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Writer Boris Strugatsky, a classic of modern scientific and social fiction, dies at 79

Strugatsky stayed in hospital over the last several days and doctors said he was in “grave condition”

MOSCOW, November 19 (Itar-Tass) — Writer Boris Strugatsky, a classic of modern scientific and social fiction, died in St. Petersburg at the age of 79 on Monday, November 19.

Strugatsky stayed in hospital over the last several days and doctors said he was in “grave condition”, his friend Boris Vishnevsky told Ekho Moskvy radio.

Boris Strugatsky created most of his works in co-authorship with his brother Arkady. The brothers gained popularity as the authors of fantastic novels which "raised" several generations of young people. Seven films and a number of theater and TV plays based on their novels were staged.

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

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"

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

Stoltenberg said NATO believes Ukraine has the right to strike "legitimate military targets" inside Russia

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

Emmanuel Macron added that Europe’s resources are limited, and the European Union will continue helping Kiev keeping in mind its own reserves

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

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

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

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

Investigators have established that the funds that were received through commercial organizations, such as the oil and gas company Burisma Holdings operating in Ukraine, have been used to carry out terrorist acts in Russia and abroad

US-led coalition’s aircraft violate Syrian airspace 13 times in past day

Two shelling attacks on the positions of Syrian government army by the Jabhat al-Nusra groups were reported in the Idlib de-escalation zone

KazMunayGas, Sibur, Sinopec sign protocol on plant construction in Kazakhstan

Construction of the plant in the Atyrau region is planned to be completed by 2029

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

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

Iran threatens to attack Israel's "nuclear centers" in case of aggression on its part

Ahmad Haqtalab argued that Israel had been conducting "subversive and terrorist activities" against the Islamic republic's nuclear infrastructure for year

US assured Israel that Iranian drones will be intercepted — US journalist Hersh

He also said that the US military contacted Russia and the United Kingdom while evaluating the potential of the Iranian attack

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

There is still no full clarity regarding the future of Ukraine's western regions, the Russian foreign minister went on to say

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

Military commanders of Ukrainian army brigades "lack both personnel and the required amount of equipment" while Russian troops enjoy a considerable superiority, especially in artillery, Sergey Krivonos noted

Founder of neo-Nazi cell in Crimea flees to Georgia — source

According to the official, the investigation established that Mikhail Maurov planned to travel to Ukraine to join the ranks of a right-wing Ukrainian organization called the Freedom of Russia Legion

Participation in ‘Columbine’ movement may result in life sentence — Prosecutor General

Earlier, the "Columbine" movement was recognized a terror group

Armenia has to define CSTO’s zone of responsibility on its territory, says Lavrov

On March 12, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that Yerevan asked its CSTO partners to answer where the CSTO's zone of responsibility in the republic was

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

Ukrainian drone damages energy infrastructure in Russia’s Kaluga Region

There are no casualties, Governor Vladislav Shapsha said

Death toll in Gaza Strip since tensions escalated exceeds 34,000 — Health Ministry

It is reported that just over the past 24 hours alone, 42 people have been killed and 63 wounded

Switzerland does not suit Russia for negotiations on Ukraine — Lavrov

The Foreign Minister pointed to the fact that Switzerland is on board with all Western sanctions

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

Iran suspends flights above several cities amid reports of air attack — IRNA

Fox News said the Jewish state delivered a limited strike on Iran

Russian economy positively influences neighboring countries — Deputy PM

In 2023 the Russian economy has demonstrated remarkable resilience and growth, Alexey Overchuk said

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

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North Korea conducts new anti-aircraft missile test — KCNA

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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

Israeli aviation strikes towns in Gaza Strip

According to Al Jazeera, air strikes hit the towns of Deir al Balah and Rafah

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]"

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

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Proposals on Russian assets confiscation undermine financial system — Finance Minister

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G7 leaders to decide on Russian assets use — Italian Deputy PM

Recommendations on opportunities of using frozen Russian assets in interests of Ukraine will be presented before the G7 summit in June 2024

Moscow International Film Festival kicks off

MIFF President Nikita Mikhalkov, a celebrated Russian film director, declared the festival open, praising the bravery of foreign cultural figures who are visiting Russia at this time

Kiev ordered mandatory evacuation from Kharkov Region to accommodate mercenaries

Evacuation campaigns are regularly organized by the Kiev government, under the pretext of security issues

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

The first Konteiner radar went on combat duty in the Volga area region of Mordovia on December 1, 2019

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Polish premier refuses to hand over his country’s Patriot systems to Ukraine

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Russian military base may appear in CAR’s eastern region — President Touadera

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Lavrov labels way West ramping up sanctions against Russia as mindless

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

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Russian economy proves resilience amid large-scale sanctions — IMF

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Military base near Iran’s Isfahan hit following attack — newspaper

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

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Ukraine’s new ethnic minorities law insufficient to protect Magyars — Hungarian president

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Nearly half of those present in UN Security Council hall walk out before Israel’s address

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Unidentified man attempts suicide outside courthouse where Trump trial is underway

The man set himself on fire

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

Russia's revenues from oil exports remain high despite price ceiling — IMF

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Swiss parliament votes against joining task force on frozen Russian assets

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Russian Cabinet expands list of perfumery, cosmetic products subjected to import duty

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

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North Korean leader arrives at public event in Aurus luxury car gifted by Putin

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Iran has no plans to immediately retaliate to attack on its soil — agency

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Ukrainians abroad storming embassies to avoid mobilization, Russian diplomat says

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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

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

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

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

According to Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, a private residence in the village of Poroz caught fire when the unmanned aerial vehicles dropped two explosive devices

Chinese analyst sees US veto on Palestine as reflection of arrogance, double standards

Wang Wen stated that it’s still very hard to achieve a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

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

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

S-500 system to be supplied to Armed Forces after 2015

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Major Western investor accuses Zelensky's office of extorting millions of euros

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Putin signs law on holding World Friendship Games

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Baku, Yerevan to approve draft agreement on delimitation commissions by July 1

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BRICS’ expansion makes it much stronger — senior Russian diplomat

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BRICS looking at creating common digital payment platform

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Hungarians in western Ukraine should get their rights back, Budapest says

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Security guarantees on Ukraine did not apply to Crimea, Donbass — Lavrov

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About 30 events in 26 countries to be held as part of Russian Film Festival — minister

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EU ministers to discuss use of Russian assets for Ukraine on April 22 — EU official

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Two pilots of jet that crashed in southern Russia hospitalized

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