Daily Updates: January 2023
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** MSK = Moscow Standard Time
Russia’s top diplomat Sergey Lavrov says he’s received a message from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, delivered by his Egyptian counterpart who’s now in Moscow. We’ll delve into that. South Africa mulls declaring a national state of disaster amid a crippling energy crisis that regularly sees blackouts across the country. US exports of liquified natural gas are set to reach record highs, as Washington makes big profits satisfying the EU’s hunger for energy following September’s attack on Russia’s Nord Stream pipelines. — Back to top
The US and Israel escalate tensions in the Middle East as they accuse Iran of stirring up trouble around the world. That’s despite a drone attack on an Iranian military facility that some media outlets have accused the US and Israel of conducting. RT hears from the Palestinian health minister in an exclusive interview, during which she accuses Israel of killing innocent people. Indian industrial giant Adani Group loses 72 billion dollars in market value in just a few days, after a US-based investment firm accuses it of fraud. The company denounces the report as an economic attack on India as a country. — Back to top
In the wake of a drone attack, Tehran reportedly summons a Ukrainian diplomat for questioning, after Ukraine’s Presidential adviser says an attack on Iran would be expected amid claims it’s supporting Russia’s military. Pakistan’s foreign Minister says co-operation between Islamabad and Moscow will include new plans for an oil pipeline, as the country faces severe energy shortages. On the hunt for Lithium, the German chancellor tours South America – a strategic material that China is also seeking. — Back to top
A senior US diplomat embarks on a trip to Asia during which she is expected to take issue at Russia’s substantial exports of oil and arms to India. That’s as India reiterates that its ties with Russia are indispensable. Italy signs a gas deal worth billions of euros with the North African nation of Libya. It insists it has no intention to have a ‘predatory role’ in the region, but there is considerable mistrust among local residents. The southern African nation of Zimbabwe gets a significant economic boost from trade with China, despite crippling Western sanctions. RT hears from Zimbabwe’s information minister about the possible motivation for those Western policies. — Back to top
Four people are killed and five injured after Ukraine uses US-supplied rockets to hit a bridge in the Zaporozhye region. Multiple explosions are reported in Iran overnight with the country’s defense ministry stating it managed to thwart a drone attack on an ammunition depot. Russia’s foreign minister condemns Western countries for what he calls attempts to re-colonize Africa amid pressure to sever relations with Moscow. — Back to top
There have been reports of multiple explosions in Iran. The country’s defense ministry has confirmed it managed to thwart a drone attack on an ammunition depot. Russia’s foreign minister condemns Western countries for what he calls their attempts to re-colonize Africa and pressure it to sever the continent’s relations with Moscow. RT follows Russian troops in their fierce battle for a Ukrainian military stronghold in a suburb of Donetsk. — Back to top
A hospital in the Lugansk Republic is struck by the Ukrainian military using US supplied HIMARS rockets, killing 14 civilians – that’s according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. As civilian infrastructure is again hit in Donbass by Kiev forces, hundreds of Berliners take to the streets to protest the German decision of delivering tanks to Ukraine. Marking 20 years since the US invasion and occupation of Iraq, we begin our special coverage of the legacy left behind by the devastating war, which left hundreds of thousands of civilians dead. — Back to top
A mass shooting in a Jerusalem synagogue leaves seven people dead and many others wounded on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Russian military forces engage in heavy fighting for the city of Ugledar, in the Donetsk region. Our correspondent is there, reporting from the front line. RT begins special coverage of the legacy left by the disastrous war in Iraq, as 20 years since the US invasion and occupation of the country has left an estimated 180-thousand civilians dead and arguably paved the way for the rise of the Daesh terrorist group. — Back to top
RT follows Russian troops in their fierce battle for a stronghold of Ukrainian forces in a Donetsk suburb. Celebration of Nord Stream pipeline blasts and bragging about foreign interference — these are just some of the achievements US diplomat Victoria Nuland claims to be proud of at a recent Senate hearing. “Foreign policy is not a joke”: African Union officials respond to Germany’s criticism of the Russian Foreign Minister’s Africa tour, as Moscow builds closer ties on the continent. — Back to top
Budapest slams Kiev for forcing ethnic Hungarians to fight and die in Ukraine’s conflict, as new images appear to show Kiev’s military violently recruiting fresh blood for its ranks. Russia’s Foreign Minister condemns Western countries for what he calls their attempts to re-colonize Africa and sever the continent’s relations with Moscow. Paris recalls its ambassador from Burkina Faso, after agreeing to withdraw 400 military officers from the African country, as locals want the French gone. — Back to top
Hungary accuses Kiev of forcefully recruiting ethnic Hungarians living in Western Ukraine to fight against Russia with mounting casualties already reported. Representatives at Pfizer admit they wanted to benefit from mutating strains of the Covid-19 virus, viewing them as ‘new vaccine opportunities’. — Back to top
The US, Germany and their allies agree to send heavy tanks to Ukraine for the first time to bolster what they call Kiev’s upcoming counter-offensive against Russia. Washington and Berlin are remarkably out of sync, when explaining what their tanks will actually be aiming for in Ukraine. As Iraq’s currency plummets to new lows, locals rally against the country’s central bank, accusing it of serving American interests at their expense. Happy Republic Day to India, as the country celebrates the 74th anniversary of its Constitution, with a grand parade where Russian military cadets were exclusively invited. — Back to top
Russia says Berlin’s decision to send tanks to Kiev is a serious escalation, also stating redlines no longer exist for the West. Germany’s Foreign Minister says the EU should unite in its war against Russia, despite polls showing most people oppose the decision, as the country’s officials previously pledged to stay out of the fight. China says the US better mind its own financial problems instead of accusing Beijing of being responsible for the economic crisis across the African continent. — Back to top
China says the US better mind its own financial problems instead of accusing Beijing of being responsible for the economic crisis in African countries like Zambia. The German government comes under heavy fire on the home front after Berlin reportedly decides to send its advanced tanks to Ukraine, after months of pressure from NATO allies. Palestinians urge the West to help stop the Israeli demolition of a key village in the occupied West Bank, as locals vent anger over the destruction of their homes. — Back to top
Russia’s Foreign Minister says Western countries are applying a neo-colonialist approach to Africa by patronizing nations instead of co-operating with them. China lambastes Washington for portraying it as a ‘barrier’ to solving Africa’s debts, with Beijing calling the US the main reason for the continent’s economic instability. A wave of resignations by Ukrainian officials grips Kiev with Ukraine’s Deputy Prosecutor and heads of several front-line regions on the list. — Back to top
Kiev admits it faked efforts to make peace with Moscow last March to buy its military time to re-arm and re-group, while the West tries to blame Russia for the failure to stop the conflict. Russia and South Africa hail their independent decision-making and partnership, amid Washington’s efforts to woo Africans to hop on the Western bandwagon against Moscow. Brazil and Argentina agree to aim to ditch the dollar, as the South American nations eye a common currency roadmap. The Turkish president says he will not support Sweden’s NATO bid in response to the sanctioned burning of the Koran at a protest in Stockholm. — Back to top
South Africa stresses its independence and addresses relations with Russia, as the two foreign ministers plot a course for co-operation beyond Western influence. Ukraine’s Security Service launches a corruption investigation into its own Ministry of Defense following accusations of grossly inflating food prices in a recent contract. Ukraine’s main intelligence service admits it used peace talks with Russia to buy time for Kiev on the battlefield but not to find a diplomatic solution. — Back to top
RT finds out how elite Russian snipers from the ‘Viking’ group are aiming to be one step ahead of the realities of modern warfare. Russia’s top diplomat is in South Africa where Sergey Lavrov is due to sit down for talks with both his counterpart and the country’s president. Burkina Faso gives French troops one month to leave the country as locals say Paris isn’t actually trying to help Africans there. Ankara condemns Stockholm over the public burning of the Koran by a Swedish politician as Türkiye remains the only country blocking Sweden from joining NATO. — Back to top
As the Russian private military group Wagner advances further along the Donbass front lines, our correspondent following the group and reports on how the company took control of the strategically important town of Soledar. Russia’s foreign minister says the US is seeking to ‘destroy’ Russia by waging a proxy war with its partners in Ukraine. South Africa seeks alternatives to the US dollar in international trade, as it turns to the BRICS group of countries for other options. — Back to top
Our correspondent follows the Russian paramilitary group Wagner as they advance further along the Donbass front lines, with the strategically important town of Soledar having recently come under Russian control. Russia’s foreign minister says the US has established an anti-Moscow coalition within Europe and is using Ukraine to wage a proxy war against Russia. South Africa seeks alternatives to using the US dollar in international trade, as it turns to the BRICS group of countries for a better option. The Indian government criticizes a new BBC documentary about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the piece promotes a colonial mindset. — Back to top
The German vice-chancellor accuses Vladimir Putin of causing the energy crisis raging in Europe, although critics claim Berlin’s only got itself to blame. A senior Indian government minister accuses US pharma giant Pfizer of having attempted to ‘bully‘ New Delhi into providing legal protection from any side effects of its Covid vaccine. As aerial drones become a major component of the fighting for Donbass – a weapon increasingly becoming essential in modern warfare – we take you to the front lines where our correspondent details the effects of militarized UAV’s. — Back to top
The US Treasury Secretary uses a lengthy Africa tour to push back against Russia and China’s rising influence on the continent, despite her visit officially being all about developing co-operation. Aerial drones have become a major component of the fighting for Donbass as essential means for modern warfare. Our correspondent reports from the front line. Berlin remains defiant against US pressure and, for now, won’t send advanced tanks to Kiev following NATO talks at the Ramstein military base in Germany. — Back to top
Western defense chiefs discuss new arms supplies to Ukraine with yet another huge US aid package announced. But there’s still no decision by Germany on whether to send its coveted Leopard tanks. The Indian Foreign Ministry slams a controversial BBC documentary about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming it promotes a colonial mindset. Less than 10-percent of Western companies have left Russia since the conflict began in Ukraine, with those findings coming from a Swiss University study. — Back to top
Kiev’s presidential office admits that a Ukrainian participant in peace talks with Moscow last year was murdered by mistake, after a report said he was killed by the Ukrainian national security service for being a Russian spy. Pushing US interests over China’s strong ties with Africa – that’s how the continent’s media is describing the US Treasury Secretary’s 11-day visit to Africa. Over a million people take to the streets throughout France to protest against Macron’s plan to raise the national retirement age by two years to 64. — Back to top
In Donbass, the Wagner private military group reports taking a key suburb of Artyomovsk, also known as Bakhmut. Locals who were safely evacuated have been sharing their stories. Moscow’s ambassador to the US accuses Washington of giving approval to Kiev for attacks on Russian territory, including Crimea, in what’s been called a potentially incendiary escalation. Sri Lanka says its hopes are high of securing a much-anticipated loan from the IMF. That’s as India’s External Affairs minister steps in to help the country deal with its economic crisis. — Back to top
Moscow’s ambassador to the US accuses Washington of giving approval to Kiev for attacks on Russian territory, as civilian areas in Donetsk are once again shelled by Ukrainian forces. In a shift away from the US dollar, Saudi Arabia says it is ready to consider export deals in other national currencies to improve global trade. A religious research group sounds the alarm over a rising number of Christians killed in Africa because of their faith, amid concerns of increasing religiously motivated violence around the world. The UN warns of a dangerous cycle of violence in Palestine, as West Bank families speak out against the Israeli government’s refusal to hand over the bodies of their deceased relatives. — Back to top
Russia’s foreign minister states the EU is a vassal of the US and is conducting a proxy war against Moscow in Ukraine. Beijing blames Washington for stealing oil from Syria, saying 60 tankers full of the country’s top resource have been looted by US forces just this month. A recent survey shows that people in India see the US as a military threat to the nation, coming in second only after neighboring China. South Africa seeks a substitution to the American dollar’s dominance, looking to the BRICS group of countries for a solution. — Back to top
WikiLeaks releases diplomatic cables that claim Western politicians knew they were crossing a red line with Russia when they pushed for NATO expansion to Ukraine. China unblocks India’s bid at the UN Security Council to place a notorious Pakistani terrorist on a global blacklist. — Back to top
RT joins Russian Wagner group troops as they assault the final Ukrainian position on the outskirts of Soledar, recently taken after weeks of heavy fighting. China unblocks India’s bid at the UN Security Council to place a notorious Pakistani terrorist on a global blacklist. The EU pushes African states to go green, while bombarding some of them with sanctions that prevent the continent’s development via fossil fuels. — Back to top
Beijing slams the US over its stance on the China-India border issue, claiming the question is a matter of bilateral relations only. At least 50 women are abducted overnight in Burkina Faso, as the country continues to battle a violent Islamist insurgency. We hear more from some local people. The Kremlin rejects accusations it’s responsible for a missile strike on a residential building in Dnepropetrovsk. That’s after a Zelensky adviser blamed the deadly explosion on Ukraine’s own air defense. The tennis star Novak Djokovic is allowed to play at the Australian Open despite being un-vaccinated. RT explores how Covid-19 restrictions have changed around the globe. — Back to top
The Kremlin rejects accusations that it’s responsible for a missile strike on a residential building in Dnepropetrovsk. That’s after a Zelensky adviser blamed the deadly explosion on the results of Ukraine’s own air defense. The Croatian president has criticized NATO’s ongoing support for Kiev, calling it Washington’s proxy war against Russia. India hits a historic peak of importing one million barrels of Russian oil per day. That’s 33 times more than a year earlier. — Back to top
The Wagner military group shares exclusive footage with RT from the key town of Soledar, which has been taken under the control of Russian forces. China reiterates its vision for a multi polar world, as Beijing’s newly appointed Foreign Minister completes his multi-leg African tour. Over 10 years after the Arab Spring was cheered on by the West, Tunisia is still picking up the pieces after its fight for democracy. India hits a historic import peak of one million barrels of Russian crude oil per day with Moscow remaining New Delhi’s biggest energy supplier. — Back to top
Russian troops edge closer to taking the strategic city of Artyomovsk in the Donetsk Republic, after seizing control of the nearby town of Soledar following months of intense fighting. Dozens of passengers die in a plane crash near Nepal’s international airport, the country’s worst air disaster in 3 decades. Beijing says Africa shouldn’t become an arena for competition between world powers as China’s new Foreign Minister wraps up his five-nation trip across the continent. Parents of young Serbian football players are attacked by a group of people with knives in Bosnia, in an alleged hate crime. We hear from eyewitnesses. — Back to top
The Russian defense ministry says Kiev is preparing a provocation to blow up a large granary and accuses Moscow of disrupting the ‘grain deal’. Moscow confirms its military has taken full control of the strategic town of Soledar in the Donetsk Republic, after months of grueling battles. A state of emergency has been introduced in several regions of Peru from January 15 for 30 days amid mass protests across the country. That as Peru ‘s President Dina Boluarte refuses to leave office despite calls for her resignation. Facebook says it will remove all content on its platform that supports the protests in Brazil while praising such riots in Iran and refusing to ban calls to kill the Iranian leader. — Back to top
Reports of blasts and disruptions in infrastructure across Ukraine, as cities including the country’s capital Kiev are on high alert. More than 170 civilians are taken to safety from the town of Soledar in the Donetsk Republic after it comes under full control of the Russian military. We hear from some of the evacuees who say Ukrainian troops prevented them from escaping. Russia pushes for a peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict but warns it’s prepared to maintain its military efforts unless Kiev and its Western patrons agree to talk peace. We speak with Russia’s deputy UN envoy. — Back to top
Over 170 civilians have been evacuated from the city of Soledar in the Donetsk Republic as Moscow confirms Russian troops now fully control the city. Our correspondent heard some of their stories. China warns on the conflict in Ukraine as Beijing says Western actions are provoking a larger-scale conflict in the region. The Peruvian general attorney launches an inquiry to identify those responsible for 47 deaths since December during protests in support of the ousted president. — Back to top
Moscow confirms its military has taken full control of the Donetsk Republic salt-mining town of Soledar after months of grueling battles. India calls on developing countries to stand together against threats of globalization, as it hosts more than 120 nations for the Voice of Global South summit. Fresh clashes in Palestine, after three residents are killed in 24 hours during Israeli army raids. We speak to a mother who lost her 15-year-old son in previous violence. — Back to top
‘The greatest mass delusion in US history’ – the latest twitter files reveal democrats peddled ‘fake tales of Russian bots’ despite Twitter knowing there was no evidence of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. Our correspondent discovers Nazi symbols at an Azov battalion headquarters in Mariupol, abandoned after the Ukrainian forces’ retreat from the city. Clashes erupt in Palestine, as three residents are killed in 24 hours during Israeli army raids, the latest in a series of attacks since last year. We speak to a mother who lost her 15-year-old son in previous violence. — Back to top
RT reports from the battleground with fighting raging in the city of Artyomovsk. That’s as Russian officials report that the takeover of nearby Soledar in the Donetsk Republic is not the last point of its advance. Vladimir Zelensky scolds the west once again as he insists Ukraine should be given candidate status for EU membership, so that his Country and his Soldiers stay motivated. China’s foreign minister says no world power should force African countries to pick sides, because the continent needs solidarity, not confrontation. Qin Gang made the comments during a five-nation tour of Africa. — Back to top
China’s foreign minister, on a five-nation tour of Africa, says no world power should force African countries to choose one side or another, as the continent needs more solidarity, not confrontation. India’s Prime Minister Modi begins a summit of nations of the Global South, with a powerful speech about the crucial role that emerging economies have in shaping the future of the world. An RT correspondent observes a demining operation in the once-embattled Donbass city of Mariupol, as explosives left behind by Ukrainian troops still pose a threat to civilian lives. Local residents in Burkina Faso still don’t buy France’s claims of not meddling in the West African nation’s internal affairs, following the expulsion of the French ambassador. — Back to top
RT receives exclusive footage from the Donbass city of Soledar, where the Russian private military group Wagner says it’s secured the area. It’s a decade since a much-vaunted French military operation began in Mali, but concerns continue to mount over its failure to address the core political problems that brought chaos to the West African region. Voices in Israel louden, protesting Benjamin Netanyahu’s new cabinet, calling it the most extreme government that’s ever existed. — Back to top
South Africa launches an investigation after a video circulates online apparently showing a group of its soldiers throwing corpses into a fire in neighboring Mozambique. Amid efforts to promote a more multipolar world, China’s new foreign minister begins his term with a substantial trip to several African countries, as Beijing strengthens economic ties with the continent. — Back to top
Intense fighting and incessant gunfire, as Russian troops push Ukrainian armed forces out of the key front line city of Soledar. At least 17 supporters of impeached Peruvian president Pedro Castillo are killed in clashes with police, as locals single out the country’s new leader as being the root of the crisis. — Back to top
Intense fighting under incessant gunfire, as Russian troops advance in one of the most significant battlegrounds of the Ukraine conflict. The US strengthens its military presence near China’s borders, as a top commander says Washington has been following a Ukraine-type playbook for ramping up operations in the Asia-Pacific region. Crowds take to the streets of Brazil’s major cities to support President Lula da Silva following a violent attempted coup in the national capital. China estimates that 2 billion trips will take place in the country in the coming weeks, as the nation finally reopens its borders following three years of Covid restrictions. — Back to top
Amid ongoing riots and rallies in Brazil, Facebook’s parent company Meta censors all posts with an anti-Lula slant. We take a deeper look at why the West fully backs some protests but not others. Tehran slams France for double standards and hypocrisy, after the latest Charlie Hebdo cover depicts Iran’s Supreme Leader, sparking angry protests. Paris justifies the publication citing freedom of speech. RT views the aftermath of Ukrainian shelling in Donbass over the past 24 hours, as two civilians are reported killed in those attacks. Israel’s new national security minister cracks down on Palestinians hanging national flags in public, claiming they’re a symbol of terrorism. — Back to top
A state of emergency is declared in Brazil’s capital until the end of the month after protesters stormed the presidential palace in an apparent coup attempt. More than 400 demonstrators have been detained. Fifty Russian soldiers return home from Ukrainian captivity in a prisoner swap that sees the same number of Ukrainian troops released following negotiations. Russia’s Defense Ministry says its soldiers were in ‘mortal danger.’ RT visits a Palestinian village that residents say Israeli forces have demolished more than 200 times over the past decade. We hear from local families. Kosovo Serbs take to the streets in protest after two Serbian boys were allegedly shot and wounded by an ethnic Albanian. — Back to top
Moscow says 600 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in what it describes as a retaliatory attack for Kiev’s deadly New Year strike on Russian troops. 50 Russian soldiers return from Ukrainian captivity in a prisoner swap deal, which sees the same number of Ukrainian troops released following talks. Russia’s Defense Ministry says the men were in ‘mortal danger.’ ‘British intelligence’ spies on Russian forces on behalf of Kiev, according to leaked documents reported by the Grayzone media outlet. ‘A violation of free speech and the rights of journalists’ – that’s how Russia’s Foreign Ministry describes the detention of the regional director of the Sputnik news agency by authorities in Latvia. — Back to top
Russia and Ukraine trade attacks amid intense fighting throughout the first week of this year, as hundreds of soldiers are reported killed. A cache of leaked documents reported by the Grayzone news outlet shows how British intelligence spies on Russian forces on behalf of Ukraine. ‘A violation of free speech and the rights of journalists’ – that’s how Russia’s Foreign Ministry describes the detention of the regional director of the Sputnik news agency by authorities in Latvia. South Africa wants to let more countries join the BRICS group as it assumes the bloc’s rotating presidency this year, with promises to promote a more just, multipolar world. — Back to top
Ukraine shells multiple cities in the Donetsk Republic on Orthodox Christmas, leaving civilians wounded, despite Moscow calling for a holiday ceasefire. President Zelensky reportedly revokes the citizenship of 13 Ukrainian Orthodox priests in his latest crackdown on the Church. We delve into the trials and tribulations of Orthodox Christian pilgrims in the Middle East, as our correspondent retraces the iconic path said to have been taken by Mother Mary from Nazareth. In Ethiopia, where majority of people celebrate Orthodox Christmas, once again Christians are able to attend an annual festival that was closed for years due to lockdowns and war. — Back to top
The Pentagon has announced a new multi-billion-dollar military aid package for Kiev, claiming it’s the largest military delivery since the Ukrainian conflict began. Ukraine shells a number of Western Russian cities on Orthodox Christmas Eve, injuring multiple civilians. That’s despite Moscow calling for a truce on the Christian festival. Ukraine has exported almost 17 million tons of grain intended for those most-affected by food insecurity in Africa, but reports show that Europe has received the majority of those deliveries. — Back to top
Moscow says Ukraine continues firing on civilian areas despite a ceasefire announced by Russia for Orthodox Christmas, which Kiev rejected. ‘Lawlessness in Europe’ – that’s how the head of Sputnik News’ parent company branded the detention of its chief editor in Latvia. Marat Kasem is accused by authorities of violating anti-Russian sanctions. Serbians block roads in Southern Kosovo demanding justice for two young people wounded after an Albanian national targeted civilians in a drive-by shooting. — Back to top
‘A violation of free speech and the rights of journalists’ – that’s what Russia’s Foreign Ministry calls the detention of the chief editor of Sputnik Lithuania news agency by authorities in Latvia. We heard from the communications director of Sputnik’s parent company. Ukraine refuses to join a ceasefire for Orthodox Christmas after Vladimir Putin orders a 36-hour armistice to begin on Friday. The UN chief scraps a fruitless mission to investigate the mass killing of Ukrainian military prisoners in the Donetsk Republic despite previously pledging to get to the bottom of the atrocity which Russia blamed on Ukraine. — Back to top
‘A violation of freedom of speech and the rights of journalists’ –that’s what Russia’s Foreign Ministry calls the detention of the chief editor of Sputnik Lithuania news agency by authorities in Latvia on alleged espionage and sanctions breach charges. Iran summons the French ambassador over recent cartoons depicting the Islamic country’s supreme leader in what it calls an ‘insulting and indecent’ way. British intelligence is spying on Russian forces on Kiev’s behalf – that’s according to leaked documents published by the Grayzone news outlet. We hear from the author of the report. — Back to top
Vladimir Putin sends-off a frigate armed with nuclear-capable hyper-sonic missiles on combat duty to the Atlantic and Indian oceans. British intelligence is spying on Russian forces on Kiev’s behalf- that’s according to secret leaked documents published by news outlet ‘Grayzone’. Despite a peace deal between Tigray rebels and Ethiopia signed last November, the region’s biggest hospital pleads for help over medicine supply shortages. Washington pushed Twitter to find any Russian connection to the US elections, even after the media giant tried and failed to find any evidence. — Back to top
Vladimir Putin sends-off a frigate armed with nuclear-capable hyper-sonic missiles on combat duty in the Atlantic and Indian oceans. Five people are killed and fifteen more wounded as Ukrainian forces strike a residential area in Russia’s Zaporozhye region, with civilians and emergency workers among the casualties. Burkina Faso expels the French ambassador, as anti-colonial sentiment strengthens on the African continent while locals seek to cooperate with countries other than France. — Back to top
The number of Russian soldiers killed in a Ukrainian HIMARS rocket attack in the city of Makeyevka near Donetsk rises to 89. The Russian Defense ministry says mobile phone signals gave away their location to enemy forces. A new level of gas exports to China – Russian energy giant Gazprom hails record volumes in the first days of the new year amid plans to build more pipelines heading East. Burkina Faso expels the French ambassador, as anti-colonial sentiment strengthens on the African continent and people seek to cooperate with countries other than France. We look at the biggest protests engulfing 2022 and the marked difference in attitude various Western countries have shown toward the unrest. — Back to top
Russia’s military destroys four US-supplied rocket launchers used by Ukraine’s troops to shell targets in the Donetsk Republic. Tensions rise in Western Sahara, as the conflict between Moroccan forces and the Sahrawi People’s Liberation Army escalates. Ten militants are caught by Nigerian police on the border with Cameroon, as both countries continue to struggle with the fallout from their colonial past. — Back to top
The Ukraine conflict escalates in the Donbass, as Russia and Ukraine exchange strikes. That’s after scores of Russian soldiers were killed in a recent attack by Ukrainian forces using US-supplied HIMARS rockets. Tensions rise in Western Sahara as the conflict between Moroccan forces and the Sahrawi People’s Liberation Army escalates. ‘Less than zero’ — that’s how EU official describes the effect of anti-Russia sanctions, amid the bloc’s own report showing a marked increase in revenues to Russia from EU countries last year. — Back to top
Scores of Russian soldiers were killed in Donbass in a recent attack by Ukrainian forces using US-supplied HIMARS rockets. The deadly news was confirmed by Russia’s MOD this Monday. The M23 militant group may leave several key areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as soon as Thursday, after months of violence against the local population. In our continuing look back at the year that was, 2022 saw the French military leave the vast Sahel region in Africa after eight years, its anti-jihadist operation ultimately a failure, resulting in the displacement and deaths of thousands. We also recall Sri Lanka’s mass protests last year and worst economic crisis since gaining independence, largely brought about by economic mismanagement and exacerbated by Western sanctions against Russia’s energy. — Back to top
Six people are wounded after Ukrainian troops shell a hospital in the Lugansk republic, according to local officials, who say Kiev used the US-supplied HIMARS rocket system in the strike. A US politician brands NATO chief Stoltenberg a war criminal who should be tried at the Hague for pumping Ukraine with weapons. A year of fear and violence for the people of Benin, as 2022 saw a more than ten-fold increase in terror attacks by ISIS and Al Qaeda in the formerly stable West African country. — Back to top
A terror attack on Russia thwarted on New Year’s Eve. That’s what the country’s MOD says Ukrainian forces were planning, using drones, before the Russian military neutralized a key weapon manufacturing site. We’re now into 2023 but what will the new year bring? We tackle pressing social, political and economic trends that will define the coming months. Will the New Year bring a New World Order? As increasing numbers of countries look towards an equal structure of relations, 2022 saw cracks emerge in the longstanding dominant, unipolar system. — Back to top
2023, the brand new year, has already arrived in most parts of the world with countries across the globe celebrating with stunning fireworks and spectacular light shows. We discuss the main social, political and economic trends that will define the future. Will the New Year bring a New World Order? As more countries look toward to a shared, multipolar structure of relations, 2022 saw cracks emerge in the longstanding unipolar world. — Back to top