Early bird: Vietnam circumvents anti-Russian sanctions. The Spolu coalition won the student elections
Using a covert method, Vietnam avoids sanctions and buys weapons in Russia. The Together coalition would win student elections among Czech high school students, slightly ahead of the Pirates and Mayors. The Ano movement finished in fifth place in the pre-election survey among students.
Vietnam uses concealed transactions to avoid sanctions on Russia
According to internal Vietnamese documents obtained by the Associated Press, Russia and Vietnam have developed a hidden method of disguising payments for arms contracts to evade American and other Western sanctions. Profits from joint oil and gas companies are used to pay for defense contracts without explicit cash transfers through the global banking system.
As part of this system, Vietnam purchased Russian military equipment including fighter jets, tanks, and ships on credit from Moscow, and subsequently repaid this loan from its share of profits from the joint Vietnamese-Russian oil company operating in Siberia. Such transactions are irregular in international financial markets and in this case aim to maintain the flow of cash, even if sanctions aimed at ending the Russian war in Ukraine are tightened, according to the documents.
Spolu won the student elections
The Spolu coalition received the most votes in the traditional elections at secondary schools, it was chosen by 20.6% of high school students. The Pirates remained close behind among high school students, receiving 19.7% and the STAN movement received 18.02% of votes. Motorists were chosen by 12.64% of high school students and ANO, dominating the pre-election polls, ended up with 9.67% placing them 5th among young people. Stačilo! and SPD would both have an equal 3% and would not surpass the election quorum among high school students, reported ČTK.
Trump wants to ban televisions in the USA, a commentator Kimmel has already ended due to criticism of the president's supporters
US President Donald Trump proposed that some television stations have their licenses "revoked" thus supporting the US Broadcasting Supervisory Office in connection with the suspension of moderator Jimmy Kimmel's broadcast. The television announced on Wednesday that the comedian is being withdrawn from broadcasting "indefinitely" as a result of his statements about the murder of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.
Kimmel apparently suggested that the murder suspect was a Trump supporter. Authorities in Utah, where the shooting occurred, said he was "indoctrinated by left-wing ideology". ABC cancelled the show after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) threatened regulatory measures and raised concerns that Trump's administration is limiting the freedom of speech of its critics, reported BBC.
The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona will be completed by the largest church tower in Europe
After more than a hundred years of its construction, the Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona is prepared to erect its huge central tower, and become the tallest Christian church in Europe. The general director of the basilica, Xavier Martínez, said on Thursday that "the tower will be completed by the end of this year or early 2026".
Once the tower of Jesus Christ is built, this masterpiece by architect Antoni Gaudí will rise to a height of 172 meters. Thus, it will be taller than the Ulmer Munster church in southern Germany, which reaches a height of 162 meters. The first parts are already in place, and the rest will be added gradually over the coming months. Upon completion, the building will be crowned with a cross and closely surrounded by five other towers, one dedicated to Mary and four slightly lower ones dedicated to the four evangelists, reported the AP agency.
Sources: AP, BBC, ČTK
