RT

Kiev’s accession to the European Union will take a “very long” time, according to France’s Europe minister No fast-track accession of Ukraine to the European Union is possible and the process will take a “very long” time, French European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune said on Sunday. “We have to be honest. If we say that Ukraine will join the EU in six months, one year or two years, we are lying. It’s not true. It’s probably 15 or 20 years. It takes a very long time,” Beaune told Paris-based Radio J. “I don’t want to offer Ukrainians any illusions or lies,” […]

Belgian health authorities have mandated a 21-day self-isolation period after three cases were detected Belgium’s Risk Assessment Group has announced a 21-day quarantine for patients with monkeypox after three people in the country were diagnosed with the virus, which has surfaced in over a dozen countries in the past week. The health authority issued the declaration on Friday.  A fourth case of monkeypox was diagnosed on Sunday, virologist Marc Van Ranst revealed on social media. He noted that, like the previous three instances, the individual in question was connected to the international gay fetish festival Darklands, which was held in early […]

Authorities in Moldova should first ask for weapon deliveries, the chair of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs says The US is ready to supply weapons to Moldova and the issue is currently being discussed with the country’s authorities, Gregory Meeks, who chairs the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs, has said. He made the statement on Saturday at a news conference in Chisinau, where he arrived as part of a delegation of US lawmakers for talks with top officials from Moldova. “My position is that we need to talk to the government of Moldova. We’ve got to make sure […]

Many volunteers have headed to the Donbass since Russia’s military offensive began, in February. Once there, some help civilians by bringing groceries, medicine, and other supplies. Others assist by clearing debris or working in hospitals. There is another important task that volunteers are involved in – assisting the troops of the Donetsk (DPR) and Lugansk (LPR) People’s Republics. Their mission is to obtain the most modern equipment, the kind that only special forces are usually supplied with. Political strategist Igor Mangushev is one of the people doing this work. His fund, OPSB, collects about 20 million rubles ($322,000) a month in donations, which […]

Artem Dzuyba dressed as the fictional superhero ‘Deadpool’ as he announced decision to leave the Saint Petersburg’s club Artem Dzuyba, the captain of the Russian national team and its joint all-time top goalscorer, has revealed his decision to leave Zenit Saint Petersburg in typically bizarre fashion. The 33-year-old goalscoring ace announced in a social media post on Sunday that he was to step away from the club he has represented since 2015 – and did so while dressed as the popular superhero ‘Deadpool’, who has been played in two popular Hollywood movies by Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds. “Saint Petersburg, thank you […]

The impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict could prompt mass hunger across the world, according to a report The global food system, already weakened by pandemic-related shocks and the energy crisis, is expected to be severely impacted by the conflict in Ukraine and Western sanctions against Moscow, The Economist reports. “Ukraine’s exports of grain and oilseeds have mostly stopped and Russia’s are threatened,” the report states. According to the magazine, the two nations supply 12% of “traded calories.” Earlier this week, wheat prices – up 53% since the start of 2022 – reportedly soared by further 6% shortly after India prohibited all […]

Even at 45, Floyd Mayweather showed that his capacity for high profile paydays remains as strong as ever after breezed through his latest exhibition fight against overmatched opponent Don Moore in the United Arab Emirates late on Saturday.  Mayweather, who retired from professional competition following a 2017 win against Conor McGregor which extended his record to 50-0, has taken part in a series of money-spinning exhibition fights since he hung up his gloves. He was last seen in the ring in June of last year where he boxed YouTube celebrity Logan Paul and had previously made short work of Japanese kickboxer Tenshin […]

The secretary of state tells the Russian leader: ‘we are never ever getting back together’ Secretary of State Antony Blinken has invoked a Taylor Swift hit to send a message to President Putin that Russia-US ties, devastated by the situation in Ukraine, are not about to improve. Giving a commencement address at Georgetown University on Saturday, Blinken started by comparing himself to the 11-time Grammy winner Swift, who previously appeared in the same role at New York University. “I want to start by kicking the elephant out of the room. Yes, NYU got Taylor Swift as their commencement speaker,” said the […]

A feminist protester infiltrated the Cannes festival to protest over “rape” in Ukraine A topless activist crashed the red carpet at Cannes on Friday, protesting over alleged sexual violence against Ukrainian women amid the ongoing conflict between Kiev and Moscow. The incident unfolded ahead of a screening of George Miller’s film ‘Three Thousand Years Of Longing’. The activist, who had apparently posed as one of the guests, walked the red carpet before abruptly taking off her dress, footage from the scene shows. She was left wearing nothing but red-stained underwear, with the colors of the of the Ukrainian flag and the […]

Russia has stopped supplying power to Lithuania, the country’s electricity transmission system operator Litgrid announced on Sunday. Inter RAO, which was the only importer of electricity from Russia to Lithuania, confirmed the suspension of deliveries. Earlier this month, Inter RAO’s Nordic branch also stopped supplying electricity to Finland. Lithuania’s Energy Ministry initially announced that it would stop buying Russian electricity on Friday. “According to the decision of the electricity exchange operator Nord Pool, trading in electricity generated in Russia, which was carried out by Inter RAO (through its subsidiary Inter RAO Lietuva), is terminated” starting from May 22, the ministry said […]

Brits forego heating and stay home because of surging prices, say handling of cost crisis will be top election issue, poll shows A new poll suggests UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is likely headed for defeat in the country’s next election unless he can begin to convince voters that his party has the right leadership to ease an inflation crisis that is eating away at their standard of living. The poll, conducted by Savanta ComRes for the Daily Mail and released on Saturday, revealed that only 24% of voters see Johnson’s Tories as the best party to manage the inflation crisis, […]

‘New problems’ could arise from hunger fueled by the conflict in Ukraine, says Serbia’s president Nearly a quarter of the world’s population could run short of food if the war in Ukraine continues for much longer, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said during a speech at the 89th International Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad on Saturday.  “If something does not change in the conflict in Eastern Europe, almost a quarter of the world will be in need of basic quantities of food, which will create new problems,” Vucic said in an address opening the week-long event in the Serbian city, which brings […]

New bases and additional numbers are also possible in a show of force against Russia, CNN reports The US plans to keep 100,000 troops in Eastern Europe for the foreseeable future, potentially even increasing the number if it perceives a threat from Russia to NATO or its two new prospective members, Sweden and Finland, several officials told CNN on Friday. If NATO carries out more military exercises in the area or the “security environment” changes, the US could bring in more troops or even build more military bases in the region, the officials said. The plans are reportedly under consideration following […]

Former North Macedonian leader Nikola Gruevski, who remains a fugitive, got a nine-year sentence for demolishing a building The fugitive former North Macedonian prime minister, Nikola Gruevski, was sentenced on Friday to nine years in prison for ordering the demolition of a building owned by a political adversary. Skopje’s Criminal Court handed down the sentence after finding that Gruevski had abused his power and ordered the 2011 demolition as an “act of political revenge” against Fijat Canoski, a former ally who had left the ruling coalition to lead a fledgling opposition party. Canoski was developing a large residential complex, called the […]

Lying is effectively a standard practice for diplomats in “real world,” Michael McFaul says Washington has been deliberately lying about Ukraine’s prospects to ever join NATO, knowing that the former Soviet republic isn’t a legitimate contender to qualify for membership in the Western military bloc, former US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul has acknowledged. The veteran diplomat made the revelation in a public policy forum, the semi-annual Munk Debates, earlier this month in Toronto. Partnered with Polish MEP Radoslaw Sikorski, McFaul sparred on May 12 against Harvard international affairs professor Stephen Walt and political John Mearsheimer over the ongoing conflict between […]

A 30-year-old man died on Saturday after collapsing at the Brooklyn Half Marathon’s finish line, according to officials. Local police say that the runner was taken to nearby Coney Island Hospital and pronounced dead, as six others also required medical assistance with non-life-threatening and minor injuries.  Later on, New York Road Runners (NYRR) released a statement where they said they were “deeply saddened by the passing of a participant following the 2022 RBC Brooklyn Half”. “The male runner, age 30, collapsed after finishing the race,” the statement continued. “He was immediately attended to by on-site medical staff and then transported to Coney Island Hospital. […]

The Syrian permanent mission to the UN stated on Friday that the US must withdraw its troops from the country at once and pay reparations for the deaths of dozens of civilians in a 2019 airstrike in the town of Baghuz. Damascus categorically rejected a Pentagon report claiming it was not at fault for the attack, declaring its conclusions represent “an admission of negligence that calls for accountability.” The Pentagon had released a report on Tuesday claiming the March 18, 2019 airstrike targeting an Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) encampment in Syria’s Baghuz, initially believed to have killed some 70 people, […]

Parliament speaker says Helsinki can’t change its laws and extradite ‘innocent people’ to allay Ankara’s terrorism concerns Finland’s top legislator has ruled out placating Turkey to win approval for the country’s NATO membership bid, saying parliament can’t change laws and extradite “innocent people” whom Ankara considers to be terrorists. Speaker of Parliament Matti Vanhanen, a former prime minister, made his comments in an interview with Finnish public broadcaster Yle on Saturday, responding to claims by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that NATO applicants Finland and Sweden have harbored people linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, who Ankara considers “terrorists.” […]

Manchester United’s new coach Erik ten Hag has eased fan concerns that Cristiano Ronaldo may leave Old Trafford this summer in search of Champions League football after he spoke of how excited he is to work with the multiple time Ballon d’Or winner when he takes the reins at the Red Devils.  Dutchman Ten Hag is trading Amsterdam for Manchester at the culmination of the Premier League season as he looks to transfer the success he has infused into Eredivisie heavyweights Ajax into a Manchester United side which has misfired for several seasons now.  Ten Hag is likely to oversee a […]

The document approving a behemoth assistance package was flown to Seoul for the US president’s signature US President Joe Biden signed into law a massive $40 billion military and economic aid package for Ukraine on Saturday. Biden inked the document during his visit to South Korea.The document, titled the “Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act 2022,” was flown to Seoul specifically for Biden’s signature. The move appears to have been more symbolic than practical, as the US President could have legally have directed a subordinate to affix his signature. The legislation was passed by the US Senate on Wednesday, receiving the overwhelming […]

Estonia, Lithuania and Bulgaria have the fastest consumer price growth in the bloc Consumer price growth has hit double digits in at least a third of EU countries, with the most severe spike seen in the Baltic region, the Financial Times reported this week. According to the paper, nine members of the bloc have seen inflation surpass 10%, with the biggest increase observed in Estonia, where consumer prices have surged by 19% year-on-year. Other badly affected countries are Lithuania with inflation at 16.8%, Bulgaria with 14.4%, the Czech Republic with 14.2%, along with Romania (13.8%), Latvia (13%), Poland (2.4%) and Slovakia […]

Daniil Medvedev’s Wimbledon ban could ironically move him to the top spot in the world rankings Daniil Medvedev could potentially overtake Novak Djokovic at the summit of the tennis world rankings, even if the Serbian ace wins both the French Open and Wimbledon this summer, and despite Medvedev being banned from competing at this summer’s grass court showpiece in London.  On Friday, the ATP and WTA revealed that they would strip Wimbledon of its rankings points as punishment for banning players from both Russia and Belarus from competing at this summer’s Grand Slam, which begins in late June.  This decision was […]

The head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has also warned of an increased risk of sabotage Germany is being spied on at least as much as during the Cold War, the head of the country’s domestic intelligence agency has claimed. He put the growing level of espionage down to souring relations between the West and Russia over the conflict in Ukraine. Thomas Haldenwang, the president of Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), made the warning on Thursday during a conference in Berlin. According to local media, the official said that “today, we […]

The spread of the rare virus could “accelerate” in summer, the UN health body’s top official in Europe warns Europe should expect a wave of monkeypox cases in the coming months, according to Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization’s top official on the continent. “As we enter the summer season… with mass gatherings, festivals and parties, I am concerned that transmission [of monkeypox] could accelerate,” Kluge said on Friday. The number of the infected could rise because “the cases currently being detected are among those engaging in sexual activity,” and many don’t recognize the symptoms, he added. The current spread of […]

Wheat prices have surged to record highs over the past two months as major producers like Russia, Kazakhstan and India scrapped exports to protect their domestic markets. This has sparked fears of food insecurity and hunger around the world. According to experts who spoke to Russia’s Izvestia newspaper, since the beginning of the year the cost of wheat has risen in price by more than 60%. They say the surge was caused by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which provide nearly a third of the globe’s wheat exports. In the 2021-2022 season that began in July last year, Russian suppliers […]

The move comes after the state energy major failed to comply with Moscow’s ruble payment demand Russia has halted natural gas deliveries to Finland after state energy major Gasum failed to make the required payment in rubles to continue future supplies, the Finnish gas system operator Gasgrid Finland said on Saturday.  “Gas imports through Imatra entry point have been stopped,” the statement read. Earlier this week, Gasum announced that it will not comply with Russia’s new ruble-based gas payment scheme. Finland imports the vast majority of its natural gas from Russia; however, this type of fuel accounts for only about 5% of the country’s energy […]

As Netflix is struggling to keep its head above water, the company is attempting a new approach to filling its coffers, by apparently turning its back on radical woke leftist ideologies, warning employees to either like it or lump it when it comes to the content the streaming service produces. Under ‘Artistic Expression’, Netflix’s updated culture statement says:  “Not everyone will like – or agree with – everything on our service. While every title is different, we approach them based on the same set of principles: we support the artistic expression of the creators we choose to work with; we program […]

Two US Secret Service agents tasked with helping prepare for President Joe Biden’s visit to South Korea were sent home before the commander-in-chief even arrived, following allegations that they were involved in a drunken altercation. The two agents were reportedly bar-hopping in Seoul while off duty in the early morning hours of Thursday, when one of them allegedly assaulted a taxi driver outside the Grand Hyatt hotel, where Biden was to stay. South Korean police told Reuters that one of the agents was arrested, but an unidentified US official said he was only “investigated.” “The Secret Service is aware of an […]

Missile strikes have killed at least 3 people and started a fire at the Damascus airport, Syrian Defence Ministry says At least three people have been killed at the Damascus international airport on Friday, in what the Syrian government said was a missile attack from Israel. Two flights were delayed as a result of a fire at the airport. Israeli media reported that the strikes targeted Syrian and Iranian military objectives. Syrian air defenses intercepted multiple “hostile targets” in the skies over Damascus late on Friday, but some missiles got through to cause casualties and start a fire at the airport, […]

Alleged Dallas Koreatown hate crime by black suspect results from ‘white supremacy replacement theorist,’ congresswoman says US Representative Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, is pointing to a recent shooting at a Korean-owned hair salon in Dallas as the latest example of terrorism motivated by “white supremacy replacement theory.” Her assertion might be problematic, inasmuch as the alleged shooter is a black man. Beatty rolled out her theory about racially motivated violence on Thursday in a speech on Capitol Hill, suggesting that Republicans are inspiring mass shootings of non-whites and Jews with their racist rhetoric. She cited […]

The world number two was asked if he would seek legal action against the organizers of the Grand Slam World tennis number two Daniil Medvedev has confirmed he is not planning to sue Wimbledon for its ban on Russian players this summer.  The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) announced its controversial ruling last month, which has been criticized as discriminatory and unfair by the likes of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, in addition to ATP men’s tour chiefs. Ahead of making his comeback to the elite at the French Open after undergoing surgery to treat a small hernia, Medvedev revealed […]

All landings at the Geneva Airport have been suspended due to a fire at a nearby building Thick black smoke from a nearby burning building temporarily stopped all arrivals at the airport in Geneva, Switzerland on Friday afternoon. Departures from the country’s second-busiest airport were left to the pilots’ discretion. The fire broke out at a reception facility for asylum-seekers that was under construction. “Due to a fire at the edge of the runway, landings and take-offs have been suspended since 5:35 p.m.” tweeted the airport’s official account. “A reopening of the runway, for takeoffs initially, is envisaged around 7 p.m.” local […]

The proposed law would target men who left the country during martial law and failed to return within 30 days Ukrainian lawmakers have introduced a bill that seeks to deprive conscripts of citizenship if they left the country during martial law. In a bill registered in the Verkhovna Rada – Ukraine’s parliament – on Tuesday, lawmakers proposed several amendments to legislation defining the legal regime under martial law intended to “strengthen the economy and defensive capabilities of the country.”  One of the proposals suggests that anyone liable for military service may be deprived of Ukrainian citizenship if they left the country […]

Republican representative points to administration’s own policies that have led to price hikes As average gas prices in the US are expected to reach $6 per gallon by August according to American Automobile Association (AAA), Energy Sec Jennifer Granholm was grilled for pinning the blame on Vladimir Putin and Russia’s military operation in Ukraine. During a Senate hearing on Thursday, US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm was pressed by Republican Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri about the record high gas prices, questioning what the Biden administration plans to do to lower costs. “I’m sure you’ve seen the reporting this morning,” said Hawley, […]

Business Insider claims the Tesla CEO is accused of paying off a flight attendant to settle a sexual misconduct claim Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk claims that recent sexual misconduct claims against him are a “political hit piece,” which he insists should be viewed through a political lens. The billionaire allegedly had his company pay a former flight attendant $250,000 as part of a severance agreement in 2018 after offering to buy her a horse in exchange for sexual acts. According to an article published by Business Insider, the flight attendant worked in the cabin crew for SpaceX‘s corporate jet […]

The nations are discussing setting up a cartel to force Moscow to sell crude below the market price The Group of Seven (G7) countries, represented by their respective finance ministers and central bank governors, on Thursday discussed the creation of a cartel of buyers in order to control the price of Russian oil. This was announced by US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in comments to reporters between G7 meetings. “You need a significant cartel in order to accomplish that, maybe the EU alone wouldn’t be sufficient… The idea of using sanctions, secondary sanctions has come up. The idea of tariffs instead […]

The Russian ruble reached its strongest position against the US dollar in over four years on Friday, propelled by recently introduced capital controls, Russia’s new ruble-based gas payment scheme and looming tax payments for corporations pushing up demand for the currency domestically. The exchange rate reached 57.67 rubles per dollar at 08:13 GMT, its firmest against the US currency since March 2018, according to data from the Moscow Exchange. The ruble also gained nearly 5% on the euro, with the exchange rate now below 60 rubles per euro, hitting a seven-year high. The Russian currency has become the best-performing currency this […]

Officials have rushed to secure vaccines as cases of the rare monkeypox virus continue to crop up in the US and Europe The US health authorities have signed a deal for $119 million in vaccine doses against the monkeypox virus, after a Massachusetts man was diagnosed with the rare but potentially serious illness earlier this week.  The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) – a government agency devoted to combating pandemics and bioterrorism – signed the multi-million-dollar contract with Danish pharma firm Bavarian Nordic on Wednesday, the company announced in a statement. The $119 million deal is one in a […]

The country’s 5G networks will be formally closed to two major Chinese telecom firms, officials said The authorities in Canada will not allow Chinese companies Huawei or ZTE to use the country’s growing 5G telecommunications networks, citing “serious” national security and privacy concerns. The long-delayed decision was announced on Thursday by Ottawa’s Office of Innovation, Science and Industry, which stated the two firms would be barred from Canadian networks going forward. “The Government of Canada is announcing today that it intends to prohibit Canadian telecommunications service providers from deploying Huawei and ZTE products and services in their 5G networks,” the office […]

Dmitry Medvedev blamed the looming global food crisis on the “cosmic cretinism” of the West Russia will not export food to the detriment of its own market, Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council and former president Dmitry Medvedev said, adding that the West has to blame its own “cosmic cretinism” for the looming crisis. In a lengthy Telegram post, Medvedev commented on recent statements by Western leaders about food security. As Russia and Ukraine are major wheat suppliers, accounting for some 30% of global exports, the prices have significantly grown since the launch of the Russian military offensive in the neighboring […]

Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov and chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley held a rare series of phone calls on Thursday. The two top military officials discussed various “issues of mutual interest,” including the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement. The talks were held at the request of the American side, it noted. The Pentagon remained tight-lipped as well, providing no details on the conversation. “The military leaders discussed several security-related issues of concern and agreed to keep the lines of communication open,” a spokesman for Milley […]

Over 12,000 US troops are currently in Poland, but Warsaw and its Baltic allies want even more The US ambassador to Poland revealed on Thursday that there are 12,600 of America’s military personnel in the EU member state at the moment, the largest number in history. As NATO conducts massive exercises on Ukraine’s doorstep, Poland and the Baltic states have asked for even more troops, according to documents leaked to the press earlier. “I am very grateful to Poland for hosting so many American troops on its territory. At the moment, 12,600 soldiers are on the territory of the Polish Republic. […]

The inability to agree on the latest round of restrictions on Russia shows that Brussels may soon reach its limits, Euractiv reports The failure of EU member states to agree on a Russian oil embargo indicates that the bloc is reaching the limits of its ability to impose financial sanctions on Moscow, an EU diplomat told Euractiv this week. “If there was such a mess with Russia’s oil, imagine what would happen with a proposal to ban gas,” the unnamed diplomat was quoted as saying, following the EU foreign ministers meeting on Monday. “The 7th package of sanctions against Moscow will […]

UFC legend and Eagle FC owner Khabib Nurmagomedov is already thinking about his next potential opponent for Junior Dos Santos, which could be against Russian heavyweight great Fedor Emelianenko. Dos Santos is set to make his promotion debut against Yorgan de Castro in the main event at Eagle FC 47 in Miami on Friday, after being released by the UFC at the end of a four-fight losing streak last year. Should Dos Santos gets back to winning ways, however, Nurmagomedov is interested in a cross-promotion bout with Bellator, which could see ex-UFC heavyweight champion Dos Santos meet 40-6 Russian heavyweight legend Emelianenko. “If Dos […]

It will mark the first time women have officiated matches at the men’s football showpiece For the first time in its 92-year history, the men’s football World Cup will feature female referees when the tournament is held in Qatar later this year. FIFA announced the news on Thursday, with France’s Stephanie Frappart, Rwandan official Salima Mukansanga, and Japan’s Yoshimi Yamashita being named as among the referees for the event. In addition, Qatar 2022 will see three female assistant referees in the form of Neuza Back of Brazil, American Kathryn Nesbitt, and Mexico’s Karen Diaz Medina. The tournament in Qatar – which […]

The total number of captives from the Azovstal plant has reached 1,730, the Defense Ministry said An additional 771 Ukrainian combatants have surrendered to Russian forces at the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on Thursday morning. This pushed the total number of captives from the stronghold up to 1,730 since Monday, the report said. Azovstal served as the last bastion of Ukrainian forces in the key port city, which the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) claims as its territory. According to the Russian military, the prisoners were “militants from the nationalist unit […]

António Guterres urges to reintegrate the sanctioned country’s food produce and fertilizers into the world markets Food products and fertilizers from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus must be allowed on the world markets if the global community wants to stem an unfolding food crisis, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at a ministerial meeting on global food security on Wednesday. “Let’s be clear, there is no more effective solution to the food crisis without the reintegration of Ukrainian food production, as well as food and fertilizer produced by Russia and Belarus, into world markets,” he stressed. Earlier this month, Guterres warned that a […]

After a three-year delay, the US Embassy in Kiev is set to have a duly confirmed ambassador in charge instead of a temporary chargé d’affaires. On Wednesday, the US Senate approved Bridget Brink, who currently represents her country in Slovakia, for the post. The career diplomat was nominated by the Biden administration a few weeks ago. It was confirmed by a unanimous vote, as both parties highlighted the importance of the office amid Russia’s military operation in the country. “To have an ambassador there at this critical time as the United States continues to help the Ukrainian people … is a […]

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the green light to administer Pfizer vaccine boosters to children aged between 5 and 11, citing data collected in ongoing trials. The agency skipped an advisory board meeting typically held before such decisions, saying the matter had been covered during previous discussions. The FDA announced the expanded booster eligibility on Wednesday, acknowledging that while “Covid-19 tends to be less severe in children than adults,” the virus’ Omicron variant has led to “more kids getting sick with the disease and being hospitalized” and created the need for boosters among younger Americans. “The FDA […]

The former president made a gaffe while attempting to criticize Russia’s military action Former US President George W. Bush inadvertently condemned the “invasion of Iraq” while blasting Russia’s attack on Ukraine, a slip-up which he blamed on his old age.  Speaking in Dallas on Wednesday for an event hosted by the eponymous George W. Bush Institute, the ex-commander-in-chief railed against the Russian government under President Vladimir Putin and his decision to send troops into Ukraine in late February. “The result is an absence of checks and balances in Russia, and the decision of one man to launch a wholly unjustified and brutal […]

A Massachusetts man has been diagnosed with monkeypox after traveling to Canada, the Centers for Disease Control and Massachusetts Department of Public Health have confirmed on Wednesday.  While the agencies are working with the man’s healthcare providers and local health boards to identify anyone who had contact with him, they insist his case poses no risk to the public, and he is reportedly hospitalized and in good condition.  The case is the first to surface in the US this year and comes on the heels of an alert by Spanish authorities of a potential outbreak of the virus among 23 people […]

Kosovo wants to be part of EU and NATO, leader of Serbia’s breakaway province says in Washington Kosovo wishes to become a member of NATO and the European Union, the self-proclaimed republic’s prime minister Albin Kurti said on Wednesday, while visiting Washington. Serbia’s breakaway province had declared independence with US support in 2008, but has not been recognized by Belgrade, the UN, or even all the EU member states. Kurti made the announcement during an event hosted by the Atlantic Council on Wednesday afternoon. Earlier in the day, he met with officials of the Biden administration – including national security adviser […]

Chip Roy accused his fellow lawmakers of waging a “proxy war” so they can “look all fancy with our blue and yellow ribbons” Congressman Chip Roy (R-Texas) has condemned House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer for stating that the US is “at war,” presumably with Russia. Roy hammered Democrats and Republicans alike for deepening America’s involvement in the Ukraine conflict in order to “feel good about ourselves.” In a video clip posted by Roy’s press office on Wednesday, the Texas Republican took aim at Hoyer for declaring on Friday that the US is “at war,” and that critics of the Democratic Party […]

Ukrainian neo-Nazi gloats over brutally killed opposition activists, wishes their fate on all “traitors” A Ukrainian officer who at one point commanded the notorious neo-Nazi Azov regiment has gloated on social media over graphic photos of dead members of an opposition party. The activists “disappeared” from the Ukrainian-held city of Severodonetsk in early March and appear to have been extrajudicially executed, with Maksim Zhorin implying such a fate awaits all “traitors.”  “This is what the ‘Patriots for Life’ from Severodonetsk look like now,” Zhorin said in a Telegram [warning: Graphic images] post on Wednesday. “They disappeared on March 7, and now their new […]

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been criticized for accidentally crashing into an eight-year-old boy during a football match while on the campaign trail. Morrison was taking part in a training game at the Devenport Strikers Football Club in Tasmania when he lost control while trying to enter the action and collided with the youngster, later named as Luca Fauvette. “A bit of a rugby tackle,” Morrison said as he helped Luca get back on his feet. While Luca appeared unfazed by Morrison’s sloppy tackle and managed to brush himself off before he resumed the game, Morrison was clearly concerned by later asking: “Where’s Luca?” […]

Previously detected in the UK and Portugal, monkeypox has reportedly infected gay men in Madrid Health authorities in Spain have issued an alert over a potential outbreak of monkeypox – a rare and incurable viral infection – in Madrid. The alert follows similar outbreaks in the UK and Portugal, and all of the Spanish patients are gay men. Spain’s Ministry of Health sent an alert to regional health authorities on Tuesday, after health officials in Madrid recorded eight suspected cases of monkeypox. Samples have been sent to Spain’s National Center for Microbiology for a definitive diagnosis.  “Generally speaking, monkeypox is spread […]

Undercover video shows the alleged senior executive blasting the Tesla CEO while boasting about limiting free speech A senior Twitter executive has apparently been caught on tape mocking Tesla CEO Elon Musk for having Asperger’s syndrome, while criticizing free speech. In an undercover video posted by Project Veritas on Tuesday, Alex Martinez, who is claimed to be Twitter’s lead client partner, and who sometimes speaks on behalf of the company at events, claimed that Musk is “literally special needs” and that he can’t take anything he says seriously, adding that “he’s a loony tune.” “Elon Musk as a person, he is […]

One crafty seagull has become such a skilled shoplifter it is believed to have pilfered some $375 (£300) worth of crisps in a single year from the Tesco in Paignton, England, local media reports revealed on Tuesday, adding that the enterprising bird had been caught red-taloned on film. Known as “Steven Seagull” to the Devon town’s inhabitants, the bird is believed to visit the store as often as three times a day, waiting for humans to open the automatic doors before darting in and emerging with a bag of potato chips firmly clasped in its beak. While it’s impossible to tell […]

The Chechen leader compared the suspensions imposed on Russia sports stars to his own experience Chechen Republic chief Ramzan Kadyrov has said Russian athletes should consider themselves to be “winners” after sweeping sporting sanctions were imposed on the country following the launch of the military operation in Ukraine. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended at the end of February that federations across all sports decline to invite Russian and Belarusian athletes to events wherever possible. That stance has since been adopted by a host of authorities, from the likes of powerful football governing bodies FIFA and UEFA to smaller organizations such as […]

Italy’s Eni, considered one of the world’s seven energy supermajors, announced that it has begun procedures to open a dual checking account with Gazprombank to comply with Russia’s new ruble-based gas payment scheme, Corriere reported on Tuesday. “In connection with the approaching payment deadlines scheduled for the coming days, Eni has begun, as a precautionary measure, procedures related to the opening of two current accounts with Gazprombank, one in euro and one in rubles, indicated by Gazprom Export according to a unilateral claim to modify existing contracts in accordance with the new gas payment procedure,” the company said in a statement. […]

There are conflicting reports over the status of the deal to sell the Premier League giants Lawyers for Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich believe they have found a solution to a legal wrangle with the UK government holding up the sale of Chelsea football club, although a definitive agreement is yet to be reached, according to reports. Chelsea announced earlier this month that terms had been agreed for a sale to a consortium led by US financier Todd Boehly, who has since been pictured at the club’s Stamford Bridge stadium and visiting the team’s training base. The £4.25 billion ($5.3 billion) sale […]

The US may block Russia’s ability to make payments on its government debt by the end of May, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday citing people familiar with the matter. According to the publication, in order to boost financial pressure on Moscow, the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control is poised to scrap a temporary exemption on Russia’s debt payments once it expires on May 25. The waiver was granted after Washington introduced sanctions on Russia in response to the launch of a military operation in neighboring Ukraine, which was highly criticized in the US. This allowed Moscow to make coupon […]

Some 20,000 troops are to be deployed to any of the three nations in case of a threat, a proposal seen by the Washington Post says Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia are actively seeking an enhanced NATO presence in Eastern Europe amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday, citing a joint proposal by the three nations obtained by the media outlet. A division-sized force of some 20,000 troops should be put on standby to be rapidly deployed to any of the nations if a threat arises, the document that has not been officially made public says, according […]

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Idrissa Gueye reportedly refused to wear the special rainbow-themed jersey in a recent match Paris Saint-Germain and Senegal defensive midfielder Idrissa Gueye has received backing from his country’s president for his alleged refusal to wear a shirt which supported the LGBTQ community. The 92-cap international has been in hot water since reports from RMC Sport claimed that Gueye refused to play against Montpellier at the weekend as he did not want to wear a rainbow-colored number on the back of his shirt. Though he traveled with the rest of the squad to the southern French city, Gueye told coach […]

The billionaire entrepreneur said he’s ready to cross the aisle after ‘overwhelmingly’ backing Democrats in the past Tesla founder Elon Musk said he will vote for Republican candidates in the next election, stressing that while he sees himself as a political moderate and has never supported the GOP, he can no longer side with the Democrats. Speaking virtually at an event hosted by the All-In podcast in Miami this week, the South African-born tech billionaire dismissed concerns that his efforts to purchase Twitter amounted to a “right-wing takeover,” but nonetheless hinted at his future voting preference. “I would classify myself as […]

Nobody will be held accountable for an airstrike that killed up to 64 civilians, a report states An internal Pentagon investigation has found that a 2019 airstrike that killed up to 64 civilians in Syria did not violate US rules of engagement or the law of war, and was not carried out with “wanton disregard.” Some military officers considered the incident, which the Pentagon still maintains was necessary to take out ISIS fighters, a war crime. On March 18, 2019, a US F-15E fighter jet dropped a bomb on “a large crowd of women and children huddled against a river bank” […]

The SVR claims that Washington is “ready to use any means,” including hiring ISIS fighters as mercenaries The US has been “actively recruiting” terrorists to fight in Ukraine, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) claimed on Tuesday, saying that it illustrates Washington’s readiness “to use any means to achieve its geopolitical goals.” The SVR revealed in a statement that, according to the intelligence it is receiving, “the United States is actively recruiting even members of international terrorist organizations, including the Islamic State (ISIS) group banned in the Russian Federation, as mercenaries to participate in hostilities in Ukraine.” The Russian intelligence service points […]

Special-purpose acquisition company Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC) has alerted potential investors that the man behind its prized product, former US President Donald Trump, has been associated with a long list of failed businesses ahead of a planned merger between the company and Trump Media & Technology Group. DWAC, which has raised over $1 billion ahead of the deal, detailed the risks to investors in a merger document released on Monday ahead of the long-delayed merger. “A number of companies that were associated with President Trump have filed for bankruptcy,” the filing warns, mentioning Trump University, Trump Vodka, Trump Steaks, Trump […]

Ankara’s threat to block Finland and Sweden’s bids reportedly has nothing to do with Russia Turkey’s list of demands for NATO and its prospective members Finland and Sweden includes the removal of sanctions imposed on Ankara over its purchase of S-400 missile defense systems from Russia, as well as re-inclusion in the F-35 advanced aircraft program, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing “three senior Turkish officials.” On May 15, Finland and Sweden officially announced their intention to join NATO in the wake of the ongoing Russian military offensive on Ukraine. To make it possible, all members of the alliance would have to […]

Prior to Moscow’s operation, the very statehood of Russia was threatened, a security chief says The West has used Ukraine as a pretext for an “undeclared war” against Moscow, and put Russia in a position in which it had to protect its “very statehood,” the secretary of the Russian Security Council, Nikolay Patrushev, said on Tuesday. Speaking at a meeting of the Security Council’s scientific advisory board, Patrushev said that the current “unprecedented geopolitical crisis” was caused by the Western-led destruction of “the global security architecture and the international legal system.” He argued that instead of engaging in constructive dialogue with […]

A Tory member of the British Parliament has been arrested, but will not be suspended from the party A British politician is under arrest and accused of numerous sexual offenses. Police arrested the Conservative Party lawmaker on Tuesday after a two-year probe, The Sun newspaper reported without identifying the suspect.  All that is known at this point is that the suspect is a serving member of Parliament, who is alleged to have committed numerous offenses in London between 2002 and 2009. The charges include “indecent assault, sexual assault, rape, abuse of position of trust and misconduct in a public office,” according to […]

The president proposed meeting the “venom” of racism with gun control and internet censorship President Joe Biden on Tuesday condemned the racially-motivated attack on a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, as “simple and straightforward terrorism,” and condemned the shooter’s racist worldview.  Biden spoke in Buffalo after meeting with the families of the 10 shoppers and employees slain by a teenage gunman at a grocery store on Saturday. The gunman, who was captured alive, live-streamed his rampage and posted a 180-page manifesto online detailing his white supremacist views. Three others were injured, and 11 of the 13 shot in total were black. […]

American aid to Kiev goes to NGOs run by “friends and families” of US politicians, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene claims The financial support America provides to Ukraine looks very much “like money laundering schemes,” Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has told ‘The Truth With Lisa Boothe’ podcast on Monday. The money supposedly destined for Ukrainians ends up in the pockets of “non-profits and NGOs” that are often run by people close to the politicians in Washington, Greene has claimed. “They want to get $40 billion to Ukraine and you have these $40 billion on top of the money that have already […]

Attempts to ditch Russian fossil fuels have triggered energy inflation in the West, president says Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that energy inflation in Western countries should be blamed on their own mistakes, and not on Russia. The EU is committing economic suicide by trying to wean itself off from Russian energy resources, Putin said. “Such an economic auto-da-fé, suicide is, of course, an internal affair of European countries. We must act pragmatically, proceed primarily from our own economic interests,” he said during a video conference on the oil sector. According to Putin, Europe recognizes that it cannot yet […]

Golf’s most successful player of all time believes ‘cancel culture’ is behind the reasoning for the PGA tour moving its championship away from a golf course owned by former US President Donald Trump.  Jack Nicklaus has 18 major championships to his name, which is a record in the sport and three more than nearest rival Tiger Woods.  As a public Trump supporter who urged his followers to vote the ex-president in for a second four-year term during the 2020 election lost to Joe Biden, the 82-year-old feels that the PGA and its CEO Seth Waugh moved their championship away from the Trump […]

A Turkish-born German boxer died on Saturday after collapsing in the ring while suffering a heart attack at a small show in Garching around 10 miles north of Munch city center. Bavaria-based Musa Yamak was an undefeated fighter with a proud 8-0 record consisting of eight knockouts. Facing Ugandan journeyman Hamza Wandera, Yamak allegedly tried and failed to come out for the third round by falling down suddenly and remaining unconscious. Yamak could not be revived and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital with his cause of death put down to a myocardial infarction or heart attack. After fans left the […]

Ukraine could still join the US-led military bloc and do so in an accelerated time frame, Washington’s ambassador to Kiev says If Ukraine joins the US-led NATO military bloc, it might do so on a fast-tracked procedure – without fulfilling the Membership Action Plan (MAP), US Ambassador to Kiev Kristina Kvien has said. The US and NATO said they’re looking to make Finland and Sweden the newest members of the alliance “as soon as possible” after the two Nordic nations announced plans to join in the wake of the Russian military operation in Ukraine. In her interview with the Ukrainian outlet […]

Ankara said it would block Sweden and Finland from joining the bloc over their asylum record NATO needs to deal with Ankara’s objections against the potential accession of Sweden and Finland to the alliance, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said. The two Nordic nations have decided to seek NATO membership, but their bids have been undercut by Turkey. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last Friday that his country will not support the membership bids of Sweden and Finland, as they are allegedly “harboring terrorists.” On Monday, he said Stockholm and Helsinki shouldn’t even bother sending delegations to Ankara to discuss the issue. […]

Amazon founder has been angered by Joe Biden’s demand for corporations to pay more tax Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has blamed the Biden administration for trying to mislead the US public on inflation, arguing that increasing taxes on corporations and the wealthy won’t reduce consumer costs. The war of the words broke out over the weekend when Joe Biden tweeted that making sure that “the wealthiest corporations pay their fair share” was the way to defeat soaring inflation in America, which stood at 8.3% in April, a level unseen in almost 40 years. Bezos suggested on Saturday that the president’s tweet […]

The US Air Force called the trial a ‘major accomplishment’ after a series of failed launch tests The US military said it carried out a test for a hypersonic missile system, claiming the new weapon reached speeds greater than five times the speed of sound. It marked the first successful launch for the prototype following three fizzled tests. The Air Force announced the test on Monday, saying it was conducted over the weekend near Edwards Air Force Base in California. The trial saw a B-52 Stratofortress bomber release an AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) off California’s southern coast.  “Following separation […]

Despite ‘House of Psychedelics’ expo offering meditation, breathwork and “ecstatic dance,” organizers say there won’t be any drugs Business and political leaders meeting at the World Economic Forum’s Davos gathering this month will explore the opportunities for personal and business growth in psychedelic drugs, Bloomberg reported. The psychedelic showcase is a sign of the growing interest in still-illegal substances among the architects of ‘The Great Reset.’ When world leaders and their colleagues in the business and nonprofit sectors arrive in Davos, Switzerland, next weekend, the agenda is typical of the World Economic Forum’s annual meetings. Visitors will discuss their shared interest […]

Delegations from these countries should not bother asking Ankara to approve their applications, president says Turkey will not say “yes” to Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership bids, the country’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday, adding that any attempts to persuade Ankara to change its position would be fruitless. Both governments officially announced their intention to join the US-led military bloc this weekend. Turkey had previously warned that it might oppose the move, with Erdogan calling the two Nordic countries “guesthouses for terrorist organizations.” He was referring to the separatist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Front (DHKP/C), which have […]

Vienna has no plans to change its non-aligned status, the country’s foreign minister has said Austria is not a NATO member and has no plans to become one in the near future, the nation’s foreign minister, Alexander Schallenberg, told journalists in Brussels on Monday. When asked about his stance on Swedish and Finnish aspirations to join the military bloc, Schallenberg said he “fully respects” the decisions taken by Helsinki and Stockholm but added that it “is their decision and not ours.” “Austria will continue to be a neutral country,” he said. However, he described the move taken by Sweden and Finland […]

An administration official said Trump’s decision was reversed due to a “heightened threat” from insurgents US President Joe Biden has agreed to send several hundred troops back to Somalia, reversing a move made in late 2020 by his predecessor, Donald Trump, an administration official told reporters during a conference call on Monday. Before Trump ordered a withdrawal of the troops, roughly 700 US military personnel helped Somali authorities fight against an Al-Shabaab insurgent group that has links to Al-Qaeda. According to the Biden administration official, the White House has seen “clear evidence” that Al-Shabaab fighters have the “intent and capability to […]

Russian villages have been shelled frequently from Ukrainian side amid ongoing Moscow’s offensive on its neighbor Almost 300 houses have been damaged in Russia’s Belgorod Region, which shares a border with Ukraine, over the last two and half months, the region’s governor Vyacheslav Gladkov revealed on Monday. Since the beginning of Moscow’s military offensive on Ukraine on February 24, numerous settlements in Russia’s southwestern regions of Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk have been struck from the Ukrainian side. “Over the entire period of the special operation, 281 houses in the Belgorod region were damaged, we have already repaired 126,” the governor said […]

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has confirmed in its social networks, on Tuesday evening, that its servicemen holed up at the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol have been ordered to surrender.  “The garrison “Mariupol” has completed the assigned combat mission. The highest military command issued an order to the commanders of the units located at Azovstal to save the lives of the personnel,” the Ukrainian military statement explained. According to Kiev, while holding positions at Azovstal, its soldiers prevented Russian troops from operating in other theaters. The two countries have been embroiled in a full-blown conflict since February, […]

Liz Cheney and ally Rep.Adam Kinzinger condemned current GOP leaders, provoking outrage The aftermath of Saturday’s mass shooting in Buffalo, New York has widened the gulf between supporters and detractors of former US President Donald Trump and his brand of populism within the Republican party, with ousted chairwoman Liz Cheney launching a new volley on Monday. She accused the current leadership of “enabling” racist ideologies.  “The House GOP leadership has enabled white nationalism, white supremacy, and anti-semitism,” she tweeted, adding that the GOP leadership must “renounce and reject these views and those who hold them” because “history has taught us that […]

In Kaja Kallas’ opinion, conversations are fruitless and do not let the Russian leader feel real “isolation” Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has urged fellow world leaders to stop calling Vladimir Putin, as the international attention, in her opinion, prevents the Russian president from properly feeling his ‘isolation.’ In an interview with EURACTIV on Monday, Kallas suggested that, at present, amid Moscow’s ongoing military offensive in Ukraine, Putin “feels that he’s the center of attention because everybody wants to talk to him.” “I feel that if everybody is constantly calling him, he doesn’t get the message that he’s isolated. So if […]

The European flying public should expect higher prices this summer when it comes to booking flights, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has warned.  The cost of flying this summer will reach a “single-digit percent” high above pre-pandemic levels, the low-cost airline chief told BBC Radio 4’s Today program on Monday.  He cited “demand for the beaches of Europe” during the summer vacation months as behind the anticipated price hike. He also pointed to the conflict in Ukraine and its impact on the price of fuel. Bookings are around 10% behind pre-pandemic levels, he told CNBC’s Europe Squawk Box on Monday.  O’Leary said […]

The West will try to distract the public from this “awkward fact”, Russia’s deputy envoy to the UN says Russia’s deputy ambassador to the UN, along with dozens of keen-eyed social media users, have pointed out that the suspect in Saturday’s deadly shooting in the US used the same Neo-Nazi symbol as Ukraine’s Azov Regiment. Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia’s First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, noted that the ‘sonnenrad’, or ‘Black Sun’ symbol, which adorned the manifesto published by the Buffalo shooter, has for years featured on the insignia of Ukraine’s Azov regiment and is a commonly used image among white […]

The sanction-hit country is expected to adjust to the new reality of severed ties with the West Russia’s real GDP is projected to decline by 10.4% this year after a growth of 4.7% recorded in 2021, according to the latest outlook revealed by the European Commission (EC), the EU’s executive arm. The country’s export earnings are expected to surge thanks to high prices and strong demand for commodities. “This will enable the government to support the ruble, vulnerable groups and the economy, limiting the decline in real GDP to 10.4% in 2022,” the report says. The EC predicts the Russian economy […]

Tony Kelley was lambasted online for comments he made to his fighter during a recent event UFC cornerman Tony Kelley says that he doesn’t see any issue with comments he was heard saying to his fighter Andrea Lee during last weekend’s event in Las Vegas in which he referred to opponent Viviane Araujo as a “dirty f**king Brazilian.” Kelley, who is also an active fighter on the UFC’s bantamweight roster, drew scorn online after he was overheard on the broadcast telling his fighter in between rounds: “That’s what they’re gonna do. They’re dirty f**king Brazilians. They’re going to f**king cheat like that.” […]

Beijing rejects the group’s demand to halt support for Russia amid sweeping sanctions China has responded to the G7’s request that Beijing cease support for Russia amid extensive Western sanctions, stating that the country decides its own position and policy based on the “merits of the matter itself,” and that the seven member nations should focus on their own issues instead of intervening in other countries’ internal affairs. The statement came after the foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7), which includes the US, Germany, Italy, Canada, the UK, France and Japan, issued a statement on Saturday calling on Beijing […]

The Russian currency is the world’s best-performing this year, according to Bloomberg The Russian ruble is edging towards a five-year high against the euro on Monday, demonstrating unprecedented resilience amid the most drastic sanctions ever imposed on Moscow by the West. The ruble was named the world’s best-performing currency by Bloomberg last week. The ruble strengthened by over 1% to trade just above 65 rubles to the euro, getting close to its strongest position since June 2017. The Russian currency made similar gains against the US dollar, trading above 63 rubles per dollar, hovering near its strongest exchange rate against the […]

Berlin reportedly aims to find new oil suppliers and resolve logistical problems within six to seven months Germany plans to ditch Russian oil imports by the end of the year, Bloomberg News reported on Sunday, citing anonymous sources familiar with the issue. The measure will apparently be adopted whether or not the EU reaches a consensus on a Russian oil embargo. The German Chancellor’s Office is now in talks with alternative suppliers and the government is confident it will be able to resolve all remaining issues within six to seven months, according to Bloomberg. The sources did not reveal which nations […]