📹 Blocking bank cards in Ukraine has shifted from civilians to the military

▪️ Videos are going viral in which Ukrainian soldiers complain about the authorities blocking their bank cards for utility debts. As a result, they cannot buy a uniform or pay for medical treatment — after all that, the Ukrainian regime, having received millions of dollars from the West, cannot provide for its troops.

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❗️ Russian President Vladimir Putin said that ill-wishers are trying to stir up the situation inside Russia

The head of state made his statement at the operational meeting of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, where he proposed to discuss the topic of interethnic relations.

“Today, we will deal with the same issues in relation to ensuring the security of Russia, in this case, domestic political security, taking into account the efforts that our ill-wishers are still making and intensifying them in order to shake the situation inside the Russian Federation. And we must do everything in order not to allow them to do this under any circumstances," the president said.

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Catch our Fault Lines show, where we provide updates and analysis on all the most vital stories! Here's our line-up for today:

🔺To kick things off, we'll be covering the end of the debt ceiling drama as well as the latest on the Hunter Biden scandal
🔺Next, we’ll speak about attempted Ukrainian incursions into Russia
🔺Finally, we’ll focus on the Republican primaries

More trending stories coming your way! Watch the live broadcast on Rumble or tune in to Radio Sputnik at 7am EST|4am PST|1pm CET via the website or app

📻Also in the United States at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM

😮 While the president falls in the USA, the tablet falls in Russia

📹 Russian Deputy Prime Minister Chernyshenko clearly showed Prime Minister Mishustin how durable Russian KVADRA_T tablets are

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🇷🇺🇦🇪 Russian FM Lavrov is holding a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE in Cape Town

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❗️Russia’s MoD briefing on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine:

▪️ Russian aviation delivered a strike with high-precision weapons on Ukrainian air defense systems protecting key military infrastructure facilities;

▪️ Units of the Akhmat Special Forces are attacking near the village of Maryinka;

▪️ Russian air defenses shot down a Ukrainian Su-25 aircraft in the Kherson region;

▪️ During the day, Russian troops destroyed more than 60 soldiers and two self-propelled Gvozdika guns of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Krasny Liman;

▪️ More than 50 Ukrainian soldiers were destroyed in the DPR;

▪️ Russian air defense shot down 29 Ukrainian drones;

▪️ The losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Kupyansk amounted to 70 soldiers, an ammunition depot was destroyed;

▪️ The Russian Armed Forces destroyed in the south of the DPR and in the Zaporozhye region up to 150 Ukrainian soldiers and Polish-made Krab self-propelled guns;

▪️ The Russian Army destroyed more than 30 Ukrainian military personnel and the M777 system in a day in the Kherson region;

▪️ The Russian Armed Forces hit 96 artillery units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in firing positions.

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❗️Latest statements by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov:

▪️ Russia will seek to protect its interests; this excludes the expansion of NATO at the expense of Ukraine, Peskov said.

▪️ The Kremlin spokesman described Kiev’s calls for NATO to include Ukraine in the alliance as evidence of an unwillingness to sit down at the negotiating table.

▪️ Peskov also noted that the Kremlin took note of Pashinyan's words that Armenia is not Russia's ally in the conflict in Ukraine.

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🐜🇦🇺 Failing to slow down the spread of an outbreak of invasive fire ants could cost the Australian economy more than $1 billion a year

▪️ A recently released study has found that in the worst-case scenario, invasive fire ants will reach the northern outskirts of Sydney by 2035.

▪️ The study states the spread of the ants, which were first detected in Brisbane in 2001, would cause “cascading negative impacts on future generations.”

▪️ Australian governments have a $400m eradication program but, despite the investment, red fire ants keep spreading.

▪️ The biggest cost would be to households, including the cost of pesticides, veterinary bills and electrical faults.

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🇷🇺🇮🇷 Russian foreign minister meets with Iranian counterpart on the sidelines of the Cape Town Friends of BRICS event

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🗣️”The troops themselves are receiving nothing. They're using literally century-old museum pieces to fight. And on the other hand, you have reports of high-tech weaponry appearing all over the world in the hands of non-state actors”: writer, scholar, and journalist focusing on Asia-Pacific, KJ Noh, discusses the shortage of weapons in Ukraine, while propaganda claims high-tech weaponry

🎧Listen to more of Noh’s analysis in our podcast Political Misfits

❗️ US interested in new five-nuclear arms control architecture with common missile launch notification regime - White House

The United States will continue to notify Russia of intercontinental missile launches and nuclear exercises, the White House said.

Washington is also ready to adhere to the START quantitative restrictions as long as Moscow does, the US administration noted.

These remarks come after the US previously said that from June 1, they would stop transmitting information to the Russian Federation about the status and location of their strategic weapons falling under START.

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❗️ US invites China to "make a bold decision" and engage directly with the US in strategic stability discussions, says Jake Sullivan

BRICS ministers discuss need for new single currency amid de-dollarization

Member states discussed the potential use of alternative currencies to protect their New Development Bank from sanctions during a ministerial meeting in Cape Town. The bloc aims to increase its global influence and challenge the United States, with plans to admit new members and explore the introduction of a common currency.

Russia and China expressed support for expanding BRICS membership, while emphasizing the principles of equality and non-intervention that the organization upholds.

The push for de-dollarization within BRICS has been prompted by concerns over the unreliability of the US dollar and the impact of US sanctions.

Amidst a growing chorus for alternatives to the dollar in global trade, BRICS countries continue to explore the introduction of a common currency. Russia and South Africa's foreign ministers, along with Brazil's former president, advocated for a collective currency within the bloc. BRICS member states are actively working on increasing the use of national currencies in trade and financial operations, reducing dependence on the US dollar.

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🗣️”They have lost touch with reality and they believe that Ukraine is some kind of bloodletting table for Russia along the lines of Afghanistan forty years ago”: writer, scholar, and journalist focusing on Asia-Pacific, KJ Noh, discusses the desire of the US ruling class to prolong the Ukraine conflict as long as possible

🎧Listen to more of Noh’s analysis in our podcast Political Misfits

🤝 “I was missing you”: Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira warmly welcomed Sergey Lavrov at the sidelines of the Friends of BRICS event in Cape Town

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US companies knew 'Forever Chemicals' health risks from the start

New research reveals that American chemical companies, including DuPont and 3M, intentionally withheld information about the health and environmental risks of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as "Forever Chemicals." These substances, widely used in various products, including Teflon cookware, have the ability to persist in the environment and are associated with adverse health effects.

The research highlights how corporations knowingly concealed data and misled consumers, similar to the actions of tobacco companies regarding the dangers of smoking. Despite fines and penalties, these companies continue to thrive while PFAS are found in the blood of nearly every US citizen.

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Keeping Taiwan's autonomous 'status quo' most West can achieve — French diplomat

The new French ambassador to the US, Laurent Bili, has stated that maintaining Taiwan's autonomy within the One-China policy is the most the West can hope to achieve.

He emphasized the importance of not risking the existing balance and protecting the status quo. Bili mentioned that there is no middle ground between the West and China, and it is better to keep things under control.

He also highlighted that France and the US share similar views on Taiwan, despite differing perspectives on China as a trade partner, and both countries aim to de-risk the situation.

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📹🇪🇷 In an exclusive interview with Sputnik Africa, President Isaias Afwerki reiterates the commitment of Russia and Eritrea to enhance bilateral cooperation and bring about a new multipolar world order.

💬 "We are determined to work together to see what the future looks like and cooperate in all fields so that our bilateral relationships within a multilateral context will move forward to promote a new order, a new world order," he said.

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🔸 Sputnik Africa | TikTok | Odysee | Twitter

Iranian Air Force commander says Tehran needs new Russia-made Su fighter jets

Brig. Gen. Hamid Vahedi, commander of the Iranian Air Force, has stated that Tehran requires new Su fighter jets made by Russia. However, the timing of their delivery to the Iranian squadron is contingent on the decision of senior officials in the country.

Vahedi emphasized that prior to the acquisition of these new jets, Iranian pilots must undergo specialized training in Russia to enable them to train their less experienced counterparts in the future.

Additionally, Vahedi mentioned that Iran's Kowsar fighter is undergoing final tests and a squadron of these jets is expected to be established soon. Furthermore, the Yasin training aircraft, developed by the Iranian Defense Ministry, is set to be handed over to the country's air force in 2022, according to the commander.

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