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Conflict in Syria

Russia’s embassy confirms ambassador summoned to Turkish Foreign Ministry - official

Earlier in the day, a source with the Turkish Foreign Ministry told reporters that ambassadors and charges d'affaires of Russia, the United States and Iran had been summoned to the ministry

ANKARA, January 20. /TASS/. Russia’s Embassy in Ankara has confirmed that the Russian ambassador was summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the diplomatic mission’s spokesperson told TASS on Saturday.

"We can confirm a summons to Turkey’s Foreign Ministry. At the Turkish Foreign Ministry we were given information to be conveyed to the Russian authorities," Irina Kasimova said.

Earlier in the day, a source with the Turkish Foreign Ministry told reporters that ambassadors and charges d'affaires of Russia, the United States and Iran had been summoned to the ministry. The source said, "they were informed about current developments in Afrin."

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Moscow was concerned about the beginning of Turkey’s offensive in Afrin and urged the warring sides to exercise restraint.

On Saturday, Turkey’s General Staff declared the launch of Operation Olive Branch against Kurdish units from Self-Defense Forces and Democratic Union Party in Afrin, home to 1.5 million Syrian Kurds. Ankara says that these two groups are affiliates of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) recognized as terrorist in Turkey.

The CNN Turk reported earlier that eight Turkish fighter jets F-16 took off from the Diyarbak·r air base to bomb Kurds’ position.

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Syria Syrian conflict

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Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

Over the day, the enemy lost more than 430 troops, ten tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, 19 armored combat vehicles, 33 motor vehicles, one Anklav-N electronic warfare station

Kennedy Jr. added to Mirotvorets list after Trump’s appointment

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Ukraine not holding talks on gas transit from Russia after December 31 — Energy Ministry

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Politician slams Western elites for behaving like 'collective Hitler' on Ukraine issue

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Abkhazia’s opposition demands president step down in one hour

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Ukrainian troops surrender as Russian forces advance — captive

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Russia's liberation of Stepanovka in DPR spells trouble for Ukrainian troops in Kurakhovo

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FACTBOX: Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

APEC economies account for 62% of the world’s GDP and 47% of global trade, with approximately 3 billion people living in countries that participate in the forum

Iran assures US it had no plans to assassinate Trump — media

Tehran sent this written message in a bid to reduce tensions between Iran and the United States amid growing instability in the Middle East, the report says

Developments in Kursk Region: Ukrainian fighters suffer losses, face charges in Russia

Ukraine lost more than 100 servicemen, a tank, an armored fighting vehicle, four motor vehicles, two D-30 122-mm howitzers, a mortar and an electronic warfare station over the past day

Iran may retaliate against Israel before Trump's inauguration — newspaper

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Putin, Roscosmos chief outline vision for Russia’s space program

Yury Borisov provided a brief report about what the National Project consisted of, its main objectives, tasks and expected outcomes

Russia always fulfilled its trade obligations, ready to cooperate with Germany — Putin

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Putin congratulates Gazprom on completion of work on Nord Stream 2

The gas pipeline is ready for operation, the Russian President said

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Trump to rely on forces that brought him to power — Russian presidential aide

Nikolay Patrushev agreed that Trump, when he was still a candidate, "made many statements critical of the destructive foreign and domestic policies pursued by the current administration"

UAE’s accession to BRICS to strengthen coordination with Russia on global problems

Russian foreign ministet Sergey Lavrov visited the United Arab Emirates and talked with his colleague Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Women’s shelter near Moscow catches fire, six injured

In its statement, the Russian emergencies ministry named "a short circuit in an electric heater" as a potential cause

Musk says Trump, himself have public mandate for change

US President-elect Donald Trump announced earlier that Musk and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy would lead the Department of Government Efficiency in his new administration

Russia's newest Su-57 fighter jet superior to China's new J-35 — test pilot

Sergey Bogdan emphasized that the newest Russian fighter was a "magnificent platform for a future generation of configurations, just as the Su-27 aircraft in its heyday"

Bank of Russia sets dollar rate at 100 rubles for November 16-18

The official yuan rate is fixed at 13.80 rubles

Putin proclaims Odessa Russian city, challenges Ukraine's historical narrative

At the same time, the president noted that once upon a time "Vladimir Lenin gave away the whole of Ukraine when he created the Soviet Union"

FACTBOX: Putin, Scholz hold phone talks first time in two years

The talks were initiated by Berlin

Lukashenko tells Putin situation is "starting to get tense with Wagner"

The Belarusian leader noted that they want to go to Warsaw