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Merkel comments on upcoming meeting with Putin

© AP Photo/Michael Sohn

BERLIN, August 17. /TASS/. The dialogue with Russia is important in the search for solutions to world crises, but the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin due on August 18 is unlikely to produce specific results at once, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in Berlin on Friday after talks with Montenegro’s Prime Minister Dusko Markovic.

"It will be a working meeting and no special results should be expected. But in view of the large number of problems we are concerned about - from Ukraine to Syria and cooperation in the economy - it is reasonable to be in permanent dialogue," she said.

CSTO to help bring international community back to multilateral dialogue — Secretariat

As Yury Shuvalov specified, the topics of the upcoming discussion will concern the issues of building a renewed multipolarism and an ideological base that can unite political and public forces of different countries

Hezbollah confirms two senior figures killed in Beirut air strikes

As a result of the September 28 perfidious strike on the neighborhood of Chiyah, Sheikh Nabil Kaouk was killed

Russian volunteer recounts poison gas exposure while evacuating WWII veteran near Kursk

In mid-August, Kursk Region Governor Aleksey Smirnov told Russian President Vladimir Putin that Ukraine used chemical weapons in the region’s Belaya District

Russian PM Mishustin to visit Iran and meet with country's leaders

According to the Russian government's website, this will be Mishustin's first visit to Iran as Prime Minister

Ukraine’s poorly trained new recruits often flee their positions — newspaper

"The commanders estimated that 50 to 70% of new infantry troops were killed or wounded within days of starting their first rotation," the report said

Turkey expects Akkuyu nuclear plant to go live in 2025

This project is not merely an important sphere of interaction between the two countries but is also critical for Turkey’s energy security, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Numan Kurtulmus added

Russia had to revise nuclear doctrine amid West’s reckless push for escalation — Kremlin

According to Peskov, "revisions have been made and will be formalized now."

Russia says its military repairmen retrieved US-made MaxxPro from battlefield

According to Defense Ministry, the American armored vehicle was destroyed by an FPV drone unit of the battlegroup Center’s special-purpose unit

Russian government to submit draft budget for 2025-2027 to State Duma

Along with the main financial document, the Duma will be introduced to the "budget package" bills - on the budget of the Social Fund and the Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund for the same three years, on the minimum wage, social and medical insurance

Gazprom warns Naftogaz about possible Russian sanctions if transit trial continues

Gazprom also believes that the current circumstances deprive it of its fundamental right to a fair and impartial hearing in court

US, Israel in touch over developments following death of Hezbollah chief

According to the White House official, the US is concerned over the potential spread of the Middle Eastern conflict

At least 4 people killed, 29 injured in Israeli strikes on Yemen — Houthis

Four people were killed and 29 others were injured in the preliminary toll of the Israeli aggression on Hodeidah Governorate

Russia’s Avangard hypersonic missile system to go on combat alert in December — top brass

The new weapon was unveiled by Russian President Vladimir Putin in his State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly on March 1, 2018

Press review: Putin sends nuke smoke signal to West and China shows off military might

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, September 26th

Putin, Erdogan achieve firm friendship between Russia and Turkey

Head of states laid the foundation for starting implementation of the whole range of common goals in many spheres, including joint energy projects and cooperation in spheres of culture and tourism, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Numan Kurtulmus said

Israeli forces conclude massive wave of strikes on Lebanon

According to its statement, approximately 120 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon and deep inside Lebanese territory were attacked

Iran calls on UN Security Council to convene urgent meeting

The country will not hesitate "to exercise its inherent rights under international law to take every measure in defense of its vital national and security interests," Permanent Representative of Iran to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani said

Not a single project of peaceful settlement in Ukraine to be successful without Russia

There can be no new security architecture in Europe without participation of Belarus, Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov also said

Debate on allowing hijabs at schools reignited in Russia

One of Russia’s Muslim leaders has asked President Vladimir Putin to allow girls to wear hijabs — a traditional veil that covers the head and chest — at schools, and this once again has reignited debate on the admissibility of wearing religious headwear in educational institutions

Nasrallah assassinated by Israel due to ‘huge arsenal’ created by him — IDF

Israel had been conducting extensive intelligence surveillance since 2006 to understand Hezbollah, the IDF spokesperson said

US trying to drive wedge between Russia, Ukraine for years, says Assange

He recalled numerous warnings on the part of Russia that the attempts to bring Ukraine into NATO might trigger a civil war in that country

Ukrainian armed formation trapped near Selidovo in DPR — security forces

"Heavy combat is underway with all logistics being cut off on that section of the frontline," the source said

Israeli forces conclude massive wave of strikes on Lebanon

According to its statement, approximately 120 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon and deep inside Lebanese territory were attacked

Chinese foreign minister urges US to stop imposing sanctions on Beijing over Ukraine

Wang Yi warned the US against using the issue of Ukraine to foment block confrontation

Russia puts Ukrainian casualties in Kursk region over past day at 400

According to Russia’s top brass, Russian warplanes and artillery forces struck concentrations of enemy troops and weaponry in as many as 17 localities in the borderline region

Zaluzhny says not involved in Nord Stream pipelines sabotage — newspaper

In response to the newspaper's inquiry, Valery Zaluzhny said that the accusations against him were a "mere provocation"

Russia wants to save people’s lives in Middle East — Lavrov

"As a result of the campaign for collective punishment of the Palestinians, which is now being conducted by Israel, <…> 41,000 Palestinian civilians were killed and around 100,000 were wounded in just about a year, since October 7, 2023," the Russian foreign minister said

Some foreign mercenaries in Kursk Region already eliminated — army

Major-General Apty Alaudinov noted that it should not be surprising that many mercenaries had come from countries considered friendly to Russia

Russia to achieve all set goals as truth is on its side — Putin

The head of state thanked all Russians who had engaged in the restoration of the liberated territories

Russia should host new global sporting tournaments, legislator says

On Saturday, the ISU didn’t move to lift its sanctions on Russian skaters even as the issue was on its agenda yesterday

Israel may be seeking to dominate southern Lebanon, expert says

According to a professor of international law at the University of Illinois College of Law Francis Boyle, "Israel's on a rampage here"

West, not Russia, to blame for blocking work of UN bodies — Lavrov

The Russian Foreign Minister drew attention to the fact that the West, in pursuing its policy of hegemonism, continues to escalate confrontation

Russian forces destroy long-standing Ukrainian stronghold — politician

"This is significant because the stronghold allowed Ukraine to control a fairly large area in the Orekhovo direction," Vladimir Rogov said

Israeli Air Force strikes dozens of Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon

"Over the past two hours, the Israeli Air Force struck dozens of terrorist facilities of the Hezbollah terrorist organization in the Beqaa region of Lebanon," the army's press service reported

UAE accuses Sudanese army of attacking its ambassador's residence in Khartoum

"The Sudanese army must bear full responsibility for this cowardly act," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement

Austrian chancellor concedes his party’s loss in parliamentary elections

Nehammer hopes to retain his position as the party leader

Hungary open to talks on space program with Russia’s Roscosmos, says top diplomat

"I negotiated a lot with Mr. Rogozin," Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto noted

Russian forces wipe out concentration of enemy troops in Kharkov region

Crews manning heavy flame thrower systems opened fire at the enemy after the Russian battlegroup detected camouflaged Ukrainian positions

Pentagon eyeing new troops deployment in Middle East — TV

There are about 40,000 US troops in the Middle East for the time being

Evacuation of Ukrainian troops from Ugledar urgently needed, military expert says

Vladislav Seleznev underscored that the Ukrainian troops are in a "critical shortage" of resources, necessary to counter the Russian forces on this swath of the frontline

Falling drone debris damages four private homes in Lugansk

There were no civilian casualties resulting from the attack

Elimination of mercenaries, Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

In total, the enemy lost more than 17,750 people during the fighting

Hamas announces death of its Lebanon chief in Israeli airstrike

According to the radical movement, the strike hit his house located in the Palestinian El Buss refugee camp near the Lebanese city of Tyre

Georgia supports Russia's offer to help establish relations with Abkhazia, South Ossetia

General Secretary of Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia ruling party, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze suggested to start developing a plan for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Abkhazia and South Ossetia

Ukrainian shelling attacks on Energodar intensify — mayor

Earlier, the Ukrainian army delivered an artillery strike on an electric power substation

Houthis claim missile strike at Tel Aviv Airport during Netanyahu’s return

According to the spokesman, the strike was carried out via a ballistic missile in response to Israel’s action in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon

West's media admit that civilians died in Bucha in shelling by Ukrainian troops — diplomat

They suppressed all objective facts and evidence and disseminated blatant fakes instead, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzya said

BRICS considers further expansion inappropriate for now — Lavrov

More than 20 countries wish to become partners and about 10 more wish to maintain permanent contacts, the Russian foreign minister said

Japan’s future PM to dismiss parliament, hold elections — Kyodo

The parliament will be dismissed on October 15 while the elections will be held on October 27

Nuclear arms to be used as soon as NATO attacks Belarus, Lukashenko says

According to the Belarusian leader, Minsk is getting ready for such a development

Turkey unable to resell S-400 to third countries without Russia’s consent — Lavrov

There is the end-user certificate, which is part and parcel of the arms supply contract, the Russian foreign minister noted

Israeli strike on Beirut kills Hezbollah leader’s daughter — TV

According to the broadcaster, Zainab Nasrallah repeatedly made public statements about loyalty to Hezbollah’s aims

Turkey’s entry to BRICS to benefit entire world — speaker of parliament

Numan Kurtulmus noted that republic is the member of many international organizations

Germany keeps ignoring Russia’s requests for information about Navalny’s health — Lavrov

The Russian Foreign Minister said that Russia had rushed to transfer the blogger to Germany for treatment without bothering with the necessary formalities

Unrecovered bodies of European mercenaries litter Kursk fields — Russian MP

According to Viktor Vodolatsky, the West needed the Ukrainian incursion into the borderline Russian region of Kursk to test how well Russia’s border is protected

More than 10 people killed in Israeli air strikes in Lebanese Hermel

Al Mayadeen TV channel reported there was also a large number of wounded after the air strike

New Hezbollah chief appointed — TV

Safieddine served as the head of the movement's executive committee

Biden questions Zelensky’s decision to attack Russia’s Kursk Region — media

The US president is also "somewhat dubious about Zelensky’s 'victory plan,'" which the latter presented to him during a visit to Washington on September 26

Russian diplomat sees hostile US policy as obstacle to dialogue about New START

"If we are seriously talking about strengthening security, the anti-Russian policy first needs to be abandoned," Sergey Ryabkov emphasized

China deeply concerned over growing escalation in wake of death of Hezbollah leader

Also, China called on the conflicting sides, especially Israel, to take urgent measures to cool tensions and prevent the conflict from expanding or spiraling out of control

Remarks about preparations for war with Russia mirror West’s position — Kremlin spokesman

Germany has developed an operational plan for a war with Russia; NATO Military Committee Chair Admiral Rob Bauer said that a conflict was highly likely, while Chief of the General Staff of the Estonian Defense Forces Major General Vahur Karus even highlighted Tallinn’s readiness to conduct a pre-emptive strike

Rising number of dead foreigners in Ukraine proves West's involvement — envoy to UN

"We have warned from the beginning that those who help the Zelensky clique stay afloat will become our legitimate targets," Vasily Nebezya reminded

Iran's supreme leader moved to secure location amid reports of Hezbollah chief’s death

According to the media outlet, the move was part of tightened security measures

Russian prime minister to visit Armenia

Mikhail Mishustin will participate in the 40th meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council and the plenary session of the Eurasian Economic Forum

Russian troops damage Ukrainian army’s supply bridge in DPR

This is one of the key motorways used for supplying the enemy’s garrisons in Selidovo and Kurakhovo, the defense circles said

Chair of Oman’s Consultative Assembly arrives in Moscow

The visit to Russia is conducted at the invitation of Russian State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin

US military base in Syria comes under shelling — TV

According to Al Mayadeen channel, missiles and drones were launched against the base

Russian military helicopter crew wipes out Ukrainian troops, armor in Kursk area

The Russian Defense Ministry noted that the strike was carried out by air missiles against previously reconnoitred enemy targets

Russia’s cabinet approves budget for next three years

In 2025, federal budget revenues are projected at 40.3 trln rubles

More than 30 people killed in Gaza in recent Israeli strikes

According to Al Jazeera, at least two children were among the dead

Ukraine shrinks each time talks with Russia are disrupted — Lavrov

Russia is glad to see any initiatives concerning the Ukrainian settlement, including the one proposed by former US President Donald Trump, the Russian foreign minister said

Russia assumes that Putin’s remarks on nuclear doctrine were heard — Lavrov

The minister added that the West’s decision regarding authorization for strategic-depth strikes on Russia with Western weapons "will show how they understood what they had heard"

Austrian chancellor concedes his party’s loss in parliamentary elections

Unfortunately, we did not come in first, Karl Nehammer said

Presidential aide warns West against trying to kick out Russia from Baltic Sea

Nikolay Patrushev added that in violation of international rules, Russian ships are disconnected from the satellite communication network, which creates risks to the safety of navigation

Russia calls to put an end to murder of Palestinians with US-made weapons — Lavrov

The Russian Foreign Minister also said that a group of countries is trying to embroil Iran into a conflict in the Middle East in an attempt to provoke a major war in the region

Right to nuclear retaliation is no message to the West

The key factor of the updated doctrine is that Russia retains the right for a retaliatory nuclear strike in response to an aggression with conventional forces and arms against it, Igor Korotchenko stated

Russian forces carry out group strike on Ukrainian army’s airfield infrastructure

The attack involved high-precision long-range weapons

Serbian sniper says Russia fights against 50 countries led by UK, US, France

According to Dejan Beric, fighters from these countries and their equipment are directly involved in the conflict

US, UK prepare Europe for suicide venture against Russia — Lavrov

The Russian Foreign Minister pointed out the "pointlessness and danger of the very idea to fight to victory with a nuclear power like Russia"

Iran’s top diplomat vows retaliation for death of deputy Revolutionary Guard commander

This hideous crime by the aggressive Zionist regime will never go unanswered, Hossein Salami said

Hezbollah movement confirms death of its leader Hassan Nasrallah — statement

The movement also vowed to continue its fight against Israel

It’s up to Armenian, Azerbaijani leaders to decide if they want to meet at BRICS — Lavrov

"If they want to meet <...> we are always ready to do what was agreed with our participation," the Russian foreign minister added

Russia says its Ka-52M helicopters take out Ukrainian troops, equipment in Kursk Region

According to the ministry said, the strikes on the previously detected enemy targets were delivered with air-borne missiles

UNGA member countries adopt Pact for the Future, despite Russia’s objection

Along with Russia, Belarus and Nicaragua, delegations from North Korea, Syria, Sudan, and Iran voted against

Party that stands against anti-Russian sanctions wins elections in Austria — TV

The ruling Austrian People's Party is currently in second place with 26.3%

Russian forces liberate Makeyevka in LPR

Also, the battlegroup struck Ukrainian troops from four brigades and enemy weaponry in the Kharkov Region

Spiral of violence escalates beyond Israeli-Palestinian conflict — Lavrov

According to Russian Foreighn Minister, conflict at Lebanon-Israel border areas echoes in other parts of the region

Temporary base of mercenaries hit near Ukraine’s Odessa

Meanwhile, explosions have also been reported in the city of Sumy in southeastern Ukraine

Biden orders 567 million dollars in military aid to Taiwan

Last year, the Defense Department assistance amounted to 345 million dollars

Russian prime minister to meet with Iranian president in Tehran on September 30

He will hold talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and first Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref

Death toll from gas station explosion in Russia’s Dagestan rises to 13

Another body has been found

Death toll from Hurricane Helene in the US rises to 90

Most people died in North Carolina, CNN reported

Biden announces need for ceasefire on Israeli-Lebanese border

"We’re responding," Biden noted when answering the question whether the US reacts to attempts of hitting its warships by missiles in the Red Sea

Helicopter with Russian pilots crashes in Pakistan, there are casualties — Geo TV

At least six people died and eight others were injured, the TV channel reports

Israel delivers several strikes on Yemen’s Hodeidah

The sea port was the main target where one of the oil reservoirs caught fire

Kremlin doesn’t see West putting the brakes on Ukraine conflict

This requires Russia to be ready to use provisions from its revamped nuclear doctrine

Finnish president wants to be more Ukrainian than Ukrainians — Lavrov

" I know that Kiev's officials never stop speculating about the illegitimacy of the Russian Federation, because the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was written down in the UN Charter," the Russian foreign minister said

123 killed in Lebanon air strikes in 24 hours — Health Ministry

According to a report by the Elnashra portal, 359 were injured

Turkish government to discuss alternatives to Russian Mir payment system — source

At the moment, there is no information about the decisions made

Ukraine loses over 370 troops, eight armored vehicles in Kursk area in past day

Over the past day, the Ukrainian armed forces lost over 370 troops, eight armored vehicles, including a tank, two US-made M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and five armored combat vehicles

Twenty-four civilians killed in Israeli strike on Lebanese village

It noted that the death toll may climb as rescuers sift through the rubble