is necessary to further encourage the practice of mutual settlements of the Russian Federation and China in national currencies

▪️ Russia is ready to support Chinese business in the replacement of enterprises that have left the Russian Federation

▪️ Russia is counting on the growth of food exports to the Chinese market

▪️ The Russian Federation and China can become world leaders in the field of artificial intelligence and information development, having developed their potential

▪️ Russia and China intend to create a working body for the Northern Sea Route project, there is a potential for cooperation

▪️ The sports ties of Russia and the PRC are now gaining special importance when Western countries use sport as a pressure tool

📌 Xi Jinping also stated that relations between China and Russia demonstrate healthy dynamics of development

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🇷🇺🇨🇳 During the official talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Moscow, Putin stated that the Russian Federation and China can become world leaders in the field of artificial intelligence and information development, having developed their potential.

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