Japan's Prime Minister Earmarks $65Bln Defense Budget for Fiscal 2027, Reports Say
https://sputniknews.com/20221216/japans-prime-minister-earmarks-65bln-defense-budget-for-fiscal-2027-reports-say-1105512760.html
December 16, 2022, 8:30 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has told the ruling Liberal Democratic Party that defense spending would be 8.9 trillion yen ($65) in 2027 fiscal year, in line with the country's plan to boost military expenditures to 2% of GDP over the next five years, Japanese media reported on Friday.
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South Africa’s ANC Holds Conference to Elect Leader, Determine Policy for Next Five Years
https://sputniknews.com/20221216/south-africas-anc-holds-conference-to-elect-leader-determine-policy-for-next-five-years-1105510701.html
December 16, 2022, 8:28 AM
The African National Congress (ANC) conference comes amid the ongoing political crisis in South Africa around the opposition-initiated investigation against the country’s president and governing party leader, Cyril Ramaphosa, which was stopped on Tuesday following a supermajority vote in the Parliament against launching impeachment proceedings.
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Argentinian Fans Demand World Cup Final Tickets Be Sold at Official Prices, Reports Say
https://sputniknews.com/20221216/argentinian-fans-demand-world-cup-final-tickets-be-sold-at-official-prices-reports-say-1105511970.html
December 16, 2022, 8:18 AM
BUENOS AIRES (Sputnik) - Dozens of Argentinian nationals have surrounded a hotel in Qatar, which accommodates the Argentine Football Association (AFA) staff, to demand that the tickets for the FIFA World Cup final match be sold at official prices instead from second-hand dealers, media reported on Friday.
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Massive Rally for Better Life Conditions Will Take Place in Belgium on Friday
https://sputniknews.com/20221216/massive-rally-for-better-life-conditions-will-take-place-in-belgium-on-friday-1105511507.html
December 16, 2022, 8:04 AM
BRUSSELS (Sputnik) - Tens of thousands are expected to rally in Brussels and other Belgian cities on Friday to demand better purchasing power and measures by the government to alleviate the cost of living crisis.
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Video of Russian ICBM Being Loaded Into Silo Makes Splash Among Brits
https://sputniknews.com/20221216/video-of-russian-icbm-being-loaded-into-silo-makes-splash-among-brits-1105509285.html
December 16, 2022, 8:01 AM
The Yars missile, which began to be introduced into Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces in the early 2010s, is meant to serve as the backbone of the ground-based component of the country’s nuclear deterrent for decades to come.
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US Embassy in China Suspends Most Regular Services Due to COVID-19
https://sputniknews.com/20221216/us-embassy-in-china-suspends-most-regular-services-due-to-covid-19-1105510834.html
December 16, 2022, 7:50 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - US diplomatic missions in China temporarily suspended most of their services due to the adverse COVID-19 pandemic situation in the country, the US Embassy in Beijing said.
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Finnish Defense Minister Takes Paternity Leave Amid Country’s NATO Bid
https://sputniknews.com/20221216/finnish-defense-minister-takes-paternity-leave-amid-countrys-nato-bid-1105508702.html
December 16, 2022, 7:26 AM
The Finnish authorities previously have lamented that Finns make too little use of their paternity leave. Defense Minister Anti Kaikkonen's step can therefore be presented as an example to follow, even as it comes in a potentially decisive moment for the country’s NATO bid.
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Moscow: New Sanctions Against Russia Undermine Interests of EU States
https://sputniknews.com/20221216/moscow-new-sanctions-against-russia-undermine-interests-of-eu-states-1105509974.html
December 16, 2022, 7:08 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Imposing new sanctions on Russia is the choice of the European Union, but these measures undermine the interests of the member states as well, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told Sputnik on Friday.
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New Danish Government to Skip Christian Holiday for the Sake of War Budget
https://sputniknews.com/20221216/new-danish-government-to-skip-christian-holiday-for-the-sake-of-war-budget-1105507721.html
December 16, 2022, 6:58 AM
Danish arsenals have been depleted by Copenhagen’s decision to send military help, including Harpoon missiles and other weapons, to assist Ukraine despite Moscow’s consistent warnings that assistance to Kiev is merely drawing out the conflict further.
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Explosion in Turkey's Diyarbakir Leaves 9 Police Officers Injured
https://sputniknews.com/20221216/explosion-in-turkeys-diyarbakir-leaves-9-police-officers-injured-1105509529.html
December 16, 2022, 6:27 AM
ANKARA(Sputnik) - A car bomb went off in Turkey’s largest Kurdish-majority city of Diyarbakır on Friday morning, injuring at least nine police officers, local authorities said.
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Death Toll From Landslide in Malaysia Rises to 13 - Reports
https://sputniknews.com/20221216/death-toll-from-landslide-in-malaysia-rises-to-13---reports-1105508405.html
December 16, 2022, 5:31 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The number of people killed in a landslide that hit a campsite with 100 people near the city of Batang Kali in Malaysia has risen to 13, Malaysian news agency Bernama reported on Friday, citing Health Minister Zaliha Binti Mustafa.
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Kosovo's Accession to EU to Prove Complicated as Republic Lacks Recognition - Source
https://sputniknews.com/20221216/kosovos-accession-to-eu-to-prove-complicated-as-republic-lacks-recognition---source-1105508040.html
December 16, 2022, 5:17 AM
BRUSSELS (Sputnik) - The accession of the breakaway Republic of Kosovo to the European Union will be a lengthy and complex process, given that five member states have not yet recognized its sovereignty, a EU source told Sputnik.
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Peru's Ex-President Castillo Says US Ordered That Troops Be Deployed to Suppress Protests
https://sputniknews.com/20221216/perus-ex-president-castillo-says-us-ordered-that-troops-be-deployed-to-suppress-protests-1105507904.html
December 16, 2022, 5:13 AM
MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) - The Peruvian authorities have taken troops to the streets to suppress protests after the visit of the US ambassador to the Government Palace as Washington pursues profits in the country's mining projects, impeached President Pedro Castillo said on Thursday.
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Twitter Chaos: Multiple Journalists Axed From Platform Without Cause
https://sputniknews.com/20221216/twitter-chaos-multiple-journalists-axed-from-platform-without-cause-1105507116.html
December 16, 2022, 4:32 AM
Musk is proud to be a free speech absolutist unless, of course, that speech is a criticism against Musk himself, it seems. The CEO earlier decided to ban the ElonJet account, which tracked the movements of his private plane using public information. The account was created by a 20-year-old college student who Musk vowed “legal action” against.
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‘The CIA Was Involved in the Assassination of President Kennedy,’ Top Source Tells Tucker Carlson
https://sputniknews.com/20221216/the-cia-was-involved-in-the-assassination-of-president-kennedy-top-source-tells-tucker-carlson-1105506797.html
December 16, 2022, 3:58 AM
“We can’t see classified information about maybe the pivotal event in modern American history — and now we know why.”
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EU Has No Plans to Impose Price Cap on Russian Gas in Near Future - Source
https://sputniknews.com/20221216/eu-has-no-plans-to-impose-price-cap-on-russian-gas-in-near-future---source-1105506619.html
December 16, 2022, 3:45 AM
BRUSSELS (Sputnik) - The European Union has no plans to impose a price cap on Russian gas in the near future and is not even discussing the issue at the supranational level, an EU source told Sputnik.
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US Senate Passes Stopgap Government Funding Bill to Delay Shutdown, Negotiate Omnibus
https://sputniknews.com/20221216/us-senate-passes-stopgap-government-funding-bill-to-delay-shutdown-negotiate-omnibus-1105505967.html
December 16, 2022, 3:34 AM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US Senate passed a continuing resolution to temporarily fund the government, avoid a shutdown and grant lawmakers another week to negotiate a longer-term omnibus spending bill.
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US Export Restrictions May Force China to ‘Indigenize’ Microchip Value Chain - Expert
https://sputniknews.com/20221216/us-export-restrictions-may-force-china-to-indigenize-microchip-value-chain---expert-1105506199.html
December 16, 2022, 3:33 AM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US denying Beijing access to advanced semiconductor equipment will likely accelerate China’s efforts to close the high-end microchip technology gap and control the entire value chain, Professor Sunitha Raju of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade in New Delhi told Sputnik.
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US Senate Passes $850Bln Defense Spending Bill, Sending Legislation to Biden’s Desk
https://sputniknews.com/20221216/us-senate-passes-850bln-defense-spending-bill-sending-legislation-to-bidens-desk-1105506084.html
December 16, 2022, 3:18 AM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US Senate passed a defense spending bill for 2023 valued at nearly $850 billion, including $10 billion in security aid for Taiwan and $800 million for Ukraine.
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Russian Military Expert: Kiev Has No Military Aviation to Use Washington's 'Smart Bombs'
https://sputniknews.com/20221216/russian-military-expert-kiev-has-no-military-aviation-to-use-washingtons-smart-bombs-1105505699.html
December 16, 2022, 3:10 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Washington's possible delivery of advanced electronic equipment to Kiev to convert missiles into "smart bombs" makes no sense as the Ukrainian forces no longer have military aviation capable of using such munitions, Russian military expert Alexei Leonkov has told Sputnik.
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Keystone Spill Poses No Public Health Issues But There's Long Term Concern, Commissioner Says
https://sputniknews.com/20221216/keystone-spill-poses-no-public-health-issues-but-theres-long-term-concern-commissioner-says-1105505549.html
December 16, 2022, 2:44 AM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The Keystone pipeline oil spill in the state of Kansas does not currently pose a public health issue and has only caused minimal damage to land, but there is a concern about potential long-term consequences the leak may cause, Washington County Commissioner David Willbrant told Sputnik.
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Peru's Pedro Castillo to Remain in Pre-Trial Detention for 18 Months, Court Rules
https://sputniknews.com/20221216/perus-ex-leader-castillo-to-remain-in-detention-for-18-months-supreme-court-1105505295.html
December 16, 2022, 1:08 AM
On Wednesday Peru announced a nationwide state of emergency granting police special powers to control protests which have left at least eight people dead. The protests began after leftist leader Pedro Castillo, who took office last year, was impeached by Congress after trying to dissolve and replace it. He has remained in police custody.
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US Claims Fully Monitoring Ukraine-Bound Weapons ‘Impossible’ as Biden Plots Sending Troops to Do So
https://sputniknews.com/20221216/us-claims-fully-monitoring-ukraine-bound-weapons-impossible-as-biden-plots-sending-troops-to-do-so-1105505027.html
December 16, 2022, 12:50 AM
With US officials continuing to complain about being unable to track US arms dumped into Ukraine, one US official reportedly described a Biden administration push to put US troops on the ground as “classic mission creep.”
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Elon Musk: A Free Speech Fake
https://sputniknews.com/20221216/elon-musk-a-free-speech-fake-1105504554.html
December 16, 2022, 12:36 AM
Billionaire Elon Musk has touted his identity of being a “free speech absolutist” since taking over the social media giant Twitter as the company’s new CEO, but Musk’s opinion of what does or does not constitute as “free speech” seems to only be regulated by Musk himself: according to Musk, a 20-year-old college student is the last straw.
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EU Parliament May Strip Qatar of Access to Its Premises Over Corruption Scandal - President
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/eu-parliament-may-strip-qatar-of-access-to-its-premises-over-corruption-scandal---president-1105504142.html
December 15, 2022, 11:41 PM
BRUSSELS (Sputnik) - The head of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola on Thursday said she did not rule out the possibility of depriving Qatari representatives of access to the parliament buildings due to a corruption scandal.
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NASA to Continue Coordinating With Roscosmos to Aid in Evaluating Soyuz Leak
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/nasa-to-continue-coordinating-with-roscosmos-to-aid-in-evaluating-soyuz-leak-1105504021.html
December 15, 2022, 10:56 PM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - NASA will continue to coordinate with Roscosmos on external imagery and inspection plans to assist in evaluating the ongoing Soyuz leak, the US space agency said on Thursday.
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London Police Arrest 3 Animal Rights Activists Climbing UK Environment Ministry
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/london-police-arrest-3-animal-rights-activists-climbing-uk-environment-ministry-1105503895.html
December 15, 2022, 10:35 PM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - London's Metropolitan Police have detained three activists from the animal welfare organization Animal Justice Project, who climbed up the UK Environment Ministry building, media reported on Thursday.
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Ready for My Close-Up: NASA’s Juno Probe to Fly Just 932 Miles Over Jupiter’s Volcanic Moon Io
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/ready-for-my-close-up-nasas-juno-probe-to-fly-just-932-miles-over-jupiters-volcanic-moon-io-1105503721.html
December 15, 2022, 10:30 PM
Since arriving in Jovian orbit in 2016, NASA’s Juno space probe has investigated the massive planet as well as several of its most prominent moons. Once its mission is completed, the probe will plunge into the gas giant’s atmosphere on one final deadly mission.
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Russian Embassy on Partial Mobilization ‘Fact-Check': Canada Seeks to Unite Dissenters
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/russian-embassy-on-partial-mobilization-fact-check-canada-seeks-to-unite-dissenters-1105503254.html
December 15, 2022, 10:02 PM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Canada is stepping up its foreign policy activities with regard to Russia and trying to lead in uniting dissenters, Russian Ambassador in Ottawa Oleg Stepanov told Sputnik after the Canadian government issued a "fact-check" on the partial mobilization in Russia.
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Christmas Poll: 21% of US Adults Still Believe in Santa Claus
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/christmas-poll-21-of-us-adults-still-believe-in-santa-claus-1105502880.html
December 15, 2022, 9:55 PM
Just in time for the holidays: a recent Ipsos poll surveyed a sample of 1,023 US adults and asked them various questions about Christmas decorations, songs, gifts and even the “real meaning” of the major holiday. Christians are more likely (84%) to say Americans have forgotten the real meaning of Christmas than nonreligious Americans (60%).
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‘Don’t Bother Me With a Question Like That’: Pelosi Snaps at Reporter About Serving Full Term
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/dont-bother-me-with-a-question-like-that-pelosi-snaps-at-reporter-about-serving-full-term-1105502344.html
December 15, 2022, 9:20 PM
When US Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) became House speaker in 2019, she did so on a pledge to serve in the office for just two terms, or four years. Accordingly, after the midterm elections last month, the 82-year-old lawmaker said she’d step back from leadership in the coming term.
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Video: US F-35 Fighter Aircraft Crashes During Test Flight at Texas Base
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/video-us-f-35-fighter-aircraft-crashes-during-test-flight-at-texas-base-1105502161.html
December 15, 2022, 8:40 PM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - A US F-35B fifth-generation fighter jet crashed during a test flight at a base in the state of Texas, a Lockheed Martin spokesperson said in a statement to Sputnik on Thursday.
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House Committee Bemoans Lack of US Spying on Chinese Health Figures During Covid’s Earliest Days
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/house-committee-bemoans-lack-of-us-spying-on-chinese-health-figures-during-covids-earliest-days-1105501396.html
December 15, 2022, 7:37 PM
A new report by the House Intelligence Committee says the US should have done more to gather “harder to obtain information” during the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. However, it seems to fault the IC for then-US President Donald Trump’s lackluster response, while basing its conclusion on a presumed duplicity by Beijing.
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Soaring Numbers of People Seeking Porn Addiction Treatment in UK
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/soaring-numbers-of-people-seeking-porn-addiction-treatment-in-uk-1105501130.html
December 15, 2022, 6:49 PM
Porn addiction apparently flourished during the COVID pandemic when people stuck in self-isolation resorted to various coping mechanisms to deal with stress and anxiety.
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Biden Admin. Restarts Free COVID-19 At-Home Test Program as Part of Winter Plan
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/biden-admin-restarts-free-covid-19-at-home-test-program-as-part-of-winter-plan-1105500990.html
December 15, 2022, 6:25 PM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States will again offer free at-home COVID-19 tests as part of the winter preparedness health plan, the White House said on Thursday.
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US Military Expert on Why Patriot Systems Won’t Be Game-Changer in Ukraine
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/us-military-expert-on-why-patriot-systems-wont-be-game-changer-in-ukraine-1105500192.html
December 15, 2022, 6:24 PM
The Biden administration is reportedly poised to send MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile systems to Ukraine. Sputnik discussed the potential deployment with David T. Pyne, an EMP Task Force scholar and former US Department of Defense officer.
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Spain Plans to Persuade Germany, Netherlands to Agree to Lower Gas Price Cap: Reports
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/spain-plans-to-persuade-germany-netherlands-to-agree-to-lower-gas-price-cap-reports-1105500608.html
December 15, 2022, 6:19 PM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will try to persuade his German and Dutch counterparts, Olaf Scholz and Mark Rutte, to agree to lower a gas price cap during the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, a Spanish news agency reported, citing sources in the Spanish government
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Balancing Act: US, China Vie for Jakarta’s Friendship, But West Offers Little More Than Guns
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/balancing-act-us-china-vie-for-jakartas-friendship-but-west-offers-little-more-than-guns-1105499415.html
December 15, 2022, 6:09 PM
With the US now regarding China and Russia as global rivals in “great power competition,” Washington has sought to turn regional powers in Asia against Beijing in order to isolate it. However, China’s massive trading capacity has made it an indispensable friend for smaller nations.
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Washington's TikTok Ban & Broader Hi-Tech War on China May Backfire - Author
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/washingtons-tiktok-ban--broader-hi-tech-war-on-china-may-backfire---author-1105499966.html
December 15, 2022, 6:07 PM
The US Senate passed the No TikTok on Government Devices Act on December 14 to ban the short-form video app from government smartphones, tablet PCs and laptops, citing national security concerns. TikTok has more than 100 million users in the US alone.
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What is Publicly Known About JFK's Assassination - So Far
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/what-is-publicly-known-about-jfks-assassination---so-far-1105497435.html
December 15, 2022, 5:24 PM
The death of US President John F. Kennedy nearly sixty years ago gave rise to quite a few conspiracy theories as many people were not convinced by the official narrative of the tragic events.
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US Expects China, India to Negotiate 'Very Good' Prices on Russian Oil But Under Price Cap
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/us-expects-china-india-to-negotiate-very-good-prices-on-russian-oil-but-under-price-cap-1105498647.html
December 15, 2022, 5:23 PM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States expects that China, India and Turkey will negotiate very good prices on Russian oil for themselves but they will fall under the Western-imposed price cap, Office of Sanction Coordination head James O'Brien said on Friday.
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Biden Calls for African Union to Join G20 as Permanent Member
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/biden-calls-for-african-union-to-join-g20-as-permanent-member-1105497988.html
December 15, 2022, 5:05 PM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)- US President Joe Biden called for the African Union to join the G20 as a permanent member.
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Trump's 'Major Announcement' Turns Out to Be Own Brand of Trading Cards
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/trumps-major-announcement-turns-out-to-be-own-brand-of-trading-cards-1105497749.html
December 15, 2022, 4:48 PM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Former US President Donald Trump revealed on Thursday that the "major announcement" he teased the day before is the sale of his own collection of digital trading cards.
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Record Low Number of People Worldwide Believe Next Year Will Be Better Than This: Poll
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/record-low-number-of-people-worldwide-believe-next-year-will-be-better-than-this---poll-1105497324.html
December 15, 2022, 4:46 PM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Only 65% of people in multiple countries worldwide believe that next year will be better than this year, the lowest indicator over the past 10 years, according to a poll released by market research company Ipsos on Thursday.
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REC: ‘Made in Russia’ Brand Exports Focus on Prospective Africa & Asia Markets
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/rec-made-in-russia-brand-exports-focus-on-prospective-africa--asia-markets-1105495373.html
December 15, 2022, 3:39 PM
Africa and Asia are very promising markets for goods exports under the "Made in Russia" brand, believes Alexey Murzenok, director for International Partnership Programs of the Russian Export Center (REC, part of the VEB.RF Group).
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Bank of England Raises UK Interest Rate to Highest Level in 14 Years
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/bank-of-england-raises-uk-interest-rate-to-highest-level-in-14-years-1105491020.html
December 15, 2022, 3:25 PM
The UK's central bank, which sets the base lending rate independently of the elected government, had already made increases of half a per cent in September this year and three-quarters of a point in November, while warning of a looming recession.
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Putin: Russia Will Not Resort to Self-Isolation, Will Seek Partners in Asia, Africa, MidEast & LatAm
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/putin-russia-will-not-resort-to-self-isolation-will-seek-partners-in-asia-africa-mideast--latam-1105494254.html
December 15, 2022, 3:23 PM
Russia is planning to redirect its supply of energy resources to the markets of "friendly countries," Vladimir Putin has said, adding that Moscow intends to seek partnerships with countries in regions such as Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Africa.
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Ukraine 'Gift' Explodes in Polish Police Chief's Office, Wounds Several People
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/ukraine-gift-explodes-in-polish-police-chiefs-office-wounds-several-people-1105494509.html
December 15, 2022, 3:09 PM
WARSAW (Sputnik) - A gift received in Ukraine exploded in the office of the chief commandant of the Polish police, there are people wounded, the police said on Thursday.
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What Are the Smart Bombs That Washington Reportedly Plans to Deliver to Kiev?
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/what-are-the-smart-bombs-that-washington-reportedly-plans-to-deliver-to-kiev--1105486540.html
December 15, 2022, 2:46 PM
Since the beginning of the year, the US and its allies have supplied over $40 billion in military assistance to Ukraine. Moscow has repeatedly warned against providing Kiev with arms, something that the Kremlin argues contributes to further escalating the Ukraine conflict.
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Kosovo Prime Minister Submits Application for EU Membership, Reports Say
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/kosovo-prime-minister-submits-application-for-eu-membership-reports-say-1105493187.html
December 15, 2022, 2:42 PM
BELGRADE (Sputnik) - Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti on Thursday submitted Pristina's application for EU membership to the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union, media reported.
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DR Congo Invites Russian Companies to Develop Gas & Oil Fields
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/dr-congo-invites-russian-companies-to-develop-gas--oil-fields-1105492405.html
December 15, 2022, 2:39 PM
Energy is one of the main areas of cooperation between Russia and African countries with a great potential for growth. The head of the African Energy Chamber, Nj Ayuk, recently told Sputnik that Russia could play a leading role in implementing energy projects on the continent.
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Algeria's Gas Exports Hit Record 56Bln Cubic Meters Year to Date
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/algerias-gas-exports-hit-record-56bln-cubic-meters-year-to-date-1105492959.html
December 15, 2022, 2:37 PM
CAIRO (Sputnik) - Algeria's gas exports this year have reached an all-time high of 56 billion cubic meters (bcm), Algerian Energy Ministry's Forecasting Department Head Miloud Medjelled said on Thursday.
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China Develops Short-Range Missiles Able to Hit Taiwan's Critical Infrastructure, Reports Suggest
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/china-develops-short-range-missiles-able-to-hit-taiwans-critical-infrastructure-reports-suggest-1105492657.html
December 15, 2022, 2:35 PM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - China has developed a series of short-range precision missiles and multiple launch rocket systems able to hit Taiwan's military and government infrastructure, local press reported on Thursday, citing a source close to the People's Liberation Army of China.
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CEO of South African Electricity Provider Eskom Resigns
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/ceo-of-south-african-electricity-provider-eskom-resigns-1105487860.html
December 15, 2022, 2:31 PM
South Africa is struggling to meet growing energy demand. In late November, President Cyril Ramaphosa's spokesman Vincent Magwenya said that measures were "underway" to end continuing power cuts.
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Siemens Says Canada Sanctions Concern Nord Stream Turbine Exports, Not Maintenance
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/siemens-says-canada-sanctions-concern-nord-stream-turbine-exports-not-maintenance-1105491934.html
December 15, 2022, 2:20 PM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – Canada’s announcement about revoking the sanctions waiver on Nord Stream 1 turbines is about their exports, not their maintenance, a Siemens spokesperson told Sputnik.
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Cool Head & Cold Wallet: How to Protect Your Crypto From Scammers
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/cool-head--cold-wallet-how-to-protect-your-crypto-from-scammers-1105485518.html
December 15, 2022, 1:55 PM
The latest scandal involving FTX, a Bahamas-based cryptocurrency exchange that abruptly collapsed at the beginning of November leaving many of its investors penniless, has brought the cryptocurrency scam problem to the forefront.
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Remaining 130 French Soldiers Leave Central African Republic, French Defense Ministry Says
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/remaining-130-french-soldiers-leave-central-african-republic-french-defense-ministry-says-1105491143.html
December 15, 2022, 1:49 PM
PARIS (Sputnik) - The remaining 130 French soldiers, who were in the Central African Republic, have left the country, the French Defense Ministry said on Thursday.
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Apple and Microsoft Not Doing Enough to Prevent Child Abuse Content, Australian Regulator Says
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/apple-and-microsoft-not-doing-enough-to-prevent-child-abuse-content-australian-regulator-says--1105478373.html
December 15, 2022, 1:47 PM
Earlier, a watchdog made the tech giants share information about their methods of searching for child exploitation content and was not satisfied with the results.
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UK Nurses Begin Biggest Strike in Their History Over Below-Inflation Pay Offer - Photos
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/uk-nurses-begin-biggest-strike-in-their-history-over-below-inflation-pay-offer---photos-1105479268.html
December 15, 2022, 1:42 PM
British nurses are demanding an unprecedented wage increase of around 16 per cent to make up for years of below-inflation or zero-per cent pay settlements they say have whittled away at their incomes.
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Wolves From Twitter: A Group of Social Media Influencers Manipulated Stock Market in $114 Mln Fraud
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/wolves-from-twitter-a-group-of-social-media-influencers-manipulated-stock-market-in-114-mln-fraud--1105481426.html
December 15, 2022, 1:37 PM
The scheme is known as “pump and dump”, when a trader creates hype around several stock he owns (“pump”) and when their prices increase – he sells them (“dump”).
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Sudan Military Won’t Agree on Political Deal Against Stability, Army Chief Says
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/sudan-military-wont-agree-on-political-deal-against-stability-army-chief-says-1105484336.html
December 15, 2022, 1:32 PM
The military and opposition in Sudan signed a political framework agreement on December 5 that provided for the establishment of a transitional civil administration in the country. Later, the military leader highlighted that the army will leave power as soon as political groups agree on its formation.
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Putin: Supplies From Russia to EU Up 1.5 Times in 9 Months, Total Exports Up by 42%
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/putin-supplies-from-russia-to-eu-up-15-times-in-9-months-total-exports-up-by-42-1105486020.html
December 15, 2022, 1:28 PM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Despite sanctions against Moscow, deliveries of basic goods from Russia to the EU grew by 1.5 times over nine months, while total exports increased by 42%, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
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Bitcoin Drops Amid Fed's Decision to Increase Interest Rate
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/bitcoin-drops-amid-feds-decision-to-increase-interest-rate-1105484634.html
December 15, 2022, 12:36 PM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Bitcoin fell lower than $18,000 on Thursday amid the US Federal Reserve System's announcement of interest rate hike.
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Gazprom: Gas Pumping From Underground Facilities in Europe Sets Historic Record on Dec 13
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/gazprom-gas-pumping-from-underground-facilities-in-europe-sets-historic-record-on-dec-13-1105484490.html
December 15, 2022, 12:32 PM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Gas extraction from European underground storage facilities on December 13 set a historic record — 738 million cubic meters, Gazprom said on Thursday.
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President Putin Chairs Council for Strategic Development and National Projects Meeting
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/president-putin-chairs-council-for-strategic-development-and-national-projects-meeting-1105477725.html
December 15, 2022, 12:19 PM
The previous meeting of the council occurred in June 2022. The six-monthly meeting tracks the progress of national development goals and discusses the most important issues of development planning.
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China's Xi Strengthens Trade and Energy Ties With Russia Behind Diplomatic Scenes, Reports Suggest
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/chinas-xi-strengthens-trade-and-energy-ties-with-russia-behind-diplomatic-scenes-reports-suggest-1105483203.html
December 15, 2022, 12:08 PM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Chinese President Xi Jinping is deepening economic ties with Russia despite the appearance of creating diplomatic distance between Beijing and Moscow, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing Chinese policy advisers.
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EU States Negotiating Setting Price Cap on Gas at $210, Reports Suggest
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/eu-states-negotiating-setting-price-cap-on-gas-at-210-reports-suggest-1105482107.html
December 15, 2022, 11:59 AM
ROME (Sputnik) - The European Union is trying to negotiate a price cap on natural gas at the level of 200 euros ($212) per megawatt-hour (MWh), though there are still some divisions among member states, Italian press reported, citing sources in the EU.
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Russia and Venezuela Discussing Settlements in National Currencies
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/russia-and-venezuela-discussing-settlements-in-national-currencies-1105481955.html
December 15, 2022, 11:50 AM
CARACAS (Sputnik) - Russia and Venezuela are discussing the expansion of cooperation in the financial sector, in particular, settlements in national currencies, Pyotr Kazakevich, director of a department at the Russian Finance Ministry, told reporters.
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Cosmonauts Confirm Leak in Soyuz MS-22 Cooling System After Visual Inspection
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/cosmonauts-confirm-leak-in-soyuz-ms-22-cooling-system-after-visual-inspection-1105481669.html
December 15, 2022, 11:33 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The crew of the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft confirmed a leak in the cooling system after a visual inspection, Russian space agency Roscosmos said on Thursday.
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Macron to Celebrate Christmas With French Peacekeepers in Southern Lebanon, Source Says
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/macron-to-celebrate-christmas-with-french-peacekeepers-in-southern-lebanon-source-says-1105481173.html
December 15, 2022, 11:19 AM
BEIRUT (Sputnik) - French President Emmanuel Macron will celebrate Christmas in south Lebanon together with French peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), a Lebanese source familiar with the matter told Sputnik.
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Peru Protests Hindering Medical Supplies to Hospitals, Health Ministry Says
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/peru-protests-hindering-medical-supplies-to-hospitals-health-ministry-says-1105480599.html
December 15, 2022, 11:07 AM
BUENOS AIRES (Sputnik) - Nationwide protests in Peru have affected distribution of medicines and oxygen in hospitals across the country due to transport disruptions, with the situation being close to critical, the Peruvian Health Ministry said.
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Austria Must Ban NATO Arms Transit to Ukraine via Its Territory, Former Vice-Chancellor Says
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/austria-must-ban-nato-arms-transit-to-ukraine-via-its-territory-former-vice-chancellor-says-1105480396.html
December 15, 2022, 10:54 AM
VIENNA (Sputnik) - Austria should not tolerate the transit of NATO weapons to Ukraine through its territory, former Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache said on Thursday.
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Paul Pelosi Attack Suspect Planned to Take Aim at Hunter Biden, Tom Hanks – Court Hearing
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/paul-pelosi-attack-suspect-planned-to-take-aim-at-hunter-biden-tom-hanks--court-hearing-1105479489.html
December 15, 2022, 10:48 AM
Last month, US Justice Department said that Canadian citizen David DePape was indicted on charges of assault and attempted kidnapping following his suspected attack on Paul Pelosi in late October.
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EU Leaders Will Not Agree on 9th Package of Sanctions Against Russia on Thursday, Borrell Says
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/eu-leaders-will-not-agree-on-9th-package-of-sanctions-against-russia-on-thursday-borrell-says-1105480088.html
December 15, 2022, 10:37 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The EU leaders will not agree on the ninth package of sanctions against Russia on Thursday as further negotiations are needed at the level of ambassadors, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said.
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Former Austrian Foreign Minister Says China & Gulf States Stunned by the West’s Anti-Russia Moves
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/former-austrian-foreign-minister-says-china--gulf-states-stunned-by-the-wests-anti-russia-moves-1105478762.html
December 15, 2022, 10:03 AM
As oil producers grow worried about the consequences of the G7’s price cap on Russian exports, concerns about Western sanctions against Moscow are spreading well beyond the Persian Gulf.
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French Politician Accuses Macron, Von Der Leyen of Adding to EU Energy Crisis
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/french-politician-accuses-macron-von-der-leyen-of-adding-to-eu-energy-crisis-1105476187.html
December 15, 2022, 9:02 AM
Western countries were hit by growing energy prices and a surge in inflation after they imposed packages of sanctions against Russia over its ongoing special military operation in Ukraine.
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M23 Rebel Group Says It Has Met DR Congo Army Officials, Military Delegates as Nation Seeks Peace
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/m23-rebel-group-says-it-has-met-dr-congo-army-officials-military-delegates-as-nation-seeks-peace-1105476522.html
December 15, 2022, 8:58 AM
The military conflict in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been going on for years, taking different forms with alternating periods of intensified attacks, by the M23 or other armed groups, and fragile ceasefire.
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COVID Claimed 15 Mln Additional Lives in 2020-2021, WHO Study Says
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/covid-claimed-15-mln-additional-lives-in-2020-2021-who-study-says--1105474500.html
December 15, 2022, 8:17 AM
Several countries have poor screening systems and some have intentionally underreported the true numbers of COVID-related deaths, scientists say.
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No Accounting For Gaffes: Biden Mistakenly Vows $350 Billion for Africa's Digital Economy
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/no-accounting-for-gaffes-biden-mistakenly-vows-350-billion-for-africas-digital-economy-1105476711.html
December 15, 2022, 8:01 AM
Washington, DC has been hosting the second US-Africa leaders summit from 13-15 December, which came eight years after the first such event took place under the administration of former US president Barack Obama.
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Cambridge to Return Over Hundred Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, Media Report
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/cambridge-to-return-over-hundred-benin-bronzes-to-nigeria-media-report-1105475307.html
December 15, 2022, 8:00 AM
The Kingdom of Benin was one of the oldest and most developed traditional West African states, among other things known for its unique Edo culture. The kingdom existed from the 12th century until 1897, when it was conquered by British, who exiled the king and burned the Benin palace.
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Death Toll From Protests in Peru Rises to 8
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/death-toll-from-protests-in-peru-rises-to-8-1105475802.html
December 15, 2022, 7:00 AM
BUENOS AIRES (Sputnik) - The number of people killed in Peru during nationwide protests has risen to eight, the country's health ministry said.
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Over 1,000 Migrants Line Up on US Side of Southern Border Waiting to Be Processed - Video
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/over-1000-migrants-line-up-on-us-side-of-southern-border-waiting-to-be-processed-1105475622.html
December 15, 2022, 6:49 AM
CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico (Sputnik) - More than a thousand asylum-seekers lined up on the US side of the border with Mexico, wrapped in blankets on a bitterly cold afternoon, patiently waiting to be processed by American immigration authorities, a week before a Trump-era expulsion policy is expected to terminate, a Sputnik correspondent reported.
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US Senate Votes to Prohibit TikTok on Government Devices Due to Security Concerns
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/us-senate-votes-to-prohibit-tiktok-on-government-devices-due-to-security-concerns-1105475420.html
December 15, 2022, 6:29 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - US senators have unanimously enacted a bill banning the download and usage of Chinese video hosting service TikTok on any device issued by the United States or a government corporation, citing security concerns, the US Congress said on Thursday.
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China Successfully Launches Yaogan-36 Remote Sensing Satellite Into Orbit
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/china-successfully-launches-yaogan-36-remote-sensing-satellite-into-orbit-1105475212.html
December 15, 2022, 6:24 AM
BEIJING (Sputnik) - China successfully launched the Yaogan-36 remote sensing satellite into orbit using the Long March 2D carrier rocket on Thursday, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) said.
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Ex-Austrian Vice Chancellor: EU May See More Protests Due to Bloc's Anti-Russian Sanctions
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/ex-austrian-vice-chancellor-eu-may-see-more-protests-due-to-blocs-anti-russian-sanctions-1105474134.html
December 15, 2022, 6:20 AM
The EU has rolled out eight packages of sanctions against Moscow since Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine on February 24.
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US Planning to Provide Kiev With Equipment to Convert Rockets Into 'Smart Bombs' - Reports
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/us-planning-to-provide-kiev-with-equipment-to-convert-rockets-into-smart-bombs---reports-1105473997.html
December 15, 2022, 5:19 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The White House is planning to supply Ukraine with advanced electronic equipment to convert unguided aerial munitions into high-precision "smart bombs" to target Russia's military positions, a US newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing senior US officials familiar with the matter.
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Donetsk's Mayor Says Thursday's Attack on City Center Most Massive Strike Since 2014
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/donetsks-mayor-says-thursdays-attack-on-city-center-was-most-massive-strike-since-2014-1105473838.html
December 15, 2022, 5:02 AM
DONETSK (Sputnik) - Alexey Kulemzin, the mayor of the city of Donetsk, said on Thursday that the recent shelling of the city by the Ukrainian military was the most massive strike since 2014.
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Elon Musk, Gender And The War Over Pronouns
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/elon-musk-gender-and-the-war-over-pronouns-1105473239.html
December 15, 2022, 4:30 AM
When you’re trying to get people to change forms of address, you have two options: You can bully them, or you can convince them.
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ISS Crew Not in Danger After Coolant Leak Discovered on Soyuz MS-22 Spacecraft - NASA
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/iss-crew-not-in-danger-after-coolant-leak-discovered-on-soyuz-ms-22-spacecraft---nasa-1105473449.html
December 15, 2022, 4:27 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The crew of the International Space Station (ISS) is not in danger after a coolant leak was discovered on the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft docked to the station, NASA said in a statement.
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Dramatic Footage Shows Florida Officer Accidentally Overdose on Fentanyl During Traffic Stop
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/dramatic-footage-shows-florida-officer-accidentally-overdose-on-fentanyl-during-traffic-stop-1105472395.html
December 15, 2022, 4:17 AM
A video of a Florida police officer struggling in and out of consciousness was released as an urgent message to the public about the dangers of fentanyl. The drug is a synthetic opioid that is 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin. It is added to other drugs to increase potency, and make illicit sales cheaper.
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Two People Killed, Four Injured in Fire at Oil Plant Near Russia's Irkutsk - Authorities
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/two-people-killed-four-injured-in-fire-at-oil-plant-near-russias-irkutsk---authorities-1105472991.html
December 15, 2022, 4:06 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Two people have died, and four others have been injured in a fire at an oil plant in the city of Angarsk in the Russian region of Irkutsk, the Russian Investigative Committee in the Irkutsk region said on Thursday.
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Elon Musk Deletes Twitter Account Tracking His Jet, Promises Legal Action
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/elon-musk-deletes-twitter-account-tracking-his-jet-promises-legal-action-1105472500.html
December 15, 2022, 4:00 AM
The controversial billionaire says his about-face on permitting a Twitter account to track his jet -– “even though that is a direct personal safety risk” to him — came after a stalker jumped on the hood of a car carrying his young child.
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'I Thought It Was An Earthquake': Rain-Wrapped Tornado Blasts New Orleans
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/i-thought-it-was-an-earthquake-rain-wrapped-tornado-blasts-new-orleans-1105471931.html
December 15, 2022, 3:37 AM
A second tornado has descended on New Orleans this year. The first tornado was a powerful EF3 tornado that swept through the Lower Ninth Ward and Arabi on March 22 and is the strongest on record to strike the area which resulted in the death of a 25-year-old man.
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Peru’s Authorities Declare State of Emergency as Uprising Intensifies After President Arrested
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/perus-pariah-regime-declares-state-of-emergency-as-uprising-intensifies-1105472082.html
December 15, 2022, 3:28 AM
Just one week after detaining the country’s first working-class indigenous president, the unelected regime in Peru granted itself extraordinary powers to crack down on widespread opposition in the streets.
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Police Use Tear Gas Against Football Fans Due to Clashes in Belgium, France
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/police-use-tear-gas-against-football-fans-due-to-clashes-in-belgium-france-1105471492.html
December 15, 2022, 2:45 AM
BRUSSELS (Sputnik) - Violent clashes broke out between French and Moroccan football fans on Wednesday after the 2022 FIFA World Cup semifinal match in Qatar, with the French and Belgium police using tear gas and water canons and detaining fans, local media reported.
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Istanbul's Opposition Mayor Sentenced to 2.5 Years in Prison for Insulting Officials
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/istanbuls-opposition-mayor-sentenced-to-25-years-in-prison-for-insulting-officials-1105471199.html
December 15, 2022, 2:29 AM
ANKARA (Sputnik) - Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul and a possible opposition presidential candidate, has been sentenced to over two years in prison for insulting public officials and suspended from political activity, media reported on Wednesday.
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US House Passes One-Week Government Funding Bill to Buy Time for Further Negotiations
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/us-house-passes-one-week-government-funding-bill-to-buy-time-for-further-negotiations-1105471034.html
December 15, 2022, 2:02 AM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution to fund the government for one week in a bid to buy more time for negotiations on a longer-term appropriations bill.
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Germany's First Floating LNG Terminal to Be Launched on Saturday - Chancellor
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/germanys-first-floating-lng-terminal-to-be-launched-on-saturday---chancellor-1105470905.html
December 15, 2022, 1:37 AM
BERLIN (Sputnik) - The first floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Germany will be opened in the town of Wilhelmshaven on Saturday and receive the first LNG carrier this week, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said.
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Ex-Georgian Leader Saakashvili Ends Hunger Strike at Request of European Lawmakers -Letter
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/ex-georgian-leader-saakashvili-ends-hunger-strike-at-request-of-european-lawmakers--letter-1105470764.html
December 15, 2022, 1:29 AM
TBILISI (Sputnik) - Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili on Wednesday ended his hunger strike at the request of European lawmakers a few hours after it was announced, according to the ex-president's letter.
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Prince William and Kate Middleton Actively 'Avoiding’ New Netflix Series ‘Harry & Meghan’
https://sputniknews.com/20221215/prince-william-and-kate-middleton-actively-avoiding-new-netflix-series-harry--meghan-1105470483.html
December 15, 2022, 1:17 AM
“They were happy to lie to protect my brother,” alleged Harry in the docuseries about William, Prince of Wales. The new Netflix series in which the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were paid a reported £112 million for has received mixed reviews, despite being the streaming service’s highest-viewed documentary ever.
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