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Russia expects launch of direct flights to South Africa by second Russia-Africa summit

The second summit and economic forum Russia-Africa are scheduled for July 26-29

MOSCOW, January 25. /TASS/. Russia expects the launch of direct flights to the Republic of South Africa by the second Russia-Africa summit, Ambassador at Large, Head of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum Secretariat Oleg Ozerov said at the Valdai Discussion Club when speaking about relations between Russia and South Africa.

"I think there are simple solutions that allow resetting our relations very fast, this is, first of all, tourism. This is a very attractive area. If we manage - and we hope - to launch, say, direct flights to South Africa by the summit, tourists will go, this will be one of the factors that destroys propaganda stereotypes, destroys propaganda, people will be provided with an opportunity for people-to-people communication, which encourages Russian language study, we have seen all that as in the case of Egypt. <…> As soon as aircraft started flying, the demand for the Russian language revived in Egypt. I am confident that the same will happen in our relationship with South Africa as well," he explained.

Russia is convinced that it has "plenty of areas for economic cooperation with South Africa," the diplomat added.

The second summit and economic forum Russia-Africa are scheduled for July 26-29. The event was first held on October 22-24, 2019 in Sochi.

New version of COP29 document suggests allocation of $250 bln per year for climate action

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Andrey Kartapolov added that the special military operation in Ukraine "will continue its course until all tasks are completed"

Russian military to warn Ukrainian civilians of future Oreshnik attacks — Kremlin

Earlier, the Russian Armed Forces carried out a precision strike on Ukraine’s Yuzhmash defense industry facility in retaliation for the use of US-and UK-made weapons for strikes on Russia

Russia forced to roll out new weapons as West fuels conflict, Minsk says

According to Belarusian Security Council State Secretary Alexander Volfovich, "the West does not support peace, it supports war"

Russia’s steel production plunged in October — WSA

China produced 81.9 mln metric tons in October, up 2.9% on an annualized basis

Zelensky fine with conflict continuing due to Western help — Slovak PM

Robert Fico pointed out that "more and more evidence show that the West seeks to prolong the war in Ukraine for various reasons"

Russia fires ballistic, non-nuclear-tipped missile at Ukrainian aerospace plant — Putin

According to the president, the missile is code-named Oreshnik, which can roughly be translated as hazel bush

Defense ministers of five European nations to meet in Berlin on November 25

The French interior ministry said earlier that an emergency meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council will be held on November 26 following Russia using its new missile against a Ukrainian defense sector facility

Ukrainian frontline may 'collapse' under onslaught of Russian forces — BBC

According to the experts, Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s borderline Kursk Region turned out to be a "strategic catastrophe" amid "manpower shortages"

US decision to allow missile strikes deep into Russia fuels global escalation — Slovak PM

Robert Fico also rejected the belief that this escalation would not impact "those living far away, in Spain, England, or America"

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Andrey Belousov stressed that Russian troops have accelerated their advance in the special military operation zone and have effectively disrupted Kiev's 2025 military campaign

Russia encircles largest Ukrainian fortification in southern DPR — security services

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US journalist calls US President Joe Biden’s government 'the fascist state'

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

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Russia uses aerial bombs to destroy Ukrainian positions near DPR’s Konstantinovka — source

According to the report, at least 15 Ukrainian servicemen were killed as a result of the attack

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"Our friends are living in the Arab world," the politician noted

Russian air defense deflects attacks with Western missiles — Putin

"As a result, the goals that the enemy apparently set have not been achieved," the Russian leader said

Biden’s decision to use ATACMS against Russia may 'blow up in America’s face' — US expert

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Ex-German chancellor never expected Russia to tolerate Ukraine’s NATO membership — memoir

Angela Merkel added that another fallacy was the belief that the status "would act as a deterrent," and that Moscow "would accept these developments without taking action"

Zelensky to have no input if Russia, US negotiate, ex-Prime Minister says

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Diplomat mocks US Senator for talking about invading Netherlands

Maria Zakharova quoted the US Senator, who called the ICC a "Kangaroo court" and ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan a "deranged fanatic"

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Grenell would play a key role in Trump's efforts to halt the conflict if he is ultimately selected for the post

West irrational, fails to understand it cannot intercept Russia's new missiles — Kneissl

The former Austrian foreign minister stressed that she "counted on rational Western decision-makers, but irrationality is unfortunately on the rise among them"

IN BRIEF: What Putin said about Russia’s new missile, and Moscow’s response to the West

Moscow used its new Oreshnik medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile in response to the West’s decision to authorize strategic-depth strikes on Russia

Ukraine conflict entering decisive phase, Polish PM says

According to Donald Tusk, "no one knows how the conflict will end"

Japanese government refrains from commenting on Russia’s latest hypersonic missile

At the same time, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi once again criticized Russia’s actions in Ukraine

Western air defense systems unlikely to intercept Russian missiles — France’s Le Monde

According to the French military source, Russia's recent use of the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile should be taken in the context of possible negotiations regarding the ongoing Ukrainian conflict

Ukraine should consider territorial concessions to Russia in return for peace — magazine

Foreign Policy pointed out that Western officials should stop insisting in public speeches on the need to achieve a strategic defeat for Russia

Illegal decisions on Russian property in Finland will not go unanswered — diplomat

Maria Zakharova noted that the Russian Embassy in Helsinki has sent requests to clarify the situation

Oreshnik can reach targets across entire Europe — missile troops commander

"Based on the tasks and the range of this weapon, it can hit targets across entire Europe, which sets it apart from other high-precision long-range weapons," Sergey Karakayev said

Putin’s recent statements reflect long-standing policy, expert says

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Belarusian president believes humanity is on the brink of World War III

Alexander Lukashenko also emphasized that a real information war has been underway for a long time

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Russian forces liberated seven communities in the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past week, the Defense Ministry reported

Ukrainian defense line in Donbass may soon collapse — expert

"Those are very important logistical hubs and defence outposts for the Ukrainian armed forces, and losing them will give Russia the advantage to move forward to cities like Kramatorsk and Slovyansk," Marina Miron emphasized

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US missile defense base in Poland long among Russian army’s targets — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova stated that the US-NATO construction project, ongoing for nearly a decade with complete disregard to Russian security concerns, has consistently been a focus of Russia's attention

Enemy has no countermeasures for Russia’s Oreshnik missile — Putin

Speaking in a televised address, the head of state assured that Russia will issue notifications before using this type of missile

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"An automated warning was sent 30 minutes before the launch," Dmitry Peskov said

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Russia’s re-election to UNCITRAL confirms its global reputation — Foreign Ministry

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Biden’s actions on Ukraine meant to 'muck things up' for Trump — Lavrov

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Weapons supplied to Ukraine cannot reach Russian territory, Spanish defense minister says

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Department of Defense Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh gave no answer to the question of how could Ukraine prepare for this kind of attack

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Zelensky begs ‘for his country to be flattened’ — US journalist

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Israel carries out four strikes on building in Beirut

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Putin’s remarks on hypersonic missiles send serious warning to West — Turkish politician

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Over 1,200 children from Dagestan remain in refugee camps in Middle East

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Press review: Russia fires missile at Ukraine plant and Biden forgives Kiev $4.65 bln debt

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, November 22nd

Russian forces gain foothold in Chasov Yar’s industrial zone — expert

The units of the Ukrainian armed forces have created "a very serious defense line" along the railroad and along one of the streets of the settlement, military expert Andrey Marochko told TASS

Zelensky shook up by Russia’s response to permission to attack it — Lavrov

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US, West have no capabilities to intercept new Russian hypersonic missile — expert

"There is more in the Russian arsenal than many believe," said Karin Kneissl, the former Foreign Minister of Austria

US expects Russia-North Korea cooperation to be formidable challenge in coming years

Mira Rapp-Hooper mentioned the US administration’s version, according to which North Korea has allegedly sent troops to engage in active combat in Ukraine

China against double standards in international law — Foreign Ministry

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Turning to the Labour Party’s domestic policies, Andrey Kelin said Starmer’s plans to spur the economy were "not met with applause by the population

Russian forces cut off key Ukrainian supply route in Velikaya Novoselka, DPR

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Commissioning of Oreshnik and new developments: Putin’s meeting with defense specialists

Here are the key statements, made during the meeting

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"A large-scale investment program for expanding production capacities at defense sector organizations is being implemented", Vasily Tonkoshkurov said

Decision on strikes inside Russia seals US puppet Zelensky’s fate — commentator

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Enemy losses, mercenary intrigue, humanitarian aid: situation in Kursk Region

Over the day, the enemy lost 150 troops, four motor vehicles, an artillery piece and two mortars

US, European officials suggest returning nukes to Ukraine — NYT

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BRICS partnership format in UNESCO sparks interest of other countries — Russian envoy

Russia’s presidency of the integration will pass to Brazil this year, the diplomat said

Oreshnik missile to go into serial production, Putin says

The president stressed that given the weapon’s special power, it "will be provided precisely to the Strategic Missile Forces"

Russia’s reaction to Austrian OMV’s failure to pay for gas justified — MFA

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India, Russia discuss defense industry within military cooperation commission

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Russian servicemen control 30% of Chasov Yar in DPR — expert

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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"

Western nations should take Putin's statement seriously, warns Hungarian PM

Viktor Orban recalled that Russia has "one of the most powerful armies in the world, which boasts the most advanced, most powerful weapons"

Russian embassy warns UK about dangers of calling for Moscow’s ‘defeat’

According to th statement, London is promoting new rounds of escalation

US not seeking confrontation with Russia, but will continue assistance to Kiev — Pentagon

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Russia’s Oreshnik has no analogues worldwide — Putin

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Russia's Oreshnik missile poses significant threat to West, Turkish expert warns

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Putin says Oreshnik missile system cutting-edge innovation by Russia, not Soviet byproduct

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Zelensky’s actions make Ukraine vulnerable to coup, says politician

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US administration chooses to escalate Ukraine conflict — Kremlin

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Russia entitled to use weapons against military sites of states attacking it — Duma

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Signal to West and 'red card': experts weigh in on Putin’s missile launch statements

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Trump seeks to restore peace in entire world — transition team on Putin’s address

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Oreshnik missile to change course of Ukrainian conflict, Medvedev believes

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said it in an interview