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Elon Musk’s SpaceX emerges as major Pentagon contractor — WSJ

According to company documents seen by the newspaper, SpaceX concluded a $1.8 billion classified contract with an unidentified US government agency, which is expected to become an important source of the company’s revenue in the coming years

NEW YORK, February 20. /TASS/. The US private space technology company SpaceX owned by Elon Musk has emerged as a major contractor of the US intelligence and military agencies, including the Pentagon, the Wall Street Journal reported.

According to company documents seen by the newspaper, SpaceX concluded a $1.8 billion classified contract with an unidentified US government agency, which is expected to become an important source of the company’s revenue in the coming years.

"The size and secrecy of the agreement illustrate a growing interdependence between SpaceX - a dominant force in the space industry - and the national-security establishment," the Wall Street Journal said.

The company’s satellite program Starshield won a $70 million award from the military last August to provide communications services to Pentagon partners, according to the report.

On February 11, Musk said that SpaceX-developed Starlink satellite communication terminals had not been sold to Russia. Previously, several news outlets quoted Ukrainian military officials as saying that Russian troops were allegedly using these terminals.

SpaceX provided Starlink terminals to Ukraine. Musk has repeatedly called for a diplomatic settlement of the conflict in Ukraine. Communication provided by Starlink is used by the Ukrainian military to operate drones.

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Ties between China, Argentina shouldn’t be influenced by other nations — Chinese minister

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing and Buenos Aires should pursue an independent foreign policy, eliminate external interference and support each other to accelerate the economic development of both countries

UN chief urges Israel, Hamas to sign Gaza ceasefire agreement

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres noted that he has been consistently calling for a humanitarian ceasefire, release of all hostages, and a massive surge in humanitarian aid

Russia says its FPV drones delivered 40 strikes on Ukrainian sites in Donetsk area

Operators of FPV also destroyed a large number of personnel and equipment in their area of responsibility, the Russian Defense Ministry reported

First group of suspected coup plotters goes on trial in Germany

Federal prosecutors filed charges in the case against a total of 27 people

Russian drone operators destroy Ukrainian positions near Semyonovka, Spornoye

Troops of the combat group "South" destroyed Ukrainian positions near two settlements

NATO defense ministers to discuss support for Ukraine in Brussels on May 16

The first session will see the Chiefs of Defense meet in a NATO-Ukraine Council format to discuss Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the situation on the ground, and NATO and Allied continued support to Ukraine

Russian troops recover first Abrams tank from special military operation zone

It will be put on public display at the Patriot Park on Poklonnaya Hill

Russia’s Battlegroup East takes new positions near Ugledar — top brass

One of the assault regiment commanders told that Ukrainian units frequently deliver erroneous artillery strikes on their own positions

Ukrainian drone drops munition onto house in Kursk Region village, killing civilian

One civilian died in a subsequent fire

Press review: China to weather US storm and ATACMS not 'wonder weapons'

Top stories from the Russian press on Saturday, April 27th

Clearing explosive threats in Gaza to take 14 years, UN estimates — TV

Israel’s destruction of Gaza has generated around 37.5 mln metric tons of debris across the enclave, the bulk of this being laced with unexploded bombs and other munitions

US defeat in Ukraine only matter of time, says North Korean Defense Ministry official

The head of the North Korean Defense Ministry’s Department of External Military Affairs slammed the US for pushing for an escalation of the conflict and trying to change the situation in Ukraine at any cost

Russian troops wipe out military train with Western armaments in DPR over past day

Russian troops improved their tactical position and repelled eight Ukrainian army counterattacks in the Avdeyevka area over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Press review: Belarus' new national security strategy and Russia, US butt heads at UN

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, April 26th

Tucker Carlson interviews Russian philosopher Dugin

The interview lasted over 20 minutes

Russia opposes idea to pass resolution on Srebrenica at UNGA — Russia’s UN envoy

"The draft UNGA resolution as nothing to do with the stated goal of commemorating the victims of the 1995 tragedy", Vasily Nebenzya said

European banks’ tax payments in Russia rise four-fold in 2023 — newspaper

The Financial Times notes that more than half of the European banks’ tax payments correspond to Austria’s Raiffeisen Bank International

German minister highlights Soviet troops’ role in liberating Auschwitz-Birkenau camp

According to German Agriculture Minister Cem Ozdemir, the lesson of National Socialism is that war must never happen again

Russia says battlegroup East eliminated up to 100 Ukrainian soldiers, 4 ammunition points

The battlegroup's units improved their forward positions, said Alexander Gordeyev, a spokesman for the battlegroup

France denies Olympic accreditation to volunteers from Russia

Paris 2024 volunteer program director Alexandre Morenon-Conde said on March 21, 2023 that the volunteer program was open for all, without any exclusions

Riot police start to leave scene of rally in Georgian capital

Some of the police relocated to April 9 Street, which leads to the service entrance to the Georgian parliament, while some others moved to Liberty Square

US court sentences Binance founder to four months in prison — Bloomberg

A judge handed down a much lighter sentence than the three years sought by the prosecution, the agency reported

Medicine for Bekhterev’s disease may cause medical tourism to Russia — Health Minister

Previously, the media reported that the Russian Health Ministry registered the first treatment for the Bekhterev’s disease in the world

Police using tear gas against protesters in Tbilisi

Police are trying to push the protesters off the building

Israeli army identifies Lebanese attack, strikes back in border areas last night

Two anti-tank missiles were fired toward Dovev on the border with Lebanon

Another Ukrainian drone shot down over Belgorod Region — defense ministry

Earlier in the day, the ministry reported downing of three Ukrainian drones

Russia’s UN envoy calls on UNSC to prevent conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina

Vasily Nebenzya said that the situation in the country was getting worse

Russian forces liberate settlement of Semyonovka in Donetsk People’s Republic

Inflicting a defeat on forces of the 68th Infantry Brigade, the 23rd and 115th mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian armed forces, the 109 Territorial Defense Brigade and mercenaries from the International Legion near Novoalexandrovka, Arkhangelskoye, Tarasovka and Zavetonoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic

No conditions for talks with Kiev at this time — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov stated that the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin "is well-known"

Senior security official says Russia isn’t at war with Ukraine

Nikolay Patrushev said Ukrainian traditions are familiar to Russians, just like the Russian heritage is inseparable from Ukrainian culture

Russia develops world’s first light drone with hybrid engine

The hybrid powerplant boosts the drone’s flight duration

Russia’s Battlegroup East improves positions in DPR, hits roughly 100 Ukrainian troops

Ukrainians lost two pickup trucks and two US-made 155mm M777 howitzers

Clashes between protesters and police begin in Tbilisi

Several protesters have been detained

Putin makes 90-year-old writer, US resident Garri Karolinsky Russian citizen

According to media outlets, Garri Karolinsky resides in New York and in recent years, at the invitation of the Russian side, has participated in the Congress of Compatriots in Moscow and in compatriot forums held in Crimea

NATO has had no designs against Russia, will never have them, Blinken claims

During the July 2023 summit in Vilnius, NATO leaders called Russia "the most serious and direct threat to security"

Xi Jinping to pay official visit to Serbia on May 7-8

It was previously reported that Xi Jinping will visit France, Serbia and Hungary from May 5 to May 10

Operation in Rafah to have ‘devastating’ impact on Middle East — UN chief

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres recalled that more than 1.2 million people are seeking shelter in Rafah

Russian air defenses down aerial target near Belgorod, governor says

There were no casualties or damage though

Kremlin spokesman says Zelensky’s fate is sealed

The comment concerns both the fate of Zelensky and the outcome of the Russian special military operation

Report on alleged North Korean missile in Ukraine made by non-field experts — UN source

"There were three experts: on finance, general issues and the nuclear program", the source said

Zelensky says Kiev negotiating with Washington its support for next 10 years

According to Zelensky, Kiev wants this agreement with the United States to be "the strongest" one among similar documents it has already signed or is planning to sign with other allies

Involvement of US nuclear potential in drills around DRPK affects Russia’s interests

Vasily Nebenzya noted the militarization of the region with direct involvement of Washington and other NATO member states, "located tens of thousands of kilometers away from North Korea"

UN chief calls for letting int’l investigators to sites of mass graves in Gaza

According to the Al Mayadeen television channel, more than 330 bodies have been recovered from mass graves following Israeli troops’ withdrawal

US-led coalition’s aircraft violate Syrian airspace ten times in past day

Three pairs of the coalition’s F-15 fighter jets and two pairs of A-10 Thunderbolt attack bombers violated airspace in the al-Tanf area

Russian air defense forces block Ukrainian attempt to use ATACMS on Crimea — politician

The Ukrainians used several ATACMS ballistic missiles in an attempt to attack civilians on the peninsula

Panic on frontline growing on Ukrainian side — Kremlin

Russia must support the current dynamics in the special military operation zone, Dmitry Peskov said

Netanyahu vows Israel will conduct operation in Rafah in any case

Israeli Prime Minister stressed that this will be done regardless of the potential agreement with the Palestinian radicals on the release of hostages

Russian cutting-edge missile frigate holds artillery firings in Arctic drills

"The combat exercises were conducted in the Barents Sea waters closed for shipping," the Russian Defense Ministry reported

Fatah, Hamas officials express desire to achieve reconciliation at Beijing talks — envoy

The parties agreed to continue dialogue and seek Palestinian unity as soon as possible

Unaware of decline of its military industry US gets trapped in Ukraine — French historian

Emmanuel Todd believes that "one of Washington's goals is to prevent a rapprochement between Russia and Germany"

US undermines participation of Russian representative in UN Committee on Information

Dmitry Polyansky added that Moscow hoped that the current situation will be "cardinally corrected." He also reiterated that legally binding agreements with the host country existed

Riot police dispersing protest rally in Tbilisi

Police are detaining the protesters who are tossing bottles and other objects at them

Money transfers between Russia, Turkey close to standstill since start of year — newspaper

The bilateral trade volume between Turkey and Russia has been growing against the background of the Ukraine conflict and sanctions imposed by the EU and US, the media reports

Yet another Ukrainian drone shot down over Belgorod Region — defense ministry

The attack occurred around 8:00 pm Moscow time on April 30

Armenia, Russia in dialogue to resolve problems in relations — top Armenian diplomat

Some issues require complete mutual understanding, but Isuch problems exist in any relations, said Armenian Foreign Minister Aarat Mirzoyan

Ukrainian government allocates $392 million to buy more drones

Ukraine’s government has already allocated more than $1 billion to purchase drones this year

Thousands of students in Venezuela march in support of Palestinian people

Palestinian Ambassador Fadi Alzaben said Israel in Gaza "destroyed 500 schools and educational centers, five universities, and killed 80 university presidents"

Russian drivers bought 500,000 baseball bats last year to settle road disputes — police

Only one pair of baseball gloves and one ball was sold over that year

Musk concurs that civil war looming in West

The US businessman commented on remarks by Gad Saad, a Canadian professor of Lebanese origin, who insisted that "the path that the West is taking will result in civil war"

One woman killed, another one wounded in Ukraine’s shelling of Kursk Region village

According to region’s governor Roman Starovoit, two civilians were wounded in the shelling attack on the village in the morning

Medvedev vows Moscow's response to US law on seizing Russia's frozen assets will sting

The Russian Security Council deputy chairman suggested enacting legislation to allow Russia to confiscate assets belonging to the citizens of unfriendly countries

Musk sees plans for ten-year security agreement for Ukraine as ‘insane’

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said earlier that Ukrainian and US officials were discussing the amount of military, financial and other aid to Kiev for the next ten years as part of talks on a bilateral security agreement

Fire in Ulan-Ude suburb put out — emergencies ministry

Seventeen summer cottages have burnt down

F-16 fighter jet crashes in US, pilot ejected

The pilot was the only occupant onboard the aircraft, Fox News television reported

Mortar gunners destroy about ten Ukrainian servicemen

Russian fighters occupied better positions owing to accurate mortar fire and concerted action

Riot police break up protest rally near parliamentary building in Tbilisi

Several thousand people have been protesting against the law on foreign agents

Russian aerospace forces hit two terrorists base in Syria’s Homs governorate

Deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria Yury Popov also said that during the day, no shelling attacks on the positions of government forces were reported in the Idlid de-escalation zone

New York resident pleads guilty to conspiracy to smuggle drone technology to Russia

According to the US Department of Justice, the man may face up to five years in jail

Chinese diplomat comments on Blinken’s warning on support to Russia

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian pointed out that the US was supplying Ukraine with arms and ammunition and at the same time making unfounded accusations regarding trade between China and Russia

Leader of Georgia’s largest opposition party beaten by police at rally — report

Levan Khabeishvili is a chairman of the party called United National Movement

US authorizes energy-related transactions with Russian banks until November 1

According to the document, the banks in question include the Central Bank of Russia, VTB, Alfa Bank, Sberbank, Vneshekonombank, Otkrytiye, Sovkombank, Rosbank, Zenit and Sankt-Peterburg

US creating NATO bases in Ukraine under guise of training centers — Belarusian president

"Unfortunately, the Ukrainian authorities don't care a bit about their own people and they don't hear our concerns," Alexander Lukashenko noted

Russia developing new combat helicopter for Airborne Force

The new chopper will be a follow-up of Mil Mi-24 and Mi-35 models, a source said

Russia, Turkey to hold consultations on issues on UN agenda — Russian foreign ministry

It will be another round of bilateral consultations, a Russian foreign ministry official said

Battlegroup South improves frontline positions — Russian Defense Ministry

Forces of Russia’s Battlegroups East and West have moved to more advantageous positions in the special military operation zone

Prosecutors call to arrest one of Russia’s richest men over alleged alcohol smuggling

Media reports said that the businessman flew to Moscow on Monday and was detained the next day

Russia to launch missile ship Taifun, patrol ship Viktor Veliky in May

A solemn ceremony will be held at the Gorky Zelenodolsk shipyard

Ukrainian command throws unfit soldiers to front line in Ocheretino, POW recounts

Alexander Vedernikov was mobilized for military service in the Rovno Region as "relatively fit" and had not received any special training

Russian stocks mixed as Tuesday trading opens

The MOEX was higher at 3,479.14 points, while the RTSwas down at 1,177.03 points

Kiev regime’s brutality: Ukrainian POWs open up about ruthless anti-retreat squads

According to one of them, a platoon, which refused to fight, left, and no one ever saw them again

Israeli Air Force strikes Hezbollah outposts in southern Lebanon

The airstrikes followed an ambush of a military vehicle between the Israeli settlements of Yiftah and Ramot Naftali, Al Mayadeen television reported

Zimbabwe ready to buy 1 mln tons of grain to ease shortages after drought

"Significant resources will be channeled to buy grain from the domestic market", Information Minister Jenfan Muswere said

Top security official advises West to keep door open for joint research work with Russia

Nikolay Patrushev cited recent research showing that a simulated eruption of the Yellowstone Caldera, which has shown increasing signs of active volcanic status over the years, and what consequences such a natural disaster could potentially leave in its wake

US Congress passes bill to ban enriched uranium imports from Russia

It now needs to be signed by US President Joe Biden

Serbia may have to chose between EU and BRICS in future — President Vucic

According to the Serbian leader, Belgrade will stick to the European path

Republika Srpska president praises Moscow-Banja Luka relations, favors strengthening them

Milorad Dodik also touched upon the topic of sanctions mentioned by Patrushev earlier

Russia’s Dnepr Battlegroup destroys 21 Ukrainian drone control centers in past day

The Ukrainian armed forces lost up to 50 militants, an M777 howitzer, ten mortars, five boats, said Kherson Region Governor Vladimir Saldo

Press review: NATO flexes muscles near Russian border and South China Sea runs hot

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, April 24th

Conflict in Ukraine may develop into nuclear war, top Hungarian diplomat warns

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto recalled that after the outbreak of the conflict western politicians promised to supply the Ukrainian army only with helmets and blankets, then came weapons, tanks, warplanes

Lavrov informs Tajik counterpart about terrorism-prevention measures in Russia

Tthe two top diplomats agreed that it is necessary to continue developing the time-tested Russian-Tajik allied relations of strategic partnership and strengthen their positive dynamics

NATO views Russian ‘invasion’ of neighboring member as unlikely in near future — WSJ

The bloc worries that Russia "might spark conflict" in neighboring NATO member countries in the shorter term though, the newspaper wrote

20 houses on fire near Ulan-Ude

Firefighting operation involved more than 70 rescuers and 19 fire vehicles

Armenia still CSTO members, wants its mechanisms to operate duly — top diplomat

It is necessary to make efforts to ensure due operation of all mechanisms within it, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirziyan said

Kiev openly flaunts involvement in murder of Russian journalists — Russian mission to UN

Dmitry Polyansky noted that Russian journalist Daria Dugina, military reporter Vladlen Tatarsky, Tavriya broadcasting company editor-in-chief Rostislav Zhuravlyov, Rossiya-24 TV reporter Boris Maksudov were killed by Ukrainian intelligence agencies and their agents

Houthis attack two commercial vessels, two US destroyers

Movement’s representative Yahya Saria said that the Ansar Allah delivered drone strikes on two US destroyers in the Red Sea. According to him, the hits "reached their targets"

Majority of Germans against sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine — poll

37% favored such supplies

G7 agrees to work toward transitioning away from Russian gas imports

In a separate statement, the Group of Seven reaffirmed its commitment to reduce reliance on civil Russian nuclear-related goods

Governor says term of Russian land lease to China will be known within year

The authorities of Russia’s Trans-Baikal Territory announced their decision on leasing out to China a total of 115,000 hectares of land for a term of 49 years

US effectively dooms Ukraine by its new decisions, Russian envoy says

"The American aid won’t save Zelensky. New weapons will be destroyed, and the special military operation goals will be achieved," Anatoly Antonov stressed

West plans to give Kiev not only F-16s, but also weapons for them — Pentagon

"It’s not only the airplanes, but also the training of the pilots, training of the maintenance and also making sure we have the weapon systems to go with it," US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Charles Brown said

Russian government approves list of unfriendly countries

There are two countries on the list