❗️Russia’s MoD briefing on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine:

▪️ Russian aviation delivered a strike with high-precision weapons on Ukrainian air defense systems protecting key military infrastructure facilities;

▪️ Units of the Akhmat Special Forces are attacking near the village of Maryinka;

▪️ Russian air defenses shot down a Ukrainian Su-25 aircraft in the Kherson region;

▪️ During the day, Russian troops destroyed more than 60 soldiers and two self-propelled Gvozdika guns of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Krasny Liman;

▪️ More than 50 Ukrainian soldiers were destroyed in the DPR;

▪️ Russian air defense shot down 29 Ukrainian drones;

▪️ The losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Kupyansk amounted to 70 soldiers, an ammunition depot was destroyed;

▪️ The Russian Armed Forces destroyed in the south of the DPR and in the Zaporozhye region up to 150 Ukrainian soldiers and Polish-made Krab self-propelled guns;

▪️ The Russian Army destroyed more than 30 Ukrainian military personnel and the M777 system in a day in the Kherson region;

▪️ The Russian Armed Forces hit 96 artillery units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in firing positions.

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❗️Latest statements by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov:

▪️ Russia will seek to protect its interests; this excludes the expansion of NATO at the expense of Ukraine, Peskov said.

▪️ The Kremlin spokesman described Kiev’s calls for NATO to include Ukraine in the alliance as evidence of an unwillingness to sit down at the negotiating table.

▪️ Peskov also noted that the Kremlin took note of Pashinyan's words that Armenia is not Russia's ally in the conflict in Ukraine.

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🐜🇦🇺 Failing to slow down the spread of an outbreak of invasive fire ants could cost the Australian economy more than $1 billion a year

▪️ A recently released study has found that in the worst-case scenario, invasive fire ants will reach the northern outskirts of Sydney by 2035.

▪️ The study states the spread of the ants, which were first detected in Brisbane in 2001, would cause “cascading negative impacts on future generations.”

▪️ Australian governments have a $400m eradication program but, despite the investment, red fire ants keep spreading.

▪️ The biggest cost would be to households, including the cost of pesticides, veterinary bills and electrical faults.

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🇷🇺🇮🇷 Russian foreign minister meets with Iranian counterpart on the sidelines of the Cape Town Friends of BRICS event

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🗣️”The troops themselves are receiving nothing. They're using literally century-old museum pieces to fight. And on the other hand, you have reports of high-tech weaponry appearing all over the world in the hands of non-state actors”: writer, scholar, and journalist focusing on Asia-Pacific, KJ Noh, discusses the shortage of weapons in Ukraine, while propaganda claims high-tech weaponry

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

❗️ US interested in new five-nuclear arms control architecture with common missile launch notification regime - White House

The United States will continue to notify Russia of intercontinental missile launches and nuclear exercises, the White House said.

Washington is also ready to adhere to the START quantitative restrictions as long as Moscow does, the US administration noted.

These remarks come after the US previously said that from June 1, they would stop transmitting information to the Russian Federation about the status and location of their strategic weapons falling under START.

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❗️ US invites China to "make a bold decision" and engage directly with the US in strategic stability discussions, says Jake Sullivan

BRICS ministers discuss need for new single currency amid de-dollarization

Member states discussed the potential use of alternative currencies to protect their New Development Bank from sanctions during a ministerial meeting in Cape Town. The bloc aims to increase its global influence and challenge the United States, with plans to admit new members and explore the introduction of a common currency.

Russia and China expressed support for expanding BRICS membership, while emphasizing the principles of equality and non-intervention that the organization upholds.

The push for de-dollarization within BRICS has been prompted by concerns over the unreliability of the US dollar and the impact of US sanctions.

Amidst a growing chorus for alternatives to the dollar in global trade, BRICS countries continue to explore the introduction of a common currency. Russia and South Africa's foreign ministers, along with Brazil's former president, advocated for a collective currency within the bloc. BRICS member states are actively working on increasing the use of national currencies in trade and financial operations, reducing dependence on the US dollar.

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🗣️”They have lost touch with reality and they believe that Ukraine is some kind of bloodletting table for Russia along the lines of Afghanistan forty years ago”: writer, scholar, and journalist focusing on Asia-Pacific, KJ Noh, discusses the desire of the US ruling class to prolong the Ukraine conflict as long as possible

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

🤝 “I was missing you”: Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira warmly welcomed Sergey Lavrov at the sidelines of the Friends of BRICS event in Cape Town

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US companies knew 'Forever Chemicals' health risks from the start

New research reveals that American chemical companies, including DuPont and 3M, intentionally withheld information about the health and environmental risks of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as "Forever Chemicals." These substances, widely used in various products, including Teflon cookware, have the ability to persist in the environment and are associated with adverse health effects.

The research highlights how corporations knowingly concealed data and misled consumers, similar to the actions of tobacco companies regarding the dangers of smoking. Despite fines and penalties, these companies continue to thrive while PFAS are found in the blood of nearly every US citizen.

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Keeping Taiwan's autonomous 'status quo' most West can achieve — French diplomat

The new French ambassador to the US, Laurent Bili, has stated that maintaining Taiwan's autonomy within the One-China policy is the most the West can hope to achieve.

He emphasized the importance of not risking the existing balance and protecting the status quo. Bili mentioned that there is no middle ground between the West and China, and it is better to keep things under control.

He also highlighted that France and the US share similar views on Taiwan, despite differing perspectives on China as a trade partner, and both countries aim to de-risk the situation.

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📹🇪🇷 In an exclusive interview with Sputnik Africa, President Isaias Afwerki reiterates the commitment of Russia and Eritrea to enhance bilateral cooperation and bring about a new multipolar world order.

💬 "We are determined to work together to see what the future looks like and cooperate in all fields so that our bilateral relationships within a multilateral context will move forward to promote a new order, a new world order," he said.

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Iranian Air Force commander says Tehran needs new Russia-made Su fighter jets

Brig. Gen. Hamid Vahedi, commander of the Iranian Air Force, has stated that Tehran requires new Su fighter jets made by Russia. However, the timing of their delivery to the Iranian squadron is contingent on the decision of senior officials in the country.

Vahedi emphasized that prior to the acquisition of these new jets, Iranian pilots must undergo specialized training in Russia to enable them to train their less experienced counterparts in the future.

Additionally, Vahedi mentioned that Iran's Kowsar fighter is undergoing final tests and a squadron of these jets is expected to be established soon. Furthermore, the Yasin training aircraft, developed by the Iranian Defense Ministry, is set to be handed over to the country's air force in 2022, according to the commander.

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🇪🇷 'War declared by NATO, led by Washington': Eritrean leader on Ukraine crisis, Western 'hegemony'

To date, the Western approach of containing Russia has led to the Ukrainian crisis, which is nothing more than "a war declared by NATO, led by Washington," Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki told Sputnik Africa in an exclusive interview

💬 "This is not a war between Russia and Ukraine. This is a war declared by NATO, led by Washington. And Russia has a right to defend itself. Not alone. It's not an isolated Russia. This is a global issue," Afwerki stressed.

The Eritrean leader noted that his country can't tolerate the "hegemony of one nation" and its support for Russia was indeed "a natural phenomenon or outcome of what we did also"

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Thousands of Hunter Biden's 'laptop from hell' photos laid bare online

BidenLaptopMedia.com, a website founded by former White House aide Garret Ziegler, plans to publish thousands of photos from Hunter Biden's laptop spanning 2008 to 2019. Ziegler claims that the photos were thoroughly reviewed and will provide an authentic portrayal of the Bidens, including both positive and negative images.

While personal information and some explicit content have been redacted, Ziegler emphasizes that the purpose is to provide truth and transparency, denying any political bias or intention to conduct a "hit job."

The laptop's story emerged before the 2020 US presidential election, containing information and images allegedly shedding light on Hunter Biden's activities and raising concerns about the Biden family.

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US 'falling behind' on life expectancy since 1950s

A recent academic paper noscriptd "Falling Behind: The Growing Gap in Life Expectancy Between the United States and Other Countries, 1933–2021" sheds light on the long-standing trend of declining life expectancy in the US.

The study reveals that the problem dates back to the middle of the last century when the US began to lose ground to other industrializing nations.

Despite early advancements in medical technology, the US fell from its highest ranking among world powers in the 1950s to a middling position today, lagging behind many other countries.

The causes of the decline are not specifically identified in the report, but trends such as drug overdose deaths and suicide rates have been observed. The study also highlights regional disparities within the US, with states in the northeast and west experiencing faster growth in life expectancy compared to the south, central, and midwestern states.

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🎙 As Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Act was signed by President Museveni, the author of the Bill, MP Asuman Basalirwa, joins your #AfroVerdict host to discuss the importance of the law in Ugandan society.

🎧 Tune and and enjoy the episode!

Wall Street Up Over 700 Points on Debt Ceiling Deal, Jobs Report

US stocks made big gains on Friday, largely on news that Congress had finally reached a deal to raise the debt ceiling and avoid a government default on its debt.

At the closing bell on Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up by 701.19 points, or 2.12%, ending at 33,762.76. The S&P 500 also had big gains, growing 61.35 points to close at 4,282.37 for a 1.45% gain. The Nasdaq Composite also grew by 1.07%, adding 139.78 points to close at 13,240.77.