🇮🇷 The Iranian Defense Ministry has revealed footage showing the launch of the Islamic Republic's latest ballistic missile with a range of 2,000 kilometers

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The Czech military will buy 246 Stridsfordon 90 Swedish combat vehicles

According to the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV), the deal with the BAE Systems Hagglunds, based in the city of Ornskoldsvik, will have a value of SEK 22 billion (over $2 billion).

The agreement will also involve intergovernmental cooperation and integrate parts of the Czech industry into the manufacturing process of the vehicles.

"We welcome another member of the successful CV90 User Group collaboration. When several countries use and develop a system together, it provides great benefits for all users such as increased capabilities, increased availability, increased opportunities for operational cooperation – and all at lower costs," Joakim Wallin, head of of FMV Export Operations said in statement.

Contrary to its self-professed image as a "humanitarian superpower," Sweden is one of the world's largest arms exporters with an outsized defense industry that churns out a surprising list of arms for a relatively small country of 10 million.

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❗️Latest statements by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov:

▪️ Reports of thwarted terrorist attacks on Russian energy facilities indicate that hostile actions of Ukraine against Russia continue;

▪️ Vladimir Putin will hold two bilateral meetings with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday, then a trilateral meeting is expected;

▪️ Russian President Vladimir Putin will chair a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council on Thursday, together with other leaders of the EEU member states who have arrived in Moscow;

▪️ The Union state of Russia and Belarus is a more advanced integration structure than the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), this is a unique situation in the world, and it should be taken into account.

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❗️LIVE NOW: Putin participates in Supreme Eurasian Economic Council
Join the live stream here or follow this link to Sputnik’s website

In this week’s episode of the New Rules podcast, host Dimitri Simes Jr. speaks with Karen Kwiatkowski, a retired US Air Force Lt. Col. and former Pentagon analyst. Find out in the video:

🔹 Has the United States learned anything from the global war on terror?
🔹 Why are Biden's options in Ukraine shrinking?
🔹 Why is dissent in the US military growing?

🎥 Enjoy our new show!

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#OurAfricaOurFuture

🌍 Today Africa celebrates the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU)

The countries across the continent commemorate this historical moment by joining efforts in raising global awareness of their achievements and highlighting that Africa's main strength lies in its unity.

On this occasion, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs congratulated the African nations, recalling that the Soviet Union supported the continent in its fight for independence and played an important role in the development of the young states

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The decision of Russia and Belarus on retaliatory measures in the military-nuclear sphere was made due to serious escalation of threats on the borders of the two countries

"In the context of an extremely serious escalation of threats on the western borders of Russia and Belarus, a decision has been made on retaliatory measures in the military-nuclear sphere," Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said at a meeting of CSTO defense ministers in Minsk.

The Iskander-M operational-tactical missile system, which can use both conventional and nuclear missiles, has been transferred to the Belarus military, the minister noted.

"Belarusian servicemen have received the necessary training in Russian training centers," Shoigu said.

Russian and Belarus Defense Ministers signed documents earlier in the day on "defining the procedure for finding a special storage facility for nuclear ammunition on the Belarusian territory," the minister said.

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Catch our Fault Lines show, where we provide updates and analysis on all the most vital stories! Here's our line-up for today:

🔺To kick things off, will be covering DeSantis’ campaign launch
🔺Next, we’ll speak about Trump’s feud with the DOJ and the BLM national organization going broke
🔺Finally, we’ll focus on the situation in Pakistan, where the political climate is heating up

More trending stories coming your way! Watch the live broadcast on Rumble or tune in to Radio Sputnik at 7am EST|4am PST|1pm CET via the website or app

📻Also in the United States at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM

Finland's ballooning state debt has prompted a reaction from the European Commission, which in its recent report called on the Nordic country to address it quickly and decisively

According to former Finnish Finance Minister Petteri Orpo of the liberal-conservative National Coalition Party, who is leading efforts to form a new Finnish government, the EU study made it clear that Finland's situation, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 73 percent, is much more dire than that of its Nordic peers.

He said that he didn't want to compare Finland to southern European countries, which, he argued, "have traditionally had a different attitude" toward debt, insisting that Finland should be in line with the other Nordic countries and Germany.

Last year, public debt exceeded the limit allowed by the EU in 13 member states. Furthermore, three of these countries – Finland, France and Italy – failed to comply with the debt reduction target agreed upon within the EU. Finland notably became the only country in the entire bloc where the debt ratio of public finances increased last year.

Helsinki's debt-to-GDP ratio has been rising steadily since the 00s. In 2022, Finland become the only country in the EU where it increased further. With the country entering recession, the debt problem poses an extra question for the future government that is yet in the works.

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#OurAfricaOurFuture

🇷🇺🌍 Russian Embassies in Africa celebrate Africa Day

In honor of Africa Day, Russian ambassadors and diplomats across the continent recorded video greetings to African friends in Lingale, Zulu, Bambara, Hausa, Baule, Fon, Ronga, Luganda, Oshiwambo, Swahili, Malagasy, Comorian, Creole, Somali, Amharic, Arabic, Portuguese, French and English

The Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that it values friendly ties with Africa, which have their roots in the period of joint struggle against colonialism, when Moscow supported African national liberation movements and young African states

The Ministry also noted the symbolism that the 60th anniversary of the OAU coincides with the year of the second Russian-African summit, aimed at long-term fostering relations with African nations

Video courtesy of Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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