❗️Against the background of the Kiev forces' intensified shelling of civilians in Donbass and overall escalation of tensions in Ukraine, the US has announced new $275 million military aid package for Ukraine. It includes ammunition for HIMARS

💬“Just in the last few years, we've had something like nine coups on the African continent and a number of the leaders of those coups, these are military coups, have been trained and have been associated with the U.S. Africa Command. So they understand Africa is, in fact, key. But instead of competing with the Chinese, primarily, the Russians are there too, economically in providing more help, more assistance, better terms with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, they are using what they see as their trump card, which is militarization. And the result has been these calls an uptick in activity in Somalia, again.” Ajamu Baraka, international human rights activist, organizer, political analyst and national organizer for the Black Alliance for Peace said.

🎧Listen to more of Baraka’s analysis in our podcast: US GDP in Q3, Migrants Killed, War on Terror in Africa

An unknown person assaulted US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband with a hammer, police said. The motives are being investigated, and the FBI is now involved in the investigation.

The Twitter profile of Kanye West, who was suspended for posting allegedly anti-Semitic remarks, has been restored on the platform following Elon Musk taking ownership of the social media company

Elon Musk describes himself as a free speech absolutist and has laid out goals to prevent the platform from becoming an echo chamber of hate and division.

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❗️Motive for attack on Pelosi's husband is still being determined, suspect has been booked for attempted homicide, deadly weapon assault, elder abuse, police said

🇺🇳United Nations secretary-general spokesman Stéphane Dujarric has urged countries to ensure that Russian fertilizers have access to global market.

This comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier this week that about 300,000 tons of Russian fertilizers remained blocked at European ports and are not being distributed to the poorest countries.

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❗️Elon Musk says no banned Twitter accounts will be restored before a review by new "content moderation council."

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📹WATCH: In the run-up to Halloween, animals in several US zoos have been treated to pumpkins with their favorite food inside.

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🇮🇶 2,700-year-old rock carvings discovered in Iraq

Archaeologists in northern Iraq last week unearthed 2,700-year-old rock carvings featuring war scenes and trees from the Assyrian Empire. The carvings on marble slabs were discovered by a team of experts in Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city, who have been working to restore the site of the ancient Mashki Gate, which was bulldozed by Daesh* militants in 2016.

Daesh overran large parts of Iraq and Syria in 2014 and carried out a campaign of systematic destruction of invaluable archaeological sites in both countries.

The territory of today’s Iraq was home to some of the earliest cities in the world. Thousands of archaeological sites are scattered across the country, where Sumerians, Babylonian and Assyrian once lived.

* Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS) is a terrorist organisation outlawed in Russia and many other states

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Jerry Lee Lewis dead at 87

Jerry Lee Lewis, the untamable rock ‘n’ roll pioneer whose outrageous talent, energy and ego collided on such definitive records as “Great Balls of Fire” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and sustained a career otherwise upended by personal scandal, died Friday morning at 87.

The last survivor of a generation of groundbreaking performers that included Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Little Richard, Lewis died at his Mississippi home, south of Memphis, Tennessee, representative Zach Farnum said in a release. The news came two days after the publication of an erroneous TMZ report of his death, later retracted.

In 1986, along with Elvis, Chuck Berry and others, he made the inaugural class of inductees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and joined the Country Hall of Fame this year.

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‼️ Air Raid Alerts Issued in Parts of Ukraine - Authorities

🇹🇷 Erdogan outlines future for Turkey, vows new constitution

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday laid out his vision for Turkey in the next century, promising a new constitution that would guarantee the rights and freedoms of citizens.

Erdogan’s speech outlined plans for Turkey with one year to go for celebrations marking the centenary of the establishment of the republic following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. His speech was also seen as a campaign manifesto as the country heads toward parliamentary and presidential elections in June. Opinion polls indicate that Erdogan has lost some support amid high inflation running at more than 83%.

Erdogan’s vision for Turkey includes making the country one of the world’s top 10 nations in “politics, economy, technology, military and diplomacy” and reducing energy dependence on foreign nations.

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🇺🇸 Biden signs international climate deal on refrigerants

President Joe Biden on Friday signed an international agreement that compels the United States and other countries to limit use of hydrofluorocarbons, highly potent greenhouse gases commonly used in refrigeration and air conditioning that are far more powerful than carbon dioxide.

The measure requires participating nations to phase down production and use of hydrofluorocarbons, also known as HFCs, by 85% over the next 14 years, as part of a global phaseout intended to slow climate change.

HFCs are considered a major driver of global warming. Nearly 200 nations reached a deal in 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda, to limit HFCs and find substitutes more friendly to the atmosphere. More than 130 nations, including China, India and Russia, have formally ratified the agreement, which scientists say could help the world avoid a half-degree Celsius of global warming.

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🗣 Chief Bill Scott reveals both Paul Pelosi and suspect David DePape were seen holding hammer, but that once officers ordered the pair to drop the weapon, the assailant proceeded to strike Pelosi

❗️ Scott further detailed that the incident was not a random act, although a motive will not be publicly disclosed. Felony charges are anticipated.

“Everybody should be disgusted about what happened this morning,” he underscored.