📹 US President Joe Biden suddenly took the knee during the visit of the reigning NBA champions Golden State Warriors to the White House.

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📊 In addition to $19.3 billion in official military aid from the US Department of Defense, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has allocated $23 billion to Ukraine during 2022. Where is this money going?

$13 billion was allocated directly to the current Ukrainian authorities. It is noteworthy that the vast majority of this tranche ($10.7 billion) does not have a special purpose in the report. According to USAID's calculations, the remaining funds ($2.3 billion) are intended to "maintain the administrative capacity of the government of Ukrainian government" and "sustain the economy."

$10 billion was allocated to targeted programs: the vast majority of these funds are designed to provide "economic aid" ($8.6 billion). The money of American taxpayers should also go to "humanitarian aid", "support for democracy and media freedom", "training of the Armed Forces of Ukraine", "social sector", "promotion of European values" and other expenses.

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📹 Exactly 80 years ago, the Red Army made a major breakthrough against Nazi German forces besieging the city of Leningrad, finally breaching the blockade which had lasted for over two years and threatened to starve the city residents.

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Putin: Extremely Important to Recognize WWII Genocide Against Soviet People

Putin met Russian WWII veterans in St.Petersburg as part of events dedicated to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Red Army troops breaking the Siege of Leningrad in the Second World War.

Recognizing the genocide against the civilian population of the Soviet Union during the Second World War is "extremely important", Russian President Vladimir Putin argued on Wednesday.

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Super-Heroic Comeback: Marvel Movies Return to China

After a four-year absence from the Chinese market, movies from the Marvel superhero franchise are once again expected to be allowed into the country as of next month.

Walt Disney Studios subsidiary Marvel Studios has already announced on Chinese social media that "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" and "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" are slated to be released in China’s movie theaters on February 7 and 17 respectively.

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On the 80th anniversary of the breakthrough of the Siege of Leningrad, Vladimir Putin laid a wreath at the Motherland Monument in St. Petersburg.

On the way, he also laid flowers on one of the mass graves in which rests his older brother Viktor, who died during the siege when he was only a child, during the winter of 1942.

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‼️USAID: Washington to provide $125 million in energy support for Ukraine

➡️ In addition to the Wednesday aid, the Biden administration is reportedly expected to announce a new batch of weapons delivery for Ukraine on Friday

📹 Combat work of Grads in the LPR. The crews of the MLRS supported the attack of the Russian infantry.

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‼️Russian Envoy to Canada Stepanov called to Canadian Foreign Ministry, topic unknown

US Justice Dept. Wanted to Involve FBI in Search for Biden Classified Docs: Reports

The US Department of Justice considered but abandoned the idea of involving FBI officers to monitor the process of searching for classified documents in the possessions of US President Joe Biden, US media reported on Wednesday, citing sources.

Instead, the two sides agreed that Biden's personal lawyers will inspect his homes and inform the Justice Department as soon as they find any other potentially classified records and organize their seizure by law enforcement agencies, the report said.

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➡️ Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly has stated the Russian envoy was summoned to condemn the recent incident in Dnepr, Ukraine, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s comments.

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🔺 First, we talk about Henry Kissinger's change of heart regarding Ukraine's potential NATO membership
🔺 Next, we discuss Iran's purchase of Russia's Sukhoi Su-35 jets and what it means for the region
🔺And, James Carey joins us to discuss Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin's extraordinary blast at the US for its "banditry" in Syria

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

White House Hints New Military Aid Package for Ukraine Coming by End of Week

The United States may announce a new funding package for Ukraine, which will include new weapons, by the weekend, US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said on Wednesday.

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'Sensational' 2,000-Year-Old Runestone Rewrites Norse History

The researchers concluded that the runestone stemming from the dawn of our era may be one of the earliest attempts to use runes in Norway and Scandinavia.

The world's oldest 2,000-year-old runestone has been unearthed in the Hole municipality in Norway, making it several hundred centuries older than previous discoveries.

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⚡New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern to step down as prime minister next month

The shock announcement came during a annual caucus meeting on Thursday, with Ardern explaining she no longer has "what it takes" to commit to the role.

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💭 "The West, NATO, the US, all of them know that it's getting closer to that red line that Russia has imposed. And I will not be surprised that Russia will escalate even further. Remember, just for your listeners to know: so far Russia is not using its full strength. They are just not there yet. They do have the means, they do have the capabilities, but they are not there yet. But if that red line is crossed by starting to send some really advanced systems… Again, like what you see with Poland sending the tanks - they are the old generation. They're not going to stand in front of the Russian tanks. So what you hear emanating from Brussels, it's nothing but a bravado." David Oualaalou, Geopolitical consultant, author, veteran and former security analyst, said.

🎧Listen to more of David's views in our podcast "Political Misfits"

EU Auto Sales Hit Three-Decade Low in 2022, Manufacturers Report

The ongoing economic crisis caused by skyrocketing energy prices and rising inflation hasn't left the automobile industry untouched: the pan-European car market demonstrated one of its worst results ever in 2022.

The European car sales market posted its worst results since 1993 last year, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association has reported. According to the data provided, the total number of car sales registered in the EU was 9.3 million with a 4.6 percent year-on-year decline.

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📹 Buk SAM systems on round-the-clock alert in special military operation zone (video by Russian MoD)

Anti-aircraft gunners use Buk surface-to-air missile systems to intercept any aircraft as well as low-flying hostile cruise missiles.

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Report: US Considering Providing Ukraine With Weapons to Strike Crimea

The Biden administration is reportedly considering providing Ukraine with the weapons necessary to target the Crimean Peninsula, an area that has proven instrumental for Russia's operations during the ongoing special military operation.

The administration believes Kiev's position in future negotiations will be improved if the Ukrainian military can threaten Russia's control of Crimea, though such a move may increase the risk of escalating the conflict, Western media reported on Wednesday.

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Little-Known Database Gives US Law Enforcement Access to Millions of Money Transfer Records

According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), roughly 7% of Americans used money transfer services like Western Union in 2021.

A non-profit organization set up by the Arizona Attorney General is offering a database of more than 150 million money transfers by Americans to virtually any law enforcement officer who requests access.

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Russian Orthodox Christian NHL Player Says Not Wearing 'Pride' Jersey Due to His Faith

Ivan Provorov, a Russian player in the National Hockey League (NHL), sparked controversy on Tuesday night after declining to wear a jersey with LGBTQ+ "Pride" markings during pregame warmups with fellow members of the Philadelphia Flyers team, citing religious objections.

"I respect everybody’s choices. My choice is to stay true to myself and my religion," Provorov told reporters.

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