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Israeli occupier attacks threaten historic Christian presence in West Bank town

In Taybeh, one of the few Palestinian communities with a Christian majority in the occupied West Bank, fears are growing that Israeli occupier attacks on farmland and property could push more families to emigrate, threatening the town’s demographic character and historic Christian presence. Local officials and clergy warned of the impact of rising violence by Israeli occupiers, which has coincided with worsening living and economic conditions in the town. Taybeh, east of Ramallah, is one of the few Palestinian towns in the West Bank that still has a Christian majority, according to church and local accounts. Residents say the town’s Christian roots go back thousands of years. Residents say the attacks have deepened fears in the town, even as they stress their determination to remain on their land. Also Read: Pakistan raises red flag over illegal settlements in West Bank, calls for Israel accountability In recent years, Israeli occupiers have established several ill...

Two RT employees indicted for funding pro-Russian content operation in US

Two Russian nationals, Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York for allegedly conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and committing money laundering. Both defendants are accused of covertly funding and directing a US-based content creation company, identified as US Company-1, to distribute nearly $10 million worth of RT-curated content in furtherance of Russian government interests. According to the indictment, Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva, employees of the Russian state-controlled media outlet RT, funneled funds to US Company-1 using shell companies in Turkiye, the UAE, and Mauritius. These funds were used to produce thousands of videos with pro-Russian messaging aimed at US audiences. Since its public launch in late 2023, US Company-1 published around 2,000 videos across social media platforms, garnering millions of views without disclosing its Russian backing. The content covered various topics, including US immigration and inflation, and was intended to deepen divisions in American society, according to US authorities. The defendants allegedly used fake identities to manage the company’s operations and direct its content, particularly following sensitive events like terrorist attacks. The indictment highlights how payments from RT were disguised as purchases for electronics to hide their true purpose. The FBI is leading the investigation, and if convicted, the defendants face up to 25 years in prison for FARA violations and money laundering charges. Both Kalashnikov and Afanasyeva remain at large.

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