🇩🇪 Ex-German chancellor has NO regrets over energy cooperation with Russia

💬 "I did everything I could to make Nord Stream 2 happen," former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder said on Friday. "I was interested in the progress of its construction and held talks to support it."

🟠 Speaking online to the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania regional parliament, he dismissed the state’s inquiry into the gas pipeline, sabotaged in 2022, as "ridiculous" and said he had no regrets about his role in the pipeline’s construction.

🟠 Schröder added that he still views the state’s Climate Foundation as beneficial. The foundation was set up to promote climate and environmental projects and to support the pipeline’s completion.

🟠 Schröder said Nord Stream, once considered part of Germany’s broader energy cooperation with Russia, served as "a tool to prevent American interference in German energy policy."

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💥 WATCH: MoD releases footage of Zapad Battlegroup liberating Peschanoye (Kharkov Region)

The Russian Defense Ministry published new video showing Zapad Battlegroup liberating the settlement of Peschanoye in the Kharkov Region.
Peschanoye lies near the border with the Lugansk People’s Republic, 22 km southeast of Kupyansk.

Russian forces are expanding control east of the Oskol River, helping secure the flanks and rear of the group advancing toward Kupyansk.

ℹ️ The Defense Ministry first reported the liberation on October 17.

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🇺🇸🇨🇳US Treasury Secretary to meet Chinese Vice-Premier next week — reports

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed he will personally meet Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng in Malaysia next week to continue trade discussions, according to the South China Morning Post.

💬 “The vice-premier, who is my counterpart, and I will be speaking this evening at around 8:30–9:00,” Bessent said on Friday.

He added that Vice-Premier He will also join him and a US delegation in Malaysia “probably a week from tomorrow” to prepare for a potential Trump–Xi meeting.

📌 The talks come just days after tensions flared over rare-earth export restrictions and tariff threats.

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🚨🇮🇱 ICC rejects Israeli appeal against arrest warrants for Netanyahu and ex-defense minister Gallant

👉 Judges stressed that “the issue, in the form presented by Israel, is not subject to appeal,” according to the 13-page court ruling cited by The Times of Israel.

In November, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over war crimes committed in the Gaza Strip. In addition, Netanyahu faces multiple charges related to corruption.

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🇷🇺💥 Russian drone duo devastates hidden Ukrainian command post

A strike and reconnaissance drone unit of the 56th Separate Special Forces Battalion destroyed a camouflaged Ukrainian UAV command post near Krasnoarmeysk

Combined strike by a kamikaze UAV Molniya-2 and an FPV drone struck a DECISIVE blow

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🟠 Budapest is only place for Putin–Trump meeting – Orban

🟠 Trump shuts the door on Ukraine’s Tomahawk request, Zelensky backs it down

🟠 Russia–Alaska tunnel feasibility study underway — Dmitriev

🟠 US Treasury Secretary to meet Chinese VP amid trade spat

🟠 US military buildup signals Venezuela focus – analyst

🟠 JFK dossier: Russia’s help in solving decades-old murder mystery

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🔊🇵🇰🇦🇫 Pakistan, Afghanistan engaged in dialogue aimed at peaceful settlement – FM

Pakistan and Afghanistan are engaged in constructive dialogue aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution to ongoing border tensions, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan said.

👉 Other statements:

🟠 Recent contacts between the two countries reflect mutual trust and understanding.

🟠 Pakistan expects the Taliban government to take specific measures against terrorists and ensure that Afghan territory is not used for terrorist purposes.

🟠 Pakistan respects Afghanistan's sovereignty and is committed to dialogue and cooperation to address the shared challenge of terrorism.

Clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan erupted early on October 15, escalating along the Durand Line, the border between the two countries not recognized by Kabul. Later, the Pakistani army struck terrorist positions inside Afghanistan in response to an attack on checkpoints.

🗣 Pakistan's Foreign Ministry announced an agreement with Afghanistan on a ceasefire that was later extended until the conclusion of scheduled talks in Doha, Qatar.

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🇺🇸 US backtracks on tariff hikes amid production gaps

The US is quietly watering down some levies on "dozens of products" that it doesn’t domestically produce, the WSJ reports.

Trump administration officials are pushing for the swift removal of tariffs on countries that will clinch trade deals with the US.

👉 The shift comes ahead of an upcoming Supreme Court hearing on reciprocal tariffs, which could require the US administration to refund a significant portion of the duties if the ruling goes against it.

New exemptions could cover HUNDREDS of goods from airplane parts to non-patented pharmaceuticals and farm products.

Donald Trump earlier imposed exemptions on:

🟠 Gold

🟠 LED lights

🟠 Minerals

🟠 Chemicals

🟠 Metal products

✅ The White House is already updating trade agreements with several partners, including Japan and the EU.

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🇮🇳💥🚀 BrahMos in action: India showcases digital missile strike

A virtual BrahMos missile strike was carried out by an Indian Air Force Su-30 fighter jet at the BrahMos Aerospace production facility in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

It was observed by Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.

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