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Iran confirms importance of Rosatom’s participation in Bushehr NPP construction

Construction of reactors 2 and 3 for Iran’s Bushehr NPP to start before yearend, says the Russian foreign minister

Bushehr nuclear power plant EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH

Bushehr nuclear power plant

© EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH

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Agreements on construction of Bushehr NPP remain in force — Iranian parliament speaker

BAKU, August 8. /TASS/. Iran has confirmed the importance of Russia’s Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom’s participation in the construction of the Bushehr NPP, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters upon results of Monday’s talks with his Iranian and Azerbaijani counterparts.

In his words, construction of the second and third power units may start before the yearend.

"You know that the contract for the construction of the second and third power units of the Bushehr NPP has already been signed. Now, the sides carry out preparations for coordinating certain points. Our Iranian counterparts have confirmed that they are interested in the participation of Rosatom in the implementation of this project," he said.

"Successful experience of the first power unit commissioning evidenced that Russia’s technologies are at the highest level. Russia is ready to continue constructing the second and the third units. I think that we will be ready to start building those power units in the near future," Novak said, adding that the construction of the two above-mentioned power units may start before the end of 2016.

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The NPP in the Iranian Bushehr province was built by Russian specialists in the compliance with the contract signed between the two countries in 1995. In August 2012, the Bushehr NPP was fully commissioned.

At the beginning of November 2014, Russia and Iran signed a set of agreements on the construction of eight more atomic power units in Iran.

At the beginning of this year’s May, Rosatom’s official said that Russia is ready to start designing the Bushehr NPP-2 in Iran before the end of 2016 when the two sides coordinate parameters of the future NPP site.

Construction of the third power unit may be launched within the next two years. Overall investments in the project are estimated at $11 billion.

BRICS membership helps UAE’s economy become stronger — minister

Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri also noted that BRICS contributes to the development of global cooperation

Ukraine loses over 300 troops, two Bradley vehicles in Kursk Region in past day

Eight motor vehicles and two electronic warfare stations were also destroyed? the ministy added

Russia ready to normalize relations with US without detriment to its interests — Putin

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Press review: Israel and Hamas near a truce while Zelensky drafts a new negotiation plan

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Dmitry Peskov added that it is not planned to issue any joint statements

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Reporters are ramping up Russophobia, distorting the facts while writing on this matter, the Russian Embassy in Portugal said

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Putin calls Oreshnik missile development ‘an historic event’ for space rocket industry

Russian President also said that he had handed down direct instructions to produce and test-fire the Oreshnik hypersonic missile

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NATO spies study damage from Oreshnik at Yuzhmash — expert

Alexander Stepanov emphasized that both Kiev and its Western allies are closely scrutinizing the consequences of the strike on the plant

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No injuries or damage were reported

First batch of nuclear-armed drones Poseidon manufactured for special-purpose sub Belgorod

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Moldovan president plans military operation in Transnistria — Russian intel agency

According to the SVR, Maia Sandu recently convened a meeting on energy security issues with senior government officials

Syria’s new government wants to build strategic relations with Turkey

Ahmed al-Sharaa also said he will not "tolerate uncontrolled arms trafficking" across the country

Russian 'soldier of the future' combat gear tested in Syria

The Ratnik is a system of advanced protective and communication equipment, weapons and ammunition

Arkhangelsk nuclear submarine ready to join Russian Navy — Sevmash Shipyard CEO

Project 885M nuclear-powered submarines carry Oniks and Kalibr-PL cruise missiles as their basic strike weapons

Strike on SBU control center response to Russian general’s assassination, expert says

The ministry clarified that Ukraine launched a missile strike against the Kamensky Integrated Plant in the Rostov Region using six US-made ATACMS missiles and four Storm Shadow cruise missiles

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Ukraine’s General Staff admits tense situation along entire frontline

The Ukrainian military also admitted the Russian army’s supremacy in terms of military equipment and the size of personnel

Ukrainian army launches long-range missiles at Donetsk

Air defenses are in operation, and at least six aerial targets have been shot down

Commander Makarov was killed in fighting to repel Ukrainian attack — ministry

Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov also informed of the death of the deputy commander of the army corps for military-political work, Colonel Yevgeny Brovko, who led the efforts of the personnel

Response to Ukrainian attack on Russia’s Rylsk to come shortly — Russia’s UN envoy

Vasily Nebenzya warned as he denounced the attack as yet another unambiguous step by the Kiev regime toward escalation

Trump nominates billionaire Feinberg as US Deputy Secretary of Defense

The president-elect called Feinberg an "extremely successful businessman"

Group of foreign mercenaries taken out in Velikaya Novosyolka in Donbass region

The military said that a conversation in a foreign language was intercepted by radio intelligence before visual control over the group was established

Kalashnikov improves combat capabilities of Vikhr-1 aviation missile

"I will not comment on that in any further detail, it is our client’s prerogative," Kalashnikov CEO Alan Lushnikov said

Assad allegedly hands list of military targets over to Israel before leaving Syria — media

According to the Turkish newspaper, the former Syrian president did it to ensure his own safety

Oil supplies to Hungary via Druzhba pipeline resume — top Hungarian diplomat

Reuters reported earlier that oil supplies to Belarus and EU countries via Druzhba had been suspended on December 19 due to technical problems

Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger take armies to maximum alert — declaration

"The College of national leaders closely follows the deceiving maneuvers, initiated by the French junta, who declares the shutdown of its military bases only to replace them with another, less visible mechanism, which pursues the same neo-colonial goal," says the statement

Topic of Russian gas transit expected to be discussed by Putin, Slovak PM

"We’d better wait for the meeting to end to learn what they discussed," he Dmitry Peskov said

Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger reaffirm withdrawal from ECOWAS irreversible

"The College of national leaders considers the attempt to prolong the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from ECOWAS yet another attempt that would allow the French junta and its lackeys to continue planning and carrying out actions, aimed at destabilization of the Sahel Alliance," says the joint statement

Slovak PM thanks Putin in Russian for meeting with him

This was Putin’s first personal meeting with Fico since 2016

No real impulses for organization of Putin-Trump meeting so far — Kremlin spokesman

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Almost 20 drones downed over four Russian regions, Black Sea last night

According to Russia's Defence Ministry, attempts to conduct attacks against facilities on Russian soil were thwarted

Is Gaddafi's gloom prophecy in regard to Europe bound to be fulfilled?

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The MEP said that Fico stands for Slovak interests in Russia, "even in spite of the warmongers in Brussels"

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The Al Arabiya television channel said that, citing a source

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Roman Starovoyt noted that Russia is holding negotiations with many airlines from friendly countries

Ukraine may cease to exist by 2034 — Russian security official

Dmitry Medvedev noted that Ukraine will never join NATO

Syrian development help prevent regional war — Syria’s new leader

Ahmed аl-Sharaa expressed hope for building strategic relations with Lebanon

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Russian cancer vaccine to be free of charge — top oncologist

It is planned to launch it in general circulation in early 2025

Ukraine's refusal to transit Russian gas will hit EU economies hard — French expert

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Civilian industrial complex supplies Russian army with over 65 types of units — top brass

Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov praised the new mechanisms for accelerating the introduction of advanced weapons and equipment developed by the civilian defense industrial complex in the interests of the Russian army

AI can help generate personalized cancer vaccines in an hour — Russia’s vaccine chief

Now it takes quite long to build personalized vaccines because computing of how a vaccine should look like uses matrix methods, Alexander Gintsburg said

Georgian president demands appointing snap elections within week

Salome Zourabichvili also promised to announce her further plans on Monday

Magdeburg attacker may be charged with murder of 5, attempted murder of 205 — prosecutor

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"Russia’s position is well known, it was voiced by Putin back in St. Petersburg," Dmitry Peskov stressed

Hungarian PM highlights need to lift sanctions on Russia once Ukraine conflict is resolved

Viktor Obran added, however, that only a couple of EU countries shared Hungary’s position

Father of conscript who killed 8 in Siberia asks son to cooperate with investigators

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Putin to extend New Year greetings to peoples of several unfriendly countries — Kremlin

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Trump appoints TV producer Burnett as special envoy to UK

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Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said that the Borisovsky district was attacked by a UAV, with the roof of a private house being damaged

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US Navy cruiser mistakenly downs F/A-18 fighter over Red Sea

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Gazprom to replace European sales market with new export destinations, says Italian expert

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Drone attack triggers fire at fuel infrastructure facility in Russia’s Oryol Region

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Ukraine to halt Russian gas transit on January 1, 2025 — Ukrainian PM

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Turkish president calls on West to stop Israel in Syria before it’s too late

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Key rate, inflation and criticism of Central Bank: statements by regulator’s chief

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Hungary wants to preserve relations with Russia as part of economic neutrality — Orban

The prime minister underscored that, "the more serious the problems in Europe are, the more decisively the economic relations in all other markets should be promoted"

Russian forces control more than half of Chasov Yar in DPR — expert

Andrey Marochko noted that Russian forces had "slightly advanced" in the northern and southern parts of Chasov Yar

Putin holding talks with visiting Slovak PM

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Hungary wants to maintain ties with Russia under its economic neutrality policy — PM

Victor Orban also said that hopes for the development of economic cooperation with the United States after President-elect Donald Trump takes office

IN BRIEF: What is known about drone attack on residential buildings in Kazan

TASS has gathered the main information about the incident

Press review: Who benefits from Russian general's murder as Trump lacks Kremlin strategy

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, December 18th

Kiev takes out its anger for military defeats on Russian people — diplomat

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also emphasized that Moscow is outraged by the hypocritical silence of the West and its media on the terrorist attacks in Russia

Ukrainian troops attempt counterattacks on Vasilyevka direction in Zaporozhye Region

According to the report, the Russian troops also improved their positions near Nesteryanka on the Orekhov direction

Russia starts humanitarian electricity supplies to Abkhazia — minister

Abkhazia’s state-run energy company Chernomorenergo said that there will be just two two-hour shutdowns

Death toll from Israeli strikes on Gaza Strip exceeds 45,200 — health ministry

More than 107,600 people received wounds

Tehran, Moscow could sign partnership agreement in January 2025 — Iranian MFA

"This will be done at a bilateral meeting in the coming future," Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said

Civilian manufacturers ramp up drone production to 40,000 units per month

The Russian Defense Ministry has also purchased more than 100,000 units from small design bureaus and civilian manufacturers, the statement said

Russia declassifies intel about France’s plans to send 2,000 troops to Ukraine

SVR Director Sergey Naryshkin said on March 19 that Paris was already preparing to send some 2,000 troops to Ukraine

Russia has confidence in its weapons, senior diplomat says

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov also stressed that the recent developments had shown that the US policy of establishing a system of increasingly layered missile defenses was wrong

Baltic states threaten mass deportation of Russians, take lead in Russophobia — statement

The Foreign Ministry noted that the facts of discrimination and persecution of Russians are often ignored by the official leadership of countries and international human rights agencies, leading many victims to remain silent

Russian forces take control of Severny neighborhood in Chasov Yar — Donbass region head

According to Denis Pushilin, Russian forces have been advancing almost along the entire line of engagement in the region

Serbia will never joint anti-Russian sanctions, deputy prime minister vows

Aleksandar Vulin noted that he is "not optimistic about prospects for the United States changing its policy toward Serbia" after the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump

An-2 plane missing in Kamchatka located, survivors found — regional emergencies ministry

According to the press service of the regional Emergencies Ministry, all three people onboard the plane survived the emergency landing

NATO prepares for war with Russia, Moscow takes these risks into account — senior diplomat

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Aleppo taken by 350 militants while 30,000 gov’t troops retreated without fight — Putin

The Russian president recalled that no Russian land troops had been deployed to Syria, with Russia having only an airbase and a naval base

Putin opens new transport infrastructure sites in Russian regions via video link

Putin also took part in the ceremony of opening international airports in Magadan, Cheboksary, and Stavropol