Well, Russia and Ukraine both they are gradually increasing the tempo of the war. It's well into its fifth year now. The fighting is increasing to a dangerously uncharted territory. Russia has bombed Kiev for seven straight days causing death and destruction. And now Kiev is warning that airlines in Russia and in Russian airspace should avoid Russian airspace altogether as it is ramping up drone attacks. Moscow is calling it state terrorism, vowing that it would respond strongly. This next report pieces together this big story. Night after night, the same nightmare returns. First the sirens echoes. Then the sky lights up. Missiles and drones rain down, causing death and destruction. The relentless pace of attacks is pushing some residents in Ukrainian capital to consider leaving the city. We are simply scared. There was ballistics at night, Zirkin missiles, 20 missiles or however many of them it was. We slept in the corridor at night. Almost did not sleep. Children, I understand that tomorrow we have to go to school and we can't even sleep properly. I mean, we live in such stress. We are scared. We don't know what to do. To be honest, this winter, we're planning to move away from Kev because the last year has been really difficult for us with all this. But after this attack, as you can see, it will probably be even harder. So, we're moving away. In Ukraine, rail hubs are wrecked, power stations are damaged, and rescue crews work around the clock under falling debris. Under attack, Volius Yalenski is warning of a massive escalation. The Ukrainian president declared that Russian airspace is now completely unsafe for commercial flights. Today, we want to warn every airline that uses Russian airspace, every insurer, and everyone who still uses Russia's key airports. Russian airspace is becoming completely unsafe. Ukraine does not threaten civilian aviation as such, not a single civilian aircraft. There will simply be drones in Russia's skies on a scale that has to be taken into account. The Russian president who was in Bishkek attending the SEO summit reacted furiously warning of consequences. This is simply a claim of state terrorism ad regarding Zalinski saying that Russia's airspace will be accessible to Ukrainian drones for as long as the war continues. And I draw attention to the fact that they are asking us to resume negotiations. They are asking for personal meetings. One does not negotiate with terrorists. For years, Ukraine's own airspace has effectively been closed to civilian aviation because of Russia's aviation. Now, Keev appears to be signaling that Russia could face a similar problem over the past few months. Ukrainian drone attacks across Russia has caused considerable damage. Now, the new Ukrainian strategy may be military, but it could also be economic with skies becoming unsafe. Passengers are bound to become nervous. Airlines may begin questioning flight routes. Insurers may reassess risks and premiums. Even uncertainty can become a weapon and that is where the psychological warfare begins. Russia and like other countries of mechanisms for managing airspace during military operations and missile launches. But a battlefield filled with long range drones creates a different problem. The danger may be unpredictable and uncertainty over when and where Ukrainian drones could appear could force airlines insurers to make difficult calculations. Now, the big question is, can Ukraine turn Russia's vast airspace into another battlefield? Or is Yalinski's warning itself the weapon designed to spread fear, uncertainty, and economic pressure before a single new strike is launched? Bureau report is one.
In the midst of today's increasingly challenging global climate, which presents significant risks to international shipping and global trade, this initiative is specifically designed to ensure highly flexible and secure international deliveries. By doing so, it opens up entirely new opportunities for both transit and coastal shipping while also guaranteeing the steady and reliable supply of essential goods to the Russian Federation's remote Arctic regions. Our goal is to ensure that navigation along this route remains possible throughout the entire year. To achieve this, we are constructing ice breakers and specialized iceclass vessels along with service and rescue fleets. We are also expanding our satellite constellation and upgrading our ports including Dixon, Pavec, Tixie, Arangelsk, and Sabeta. It is our expectation that by the end of this current decade, Ma Poe, the total volume of shipping traffic along the Transartic corridor will reach a minimum of 70 million tons every year, which is at least double what we are seeing at the current level. We're here on Rosski Island, home to an innovative science and tech center, part of a vast nationwide network of research hubs. This facility focuses on practical solutions spanning IT, biotechnology, advanced biio medicine, and other specialized fields. It is vital to establish the proper environment and necessary conditions to successfully attract not only our own Russian specialists but also international scientists and engineers who are truly our friends to these research centers at our far eastern universities which includes providing adequate housing, relocation allowances and comprehensive support for their families. I formally request the government investigate establishing a dedicated comprehensive program to address this specific issue. Furthermore, we have effective solutions planned to improve power infrastructure in our most remote and isolated regions. For instance, new power facilities are coming to the Arctic, including small-scale nuclear plants that are truly unique globally. Furthermore, I would like to add that nuclear energy is currently playing a truly fundamental and key role in the ongoing development of our digital platform economy, which includes advanced AI tools as well as large scale data storage and processing centers. We have comprehensive plans to establish these vital centers throughout the Arctic region and the Far East and these projects are already being actively implemented. In fact, we in we intend to significantly ramp up our efforts in this specific area moving forward. I'd like to draw the attention of the government and colleagues at the Russian railways by 2030. Quantum Communications must be extended to the Far East, reaching all its regional capitals to bring them into the high-speed information and data exchange loop. The development of modern, highly reliable infrastructure serves as the essential foundation for a brand new spatial model covering both the Far East and the vast Arctic territories. This initiative will significantly strengthen the economic ties between our Russian companies and their various partners operating within foreign markets throughout the entire Asia-Pacific region. Furthermore, we are fully committed to substantially expanding the overall capacity of our key logistics hubs and our vital interconnected transport links. For instance, Frian may uh the freight carrying capacity of the B and Trans Siberian railways is already seeing a steady increase and port terminals, warehouse storage and crossber facilities are currently being modernized. A truly fundamental initiative to effectively stitch together the vast logistic space of the far eastern and Arctic regions should be the comprehensive development plan for the Arctic and the transarctic transport corridor. This road map extends through the year 2050 clearly outlining the specific projects we intend to launch across various essential industries and sectors. I am asking my colleagues to finalize this comprehensive plan as quickly as possible and begin the implementation process. I will speak separately regarding the development of the transarctic transport corridor which runs from St. Petersburg and Murman via the northern seir route to Vladivosto and onward to the Asia-Pacific region. In the midst of today's increasingly challenging global climate, which presents significant risks to international shipping and global trade, this initiative is specifically designed to ensure highly flexible and secure international deliveries. By doing so, it opens up entirely new opportunities for both transit and coastal shipping while also guaranteeing the steady and reliable supply of essential goods to the Russian Federation's remote Arctic regions. Our goal is to ensure that navigation along this route remains possible throughout the entire year. To achieve this, we are constructing ice breakers and specialized iceclass vessels along with service and rescue fleets. We are also expanding our satellite constellation and upgrading our ports including Dixon, PEC, Tixie, Arcangels and Sabeta. It is our expectation that by the end of this current decade poe the total volume of shipping traffic along the transarctic corridor will reach a minimum of 70 million tons every year which is at least double what we are seeing at the current level. It is quite clear that large scale infrastructure and complex logistics projects demand a truly massive amount of capital investment and this implies that we must establish effective mechanisms to support private sector funding including contributions from our international investors and sovereign wealth funds. The Russian Direct Investment Fund has already established a successful and proven track record of collaborating with our partners in this manner. In order to increase international capital participation in our various Far Eastern and Arctic projects, we really need to tip into the vast potential of the Eastern Exchange. As I have previously mentioned, it is our intention to construct a modern financial center upon its very foundation. I am formally requesting that the government and the Bank of Russia carefully examine and work through all of these complex issues in great detail. Today I would also like to take a moment to discuss the transport systems of the future which are especially vital for the Arctic and the Far East regions. I am referring to autonomous and unmanned systems for land, maritime and aerial transport which are especially useful for reaching remote and very difficult to access areas. With the rapid rise of unmanned aviation, our lowaltitude skies are quickly evolving into a busy transport artery, much like our traditional railways and our vast interconnected waterways. And even now we urgently need to establish comprehensive robust standards for safe operation of autonomous civilian cargo transport using drones. Various strategic approaches to building this specific type of lowaltitude logistics infrastructure within our national economy will be thoroughly tested as part of a dedicated and comprehensive special project. Key participants in this collaborative effort will include the Ministry of Transport, our domestic technology company Glonas and our esteemed partners and friends from China. To the best of my knowledge, this collaborative initiative was officially launched earlier today on the sidelines of this forum. Naturally, it is also essential that we harmonize the flight regulations for unmanned autonomous systems and establish brand new crossber routes connecting with the Asia-Pacific BRICS, Azan, and EAU nations. We remain fully open to collaborating with all of our esteemed partners present here today.
Niger Coup Attempt: Russia and Algeria Rally to Defend General Tchiani in Niamey | Firstpost Africa youtube.com/watch?v=lBmSnN6vwhY Watch this video as Firstpost examines how Niger's military government survived its most serious internal challenge since the 2023 coup, after mutinous soldiers launched an uprising in the capital, Niamey. The failed coup attempt targeted strategic sites including Air Base 101, the presidential palace and the state broadcaster, exposing deep tensions inside Niger's military. Russia's Africa Corps intervened to help Nigerien forces suppress the mutiny, reinforcing Moscow's growing security role across the Sahel. Days later, Algeria also deployed four Sukhoi fighter jets to Niamey after Niger requested military support, adding another layer to the emerging security alignment around General Abdourahamane Tchiani. The crisis comes as Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso reduce their reliance on Western powers and deepen cooperation through the Alliance of Sahel States. But with jihadist attacks continuing and dissent now emerging from within the military, questions remain over how stable Niger's new political order really is. Alyson Le Grange tells you more on Firstpost Africa. 00:00 INTRO 01:03 HEADLINES 02:13 G20 SHOWDOWN PUTIN STANDS UP TO TRUMP 17:20 'NO REGIME CHANGE' PUTIN SHIELDS NIGER 26:00 SAHEL CRISIS 'UNITES' TRAORE & TINUBU 31:35 ETHIOPIA’S DEADLY ETHNIC WAR transcript