For the record: UN Security Council voting on Palestinian UN membership

The US vetoed and blocked a draft resolution on the admission of Palestine as a full member of the organization.

Twelve countries voted in favor of the resolution: Russia, China, France, Japan, South Korea, Ecuador, Algeria, Malta, Slovenia, Sierra Leone, Mozambique and Guyana.

Two other countries, the UK and Switzerland, abstained.

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Biden administration considers providing Israel with more than $1 billion in arms: media

This could be the largest aid package since the beginning of the Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing US officials.

In addition, Congress is considering sending tank ammunition, military transport aircraft and mortar shells, which would take months or even years because of additional coordination.

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📹 Watch the full interview with Russian FM Sergey Lavrov with Sputnik, Komsomolskaya Pravda and Govorit Moskva on our Telegram channel!

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The West is one step away from sending troops to Ukraine, which could drag Europe down with it, Brussels is playing with fire, said Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

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Did Israel really strike Iran on April 19?

While the April 19 attack on Iran was quickly attributed to Israel by the media, it is not immediately clear who carried out this strike, argues political analyst Alexander Kargin, an expert on Israel and the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region. Israel and Iran haven't confirmed the Jewish state was behind the attack, which is described as a drone strike on an Iranian airbase.

If the attack was indeed an Israeli reprisal, then Tel Aviv probably should have claimed responsibility, as is commonly done during such retaliations “of a public nature,” Kargin remarked. Iran has also so far refrained from accusing Israel, which is rather “symptomatic” given that Tehran is prone to see “the Zionists’ hand” behind a lot of things, he added.

If the strike on Iran was Israel’s doing, then it appears that Tel Aviv opted not to carry out any serious retaliation for the April 14 missile attack, Kargin said, noting that the damage done to Iran appears to be minimal.

“I cannot rule out the possibility of Israel saying that it wasn’t their doing and blaming it on some local forces, because the attack was very weak,” he said. “It seems that the strike was weak, and no meaningful damage was dealt to the Iranians.”

There is also a possibility that Israel agreed to tone down its response to Iran in exchange for some kind of preferences from the US, Kargin mused. For example, Tel Aviv might have agreed to refrain from launching a full-scale retaliation against Iran, which would have likely triggered a serious escalation in the Middle East, in exchange for the US to stop opposing Israel’s military operation in the city of Rafah, a densely packed refugee enclave in the Gaza Strip, he suggested.

“I repeat, we should wait until the situation becomes clear. But apparently, it all came down to Israel getting something from the US and performing such a pinpoint strike on Iran in return.”

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Israel's credit rating may face deeper cuts after strikes against Iran

S&P Global Ratings has downgraded Israel's credit rating from 'AA-/A-1+' to 'A+/A-1' as the Jewish state's economy is taking a plunge amid Tel-Aviv's Gaza war and clashes with Iran. The move followed Moody’s cut to the nation's sovereign rating in February.

What’s driving the major rating firms' decisions?

▪️Israel's Gaza war, amplified by the escalation in tensions between Tel Aviv and Tehran, has stepped up geopolitical risks for the Jewish state

▪️Israel's economy contracted 20.7% in the fourth quarter of 2023, exceeding initial expectations of a 10% slump, as consumer spending, exports, and investment had been hurt since the start of the Gaza hostilities last October.

▪️Israel's debt in 2023 increased by $43 billion, $22 billion of which accumulated since the beginning of October. The total debt reached 62.1% of GDP last year, up from 60.5% in 2022, primarily due to the surge in military spending.

▪️Israel's national currency, the shekel, has depreciated by more than 4% against the dollar in 2024, as reported by Bloomberg. Since October 2023, the shekel has experienced fluctuations, prompting the Bank of Israel to intervene by selling dollars in an effort to stabilize the currency.

▪️S&P expects Israel's general government deficit to grow to 8% of GDP in 2024 with net general government debt peaking at 66% of GDP in 2026;

▪️S&P expects that Israel's Gaza war will continue throughout 2024.

S&P's report came out ahead of Israel's Friday strike on Iran, suggesting that the clashes between the two Mideast players wouldn't translate into a wider regional conflict. The agency signaled that it would revise the outlook again on May 10 and may lower the rating if the conflicts widen.

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Captured Ukrainian soldier Viktor Fedorchuk said that he surrendered with the help of a Russian drone.

"I had no chance. I just waved my hand at the drone. Only to be captured and survive. I was escorted by a drone to the Russian positions. And I was captured there," the soldier said.

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US House advances bills to provide aid to Ukraine and Israel, sanction Russia and Iran, force Tiktok divestiture.

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NATO countries should step up to the plate and take risks, by sending Kiev the weapons needed for its own defense, NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg said.

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Lifting the diplomatic veil: What do Lavrov’s Istanbul peace deal revelations mean?

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's very first disclosure of the partial terms of the Istanbul deal between Moscow and Kiev actually signals Russia’s readiness for peace talks with Ukraine, Sergey Poletaev, political and military analyst, co-founder of “Vatfor project”, told Sputnik.

“I think the West’s ruling circles are realizing the fact that it’s impossible to get the better of Russia on the battlefield and that the time is right to negotiate with Russia,” Poletaev stated.

He recalled that in the much-talked-about February interview with former Fox New host Tucker Carlson, Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated Moscow’s intent to return to the 2022 Istanbul agreements, based on the current realities. “I guess, Lavrov is emphasizing this once again,” the analyst pointed out.

When asked what the top Russian diplomat meant by revealing that the security guarantees outlined in the Istanbul agreements were utterly serious, nearly on par with Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty (the principle of collective defense), Poletaev noted that those guarantees stipulated that “Ukraine cannot be NATO’s and the West’s battering ram” and that “the country should have a neutral status.”

“Namely, as long as Ukraine complies with these conditions, it can be given any guarantees it wants,” the analyst added.

Earlier on Friday, Lavrov sat down with Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of Sputnik's parent media group Rossiya Segodnya, as well as the editors-in-chief of the radio stations Govorit Moskva and Komsomolskaya Pravda to discuss an array of pressing issues, including the possibility of peace talks with Ukraine.

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The downed quadcopters over the Iranian city of Isfahan did not cause any material or physical damage, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said in New York.

“[Israel’s] supporters in the media tried in vain to turn their latest defeat into a victory and exaggerate the whole situation, while the downed quadcopters did not cause any material or physical damage,” the Iranian top diplomat asserted.

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Sputnik Donbass correspondent Russell Bentley has died at the age of 64, his wife Lyudmila confirmed to Sputnik.

Bentley went missing in Donetsk on April 8, following a Ukrainian artillery attack on the city’s Petrovsky district. Four days later, the DPR Ministry of Internal Affairs put him on a missing persons list.

Bentley, who was born and raised in the United States, arrived to the Donbass in 2014 to help the fledgling local militias resist Ukrainian occupation. From 2014 to 2017, he served in the Sut Vremeni ( lit. "Essence of Time") combat unit, Vostok Battalion and Khan special forces battalion. He took part in some of the most heated battles during the early stage of the Donbass conflict, including Donetsk Airport, Spartak, Avdeyevka, and Yasinovataya.

After retiring from military service, Bentleу turned to humanitarian aid work and journalism. He converted to Russian Orthodox Christianity and in 2021 received Russian citizenship.

Bentley began contributing to Sputnik International in October 2023, publishing numerous video reports and columns that provided Westerners with an inside look at life in the Donbass.

Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of Sputnik's parent media group Rossiya Segodnya expressed her condolences:

"Russell Bentley, also known as Texas, a real American from Texas, died in Donetsk.

He fought there for our people. Collaborated with our Sputnik.

Terrible. R.I.P...."

Why the West rejected Zelensky’s ‘Big Israel’ dream for Ukraine

Why is Ukraine not Israel? This is the question Zelensky has kept asking after British and American air power helped Israel thwart last weekend’s Iranian attack.

“Ukraine defends its sky by itself… And Israel was not defending [its sky] by itself. There was the protection of allies,” Zelensky told PBS radio, adding that he wanted to get the same level of aid.

The mainstream media tried to vent Zelensky’s plea in such headlines like: “Western powers shot down Iranian missiles. Why not Russian missiles?” and “Zelensky wants Ukraine to become a big Israel.”

The West, however, rejected Zelensky’s plea.

What were the motives?

▪️Racism. “Ukraine’s traumas matter less than Israel’s to the West”, The Hill wrote, acknowledging that “this stance bespeaks a moral…double standard”.

▪️Egoism. Ohio senator J.D. Vance cut to the chase: “Israel is just much more important to the United States than Ukraine.” Zelensky’s search for parallels (“Israel is not a NATO member either”) only makes the “greater importance” of Israel stand out.

▪️Cowardice. UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron explained the difference between Israel and Ukraine by the West’s fear to face Russia in a non-proxy battle: “If you want to avoid an escalation, a European war, I think one thing you need to avoid is NATO troops directly engaging Russian troops.”

▪️Provocation. The Zurich-based German newspaper Tages Anzeiger added a more dramatic twist to Zelensky’s drama by bringing up treachery: “The truth is: the West betrayed Ukraine. The Americans, the Europeans and above all the Germans… two years ago gave Ukraine hope that it could win.”

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Brave soldier, aid worker & truth teller: Story of Texas-born Donbass volunteer Russell Bentley

Russell Bonner Bentley, known by his call sign "Texas," was a 64-year-old American from the Lone Star state who tragically passed away, as confirmed by his wife Lyudmila to Sputnik. He joined the Donbass militia in 2014, actively participating in defending the region's freedom against Ukrainian neo-Nazi forces.

Born into a well-to-do family in Dallas in 1960, Bentley's worldview was shaped by the Vietnam War, leading him to become an ardent anti-imperialist and anti-racist. His commitment to justice led him to the front lines of the conflict, where he fought alongside Donetsk and Lugansk freedom fighters.

Bentley's involvement extended beyond combat. He served as a Sputnik contributor, and thanks to his reports, he provided first-hand insights into Russia's special military operation, the liberation of Mariupol, foreign mercenary forces in Ukraine, and the Kiev regime's intensified attacks on civilians.

His interviews with Russian combat veterans and fellow Americans in the Donbass war zone aimed to shed light on the truth about the conflict. Despite the dangers he faced, Bentley remained dedicated to his mission of informing the world about the situation in Donbass.

Rest in peace, Russell.

▪️Russian FM Sergey Lavrov sat down for a major interview, where for the first time ever, he divulged the details of the Istanbul deal with Ukraine.

▪️Sputnik Donbass correspondent 'Texas' Russell Bentley passed away in Donetsk

▪️Did Israel really strike Iran on April 19?

▪️Israel's credit rating may face deeper cuts after strikes against Iran

▪️Why the West rejected Zelensky’s ‘Big Israel’ dream for Ukraine

▪️'Contrary to UN Charter's letter & spirit': why US said 'no' to Palestinian statehood

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🇷🇺 The West doesn't seek peace in Ukraine, as the conflict originally broke out because of NATO expansion, expert says

"If they wanted peace, they would never have tried to expand next to Russia, because the war that has broken out between Russia and Ukraine was caused by the expansion of NATO, which poses a threat to the security architecture of Russia," Prof. Ntsikelelo Breakfast, senior lecturer at South Africa's Nelson Mandela University, told Sputnik Africa.

He added that the West's maneuvers indicate that it is "not doing things in the interest of peace." According to Prof. Breakfast, Western countries are more likely to "threaten anyone" who appears to be a "danger" to them.

The professor's comments came in the wake of earlier remarks made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in an interview with Sputnik, in which he said that Moscow has information that French military instructors are working in Ukraine.

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Israel can't afford escalation with Iran and Gaza

The Gaza war and tensions with Iran have taken their toll on Israel's economy, with major rating agencies having downgraded the Jewish state's rating by one notch, warning that cuts may deepen if ongoing hostilities escalate.

"The Israeli economy has shown remarkable resilience," argued Prof. Avi Weiss, president of the Taub Center for Social Policy Research in Israel and professor of economics at Bar-Ilan University, when speaking to Sputnik. "It is expected to grow at 1.5-2% in 2024, and over 5% in 2025. Significantly lower than 'normal,' 3.5%, in 2024, but right on target over the two-year period."

"The Israeli economy ground to a half when the Gaza War began because virtually the entire country was mobilized for the war effort," retorted Dr. Steven Terner, the manager of Terner Consultancy.

"Hundreds of thousands of Israelis were displaced in October, and many remain so to this day. The tourism industry, a major source of revenue, was destroyed by the Gaza War as well. (…) Foreign investment had already suffered greatly throughout the spring, summer, and fall of 2023."

Israel could hardly afford a further escalation in tensions with Iran or in the Gaza Strip, admit Sputnik's interlocutors.

"If you think about every couple of months or every month or every week or whatever - a rocket attack from Iran, which requires overnight expenditure of something like $1 billion in defense in one night, that is, of course, not sustainable," Benjamin Bental, professor emeritus of economics at the University of Haifa, told Sputnik.

A continuation of the war in Gaza could axe the prospects of an economic rebound for Israel, echoed Weiss. The problem is that "the conflict will not be over until there is a resolution of the Palestinian issue," warned Rodney Shakespeare, visiting professor of binary economics at Trisakti University in Jakarta, Indonesia.

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❗️ A man set himself on fire outside the courthouse in New York City where the Trump trial is being held

The man first entered a park across the street from the courthouse and threw flyers in the air, media reports said. Then he pulled something out of his backpack and set himself on fire.

At least one person used a fire extinguisher to try to put out the flames, and paramedics immediately went to the man to help him, said a CNN reporter who witnessed the incident.

It is not yet known what condition the man is in or what exactly was written on his flyers.

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Laura Kavanagh, the Fire Commissioner of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) later reported that the man, who committed self immolation survived but is in critical condition.

The man was reportedly identified by police as Maxwell Azzarello.