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Japan’s imports of Russian LNG up 46.9% in November, coal purchases down 67%

Energy accounted for more than 67% of Japan’s total imports from Russia in November

TOKYO, December 20. /TASS/. Japan’s imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia increased by 46.9% in November year-on-year, according to figures released by the Japanese finance ministry.

Meanwhile, Japan’s purchases of Russian coal fell by 67.1% in the same period, and the country did not purchase Russian oil again, on which G7 countries have imposed a price ceiling, excluding supplies from Sakhalin-2 linked to LNG imports within the project.

Energy accounted for more than 67% of Japan’s total imports from Russia in November.

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Trade turnover between Russia, Kazakhstan up 30% in ten years

Boundary regions should "work more actively, share reciprocal visits, form joint ventures," Kairat Torebayev noted

British mercenary claims he was sent to Russia’s Kursk Region against his will

The captive explained that he had served as a private in a battalion for four months

No shelling attacks recorded in DPR for first time this year

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Rome plans to arrange Ukraine conference with Russia's participation

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Russia’s Medvedev warns Europe could face 'catastrophic damage' from Oreshnik missile

The Russian Security Council deputy chairman also commented on Vladimir Zelensky’s "resilience plan"

Trump promises to impose 10% tariffs on goods from China, allegedly due to drug smuggling

"The Chinese authorities promised to take action to ensure the end of drug trafficking, but, as the president-elect has said, they never did and the flow of Chinese drugs continues in unprecedented amounts," US president-elect said

Explosion occurs at oil refinery in western Turkey, cause being investigated — TV

According to preliminary information, the incident occurred at about 8 p.m. (local time)

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Russia may soon push Kiev troops out of Kursk Region — Ukrainian battalion commander

It is noted that Russia has about three times as many men as the Ukrainians in the Kursk Region and six times as many explosive drones

Biden team may escalate global tensions to highest level, FSB chief warns

According to Alexander Bortnikov, the United States, the United Kingdom, and their allies will continue trying "to blatantly interfere in allied relations within the CIS, hinder integration processes, and undermine our joint efforts to ensure security and stability across the Commonwealth"

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Potential handover of nuclear arms by US to Kiev ‘act of treason’ — US congresswoman

Marjorie Taylor Greene suggested that the Biden administration is "trying to start a nuclear war and use it as the reason to stop the transfer of power to Donald Trump"

Restrictions under New START treaty don’t apply to Oreshnik missile — Russian diplomat

"As for New START, you are well aware of our decision to suspend it," Sergey Ryabkov said

Putin has high hopes for cancer vaccine being developed in Russia

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Kremlin explains why Oreshnik missile came as surprise

"I am sure that neither of us is even aware right now of any new future developments," Dmitry Peskov said

Independent candidate Georgescu leading first round of presidential election in Romania

Georgescu is reserved about Romania’s NATO membership and he has been cautiously pushing for normalization with Russia

Defense contractor delivers new batch of Su-34 bombers to Russia’s Aerospace Forces

The new fighter-bombers have undergone necessary testing and have been sent to the places of their operation, Vadim Badekha noted

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UK delivered dozens of Storm Shadow missiles to Kiev weeks ago — news agency

Bloomberg pointed out that the missiles were sent before the US and UK authorization to use long-range precision-guided weapons to launch strikes from Ukrainian territory deep into Russia

Lebanon wary of reports of potential ceasefire with Israel

Beirut is cautious for now because it is dealing with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "and all previous deals with him have failed," Lebanese Parliament Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab pointed out

Warehouse catches fire in southern Moscow, over 2,500 square meters on fire

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Scholz vows to continue supporting Ukraine following his chancellor nomination

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German activists demand compensation from Ukraine for Nord Stream explosion

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British military instructor captured, Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

In total, the enemy has lost more than 35,510 troops since the fighting began in the region

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

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New EU sanctions on Russia may target 80 individuals, entities — agency

In addition, the EU proposes imposing restrictions on some 30 organizations allegedly assisting Moscow in acquiring military technologies

Emergence of new weapons changed canons of war, Medvedev says

According to Russian security council deputy chairman, this primarily concerns drones

Shooting of Selidovo residents by Ukrainian troops meant to repeat Bucha provocation

The shooting of civilians could have been meant to "simply intimidate people who want to continue living on their soil," Russian foreign ministry’s ambassador at large, Rodion MIroshnik said

No one wins in trade war, says Chinese embassy in US

Earlier, Trump promised to impose an additional 10% tariff on all goods from China due to the alleged large-scale drug smuggling from China into the US

Fire at Tupras oil refinery extinguished

No one was injured in the fire, the company said in a press release

Western countries to ignore ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu — expert

Asked whether the ICC warrant might cause a rift among Western countries with different approaches to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Andrey Baklanov replied he was skeptical this might ever happen

US Justice Department drops federal cases against Trump — transition team

"Today's decision by the Department of Justice ends the unconstitutional federal cases against President Trump, and is a major victory for the rule of law," Steven Cheung, Communications Director of the polician’s transition team, said

Kiev regime cooperates with terrorists against Russia, Syria, Africa — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat also expressed confidence that the security agencies of the CIS member states should "respond to all such threats in a timely and decisive manner"

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West beginning to realize only part of Ukraine will remain — Lavrov

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Press review: Russia to mass-produce Oreshnik missiles and EU gas prices reach record high

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, November 25th

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Ukrainian officer says 90% of fellow servicemen have no desire to fight

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Timing for commissioning entire Akkuyu NPP needs to be clarified — Russian ambassador

Alexey Erkhov also recalled Russia's interest in participating in the implementation of the second NPP in Turkey

London intensifies anti-Russian campaign in face of impending ‘Ukrainian project’ failure

The realization of the impending failure of the ‘Ukrainian project’ London has been staking on in hopes of capitalizing on plans to inflict a ‘strategic defeat’ on our country by proxy is now as clear as ever," the embassy said

US did not contact Russia after use of Oreshnik missile — Deputy Foreign Minister

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Ukrainians have never seen the promised freedom, Viktor Medvedchuk noted

Denmark, its neighbors hold talks with China about damaged cables under Baltic Sea-report

The Chinese ship is currently anchored in international waters in the middle of the Kattegat Strait off the Bjare Peninsula

Any escalation scenario possible in Ukraine conflict — Medvedev

According to the politician, Western nations need to understand that they are fighting on Ukraine’s side

Russia acted responsibly in warning US about Oreshnik missile launch, Kremlin says

The US was notified automatically 30 minutes before the launch by Russia's Nuclear Risk Reduction Center

Top Israeli defense official announces construction of fence on border with Jordan

"We are going to do it very quickly," Israel Katz said

Russian forces pound Ukrainian military airfields, energy sites over day — top brass

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France, UK may deploy troops to Ukraine following ceasefire — expert

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French politician calls for protests against deployment of Western troops to Ukraine

Florian Philippot called on his supporters to rally "in support for peace and against this madness" on December 1

Kremlin spokesman says missiles like Oreshnik are developed in secrecy

Dmitry Peskov said that he himself did not know about this work before Russian President Vladimir Putin announced it

Russia’s launch of new missile illustrated assured retaliation capability, lawmaker says

Andrey Kartapolov also noted that the enemy currently has no defenses against the Oreshnik.

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

Russia encircles largest Ukrainian fortification in southern DPR — security services

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No int’l restrictions on deployment of Oreshnik systems — senior Russian diplomat

When asked if the 1998 Russian-US memorandum of understanding on notifications of missile launches remained in effect, Sergey Ryabkov answered in the affirmative

Top Indian defense official to visit Moscow, Kaliningrad on December 8-10 — source

Rajnath Singh will participate in the flag-raising ceremony of the Project 11356 frigate and its transfer to the Indian Navy," the source said

West attempting to stage color revolution in Georgia, Lavrov warns

According to the top Russian diplomat, the West actively uses an extensive network of non-governmental organizations "to create domestic instability in the countries of the Global South and the Global East"

Europe's 'hotheads' for sending troops to Ukraine, but there is no unity — Kremlin

"Earlier, of course, such ideas were heard from different European capitals, but various counterarguments were also voiced not in favor of this idea," Dmitry Peskov noted

Pentagon not yet assessed damage caused by use of Russia’s newest Oreshnik missile

"When we have more to provide, we will," Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said

Russian diplomat doesn’t rule out missile deployment in Asia as response to US’ actions

Sergey Ryabkov warned Russia’s adversaries against settling into a "false sense of security"

Retreating Ukrainian troops leave dozens of bodies behind in Chasov Yar

According to the sources, some of these makeshift morgues were destroyed by retreating Ukrainian troops

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

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No existing missile defense system can counter Oreshnik — US expert

Theodore Postol also vehemently rejected suggestions that the Oreshnik system represents previous outdated developments of Moscow

Russia delivers 1,200 tons of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan over past year

Such work will continue, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu said

Trump promises to impose 25% tariff on all goods from Mexico, Canada

Mexico and Canada have every right and opportunity to easily resolve this long-standing problem, US president-elect said

Fire breaks out in Japan during test of Epsilon S rocket engine

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Citizens of Poland, Germany, Italy apply for residence permit in Lugansk Republic

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Ukrainian commander-in-chief reports threats to troops in Zaporozhye Region

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West seeks to destabilize global order, Russia’s intelligence chief says

"Euro-Atlantic elites are trying to convince the rest of the world that the only alternative to Western power is chaos, and for this purpose, they deliberately seek destabilization in key regions of the planet," Sergey Naryshkin said

Turkey to investigate causes of Russian Superjet emergency at Antalya airport

The Turkish side will also provide information on the progress of the investigation

NATO expanding presence in Arctic, Baltic, Black Sea, Caspian regions — FSB chief

According to Alexander Bortnikov, a US lab network is reportedly working to implement a program to create biological weapons of selective action, while citing the need to combat some "biological threats" as an excuse

Ukrainian forces indiscriminately shoot Selidovo passers-by — Russian envoy

According to Rodion Miroshnik, Ukrainian security forces came to places where there were generators, where people came to get water, and could shoot a person

Netanyahu may accept ceasefire in Lebanon to stop Hezbollah bombings — diplomat

According to al-Maliki, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is the only obstacle to a ceasefire in Gaza

NATO disregards all etiquette in discussing possible preemptive strikes on Russia — Lavrov

NATO Military Committee Chairman Rob Bauer earlier called for producing more weapons for precision strikes inside Russia in case a conflict broke out

Russia will respond 'in every way' to Seoul’s arms supply to Kiev — MFA

Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Andrey Rudenko called on South Korean to soberly assess the situation and refrain from "reckless steps"