❄️🐻‍❄️ Moscow Zoo has shared another load of cuteness!

This time the zoo has been focusing on those bundles of fun which are pandas who have been taking their morning run and are clearly oblivious to the snow!

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🇧🇾 The Belarusian military has completed a snap inspection of its combat readiness which started last week at the instruction of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, the Defense Ministry said on Monday.

On December 13, the combat readiness assessment of the Belarusian armed forces was announced in Belarus as instructed by Lukashenko. Inspection measures covered various aspects, with troops advancing into designated areas, installing engineering equipment, organizing their defense and building crossings over the Neman and Berezina rivers, according to the defense ministry.

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🇪🇺 EU proposals to cap natural gas prices threaten to exacerbate an energy crisis which has already battered ordinary Europeans with outrageously high costs for heating and hot water, higher prices for fuel for vehicles, a jump in food prices, and galloping inflation.

But who really controls gas prices, and how are they set?

Check out this Sputnik explainer for answers.

Life of the world's shortest man: the story of Afshin Esmaeil Ghaderzadeh from Iran

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❗️EU countries reached political agreement on gas price cap within market correction mechanism framework – source

❗️UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ latest statements:

▪️UN is very interested in accelerating the exchange of prisoners of war in the Ukraine conflict;

▪️Guterres strongly hopes that peace in Ukraine will be reached in 2023;

▪️There is space for more serious discussion of UNSC reform, enlargement of the council still on the table;

▪️UN would like to increase exports under the grain deal framework;

▪️UN has completed inspections of Russian fertilizers in Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Estonia; the exports have been authorized.

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Les Bleus C'est Moi: French President's World Cup 'Hubris' Compared to Absolutist Monarchs

Macron drew criticism over his "over-the-top" comments in Qatar after France lost to Argentina in a penalty shoot-out following a thrilling 3-3 draw in extra time.

The commentator pointed out that his closing line of "Vive la République, vive la France" made it sound like a political campaign stump speech — in contrast to the president's previous reluctance to politicize the football tournament in the Persian Gulf monarchy of Qatar.

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❗️Latest statements by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov:

▪️Russia’s special operation was absolutely necessary to thwart plans to turn Ukraine into an "anti-Russia";

▪️There will be a long era of transition to multipolarity and it will not be simple;

▪️The main result of this year is that the situation has finally become clear — who can be trusted, and who cannot;

▪️The presidents of Russia and Belarus confirmed the course to strengthen the independence of the two countries in talks on Monday.

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🇦🇷🇬🇧 “The Falkland Islands are not British, but Argentinian!” Russian ex-president Dmitry Medvedev said in a Telegram post, congratulating Messi's team on their World Cup win.

Commenting on remarks by British PM Rishi Sunak about the impossibility of peace talks with Moscow until Russian forces have withdrawn from Ukraine, Medvedev pointed out the double standards of the West, where politicians always emphasize that “Ukrainians themselves will decide whether to negotiate with Russia or not."

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⚡US House January 6 Panel Recommends 4 Criminal Charges Against Trump, Others

"The first criminal statute we invoke for referral is [obstruction of an official proceeding]. We believe that the evidence assembled throughout our hearing warrants a criminal referral of former President Donald J. Trump, John Eastman, and others for violations of this statute," the panel said.

The remaining three charges include: conspiracy to defraud the US gov, making false statements to US gov, insurrection

‼️Missiles Hit Donetsk Hospital, Kindergarten as Result of Shelling - Mayor

Missiles have hit a hospital and a kindergarten in Donetsk after the shelling of the city by Ukrainian troops, mayor Alexey Kulemzin said on Monday.

"According to preliminary data, one of the buildings of the Kalinin hospital and kindergarten were hit," Kulemzin said on Telegram, adding that houses and cars were damaged in the vicinity of the site.

Earlier in the day, Sputnik correspondent reported that the Ukrainian military shelled the city with "Grad" rockets, according to preliminary information.

🔺 We start off with updates on Ukraine, and there’s no better man to talk to than international security analyst Mark Sleboda
🔺 Next, Jim Kavanagh joins us to discuss the sixth chapter of the Twitter Files, released by independent journalist Matt Taibbi
🔺 And, Dr. Jack Rasmus will tell us how a bunch of utility giants are getting richer at the expense of households

There's more on the other side! Tune in to Radio Sputnik at 6pm EST|3pm PST|12am CET via the website or app

📻 Also in the United States at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM

🇺🇸 Republican Liz Cheney says Donald Trump "is unfit for any office."

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‼️Putin: Russian Security Agencies Must Intensify Work Amid New Threats

The work of Russia's security agencies should be intensified in key areas amid new threats, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

The head of state congratulated the employees of state security bodies on their professional holiday. He said in recent years Russia's security services have been working with high efficiency.

"Today, the dynamically changing global situation, the emergence of new threats and risks place increased demands on the entire system of Russian security agencies. And this means that you must seriously intensify work in key areas, make the most of your operational, technical, and personnel potential for this," Putin said.

The Russian president further indicated that the fight against terrorism remains one of the main priorities for all Russian security agencies, primarily the Federal Security Service.

Speaking directly to the situation in Kherson, Zaporozhye, and the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, Putin acknowledged that the matter remained extremely difficult but that forces needed to do everything to ensure max security.

"I would like to especially note the units of security agencies that have begun to operate in the new regions of Russia. Yes, it is difficult for you now, the situation in the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, in the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions is extremely difficult. But the people living there - Russian citizens - hope for you, for your protection," Putin said.

"And it is your duty to do everything necessary to ensure their security to the maximum, respect for their rights and freedoms."

Trump: Charges Against Him by Jan 6 Committee 'Fake', Meant to Prevent Him From Running

"The people understand that the Democratic Bureau of Investigation, the DBI, are out to keep me from running for president because they know I’ll win and that this whole business of prosecuting me is just like impeachment was — a partisan attempt to sideline me and the Republican Party," he said on his social media platform TruthSocial.