📹 Russia's MoD has revealed footage showing the restoration of civilian infrastructure in areas of Zaporozhye region liberated as part of the special military operation.

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China Urges World to ‘Abandon Cold War Mentality’ at Davos Forum

Chinese Vice Premier Liu He said the country’s market socialist economy was open for business and would soon bounce back from a troubled previous year during his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday.

However, he also warned of the dangers of the planet breaking into competing political and strategic blocs as per the twentieth century.

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📹 Combat work of crews of multipurpose attack helicopters and fire support aviation groups as part of the special operation (video by Russian MoD)

Army helicopters continue to carry out tasks to destroy the armored vehicles and objects of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, escort military columns, and deliver troops and military cargo, as well as provide daily air support to units.

Gunners of the army aviation fire support group cover helicopters from the air, observe objects and vehicles on the ground, and identify enemy firing points while patrolling the area. Often, military personnel, help evacuate civilians from liberated areas.

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Russia's Special Presidential Envoy Discussed Increase in Imports to Afghanistan

Russian special presidential envoy and Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Second Asian Department, Zamir Kabulov, discussed the creation of favorable conditions for Afghan exports to Russia and an increase in imports from Russia with representatives of the Taliban* government, the Russian embassy told Sputnik.

The discussions took place during Kabulov's visit to Afghanistan, which took place on January 11-13.

"During the visit, the development of trade and economic ties was discussed with our Afghan partners, including an increase in imports from Russia and the creation of favorable conditions for Afghan exports to the Russian Federation," a spokesperson for the embassy said.

*The Taliban movement is under UN sanctions for terrorism

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Ukraine: from Arestovic resignation to a "weapons lab" for western arms
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Three NATO AWACS Surveillance Jets Arrive in Bucharest From Germany: Defense Minister

Three NATO AWACS surveillance jets have arrived in Bucharest from Germany to reinforce the alliance's eastern flank and monitor military activity at its borders, Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tilvar said on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, NATO said that AWACS surveillance jets were due to arrive in Romania some time on Tuesday to monitor Russia's military activity.

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US Struggling to Revive Military-to-Military Dialogue With China, Report Claims

Beijing has dismissed attempts by the US Defense Department to engage on security issues critical to avoiding a possible crisis between the United States and China, the report said, citing a senior US defense official.

Engagement between the two countries came to a halt following a visit in August by then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan despite protests by Beijing. In November, Biden and Xi met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Indonesia and discussed the situation concerning the Taiwan Strait.

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Russia Expands Entry Ban List of EU Officials in Response to Unfriendly Actions

In response to the unfriendly actions of the European Union, Moscow has expanded the stop list of representatives of European institutions and EU member states who are banned from entering Russia, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"The European Union continues its attempts to put pressure on Russia through unilateral restrictive measures. On December 16, 2022, the EU countries adopted the ninth sanctions package. We consider such EU actions illegitimate, undermining the international legal prerogatives of the UN Security Council," the ministry said.

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Russian Antimonopoly Service Says Fines Apple $17.3Mln for Market Dominance Abuse

Apple has two months to pay the fine starting from the day the document on the imposition of the fine enters into effect, the service added.

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German Economy Minister Says Risk of New Trade Wars 'Very High'

The risk of economic conflicts is very high, as the global world is disintegrating more and more rapidly, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said on Tuesday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

"The risk [of economic wars] is very high. And this is one of the meaningful challenges of Davos. We see that some countries have chosen isolation and violent confrontation," the minister said to German media.

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London Police Dismiss Serial Rapist Officer Who Went Undetected for Decades

London’s Metropolitan Police have dismissed an officer who pleaded guilty to raping dozens of women during a career at the Met spanning almost two decades, media said.

David Carrick, 48, was arrested and charged with rape in October 2021 after a woman accused him of the crime. The complaint prompted a review of his previous behavior, revealing a hidden record of similar accusations. On Monday, he pleaded guilty to 49 attacks on women, including 24 rapes of 12 women.

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US House Republicans Preparing to Impeach Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas

US media reported on Tuesday that senior House Republicans are strongly weighing launching rare impeachment proceedings against the cabinet secretary.

Key House committee chairmen are already preparing to hold hearings on the problems with record levels of illegal immigrants at the southern US border, which Republicans say could serve as a prelude to an impeachment inquiry against Mayorkas, reports said.

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Japanese Coast Guard Ship Runs Aground in Sea of Japan, Reports Say

Echigo, which has a displacement of 3,100 tonnes and a length of 105 meters (344 feet), ran aground on Wednesday morning and was damaged as an oil slick formed around the vessel, Japanese TV reported.

According to the report, there were 43 people on board, and no one was hurt.

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Pentagon Sending US Arms Stored in Israel to Ukraine, Reports Suggest

According to the report , in 2022 the United States and Israel reached an agreement to move about 300,000 155-millimeter shells. The American military hardware and munitions stockpile has its origins in the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, when the US airlifted weapons to resupply Israeli forces.

Earlier, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said Israel would not supply weapons to Ukraine.

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Amazon Overtakes Apple as World's Most Valuable Brand Despite Losing $51Bln

Amazon has reclaimed top spot as the world's most valuable brand despite losing $51 billion this year, or 15% of its value, according to the annual Brand Finance Global 500 ranking.

The retail company's value went down to $299.3 billion from $350.3 billion over the past year, with its rating falling from AAA+ to AAA as consumers evaluate it more harshly in the post-pandemic world, the leading brand valuation consultancy said.

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📹 Russia's MoD has revealed footage showing the Western Military District's 82mm Vasilyok mortars in combat action.

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🇷🇺Final preparations under way in Moscow for the annual news conference of the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Dozens of Russian and foreign reporters are in attendance, including my colleagues from Sputnik news hubs. The event will start at 11am MSK. Stay tuned for more. Subscribe to @BolotskySputnik

South Africa says BRICS mulling new payment system to ditch dollar control

The BRICS club of emerging economies wants to find a way of bypassing the dollar to create a fairer payment system that would not be skewed toward wealthier countries, South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor told Sputnik.

"The systems currently in place tend to privilege very wealthy countries and tend to be really a challenge for countries, such as ourselves, which have to make payments in dollars which costs much more in terms of our various currencies," Pandor said.

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