Erdogan: Turkiye to Start Ratification Process for Finland's NATO Bid
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/erdogan-turkiye-to-start-ratification-process-for-finlands-nato-bid-1108513302.html
March 17, 2023, 2:41 PM

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Russia, Republic of the Congo to Agree on Oil Pipeline Construction, Russian Envoy Says
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/russia-republic-of-the-congo-to-agree-on-oil-pipeline-construction-russian-envoy-says--1108504321.html
March 17, 2023, 2:28 PM
Russia is expected to host delegations from most African countries during the second Russia-Africa Summit, which is set to take place in Saint Petersburg, Russia in July 2023. The Republic of the Congo and Russia are planning economic and cultural exchange programs to be realized ahead of the summit.
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US Squandered Its Unipolar Moment by Sowing Destruction Over Last 25 Years
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/us-squandered-its-unipolar-moment-by-sowing-destruction-over-last-25-years-1108510611.html
March 17, 2023, 2:03 PM
Over the years, countries have increasingly been avoiding hitching their wagons to the US imperial train, starting with the US invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq and ending with the ongoing proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, Nick Davies, peace activist and author of "Blood on Our Hands: The American Invasion and Destruction of Iraq," told Sputnik.
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US Changed UAVs Flight Routes After MQ-9 Incident: Tracks Analysis
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/us-changed-uavs-flight-routes-after-mq-9-incident-tracks-analysis-1108511261.html
March 17, 2023, 1:39 PM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The United States changed the flight routes of its strategic unmanned aerial vehicles Global Hawk after the incident with the MQ-9 Reaper drone that fell into the Black Sea, according to data from the Flightradar24 portal analyzed by Sputnik.
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Job Walkouts, Mass Rallies & Fiery Rhetoric: What Are the Nationwide French Protests About?
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/job-walkouts-mass-rallies--fiery-rhetoric-what-are-the-nationwide-french-protests-about-1108499942.html
March 17, 2023, 1:25 PM
Despite mass protests across the country, and just ahead of a final vote in France's lower house of parliament on the text of the controversial pension overhaul bill, French President Emmanuel Macron resorted to special constitutional powers on March 16, as his government pushed through a law raising the retirement age.
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Australia to Acquire 220 Up-To-Date Tomahawk Cruise Missiles from US
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/australia-to-acquire-220-up-to-date-tomahawk-cruise-missiles-from-us-1108500558.html
March 17, 2023, 1:23 PM
Canberra wants to buy up to 220 of the latest Tomahawk cruise missiles for $895 million to mount on Australian warships, the deal will boost the defense capabilities of the Land Down Under and enhance the degree of interconnection in joint US-Australia military activity, contributing to American operations globally.
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Russian Language Learning Center to Open in Zimbabwe, Education Minister Says
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/russian-language-learning-center-to-open-in-zimbabwe-education-minister-says-1108500993.html
March 17, 2023, 1:14 PM
Earlier this week, Zimbabwean politician Christopher Mutsvangwa, the Media and Broadcasting Minister and a member of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) party, told Sputnik that his country is willing to enhance cooperation with Russia in various fields, including, mining, defense, and energy.
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US Silicon Valley Bank's Former Holding Company Says Filed for Bankruptcy Protection
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/us-silicon-valley-banks-former-holding-company-says-filed-for-bankruptcy-protection-1108509305.html
March 17, 2023, 1:13 PM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Silicon Valley Bank's former parent company SVB Financial Group said on Friday that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the state of New York in a bid to preserve value as it auctions off its assets.
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Russian MSU Rector Sadovnichy Proposes Closer Cooperation Between Russian and African Universities
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/russian-msu-rector-sadovnichy-proposes-closer-cooperation-between-russian-and-african-universities-1108495683.html
March 17, 2023, 1:08 PM
Russia has recently raised the number of African students who can study in the country. During his recent African tour, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the number of places for students from Angola has risen to 300 from 150.
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Norfolk Southern Should Face 'Insurmountable' Costs for Ohio Chemical Spill Clean-Up
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/norfolk-southern-should-face-insurmountable-costs-for-ohio-chemical-spill-clean-up-1108502346.html
March 17, 2023, 12:59 PM
The Norfolk Southern Railway train that derailed near the Ohio town of East Palestine on February 3 caused an environmental disaster that has devastated the surrounding area. Steve Gill, attorney and CEO of Gill Media, said the rail firm should be liable for damages
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Mali Bolsters Military Arsenal with New Warplanes, Drones Courtesy of Russia, Turkiye
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/mali-bolsters-military-arsenal-with-new-warplanes-drones-courtesy-of-russia-turkiye-1108495368.html
March 17, 2023, 12:42 PM
Malian-Russian military cooperation has been deepening since late 2021 given the West African nation's war on terrorists and drug traffickers, and the French troop pullout with the security crisis persisting in the country after France’s ten-year military presence there.
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Protesters Clash With French Police During Demo Against Pension Reform
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/protesters-clash-with-french-police-during-demo-against-pension-reform-1108498858.html
March 17, 2023, 12:32 PM
Earlier, French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said that the government had adopted the law on raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 by invoking Article 49.3 of the constitution, which allows the government to pass a bill without parliamentary approval.
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First Republic Bank Offered $30 Bln Lifeline in 'Show of Support' by Group of America’s Moneylenders
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/first-republic-bank-offered-30-bln-lifeline-in-show-of-support-by-group-of-americas-moneylenders-1108495234.html
March 17, 2023, 11:15 AM
One of the top 20 US commercial banks, Silicon Valley Bank, specializing in banking for tech startups since 1983, collapsed on March 10, resulting in a federal government intervention, with fears spiraling of a likely domino effect hitting other volatile moneylenders.
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Shoigu Nominates Pilots Involved in MQ-9 Reaper Drone Intercept for State Awards
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/russian-defense-minister-awards-pilots-involved-in-us-mq-9-reaper-drone-incident-1108501669.html
March 17, 2023, 10:12 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has nominated for state awards the pilots of the Su-27 fighters that prevented a violation of the borders of the special operation zone by a US MQ-9 Reaper drone, the ministry said on Friday.
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Norwegian Oil Giant Pockets Fivefold Profits, Gets Flak for Profiteering
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/norwegian-oil-giant-pockets-fivefold-profits-amid-accusations-of-profiteering-1108490190.html
March 17, 2023, 9:49 AM
Norway has emerged as the EU's main energy supplier following the bloc's barrage of sanctions against Russia over the ongoing special operation in Ukraine. Oslo’s position has only been strengthened after the destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines, in which Norway played a key part, according to a bombshell report.
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UK's Johnson Re-selected as Tory Candidate for Next General Election
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/uks-johnson-reelected-as-tory-candidate-for-next-general-election-1108500739.html
March 17, 2023, 9:38 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been re-selected as a candidate from the Conservative Party in Uxbridge and South Ruislip electoral districts to run for the next general election despite an ongoing probe into the partygate scandal, Johnson's spokesman said on Friday.
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Biden Official to Visit Honduras After Tegucigalpa Pivots Towards 'Official Ties With China'
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/biden-official-to-visit-honduras-after-tegusigalpas-pivot-towardsofficial-ties-with-china-1108492248.html
March 17, 2023, 9:23 AM
Honduran President Xiomara Castro announced on 15 March that she had instructed her Foreign Minister, Eduardo Enrique Reina, to establish official relations with China, in a move that was in line with the government’s plan to expand collaboration with “the nations of the world”.
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Turkish Media Accuse Twitter of Interference in Internal Affairs Ahead of Elections
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/turkish-media-accuse-twitter-of-interference-in-internal-affairs-ahead-of-elections-1108497631.html
March 17, 2023, 8:50 AM
ANKARA (Sputnik) - Turkish newspaper on Friday accused Twitter messaging platform of supporting opposition forces in the country's upcoming general election scheduled for May 14 and creating accounts spreading provocative information about the incumbent government.
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Number of People Detained During Protests in France Rises to 310: Interior Minister
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/number-of-people-detained-during-protests-in-france-rises-to-310-interior-minister-1108497352.html
March 17, 2023, 8:44 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The number of people detained during protests against the controversial pension reform in France has risen to 310, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Friday.
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Moscow Calls Untenable US Remark That Russia's Suspension of New START Legally Invalid
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/moscow-calls-untenable-us-remark-that-russias-suspension-of-new-start-legally-invalid-1108495085.html
March 17, 2023, 7:33 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The US' statements calling Moscow's decision to suspend its participation in the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) is legally invalid are untenable, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Friday.
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UK Passport Office Staff Set to Hold Mass Strike Over Low Pay
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/uk-passport-office-staff-set-to-hold-mass-strike-over-low-pay-1108489980.html
March 17, 2023, 7:08 AM
Around 133,000 civil servants were on strike on Tuesday after the UK’s Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union called its members out for a nationwide day of strike action to demand fair pay and "pensions justice".
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Xi to Pay State Visit to Russia on March 20-22 at Putin's Invitation: Kremlin
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/xi-to-pay-state-visit-to-russia-on-march-20-22-at-putins-invitation-kremlin-1108494002.html
March 17, 2023, 7:06 AM
Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to Russia on 20 to 22 March at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin press service said on Friday.
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South Korea, US to Hold Major Amphibious Drills for First Time Since 2018, Reports Say
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/south-korea-us-to-hold-major-amphibious-drills-for-first-time-since-2018-reports-say-1108491994.html
March 17, 2023, 6:28 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - South Korea and the United States will hold the Ssangyong amphibious exercise from March 20 to April 3, after a five-year pause, as part of their allied field drills, South Korean news agency reported, citing military officials.
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US Announces $150Mln Humanitarian Aid for Sahel, West and Central Africa - Blinken
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/us-announces-150mln-humanitarian-aid-for-sahel-west-and-central-africa---blinken-1108490988.html
March 17, 2023, 5:59 AM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The United States announces $150 million in humanitarian aid for the Sahel region as well as West and Central Africa, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday.
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USAF Reportedly Sent Another Spy Drone to MQ-9 Crash Site Shortly After Incident Over Black Sea
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/usaf-reportedly-sent-another-spy-drone-to-mq-9-crash-site-shorty-after-incident-over-black-sea-1108489629.html
March 17, 2023, 5:32 AM
Earlier, during the blame game that erupted after an American MQ-9 Reaper drone was downed over the Black Sea near Crimea on 14 March, the US Air Force released declassified footage allegedly depicting the encounter. The video does not seem to substantiate previous US claims that the drone went down because of a collision with a Russian jet.
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Ecuador's Lawmakers File Impeachment Motion Against President Lasso
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/ecuadors-lawmakers-file-impeachment-motion-against-president-lasso-1108489509.html
March 17, 2023, 4:58 AM
MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) - A group of 58 lawmakers of the Ecuadorian National Assembly, the parliament's lower house, have handed over to National Assembly President Javier Virgilio Saquicela Espinoza a motion to impeach incumbent President Guillermo Lasso, who is accused of corruption and administrative irregularities, the National Assembly said.
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Tokyo Sanctions Three North Korean Officials in Response to ICBM Launch
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/tokyo-sanctions-three-north-korean-officials-in-response-to-icbm-launch-1108489395.html
March 17, 2023, 4:55 AM
TOKYO (Sputnik) - The Japanese government has sanctioned three North Korean officials involved in the development of nuclear and missile programs of North Korea in response to Pyongyang's launch of a Hwasong-17 ballistic missile on Thursday, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said on Friday.
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Paris May 'Slow Down' Decision on Heavy Arms Deliveries to Kiev: Leader of Patriots Party
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/paris-may-slow-down-decision-on-heavy-arms-deliveries-to-kiev-leader-of-patriots-party-1108489295.html
March 17, 2023, 4:50 AM
PARIS (Sputnik) - The leader of France's Eurosceptic party The Patriots, Florian Philippot, has told RIA Novosti that the French authorities may "slow down" the decision on the delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine.
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The Cure’s Robert Smith ‘Sickened’ by Over-the-Top Ticketmaster Fees as US Tour Goes on Sale
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/the-cures-robert-smith-sickened-by-over-the-top-ticketmaster-fees-as-us-tour-goes-on-sale-1108488401.html
March 17, 2023, 4:16 AM
Musicians like Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift have been known to use Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing system in their ticket sales. Smith says that system, which can surge a single concert ticket to thousands of dollars, is a “greedy scam”.
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SpaceX Launch Saw Successful Delivery of Unique Laser Energy Experiment to ISS
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/spacex-launch-saw-successful-delivery-of-unique-laser-energy-experiment-to-iss-1108488189.html
March 17, 2023, 4:01 AM
On March 15, the first launch of the Falcon-9 with the Dragon cargo spacecraft took place from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral. The mission proved successful as the spacecraft docked with the International Space Station.
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US Nuclear Plant Reveals Facility Spilled 400,000 Gallons of Radioactive Water
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/us-nuclear-plant-reveals-facility-spilled-400000-gallons-of-radioactive-water-1108487993.html
March 17, 2023, 3:25 AM
The Gopher State is home to two nuclear plants, and is no stranger to spills of the radioactive variety; in fact, its Monticello plant previously reported leaks in 1981 and 2009.
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Renowned Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino Reportedly Prepping for Final Film ‘The Movie Critic’
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/renowned-filmmaker-quentin-tarantino-reportedly-prepping-for-final-film-the-movie-critic-1108487743.html
March 17, 2023, 2:41 AM
The 59-year-old filmmaker is known for such films as "Kill Bill: Volume 1," "Reservoir Dogs," "Pulp Fiction," and his latest film, "Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood." He is rumored to begin filming his tenth and final film this year.
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Lapid Blasts Rejection of Herzog Proposal, Vows to Back 'Fair' Blueprint to Prevent 'Civil War'
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/lapid-blasts-rejection-of-herzog-proposal-vows-to-back-fair-blueprint-to-prevent-civil-war-1108486988.html
March 17, 2023, 2:19 AM
Earlier Wednesday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog unveiled his proposal to replace the government's intention to radically overturn the nation's judicial system, warning that the threat of a "civil war" was "within touching distance."
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TikTok Reportedly in Talks to Sell US Stake Amid Ban Threat From Biden White House
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/tiktok-reportedly-in-talks-to-sell-us-stake-amid-ban-threat-from-biden-white-house-1108487586.html
March 17, 2023, 1:58 AM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - TikTok is in talks with potential buyers after the Biden administration threatened to ban the video-sharing platform nationwide if Chinese owners did not sell their stakes, US media reported citing sources familiar with the matter.
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French Patriots Party Leader: US Was 'Obviously' Behind Bombing of Nord Stream Pipelines
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/french-patriots-party-leader-us-was-obviously-behind-bombing-of-nord-stream-pipelines-1108487158.html
March 17, 2023, 1:31 AM
PARIS (Sputnik) - The leader of France's Eurosceptic party The Patriots, Florian Philippot, has told RIA Novosti that the United States was "obviously" behind the bombing of Russia's Nord Stream pipelines as they had been fighting the pipelines for years.
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Report: Over 200 People Detained During Protests Against Pension Reform in Paris
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/report-over-70-people-detained-at-protest-against-pension-reform-in-paris-1108486635.html
March 17, 2023, 12:55 AM
PARIS (Sputnik) -The French police have detained over 200 people at protests against the controversial pension reform in central Paris, French media reported on Thursday, citing a police source.
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Libyan Army Says Forces Have Recovered Uranium Barrels Declared Missing by IAEA
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/libyan-army-says-forces-have-recovered-uranium-barrels-declared-missing-by-iaea-1108486326.html
March 17, 2023, 12:42 AM
BENGHAZI (Sputnik) - Soldiers of the Libyan National Army (LNA) recovered barrels with natural uranium that had been earlier reported missing by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), LNA Moral Guidance Department chief Khaled Mahjoub said on Thursday.
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Macron’s Way Over La Liberté?
https://sputniknews.com/20230317/macrons-way-over-la-libert-1108486067.html
March 17, 2023, 12:32 AM
The bill will gradually raise the retirement age of those in France from 62 to 64. Macron has argued that the reform plan will keep France’s pension system from plunging into a deficit, as France now faces longer life expectancies and lower birth rates like many other rich nations.
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UN Office on Drugs and Crime Says Global Supply of Cocaine at Record Levels
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/un-office-on-drugs-and-crime-says-global-supply-of-cocaine-at-record-levels-1108485715.html
March 16, 2023, 11:34 PM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Global production of cocaine has dramatically increased over the past two years following a decrease during the COVID-19 pandemic, with global supply of cocaine currently being at record levels, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime said on Thursday in the Global Report on Cocaine 2023.
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Germany's AfD Calls for Creation of Commission to Investigate Nord Stream Attack
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/germanys-afd-calls-for-creation-of-commission-to-investigate-attacks-on-nord-streams-1108485404.html
March 16, 2023, 11:30 PM
BERLIN (Sputnik) - The parliamentary faction of the German opposition right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has requested the creation of a parliamentary commission to investigate the explosions on Nord Stream gas pipelines, party co-chairman Tino Chrupalla said on Thursday.
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North Korea Reveals Thursday Launch Was Overseen by Kim Jong-un, Involved Hwasong-17 ICBM
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/north-korea-reveals-thursday-launch-was-overseen-by-kim-jong-un-involved-hwasong-17-icbm-1108485224.html
March 16, 2023, 11:25 PM
North Korea has repeatedly blasted the US and South Korea for escalating tensions in the region, taking issue with continued joint military drills that Pyongyang sees as a threat to its sovereignty.
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US Banks Reportedly Borrowed Record $164.8 Billion From Federal Reserve Over Past Week
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/us-banks-borrow-record-1648bln-from-federal-reserve-over-past-week-media-reports-1108485069.html
March 16, 2023, 11:21 PM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US banks reportedly borrowed a record $164.8 billion from the Federal Reserve over the past week to mitigate impacts from the fallout of the Silicon Valley Bank closure.
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Leader of France's The Republicans Party Says Democracy in Country Experiencing Crisis
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/leader-of-frances-the-republicans-party-says-democracy-in-country-experiencing-crisis-1108484530.html
March 16, 2023, 10:53 PM
PARIS (Sputnik) - The leader of the French liberal-conservative party The Republicans, Eric Ciotti, said on Thursday that the adoption of the pension reform bill without a vote in parliament indicates a crisis of democracy in the country, however, he refused to support a vote of no confidence in the government.
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Singapore to Import Record 1GW of Low-Carbon Electricity From Cambodia, Reports Energy Agency
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/singapore-to-import-record-1gw-of-low-carbon-electricity-from-cambodia-reports-energy-agency-1108483969.html
March 16, 2023, 10:39 PM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Singapore will soon be able to import 1 gigawatt of low-carbon electricity from Cambodia in what will become the country's largest electricity import to date, the Singaporean Energy Market Authority said on Thursday.
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Senior Russian Lawmaker Visiting Algeria Says France Must Repent for Colonial Crimes
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/senior-russian-lawmaker-visiting-algeria-says-france-must-repent-for-colonial-crimes-1108483802.html
March 16, 2023, 10:24 PM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - France should kneel before the Algerian people and repent for the crimes it committed in the times of colonialism, Russian upper house speaker Valentina Matvienko said on Thursday.
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UK Interior Minister to Visit Rwanda to Discuss Cooperation on Illegal Migration, Media Reports
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/uk-interior-minister-to-visit-rwanda-to-discuss-cooperation-on-illegal-migration-media-reports-1108483507.html
March 16, 2023, 10:11 PM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Secretary of State for the Home Department Suella Braverman will travel to Rwanda on March 17 to discuss the controversial bilateral agreement on relocating illegal migrants to the African country, British media reported on Thursday.
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‘Foaming, Spitting & Uncontrollable Rage’: Former Staffers Describe an Abusive Marianne Williamson
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/foaming-spitting--uncontrollable-rage-former-staffers-describe-an-abusive-marianne-williamson-1108482934.html
March 16, 2023, 9:37 PM
The self-help guru and best-selling author first came to prominence when Oprah Winfrey bought 1,000 copies of her book "A Return to Love," a book based on the notion of rejecting one’s ego, fear and resentments and embracing love. Williamson has also previously campaigned on creating a “US Department of Peace” were she to be elected.
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Credit Suisse Sued Over Claims of Failure to Report Internal Control Weaknesses
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/credit-suisse-sued-over-claims-of-failure-to-report-internal-control-weaknesses-1108483231.html
March 16, 2023, 9:35 PM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The Switzerland-based global investment bank Credit Suisse is facing a shareholder lawsuit over claims that the financial institution misled investors by failing to disclose significant internal control weaknesses ahead of its present liquidity crunch and stock value drop, according to a court complaint filed Thursday.
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‘Very Cruel’: Scientists Rally to Oppose World’s First Octopus Farm Proposed in Canary Islands
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/very-cruel-scientists-rally-to-oppose-worlds-first-octopus-farm-proposed-in-canary-islands-1108482365.html
March 16, 2023, 9:12 PM
Scientists and animal welfare advocates are moving to block a proposed octopus farm in the Spanish-controlled Canary Islands, which would be the world’s first such facility. They say the animals would be kept and killed in cruel conditions.
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Lack of Mining Capacity Threatens to Upend Global Lithium Race, Analyst Says
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/lack-of-mining-capacity-threatens-to-upend-global-lithium-race-1108482636.html
March 16, 2023, 9:07 PM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - A lack of mining capacity, despite billions in investments, will remain the most challenging obstacle the world faces in meeting the booming demand for lithium, a key element in the production of electric batteries and other green transition products, analysts told Sputnik.
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War for Taiwan? It Would Be Our Craziest Conflict Ever
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/war-for-taiwan-it-would-be-our-craziest-conflict-ever-1108480603.html
March 16, 2023, 8:33 PM
America and the West have begun promoting the idea of a war against China over Taiwan. If China invades Taiwan, President Joe Biden has said the US would go further than it has in Ukraine, sending American ground troops as well as weapons. While some 37% of US voters agree with Biden, how do you go to war to defend a country from invading itself?
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US Lawmaker Blames SVB Failure on 'Bidenflation' Amid Concerns of Looming Bailouts
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/svb-failure-due-to-bidenflation-bailouts-possibly-considered-in-future-says-us-congressman-1108481764.html
March 16, 2023, 8:27 PM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Joe Biden's economic policies are to blame for the closing of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and congressionally-approved bailouts may be considered in the future if other failing American banks need to be rescued amid the fallout, Republican Congressman Paul Gosar told Sputnik on Thursday.
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US Charges Cannabis Distributor, Its CEO & Five Entities Over Fraud Scheme
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/us-charges-cannabis-distributor-its-ceo--five-entities-over-fraud-scheme-1108481324.html
March 16, 2023, 8:05 PM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The US government charged a cannabis distribution company, its CEO and five other entities and persons for participation in a large fraud scheme, US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said on Thursday.
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Massive Bloom of Stinky, Rotting Seaweed Headed for Florida’s Coast
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/massive-bloom-of-stinky-rotting-seaweed-headed-for-floridas-coast-1108480951.html
March 16, 2023, 7:44 PM
A large piece of the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt, a massive growth of floating seaweed stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to the African coast, has broken off and is floating towards the United States.
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Scientists Spy Volcanic Activity on Venus
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/scientists-spy-volcanic-activity-on-venus-1108479678.html
March 16, 2023, 7:05 PM
A surface feature that appears to be a volcanic vent has been spotted on the surface of Venus thanks to the Magellan spacecraft that visited the planet about three decades ago.
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'Bakhmut Meat Grinder': Zelensky PR Stunt or Something More?
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/bakhmut-meat-grinder-zelensky-pr-stunt-or-something-more-1108479173.html
March 16, 2023, 7:04 PM
While the Ukrainian leadership may well be insistent on holding the city of Artemovsk (Bakhmut) for the sake of publicity, there may also be other factors at work.
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Poland's Transfer of MiG-29s to Ukraine Does Not Change US Stance on F-16s: White House
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/polands-transfer-of-mig-29s-to-ukraine-does-not-change-us-stance-on-f-16s-white-house-1108479830.html
March 16, 2023, 6:53 PM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Poland's transfer of MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine does not affect the United States' position on the transfer of its F-16 jets to Kiev, National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby said on Thursday.
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Striking UK Health Workers Strike Tentative Pay Deal With Government
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/striking-uk-health-workers-strike-tentative-pay-deal-with-government-1108477178.html
March 16, 2023, 6:26 PM
Nurses and other healthcare workers have joined the wave of strikes engulfing the UK as inflation soared into double digits — driven by sanctions on Russian energy exports. Now they will be balloted on a deal that falls way below their initial demands.
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Laxity or Unprofessionalism? How Directors and Executives Ran SVB Aground
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/laxity-or-unprofessionalism-how-directors-and-executives-ran-svb-aground-1108478686.html
March 16, 2023, 6:24 PM
Just one member of Silicon Valley Bank's board of directors was a career investment banker, while the others included former Democratic donors and one Obama administration official, according to western media.
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Happy Ending: Teenage Hero Awarded New Home for Rescuing Kids Under Ukrainian Attack
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/happy-ending-teenage-hero-awarded-new-home-for-rescuing-kids-under-ukrainian-attack-1108475168.html
March 16, 2023, 6:16 PM
Fyodor was in a car shelled by Ukrainian terrorists in the beginning of March. His uncle, who drove the vehicle, was killed and Fyodor himself was wounded. Despite pain and shock, he managed to escape and to save two schoolgirls that were with him.
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'Our Banking System is Sound': Yellen Tells Congress 'Decisive' Actions Stabilized Financial Markets
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/our-banking-system-is-sound-yellen-tells-congress-decisive-actions-stabilized-financial-markets-1108477844.html
March 16, 2023, 5:53 PM
While the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates in an attempt to quell historically high inflation, the aggressive rate hikes have also devalued bonds into which investors have sunk large quantities of capital, increasing uncertainty as to how much cash banks can actually produce on demand.
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Blinken in Ethiopia: Domination Lurks Behind US-Imposed Partnerships, Expert Says
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/blinken-in-ethiopia-domination-lurks-behind-us-imposed-partnerships-expert-says-1108471782.html
March 16, 2023, 4:50 PM
Addis Ababa saw the arrival of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on March 14. During the visit, he met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen.
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Buenos Aires Considers Buying Chinese-Pakistani F-17 Thunder Fighter Jet
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/buenos-aires-considers-buying-chinese-pakistani-f-17-thunder-fighter-jet-1108474768.html
March 16, 2023, 4:49 PM
Argentina could soon buy China's JF-17 "Thunder," an advanced fighter jet jointly developed with Pakistan and designed for export.
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Is My Money 100% Safe in the Bank? No, But Here Are Some Tips to Reduce Risks
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/is-my-money-100-safe-in-the-bank-no-but-here-are-some-tips-to-reduce-risks-1108475956.html
March 16, 2023, 4:42 PM
The Silicon Valley Bank's (SVB) collapse and Credit Suisse liquidity crisis have sent shivers to both depositors and investors across the world, triggering the question how secure the banking system is.
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UK Trophy Hunting Bill Would Cut Conservation Funding: African Environmentalists
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/uk-trophy-hunting-bill-would-cut-conservation-funding-african-environmentalists-1108473184.html
March 16, 2023, 4:30 PM
Lawmakers in the United Kingdom are set to vote on Friday on a bill aimed at protecting endangered animals by prohibiting the import of hunting trophies to the European country. In the UK, the bill found wide support, however, in Africa, conservationists and government officials seem to have a different point of view on this issue.
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Russia Has Good Odds of Retrieving Reaper, Gaining Access to Technology and Info
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/russia-has-good-odds-of-retrieving-reaper-gaining-access-to-technology-and-info-1108474897.html
March 16, 2023, 4:13 PM
Russia may retrieve the US MQ-9 Reaper drone from the Black Sea, despite reports from Washington that the Pentagon has already erased all sensitive information from it, Sputnik's interlocutors say, adding that one cannot be so sure that nothing valuable is left.
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Fifty-Five Years Since My Lai Massacre: How US Soldiers Freely Murdered Vietnamese Civilians
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/fifty-five-years-since-my-lai-massacre-how-us-soldiers-freely-murdered-vietnamese-civilians-1108469373.html
March 16, 2023, 3:57 PM
Despite the fact that over 500 innocent Vietnamese, including women and children, were murdered by US troops, virtually all of the perpetrators got away scot free.
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USAF Released Video of Black Sea Drone Being Approached by Russian Jets
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/usaf-released-video-of-black-sea-drone-being-approached-by-russian-jets-1108473653.html
March 16, 2023, 3:54 PM
Even though the United States previously claimed that Russian fighter aircraft collided with their attack drone, thus allegedly causing the UAV's demise, no such events can be seen in the footage released by the US Air Force.
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UK Government Bans Chinese TikTok Social Media App From Official Phones
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/uk-government-bans-chinese-tiktok-social-media-app-from-official-phones-1108469254.html
March 16, 2023, 3:54 PM
TikTok users hoping to see British cabinet ministers and civil servants miming and dancing to pop songs in their Whitehall offices will be disappointed. Downing Street has banned installing the app on departmental mobile phones.
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US AFRICOM Says Chinese Base in West Africa Would Change Geostrategic Calculus
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/us-africom-says-chinese-base-in-west-africa-would-change-geostrategic-calculus-1108473058.html
March 16, 2023, 3:35 PM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The United States Africa Command warned on Thursday that if China was able to establish a military base in West Africa, it would change the whole geostrategic calculus of protecting the United States.
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MQ-9 Drone Incident: Biden's Dangerous Escalation
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/mq-9-drone-incident-bidens-dangerous-escalation-1108466518.html
March 16, 2023, 3:21 PM
A US surveillance drone crashed off the coast of Crimea after an encounter with a Russian fighter aircraft. What does this incident say about the current state of the war in Ukraine and where Russia and the US might go from here.
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Moscow, Algiers May Soon Ink Renewed Strategic Partnership Declaration, Says Russian Speaker
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/moscow-algiers-may-soon-ink-renewed-strategic-partnership-declaration-says-russian-speaker--1108461040.html
March 16, 2023, 3:11 PM
Led by Speaker Valentina Matvienko, a delegation from Russia's Federation Council arrived in Algeria on Wednesday. Ahead of meeting the nation's head of state, she took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Martyrs' Memorial in Algiers and met with the chairman of Algeria's Council of the Nation and the National People's Assembly.
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Botswana Starts First Agrivoltaic Project to Harness Solar Energy
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/botswana-starts-first-agrivoltaic-project-to-harness-solar-energy-1108468741.html
March 16, 2023, 3:08 PM
Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) has launched a first-of-its-kind renewable energy project. The project has been developed in cooperation between the University and the private sector, after being prepared more than a year.
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Mass Protests amid Benjamin Netanyahu's Visit to Berlin
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/mass-protests-amid-benjamin-netanyahus-visit-to-berlin-1108454907.html
March 16, 2023, 2:31 PM
Part of society opposes judicial reform initiated by prime minister. On the other hand, Israeli government insists that new legislation will balance different branches of power.
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Seoul, Tokyo Agree to Resume 'Shuttle Diplomacy' After Fence-Mending Summit
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/seoul-tokyo-agree-to-resume-shuttle-diplomacy-after-fence-mending-summit-1108466200.html
March 16, 2023, 2:29 PM
The South Korean president and his wife are scheduled to tour Japan on March 16-17, a trip that marks the first visit of a South Korean leader to the Land of the Rising Sun in 12 years.
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Macron Government Bypasses French Parliament to Push Through Pension Age Hike
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/french-authorities-to-pass-law-raising-retirement-age-without-vote-in-parliament-media-reports-1108469633.html
March 16, 2023, 2:23 PM
PARIS (Sputnik) - The French cabinet decided on Thursday to adopt a controversial law raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 years, which has been fueling major protests across the country for the past few months.
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Silicon Valley Bank Was 'Canary in the Coal Mine' of Deepening Finance Crisis
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/silicon-valley-bank-was-canary-in-the-coal-mine-of-deepening-finance-crisis-1108452689.html
March 16, 2023, 1:35 PM
The sudden share price slump at Switzerland's biggest private bank has sent shockwaves through the global financial markets. Investigative journalist Dan Lazare, author of America's Undeclared War, argues that the crash was heralded by last week's collapse of the US Silicon Valley Bank.
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US Using Intrusive Approach to South Sudan, Russia's UN Security Council Representative Says
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/us-using-intrusive-approach-to-south-sudan-russias-un-security-council-representative-says-1108461525.html
March 16, 2023, 1:31 PM
As military clashes persisted after the Civil War in South Sudan ended in 2020, the UN-initiated mission aimed at resolving the dispute. The UN Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) is being undertaken via a so-called penholders system, which allows permanent Security Council members to draft resolutions and chair related negotiations.
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Chancellor Scholz Claims Germany 'Independent' From Russian Fuel After 8 Months
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/chancellor-scholz-claims-germany-independent-from-russian-fuel-after-8-months-1108466682.html
March 16, 2023, 1:04 PM
BERLIN (Sputnik) - According to the head of government, Berlin has successfully phased out Russian energy resources.
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Russian Patriarch Slams Onslaught on Kiev-Pechersk Lavra by Zelensky Regime
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/russian-patriarch-slams-onslaught-on-kiev-pechersk-lavra-by-zelensky-regime--1108465780.html
March 16, 2023, 12:52 PM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' said that the closure of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, one of Orthodox Christianity's most sacred sites, by the Ukrainian authorities would violate the rights of millions of Ukrainian believers.
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Putin Says Russian Economy Beginning to Develop According to New Model
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/putin-says-russian-economy-beginning-to-develop-according-to-new-model-1108464566.html
March 16, 2023, 12:40 PM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia's economy is starting to develop in accordance with a new model, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
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Blinken Pins Condition on to Post-War Humanitarian Aid For Ethiopia
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/blinken-pins-condition-on-to-post-war-humanitarian-aid-for-ethiopia-1108446244.html
March 16, 2023, 12:33 PM
On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Addis Ababa, where he met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen to discuss a range of issues, including the implementation of a peace deal between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray rebels in the country's north.
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Assad to Sputnik: World War III Already Unleashed by West in Form of Proxy War
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/assad-to-sputnik-world-war-iii-already-unleashed-by-west-in-form-of-proxy-war-1108458380.html
March 16, 2023, 11:51 AM
Syrian President Bashar Assad was interviewed by Sputnik after his summit with Putin. Assad stressed that modern conflicts between rival powers are waged as proxy wars, citing Kiev's "army of Nazis" and Western-backed jihadists in Syria. The Syrian leader believes only a coalition of countries led by Russia and China can topple the US hegemony.
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Burkina Faso Arrests Frenchman Suspected of Espionage, ICG says
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/burkina-faso-arrests-frenchman-suspected-of-espionage-icg-says-1108454685.html
March 16, 2023, 11:50 AM
Soon after the arrest, the French consultant for the International Crisis Group (ICG) operating in Burkina Faso was released and able to leave the country. The arrest took place nearly three months after Burkinabe authorities expelled two French citizens suspected of spying for Paris.
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President Widodo Calls for Scrapping Visa, MasterCard to Help Indonesia 'Be Independent'
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/president-widodo-calls-for-scrapping-visa-mastercard-to-help-indonesia-be-independent-1108458862.html
March 16, 2023, 11:44 AM
Indonesia, which is the world’s seventh largest economy in terms of GDP (PPP), launched a Domestic Government Credit Card payment system in March 2022.
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Credit Suisse Crisis May Trigger Domino Effect and Eventual Capital Flight From Europe
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/credit-suisse-crisis-may-trigger-domino-effect-and-eventual-capital-flight-from-europe-1108460475.html
March 16, 2023, 11:42 AM
Credit Suisse's liquidity crisis may be just the tip of the iceberg as other banks and non-bank financial institutions could become much more fragile and close to failure, Sergio Rossi, professor of macroeconomics and monetary economics at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, told Sputnik.
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Mozambique Cancels Visas for Citizens of 28 Countries, Including Russia
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/mozambique-cancels-visas-for-citizens-of-28-countries-including-russia-1108453988.html
March 16, 2023, 11:30 AM
The new policy is expected to have a positive impact on Mozambique's economy and further strengthen its relationships with other nations, as part of the African country's government reform efforts are aimed at making it a more competitive and more accessible country for visitors and investors.
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Putin Participates in Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Congress
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/putin-participates-in-russian-union-of-industrialists-and-entrepreneurs-congress-1108448136.html
March 16, 2023, 11:29 AM
Putin previously stated that Russia managed to boost its economic sovereignty amid the harsh US-led Western sanctions over its special military operation in Ukraine during 2022.
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IAEA Loses Over Two Tons of Libyan Uranium Despite Russia's Decade-Long Warning
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/iaea-loses-over-two-tons-of-libyan-uranium-despite-russias-decade-long-warning-1108459216.html
March 16, 2023, 11:20 AM
The International Atomic Energy Agency has found that around 2.5 tons of natural uranium stored in an unnamed site in Libya have gone missing, the nuclear watchdog said Wednesday, citing proliferation concerns.
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Credit Suisse Bank Announces Sale of Assets Worth Over $3Bln
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/credit-suisse-bank-announces-sale-of-assets-worth-over-3bln-1108459460.html
March 16, 2023, 11:08 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Switzerland's Credit Suisse bank announced Thursday the sale of a number of its assets in the form of debt securities in euros and dollars worth more than $3 billion.
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Swedish Food Prices See Record Surge in 70 Years Amid Rampant Inflation
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/swedish-food-prices-see-record-surge-in-70-years-amid-rampant-inflation-1108443787.html
March 16, 2023, 10:58 AM
The massive increase in food prices, with some items becoming as much as 80 percent more expensive, has baffled analysts. They pinned the initial rise on the overall surge in energy and electricity prices, which have since subsided – yet with no visible effect on the inflation rate.
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Protests Take Place in Tel Aviv Against Judicial Reform
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/protests-take-place-in-tel-aviv-against-judicial-reform-1108445135.html
March 16, 2023, 10:49 AM
The opposition believes that Netanyahu’s policies undermine democracy and judicial system of Israel. Some protesters even dub his planned reforms as coup attempt.
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Ex-Pentagon Analyst: Reaper Could be Sent by US to Assist with Combat Ops Against Russia
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/ex-pentagon-analyst-reaper-could-be-sent-by-us-to-assist-with-combat-ops-against-russia-1108453125.html
March 16, 2023, 10:14 AM
The MQ-9 Reaper drone's recovery will be challenging as it sank to a significant depth in the Black Sea, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley has admitted at a Pentagon briefing as the US and Russia both race to retrieve the wreckage.
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TikTok Reportedly Faces US Ban if App’s Owners Fail to Sell Stakes
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/tiktok-reportedly-faces-us-ban-if-apps-owners-fail-to-sell-stakes-1108448787.html
March 16, 2023, 9:45 AM
Several US governors have already prohibited state officials from using TikTok on their devices and on state premises, in line with a federal law approved by the Senate late last year.
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'National Tragedy': President Appeals for Help as Cyclone Freddy Kills 225 in Malawi
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/national-tragedy-president-appeals-for-help-as-cyclone-freddy-kills-225-in-malawi-1108447322.html
March 16, 2023, 9:42 AM
Malawi has been struck by the longest-lasting tropical cyclone ever recorded. The country's president has urged international support as the country is facing catastrophic consequences from the storm.
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Assad Praises Russian Aid to Earthquake-Hit Syria
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/assad-praises-russian-aid-to-earthquake-hit-syria--1108445468.html
March 16, 2023, 9:25 AM
On February 6, parts of Turkiye and Syria were hit by powerful 7.7 and 7.6-magnitude earthquakes and a series of aftershocks that caused massive casualties and destruction, killing and injuring thousands of people and leaving many more homeless.
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Assad to Sputnik: International Coalition Needed to Counter US Hegemony
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/assad-international-coalition-needed-to-counter-us-hegemony-1108449282.html
March 16, 2023, 8:59 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - A coalition of countries is necessary to counter the US hegemony in the world, Syrian President Bashar Assad said in an interview with Sputnik, adding that Russia and China have a special responsibility in this regard.
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Russia's Envoy to US Slams American Senator's Warmongering Calls to Down Russian Aircraft
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/russias-envoy-to-us-american-senators-calls-to-down-russian-aircraft-is-warmongering-1108444182.html
March 16, 2023, 8:51 AM
Following the March 14 American drone incident in the Black Sea, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina suggested that the American military should shoot down Russian jets if they get too close to US aircraft.
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Norway Goes on Arms Buying Spree Replacing NH90s With US-Made Military Helicopters
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/norway-goes-on-arms-buying-spree-replacing-nh90s-with-us-made-military-helicopters-1108442588.html
March 16, 2023, 7:57 AM
Over the past five years, European countries in the US-led NATO bloc have beefed up their arms imports by 65%, with Washington being the main provider. This contrasts with international arms transfers that dropped by 5.1% in the corresponding period.
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Assad to Sputnik: Syria Has Evidence That United States Training Terrorists at Al-Tanf Military Base
https://sputniknews.com/20230316/syria-has-evidence-that-united-states-training-terrorists-at-al-tanf-military-base-assad-says-1108445801.html
March 16, 2023, 7:34 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Syrian leadership has evidence that the United States is training terrorists on the territory of the Al-Tanf military base, Syrian President Bashar Assad said in an interview with Sputnik.
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