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No more beating around the bush

The Russian president is continuing to defend what he is doing in Ukraine - the annexation of four areas of the country - saying they are Russian territory and blaming the West for trying to subdue Russia. This speech – in St George’s Hall in the Kremlin - follows so-called "referendums" in Russian-held Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. The West condemned them as shams held under gunpoint and what Putin has just announced is illegal under international law. President Putin says he wants everyone in Kyiv and the West to hear that those in the Donbas region will become Russian citizens forever, he says. Kyiv authorities should "take this expression of will with great respect". This is the only way to peace, he says, and Russia will protect its land with all means Russia has "to provide safe living for our people". Russia will rebuild the ruins in towns and villages and develop infrastructure and health care and education. Source: BBC

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This is from an independent Russian pollster called Levada. Mind you that the poll respondents were interviewed in their homes so there could be an element of not wanting to speak out against the war in fear of legal ramifications. EIther way, especially the Russian boomers support the "operation", but then again they watch more TV than young people which means more exposure to state propaganda. "The prevailing feelings about the partial mobilization announced in the Russian Federation are “anxiety, fear, horror” (47%), “shock” (23%), “pride for Russia” (23%) and “anger, indignation” (13%). Only 9% of respondents said they were indifferent." "The highest level of support for the actions of the Russian armed forces in Ukraine is still observed among the older age group - 81% support; the smallest is characteristic of young respondents (18–24): among them, 55% of respondents express support." "In September, the share of those who believe that the “special military operation” is progressing successfully has decreased. If in May there were 73% of such people, then in September - 53%: 9% believe that it is progressing very successfully, 44% - which is rather successful. About a third (31%) are of the opinion that the "special operation" is not successful." https://www.levada.ru/2022/09/29/konflikt-s-ukrainoj-sentyabr-2022-goda/

They are trying to gaslight the world into thinking that Russia is not behind the pipeline sabotage. MOSCOW, September 28. /TASS/. Russia intends to convene a United Nations Security Council session in connection with the provocations against the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on her Telegram channel on Wednesday. "Russia is planning to call for an official meeting of the UN Security Council over the provocations against the Nord Stream-1 and Nord Stream-2 pipelines," Zakharova said. https://tass.com/politics/1514819 UNITED NATIONS, September 28. /TASS/. An emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council concerning acts of sabotage against the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines is scheduled for Friday, September 30, Russian Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyansky said on Wednesday. https://tass.com/politics/1514847 Zakharova also insinuated that the US might be behind the sabotage. “On February 7, 2022, Joe Biden said that Nord Stream would be finished if Russia invaded Ukraine,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on social media, posting a video of Biden saying “we will bring an end” to Nord Stream 2 if Russian tanks cross Ukraine’s border. “Biden is obliged to answer the question of whether the US carried out its threat,” Zakharova added. https://english.alarabiya.net/business/energy/2022/09/28/Biden-is-obliged-to-answer-if-US-is-behind-Nord-Stream-gas-leaks-Moscow

This is from the Finnish border today. I kinda feel bad for the first guy especially, and to anyone who wants no part in Putin's war really. And here's something from the Georgian border (the country). It's sad how the last guy said that everything he worked for in life for 30 years in Russia was all in vain.

The next few days are gonna be absolute chaos in Russia This is from Meduza. It's an independent Russian news website based in Latvia (because independent media is banned in Russia). The Russian authorities are going to close the borders for men of mobilization age, a source close to the Presidential Administration (AP) of the Russian Federation told Meduza. According to him, the most likely date for the introduction of the ban is September 28. The second source, also close to the Presidential Administration, says that this will happen "after the referendums" that are held in the self-proclaimed DPR, LPR and in the occupied territories of the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions of Ukraine. They will end on the evening of September 27th. The interlocutor noted that there would be a semblance of "exit visas": in order to leave Russia, men would have to obtain permission from the military registration and enlistment office. https://meduza.io/news/2022/09/25/istochniki-meduzy-soobschili-chto-muzhchinam-mobilizatsionnogo-vozrasta-posle-referendumov-zapretyat-vyezzhat-iz-rossii

In 10 years since the previous census Croatia's population has decreased by 413,056 inhabitants or 9.64%. Census 2011 vs. 2021 Population 2011: 4,284,889 2021: 3,871,833 Nationality 2011 Croats - 3,874,321 - 90.42% Serbs - 186,633 - 4.36% Bosniaks - 31.479 - 0.73% Roma - 16,975 - 0.40% 2021 Croats - 3,567,614 - 91.63% Serbs - 123,892 - 3.2% Bosniaks - 24,131 - 0.62% Roma - 17,980 - 0.46% Religion 2011 Catholicism - 3,697,143 - 86,28% Christian Orthodoxy: 190,146 - 4.44% Islam - 62,977 - 1,47% 2021 Catholicism - 3,057,735 - 78,97% Christian Orthodoxy: 128,395 - 3.32% Islam - 50,981 - 1,47% 600k catholics less. https://hr.n1info.com/english/news/2021-census-shares-of-ethnic-croats-and-atheists-increase/ @Komet blu @Bloodflowers. @Pop @Hurem

Berlusconi is one of the most corrupt politicians of all time, lmao. "Putin was pushed by the Russian population, by his party and by his ministers to invent this special operation," he said. "The troops were supposed to enter, reach Kyiv in a week, replace the Zelensky government with decent people and a week later come back," Mr Berlusconi added. "Instead they found an unexpected resistance, which was then fed by arms of all kinds from the West." https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63005402

Super Bowl Halftime Show: Apple Music Named Presenting Sponsor of NFL Event source

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He's such a Putin's lapdog, it's unbelievable. "BUDAPEST, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban told his ruling Fidesz party that sanctions against Russia imposed by the European Union should be scrapped, the pro-government daily Magyar Nemzet reported late on Wednesday. Government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs confirmed the comments in an emailed reply to Reuters. Orban, a harsh critic of EU sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, made the remarks at a closed-door meeting of his party members on Wednesday, before the start of the autumn political season." https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/hungary-pm-orban-says-eus-russia-sanctions-should-be-scrapped-report-2022-09-22/

They are going to countries where they don't need a visa to enter. "All flights from Russia to neighbouring countries sold out on Wednesday as Russians sought to flee a partial mobilisation order drafting 300,000 reservists into the army announced by Vladimir Putin. Russian news outlet RBC reported that there were no seats available on flights to destinations that do not require a visa until Friday. Fears that men of fighting age would not be allowed to leave the country began to spread as the Russian president ordered the call-up, which followed the announcement of referendums to pave the way for the formal annexation of swathes of Ukraine. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to say whether Russia would close its borders for those who are subject to mobilisation." https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/09/21/ukraine-news-russia-war-putin-counter-offensive-mobilisation/

russian bots fuming

“Gay Rights!”

https://amp.theguardian.com/politics/2022/sep/06/nicola-sturgeon-announces-rent-freeze-for-tenants-in-scortland https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-62820909.amp

Russia may face a longer and deeper recession as the impact of US and European sanctions spreads, handicapping sectors that the country has relied on for years to power its economy, according to an internal report prepared for the government. The document, the result of months of work by officials and experts trying to assess the true impact of Russia’s economic isolation due to President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, paints a far more dire picture than officials usually do in their upbeat public pronouncements. Bloomberg viewed a copy of the report, drafted for a closed-door meeting of top officials on Aug. 30. People familiar with the deliberations confirmed its authenticity. Two of the three scenarios in the report show the contraction accelerating next year, with the economy returning to the prewar level only at the end of the decade or later. The “inertial” one sees the economy bottoming out next year 8.3% below the 2021 level, while the “stress” scenario puts the low in 2024 at 11.9% under last year’s level. Beyond the restrictions themselves, which cover about a quarter of imports and exports, the report details how Russia now faces a “blockade” that “has affected practically all forms of transport,” further cutting off the country’s economy. Technological and financial curbs add to the pressure. The report estimates as many as 200,000 IT specialists may leave the country by 2025, the first official forecast of the widening brain drain. Europe’s plans to stop importing Russian oil products -- about 55% of exports went there last year -- could trigger sharp cuts in production leaving the domestic market short of fuel, as well. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-05/russia-risks-bigger-longer-sanctions-hit-internal-report-warns

Israeli military admits Shireen Abu Akleh likely killed by Israeli fire, but won't charge soldiers Full article : https://edition.cnn.com/2022/09/05/middleeast/idf-shireen-abu-akleh-investigation-intl/index.html

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