Russia is discussing with other BRICS countries the integration of national financial message transmission systems, and currently 159 foreign participants from 20 countries have already joined the Russian platform, Russian Central Bank Head Elvira Nabiullina told Sputnik.

"Russia has a Financial Messaging System that is an alternative to SWIFT. Some other countries have similar infrastructure. We are discussing the interaction of such platforms, but the interest and technical readiness of our partners are important here," Nabiullina said, commenting on whether the BRICS countries are ready to integrate national financial communication systems.

A total of 159 foreign participants from 20 countries have already joined the Russian system, the official added.

The share of the Chinese yuan in Russia's exports over the past two years has increased by 86 times to 34.5%, and by more than 8 times in imports to 36.4%, Nabiullina emphasized.

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The US can reinstate sanctions on Venezuela in April if Caracas does not commit to free and fair elections, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Monday.

"The Maduro regime... made some commitments about opposition political parties, about free and fair elections and they haven't taken those actions," Kirby said during a press briefing. "They got until April to do so."

Kirby pointed out that the Biden administration has available options, including imposing sanctions, but declined to preview any of those at this time.

Venezuela must allow opposition members to run for office and release "political prisoners," Kirby said.

Venezuelan Prosecutor General Tarek William Saab recently said that the country's security forces had thwarted preparations for five terrorist attacks and conspiracies, with 27 people detained in the case, which the United States claims includes political figures.

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Turkish international relations expert Dr. Hasan Unal joined Sputnik’s Fault Lines program Monday to discuss resentment towards the United States in the wake of this weekend’s deadly drone attack on US forces. Unal stressed that:

🔻 US troops are stationed in Syria and Iraq against the wishes of those countries’ governments

🔻 The US and aligned militant groups have presided over broad devastation in Syria, damaging agriculture, stealing oil, and contributing to the death of half a million people

🔻 The US is resented for its unquestioned support of Israel as the death toll in Gaza surpasses 26,000

“It is because of the United States military presence there that we have much of this problem,” the analyst concluded.

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The conflict between state and federal power is among the most historically contentious aspects of the United States’ system of governance. The dynamic has led some to fear an outbreak of violence as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott continues to defy President Joe Biden on policy at America’s southern border.

“This country's coming unglued,” feared host Garland Nixon on Sputnik’s The Critical Hour program Monday.

But his colleague Jamarl Thomas says the confrontation is designed to make Biden look weak before the upcoming November election, with scenes of chaos at the border and a potential collapse in Ukraine as Biden fails to secure legislation on either issue.

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🇰🇵 North Korea launched several cruise missiles towards the Yellow Sea on Tuesday morning, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported, citing the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCF).

According to the JCS, North Korea fired missiles at around 7 a.m. from its west coast. It did not specify the number of missiles.

"While strengthening our monitoring and vigilance, our military has been closely coordinating with the United States to monitor additional signs of North Korea's provocations," the JCS said in a statement.

The launch comes just two days after the DPRK test-fired submarine-launched Pulhwasal-3-31 cruise missiles from the east coast.

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Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have sent official notices to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) of their intention to leave the bloc, the media reported on Monday.

On Sunday, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali said in a joint statement that the three countries would withdraw from the bloc as ECOWAS had become a "threat" to member states. The statement added that the regional bloc introduced "illegal, illegitimate, inhumane and irresponsible" sanctions on the countries.

The three western African states were targeted with sanctions by ECOWAS after it demanded the restoration of civilian governments following coups in Mali in 2020, in Burkina Faso in 2022, and in Niger in 2023.

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On the front lines: Russian soldiers show 3D lab where Kamikaze drones and their ammunition are developed

Drones have become a formidable weapon capable of inflicting great damage on the enemy. Today we will show you the unique production of Kamikaze drones by the remote mining battalion Phoenix.

In a special lab, details are printed on 3D printers: blades, attachments and ejection systems. Fighters are also taught how to fly different types of drones using computer simulators and VR glasses.

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Biden ordered to develop response to drone strike on American base

Since the attack on the US base in Jordan, Biden has been out of the public eye, directing his team to draw up military options in response to the weekend attack, Politico wrote.

"Among the options on the table for the Pentagon: striking Iranian personnel in Syria or Iraq or Iranian naval assets in the Persian Gulf, the newspaper reported, citing sources.

The newspaper's sources suggested that if Biden approves the decision, the retaliation would most likely come in the next few days and against a range of targets.

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Iran's Dena destroyer: foreign customers' warship of choice

A number of foreign customers have expressed interest in purchasing Iran's destroyer Dena, the Islamic Republic's navy commander, Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, told reporters.

A few things to note about this warship:

• An entirely domestically built Mowj-class destroyer, the Dena is part of the Iranian Navy's 86th flotilla, which successfully completed a circumnavigation of the globe last year;

• The 95-meter-long vessel entered service with the Iranian Navy in June 2021;

• The Dena is designed to hunt enemy submarines and counter various surface and air threats;

• The warship, which has a speed of 30 knots (about 56 kilometers per hour), is equipped with an array of armaments, including Noor or Qader anti-ship missiles, a 76 mm Fajr-27 naval gun and a 40 mm Fath-40 anti-aircraft system;

• Additionally, the Dena is equipped with 16 tube chaff launchers - which are part of the vessel’s electronic warfare system - as well as two 20 mm Oerlikon automatic cannons, four Mehrab surface-to-air missiles, two triple 324 mm torpedoes and two 12.7 mm heavy machine guns.

• The ship also has advanced electronic warfare and sonar systems, as well as helipads.

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❗️EXCLUSIVE: Russia’s Central Bank Head Elvira Nabiullina's Interview with Sputnik:

▪️ The established system of international payments is becoming risky: Russia has a financial messaging system (SPFS) that is an alternative to SWIFT. A total of 159 foreign participants from 20 countries have already joined the Russian system;

▪️ The world economy is slowing down. But a "hard landing" has been avoided. And its probability this year has become a little less than last year;

▪️ The share of BRICS countries in Russia's trade balance has doubled in two years to 40%, and settlements with these countries in local currencies have more than tripled to 85%;

▪️ Russia will raise the issues of mutual recognition of ratings and the creation of a joint anti-money laundering platform in BRICS in 2024.

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• BRICS countries' share of global GDP increased from 31% to 35%, exceeding the share of the G7 by the end of 2023, Russian Central Bank Head Elvira Nabiullina told Sputnik.

• Here we go again: Blinken promises Ukraine to become a NATO member

• US political class pledges support for Texas in letters to Biden

• United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East is going to run out of money ‘past February’ without funding

• US says could reinstate sanctions on Venezuela in April over elections issues

More stories:

• US intervention perpetuates cycle of violence as a war with Iran looms

• ‘No logical plan’ for Ukraine’s war effort as $40 million in US aid stolen

• Have a look at Russian production of kamikaze drones with 3D print

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Ukrainian forces are using human shield tactics prohibited by international law

Ukrainian troops are firing from residential areas in the settlement of Kovsharovka in the Kharkov region, retired Lieutenant-Colonel Andrey Marochko told Sputnik.

He clarified that in addition to barrel artillery from residential areas, MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) is in constant operation, volleys are recorded mainly from residential buildings.

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⚡️Pakistan court has sentenced former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to 10 years in jail in the Cypher case.

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This evening, President Joe Biden may approve US military action in the Middle East, Sky News reports.

At stake is the credibility of American deterrence and the shaky stability of the region, the British TV channel noted.

It's likely to be one of the most important decisions of Biden's presidency.

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WATCH LIVE: Lavrov at a round-table meeting with heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Moscow

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Stolen glory: American figure skaters will receive gold medals for Beijing Olympics instead of Russia's Kamila Valieva

American figure skaters will win gold medals in the team competition at the Beijing Olympics, the director general of the US Olympic Committee claimed.

She allegedly received such information after a conversation with the IOC. The Americans came second in Beijing, the first place was taken by the Russian national team with Kamila Valieva, who was disqualified yesterday.

Dmitry Peskov called the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport on the disqualification of Kamila Valieva politicized, adding that Russia will always protect the interests of its athletes.

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❗️The United States has no plans to withdraw its troops from Syria, acting US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland has said.

Earlier, international media reported that the US was considering a complete withdrawal of its forces from Syria, but that no final decision had been made.

"Well, first let me set the records straight, the United States is not withdrawing from Syria," Nuland told CNN Turk.

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🇷🇺 Key points from Lavrov's statements during the embassy roundtable on the situation around Ukraine:

▪️The US has united 54 countries in an anti-Russian camp, pumping Kiev with weapons and supplying it with military specialists and experts;

▪️The West does not want to notice the "spread" of weapons from Ukraine to hot spots;

▪️The weapons transferred to Ukraine have been found not only in the Middle East, but illegal batches have been recorded in Finland, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands;

▪️The West's statements that the Baltic states, Sweden and Finland could be "next" after the special military operation in Ukraine are absurd;

▪️The West understands that the disruption of the "Ukrainian project" has begun, but cannot stop helping Kiev for reasons of prestige and economic benefits;

▪️Russia is conducting its investigation of the downed Il-76 with Ukrainian prisoners, but is not closing itself to those who want to know the truth;

▪️The West is persuading a number of countries to transfer Russian weapons to Ukraine without informing Russia, and Moscow is in contact with these countries.

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🤖🥴 How many times did she say three?

Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, is trying to express condolences to the families of the three soldiers who died in a drone strike in Jordan:

"Our deepest condolences go out to the families who lost three... three brave... three brave... three folks... THREE MILITARY FOLKS WHO WERE BRAVE..."

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