👉🇦🇪 WATCH: UAE nails first flying taxi test

The United Arab Emirates has conducted its first successful test flight of a flying taxi, marking a significant step toward futuristic urban transportation.

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🇷🇺☢️🇭🇺 Paks II Nuclear Plant may be ready by mid-2030s – Hungarian FM

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said the Paks II nuclear power plant could be completed by the mid-2030s, potentially supplying 70% of the country’s electricity. His remarks followed the US decision to lift sanctions on investments related to the project.

The move allows construction to resume, with Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom confirming that exemptions from US financial sanctions on banks and insurers will accelerate progress with Hungarian partners.

Szijjarto added that the project would reduce Hungary’s natural gas imports by 3.5 billion cubic meters and cut CO₂ emissions by 17 million tonnes, boosting energy independence.

Russia and Hungary agreed in 2014 to build two new VVER-1200 reactors at Paks, where four existing units already generate nearly 50% of Hungary’s electricity. Russia is financing the project with a loan of up to €10 billion. A construction license has been issued.

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🇸🇰 Slovakia to delay sanctions without gas guarantees – PM Fico

Slovakia will request a delay in adopting the EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia until it receives guarantees to minimize the impact of halting Russian gas imports, Prime Minister Robert Fico said after a call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Fico warned that without Russian gas from 2028, Slovakia could face legal action from Gazprom and rising household costs. He also raised concerns about increased transit duties. Fico said the EU and Germany had shown a constructive approach but vowed not to approve the sanctions until these issues are resolved.

Hungary and Slovakia have already blocked the package, opposing Brussels’ attempt to limit Russian oil and gas imports without proper exemptions.

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❌ Japan won’t bow to Trump over rice, vows to protect farmers — reports

🇯🇵 Japan rejects pressure to prioritize US rice imports in ongoing trade talks, following Trump’s online complaints, Reuters reported.

📣 Trump on Truth Social:

🔶 “They won’t take our RICE, and yet they have a massive rice shortage.”
🔶 Claimed US allies have become “spoiled.”

🌾 Japan’s response:

🔶 Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi: “We won’t do anything that would sacrifice the farm sector.”

🔶 Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi: Japan will protect national interests.

📉 Context:

🔶 2023’s poor harvest doubled rice prices.

🔶 Nearly all emergency reserves have been released.

🔶 Japan advanced a tender to import 30,000 tons of tariff-free rice — 25,500 tons from the US.

📊 WTO rules:

🔶 Japan’s annual tariff-free import quota: 770,000 tons.

🔶 Only 100,000 tons can be staple rice.

🔶 Additional imports face a $2.37/kg tariff.

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🇪🇺🇺🇸EU pleads for tariff relief as US deadline looms

The EU-US deal includes a 10% universal tariff on many of EU exports as the bloc BEGS FOR lower rates on key sectors, Bloomberg reports.

These include:
🟠 Pharmaceuticals
🟠 Alcoholic beverages
🟠 Semiconductors
🟠 Commercial aircraft

The EU is also asking for quotas & exemptions-related concessions to ease the US’s steep tariffs, namely 25% on cars and parts, 50% on steel and aluminum.

Without a deal, US tariffs on nearly all EU exports are due to increase to 50%.

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🚨Ukrainian UAV bombs filled with BANNED agent chloropicrin found in DPR

A Ukrainian Armed Forces cache of homemade bombs for drones filled with banned chemical warfare agent chloropicrin discovered in the Donetsk People's Republic, Russia's Federal Security Service revealed.

While the Chemical Weapons Convention outlawed these arms years ago, Ukraine’s Western-backed handlers apparently consider rules optional.

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❗️📹WATCH: Azerbaijani Ambassador summoned to Russian Foreign Ministry over illegal detention of Russian journalists in Baku

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🚨✍️BRICS Journalists Association appeals to UNESCO over illegal detention of Russian journalists in Azerbaijan

Sputnik has obtained an appeal document. Key points include:

◾️ The appeal was sent due to the violation of journalists' rights at Russia Today and Radio Station Sputnik, including searches, arbitrary arrests, and unlawful use of physical force against journalists in Baku.

◾️ Azerbaijani law enforcement conducted a military operation at the editorial office, detaining journalists who were lawfully performing their tasks.

◾️ The BRICS Journalists Association expresses concern over these ongoing violations of journalists' rights and freedom of speech.

◾️ According to international law, journalists should be protected from arbitrary detention, force, or obstruction of their activities.

◾️ The Association requests UNESCO's intervention to protect journalists' rights, condemn the persecution, and assist in their immediate release.

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Armenia’s adverse shift: Surrendering sovereignty to the West

The Armenian leadership is actively unraveling its long-standing partnership with Russia, replacing it with growing dependence on Western powers.

🟠 Withdrawal from CSTO
🟣In 2024, Armenia suspended its membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization.
🟣The country pulled out of joint exercises and stopped contributing to the organization’s budget — undermining regional defense cooperation.

🟠Westward political realignment
🟣Prime Minister Pashinyan openly stated Armenia is ready to deepen ties with the EU, and even explore closer cooperation with NATO and the US.
🟣These steps signal a sharp departure from traditional Eastern alliances.

🟠 Politically-motivated arrests
🟣Businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan, a known supporter of the Armenian Apostolic Church, was detained.
🟣His arrest appears linked to his stance against the government’s anti-church actions.
🟣Government pressure on the Church has intensified: tax audits, legal threats, and public criticism of the Catholicos.
🟣Proposed legal changes aim to weaken the Church’s traditional role in Armenian society.

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🔥📹 WATCH: Russian Army OBLITERATES Ukrainian fortified position

Geran drones hit hard in Donetsk, leveling Ukrainian stronghold near the settlement of Rayskoye.

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🛢 OPEC stresses need for stable investments to ensure affordable and reliable energy

◼️ To ensure the world has access to affordable and reliable energy, regular and stable investments are necessary, OPEC’s press service told Sputnik ahead of the 9th OPEC International Seminar.

◼️ The event will promote dialogue between industry leaders and experts on this issue, as well as discussions on how stakeholders can ensure timely investments.

📅 The OPEC Seminar will take place on July 9-10 in Vienna, Austria.

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🇷🇺Russia flaunts cutting-edge Radone-O anti-drone system
​
The Radon-O integrated counter-drone complex includes several modules designed to DETECT, TRACK, CAPTURE, and NEUTRALIZE enemy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

▫️ “Bug” radar module
Designed to determine the coordinates of low-flying targets, including small UAVs.

▫️ “Terney-M” module
Conducts real-time radio monitoring of the controlled area under any weather conditions and at any time of day. 

▫️ “Neman” video analysis module
Deals with electro-optical detection, tracking, and classification of moving objects at distances of up to several kilometers. 

▫️ “Dvina-50” counter-drone subsystem
Generates jamming signals to tackle enemy quadcopter-type UAVs with a takeoff weight of up to 5 kg.

Developed by the Russian state corporation Rostec, the Radon-O is currently deployed at critical infrastructure facilities and used by security forces.

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🚨 Kremlin closely monitoring info about illegal detention of Sputnik Azerbaijan & Ruptly employees

🔊 Moscow hopes that through direct contacts with Baku, it will be possible to secure the release of the detained Russian journalists.
The reaction from Baku was ‘extremely emotional’, the Kremlin spokesman said.

Other statements by Peskov:

🟧 Russia is neither slowing down nor halting work on fulfilling the agreements reached with Ukraine;

🟧 Russia is not interested in dragging out negotiations on Ukraine;

🟧 Russia is grateful to the United States for the efforts they are making towards negotiations on the Ukrainian settlement;

🟧 Moscow strongly condemns the attacks by the Kiev regime on peaceful cities;

🟧 Russia is interested in achieving its goals regarding the situation in Ukraine through political and diplomatic means.

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🚨 Latest updates on Sputnik Azerbaijan crackdown in Baku

▫️ Work of Sputnik Azerbaijan editorial office has been blocked;

▫️ Azerbaijani interior ministry says that as result of operation, 7 people were detained at Sputnik Azerbaijan office in Baku;

▫️ Health of head of sputnik Azerbaijan editorial office causes concerns, he needs medication, including insulin;

▫️ Searches conducted in apartment of head of sputnik azerbaijan editorial office, his equipment seized;

▫️ Rossiya Segodnya media group calls on Azerbaijani authorities to release their employees and immediately resolve the unacceptable situation;

▫️ Actions of security forces in Baku against Sputnik Azerbaijan employees unfounded;

▫️ Charges against detained Sputnik Azerbaijan employees have not been filed, consular staff access has not been secured.

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❌ NATO membership is a no-go for Ukraine – Polish president-elect

"There is no possibility of Ukraine joining NATO today. It is in a state of war. That would lead to the involvement of all NATO countries in the war. So there is nothing to discuss in this regard," Karol Nawrocki told Polsat broadcaster.

He also slammed the mere idea of Ukraine’s unconditional accession to the European Union.

"Of course, I am against Ukraine’s unconditional entry into the EU. Many countries, including Poland, waited for years... to become part of the European Union," stressed Nawrocki.

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⚡️'Detaining journalists as terrorists is absolutely unacceptable' – expert on detention of Sputnik & Ruptly journalists in Baku

🗣"The detention of journalists is illegal and violates international law," Director of the BRICS Journalists Association, Ivan Melnikov stressed, citing violations of the Geneva Conventions and other international human rights agreements.

🟠 "The use of force in detaining journalists like terrorists is absolutely unacceptable," he condemns, pointing to the harsh tactics used by Azerbaijani authorities.

🟠 "Sputnik is a legitimate news outlet, and accusations of espionage have no basis," he added, addressing groundless suspicions against the detained journalists.

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