Latest news with #UNN
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ukrainian defence industry covers 40% of armed forces' needs – Ukraine's foreign minister
Ukraine meets 40% of its armed forces' needs thanks to its domestic defence industry and has significantly increased weapons production, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha says. Source: Ukrainian news agency UNN Details: During a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Sybiha said that Ukraine already has significant achievements and is a global leader in drone technologies. Quote from Sybiha: "In certain areas, we have increased our production manifold. In some cases, we have scaled the production of military equipment and weapons for the needs of Ukrainian troops and defence by up to 35 times. Thanks to our defence industry, we can now produce around 40% of our forces' needs. This is an extremely high figure. We are currently manufacturing artillery shells, including those of Western or NATO calibre, which we did not produce before the war… Some countries with significant potential are unable to produce in a year what we can produce in a month." Details: Sybiha emphasised that Ukraine needs additional investment for further development of the defence sector. He also highlighted the importance of reducing dependence on external suppliers of critical weapons. Background: Earlier, Ukrainian Minister of Strategic Industries Herman Smetanin reported that in the previous year, one third of Ukraine's total GDP growth was ensured by the defence industry. Weapons and equipment worth US$9 billion were produced in 2024 – three times more than in 2023. Smetanin said Ukraine's GDP grew by 3.9% last year, with the defence industry contributing a third of that growth – 1.27%. He added that the defence sector had increased its capacity sevenfold. Previously, it was reported that in 2024, private arms manufacturers could have produced an additional 1.7 million units of drones and electronic warfare systems, but they did not receive government contracts. Ukraine topped the list of the world's largest importers of major types of weapons in the period 2020–2024. Its arms imports increased almost 100-fold compared to 2015–2019, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Ukraine became the only European country in the top 10 arms importers. Meanwhile, many other European countries have also significantly increased their arms purchases in recent years. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
The National
17-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Inside the extreme far-right plot to infiltrate Reform UK
Extreme far-right party Patriotic Alternative (PA) and Unity News Network (UNN) – one of the most popular sources of information for the far right in the UK, which is run by a Scot – have signed a joint declaration encouraging supporters to support and infiltrate Nigel Farage's party. 'We encourage all of our supporters to become active organisers and members of Reform and seek candidacy to become MP's [sic], mayors, councillors, police commissioners, MSPs, researchers, party staffers,' the document – which was published in both the PA and UNN Telegram groups – reads. READ MORE: Sunday Times Rich List shows it's time for a wealth tax, say Greens 'Our combined support will be able to exert a significant level of influence on the direction of Reform and eventually within the corridors of power in this nation,' the statement went on. (Image: Telegram) Mark Collett, the founder of PA, later clarified the group are not 'directly campaigning' for Reform UK. 'They are not strong enough on issues such as mass immigration and the deportations that would be necessary to prevent the indigenous people of the British Isles from becoming a minority,' he wrote. Collett then suggested, however, that the party can be influenced from within. 'We suggest those who wish to stand as candidates do so covertly under the Reform banner,' he said. (Image: Telegram) 'By existing on the edge of Reform and using our combined power to help change the outcome of elections, we can interact with Reform members and supporters – taking our message to them and pulling the Reform Party in our direction. 'We have seen massive shifts in the Overton Window in recent years, and we have already shifted the political discourse dramatically.' A former leading member of the British National Party (BNP), Collett has repeatedly recommended Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf to his audience, according to advocacy group HOPE not hate, and in 2019 described Hitler as a 'simple, humble painter'. More recently, he has defended keeping Kanye West's new song, Heil Hitler, along with its companion title, WW3, which similarly glorifies Hitler, on music streaming platforms. Once the UK's largest fascist organisation according to anti-racism charity HOPE not hate, PA has since splintered. The group was previously involved in anti-migrant protests in Erskine and unfurled a 'white lives matter' banner at the top of Ben Nevis in 2021. At the heart of its ideology is the 'White Genocide' myth, with the group actively campaigning for the mass deportation of immigrants. READ MORE: Lidl knocked back by Scottish Government amid 15-year battle over store signage UNN, meanwhile, is run by former Scottish Conservative and Labour councillor David Clews. The channel was created in 2018, also with former leader of UKIP's youth wing Carl Pearson. UNN's Facebook page has 105,000 followers and 21,000 subscribers on Telegram, and helped to actively spread misinformation about the far-right riots seen in England and Northern Ireland last year. On Thursday, a few days after posting the declaration, another post from UNN on Telegram said the 'ultimate aim' was to be positioned in order to 'seize control by the early 2030s'. 'Our Strategic Plan has 3 main stages but all are equally important and now in play,' the message reads. 'The ultimate aim is to be positioned in order to seize control by the early 2030s. This isn't a game. This isn't about being 'honourable' and other such weaknesses. This is about the cold, ruthless and calculated accumulation of strength leading to supreme power. 'If not, what's the point?' The message was followed by several antisemitic messages from followers. 'There is no benefit in everything you do without eliminating the Jews and removing them,' said one. The far-right declaration between PA and UNN also claimed that 'thousands' of the group's supporters are already members of Reform UK and 'occupy positions of power' – but argued that more support was needed to exert influence and ensure the party enters into government. A recent investigation by anti-racism charity HOPE Not Hate revealed that seven Reform UK candidates standing in Doncaster in the local elections – six of whom were elected – had previously posted antisemitic conspiracy theories, neo-Nazi material, and extreme anti-Muslim content. One of them, Steve Plater, shared articles from PA, including claims of 'a multicultural and anti-White tyranny'. He also wrote that Muslims 'can't wash off the smell of donkeys' and 'cook over burning camel shit'. Momentum with Reform UK (Image: PA) THE declaration comes swiftly off the heels of Reform UK sweeping to victory across more than half a dozen English councils earlier this month, as Farage said his party had eaten 'Labour for lunch' and 'wiped out' the Conservatives in parts of England. The party took control of seven local councils, winning hundreds of seats across localities from Durham to Kent and toppled a 14,000-strong Labour majority in a parliamentary by-election in Runcorn and Helsby – winning by a very slim six votes. Polls have also been suggesting voters across the UK are flocking to the populist far-right party. Last week, three Westminster polls in less than 24 hours gave the party a significant lead over Labour. The leads range from five points to 13, suggesting Reform UK are on track to replace Labour in power at Westminster come the next General Election. It's a prospect that is certainly exciting for extreme far-right groups such as PA and UNN. READ MORE: Almost 50 homes could be built on ex-festival site near BBC HQ in Glasgow But these extreme groups are not all in agreement. The far-right Homeland party has kept quiet while the extreme National Rebirth Party has hit out at the declaration, calling it a 'pitiful display of weakness and self-interest'. Polls suggest Reform UK are also on the rise in Scotland, with the party even beating Scottish Labour to take second place in a by-election in West Dunbartonshire on Friday. Clews took to Telegram to celebrate the result. He said: 'Reform's just a juggernaut now, right? And here's the thing, it's got nothing to do with Reform, it's got nothing to do with Farage, it's got nothing to do with me, it's got nothing to do with Rupert Lowe. It's to do with the British public having had enough. 'They came a close second in Clydebank. Clydebank! Singer factory, unions, Upper Clyde shipbuilders, decades of Labour. I mean that's just incredible.' He added: 'Now, clearly the media are pushing reform, and that has to make us slightly sceptical of it, which I understand, but we need to ride this train.' Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie MSP (above) said this should be a 'clear warning about the danger Reform represents'. 'I know many people are sick of the dominant parties right now, and are looking for an alternative, but I am convinced most voters will reject the hateful extremism of the far right, and the more people who see that's what Reform truly are, the more people will reject them,' he told the Sunday National. 'The country does need change; a change from governments that serve the interests of the super rich while punching down against the most vulnerable, ignoring the environmental crisis, and cutting services and social security. The Greens will stand for the change we need, on our track record of making it happen, while Reform will keep peddling the politics of hate.' A PA spokesperson, meanwhile, said: "Our FAQ posted on our website is very clear. We are not supporting Reform, instead we are campaigning against both Labour and Conservatives in order to allow Reform to break the anti-democratic two-party system and to push the political narrative in a pro-White direction." Reform UK and UNN have been approached for comment.
Yemen Online
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yemen Online
Washington and Tehran return to dialogue: new round of nuclear talks scheduled in Rome on April 19
The US and Iran will hold a new round of nuclear talks on Saturday, April 19, in Rome - the first time on a European platform in recent years. This is reported by Bloomberg, writes UNN. According to Bloomberg sources, the talks are to coincide with a visit to Italy by US Vice President Jay Dee Vance, although it is unclear whether he will participate in them. Last week, a meeting was held in Muscat, the capital of Oman, between President Donald Trump's chief envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Both sides described the talks as constructive and agreed to continue the dialogue. Witkoff told Araghchi that he had received instructions from Trump to "resolve the differences between our two countries through dialogue and diplomacy, if possible." Iran's currency and shares rose on Sunday in response to the parties' statements of intent to continue negotiations. A statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry said that amid growing diplomatic momentum around the talks, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi is expected to visit Tehran on Wednesday.
El Balad
02-03-2025
- Entertainment
- El Balad
تحديث جديد لتطبيق «Google Messages» يجلب تأثيرات مرئية مميزة للرسائل
A Ukrainian may represent Sweden at Eurovision 2024. Singer Maria Sur made it to the final of Melodifestivalen with the song When I'm Gone. She announced this herself on her Instagram page, UNN reports . THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH!!!! We did it! You did it! I'm incredibly grateful for your support and love for me ❤️ "When I'm Gone" has reached the final. - Maria Sur wrote. Details It is noted that Maria Sur received 94 points out of 96 possible points, and immediately went to the final. She was joined by singer Liamoo. The selection of artists to represent Sweden at Eurovision was determined at the Melodifestivalen song contest, which the Swedes have been holding for 60 years. This festival takes place in several stages, where the finalists - the Ukrainian competitors - will be determined. The grand finale of Melodifestivalen will take place on March 9 in Stockholm - it will be there that the Ukrainian will be determined whether she will go to the competition. Optional This is the singer's second attempt at Melodifestivalen. Last year, she also participated in the final and took 9th place. The Swedish singer Loreen won the Eurovision Song Contest itself, and she also won the contest in Liverpool . According to in 2022, Sur participated in the 12th season of The Voice, first in the team of Nadiya Dorofeeva, then in the team of Olga Polyakova. After the full-scale invasion began, she moved to Sweden with her mother. In the fall of 2023 , she began learning Swedish at SFI (Swedish for Foreigners) while studying music remotely at Kyiv University. Recall The 68th Eurovision Song Contest 2024 will be held in Sweden this May. The participant from Ukraine will compete in one of the semifinals on May 7 for the country's representation in the Grand Final of Eurovision 2024. Ukraine will be represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö, Sweden by Alyona alyona & Jerry Heil with the song "Teresa & Maria".
Iraqi News
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Trump supports the deployment of troops in Ukraine. The main thing is to have peace or a truce
INA- sources Trump said that he supports the deployment of a European military contingent in Ukraine, subject to a peace agreement. Britain, Sweden, and other countries are ready to consider participation in the peacekeeping force, but France has refused. US President Donald Trump has said that he is not against the deployment of a European contingent in Ukraine. The main thing is to have peace or a truce. He told journalists about this, reports UNN. Asked whether the US is considering withdrawing all US troops from Europe as part of a potential peace deal with Putin, Trump replied: 'That question has not been raised at all. Trump also commented on the idea of deploying a military contingent in Ukraine. Zelenskyy said that there is a very strong progress on the issue of the military contingent. The first platform for the future creation of such a force could be the armed forces of Europe. source: unn
