⚡⚡ Putin signs decree recognizing Zaporozhye, Kherson regions as independent territories

MORE | The Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics in the Donbass region rebelled against Ukrainian sovereignty in 2014 as well, after the new right-wing nationalist government attempted to reduce the status of the Russian language in the country. Before February, when Moscow recognized the independence of the Donbass republics, roughly one-third of Ukrainians were ethnic Russians and spoke Russian as their first language, which another one-third speak Russian regularly.

Russian-speakers are a majority of the population in all five provinces that have voted to secede from Ukraine.

‼️ UN Chief’s statement on referenda another example of ‘Double Standards’ - Russian Mission ➡️ LIVE UPDATES

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ statement on the referenda held in the Donetsk and Lugansk people’ republics (DNR and LNR) and in the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions are an assault on the right to self determination and an example of double standards, the Russian mission to the United Nations said.

"Against this backdrop such a direct assault by the UN Secretary-General on the fundamental right of self-determination expressed by the population of DNR, LNR, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions represents yet another example of double standards," the Russian mission said in a statement on Thursday evening.

‼️ Pentagon awards $12Mln modified contract for radar systems going to Ukraine

The US military awarded the firm SRCTec a $12 million contract to produce radar systems that will go to Ukraine, the Pentagon said in a press release.

"SRCTec LLC, Syracuse, New York, was awarded a $12,096,538 modification (PZ0004) to contract W56KGY-22-C-0004 for UKR/TPQ-50 radar systems," the release said on Thursday. "Fiscal 2022 Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funds in the amount of $12,096,538 were obligated at the time of the award."

Work on the procurement is estimated to be complete on June 30, 2023, the release said.

The Defense Department has committed more than $16 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, consisting of weapons provided immediately from US stockpiles and other weapon contracts that may take up to three years to complete.

⛽️ Germany to spend billions to tackle high energy prices

The country plans to spend up to 200 billion euros ($195 billion) helping consumers and businesses as surging energy prices due to the conflict in Ukraine are pushing Europe’s largest economy into a looming recession.

The fund, part of wide efforts across Europe to provide relief on energy bills to households and businesses, was announced as German inflation hit double digits for the first time in decades, reaching 10.9% in September under the EU’s harmonized standard. 

Still, the government could be forced to ration energy to businesses if there is an exceptionally cold winter, a scenario that could cause a further sharp drop in the economy. Even now, high prices are making steel and fertilizer makers shut down production, saying it’s not profitable due to the cost.

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🇬🇧 UK’s Truss defends economic plan

British Prime Minister Liz Truss on Thursday defended her divisive economic plan and shrugged off the turmoil it has stirred in financial markets, saying she’s willing to make “controversial and difficult decisions” to get the UK economy growing. In her first public comments since her Conservative government announced billions in unfunded tax cuts last Friday that drove the pound to record lows.

She spoke after the Bank of England took emergency action Wednesday to stabilize UK financial markets and head off a crisis in the broader economy after the government spooked investors with sweeping tax cuts that many see as benefiting the wealthy, to be paid for by a surge of public borrowing. The government says it will set out a more detailed fiscal plan on Nov. 23. Many economists say deep spending cuts are inevitable.

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⚡️ US, Allies Discussing New Military Aid Package to Kiev - Austin

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Thursday that the United States is discussing with allies a new military aid package to Kiev, including training of the Ukrainian military.

"As you've seen us do over time, we have continued to look for ways along with our international partners to provide additional security assistance to Ukraine. Whether this assistance is in the form of actual equipment or other logistical support or training, we continue to evaluate what will be needed and make provisions to provide that security assistance, and so, that will be ongoing," Austin told a joint press conference with Philippine Defense Secretary Jose Faustino in Hawaii.

Austin added that the US will not speculate about the length of the conflict in Ukraine.

"In terms of how long the conflict will last, don't want to speculate either. What I will tell you is that we will continue to support Ukraine, as you've heard our president say, for as long as it takes," Austin said.

🏛 House approves scaled-down bill targeting Big Tech dominance

The House approved sharply scaled-down legislation targeting the dominance of Big Tech companies by giving states greater power in antitrust cases and increasing money for federal regulators. The bill also would increase filing fees paid by companies to federal agencies for all proposed mergers worth $500 million or more, while reducing the fees for small and medium-sized transactions. The aim is to increase revenue for federal enforcement efforts.

The broader antitrust package would restrict powerful tech companies from favoring their own products and services over rivals on their platforms and could even lead to mandated breakups separating companies’ dominant platforms from their other businesses. Under the bill, companies seeking approval for mergers would have to disclose subsidies they received from countries deemed to pose strategic or economic risks to the United States — especially China.

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📺 Trevor Noah to exit ‘Daily Show’ after seven years

The comedian, who came out of near anonymity to take over the program from Jon Stewart in 2015, plans to exit the flagship Comedy Central series after a seven-year tenure that saw him transform it for a new generation of viewers who are more at home on social media than they are cable outlets and broadcast networks.

In announcing his departure, Noah explained that his decision was driven in part by an eagerness to resume touring the world as a standup comedian. “I miss learning other languages, I miss going to other countries and putting on shows,” he said.

Comedy Central has several potential replacements for Noah on its roster, that includes mainstays such as Desi Lydic, Roy Wood Jr., Ronny Chieng, Michael Kosta and Dulcé Sloan.

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⚡️The Pentagon is preparing to deploy a command center in Germany to monitor and manage the support Ukraine is receiving from the United States and its EU and NATO allies, the New York Times writes, citing sources

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📹 Russian airborne troops destroyed Ukrainian forces and equipment with the help of quadrocopters which had found Ukrainian positions

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⚡️Foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan will meet on October 2 in Geneva - Armenian Foreign Ministry told Sputnik

Follow our LIVE UPDATES on the Nord Stream situation

⚡️Russian Security Council Secretary on explosions at Nord Stream: US is main beneficiary, primarily economic

⚡️⚡️Lavrov: EU lost its autonomy, suffers enormous losses from what US dragged it into

📌Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev’s latest statements:

▪️It's categorically contraindicated to allow the US and its allies to join projects on the availability of water resources for different countries;

▪️The current Afghan authorities are still euphoric from their victory over the US;

▪️The prevention of weapons spreading from Ukraine to other regions requires the combined efforts of the special services of the Commonwealth of Independent States;

▪️The US ability to maintain its hegemony is becoming more limited, but Washington is actively trying to destabilise different countries;

▪️The management systems created by the Taliban in Afghanistan are unstable; there are contradictions within them;

▪️The main goal of the Anglo-Saxons remains to ensure their strategic and economic superiority over others;

▪️The current geopolitical situation in the world is unpredictable

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⚡️EU should impose price cap not only on pipeline Russian gas but also on Russian LNG imports, EU Energy Commissioner says

⚡️23 killed, 34 injured in Ukrainian strike on civilian convoy near exit to liberated part of Zaporozhye region, local authorities say