Sponsor of TikTok ban & Iran-Palestine sanctions gets 1,400% bump in AIPAC donations
Michael McCaul (R-TX) who sponsored the 21st Century Peace through Strength Act that passed the US House of Representatives and is expected to pass the Senate and be signed into law by US President Joe Biden this week, saw American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) contributions to his campaign increase an incredible 1413% during the 2024 election cycle compared to the 2022 cycle.
Elected in 2004, McCaul received no contributions from pro-Israel groups until the 2020 cycle when another group, Pro-Israel America PAC contributed $32,600 to his campaign, his largest donor that year, according to Open Secrets.
The next cycle, McCaul received $7,900 from AIPAC itself (in addition to another $6,000 from other pro-Israel groups). But it was not until this year that McCaul became the Republican darling for AIPAC in the House of Representatives. In 2024 – so far– he has received $119,550 from AIPAC, by far his largest contributor.
In November, McCaul blamed TikTok for the rise in support among young people for Palestinians.
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Michael McCaul (R-TX) who sponsored the 21st Century Peace through Strength Act that passed the US House of Representatives and is expected to pass the Senate and be signed into law by US President Joe Biden this week, saw American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) contributions to his campaign increase an incredible 1413% during the 2024 election cycle compared to the 2022 cycle.
Elected in 2004, McCaul received no contributions from pro-Israel groups until the 2020 cycle when another group, Pro-Israel America PAC contributed $32,600 to his campaign, his largest donor that year, according to Open Secrets.
The next cycle, McCaul received $7,900 from AIPAC itself (in addition to another $6,000 from other pro-Israel groups). But it was not until this year that McCaul became the Republican darling for AIPAC in the House of Representatives. In 2024 – so far– he has received $119,550 from AIPAC, by far his largest contributor.
In November, McCaul blamed TikTok for the rise in support among young people for Palestinians.
“China controls the algorithms on TikTok, so if you type in Israel or Palestine you are going to get a lot of Pro-Palestinian, Hamas material and videos pop up and that's primarily the source of education for our young people,” he claimed.
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Potential ban on Russian LNG supplies to cost EU one-fifth of imports
Russia is the second largest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the EU, which means that the bloc's potential ban on Russian LNG will cost it a 19% share of its imports, Sputnik estimated based on data from Eurostat.
Earlier in the day, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom told reporters that the EU member states were planning to include a ban on LNG imports from Russia in the 14th package of sanctions against the nation.
In January-February, the EU imported LNG worth a total of 7 billion euros ($7.46 billion) from nine countries, with the US being the major supplier. Washington covered 48% of the EU's total imports compared to 37% a year earlier.
Over the past year, Russia increased its share of the bloc's imports by 5 percentage points to 19%. In the first two months of 2024, it supplied LNG worth 1.3 billion euros to the EU.
Algeria came third, also increasing its share of the EU's total imports to 9% from 6% in 2023.
Meanwhile, Qatar's share, on the contrary, almost halved to 8% from 15%. Nigeria, Norway, Trinidad and Tobago each accounted for a 4% share of the EU's LNG purchases, while the United Kingdom had only a 2% share.
The largest LNG consumers in the EU include France, the Netherlands and Spain, with their LNG imports worth 1.8 billion euros, 1.5 billion euros and 1.2 billion euros, respectively. At the same time, Belgium and Greece are still actively buying Russian gas.
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Russia is the second largest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the EU, which means that the bloc's potential ban on Russian LNG will cost it a 19% share of its imports, Sputnik estimated based on data from Eurostat.
Earlier in the day, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom told reporters that the EU member states were planning to include a ban on LNG imports from Russia in the 14th package of sanctions against the nation.
In January-February, the EU imported LNG worth a total of 7 billion euros ($7.46 billion) from nine countries, with the US being the major supplier. Washington covered 48% of the EU's total imports compared to 37% a year earlier.
Over the past year, Russia increased its share of the bloc's imports by 5 percentage points to 19%. In the first two months of 2024, it supplied LNG worth 1.3 billion euros to the EU.
Algeria came third, also increasing its share of the EU's total imports to 9% from 6% in 2023.
Meanwhile, Qatar's share, on the contrary, almost halved to 8% from 15%. Nigeria, Norway, Trinidad and Tobago each accounted for a 4% share of the EU's LNG purchases, while the United Kingdom had only a 2% share.
The largest LNG consumers in the EU include France, the Netherlands and Spain, with their LNG imports worth 1.8 billion euros, 1.5 billion euros and 1.2 billion euros, respectively. At the same time, Belgium and Greece are still actively buying Russian gas.
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North Korea's leader guides 1st tactical drill simulating nuclear counterattack
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has guided the first combined tactical drill simulating nuclear counterattack with the use of 600 mm "super-large" multiple rocket launchers, North Korean state-run news agency KCNA reported.
The drill held on Monday was aimed at demonstrating the reliability, superiority, might and diverse means of North Korea's nuclear force and strengthening it "both in quality and quantity," the report said, adding that the exercise was "a clear warning signal to the enemies as it was conducted at a time when the enemies' military confrontation racket against the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] is being committed with extremely provocative and aggressive nature."
During the drill, units tasked with a nuclear counterstrike practiced the process and procedure for accomplishing their missions and fired projectiles from "super-large" multiple rocket launchers equipped with simulated nuclear warheads, the report further said.
He also "appreciated with satisfaction" that the drill was successfully conducted and that Pyongyang's plan to build the nuclear force and expand the operational space of a tactical nuclear attack and diversify it "has been translated into reality."
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has guided the first combined tactical drill simulating nuclear counterattack with the use of 600 mm "super-large" multiple rocket launchers, North Korean state-run news agency KCNA reported.
The drill held on Monday was aimed at demonstrating the reliability, superiority, might and diverse means of North Korea's nuclear force and strengthening it "both in quality and quantity," the report said, adding that the exercise was "a clear warning signal to the enemies as it was conducted at a time when the enemies' military confrontation racket against the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] is being committed with extremely provocative and aggressive nature."
The report also said that Pyongyang's "super-large" multiple rocket launchers are "to play an important role in substantially strengthening the prompt counterattack capacity of the state nuclear force and raising a war deterrent under the state's nuclear weapon combined management system 'Haekbangashoe.'"
During the drill, units tasked with a nuclear counterstrike practiced the process and procedure for accomplishing their missions and fired projectiles from "super-large" multiple rocket launchers equipped with simulated nuclear warheads, the report further said.
Kim Jong Un expressed "great satisfaction over the result of the drill," appreciated "the high hit and accuracy of the super-large multiple rocket launchers".
He also "appreciated with satisfaction" that the drill was successfully conducted and that Pyongyang's plan to build the nuclear force and expand the operational space of a tactical nuclear attack and diversify it "has been translated into reality."
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US goes 'slippery slide' with sending its military personnel to Ukraine
Troops from the US and other NATO countries will be in Ukraine fighting Russian troops within a year, security and international relations expert Mark Sleboda argued on Sputnik’s The Critical Hour.
The reports of an increased US presence in Ukraine were presented as “they’re going to be working out of the US embassy,” in Kiev, Sleboda said, but that assertion is far from reality, he argued.
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Troops from the US and other NATO countries will be in Ukraine fighting Russian troops within a year, security and international relations expert Mark Sleboda argued on Sputnik’s The Critical Hour.
“We (The United States) were at trainers and advisers and CIA and special forces [in Ukraine], and now already, we’re at logistics and maintenance personnel. It’s quite clear where this is going,” Sleboda began. “US troops and [troops] from several other NATO member states will most likely be on the ground in Ukraine fighting the Russians within a year.”
The reports of an increased US presence in Ukraine were presented as “they’re going to be working out of the US embassy,” in Kiev, Sleboda said, but that assertion is far from reality, he argued.
“I’m not quite sure how big the US embassy is in Kiev, but I doubt it’s enough to set up a maintenance workshop for, I don’t know, Abrams tanks or something like that,” Sleboda jokes. “So it almost certainly means that these US troops will be out and about in Ukraine, probably not too far from the front line. And you can certainly see the slippery slide.”
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Sunak promises UK largest-ever aid package worth $617mln for Ukraine
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has promised the United Kingdom's largest-ever military support package for Ukraine worth 500 million pounds ($617 million), as well as 400 vehicles, over a thousand weapons and millions of rounds of ammunition, The Guardian has reported.
The report said on Monday that London plans to provide Kiev with 400 vehicles, including 60 boats offshore raiding craft and dive boats, 160 Husky Tactical Support Vehicles and 162 armored vehicles, 1,600 strike and air defence missiles, and nearly 4 million rounds of small arms ammunition, as well as 500 million pounds in military funding, bringing the UK's total aid to Ukraine to 3 billion pounds this financial year.
The report cited officials as saying that the 500 million pound aid package would come from the reserves of the country's Exchequer and would be used to deliver ammunition, air defenses, UK-built drones and engineering support to Ukraine's frontline.
Western countries, including the UK, have been providing military and financial aid to Kiev since the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. The Kremlin has consistently warned against continued arms deliveries to Kiev, saying it would lead to further escalation of the conflict.
In April 2022, Russia sent a diplomatic note to all NATO countries on the issue of arms supplies to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine would become a legitimate target for Russia.
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UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has promised the United Kingdom's largest-ever military support package for Ukraine worth 500 million pounds ($617 million), as well as 400 vehicles, over a thousand weapons and millions of rounds of ammunition, The Guardian has reported.
The report said on Monday that London plans to provide Kiev with 400 vehicles, including 60 boats offshore raiding craft and dive boats, 160 Husky Tactical Support Vehicles and 162 armored vehicles, 1,600 strike and air defence missiles, and nearly 4 million rounds of small arms ammunition, as well as 500 million pounds in military funding, bringing the UK's total aid to Ukraine to 3 billion pounds this financial year.
The report cited officials as saying that the 500 million pound aid package would come from the reserves of the country's Exchequer and would be used to deliver ammunition, air defenses, UK-built drones and engineering support to Ukraine's frontline.
Western countries, including the UK, have been providing military and financial aid to Kiev since the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. The Kremlin has consistently warned against continued arms deliveries to Kiev, saying it would lead to further escalation of the conflict.
In April 2022, Russia sent a diplomatic note to all NATO countries on the issue of arms supplies to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine would become a legitimate target for Russia.
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Ukraine, Israel aid bill 'abomination' that will prolong suffering
The $95 billion aid bill that Congress passed on Friday is an "abomination" that will only prolong the suffering caused by the Ukraine war and the Israeli onslaught in the Gaza Strip, former US diplomat and State Department consultant James Carden said on Monday.
The bill is expected to quickly be approved by the US Senate starting on Tuesday. The measure will provide funds to send Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's regime $60.84 billion, including $23 billion for new US weapons and ammunition; $26 billion to Israel; and another $8.12 billion to the Indo-Pacific region.
Close to $30 billion in its provisions will go directly to refill US weapons and ammunition inventories which have been largely emptied over the past two years to primarily arm Ukrainian forces, Carden added.
The bill was approved earlier by 311 votes to 112 in the House of Representatives. No Demcorats voted against the bill and most of them waved Ukrainian flags inside Congress.
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The $95 billion aid bill that Congress passed on Friday is an "abomination" that will only prolong the suffering caused by the Ukraine war and the Israeli onslaught in the Gaza Strip, former US diplomat and State Department consultant James Carden said on Monday.
"Seems to me the spending bill will only prolong the suffering in Ukraine and Gaza," Carden said. "The parts of the bill having to do with funding Israel are an abomination and make us even more complicit in their crimes."
The bill is expected to quickly be approved by the US Senate starting on Tuesday. The measure will provide funds to send Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's regime $60.84 billion, including $23 billion for new US weapons and ammunition; $26 billion to Israel; and another $8.12 billion to the Indo-Pacific region.
"Some of the bill was probably necessary in the sense that the US needed to 'restock' after having wasted so much over the past couple of years," Carden said.
Close to $30 billion in its provisions will go directly to refill US weapons and ammunition inventories which have been largely emptied over the past two years to primarily arm Ukrainian forces, Carden added.
The bill was approved earlier by 311 votes to 112 in the House of Representatives. No Demcorats voted against the bill and most of them waved Ukrainian flags inside Congress.
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France currently unable to give answer about SAMP/T supplies to Ukraine
France cannot give an answer about new supplies of the SAMP/T anti-aircraft missile system to Ukraine at the moment, French newspaper Le Monde reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.
During the G7 foreign ministers' meeting on the Italian island of Capri last week, Ukrainian FM Dmytro Kuleba reportedly asked his French counterpart, Stephane Sejourne, to provide Ukraine with the new French SAMP/T Mamba system, which is a French-Italian mobile anti-aircraft defense weapon similar to the US Patriot systems.
France supplied Ukraine with a SAMP/T system last year.
The newspaper also reported, citing a German diplomat, that a number of European countries, such as Spain, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland and Romania, have Patriot air defense systems, but are unwilling to send them to Ukraine.
On April 12, French newspaper Le Figaro reported, citing sources, that Kiev had asked Paris to help the Ukrainian military hold the positions on the battlefield that year so that it could launch a new counteroffensive in 2025. Ukraine is in need of the SAMP/T air defense system and missiles compatible with it, the report said.
However, despite pressure from the French government, missile maker MBDA will not be able to supply more Aster 30 missiles for the system in the short term, although the French military also needs them for its own missions, the newspaper added.
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France cannot give an answer about new supplies of the SAMP/T anti-aircraft missile system to Ukraine at the moment, French newspaper Le Monde reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.
During the G7 foreign ministers' meeting on the Italian island of Capri last week, Ukrainian FM Dmytro Kuleba reportedly asked his French counterpart, Stephane Sejourne, to provide Ukraine with the new French SAMP/T Mamba system, which is a French-Italian mobile anti-aircraft defense weapon similar to the US Patriot systems.
"We are working on this in the French administration, as well as with our Italian partners, but no answer can be expected soon," an unnamed French official told Le Monde.
France supplied Ukraine with a SAMP/T system last year.
The newspaper also reported, citing a German diplomat, that a number of European countries, such as Spain, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland and Romania, have Patriot air defense systems, but are unwilling to send them to Ukraine.
On April 12, French newspaper Le Figaro reported, citing sources, that Kiev had asked Paris to help the Ukrainian military hold the positions on the battlefield that year so that it could launch a new counteroffensive in 2025. Ukraine is in need of the SAMP/T air defense system and missiles compatible with it, the report said.
However, despite pressure from the French government, missile maker MBDA will not be able to supply more Aster 30 missiles for the system in the short term, although the French military also needs them for its own missions, the newspaper added.
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Msta-B towed howitzer units of the State Border Defense Group have destroyed an Ukrainian army's positions and observation post in an area bordering Belgorod Region, the Russian Ministry of Defence reported, publishing footage of these units' operations.
It was also reported that mortars of the State Border Defense Group took under fire control all the Ukrainian army's approaches to the Russian border in Kharkov Region.
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It was also reported that mortars of the State Border Defense Group took under fire control all the Ukrainian army's approaches to the Russian border in Kharkov Region.
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Sputnik International
Russia manages to capture the most powerful version of the Leopard 2 tank Footage from the special military operation zone has confirmed that Russian forces managed to seize a Leopard 2A6, the most capable variant of the Leopard 2 provided to Ukraine, Military…
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🎥 The Russian Defense Ministry has published footage of the transportation of a Leopard tank that was previously captured by Russian forces near Avdeyevka.
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Two military helicopters collided during a rehearsal for a parade in honor of the Royal Malaysian Navy’s 90th anniversary, local media have reported.
It is believed that an AgustaWestland AW139 medium multirole helicopter and a lighter counterpart, a Eurocopter Fennec collided while reportedly carrying 10 people. According to preliminary data, one of the helicopters crashed at the entrance to the Lumut airbase stadium, while the other fell into a swimming pool at the airbase's sports complex. No casualties have been reported so far.
Photos and videos from social media.
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It is believed that an AgustaWestland AW139 medium multirole helicopter and a lighter counterpart, a Eurocopter Fennec collided while reportedly carrying 10 people. According to preliminary data, one of the helicopters crashed at the entrance to the Lumut airbase stadium, while the other fell into a swimming pool at the airbase's sports complex. No casualties have been reported so far.
Photos and videos from social media.
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The decision by the US Congress to provide military assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan is immoral, given world hunger and the migration problems in the US, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said.
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Spanish soldier killed during NATO Saber Strike exercises in Poland
A Spanish corporal was killed during the annual NATO Saber Strike exercise at the Bemowo Piskie training range in Poland, the Spanish Army reported on X.
The deceased soldier was 43 years old, the father of two daughters, born in Ecuador. He joined the Spanish Army in 2004 and was stationed in a unit in Ceuta, El Independiente reports.
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez offered his condolences to the relatives of the deceased.
The Saber Strike 24 international tactical exercise in Poland is part of the massive Steadfast Defender NATO drills that are taking place from January 22 to May 31. Russia has repeatedly stated that the drills revive Cold War rhetoric and provoke escalation.
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A Spanish corporal was killed during the annual NATO Saber Strike exercise at the Bemowo Piskie training range in Poland, the Spanish Army reported on X.
"The accident occurred during tactical exercises with live fire," the statement said.
The deceased soldier was 43 years old, the father of two daughters, born in Ecuador. He joined the Spanish Army in 2004 and was stationed in a unit in Ceuta, El Independiente reports.
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez offered his condolences to the relatives of the deceased.
The Saber Strike 24 international tactical exercise in Poland is part of the massive Steadfast Defender NATO drills that are taking place from January 22 to May 31. Russia has repeatedly stated that the drills revive Cold War rhetoric and provoke escalation.
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▪️Take a look at how a Leopard tank captured from Ukrainian troops is towed away by Russian forces
▪️Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from their positions in the village of Ocheretino in the DPR
▪️Watch North Korea's leader guide first tactical drill simulating a nuclear counterattack
▪️US goes on the 'slippery slide' in Ukraine
▪️G7 could take 10 years or more to catch up with Russian nuclear fuel output
▪️Cutting itself off from Russian LNG supplies will be pricey for the EU
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▪️Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from their positions in the village of Ocheretino in the DPR
▪️Watch North Korea's leader guide first tactical drill simulating a nuclear counterattack
▪️US goes on the 'slippery slide' in Ukraine
▪️G7 could take 10 years or more to catch up with Russian nuclear fuel output
▪️Cutting itself off from Russian LNG supplies will be pricey for the EU
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US officials are starting to accept that their strategy of pushing Niger and other African countries to break off ties with Russia and "embrace democratic norms" is no longer working, Politico reported, citing two US officials.
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"With most of these [African] governments, they really don’t want to be told what to do," a US official said. "There’s a long history of the West telling African countries how to govern and they’re finally saying ‘enough.'"
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Sputnik International
Russia's court has arrested the Ukrainian agent who blew up the car of ex-SBU Lieutenant Colonel Prozorov in Moscow, a Sputnik correspondent reported. Subscribe to @SputnikInt
A Ukrainian citizen who participated in preparing to blow up the car of former SBU officer Vasily Prozorov was detained in Lugansk, the FSB reports.
In 2021, the detainee met an SBU agent, Ukrainian citizen Khrestina Yaroslava, who left for Warsaw after February 2022.
According to her instructions in June 2023, he monitored the victim’s house. In April 2024, he transferred 10,000 rubles (approximately US $108) to a courier for the delivery of weapons from Lithuania.
The FSB reported the detention of the courier on April 17. At the same time, the security service in a video showed a girl who transferred components for making explosives from Warsaw.
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In 2021, the detainee met an SBU agent, Ukrainian citizen Khrestina Yaroslava, who left for Warsaw after February 2022.
According to her instructions in June 2023, he monitored the victim’s house. In April 2024, he transferred 10,000 rubles (approximately US $108) to a courier for the delivery of weapons from Lithuania.
The FSB reported the detention of the courier on April 17. At the same time, the security service in a video showed a girl who transferred components for making explosives from Warsaw.
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