📊 The majority of the Japanese do not support Tokyo's arms supplies to Ukraine, a Japanese media outlet has reported, citing an opinion poll.

📉 76% of Japanese citizens are against Tokyo's arms supplies to Ukraine with only 16% supporting the idea, the opinion poll showed.

📈 At the same time, 66% of respondents supported the increase in the general assistance provided to Ukraine.

The opinion poll was conducted between February 24 and 26. Neither the total number of respondents nor the margin of error were given.

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❗️ Latest statements by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov:

▪️ Kremlin pays great attention to China's plan for Ukraine;

▪️ The details of the Chinese plan for Ukraine are the subject of careful analysis and accounting, this is a long and intense process;

▪️ It makes no sense to comment on reports about the discussion of the supply of military equipment by Beijing to Russia: all information was refuted by China;

▪️ Situation around Transnistria is the subject of close attention and cause for concern. The West and Kiev are capable of provocations, Russia is aware of this;

▪️ Kremlin considers new EU sanctions list absurd, says there are doctors and human rights activists on it, people who have nothing to do with sanctions;

▪️ At present, there are no prerequisites for negotiations on Ukraine, Russia's special operation is moving toward its goals;

▪️ The Kremlin cannot imagine the circumstances under which the "return" of Crimea is possible: it is an integral part of Russia.

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📹 Russia’s Army Aviation in combat action as part of the special military operation (video by Russian MoD)

During the special military operation, army aviation continue missions to destroy armored vehicles and military infrastructure facilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, escort military convoys, deliver airborne troops and military cargo, and provide air support.

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👏 The number of countries applying to join the BRICS and SCO blocs has surged to 20, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated during a meeting with the regional heads of office of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Several countries across the world have been reported to voice their intentions to become members of the BRICS bloc, as well as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) since the beginning of 2022. The member states of these intergovernmental organizations reportedly welcome their aspirations.

He added that he is speaking about the countries that play an important role in their regions such as Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Mexico and a number of African states

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❗️At least one person killed and 69 injured as a result of an earthquake in Turkish Malatya, the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said on Monday

Russian Navy to receive four new warships in first half of 2023

According to the CEO of United Shipbuilding Corporation, Alexei Rakhmanov, the Russian Navy will receive four new warships by July 2023.

These ships were originally intended for delivery in 2022 but have been delayed. The vessels include the Kronstadt submarine, Admiral Golovko frigate, and the Mercury and Rezky corvettes. The Admiral Golovko frigate will undergo state tests in February and will then be handed over to the navy.

The "Neustrashimy" frigate will also return from repair, and the Leopard nuclear submarine will rejoin the fleet. Overall, the USC plans to deliver at least 11 vessels to the navy this year, including five submarines (three nuclear and two diesel) and ships for both near and far maritime zones.

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🇿🇦🇷🇺🇨🇳 South Africa–Russia–China naval exercises end in the Indian Ocean

▪️Trilateral naval drills involving vessels of the Russian Navy, the People's Liberation Army of China, and the South African National Defense Force have finished today in the Indian Ocean, the Russian Ministry of Defense has stated.

▪️Participants of the drills practiced forming a multinational squadron in a designated area, joint tactical maneuverings in different formations, and mine defense missions.

▪️Russia was represented at the exercise by the Admiral Gorshkov frigate and the medium sea tanker Kama. The Chinese Navy was represented by the frigate Rizhao, the destroyer Huainan and the support vessel Kekexilihu, while the South African Navy was represented by the frigate Mendi

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❗️Russia’s MoD briefing on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine:

▪️ Russian forces destroyed Ukrainian radio and electronic intelligence centers near Brovary, Kiev region;

▪️Russian forces destroyed an ammunition depot of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian forces in the area near Artemovsk in the DPR;

▪️Russian troops destroyed up to 70 Ukrainian military personnel in the Kupyansk direction;

▪️Russian forces destroyed more than 250 Ukrainian military personnel in the Donetsk direction;

▪️Russian forces destroyed up to 60 Ukrainian military personnel and two D-30 howitzers in the Kherson direction;

▪️Russian forces destroyed about 140 Ukrainian military personnel, a self-propelled gun "Gvozdika" and one howitzer in the Krasny Liman direction;

▪️Russian forces destroyed an ammunition depot of the 63rd Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian forces in the Nikolaev region;

▪️Russian forces hit the Ukrainian center of special operations near the city of Khmelnitsky;

▪️Russian troops destroyed 95 Ukrainian military personnel in Zaporozhye and South Donetsk directions.

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🇹🇷🇸🇪 Turkiye is still unable to approve Sweden's accession to NATO at this stage as Stockholm has not fully implemented its agreements with Ankara, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday.

🗣 "There are certain obligations that were taken by Sweden and Finland in connection with their intention to enter NATO. We do not see the implementation of all steps on the part of Sweden, so at this stage we cannot approve its entry into the alliance," Cavusoglu said at a joint press conference with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.

The top Turkish diplomat acknowledged that Swedish authorities had implemented a number of obligations under the Madrid memo, but noted that the Kurdistan Workers' Party was still operating in the country.

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England, Wales Raise Legal Marriage Age to 18

"Vulnerable children across England and Wales will be better protected from the damaging impact of forced marriage as the legal age of marriage rises to 18 in England and Wales," the UK Justice Ministry said in a statement.

The new regulation came into effect on Monday as stipulated by the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022, which received royal assent last April. Under the legislation, marriage or civil partnership are prohibited for 16 and 17-year-olds even with parental consent, the statement said.

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🇬🇧 UK and EU reach deal on Northern Ireland trade rules

A new deal on Northern Ireland's post-Brexit trade rules has been agreed by the UK government and the EU.

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🔎 Chinese media outlet CGTN published a video explaining how the US blew up the Nord Stream pipeline in details. The story is based on an investigation by journalist Seymour Hersh.

🇩🇪 Germany's public debt increases tenfold since 2021

💬 "The country's debt burden has increased from four to almost 40 billion euros since 2021. This is the money that will be missing for other purposes, primarily for education, digitalization and investment in climate protection. Therefore, it is economically feasible to contain the growth of debts," the country’s finance minister Christian Lindner said.

Earlier, Lindner attributed the debt growth to emergency measures during the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis.

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Wuhan Lab 'Leak' Yarn Returns: How US Reporter Pours Gasoline Into Washington's War Machine

The US Energy Department has claimed that the COVID pandemic most likely stemmed from a laboratory leak, the Wall Street Journal broke on Sunday, citing a classified intelligence report provided to the White House and US lawmakers.

"It is becoming clearer by the day that the government of the United States has become so delusional with its own lies that it is becoming violent against anyone exposing them," Scott Bennett, former US Army psychological warfare officer and US State Department counterterrorism analyst, told Sputnik.

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⚡️ US Treasury Secretary Yellen reportedly arrives in Kiev to meet Zelensky

John Ross, a senior fellow at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at the Renmin University of China, joins us to discuss US attempts to destabilize China, drawing parallels between Ukraine and Taiwan

🎧Listen to more of Ross’s views in our podcast By Any Means Necessary: Where Does the Movement Go From Here

📹 Footage from the meeting between the US Treasury secretary and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky

❗️ During a surprise visit by the US Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen told Zelensky that the first transfer of $1.25 billion of the $9.9 billion in US budgetary support would be made during the first three quarters of 2023.

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📹 In French cities, as well as in Milan, Genoa and Girona, over the weekend, on the initiative of the StopKillingDonbass movement, actions were held in support of the population of Donbass and against the supply of weapons to Ukraine.

🇫🇷 In France, protesters gathered in Roanne and Versailles in front of the buildings of the military company Nexter, which also produces Caesar howitzers, which Paris supplies to Kiev.

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📹 Combat work of the crews of the T-90M Proryv (Breakthrough) tanks at the front in the special operation zone (video courtesy of Russian MoD)

💥 The crews of the modernized T-90M Proryv strike at the water crossing, manpower and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Reconnaissance groups transmit the coordinates of the camouflaged targets of Ukrainian nationalists to tank crews.

📌 Adjustment of fire is carried out from drones.

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'Made in Russia' Chocolate, Oatmeal, Sauces Bound for Asia and Middle East

Russian exporters held about 500 B2B meetings with partners from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, India and other countries of Asia and the Middle East at the Gulfood 2023 event. The export potential of the deals negotiated at the 'Made in Russia' stand organized by the Russian Export Center (REC, part of the VEB.RF) exceeded $36.9 million, the center said.

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Brits Face Rising Household Bills Even as Watchdog Lowers Price Cap

Europhile Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt signalled a return to austerity when he was brought back into government in October during Liz Truss' short-lived stint as PM. He now plans a £500 cut to her Energy Price Guarantee scheme.

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