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Death toll in Moscow apartment building fire reaches seven

Experts continue working at the site

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

MOSCOW, February 4. /TASS/. The death toll from a fire in an apartment building in downtown Moscow has risen to seven, a law enforcement source told TASS.

"One more body has been recovered. Experts continue work at the fire scene," he said.

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Death toll in Moscow residential building fire reaches six

Information about the victims is being verified.

The fire erupted at about 01:40 Moscow time (22:40 GMT on Sunday). A total of 42 people, including eight children, were evacuated from the seven-storey building. At about 05:00 (02:00 GMT), firefighters extinguished the blaze, which had engulfed more than 1,500 square meters on the fifth and sixth floors.

The Russian Investigative Committee’s Main Moscow Department has opened an investigation under Article 109.3 of the Russian Criminal Code (negligent homicide of two or more persons).

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Russian Railways resumes passenger rail service with China, North Korea

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Bashar Assad's son graduates with honors from Moscow State University — newspaper

Hafez Assad was handed his diploma by the rector of the university, Viktor Sadovnichy, along with other Syrian students who also graduated from MSU

Russia in dialogue with Turkey on Syria — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov emphasized that "it is very important to maintain dialogue with all regional countries"

Syrian ex-president Assad now in safety in Russia — deputy foreign minister

The Russian diplomat added that it "would be very wrong for me to elaborate on what happened and how it was resolved."

FACTBOX: Syria under President Bashar Assad

Bashar Assad took over as the leader of the Syrian Arab Republic in the summer of 2000 after the death of his father Hafez Assad, who had been at the helm of power since 1971

Kiev to last only six months if US cuts aid under Trump — finance minister

According to Sergey Marchenko, Kiev can "allocate sufficient budgetary resources to afford the necessary ammunition and military equipment in 2025"

Russian troops seize Ukrainian stronghold south of Kurakhovo — official

According to Vladimir Rogov, Ukrainian units in this section of the frontline are currently in control of Annovka, a small area surrounding it, and Uspenovka, through which they are receiving supplies

Syrian opposition controls city of Tartus hosting Russian base — source

The opposition's armed forces did not and have no plans to penetrate the Russian military bases, which continue to operate normally, the local source noted

Syrian airline restarts ticket flights to Moscow and back

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West may try to unleash global conflict in Eurasia — Russian intel chief

"This is a proven way for world capital to get out of a crisis," Sergey Naryshkin said

Russia expands list of e-visa eligible countries

At the same time, Andorra and Serbia, who have agreements on visa-free travel with Russia, were taken off the list

Group of militants from Syria tries to cross into Leban — Lebanese military

According to the statement, "unidentified individuals with firearms crossed the border, and headed towards a roadblock of the Lebanese armed forces, firing into the air"

Russia hammers Ukrainian railway sites of Western arms deliveries

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted roughly 455 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed eight enemy artillery guns in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported

HAMAS hands over full list of hostages to Egypt — Al Arabiya

Neither HAMAS nor Egypt has confirmed the reports so far

Yemeni Houthis say they attacked two US destroyers in Gulf of Aden

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UN opposes any action that violates Syria’s territorial integrity

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According to the united regional court press office, an international arrest warrant was issued for the defendant

Israeli tanks spotted 20 kilometers from Damascus — TV

The Israel Defense Forces has yet to comment on the information

Russia maintains contact with all political forces in Syria, diplomat says

A related statement has already been issued recently by Russian Foreign Ministry

Former Syrian President Assad personally decided to resign from his post — Kremlin

A Kremlin source said earlier that Bashar Assad and his family members had arrived in Moscow

Syria’s new government to prevent attempts to split country — opposition

"We want to rebuild Syria, which is in line with its people’s wishes," spokesperson for the Syrian opposition’s political department told

Russian FPV drone wipes out Ukrainian army shelter in Kursk area

"A reconnaissance unit of the Battlegroup North used an UAV in a border area of the Kursk Region to uncover a shelter for Ukrainian troops in a forest belt," the Russian Defense Ministry reported

Suspension of Russian gas transit via Bulgaria last resort measure — source

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The head of state underlined that Russia currently has everything for a technology breakthrough in the digital sphere

Hungary plans to hold new events on Ukrainian settlement on December 11-12 — Szijjarto

Hungarian Foreign Minister did not specify which events exactly the Hungarian government plans to carry out on Wednesday and Thursday

Putin ranked among Europe’s most influential figures — newspaper

The name of the most influential person in Europe will be revealed later in the evening

Trump unlikely to keep US aid to Ukraine at current volumes — NYT

The report says that Kiev depends on foreign aid to keep its economy afloat

Press review: Israel controls Golan Heights as Kiev plans aid summit before Trump’s term

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Israel attacks Syria’s largest airbases, destroying dozens of helicopters, fighter jets

According to Al Arabiya, strikes were also delivered the special force headquarters in the city of Qamishli

Medvedev arrives in China on two-day visit

The Russian deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council is to hold meetings with China’s top officials

US allocates $20 bln loan to Ukraine on account of revenues from Russian assets

The loan is provided within the framework of the initiative of the Group of Seven on provision of the $50 bln loan to Kiev, the Treasury said

Zelensky demands security guarantees for Ukraine at meeting with Trump — agency

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IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi strongly condemned the incident, describing it as "unacceptable."

Erdogan says he and Putin are the only two leaders in world

Turkish President also said that he respects Germany’s former Chancellor Gerhard Schroder

Russian lawmaker calls for looking at granting CSTO membership to Iran

Andrey Kartapolov, chairman of the defense committee of Russia’s State Duma, or lower parliament house, recalled that a delegation from Iran had already taken part in a meeting of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly

Russia's Syria operation cost over $460 million — Putin

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Special military op to end after all goals set by Putin achieved — Kremlin

"These goals can be achieved both as a result of the special military operation and as a result of the peace talks," Dmitry Peskov stressed

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New Syrian government to decide on fate of Russia’s military bases — opposition

"The issue of military bases is a sovereign decision of the Syrian state," Mohammed Alloush stated

Russian Su-35S fighters cover aircraft in air strikes on Ukrainian army in Kursk area

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Kurdish coalition says it maintains contact with Syria’s new government via US

The Syrian Democratic Forces, supported by the United States, currently control most of the territory in the country’s three eastern and northeastern provinces - Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa and Hasakah

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NATO looking to divide up Western Ukraine among members — Russian diplomat

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Russian troops advance to better positions near Malaya Tokmachka in Zaporozhye Region

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Andrey Belousov stressed that the relationship based on trust between the two countries’ leaders was crucial for strengthening bilateral ties between Russia and India

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The Kursk Regional Court has sentenced Jordan O'Brien, a New Zealand citizen, to 14 years in prison in absentia for his involvement in the invasion of the Kursk Region

Syrians to decide on US military presence in republic themselves — opposition

Mohammed Alloush expressed hope that "Syria will become a country of local and global peace, without the presence of foreign military bases of any party there"

Biden administration may remove HTS from list of terrorist organizations — NBC

Two sources expect this to happen soon, but one official said related discussions are still at early stages at this point

Texas, California decolonization reflects global shifts, says Russian intel chief

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"People from all regions of our huge country are taking part in battles to liberate the remaining tiny piece of the LPR territory," Yury Yurov said

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Russia comes close to achieving special military operation's goals — intel chief

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Trump says he considers resolving Ukraine conflict as priority

The US President-elect believes that even though the situation in the Middle East is also important

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According to the source in the Kremlin, Russia has granted asylum for Syria’s former President Bashar Assad and his family members

Polish Defense Minister recognizes Kiev's critical situation in special military op zone

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Russia, Arab countries stand for just world free from diktat — Putin

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Syria should not be turned into base of terrorists — top US diplomat

Antony Blinken "emphasized the need to facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance, prevent Syria from being used as a base for terrorism or posing a threat to its neighbors," department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller said

Fight of major world players unfolding in Syria, says Belarusian president

Alexander Lukashenko also pointed to his long record of interaction with Syria's leaders

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The interim government’s mandate is expected to last three months

Putin orders Russian forces pullout from Syria

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US Department of State approves possible sale of F-16 equipment to Kiev

The US believes that the deal "will improve Ukraine’s capability to meet current and future threats"

Russian troops advance towards Dachnoye, road leading out of Kurakhovo — official

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Syria’s interim cabinet to focus on preventing collapse of statehood — PM

"We are face with big challenges but our previous experience of governing the Idlib governorate and adjacent territories has furnished us with vast expertise," Mohammed al-Bashir noted

West could make ‘crazy’ move to hand over nuclear weapons to Ukraine — National Interest

The transfer of American-made B-61 nuclear bombs appears to be the most likely scenario, the report said

Functioning of Russian bases, Israeli army in the buffer zone: situation in Syria

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An-2 plane makes emergency landing in northwest Siberia, no casualties

"According to preliminary information, no one was harmed in the incident, but the aircraft was damaged," the statement says

Committee on constitutional amendments to be established in Syria — opposition

"The new Syria will be based on justice and law," spokesperson for the Syrian opposition’s political department told

US may toughen sanctions on Russian oil exports — Bloomberg

Besides, the US administration is also looking into the possibility of imposing sanctions on "tanker fleet" allegedly transporting Russian oil, Bloomberg wrote

US commercial satellites surveyed Russia’s Engels airstrip ahead of Kiev’s strike attempt

Earlier, it was reported that, on Monday morning, Kiev attempted to strike the two airstrips with Soviet-made jet drones in order to disable Russian long-range aviation planes

Major Syrian cities experience food shortages — UN

On top of that, hospitals all over Syria are filled beyond capacity, the UN agency said

Italian expert says Europe biggest loser in Syrian uprising

Tiberio Graziani recalled that Italy had sent its ambassador to Damascus to resume diplomatic relations with the Bashar Assad government shortly before power in that country was seized by the armed opposition

Ukraine fires 34 projectiles at 8 settlements in Belgorod Region in past day

No injuries or damage were reported

Hezbollah hopes that Syria’s new government can resist Israeli attacks

According to Israel’s N12 television channel, 350 Israeli fighter jets have hit 320 strategic facilities of the Assad army over the day