Russia

They are among the many conscripted from Russia's remotest provinces to fight against Kiev. At home they are seen as gods, incapable of doing bad deeds. Enlistment is their only employment opportunity. Orthodox in Buryatia see "mystical signs" of Russian victory against all enemies.

Today's headlines: Israel wants to take part in the US study of the bullet that killed the Christian journalist; in India, the death toll in a landslide in Manipur State rises to 37; the Iraqi premier inaugurates a 750 megawatts power plant; Tibetan monk Jigme Gyatso, who was arrested several times by Beijing, dies; Russian raid against illegal Chinese workers.

Prime Minister Garibašvili says Georgia is loyal to the values of the Atlantic Alliance and Europe. Members of his party, however, attack the West. Expert: Georgian Dream trying to juggle pro-Russian and pro-European sentiments in Georgian society to stay in power.

Moscow today is complaining that its culture is being ostracised. Yet as early as during Kyivan Rus’, the Russians have removed any reference to the “Mother Church” in Byzantium, already victim of an ancient “cancel culture”. East and West, Russia, America and Europe, are all united by the self-destructive madness of “rewriting history”, and the ongoing war is nothing more than everyone punishing everyone else.

Due to Western sanctions, ExxonMobil and Shell withdrew their investments in the local oil industry. They were not only funding mining, but also projects in education, health and culture. Residents speak of contribution to the growth of local civil society.

During a meeting with a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, Francis called for “weeping, for helping others and for experiencing conversion ourselves” at a time when “our world is disrupted by a cruel and senseless war of aggression.” Christian unity is an “essential condition” for peace.

The Chinese continue to buy Russian oil at discounted prices, financing Putin's war against Ukraine. There are doubts, however, that China will defy secondary sanctions from Europe and the U.S., its main trading partners. Russian expert: only "rhetoric" from Brics meeting.

Ankara lifts its veto on the entry of Sweden and Finland into the Atlantic Alliance. In return it gets maximum cooperation in the fight against Kurdish groups, from the PKK to the Ypg. The domestic press celebrates the West's surrender to the president's demands as he continues to negotiate with the Kremlin to operate in Syria. For the sultan, a diplomatic victory ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

The director of the St. Petersburg museum says art is a form of militarism and imperialism. Journalist Pavljučik advises him to look at photographs of destroyed Ukrainian families. Director Nevzorov: "Today in Russia the last bastion of decency has fallen. Fascism knocked on the door of the Hermitage, and they opened it."

They come from the poorest provinces of the country. They have no source of livelihood other than conscription and war. The families of the fallen avoid talking about the conflict. They send thugs and stragglers to fight.

The countries with which Russia feels itself at odds today are not "enemies," but "unfriendly" countries. The theses of Vladimir Solov'ev, who at the threshold of the 20th century recalled the "feminine nature" of Russia to ponder the depths of this definition. In this perspective, war is a reaction that affirms the injustice and masculine violence of a West that lives for itself and does not honor its bride's capacity for sacrifice, her desire to generate a new world.

Today's headlines: a U.N. investigation determines that Israeli security forces killed Shireen Abu Aqla; Afghanistan lacks medicine for earthquake survivors, yesterday five more victims of aftershocks; Vietnamese church organizes a "National Synodal Cup 2022-23" soccer match; Siberia floods destroyed two bridges, isolated villages.