Russia and the Central African Republic are discussing new contracts to develop defense industry cooperation between the two countries, CAR Prime Minister Felix Molua told Sputnik.

"Discussions on this topic have advanced. I am not aware of the details, but I am sure that the defense minister responsible for this topic will probably tell you more. I know that such discussions are taking place," Molua said.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Russian air defenses downed several Ukrainian drones near the Slavyansk oil refinery in the Russian Krasnodar region. But one of the drones crashed and caused a fire, according to the Telegram channel of the operational headquarters of the region.

"Another attempted terrorist attack by the criminal Kiev regime. At night at around 3 a.m. [Moscow time] several UAVs tried to attack the Slavyansk refinery. According to the EDDS of the Slavyansk district, the drones were neutralized, but as a result of the downing of one of the apparatuses there was a fire," read a Telegram message.

It was clarified that the fire has now been extinguished.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Russian air defenses shot down two Ukrainian drones near the city of Domodedovo in the Moscow region which were heading towards Moscow. No injuries or damage were reported per preliminary information, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin wrote on Telegram.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Native American lawsuit in New York sheds light on dark aspect of US history

A lawsuit by the indigenous Onondaga Nation against the US government is drawing attention to America’s colonial past and its ongoing disregard for the rights of indigenous people.

“If we don’t admit that those things have happened, how do we move forward together?” asked Joe Heath, a lawyer for the Onondaga tribe as it files suit against the United States at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The indigenous nation hopes to receive recognition of the theft of its historical territory and a say in environmental policy in their historic lands, which are despoiled by 24 polluted Superfund sites.

The doctrine of discovery, a colonial-era legal concept granting European explorers the right to take indigenous lands, was cited by the US Supreme Court as recently as 2005 in a ruling against another New York tribe. Today, the same sense of ennoscriptment is observed as the United States fashions itself as a global arbiter and enforcer of morality.

From the legacy of African slavery, Manifest Destiny, Jim Crow and the Monroe Doctrine right up to American exceptionalism and the dictates of foreign policy neoconservatives, the United States has insisted on enforcing its will on others. Should a country with such history be allowed to lecture others? The modern struggle for a multipolar world promises to finally answer that question in favor of the oppressed.

👉 Follow the link for more details

Russian air defenses destroyed a Ukrainian drone in the Ramenki District and another in the Stupinsky District of the Moscow region. Both were reportedly heading towards Moscow. No injuries or damage were reported per preliminary information, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin wrote on Telegram.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Four Ukrainian drones attacked the settlement of Oktyabrsky in the Belgorod region, dropping explosive devices. The incident resulted in no casualties but damaged power and gas supply lines, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on Telegram.

Emergency services are expected to restore the supply lines soon.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Russian air defenses destroyed a Ukrainian drone near the city of Kaluga, no casualties or damage were reported Kaluga region Governor Vladislav Shapsha said.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

The topic of the possible entry of South Ossetia into Russia is being discussed in close coordination with Moscow, South Ossetian Parliament Chairman Alan Alborov told Sputnik.

"We are discussing all these issues in close coordination with the Russian Federation, taking into account our bilateral relations and agreements," Alborov said when asked about the possibility of holding a referendum on this topic.

The two parties pursue a joint coordinated foreign policy, Alborov said, noting that South Ossetia will become part of Russia when the governments of South Ossetia and Russia come to this idea.

On August 26, 2008, following Georgia's armed aggression against Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Russia recognized the independence of the two breakaway regions. The two republics were subsequently recognized by Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru and Syria.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Russian air defenses wiped out four Ukrainian drones in the Yaroslavl region. No injuries or damage were reported per preliminary information, Governor Mikhail Yevraev wrote on Telegram.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Feeling strain of war, Israel considers connoscripting ultra-Orthodox Jewish population

Ultra-Orthodox Jews have long been exempted from military service in Israel as young members of the religiously conservative community devote themselves to study of the Torah in schools known as yeshivas. But that policy may change as Israeli society feels the strain of the country’s months-long operation in Gaza.

“There are not enough soldiers,” said opposition leader and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid at a Thursday rally in Tel Aviv. “And at the same time there are 66,000 young and healthy members of the Haredi community, at enlistment age, who are not joining.”

The issue is a conundrum for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who counts many conservative and ultra-Orthodox Jews among his political coalition. But polling shows most Israelis oppose the community’s exemption, and Netanyahu’s opposition has hammered him over the issue.

Israel’s economy has been battered in recent months as a portion of the workforce has been called up to fight in Gaza. The prospect of war against Hezbollah in Lebanon threatens to place even more strain on the IDF. Additionally, some half a million Israelis have reportedly fled the country since last October’s Hamas attack.

👉 Follow the link for more details

❗️Russian air defense systems destroyed nine RM-70 Vampire missile system shells and three Hurricane missile system shells over Russia's Belgorod region, the Defense Ministry reported.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

▪️Russian presidential election: the third and final day of voting begins

▪️Russian aerospace forces destroy a terrorist base in Syria's Deir Ez-Zor governorate

▪️Niger terminates the military agreement with the US, is going to throw out its military base

▪️On thin ice: US falling behind Russia in mobility in Arctic region

▪️What is known about Russia’s T-14 Armata tank?

▪️Macron is going to ‘ask for’ a ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict for duration of Paris Olympics

More stories:

▪️South Ossetia ponders over becoming a part of Russia

▪️Native American lawsuit in New York sheds light on dark aspect of US history

▪️Feeling strain of war, Israel considers connoscripting ultra-Orthodox Jewish population

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

❗️Turnout in the Russian presidential elections exceeded 60%, according to the Central Election Commission.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

A 16-year-old girl has died as result of a Ukrainian shelling in Russia's Belgorod, the region's governor confirmed.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Key statements by the head of the Russian Central Election Commission, Ella Pamfilova:

▪️ Voter turnout in the Russian presidential election is 61.37% across the country, including remote voting, as of 06:45 (GMT).

▪️ 1115 international observers from 129 countries are working on the presidential election in the Russian Federation.

▪️ Over the past day, 12,600 dangerous hits were recorded on the CEC website and four DDoS attacks were blocked.

▪️ "We will win this information war too" - Pamfilova on attacks on CEC resources.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt