❗️The Prime Minister of Iraq, Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani, announced the elimination of the leader of ISIS* in the country, along with eight other high-ranking commanders of the group.

*a terrorist organization banned in Russia

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🗣The conflict between Russia and Ukraine must be resolved peacefully, and India is ready to provide all the possible assistance to this, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday.

"We are in regular contact regarding the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. As I have said before, we believe that problems should be resolved peacefully and we fully support the prompt restoration of peace and stability," Modi said at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia's Kazan on the sidelines of the BRICS summit.

"In all our efforts, we give priority to humanity, and we are ready to provide any possible assistance in the future," Modi stated.

#BRICS2024

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F-35’s ascent and nosedive: Costliest US warplane project hits fresh turbulence
 
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fifth-gen supersonic stealth strike fighter just can’t seem to catch a break, with a report released Monday by the Government Accountability Office finding the jet woefully below mission-ready status for six straight years—i.e., every year that the Congressional watchdog has conducted its reviews.
 
The GAO blamed the readiness shortfall on “challenges with depot and organizational maintenance” and overreliance on contractors who essentially hold the Pentagon hostage with astronomical sustainment costs (which jumped from $1.1 trillion in FY2018 to $1.58 trillion in FY2023). The Navy and Air Force are set to take control of sustainment to get a grip on the situation, but not until FY2027.
 
◻️ The GAO estimates that only about 55% of the F-35’s three variants are mission-ready at any given time, with mission readiness requiring the ability to “fly and perform at least one mission.” 

◻️ With a per-unit cost of nearly $100M and a projected lifetime cost of over $2T, the F-35 program is by far the most expensive military project in history. 

◻️ Lockheed proceeded with the F-35’s development by taking cues from the Yak-43/141 VTOL jet—a Soviet carrier strike aircraft project scrapped in 1991. The X-35 first flew in 2000, and the F-35A in 2006. 

◻️ But the F-35’s makers have proven unable to work out all the kinks in the plane, with the GAO issuing report after report citing hundreds of flaws, including mission-critical defects that could injure or kill pilots or otherwise jeopardize the aircraft’s safety. 

◻️ These problems range from faulty landing gear and vibrating fuel tubes to fragile electro-optical targeting equipment, canopy delamination issues and weather sensitivity, engine heat issues adding to wear and tear, cabin overpressurization, night vision problems, corrosion, radar reset issues, ejection seats that can snap pilots’ necks, and the inability to fly in lightning.

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📹 Watch world leaders savor traditional Tatar cuisine – chak-chak and salted karavai – upon their arrival in Kazan for the BRICS Summit.

#BRICS2024

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🇿🇦 The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, stated that the BRICS Summit will address issues of peace, security, and trade.

#BRICS2024

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🇷🇺🇿🇦Russia's relations with South Africa are based on the principles of partnership and equality, Vladimir Putin said in talks with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Putin stated that Russia and South Africa are in favour of a just world order on the world arena.

"Russia has been building its work during its presidency of the BRICS taking into account the results of the summit in South Africa", Putin said.

"Trade between Russia and South Africa grew by 3% in 8 months, countries have a lot to work on," Russian President added.

#BRICS2024

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❗️❗️❗️The Israeli army struck a residential building in the Tayyoun district of southern Beirut as Mohammad Afif, Hezbollah's media communications manager, was holding a press conference nearby.

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⚡️The Houthis claimed to have attacked an Israeli military base east of Tel Aviv with a Palestine-2 hypersonic missile.

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🌍🌍🌍 Western media jealously eye Russia as it hosts BRICS summit

As Western leaders feign disinterest in the BRICS bloc’s Summit in Kazan, their media are keeping a close eye on the event, with headlines betraying recognition that the US and NATO’s attempts to sanction and bully Russia into submission haven’t worked.

◻️ ‘Putin gathers allies to show West’s pressure isn’t working’, the BBC wrote in a wistful piece on the forum, highlighting the fact that the BRICS now accounts for almost half of the world’s population and a third of its economy.

◻️ ‘Putin’s plan to defeat the dollar’ was The Economist’s take on the gathering, with its piece highlighting the BRICS’ entry into the global payment systems race, and a Russia-led effort to reduce the dollar’s influence in international settlements.

◻️ ‘Hosting BRICS Summit of World Leaders, Russia Shows West That It’s Not Isolated’ was Time’s approach to the Kazan Summit, referencing attendance by leaders and senior officials from three dozen countries, plus UN chief Antonio Guterres.

◻️ ‘Putin Brings Together Economies He Hopes Will Eclipse the West’, the New York Times wrote in an analysis focusing on Moscow’s efforts to use the BRICS as a critical “counterweight to the West” and show them that Russia’s president “has important allies on his side.”

◻️ ‘Putin hosts a summit to show the West it can’t keep Russia off the global stage’, the Washington Post wrote in its own piece.

◻️ ‘BRICS summit: Putin hosts Xi and Modi in power play with West’, The Times wrote in a piece highlighting the Kremlin’s purported efforts “to strengthen its anti-Western alliance.”

◻️ ‘The West wants Putin isolated. A major summit he’s hosting shows he’s far from alone’, CNN wrote, touting the Kazan meeting as “by far the largest international gathering” hosted by Putin since the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis in 2022.

◻️ ‘Putin hosts Global South leaders at BRICS summit meant to counterbalance Western clout’, the Associated Press wrote, calling the three-day meeting “a powerful way to demonstrate the failure of US-led efforts to isolate Russia over its actions in Ukraine.”

#BRICS2024

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🌍🌍🌍 How does BRICS differ from other international organizations and what has it achieved in 18 years?

Russia’s city of Kazan is hosting the 16th BRICS Summit, with leaders from 36 countries, including 22 heads of state or government, attending the three-day event. In light of the gathering, it's worth considering how BRICS differs from other international organizations.

🔹 BRICS was founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining in 2011. On January 1, 2024, Egypt, Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia became full members, while Russia assumed the BRICS presidency.

🔹 BRICS began engaging with third-party countries in the early 2010s through the “BRICS Plus/Outreach” format. Around 40 countries are interested in cooperating with the group in various ways.

🔹 BRICS is a "club of like-minded" members, not a bloc like NATO or the EU, and lacks a charter, budget, secretariat, and supranational structures.

What has BRICS achieved?

🔸 The expanded BRICS represents about 45% of the world’s population (~3.6 billion people) and a combined nominal GDP of $28.5 trillion (IMF, 2023).

🔸 BRICS now accounts for 36% of global GDP (PPP), surpassing the G7's 29.3% and the EU's 14.5%.

🔸 BRICS' 2024 growth is forecast at 4%, versus 1.7% for the G7 and 3.2% globally, Putin said at the BRICS Business Forum.

🔸 The BRICS bloc holds $45 trillion in investable wealth, according to the January 2024 BRICS Wealth Report.

🔸 BRICS nations collectively account for 45% of global crude oil production.

🔸 BRICS countries hold over 20% of global gold reserves, led by Russia (2,340 tons) and China (2,260 tons), according to Sputnik's calculations using World Gold Council data.

🔸 BRICS accounts for 25% of global exports. In 2023, Russia's trade reached $228 billion with China, $57 billion with India, and $13 billion with Brazil and South Africa.

🔸 BRICS founded the New Development Bank (NDB) in 2014 to fund infrastructure and sustainable development projects in member states and emerging markets. The NDB's authorized capital is $100 billion.

🔸 Since 2016, the NDB has invested in 138 projects across China, India, Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Egypt, according to its website.

🔸 Amid Western sanctions, around 65% of settlements between Russia and BRICS partners now use national currencies.

What is BRICS working on?

🔹 BRICS is developing tools for an inclusive financial system, including a common unit of account (Unit), multilateral settlement platform (BRICS Bridge), blockchain payment system (BRICS Pay), settlement depository (BRICS Clear), insurance system, and independent rating agency.

#BRICS2024

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🗣No reason to doubt Georgia's words that West was pushing it into war with Russia - Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday that there are no reasons not to trust Georgian politicians' statements that the West was pushing Tbilisi into a war with Russia.

"I see no reason not to believe them. They cite dialogues with Western countries that directly instructed them to take military action against Russia. I have no reason not to trust them," Lavrov told Russian media.

Earlier in the day, Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and honorary chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said that a high-ranking Western official had proposed that Georgia declare war against Russia and hold out for at least a few days before switching to guerrilla warfare with the West's backing.

◻️ On the night of August 8, 2008, Georgia shelled the Republic of South Ossetia using "Grad" multiple launch rocket systems. Georgian forces attacked the republic and heavily destroyed its capital, the city of Tskhinvali.

◻️ Russia, defending the residents of South Ossetia, many of whom had acquired Russian citizenship, sent troops into the republic and, after five days of hostilities, drove the Georgian military out.

◻️ On August 26 of the same year, Moscow recognized the sovereignty of South Ossetia and another former Georgian autonomy, Abkhazia.

◻️ Russia has repeatedly stated that this recognition reflects existing realities and is not subject to revision.

◻️ Meanwhile, Georgia still does not recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia, considering them its regions.

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🇷🇺🇨🇳Russian-Chinese relations have become a model of how relations in the world should be built, Putin said in talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping

Putin congratulated the friendly Chinese people on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

#BRICS2024

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🗣Chinese President Xi Jinping calls BRICS a system-forming factor in formation of multipolarity

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🌍🌍🌍 Chak-chak diplomacy: BRICS leaders get a taste of Tatarstan’s scrumptiously sweet treat

The BRICS’ guests of honor were treated to chak-chak as they arrived in Kazan Tuesday for the bloc’s long-awaited autumn summit.

🔸 The popular sweet fried dough treat is a well-established part of the traditional cuisine of the peoples of Russia’s Tatarstan and Bashkortostan and is thought to be more than a thousand years old, originating, by one account, in the historical state of the Volga Bulgars.

🔸 Another legend has it that the dish appeared up to 4,000 years ago and owes its name to Chak-сhak, the ancient female spirit of dawn, hearth, and family happiness. The name also happens to be similar to the Tatar word for ‘flower’.

🔸 Served at festive occasions, including weddings, seasonal festivals, and other celebrations, chak-chak has earned its place in the hearts of millions of Russians as the food most associated with the Tatar peoples. In Kazan, an entire museum was opened in 2014 dedicated to the dish, other gastronomical delights, and the clothing, aesthetics, traditions, and everyday way of life of the Tatars.

🔸 The food has also been at special events. For instance, the thousand-year anniversary of the city of Kazan in 2005 was marked with the baking of a one-ton portion of chak-chak. Not to be outdone, bakers in neighboring Bashkiria made 1,143.5 kg chak-chak in 2016. Tatar chefs raised stakes again in 2018 during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, creating a soccer ball-shaped chak-chak weighing over four tons.

🔸 Created using honey rather than refined sugar to ensure its sweetness, Chak-chak isn’t just tasty but highly calorific, giving enjoyers a burst of quick energy perfect for both mental and physical work.

🔸 Chak-chak’s recipe is simple, consisting of flour, butter, eggs, milk, and honey, and requiring a deep frying pan to make. But getting the taste right is something only master Tatar and Bashkir confectioners can accomplish.

#BRICS2024

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Israel suspected of using white phosphorus during attacks on UN peacekeepers

Israel is believed to have used munitions containing white phosphorus during one of its attacks on the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) earlier this month, Financial Times has reported, citing a leaked report.

On October 13, UNIFIL said two Israeli tanks forced their way into the premises. After they left about 45 minutes later, UN peacekeepers heard shooting sounds north of the gate and soon saw thick smoke penetrating the premises. UNIFIL said 15 peacekeepers were left with irritated skin and stomach despite wearing protective face masks.

The leaked report from an unspecified UNIFIL member-country, cited by the Financial Times, suggests that the smoke that penetrated the mission's premises following the shooting sound could be white phosphorus.

On October 1, Israel launched a ground operation against Hezbollah in the south of Lebanon, while also continuing to exchange air and rocket strikes with the Shia movement. The United Nations said its UNIFIL peacekeepers have repeatedly come under fire in the course of Israel-Hezbollah hostilities.

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Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin has resigned amid a scandal over fraudulent processing of disability claims by 50 prosecutors in the Khmelnitsky region.

"In this situation, I believe it is appropriate to announce my resignation from the position of Prosecutor General," Kostin said in a statement on his official Telegram channel.

Before his resignation, Kostin launched a probe into the fraud claims, stressing the seriousness of the allegations and the need for accountability in the prosecutorial system.

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📹 The President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, has arrived in Kazan, Russia, to participate in the BRICS Summit 2024.

#BRICS2024

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📹 The President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, has arrived in Kazan for the BRICS Summit.

#BRICS2024

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Israeli state television reports that a Hezbollah drone scored a direct hit on the window of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bedroom during Saturday's attack in Caesarea.

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Statements from Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping at the BRICS 2024 summit in Kazan

🇷🇺 Putin:

🔸 Russia and China continue to increase trade despite negative external factors.

🔸 Russia-China relations are considered a model for how international relations should be built.

🔸 The two countries are strengthening global security coordination.
Russia-China cooperation is based on equality.

🔸 Joint projects in transport, energy, and agriculture are being successfully implemented.

🔸 Agreements from the May meeting in Beijing and the SCO summit are being consistently followed.

🇨🇳 Xi:

🔸 Over the past decade, Russian-Chinese relations have withstood unprecedented challenges.

🔸 China-Russia relations are not directed against third countries.

🔸 BRICS is viewed as a key factor in the development of multipolarity.

🔸 China appreciates Russia's leadership during its BRICS chairmanship.

🔸 Changes in the international arena will not undermine the strong ties between China and Russia.

#BRICS2024

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