Lots of media attention to Sergey Lavrov's speech at the 31st Assembly of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy.

Russian FM just entered the venue.

Stay tuned, will bring you the latest shortly.

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⚡️Russian FM Sergey Lavrov speaks before Russia's Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, says the West wants to eliminate Russia as geopolitical competitor. Lavrov gives an example where G7 discusses anti-Russia and anti-China policies.

⚡️Lavrov: Situation in Ukraine speeds up the creation of multipolar world order. Points at fault lines between "collective West" and "global East" nations.

🇷🇺 Key statements by Russian FM Sergey Lavrov at Russia's Council on Foreign and Defense Policy:

▪️The Global South is ready to oppose the West's annoying and aggressive dictate, which includes punishment and sanctions.

▪️The West's Russophobic policies cause irritation among the majority of the world. Lavrov says the West ignores the needs of African and other nations.

▪️Lavrov slams the EU’s various anti-Russian policies as "cancel culture".

▪️The era of transitioning to multipolarity is here. It could be lengthy, but Russia has many allies in this transition. China, Iran, countries in Latin America, and Africa are among such nations.

▪️De-dollarization has already begun. Lavrov points to Brazil as an example, which recently initiated BRICS policies in that direction.

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⚡️ Russian forces establish full control over Artemovsk (Bakhmut), says Wagner Group head Prigozhin

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🇮🇱🇸🇦Israel, Saudi Arabia to normalize relations eventually, Israeli foreign minister says

💬 "It's not a matter of if, but of when. We and Saudi Arabia have the same interests," Cohen told Israeli media, commenting on the words of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has repeatedly underscored the importance of the normalization of Israeli-Saudi relations. The recent resumption of ties between Riyadh and Tehran is not an obstacle, he added.

In early March, Iran and Saudi Arabia, with China's mediation, agreed to resume their diplomatic relations, which were severed in 2016 after Saudi Arabia's diplomatic missions in Iran were attacked following the execution of Shiite preacher Nimr al-Nimr.

The agreement on the restoration of the diplomatic ties and the preparation for the opening of diplomatic missions was signed by the foreign ministers of the two countries at a ceremony in April. The deal provides, in particular, for the resumption of direct flights between the two countries, mutual visits by top diplomats and security cooperation.

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🇫🇷 "No, thank you": French authorities launch investigation over posters depicting Macron as Hitler

Authorities in France have launched an investigation after Emmanuel Macron was given a makeover as Adolf Hitler on posters found on numerous billboards in Avignon, a city in southern France.

The image of the posters featured "49.3" as a moustache, which refers to an article in the French constitution that allowed the government to push the unpopular pension reform through parliament without a debate in March.

On April 14, the French Constitutional Council approved the key article of the pension reform bill, which will gradually raise the age of retirement in France from 62 to 64 by 2030. The reform sparked a strong backlash, prompting people to take to the streets across the country.

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📹 "There is a functional division": Nikolay Azarov, a veteran politician and former Ukrainian PM, details the involvement of the US and UK in the Ukraine crisis

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📹 "To the last Ukrainian": Nikolay Azarov points out Zelensky and his entourage's disregard for their own population

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The G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan is coming to an end. Here are the key points from the leaders' final statement:

▪️ G7 leaders will support Kiev "as much as needed";

▪️ At least $21Bln will be allocated to tackle the world's humanitarian crises;

▪️ An initiative on global food security will be launched;

▪️ G7 nations are ready to build stable relations with China;

▪️ Leaders called for a peaceful resolution to the Taiwan issue;

▪️ Emphasis was placed on the commitment to the safe use of space, with countries pledging not to conduct destructive launches of direct-ascent anti-satellite missiles.

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Biden, during a meeting with the Australian prime minister on the sidelines of the G7 summit, asked journalists to “shush up” in response to a barrage of questions, including about the impending US default.

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Polish Defense Ministry says Italian destroyer arrives to provide airspace security

"An allied Italian missile destroyer has come to Poland," Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak wrote on Twitter.

The destroyer is equipped with powerful anti-aircraft and anti-missile weapons that will strengthen the defense of the Polish coastline and Poland's critical infrastructure, the minister added.

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Biohackers and tech gurus are exploring ways to combat aging and prolong human life

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has invested $180 million in Retro Biosciences, an anti-aging company. Jeff Bezos CEO of Amazon and Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal also companies such as Altos Labs, a start-up dealing with “rejuvenation” science and Unity Biotechnology, a company researching drugs to target aging cells.

Metformin, rapamycin, and resveratrol are among the three drugs being touted as anti-aging candidates. Metformin falls into the category of "xenomorphic," typically used to treat age-related diseases and disorders. Rapamycin also prevents organ rejection in kidney transplant patients, and coats stents implanted in patients suffering from heart disease. The polyphenolic compound resveratrol can be found in various plants.

However, common approaches like exercise and a healthy diet are still advised by experts like Dr. James Kirkland at Mayo Clinic.

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Dmitry Medvedev has invited Musk to visit Artemovsk in response to his tweet from last year asking, "Btw, how’s it going in Bakhmut?"

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India's Modi holds first meeting With Zelensky since start of Russia's military operation

"Met President [Zelensky] in Hiroshima. Conveyed our clear support for dialogue and diplomacy to find a way forward. We will continue extending humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.

Modi and Zelensky were invited to the G7 Summit in Hiroshima as special guests on Saturday. The tweet also showed both leaders shaking hands and holding talks in an expanded format, with the participation of Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

Zelensky said on Twitter that he briefed Modi in detail on Kiev's "peace formula" and invited him to join its implementation. The president also spoke about Ukraine's needs in humanitarian demining and mobile hospitals and thanked India for "supporting our country's territorial integrity and sovereignty" and providing humanitarian aid.

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The Northern Lights are typically green in color. However, if high-energy solar particles penetrate a layer of the atmosphere with increased nitrogen concentration, a burning process will occur, accompanied by neon-pink shimmering.

Just take a look at this fantastic phenomenon that occurred on May 20 in the Netherlands.

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Aid from Europe to Donbass

Unwavering humanitarian efforts have been continuing for the past eight years, led by different organizations and compassionate volunteers who are committed to assisting the people in Lugansk and Donetsk.

Recently, the association SOS Donbass successfully delivered humanitarian aid. This organization, composed of devoted volunteers and activists, has collected vital supplies with the generous support of individuals from France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, and Sweden.

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Beijing expresses strong protest over China-related topics in G7 summit statement

Earlier, G7 leaders issued a final communique at a summit in Hiroshima, which mentioned China, among other matters. In particular, they expressed their concerns about Taiwan.

"Regardless of China's serious concerns, the Group of Seven insists on manipulating China-related issues, smearing and attacking China, and violently interfering in China's internal affairs. China has expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to this, and has made serious representations to the summit organizer, Japan, and other relevant parties," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry also argued that the era "when a few developed countries in the West wantonly interfered in the internal affairs of other countries and manipulated global affairs" was gone forever and urged the G7 to "focus on solving their own problems, stop forming closed 'cohorts,' and also to "return to dialogue and cooperation."

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