🇮🇱🇵🇸 Military operations in the Gaza Strip will continue until all Israeli hostages are returned, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Sunday.
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"Military activities in Gaza will not end until the hostages return home," Gallant stated at a meeting with the families of people held hostage by the Palestinian movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
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“If we want to be peacekeepers in the world, we need a European military,” said Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in a newspaper interview Sunday, reviving on-off discussion of a European Union army.
The comment represents a desire for greater European autonomy as the continent’s acquiescence to US-led sanctions on Russia has generated economic strain from Germany to the UK.
It remains to be seen whether most European leaders will continue to support US policy toward Ukraine as the Zelensky regime has increasingly failed in its efforts on the battlefield.
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“In a world with powerful players like the United States, China, India, Russia – with crises from the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific – Italian, German, French or Slovenian citizens can only be protected by something that already exists, namely the European Union,” Tajani emphasized.
The comment represents a desire for greater European autonomy as the continent’s acquiescence to US-led sanctions on Russia has generated economic strain from Germany to the UK.
It remains to be seen whether most European leaders will continue to support US policy toward Ukraine as the Zelensky regime has increasingly failed in its efforts on the battlefield.
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🇨🇳🇮🇱 Chinese shipping giant COSCO stops calling at Israeli ports
Chinese state-owned company COSCO, one of the world's largest container shipping companies, has decided to stop calling at Israeli ports for reasons yet unknown, Israeli financial newspaper Globes reported.
The company made the decision even though the Houthis are unlikely to attack its ships in the Red Sea because of economic and political ties between China and Iran, which supports the Yemeni rebel group, the report read.
Cosco's decision will significantly affect trade between Israel and the Far East, the newspaper reported, adding that the Israeli shipping company ZIM, which works closely with COSCO, may face higher transportation costs as it will have to increase the number of ships operating on the Far East routes.
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Chinese state-owned company COSCO, one of the world's largest container shipping companies, has decided to stop calling at Israeli ports for reasons yet unknown, Israeli financial newspaper Globes reported.
The company made the decision even though the Houthis are unlikely to attack its ships in the Red Sea because of economic and political ties between China and Iran, which supports the Yemeni rebel group, the report read.
Cosco's decision will significantly affect trade between Israel and the Far East, the newspaper reported, adding that the Israeli shipping company ZIM, which works closely with COSCO, may face higher transportation costs as it will have to increase the number of ships operating on the Far East routes.
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US House Speaker Mike Johnson called for greater oversight of aid to Ukraine Sunday, questioning how US funds have been spent by the country.
“We need accountability for the people who are funding that,” the speaker stressed.
Some Republicans have alleged an axis of corruption extending from Kiev to Biden in Washington; former President Donald Trump famously attempted to have authorities in Ukraine investigate Biden.
Johnson also slammed Biden’s stonewalling of the House’s impeachment inquiry, which seeks to investigate the Biden family’s business dealings in Ukraine.
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“What is the endgame in Ukraine?” asked the congressional leader. “What is our strategy? What is the objective? How will we have proper oversight over these precious taxpayer dollars?”
“We need accountability for the people who are funding that,” the speaker stressed.
Some Republicans have alleged an axis of corruption extending from Kiev to Biden in Washington; former President Donald Trump famously attempted to have authorities in Ukraine investigate Biden.
Johnson also slammed Biden’s stonewalling of the House’s impeachment inquiry, which seeks to investigate the Biden family’s business dealings in Ukraine.
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Sputnik International
🇭🇺🇪🇺 European Council President Charles Michel has decided to leave his post early. If the EU leaders do not have time to choose a successor, then Viktor Orban will become the interim head of the European Council. Michel will stand in the European Parliament…
🇪🇺 Belgian party confirms EU's Michel will run in European Parliament election
Georges-Louis Bouchez, leader of Belgium's liberal Reformist Movement party, confirmed the nomination of incumbent European Council President Charles Michel for the European Parliament election set for June.
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Georges-Louis Bouchez, leader of Belgium's liberal Reformist Movement party, confirmed the nomination of incumbent European Council President Charles Michel for the European Parliament election set for June.
"Charles Michel is the most suitable candidate to lead the Reformist Movement list in the European Parliament election," Bouchez told a party conference.
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Sputnik International
“If we want to be peacekeepers in the world, we need a European military,” said Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in a newspaper interview Sunday, reviving on-off discussion of a European Union army. “In a world with powerful players like the United…
The EU should solve more important problems before forming its own army, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, commenting on Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani's statement Sunday.
The spokeswoman added that the EU also has an unresolved refugee problem.
The official stressed that before armed forces are established, it is necessary to determine what fuel they will use. Otherwise the US will be able to blackmail the EU by raising fuel prices if Brussels does not send its troops where Washington says, the spokeswoman emphasized.
Zakharova concluded by questioning why each NATO member pays into the "common treasury" -- in fact, the US treasury -- huge sums that should have been spent on ensuring collective security.
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“An EU army? Maybe you should start by developing your own vaccine against COVID-19? Or learn how to humanely -- in accordance with your international obligations -- guard the borders of the EU?” Zakharova wrote on her Telegram channel.
The spokeswoman added that the EU also has an unresolved refugee problem.
The official stressed that before armed forces are established, it is necessary to determine what fuel they will use. Otherwise the US will be able to blackmail the EU by raising fuel prices if Brussels does not send its troops where Washington says, the spokeswoman emphasized.
Zakharova concluded by questioning why each NATO member pays into the "common treasury" -- in fact, the US treasury -- huge sums that should have been spent on ensuring collective security.
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The World Health Organisation has been forced to cancel four humanitarian missions to the northern Gaza Strip since December 26 because it no longer receives necessary security guarantees.
"Heavy bombardment, movement restrictions, and interrupted communications are making it nearly impossible to deliver medical supplies regularly and safely across Gaza, particularly in the north. Most hospitals are severely short-staffed, as health workers have left due to evacuation orders or insecurity. Meanwhile, patients' access to health facilities is impeded by perilous conditions," the organisation stressed.
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"Today [January 7], WHO cancelled a planned mission to Al-Awda hospital and the central drug store in northern Gaza for the fourth time since 26 Dec because we did not receive deconfliction and safety guarantees," WHO said on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
"Heavy bombardment, movement restrictions, and interrupted communications are making it nearly impossible to deliver medical supplies regularly and safely across Gaza, particularly in the north. Most hospitals are severely short-staffed, as health workers have left due to evacuation orders or insecurity. Meanwhile, patients' access to health facilities is impeded by perilous conditions," the organisation stressed.
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Forwarded from Sputnik Africa
🌾 🌎 It's Time for Dollar-Free Grain Trade Among BRICS Countries
BRICS – an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – added net grain importers Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2024, almost equalizing the production and consumption of key grain crops within the group.
Under these circumstances, the association may create its own trading platform and trade grain within the group without using the US dollar, reads a letter from the Russian Union of Grain Exporters (Rusgrain Union) to the Ministry of Agriculture, reviewed by the Russian business newspaper Vedomosti.
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BRICS – an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – added net grain importers Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2024, almost equalizing the production and consumption of key grain crops within the group.
Under these circumstances, the association may create its own trading platform and trade grain within the group without using the US dollar, reads a letter from the Russian Union of Grain Exporters (Rusgrain Union) to the Ministry of Agriculture, reviewed by the Russian business newspaper Vedomosti.
👉 Read the full story!
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🇨🇿 The presence of Czech military personnel in foreign missions in 2024, including in the NATO group in Slovakia, will be reduced, the press secretary of the Czech General Staff, Vlastimila Cyprisova, stated on Sunday.
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"Czech military personnel are currently participating in 14 foreign missions, in particular in Kosovo, the Middle East and the Mediterranean region, where they are fighting smugglers transporting illegal migrants from Africa to Europe. Overall reduction in the number of participants in foreign missions in 2024 will happen mainly due to a reduction from 450 to 200 people in the NATO contingent in Slovakia, the command of which the Czech Republic will transfer to Spain by the end of June this year," Cyprisova was quoted as saying by Czech Radio.
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Sputnik International
Criticism over secrecy of Pentagon chief’s hospitalization mounts as Austin ‘takes responsibility’ for matter US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin released a statement on Saturday taking “full responsibility” for not disclosing his condition earlier. But…
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is still in the hospital and there is no specific date for his release yet, the US Defense Department said on Monday.
Ryder added that on Saturday, Austin held talks with US President Joe Biden.
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"Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III remains hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center but is recovering well and in good spirits. Since resuming his duties on Friday evening, the Secretary has received operational updates and has provided necessary guidance to his team… While we do not have a specific date for his release at this time, we will continue to provide updates on the Secretary’s status as they become available," Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement.
Ryder added that on Saturday, Austin held talks with US President Joe Biden.
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Boeing 737 MAX 9 scare another argument in favor of Russia’s aviation independence
“The fact that the 737 MAX model seems to be plagued by various operational problems suggests that certain gaps and shortcomings exist in the organization of work at Boeing and among its contractors, and this has led to a decrease in the level of safety of products manufactured by the American company,” Oleg Panteleev, a leading Russian civilian aviation expert who heads the AviaPort think tank, told Sputnik.
“After the change of leadership at Boeing [after 2019, ed.], extraordinary measures were taken to eliminate problems which had been discovered, to restructure work with suppliers, increase the level of quality control of components and so on. Unfortunately, it cannot be said that all this work has led to the expected result,” Panteleev noted, referring to Friday’s close call involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 which suffered an emergency exit door blowout midflight.
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“The fact that the 737 MAX model seems to be plagued by various operational problems suggests that certain gaps and shortcomings exist in the organization of work at Boeing and among its contractors, and this has led to a decrease in the level of safety of products manufactured by the American company,” Oleg Panteleev, a leading Russian civilian aviation expert who heads the AviaPort think tank, told Sputnik.
“After the change of leadership at Boeing [after 2019, ed.], extraordinary measures were taken to eliminate problems which had been discovered, to restructure work with suppliers, increase the level of quality control of components and so on. Unfortunately, it cannot be said that all this work has led to the expected result,” Panteleev noted, referring to Friday’s close call involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 which suffered an emergency exit door blowout midflight.
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Spain recognizes valid passports of Kosovo citizens after visa-free entry into the European Union for them came into force on January 1, Spanish news agency EFE reported on Sunday, citing a source in the Spanish Foreign Ministry.
The report added that all Schengen countries agreed to accept Kosovo passports to allow the entry of Kosovars.
On January 1, the Kosovar Foreign Ministry said that visa-free entry into the EU for its citizens came into force.
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The report added that all Schengen countries agreed to accept Kosovo passports to allow the entry of Kosovars.
"This in no way means recognition of Kosovo," the source was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
On January 1, the Kosovar Foreign Ministry said that visa-free entry into the EU for its citizens came into force.
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The United States reportedly fears the failure of the IDF’s campaign in Gaza to eliminate Hamas will lead Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to launch a war on Lebanon, it was revealed Sunday.
“I’m not sure going after Hezbollah [in Lebanon] is the right way to do it because that campaign will be far more challenging than the one in Gaza,” he added. Netanyahu faces prosecution on corruption charges in Israel if forced to step down from his position.
The IDF has reportedly already drawn up strike plans for Lebanon, according to Israeli media.
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“The political logic for Netanyahu is to rebound… and have some kind of success to show to the Israeli public,” said analyst Bilal Saab, noting that the longtime Israeli leader has become highly unpopular in his country.
“I’m not sure going after Hezbollah [in Lebanon] is the right way to do it because that campaign will be far more challenging than the one in Gaza,” he added. Netanyahu faces prosecution on corruption charges in Israel if forced to step down from his position.
The IDF has reportedly already drawn up strike plans for Lebanon, according to Israeli media.
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Belgium will nominate European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders for the post of the president of the European Council, Belgian media reported on Sunday.
The Belgian authorities must announce their decision by January 10, and elections for the presidency of the European Council will be held in June, Le Soir newspaper said.
Reynders, in turn, was reportedly hoping to head the list of candidates from the Belgian liberal Reformist Movement party in the upcoming elections to the European Parliament, but this was entrusted to incumbent European Council President Charles Michel.
In 2019, Reynders participated in the race for the post of the European Council president but lost the election. He also held various positions in the Belgian government, including the post of foreign minister and finance minister.
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The Belgian authorities must announce their decision by January 10, and elections for the presidency of the European Council will be held in June, Le Soir newspaper said.
Reynders, in turn, was reportedly hoping to head the list of candidates from the Belgian liberal Reformist Movement party in the upcoming elections to the European Parliament, but this was entrusted to incumbent European Council President Charles Michel.
In 2019, Reynders participated in the race for the post of the European Council president but lost the election. He also held various positions in the Belgian government, including the post of foreign minister and finance minister.
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🇷🇺 Russian TOS-1A heavy flamethrower system hits a strong point and concentration of personnel of Ukrainian forces
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❗️ At 7 am local time, Russian air defenses intercepted a Ukrainian S-200 missile over the Belgorod region, Russia’s Defense Ministry said. The anti-aircraft missile had been converted to hit ground targets on the territory of Russia.
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🇩🇪 Nearly two-thirds of Germans would like German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to hand over his post to Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, a poll conducted by the Institute for New Social Answers (INSA) for German newspaper Bild showed.
The INSA poll showed that 64.3% of respondents want to replace Scholz with Pistorius. A total of 1,004 respondents participated in the poll.
Bild and Italian newspaper la Repubblica reported earlier this week that the German chancellor could leave office prematurely this year. The reasons for the possible resignation are low ratings of the ruling coalition, as well as the Wirecard fraud scandal that broke out in 2020, when Scholz was serving as finance minister.
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The INSA poll showed that 64.3% of respondents want to replace Scholz with Pistorius. A total of 1,004 respondents participated in the poll.
Bild and Italian newspaper la Repubblica reported earlier this week that the German chancellor could leave office prematurely this year. The reasons for the possible resignation are low ratings of the ruling coalition, as well as the Wirecard fraud scandal that broke out in 2020, when Scholz was serving as finance minister.
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The Wall Street Journal has crunched some numbers on the Ukrainian crisis and concluded that Ukraine might have to resort to drastic measures if Western support stops flowing.
Pointing to “dwindling” Western financial assistance; lesser interest in continuing to fund the proxy crisis; and Russia outguning Ukraine militarily and economically, the outlet warned that “without sufficient support, Ukraine may have to resort to painful spending cuts or even printing money to fill its deficit” to keep the lights on and the war effort going.
Such a policy “would pose a grave risk to the health of its economy,” the newspaper said, hinting at the danger of hyperinflation which traditionally hits countries that print money to try to fill budget gaps.
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Pointing to “dwindling” Western financial assistance; lesser interest in continuing to fund the proxy crisis; and Russia outguning Ukraine militarily and economically, the outlet warned that “without sufficient support, Ukraine may have to resort to painful spending cuts or even printing money to fill its deficit” to keep the lights on and the war effort going.
Such a policy “would pose a grave risk to the health of its economy,” the newspaper said, hinting at the danger of hyperinflation which traditionally hits countries that print money to try to fill budget gaps.
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🇩🇪 Farmers in Germany have begun a week of protests against government plans to abolish benefits. They are using tractors to block highways in various areas, including Berlin. The first protests have already taken place, attracting the attention of the police and public.
The protests are taking place against the backdrop of the fact that in December, the German government’s press secretary, amid a budget crisis, announced the Cabinet’s plans to abolish subsidies for diesel fuel. The government also planned to cancel preferential taxation of vehicles used in forestry and agriculture.
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The protests are taking place against the backdrop of the fact that in December, the German government’s press secretary, amid a budget crisis, announced the Cabinet’s plans to abolish subsidies for diesel fuel. The government also planned to cancel preferential taxation of vehicles used in forestry and agriculture.
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