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Mossad chief to accompany Netanyahu on official visit to Russia

Vladimir Putin will hold talks with the Israeli prime minister in Sochi on August 23

Yossi Cohen, the head of the Israeli Mossad Heidi Levine, Pool via AP

Yossi Cohen, the head of the Israeli Mossad

© Heidi Levine, Pool via AP

TEL AVIV, August 22. /TASS/. Director of Israel’s national intelligence agency Mossad Yossi Cohen, head of the National Security Council Meir Ben-Shabbat and Minister for Jerusalem Affairs Ze’ev Elkin, who is also Minister of Environmental Protection, will accompany the country’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his upcoming visit to Russia, a source in the Israeli prime minister’s office told TASS on Tuesday.

"We confirm that Yossi Cohen, Meir Ben-Shabbat and Ze’ev Elkin will travel to Sochi together with the prime minister," the source said. According to her, Elkin will also act as an interpreter for Netanyahu. "He (Elkin) usually serves as an interpreter for the prime minister," the source added.

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Meir Ben-Shabbat was appointed head of the Israeli National Security Council on August 15. Before that, he served as a senior official at the Israel Security Agency known as Shabak or Shin Bet.

The Kremlin press service said on Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin would hold talks with the Israeli prime minister in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on August 23.

"The parties are expected to exchange views on bilateral relations and the situation in the Middle East, including the Syrian issue, the fight against international terrorism and ways to resolve the Israel-Palestine issue, as well as on other regional and global issues," the Kremlin press service elaborated.

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Vladimir Putin Benjamin Netanyahu

Conflict in Syria

Astana format to be useful for Syria at this stage, Russia ready to work — Lavrov

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Serious conflict between Israel, Turkey possible — Russian expert

"It’s important to note that the primary development in this context is the markedly increased role of non-Arab states in the region, particularly two key players," Vitaly Naumkin said

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The Russian emergencies minister, Alexander Kurenkov, added, that weather anomalies are becoming more and more frequent

Ukrainian intel agent plotted to plant bomb under car of Russian defense official — FSB

The Ukrainian intelligence services planned to detonate the explosive device remotely from the territory of Ukraine, the press office said

CIS countries share common approaches to resolving global issues — Putin

Among other things, "members of the Commonwealth have been increasing cooperation in the fight against extremism, transborder crime, and drug trafficking, and everyday activities and contacts between security agencies have been established," the Russian president said

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The capacity of the new gas pipeline should be 45 billion cubic meters per year, Alexander Novak said

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The attack resulted in the deaths of three individuals, with a fourth victim passing away from injuries at the hospital shortly afterward

Australia contacts Russia regarding captured mercenary — diplomat

Maria Zakharova emphasized that "Canberra obediently follows in the footsteps of the collective West, which pursues a Russophobic policy"

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Russian forces pound Ukrainian military airfields, ammo depots over past day — top brass

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

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According to the report, the Israeli military struck a vehicle of the Quds News Network, parked outside the al-Awda hospital in the Nuseirat refugee camp

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Sandu regime may seize Moldavan power plant in Transnistria — Russian Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova noted that "under such a scenario, the Russian peacekeeping presence in the region will be jeopardized"

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Marochko added that the operation allowed Russian troops to "expand their zone of control" in the area

Greece continues to ship munitions to Ukraine en masse — website

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Press review: Ukraine eyes missile programs as EU considers new sanctions on Russia

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Ukrainian agent fails to plant bomb under car of Russian defense official — FSB

The apprehended Ukrainian agent said that he had retrieved the explosive from a cache in the Moscow Region and tested its detonator

List of BRICS partners to be announced soon — Brazil’s Foreign Ministry

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Production of passenger cars in Russia up 25% in November to 80,400 units — Rosstat

11M 2024 production totaled 679,000 passenger cars

Armored vehicle with Israeli commanding officers blown up in West Bank

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Russian commissioner hopes for resumption of effort to bring children from Syria

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Scientists present Russia's first 50-qubit cold atom quantum computer — MSU

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Lavrov sees ceasefire in Ukraine as road to nowhere, calls for reliable agreements

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Israeli premier threatens Houthis with HAMAS, Hezbollah’s fate

Benjamin Netanyahu promised that "this lesson would be learned throughout the Middle East"

Sunken tankers violated seasonal maritime traffic restrictions — authority

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Ukraine’s General Staff reports tense frontline situation

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Almost 90 children reunited with relatives in Ukraine - commissioner

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Press review: US, Israel aim to curb Turkey’s gains while Moscow, Tehran strengthen ties

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, December 24th

Launch of Russia’s Bion-M biosatellite scheduled for March 25 — manufacturer

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Syrian authorities introduce curfew in Latakia, Homs after Alawite protests

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Russia doesn’t need ceasefire in Ukraine, it needs legally binding guarantees — Lavrov

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Russia not setting preconditions for talks on Ukraine — Lavrov

The foreign minister stressed that Russia was deceived "when they stated that NATO would not expand eastwards and when they emphasized their commitment to resolve [the conflict] based on the UN Charter"

PREVIEW: Putin to participate in Eurasian Economic Union summit near St. Petersburg

The meeting’s participants are expected to discuss guidelines for future integration processes and efforts to develop the union’s free trade zone

Russian investigators initiate criminal case into terror attack on borderline town

The Ukrainian armed forces carried out a strike on the town of Lgov in the Kursk Region on December 25

West plans to destabilize situation in Serbia — Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman

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Two people preparing attempts on Russian military officials' lives recruited in Ukraine

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Russian embassy refutes reports on Sudan’s refusal to host Russian base

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Group of Syrian law enforcement officers ambushed in Tartus, 14 killed — minister

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Former Austrian minister believes EU ignored message Russia sent with Oreshnik missile

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Plane crash in Kazakhstan claims 38 lives

29 people had been hospitalized

CIA station in Kiev targeted in recent Russian attack, military expert reveals

According to Alexander Stepanov, strikes are systematic efforts to gradually wipe out the military capabilities of Ukraine

Baku, Yerevan can jointly initiate dissolution of OSCE Minsk Group — diplomat

The spokeswoman went on to say that the stalemate began when Western countries de-facto blocked the work in this format

Azerbaijan Airlines plane made 2 circles near Kazakh airport before crashing — official

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Mine removal at Donetsk airport to start in 2025 — official

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Russia says Su-35S fighter jets provide cover to Aerospace Forces in Kursk Region

Also, one aircraft used onboard weapons systems to detect enemy air defense sites, according to the ministry