❗️Tucker Carlson wants to interview Russian President Vladimir Putin, Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of the Rossiya Segodnya media group and RT broadcaster, stated, adding that “it would be great” if the president were informed about it.

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🇮🇷⚛️ Iran takes a giant step toward nuclear self-sufficiency with homegrown cesium-137

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) reported a major domestic breakthrough in the country’s nuclear energy program on Sunday, unveiling Cesium-137, a radionuclide used in a variety of medical and industrial applications, produced by Iranian nuclear scientists for the first time ever.

AEOI chief Mohammad Eslami stressed that the breakthrough was a sign of the progress made by Iran’s nuclear industry, notwithstanding Western pressure.

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🪖🇪🇺 The EU will launch a civil-military mission in West Africa in the fall, Western media report

The area of operation will reportedly span Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Cote d'Ivoire. The governments of Benin and Ghana have already sent formal invitations. Senior EU diplomats who are familiar with the planning told the Western media that the mission stems from "concerns of the EU that jihadist groups could extend their activities in Western Africa from the Sahel region to the southern coastal countries off the Gulf of Guinea."

The mission will comprise police and military personnel whose number is still to be determined. Other goals include anti-terrorist operational preparedness training, technical assistance and confidence-building in the local security sectors.

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🇩🇪📉Unsatisfactory: The German economy remains dire as Scholz shuns calls for more borrowing

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has rebuffed appeals for increased government spending supported by borrowing to stimulate an economic upturn and asserted that Germany is in a favorable position despite its current underperformance. The Social Democrats chief emphasized that Germany shouldn't be portrayed negatively as a business hub; instead, it holds promising economic prospects.

Scholz told a German media outlet that his country’s economic clout in the European Union possesses "the best pre-requisites to ensure we'll still be playing in the top league technologically in 10, 20 and in 30 years’ time."

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🇺🇸✈️ Hundreds of US airline pilots are suspected of being unfit to fly, according to reports

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been looking into 4,800 former military veterans turned airline and commercial pilots who might have submitted "incorrect or false information" as part of their medical applications, FAA spokesman Matthew Lehner admitted in a comment to the daily.

The pilots were red-flagged after investigators at the Department of Veterans Affairs cross-checked federal databases to discover aviators who were receiving veteran benefits for mental health disorders and other serious conditions, while hiding their true medical history from the FAA in order to continue flying.

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🇷🇺 🖼 Russian Master'peace': Artworks Saved from Ukraine's Missile Strikes

Following the devastating missile strike by Kiev’s regime on Taganrog Art Museum, 22 priceless works of art are finding their way to the sanctuary in St. Petersburg for a meticulous restoration.

🗯 "We made this decision not to restore locally, but to bring all the paintings to the Russian Museum [in St. Petersburg] which has been done today in order to carry out a truly scientific, artistic, full-fledged restoration," says Olga Babina, Deputy Director of the Museum.

🎨 This journey promises to enrich our restorers' expertise, ensuring no piece of art is lost. In just four months, these treasured pieces will return to their rightful home.

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🌍💻 'Everything is Up for Grabs': Fintech CEO on African Digitalization Opportunities

The BRICS International Innovation Forum program is being held on August 27-29 in Moscow, gathering over 300 representatives of the diplomatic corps, authorities, federal ministries and agencies from 30 countries and more than 1,000 startup founders to debate ways of digitalization

Sputnik Africa sat down with one of the forum's speakers, Patrick Conteh, CEO of Africa Fintech Network, who is also serving as economic advisor to the Liberian Ministry of Finance, to spotlight the process of digitalization in Africa.

💬 "The physical boundaries are going down because of technology. So there is a need for collaboration and for integration both at the continental level and across the countries, Conteh remarked

👉 Read the interview!

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🇺🇸 How US military failed in Africa

The latest study by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, noscriptd "Less is More: A New Strategy for US Security Assistance to Africa" and released earlier this week, arrived at the uncomfortable conclusion that US military assistance in Africa "does not work."

The report was released in the wake of the military takeover in Niger, which has received around $500 million in US security aid since 2016. To add to the embarrassment, the takeover was conducted by at least five former US military trainees. Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland's trip to Niger earlier this month proved futile. On Friday, Niger's military leaders reportedly gave the French, German, Nigerian, and US ambassadors 48 hours to leave the country.

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🇺🇸 Do the Clintons seek to steal thunder from Team Biden and cash in on Ukraine?

The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) gathering scheduled for September is expected to bring together corporate leaders, Hollywood stars, and other celebrities with the aim to "address climate change, health care issues, gender-based violence, the war in Ukraine and a host of other issues."

The timing of the Clintons' September gathering hints at two probabilities: first, they are showcasing their talents just as Democrats need to find viable candidates to replace Biden; second, they may be salivating over a potentially mammoth rebuilding package in Ukraine, as Wall Street analyst Charles Ortel told Sputnik.

What is the Clinton Global Initiative? Do the Clintons seek more political influence? What's behind the Clintons' interest in Ukraine? 👉Follow the link to find out

Russia’s air defence systems foiled another attempt by Ukraine to carry out a terrorist attack using a fixed-winged unmanned aerial vehicle on the territory of Russia on August 28 at around 4:30 AM Moscow time (01:30 GMT)

The UAV was destroyed over Moscow Region, the Russian MoD said.

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💬 "Of course, the standing of an expanded BRICS in G20 will strengthen with the participation of Saudi Arabia and Argentina"

🗣 The BRICS club of emerging economies will have a greater sway in G20 after adding new members, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov predicts

The Russian diplomat said G20 was beginning to look like a combination of G7 Plus and BRICS Plus members. Russia will coordinate its position on global affairs with the new BRICS nations, including at other international forums, he added.

The next G20 summit is scheduled for September 9-10 in New Delhi, India.

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💬 "We are now working on the possibilities of this meeting. We are preparing specific proposals for discussion"

🇷🇺🇹🇷 The upcoming talks between Russian President Putin and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, will largely determine the future of the grain deal, a source involved in the negotiation process on the grain deal told Sputnik

Turkiye and the United Nations are exploring opportunities for holding talks on the grain deal with the Russian delegation in Istanbul, a source involved in the negotiation process told Sputnik earlier.

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The French government will move ahead with a ban on Muslim abaya dresses in school this week, French Education Minister Gabriel Attal says 

Attal argued that secularism was "not a restriction but a freedom, a freedom to form your own opinion and emancipate yourself through school."

The minister said he would meet with educational authorities this week to instruct them on new guidelines regarding this type of Muslim clothing, which covers the entire body from head to toe.

A 2004 French law banned religious clothing in schools, including large crosses, Jewish kippas and Islamic headscarves.

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⚡️ Russia's Federal Security Service says stopped illegal activity of US embassy informant, ex-employee of US Consulate General in Vladivostok, Russian citizen Robert Shonov

US diplomats Sillin and Bernstein to be interrogated in case of informant Shonov, corresponding subpoenas sent to Embassy in Moscow

Shonov carried out tasks of employees of US Embassy in Moscow to collect information about special operation since fall 2022

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📹 The Russian Armed Forces hit (0:10) a Ukrainian military dugout using an FPV drone near Soledar

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📹 Former US Embassy informant Robert Shonov was instructed to "collect information on the progress of the special military operation, mobilization processes in the regions of Russia, on problematic moments and assess their influence on the protest activity of the population on the eve of the presidential elections in Russia in 2024" the FSB said

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📹 Russia’s artillery destroyed (0:07) a NATO-manufactured 155-mm FH-70 gun in the course of counter-battery combat in the zone of the special military op, the Russian MoD said

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🇿🇦 SA Chamber of Commerce Head names greatest advances of country's BRICS presidency

South Africa's greatest accomplishments during its chairmanship of BRICS this year are increasing the bloc's significance as a multilateral organization and raising Africa's profile as "an economy of the future," the president of the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the chairperson of the BRICS Business Council's Trade and Investment Working Group, Mtho Xulu told Sputnik Africa

🗣 "So our biggest achievement was to raise the profile of BRICS and also the profile of Africa as an economy of the future," he noted

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📹 😧 Railway service between France and Italy interrupted due to landslide in the French department of Savoie

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