Russia unlikely to use tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine, says its ambassador to UK – Newstrends
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Russia unlikely to use tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine, says its ambassador to UK

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Russia Ambassador to UK, Andrei Kelin

Russia is unlikely to use tactical nuclear weapons in the conflict with Ukraine, its country ambassador to the UK has said.

Andrei Kelin said there is a “very strict provision” on the use of such weapons and that Russia will continue to treat the war as a “limited conventional operation”.

He told the BBC: “Tactical nuclear weapons in accordance with the Russian military doctrine is not used in conflicts like that at all.”

Asked about the likelihood of nukes being used, he said: “I don’t think so. We have a very strict provision on the issues of the use of tactical nuclear weapons and it is mainly when the existence of the state is endangered. It has nothing to do with the current operation…

“We will deal with it with conventional operation, limited conventional operation. Perhaps you have noticed that we do not increase the number of our forces over there. We believe it is sufficient to deal with the situation.”

Russia’s ambassador to the UK shared the details in a rare interview.

Tactical nuclear weapons are used at shorter distances as opposed to “strategic” nukes which can be used over a much longer distance.

Analysts believe Russia has around 2,000 tactical nukes – including smaller bombs and missiles – at its disposal, according to the BBC.

Previously, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said he does not think Putin will use nuclear weapons in his pursuit of Ukraine.

“We should be worried that a state like Russia believes that the rules don’t apply to them, whether that is invading Ukraine or using nerve agent in Salisbury, but fundamentally a deterrent is what it is, a deterrent,” Wallace told Times Radio.

“As much as he might be ambitious for Ukraine, I don’t think he wants to go into that space.”

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Elon Musk is $9.8 billion richer in 1 day, despite Tesla’s revenue decline

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Elon Musk

Elon Musk is $9.8 billion richer in 1 day, despite Tesla’s revenue decline

Despite a decline in Tesla’s revenue, Elon Musk, the former world’s richest man, saw his net worth increase by $9.8 billion in just one day, bringing it to $187.7 billion.

This data was tracked by Nairametrics on Forbes Real-Time Billionaire Index on Wednesday evening.

Tesla reported disappointing results, missing estimates on both the top and bottom lines. Revenue experienced a 9% year-over-year decline, the most significant drop since 2012.

Auto sales also fell by 13% compared to the same period in 2023. Additionally, free cash flow turned negative.

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For example, revenue decreased from $23.33 billion a year earlier and from $25.17 billion in the fourth quarter. Net income plummeted by 55% to $1.13 billion, or 34 cents a share, from $2.51 billion, or 73 cents a share, in the previous year.

Despite these challenges, Tesla shares surged by 13% in extended trading on Tuesday after the earnings report. Some of the optimism stemmed from Tesla’s announcement of plans to commence production of new affordable electric vehicle models in “early 2025, if not late this year.”

As Musk owns 13% of Tesla, significant fluctuations in share price on the trading markets can result in substantial increases or losses in his net worth.

Elon Musk is $9.8 billion richer in 1 day, despite Tesla’s revenue decline

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UK University offers £37k scholarships, flight allowances to Nigerians, others

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UK University offers £37k scholarships, flight allowances to Nigerians, others

The University of East Anglia, located in Norwich, UK, has announced scholarships worth £33,150 (N44.3 million) and transportation cost of £4000 (N5.3 million) to Nigerians seeking masters programmes.

According to the information on the school website, the funding opportunity is the David Sainsbury Scholarships in Global Plant Health, which is fully funded for students planning to travel to the UK for study.

The offer by the University of East Anglia is hugely available for Nigerians and other foreign students willing to do their masters programmes under scholarships, covering travel expenses.

The applications from its David Sainsbury Scholarships in Global Plant Health is for candidates wishing to undertake an MSc in Plant Health at the University of East Anglia in the 2024/2025 academic year.

Among other benefits catered for in the scholarship at the University of East Anglia are tuition fee, living stipends and transportation allowance.

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The scholarship offers funding to the tune of £33,150 (N44.3 million) and transportation costs of £4000 (N5.3 million).

Interested candidates must first apply and be accepted into the University of East Anglia beforebeing considered for the scholarships, the school website said.

The information on UEA website reads, “Provided you meet the eligibility criteria, you will automatically be considered for the scholarship, on a competitive basis – no separate application is required.

“You will be evaluated for the scholarship based on the same criteria used to evaluate your application to enrol on the course.

“The criteria are: academic achievement and academic awards together with knowledge/experience/potential of molecular biology, genetics, molecular interactions, data science such as bioinformatics and statistics, laboratory skills, and independent study.”

Addressing interested Nigerian applicants, it says, “All self-funded Nigerian students applying to a Master’s course at UEA starting in September 2024 will automatically be awarded the UEA Nigeria Award scholarship.

“The scholarship is worth £4,000 – if you meet UEA entry requirements, £5,000 – if your final undergraduate grade is a CGPA 4.1 and above. Amounts will be deducted from your tuition fees, in line with terms and conditions.”

The applications for the scholarship are currently open and expected to close on May 31, 2024.

The University of East Anglia (UEA) was founded in 1963 and is located in Norwich, a historic city in the east of England.

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Iranian rapper sentenced to death for supporting anti-hijab protests

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Iranian rapper sentenced to death for supporting anti-hijab protests

An Iranian court has sentenced a dissident rapper to death for supporting protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022.

According to the reformist Shargh newspaper the artist’s lawyer Amir Raisian on Wednesday said, “Branch 1 of Isfahan Revolutionary Court… sentenced Toomaj Salehi to death on the charge of corruption on Earth.”

Iranian Government had said it had proof that the U.S. and other Western countries were behind the protests that were held across the country over the death of Amini.

Mahsa Amini, 22, a Kurdish woman, was arrested in September 2022 for not wearing her hijab properly. She died three days after her arrest, sparking violent protests in the country.

Salehi, 33, was arrested in October 2022 after publicly backing the wave of demonstrations which erupted a month earlier, triggered by Amini’s death in custody.

Months of unrest following Amini’s death in September 2022 saw hundreds of people killed including dozens of security personnel. Thousands of people were arrested.

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The Revolutionary Court had accused Salehi of “assistance in sedition, assembly and collusion, propaganda against the system and calling for riots,” Raisian said.

The nation’s Supreme Court had reviewed the case and issued a ruling to the lower court to “remove the flaws in the sentence,” Raisian said.

However, the court had “in an unprecedented move, emphasised its independence and did not implement the Supreme Court’s ruling,” according to Raisian.

Raisian said that he and Salehi “will certainly appeal against the sentence.”

“The fact is that the verdict of the court has clear legal conflicts,” the lawyer was quoted as saying. “The contradiction with the ruling of the Supreme Court is considered the most important and at the same time the strangest part of this ruling.”

Nine men have been executed in protest-related cases involving killing and other violence against security forces.

Iranian rapper sentenced to death for supporting anti-hijab protests

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