Anti-EU protest in Moscow

Several dozen people staged a rally in front of the Metropol Hotel in Moscow, where the Permanent Mission of the European Union is holding an event dedicated to Europe Day.

One flag shows the famous image of a Soviet soldier raising a flag over the Reichstag with 'The Real Europe Day'.

"I just feel at home, I decided that everyone here already speaks Russian" - Putin

At the opening ceremony of the Years of Culture of Russia and China, Putin apologized to the translator for speaking for a long time and not giving him the opportunity to start translating his words.

❗️Fico shooter joined Ukraine rallies - reports

On April 24, Juraj Chintula was seen among those raising anti-government slogans, insulting the authorities and shouting: “Long live Ukraine” in footage published by local media.

When Juraj Chintula attacked the Prime Minister of Slovakia on Wednesday, he explained his actions by saying that he “did not agree with the government’s policy.”

Fico is now in the hospital. According to Pravda, the abdominal bleeding has stopped, but the politician is still awaiting surgery on his hip.

Putin, Xi Jinping leave Beijing concert hall

The leaders had attended the opening ceremony of the Years of Culture of Russia and China.

❗️'Stop inciting hatred': Slovak minister slams online reaction to PM Fico assassination attempt

Slovakia's Minister of Internal Affairs of Matus Shutai-Estok highlighted the large number of “vicious comments” springing up on social networks regarding the assassination attempt on Robert Fico.

Ukrainian users seemed particularly happy about the attack, don't forget.

Fico predicted assassination attempt weeks ago, blamed media for stoking tensions

"I'm just waiting for this frustration, intensified by Dennik N, SME or Aktuality (Slovak news), to turn into the murder of some of the leading government politicians," Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said in a video he posted on social media on April 10.

Border deal protesters clash with police in Armenia

In the Armenian capital of Yerevan, protesters are being detained by police, after clashes erupted over the recent border deal with Azerbaijan.

The government-supported border delimitation proposal would see Armenia technically lose several villages to its eastern neighbor, but is poised to put an end to the decades-long bloody standstill between the countries.

Mysterious cocaine bag found at US Capitol Police HQ

The US Capitol Police are investigating after discovering a bag of cocaine in their headquarters.

The USCP said in a statement that it "is investigating a roughly one-inch by one-inch zip lock bag with a small amount of a white powdery substance which field tested positive for cocaine.”

The Investigations Division has opened an inquiry, including DNA testing of the bag. This follows a similar incident at the White House last year, where cocaine was found but no suspect was identified.

❗️Rheinmetall plans defense systems plant in Ukraine

The German defense giant expects work to begin in 2025-2026, Ukrainian media write.

Rheinmetall has profited enormously, partly due to the conflict in Ukraine, with record sales of €10 billion forecast for this year and a backlog of orders worth €38.3 billion.

France accuses Azerbaijan of backing New Caledonia unrest

“It is regrettable that some of the pro-independence leaders have made a deal with Azerbaijan… Despite any attempts to intervene, France remains a sovereign nation,” interior minister Gerald Darmanin said.

Last month, Baku signed a cooperation memorandum with New Caledonia, where both parties agreed to establish bilateral relations.

According to the latest reports, more than 200 people have been detained during the violence organized by pro-independence supporters, with four people dead, including one gendarme. A state of emergency has now been declared.

❗️5 Israeli troops killed by friendly fire

An IDF statement confirmed that five Israeli soldiers were killed by an ultra-Orthodox paratrooper company from their own armed forces' tanks in an area near the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza late on Wednesday.

The building the tank crews fired upon was being used by the battalion's deputy commander.

Putin pays homage with flowers at Monument to People's Heroes in Beijing

President Putin laid a wreath at the Monument to People's Heroes in Beijing during his state visit to China.

❗️Fico able to talk, but is very tired - President-elect Peter Pellegrini

Slovakia's President-elect told media outside the hospital where Robert FIco has undergone surgery following his attempted assassination that the Prime Minister "escaped death by a hair".

He also called on all Slovakian political parties to cancel or "considerably reduce" their European election campaigns on Thursday, after visiting Fico in hospital.

AfD party senior searched over Russian bribes allegations

German and Spanish authorities have searched the premises of Petr Bystron, a top candidate for the German right-wing Alternative for Germany party in the European Parliament elections.

The searches, conducted in Berlin, Bavaria, and Mallorca, were related to suspicions of Bystron receiving bribes from Russia.

Bystron has denied previous allegations of receiving payment for interviews from a pro-Russian news portal but has not yet commented on the recent searches.

China and Cambodia conduct annual joint drills

Cambodia and China started their annual Golden Dragon drills as part of their military cooperation and experience exchange.