Month: May 2023

Putin Orders Stronger Russian Border Security

President Vladimir Putin on Sunday ordered stronger border security to ensure fast Russian military and civilian movement into Ukrainian regions now under Moscow control. Speaking in a congratulatory message to the border service, a branch of Russia’s Federal Security Service, on their Border Guard Day holiday, Putin said their task was to “reliably cover” the lines in the vicinity of the combat zone. Attacks inside Russia have been growing in intensity in recent weeks, chiefly with drone strikes on regions along the border but increasingly also deep into the country, including on an oil pipeline northwest of Moscow on Saturday. …

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Erdogan Positioned to Extend Rule in Turkey Runoff Election

Turks vote Sunday in a presidential runoff that could see Tayyip Erdogan extend his rule into a third decade and intensify Turkey’s increasingly authoritarian path, muscular foreign policy and unorthodox economic governance. Erdogan, 69, defied opinion polls and came out comfortably ahead with an almost five-point lead over his rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu in the first round May 14. But he fell just short of the 50% needed to avoid a runoff, in a race with profound consequences for Turkey itself and global geopolitics. His unexpectedly strong showing amid a deep cost-of-living crisis, and a win in parliamentary elections for a …

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Tehran: Zelenskyy Using Iran to Gain West’s Support

Iran struck back at Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday, saying his accusation the Islamic republic is arming Russia was an attempt to gain the West’s military and financial support. The United States and the European Union have sanctioned Iran over its drone program, alleging it had supplied Moscow with unmanned aerial vehicles during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — a charge Tehran denies. On Wednesday, during his daily speech, Zelenskyy said Tehran’s “support for evil cannot be denied” and appealed directly to Iranians, asking: “Why do you want to be accomplices in Russian terror?” In response, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman …

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Waters Rejects Berlin Incitement Accusations over Concert Outfit

Police in Berlin said Friday that they have opened an investigation of Roger Waters on suspicion of incitement over a costume the Pink Floyd co-founder wore when he performed in the German capital last week. Images on social media showed Waters firing an imitation machine gun while dressed in a long black coat with a red armband. Police confirmed that an investigation was opened over suspicions that the context of the costume could constitute a glorification, justification or approval of Nazi rule and therefore a disturbance of the public peace. Once the police investigation is concluded, the case will be …

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France Confirms Bird Flu Vaccination After Favorable Tests

France confirmed its aim to launch a vaccination program against bird flu in the autumn after results from a series of tests on the vaccination of ducks showed “satisfactory effectiveness,” the farm ministry said.  A severe strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, has ravaged poultry production around the world, leading to the culling of over 200 million birds in the past 18 months.  France has been the worst hit country in the European Union and is facing a strong resurgence of outbreaks since early this month in the southwestern part of the country, mainly among ducks.  …

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Czech Leaders See Democratic Solidarity as Way Forward

Values-based diplomacy lies at the heart of the Czech Republic’s support for Ukraine and Taiwan alike, the country’s Chamber of Deputies president emphasized this week during a visit to Washington. Newly elected Czech President Petr Pavel sounded a similar note at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit earlier this month as he laid out how Prague views the threat posed by Moscow and Beijing. Marketa Pekarova Adamova was 5 years old when the Velvet Revolution swept the communists out of power in winter 1989. Stories of how people suffered under communism shaped her worldview, she told VOA during her visit to Washington …

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Police and Serbs Clash in Kosovo

Serbian troops near Kosovo’s border were placed on high alert Friday, after clashes between police and Kosovo’s Serbian population injured at least 10 people. Serbs in Kosovo had taken to the streets to prevent newly-elected Albanian mayors from entering their offices. Clashes erupted when Kosovan police attempted to move the protesters to allow the politicians to enter their offices. Authorities say at least five police were injured in the skirmishes Friday and several cars were set on fire. Britain, France, Italy, Germany and the United States have issued a joint statement urging Kosovo “to de-escalate.” The Western powers said they …

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ОВА: через російську агресію за добу на Донеччині загинули дві людини, ще 5 поранені

Внаслідок російської агресії за добу на Донеччині загинули дві людини, ще 5 поранені, повідомив голова обласної військової адміністрації Павло Кириленко. За його даними, одна людина загинула у Часовоярській громаді, ще одна – у Васюківці Соледарської громади. «На Нью-Йорк росіяни скинули бомбу ФАБ-250 – пошкоджено 3 будинки, клуб, спортзал, амбулаторію та ясла. Костянтинівка за добу зазнала 3 обстріли – поранені 2 людини, пошкоджені 7 приватних будинків, 2 багатоповерхівки, адмінбудівлю та навчальний заклад», – написав він у телеграмі. Кириленко також повідомив, що на Лисичанському напрямку 2 людини поранені у Торському Лиманської громади. В ОВА зазначають, що на Волноваському напрямку російські війська 30 …

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Кремль, ймовірно, повертається до тиску на Захід щодо змушення України йти на поступки – ISW

Аналітики ISW вважають, що Кремль не створив серйозних підстав для переговорів і не відмовився від своїх максималістських цілей змусити український уряд капітулювати. …

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Russia Offers Military Support to Somalia

Somali diplomats said Friday that Russia had offered to help support Somalia’s armed forces in their battle against the al-Shabab terrorist group. The diplomats, who asked for anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to reporters, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had made the offer during talks with his Somali counterpart, Abshir Omar Jama, in Moscow. One diplomat said, “Russia was ready to provide Somalia’s army with military supplies, to strengthen the government fight against al-Shabab.” The diplomats did not specify the kinds of materiel Russia was offering to Somalia, which is under a long-standing U.N. arms embargo. …

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Удар по лікарні в Дніпрі є «доказом варварства» Росії – чеський міністр

«Лікарня в Дніпрі у вогні – ще один доказ того, що Росія не поважає навіть найелементарніші принципи гуманності. Цей доказ варварства – ще один привід зберігати і посилювати підтримку України» …

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