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Off the rails: Paris Olympics marred by crime, strikes and sabotage before even starting PART 1/PART 2 The 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris will kick off with a lavish opening ceremony Friday evening, with some 7,500 athletes traveling along a 6 km stretch…
Off the rails: Paris Olympics marred by crime, strikes and sabotage before even starting PART 1/PART 2
⚡️ Strikes: The Paris Games have been nicknamed the 'Strike Olympics' as French labor unions plan widespread strikes in key sectors, including hotel employees, airport workers, and opening ceremony performers, all protesting over wage disputes.
⚡️ Food shortages: Despite France's reputation for gourmet cuisine, athletes in the Olympic Village have faced food shortages, complaining about both the quality and quantity of meals, which have fallen short of the Michelin star experience they were promised.
⚡️ Crime: The Games' spotlight has exposed Paris's seedier side, with reports of crimes involving Olympians and tourists, including the Argentinian men's football team being robbed, Channel Nine staffers being attacked during an attempted robbery, and an Australian tourist gang-raped by five men.
⚡️ Stinky situation: Paris also faces another unseemly threat on the eve of the Olympics, with citizens threatening to defecate in the Seine River to highlight its poor sanitary condition, which could impact athletes competing in marathon swimming and triathlon events. Despite a 1.4 billion euro cleanup effort, the river still suffers from toxic sewage, rat infestations, and high E. coli bacteria levels.
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Kerfuffle over Ukraine funding signals Kiev’s status as mere ‘Pax Americana to the East’ tool to pressure Russia
💬 “The allies have simply shown Ukraine its true place in the political structure of the Western alliance. To put it mildly, Ukraine is not even a full-fledged junior partner of the West,” German independent journalist and political analyst Dr. Gregor Spitzen told Sputnik, commenting on the European Union’s move Friday to transfer 1.5 billion euros in revenues from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine.
Notably, the money has been sent not directly to Kiev, but to the European Peace Facility to 'compensate' bloc members for arms already delivered to Ukraine.
Kiev’s sole role is to try to “slow down” Russia’s development and weaken its potential, the journalist said. Therefore, the Western bloc doesn’t really care “what will happen to the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers at the front and to the Ukrainian economy,” and is interested only “to the extent that it works against Russia.”
The issue of revenues skimmed by the EU off of the hundreds of billions of euros in Russian assets trapped in European banks after the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis have been a major source of tension between Moscow and Brussels, and a concern for other countries fearing what may happen to their money if they get on the West’s bad side.
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Notably, the money has been sent not directly to Kiev, but to the European Peace Facility to 'compensate' bloc members for arms already delivered to Ukraine.
“Judging by the decision to prohibit the transfer of illegally confiscated Russian assets to the Ukraine,” it’s clear that “this country is just a tool to pressure Russia as part of the extension of Pax Americana to the East,” Spitzen said.
Kiev’s sole role is to try to “slow down” Russia’s development and weaken its potential, the journalist said. Therefore, the Western bloc doesn’t really care “what will happen to the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers at the front and to the Ukrainian economy,” and is interested only “to the extent that it works against Russia.”
“Ukraine will get exactly as much money as its Western partners decide. Their interests will always come first. It is a pity that the Ukrainians, who think that they are an integral part of the West and are about to join the EU and NATO, have not yet realized this,” Spitzen summed up.
The issue of revenues skimmed by the EU off of the hundreds of billions of euros in Russian assets trapped in European banks after the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis have been a major source of tension between Moscow and Brussels, and a concern for other countries fearing what may happen to their money if they get on the West’s bad side.
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Valaam, an archipelago in northern Lake Ladoga in Russia's Republic of Karelia, is renowned for the 14th century Valaam Monastery and its stunning natural surroundings.
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The strikes targeted facilities involved in the production of gunpowder and armored vehicles, energy infrastructure, drone assembly workshops, and trainloads of equipment and personnel.
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Israeli forces attacked a group of Palestinians at the Lions' Gate and prevented them from entering the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque ahead of Friday prayers.
Following the assault on the Palestinians, Israeli forces also targeted a crew from the Turkish channel "TRT Haber" in Jerusalem, preventing them from covering the Friday prayers near the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
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Following the assault on the Palestinians, Israeli forces also targeted a crew from the Turkish channel "TRT Haber" in Jerusalem, preventing them from covering the Friday prayers near the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
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Bisexuals, rapists, and neo-Nazis: who's on Russian hackers' new merc list?
The Russian hacker group RaHDit has published data of more than 3,200 mercenaries in the Ukrainian Army. Some of them are already dead, and some have fled to their home countries. Sputnik has compiled a list of the most controversial among them.
◾️US citizen Evelyn Aschenbrenner from Detroit is a soldier in the Ukrainian International Legion. She identifies as "bisexual and genderfluid” and uses the pronouns “they/them" (photo 1). She told her story to the Thomson Reuters Foundation, where she revealed she had been working as a “drag king” in Poland before the Russian special military operation in Ukraine began. She told the pro-LGBTQ+ foundation that her dream was "to put on a drag king show for Ukraine's military." However, her further fate is unknown, as Aschenbrenner has deleted all her social media.
◾️Another US citizen, Tanner Reed Pierce, is a former village of Oregon police officer. He went to Ukraine in December 2022, according to his social media (photo 2). Several months later, he allegedly returned to the US, as in late July 2023, he was arrested in Indiana and charged with six counts of child molestation and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. According to local messages, Pierce was arrested for raping a female child who was part of his own family (photo 3).
◾️Spanish citizen from Valencia Pablo Garrido Mancebo (callsign “Turbito”) is a neo-Nazi who in 2021 was seen in Syria fighting among Kurdish militias, according to Spanish media (photo 4). In April 2022, the Spanish neo-Nazi appeared on video in Ukraine with an AK-74M in his hands (photo 5). It is not known which neo-Nazi battalion he was fighting in.
◾️Danish mercenary Karl Balderson, who has neo-Nazi tattoos on his face (photo 6), joined Ukraine’s International Legion in 2022. He later fled the Legion and founded a private military company called 'Shadow Operations Group' (photo 7), which allegedly works outside the EU on military training (photo 8). It is worth noting that Balderson in May 2024 on social media lamented that the International Legion “is trying to throw me under the bus,” adding that “I advise no one to go to the Legion of Ukraine” (photo 9). According to a comment below his post, the Danish mercenary left both the Legion and Ukraine because he was “wanted by Ukrainian army for stealing donations.” The user also called Balderson “a criminal and a scammer fraud” (photo 10).
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The Russian hacker group RaHDit has published data of more than 3,200 mercenaries in the Ukrainian Army. Some of them are already dead, and some have fled to their home countries. Sputnik has compiled a list of the most controversial among them.
◾️US citizen Evelyn Aschenbrenner from Detroit is a soldier in the Ukrainian International Legion. She identifies as "bisexual and genderfluid” and uses the pronouns “they/them" (photo 1). She told her story to the Thomson Reuters Foundation, where she revealed she had been working as a “drag king” in Poland before the Russian special military operation in Ukraine began. She told the pro-LGBTQ+ foundation that her dream was "to put on a drag king show for Ukraine's military." However, her further fate is unknown, as Aschenbrenner has deleted all her social media.
◾️Another US citizen, Tanner Reed Pierce, is a former village of Oregon police officer. He went to Ukraine in December 2022, according to his social media (photo 2). Several months later, he allegedly returned to the US, as in late July 2023, he was arrested in Indiana and charged with six counts of child molestation and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. According to local messages, Pierce was arrested for raping a female child who was part of his own family (photo 3).
◾️Spanish citizen from Valencia Pablo Garrido Mancebo (callsign “Turbito”) is a neo-Nazi who in 2021 was seen in Syria fighting among Kurdish militias, according to Spanish media (photo 4). In April 2022, the Spanish neo-Nazi appeared on video in Ukraine with an AK-74M in his hands (photo 5). It is not known which neo-Nazi battalion he was fighting in.
◾️Danish mercenary Karl Balderson, who has neo-Nazi tattoos on his face (photo 6), joined Ukraine’s International Legion in 2022. He later fled the Legion and founded a private military company called 'Shadow Operations Group' (photo 7), which allegedly works outside the EU on military training (photo 8). It is worth noting that Balderson in May 2024 on social media lamented that the International Legion “is trying to throw me under the bus,” adding that “I advise no one to go to the Legion of Ukraine” (photo 9). According to a comment below his post, the Danish mercenary left both the Legion and Ukraine because he was “wanted by Ukrainian army for stealing donations.” The user also called Balderson “a criminal and a scammer fraud” (photo 10).
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Another government blunder: Australian families foot the bill for rebranded Russian oil, Aussie Cossack Says
💬 "Shockingly, the Australian media has finally confirmed what we've been saying all along, which is that Australia continues to buy Russian oil through third-party countries," Australian independent journalist Aussie Cossack @AussieCossack told Sputnik.
Despite a ban on direct imports announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in April 2022, Australia continues to receive Russian oil through third-party countries that "are making billions out of this."
Aussie Cossack noted the irony, saying: "It's just funny how we've been saying this all along. We get accused of disinformation, we get accused of fake news, of being conspiracy theorists when we told you this."
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Despite a ban on direct imports announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in April 2022, Australia continues to receive Russian oil through third-party countries that "are making billions out of this."
"Now, who is paying the extra dollars at the fuel pump? You guessed it. You. Australian mums and dads. So, mums and dads in Australia are being punished. Australian families are being punished. So Albanese can get away with virtue signaling for Zelensky, pretending that he doesn't import Russian oil. It's the same Russian oil down at your local petrol station," he pointed out, accusing the Australian government of another blunder.
Aussie Cossack noted the irony, saying: "It's just funny how we've been saying this all along. We get accused of disinformation, we get accused of fake news, of being conspiracy theorists when we told you this."
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📹 A new video has emerged from 9/11 attacks detailing the collapse of the two World Trade Center towers
The footage was recorded by a Japanese photographer on a professional camera from the roof of one of the buildings, but has been lost for 23 years. Now it is the only video of the collapses in high quality, which demonstrates the scale of the tragedy, which claimed almost 3000 lives.
He filmed them from the roof of 64 St Mark's Place in New York City. Now it is the only video of the fall of the skyscrapers in high quality.
The attacks killed 2,977 people and left another 24 missing. Most of the dead were civilians.
The aftermath of 9/11 led to NATO's acts of aggression against Afghanistan and the American intervention in Iraq, which resulted in the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. Legal proceedings involving claims by victims and their families from the September 11 attacks are still ongoing. Even after more than 20 years, many questions about the 9/11 attacks remain unanswered.
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The footage was recorded by a Japanese photographer on a professional camera from the roof of one of the buildings, but has been lost for 23 years. Now it is the only video of the collapses in high quality, which demonstrates the scale of the tragedy, which claimed almost 3000 lives.
He filmed them from the roof of 64 St Mark's Place in New York City. Now it is the only video of the fall of the skyscrapers in high quality.
The attacks killed 2,977 people and left another 24 missing. Most of the dead were civilians.
The aftermath of 9/11 led to NATO's acts of aggression against Afghanistan and the American intervention in Iraq, which resulted in the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. Legal proceedings involving claims by victims and their families from the September 11 attacks are still ongoing. Even after more than 20 years, many questions about the 9/11 attacks remain unanswered.
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Secret unit merc, Iraq veteran and US Marine: who is also on Russian hackers' new mercenary list?
The Russian 'RaHDit' hacker group has published the data of more than 3,200 mercenaries in the Ukrainian army. Some of them are already dead and some have fled to their homeland. In the previous part we have shown you bisexuals, rapists and neo-Nazis among them. Who is also on this merc list? Sputnik has discovered the most curious hired guns.
◾️Aussie Ethan McNamara, according to his social media profles, belongs to the Israeli 'Phantom' team of the GUR International Legion (photo 1). Phantom is one of the most secret mercenary unit under Ukrainian intelligence, which has no social media (unlike the majority of the Legion's teams) and is rarely mentioned by any users. However, McNamara has published the one available Israeli 'Phantom' video (photo 2). The latest location he mentioned this year was Kherson (photo 3). According to one of the Australian merc's latest photos, he was seriously injured (photo 4).
◾️Devon Hajas from Pennsylvania is a US Marine machine gunner veteran (photo 5), although his social media accounts claim that he is a private security contractor now. In 2023, he appeared in Ukraine (photo 6). Russian Hackers assume he may be connected with Trident Defense Initiative, which work in Ukraine Sputnik uncovered earlier.
◾️Dylan Scott from Michigan poses himself in social networks as US Army Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veteran (photo 7). He came to Ukraine in 2023 and joined the International Legion of the GUR in an infantry unit. On November 2023, Ukrainian media claimed Dylan was 'looking forward to meet his three daughters and wife, who are in America' (photo 8), but it turned out he found a new Ukrainian wife in Ternopol (photo 9). Over the last few weeks the US merc has posted videos of him storming a position in a tree line from the same defensive position, but from different angles (photo 10).
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The Russian 'RaHDit' hacker group has published the data of more than 3,200 mercenaries in the Ukrainian army. Some of them are already dead and some have fled to their homeland. In the previous part we have shown you bisexuals, rapists and neo-Nazis among them. Who is also on this merc list? Sputnik has discovered the most curious hired guns.
◾️Aussie Ethan McNamara, according to his social media profles, belongs to the Israeli 'Phantom' team of the GUR International Legion (photo 1). Phantom is one of the most secret mercenary unit under Ukrainian intelligence, which has no social media (unlike the majority of the Legion's teams) and is rarely mentioned by any users. However, McNamara has published the one available Israeli 'Phantom' video (photo 2). The latest location he mentioned this year was Kherson (photo 3). According to one of the Australian merc's latest photos, he was seriously injured (photo 4).
◾️Devon Hajas from Pennsylvania is a US Marine machine gunner veteran (photo 5), although his social media accounts claim that he is a private security contractor now. In 2023, he appeared in Ukraine (photo 6). Russian Hackers assume he may be connected with Trident Defense Initiative, which work in Ukraine Sputnik uncovered earlier.
◾️Dylan Scott from Michigan poses himself in social networks as US Army Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veteran (photo 7). He came to Ukraine in 2023 and joined the International Legion of the GUR in an infantry unit. On November 2023, Ukrainian media claimed Dylan was 'looking forward to meet his three daughters and wife, who are in America' (photo 8), but it turned out he found a new Ukrainian wife in Ternopol (photo 9). Over the last few weeks the US merc has posted videos of him storming a position in a tree line from the same defensive position, but from different angles (photo 10).
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