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Ukraine’s NATO membership bid to be considered only after it wins conflict - Biden UKRAINE: US-NATO-MEMBERSHIP-PRESIDENT WASHINGTON, December 13. /TASS/. Ukraine’s accession to NATO will be considered only after it wins the conflict, US President Joe Biden said. When asked by a journalist after his talks with visiting Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky when Washington would be ready to support an invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance, he said, "NATO will be in Ukraine’s future, no question about it." "But as we said in Vilnius, Ukraine will become a member of NATO when all allies agree and conditions are met. Right now we need to make sure that they win the war," he noted. Ukraine announced a fast-track NATO membership bid in September 2022, and was assured at a NATO summit in Vilnius in 2023 that it would be accepted into the bloc once it met all the required conditions. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on November 28 that Ukraine would be accepted into the North Atlantic Alliance in due time; however, he did not specify when this might happen. ТАСС 13.12.2023, 06:28 MSK

Russian envoy sees US-made weapons seeping globally due to Ukrainian corruption UKRAINE: US-RUSSIA-AMBASSADOR WASHINGTON, December 13. /TASS/. US-made weapons for Kiev are seeping across borders globally amid Ukrainian corruption, the Russian Embassy to the United States quoted Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov as saying on its Telegram channel. "Deadly weapons carrying a `Made in USA’ label worth $200 mln will only prolong the conflict and cause suffering to thousands of people," the diplomat said. "And not only in Eastern Europe, but also in other regions of the world, where these arms seep to `thanks’ to corrupt Ukrainian officials," he emphasized. A new package of $200 mln worth of military assistance to Ukraine was announced by US President Joe Biden at a meeting with his visiting Ukrainian counterpart, Vladimir Zelensky, earlier. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken specified later that it would include ammunition and components for air defense systems, more munitions for HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, 155 mm and 105 mm artillery shells, antitank rounds and small arms ammunition as well as components and auxiliary equipment. ТАСС 13.12.2023, 08:30 MSK

Russia designs underwater strike drone with 5-kg payload DEFENSE: UNDERWATER-DRONE MOSCOW, December 13. /TASS/. Russian specialists are designing an underwater strike drone with a 5-kg payload. It will also monitor hydro-technical facilities, a defense industry source told TASS. "Design is underway of an underwater strike drone with four engines. It will carry a 5-kg payload and have a range of up to one kilometer. Trials have to begin in February," the source said. The new craft will be used in Ukraine, specifically in the Dnieper River. "The military need hardware to destroy hostile targets. It is an underwater strike drone," the source said. The drone will be also used in mine clearance. "It will monitor hydro-technical facilities at a depth of 30 meters. If there is a report about a mined bridge pylon, you do not have to call divers. The submergible drone will be engaged," the source said. ТАСС 13.12.2023, 08:48 MSK

The Russian Defense Ministry finds new evidence of dangerous activities at US laboratories in Ukraine. Documents found in Ukrainian laboratories demonstrate the danger of the Pentagon's biological activities, said Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, head of Russia's Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection Forces. Russian specialists gained access to a number of Ukrainian biological facilities, in particular to laboratories in the cities of Rubezhnoye, Severodonetsk and Kherson, as well as their official documentation," said Kirillov  at a briefing on the military-biological activities of the USA. «The analysis of these documents confirmed the dangerousness of the Pentagon's experiments to assess the susceptibility of the Ukrainian population to zoonotic infections. The Pentagon is testing drugs on local populations and exporting biological samples to the United States for their possible use," the general said. He further said that Russian experts had inspected four facilities in the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. «A collection of reference strains of microorganisms was found in a storage room of the veterinary laboratory in Mangush.» These reference strains were provided by the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) and were intended for the study of economically important animal diseases," he continued. According to Kirillov, the data obtained confirm that the employees of the Askaniya-Nova Biosphere Reserve in the Kherson region studied routes of migratory birds. Facts have been established that avian influenza virus strains have been collected and classified, he said, stressing that the mortality rate could reach 40% if these strains were transmitted to humans. The Pentagon denies all allegations made by the Russian side. Background: Zoonoses as bioweapons Definition Zoonoses are diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans. They can be transmitted through direct contact with infected animals, through consumption of contaminated food, or through insect bites. Possible use as bioweapons Zoonoses can be used as bioweapons to infect and harm large populations. They have the potential to be highly contagious and deadly. Examples of zoonoses that could be used as bioweapons Anthrax Q fever Ebola Lassa fever Plague Anthrax Research in the USA The USA is conducting research on zoonoses in several laboratories. The official goal of this research is to better understand the pathogens and develop countermeasures. Research laboratories in the USA National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Institutes of Health (NIH) Risks of research Research into zoonoses involves enormous risks. On the one hand, there is a risk that the pathogens will escape from the laboratories and trigger an epidemic. On the other hand, there is a risk that the pathogens will be changed through genetic manipulation in such a way that they become even more contagious or deadly. Read also: US biolabs founded in Ukraine as part of bioweapons programs | ZEITPUNKT Video tip: The military and healthcare work as an operational unit WE THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THIS PLATFORM | ZEITPUNKT Source(s) ZEITPUNKT: Pentagon tested zoonotic biological weapons on the population in Ukraine... Website ZEITPUNKT

Agreement to open Romanian Consulate General in Rostov-on-Don axed POLITICS: RUSSIA-ROMANIA-CONSULATE-DENUNCIATION MOSCOW, December 11. /TASS/. The Russian government has accepted the Russian Foreign Ministry's proposal to denounce the agreement on the opening of the Romanian consulate general in Rostov-on-Don, with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signing the relevant order. "In accordance with Article 37 of the Federal Law On International Treaties of the Russian Federation to accept the proposal of the Russian Foreign Ministry on the denunciation of the agreement between the Russian and Romanian governments on the opening of the Consulate General of Romania in Rostov-on-Don from September 22, 2005, concluded in the form of an exchange of notes," reads the document published on the official Internet portal of legal information. The Russian Foreign Ministry was instructed to notify the Romanian side of the decision. ТАСС 11.12.2023, 22:47 MSK

Niger’s leader Tchiani accuses France of backing terrorism in his country DEFENSE: NIGER-FRANCE-ACCUSATIONS /Corrects HL; recasts; updates with details/ NAIROBI, December 11. /TASS/. General Abdourahmane Tchiani, acting head of state of Niger voiced accusations against France about its alleged support of terrorist groups operating in the west African state, the ORTN broadcaster reported on Monday. "It is impossible to put out a fire using gasoline…," the ORTN quoted Tchiani as saying. "The blaze of terrorism is fueled by France's support." Tchiani added he hoped that "new partners" which understand the situation in his country would help in the fight against terrorism and regarding the recovery of the national economic situation. On November 21, Niger issued a request to the ECOWAS (the Economic Community of West African States) Court asking to suspend the sanctions due to the dire humanitarian situation in the country following the closure of borders and the interruption of power supplies from Nigeria. Niger’s authorities say that ECOWAS’ attitude toward the country is unfair as compared to its attitude toward Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea, which have also seen state coups in recent years. The court dismissed the request. In late July 2023, a group of military rebels in Niger announced the removal of President Mohamed Bazoum. The mutineers then established the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (known by its French abbreviation CNSP, for Conseil national pour la sauvegarde de la patrie), headed by General Abdourahmane Tchiani, to run the country. ECOWAS suspended Niger’s membership in the organization and imposed tough sanctions on the country. Apart from that, ECOWAS leaders demanded that the rebels release Bazoum and warned about the possibility of a military resolution of the situation if he was not released. ТАСС 11.12.2023, 20:30 MSK

EU states fail to agree on ban on sale of tankers to Russia in sanctions package - Reuters URGENT BRUSSELS, December 11. /TASS/. The EU states were unable to agree on a ban on the sale of tankers to Russia in the 12th package of sanctions, Reuters reported citing diplomatic sources in Brussels. According to the sources, the European Commission initially wanted to ban the sale of old tankers to Russian companies, as well as companies that could use their tankers allegedly to circumvent the price cap on Russian oil introduced by the G7, but this proposal had to be abandoned. The agency notes that the initiative was defeated by Mediterranean countries with powerful maritime transport companies, which fear that the decision will undermine their competitiveness. ТАСС 11.12.2023, 20:53 MSK

Russian Defense Ministry finds new evidence of dangerous activity of US labs in Ukraine UKRAINE: ARMY-LABS-EVIDENCE MOSCOW, December 11./TASS/. Documents found in Ukrainian laboratories bear evidence to the dangerous nature of the Pentagon's biological activities, Chief of Russia’s Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection Troops, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, said. "Russian specialists gained access to a number of Ukrainian biological facilities, in particular, laboratories in the cities of Rubezhnoye, Severodonetsk, Kherson and their official documentation within the special military operation," Kirillov told a briefing on US military biological activities. "Analysis of these documents confirmed the dangerous nature of Pentagon's experiments to assess the Ukrainian population's susceptibility to zoonotic infections, the facts of testing pharmaceuticals on the local population and exporting biological samples to the United States for their possible use in offensive biological programs," the general said. He said Russian experts had inspected four facilities in the Donetsk and Lugansk peoples’ republics. "A collection of reference strains of microorganisms was found in a storeroom of the veterinary laboratory in Mangush. These reference strains were supplied from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) intended for the study of economically important animal diseases," he went on to say. According to Kirillov, the obtained data confirms that the staff of the Askaniya-Nova Biosphere Reserve in the Kherson Region had been studying routes of migratory birds. Facts were ascertained that avian influenza virus strains had been collected and classified, he said, stressing that the mortality rate can reach 40% if these strains are transmitted to humans. ТАСС 11.12.2023, 20:54 MSK

War with Russia not impossible - chief of Czech General Staff SECURITY: CZECHIA-RUSSIA-MILITARY PRAGUE, December 11. /TASS/. Karel Rehka, the chief of the Czech General Staff, has said it’s not impossible that Western countries will wage a war with Russia. "A war with Russia is not unthinkable, although we assess that it is not likely at the moment," the CTK news agency quoted him as saying at a at a conference in Prague entitled "Ready to Fight?" It could occur because of an unintended escalation, Rehka stated. According to the chief of the General Staff, only deterrence will help prevent a conflict. "Russia must realistically see that we have the ability and the will to defend ourselves. It’s not about some declaration, they have to see that actually it’s not worth it," Rehka said. He said the Russian military in Ukraine had transformed itself. "Russia is preparing for an even longer and more intense war," Rehka stated. He called for support to Ukraine and the European Union showed unity in the issue of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova earlier said Russia strongly condemns "the increasingly aggressive and bellicose rhetoric of Western officials who do not hesitate to make loud statements on the Ukrainian conflict." On November 9, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said Moscow was ready for peace talks with Ukraine, but there were not even hints of the same on the part of Kiev. On February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in Ukraine in response to a request for help from the leaders of Donbass republics. Afterward, the US, the EU, the UK, along with some other countries started providing Kiev with weapons and military equipment worth billions of dollars. ТАСС 11.12.2023, 20:59 MSK

EU ministers fail to agree on money transfer for arms shipments to Ukraine - Borrell URGENT BRUSSELS, December 11. /TASS/. EU foreign ministers were unable to negotiate the new money transfer of 500 million euros from the European Peace Foundation for shipment of weapons to Ukraine, but they agreed that now is not the time to reduce the amount of aid for Ukraine, EU High Representative Josep Borrell said during a press conference. "An overwhelming majority of the ministers, we were very clear: this is not the moment to weaken our support to Ukraine," Borrell said, while admitting that the new transfer from the European Peace Foundation has not been unblocked yet. "We have already launched a dialogue, an expert consultation with Ukraine on future security commitments. We have to provide operational military support, yes, but we have also to work on predictable long-term funding," Borrell said, adding that these issues will be discussed during the December 14-15 summit. ТАСС 11.12.2023, 21:01 MSK

West pledges to help Kiev with producing weapons to make up for diminishing aid - official UKRAINE: WEAPONS-WEST-OPINION MOSCOW, December 11. /TASS/. All talk that Ukraine is going to boost its own defense industry is empty bluster and the only reason the West is doing this is to justify its diminishing military assistance to Kiev, Yan Gagin, an adviser to the head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, told TASS. Since the start of this past summer, Ukrainian politicians at various levels have been making statements about increasing Ukraine's defense capabilities. In particular, they talked about increasing the production of missiles, drones and heavy equipment that would be in line with NATO standards. In early fall, Ukraine held an international conference in Kiev in support of the Ukrainian defense industry. Kiev said the event brought together dozens of countries, but only few details emerged about what went down at the conference. The issue of expanding Ukrainian defense industry output has resurfaced again recently, now in the Western press. Gagin said NATO countries currently need statements about Ukraine being capable of producing its own defense equipment, so they can justify their flagging support for Kiev. "We see the fatigue in NATO countries from arms deliveries to Ukraine and from the sanctions they have announced against the Russian Federation. They are suffering from this and it is very hard for them to send money there all the time. And in order to get out of this situation nicely and save face, they say: ‘Well, everything is great. We helped Ukraine, they are good, they are strong. Now we will give them consultants, we will give them, perhaps, some investments from private companies, so that Ukraine can get up from its knees and start producing weapons on its own.’" ТАСС 11.12.2023, 21:47 MSK

Chinese cyber espionage targets US infrastructure - Washington Post SECURITY: US-CHINA-HACKERS WASHINGTON, December 11. /TASS/. The American newspaper The Washington Post claims that Chinese hackers have gained unauthorized access to the computer systems of about two dozen important facilities in the US, including infrastructure sites, over the past year. According to the newspaper's sources - US officials - a group of hackers allegedly linked to the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) "is ramping up its ability to disrupt key American infrastructure, including power and water utilities as well as communications and transportation systems." The article cites expert assessments indicating that these actions are "part of a broader effort to develop ways to sow panic and chaos or snarl logistics in the event of a US-China conflict in the Pacific." A facility in the state of Hawaii associated with the water supply network, a major port on the US Pacific Coast, and an oil and gas transportation pipeline are among the entities that were allegedly penetrated by Chinese hackers. Moreover, a power grid operator in the state of Texas was subjected to cyberattacks. The newspaper specifies that there were no disruptions in the operation of these facilities. "It is very clear that Chinese attempts to compromise critical infrastructure are in part to pre-position themselves to be able to disrupt or destroy that critical infrastructure in the event of a conflict, to either prevent the United States from being able to project power into Asia or to cause societal chaos inside the United States -- to affect our decision-making around a crisis," the newspaper cited Brandon Wales, executive director of the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). "That is a significant change from Chinese cyber activity from seven to 10 years ago that was focused primarily on political and economic espionage," he added. ТАСС 11.12.2023, 22:46 MSK

Five Russia’s Arctic zone airports to be reconstructed by end of 2024 ECONOMY: ARCTIC-AIRPORTS-TRANSPORT MOSCOW, December 11. /TASS/. Five airports in the Russian Arctic zone will be reconstructed by the end of next year, Russian Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev said at a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. "There are 47 civil aviation airfields and 39 landing sites in the Arctic zone. This year we are working on the reconstruction of five airports, three of them - Pevek, Arkhangelsk and Chersky - will be commissioned this year, while two airports - Murmansk and Berengovsky will be commissioned next year," he said. Pevek and Beringovsky airports are located in Chukotka, Chersky is near Yakutsk. In turn, Russian President Vladimir Putin cited developing tourism in Russia’s Arctic zone as one of the country’s "most important systemic tasks". "Among the most important systemic tasks is the development of tourism, which has huge potential in the Arctic zone," the head of state said. In his words, in order to fully develop the tourism industry in the region, it is necessary to improve the hospitality industry, to offer interesting tourist routes and services, as well as to develop cities and towns. Putin considers the development of the Arctic an undeniable priority, since the region is of critical importance for the country's defense, logistics and energy. "The Arctic zone has a special, strategic significance for us. It is a region with enormous economic opportunities," the head of state said. "We largely associate the strengthening of the energy potential of our country, expansion of logistics capabilities, ensuring national security and defense with it (the Arctic region - TASS) and therefore the further comprehensive development of these territories is an indisputable priority for us," Putin stressed. At the current meeting, the President proposed to focus on such issues as "people’s quality of life, the modern view and future of northern cities and towns - both new ones founded in the 20th century, and cities with a centuries-old history." "All of them, of course, are symbols, the embodiment of a huge will, a colossal role, one might say, audacity, labor, courage of many generations of our ancestors and our contemporaries, who have also developed and are developing the north," the head of state said. Putin drew attention to the fact that "today millions of people live in the region, work, start families, raise children and make a huge contribution to the development of the entire country." ТАСС 11.12.2023, 23:02 MSK

UN forecasts 5% decline in global trade in 2023 to $30.7 trillion ECONOMY: UN-TRADE-WORLD-OUTLOOK-1 GENEVA, December 11. /TASS/. The volume of global trade will fall by 5% this year to $30.7 trillion, compared to 2022, according to a statement from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). According to the report, global trade has experienced negative growth since mid-2022, mainly due to a significant decline in merchandise trade, which continued to decline in the first three quarters of 2023. UNCTAD noted that global trade in 2023 will be approximately $30.7 trillion, representing a decrease of around $1.5 trillion, or 5%, from the all-time high in 2022. Trade in goods is expected to decline by nearly $2 trillion in 2023, or 8%, while trade in services is expected to grow by about $500 bln, or 7%. According to UNCTAD, the world trade forecast for 2024 remains highly uncertain and generally pessimistic. Ongoing geopolitical tensions, high debt levels and widespread economic instability are expected to have a negative impact on global trade patterns, the report said. The authors of the document drew particular attention to the growing influence of geopolitical trends, including the declining interdependence between China and the United States. According to UNCTAD, Russian exports of goods will decrease by 24% in 2023, while imports will increase by 10%. In terms of trade in services, the report's authors predict a 23% decline in Russian exports and a 1% decline in imports. According to UNCTAD, global commerce would fall in 2023 due to weaker demand in Western countries, bad economic performance in East Asia, and lower commodity prices. These causes all lead to a significant decrease in merchandise trade. In contrast, trade in services increased during the majority of 2023. Trade contraction was more noticeable in emerging countries. ТАСС 11.12.2023, 23:05 MSK

Cargo turnover of Russian seaports rises by 5.7% to 811.9 mln tons in January - November ECONOMY: CARGO-TURNOVER-PORTS-DYNAMICS-1 MOSCOW, December 11. /TASS/. The cargo turnover of Russian seaports in January -November 2023 increased by 5.7% compared to last year and reached 811.9 mln tons, the Federal Agency for Sea and Inland Water Transport (Rosmorrechflot) reported. "The cargo turnover of Russian seaports in January -November 2023 increased by 5.7% compared to the same period last year and amounted to 811.9 mln tons,"the statement said. According to the agency, the volume of dry cargo transshipment amounted to 413 mln tons (+11.9%), liquid cargo -398.9 mln tons (-0.1%). Russia’s freight turnover by ses basins The cargo turnover of the Arctic basin's maritime ports decreased at the level of statistical error (-0.4%), totaling 89.6 mln tons. The volume of dry freight transshipment was 28.7 mln tons (+7%), while liquid cargo reached 6 0.9 mln tons (-3.5%). At the same period, the cargo turnover of the Baltic Basin's seaports increased by 1.4% to 228.3 mln tons, with dry cargo transshipment accounting for 103.9 mln tons (+17.6%), and liquid cargo accounting for 124.4 mln tons (-9%). The cargo turnover of the Azov-Black Sea basin's sea ports increased by 12.2% to 267.5 mln tons. Simultaneously, dry freight transshipment climbed by 19.3% to 130.3 mln tons, while liquid cargo increased by 6.2% to 137.2 mln tons. Transshipment in Caspian ports climbed by 33.4% to 7.2 mln tons, with dry cargo accounting for 4.6 mln tons (a 1.6-fold increase) and liquid cargo accounting for 2.6 mln tons (a decrease of 0.3%). The cargo turnover of the Far Eastern basin's maritime ports increased by 4.7% to 219.3 mln tons. The volume of dry goods transshipment was 145.5 mln tons (+2.5%), while liquid cargo reached 73.8 mln tons (+9.3%). ТАСС 11.12.2023, 23:09 MSK

Fuel prices in Russia stabilized - government ECONOMY: RUSSIA-FUEL-PRICES MOSCOW, December 11. /TASS/. The Russian government reported that the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Agriculture noted the country's fuel price stabilization and the absence of a fuel shortage following a meeting with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak on the situation in the domestic oil products market with the management of oil companies and departments. "According to stock market dynamics, the planned decline in the prices of gasoline and diesel fuel in the small wholesale segment continues in most regions. Fuel prices do not exceed the year's forecast inflation," according to the report. According to the Ministry of Energy, the government increased its output of winter diesel fuel in November. The government highlighted that gasoline and diesel fuel stockpiles remain strong. ТАСС 11.12.2023, 23:13 MSK

President of Poland to swear in Tusk’s cabinet on December 13 URGENT MOSCOW, December 11. /TASS/. Polish President Andrzej Duda will swear in Donald Tusk’s cabinet on December 13, Head of the Presidential Office Grazyna Ignaczak-Bandych announced. "A meeting with Prime Minister Donald Tusk took place under invitation from President Andrzej Duda after the voting in the Sejm. It was decided that, following the vote of confidence, the new cabinet will swear in on Wednesday, December 13, at 9 a.m. [11 a.m. Moscow time], in the Presidential palace," she said on her X page. ТАСС 11.12.2023, 23:14 MSK

No certainty in Brussels EU will begin membership talks with Ukraine on December 14-15 UKRAINE: EU-SUMMIT-MEMBERSHIP BRUSSELS, December 11. /TASS/. There is no certainty in Brussels that EU leaders will be able to agree on the issue of negotiations with Kiev on Ukraine’s EU membership during the December 14-15 summit because of the position of Hungary, who considers such decision premature and unprepared, a high-ranking EU representative told reporters in Brussels. "A 100% unanimity is necessary for such decision. I cannot tell if that would be possible. The pressure will be huge," he said. According to the diplomat, a "very difficult summit" is expected because of two unresolved issues: the beginning of negotiations with Kiev and the negotiation of amendments to multi-year EU budget, which will make it possible to allocate 50 billion euros to Ukraine for the next four years. Hungary opposes both points, believing that Ukraine is not ready to begin membership negotiations and that such decision would be an irresponsible step from Brussels. "There were many meetings and discussions with [Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor] Orban, both with European Council President [Charles Michel] and with other leaders. We stay in constant contact with the Hungarian delegation in order to find a solution. The work will continue until the summit itself," the diplomat said. Answering a question from reporters if the decision on the beginning of negotiations with Ukraine could be postpones, the official said that the decision must be made in December, acknowledging that the two-day EU summit could be prolonged in order to find a solution. Previously, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban proposed not to include the issue of negotiations with Ukraine on its accession to the EU into the summit agenda, because Ukraine is not ready for that. In addition, the Prime Minister opposed the amendments to the EU budget that would increase the aid to Ukraine by 50 billion euros within the next four years. ТАСС 11.12.2023, 23:59 MSK

Presidents of Venezuela, Guyana to hold talks on territorial dispute on December 14 POLITICS: VENEZUELA-GUYANA-PRESIDENTS-NEGOTIATIONS CARACAS, December 10. /TASS/. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will serve as a venue for talks between Presidents Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela and Mohamed Irfaan Ali of Guyana on settling the territorial dispute between the two countries on December 14, the country’s government announced. "The presidents will meet in [the island nation of] Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on Thursday, December 14, 2023, under the auspices of CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States - TASS) and CARICOM (the Caribbean Community - TASS), on matters related to the border dispute between Guyana and Venezuela," the country’s government said in a communique. Venezuela's Foreign Ministry said earlier that Maduro had telephone conversations with his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves, during which "he received an offer to hold a summit with the Co-operative Republic of Guyana." About 95% of participants in the December 3 consultative referendum voted in favor of creating the Guayana Esequiba state and making it part of Venezuela. The country’s National Assembly (parliament) on December 6 unanimously passed a bill on the protection of Guyana-Essequibo within Venezuela on first reading, based on the results of a consultative referendum. The bill provides for the creation of the 24th state of Guyana-Essequibo in the disputed territory. Maduro signed six decrees that create a legal framework to govern the annexed territory. Territorial dispute Venezuela and Guyana have been at odds over a 159,500-square-kilometer area west of the Essequibo River for more than a century. Tensions flared up after oil fields containing at least ten bln barrels of oil had been discovered in 2015 and Guyana provided the ExxonMobil company with a concession to explore oil in the offshore areas that had not been delimited. In April, the UN International Court of Justice found Guyana’s lawsuit against Venezuela on border demarcation based on the 1899 decision of a Paris arbitral tribunal to be admissible. The court ruling, which cited fake maps and huge pressure from the UK, handed 90% of the disputed area to London’s colony, British Guiana. Venezuela views Guyana-Essequibo as its legitimate territory and believes that the dispute does not fall under the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice and insists on direct border demarcation talks with Guyana, as provided for in the 1966 Geneva Agreement. ТАСС 10.12.2023, 05:18 MSK

CAIRO, December 10. /TASS/. Presidential elections have begun in Egypt. They will last on the territory of the country for three days - until December 12. According to the National Election Commission, the results will be announced on December 18. The commission has said that about 67 million eligible citizens will be able to participate in the elections. Voting will begin at 9:00 a.m. (7:00 a.m. GMT). The upcoming elections will be monitored by 15,000 observers of all levels, who will work for three days in election commissions and committees. Their main task will be to observe the counting of votes, which will begin at the end of the third day of general voting, that is on the evening of December 12. Officially, the current Egyptian presidential election began on December 1 for Egyptians living permanently or temporarily outside the country. In fact, it happened one day earlier. On November 30 at 9:00 a.m. local time (7:00 a.m. GMT), Egyptian citizens residing in the territory of New Zealand went to the ballot boxes to vote. The presidential election outside Egypt was held from December 1 to December 3. According to the National Electoral Commission, a total of 137 electoral commissions were formed in 121 countries around the world. Three in race, not including el-Sisi Three politicians, not including incumbent President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, have qualified to run for president. None of them enjoys real support among young people or other broad segments of the population. Farid Zahran, a 66-year-old leftist opposition figure, leads the Egyptian Social Democratic Party. His political platform prioritizes limiting state ownership of economic assets in major projects and enterprises, including the Suez Canal. Abdel-Sanad Yamama, 71, was nominated by the New Wafd Party. A lawyer and professor of international law, he favors amending the country’s constitution, including limiting presidential terms to two four-year terms. He also favors reforms that would help build a free economy. The third candidate, Hazem Omar, 59, who heads the People's Republican Party, says that he intends to base his presidency on reforming the health and education systems and developing agriculture, energy and trade. During the campaign and the election itself, the electoral commission approved symbols for the presidential candidates: a star for the incumbent president, a sun for Zahran, a palm tree for Yamama, and a ladder for Omar. Campaigning during conflict Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is running for the third time, and according to the constitution, which was amended on his initiative in 2019, for the last time. The amendments to the Basic Law allowed the incumbent president to run for a third term and increased its duration by two years, from four to six years. On October 2, the Egyptian leader announced that he had responded to the aspirations of the people in favor of his candidacy and was ready to complete all reforms and transformations "to build a new republic" during his next term. Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians who gathered that day in the country's main squares enthusiastically welcomed the president's speech. A few days later, however, a new round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict began in the Middle East, bringing its own adjustments to the political life of Egypt, traditionally a peacemaker and mediator between Israel and Palestinian groups. El-Sisi ordered to minimize the expenses of his electoral campaign and to donate to Palestine. The active participation of the current Egyptian president in organizing the process of providing humanitarian aid to the population of the Gaza Strip, evacuating foreign citizens, helping wounded Palestinians, as well as attempts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has become an important part of the Egyptian leader's campaign. ТАСС 10.12.2023, 06:34 MSK

G7 ministers discuss protection against information leaks, combating child pornography SECURITY: JAPAN-G7-MINISTERS TOKYO, December 9. /TASS/. G7 ministers of internal affairs and heads of security agencies discussed economic security, protection against information and technology leaks and countering the dissemination of child pornography, NHK reported. The three-day meeting kicked off in Japan on Friday; a joint outcome document is expected to be adopted on Sunday. "I would like to reaffirm the decisive unity of the G7, aimed at countering crime and protecting the society," says Yoshifumi Matsumura, head of the National Commission on Social Security and chairman of the meeting. During the first main day of the negotiations, the sides discussed countering cybercrime and sexual exploitation of children, including child pornography. In addition, the meeting focused on modern types of crimes that involve artificial intelligence and neural networks. Japan presides over the G7 this year. The G7 Summit took place in Hiroshima earlier in May. In 2024, the presidency will shift to Italy. According to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the Italian presidency will focus on Africa and the migration issue. The G7 meeting will take place in Apulia on June 13-15. ТАСС 09.12.2023, 21:45 MSK

According to experts, Iran could become a full member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in the coming years. A free trade agreement between the EAEU and the Islamic Republic of Iran is currently being negotiated, according to Vladimir Putin, who met his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi in Moscow on December 7. Relations between Moscow and Tehran are also on a stable development path, with Putin noting that trade turnover rose 20% last year to almost $5 billion. According to experts interviewed by Izvestia, Moscow attaches great importance to Russia's relations in the Middle East. Boris Dolgov, a senior researcher at the Center for Arab and Islamic Studies at the Institute of Eastern Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, believes that building ties with the Arab-Muslim world is a potentially new trend in today's Russian foreign policy . "These visits and negotiations confirm the expansion of Russia's cooperation with these countries and the increase of its influence and weight in the region, as well as Russia's image as a great power," he said. Experts pointed out that economic relations between Russia and Iran have long been on a residual basis and the potential for bilateral economic cooperation is far from being exhausted. According to Sergei Katyrin, head of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, economic turnover between Russia and Iran could reach $40 billion per year in the near future. Rajab Safarov, general director of the Center for the Study of Modern Iran, says the Islamic Republic is interested in full membership in the EAEU. "Iran has signed a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union, but that is not full membership. We have spoken to the Iranian leadership and they understand the need to move in this direction. I believe that Iran will join the EAEU in two or three years, if not sooner. "As a result, the Republic's exports will increase by at least 30%, and in some countries even by up to 40%," he told the newspaper. According to the expert, the increased sanctions pressure from the West only helps to facilitate economic rapprochement between Russia and Iran.

According to ChatGPT-4, the AfD can achieve an absolute majority in the upcoming state elections in Thuringia. Mittelstand-BRICS publishes the AI analysis verbatim: "The AfD in Thuringia achieved a historic result in the last state election in 2019: with 23.4 percent, it became the second strongest force in the state parliament and was only just behind the Left. Since then, however, the political landscape in Thuringia has changed significantly. The corona pandemic, the flood disaster, the 2021 federal election and the internal party conflicts in the AfD have influenced the opinions of voters. What are the AfD's chances in Thuringia of getting to 50 percent in the 2024 state elections? And is such success also possible in Saxony? The AfD in Thuringia benefits above all from the popularity of its state chairman and parliamentary group leader Björn Höcke, who is considered one of the most prominent representatives of the right-wing national wing. Höcke is known for his provocative and polarizing statements, which often go to the limit of constitutional loyalty. Among other things, he calls for a "180 degree change in remembrance policy", a "German dominant culture" and a "remigration" of migrants. Höcke has thus secured a loyal following who see him as a charismatic leader and defender of German identity. Above all, it mobilizes protest voters who are dissatisfied with the established parties and feel betrayed by the media and the political establishment. The AfD in Thuringia has also benefited from the weakness of its political opponents. The Left, which became the strongest force in 2019 with 31 percent, lost support after its Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow had to resign in February 2020 because he was helped to office in a disputed election with the AfD's votes. Although Ramelow was able to return to power in March 2020 with a red-red-green minority government, he had to make several compromises that damaged his credibility. The CDU, which became the third strongest force in 2019 with 21.7 percent, has also lost reputation after refusing to distance itself from the AfD for a long time and even considering working with it. The SPD, the Greens and the FDP only play a marginal role in Thuringia. The AfD in Thuringia therefore has a good chance of making further gains in the state elections in 2024, especially since it could benefit from federal political developments. The grand coalition of CDU/CSU and SPD lost significantly in the 2021 federal election and had to make way for a traffic light coalition of SPD, Greens and FDP. This coalition could prove unstable and disappoint many voters who hope for more social justice, climate protection and civic participation. The AfD could then distinguish itself as the only opposition force and increase its criticism of the government. However, in order to get to 50 percent, the AfD in Thuringia would still have to overcome many hurdles. On the one hand, it would have to overcome its internal division, which arose from the power struggle between the moderate federal chairman Jörg Meuthen and the radical wing around Höcke. On the other hand, it would have to increase its credibility as a governing party by making constructive suggestions for solving the country's pressing problems. Thirdly, it would have to expand its voter base by also appealing to middle-class and moderate voters who have previously been put off by its aggressive rhetoric.

Kiev is almost out of trained soldiers and conscripts are refusing to fight for the Ukrainian authorities, the Washington Post< reports /a>. "Honestly, we need more soldiers. "We are running out of professional soldiers," the newspaper quotes an officer with the nickname Delphin, a leader of a storm troop of the 68th. The newspaper also notes that "interviews with Ukrainians of draft age indicate that many are not necessarily in favor of a military and a want to fight the national government, which is seen as characterized by corruption and incompetence. Since February last year, general mobilization in Ukraine has been repeatedly extended, with the country's authorities doing everything they can to prevent men of military age from evading service. In particular, they are prohibited from traveling abroad. The summons notices are distributed in public administration offices, on the streets and in all busy places. The media regularly reports on how military commissioners use violence against citizens when issuing notices, how people unfit for service are mobilized for health reasons, and how legislators and officials evade mobilization and take their sons of military age abroad. In September, Ukraine expanded the list of people eligible for mobilization and reduced the list of medical contraindications. In October, the Ministry of Education sent a clarification to all universities that students can be mobilized during their study leave. Ukraine also passed a law requiring all women aged 18 to 60 who have training as a doctor, dentist, midwife, nurse, pharmacist or pharmacy technician to register as potential conscripts. On November 24, the Ukrainian president announced a new comprehensive plan for mobilization measures.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has shed light into the dark corners of SCHUFA's working methods in two fundamental judgments and stated: The largest German credit agency is only allowed to evaluate the creditworthiness of consumers under very specific conditions (scoring) and also for years Data retention of information about the granting of a discharge of residual debt (consumer insolvency) is contrary to European law. What was decided in the judgments? In the judgments, the ECJ dealt with two main topics: Judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-634/21 | SCHUFA Holding (scoring) The "scoring" is a mathematical-statistical procedure that is intended to make it possible to predict the probability of future behavior, such as repaying a loan or paying a telephone bill. The ECJ decided that this scoring is fundamentally prohibited if the score value - as is almost always the case - is decisive for granting a loan or concluding other contracts such as leasing, mobile phone, electricity or gas contracts, as well as for purchases on account. Judgments of the Court in Joined Cases C-26/22 and C-64/22 | SCHUFA Holding (residual debt relief) In Germany, information about the granting of a discharge of residual debt is only stored in the public insolvency register for six months. However, the consumer's completed bankruptcy can still be found in the credit agency databases for another three years. This storage is also contrary to European law. This data, which is always used as a negative factor when assessing creditworthiness, represents sensitive information about private life and prevents the person concerned from being able to participate in economic life again for years. Who is affected by these judgments? These judgments affect almost everyone in Germany, as SCHUFA stores data from over 68 million consumers and uses it for scoring. There is also data on consumer insolvency proceedings, of which over 78,000 were opened in 2022 alone. What do these rulings mean for consumers? The ECJ massively strengthens consumer rights: Right to deletion and correction of data Consumers can now request that illegally stored information be removed or corrected from their SCHUFA file. Better scores The score value can be improved by deleting illegal entries. Claim for damages Anyone who has suffered or is still suffering financial damage due to false or illegal information in their SCHUFA file has a good chance of receiving compensation. Right to compensation for pain and suffering ("immaterial damages") Finally, European law also provides for monetary compensation in Article 82 of the GDPR. In comparable cases, German courts have awarded several thousand euros to affected consumers whose data was processed unlawfully. Attorney Dr. Christof Lehnen comments: "Unlawful Schufa entries and score values are more than just data - they are attacks on our quality of life. The damage caused by this is unimaginably great, both economically and socially. We have to defend ourselves against this!" How can consumers protect their rights? The law firm of Dr. Lean & Sinnig offers a free initial assessment. Our experts in data protection law can also help you assert claims against SCHUFA and enforce existing rights. Free initial assessment at: https://www.lehne-sinn.de/schufa

The head of the Russian foreign intelligence service SVR believes that due to the impossibility of defeating Russia, Western politicians will try to prolong the conflict in Ukraine and turn it into a "another Afghanistan" to transform. Sergey Naryshkin says: "As for the situation in Ukraine, we can assume that due to the objective impossibility of a military victory over our country, Western politicians will try to prolong hostilities as much as possible and the Ukraine conflict into a 'another Afghanistan' "To achieve our gradual exhaustion in a war of attrition," he says. In an article for the SVR magazine "Razvedchik" (Intelligence officer) Naryshkin predicts that "they will enforce this, as before, through a series of economic and military-diplomatic measures, including sanctions pressure that violate the norms of international law and the continuous supply of weapons and military equipment to Kiev.< /p> It is very likely that further support for the Kiev regime, especially given the increasing "toxicity" the Ukrainian agenda for transatlantic unity and the Western community as a whole will accelerate the decline of the West's international authority, Naryshkin continued. "Ukraine itself will turn into a 'black hole' "It is transforming itself into a world that is sucking up material and human resources as it advances," he continued. "In the end, the US risks creating 'another Vietnam' that every new US administration will have to deal with until a sensible person takes over in Washington who has the courage and determination to break this vicious circle.