Month: January 2023

EU’s Borrell Urges South Africa to Get Russia to End Ukraine War

The European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell visited South Africa on Friday, urging Pretoria to use its ties with Russia to convince Moscow to stop its war on Ukraine.  Borrell’s trip to South Africa is the latest in a whirlwind week that has seen visits by both Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Analysts say the flurry of diplomatic activity comes as the West and Russia both seek South Africa’s support regarding the war in Ukraine. Pretoria has strong historic ties with Moscow and has taken an officially neutral stance on the conflict, to …

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Australia Urged to Boost Military Assistance to Ukraine

Ukraine is urging Australia to increase its military aid ahead of a visit to Europe next week by Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong and Defense Minister Richard Marles. Australia, the largest non-NATO contributor to Ukraine’s war effort, has supplied missiles and Bushmaster armored personnel carriers. They have a special ‘V’-shaped floor designed to spread the impact of an explosion more effectively than a conventional flat floor. A group of up to 70 Australian defense force personnel has also been stationed in Britain to help train Ukrainian troops. Analysts say the commitment of Germany and the United States to deliver …

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У Росії впав вертоліт, який використовують для перевезення високопосадовців – ЗМІ

У Росії в аеропорту «Внуково» зазнав аварії вертоліт Мі-8, за попередніми даними, постраждалих немає. Про це повідомляє російська служба Радіо Свобода з посиланням на російські інформаційні агенції. Російська агенція ТАСС уточнює, що гелікоптер здійснив жорстку посадку. Телеграм-канал Baza пише, що при посадці гелікоптер зачепив землю і вдарився хвостовою частиною. За даними Mash, причиною аварії могло стати пошкодження гвинтів. За наявною інформацією, Мі-8 належить спеціальному льотному загону «Росія». Він підпорядковується управлінню справами президента Росії та забезпечує перевезення повітряним транспортом вищих посадових осіб, включаючи главу держави. …

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Коментатори в РФ, можливо, поширюють фейки про успіхи на Запоріжжі та Донбасі – розвідка Британії

«Існує ймовірність, що російські військові джерела навмисно поширюють дезінформацію, щоб створити враження, що російська операція продовжує тримати темп» …

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Europe Scrambles to Deliver Tanks in ‘Pivotal’ Moment for Ukraine War

Germany and its European allies plan to send around 80 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine in the coming weeks, according to Berlin, which announced the change of policy this week following intense pressure from Kyiv and its Western partners. The Leopard 2 is considered one of the world’s most powerful tanks and well-suited to the Ukraine conflict. Britain and the United States are also sending dozens of their main battle tanks. The decision marks a significant step up in Western weapons supplies to Ukraine and is being seen by NATO as a pivotal moment in the war — one that …

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German MP: ‘Small’ Positive Developments in Case of Iran’s Jailed Rapper

There have been several “small” positive developments in the situation of jailed Iranian hip-hop star and dissident Toomaj Salehi, according to a German lawmaker serving as his political sponsor. Salehi has been in solitary confinement for 89 days at Dastgerd Prison in the central Iranian city of Isfahan, according to the latest update from his official Twitter account, which is being administered by his supporters. He was detained by Iranian authorities on October 30, 2022, and charged with several offenses, including “corruption on Earth,” a serious crime punishable by death. His songs denounce Iran’s Islamist rulers and the perceived injustices …

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US to Sanction Russia’s Wagner Paramilitary Group

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Thursday a series of sanctions targeting individuals associated with Russia’s paramilitary Wagner Group, including its leader and associated front companies, for waging war in Ukraine, including battlefield activities and the targeting of civilians. In a statement, Blinken said the sanctions will target five entities and one individual linked to the Wagner Group and its head, Yevgeniy Prigozhin, as well as several other individuals and entities, for their status as government officials and for being part of Russia’s military industrial complex. Blinken’s statement said the State Department also is designating three individuals for their …

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France Demands Release of Citizen in Iran as Health Worsens

France’s foreign ministry demanded on Thursday the immediate release of Bernard Phelan, a Franco-Irish citizen detained in Iran, whose health situation has worsened, with Paris saying he has been denied urgent medical care. Ties between France and Iran have deteriorated in recent months with Tehran detaining seven of its nationals in what Paris has said are arbitrary arrests that are equivalent to state hostage taking. Phelan, 64, a tourism consultant was detained in early October as anti-government protests spread across the country. Diplomats said he had recently ended a hunger strike that had harmed his health, and he remains fragile. …

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