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Mir system payments possible all over the country — Venezuela’s foreign minister

"Points of sale have an opportunity to receive such payments," Yvan Gil Pinto noted

MOSCOW, November 16. /TASS/. The Mir payment system makes it possible to perform settlements all over Venezuela, Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto said at a press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

"The Mir platform enables payments on the entire territory of Venezuela, on 100% of Venezuela’s territory. About 36% of all points of sale accept Mir cards already - almost 40%. Points of sale have an opportunity to receive such payments," the minister noted.

The Mir card is accepted everywhere in the Margarita Island, a popular tourist destination, he added.

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Stock markets on record-hitting spree around the world — Bloomberg

As the agency says, of the world’s 20 largest stock markets, 14 have hit all-time highs recently

Ukraine’s 2014 coup was CIA’s political mistake — Putin

The Russian president noted that the US agency had achieved its goal of changing the government but failed to see what it would evolve into

Putin apologizes to Harbin residents for tight security measures over his visit

"The greatest impression lies in the power of Harbin," the Russian leader noted, adding that "Harbin has turned into a powerful world-scale megacity in recent years"

Ukrainian attack on bus in Kherson Region injures 16 civilians, kills one — governor

All the others have bruises and light wounds, Governor Vladimir Saldo told TASS

Over 10,000 Ukrainian fighters surrender since summer using special radio frequency

According to the source, the radio frequency operates in all directions of the line of engagement in the special military operation zone

Almost 10,000 people evacuated from Ukraine’s Kharkov Region

The total number of evacuees stands at 9,907, Oleg Sinegubov, head of the regional military administration, said

Slovak PM's life no longer in danger, top defense official says

The prime minister has successfully undergone two surgical operations since Wednesday

SCO foreign ministers to consider candidates for new chief at Astana meeting

The ministers will consider candidates for the new SCO secretary general and the director of the Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure

Russia warns US, EU, Kiev they are playing with fire — MFA about Ukrainian strikes

Maria Zakharova pointed out that behind these barbaric attacks with Western weapons the silhouettes of US and British handlers of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky's were clearly visible

Georgian president vetoes bill on foreign agents

The Georgian legislature passed a bill on foreign agents in the third reading on May 14

Russia’s upgraded T-80BV tank to feature capability of firing depleted uranium shells

The use of depleted uranium ammunition does not violate any international treaties, expert says

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The French leader made the statement after his impromptu visit to Russia on Saturday for crisis talks with President Vladimir Putin, Le Figaro reported

Battlegroup North liberates settlement of Staritsa — Russian Defense Ministry

Russian air defenses down 37 drones, Tochka U missile, 21 HIMARS, Vampire, Olkha rockets in past day, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported

Six drones fall near oil refinery in Krasnodar Region — authorities

Roman Sinyagovsky added that, according to preliminary information, there were no casualties or damage

Press review: Day one of Putin's China visit and US stands by Ukraine

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, May 17th

French Interior Ministry ignores Russian volunteers banned from working at Olympics

In the text of the letter, the volunteers recalled that they had been "selected by the Organizing Committee of the 2023 Olympic and Paralympic Games (for the 2024 Paris Olympics), each one given a mission" and had already received visas, bought tickets to France and were ready to start working

Legitimate Ukrainian president needed to sign any agreements, says Putin

Ukraine was expected to hold its presidential election in March but the vote was canceled because martial law is in effect in the country

London blacklists two Russian companies, one firm from North Korea

The restrictions were imposed on Vostochnaya Stevedoring Co LLC and Toplivo Bunkering Company, as well as North Korean Paekyangsan Shipping Company

European Council suspends broadcasting activity of four Russian media outlets

According to the Council, this ban does not apply to any activities other than broadcasting

Repelling missile attack in Sevastopol completed — governor

Mikhail Razvozhaev warned of the danger of falling fragments and submunitions

Russia adds deputy head of Ukrainian presidential administration to wanted list

Roman Mashovets wanted under a Russian Criminal Code article, the database said

Americans undermine trust in dollar, its role as reserve currency themselves — Putin

The Russian leader noted that solutions on how to make payments are possible and do exist

Russian troops use latest Upyr FPV drones in Kharkov push

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Kiev asks US to lift restrictions on using weapons against targets in Russia — newspaper

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Russian court seizes Deutsche Bank’s assets under RusChemAlliance’s claims

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Putin-Xi talks were very successful, Kremlin aide says

The environment was very friendly and the leaders were in a good mood, Kremlin Aide Yury Ushakov told TV journalist.

Ukrainian president rejects French leader’s idea of Olympic truce

According to Zelensky, Kiev does not believe in the idea of an Olympic truce as it would "play into the enemy’s hands"

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According to preliminary information, there were no casualties or damage

Russia-China relations surpass classical alliances of past era — Lavrov

Talks with President Xi Jinping, meeting with other representatives of the Chinese leadership reaffirmed that our relations of comprehensive partnership, strategic interaction surpass in their quality the traditional interstate alliances of the past era and continue to play a key role in maintaining international security and balanced world development," the minister said at the 32nd Assembly of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy.

Russian troops advance towards Borovaya in eastern Kharkov region — official

Vitaly Ganchev added that as of today, more than 200 square kilometers of the region had been liberated from the Ukrainian armed forces

Shipments of long-range missiles to Kiev may expand ‘buffer zone’ toward Poland — Medvedev

"Once the Kiev regime uses Storm Shadow / SCALP-EG missiles with a range of at least 550 kilometers when the distance between Belgorod and Kiev is 429 kilometers, practically the entire central and most of the western parts of Ukraine fall within this sanitary zone," the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council said

Russian Tor air defense systems effective in destroying Storm Shadow missiles — top brass

Teams of Tor-M2 surface-to-air missile systems of Russia’s Battlegroup East shield first-echelon troops and civilian facilities in the south Donetsk direction

Another five Chinese brands to enter Russian market in 2024

"By the end of the year the number of new Chinese brands may reach 10," analysts said

US should explain to Ukraine that military aid won’t last forever — magazine

According to article, a security agreement between Washington and Kiev would prolong the fighting in Ukraine and could become "a liability for the United States"

Expert says ‘sanitary zone’ in Ukraine should be 300 kilometers deep

it should be enough to make sure that US, French and British-made long-range weapons don’t reach Russia, including the country’s new regions, Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of Russia’s National Defense magazine told TASS

Law on new rules of mobilization comes into force in Ukraine

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New Tchaikovsky Conservatory to be built in China within three years

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Ukrainian president says Kiev needs over 100 F-16 fighter jets

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Russia to find platforms for speaking out if US refuses to issue visas — senior diplomat

According to Sergey Ryabkov, it is necessary to "treat both the issuance and non-issuance of American visas with coldness and detachment"

Acute foreign policy confrontation between Russia, West ‘in full swing’ — Lavrov

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According to Roman Shkurlatov, two Patriot systems will not make Kharkov safe

Situation in Kyrgyz capital under authorities’ control — top diplomat

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Russian MFA describes Putin’s China trip as defining for world’s future

The trip laid the groundwork for many years to come, Maria Zakharova said

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Russian forces foiled another attempt of the Kiev to carry out a attack on Russian facilities, Defense Ministry reported

Putin, Xi Jinping discussed China’s security proposal, Lavrov says

Russian Foreign Minister said that there is great rationale for the practical advancement of the idea of ensuring global security to begin with the formation of the foundations of Eurasian security without any Euro-Atlantic overlay

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During the operation, fighters also discovered dozens of tunnels that they intend to destroy

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Israel launched air attacks on the Jabalia refugee camp, the Qatari TV channel reported

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Israeli artillery also shells several areas in the east and center of the city of Rafah

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Ukrainian army’s logistics centers hit in Odessa Region

Energy infrastructure facility suffers damage in Ukraine’s Poltava Region

Ukrainian media outlets reported explosions in the city of Mirgorod

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un invited the Russian President to visit his country when he traveled to Russia in September

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The test launch confirmed the accuracy and reliability of the system, the Korean Central News Agency reported

French army train unit of ‘super covert’ scouts in Estonia — radio

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US directly responsible for emergence, escalation of Ukrainian crisis — Beijing

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Dedollarization of Russia-China trade will continue — Kremlin

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Russia to take response measures amid nuclear threats — senior diplomat

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Tehran holding indirect talks with Washington in Oman, Iran's envoy to UN confirms

Amir Saeid Iravani said that the talks are "an ongoing process"

Air defense is repelling a missile attack in Sevastopol — region’s governor

Traffic on the Crimean Bridge has been temporarily closed

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Russian air defense shot down 57 UAVs in Krasnodar region overnight — Defense Ministry

Three UAVs were destroyed over the territory of the Belgorod region

US, Iran enage in indirect talks on Middle East security — news outlet

According to Axios, the consultations were devoted to discussing the possible "consequences of Iran and its proxies" in the region, as well as "US concerns about Tehran's nuclear program"

Ukrainian boxer Alexander Usik becomes absolute world heavyweight champion

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Ukrainian forces unprepared to withstand Russian offensive near Kharkov — newspaper

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Russian servicemen seize British FV104 Samaritan armored ambulance — top brass

"The vehicle has already been repaired and is being prepared to be added to the collection of foreign trophy weapons," the Russian Defense Ministry said

Russian air defenses down Ukrainian drone in Russia’s Belgorod Region — top brass

Air defenses on duty destroyed the Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle over the Belgorod Region, the Defense Ministry reported

French tired of supporting Ukraine — war correspondent

Christelle Nahan noted that people were tired of the fact that there was not enough money for the development of infrastructure, hospitals and schools, for pensions and benefits for children

It is time for Ukraine to recognize realities on the ground, Lavrov says

The conversation with the top Russian diplomat took place on the sidelines of the state visit of the Russian leader Vladimir Putin to China

Russia’s anti-tank missile system gets ‘top attack’ capability similar to US Javelin

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Fico’s bodyguards saved his life — Slovakia’s Interior Minister

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Renowned musician expects West to continue canceling Russian culture

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Gazprom delivering 42.4 mln cubic meters of gas to Europe through Ukraine via Sudzha

The transit line through Ukraine remains the only route for Russian gas supplies to western and central European countries

US-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle hit near Avdeyevka — security forces

According to objective control data, the crew members of the armored vehicle were injured

New relations, successes of China's automobile industry: what Putin, Xi said in Beijing

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Chairman of Georgia’s ruling party blasts foreign ministers for speaking at protest

Garibashvili suggested that foreign diplomats feel dismissive toward Georgia

Slovakia’s Fico between life and death, it is loss for Slovakia, Hungary — Orban

The Hungarian prime minister believes that the upcoming months will be extremely important for the future of Europe in due to the upcoming European Parliament elections and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine

'Sanitary zone' near Kharkov and talks on Ukraine: What Putin told the media in Harbin

Even though Vladimir Putin’s visit to China was a state one, "it was a purely working trip"

Two powerful explosions rocks Kharkov

An air raid alert has been in effect in the Kharkov Region for almost eight hours

Air defenses down 103 Ukrainian drones, 12 ATACMS missiles, 4 Hammer bombs over day

Russian forces also hit concentrations of Ukrainian manpower and equipment in 112 areas over the past 24 hours

Stock markets on record-hitting spree around the world — Bloomberg

As the agency says, of the world’s 20 largest stock markets, 14 have hit all-time highs recently

Lavrov believes Europe won’t be Russia’s partner for at least one generation

He made the remark in response after the idea was suggested by Dmitry Trenin, research director at the Institute of World Military Economy and Strategy

Assassination attempt on Slovak PM Fico was planned in advance — defense minister

It is reported that doctors are doing everything possible to stabilize the patient

Russian forces cut off ammunition supplies to Ukrainian forces in Volchansk — lawmaker

Viktor Vodolatsky also said the liberation of Staritsa would make it possible to reduce to a minimum and later completely remove the threat of bombardments for the Belgorod Region

Russia has no plans today to seize Kharkov, says Putin

The current Kiev regime is to blame for ongoing battles in the Kharkov direction, the Russian leader stressed

German Chancellor Scholz warns against a full-scale ground operation in Rafah

The Chancellor also said that sufficient humanitarian aid should be delivered to Gaza

Tourist exchanges between Russia, North Korea gain traction — minister

Russian Natural Resources and Environment Minister Alexander Kozlov also said that the Moscow Zoo and ballet dancers recently paid a visit to North Korea

Russian air defenses down four Hammer air bombs, two HARM missiles over Belgorod Region

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Russian missile cruiser Varyag enters Mediterranean Sea

The ship's crew continues to fulfill the mission it was given for the long-range voyage