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Russia's grain supplies boosted fighting hunger in African countries — FAO

Oleg Kobyakov reported that the received supply met 23% of Somalia's total annual wheat import needs (balance shortfall - 215,000 tons), 9% for Burkina Faso (283,000 tons), and 6% for Mali (405,000 tons)

MOSCOW, March 4. /TASS/. Free grain supplies from Russia to Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic, and Eritrea have made a significant contribution to the fight against acute hunger in these countries, Director of the FAO Liaison Office with Russia Oleg Kobyakov said in an interview with TASS.

"Earlier, Russian Minister of Agriculture Dmitry Patrushev informed Russian President Vladimir Putin on the completion of the supply of 200,000 tons of grain to six African countries as free food aid. It arrived in Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic, and Eritrea. This is a significant contribution to alleviating acute hunger in these countries," he said.

Kobyakov reported that the received supply met 23% of Somalia's total annual wheat import needs (balance shortfall - 215,000 tons), 9% for Burkina Faso (283,000 tons), and 6% for Mali (405,000 tons). "It is especially important that this assistance is free of charge, free for the final recipients," Kobyakov added.

"I would like to stress that Russia actively and effectively interacts with the UN World Food Program, affiliated with FAO. Over the last five years, Russia has donated about $300 mln in help to 30 nations in various parts of the world, primarily in Africa, via the program. Nonetheless, these humanitarian supplies should be considered emergency and one-time support measures," he added.

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%

Trump to end NATO’s obsession to get on Russian territory — White House ex-strategist

Steve Bannon noted that Trump’s MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement seeks to completely cut funding to Ukraine. According to Bannon, Europe, including Italy, will follow Trump’s lead, and, if "they [Europe and Italy] truly believe what they have been saying in recent years, they should be ready to pay"

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

After Tokyo imposed anti-Russian sanctions over the situation in Ukraine, Russia halted consultations with Japan on a peace treaty

Russia open for contacts with Trumps’ team on Syria — Russian diplomat

Alexander Lavrentyev stressed that all parties to the conflict must be involved in talks so that a lasting peace in Syria could be achieved

Trump's planned key appointments

Trump appointed Congressman Michael Waltz (Republican, Florida) as national security adviser

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Scholz calls for doing everything to prevent escalation of Ukraine conflict

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

Finland's Foreign Ministry will need to obtain unanimous approval from EU countries

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Press review: Mutiny trips West’s nuclear alarms and Kiev’s terror talk hides attack plans

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US administration always seeks to weaken Russia — Lavrov

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Nearly 4,000 people cross into Syria from Lebanon in past day — Russian military

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Annual inflation in Russia slows to 8.54% in October — Federal Statistics Service

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Police revokes citizenship of 1,300 foreigners since year’s start

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Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya noted that Resolution 2735 was only a tool to gain time for Israel

Russia elected to UN Committee for Program and Coordination

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Russian forces strike Ukrainian military airfields, energy sites over past day

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Russia keeps positive dynamics of agricultural production — ministry

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ISS orbit raised by almost 5 km before launch of Progress MS-29 spacecraft — Roscosmos

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

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US State Department insists DPRK troops engaged in Russia’s borderline Kursk Region

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

Russian tactical aircraft pilots conduct sorties at any time of day or night in any weather conditions, using various armament

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Venues for intra-Syrian talks offered by Oman, Egypt, Iraq — Russian diplomat

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Russian citizenship approvals down 44% since January — ministry

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Biden assures Trump of smooth transition

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Russian diplomat doubts EU economy could rebound unless policy toward Moscow changes

According to Maria Zakharova, the magnitude of the EU's economic problems is "directly proportional to the degree of their complaisance and servility in relations with the US"

Chancellor Scholz opposes assistance to Ukraine at expense of Germany’s future

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Almost 80 killed, over 120 injured by Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon in past 24 hours

The Baalbeck-Hermel Province in northeast Lebanon reported two people killed and 11 injured

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The prosecutor general stated that following the incident, four Abkhazian residents were detained: Garry Kokaya, Almaskhan Ardzinba, Omar Smur, and Ramaz Dzhopya

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

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Ukraine's Kurakhovo Reservoir dam blast to help, not hurt Russian troops — expert

At least ten Ukrainian troops were killed

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Radoslaw Sikorski also expressed hope that the base will never go into action

US shells for handful of Kiev’s Pion howitzers no game-changer — expert

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African countries realized that "this pressure contradicts their own national interests", Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said

Trump 'demonstrates affinity' for Russian President Vladimir Putin — newspaper

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

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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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There is chance to stop war in Middle East under Trump — Russian diplomat

"It is too early to talk about this because we should wait at least for the president’s inauguration," Alexander Lavrentyev noted

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"

Not all Republicans support Trump in refusing further military aid to Kiev — newspaper

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Trump does not rule out he may run in next US presidential election

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Erdogan praises Russia, China for backing arms embargo on Israel

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Bulgarian president calls for using all diplomatic opportunities to end Ukraine conflict

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

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

Ukraine and Germany also discussed further defense cooperation

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

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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

Czech intelligence warns of crime surge after Ukraine conflict ends

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Ukrainian forces ready to withdraw from Kurakhovo, but no order yet — serviceman

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DPR head Pushilin visits Ugledar, says town badly destroyed

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Baltic Sea will never turn into 'NATO lake' — Russian MFA

Maria Zakharova emphasized that the Baltic Sea "will always be a common space for all of the region’s countries without exception"

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Medvedev suggests that Elon Musk launch campaign to amend US Constitution

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What is known about Sevastopol car blast

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

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

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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"

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

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

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Iraqi Shiites say they attacked ‘vital targets’ in Israel

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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

West to face 'devastating' response if it allows Kiev to strike deep into Russia — MFA

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Press review: Trump forms foreign policy team and Europe sets course for militarization

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

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Bank of Russia sets dollar rate at 98.37 rubles for November 14

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Ukrainian artillery attack on Energodar, home to Zaporozhye nuke plant, kills one

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Russia set to deepen cooperation with China in law enforcement — top security official

Russia is seeking to consolidate efforts toward fighting extremism, terrorism and transnational crime both bilaterally and multilaterally, Sergey Shoigu specified

Press review: UK and French leaders discuss Ukraine as the dollar continues to climb

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Russian delegation at COP29 in Baku is first carbon-neutral

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Ukraine moves medics, non-combat personnel to infantry to counter Russian advance

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Trump plans to appoint special envoy on Ukraine to hold peace talks with Russia — TV

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Musk doubles down on his opinion about 'endless war' in Ukraine

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Medvedev warns that EU behavior in struggle with Russia fraught with 'bad scenario'

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Kalashnikov holding starts supplies of civilian drones

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Medvedev characterizes Great Britain as eternal adversary of Russia

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Explosion of Kurakhovo reservoir dam disrupts water supply

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Russian diplomat hails Odessa woman as defender of truth after flag protest

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