Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has said that he will “never” accept money from Kiev
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has accused Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky of attempting to bribe him €500 million to commit Bratislava to supporting Kiev’s bid to join NATO.
Fico made the revelation at a press conference in Brussels on Thursday, shortly after his behind-closed-doors meeting with Zelensky on the sidelines of an EU leader’s summit.
The prime minister told journalists that Bratislava could consider “reciprocal measures” after Ukraine refused to extend its gas transit deal with Russia, which is set to expire at the end of the year.
Ukraine cited the ongoing conflict as its reason, raising concerns in Slovakia, which relies on Russian gas supplies transiting through Ukraine. Fico emphasized the need for alternative solutions to avoid a gas crisis.
He recalled that during their talks, the Ukrainian leader declined to allow the transit of fuel, instead offering “absurd” proposals to settle the gas issue.
Fico claimed that, among other things, Zelensky “asked me if I would vote for NATO membership [of Ukraine] if he gave me €500 million from Russian assets” frozen in the West after the outbreak of the conflict between Moscow and Kiev.
The Slovak PM said that he told the Ukrainian leader straight away that he would “never” agree to such an offer.
“You know my opinion on Ukraine’s membership in NATO, and it is strange that he asked me such a question because he knows very well that Ukraine’s invitation to NATO is completely unrealistic,” he stressed.
Ukrainian opposition MP Artyom Dmitruk, who reportedly fled the country earlier this year fearing prosecution, said that Zelensky has again “disgraced” Ukraine in front of the whole world by trying to bribe Fico.
“I am more than confident that the talk could have been not about the money from the ‘Russian assets,’ but simply about the cash that Ze[lensky] could have brought in a suitcase,” Dmitruk wrote on Telegram on Friday.
Moscow, which views NATO as hostile and vigorously opposes its eastward expansion, highlighted Kiev’s aspirations to join the US-led bloc as being among the main reasons for launching its military operation in February 2022.
However, Kiev kept insisting on its NATO membership throughout the conflict, calling it the only way of deterring Russia. In early December, Zelensky said that he would ask US President Joe Biden to issue a formal invitation to the bloc for Kiev before his successor Donald Trump, who is skeptical about prolonging American aid to Ukraine, is inaugurated on January 20, 2025.
French newspaper Le Monde reported earlier that not only Slovakia, but such member states as the US, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Belgium, Slovenia and Spain are currently against Ukraine joining NATO.
Washington insists it was a coincidence that reinforcements were sent before the collapse of President Bashar Assad’s government
The US has revealed that it has more than doubled its military presence in Syria, with a Pentagon spokesman saying that he “just recently learned” there were in fact roughly 2,000 American forces deployed in the country, rather than 900 troops as previously reported.
For years, the Pentagon had maintained that “about 900” US troops were stationed in the country, and officials continued to repeat this figure even after the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad on December 8.
However, during a press conference on Thursday, Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said that “we recently learned that those numbers [are] higher.”
“Given the difference in what we’ve been briefing and what the actual number is, I just felt that it was important to get you that information,” Ryder said, citing diplomatic and operational security sensitivities as part of the reason for the delay in disclosure.
The Pentagon spokesman explained that the additional troops had been in Syria “at a minimum, months” on a rotational basis, which has been “going on for a while.”
He insisted that the increase was not related to the recent events and that the timing was merely a coincidence.
“As I understand it and as it was explained to me, these additional forces are considered temporary rotational forces that deploy to meet shifting mission requirements, whereas the core 900 deployers are on longer-term deployments,” Ryder said.
The US military has been active in Syria since as early as 2014, ostensibly to fight Islamic State (IS, formerly known as ISIS) terrorists, and has flown countless airstrikes against select militant groups and, at times, Syrian government forces.
Under President Barack Obama, Washington doled out hundreds of millions of dollars in weapons to an array of jihadist rebel factions seeking to overthrow Assad, although the effort later fizzled following Russian and Iranian military involvement at the request of Damascus.
In 2019, President Donald Trump ordered all US troops to withdraw, but Pentagon officials pushed back, and he backtracked later that year, saying: “We’re keeping the oil… We left troops behind only for the oil.”
Since then, the US has kept some 900 troops scattered across several bases. Syrian officials have repeatedly accused the Pentagon of “stealing” the country’s oil reserves from provinces in the northeast, where American forces have been embedded with Kurdish militia groups.
Earlier this month, Syrian opposition forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) jihadists launched a surprise offensive across the country, capturing Damascus and forcing Assad to resign as president and seek asylum in Russia.
On Friday, Washington sent a delegation to Damascus for the first time since 2012, and announced it will no longer offer a $10 million bounty for the HTS leader.
Several explosives-laden UAVs hit high-rises in Kazan, setting fire to the buildings, according to local authorities
Up to three kamikaze drones have struck a number of residential high-rises in the Russian city of Kazan, local officials reported on Saturday morning. Several news outlets have published what appear to be video clips shot by eyewitnesses, which depict the moment of the attack and its aftermath.
Earlier on Saturday, the Russian Defense Ministry said on its own Telegram channel that its air defenses had shot down one “Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle over the Republic of Tatarstan,” where Kazan is the capital. The statement was later cited by the city administration.
In a separate message later in the day, military officials reported that the “Kiev regime” had deployed three waves of fixed-wing drones, targeting Kazan’s civilian infrastructure. According to the ministry, Russian air defenses shot down three of the incoming UAVs, and that three more were downed with the help of electronic warfare systems.
Since the start of Russia’s special military operation in February 2022, Kiev’s drones have on multiple occasions been intercepted over Moscow and various regions of the country. Only some of these UAVs have reached their targets.
Most such cases have happened in relative proximity to the border between the two countries. Kazan, however, is situated some 1,379 kilometers (857 miles) away from Ukraine.
Russia’s Federal Agency for Air Transport (Rosaviatsiya) announced that it had imposed temporary restrictions at Kazan airport.
Local authorities reported that the Saturday morning attack resulted in no casualties. Soon after the drones struck the apartment buildings, the residents were safely evacuated. Minnikhanov’s press office has stated that accommodation for the evacuees has already been arranged.
According to regional authorities, a total of eight UAVs exploded over Kazan, with six of those impacting residential areas. In light of the attack, some schools have been evacuated as well, with students taking cover in basements.
The billionaire ally of US President-elect Donald Trump has criticized Berlin’s migration policy as treasonous
Chancellor Olaf Scholz must resign immediately, SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk said after it emerged that the man who mowed through a crowded Christmas market in Germany was an Arab immigrant with a residence permit.
At least two people, including a child, were killed and dozens injured when a 50-year-old man plowed a rented car 400 meters into a crowd in Magdeburg on Friday. Authorities identified the suspect, who was arrested at the scene, as a Saudi Arabian doctor who had moved to Germany in 2006 and held a permanent residence permit.
The investigation into the driver’s motive is ongoing, and authorities have yet to officially classify the incident as an act of terrorism. However, after initial reports emerged that the suspect was a foreigner, the government in Berlin faced a wave of criticism over its refugee and migrant policies.
“Scholz should resign immediately. Incompetent fool,” Musk wrote on X after the Chancellor expressed his condolences to the victims and their families over “something bad” that had happened in Magdeburg.
“Those who allowed this are traitors!” Musk added in response to another user who accused left-wing European leaders of facilitating the “mass migration of extremists who hate Christians.” In another post, Musk reacted to unconfirmed claims that Berlin had allegedly refused to extradite the suspect to Riyadh by saying: “Wow, this is insane. Whoever refused to extradite a murderer deserves to be punished severely!”
The billionaire went on reaffirm his statement that “only the AfD can save Germany,” prompting some officials in Berlin to accuse him of election interference.
“It is very disturbing the way in which the platform X, which I use very intensively myself, is increasingly being used to spread the political positions and goals of Mr. Musk,” said German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, urging German authorities to “keep a close eye on the goings-on on X.”
“Elon, I’ve initiated a policy debate inspired by ideas from you and Milei,” said the head of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), Christian Lindner. “While migration control is crucial for Germany, the AfD stands against freedom and business – it’s a far-right extremist party. Don’t rush to conclusions from afar.”
Meanwhile, Scholz responded to Musk indirectly, telling a press conference in Berlin that Germany has freedom of speech. “That also applies to multimillionaires. Freedom of speech also means that you’re able to say things that aren’t right and do not contain good political advice.”
Scholz lost a confidence vote in parliament on Monday, paving the way for snap elections early next year. He has led the German government since December 2021, heading the so-called ‘traffic light’ coalition with the Greens and the Free Democratic Party (FDP). However, the coalition disintegrated last month after Scholz dismissed his finance minister, Christian Lindner, over disagreements on economic and financial policies.
Washington’s envoy said it would be “incoherent” to negotiate with someone on a wanted terrorist list
The US will no longer offer a $10 million reward for information leading to the capture of Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, better known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Julani, following a Washington delegation's meeting with the leadership of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Damascus on Friday.
Earlier this month, Syrian opposition forces led by HTS jihadists launched a surprise offensive across the country, capturing several major cities, including the capital, Damascus. In response, Bashar Assad resigned as president and was granted asylum in Russia.
As part of a broader diplomatic “engagement” with the new Syrian leadership, Barbara Leaf, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, led a delegation to Syria on Friday, marking the first visit by American diplomats since 2012, when the US embassy in Damascus was closed.
During her meeting with al-Sharaa, Leaf discussed several key issues, including the need to prevent terrorist groups from operating within Syria and to ensure the protection of minority and women's rights.
“We also discussed the critical need to ensure that terrorist groups cannot pose a threat inside Syria or externally, including to the US and our partners in the region,” Leaf said during a telephone briefing from Jordan. “Based on our discussion, I informed him that we would not be pursuing the Rewards for Justice offer that has been in effect for some years.”
Despite this move, HTS remains designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States, and sanctions stemming from this designation are still in place. Leaf emphasized that the decision to withdraw the bounty reflected a policy shift aimed at legitimizing engagement with the group.
“If I’m sitting with the HTS leader and having a lengthy, detailed discussion, it’s a little incoherent to have a bounty on his head,” she noted. “Otherwise, I should ask the FBI to come in and arrest him or something.”
The US delegation also included Roger Carstens, the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, and Daniel Rubinstein, a senior adviser handling relations with the new Syrian forces. They discussed the fate of missing American journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared in Syria in 2012, among other issues.
This week, the US military revealed it had doubled its forces in Syria to approximately 2,000 troops before Assad's fall, in order to prevent Islamic State (IS) terrorists from exploiting the upheaval. The Pentagon conducted airstrikes in the northeast of the country on Thursday, allegedly killing one of the terrorist group’s leaders.
While the immediate reopening of the US embassy in Damascus is not planned, Leaf indicated that future diplomatic recognition would depend on the actions of the new Syrian authorities.
According to Russian intelligence cited by the president, two men had maps relating to gas infrastructure of the EU country
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Ukrainian saboteurs have been apprehended in Slovakia while in possession maps outlining the country’s gas infrastructure. He cited Russian intelligence services and did not provide details. Slovakia has yet to confirm the arrest.
Speaking at his annual end-of-year press conference on Thursday, Putin said the Ukrainian saboteurs had engaged in terrorist activities within Russia and now they are doing it in European countries.
“They feed from Europe’s hand and try to carry out terrorist attacks there,” he said. “This is their choice, but ours is to focus on cooperation.” Russian intelligence would request information about the incident through established partner channels, Putin concluded.
It is possible that the Russian President was referring to a possible sabotage plot targeting the Russian Druzhba oil pipeline. The pipeline connects Russian and Kazakh oil suppliers to consumers in Europe, branching off into Belarus. The northern part reaches Poland and Germany, while the southern branch goes to Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.
According to the Hungarian Magyar Nemzet newspaper, national security authorities in Hungary started investigating a possible sabotage plot in early December. Hungary’s Anti-Terrorism Center was alerted by authorities in neighboring Slovakia that “an organized group” was operating in both countries carrying out a “field survey” in the vicinity of the pipeline. The activities could indicate “possible preparations for a terrorist attack” against the countries’ critical infrastructure, wrote the paper.
Back then Slovakian Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok said the country had expelled two men suspected of monitoring energy infrastructure targets including along a major pipeline carrying gas from Ukraine. The men were deported to Ukraine and Hungary, he added.
Earlier in May the Washington Post reported that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky suggested that Kiev “should just blow up the [Druzhba] pipeline.” citing leaked Pentagon documents. Bloomberg also reported that the EU was considering restrictions on Russian oil imports through the pipeline by Germany and Poland.
The transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine, which facilitates the flow of Russian gas to the EU, is set to expire at the end of this year. This has raised concerns among countries like Slovakia that rely on this route for their gas supplies.
Earlier Friday Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico warned of a potential gas crisis if Ukraine does not extend the transit agreement. He has also indicated that Slovakia may consider reciprocal measures against Ukraine if the gas transit is halted.
Western leaders can’t find common ground on troop deployment and the meaning of long-term commitments, according to reports
EU leaders could not reach an agreement on what security guarantees they can offer Ukraine during a two-day summit in Brussels, as reported by the Financial Times on Friday. The primary goal of the gathering was to discuss European support for Ukraine following Donald Trump’s election as US president.
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky left the summit without clarity on what the EU will do should Trump “abandon” Kiev, the report said. “For every leader who suggested something new, such as deploying troops to Ukraine as trainers, there were others who dismissed such talk,” the FT stated.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reportedly said that there is “no discussion” about deploying boots on the ground, calling it a mistake to engage in detailed discussions on the matter. He added that support should be provided in a way that does not risk escalating tensions with Russia.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s earlier proposal to deploy European troops to Ukraine faced opposition. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk recently dismissed the idea as speculation, while a senior EU diplomat told the Financial Times that there is “no structured discussion in the EU on this yet.”
“Some leaders openly disagreed with each other. Some stuck to the well-trodden rhetoric of ‘whatever it takes’, without providing specific details of what they would be prepared to do,” the Financial Times reported.
The summit concluded with a statement pledging to support Ukraine “for as long as it takes and as intensely as needed.”
The EU’s chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas, advised Western leaders against pressuring Zelensky into peace talks in an interview with the Financial Times prior to the summit.
“The big question is, what is the security guarantee?... What actually is it, that is tangible?” Kallas told the outlet. “All the member states who have signed security guarantee agreements with Ukraine need to answer: what are they?”
Zelensky reiterated on Thursday that NATO membership is the only ultimate security guarantee, insisting that promises from EU countries alone, without US involvement, would be insufficient. However, the US and Germany have expressed reluctance, while Hungary has openly opposed Kiev’s aspirations.
Some Russian officials have suggested that Western boots on the ground could be perceived in Moscow as an occupying force. The Kremlin reiterated on Monday that it is too early to discuss any peacekeeping missions, as even direct negotiations with Kiev remain impossible due to Zelensky’s obstruction.
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed his readiness for talks with Ukraine, emphasizing that any agreement must address key security concerns, including Kiev’s renunciation of NATO ambitions, recognition of new territorial realities, and commitment to a neutral status.
At his annual Q&A session in Moscow, Putin stressed that these measures are vital for achieving lasting regional stability and ensuring mutual security and strategic interests for all parties involved.
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has published a list of unusual programs funded by the federal government
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has unleashed a list of some unexpected programs and products that the US government had been reportedly spending the budget money on, including ‘anal prints’ and experiments injecting puppies with cocaine.
In November, President-elect Donald Trump appointed Musk and billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy to lead DOGE, a panel aimed at reducing federal government waste through audits and reforms. While specific targets remain unclear, Musk has pledged to save taxpayers trillions by curbing inefficient spending.
On Friday, the DOGE issued a post on social media platform X, captioning it ‘What does the US Government use taxpayer dollars for?’
What does the U.S. Government use taxpayer dollars for?
-$6.9M studying ‘smart toilets’ that recognize the user’s ‘anal print’ -$2.3M for the NIH to inject dogs with cocaine - $118,000 to study if a metal replica robot of Marvel Comics’ Thanos could really snap his fingers -…
The following list shows that $6.97 million has been spent on studying ‘smart toilets’ that recognize the user’s ‘anal print,’ while $2.3 million went into studies on injecting dogs with cocaine. Some $118,000 was reportedly dedicated to studying whether a metal replica robot of Marvel Comics’ Thanos could snap his fingers, and $75,000 was given in grants on a Harvard study on lizards being blown off trees with leaf blowers.
One of DOGE’s links referenced a 2021 RealClear Policy article on a Stanford study that received $6.97 million in funding. It described smart toilets equipped with AI and cameras to identify users’ unique ‘anal prints,’ analyze urine and stool for health monitoring, and send the data to a secure cloud.
Other studies included the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) $75,000 project simulating hurricanes using leaf blowers to observe lizard survival tactics. Additionally, from 2020-2021, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) spent $2.3 million on experiments injecting beagle dogs with cocaine to study cardiovascular effects, which drew some public criticism.
According to a Treasury Department website, the federal government spends money on a variety of goods, programs, and services to support the American public.
During his campaign, Trump promised that if he won the November election, he would establish a “government efficiency” commission headed by Musk. The tech billionaire has repeatedly sounded the alarm over US debt, warning that the country is spiraling toward bankruptcy and will quickly go bust if Washington doesn’t curb its spending.
At the time, Musk promised to save American taxpayers trillions of dollars if the Republican candidate won, claiming that “taxpayer money is being wasted and the Department of Government Efficiency is going to fix that.”
At least 2 people were killed, including a small child, and up to 70 injured, officials said
A dark BMW plowed through the crowded Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, on Friday evening, killing at least two people and injuring up to 70, according to authorities. The driver, identified as a doctor from Saudi Arabia, was arrested at the scene.
Saxony-Anhalt’s Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff confirmed that a small child was among the two fatalities. Initially, BILD reported that its sources indicated up to 11 people could be dead, but later noted that information about the death toll was conflicting.
The suspect is a 50-year-old Saudi doctor who came to Germany in 2006 and holds a permanent residence permit, Saxony-Anhalt’s interior minister, Tamara Zieschang, stated at a news conference. The perpetrator drove a rental car, according to Haseloff.
The investigation into the driver’s motive is ongoing, with local media reporting that authorities are treating the incident as a suspected terror attack. Police are investigating whether he acted alone.
The attack occurred at 7:04pm local time, when the vehicle reportedly sped 400 meters through the festive market near the city’s historic town hall, sending panicked shoppers fleeing in all directions. Witnesses described the car driving directly into the crowd as terrified screams echoed through the street.
Paramedics rushed to the scene, setting up emergency tents to treat the wounded. The first wave of patients — 10 to 20 people — were transported to University Hospital Magdeburg, which prepared additional intensive care beds.
One unconfirmed graphic video circulating on social media shows the car plowing into the crowded market. Another shows people lying on the ground and a massive police presence in the area. The authenticity of this video has also not been confirmed.
“This is a terrible event, especially now in the days before Christmas,” said Haseloff, who traveled to Magdeburg to assess the situation. “The pictures are terrible,” added city spokesman Michael Reif.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his condolences on social media: “The reports from Magdeburg suggest bad things. My thoughts are with the victims and their families. We stand by their side and by the people of Magdeburg.”
Political leaders across the country voiced shock. CDU leader Friedrich Merz wrote: “This is very devastating news from Magdeburg. My thoughts are with the victims and their relatives. I thank the emergency services caring for the wounded.”
AfD leader Alice Weidel added: “The pictures from Magdeburg are shocking! My thoughts are with the bereaved and wounded. When will this madness end?”
Authorities have closed the Christmas market and are urging the public to avoid the area. “Please let emergency services do their work and leave the market in an orderly manner,” organizers warned on Instagram.
Located west of Berlin, Magdeburg is the state capital of Saxony-Anhalt, with a population of about 240,000.
Britain has pledged to enhance troop morale and address challenges in Kiev’s mobilization efforts
UK Defence Secretary John Healey has proposed additional support to help Ukraine address the challenges of motivating and mobilizing conscripted troops amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. Kiev is grappling with challenges in recruiting new soldiers, exacerbated by a shortage of personnel on the front lines and significant rates of desertion.
The Ukrainian government has taken steps to address recruitment challenges, including reducing the conscription age from 27 to 25 and ramping up efforts to mobilize civilians. However, the campaign has faced backlash, with reports emerging of authorities conducting raids in public spaces and forcibly conscripting men from the streets into military service.
Speaking to The Times during a visit to Kiev on Wednesday, Healey emphasized the UK’s readiness to assist in boosting morale and provide tailored training to enhance the effectiveness of Ukraine’s forces.
“We recognize the immense challenges Ukraine is facing on the ground and the strain on its military resources,” Healey said. “The UK is committed to helping Ukraine motivate its recruits and equip them with the skills they need to defend their country effectively.”
Since mid-2022, the UK has reportedly trained more than 51,000 Ukrainian soldiers under Operation Interflex, a program designed to provide basic combat and specialized training for Kiev’s forces. Healey suggested that shifting some of this training closer to the front lines, potentially to western Ukraine, could improve accessibility for conscripts and would better address the immediate needs of the Ukrainian military.
The proposal, however, has sparked debate. Western officials have expressed concerns over the risks of placing British trainers in Ukraine, as they could become targets for Russian strikes.
Moscow has warned that it regards foreign fighters in Ukraine as legitimate military targets, alleging that Western military personnel are secretly present in the country, assisting with the preparation and launch of long-range missiles, such as Britain’s Storm Shadows.
Healey acknowledged these risks but argued that adapting training strategies is crucial to meet Ukraine’s evolving needs on the battlefield.
Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov has estimated that Ukraine’s army lost over half a million servicemen in 2024 alone, bringing total losses to more than one million since the escalation of the conflict in 2022. Speaking at a defense board meeting on Monday, Belousov stated that most frontline units of Kiev’s forces are severely understaffed, with only 45-50% of positions filled. The minister also reported that Russian Armed Forces maintain a strategic initiative across the entire line of contact, with troops advancing by an average of 30 square kilometers daily.
The decision has sparked criticism from lawmakers and the Russian Orthodox Church
Russia’s top Islamic authority will allow Muslim men to enter into multiple religious marriages and have up to four wives. The Council of Ulema of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) said Friday that the new fatwa was issued following the body’s meeting earlier this week.
The decision aligns with Islamic traditions but contradicts Russian civil law, which prohibits polygamy.
The regulation stipulates that a man can engage in polygamy only if he ensures equitable treatment for all wives, including equal financial support, separate housing for each spouse, and spends equal time with them according to an agreed schedule, Mufti of Moscow Ildar Alyautdinov explained in a post on Telegram on Friday.
This decision has sparked criticism from various quarters. Nina Ostanina, Chair of the State Duma Committee on Family, Women, and Children, emphasized that Russia is a secular state where all citizens, regardless of religious affiliation, must adhere to civil laws. In a comment for Gazeta.ru news outlet, she insisted that the fatwa contradicts Russia’s Constitution and family legislation, which define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.
Kirill Kabanov, a member of the Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights, has slammed the decision and warned that such religious rulings might undermine the secular legal framework of the country. “As I understand it, the next step, logically, is the rejection/non-recognition of the Russian judicial system and the introduction of Sharia courts,” he wrote on his Telegram channel.
The Russian Orthodox Church rejects polygamy, with Vakhtang Kipshidze, Deputy Chairman of the Synodal Department, stating that Christian civilization is based on monogamy, which ensures equal dignity for both men and women in marriage.
While polygamy is practiced in some regions of Russia, particularly in the predominantly Muslim republics of the North Caucasus, it remains illegal under Russian civil law. According to the Family Code, a person who is in another registered marriage cannot enter into marriage. However, there is no punishment for polygamy in Russia.
Responding to the criticism, Ildar Alyautdinov defended the recent fatwa, stating it aims to protect women’s rights in religious marriages without violating Russian civil law. In a video message posted Friday, he clarified that the fatwa focuses on religious practices and seeks to ensure women and children are safeguarded within religious marriage, addressing situations where they might otherwise lack protection.
The bloc should ramp up energy imports from the US or face levies on its exports, the president-elect has said
US President-elect Donald Trump has said the EU should reduce its trade gap by boosting purchases of American oil and gas, or it risks being hit with tariffs.
The US goods trade deficit with the EU stood at €156 billion ($162 billion) in 2023, according to Eurostat data.
In a post on Truth Social media platform, Trump wrote on Friday the EU should “make up their tremendous deficit with the US by the large-scale purchase of our oil and gas.”
“Otherwise, it is TARIFFS all the way!” he warned.
According to Eurostat, the US already supplied 47% of the EU’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports and 17% of the bloc’s oil purchases in the first quarter of 2024. Data shows US crude exports to Europe stand at around two million barrels per day, representing over half of the country’s total exports, with the rest going to Asia.
The Netherlands, France, Germany, Spain, Denmark, Italy, and Sweden are the biggest US energy importers, government data shows.
The European Commission (EC) responded to Trump’s warnings, saying it was ready to discuss how to deepen what it described as an already strong relationship, including in the energy sector.
“The EU is committed to phasing out energy imports from Russia and diversifying our sources of supply,” an unnamed EC spokesperson was quoted as saying by Reuters.
The EU pledged to stop consuming Russian fuel following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. Supplies of higher-cost US fuel have replaced much of the cheap pipeline gas that was previously delivered by Russia.
Data, however, shows that EU countries still continue to buy billions of euros’ worth of Russian gas each month. In 2024, the bloc is expected to import 10% more LNG from Russia than in 2023, according to energy analytics firm Kpler.
The bloc’s plans to completely phase out energy imports from the country by 2027 have been met with strong opposition from some EU members, particularly Hungary and Slovakia, that are still heavily reliant on the imports.
Trump, who takes office on January 20, has pledged to impose sweeping tariffs on several major US trading partners, including Canada, Mexico, and China.
He also has repeatedly said during his campaign that Europe would pay a heavy price for having run a large trade surplus with the US for decades.
EU exports are dominated by Germany, with key goods being cars, machinery and chemicals, which means Trump’s levies could wreak havoc on the bloc’s already struggling major economy.
The Canadian military’s move is drawing criticism for prioritizing a DEI agenda during active conflicts
The Canadian Armed Forces has deployed “gender advisors” to such conflict zones as Ukraine and Haiti, a recent internal report has revealed.
The deployments were part of the Department of National Defence’s Military Cooperation Program, which primarily provides advice and assistance to non-NATO countries. According to the 2024 report, the initiative has helped train nearly 2,000 military personnel from 55 countries. It has focused on the “integration of women and gender perspectives in the armed forces.”
“Gender Advisors and Gender Focal Points,” both full- and part-time roles, are deployed in all CAF international operations to help “Commanders in the application of GBA+ and gender perspectives” institutionally and operationally.
The abbreviation stands for Gender-Based Analysis Plus - a commitment introduced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion across all government departments.
“In 2023, notable opportunities to apply Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) and intersectional perspectives to operational support occurred in Poland, Ukraine, Haiti, and Latvia,” the report details.
In Poland, Canadian gender advisors and gender focal points are said to have connected with “local and Ukraine-based non-governmental organizations and interested parties” among other activities.
In Haiti, the efforts have led to “intersectional factors being applied towards stabilization and humanitarian efforts in the country,” the DND claims.
The report concludes that implementing the GBA Plus program has enhanced the Canadian military’s “cognition of the gender considerations and inclusivity” – something that has presumably translated into “mission success.”
However, True North, a media outlet, quoted Andrew MacGillivray, president of the Canadian group Veterans for Freedom, as criticizing the growing emphasis on gender analysis. He argued that GBA Plus has strayed from its original purpose of addressing the needs of female service members regarding equipment. MacGillivray asserted that the initiative has now become a “burdensome policy” that has affected every aspect of the Canadian Armed Forces.
MacGillivray also expressed doubt that “countries at war or in a humanitarian crisis that we are trying to help care about gender nonsense being pushed by Canada when they are struggling to keep people alive.”
In September, the US Navy commissioned its first-ever “fully gender-integrated” submarine, with plans to build all future vessels according to these standards. These include, among other things, increased privacy in sleeping areas and restrooms.
Earlier this year, Fox News cited a leaflet issued by the US intelligence community’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Office as extolling the supposed benefits of cross-dressing for intelligence officers.
New Delhi has reacted to a since-deleted social media post by a Bangladeshi interim government aide
India has lodged a “strong protest” with the Bangladeshi interim government following controversial statements by Mahfuj Alam, a key aide to the country’s caretaker administration chief Muhammad Yunus. The remarks had been made earlier this week in a social media post, which was deleted after backlash, according to Indian media.
“We have registered our strong protest on this issue with the Bangladesh side,” Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a press briefing. He said New Delhi wanted to “remind all concerned to be mindful of their public comments.”
In a since-deleted Facebook post, Alam suggested that India should acknowledge the uprising that led to former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation in August. He also suggested that Bangladesh could extend its territory to incorporate parts of eastern and northwestern India, citing cultural similarities that he claimed transcend religious differences. The post included a map depicting the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, and Assam as part of Bangladesh.
Hasina, who forged close ties with the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, resigned on August 5 following weeks of violent protests over controversial job quotas. The interim government, set up days after Hasina’s ouster, is led by Yunus, who is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist.
Relations between New Delhi and Dhaka have been strained since the interim government in Bangladesh was formed. New Delhi has expressed concern at incidents of violence targeting the Hindu community and other minorities in Bangladesh, and said the interim government in Dhaka was responsible for protecting them.
Meanwhile, Dhaka has been seeking Hasina’s extradition, although formally it has not yet initiated the process. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Bangladesh last week, conveying India’s concerns and urging the interim administration to adopt a “constructive approach.”
The murder of General Kirillov won’t get the over-reaction Ukraine and, probably, its Western backers hoped for
On 17 December, in the early morning, one of Russia’s most important and well-known generals was assassinated in front of his home in Moscow. Lieutenant-General Igor Kirillov was the head of Russia’s Radiological, Chemical and Biological Protection forces. (His brief was not, as some mainstream Western media have misleadingly claimed, leading troops focused on the use of such weapons but on defenses against them.) The assassination was carried out with a bomb attached to a parked electric scooter and detonated remotely. The explosion also killed Kirillov’s adjutant, Lieutenant Ilya Polikarpov, and injured their driver.
The one aspect of this killing that is likely to attract most controversy is its assessment in a legal framework. Kirillov was a high-ranking Russian officer; indeed, according to Reuters, “the most senior Russian military officer to be assassinated in Russia by Ukraine.” And, there clearly are ongoing – whatever you call them – large-scale armed hostilities between Russia and Ukraine that fall under the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC, aka humanitarian law), the rules that should bind those engaged in fighting. Yet Russia sees the assassination as a combination of crimes, most importantly as murder and terrorism. Ukraine insists that this was, on the contrary, an act of legitimate killing in war. A UN official has taken Ukraine’s side, to which Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson of Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has forcefully objected. Russia will also raise the issue of the assassination at the UN Security Council.
What to make of the above? This is, in strictly legal terms, a complex case. I, for one, won’t try to offer a definitive categorization. Yet there are several points everyone has to consider: This is not the first Ukrainian assassination in Russia. Previous victims have included the journalist daughter of a public intellectual (who was probably the main target) and a Russian pro-war blogger. Such cases clearly do not fall under legitimate killing in war: Neither public intellectuals (or their journalist daughters) nor mil-bloggers can possibly constitute military targets. They are not combatants. And extending the definition of combatant to such persons would mean trying to legitimize crimes. Since Kirillov’s killing was engineered by, in essence, the same people who have committed these murders, it stands, at least, in a criminal context.
Also to be considered: Kirillov was far from the battlefield. Ukraine may argue that a battlefield is a fuzzy notion, especially in modern war. Yet what is incontrovertible is that the Russian general was killed not by a recognizable combatant, but by a hired assassin whose only stake in the attack was material advantage. This fact alone means that the method used for the attack was, by any definition, criminal. It is a stretch, then, to construe as somehow still legitimate under LOAC an assassination carried out by an organization already known for strictly terrorist attacks and using methods ordinarily associated with organized crime.
Third, public statements from Ukraine have been contradictory, even if Western mainstream media have, as usual, done, in effect, damage control for the Kiev regime by not letting their audiences know. Immediately after the assassination, Mikhail Podoliak, a key adviser to Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, denied that Ukraine was behind the killing. His reasoning: Kiev does not resort to ”methods of some kind of terrorist formats.” Oops. That was, of course, a clear admission that the killing did indeed constitute an act of terrorism, just as Russia also maintains.
And then, Kiev, of course, does use such methods, all the time, quite proudly, actually. Only this time, some officials got so full of themselves that they did not boast only indirectly, in the well-known register of “we can’t confirm yet won’t deny” (nudge, nudge, wink, wink). This time, shortly after Podoliak was done lying his face off in public, his colleagues over at military intelligence made it official: Yes, it’s us. What’s left to say? Perhaps, “surprise, surprise”? And a blooper like that also, obviously, makes you wonder about the internal coherence of the Kiev regime: Does the left hand have any idea about what the right one is up to?
In any case, incoming US president Donald Trump’s designated special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg – himself a retired lieutenant-general – has added a dimension to this discussion that goes beyond the strictly legal but certainly matters as well. “There are rules of warfare,”he argued in a TV interview, ”and there are certain things you just don’t do,” such as killing high-ranking officers in their hometown and far from the battlefield. Again, you may disagree: Kellogg’s appeal to what would amount to an unwritten gentleman’s code may well appear naive. Or inconsistent: Has the US obeyed such rules? Hardly.
But even if you don’t follow Kellogg’s logic here, the important point is that it is his: If Trump’s man for Ukraine finds the assassination very distasteful, to say the least, then one of two things have to be true: Either we are looking at an instance of American dissimulation, with Kellogg trying to obscure US involvement, or the new Trump administration is genuinely no longer willing to let Ukraine get away with anything the Kiev regime feels like, including, literally, murder. My guess, despite my profound skepticism regarding US honesty: This time it’s option two. Bad news for Zelensky and co., again.
More generally, Kellogg’s intervention brings us to the question of the politics of this killing, which is more important for the future than its precise legal assessment. One political consequence will occur inside Russia, but much of it is unlikely to be public. In his recent annual telethon, President Vladimir Putin reiterated the Russian position that Kirillov’s assassination was an act of Ukrainian terrorism. At the same time, he reminded his nationwide audience that it was not the first one and noted that the Russian security services have failed to stop these attacks. If that message was not clear enough, he added, in colloquial Russian, that such “very serious flops” show a need for perfecting the work of the security services.
What we will get to see – at least in outline – is the assassination’s fallout on international politics and, in particular, on the prospect of ending the war over Ukraine. It is true that many observers believe that Kirillov’s killing is linked to his prominent role in the ongoing information war between the West and Russia. His frequent public statements used to address hot-button topics, such as US biolabs in Ukraine, the use of chemical weapons in Syria, or Ukrainian efforts to build a dirty bomb, ie, a primitive nuclear weapon of mass destruction. In addition, Kiev has claimed that Kirillov was responsible for the alleged use of chemical weapons in the war in Ukraine.
Yet, arguably, none of the above explains why Ukraine assassinated Kirillov now, at this precise moment in time. We can only speculate at this point. But in reality the best explanation of the attack is that it was aimed at sabotaging peace prospects by provoking Russia into an over-reaction that the Ukrainian side could then use to drag the West even deeper into the war. This is an old Ukrainian pattern and recent operations by Kiev involving Western missiles, such as a largely foiled attack on a chemical plant, point to an escalation: The Zelensky regime is desperate because it knows that Trump is serious about ending support for it. While the EU-NATO Europeans talk a big deal, they will not be able to compensate for that loss, even if they meant every word they are saying, which is unlikely. Podoliak has just had to admit, for instance, that it is improbable that any Western forces will soon enter the war officially. Soon? Make that ”ever.”
Against this background, the assassination of general Kirillov close to the center of Moscow was meant to serve as a massive provocation. That is also why Ukrainian military intelligence has openly claimed it. Were they alone in organizing this attack? Maybe, maybe not. The direct or indirect involvement of Western intelligence services cannot be excluded. But even if the West was not involved in this specific operation, it remains a fact that these Ukrainian services are its creation. All of this is scandalous, and it is meant to be just that. But it is also transparent. Up until now, the Russian leadership has not over-reacted to Ukrainian provocations. It also understands that both the course of the war on the ground and time are on its side. It would be a surprise if Moscow abandoned its policy of calibrated retribution: There will be a response, but it will not live up to Kiev’s expectations. And that’s a good thing.
Kiev has launched a massive missile attack using Western weapons on the town of Rylsk in Kursk Region, Aleksandr Khinshtein says
Ukrainian forces launched a missile attack on Rylsk in Russia’s Kursk Region on Friday, killing five people and injuring twelve others, acting governor of the region Aleksandr Khinshtein has said. The official added that Kiev's troops had used US-made HIMARS missiles.
The strikes caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure throughout the city, damaging a a house of culture, a primary school, and living and study quarters belonging to Rylsk Aviation College. The attack also shattered windows in apartment buildings and impacted several private homes as well as 15 or more vehicles.
Initial reports suggested that at least one child was among the casualties, but in the latest update on Saturday morning, Khinshtein clarified the death toll, stating that five adults, but fortunately no minors, lost their lives in the attack.
“What happened today is a huge tragedy for all of us,” Khinshtein wrote in a Telegram post. The work of emergency services has been complicated by repeated attacks from the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the governor added.
He expressed confidence that those responsible for the attack would face retribution and that all destroyed infrastructure will be repaired.
In a short video message posted on his Telegram channel on Friday, Khinshtein accused Kiev’s forces of “deliberately choosing civilian facilities [and] social facilities as their targets.”
Several Russian Telegram channels and media outlets have published what appears to be footage of the aftermath of the attack shot by eyewitnesses. In some of these video clips, several burning cars and damaged buildings can be seen.
Rylsk is located about 30 kilometers from the Ukrainian border and has a population of around 15,000.
Ukrainian troops invaded Kursk Region on August 6, with a force reportedly of some 35,000 troops. The area they control has been steadily shrinking in recent months, but they still maintain a presence in some parts of the region.
The money spent to fund the war could have “done wonders” in the EU, the Hungarian PM has argued
The US and the EU have provided over $300 billion in financial aid and military assistance to Kiev since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said.
Such a huge amount of money “could have done wonders” had it been spent to improve the lives of people within the EU, he said in an interview with Kossuth radio on Friday.
Orban highlighted the evolving military situation, noting that “the balance of power on the frontlines is shifting day by day” in Russia’s favor. He also pointed to the political changes expected in the US when Donald Trump returns to the White House next month.
The developments call for leaders in EU capitals to embrace a more pragmatic approach to ensuring stability and economic resilience within the bloc, Orban believes. However, the prime minister argued that Brussels remains out of touch with global realities, pointing to a recent European Parliament decision to continue sending substantial funds to Kiev – a move he described as a clear example of misplaced priorities.
“During the negotiation with the Americans, I received the figure that Europe and America together have spent €310 billion so far. Those are huge numbers!” the Hungarian prime minister stressed.
He argued that the hundreds of billions of euros already spent to fund the conflict could have been used to bolster European infrastructure, to develop countries in the Western Balkans to the level of the EU, or beef up military capabilities. This “enormous” amount of money could have been given to Europeans to make people’s lives much better, the Hungarian leader concluded.
Russia has repeatedly warned that no amount of Western aid will stop its troops from achieving the goals of the military operation or change the ultimate outcome of the conflict. By backing Kiev, they only prolong the conflict, Moscow has argued.
Earlier this month, Orban proposed a Christmas ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, describing it as a last-ditch attempt to mediate a diplomatic resolution of the conflict. He floated the idea to Kiev and Moscow, as well as to Trump, who he personally met at his residence in Florida.
The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow “fully supports Orban’s efforts aimed at finding a peaceful settlement and resolving humanitarian issues related to the exchange of prisoners.”
However, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky rejected Budapest’s offer.
The newspaper claims that a number of countries are working to influence future US policy in the region
Western European leaders are exploring the possibility of deploying troops to Ukraine as part of a possible ceasefire agreement with Russia, The Washington Post reported on Friday. The discussions, which are reportedly at an early stage, come as NATO members consider measures to provide Kiev with leverage in potential negotiations to end the ongoing conflict.
The idea was reportedly raised during a meeting hosted by NATO Chief Mark Rutte in Brussels on Wednesday, which included Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky and several of the bloc’s leaders.
It was also floated to US President-elect Donald Trump during recent talks in Paris, which were attended by Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron. Officials familiar with the discussions, who spoke on condition of anonymity, noted that Trump expressed interest but has yet to commit to a position as his team is still formulating its policy.
The proposal envisions a European-led peacekeeping force operating outside the framework of NATO. Leaders apparently view this as a potential security guarantee for Ukraine, which remains unlikely to achieve membership in block in the near future. Macron, who first broached the idea in February, has solicited support for the plan among a number of European countries, including Britain and several Baltic and Nordic states.
While the details remain unclear, the force would require significant commitments—potentially tens of thousands of troops—to ensure effectiveness without appearing vulnerable to attacks, the newspaper added. Reported discussions also revolve around defining the force’s mandate.
Zelensky has publicly supported the proposal, emphasizing that it should complement Ukraine’s aspirations for NATO membership rather than replace them. He reiterated on Thursday in Brussels that the bloc’s mutual defense clause remains the only “real guarantee” of security for the country, in his opinion.
On Thursday Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated his readiness for peace talks with Ukraine, emphasizing that any agreement must address key security concerns, including Kiev’s renunciation of NATO ambitions, the recognition of new territorial realities, and commitment to a neutral status.
At his annual Q&A session in Moscow, Putin stressed that these measures are vital for achieving lasting regional stability and ensuring mutual security. He affirmed Russia’s willingness to negotiate without preconditions, framing the proposed steps as a pragmatic foundation for enduring peace while safeguarding the strategic interests of all involved parties.
The Post claimed that Western European leaders see the proposal as a way to influence any US-led negotiations with Moscow and to demonstrate their commitment to Ukraine. “We need something sustainable,” an unnamed European diplomat told the outlet, highlighting the importance of clear planning before engaging with officials in Washington.
Moldova could block the platforms before its 2025 parliamentary elections, Speaker Igor Grosu has warned
Moldovan authorities could vote to ban TikTok and Telegram in the country if there is the risk of manipulation in upcoming elections, Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu has said.
Grosu, who previously raised concerns about the platforms’ alleged threat to the country’s security, made the remarks on Friday on the TV8 channel.
Asked whether Telegram and TikTok could be prohibited, Grosu claimed it is the duty of “institutions” to decide on such a move, warning that their use could lead to “very serious” consequences.
Moldovan lawmakers could consider a ban “if we see a real danger of these platforms being used by actors from outside or inside, who want to undermine the security of the state,” he added.
Grosu highlighted that active discussions are taking place within the EU about regulating online platforms, which he claimed have become “geopolitical actors.”
“We have seen what a platform like this can do in a country like Romania,” Grosu claimed, in an apparent reference to last month’s surprise first-round win by independent candidate Calin Georgescu in the country’s presidential election.
A critic of NATO and the EU and a staunch opponent of sending aid to Ukraine, Georgescu topped the first-round vote in Romania with 22.94%, beating liberal leftist candidate Elena Lasconi, who received 19.18%, and the country’s Social Democrat prime minister, Marcel Ciolacu, who finished third with 19.15%.
However, Romania’s Constitutional Court annulled the entire election ahead of the second-round vote, declaring the ballot would be re-run at a later date. It cited declassified intelligence documents which allegedly found irregularities in Georgescu’s performance. They claimed his candidacy was improperly promoted online, including on TikTok, by paid influencers and extremist right-wing groups, and that his campaign may have benefited from Russian interference – an allegation that Moscow has denied as “absolutely groundless.”
Washington praised the court’s decision, saying the US reaffirms its “confidence in Romania’s democratic institutions and processes.”
Moldovan authorities have previously claimed that TikTok is uninterested in the transparency of its algorithms, branding it a tool of digital manipulation which has nothing to do with freedom of expression. The company has rejected the allegations.
The next parliamentary elections in Moldova are set to be held no later than July 11, 2025. The exact date has yet to be announced.
Recent presidential elections in the former Soviet state, which aspires to join the EU, were marred by accusations of rigging and voter manipulation from both the government and the opposition. Maia Sandu, who declared victory in last month’s runoff, has accused Russia of meddling in the election, also alleging that unspecified “criminal groups” attempted to “purchase” votes.
The Kremlin has refused to fully acknowledge Sandu’s victory, asserting that the electoral process was neither fair nor democratic, given significant procedural irregularities that hindered the voting rights of Moldovan citizens residing in Russia.
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