Russia exported 76 billion cubic meters of natural gas to friendly countries, according to a presentation by First Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin for the Energy Day speech at the Russia exhibition and forum.

Of the amount, 23 billion cubic meters was sent through the Power of Siberia gas pipeline to China, as seen on one of the slides. The data includes both pipeline and liquefied natural gas supplies.

Gas supplies to Russian consumers in 2023 amounted to 501 billion cubic meters, in line with the presentation.

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Trump considering imposing 60% tariff on Chinese imports – the Washington Post reported, citing sources

The former president is considering options for starting a new large-scale economic attack on China if he returns to the White House, which, according to the report, could lead to a global trade war.

Experts asked by the newspaper said that such a move could lead to enormous disruption to both the US and global economies, which would be much more serious than the impact of the trade wars of Trump's first term.

The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to Washington Post's request for comments. The US currently has a 25% tariff on $300 billion worth of Chinese imports.

Relations between Washington and Beijing have significantly deteriorated under the Trump administration, which started a trade war with China. Under incumbent US President Joe Biden, the situation did not improve, as a number of incidents, including a visit to Taiwan by then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the destruction of a Chinese balloon in US airspace, led to a new round of diplomatic confrontation.

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Why is EU’s reliance on US LNG without Russian energy fraught with risk?

Europe's soaring dependence on US liquefied natural gas (LNG) is “growing riskier by day” amid President Joe Biden's decision to halt the approval of new export permits for the fuel, Bloomberg has reported.

The news agency cited Ira Joseph, senior research associate at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, as saying that European reliance on US LNG will further grow if “more Russian gas does not reappear and the Qataris decide not to engage in a price war for market share.”

“The reward for Europe is a diverse set of US suppliers. The risk is a major change in US policy in the future,” Joseph pointed out, in an apparent nod to Biden’s possible flop in the November 2024 presidential election.

Last year, Ditte Juul Jorgensen, director general for energy at the European Commission, said that the EU’s self-harming intention to diversify from Russian natural gas means it will be forced to rely on America’s LNG for decades to come.

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'Bold historical revisionism' - Norwegian scholar slams von der Leyen's WWII comments

The EU is rewriting history with statements that Auschwitz was liberated by "allied forces," Glenn Disen, a lecturer at the University of Southeastern Norway, wrote on the social network X.

"Some bold historical revisionism from the EU. The Soviet Union was part of the Allied Forces, but it was only the Red Army that liberated Auschwitz," he said.

Earlier, the European Commission published a statement by Ursula von der Leyen dedicated to the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. The statement includes Holocaust Remembrance Day dates and a historical note that states, "On January 27, 1945, the Allied forces liberated the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp."

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Gaza's Al-Amal Hospital runs out of oxygen for surgeries - Red Crescent

Medics at Al-Amal Hospital in the city of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip are unable to carry out surgeries because of the depletion of oxygen supply caused by the Israeli siege of the hospital, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said.

The organization condemned the Israeli siege of Al-Amal Hospital, which is going for a sixth consecutive day now, as its medical teams are unable to reach wounded people even in surrounding areas because of it.

"The PRCS warns of the inability of medical teams at Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Yunis to perform surgical operations due to oxygen depletion," the PRCS said on X.

The Israel Defense Forces, in turn, labeled this statement as misinformation, insisting they conduct only high-precision strikes on Hamas targets located near the Al-Amal and Nasser hospitals in Khan Yunis.

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🐊💥 Russian Aerospace Forces' Ka-52 "Alligator" helicopter crews destroyed another Ukrainian stronghold in the Kupyansk region.

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❗️In the Donetsk region, the Russian Armed Forces repelled three attacks by Ukrainian troops. Ukrainian losses amounted to 330 soldiers.

🇷🇺🪖 More statements from Russian MoD briefing on progress of special military op in Ukraine:

▪️In the Krasny Liman region, Russian forces repelled three attacks by Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian losses amounted to 120 soldiers;

▪️In the Kupyansk region, the Russian Army repelled six attacks by Ukrainian troops. Ukrainian losses amounted to 150 soldiers;

▪️In the Kherson region, Ukrainian losses amounted to 55 soldiers and a D-30 howitzer;

▪️The Russian Army shot down three rockets from the HIMARS and Uragan multiple launch rocket systems using air defenses, and also destroyed 28 Ukrainian drones.

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The alternative BRICS system is replacing US hegemony

"Trade without US dollars, US influence and US piracy is the goal. Dedollarization is inevitable," said Kim Dotcom, German businessman and activist.

The West's economic war against Russia, waged through sanctions and trade restrictions, has made even many of the US's traditional allies realize that their economic relations and financial well-being are inextricably linked to American goodwill, which could disappear at any moment.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the process of de-dollarization had already begun and was spreading around the world.

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Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger announced their exit from the West African Economic Community (ECOWAS), according to Reuters.

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🪖💥 Vladimirov machine gun in action

The Russian Defense Ministry released footage of experienced instructors train military personnel to fire from a 14.5 Vladimirov heavy anti-tank machine gun at both ground and low-flying air targets at a range of more than a thousand meters.

The Vladimirov machine gun is an automatic weapon designed for a powerful 14.5x114 mm cartridge, originally developed for anti-tank rifles. The machine gun is designed to combat lightly armored vehicles, various buildings, low-flying aircraft and helicopters, etc.

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😳 Putin as UK Prime Minister?

The poll "Choose your Prime Minister of UK", conducted by David Kurten, the leader of the British Heritage Party, ended with an unexpected result: 87% of netizens would like to see Putin as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

To the great regret of the British, Vladimir Putin is devoted to Russia 🇷🇺

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Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali argue ECOWAS has become a threat to member countries

"ECOWAS, under the influence of foreign powers and having betrayed its founding principles, has become a threat to member states and their peoples... the organization has failed to assist our countries in the fight against terrorism and insecurity," the joint statement published on the National Council for the Defense of the Fatherland of Niger page says.

The countries also note that the regional bloc introduced “illegal, illegitimate, inhumane and irresponsible sanctions.”

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