❗️Minsk needs Moscow to provide security guarantees for Belarus in the case of external aggression, Lukashenko tells Shoigu.

The Belarusian president added that Belarus and Russia should analyze the security treaties or adopt new ones for the complete security of the country.

🇵🇭 The Philippines will not allow anyone to use its military bases to conduct offensive operations as the facilities are solely for bolstering the country's defense capabilities, President Ferdinand Marcos said on Monday.

"China's reaction is not really surprising because they are worried. But the Philippines will not allow the use of its bases for any offensive action. These will only be used to help the Philippines if it needs help," Marcos said, as quoted by media.

Marcos added that the Philippines had given the US expanded access to its bases for aid during natural disasters, as the facilities are located in the disaster prone areas.

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❗️ Latest statements by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov:

▪️An initiative on an Easter truce with Ukraine has not yet been put forward, and Kiev has ignored all of Russia's previous initiatives of such a nature;

▪️It is hard to imagine France being a mediator in the Ukraine conflict, as it is indirectly or directly involved on Kiev's side;

▪️On China's military drills: We see provocative actions against China, which has the right to react;

▪️The 'leaks' of secret documents from the Pentagon are quite interesting, and everyone is studying and analyzing them;

▪️ On the publication about US surveillance of Zelensky: Impossible to exclude the fact that Washington, for a long time, has been monitoring the leaders of other countries, primarily European ones.

▪️As for the alleged involvement of Russia in the "leaks" from the US: Pinning the blame on Russia for everything is an illness.

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📹 "There are no easy and quick solutions": Ex-Austrian FM Karin Kneissl weighs in on EU leaders' recent attempts to seek alternatives to affordable Russian gas

Full interview here

⚡️🇵🇰 A blast in Quetta’s Kandhari bazar (Pakistan) kills 4, leaves 11 injured: reports

The attack targeted a police vehicle in the area.

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

▪️In the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces destroyed up to 30 Ukrainian troops, two armored fighting vehicles, one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, and one D-20 howitzer;

▪️In the South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, Ukrainian losses during the day amounted to 50 servicemen, one armored fighting vehicle, and one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer;

▪️In the Donetsk direction, the Russian Army destroyed more than 290 Ukrainian troops, one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, five armored fighting vehicles, as well as a D-20 and Msta-B howitzer during the day;

▪️The Russian Army destroyed three ammunition depots in the Kharkov region, LPR, and DPR;

▪️In the Krasny Liman direction, Ukrainian losses amounted to 120 servicemen, one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, one D-20 howitzer, and five armored fighting vehicles;

▪️In the Kherson direction, Russian troops neutralized up to 40 Ukrainian servicemen, two armored fighting vehicles, one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, a US-made M777 artillery system, and one D-30 howitzer;

▪️Eight Ukrainian UAVs were destroyed by Russian air defenses in the LPR, DPR, and Kharkov region;

▪️Russian air defense systems also intercepted two HIMARS multiple-launch rocket system missiles.

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⚡️ 106 POWs were returned to Russia as a result of a prisoner swap with Ukraine, the Russian MoD says

⚡️ Multiple casualties reported amid active shooter situation in downtown Louisville, Kentucky

❗️While the Louisville police are yet to disclose any details about the shooting in the middle of Kentucky's largest city, US media cited "a source with direct knowledge of the scene on the ground" as claiming that there are six victims, including one police officer. The source added that there were shots exchanged between the suspect and the police, and that the gunman is "down." So far, according to the source, it is unclear if the shooter is one of the six victims.

❗️Police confirm five people have died and six people have been injured and taken to the University Hospital. One of the injured people includes an LMPD officer.

Police confirm five people have died and six people have been injured and taken to the University Hospital. One of the injured people includes an LMPD officer. The suspect has been "neutralized."