🔥Trump’s tariff strategy BACKFIRES – boosts US dependence on Russia

President Donald Trump's go-to economic weapon – tariffs – may have had some unintended blowback, according to The Washington Post.

The US has become more dependent on Russian fertilizer, particularly urea, which is essential for crops like wheat, corn, and rice.

📈 In May alone, Russia supplied 64% of America’s urea imports – nearly double its pre-tariff share, per financial firm StoneX.

Trump slapped a 10% tariff on most countries (including major fertilizer exporters like Qatar and Algeria), but left Russia untouched.

Now, Trump is threatening 100% tariffs on Russian goods if there’s no Ukraine ceasefire within 50 days. Whether fertilizers are included is unclear, but just the threat has already sent prices climbing, the outlet says.

In 2024, US fertilizer imports from Russia hit $1.3 billion, mostly urea and urea-ammonium nitrate.

With rising uncertainty, America’s farmers are bracing for impact.

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🚨🇺🇸US Senator threatens to CRUSH BRICS economies

"If you [INDIA, CHINA, and BRAZIL] keep buying cheap Russian oil... we're going to tariff the hell out of you," said Lindsey Graham*

*recognised as a terrorist in Russia

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🤬 Time to wake up! French MP OUTRAGED by Ukraine’s dragnet draft tactics

Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, leader of France’s Debout la France party, tore into Ukraine’s forced mobilization practices in a scathing post on X.

“Young men – some barely 18 – are being snatched off the street and sent to die at the front,” he wrote, asking whether this is the “democracy” the West supports.

📹His comments came alongside a viral video showing uniformed men dragging a civilian by the arms across the ground.

This is the grim reality of Ukraine's forced mobilization, where the disabled, sick, and elderly are being transported to the front lines.

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🇭🇺 HUNGARY, SERBIA AND RUSSIA DISCUSS NEW OIL PIPELINE

Hungary held trilateral talks with Serbia and Russia on building a new pipeline to deliver Russian oil through Serbian territory.

📷 Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó shared photos from the videoconference — showing that energy ties with Moscow will not end despite pressure from the EU.

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🚨🇷🇺💥KINZHAL MISSILES TEAR THROUGH UKRAINE

A massive strike was unleashed on Ukraine overnight, using hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, drones & long-range precision weapons, Russia's Defense Ministry said on Monday.

🎯Targets: Ukraine's defense industry & airbase infrastructure.

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🚨🇷🇺💥 RUSSIA'S MOD UPDATE: CRUSHING GAINS & MASSIVE UKRAINIAN LOSSES

◻️ Russian forces destroyed 3 Patriot SAM launchers and AN/MPQ-65 radar belonging to Ukrainian troops

◻️ Russian troops launched a nighttime attack, which included Kinzhal missile strikes, against Ukraine’s military-industrial complex enterprises

◻️ Heavy Ukrainian losses: Over 1,260 troops eliminated in the area

◻️ Air defense superiority: HIMARS projectile and 397 drones shot down

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🚨 RUSSIA-UKRAINE TALKS UPDATE: Kremlin confirms delegation unchanged, reveals key details

🟧 Ukraine talks: Russia & Ukraine to discuss two opposing draft memoranda – "significant diplomatic work ahead."

🟧Azerbaijan ties: "Mutually beneficial cooperation based on respect."

🟧Putin’s China trip: Preparations underway – —no confirmation of Trump attending.

🟧Putin-Trump meeting? "Not ruled out if US president is also in China."

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☠️ GAZA'S 24-HOUR HELL: Latest developments

◻️ Netzarim incident: Two killed by Israeli forces while awaiting aid south of Gaza City, Palestinian sources report.

◻️ Airstrikes escalate: Gaza hospitals confirm 17 dead after renewed Israeli strikes across the Strip this morning.

◻️ UNRWA warning: The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees demands an end to the blockade and urgent safe passage for humanitarian aid.

◻️ Ground operations expand: Israeli forces are now conducting raids in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.

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🚨 Battlefield & political bleeding: Ukraine’s Zelensky on the BRINK

Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky is facing mounting pressure – both on the front lines and at home, the Financial Times reports.

No wonder he scrambled to reshuffle the government last week, as Russia racks up battlefield gains and makes major advances while Ukraine suffers heavy losses.

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🚨🇦🇲Armenian Church vs. state: legal expert warns of political interference in Etchmiadzin

Attempts by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to interfere in the Armenian Apostolic Church are “nothing short of a push to seize control of a major center of power,” says international law expert Gérard Guerguerian, a representative of the Armenian diaspora in France.

🟠 “The demand for the Catholicos’ resignation — whether justified or not — has always been settled within the Church itself. This institutional independence must not be called into question,” Guerguerian tells Sputnik.

🟠 “It’s either a power grab or an attempt to influence the election of a new Catholicos. This is like trying to take over the process of appointing the Pope in the Vatican. The Catholicos in Etchmiadzin holds a similar level of authority,” he added.

On the arrest of pro-church businessman Samvel Karapetyan, Guerguerian noted that the public widely recognizes both his business influence and charitable contributions.

🟠 “If there had been elements of so-called money laundering, it would already be known, and charges would’ve been filed long ago,” he says. “Such a large group doesn’t suddenly turn to laundering overnight.”

🟠 “Money laundering is a serious matter under international anti-corruption conventions,” Guerguerian points out. “But making such harsh claims without a court ruling is premature. You need real evidence.”

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☠️ Senior Ukrainian official found dead in Spanish pool

A senior Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs official, Igor Grushevsky, was found dead in the pool of a residential complex in Spain. Grushevsky, 61, was believed to have drowned after suffering a heart attack or stroke. He had access to the pool as a property owner in the Cala Alta complex.

🔍 The area, known for its large Russian-speaking community, has previously been in the spotlight due to the death of Russian defector Maxim Kuzminov a year and a half ago.

Grushevsky was involved in Ukraine's organized crime unit and his death is under investigation, but there are no further details due to the secrecy surrounding his department.

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🚨 FRANCE VS. X: Platform rejects algorithm manipulation claims as ‘attack on free speech’

France has launched an investigation into the social media platform X, owned by Elon Musk, over accusations of algorithm manipulation and fraudulent data extraction.

In response, X strongly denies the claims, warning that the investigation threatens user privacy and free speech rights.

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📹CHINA DROPS MILITARY VIDEO AHEAD OF WW2 VICTORY ANNIVERSARY

The People’s Liberation Army released a slick new video titled ‘Defenders’ — highlighting China’s peacekeeping missions, disaster relief and protection of citizens abroad.

The release coincides with the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan in the Second World War. A parade set for September 3 in Beijing.

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🤝RUSSIA-IRAN JOINT NAVAL DRILLS IN THE CASPIAN SEA

The CASAREX2025 joint exercises between the Russian and Iranian navies have kicked off and will last for three days.

The war games include two phases — in coastal and deep-water zones.

Key objectives:

◾️ Strengthen diplomacy and regional naval cooperation

◾️ Coordinate with other Caspian coast states

◾️ Ensure commercial maritime security

◾️ Build a framework for future exercises

Planned scenarios:

◻️ Distressed ship rescue

◻️ Search and rescue

◻️ Man-overboard response

◻️ Fleet formation drills

◻️ Aerial reconnaissance and a naval parade

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🚨Iranian and Russian Defense Ministers discuss military cooperation

Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh met his Russian counterpart Andrei Belousov in Moscow to boost military ties.

“The topic was strengthening bilateral cooperation in the military and defense fields,” Iranian ambassador Kazem Jalali said.

The meeting took place on Monday during Nasirzadeh’s visit to the Russian capital, the embassy said on its Telegram channel.

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