The Prime Minister of Bavaria called for the revival of universal military connoscription

"What is needed is money for the Bundeswehr, clear structures, drones (...) and, of course, connoscription. And as soon as possible. Otherwise, the ability to defend is not guaranteed in the long run," Markus Soder, leader of the Bavarian Christian Social Union, told German media.

Universal military duty in Germany was abolished on July 1, 2011. The idea of returning to military connoscription was actively discussed in Germany amid rumors that Defense Minister Boris Pistorius intends to present his vision on ways to increase the size of the armed forces.

According to Pistorius' plan, all German citizens, regardless of gender, will receive a letter of offer at the age of 18, for six months of basic military training with the possibility of voluntary extension, from the defense ministry.

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US elites inclined to cover up P. Diddy sex scandal – analyst

The scandal shows “the really ugly underside of the US entertainment industry,” Dan Lazare, US constitutional historian and political commentator, told Sputnik.

He recalled that there are “a lot of very big-name celebrities who are there, including Donald Trump, Al Sharpton, many Hollywood stars, etc.”

The 2024 US presidential election race is now in full swing. The photograph of P. Diddy with the Trump and his wife Melania could have been released “in an attempt to get Trump, to embarrass Trump,” Lazare suggested.

According to the analyst, “some members” of the American elites “are so inclined to cover up” the brouhaha. “Certainly, [P. Diddy] was buying influence and he was eagerly sought out by some of the most famous names of the day. It reminds me of the Jeffrey Epstein scandals. And Epstein made a big point of cultivating the most prominent people in America,” Lazare pointed out.

He didn’t rule out that further information on the scandal, and the possible involvement of the US deep state, its intelligence agencies and the FBI in it “will come out” soon.

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🔸Delayed Ramstein meeting speaks volumes about Zelensky regime's failure – ex-Pentagon analyst

🔸US general’s ‘cheerleading’ sparks push for new weapon shipments to Ukraine

🔸US elites inclined to cover up P. Diddy sex scandal – analyst

🔸Florida resident lambasts FEMA aid falling short amid hurricanes

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Trump's statements that under his administration, Russia, China and the United States were close to concluding a deal on complete denuclearization, do not correspond to reality, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said. 

"It is well known that the attempts of the Trump administration to put the Chinese delegation, Chinese representatives, at the same negotiating table with us were not successful," he stressed.

Earlier, Trump said that the three countries "were close to a deal on getting rid of nuclear weapons." The planned deal envisaged further expansion to other countries.

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'Let's stop this madness: not to accept Zelensky who is begging on behalf of NATO, not a cent or a weapon to this country!' - French politician

Florian Philippot, leader of the French Patriots party, strongly opposes a new aid package for Ukraine because the money will be taken from France's public services, healthcare to pay for "war and corruption" at the expense of raising taxes.

"Catastrophic pile-up, but so revealing of the calendars: the very day when the Barnier-Macron government will present to the French a 2025 budget of mega-austerity with 60 billion taken from the French, from their health, their pensions, their public services, increasing taxes and duties... Zelensky will receive from Macron's hands this afternoon at the Elysee a new check for 3 billion euros!"

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UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres confirmed his participation in the BRICS summit in Russia's Kazan, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin told Sputnik.

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❗️Russia’s Battlegroup Yug repelled four counterattacks. The enemy lost as many as 765 soldiers, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

🇷🇺🪖More statements from the Russian Defense Ministry's daily briefing on the special military operation's progress:

◻️ Russia’s Battlegroup Zapad formations have strengthened their positions. The enemy lost as many as 430 soldiers.

◻️ Enemy losses in Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr combat zone came to 95 troops and an ammunition arsenal.

◻️ Ukrainian losses reached a total of 120 troops in Battlegroup Vostok’s area of responsibility.

◻️ Russian air defenses hit six HIMARS rockets and shot down 205 Ukrainian drones, including 96 outside the special operation zone, over the day.

◻️ Ukrainian losses amounted to more than 55 militants in the Liptsy and Volchansk areas in one day.

◻️ Enemy losses in Russia’s Battlegroup Tsentr combat zone came to 490 troops and an American M-113 armored personnel carrier.

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😾Even the cat has a bellyful of Zelensky

As the chief mouser to the Cabinet Office at 10 Downing Street since 2011, Larry has dwelled at the premise with six prime ministers.

As soon as Zelensky crossed the threshold into the house for talks with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the feline instinctively knew better and gave a wide berth to the unwelcome guest.

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Iran's foreign minister visits Saudi Arabia amid stalemate over Gaza 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held talks in Saudi Arabia with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmanhis, and his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan, amid an impasse in ceasefire talks in the Palestinian Gaza Strip and Lebanon, Saudi news agency SPA reported.

The Saudi crown prince and Iran's foreign minister reviewed relations between the two countries, recent regional developments, and efforts made in this regard, according to the publication. 

Earlier, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant unexpectedly canceled his trip to the US amid reports of strained relations between US President Joe Biden and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as the latter and Gallant himself. 

Biden is reportedly frustrated with Netanyahu for repeatedly overriding his instructions, and escalating the ensuing conflict. 

Araghchi visited Saudi Arabia, with whom Iran managed to establish relations - after a long absence of contact - only a year and a half ago. This has come about amid a stalemate in cease-fire talks in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, and an escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, following the killings of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Hamas Politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh and senior IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoushan.

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🇷🇺🪖 Key statements from the Russian Ministry of Defense's daily briefing on the situation in the Kursk region:

◻️ Ukrainian forces lost more than 200 military personnel over the day and more than 21,550 soldiers since start of offensive in Russia's Kursk region.

◻️ Russian forces hammered Ukrainian formations in the areas of Daryino, Lyubimovka, Novy Put and Plekhovo settlements.

◻️ Ukrainians lost three tanks, an armored vehicle, a mortar and an electronic warfare station over the day.

◻️ Russian aviation struck Ukrainian reserves concentrated in the Sumy region.

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❗️Security services have repelled a massive hacker attack on Sputnik's resources, the technical services of Sputnik's parent media group, Rossiya Segodnya, said.

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‘Our requests to evacuate patients are being rejected by Israel’ – Gaza medic cries for help

Israel closed off the Rafah checkpoint five months ago, subjecting the sick and wounded to being stuck without medical treatment, the head physician of the Shuhadaa al-Aqsa hospital in Gaza’s Iyad al-Jabri area told Sputnik.

Israel’s merciless year-long ground operations in Gaza have created a healthcare disaster in the enclave. Vital vaccines, even the ones for kids, have not been able to reach the region.

“Those months were enough for the collapse of the healthcare system in the Gaza Strip. There are no consumables or medicine,” he said.

The requests to evacuate patients are being rejected by Israel, even requests from international organizations are being rejected, the doctor noted.

“We need to open the checkpoint and get all the patients who are suffering from a lack of medical care out. They need to be given proper medical care,” he emphasized.

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