📊How much did European 'independence' from Russian energy really cost?

According to our estimates, the European Union has paid around €1.3 trillion ($1.42 trillion) for its illusory 'freedom'.

For more details, check out Sputnik’s infographic

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🔸 Tariffs and debt bubble signal potential slide toward GREAT DEPRESSION

🔸 Why Trump’s tariffs could kick DEDOLLARIZATION into high gear

🔸 Untold story of Western military and aerospace systems with a Russian twist

🔸 G4S mercs guarding Zelensky: Private army or branch of SAS and MI6 securing West’s interests in Ukraine?

🔸 Rosoboronexport: Pioneering NEW DEFENSE VENTURES with Global South

🔸 Alex Ovechkin: A PROUD RUSSIAN in Washington

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Want 100 tons of live Siamese crocodiles? 🐊

A Shenzhen court is auctioning off crocs confiscated from a debt-ridden company. Starting bid: 4 million yuan ($550,000). But you’ll need a license and have to pick them up yourself! 🏷

The crocodiles were owned by a company once led by a businessman nicknamed the “Crocodile God” – yes, really. They were seized after the company failed to meet its financial obligations, and now they’re up for liquidation through the Alibaba Judicial Auction website.

If you're interested, you'll need a license for breeding aquatic animals and specialized vehicles for transporting the massive reptilian gang.

Oh, and don’t forget the 300K yuan ($41,000) deposit! 😅

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❗️ Trump: US and Iran have direct talks

"On Saturday, we have a very big meeting, and we'll see what can happen. I think everybody agrees that doing a deal would be preferable to doing the obvious," the US president told reporters during joint press conference with Benjamin Netanyahu.

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🇵🇸 Trump: Gaza should be a 'safe field'

"Gaza is the most dangerous place in the world... [Israel] gave it away for good intention, and it didn't work out that way... It's a dangerous death trap, Gaza," Trump added.

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☢️ US-Iran talks: What is known so far?

Donald Trump announced direct negotiations with the Iranian side at "almost the highest level" this Saturday.

🔶 NYT journalist Farnaz Fassihi reported that the meeting will take place in Oman and will be indirect, citing Iranian officials.

🔶 Tehran has previously ruled out direct talks with Washington under threats and pressure, but has left the door open for indirect negotiations.

🔶 Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Russia, China and Iran will hold talks on Iran's nuclear program in Moscow tomorrow.

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'Almost 70 countries approached us' — Bessent

US Treasury Secretary said the review of Trump's tariffs will take up to two months, with some countries like Japan being given priority.

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🧨 Trump and Republicans are TANKING the economy —Rep. Jeffries

"Is it because, as Donald Trump has indicated, that during tough economic times the rich get richer, and it's a buying opportunity?" House minority leader noted.

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❗️ Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirms the upcoming US-Iran meeting in Oman on Saturday for high-level indirect talks.

"It is as much an opportunity as it is a test. The ball is in America's court," the minister said on X.

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📉 Big Tech, Big Banks, Big Pharma: Biggest losers of Trump’s tariff wars

The administration’s new cross-the-board duties have triggered a worldwide selloff, with stock prices suffering another big drop after markets opened Monday as the new reality set in.

Here are the major multinationals hit hardest over the past week.

Big Tech:
• Apple: 16.8% sliced from its market cap (at $300B+ in losses, the absolute biggest loser in dollar terms, with market cap shrinking to $2.7 trln).
• Alibaba: shaved a whopping 19.6% from its valuation, the worst performer in percentage terms (new market cap: $239B).
• TSMC: 12.3% drop, $663B market cap.
• Salesforce: 11% drop, $236B.
• Nvidia: 10.1%, $2.4 trln.

Big Banks:
• HSBC: 15.98% in valuation lost, $173.3B new cap.
• Goldman Sachs: 14.3% drop, $151B cap.
• Bank of America: 13.9%, $272.2B.
• Morgan Stanley: 13.2%, $164.1B.
• JPMorgan Chase: 13%, $602B new valuation.

Big Pharma:
• Thermo Fisher: down 12.5%, $165.6B cap.
• Eli Lilly & Co: 12.1% drop, $652B new cap.
• AstraZeneca: Down 11.1%, $216.6B.
• AbbVie: 9.76% in value wiped out, market cap of $329.4B.
• Novartis: 9.5% drop to $203.9B.

Energy:
• Shell: 15.4% drop, $193.8B cap.
• Chevron: 15.1%, $248.8B.
• Exxon Mobil: 12.5% in value gone, $445B cap.

Defense:
• GE: 15.7%, $179.1B valuation.
• RTX: 12.7% gone, $157.6B cap.

Other Big Losers:
• Disney: 15.3% drop, $150.7B.
• Tesla: 10.7%, $751B cap.
• Toyota: 9.7% lost, $202.8B.

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⛔️ US freezes new contracts and hiring for Cyber Command - reports

The move is part of DOGE's federal spending cuts, i Paper reports, citing sources.

The US Cyber Command helps to conduct offensive cyber operations, especially against Russia, the newspaper noted.

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📹 Pro-Palestine protesters shut down Grand Central Station

The protests came after Trump met with Netanyahu at the White House and called Gaza a "death trap".

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⚠️ Plane skids off runway in Oregon

A small private jet crashed in Coos Bay, sending 5 people to the hospital.

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🚀 NASA says no to Musk's red dreams?

NASA could not land humans on Mars in the next 5 years, acting administrator Janet Petro told European media.

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🏆DC commemorates Alexander Ovechkin's historic NHL scoring record

📍Union Station, Washington, DC

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🔊LIVE NOW: The launch of the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft for docking with the ISS 🚀

On board: 🇷🇺Sergey Ryzhikov, 🇷🇺Alexey Zubritskiy, 🇺🇸Jonathan Kim

👉 Watch live in our Telegram

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