Sputnik International
Key statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin on mass media in Russia and abroad, as outlined in his interview with the Mongolian newspaper Onoodor: 🔹 The West imposes obstacles on Russian journalists and media, despite their well-reasoned presentation…
Key statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin on international sports, as outlined in his interview with the Mongolian newspaper Onoodor:
◻️ The bans on Russian athletes undermine the Olympic principles of keeping sports free from political influence.
◻️ The leadership of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), acting under Western influence, is flagrantly disregarding the Olympic ideals they are meant to protect.
◻️ Rather than defending the rights of athletes, the IOC seems more focused on maintaining its own status, power, and financial interests.
◻️ Russia stands for the political neutrality of sports and remains committed to promoting its democratization and the elimination of arbitrary barriers.
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‘Crucible of terrorism’: NATO trained ex-general laments US failure in Afghanistan (Part 1 / Part 2)
Domestic political turmoil rather than smart strategy directed the United States’ military intervention in Afghanistan, causing the Taliban* and al-Qaeda** to become empowered after the disastrous US pullout according to a former top army chief.
Observers have claimed the notorious terrorist organization is “expanding” and “thriving” in the Central Asian country, funding itself via proceeds from smuggling, mining and drug trafficking. Al-Qaeda is best known for planning and executing the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.
US President Joe Biden claimed in 2021 that the group was no longer present in Afghanistan, only to be corrected shortly after by his own Defense Department which noted that al-Qaeda and ISIS*** fighters remain in the country. The United States spent over $2.3 trillion over the course of some 20 years in Afghanistan, with Biden calling the ill-fated intervention “the longest war in American history.”
*Under UN sanctions for terrorist activities.
**Terrorist organization banned in Russia.
***ISIS (also known as ISIS/IL/ISIS-K/Islamic State) is a terrorist group banned in Russia and many other countries.
👉 Follow the link for more details
Domestic political turmoil rather than smart strategy directed the United States’ military intervention in Afghanistan, causing the Taliban* and al-Qaeda** to become empowered after the disastrous US pullout according to a former top army chief.
“There is 50,000 al-Qaeda members and al-Qaeda associates in Afghanistan – most of them have trained for overseas operations in the last three years,” said Ex-Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Afghan National Army Sami Sadat who, like many former Afghan security personnel, trained at a NATO military academy.
“Allowing [al-Qaeda] to retake Afghanistan with the Taliban in 2021 gave them a new rallying call. This is now their most important hub,” Sadat wrote in a book released last month. “Al-Qaeda not only survived but adapted to the changing policies of American administrations, waiting the West out of Iraq and Afghanistan and watching the U.S. attack their Islamic State rivals in the Middle East.”
Observers have claimed the notorious terrorist organization is “expanding” and “thriving” in the Central Asian country, funding itself via proceeds from smuggling, mining and drug trafficking. Al-Qaeda is best known for planning and executing the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.
US President Joe Biden claimed in 2021 that the group was no longer present in Afghanistan, only to be corrected shortly after by his own Defense Department which noted that al-Qaeda and ISIS*** fighters remain in the country. The United States spent over $2.3 trillion over the course of some 20 years in Afghanistan, with Biden calling the ill-fated intervention “the longest war in American history.”
*Under UN sanctions for terrorist activities.
**Terrorist organization banned in Russia.
***ISIS (also known as ISIS/IL/ISIS-K/Islamic State) is a terrorist group banned in Russia and many other countries.
👉 Follow the link for more details
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Sputnik International
‘Crucible of terrorism’: NATO trained ex-general laments US failure in Afghanistan (Part 1 / Part 2) Domestic political turmoil rather than smart strategy directed the United States’ military intervention in Afghanistan, causing the Taliban* and al-Qaeda**…
‘Crucible of terrorism’: NATO trained ex-general laments US failure in Afghanistan (Part 2 / Part 1)
The Taliban was legitimized in the eyes of many Afghans by its role in resisting the two decade-long US occupation of the country. The Taliban originally came to power with the help of the US, which funded Taliban fighters during the 1980s to resist the Soviet-backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.
The group is reviled by many for its religious fundamentalism. Taliban officials have recently indicated that girls’ schools in Afghanistan will remain closed; US officials often justified American intervention in the country under the pretext of protecting women’s rights.
The United States reportedly invested millions of dollars to modernize Afghanistan’s mining industry during its occupation, with limited results. Analysis by the investigative outlet ProPublica revealed at least $17 billion in “questionable spending” during the war and reconstruction effort. A recent audit of the Pentagon found that the US Department of Defense cannot account for 63% of its nearly $4 trillion in assets.
US President George W. Bush presided over a US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 even as the Taliban offered to turn over suspected 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden. A study by Brown University found at least 4.5 million people have died during the US-led “War on Terror,” which led to a collapse in infrastructure in various war zones.
*Under UN sanctions for terrorist activities.
👉 Follow the link for more details
“The war [in Afghanistan] was lost not because the Taliban* were strong but because for twenty years it was not treated as a war but as a short-term intervention,” wrote former Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Afghan National Army Sami Sadat. “Afghanistan has once again become a crucible of international terrorism, under Taliban protection.”
The Taliban was legitimized in the eyes of many Afghans by its role in resisting the two decade-long US occupation of the country. The Taliban originally came to power with the help of the US, which funded Taliban fighters during the 1980s to resist the Soviet-backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.
The group is reviled by many for its religious fundamentalism. Taliban officials have recently indicated that girls’ schools in Afghanistan will remain closed; US officials often justified American intervention in the country under the pretext of protecting women’s rights.
The United States reportedly invested millions of dollars to modernize Afghanistan’s mining industry during its occupation, with limited results. Analysis by the investigative outlet ProPublica revealed at least $17 billion in “questionable spending” during the war and reconstruction effort. A recent audit of the Pentagon found that the US Department of Defense cannot account for 63% of its nearly $4 trillion in assets.
US President George W. Bush presided over a US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 even as the Taliban offered to turn over suspected 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden. A study by Brown University found at least 4.5 million people have died during the US-led “War on Terror,” which led to a collapse in infrastructure in various war zones.
*Under UN sanctions for terrorist activities.
👉 Follow the link for more details
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Russia and various trade partners are working to strengthen alternative currencies and payments systems, reducing global reliance on the US dollar and Western-based financial networks.
Russia has been adapting to Western financial pressure since 2014 when trade restrictions were imposed after Russia's reunification with Crimea.
Moscow has increasingly made use of its System for Transfer of Financial Messages (SPFS). The financial messaging system is used in place of SWIFT, the Western system that has served as the de-facto global standard. SPFS is reportedly used by 556 organizations in 20 countries, with foreign organizations’ use of the system more than doubling after 2022.
Alternative payment and messaging systems developed by China, India, and Iran have also seen increasing use. Central bank currencies and cryptocurrencies round out the selection of financial innovations utilized by Russia to maintain its robust and growing economy, with both technologies threatening to further undermine US economic hegemony and the dollar’s global reserve currency status. One last strategy could be revived from the Soviet era as Russia looks into economic barter with China and other countries.
👉 Follow the link for more details
“Moscow keeps finding ways to keep the country's economy going,” writes business reporter Huileng Tan, describing Russia’s response to Western sanctions imposed after the launch of its special military operation against Ukraine in 2022. “Russia's trade partners, too, are looking for ways to continue doing business with the country via alternative systems to rival the Western-led, US dollar-dominated global financial order.”
Russia has been adapting to Western financial pressure since 2014 when trade restrictions were imposed after Russia's reunification with Crimea.
“There are risks in using the global financial networks,” said Russian central bank governor Elvira Nabiullina in 2018. “Therefore, since back in 2014 we have been developing our own systems.”
Moscow has increasingly made use of its System for Transfer of Financial Messages (SPFS). The financial messaging system is used in place of SWIFT, the Western system that has served as the de-facto global standard. SPFS is reportedly used by 556 organizations in 20 countries, with foreign organizations’ use of the system more than doubling after 2022.
Alternative payment and messaging systems developed by China, India, and Iran have also seen increasing use. Central bank currencies and cryptocurrencies round out the selection of financial innovations utilized by Russia to maintain its robust and growing economy, with both technologies threatening to further undermine US economic hegemony and the dollar’s global reserve currency status. One last strategy could be revived from the Soviet era as Russia looks into economic barter with China and other countries.
👉 Follow the link for more details
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Netizens are drawing attention to the story of Duha Talat, an 8-year-old Palestinian girl apparently removed from Gaza by an Israeli soldier.
Palestinian journalist Younis Tirawi reported on the story on his X account Saturday, writing that the young girl’s whereabouts have been unknown since July.
Tirawi, who is known for monitoring and reporting on the contents of IDF members’ social media accounts, uncovered an Instagram post made by Ido Zahar, a soldier serving in the Israeli military’s 432nd Tzabar Battalion. Zahar posted a photo of himself with Talat with no members of her family present. The girl was reportedly taken into custody by the IDF near Gaza’s Rafah border crossing in late July.
Zahar quickly deleted the photo and set his account to private after the post drew scrutiny.
The soldier responded combatively when asked for comment, replying, “No story. No face. No nothing. Please delete this completely from everywhere.” The IDF was similarly tightlipped when Tirawi inquired, with a spokesperson only saying the incident was reportedly being investigated.
Social media users fear Talat has been kidnapped or may suffer the same fate as Hind Rajab, a six-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed along with her family and two paramedics in January by IDF soldiers outside Gaza City.
👉 Follow the link for more details
Palestinian journalist Younis Tirawi reported on the story on his X account Saturday, writing that the young girl’s whereabouts have been unknown since July.
Tirawi, who is known for monitoring and reporting on the contents of IDF members’ social media accounts, uncovered an Instagram post made by Ido Zahar, a soldier serving in the Israeli military’s 432nd Tzabar Battalion. Zahar posted a photo of himself with Talat with no members of her family present. The girl was reportedly taken into custody by the IDF near Gaza’s Rafah border crossing in late July.
Zahar quickly deleted the photo and set his account to private after the post drew scrutiny.
The soldier responded combatively when asked for comment, replying, “No story. No face. No nothing. Please delete this completely from everywhere.” The IDF was similarly tightlipped when Tirawi inquired, with a spokesperson only saying the incident was reportedly being investigated.
“A report by Save the Children, noscriptd ‘The Missing Children of Gaza,’ estimated that thousands of children are missing in Gaza, including what the organization describes as ‘detained, disappeared, or abducted [minors],”’ wrote Tirawi. “The UN Human Rights Council, in a press release from May, reported numerous cases of women and girls from Gaza being forcibly disappeared by the Israeli military.”
Social media users fear Talat has been kidnapped or may suffer the same fate as Hind Rajab, a six-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed along with her family and two paramedics in January by IDF soldiers outside Gaza City.
👉 Follow the link for more details
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❗️A kindergarten in Russia's Belgorod city was destroyed as a result of a direct hit by a Ukrainian shell, the head of the city administration, Valentin Demidov said.
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Anti-establishment parties have triumphed in Germany's regional elections, delivering a blow to Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
The Eurosceptic party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), won a regional ballot for the first time, surpassing Scholz's ruling coalition.
▪️AfD secured 32.8% in Thuringia, leading the race, followed by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) with 23.6%, according to exit polls.
▪️In Saxony, the Eurosceptic party garnered 30.6%, losing to the CDU by a narrow margin.
▪️The Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) claimed third place in both races, with 15.8% in Thuringia and 11.8% in Saxony.
▪️Scholz's "traffic-light" coalition of Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens, and the Free Democrats (FDP) performed poorly. The FDP failed to reach the 5% threshold required to enter either regional legislature, and the Greens did not make it into the parliament in Thuringia. SPD received 6.1% and 7.3% in Thuringia and Saxony, respectively.
Omid Nouripour, co-leader of the Greens, lamented the outcome and described it as "a profound turning point" in German history.
The AfD's victory sparked a heated debate, with mainstream Western media warning that Germany's political center is "crumbling" ahead of the next federal election in September 2025. Some outlets noted that Scholz have been "humbled" by the German right-wing party.
Others highlighted the rise of anti-establishment parties in Germany, acknowledging that both AfD and BSW, which advocate halting arms supplies to Ukraine, and imposing immigration controls, have performed notably well.
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The Eurosceptic party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), won a regional ballot for the first time, surpassing Scholz's ruling coalition.
▪️AfD secured 32.8% in Thuringia, leading the race, followed by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) with 23.6%, according to exit polls.
▪️In Saxony, the Eurosceptic party garnered 30.6%, losing to the CDU by a narrow margin.
▪️The Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) claimed third place in both races, with 15.8% in Thuringia and 11.8% in Saxony.
▪️Scholz's "traffic-light" coalition of Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens, and the Free Democrats (FDP) performed poorly. The FDP failed to reach the 5% threshold required to enter either regional legislature, and the Greens did not make it into the parliament in Thuringia. SPD received 6.1% and 7.3% in Thuringia and Saxony, respectively.
"We are ready to take on government responsibility," AfD leader in Thuringia, Bjorn Hocke, declared, celebrating what he called a "historic victory."
Omid Nouripour, co-leader of the Greens, lamented the outcome and described it as "a profound turning point" in German history.
The AfD's victory sparked a heated debate, with mainstream Western media warning that Germany's political center is "crumbling" ahead of the next federal election in September 2025. Some outlets noted that Scholz have been "humbled" by the German right-wing party.
Others highlighted the rise of anti-establishment parties in Germany, acknowledging that both AfD and BSW, which advocate halting arms supplies to Ukraine, and imposing immigration controls, have performed notably well.
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❗️LIVE: Russia's President, Vladimir Putin, delivers open lesson ‘Conversation about important things’
Watch the livestream here or on Sputnik's website
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Watch the livestream here or on Sputnik's website
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Who spoiled relationship between Russia and the US? Trump explains
The US Presidential candidate also added that Obama and Biden are the ones to blame for the Russian-Chinese alliance, as well as the beginning of Russia's special military operation.
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"We could have had a much different relationship with Russia. I will say this, between Obama and Biden, they pushed Russia into the arms of China... Russia is now friends with them because of Biden and Obama," Donald Trump told Fox News.
The US Presidential candidate also added that Obama and Biden are the ones to blame for the Russian-Chinese alliance, as well as the beginning of Russia's special military operation.
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— Russian President Vladimir Putin
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"I'd rather have a good relationship with China. And I'm saying this: I hope that President Xi is watching, which he will in one form or another, whether he's watching or he'll be told. But I think we'll have a good relationship with China. And I think we'll have a good relationship with everybody."
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❗️Turkiye tried to resume agreements on the protection of maritime food supplies in the spring - Russia was ready for this, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.
He added that during negotiations with Turkiye on the safety of commercial shipping, Ukraine proposed to include an item on the safety of nuclear power plants in the document.
Russia was ready to agree to this proposal, but Kiev refused it later, the minister stressed.
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He added that during negotiations with Turkiye on the safety of commercial shipping, Ukraine proposed to include an item on the safety of nuclear power plants in the document.
Russia was ready to agree to this proposal, but Kiev refused it later, the minister stressed.
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Kamala Harris is the 'clear underdog': Democrats lowering expectations or offering reality check?
The Democrats enter the final phase of the election as "the clear underdogs”, Harris-Walz campaign chief, Jen O'Malley Dillon, wrote in a memo noscriptd "The State of the Race 65 Days Out."
Dillon, previously confident in Joe Biden's victory despite poor poll results, had never made such a statement before. The US mainstream media cites Harris' rising approval numbers, while questioning Dillon's newfound caution.
What’s troubling the Harris-Walz campaign chief?
🔸 Despite record fundraising, increased volunteer interest, and a spike in voter enthusiasm, Dillon cautions that "Donald Trump has a motivated base of support, with more backing and higher favorability than he has had at any point since 2020."
🔸 The upcoming debate between Vice President Harris and Trump, with the latter described in the memo as "a formidable opponent", is another note of concern.
🔸 Dillon observes, "In 2020, the election came down to about 40,000 votes across the battleground states. This November, we anticipate similarly razor-thin margins."
🔸 Additionally, Trump is "a heavily defined candidate", whereas American voters are less familiar with Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. Dillon urges "aggressive campaigning" to "introduce and define [the Harris-Walz] ticket to the voters."
🔸 The New York Times suggests the memo is "an artful attempt to lower expectations" and "boost fundraising", while reinvigorating the base.
🔸 Republicans argue that Harris is the underdog, claiming her poll lead results from deliberate oversampling of Democratic voters. They criticize her as economically "illiterate" and point to her controversial record as Joe Biden's vice president.
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The Democrats enter the final phase of the election as "the clear underdogs”, Harris-Walz campaign chief, Jen O'Malley Dillon, wrote in a memo noscriptd "The State of the Race 65 Days Out."
Dillon, previously confident in Joe Biden's victory despite poor poll results, had never made such a statement before. The US mainstream media cites Harris' rising approval numbers, while questioning Dillon's newfound caution.
What’s troubling the Harris-Walz campaign chief?
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❗️Russian Tsentr battlegroup liberated the settlement of Skuchnoye in the Donetsk People's Republic — Russian Defense Ministry
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Sputnik International
❗️Russian Tsentr battlegroup liberated the settlement of Skuchnoye in the Donetsk People's Republic — Russian Defense Ministry 📌 Subscribe to @SputnikInt
Russian troops carried out strikes with precision weapons and drones at night on Ukraine's energy facilities and military-industrial plant used for repair of aircraft and missile weapons, Russia's Defense Ministry informed.
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Sputnik International
📹 Vladimir Putin said that members of his family speak Chinese 📌 Subscribe to @SputnikInt
What foreign language do you wish your children to learn?
Anonymous Poll
50%
Russian
30%
Chinese
9%
Arabic
3%
Hindi
7%
None — neural networks will soon learn how to translate speech into other languages
2%
Your answer in the comments
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❗️Ukrainian losses amount up to 1690 troops over the day.
🇷🇺🪖More statements from the Russian Defense Ministry's daily briefing on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine:
◻️ The Russian Vostok Battlegroup repelled two counterattacks by Ukrainian forces during the day. The enemy lost up to 110 soldiers.
◻️ Ukrainian losses in the Russian Tsentr Battlegroup combat zone totaled up to 475 troops.
◻️ Ukrainian forces lost up to 70 soldiers in the Russian Dnepr Battlegroup's zone of responsibility;
◻️ Russian Zapad Battlegroup hit formations of eight enemy brigades, including Azov*. Ukrainian forces lost up to 430 militants.
◻️ Russian Air defenses shot down three Hammer guided bombs, 26 Vampire shells and 30 enemy drones.
◻️ Ukrainian losses amounted up to 520 servicemen in the Yug Battlegroup's area of responsibility.
* The Azov Battalion is a terrorist organization banned in Russia.
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🇷🇺🪖More statements from the Russian Defense Ministry's daily briefing on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine:
◻️ The Russian Vostok Battlegroup repelled two counterattacks by Ukrainian forces during the day. The enemy lost up to 110 soldiers.
◻️ Ukrainian losses in the Russian Tsentr Battlegroup combat zone totaled up to 475 troops.
◻️ Ukrainian forces lost up to 70 soldiers in the Russian Dnepr Battlegroup's zone of responsibility;
◻️ Russian Zapad Battlegroup hit formations of eight enemy brigades, including Azov*. Ukrainian forces lost up to 430 militants.
◻️ Russian Air defenses shot down three Hammer guided bombs, 26 Vampire shells and 30 enemy drones.
◻️ Ukrainian losses amounted up to 520 servicemen in the Yug Battlegroup's area of responsibility.
* The Azov Battalion is a terrorist organization banned in Russia.
📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt
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