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Iraq opens probe into kidnapping of Israeli-Russian national — TV

On July 5, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that "Elizabeth Tsurkov is an Israeli-Russian dual citizen who has been missing in Iraq for several months and is being held by the Shiite militia Kataib Hezbollah," insisting she was still alive

CAIRO, July 7. /TASS/. Iraqi authorities announced on Friday that an investigation had been launched into the kidnapping of Israeli national Elizabeth Tsurkov, who is also a Russian citizen, the Al Hadath TV channel reported.

According to its information, the Iraqi government "announced the start of the investigation into the Baghdad kidnapping" of Elizabeth Tsurkov.

An Iraqi government spokesman said that official Baghdad "will announce its stance on the Elizabeth Tsurkov case after the investigation is completed and its findings are presented."

On July 5, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that "Elizabeth Tsurkov is an Israeli-Russian dual citizen who has been missing in Iraq for several months and is being held by the Shiite militia Kataib Hezbollah," insisting she was still alive.

On Thursday, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that the Russian Foreign Ministry is working to protect the interests of Russians abroad. According to him, the Kremlin will definitely contact the ministry "because measures to protect interests are normally taken via diplomatic agencies."

According to Israel’s Kan Radio, Tsurkov is an expert on Syria as well as on the Islamic State (IS, outlawed in Russia) terrorist organization. Her research dealt with comparing the movement of followers of Shiite imam Muqtada al-Sadr (the Sadrist Movement) and Lebanese formations. Prior to the kidnapping, Tsurkov was conducting fieldwork in Iraq and Lebanon.

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Russia's defense industry

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People evacuated from Brazil’s Supreme Court after blast nearby — agency

According to Reuters, Brasilia’s military police confirmed that a body was found near the court building

Finnish government requests EU sanctions exemption for Russian owners of sports arena

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At the same time, he emphasized that Russia has no expectations from the new US administration, but will assess its concrete steps

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Russian Su-34 bomber strikes Ukrainian troops in borderline Kursk area

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At least ten people have been killed, Al Jazeera reported

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At least ten Ukrainian troops were killed

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According to the source, the job is not expected to be a salaried role

Su-57 fighter jet shows exceptional performance in Russia’s special op, senior official

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Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted two significant blockages of Ukrainian troops near Kupyansk, involving more than 15,000 military personnel

Damascus may count on joining BRICS after Syrian crisis is settled — Russian diplomat

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Russia’s Battlegroup North destroyed an UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) production workshop of the Ukrainian army and inflicted roughly 110 casualties on enemy troops in its area of responsibility in the Kharkov Region over the past day

Kiev may offer Trump resources, partial rotation of US troops in Europe — official

Mikhail Podolyak also expressed Kiev's hopes that the newly elected US president would impose stricter economic sanctions on Russia, particularly in the oil industry, if not provide direct military support

Japan remains ready to sign peace treaty with Russia — top diplomat

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"A call was made to the international community to contribute to the achievement of this goal," Maria Zakharova added

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Most Russians say special op doesn't bleed into their daily life

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The ministry provided live-recording footage showing direct hits on Ukrainian military vehicles

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Mikhail Bogdanov added that it allows using those debts "to implement socio-economic projects directly in the country"

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Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

Over the day, the enemy lost more than 450 troops, two tanks, three IFVs, two M113 armored personnel carriers, 33 armored combat vehicles, five artillery pieces, including a Krab self-propelled howitzer, a Crotale multiple rocket launcher, and 49 motor vehicles

Trump’s return to power unlikely to change US approach to Ukraine crisis — Lavrov

Washington will always seek to control everything that is happening within NATO’s orbit, especially on NATO territory, the Russian foreign minister said

Russian Marines destroy Challenger 2 tank with FPV drone in Kursk Region

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

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Iraqi Shiites say they attacked ‘vital targets’ in Israel

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Countries will line up for Russian gas when US stops exporting LNG — Serbian president

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Too early to talk about meeting between Assad, Erdogan — Russian diplomat

"Certain communication is maintained between the defense ministers, in the four-lateral format," Alexander Lavrentyev said

Tehran to retaliate against anti-Iran resolutions at IAEA — official

Tehran views the approach of the United States and the European troika to the situation surrounding Iran's nuclear program as hostile

Scholz promises to transfer sixth IRIS-T system to Kiev by yearend

Ukraine and Germany also discussed further defense cooperation

Russia keeps positive dynamics of agricultural production — ministry

The production index of foodstuffs was 104.2% in January - September against the like period in 2023 and the index for beverages was 109.8%

Turkey invited to join BRICS as a partner state, says minister

Omer Bolat recalled that at the last BRICS summit in Kazan, the sides "considered the applications of Turkey and several other countries"

Trump to push Zelensky to start talks, reject NATO membership — expert

Tetsuo Kotani also argued that, if Moscow and Kiev reach a ceasefire agreement, Washington will push for a negotiated settlement of the conflict

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"

Putin discussed Ukraine with Saudi crown prince — Kremlin

"The sides indeed touched upon the topic of the conflict. We have nothing more to say," Dmitry Peskov said

Russia to hold Astana-format summit in 2025 — Russian diplomat

Alexander Lavrentyev noted that despite the fact that the exact date of the summit has not yet been agreed upon, meetings in the Astana format are held regularly at other levels

Russia’s Vityaz, Viking air defense systems attract major attention at Airshow China

Russian surface-to-air missile systems have demonstrated their value in the special military operation in Ukraine, Vyacheslav Dzirkaln noted

Ukraine aims to call up 1 mln people in eastern areas by end of 2024 — official

According to the plan, 360,000 people are to be mobilized in October; 325,000 and 300,000 in November and December, respectively

Lebanon deal won't happen unless Israel given right to eradicate Hezbollah — Katz

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Israel achieves its goals in conflict with Hamas, time to 'end the war' — Blinken

"Israel, by the standards it set itself, has accomplished the goals that it set for itself," the US Secretary of State noted

Violence against Kupyansk residents refusing to evacuate reported in Kharkov Region

The press service of the Military-Civil Administration of the Kharkov Region clarified that the Ukrainian militants view such people as traitors, "waiting for the Russians," so they are not entitled to either humanitarian aid or human dignity

South Korea to support Ukraine in response to Russia-North Korea alliance — president

As Yoon Suk Yeol said, the reported dispatch of North Korean servicemen to participate in Russia’s special military operation "poses a serious security threat not only to the Korean Peninsula and Europe but also to the entire world"

Erdogan praises Russia, China for backing arms embargo on Israel

According to the Turkish leader, Israel "will become more and more aggressive if arms and ammunition supplies continue"

First S-550 air defense systems enter service in Russia — source

The source described the new system as "an absolutely new and unrivalled mobile system of strategic missile defense"

Russia to ensure parity in response to US missile defense system in Poland — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov emphasized that by placing the missile defense system in Poland, the United States is bringing its military infrastructure closer to Russia in an attempt to curb its potential

Russia elected to UN Committee for Program and Coordination

Apart from that, director of the Russian foreign ministry’s personnel department Andrey Ivanov, was approved as a member of the International Civil Service Commission in 2025-2027

US plans to remove 'arrogant' Zelensky and stage 2025 elections in Ukraine — SVR

"At the initial stage, it is planned to encourage entities within the Ukrainian civil society under their control, through US 'democratization' foundations and think tanks, to come up with a corresponding initiative," the statement reads

Ukraine targets medics and journalists as priorities — military doctor

Santa noted that the medic’s red cross draws the attention of Ukrainian troops, so affiliation patches on uniforms must blend in, and identifying marks are also not applied to evacuation vehicles

Clear Zelensky won't be the one to decide about talks with Russia, says Lavrov

"Russian President Putin has repeatedly said that we have never refused to negotiate," the Russian foreign minister reiterated

US administration always seeks to weaken Russia — Lavrov

The foreign minister pointed out that the Americans had long declared the idea that "there should be no country in the world more influential than the United States"

Kiev's Western allies begin to acknowledge need for territorial concessions — report

The diplomats see this approach as "land in exchange for Ukraine’s security"

Borrell calls on EU to play ‘military role’

"Trump's re-election should make it clear to us that Europe should bolster its security and take its destiny into its own hands," EU’s outgoing top diplomat said

Attempts being made to drag Syria into armed confrontation in Middle East — diplomat

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Zelensky will lead Ukraine to civil or nuclear war rather than surrender power, legislator

Alexander Dubinsky explained that Zelensky would by no means benefit from the end of the conflict, because in that case, its net effects would have to be assessed

Man who died in blast in Brasilia tried to carry bomb into court building

According to Brasilia's Deputy Governor Celina Leao, the man has not yet been identified because there are explosive devices on his body

Kiev wants to mobilize 160,000 people to survive until Trump's inauguration — MP

According to Alexander Dubinsky, the authorities in Kiev are primarily focused on securing more of the funds allocated to them

Next-gen Su-57 shows strength of Russia’s defense sector — diplomat

Maria Zakharova pointed out that military experts had praised the "unmatched capabilities" the plane displayed at the Airshow China in Zhuhai