❌ Why rapid US missile replenishment could be impossible

The US cannot quickly ramp up missile production to meet growing demand, as it has already depleted significant stockpiles in conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, analyst Mike Fredenburg told Responsible Statecraft.

👉 Israel’s wars on Gaza and Iran along with the US campaign against Yemen’s Houthis have consumed 33% of the US stock of Standard Missile-3 and 17% of the Standard Missile-6 since 2023. Additionally, America used a quarter of its THAAD missile interceptors during the Israel–Iran war alone, Fredenburg pointed out.

He also warned that the US’ current defense industrial infrastructure is badly suited to cope with the rapid missile production rates the Pentagon wants to pursue.

💬 "We [the US] have a peacetime defense industrial base, […] we're not really set up to quickly produce things. We don’t know how much more capacity they can squeeze out of existing facilities,” the analyst said.

Cost could be another headache, Fredenburg warns, adding that “many tens of billions of dollars” are needed “to get to these kinds of [missile production] numbers” that the Pentagon is seeking.

💬 “They've [US companies] been trying to build-up 155mm shell production, which is […] relatively simple compared to missiles. And they've been having trouble doing that. What makes us think that they're going to be able to ramp this production up massively for much more sophisticated, more complex, more expensive weapon systems?” the analyst concluded.

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🔥 Security without outsiders: Caspian Sea powers stand united

The naval forces of the Caspian Five — Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan — will tackle regional challenges without external help, Russian military expert Igor Korotchenko told Sputnik.

He said the message was delivered at the Caspian Five’s recent high-level naval talks in St Petersburg, chaired by Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Admiral Alexander Moiseyev.

💬 “The Caspian Sea is a closed water body where only the Caspian Five should conduct naval activities,” Korotchenko said. “This principle is crucial to maintaining security and peace in the region.”

🗣 “The issue is especially relevant given that all Caspian Five members are actively extracting oil and gas on the shelf and in coastal areas,” the expert stressed.

Kototchenko argued that the changing world order and growing activity in post-Soviet space by countries like the UK and France made it vital for Russia and its Caspian partners to work together to preserve peace and security in the Caspian Sea territory.

He added that the Caspian Five talks reflect Russia's efforts to ensure security and stability along its borders.

💬 “Given the critical importance of the Caspian region, it’s safe to say that the talks were entirely consistent with the decisions being made by Russia's leadership, including President Vladimir Putin,” Kototchenko said.

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🧬⚙️ West Africa seeks full-fledged energy partnership with Russia

West Africa’s large-scale energy cooperation with Russia could include participation in nuclear and hydropower projects, Amarquaye Armar, board chairman of Ghana’s First Atlantic Bank, told the 2nd International Symposium “Creating the Future” in Russia.

He recalled that in the past 20 years, local governments have created the West African Power Pool—a regional initiative to integrate energy systems and electrify the continent.

💬 "Although all countries are currently connected, the scale of connectivity is still insufficient. The next stage requires much more ambitious solutions. It is in this context that I want to discuss cooperation with Russia," Armar pointed out.

The First Atlantic Bank chairman stressed that many West African countries are already in talks with Russia on nuclear energy, and called for joint investments, technology sharing, and engineering collaboration.

💬 “We perceive nuclear energy as a means of stabilizing power supply. Between 2000 and 2023, electricity demand in West Africa rose from 6.5 to 25 gigawatts. By 2035, it is projected to reach 50 gigawatts. This growth demands new energy sources—and that is exactly where the potential for joint investment with Russia lies,” Armar emphasized.

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🇷🇺 💪 Combat-proven armor: Why world should pick Russian tanks

📑 Russia is among the top global producers and exporters of tanks — but only Russian armor has been extensively tested in combat during the military operation in Ukraine, a new report by the Centre for Analysis of World Arms Trade says.

The survey’s key points:

◻️ Russian weapons undergo far more rigorous testing under fire, which drives continuous improvement based on combat experience against a high-tech adversary

◻️ Russia has field-tested and improved multiple tank models. Including the T-62B, T-72B3/M, T-80BVM, early T-90s and the front-line T-90M

◻️ The T-90 family leads the global market in 21st-century tank exports, with deliveries and licensed production in India, Vietnam, Iran, Iraq, Algeria, Azerbaijan and others

◻️ At the IDEX-2025 defense exhibition, the T-90MS made a strong impression with its enhanced protection system, designed to counter kamikaze drones, modern anti-tank missile systems and handheld anti-tank grenades

◻️ The tank is capable of withstanding multiple hits from anti-tank weapons and returning to combat several times without any loss in capability

◻️ Countries often turn to Russia for defense cooperation as they are guaranteed access to high-quality combat-proven equipment

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🇷🇺 Russian Msta-S howitzer smashes Ukrainian troop rotation on Kharkov front

A self-propelled gun of Battlegroup Sever, operated by a skilled crew and led by an experienced commander, hits enemy positions non-stop, staying razor-sharp and eliminating Ukrainian forces.

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🇨🇳💎 China to limit lab-grown diamond export to US

The goods now subject to export controls include (per the Chinese Ministry of Commerce):

🔸 Synthetic diamonds

🔸 Wire saws

🔸 Grinding wheels containing lab-grown diamonds

🔸 Equipment that use lab-grown diamonds

"Exporters wishing to export the above-mentioned items must apply for a license," the Ministry stated.

China's export restrictions could take effect on November 8, the day before the expiration of the tariff agreement between Washington and Beijing.

👉 In 2024, the US became the third-largest buyer of diamond powders from China after India and South Korea, and also ranked third in purchases of grinding wheels.

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🇷🇺 Russia would currently support Trump's nomination for Nobel Peace Prize - Kremlin aide

🔊 But Zelensky's statements regarding the transfer of Tomahawk missiles for nominating Trump as a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize is a monstrous idea, Yury Ushakov said.

Zelensky's stupidity in this situation is surprising, he added.

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🚨🇵🇭🌊 Powerful 7.4 quake strikes the Philippines

Tsunami threat declared — waves could hit within 300 km of the epicenter

President orders mass evacuation

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🇮🇱🚨 HUNDREDS of US troops arrive in Israel to ‘monitor Gaza ceasefire’

Some 200 US troops will be part of a so-called “civil-military coordination center” established by US Central Command on Israeli soil, with promises to assist Gaza aid delivery and “stabilize” the situation, the AP reports.

No boots in Gaza, the White House claimed, even though planning, logistics, and surveillance will be firmly in US hands.

Donald Trump earlier announced the first phase of a peace deal clinched by Israel and Hamas that stipulates the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, as well as Israeli troop withdrawal to an agreed-upon line inside Gaza.

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🗣🇷🇺 'Anchorage impulse' alive - Kremlin

💬 "Considering our continued commitment to moving toward a peaceful resolution, we can say that this impulse is alive, it lives on, and hopefully will continue to live on," Dmitry Peskov said.

Russia is optimistic in terms of the spirit of Anchorage regarding the settlement of the situation in Ukraine, the official added.

Based on Ukraine's behavior, Russia notes that events regarding the settlement are not developing very favorably, Peskov said.

"They [Ukrainians] are not responding to our proposal to create three specific working groups, and all this is in order to begin the very homework that needs to be done before the summit meeting," he said.

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🚨📹 Putin seen during CIS Summit in Tajikistan

Footage of the evening stroll taken by Vladimir Putin and other leaders ahead of an informal dinner for the heads of delegations of CIS member states in Dushanbe was shown by Tajikistan's state television.

The walk featured leaders:

🇹🇯Emomali Rahmon (Tajikistan)

🇦🇿Ilham Aliyev (Azerbaijan)

🇰🇿Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (Kazakhstan)

🇹🇲Serdar Berdymukhamedov (Turkmenistan)

🇺🇿Shavkat Mirziyoyev (Uzbekistan)

🇰🇬Sadyr Japarov (Kyrgyzstan)

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📹LIVE NOW: Putin speaks at CIS Summit in Tajikistan🇷🇺⚡️

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