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North Korea slams US sanctions pressure against 'undesirable' countries

The Rodong Sinmun newspaper cited the example of Iraq and Libya, which, according to the publication, chose a "self-destruction" path by letting Western powers meddle in their domestic affairs

© AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon

PYONGYANG, October 21. /TASS/. The United States uses economic sanctions for destabilizing those countries, which don’t obey its diktat, Rodong Sinmun, a North Korean official newspaper of the Central Committee of Workers' Party of Korea, wrote on Monday.

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"Western powers, including the US, are pressuring disobedient countries with sanctions," Rodong Sinmun said in a commentary. "A step of compromise would lead to ten steps, a hundred steps and eventually a collapse."

The newspaper cited the example of Iraq and Libya, which chose a "self-destruction" path by letting Western powers meddle in their domestic affairs, comparing this to "self-inflicted wounds."

Western sanctions are aimed at destabilizing economies, pushing for regime change and eventually achieving subjugation. Independence and national dignity can be achieved only through a fight against imperialists, the newspaper said.

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One suspect was arrested in connection with the threat

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

Bentley came to Donbass from the United States in 2014

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

The first negotiations between Russia and Ukraine after the start of the special military operation took place in early March 2022 in Belarus, but they did not bring tangible results

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

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

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

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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.

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

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Ukrainians abroad storming embassies to avoid mobilization, Russian diplomat says

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Kiev ordered mandatory evacuation from Kharkov Region to accommodate mercenaries

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Russian defense chief checks implementation of orders to develop drones

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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

CIA chief says Ukraine could lose by end of this year — Politico

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Russian economy proves resilience amid large-scale sanctions — IMF

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BRICS’ expansion makes it much stronger — senior Russian diplomat

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US House passes procedural vote on Ukraine aid bill

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

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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

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

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

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

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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

West can’t comprehend Russia’s resilience — Lavrov

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

The law enforcement employees exert efforts to identify the instigators of this crime, Igor Krasnov said

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

"We have not received any external attack, and the discussion leans more towards infiltration than attack," a senior Iranian official reported

Ukrainian drone damages energy infrastructure in Russia’s Kaluga Region

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

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

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French, US, British nukes all interwoven — Russian diplomat

Maria Zakharova described France’s decision to place its aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, directly under NATO control as a symbolic move marking the end of "the era of an independent Paris in the international arena"

Swiss parliament votes against joining task force on frozen Russian assets

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Water level of Ishim River in Russia’s Tyumen Region surpasses dangerous mark

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Unidentified man attempts suicide outside courthouse where Trump trial is underway

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

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American Abrams tanks vulnerable even to Soviet-era weapons, says expert

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Russian military closely monitors all Ukrainian 'novelties' — Kremlin on UAVs

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

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Israeli aviation strikes towns in Gaza Strip

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Moscow demands international organizations condemn killing of Russian war correspondent

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Ukrainian shelling kills pregnant woman in Russia’s Belgorod Region — governor

Vyacheslav Gladkov added that the attack had shattered the windows of several houses and damaged their facades and roofs

North Korea conducts new anti-aircraft missile test — KCNA

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Russia knows French military instructors working in Ukraine — Lavrov

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BRICS looking at creating common digital payment platform

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Number of flooded residential buildings in Russia drops to 16,200

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Russian air defenses down Ukrainian drone over Belgorod Region

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

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

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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

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

Russia’s Battlegroup West repels three attacks in past day, moving to better positions

Units of Battlegroup Center have improved their tactical positions

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 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

Press review: Biden backs aid to Israel, Ukraine and Russia assets giving West legal fits

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, April 19th

Kremlin spokesman offers condolences over death of Izvestia war correspondent

Dmitry Peskov pointed out that the Ukrainian armed forces were deliberately targeting Russian journalists

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

Sites for practicing ways to counter drones to be set up at all Russian testing grounds

Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has visited a testing ground in the Moscow Military District where new models of small arms developed with the participation of snipers who carried out missions in the special military operation zone were presented

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

According to the embassy, the delegation is expected to hold talks with the Russian agriculture minister and meet with officials from the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision and the Federal Agency for Fishery

Lavrov labels way West ramping up sanctions against Russia as mindless

According to the foreign minister, Russia has decided not to depend on the West in all spheres, including those in which it can limit the country's development

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

Lavrov says Borrell let it slip that Europe ‘fighting against Russia’

Russia’s top diplomat noted that Josep Borrell may made the statement in a moment of weakness

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

Blast rocks military base south of Baghdad — Reuters

According to the news agency, one PMF fighter was killed and six were wounded

Izvestia correspondent Semyon Eremin killed in special operation zone

The tragedy occurred near the village of Priyutnoye located on the border of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Zaporozhye Region

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

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

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"

No plans for pauses in fighting if talks on Ukraine begin, Lavrov says

The Russian foreign minister emphasized that the situation on the ground had changed significantly

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

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"

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

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."

Two pilots of jet that crashed in southern Russia hospitalized

The plane crashed in a field in the Krasnogvardeysky district of southern Russia’s Stavropol Region

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

On April 10, the vehicle was also spotted when the North Korean leader visited Kim Jong Il Military and Political Academy