📸🇹🇷 Visuals from Erdogan's inauguration ceremony shared on social media

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🤨 US Secretary of State Blinken to the Russian people: “United States are not your enemy”

Oh really? If you say so...

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Exclusive: Afwerki on Bilateral Relations With Russia, New World Order, NATO's War on Moscow

🇪🇷 As Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki arrived in Moscow on a four-day visit to meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Sputnik Africa had a chance to have an exclusive interview with the African leader.

President Afwerki delivered his view on the development of the bilateral relations, multilateral Russia–Africa cooperation, NATO's war on Russia and the changing world order.

👉 Read the full interview!

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Russian Deputy Foreign Minister calls Sullivan's fresh remarks on arms control destructive

Recent remarks by US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on arms control are destructive in their nature and are aimed at promoting Washington's agenda of disrupting the balance of interests, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Saturday.

"We have taken note of some remarks by [US President Joe] Biden's National Security Advisor Sullivan at the annual conference of the Washington Arms Control Association. It is an obvious attempt to present the US position in a way that is more attractive to the international community than it has actually been shaped to date. And in addition to all these slogans, it contains an undeniably destructive charge and a mindset of maintaining and strengthening American superiority in some areas with a claim to complete dominance, to further break the balance of interests," Ryabkov told reporters.

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🤨 Wait, what? EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell admits Ukraine conflict will end without West’s arms supplies to Kiev

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US’ Trojan Horse: Indo-Pacific Economic Framework Outside, So What’s Inside?

China views the IPEF as a US-friendly structure aimed at dividing countries in the Indo-Pacific, rather than allowing them to work together to create a shared future.

Why was the IPEF launched and how does it function?

Zelensky Wants Ukraine to Have 50 US-Made Patriot Defense Systems - Reports

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky believes that the only system capable of intercepting some of Russia's advanced missiles is the US-made Patriot air defense system, and that Ukraine needs 50 such systems, American newspaper reported.

Zelensky told media that he was grateful to Western countries for supplying weapons systems, but said that deliveries should be faster and in greater numbers. He added that Ukraine, in particular, needs more Patriot missile batteries to protect its cities and front-line troops.

The Ukrainian president added that Kiev would like to receive more Western weapons for a counteroffensive.

“We would like to have certain things, but we can’t wait for months,” he said, as quoted by the newspaper.

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Head of Zelensky’s office says discussed Ukraine's peace plan with Sullivan

Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, said on Saturday that he had held a telephone conversation with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and the sides discussed Kiev's peace plan for resolving the Ukraine conflict.

"I had a telephone conversation with Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser to the US President [Joe Biden]. We discussed Ukraine's desire to implement [President] Volodymyr Zelensky's peace formula as a basis for peace in Europe," Yermak said on Telegram.

He noted the importance of involving as many countries as possible in supporting the initiative.

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❗️ Joe Biden signed a bill to raise the US national debt ceiling, which will allow the country to avoid default. The current level of $31.4 trillion was exceeded in January.

Kremlin says France cannot mediate in Ukraine conflict

Russia does not see France as a neutral party in the Ukrainian conflict and will not accept its mediation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday.

The US business newspaper reported earlier this week that French President Emmanuel Macron had offered his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, to host a Ukraine peace summit in Paris. France and its NATO partners have been providing Kiev with military assistance for over a year.

"In this respect, France can hardly be considered a neutral state that can claim the role of a moderator, like Brazil, China, African countries or the Vatican did. France cannot do it anymore because France is a de facto active participant in the conflict and has sided with Ukraine," Peskov told a Russian broadcaster.

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UK rail union head urges end to ‘obscene’ arms transfers to Ukraine, citing war crimes

The president of the UK's main rail worker union has criticized the British government's arms transfer to Ukraine, calling it an inappropriate use of public funds.

Alex Gordon, president of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), expressed his concern during a socialist conference, stating that it is obscene to spend billions on arms while workers struggle to meet their basic needs. He highlighted the alleged war crimes in Ukraine involving British weapons and urged the labor movement to take a stand against the war.

Other figures within the British labor movement, including the University and Colleges Union (UCU), have also voiced opposition to arms sales to Ukraine.

The British mainstream media has responded negatively to these developments, with some outlets criticizing the claims made by Gordon and the UCU.

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From Nairobi to Cape Town: Moscow reaffirms African partnerships

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has wrapped up his African tour - the top diplomat visited four nations: Kenya, Burundi, Mozambique and South Africa.

Read about his full African itinerary

Trade turnover between Saudi Arabia, BRICS tops $160bln in 2022

The trade turnover between Saudi Arabia and the BRICS countries increased by $32 billion in a year and exceeded $160 billion in 2022, which is almost twice as much as in 2017, Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said on Friday.

"Relations with the BRICS nations are showing significant growth, reflecting the development of ties with the group's countries. The total volume of bilateral trade with the BRICS countries increased from $81 billion in 2017 to $128 billion in 2021. In 2022, the level exceeded $160 billion," the minister was quoted as saying by the state-run news agency.

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Twitter to host interview with presidential candidate Robert Kennedy on Monday

Twitter is to hold an interview with the Democratic candidate for a president Robert Kennedy Jr. on Monday at 2 p.m. ET (18:00 GMT), entrepreneur Elon Musk tweeted on Saturday.

"System is being upgraded & stress-tested in advance of @RobertKennedyJr interview on Monday," Musk wrote on his Twitter profile.

On Friday, Musk invited the presidential candidate publicly over Twitter and Kennedy directly accepted.

Last week, the Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis announced his bid on Twitter Spaces and as a result raised record amount of money in 24h - $8.2 million. For comparison, in 2020, Joe Biden raised $6.3 million on day one.

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Odds of 'smarter than human' AI wiping out mankind are 50 percent or greater, physicist warns

Scientists worldwide are raising concerns about the potential dangers of advancing artificial intelligence (AI) technology, warning that it could lead to humanity's downfall.

Physicist and machine learning researcher Max Tegmark recently highlighted the risk of AI development proceeding unchecked, estimating a 50 percent or higher chance of highly advanced AI causing human extinction. Tegmark compared the scenario to past extinctions caused by the actions of the most intelligent species on Earth, emphasizing the need to prevent machines from surpassing human control.

His views echo those of other experts, including British-Canadian computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton, known as the "Godfather of AI," who warned that AI could become more intelligent than humans and potentially seize control.

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Is US Dragging Japan Into Conflict With Russia and China?

The Biden administration is reportedly striving to ensure Japan's supplies of TNT for US-made 155mm artillery shells amid Washington's effort to arm the Ukrainian military.

What's behind the trend?

Russia's Medvedev tells Castro Moscow appreciates Cuba's support in confronting West

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev expressed gratitude to former Cuban President Raul Castro for Habana's support in Russia's confrontation with the West amid a hybrid war initiated by the United States and NATO. During a phone call to congratulate Castro on his 92nd birthday, Medvedev conveyed President Vladimir Putin's best wishes and highlighted the deepening multidimensional ties between Russia and Cuba.

Medvedev also reaffirmed Russia's unwavering stance against the trade, economic, and financial embargo imposed on Cuba by the US, emphasizing the need for its immediate cessation.

He stressed Moscow's appreciation for Cuba's assistance in countering the collective West's actions and their hybrid war against Russia, while also expressing Russia's firm commitment to ending the restrictive embargo on Cuba, which is considered a violation of international law.

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Norway plans to spend over $730mln annually on defense in 2025-2031

The Norwegian authorities are planning an annual increase in defense spending of 8 billion kroner ($731 million) from 2025 to 2031, doubling the government's initial plan to increase defense expenses to 2% of GDP, the local broadcaster reported on Saturday, citing sources.

In early May, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said Norway planned to increase defense spending to 2% of GDP and reach the level discussed within NATO by 2026. A few days later, Norway's defense commission head Knut Storberget said it was necessary to increase defense spending "to an unrealistically high level" because the current state of affairs in this area was
unsatisfactory.

The sources said, citing government documents, that the Norwegian armed forces currently lack personnel and experience.

"The shortages will lead to serious problems by 2028 if nothing is done," the broadcaster quoted one document as saying.

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Ukrainian terrorists used NATO-given gear in Belgorod region's attack last week - reports

Ukrainian saboteurs that infiltrated Russia's Belgorod Region in late May used vehicles and weapons originally provided to Kiev by the United States, Poland, the Czech Republic and Belgium, American news outlet reported on Saturday, citing unnamed US officials familiar with the intelligence findings.

Three of the Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles (MRAPs) that entered Russian territory were sent to Ukraine by the US, while the fourth came from Poland, the report said.

The saboteurs were also equipped with rifles made by Belgium and the Czech Republic and at least one AT-3 anti-tank weapon, which is used among the US and Western troops, the newspaper said, citing photos it verified. The report also cited two US mercenaries in Ukraine as saying that BREN and SCAR rifles are "commonly" handed to Ukrainian militants and foreign mercenaries.

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Chinese Official Hits Back After US Defense Secretary Accuses Beijing of ‘Bullying’

After failing to secure a face-to-face meeting with the Chinese Defense Minister at a security summit in Singapore, the US Defense Secretary is raising eyebrows by accusing the PRC of “bullying.”

“We do not seek conflict or confrontation,” Austin told audiences at the Shangri-La Dialogue, while describing US tensions with Beijing. “But we will not flinch in the face of bullying or coercion.”

In remarks given hours after Austin’s speech, Beijing’s vice chief for the Central Military Commission’s Joint Staff Department, Lieutenant General Jing Jianfeng, told the summit that the US military frequently transits through the Taiwan Strait “to flex muscles” and compels other countries to “interfere in the Taiwan question.”

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BRICS Currency Could 'Challenge Dominance' of Western-Led Financial Institutions

As the US insists on using the dollar’s dominant status in the global monetary system to punish countries Washington does not like through sanctions, a number of countries mull creating a new currency that may challenge the dollar’s status.

“Many countries are frustrated with dollar dominance and keen to have an alternate dollar. Thus, it seems that BRICS currency’s acceptability will not be an issue,” Mohammed Saqib, secretary-general of the India-China Economic and Cultural Council, told Sputnik. He admitted that introducing a BRICS currency “will require overcoming significant challenges of building trust and acceptance over time.”

But he believes that “a BRICS currency would provide an elevated status for emerging economies to exert greater control over global economic affairs, enhance their bargaining power in international trade negotiations, and challenge the dominance of Western-led financial institutions.”