US Imports From Russia Doubled From September to October, Trade Data Shows

Data on the US-Russia trade deficit shows that in September, the US imported $332.1 million worth of goods from Russia, but in October, it imported $732 million in goods - a $400 million increase.

While specific data from October was not yet available, September data showed fertilizer was the largest US import, even greater than that seen in February. Iron and steel, as well as nonferrous metals, have also formed a sizable part of US purchases from Russia.

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The relevant committees of both chambers of Congress have agreed on the proposed US defense budget, which is estimated at $847.3 bln in FY2023.

The draft includes a provision that Washington will seek the "exclusion of the Russian Federation" from a number of international organizations, including the G20.

What else is in the budget bill?

▪️The proposed legislation contains an initiative to impose sanctions for participation in gold and foreign exchange transactions with the Russian Federation

▪️ Allocates over $6 billion for the "containment" of Russia in Europe

▪️ Establishes a permanent ban on the exchange of information with the Russian Federation on missile defense systems

▪️ Requires a reduction of dependence on Russian fuel at all bases in the area of responsibility of the European Command of the US Armed Forces

▪️ extends the ban on military cooperation with Russia for another five years

▪️includes the allocation of an additional $800 million to Ukraine in 2023

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IATA Head: Western Countries Should Prepare to Resume Flights Over Russia

🛫 Western countries should start preparing for the resumption of air traffic over the territory of Russia, said William Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association.

🗣 "We should be looking to reopen Russian airspace to have it accessible to all airlines to transit through the traditional Siberian flights so that Europe can access Asia in the most efficient way," William Walsh said, as quoted by British media.

The Western powers suspended their flights through Russian airspace following the start of the special operation in Ukraine

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🛢After the EU concluded an agreement to set a ceiling on prices for Russian oil at $60 per barrel, Moscow decided to consider possible options for responding to the introduction of EU and G7 restrictions on prices for Russian oil

What are these options?

Read about it in Sputnik's article

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🇬🇧 The UK must urgently increase its aid to drought-stricken East African countries, former secretaries of state for international development and the heads of the country’s leading humanitarian agencies have said in a joint letter to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

🗣“Although a full-scale famine is yet to be officially declared, what we are seeing on the ground is a famine in all but name. Despite the rapidly mounting death toll, the international response is woefully underfunded and the UK has failed to do its bit,” the letter read.

▪️They stated that over 28 million people need immediate humanitarian aid in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia, while more than 7 million children are malnourished across the region. At the same time, British aid to these nations is one-fifth of what the country managed to provide in 2017, when the region was hit by a devastating famine.

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Biden: "They'll construct a second fab here in Phoenix to build chips, 3 nanochips, the 3 nanochip, chips that are 3 nano — any — you know what I'm saying. Nano, nono, I don't know."

- Lays, Doritos, Pringle’s - which of them are nanochips?
- Nano, nono, I don’t know

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⚡️Russian Foreign Ministry on draft US defense budget: attempts to exclude Russia from G20 destined to fail, most countries will not support them

🇨🇳🇷🇺 Trade turnover between China and Russia increased 32% from January to November. In the first eleven months of 2022, it reached a record $172.4 billion, according to a report issued by the General Customs Administration.

China exported to Russia goods worth $67.3 billion in January-November 2022, a 13.4% increase year-on-year, while Russian exports to China jumped by 47.5%, amounting to $105 billion, the data showed

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⚡️Lavrov: 'American globalization' is over as new system emerges free from western whims

📌 Key points of the phone conversation between President Putin and UAE President Mohammed al Nahyan:

▪️The Russian president and his counterpart stated the consistent implementation by all participating states of the agreed-upon decisions within the framework of OPEC+

▪️The Russian president and the UAE president discussed the situation in connection with the West's attempts to impose a ceiling on Russian oil prices that contradict the principles of world trade

▪️Leaders noted the effectiveness of joint work within the framework of OPEC+ to ensure the stability of the global oil market

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📹 Footage of the use of an armored combat train of the Russian army during a special operation (Russian MoD video)

The special train carries a huge supply of weapons:

▪️ A crew with a large variety of small arms: from assault rifles to heavy machine guns.

▪️ An anti-aircraft gun, which can hit both air and ground targets.

▪️ A twin 23mm cannon.

▪️ Sniper positions.

The list of the main tasks of the special train includes technical reconnaissance, demining the and restoration of destroyed railway lines

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⚡More statements by the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the Primakov Readings, an international forum:

▪The financial and logistics spheres should not depend on the vagaries of the West;

▪The BRICS five can turn into an association of 15-17 states if everyone is accepted for membership. It is known that Argentina, Algeria, Iran, Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt seek to join the organiztion;

▪In December, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economic Development will hold a joint board on the re-profiling of foreign policy activities in Asia;

▪️ Initiatives on the tribunal against the Russia in Ukraine or on reparations are illegitimate;

▪If there is a serious proposal on how to stop the conflict in Ukraine, we are ready to talk, but it must take into account the interests of Russia

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⚡US defense budget is confrontational and unprecedented, aimed at long-term destabilization on European continent - Kremlin

❗Russian’s MoD report on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine:

▪Russian Forces have eliminated more than 130 Ukrainian servicemen, as well as destroyed two infantry combat vehicles and one other vehicle near Krasny Liman;

▪The Russian Army has eliminated up to 70 Ukrainian troops, as well as destroyed a Ukrainian infantry vehicle, two “Gvozdika” self-propelled artillery systems and three other vehicles near Kupyansk;

▪Russian troops eliminated more than 40 Ukrainian servicemen, three armored combat vehicles and a pick-up truck near Donetsk;

▪Russian Forces eliminated and wounded up to 100 Ukrainian troops, as well as destroyed two infantry combat vehicles, one armored vehicle and four other vehicles in the DPR;

▪The Russian Army hit 79 Ukrainian artillery units at their firing positions;

▪Russian Forces hit temporary dislocation point of foreign mercenaries in the Kharkov region, as well as destroyed two US-made AN/TPQ-50 radar stations in the DPR and in the Kharkov region;

▪Russian troops destroyed HIMARS MLRS and 48 HIMARS rockets in the vicinity of Malotaranovka (DPR);

▪The Russian Army destroyed S-300 radar station in the Kharkov region, as well as destroyed an Ukrainian ammunition depot in the Zaporozhye region;

▪Russian Air Forces shot down Ukrainian Su-24 aircraft in the DPR;

▪Russian air defense destroyed four Ukrainian UAVs, as well as intercepted four HIMARS, Olkha and Uragan rockets.

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Catch our show Fault Lines, where we provide updates on all the most vital stories! Here's our line-up for Wednesday:

🔺 First, we'll discuss the federal authorities’ decision to start investigating Elon Musk’s Neurolink Company after releasing Twitter files

🔺 Then, we’ll talk about TV Rain being stripped of its license in Europe

🔺 Finally, we’ll discuss Georgia Senate elections results

Get your day started out right! Tune in to Radio Sputnik at 7am EST|4am PST|1pm CET via the website or app!

📻 Also in the United States at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 13.90AM

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New Documents Reveal Clearer Ties Between CIA & Lee Harvey Oswald

At a Tuesday news conference, journalist and expert on the John F. Kennedy assassination Jefferson Morley told reporters that he and the Mary Ferrell Foundation obtained documents that will shed new light on the CIA’s relationship with Oswald.

The documents relate to a still-classified operation and do show Oswald was working with the CIA in the weeks before Kennedy’s assassination.

However, in a 1975 deposition, CIA Director Richard Helms claimed Oswald was “never used by the CIA,” and that the agency was unable to find any “evidence that Oswald had any connection with the CIA.”

Even today, the government maintains that Oswald acted alone in killing Kennedy and denies that he had any connection with the CIA.

At the same time: Morley said that he believes the CIA is still hiding 44 documents in deceased FBI agent George Joannides’ personal file that will shed more light on Oswald’s connections to the federal government

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Cristiano Ronaldo Breaks Silence on Reported $418 Mln Move to Saudi Club

⚽️ Media reports have claimed that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner will head to Saudi Arabia after inking a whopping $418 million two-year contract with Al Nassr.

So, is true, or not? Check out here

Xi Jinping’s Visit to Saudi Arabia: A ‘Double Blow’ to the US?

Against the backdrop of tense relations between Beijing and Riyadh on the one hand and Washington on the other, the current leader of China, Xi Jinping, will visit Saudi Arabia on a three-day visit at the invitation of its king.

The visit will take place on December 7 and, according to Saudi publications, promises large contracts and agreements worth more than $29 billion. Political agreements are also expected. What impact will the consequences of the visit of the Chinese leader have on the US?

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