EL Etos UT

1. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has called for an end to infighting and finger pointing among Western allies, as Berlin has finally given in to international pressure over tank deliveries to Ukraine. Speaking at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on Tuesday, Baerbock warned against Western bickering, saying that ‘We are fighting a war against Russia and not against each other.’ The minister did acknowledge Germany’s role in the ongoing argument, saying that ‘Yes, we have to do more to defend Ukraine, yes, we have to do more also on tanks,’ but that unity was the most ‘crucial part’ of supporting Ukraine. --- *2. Zakharova: Merkel and Baerbock's statements say that the West planned a war with Russia in advance* Statements by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and former German Chancellor Anna Merkel suggest that the West planned a war against Russia in advance. This opinion was expressed by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova. In her Telegram channel, the diplomat cited Baerbock's statement at the PACE meeting, which took place on January 24 #baerbock #ukrainewar #ukrainerussianwar #pace #europeanunion #wardeclaration #germany #statement #statementpiece #enattendantgodot #moses -- Related: Merkel’s confession about Minsk Agreements a solid bid for a tribunal: Russian FM: [https://youtu.be/NSJiRhnvMSM]

Germany's decision to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine is extremely dangerous and takes the conflict to a new level of confrontation, the Russian Embassy in Berlin said on Wednesday: 1. The Russian embassy in Germany said Berlin’s decision to approve the delivery of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine meant it was abandoning its “historical responsibility to Russia” arising from Nazi crimes in World War Two. In a statement, the embassy said that the decision would escalate the conflict to a new level. “This extremely dangerous decision takes the conflict to a new level of confrontation and contradicts the statements of German politicians about the unwillingness of the Federal Republic of Germany to be drawn into it,” Ambassador Sergey Nechayev said. -- *2. Poland’s prime minister has thanked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for his decision to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine [for Recycling].* “The decision to send Leopards to Ukraine is a big step towards stopping Russia,” Mateusz Morawiecki wrote on Twitter. - *3. The idea of delivering American Abrams and German Leopard tanks to Ukraine is a losing scheme for technological reasons, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.* "I am certain that many specialists understand the absurdity of this idea as well. This plan is quite a losing scheme simply for technological reasons and, importantly, this is a clear overestimation of the potential that will this will add to the Ukrainian armed forces," the Kremlin press secretary said. As the Russian presidential spokesman pointed out, "there have been a lot of contradictory statements, media reports, leaks and so on coming from Germany and the United States so far." "It is understandable that not everything is smooth there and not everything is so smooth in the [North Atlantic] alliance and not everything is smooth with the availability of tanks," he added. The burden of paying for the delivery of heavy tanks to Ukraine will be shouldered by European taxpayers while the Americans "will reap good profits," Peskov pointed out. *"We have repeatedly said that these tanks go up in flames like all the other armor. They cost a lot and all this burden will be primarily shouldered by European taxpayers. The Americans, however, as always. will at least lose nothing and most likely reap good profits," the Kremlin spokesman said.* --- 12 countries are ready to supply about 15.000 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, US may deliver 30 Abrams: [https://youtu.be/1_SXton5MS4]

1. Pantsyr-S1 surface-to-air missile/artillery systems have undergone upgrade and received new software to intercept rockets of US HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) most effectively, Pantsyr-S1 rocket launcher commander with the call sign Baron from Russia’s Western Military District said on Wednesday. "We fulfill the objectives of shielding military facilities, and also civilian infrastructure. The vehicle’s specific feature is its 360-degree view capability to engage many types of aerial targets: aircraft, helicopters, MLRS, and also drones," the commander said in a video released by Russia’s Defense Ministry. "This vehicle can operate during a march and on the move. We shot down various types of targets: both Bayraktar drones and Tochka-U [ballistic missiles]. A HIMARS is an altitude target and has its ballistics. Due to its high speed, it is necessary to react quickly to make a decision. These [Pantsyr] vehicles have been upgraded to engage this target," he explained. -- *2. As the Russian Defense Ministry specified, the surface-to-air missile system’s detection capabilities enable operators to spot both large moving objects in the sky, such as cruise and ballistic missiles, helicopters, aircraft or Soviet and Western MLRS projectiles, and quite small targets, for example, 30x30 cm drones, which the enemy often employs for reconnoitering terrain and carrying out kamikaze missions.* The Pantsyr is also outfitted with a thermal imager and, therefore, anti-aircraft gunners can also detect if explosives with striking elements are attached to the plastic casing of these flying craft. The Pantsyr is capable of spotting and tracking tens of targets. It is armed with 12 surface-to-air missiles and two coaxial anti-aircraft guns with a maximum fire rate of 5,000 rounds per minute. -- *3. The Russian Ministry of Defense has published video of a ‘Pantsir-S1’ missile system deployed by the Western Military District as part of the operation in Ukraine.* The SAM shields Russian Armed Forces from air attacks.

1. Twelve countries, including Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark, have agreed to supply about 100 and more Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine if Germany gives its consent, ABC News reported, citing a senior Ukrainian official. - *2. Asked whether Canada could send tanks to Ukraine, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said Tuesday that after speaking with Defence Minister Anita Anand and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, "everything is on the table when it comes to supporting Ukraine."* The Canadian Forces has roughly 112 Leopard 2s in several configurations, and the tanks were acquired from Germany in 2007 during the height of the war in Afghanistan. The Pentagon is not saying whether it’s aware of any decision by allied governments to give battle tanks to Ukraine amid reports suggesting German and American officials have decided to donate tanks to Kyiv. The Associated Press is reporting that Joe Biden’s administration is poised to approve sending M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, citing an unnamed official. - *3. The United States may send at least 30 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine as military aid, the Politico newspaper reported on Tuesday citing US administration sources.* Two sources told the paper that an announcement on the subject may be made later this week. The report says the equipment will be purchased from contractors rather than drawn from existing US stockpiles. - *4. The German government has received the request from Poland, asking for permission to supply Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, a government representative told RIA Novosti on Tuesday.* Last week, the Polish leadership announced that it was ready to transfer up to 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine as part of the "international coalition". - *5. Germany’s defense company #rheinmetall said on Tuesday it may send as many as 139 Leopard tanks to Ukraine.* "We have 22 [battle] tanks of the Leopard 2A4 type that we could get ready and prepare for sending to Ukraine," a company official said in an interview with Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. According to him, repairing those machines will take up to a year, so any supplies could take place in late 2023 - early 2024. And there are another 29 Leopard 2A4 battle tanks that will be ready for sending as early as this April-May, he said. "We could also make 88 Leopard 1 [battle] tanks available," he added. #leopard #leopard2 #germany #poland #ukrainewar #ramstein #weapons #humantragedy #airdefencesystem #canada #financialsupport #militaryaid #pensions #tanks -- RELATED: Ramstein meeting: No decision on Leopard tanks, Poland was willing to provide: [https://youtu.be/V2Xn0vO12lw]

1. "Doomsday Clock" adjusted 10 seconds closer to "nuclear midnight" The symbolic "Doomsday clock," which first appeared on the cover of the US’ Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, has been adjusted 10 seconds closer to the "nuclear midnight," the Bulletin President Rachel Bronson said during a press conference in Washington. This means that 90 seconds remain before the point of nuclear apocalypse - less that at any moment in history. *Bronson noted that this decision was made mainly in the light of the situation around Ukraine.* *According to the President, the probability that the conflict will spin out of anyone’s control remains high.* It was underscored during the press conference that the time on the symbolic clock is currently closer to midnight than ever in their existence. Since 2020, the clock was set to 23:58:20, or 100 seconds before the "nuclear midnight." Bronson noted that the statement about the adjustment of the clock will published not only in English, but also in Russian and Ukrainian for the first time. -- *2. The specialists decide on the ‘Doomsday Clock’ time every year, in order to answer a question whether the world is in greater or lesser danger at this moment.* The ‘Doomsday Clock’ reflect the humanity’s vulnerabilities before catastrophes, connected to climate change, nuclear weapons and destructive technologies in other areas. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists was founded by scientists, who participated in the Manhattan Project on development of nuclear weapons in the early 1940s, and became pacifist after witnessing the aftermath of US nuclear bombing of Japan. The Bulletin has been published in the University of Chicago since 1945. -- *3. “Russia’s thinly veiled threats to use nuclear weapons remind the world that escalation of the conflict by accident, intention or miscalculation is a terrible risk,” Bulletin President Rachel Bronson said on Tuesday.* “The possibilities that the conflict could spin out of anyone’s control remains high.” #doomsday #doomsdayclock #doomsdayevent #nuclearweapons #nuclearcatastrophe #humanitystatus #nucleardisaster #miscalculation #climatechange #destruction #earth -- Related: Weapons are – in fact – the way to Peace, says again and again Jens Stoltenberg: [https://youtu.be/Rq6-PlCvCns] - Peskov did not notice any contradictions with the Russian Nuclear Doctrine in Medvedev's words: [https://youtu.be/p_b81QobFLk] - Medvedev listed four reasons for the use of nuclear weapons by Russia [https://youtu.be/0ml64Q6gGiY] - Russia to improve Combat Readiness of nuclear Triad, nuclear Triad replenished with Tu-160M ​​bomber [https://youtu.be/dpS5UUYfKUg]

Η πρωινή καταρρακτώδη βροχή σταμάτησε μετά τις 8:30 και έδωσε την ευκαιρία για μια βόλτα ανατολικά προς το Ν.Ο.Θ. , Κελλάριο όρμο και ακτή Ντοβίλ (#Deauville). Η θάλασσα ήταν τραβηγμένη δίνοντας ένα πλατύ διάδρομο για περπάτημα δίπλα στο κύμα, που ήταν απαλό λόγω της άπνοιας, στερώντας τους ήχους του. Ανατολικά της μισιγκρεμισμένης αποβάθρας [Γέφυρα (σκάλα) των προσφύγων] τα #θαλασσοπούλια και οι #πάπιες ήταν απορροφημένες στην τροφή τους. #ακτήΝτοβίλ #καραμπουρνάκι #καλαμαρια #θεσσαλονίκη #θάλασσα #θερμαικός - Ακτή Ντοβίλ - Καραμπουρνάκι: (https://goo.gl/maps/aupKs9NVB2BRchHm7) - Γέφυρα (σκάλα) των προσφύγων: (https://goo.gl/maps/hLc1dd2ZJhqJa5Xn6) - Κελλάριος Όρμος: (https://goo.gl/maps/sX5XqoQ9aYmJBwzj8)

Estonia's Prime Minister urged other countries to give more arms to Ukraine, adding that Ukraine's Armed Forces proved to be "very fast learners" in using modern military equipment [in residential areas]. 1. Estonia will hand over all the 155 mm howitzers it has to Ukraine under the record aid package announced on Jan. 19, the General Staff reported, citing Estonian Ambassador to Ukraine Kaimo Kuusk. "We want to create a precedent so that other countries will not have any excuses why they cannot provide Ukraine with the necessary weapons to win the war," Kuusk reportedly said. Kuusk also confirmed previous media reports that the package would include dozens of 155-mm FH-70 and 122-mm D-30 howitzers, thousands of 155 mm artillery shells, and hundreds of M2 Carl Gustaf anti-tank grenade launchers with ammunition. The Estonian government reported on Jan. 19 that Estonia would provide Ukraine with a military aid package worth some 113 million euros. It would be the largest aid package provided by Estonia so far, increasing the country's total military assistance to 370 million euros which is more than 1% of its GDP. Apart from the aid package, Estonia will continue to provide basic and specialized training to Ukrainian servicemen, according to Kuusk. --- 2. According to Estonia's Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Ukraine directly asked to supply this particular weaponry. "If Ukraine fell, freedom would also be in danger in other parts of the world. By helping Ukraine to defend its independence, we are defending the right to freedom and democracy of all countries, including Estonia," said Kallas. Estonia's Prime Minister urged other countries to give more arms to Ukraine, adding that Ukraine's Armed Forces proved to be "very fast learners" in using modern military equipment. "All countries must look into their stockpiles and ensure that industries are able to produce more and faster. Russia's war against Ukraine comes at a price – a price we pay in euros, but the Ukrainians pay with their lives." The aid package was proposed by Estonia's Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur, who also emphasized Ukraine's need for heavy weapons. "The toughest battles are yet to come," he said. --- *3. NATO’s ambitions to expand, and to use Ukraine for waging a hybrid war threaten Russia’s military security, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov said in an interview with the Argumenty i Fakty newspaper.* To neutralize these threats, he said, the country’s leadership has set the task of adjusting the Armed Forces development plan. "The Supreme Commander-in-Chief approved its parameters at an expanded Defense Ministry board meeting," Gerasimov said. --- Related: Estonia to give Ukraine all its 155-mm howitzers and record military aid package worth 113 million: [https://www.kaos.gr/2023/01/rpt-biden-neocon-war-on-russia-leading.html] - Rheinmetall says may send 139 Leopard tanks to Ukraine : [https://www.elethos.gr/2023/01/rheinmetall-says-may-send-139-leopard.html]

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, addressed the public tonight in order to disclose the plan regarding Kosovo and Metohija, which the "Big Five" recently presented to him, and that Serbia will face three major consequences if we do not agree to it. We cannot prevent them from entering the Council of Europe because we do not have a majority, whether we fought or not, and we will fight. We cannot prevent entry into NATO, because we are not a member of NATO. As for joining the UN, that's another story***. I will worry a lot about it, and when I say that, it means respecting the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia - said Vučić and added. Europe is, in fact, in a state of war, no matter what politicians on the continent may say, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said on Monday. "Europe is de facto in a state of war, whatever they may say. There is no more tolerance . And they want their backyard - and the Western Balkans, and, naturally, Serbia are their backyard, and they want to have things the way they want them here," he said in an address to the nation. According to the Serbian leader, the West has intensified its pressure on Serbia after the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine. Serbia has found itself under colossal pressure from the West because of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine, Serbian President Aleksandar #Vučić said on Monday. "Having a closer look at the past several months, after the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict it has become one of the most serious problems for Serbia," he said in an address to the nation. "First of all, it is simply because we ate in front of everyone, because we have not imposed sanctions against Russia and also because of constant incidents caused by the [Kosovo Prime Minister Albin] Kurti regime." #serbia #serbian #europeanunion #values #principles #kosovo #metohija #sanctions #russia #ukraine #donbass #territorialintegrity #violation #recognition #blackmail -- Related: Insistence of Brussels on Ukraine’s territorial integrity while expecting Serbia to violate its own: [https://youtu.be/wccK1Fp6kuo] **** Serbia has been faced with a choice - either isolation or the acceptance of the *new French-German negotiating plan* envisaging among other things Kosovo’s admission to the United Nations, Serbian President Aleksandar #vucic said on Monday. "Our choice is as follows: either isolation, these of those sanctions, but no sanctions are worse than withdrawal of investments, which they told me openly three times. Or, on the other hand, we accept everything immediately, which means Kosovo’s admission to the United Nations," he said in an address to the nation.

Members of the special police unit of the so-called Kosovo, ROSU, opened fire today at the checkpoint on the Bistrica Bridge on the KM-Leposavić main road. According to the report, the Kosovo forces opened fire on the car at about 11:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m. Moscow time) on a road between Kosovska Mitrovica and Leposavic. One Serb was hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the chest. "It is obvious that [Prime Minister of the unrecognized Kosovo Albin] Kurti spills Serbian blood without hesitation, and this is the only purpose for the presence of his squadrons in northern Kosovo and Metohija," the Office said. "Belgrade has warned since the very beginning of ROSU’s presence in the north [of the region] that their only goal is to create incidents and to mistreat our people, just as it was demonstrated today.".... An emergency meeting of the Serbian government was held today, attended by the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić. The main topic of the session is Kosovo and Metohija. Vučić will address public today at 8 p.m. *some parts of the video are from @kosovoonline2569 #kosovo #kosovometohija #christmas #christianity #kfor #eulex #serbians #peacekeepers #injured #gunfire #albanian #woundcare #wounds #childrens #christian #hospital --- Related: Albanian in Kosovo opens fire on Serbs celebrating Christmas, Serbs block road after shooting: [https://youtu.be/AqNhKcFKAR4]

1. In Poland, heavy snowfalls have damaged power lines. Roads in many provinces have become slippery due to snow and freezing rain. The third level of avalanche danger has been declared in the Tatras. 2. In the Czech Republic, up to 20 centimeters of snow fell over the weekend, which led to an increase in the number of car accidents and delays in public transport. 3. Slovenian officials said the late Sunday snowfall caused over a dozen traffic accidents overnight with fallen trees blocking local roads and downing power lines

The British channel Sky News showed how the Armed Forces of Ukraine hide tanks and armored personnel carriers in a residential area in Artemovsk Ukrainian troops place tanks and armored personnel carriers in a residential area in Artemovsk. The corresponding statement was made by the correspondent of the British television channel Sky News Alex Rossi. According to him, rows of Soviet tanks and armored personnel carriers are hiding among the buildings. Rossi stressed that, according to the Ukrainian side, the Russian military is currently on the outskirts of Artemovsk and will soon be able to break through the defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. #bakhmut #artemovsk #residentialbuilding #residentialarea #afu #ukrainianarmy #skynews #tanks #armoredcar #civilians #targets -- *Британский канал Sky News показал, как ВСУ прячут #танки и #бтр в жилой застройке в Артемовске* Украинские войска размещают танки и БТР в жилой застройке в Артемовске. Соответствующее заявление сделал корреспондент британского телеканала Sky News Алекс Росси. По его словам, среди зданий прячутся ряды советских танков и бронетранспортеров. Росси подчеркнул, что, по данным украинской стороны, российские военные в настоящее время находятся на окраине Артемовска и уже в скором времени могут прорвать оборону #ВСУ. #артемовск

The first mixing/overturning of the compost pile took place on January 22nd, Sunday morning. A final settlement was made afterwards. We didn't need to add water as we expect rain in the next few days. Temperatures will remain high for the season (January with 15 degrees Celsius) The Divine Liturgy was also heard from the village Church. Some of the cornus mas trees were almost in bloom. #Compost #composting #compostinginpile #cornusmas #bloom #blomming #divineliturgy #mixing #overturing #κομποστοποίηση #θείαλειτουργία #θειαλειτουργια #εκκλησία #ανθοφορία #κρανιές -- Related 2022: Second mixing of composting body with sounds of D.L. (P5.1): [https://youtu.be/sIwapl_gzhc] - 3rd Mixing/Overturning of Compost into a pile (C3): [https://youtu.be/kZ0fWD_89PE]

1. Thirteen people were killed when a residential building collapsed in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on Sunday and rescue workers were searching for people believed still buried under the rubble, state media said. The five-storey building in the Sheikh Maksoud district of Syria's second largest city collapsed due to water leakages that weakened its foundation, government officials were quoted as saying by state media. - *2. SANA- The number of victims of the collapse of the residential building in Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood in Aleppo city has risen to thirteen , including a child and two seriously injured.* The Ministry of Interior stated in a statement that, at 3 AM on Sunday , a residential building consisting of 5 floors collapsed in the Sheikh #Maqsoud neighborhood – a well-known street in the city of Aleppo, and there were 7 families among it, as the medical and civil defense teams immediately went to the place, and 13 were recovered and one person is alive so far, as a preliminary outcome, and the removal of rubble and the search for survivors are still going on. A police source told SANA reporter that the building consists of five floors, and that the reason for the collapse is due to water leakage into the bases of the building, and the rescue, civil defense and firefighting teams are still searching to pick up the missing persons under the rubble. #buildings #collapse #collapsed #rescueoperation #survivors #foundations #aleppo #alepposyria #rubble #waterleakage

The US strike was carried out in Somalia that killed at least 30 al-Shabaab fighters on Friday, said US Africa Command in a statement released on January 20. The strikes conducted by the US troops are seen as a "collective self-defense strike” in support of Somalia National Army forces. These strikes came after the Somalian National Army was attacked by more than 100 al-Shabaab fighters, said the statement, referring to the terror group linked to al Qaeda. The targeted area was about 260 kilometers northeast of the Somalian capital of Mogadishu, near Galcad. During the strike, no US military official was present on the ground when the US air raid took place, informed the US defense official. Also, US Africa Command confirmed no civilians have been harmed or killed due to the remote location.

1. Some 70 million hectares - an area twice the size of France - are affected by drought in the area of the Paraná River basin in Argentina and its neighboring countries, whose waters recorded a historic low that complicates several productive activities. According to a report released Tuesday by Argentina's National Meteorological Service, 75% of the Paraná basin area is affected by moderate to exceptional droughts. "This is equivalent to approximately 70 million hectares," the report states. -- 2. VIDEO CGTN: In Argentina, a prolonged drought has impacted its agricultural sector. More than 50 percent of Argentina’s #farmland was affected by a lack of water, according to a report by the INAI Foundation and Buenos Aires Cereal Exchange. It is the third year of drought for the major agricultural exporter. The impact will be not only on the country’s economy but also on world food production. CGTN’s Joel Richards reports. -- 3. Farmers in the Argentine province of Santa Fe worry about the constant drought that has decimated their cattle and crops in one of the wealthiest agricultural areas in they country. This year alone, rains are four months late at the Giailevra farm, where the drought has killed more than 300 animals in recent months. Authorities estimate that 3,000 cows have died across Santa Fe province. The drought, which has lasted for three years, is due to the La #Niña #weatherphenomenon, causing huge financial losses. As of January 10, half of the Argentine territory suffers different degrees of drought. According to a report from the Rosario Stock Exchange, some 26 million #cows are at risk, half of the national total. #drought #argentina #paraná #parana #agriculture #foodproduction #cattle ------ Related: Historic heatwave makes Argentina the hottest place on Earth: [https://youtu.be/YpWcpa7c6Uo]

The RT France broadcaster announced its closure on Saturday, following France's decision to freeze the TV channel's accounts, which made it impossible for the news outlet to continue its activities. On Friday, RT France editor-in-chief Ksenia Fedorova said that bank accounts of the broadcaster's desk had been frozen in France, adding that the bank refers to the authorities' order. Despite the fact that RT France does not appear on the sanctions list and has the right to work in France, such a decision effectively paralyzes the work of the media, according to Fedorova. "After five years of perseverance, those in power have achieved their goal the closure of RT France. Under the pretext of the ninth package of Russia sanctions, which mention not us, but our shareholder in the parent company, the Directorate General of the Treasury has decided to freeze the bank accounts of RT France, making it impossible to continue our activities," the statement read. The broadcaster also said it "had been targeted since its launch," with those in power in the European Union calling for censoring the TV channel. In particular, the EU authorities used the Ukraine crisis, which was covered by the broadcaster "in a balanced way," to finally "shut RT France up," according to the statement. "RT France has never been held accountable for anything. This is a political decision, not based on any legal verdict. This is what is called censorship," the broadcaster added. As a result of Paris' decision, as many as 123 TV channel employees have now faced risk of being unpaid in January and losing their jobs, which "casts doubt on future of media independence in France," according to the statement. "The closure of RT France amid deafening silence from other French media and journalists is only the first, extremely dangerous step, after which other Russian media will be targeted," the statement read. #france #censorship #sanctions #europeanunion #europeancommission #vassalisation #america #mediafreedom #freedomofspeech #facism - *2. VIDEO: RT France closure leaves 123 employees unemployed (С закрытием RT France без работы остались 123 сотрудника - Россия 24).* #телеканал #RTFrance объявил о прекращении работы. Как говорится в официальном пресс-релизе, после пяти лет ожесточенных преследований власти Франции добились своей цели. В качестве предлога – девятый пакет антироссийских #санкций, хотя они касались лишь акционеров и материнской компании RT France. Тем не менее Главное управление казначейства решило заморозить #банковские #счета телеканала. ------ Related: Exclusion of RT and Sputnik networks is unprecedented: [https://youtu.be/O19ZdJjPYuI]

1. Shopkeepers in Croatia have been accused of cashing in on currency confusion by unfairly bumping up prices since the country switched to the Euro. Croatia became the 20th country to join the Eurozone on 1 January. Some experts say shops are rounding up euro-denominated prices or suddenly hiking prices by up to 50 percent, rather than merely converting their prices using the designated conversion rate of 7.53 kuna to 1 euro. While retailers say prices were largely unaffected by the changeover and blame inflation, the government openly sided with the public and announced measures to combat price hiking, including sending inspectors to stores and service providers, as well as demanding large retail chains to report prices of every single product on a bi-weekly basis. On Friday 20 January, the state inspectorate said that after checking about 1,000 stores in the two weeks prior they found unjustified price hikes at about a quarter of the establishments, issuing more than 240 fines. (@euronewsit) -- 2. Croatia, with an annual inflation rate of 10.8 percent, reported one of the highest inflation rates in the EU last year. Martin Evacic of the trade sector of the Croatian Association of Employers has said that prices only went up on a small number of products and “certainly did not rise during the conversion period.” Despite this, consumers were reporting wild price increases of 5 percent to 20 percent a day depending on the product. Igor Vujovic, the president of the Croatian consumers' association, also said that prices are getting wild. The government has been conducting increased controls and has found that about 40 percent of businesses had unjustifiably hiked prices and so have been fined EUR 234,000. Prime Minister Andrej Plenković stated that “raising prices, overshadowing the introduction of the euro and contributing to inflation, it's an unfair practice and will not be allowed.”

Russia denies the allegations of intentionally protracting inspections of ships under the UN-brokered Black Sea grain deal, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday, adding that Ukraine compiled lists for inspections and passage. "We cannot confirm the information from the UN press release about more than 100 ships involved in the initiative and staying in Turkiye's territorial waters and about the average waiting time of 21 days. At present, there are 64 vessels in Ukrainian ports and inspection zones. Ukrainian representatives compile lists for their inspections and passage. Russian representatives have nothing to do with this," the ministry said in a statement. On January 18, the United Nations published an update on the Black Sea grain initiative, saying that there were "more than 100 vessels in Turkish territorial waters connected to the Initiative, 32 are waiting for inspection, while the rest have applied to participate in the Initiative." The UN also urged all parties to "work to remove obstacles for the reduction of the backlog and improve operational efficiencies" within the Joint Coordination Center. ---- *The United Nations has not helped to normalize exports of Russian agricultural products and fertilizers, as the Black Sea Grain Initiative is hardly progressing and there are no results in the implementation of the Russia-UN memorandum, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.* "If the implementation of this strictly humanitarian initiative meets with such difficulties, the UN cannot be said to have helped normalise our exports of agricultural products and fertilisers. Talk about the threats of hunger and global food security is just a cover for servicing the commercial contracts of Ukrainians and the economic interests of the Western beneficiaries," the ministry said in a statement. The department added that the Memorandum of Understanding between Russia and the UN on promoting Russian food products and fertilizers to the world markets was mentioned only in one paragraph of the organization's bulletin. "UN officials have nothing to say (as distinct from the Black Sea Initiative) about specific results of implementing the said agreement. Against the backdrop of numerous declarations by Washington, Brussels and London that unilateral sanctions do not apply to food and fertilisers, they are simply assuring the public of the continued efforts to ensure relevant withdrawals. If there are no restrictions, what is the need for withdrawals," the statement read. In addition, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the UN made no effort to resolve the issue with the resumption of ammonia transit via the Tolyatti-Odesa pipeline. "The UN officials, who are vigorously calling for increasing grain export from Ukraine, are doing nothing to resolve this issue. They refer to some talks, although it is not clear who is taking part in these talks and what they concern, since no representatives from Russia are involved in any such thing," the statement read. #grain #graincorridor #grainagreement #odessa #export #ports #ukrainianports #agriculturalproducts #blacksea #blackseafleet ---- Related: In Bosphorus line of ships stretched for many kilometers, traffic south to north still prohibited: [https://youtu.be/0zSK_xo3YD8] - Bosphorus was blocked for the movement of ships, Ship en Route from Ukraine runs Aground: [https://youtu.be/IGxuHKC_rug] - Bosphorus Strait congestion from tankers, Moscow and Ankara are in coordination: [https://youtu.be/7c_ANmPxa1k] - Related 2: Russia suspends participation in the "grain agreement": Russian MoD, FM: [https://youtu.be/ar-cBNBjv34]

1. The United States has designated Russia’s Wagner mercenary group as a “transnational criminal organisation”, piling pressure on the private army that has recruited tens of thousands of Russian prisoners to fight in Ukraine. White House national security spokesperson John #kirby said on Friday that Wagner, controlled by Yevgeny #Prigozhin, a businessman close to Russian President Vladimir #Putin, had about 50,000 fighters in Ukraine, 80,75 percent of them drawn from Russia’s prison system. -- *2. Wagner founder calls #americans ‘colleagues’ after statement on PMC* The founder of the Wagner private military company, Yevgeny Prigozhin, called the Americans "colleagues" after the US announced its intentions to impose sanctions against the group designated as "a transnational criminal organization". "At last, now the Wagner PMC and the Americans are colleagues. Our relationship from now on can be called "a showdown of criminal clans," Prigozhin said in a comment published on the Telegram channel of his press service on Friday. ------- *The US handed over information allegedly proving arms shipments from North Korea to Russia, US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby announced at a briefing on Friday.* "As we have stated previously, the arms transfers from the DPRK are in direct violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions. So today, we shared information on these violations with the Security Council's #dprk Sanctions Committee panel of experts. We will continue to raise these violations at the Security Council alongside our #allies and partners," Kirby said. Earlier, Kirby presented some satellite photos that allegedly prove, according to the US, the fact of arms shipment from North Korea to the Wagner PMC. #wagnergroup #wagnermercenaries #criminalorganisation #sanctions #whitehouse #militarycompany #northkorea #weapons #information #satellites

Croatian President Zoran Milanovic has called on the European Union to take measures to stop #violations of the rights of ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine’s Zakarpattia region. "I don’t understand why the #europeanunion keeps silent on this matter," he said on Friday after a meeting with his Hungarian counterpart, Katalin Novak when asked by journalists about harassment of Hungarians in the Zakarpattia region. It was reported in recent days that Hungarian flag and signs in the Hungarian #language have been removed from public buildings in Zakarpattia’s #Mukachevo, populated by ethnic Hungarians. Apart from that, the labor contract has been terminated with the director of the city’s Hungarian school. --- 2. Commenting on this situation, the Hungarian president recalled that some 150,000 ethnic Hungarians are living in Ukraine’s #Zakarppattia region and their rights are infringed upon by the local authorities. Novak described this situation as inadmissible and gave to understand that Hungary will not turn a blind eye on it, even amid the ongoing armed conflict in Ukraine. She slammed Ukraine’s law on national minorities as unacceptable and said she had raised this issue during her recent visit to Kiev and in a letter to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. Novak thanked Milanovic for support and noted that ethnic Hungarians don’t have such problems in Croatia. - 3. The Croatian President criticized the EU and Borrell's orders. He demands the resignation of the leadership #hungarians #croatia #president #minorities

1. Participants at a meeting at the US air base in Germany’s Ramstein, who gathered to discuss further assistance to Ukraine, have not yet reached any accord on Leopard 2 tanks, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Friday. "We cannot yet say when a decision on the Leopards will be made and what it will be," he said in an interview with the Phoenix television channel. According to the minister, there are arguments both in favor of their supplies and against them and there is no accord among allies on this matter. He noted that the impression that only Germany is against sending tanks to Ukraine is not true. -- 2. VIDEO: The US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, told reporters no German decision had been made to send tanks to Ukraine, despite Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, urging Nato partners to provide them. Speaking at Germany's US Ramstein airbase, he said: 'What we're really focussed on is making sure that Ukraine has the capability that it needs to be successful right now.' *He added that Poland was willing to provide tanks if other allies followed suit.* -- 3. *Statements by Western countries about the need to supply Kiev with any weapons, including those capable of hitting targets in Crimea, are raising the stakes in the conflict and will inevitably lead to an escalation, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said in a commentary on Friday.* In particular, she drew attention to The New York Times report which claimed that the US administration was considering options for supplying Kiev with additional weapons to attack Crimea. In addition, Zakharova recalled that the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, had urged partners to give Kiev "any weapon it can use." "We regard all this as an open, provocative instigation by the West and a raising of the stakes in the conflict, which will inevitably lead to greater casualties and a dangerous escalation," Zakharova said. She stated that the West was "plunging ever deeper into the conflict in Ukraine": supplies of Western air defense systems and tanks to Kiev are being discussed at the US base in Ramstein, Germany and Western countries are also training Ukrainian military personnel. The commentary stresses that Kiev is using the tragedy in Dnepropetrovsk to obtain more arms supplies from the West. "A freelance adviser to the office of the President of Ukraine, Alexey Arestovich, initially admitted that the Ukrainian air defense’s actions were the cause of the tragedy, but then he began to backtrack," Zakharova pointed out. "[Ukrainian President Vladimir] Zelensky's regime is shamelessly trying to use this tragedy to press the West for tougher anti-Russian sanctions and new arms shipments." #leopard #leopard2 #germany #poland #ukrainewar #ramstein #lloydaustin #arms #weapons #humantragedy #airdefencesystem ------- Related: Arestovich said that a rocket fell on a residential building in Dnipro due to UA air defense: [https://youtu.be/OaTx9iszKzs] --- Related 2: Germany Alarmed By Huge Ukrainian Losses Near Bakhmut - Reports: [https://www.elethos.gr/2023/01/germany-alarmed-by-huge-ukrainian.html] - Western weapons will only hurt Ukrainians: Kremlin: [https://www.kaos.gr/2023/01/western-weapons-will-only-hurt.html]

1. Stoltenberg: the task of exceptional importance is to prevent Putin's victory The task of exceptional importance is to prevent Putin's victory. Partly because it will be a tragedy for the Ukrainians [of the west], but it will be very dangerous for all of us. This will be an extremely sad and dangerous example that will make the world more vulnerable and dangerous. Therefore, if we want a peaceful end to the war in Ukraine, we need to increase its military support. This is the only way! *Weapons are the way to peace.* VIDEO: Stoltenberg and his Davos Orwellian speech (War is peace, freedom is slavery)… -- 2. The conflict in Ukraine has been unfolding along an upward spiral, with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization getting increasingly involved in it, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday. Asked whether yet another stage of the escalation was now behind us, Peskov said, "So far, we can see that it (the conflict - TASS) is unfolding along an upward spiral. And we can see increasingly more indirect and sometimes direct involvement of NATO countries in this conflict. We can hear statements that manifest the prevailing political will to keep increasing this involvement." The Russian presidential spokesman also pointed to other countries’ sticking to "the erroneous idea of Ukraine winning a victory on the battlefield." He said this was a dramatic delusion that would be unceasingly regretted by the West. "So, everything does boil down to the fact that the conflict will deteriorate into triggering further escalation," he concluded. #leaders #davos #jensstoltenberg #victory #nato #escalation #statement #peacemaker #ukrainianaid #financialsupport #economicforum #weapons #conflicts - Related: Head of the EC in Davos asks for money from private investors for the conflict in Ukraine: [https://youtu.be/epWpfV0Y3VA]

1. Firefighters have been working to put out a raging inferno that broke out in a building near a protest site in Peru’s capital Lima where police fired tear gas as thousands of protesters poured into the city to demand the removal of President Dina Boluarte. Demonstrators gathered on Thursday in Lima’s historic downtown area where scuffles broke out with the security forces who battled to stop the protesters from reaching key government buildings, including Congress, as well as business and residential districts of the capital. -- 2. The Peruvian Ministry of Transport and Communications said on Thursday that the operation of the airports in the cities of Cusco and Arequipa was suspended amid ongoing protests in the country. On Thursday, a nationwide protest took place in Peru demanding the resignation of President Dina Boluarte and the dissolution of Congress. Mass demonstrations were held in all major cities of the country. According to media reports, clashes between demonstrators and police began in the afternoon. Police armored personnel carriers were brought to the streets of the Peruvian capital of Lima. "As a precautionary measure, the Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport in Cusco is temporarily closed. The measure is designed to protect people and air operations," the ministry said on Twitter. A similar notification from the ministry was issued in relation to the international airport in Arequipa. According to Peruvian radio RPP, groups of vandals tried to seize the buildings of these airports. The report noted that the criminals in Cusco managed to break into the runways, and in Arequipa - into the terminal building. At the same time, protesters in the city of Juliaca also tried to seize the local airport, but the police dispersed them with tear gas, the Republica newspaper reported. Interior Minister Vicente Romero said during a televised cabinet meeting that 22 police officers had been hurt in the clashes nationwide. A protester died and 16 others were injured. Romero expressed condolences to the bereaved family but added that police had to use force against violent demonstrators. He promised that the prosecutor's office and rights watchdogs would make sure that police did not overstep their bounds and respect protesters' rights. #peru #protest #protests #president #impeachment #pedrocastillo #machupicchu #teargas #blockade #lima #cusco #cuscoperu #puno #resignation #dinabaluarte #stateofemergency --- Related: More deaths during protests in southern Peru, the 'taking of Lima' and the national strike: [https://youtu.be/_XmCZhDuEsY] - Peru declares a state of Emergency in capital, in regions of Cusco, Puno and in port of Callao: [https://youtu.be/V1G8vRMelos] - In Cusco, Peruvians on indefinite strike, airport closed and train to Machu Picchu suspended: [https://youtu.be/et3leCLK-eo] - Juliaca, Peru: At least 17 deaths in deadliest day of protests in Puno Region: [https://youtu.be/ASgFE2_qO1k] - Peru: protesters demand the resignation of President Boluarte, trying to approach Parliament: [https://youtu.be/PPfchCOpr1o]

An avalanche in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region has left eight people dead, local authorities said on January 18. A search and rescue operation for the missing is underway. The local rescue department has dispatched 131 people and 28 vehicles to search and save the trapped and prevent secondary disasters. The Ministry of Emergency Management sent a disaster response team on Wednesday to Tibet and called for full-scale efforts in the rescue. The avalanche struck a tunnel exit in the city of Ninchi ( Linzhi - Nyingchi - Lindsay) and traps vehicles and people. Rescue crews who are desperately trying to locate survivors as excavators clear the snow exposing overturned vehicles *It is not clear how many people are missing, and officials are not releasing more details* *** Bayi District, 巴宜区, Nyingchi, Tibet, China: [https://goo.gl/maps/xiEMRky9maKaKwBG8]

British Defense Minister Ben Wallace announced the delivery of another 600 Brimstone precision-guided missiles to Kyiv, Reuters writes. "I can tell you that we will send another 600 Brimstone missiles to the theater of operations. They will help Ukraine to dominate the battlefield," Wallace said at a meeting with other defense ministers in Estonia. In a package earlier this week the UK provide Ukraine with three batteries of AS-90 155 long-range deep dire artillery and a squadron of Challenger 2 main battle tanks. In mid-December, the British authorities announced that they had already sent a batch of Brimstone-2 missiles to Ukraine. And Prime Minister Rishi Sunak admitted that in 2023 the UK could increase the amount of assistance provided to Ukraine. As a result, on January 14, the authorities of the United Kingdom announced the transfer of 12 Challenger 2 tanks to Kyiv. At the same time, the head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the country, Patrick Sanders, admitted that the transfer of tanks to Kyiv would weaken the British army. - *Министр обороны Великобритании Бен Уоллес заявил о поставке Киеву еще 600 высокоточных ракет Brimstone, пишет Reuters.* "Могу сообщить, что мы отправим еще 600 ракет Brimstone в театр боевых действий. Они помогут Украине одержать #главенство на поле боя", – сказал Уоллес на встрече с министрами обороны других стран в Эстонии. В середине декабря власти Великобритании объявили о том, что уже отправили на Украину партию ракет Brimstone-2. А премьер-министр страны Риши Сунак допустил, что в 2023 году #великобритания может увеличить объем оказываемой Украине помощи. В результате 14 января власти Соединенного королевства сообщили о передаче Киеву 12 танков #challenger 2. При этом глава Генштаба ВС страны Патрик Сандерс признал, что передача танков Киеву ослабит армию Великобритании. #brimstone #weapons #britain #ukrainewar #ukrainenews #highprecision #missiles ----- Related: Peskov did not notice any contradictions with the Russian Nuclear Doctrine in Medvedev's words: [https://youtu.be/p_b81QobFLk] - Medvedev listed four reasons for the use of nuclear weapons by Russia: [https://youtu.be/0ml64Q6gGiY] - Russia to improve Combat Readiness of nuclear Triad, nuclear Triad replenished with Tu-160M ​​bomber: [https://youtu.be/dpS5UUYfKUg] ---- Related 2: Preventive nuc strike on Russia ineffective, country that launches nuc attack will be wiped out: [https://youtu.be/xHsYrbr-h5s]