📉 UK’s new foreign influence scheme aims to divert Britons’ attention from economic troubles: Russian embassy

The Embassy called the scheme “another discriminatory barrier to the long-term restoration of Russian-British relations…erected out of thin air,” and accused the Starmer government of squandering the chance to abandon “the Tories’ failed confrontational course” against Russia.

London may be hoping the measure will distract ordinary Britons from “depressing” news, like cuts to social benefits and rising electricity costs, the Embassy suggested.

The UK announced a two-tier Foreign Influence Registration Scheme April 1 requiring anyone alleged to be working with or for a foreign state to register, on penalty of up to five years in prison.

The scheme can target everything from as “the transfer of funds from an individual abroad to an individual in the UK or vice versa” to a social media post aimed at individuals in the UK, “even if it is posted by an individual overseas.”

Russia and Iran have been placed in the scheme’s “enhanced tier” of threats.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova asked whether the measure would require British vets who got medals from Russia for participation in the WWII Arctic convoys to register and hand them in, and whether the UK’s National Space Center would now be listed as a Russian Aerospace Forces base due to past Russian-British cooperation in space.

She also wondered aloud whether the traditional Muscovy hat worn by the swordbearer of the Lord Mayor of the City of London would result in them being labeled “agents of the Kremlin.”

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Israeli jets strike scientific research center in Damascus – reports

Israeli attacks also targeted the outskirts of the city of Hama, local media said. Considerable destruction was reported in the aftermath of the Damascus attack.

The research center in Damascus is believed to be the Barzah Scientific Research Facility, or Institute 2000. The center, alleged by the US to connected to Syria’s chemical weapons program, was targeted in joint US, French and British strikes in 2018.

OPCW inspections of the facility in 2017 found no evidence of prohibited chemicals, or any violations by Syria of its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention.

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📹 Israel launches strikes on Syrian military sites – reports

Israeli warplanes entered Syrian airspace from southern Syria and targeted several military sites, including the Barzah area north of Damascus, the T4 airbase east of Homs, and the vicinity of the Hama military airport in central Syria.

The moment of the Israeli airstrike on the Hama military airport in Syria is going viral on social media.

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📹 Australia REFUSES to retaliate against Trump’s tariffs – PM Albanese

💬 “The administration's tariffs have no basis in logic and go against the foundation of our two nations' partnership. This is not the act of a friend,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized.

💬 “We will not join a race to the bottom that leads to higher prices and slower growth,” Albanese declared.

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❌ Hegseth to SKIP Ukraine support meeting, marking US policy shift – reports

For the first time, a US defense secretary will not attend the multinational Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, as Pete Hegseth opts out of the April 11 gathering in Brussels. According to officials, the Pentagon is unlikely to send any senior representatives, Defense News reported, citing US officials.

With the US stepping back, Germany and the UK will lead the meeting, while European officials brace for reduced American intelligence sharing and military aid, the report added.

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⚔️ Iran to REVISE defense doctrine if threats to nuclear program are carried out – IRGC

💬 "The essence of this revision is extremely clear," Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Deputy Head for Political Affairs Gen. Yadollah Javani was quoted as saying by Fars News Agency.

Military aggression against Tehran will only push the country’s nuclear industry to a new level, Javani added.

He also noted that while "the atrocities" of the United States and Israel may cause damage to Iran, the retaliatory response will be even harsher.

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