Ex-Zelensky's adviser, Alexei Arestovich, publicly called for a regime change in Ukraine, accusing the country’s top leadership of strategic miscalculations.

Arestovich said that the situation during military operations has already reached a dead end. But if the Russian authorities are already making "cannibalistic but adequate decisions about the current situation,” then the Ukrainian leadership is “corrupt and inadequate.”

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🇯🇵🇺🇸 Japan and the United States have launched large-scale military drills in the southeastern prefectures of Kyushu and Okinawa and the northern island of Hokkaido to practice defending distant islands, a Japanese broadcaster reported.

The joint maneuvers will last until the end of the month and will involve about 6,400 troops, the broadcaster reported. During the drills, the US military will for the first time be positioned on the Japanese island of Ishigaki, which is close to Taiwan, the report read.

The drills will also feature the US's Osprey V-22 military aircraft for the first time, which will practice evacuating injured soldiers, the broadcaster reported. The exercises are taking place in response to China's allegedly increasing local activity, the broadcaster added.

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🇮🇱 IDF forces preparing to implement a wide range of operational offensive plans

💬"With the support of an extensive logistical effort and hundreds of thousands of drafted reservists, IDF forces are currently preparing to implement a wide range of operational offensive plans, which can include combined and coordinated strikes from the air, sea and land," Israeli Defense Forces said in a statement.

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🇵🇸🇮🇱 Latest updates on Palestinian-Israeli conflict:

▪️IDF forces preparing to implement a wide range of operational offensive plans

▪️Israel and Egypt agreed to open the Rafah checkpoint on the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip from 12:00 to 17:00, media report.

▪️Israeli army killed Ali Qadi, a company commander of the Hamas "Nukhba" commando force, who led the attack in Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip last weekend, the IDF said

▪️Hamas's military wing says it attacks Tel Aviv in response to Israeli strikes on civilians in Gaza Strip

▪️16 Russians with a second Israeli citizenship have died during the ongoing Palestine-Israel conflict, the Russian Embassy has said

▪️ Maria Zakharova, the Russian MFA spokeswoman, called attempts to accuse Russia of involvement in supplying Hamas with weapons and ammunition as speculation.

▪️Most Palestinians have no access to clean drinking water after the flow of desalinated and purified water was cut off, the UN said in a statement.

▪️Israeli military intends to continue massive strikes on Gaza Strip, further steps being prepared, representative says

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🇷🇺📈 How Russia's central Eurasian transport corridor may boost the continent's trade and development

President Vladimir Putin has instructed the government to consider options for creating a Central Eurasian Transport Corridor that would pass through Russia, Mongolia, and Western China, according to a list of instructions published on the Kremlin’s website.

The task must be completed by February 15, 2024. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has been assigned to supervise the initiative.

In September, Mongolia unveiled its plan to build five road and three railway corridors from Russia to China through its territory at the Eastern Economic Forum that took place in the Russian Far East port city of Vladivostok.

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Exclusive | Israeli-Palestine Escalation Affects Energy of Both Mali and Africa

On October 9, following a major escalation of the conflict with Palestine, Israel ordered a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, thereby cutting off supplies of water, food, and fuel.

Malian Energy and Water Resources Minister Bintou Camara told Sputnik Africa how the new turn of confrontation between Israel and Palestine impacts the energy industry in Africa.

💬 "This is something that affects all countries. For example, in the energy sector, this affects the cost of hydrocarbons. In our country, as I already said, almost all of our factories now operate on fuel. So, it's very expensive. This is why these types of conflicts affect our economy and especially in the field of energy, both in Mali and in the rest of Africa," she said.

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🇵🇸🇮🇱 How Gaza war backfires on Middle East and global economy

Israel's war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip may hit the world's economy if it spirals into a broader conflict, Tom Luongo, financial and geopolitical analyst, told Sputnik.

Market indicators suggest the impact of the Israeli-Hamas conflict has remained contained so far, but the situation may change if Tel Aviv's ground operation in Gaza goes wrong and Iran steps in.

Last Saturday’s surprise attack by Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and other Gaza militants as well as Israel's retaliatory strikes have taken a toll on the economies of the region. The shekel, Israel’s currency, has lost 3% against the US dollar, while the nation's benchmark stock index has slumped 6.4% this week. Bonds issued by Israel's neighbors – Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt – have been hit hard as well.

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🇬🇧 Is UK heading for recession? Job market sends warning sign

The UK's rising unemployment rate signals an approaching recession, as it has already surpassed its Eurozone counterparts. As the Bank of England faces challenges in managing interest rates due to wage inflation concerns, industrial actions in various sectors underscore the widespread impact of economic uncertainty.

The UK's unemployment rate of 4.3 percent signposts an impending recession, with a climb anticipated in 2024, potentially reaching or surpassing five percent.

Once a bustling job market, the UK is suffering setbacks occasioned by its economic woes, which orchestrated the departure of its erstwhile prime minister, Liz Truss, and are also threatening Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

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🇮🇱 What is the white phosphorus that Israel is accused of using in the Gaza Strip?

In course of the ongoing military escalation of the Palestine-Israel conflict, Human Rights Watch has alleged that the Israel Defense Forces have deployed munitions with white phosphorus, stating that using these munitions endangers the safety of civilians, causing severe and enduring injuries.

White phosphorus has been controversial in warfare for decades - it raises ethical and legal questions, sparking debates on its strategic advantages versus potential harm, as it inflicts horrendous tormenting burns on its victims.

Sputnik dissects the complexities of white phosphorus ammunition, exploring its composition and the multifaceted considerations surrounding its deployment on the battlefield.

👉Follow the link to find out more about white phosphorus and white phosphorus munitions