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Kim Jong-il named North Korea’s generalissimo

On Thursday North Korea will mark the late leader’s birthday as the Day of the Shining Star

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

PYONGYANG, February 15 (Itar-Tass) — North Korea’s late leader Kim Jong-il was named as a generalissimo on the eve of his 70th birthday on February 16, the Korean Central News Agency said on Wednesday.

The ruling Workers’ Party Central Committee and Central Military Committee, the National Defence Commission and the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly issued the relevant decree on Tuesday.

Kim Jong-il had taken steps “to strengthen the Korean People’s Army founded by Generalissimo Kim Il-sung, he honourably defended the socialist state and made immortal contribution to global peace and stability,” the news agency reported with reference to the decree.

He also turned North Korea into a military power and “led the stand-off with imperialism and the US to victory”.

Kim Jong-il died suddenly of a heart attack in December and was succeeded by his youngest son Kim Jong-un.

On Thursday North Korea will mark the late leader’s birthday as the Day of the Shining Star.

Bombs with power of 13 kilos of trotyle found in Russia’s Kabardino-Balkaria

An active accomplice of bandits was detained in the search operation and gave confessing testimony

Debris of two aircraft found in Lipetsk Region

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Moscow International Film Festival kicks off

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Russian investigators start inquiry into financing of terrorism by US, NATO officials

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Unidentified man attempts suicide outside courthouse where Trump trial is underway

The man set himself on fire

French president says creating Israeli-type air defense network for Ukraine impossible

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Russian industrial producers’ prices up 2.4% in March — statistics

In chemicals production, prices edged up by 26.8% for ethers, organic peroxides, epoxides, acetals and semiacetals and their derivatives

China’s Russian oil imports rise by 13% in first quarter of 2024 — customs

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Kiev lacks both troops and equipment near Chasov Yar in DPR, says retired general

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Russia’s advanced radar in Kaliningrad to monitor entire territory of Europe — source

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Russia won’t allow NATO to move closer in Ukraine — Lavrov

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Swiss parliament votes against joining task force on frozen Russian assets

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Lavrov labels way West ramping up sanctions against Russia as mindless

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Iran may target Israeli nuclear center in Dimona in case of Israel’s attack — TV

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Russia ready for Ukraine talks, but not with Zelensky — Lavrov

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Two people killed in borderline Belgorod Region in Ukrainian drone attack — governor

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US 'not forgetting' to help itself with aid to Ukraine — Kremlin

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Russia knows French military instructors working in Ukraine — Lavrov

At the same time, the top Russian diplomat pointed out that "there is information that not only French mercenaries, but also instructors, maybe even together, but along with some other representatives of military and special services of European countries are working there [in Ukraine]"

BRICS’ expansion makes it much stronger — senior Russian diplomat

Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia, became full-fledged members of BRICS from January 1, 2024

Sweden’s Duplantis breaks own pole vault world record

Armand Duplantis bettered his previous world record of 6.23 meters

Gazprom delivering 42.4 mln cubic meters of gas to Europe through Ukraine via Sudzha

A request for transit via the Sokhranovka gas pumping station was rejected

Russian air defenses down Ukrainian drone over Belgorod Region

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Lavrov speaks of West’s agony, Russia’s approach to any future talks with Kiev

The Russian foreign minister also described Armenia and Russia as more than formal allies

Airport in Denmark evacuated over bomb threat

One suspect was arrested in connection with the threat

UN secretary general urges Azerbaijan, Armenia to normalize relations

Stephane Dujarric noted that the secretary general "encourages the parties to continue the delimitation and demarcation of the remaining sections of the border and tackle all outstanding bilateral issues toward achieving full normalization of relations."

Israeli aviation strikes towns in Gaza Strip

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US gives nod to Israeli operation in Rafah in exchange for canceling major attack on Iran

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Moscow demands international organizations condemn killing of Russian war correspondent

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also expressed condolences to Eremin’s family and friends

Ukrainian national detained at Russian-Georgian border for suspected espionage

He may face up to 20 years in jail

Kiev ordered mandatory evacuation from Kharkov Region to accommodate mercenaries

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Ukrainian trace obvious in Crocus City Hall attack — Russian prosecutor general

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israeli Permanent Representative Gilad Erdan was to address the council after Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour

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According to Al Jazeera, Israeli security forces have killed at least five people over the past 24 hours

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Three Ukrainian soldiers swim across Dnieper to surrender to Russian troops — governor

Vladimir Saldo called on other Ukrainian servicemen to switch to the Russian side and request the corresponding assistance

West close to sending military to Ukraine, this would 'drag Europe to bottom' — Orban

"This military whirlpool can drag Europe to the bottom. Brussels is playing with fire and angering God," the Hungarian prime minister said

Putin signs law on holding World Friendship Games

Funding will be provided from the federal, regional and local budgets, as well as taxes from gambling transferred to the organizer

Russia has significant amount of West’s funds in case of confiscation of its assets

Russia views the West’s encroachment on its assets as "a blatant and shameless theft for the purpose of lining its pockets," Maria Zakharova noted

US agrees to withdraw troops from Niger — Washington Post

The decision was sealed in a meeting between US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and Niger’s prime minister, Ali Lamine Zeine

Russian border guards to leave Tavush once border delimitation is done — Armenian PM

This means that we don’t have a line of engagement but a border, while a border is a sign of peace, Nikol Pashinyan said

US House passes procedural vote on Ukraine aid bill

It cannot be ruled out that the House of Representatives may pass this package as early as Saturday

West wants to make Transnistria hotbed of tension — Lavrov

According to the top Russian diplomat, the leaders who rule countries where they claim to be from while holding foreign passports "will not enjoy support and authority for long"

Russia’s defense chief inspects production of tanks, flamethrowers at Siberian enterprise

Sergey Shoigu handed down an instruction for the defense enterprise to ramp up the production of T-80BVM tanks, the Defense Ministry said

Court arrests another man accused of blowing up car of former SBU officer in Moscow

Ivan Paskar is charged with illegally transporting explosive substances, but he does not recognize his guilt

Russian government increases customs duties on beer from unfriendly countries

This measure is not a prohibitive one and will make it possible to make competitive conditions equal for Russian producers, the ministry said

Drones downed over Isfahan cause no damage, says Iranian foreign minister

It is reported that several drones had been intercepted by the national air defense forces over Isfahan

One crew member of jet crashed in Stavropol Region killed, search for another continues

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, an Aerospace Forces’ Tu-22M3 bomber crashed after completing a combat mission while returning to the airfield

Russia delivers 34 strikes on Ukrainian military infrastructure over week — top brass

The Ukrainian army lost more than 3,550 troops, four tanks and five armored combat vehicles in battles with Russian forces in the Donetsk area over the past week, the ministry reported

Kremlin declines to comment on alleged assassination attempt on Zelensky in Poland

The Security Service of Ukraine announced earlier that in a joint operation with law enforcement agencies in Ukraine and Poland it thwarted an attempt to assassinate Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky

NATO discussing transfer of ‘deep precision strike capabilities’ to Ukraine — Stoltenberg

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Ukrainians abroad storming embassies to avoid mobilization, Russian diplomat says

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Armenia’s relations with Russia not at their highest — top diplomat

Ararat Mirzoyan also said that Yerevan is currently making efforts to expand cooperation with the European Union and the United States

Russian instructors help train over 10,000 Central African troops — CAR president

According to Faustin-Archange Touadera, since becoming the president, his actions have been guided by the need "to modernize the army and take into account new challenges"

Air defenses repel Ukrainian drone attack in Russia’s Smolensk Region — governor

Vasily Anokhin urged local residents to remain calm and refrain from filming air defenses in operation.

World’s anti-doping agency WADA still waits for Russia’s 2023 financial contribution

Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin said in February that the Russian side had agreed with WADA to pay the membership fee for the year of 2023

Izvestia correspondent Semyon Eremin killed in special operation zone

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Arnulf Damerau said that he provided details of the meeting, along with evidence and a list of names of those involved, to US and European intelligence agencies

Russian economy proves resilience amid large-scale sanctions — IMF

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Three countries bid to host 2025 Games of the Future, event’s head says

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West can’t comprehend Russia’s resilience — Lavrov

"They would have been scared had anyone come down on them with similar ferocity," the Russian foreign minister added

Russia can join top three countries by lithium reserves — governor

Infrastructure is required to implement the investment project, both power transmission lines and the railroad, Andrey Chibis noted

Ukrainian POW exposes poor battlefield performance of NATO-supplied Javelins, NLAWs

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Kremlin spokesman offers condolences over death of Izvestia war correspondent

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FACTBOX: Collective Security Treaty Organization

The Collective Security Treaty came into force on April 20, 1994 to herald the emergence what would eventually become the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The six member-countries are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

North Korean agriculture committee’s delegation sets off on visit to Russia

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Russia not to go for settlement on Ukraine based on 'Zelensky formula' — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat referred to a swindling trick used by a thimblerigger who puts a small round object, such as a ball or pea, under one of three thimbles or cups and asks the player to guess under which the object is, while unfairly manipulating this object

US volunteer Russel Bentley missing in Donetsk killed — RT editor-in-chief

Bentley came to Donbass from the United States in 2014