Oorlog in Oekraïne #972 - Iran zonder president

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Tusk: Poland signs contract with European Investment Bank to join Sky Shield Initiative
The Polish government signed a contract with the European Investment Bank (EIB) worth 300 million euros (around $326 million) to construct its part of the pan-European air defense, according to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

Tusk said in April that Poland is interested in joining the European Sky Shield Initiative, which currently includes 21 countries. The initiative aims to create an Iron Dome-style air defense system covering several European NATO member states.

On May 20, Tusk announced that "in a few days," he and other European prime ministers would present the project of building an Iron Dome over Europe, adding that "the idea of pan-European air defense" is not a dream, but "a practical plan."

The loan from the EIB will cover the development of the satellite and reconnaissance systems, an essential part of the project, according to the Polish prime minister.

"We will take advantage of these European opportunities because (...) Europe's security depends largely on Poland's security," Tusk said.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was the first to propose Iron Dome construction over Europe in August 2022.

The proposal was made amid intensified Russian attacks against Ukraine and increased concerns about European limited capabilities of air defense.

In December 2022, Scholz expressed hope that the initiative would be developed in the next five years.

The European Sky Shield Initiative is expected to use medium-range IRIS-T, long-range Patriot, and exoatmospheric Arrow 3 anti-ballistic systems.

Iron Dome is an air defense system initially designed by Israel. The system can operate under adverse weather conditions and respond to multiple threats simultaneously.

It can also intercept and destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells launched from 4 to 70 kilometers (nearly 3 to 44 miles) away.

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Op maandag 20 mei 2024 23:41 schreef oheng het volgende:
RIA: The government has suspended the ban on gasoline exports untill june 30.
Maar de prijzen zijn gestegen.

Nog meer vreemd economisch nieuws:
RIA: The Bank of Russia launched a campaign to exchange small change for paper money

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The Libyan House of Fatwas declared jihad against the Russian Afrika Korps
The Libyan House of Fatwa issued a fatwa declaring jihad against Russian forces, particularly the Afrika Korps, calling it a religious obligation of the Libyan people, especially the revolutionary brigades. Source: Libya Observer

In a statement, the Shariah and House of Fatwa Research Council expressed concern about Russian intervention in Libya, noting the arrival of Russian military forces and weapons in preparation for the deployment of the so-called "Africa Korps" in Libya and neighboring countries.

The council said Russia's armed presence on Libyan territory constituted an occupation and "an invasion by an aggressive infidel state."

He called on everyone with resources, weapons or authority to support the revolutionary brigades in driving out the occupiers and those who support them. However, he noted that defensive jihad against Russian forces should not lead to the replacement of one occupier with another.

The statement also underlines the position of Western countries, including the United States, regarding the Russian presence and its cooperation with the Libyans in the resistance, considering it deceptive and unreliable.

Many Russian weapons and mercenaries arriving in Libya do not stay put, but are used in Russian Afrika Korps operations in the Sahel and Sudan. The activities of the Afrika Korps are limited to supporting junta regimes in exchange for contracts for the extraction of gold and minerals. The Russian approach does not provide long-term solutions to conflicts in Africa or development assistance, making it less attractive to legitimate African leaders than support from the US and EU.

However, despite the growing Russian military presence in Tobruk, without a large navy and air defense presence, it does not pose a direct threat to NATO - for now.

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Poland arrests nine suspects over alleged Russian sabotage plot
Prime minister Donald Tusk says detained are accused of ‘beatings, arson and attempted arson’

Poland has arrested nine members of an alleged Russian spy ring in connection with alleged sabotage plots, prime minister Donald Tusk said on Monday.

“We currently have nine suspects detained and indicted, who have been directly implicated in the name of Russian (intelligence) services in acts of sabotage in Poland,” Tusk told private broadcaster TVN24.

“These are Ukrainian, Belarusian and Polish citizens,” Tusk said, suggesting some may have been recruited from criminal circles.

Those detained are accused of “beatings, arson and attempted arson,” according to Tusk, who said the Russian plots concern not just Poland, but also Lithuania, Latvia and possibly Sweden.

An international investigation is under way, he said.

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Lithuanian border guard to be given heavy weaponry
Lithuanian border guards are to be equipped with heavy weaponry, the country’s interior minister announced on Monday.

Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defense will contribute to equipping the border guard, interior Minister Agnė Bilotaitė said as she accompanied the prime minister, Ingrida ¦imonytė, on a tour of the country’s border posts on Monday.

The interior minister declined to specify what sort of weapons the border guard would receive, but said the move came in response to the war in Ukraine.

The head of the State Border Guard Service explained, however, that they would be primarily anti-personnel weapons.

“The weaponry we plan to acquire in the first phase will not require special training,” Rustamas Liubajevas said. “It will be intended for use against soldiers.” He added that it would also be suitable for use against certain technical equipment.

Prime Minister ¦imonytė said in a statement issued by her chancellery that the “inflow of illegal migration across the Lithuanian-Belarusian border and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine show that all the means we use to protect the state borders have to be constantly updated and strengthened.”

The prime minister went on to point out that border guards are the first people in any country to “greet those who are not expected.”

Lithuania shares a 650-km border with Belarus.