“Caveman Russophobia” preached by French President Emmanuel Macron may be necessary for him to become a leader in Europe, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

Lavrov recalled that Macron recently said in an interview that Russia is the main threat to Europe and France. According to French president, the ambitions of Adolf Hitler and Napoleon Bonaparte were due to the fact that these countries saw Russia as a threat, Lavrov noted.

The foreign minister said Macron is now taking “fiercely anti-Russian positions.”

“I do not rule out that this 'caveman' Russophobia, which Macron is now preaching, is necessary in order to try to become a leader in Europe by 'riding' on this topic, which the West itself has made the main topic of international life,” Lavrov said in an interview with the Bosnian TV channel ATV.

Previously, during a speech on the future of Europe, Macron said the European Union needs a common defense strategy, a key element of which is French nuclear weapons. The French president also did not rule out the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine if Russia breaks through the front line and Kiev makes such a request.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described frequent statements by Western politicians about the possibility of direct intervention in the Ukraine conflict as a very dangerous trend. He emphasized that the escalation of tension in official statements is a cause for concern.

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Israel bans Al Jazeera and raids its office

The Israeli Ministry of Communications said that it had confiscated Al Jazeera’s equipment just hours after the Israeli cabinet ordered the closure of the broadcaster in its country, which the Qatar-based news network has lambasted as a “criminal act.” Inspectors from the communications ministry, accompanied by police, raided the Qatari broadcaster’s office at the Ambassador hotel in Jerusalem.

“Al Jazeera reporters harmed Israel’s security and incited against IDF soldiers. It is time to expel the mouthpiece of Hamas from our country,” Netanyahu said, according to his spokesperson.

Al Jazeera’s broadcasts and access to its website have been blocked throughout Israel. The network has denounced Israel’s decision as a “criminal act that violates human rights in access to information.” The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) has petitioned the move to Israel’s Supreme Court.

“Israel’s suppression of the free press to cover up its crimes by killing and arresting journalists did not deter us from performing our duty. More than 140 Palestinian journalists have been martyred for the sake of the truth since the beginning of the war on Gaza,” said Al Jazeera.

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House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries insisted the US should continue to support Ukraine “to prevent a broader war.”

"We can't let Ukraine fall because if it does, then there's a significant likelihood that America will have to get into the conflict — not simply with our money, but with our servicewomen and our servicemen," Jeffries said in an interview with Norah O'Donnell for 60 Minutes.

He added that there is a growing pro-Russia faction within the Republican Party which does not want to support Ukraine and “believes for some reason that Russia is not an enemy of the United States of America.”

Discussing the ongoing NATO proxy war against Russia where hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians are being sacrificed for US interests, Jeffries emphasized that "this has been a strategic success by any definition."

Russia has repeatedly warned NATO countries that arms supplies to Ukraine would be considered legitimate targets. Moscow has accused NATO countries of "playing with fire" by arming Ukraine, emphasizing that such actions hinder the possibility of Russia-Ukraine negotiations.

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The murder of Sputnik’s correspondent Russell Bentley should be investigated and the perpetrators punished, said Dmitry Kiselev, the general director of Sputnik's parent media group Rossiya Segodnya. Kiselev commented on new information about the suspects' detention published by the Telegram channel “Operation Z: Russian Spring's Military Correspondents.”

“This is our military correspondent. The crime must be investigated, there is the principle of inevitability of punishment. The law applies to everyone without exception,” Kiselev emphasized.

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The IDF has called on Palestinians to evacuate eastern Rafah neighborhoods ahead of a planned offensive, The Times of Israel has reported. The civilians are being called to move to an expanded humanitarian zone in the al-Mawasi and Khan Younis areas, the report said.

Earlier Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel will enter Rafah to combat the Palestinian organization Hamas, with or without an agreement on hostages. He repeatedly said that Israel "has no choice" despite the negotiations.

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EU officials eye bloc’s bailout fund as source of ‘cheap loans to buy weapons’ - report

Dipping into the European Union's emergency bailout fund is being floated as a means of investing in the bloc’s defense ambitions, Politico reported.

Warmongering EU officials have been eyeing the nest egg of around €422 billion set aside in the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) for rescuing floundering economies, hoping to repurpose it, cited sources claim.

The cash could reportedly be used as a potential source of “cheap loans to buy weapons.”

The EMS is an intergovernmental organization established in 2012 in the wake of the financial and sovereign debt crisis. Its goal was to help preserve financial stability in the Eurozone by providing assistance to members facing acute financing problems.

The EU’s weapons stockpiles have been bled dry by NATO’s proxy war against Russia in Ukraine. Coupled with the mounting debt and domestic policy challenges of individual member states, it is small wonder some favor the idea of refashioning the ESM into a so-called “defense tool.”

However, the bailout fund option, believed to still be at an early stage, is likely to fuel further dissent within the bloc. Previous suggestions for funding defense have fueled deep disagreements. All of the Eurozone's 20 finance ministers would have to agree to such a repurposing of the ESM.

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▪️The US is likely to get into the conflict ‘not simply with money but with servicemen’ if Ukraine suffers defeat, Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says

▪️The murder of Sputnik correspondent Russell Bentley should be investigated, and the perpetrators punished – Dmitry Kiselev, the general director of Sputnik's parent media group Rossiya Segodnya

▪️The IDF struck a UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees compound

▪️French President Emmanuel Macron needs his “caveman Russophobia” to become a leader in Europe – Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

▪️Is the US’ concern that China’s floating nuclear plants pose a military threat grounded?

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❗️At least 6 people were killed and 33 injured as a result of Ukrainian drone attacks on commercial vehicles in the Borisov district of Russia's Belgorod region.

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Updates on the Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia's Belgorod region from Governor Gladkov:

▪️Two 'GAZelle' cars and a passenger car were transporting employees of the agricultural complex to work.

▪️The attack occurred near the village of Berezovka.

▪️Thirty-five people were injured, including two children.

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❗️A Russian citizen has been detained in Tambov, who, on instructions from Ukrainian intelligence services, was preparing explosions near buildings of regional and arbitration courts, the FSB reports.

The man was hiding unknown objects near the station and was noticed by Russian Railways employees, with security then detaining him. Sappers found two explosive devices at the site.

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⚡️The Russian General Staff, on behalf of President Vladimir Putin, has begun preparations to hold exercises with missile formations of the Southern Military District and Navy forces in the near future, the Ministry of Defense reported.

During the drills, a set of activities will be carried out to practice preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons, the ministry said.

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❗️The exercises, for which preparations have begun, are aimed at maintaining a readiness to respond and to unconditionally ensure Russia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty in response to provocative statements and threats made by Western officials, the Defense Ministry reported.

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Suspects in the murder of Sputnik correspondent Russell Bentley detained and testifying, media report.

Investigators of the Main Military Division of the Russian Investigative Committee are conducting an investigation, the Telegram channel “Operation Z: Russian Spring War Correspondents” reported, quoting the lawyer of Russell Bentley’s widow.

“A forensic medical examination of the found remains has been appointed,” the lawyer said.

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Uralvagonzavod (part of Rostec) sent a train convoy carrying T-90Ms and T-72B3Ms to be delivered to the Russian army on the eve of Victory Day, the company has reported.

Uralvagonzavod supplies upgraded T-90M tanks, deeply modernized T-80BVM, T-72B3, and T-72B3M tanks to Russian troops operating within the special military operation zone.

The new tanks are now more advanced thanks to modifications based on battlefield experience. They are equipped with all-aspect dynamic protection, as well as anti-drone "visors" over the turret, along with electronic warfare and visibility reduction capabilities.

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Hezbollah has attacked the headquarters of the 210th Golan Division at the Nafah base in the Golan Heights with dozens of rockets, according to a statement by the group.

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❗️As a result of Ukrainian drone attacks in the Belgorod region, 40 people have been injured, including three children, and 30 have been hospitalized, the Russian Ministry of Health has reported.

Previously, 35 casualties were reported. Russian Health Minister Murashko has taken personal control of providing assistance to the wounded, the ministry emphasized.

The number of people killed in the attack has increased to seven, Agro-Belogorye, the company that owns the attacked vehicles, reported.

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