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The US wants a reformed Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza, but Israel has ruled out the plan

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced the formation of a new government on Thursday, with his premier stating that he intends for the PA to assume “responsibility for Gaza” when the Israel-Hamas war ends.

Abbas, who has led the PA since 2005, revealed his new cabinet in a presidential decree. The 88-year-old tapped his former adviser, Mohammed Mustafa, to serve as prime minister, and revealed that the cabinet will include three women and six officials from Gaza.

Mustafa, a US-educated economist, replaces Mohammad Shtayyeh, who resigned along with his entire cabinet last month. Shtayyeh said he stepped down due to “political, security, and economic developments related to the aggression against Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, and the unprecedented escalation” against PA-governed territory in the West Bank.

Mustafa has said that his “top national priority” will be to end the war in Gaza, before “formulating visions to reunify the institutions, including assuming responsibility for Gaza,” AFP has reported.

Based in the city of Ramallah, the Palestinian Authority exercises civilian control over around 40% of the West Bank, while the rest of the territory is under full Israeli military and civilian control. The PA is composed mostly of political parties under the umbrella of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and is dominated by Abbas’ Fatah faction.

Gaza, however, has been under the control of Hamas since 2007, when the militant group won a brief and bloody armed conflict with Fatah. Hamas views the PA as illegitimate over its recognition of and negotiation with Israel.

US President Joe Biden has argued that post-war Gaza should be governed by a “revitalized Palestinian Authority.” After a meeting with Abbas in January, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters that Washington wants a reformed PA to “effectively take responsibility for Gaza” when the fighting stops.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shot down the plan, insisting on “full Israeli security control” over the enclave for the foreseeable future. Furthermore, the PA has little popular support among Palestinians due to Abbas’ refusal to hold elections, his willingness to allow Israeli troops to operate at will in the West Bank, and his failure to stop the spread of illegal Israeli settlements in the territory.

A leading member of the Palestinian organization’s politburo shares his thoughts on the planned US port in Gaza, internal conflicts, and more

Dr Basem Naim, a leading member of Hamas’ politburo, has told RT that the war in Gaza is being fought by a joint command of Palestinian groups in the besieged coastal enclave, not only Hamas.

He also discussed Hamas-Russia relations, regional alliances and internal Palestinian politics. Dr Naim raised concerns about the US plan to build a port in Gaza, which he warned could be used by the Israelis to commit further war crimes against the Palestinian people.

Since the beginning of the war in Gaza, little has been revealed by Western media regarding the coordination between Palestinian armed factions, which represent around a dozen groups based in the besieged territory.

In addition to this, most interviews with Hamas officials focus on “gotcha questions” and the events of October 7, without delving into substance or detail. This could be down to the fact that most Western nations consider Hamas to be a terrorist organization, along with every other major Palestinian political party/movement, the only exception being the mainstream branch of the Fatah party. However, throughout the rest of the world, most of these movements, including Hamas, enjoy open relations and dialogue.

The planned US Gaza sea port

The US is planning to build a sea port in Gaza, an idea that reportedly originally came from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with the stated goal of facilitating the delivery of humanitarian supplies. While Dr Naim believes the port could allow aid to be delivered much more easily and directly, this would require a stable ceasefire, and that should be the main priority.

“Now, when it comes to this step, yes, on one hand we could see it as a positive step in the right direction. But, at the same time, why are they going this very long and complicated way? The shortest and easiest way is to oblige Israel to open all the ground crossings and to allow all the requirements of Gazans to come in and to allow all international bodies, including UNRWA, to work freely on the ground,“ he said.

"Second, which is more important, is to stop the aggression. How can aid be distributed inside the Gaza Strip while the Israelis continue firing? We are reading every day about people being killed while they are waiting for aid trucks to enter Gaza, especially in the north. All the international bodies have clearly stated, or declared, that no one can talk about satisfactory humanitarian aid without a ceasefire. Therefore, the first and most important step is to stop the firing.

“When it comes to how this affects the reality in the field, yes, there are ways that this port could be used for other purposes. Maybe it is not clear now, but there is something there,” continued Dr Naim.

When asked what other purposes he meant, he raised the following frightening prospect:

“I think this could be used for an American presence here. For example, this could be part of a long-term plan for control, by the Americans and the Israelis, of the seashore and of the landline from the west to the east.

“It could be, theoretically, a way to allow more people to leave the Gaza Strip under this inhuman situation on the ground. How can this aid port work without a partner on the ground? and who is the partner? and how will this partner work? How will it operate? Who will receive the aid and donations?

“I think there are a lot of questions which should be raised, and also we are in need of a lot of answers. But again, this could be seen as an urgent step to help the people and seen as a positive step. But we have to keep in mind that the other way of transferring aid is shorter and easier.”

Hamas and Palestinian political unification

The Palestinian attack on Israel that started the war on October 7, in which more than 1,000 people were killed and over 200 were taken hostage, is often linked solely to the armed wing of Hamas.

However, several other Palestinian armed movements including secular nationalists, Marxists and Islamic groups, all participated in the initial attack. These groups, from across the political spectrum, have also coordinated with Hamas in confronting Israel’s invasion of Gaza since late October. Inside the Gaza Strip, the groups collaborate under a unified command labeled the ‘Joint Room’. I asked Dr Naim about this and its political implications:

“The Joint Room was established a few years ago, shortly before the ‘Sword of Jerusalem’ battle in May of 2021. And it was a step in two primary ways: On one side, it allowed for organizing and to cooperate in the field, during the Israeli aggressions, while coordinating military operations with the different factions.

“On the other side, this helped create a new nucleus for Palestinian political unity. In other words, instead of coming from the top downwards, it was decided... why not go from the bottom upwards, by starting in the field, by cooperating together and working together?

“In the current battle [the ongoing war in Gaza], based on observations and some other information, I think it was very helpful to coordinate the military activities in different areas and at different times. Therefore, we have in some cases seen joint operations together from the Qassam Brigades with Saraya al-Quds [Palestinian Islamic Jihad armed wing], with the Mujahideen Brigades, and with many other groups.”

Hamas takes issue with a number of positions held by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which currently serves as the representative organization for the State of Palestine at the United Nations. However, there has been wide speculation surrounding the group's desire to be reintegrated into the PLO. Regarding this issue, Dr Naim stated the following:

“I think Hamas has expressed its opinion or declared this, its stance is that we are looking to be a member of the PLO, but it has to be reformed before doing this because Hamas has a political vision, which was, decades ago, the same vision of the PLO. But unfortunately, the political vision of the PLO has been undermined repeatedly, by signing the Oslo agreement, by changing the PLO charter in 1996, and therefore, yes, we are looking to be members of the PLO, but changes have to be made.

“We need free, transparent and comprehensive elections at all levels, this means presidential elections, PLO national elections, PLC [Palestinian Legislative Council] elections, and this has to lead to choosing a new leadership. This new leadership has to sit together and come to a common national political project or national political agenda for the future of the Palestinian people everywhere, in the Gaza Strip, in the West Bank and in the diaspora.

“Until that could happen, we have proposed that we can have a temporary leadership, which can coordinate between the different factions, especially the two main big factions, Hamas and Fatah.”

Dr Naim stated, however, when questioned about the potential implementation of joint plans with the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority (PA), such as a PA administrative role in a post-war Gaza, that the post-October 7 reality has to be taken into account.

When asked whether a similar deal to one that was almost implemented in 2017, by which the PA was on the cusp of taking over the civil administration in Gaza, he responded that “we have signed a lot of documents and agreements over the last 17 years, or 16 years, after the division [between the West Bank and Gaza’s administrations in 2007]. And all of these documents are satisfactory enough to lead to unity if the parties are serious, to implement agreements based upon national interest and this means excluding any external interventions.”

He also stated that Israel’s “fascist government will not accept any Palestinian State,” and Israel is now seeking a “so-called final solution plan... which means they seek to eliminate or to undermine Palestinian existence altogether, whether at the political level, at the human existence level, at the geographical level, at the regional religious level.” 

“[Israel] openly seek total control over Al-Aqsa Mosque and the building of the [Jewish] temple there, along with the total judaization of Jerusalem, the annexation of the West Bank, the forceful displacement or expelling of Palestinians, especially from the West Bank, the separation between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, the normalization with the Arab countries without solving the Palestinian conflict.”

Dr Naim says the threats made by Israel’s ministers, the prime minister himself, and others throughout the upper echelons of power within the Israeli military, political and security establishment, all have to be taken in context when preparing any future political vision within the Palestinian national movement. 

As Israel and Hamas, through mediators, are currently in the process of negotiating a potential ceasefire that would lead to a prisoner exchange, I asked what the potential benefits are for freeing leaders from other Palestinian political parties during the exchange. Some of the names frequently noted have been the Fatah party’s Marwan Barghouti and the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Ahmad Sa’adat.

“We are looking for the release of all the Palestinian prisoners, regardless of their age, sex or political affiliation. But, yes, when it comes to specific names, we believe that the release of some leaders, not only from Hamas but also from other parties, will have a great impact on the internal Palestinian political dynamics.

“One of the problems we have today is that the internal political dynamics is poor for big leaders, who can see the big national goals and who can fight for big national goals and who can make some compromises for big national goals.

“Therefore, yes, it is, I think, very important, very crucial and very strategic to have some of the big national leaders from different factions freed from the Israeli jails.”

Hamas on Palestine-Russia relations

The position of Russia on the ongoing war between Gaza and Israel has been notable, with Moscow having hosted Hamas delegations. Dr Naim believes Russia can play a major role in both protecting Palestinians on the global stage and achieving accord between various intra-Palestinian factions.

“Russia is a superpower, and therefore they are very important and very crucial in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It is one of the permanent states on the Security Council, they are involved in different areas of this region and, therefore, they can help in a lot of cases politically and diplomatically.

“They are very important in protecting the Palestinians generally, and resistance in particular, when it comes to, to their seat on the Security Council and having the veto right in front of the American plans to undermine the Palestinians and their resistance.

“Russia is also important when it comes to Palestinian-Palestinian relations. They enjoy good relations with all Palestinian factions and this is something that is not present in a lot of cases.

“We can also say they have the same relations with all factions and this is also very helpful in helping achieve Palestinian unity. Also, when it comes to the existence or the presence of Russia in the region, Russia is here in Syria.

“I think, therefore, even in the battle itself, they might have the capability to affect it. Russia can also help Palestinians at the military level if it is feasible. I don’t know how much they can do, but I mean it is theoretically possible. Again, I think Russia is a big central country and it’s very important to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.”

The US and the regional resistance alliance

Various regional factions, including Yemen’s Ansarallah (the Houthis), Lebanese Hezbollah, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq and Iran, have been providing support for Hamas in the current conflict with Israel in one way or another. Dr Naim believes that, with every such war, which have happened multiple times in recent years, this support grows and gradually coalesces into a cohesive resistance alliance.

“I think during this battle, it was clearer than during Saif al-Quds [the title Hamas gives to the May 2021 Gaza-Israel war] and Saif al-Quds made it clearer than before. Therefore, yes, we are witnessing the birth, or the creation of a full-blown picture of the resistance alliance, day after day. But the strategy was discussed years ago,” he added.

On the issue of the US and its role in the conflict in Gaza, Dr Naim said there were “a lot of American officers who are around the table in the war cabinet planning and implementing decisions.”

He also stated that “they secure military intelligence to get information from the Gaza Strip to help the Israelis to achieve their goals.”

“Most of the weapons being used to kill women and children in the Gaza Strip are American weapons,” he said, adding that the Americans are speaking about humanitarian aid as Palestinians face famine, but “fail to pressure Israel and they could end this all if they chose, but do not stop and are talking about a temporary ceasefire only for the purpose of the upcoming election, this is why their rhetoric shifts.”

Security advisers from several countries are looking at ways to kick-start the process of ending the conflict, Olaf Scholz has said

Senior officials from several countries are holding non-public talks to resolve the Ukraine conflict, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said. The Kremlin, however, is not taking part in those consultations, according to spokesman Dmitry Peskov. 

In an interview with the daily Markische Allgemeine on Thursday, the German leader was asked about the prospects for settling or at least freezing the hostilities and responded by saying that “there have always been mediation initiatives.”

He specifically mentioned the direct talks between Moscow and Kiev early in the conflict that collapsed in the spring of 2022. Russia has said that while the negotiations – which revolved around Ukraine’s neutrality – made some initial progress, Kiev decided to abandon them on the advice of former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who recommended that Ukraine keep fighting. Johnson has denied this claim.

Scholz also claimed that there had been dialogue about the security of Russia’s Zaporozhye nuclear power plant – which Moscow said had come under Ukrainian attacks – and prisoner exchanges that saw hundreds of soldiers from both sides return home. 

Moreover, the chancellor continued, “a number of countries, including Ukraine, are currently discussing at the level of security advisers what something that could lead to a peace process might look like.”

However, Scholz stressed that “peace is possible at any time” if Russia were to withdraw troops from the territory Ukraine claims as its own. Moscow maintains it is open to talks with Kiev provided that it recognizes the reality on the ground. However, President Vladimir Zelensky signed a decree banning talks with the current Russian leadership after four former Ukrainian regions overwhelmingly voted to join Russia in the autumn of 2022.

Responding to Scholz’s comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that Russian officials were not present at the aforementioned negotiations at the level of security advisers. He also remarked that the chancellor’s statement “does not change the essence of the ongoing events,” recalling that Germany remains one of Kiev’s most prominent backers.

Peskov pointed out that while various EU countries differ in opinion on how deeply they should be involved in the Ukraine crisis, “this does not change the dominant approach in Europe that Ukraine should be pushed to fight to the last Ukrainian.”

Washington’s “adversarial relationship” with Russia prevented full disclosure of what it knew, sources told the newspaper

A lack of trust between the US and Russia prevented Washington from sharing all the intelligence it possessed about a looming terrorist attack in Moscow, the New York Times has claimed.

Four gunmen staged one of the bloodiest massacres in Russian history last Friday, when they went on a gun rampage at a large concert venue just outside of the capital before setting the building on fire. Over 140 people were killed in the attack.

Earlier in March, the US embassy in Moscow issued a warning to American citizens about a possible attack. Separately, a non-public message was sent to Russian security officials. Aleksandr Bortnikov, the head of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), described it as “general in nature,” while updating the public on the investigation on Tuesday.

“The adversarial relationship between Washington and Moscow prevented US officials from sharing any information about the plot beyond what was necessary,” the Times said. The Americans purportedly held back information “out of fear Russian authorities might learn their intelligence sources or methods,” it said.

In the public warning on March 7, the embassy said the threat was acute for the next 48 hours. The newspaper said it was “unclear whether US intelligence mistook the timing of the attack or the extremists delayed their plan upon seeing heightened security.”

President Vladimir Putin described the perpetrators as radical Islamists, after they were apprehended in a Russian region bordering Ukraine. They had allegedly been recruited through an online chat operated on behalf of ISIS-K, an Afghanistan-based offshoot of the once-powerful terrorist organization Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS).

Washington has also pinned the mass murder on ISIS-K, which has claimed credit for it. However, Russian officials have argued that some other party, such as Ukrainian intelligence services, may have masterminded the plot.

Some Russian news outlets have suggested that the terrorists had initially planned an earlier assault at Crocus City Hall. On March 10, the venue hosted a concert by performer Shaman, who is labeled “pro-Putin” by critics of the Russian leader due to the nationalist lyrics in some of his songs.

READ MORE: The US has sacrificed a common anti-terror principle to stick it to Putin

One of the perpetrators was apparently photographed at the premises on March 7, according to an image published in the Russian media. Security was reportedly heightened at the concert hall in the days following the American warning.

Unlike the EU, the US is willing to buy Turkish explosives to arm Ukraine, the outlet has reported

The US is planning to increase purchases of military-grade explosives from Türkiye to ramp up production of artillery shells, after its stockpiles were drained by the Ukraine conflict, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday.

Western nations are struggling to supply enough munitions to Kiev to sustain its fight against Russia. A global surge in demand for weapons components has undermined efforts by the US and its allies to produce more artillery shells for Ukraine.

The US is already relying on Türkiye to replenish munitions stockpiles and intends to purchase Turkish-made propellants trinitrotoluene and nitroguanidine to deliver on its plans for domestic defense manufacturing, Bloomberg said citing anonymous officials.

The outlet contrasted the US approach to that of the EU. Members of the European bloc have “held back from using funds for purchases from Türkiye because of resistance from France, Greece and Cyprus,” the report noted. The policy did not change even as member states were lagging behind on their promise to deliver one million 155mm shells to Ukraine by March.

The US has had its own points of contention with Ankara, including over its purchase of Russian long-range air defense systems, which prompted then US President Donald Trump to kick the country out of the F-35 fighter jet program.

The partnership over artillery shells “would build” on a recent thaw in the relationship, according to Bloomberg. After Ankara cleared Sweden to join NATO, Washington in January authorized the long-awaited purchase of F-16 fighter jets and upgrade kits by Türkiye. A last-ditch bid to stop the $23 billion deal in the US Congress, where Senator Rand Paul argued that it would embolden Turkish “misbehavior,” was defeated in late February.

Victoria Nuland, the outgoing senior US diplomat who has held the Ukraine portfolio at the State Department for years, told CNN Türk in January that Washington would be “delighted to welcome Türkiye back into the F-35 family,” provided that the issue of Russian weapon systems is “resolved.”

READ MORE: Ukraine’s army in ‘stagnation’ – Zelensky’s top adviser

Moscow considers the Ukraine conflict to be a US-led proxy war against Russia. It has also said that donations of Western weapons will only prolong hostilities without changing the outcome. In contrast to EU states, Türkiye has refused to cut economic ties with Russia.

A large number of people fear new assaults in the wake of the mass shooting in Russia, a poll has suggested

French citizens strongly fear that the country could be hit by a terrorist attack in the coming weeks or months, a poll published on Thursday has shown.  

The survey, conducted after a terrorist attack on a packed music venue outside Moscow last week, and a few months before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, has revealed significant concern over a potential assault, with an average score of 7 out of 10 points on the fear scale among those interviewed. The 0 mark indicates ‘very low fear’ of a terrorist attack, while 10 corresponds to ‘very high fear’.  

The survey was carried out by the CSA institute for CNews, Europe 1, and Le Journal du Dimanche on March 26 and 27 among 1,013 people aged 18 and over. It showed a notable gap in the level of vigilance between men and women. The data showed that women are more concerned about a potential terrorist attack threat, giving an average score of 7.3 compared to 6.7 displayed by men.   

Analysis by age group revealed that French youth, particularly those under the age of 35, are the most affected by anxiety on the issue. People aged 35 to 49 seem to be less concerned, while fear increases slightly among adults over 50.   

READ MORE: France raises terrorism threat level

According to the researchers, the numbers could reflect a variety of factors, including differences in public engagement, exposure to media sources, and sensitivity to public policies.  

Reinforced security measures have been in place in France since a wave of terrorist attacks in January 2015, when a group of Islamists killed 17 people in Paris and its suburbs. In November of that year, France saw one of the deadliest Islamist attacks in its history, when suicide bombers and gunmen hit a concert hall, a major stadium, restaurants, and bars in Paris, killing 130 people.   

Following the terrorist attack in Russia on Friday, which left 143 people dead, France raised the terrorism alert level across the country to its highest level.

Brazil is developing its own nuclear-powered submarine based on a French design

French President Emmanuel Macron has offered to help Brazil with the development of a nuclear-powered submarine during an official visit to the South American country.

Macron was speaking at a launch ceremony on Wednesday, hosted by his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, for Brazil’s third Riachuelo class diesel-electric submarine, which is based on the French Scorpene class.

“I want us to open the chapter for new submarines,” moving towards nuclear propulsion “while being perfectly respectful of all non-proliferation commitments,” Macron said, adding: “you want it, France will be at your side.”

Brazil’s Submarine Development Program (PROSUB) was laid out in 2008, after a security pact between Lula and then-President Nicolas Sarkozy led to plans to modernize Brazil’s navy. The fifth vessel of the program, the Alvaro Alberto, is planned to be nuclear-powered.

With an enormous coastline, and 95% of its imports and 90% of its national supplies of oil coming from the sea, PROSUB was set up to defend Brazil’s strategic resources, while developing the country’s shipbuilding and providing thousands of jobs.

French defense company Naval Group has provided support in designing modifications to the hull to fit a nuclear reactor – but Paris has been hesitant to provide Brasilia nuclear propulsion technology due to fears of breaking non-proliferation commitments.

Thus far, only the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – Russia, the US, UK, China, and France – and India, possess nuclear-powered submarines. Brazil is a non-nuclear-weapon state party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), but its norms do not technically prohibit it from building its own naval nuclear reactors and enriching its own uranium to fuel it.

Brazil’s peaceful atomic energy program is entirely homegrown, with a full cycle of uranium fuel enrichment and two nuclear power stations. The design of the nuclear boiler for the prospective vessel has also so far been completely Brazilian.

China has raised fears that the NPT could be compromised after the US and UK announced the trilateral AUKUS security pact with Australia in 2021, along with the sale of three US nuclear subs and the transfer of US nuclear technology.

Beijing has warned that the AUKUS pact undermines the NPT, noting that it marks a dangerous precedent of handing over nuclear propulsion reactors and large-amounts of weapons-grade enriched uranium to a non-nuclear weapon state. It has expressed concern that there is no guarantee that Australia could not divert the uranium to build nuclear weapons.

Washington was in a difficult position at the UN Security Council over its traditional ally

In a historic move on Monday, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) achieved a breakthrough by passing a binding resolution aimed at securing a “lasting, sustainable ceasefire” in Gaza and advocating the release of all hostages held by Hamas since the October attacks on Israel last year. 

This momentous step forward in international diplomacy signals a potential turning point in the protracted Israeli-Palestinian conflict, offering a glimmer of hope for peace in a region long plagued by violence and discord.

The decision by the UNSC comes after several failed attempts to broker a ceasefire. It underscores the growing global consensus on the urgent need to address the root causes of the conflict and pave the way for a peaceful settlement. The resolution, which was passed with overwhelming support from the international community, reflects a shared commitment to upholding international law and promoting stability in the region.

The US, traditionally a staunch ally of Israel, notably abstained from vetoing the resolution this time, signaling a shift in its approach and a willingness to engage constructively in multilateral efforts to end the violence – though it has said that it does not represent a change in policy. This decision reflects a recognition of the need for a balanced approach that takes into account the legitimate concerns and aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians.

With the UNSC resolution now enshrined as international law, all UN member states are bound by its provisions, setting a clear mandate for concerted action to implement its objectives. This presents a unique opportunity for diplomatic initiatives and coordinated efforts to de-escalate tensions, rebuild trust, and create the conditions necessary for lasting peace and stability in the region.

However, despite the optimism surrounding the UNSC resolution, significant challenges remain on the path to peace. The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has vowed to carry out operations in Rafah, a densely populated area where millions of displaced Palestinians now reside. This escalation threatens to further exacerbate tensions and undermine efforts to achieve a ceasefire and pave the way for meaningful negotiations.

Moreover, Israel’s position as a key strategic ally of the United States poses a dilemma for Washington, which has long maintained unwavering support for Israel’s security and sovereignty. While the US remains committed to its alliance with Israel, the changing geopolitical landscape and evolving strategic priorities have complicated its stance on the conflict. 

The Biden administration faces pressure from both domestic and international stakeholders to balance its support for Israel with a commitment to upholding international law and promoting peace in the Middle East. Should the US allow Israel to destroy the last remaining Palestinian holdout in Gaza, Biden will almost certainly lose the 2024 presidential election to Donald Trump. Additionally, relations with Muslim countries would be shattered beyond repair, as well as endangering US military personnel in the region.

The prospect of a full-scale war looms large, with Israel’s military capabilities and the broader implications of its actions raising concerns about the potential for a regional conflict. The possibility of an invasion by neighboring Arab states adds another layer of complexity to an already volatile situation, highlighting the need for concerted diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation and find a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

Further, Israel’s nuclear ambiguity and so-called “Samson Option,” its rumored unofficial retaliatory policy, raise serious questions about whether spillover in the conflict, prompted by the state’s potential ground operation in Rafah, could trigger a international thermonuclear war. The situation in the Middle East thus represents a major threat to international security, underscoring why major countries like Russia, China, and Brazil have been adamant about a ceasefire.

Despite these challenges, there are reasons for cautious optimism. The UNSC resolution represents a significant step forward in international efforts to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and provides a framework for meaningful dialogue and engagement. By building on this momentum and redoubling efforts to promote reconciliation and mutual understanding, there is hope for a brighter future for the people of Gaza and the wider Middle East.

While the road to peace remains long and arduous, the UNSC resolution offers a ray of hope in an otherwise bleak landscape. By seizing this opportunity and working together in good faith, the international community can help pave the way for a just and lasting peace in the region. Now is the time for bold leadership, unwavering commitment, and a shared vision of a future defined by cooperation, coexistence, and prosperity for all.

The bloc should instead focus on military and financial assistance to Kiev, according to Latvia

NATO states are not ready for talks about sending ground troops to Ukraine, even after French president Emmanuel Macron hinted at such a possibility last month, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina said on Wednesday.

Silina was meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin as part of a working visit to the country and spoke to the press following the talks.

“With regard to the troops, I do not think that this initiative was very well prepared, because the discussion about this has not yet matured. Speaking about sending troops, I think we in NATO are not ready to do this,” the Latvian prime minister stated at a joint press conference with Scholz.

She pointed out that Kiev has not asked NATO states to send troops and emphasized that “we need to focus on Ukraine’s needs, not on what Ukraine isn’t asking for.” 

French President Emmanuel Macron said last month that he “cannot exclude” the possibility of soldiers from NATO countries being sent to Ukraine. His remarks led to a wave of denials from the leaders of other states in the US-led bloc, who insisted that there are no plans to send Western troops to Ukraine.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also refuted the idea shortly after Macron’s initial statement, saying that there were no plans to deploy troops to Ukraine.

READ MORE: ‘Day may come’ for EU troops in Ukraine – Kiev

Moscow has warned that NATO troops in Ukraine would likely make a direct confrontation between Russia and the US-led bloc inevitable. Russia considers the Ukraine conflict to be a proxy war against it, and has repeatedly said that by aiding Kiev NATO members are prolonging the hostilities.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier that claims by Kiev and its foreign backers that Russia will target NATO states are “nonsense.” However, in another interview, the president stressed that Moscow will treat Western troops as “invaders” if they are deployed to Ukraine, and will respond accordingly.

Western officials were too quick to attribute blame for the Moscow attack in ways agreeable to their political goals

In the wake of the terrorist attack that killed over 140 people in Moscow, the White House is sure about a lot of things – that it had nothing to do with Ukraine, and that the fact that Washington's intelligence-based prediction came to fruition is proof-positive that American counterterrorism efforts are working. Excuse me?

What just transpired in Moscow strikes me as the kind of thing that suggests it’s not actually working all that well, considering a bunch of people were killed. If the US has a long-standing policy of warning even countries that it’s at odds with – like Iran and Russia – of terrorist chatter that comes to its attention, like Russia has also done for the US in similar situations (the Boston Marathon bombing warning, perpetrated by Chechens, comes to mind), then frankly, it did a pretty poor job. 

Granted, the US Embassy issued a statement warning of a non-specific attack in Moscow two weeks before one actually occurred. And it coincided with Russia liquidating an ISIS-K cell consisting of two Kazakhs, claiming that they were targeting a synagogue southwest of Moscow. Nothing in the warning provided a description of suspects to the general public, and after the cell roll-up, it seemed like the case was closed, with no further warnings or clarifications from those in Washington who claimed to have the inside scoop. 

American and Western counterterrorism efforts are working so well that ISIS-K – an offshoot of the ISIS group in Syria to which some Western-backed ‘Syrian rebels’ defected with CIA and Pentagon training and weapons – happened to spring up in Afghanistan in 2014, under the watchful eye of the US counterterrorism operation. 

Then the West became so caught up in its stick-measuring contest with Russia in Ukraine that it trained up a bunch of neo-Nazi mercenary fighters who are now integrated into the Ukrainian army, presided over by the likes of military intelligence chief and guerrilla warfare aficionado Kirill Budanov. Add to the West’s complicity in the recruitment of foreign fighters from all over the world to serve in the ‘International Legion for the Defense of Ukraine’ – including, apparently, fighters from Tajikistan, like the Moscow terrorists, if an unconfirmed online recruitment post by the Ukrainian Embassy in Tajikistan is any indication. In light of that alone, perhaps it’s time for Moscow to cancel its visa-free regime with Tajikistan and other Central Asian countries?

Looks like the US has done everything in Ukraine to sacrifice the fight against terrorism in order to stick it to Putin – who’s been America’s partner in fighting terrorists since he and former US President George W. Bush committed to cooperation against global terrorism in a joint statement after the September 11, 2001, attacks on American soil. French President Emmanuel Macron even said back in 2019 in an interview with The Economist that NATO was brain-dead and should pivot from its Russia obsession to a counterterrorism focus – which just happens to be something on which the West has successfully cooperated with Russia in the past. Although the latest example of ‘cooperation’ mostly involved the US going into Syria on the pretext of fighting ISIS, then spending much of its time in a failed attempt to oust President Bashar Assad by training and equipping jihadists from a NATO staging base in Türkiye. When all the trainees dined and dashed on the CIA and Pentagon’s tab to the tune of billions, it was Russia (with an intelligence assist from Iran) that handled the mop-up at the Syrian government’s request, eliciting the wrath of ISIS in the process. But ISIS in Syria failed in its effort to establish a caliphate and hasn’t really been a problem there for years. 

Unconfirmed reports and online videos are now emerging of the Moscow attack suspects allegedly training in NATO member state Türkiye for two months, and dozens of suspects recently being detained by the Turkish authorities in Istanbul. If confirmed to be true, it would not be unlike the Western-backed ‘Syrian rebel’ jihadists who trained on NATO’s Incirlik Air Base in Türkiye and were subsequently released into Syria. This is the same base that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan closed in the wake of a failed coup against him in 2016, and in which he implicated Washington. It looks like terrorists of all kinds now have another playground to choose from: Ukraine. 

White House spokesman John Kirby made a point of underscoring that Ukraine absolutely was not involved, as did his colleague, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. “This was a terrorist attack that was conducted by ISIS. Mr. Putin understands that. He knows that very well. And look, there is absolutely no evidence that the government of Ukraine had anything to do with this attack,” Jean-Pierre said. That’s interesting wording coming from the same country whose officials told the New York Times that the Nord Stream pipeline from Russia to Europe was blown up by “pro-Ukrainian groups.” 

The language used by both the White House in the Moscow attack case and unnamed American officials commenting on the Nord Stream sabotage to the NYT is careful to absolve the Ukrainian state itself. It gives the impression that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky can’t be blamed for anything, although the opposite was argued by the West in an effort to oust Assad from power in Syria by saying that he had lost control of the country and turned it into a terrorist cesspool.

So in light of the Moscow attack perps making a run for the Ukrainian border where they were apprehended, about 400km from Moscow, the US is a bit too quick to absolve itself of any responsibility for turning Ukraine into a giant anti-Russian training camp for guerrilla wannabes run by fans of asymmetric warfare, and loading it up with training and weapons. It’s also a bit too keen to preemptively clear Ukraine of any responsibility whatsoever. 

French President Emmanuel Macron put the blame entirely on ISIS. Just so everyone got the message in France, the government hiked up the terrorism alert to maximum level. No one here really knows what that means because the terror alert has been in place nonstop for the better part of two decades now, to the point where the bright red on many of the terror alert signs in the front windows of public buildings has faded to bubblegum pink. 

Maybe if the French and their US and Western allies hadn’t been so busy destabilizing countries and turning them into terrorist Disneylands for regime change purposes, then maybe they could actually get a handle on the issue. Then they wouldn’t have to whine, like Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis did recently on Twitter: “Let’s not lose focus.” Because apparently, jihadism is just a minor speed bump on the regime change highway.

The level of public confidence in Estonia’s leadership has fallen by 4% this month, a new study has revealed

The level of public trust in Estonia’s government is on the decline, as just 17% of the people approve of Prime Minister Kaja Kallas’ cabinet, a new poll shows.

Overall confidence in the government has fallen by 4% since February, when it stood at 21%, according to a study published by Kantar Emor on Wednesday.

Kallas was third on the list of the most trusted members of government in March, with support of 21%. She was passed by Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur and Education Minister Kristina Kallas, who received 30% and 26%, respectively.

Pevkur “remains the most reliable, and his performance and pronouncements are generally characterized by poise and calmness. He also has no direct conflicts with other politicians and the media,” Aivar Voog, the head of research at Kantar Emor, explained.

Economic Minister Tiit Riisalo and Finance Minister Mart Vorklaev remained at the bottom of the list, with 8% and 7%, respectively, according to the poll.

GDP decreased by 3% and amounted to €37.7 billion ($40.8 billion) in 2023, data released by Statistics Estonia earlier this month shows. The agency linked the “broad-based recession” in the Baltic nation of around 1.4 million to “the rapid increase in prices, which has affected all economic activities.”

Inflation in the EU has been on the rise since the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, which led to a sanctions standoff between Moscow and the West, and a drastic reduction of Russian energy supplies to Europe.

Tallinn has fully backed Kiev, providing it with over $500,000 in military aid and calling for increasingly tough measures against Moscow. Earlier this month, Kallas said she could not rule out the possibility of sending Estonian troops to assist Ukraine.

READ MORE: New NATO member to begin seizing Russian cars

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has claimed that all the talk by some NATO member states about sending troops to Ukraine only serves to mask their real agenda – to “partition what they see as the remnants of Ukraine.”

The military lacks ammo and equipment, the deputy chief of the Defense Staff has told MPs

The British Armed Forces are not prepared for a potential confrontation with an adversary such as Russia, the deputy chief of the UK Defense Staff, Lieutenant General Robert Magowan, told a parliamentary defense committee on Tuesday. The military severely lacks the resources, particularly ammunition, for any such conflict, he believes.

The amount of money the government spends on ammunition, although “significant,” still “does not meet … the threats we face,” Magowan stated, adding that the military would have to manage “operational risk” linked to the lack of resources.

When further pressed by MP Mark Francois, a former minister of state for the Armed Forces, about the chances of holding out against Russia, the general admitted that British forces would hardly last longer than “a couple of months in a full-on shooting war.”

Defense Secretary Grant Chapps, who also appeared before MPs on Tuesday, claimed that there was no reason to worry, since the UK would unlikely have to face Russia alone. “It’s important to understand that because we are in NATO … we would never be in that situation,” he stated.

The comments came just a month after an inquiry by the Defense Committee found that the British Armed Forces were “increasingly outstretched” and thus not ready to face Russia. A year-long review of the UK’s defense capabilities released in early February concluded that the government would “never achieve warfighting or strategic readiness” without major reforms.

The document also said that the military is suffering from a recruitment crisis and is short at least 5,000 soldiers. At that time, the committee was also told by former defense chiefs that the Armed Forces had been “hollowed out” at least since 2010 and could not hold out against any major adversary in a “peer-on-peer conflict.” The troops “would have exhausted their capabilities after the first couple of months of the engagement,” the report said, according to The Telegraph.

On Tuesday, Magowan insisted that the UK was “ready for war” but just not with a nation such as Russia.

Moscow has repeatedly stated that it had no plans of engaging in a military confrontation with the US-led military bloc or any of its members. President Vladimir Putin said earlier this year that Russia “has no interest … geopolitically, economically or militarily ... in waging war against NATO.” 

In mid-March, the Russian leader also said that he doubts that anyone is interested” in a direct military confrontation between Moscow and NATO, since that would mean that “we’ll be one step away from World War III.”

Argentinian President Javier Milei has announced a plan to axe 70,000 state jobs

Argentinian President Javier Milei has unveiled a plan to slash 70,000 jobs from the state sector and terminate over 200,000 social welfare programs as part of reforms aimed at stabilizing the country’s ailing economy.

Milei announced the proposed measures on Tuesday during an hour-long speech at the IEFA Latam Forum in Buenos Aires. In a detailed speech, the president laid out the foundations of his economic plan, emphasizing the alignment of peso futures contracts with the central bank’s 2% monthly crawling peg scheme, and labeling calls to sharply devalue the currency again as “ridiculous.” 

“There’s a lot of blender,” Milei stated, referring to the dwindling of wages and pensions by 276% annual inflation. “There’s a lot more chainsaw,” he warned.

Throughout his presidential campaign, Milei regularly brandished a chainsaw, a dramatic illustration of his promises to slash social spending, cut retirement and pension funds, shut down the country’s central bank, and reduce the number of government ministries by more than half. He has proposed reducing the functions of state to a minimum and has placed his trust in the market alone, hoping to solve Argentina’s problems by boosting trade and exports.

According to local media reports, the Argentinian president has to reach a fiscal balance this year and plans to do so at any cost.

Milei also said he will double down on attempts to reform the economy after the 2025 congressional elections, with more than 3,000 reforms in the pipeline. He envisions a V-shaped recovery, buoyed by increased public confidence in the country’s future.

“People have hope, they’re seeing the light at the end of the tunnel,” Milei insisted, referring to public polls.

The announcement of more austerity reforms has sparked a fierce backlash from the country’s labor unions, one of which went on strike on Tuesday. The leader of the state workers union ATE immediately announced national action on X (formerly Twitter) without providing further details.

A self-described anarcho-capitalist, Milei, who took office in December 2023, has warned it will take time for the results of his program to be seen and that things could get worse before they get better. Latin America’s third-biggest economy has been beset by a severe economic crisis after decades of financial mismanagement.

The aging US president has been accused of “inserting himself” into a national tragedy

US President Joe Biden has claimed that he traveled by train “many times” over the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. The four-lane bridge, which had no rail lines, collapsed in the early hours of Tuesday morning after being hit by the Singapore-registered container ship Dali, operated by Danish shipping giant Maersk.

Two construction workers were rescued from the freezing waters of  Baltimore Harbor following the incident, but the search for six others was called off on Wednesday morning, with the men presumed dead.  

Biden’s first public remarks on the disaster began with an apparent lie. “At about 1:30 [am], a container ship struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which I’ve been over many, many times commuting from the state of Delaware either on a train or by car,” the president said 

The Amtrak line from Biden’s hometown of Wilmington, Delaware to Washington, DC takes a circuitous route around Baltimore, while the Greyhound bus line uses the Fort McHenry Tunnel to cross Baltimore Harbor.

Biden was called out on social media for “inserting himself” into the tragedy. The president’s comment was “just another example of his mental derailment,” conservative radio host Chad Prather wrote on X. “Biden is a natural born liar,” another commenter posted. “He opens his big stupid mouth – and lies just come pouring out.”

The White House responded with a statement claiming that “the president was clearly describing driving over the bridge while commuting between Delaware and DC during his 36-year Senate career.”

However, the most direct route by car also avoids the bridge, taking the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel instead.

Biden has a long record of exaggerating his own involvement in historic events. The 81-year-old has falsely claimed that he visited Ground Zero the day after the September 11 attacks, that he was arrested while attempting to visit Nelson Mandela in a South African jail, and that he marched with civil rights protesters in the 1960s.

READ MORE: Biden claims to have ‘ended cancer’

In addition to these claims, Biden regularly makes verbal gaffes and slip-ups during speeches, and often appears visibly confused. According to an Associated Press poll published earlier this month, 63% of Americans are “not very or not at all confident” in Biden’s “mental capacity for the presidency.”

The French president has forced NATO members to confirm their red lines on Ukraine with a remark about boots on the ground

Sources in the US government are angry with French President Emmanuel Macron, after his suggestion that preventing a Russian victory in the Ukraine conflict could require a NATO military force, Bloomberg has reported.

A senior US official has told the outlet that some in Washington believe Macron might trigger a clash with Moscow. The French leader’s justification for his statement has been criticized by allies behind closed doors, according to a report on Wednesday.

After hosting a pro-Kiev gathering in Paris in late February, Macron said that NATO members “cannot exclude anything,” including having boots on the ground, and predicted that a shift in favor of that option could come in the future. He later argued that the Russian government should be kept guessing about the extent of Western backing for Kiev. In internal NATO discussions, some people have argued that he achieved the opposite, Bloomberg was told.

Numerous Western leaders publicly ruled out sending troops after Macron’s comments, dispelling any ambiguity it may have been intended to create. US President Joe Biden was among those to do so, as was German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

The French leader’s move may not have been smart from the standpoint of operational security, since some Western nations do already have a small number of troops in Ukraine, the outlet's sources claim. Their presence, however, is an open secret. Scholz has explained his refusal to send long-range missiles to Ukraine by saying that unlike the UK and France, Germany is not ready to send its personnel to help fire the weapons.

Moscow considers the Ukraine conflict part of a US-led proxy war with Russia. Western nations have acknowledged providing targeting information and assistance with planning Ukrainian military operations. The Russian leadership has dismissed the Western position that Kiev makes its own decisions on how to conduct hostilities. Ukraine is too dependent on foreign aid to act independently, Kremlin officials have said.

The country’s president is expected to meet Western diplomats to discuss Kosovo’s bid to join the Council of Europe

Serbia is facing several extremely difficult days, President Aleksandar Vucic has said, adding that the country’s national interests are at stake. The Balkan nation has consistently opposed efforts by its breakaway province of Kosovo to join international bodies, but the region has recently made headway in this respect.

The Serbian leader posted a cryptic message on Instagram on Wednesday, warning that “difficult days are ahead for Serbia,” and that “at this moment, it is not easy to say what kind of news we have received in the last 48 hours.”

The developments “directly threaten the vital national interests of both Serbia and [Republika] Srpska,” Vucic noted, without providing further details, saying only that he would introduce his fellow citizens to the challenges ahead in the coming days. 

Republika Srpska is a partially autonomous Serb-dominated region within Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“It will be hard… We will fight, Serbia will win,” Vucic added.

While it’s unclear what Vucic was referring to, he is poised to meet with senior diplomats from the US, UK, Germany, France and Italy on Wednesday, according to Pink.rs website. The agenda for the meeting is expected to revolve around Kosovo’s application to join the Council of Europe, an international human rights watchdog.

According to Pink, Vucic “will not miss the opportunity to repeat… that it was a perfidious move that also has symbolic weight since it was made on the very day that was written in black letters in the collective memory of Serbs.”

The outlet was referring to the 25th anniversary of the start of NATO’s bombing campaign against the former Yugoslavia over what the bloc called “disproportionate use of force” against an ethnic Albanian insurgency in Kosovo.

Also up for discussion will reportedly be the decision of the Permanent Commission of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly to elevate the breakaway region of Kosovo to the status of associate member. A final decision on the matter is expected in late May.

Meanwhile, Radio Sarajevo has suggested that the Serbian president was reacting to the decision of the high representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt, to change the country’s election law. The Office of the High Representative is an international organization that oversees the 1995 Dayton Agreement, which put an end to a bloody war in the Balkan nation.

Schmidt said on Tuesday that he would use his authority to introduce digital voting reforms as part of a pilot project in the country.

The move was met with pushback from Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik, who said Schmidt had nothing to do with the electoral process, adding that it “belongs to the people living in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

Farmers sealed off streets outside the EU headquarters in protest at the bloc’s agriculture policies, according to local media

Belgian farmers sprayed manure at police, threw projectiles, and set hay on fire as hundreds of tractors took to the streets of Brussels on Tuesday ahead of a meeting of EU agriculture ministers.   

Dozens of tractors broke barricades and blocked streets close to the EU headquarters. They are protesting excessive administrative barriers, increased environmental measures, and a flood of duty-free imports from Ukraine.  

“Let us make a living from our profession,” read one billboard on a tractor blocking a main road littered with potatoes, eggs, manure, and straw.  

The demonstration coincided with a meeting of European agriculture ministers, who arrived in Brussels to discuss responses to the crisis in the agricultural sector.  

Farmers sprayed manure at police, who responded by using water cannon and tear gas. One video showed a tractor spraying a brown substance as police blasted it with a water cannon. Other footage showed protesters launching projectiles at officers.   

Tensions reportedly flared as campaigners moved on to the central Rue de la Loi, where tractors unloaded beetroots and wooden pallets in front of a police blockade, bombarding officers with straw, eggs, manure, and fireworks. Two officers were injured in clashes with protesters, the Brussels Times reported.  

Farmers across Europe have been protesting for several months in response to strict EU policies and environmental regulations, including cuts in subsidies. They argue that Brussels’ plans will potentially put them out of business.   

Demonstrators are calling for changes to restrictions imposed by the bloc’s so-called Green Deal, and for a halt to cheap agricultural imports from outside the bloc, primarily Ukraine, which have flooded EU markets.  

With protests taking place from Finland to Greece, Poland, and Ireland, farmers have already won some concessions, including a loosening of controls on farms and a weakening of pesticide and environmental rules, according to the AP.  

Earlier this month, EU lawmakers agreed to suspend import duties and quotas on Ukrainian agricultural food imports to the bloc until June 2025.

Paris has always “fought against Islamist terrorism,” National Assembly President Yael Braun-Pivet has said

The French National Assembly observed a moment of silence before its session on Tuesday, paying tribute to the victims of last Friday’s deadly terrorist attack on the Crocus City Hall concert venue outside of Moscow. The assault claimed the lives of 139 people and left more than 180 injured.

“France has always condemned such acts and fought against Islamist terrorism. Wherever it strikes, whatever the pretext, it must be fought,” the assembly’s president, Yael Braun-Pivet, told MPs.

“Eight and a half years after the Bataclan attack, Islamist terrorism has once again cowardly struck the audience of a concert hall,” she added, referring to a series of terrorist acts committed by Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) extremists in Paris in 2015. The group carried out a mass shooting and took hostages at a rock concert in the Bataclan theater, killing 90 people. The assault was one of three coordinated attacks that claimed a total of 130 lives combined and left more than 400 people injured.

An IS-offshoot known as Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K) has claimed responsibility for the Moscow attack. On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed “radical Islamists” for the attack, but said it still needs to be established who gave the order.

Pressed on who may be responsible, the head of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), Aleksandr Bortnikov, said on Tuesday it could have been the US, UK, and Ukraine.

France’s moment of silence was held in memory of the Moscow terrorist attack victims and in “solidarity with their loved ones,” Braun-Pivet said. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said later on Tuesday that the Russian people should “never be confused with their leaders,” also expressing “solidarity” with them over the terrorist attack.

Relations between Moscow and Paris have been particularly sour in recent weeks, after President Emmanuel Macron commented that the West should not rule out sending NATO troops to Ukraine at some point in the future amid the conflict between Moscow and Kiev.

His words alarmed even some of Paris’ NATO allies, who rushed to deny having such plans. Moscow warned in response that the move would bring the world to the brink of war. Putin also warned against escalation earlier in March, saying that a direct clash between NATO and Russia would be “one step shy of a full-scale World War III.”

Officers guarding the Russian Embassy during presidential election were reportedly given calendars and chocolates

Vienna police officers who provided security around the Russian Embassy during the country’s presidential election and were given small presents, have been told to reject such gifts in the future, Associated Press reported on Tuesday, citing the city’s police department.

The presidential election in Russia was held between March 15 and 17. Russians living abroad had the chance to cast their votes at Russian embassies and consulates in several European cities on March 17.

According to AP, Vienna police officers who were posted to protect the embassy on that day reportedly were in contact with embassy employees and occasionally entered the building. Local media cited one officer as saying the police went in and out of the premises to use the toilets.

After the voting concluded, several officers were reportedly seen leaving with gift bags bearing the Russian emblem. The paper bags contained low-value items such as calendars and boxes of chocolates, the AP wrote.

The Vienna police department clarified to AP in an email that receiving the gifts from the Russians did not constitute misconduct under the service law for Austrian civil servants.

READ MORE: Putin addresses nation after election

However, it “leaves an unwanted impression that does not do justice to the professional approach of the officers at the scene,” the department added. This, it said, was pointed out to officers and they were instructed to “reject in a friendly but firm way such courtesies, even if only of a low value, in the future.”

According to media reports, small souvenirs featuring the election campaign such as calendars and keychains were also given out at Russian polling stations, particularly to those casting their vote for the first time.

London’s charges are baseless and malicious, Beijing has said

British claims about the alleged hacking of the UK Electoral Commission are false and groundless, the Chinese government said on Tuesday, responding to the announcement of sanctions against two of its nationals and a business in Wuhan.

London announced the sanctions against Zhao Guangzong and Ni Gaobin, as well as the Wuhan Xiaoruizhi Science and Technology Company Ltd, on Monday. According to the British government, they are linked to Advanced Persistent Threat Group 31 (APT31), supposedly a state-affiliated hacker outfit blamed for two cyber attacks on British voting.

“The UK’s hype-up of the so-called ‘Chinese cyber attacks’ without basis and the announcement of sanctions is outright political manipulation and malicious slander,” the Chinese embassy in London said. “We have no interest or need to meddle in the UK’s internal affairs.”

The embassy demanded the UK “immediately stop spreading false information” about China.

British evidence provided to Beijing about APT31 was “inadequate,” while the “relevant conclusions lack professionalism,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters on Tuesday, adding that China “will take necessary measures to safeguard our lawful rights and interests.”

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron announced the sanctions on Monday evening, accusing China of “attacks on our democracy” and vowing that such actions “will not be tolerated.”

London has alleged that APT31 was behind the cyber attacks on the UK Electoral Commission between August 2021 and October 2022, which accessed voter databases as well as sensitive emails of “control systems” and officials involved in six by-elections.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman has accused the US of working to “compile and spread all kinds of disinformation about the threats posed by the so-called ‘Chinese hackers’,” using its allies from the ‘Five Eyes’ network – Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK.

New Zealand also claimed to have been targeted by a different group of Chinese hackers on Monday, while the US Department of Justice announced criminal charges against seven Chinese nationals – including the two named by the UK. The group allegedly tried to hack British and American nationals via “malicious emails” over a 14-year period.

Taipei says it will continue to intensify training and exercises in response to Beijing’s military activities near the island

Taiwanese forces carried out air defense combat exercises on Tuesday in response to reports of increased military activity by Beijing's forces near the island, according to a statement published by Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense.

According to the Taiwanese air force,  “overall air defense combat plan exercises” were carried out in the early hours of Tuesday morning and employed the use of domestically-made Sky Bow and US-made Patriot surface-to-air missiles, in conjunction with aircraft and navy ships.

The Taiwanese command explained that the purpose of the drills was to “inspect and verify the joint air defense combat command and control of the three branches,” and stated that it will continue holding such exercises to “deal with potential threats.”

Beijing considers the self-governed island to be an inalienable part of China but has stated that it seeks peaceful reunification. However, it has warned that it would resort to military action if the US-backed Taipei administration attempts to declare independence.

Although Taiwan has governed itself since 1949, most of the international community, including the US, does not officially recognize it as a sovereign state.

Meanwhile, the island’s self-proclaimed government has repeatedly complained over the past few years that China’s military aircraft and navy ships have continued to intrude into Taiwan’s airspace and territorial waters. This as Washington warns of a potential Chinese offensive on the island in the coming years.

Last week, US Navy Admiral John Aquilino, who leads the US Indo-Pacific Command, claimed that China was developing plans for a ground invasion of Taiwan by 2027. Similar claims have also been made by CIA Director William Burns and other senior US officials.

However, Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping, have denied having any near-term plans to use force against Taiwan. Chinese Foreign ministry Spokesman Lin Jian has dismissed the rumors as attempts by “some people in the US” to “hype up the China-threat narrative” and escalate tensions in the region.

At the same time, Beijing has insisted that Taiwan’s status is a domestic issue and has urged foreign governments not to interfere. Chinese officials have in particular criticized the US, which has repeatedly expressed support for the Taiwanese government, has concluded defense contracts with the island’s military, and has sent its high-ranking officials on official visits with local authorities.

London has announced an investment plan to boost workforce in the sector and to maintain its submarine at-sea deterrent  

The UK government revealed plans on Monday to boost Britain’s nuclear sector, for energy and defense, including massive investments in the future workforce and in its submarine program, which London views as its “vital” at-sea deterrent.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced a package of public and private investment which is expected to cover the needs of Britain’s growing nuclear energy industry and to create 40,000 new jobs by 2030.

The British government plans to partner with defense companies BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and Babcock, as well as with French energy giant EDF, to invest more than £763 million ($961 million) by the end of the decade in the relevant skills, jobs and education, it said in a statement.

Last year, the UK unveiled a plan to build eight new reactors and new-type small modular reactors by 2050, in an effort to produce 24 gigawatts of electricity, enough to provide a quarter of the country’s needs.

The government also announced a commitment to invest up to £300 million ($379 million) in the production of the HALEU fuel required for new high-tech reactors, which is currently only commercially produced in Russia.

“Meeting the UK’s ambitious nuclear targets will require a huge ramp up in all parts of the workforce, from engineering to construction,” Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, said, commenting on the new investment plan.

The major development initiative comes as the UK authorities work to ensure there will also be enough nuclear-energy-focused workers for the construction and maintenance of its fleet of submarines, which the UK considers vital for its national security, as they are the core of its continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent.

“Safeguarding the future of our nuclear deterrent and nuclear energy industry is a critical national endeavor,” Sunak said, as quoted by Reuters.

Britain is set to expand its submarine industry, boosting its fleet under the AUKUS security pact. AUKUS (Australia, UK and US) was established in 2021. Under the pact’s Pillar 1, the US and UK pledged to help Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines, while Pillar 2 is a broader technology-sharing agreement.

On Monday, the British Ministry of Defence published the ‘Defence Nuclear Enterprise Command Paper,’ in which it underscores the need to “sustain Britain’s nuclear deterrent “in a period of heightened risk and volatility that is likely to last beyond the 2030s.”

The document also revealed that Britain is developing a new replacement sovereign warhead, while progressing with the new Dreadnought Class submarines, bringing these into service in the early 2030s.

The jailed WikiLeaks founder has been allowed a new, limited bid, to fight his extradition to the US

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange scored a victory on Tuesday in his years-long legal battle in the UK to avoid extradition to the US. Not much has changed to help his present condition, but his defense has been given another day at court.

Assange, 52 has been held in a top-security British prison since 2019. He has endured solitary confinement in Belmarsh prison, which is usually reserved for dangerous criminals, while awaiting trial for a bail violation. The US indicted him under the country's Espionage Act a month after his arrest, with Washington’s lawyers proceeding to file an extradition request. Supporters say he is being persecuted by the US and the UK for political reasons.

In 2021, a British district judge denied the extradition bid, recognizing Assange may commit suicide while in US custody, though dismissing other defense arguments. The Americans appealed the decision and offered assurances that the suspect would be not be mis-treated.

The US consequently won the case, and in June 2022 then-Home Secretary Priti Patel authorized sending Assange to the US. After several setbacks, his lawyers asked the High Court in February for a chance to challenge the original dismissal of the bulk of their case.

Judges Victoria Sharp and Jeremy Johnson ordered on Tuesday that the extradition be halted, giving the US three weeks to provide additional guarantees that the rights of the defendant would be observed.

In particular, the UK wants a pledge that Assange would not face solitary confinement or be held incommunicado. There is concern that the Australian citizen would be put into a so-called communications management unit (CMU) at a US federal prison, which critics call a way to silence dissenters. WikiLeaks has pointed out that American guarantees are “inherently unreliable,” according to prominent rights groups.

If the justices had ruled against Assange this week, his options in the British court system would have been exhausted. He could have found himself in US custody within 24 hours to 28 days, unless a foreign party intervened. His legal team had planned to issue a plea to the European Court of Human Rights for an emergency injunction.

Assange supporters say he is facing US retaliation for publishing embarrassing state secrets, including evidence of alleged crimes during the military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The case has serious ramifications for freedom of press in the West. President Barack Obama reportedly declined to press charges against Assange due to the so-called ‘New York Times dilemma’ – reasoning that the transparency activist did not differ from legacy media outlets in his journalistic work.

The Department of Justice under President Donald Trump accused Assange of aiding and abetting whistleblower Chelsea Manning, when she leaked classified documents to WikiLeaks in 2010.

President Joe Biden has rejected calls to drop the charges. According to the Wall Street Journal, the US government is considering striking a plea bargain with Assange, under which he would plead guilty to a misdemeanor offense in exchange for the extradition request being withdrawn.

The 52-year-old Australian has spent five years in a London prison following a long and dramatic period of asylum in the UK’s Ecuadorian embassy

The British High Court ruled on Tuesday that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can mount a final UK challenge against extradition to the US to face trial for publishing secret diplomatic and military files. The publisher stands accused of espionage and is facing up to 175 years in jail.

The hearing at the High Court could have been the last opportunity for Assange’s defense team to seek recourse within the British legal system, if the judges had decided against his bid. His attorneys have argued that the American case against him is political in nature – retaliation for his exposure of alleged war crimes in Afghanistan and Iraq – and that extraditing him to the US would put his life and well-being at risk.

Two British justices reviewing the situation decided that there was an arguable case against extradition and ruled that he should be granted a full appeal hearing again.

Assange has been held in the top-security Belmarsh prison since 2019, when Quito revoked his political asylum and allowed British police to arrest him at the Embassy of Ecuador in London. At the time, he was jumping bail in a separate extradition request, which the Australian citizen claimed to be a ploy by the US to get him into Swedish jurisdiction, where he claimed an attempt to extradite him to the US would have been easiest. A US court indicted Assange under the Espionage Act of 2017 a month after his arrest in the UK.

A British judge in January 2021 ruled against handing Assange over to the Americans, saying that he may take his own life due to harsh prison conditions in the US. Washington’s lawyers appealed the decision and offered assurances of good treatment, which Britain decided were sufficient for extradition. Then-Home Secretary Priti Patel authorized it in June 2022. Assange has since lost one appeal against the pending transfer.

Supporters of the jailed publisher say he is being persecuted by the US and its allies for revealing secrets that were embarrassing for Western countries.

“We have to be clear about who the criminals are. Just because they are using the justice system to imprison him, it doesn’t mean that justice or the law – international law – is on their side,” his wife Stella said on Monday.

Speaking after the ruling, she called the decision “astounding” and reiterated that her husband is a political prisoner. She expressed regret that the court did not take into account claims in the Western press that the CIA had considered kidnapping or assassinating Assange during the presidency of Donald Trump.

READ MORE: Assange in plea deal talks with US – WSJ

The US alleges that Assange has committed crimes in aiding and abetting whistleblower Chelsea Manning, who leaked classified US files to WikiLeaks in 2010. Officials claimed that the pro-transparency NGO endangered unspecified US assets through its publications. That narrative, however, was denied by a senior US counter-intelligence officer during Manning’s tribunal in 2013.