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VTB top manager admits Central Bank’s key rate increase to 20% in September

The banker noted the current "necessity of a ritual action on the key rate’s increase"

MOSCOW, August 30. /TASS/. First Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of VTB Dmitry Pianov admits an increase in the Central Bank’s key rate from the current 18% to 20% per annum in September amid growing inflation, though he does not rule out that the rate would remain at the current level.

"I consider monetary policy the main intrigue of coming months. <…> I admit two possible options at the next meeting of the Central Bank on the key rate <…> on September 13 <…>, the first is [an increase] from 18% to 20% as suggested by the forecast, or taking a break and expectation of more representational statistics," he told reporters.

The banker noted the current "necessity of a ritual action on the key rate’s increase." "This is related to the fact that the Central Bank has painted itself into a strict inflation range, in the previous update (of the regulator’s forecast - TASS) the inflation range equaled 6.5-7% for the end of this year. The current level brings annual inflation, in our view, to over 7-7.7%," he explained.

Azerbaijan - Russia trade turnover increases by 5.7% in first 8 months of 2024

According to the State Customs Committee, Russia is the third trade partner of Azerbaijan in January-August after Italy and Turkey

Four Chinese warships to enter Vladivostok after drills with Russia — Foreign Ministry

The flotilla consists of the destroyers Xining and Wuxi, the frigate Linyi, and the support vessel Taihu

Kiev's allies discuss possible end to conflict in Ukraine — report

According to Bloomberg, as the conflict drags on without significant changes on the battlefield, some Western officials started to consider using diplomacy to break the stalemate

Georgia under Saakashvili went to war in 2008 on orders from abroad — prime minister

According to Irakli Kobakhidze, "it is not the issue of starting a war that has enraged the radical opposition, but the topic of mutual forgiveness and reconciliation" with Ossetians

Russian units, advancing toward Seversk in DPR, force Ukrainian troops out — expert

North-west of Zolotarevka, an enemy stronghold located at a strategic high point was eliminated, Andrey Marochko said

Zaluzhny objected to attacking Russia’s Kursk Region — media

Russia’s tactical successes and ongoing offensive in Donbass cause big losses in the Ukrainian army, Politico said, citing the Ukrainian military

Israel won’t dare to invade Lebanon for fear of heavy losses — parliament speaker

"Our enemy knows he will pay dearly if he tries to move forward by land, so I rule out that he will resort to such a scenario," Nabih Berri said

Israel planted explosives inside Hezbollah pagers fearing group was onto operation — Axios

A former Israeli official with knowledge of the operation said the country’s special services intended to use the booby-trapped pagers they had planted in Hezbollah ranks in a surprise attack "in an all-out war"

Lebanese government puts blame for mass pager explosion on Israel

The press service also said that the Lebanese government contacted the United Nations and a number of countries to call on them to bring Israel to responsibility for its actions

West needs to sacrifice Zelensky to avoid World War III — politician

Viktor Medvedchuk emphasized that Russia may intensify its attacks on Ukraine which practically lacks its own air force or nuclear weapons

Press review: Russia moves to boost its army and Zelensky to present victory plan to Biden

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, September 17th

Iranian ambassador to Beirut receives minor injuries in pager blast — agency

According to earlier reports, pager explosions occurred practically at the same time across Lebanon

International journalistic organization can be created based on BRICS

"It is necessary to create an information dimension within the framework of BRICS, here we can cooperate, many people from other countries will join this," Alexey Pushkov noted

Operation with pagers in Lebanon approved by Netanyahu, his cabinet — media

According to Axios, citing to US officials that Israel had not informed the United States about its plans

Austrian military analyst predicts Ugledar will likely fall as Russian forces gain ground

Colonel Markus Reisner said Russian troops are trying to strengthen their strikes on the flanks of Krasnoarmeysk

Moscow categorically disagrees with Armenian PM’s criticism of CSTO — Kremlin

"The CSTO cannot and does not pose any threat to Armenia’s sovereignty," Dmitry Peskov stressed

UK Foreign Secretary offends memory of fallen, accusing Russia of fascism — embassy

The embassy said that it took note a long time ago of "propensity for inappropriate and provocative statements"

Musk believes US faces ‘fall to tyranny’ if Trump loses election

Earlier, the entrepreneur warned that there would no longer be real US elections if this year’s race was lost by Donald Trump

Rwanda discusses NPP construction with Rosatom — Russian envoy

According to Alexander Polyakov, a Rosatom delegation will soon visit Rwanda

Ukrainian shelling cuts Energodar off from water, power

Eduard Senovoz added that there is still a threat of repeated attacks on the city

Rising number of dead foreigners in Ukraine proves West's involvement — envoy to UN

"We have warned from the beginning that those who help the Zelensky clique stay afloat will become our legitimate targets," Vasily Nebezya reminded

NATO making plans of sending its troops to Ukraine — Russian deputy defense minister

According to Alexander Fomin, this may lead to a direct military confrontation of nuclear powers

Schools in one municipality of Russia’s Tver region withdraw services after drone attack

The region's governor Igor Rudenya has authorized a partial evacuation of residents to the town of Zapadnaya Dvina

Pager blasts in Lebanon may trigger conflict in region — Kremlin

"What happened - whatever it is - is certainly leading to an escalation of tensions. The region is in a volatile state," Dmitry Peskov said

Russian units strike energy facilities of Ukrainian military-industrial complex

Russia’s battlegroup Center has continued to advance into enemy defenses and wiped out more than 500 Ukrainian servicemen over the past 24 hours, the Defense Ministry said

Iranian ambassador has his eye maimed following pager attack in Lebanon — NYT

The diplomat’s injuries "were more serious than Iran initially reported," the Iranian representatives stressed

Russia-China Pacific Patrol exercise to be held annually

Admiral Roman Tolok emphasized that future training tasks would become more complex, allowing ship and aircraft crews to practice "according to the Suvorov principle: a hard drill makes an easy battle"

Israel behind pager operation in Lebanon — media

The NYT noted that the devices were remodeled before they were brought to Lebanon

Ukraine suffers major infantry losses in Sudzha area — Chechen commander

Major General Apty Alaudinov specified that the Akhmat fighters shot down several drones and eliminated one motor vehicle and one self-propelled artillery system

Musk points to absence of assassination attempts on Biden, Harris

The American billionaire responded to a subscriber's comment on X "Why do they want to kill Donald Trump?"

State Duma to review bill freeing special op participants of criminal prosecution

The Duma will also review a bill that will make it possible for defendants in certain categories of offenses to sign military service contracts during mobilization period, martial law or wartime

Random regrouping of Ukraine’s troops stems from shortage of manpower, arms — opinion

According to Vladimir Rogov, the Kiev regime’s hasty actions along the combat engagement line can also be explained by Russia’s decision to increase the number of army personnel

400 people injured in mass pager detonation in Lebanon currently in severe condition

According to Health Minister Firass Abiad, a total of 4,000 people were injured in the incident, 11 of them died

High technologies important for strengthening Russia’s industrial sovereignty — Putin

The Russian leader highlighted "the popularization of professions related to high technologies, which are especially in demand today"

Press review: Hezbollah pagers attack threatens wider war and Russia ready to test nukes

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, September 18th

NATO not to become conflict side if West authorizes Kiev to strike at Russia — Stoltenberg

According to the Secretary General, NATO closely monitors what Russia is doing in its nuclear posture

Many Europeans 'on the right side of history' — Russian intel chief

Sergey Naryshkin expressed confidence that "the memory of the heroic participants of the Slovak Uprising unites Russians and Slovaks"

Belarus coup conspirators planned to shoot at Lukashenko’s helicopter

On September 5, 2022, a court in Minsk sentenced lawyer Yury Zenkovich to 11 years in prison in the case of conspiracy to seize power in Belarus

Taiwan police investigate Gold Apollo over pager detonations in Lebanon

According to the report, the police currently inquire the details of pager production and sales from the company

Russia to study reasons for mass pager blasts in Lebanon to rule out such attack — Kremlin

On September 17, many pagers exploded practically simultaneously in several districts of Lebanon

Russian forces advance in Stepnogorsk area in Zaporozhye Region — politician

According to Vladimir Rogov, the advance was under constant strikes by Ukrainian tube artillery, drones and multiple launch rocket systems

Russian armed forces consolidating in settlement of Borki in Kursk region — army

Apty Alaudinov said that the Arbat unit worked there together with the 810th brigade

Ukrainian military carry out at least five artillery strikes on Energodar — politician

Earlier, the mayor of Energodar, Eduard Senovoz, said that as a result of the Ukrainian bombardment there was an emergency power outage

Belarus and Russia to determine details of new gas contract in 2025 — Energy Minister

In early February, the Ambassador of Belarus to Russia Dmitry Krutoy announced that Minsk and Moscow plan to reduce the cost of Russian natural gas for the Belarusian market after 2026

Ukrainian breakthrough attempts thwarted: developments in Kursk Region

According to the report, the Russian military repelled five attempts of the enemy to break through the border towards the settlements of Veseloye and Medvezhye

DPRK launches suspected ballistic missile — Japan Coast Guard

The missile was launched eastward and it fell outside of Japan’s exclusive economic zone, NHK reported

Russia strongly condemns unprecedented attack on Lebanon, its citizens — MFA

"In all likelihood the organizers of this high-tech attack purposefully sought to foment a large-scale armed confrontation with the aim to provoke a major war in the Middle East," Maria Zakharova said

Russia calls to show US it is on wrong side of history — UN envoy

"We also hope that the UN Security Council, which has effectively been taken hostage by the United States and its Israeli allies, will be able to fulfill its role on maintaining international peace and security," Vasily Nebenyza said

Tver region governor says no serious injuries in drone attack on Toropets

Earlier reports said a fire occurred at the scene where drone fragments fell in Toropets

Energodar mayor reports more than 10 drone attacks

Forces defending the city have shot down the bulk of those drones, the city's mayor said

Russia is calling for investigation of pager explosions in Lebanon — MFA

Maria Zakharova noted that the collective West had been blocking investigations into international terrorist attacks in recent years

Georgia could reconsider US ties if Washington imposes more sanctions — prime minister

The previous sanctions brought the US to "a critical point," the prime minister’s office said in a statement following the meeting

Relations between Iran, Russia to develop on permanent basis — Iranian president

According to Masoud Pezeshkian, closer cooperation between the two countries will help them alleviate the sanction pressure from Western states

Medvedev allows use of nuclear weapons by Russia when ‘patience runs out’

The politician underscored that no one really needs a nuclear conflict - it is "a very bad story with a very difficult outcome."

Russian Chess Federation head urges not to turn world of chess into battlefield

"Under current conditions, the Ukrainian Chess Federation should become an example of improving and fostering peaceful co-existence instead of opening new frontlines, and serve as an example for their political elite," President of the Chess Federation of Russia Andrey Filatov said

Russia's successor to McDonald's prepares to enter foreign markets

The chain's owner Alexander Govor said in early September that Vkusno I Tochka was ready to open restaurants in the Chinese city of Heihe and is waiting for the US company's decision on this issue

Three civilians wounded in Ukraine’s attacks on DPR during day

Apart from that, DPR head Denis Pushilin said that seven residential houses were damaged in Donetsk and Gorlovka

Snowden said exploding pagers in Lebanon likely to be stuffed with explosives

Former NSA employee and whistleblower blamed Israel for this, slamming its actions as reckless, bordering on terrorism

US lawmakers call for helium sanctions against Russia — Politico

According to the report, the aim is to limit Russia's ability to become a global supplier of the substance

Kennedy Jr., Trump Jr. call for direct talks with Russia on Ukraine

"Nuclear war would mean the end of civilization as we know it, maybe even the end of the human species," they said

Georgian parliament adopts in final reading bill banning LGBT propaganda

The bill, which will now be sent to the country’s president Salome Zourabichvili for signing, was approved by 84 lawmakers

Ukraine's military intelligence is part of terrorist network in Middle East — expert

Alexander Stepanov noted that after the completion of the special military operation more hotbeds of destabilization would emerge around the world, "which will include ex-representatives of paramilitary groups and intelligence structures who escaped from Ukraine"

Exhibition of captured NATO military hardware kicks off in Moscow

In all, there are 32 items

Untrained Ukrainian soldiers seen deserting `en masse’ near Kremennaya — expert

The majority of freshly mobilized Ukrainian soldiers have no military specialty record, Andrey Marochko stressed

FACTBOX: What is known about shooting at Wildberries office in central Moscow

The shooting took place at the entrance to the Wildberries office in the Romanov Dvor business center, the emergency services reported

Russia-Lao ‘Laros-2024’ drills kick off in Primorsky Region

During the exercise, servicemen of the Lao People's Army will work out all stages of practical operations in unified combat formation with units of the Eastern Military District

Lebanese Health Ministry reveals number of dead, injured in pager blasts

Acting Health Minister Firass Abiad denied earlier media reports that 4,000 people had been injured

FACTBOX: Ukrainian servicemen captured: developments in Kursk Region

Over the day, Ukraine lost up to 400 troops and 23 armored vehicles

US uses sanctions to show off harsh stance toward strategic rival Russia — ambassador

Anatoly Antonov said sound-minded US analysts and journalists repeatedly questioned the effectiveness of sanctions against Russia

Kiev regime fired its missile at Kharkov park, but blamed Russia — official

On August 31, 2024, the forces of the Ukrainian air defense system carried out a false launch of an anti-aircraft guided missile, which hit civilian objects in the area of Yuriev Park in Kharkov, Yevgeny Lisnyak said

Almost 30 injured in incident on leisure ship in Berlin — report

According to Bild, there were about 100 people aboard

Russia destroys key Ukrainian highways leading to DPR’s Krasnoarmeysk — security forces

As a result, according to the security services, Krasnoarmeysk has been virtually cut off from supplies

Ukrainian troops complain about poor fortifications, lack of men — report

According to the report, the 110th mechanized brigade numbered less than 40% of required staff as of July 2024

At least 8 people killed, some 2,800 injured in pager explosions across Lebanon — official

Firas Abiad said that more than 170 injured people are in serious condition, and about 100 medical institutions are providing assistance to the wounded

Air defense downs 2 missiles, 27 drones in Kursk Region overnight

The region's governor Alexey Smirnov warned people against approaching the fragments, as they may be harmful, and urged people to report them to emergency services

In case of deep strikes Russia to respond with more powerful weapons — Duma speaker

According to Vyacheslav Volodin, it is crucial for the parliaments of the United States and European countries to "understand and realize what can happen"

IN BRIEF: Ex-Ukrainian intel officer’s car blown up in northern Moscow

The explosion occurred in a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado off-road vehicle parked on Korovinskoye highway in the north of Moscow, when the driver started the SUV

Georgia should cancel its LGBT law ‘derailing the country from its EU path’ — Borrell

"The Georgian Parliament adopted laws on ‘family values and protection of minors’ which will undermine the fundamental rights of the people and increase discrimination & stigmatization," the EU top diplomat stated

Number of Hezbollah fighters killed by pager detonation reaches 10

The TV channel points out that those who fell victim to the Israeli attack were fighting to liberate Jerusalem

Size of Russian army increased due to threats to country — Kremlin

"This is triggered by an extremely hostile situation on western borders and instability on eastern borders," Dmitry Peskov pointed out

US coalition's drones fly too close to Russian fighter jet in Syria — top brass

A pair of the coalition’s F-15, a pair of F-16, and a pair of Rafale fighter jets, as well as a pair of A-10 Thunderbolt attack bombers violated Syria’s airspace in the al-Tanf area, across which international air routes run, twelve times during the day

Ukrainian leadership appointed from outside, as was Saakashvili in 2003 — Georgian PM

In Georgia, it resulted in total racketeering of businesses, murders of people in the streets, prisons, Irakli Kobakhidze said

Russia’s battlegroup West repels three Ukrainian counterattacks in past day

The Ukrainian army losses in the responsibility zone of the group include a tank, three armored combat vehicles, six vehicles, a Bogdana 155mm self-propelled artillery mount and roughly 600 servicemen

Stoltenberg's statements about possible strikes on Russia provocative — Kremlin spokesman

"Such an ostentatious wish not to take the Russian president's statements into consideration is a move that is absolutely shortsighted and unprofessional," Dmitry Peskov said

West brings terrorism to Russia, Africa for its own benefit — Foreign Ministry

"Under the guise of terrorism, resources can be exploited, chaos can be sown, and political instability can be fostered, allowing for interference in internal affairs," Maria Zakharova stated

BRICS platforms alternative to dollar, euro attract increasing number of states — Lavrov

"Many are attracted by the fact that payment platforms are being developed within BRICS, which allow trading, investing, carrying out other economic operations without being dependent on those that decided to weaponize the dollar and the euro," the foreign minister said

Participation of convicts in special military operation needs to be formalized — Kremlin

At a plenary meeting on Wednesday, the State Duma considered draft laws to exempt those mobilized or people who sign up for military service from criminal charges

Mexican president-elect refuses to visit Ukraine

"I will attend certain international events, which we consider important, but we will not travel much - our responsibility lies here," Claudia Sheinbaum said

Trump believes US to benefit from cooperating with Russia, China

Republican presidential candidate reiterated that he had good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping

Russia records no increased background radiation near Norway — Kremlin

"Our services have not informed us about increased levels of this or that isotope in the atmosphere. Nor have we received any notifications about threats to people's health," Dmitry Peskov said

US mistaken if it thinks nuclear conflict would affect Russia, Europe only — diplomat

Anatoly Antonov reiterated that there must never be a nuclear war and that there can be no winners in any nuclear conflict

Russian envoy to Germany warns of consequences of strikes on Russia

"This would be a completely new situation for us and President Putin highlighted this a couple of days ago. For us, this will be a completely new situation with all ensuing consequences," the diplomat noted

North Korea launches several short-range ballistic missiles

According to the report, the missiles were launched at about 06:50 local time from the Kaechon area

Pager exploding near Iranian ambassador to Lebanon did not belong to him — TV

According to the television channel, the ambassador doesn’t have such a device

Mossad could have planted explosives into Taiwan-made pagers for Hezbollah — Reuters

According to one source, Hezbollah ordered 5,000 pagers from Taiwan-based Gold Apollo several months before the detonations that occurred in Lebanon on Tuesday

NATO sets new tasks for Tallinn in event of conflict with Russia — Estonian General Staff

Major General Vahur Karus noted that, as opposed to a decade ago, Estonia can unequivocally count on allied units, stationed on its soil, to immediately participate in a conflict with Russia

West is persuading Ukraine to give up claims to 1991 borders — legislator

Yegor Chernev shared a "feeling" that the Western world is ready to declare as a victory for Ukraine at least the fact that "Kiev has not fallen" and that it "has not lost its sovereignty"

Palestine sits as state for first time at 79th session of the UN General Assembly

Palestine will be able to include its representatives in the list of speakers at meetings on Middle East issues, propose amendments and make procedural proposals on behalf of a group of countries

Top Israeli defense official contacted Pentagon chief before pagers blast — news outlet

According to the source, Yoav Gallant’s call was an attempt to evade the situation when the US is completely unaware of the situation in the Middle East

Russia's share in Armenia's foreign military-technical cooperation down to 10% from 96%

According to Armenian Security Council’s Secretary Armen Grigoryan, Yerevan also wants to buy up to 30% of weapons produced for its own needs from local manufacturers

Top Russian, North Korean diplomats discuss developing ties, strategic partnership

According to the statement, Sergey Lavrov warmly congratulated Choe Son Hui on the traditional Chuseok harvest festival celebrated in the country today and wished her a fruitful and busy trip to St. Petersburg