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EXPLOSION IN BEIRUT

Several UN peacekeepers injured in Beirut seaport blast

MOSCOW, August 5. /TASS/. Several peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were injured as a result of the blast that rocked the Lebanese capital of Beirut on Tuesday, the UNIFIL command said in a statement.

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Lebanon’s military council declares Beirut a disaster-stricken city

"As a result of a huge explosion that rocked Beirut Port this evening, one of the UNIFIL ships of the Maritime Task Force docked in the port was damaged, leaving some UNIFIL naval peacekeepers injured - some of them seriously," the statement says.

UNIFIL is transporting the injured peacekeepers to the nearest hospitals for medical treatment and is assessing the situation, including the scale of the impact on UNIFIL personnel. The exact number of injured peacekeepers is unknown at the moment.

UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Del Col said: "We are with the people and the Government of Lebanon during this difficult time and stand ready to help and provide any assistance and support."

A powerful blast rocked the Beirut seaport district on Tuesday, sending a shockwave that ripped through residential areas of the Lebanese capital. The shockwave destroyed and damaged dozens of buildings and cars. A TASS correspondent learned from sources in the Lebanese capital that a cargo of ammonium nitrate had been stored in the port after being confiscated from a Moldovan vessel with Ukrainian crew in 2015.

According to latest reports, 78 people were killed and some 4,000 injured in the disaster. An effort to search for victims and remove debris is now under way. The government declared a four-day nationwide mourning.

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US 'not forgetting' to help itself with aid to Ukraine — Kremlin

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Polish premier refuses to hand over his country’s Patriot systems to Ukraine

Donald Tusk said that German Chancellor’s call to send more air defense systems to Kiev had no relation to Poland, provided the country's geographical position near the frontline

Israeli troops continue raids in West Bank — TV

According to Al Jazeera, Israeli security forces have killed at least five people over the past 24 hours

Russia won’t allow NATO to move closer in Ukraine — Lavrov

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US agrees to withdraw troops from Niger — Washington Post

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Kremlin declines to comment on alleged assassination attempt on Zelensky in Poland

The Security Service of Ukraine announced earlier that in a joint operation with law enforcement agencies in Ukraine and Poland it thwarted an attempt to assassinate Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky

Ukrainian national detained at Russian-Georgian border for suspected espionage

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French president says creating Israeli-type air defense network for Ukraine impossible

Emmanuel Macron added that Europe’s resources are limited, and the European Union will continue helping Kiev keeping in mind its own reserves

Nearly half of those present in UN Security Council hall walk out before Israel’s address

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Lavrov says Borrell let it slip that Europe ‘fighting against Russia’

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UN secretary general urges Azerbaijan, Armenia to normalize relations

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West wants to make Transnistria hotbed of tension — Lavrov

According to the top Russian diplomat, the leaders who rule countries where they claim to be from while holding foreign passports "will not enjoy support and authority for long"

Russian military base may appear in CAR’s eastern region — President Touadera

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Russian border guards to leave Tavush once border delimitation is done — Armenian PM

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Major Western investor accuses Zelensky's office of extorting millions of euros

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

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Two pilots of jet that crashed in southern Russia hospitalized

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Lavrov labels way West ramping up sanctions against Russia as mindless

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G7 leaders to decide on Russian assets use — Italian Deputy PM

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Two people killed in borderline Belgorod Region in Ukrainian drone attack — governor

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Water level of Ishim River in Russia’s Tyumen Region surpasses dangerous mark

It has reached 911 centimeters

Russian economy proves resilience amid large-scale sanctions — IMF

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Debris of two aircraft found in Lipetsk Region

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BRICS’ expansion makes it much stronger — senior Russian diplomat

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Air defenses repel Ukrainian drone attack in Russia’s Smolensk Region — governor

Vasily Anokhin urged local residents to remain calm and refrain from filming air defenses in operation.

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Armenia’s relations with Russia not at their highest — top diplomat

Ararat Mirzoyan also said that Yerevan is currently making efforts to expand cooperation with the European Union and the United States

Russia not to go for settlement on Ukraine based on 'Zelensky formula' — Lavrov

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US gives nod to Israeli operation in Rafah in exchange for canceling major attack on Iran

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Kiev lacks both troops and equipment near Chasov Yar in DPR, says retired general

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Izvestia correspondent Semyon Eremin killed in special operation zone

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Swiss parliament votes against joining task force on frozen Russian assets

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Kremlin spokesman offers condolences over death of Izvestia war correspondent

Dmitry Peskov pointed out that the Ukrainian armed forces were deliberately targeting Russian journalists

North Korean agriculture committee’s delegation sets off on visit to Russia

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Russian air defenses down Ukrainian drone over Belgorod Region

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Hungarians in western Ukraine should get their rights back, Budapest says

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North Korea conducts new anti-aircraft missile test — KCNA

A power test of a super-large warhead designed for "Hwasal-1 Ra-3" strategic cruise missile was held as well

Turkish president, Hamas political leader discuss Gaza settlement

Erdogan and Haniyeh touched upon the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the exchange of hostages with Israel and the humanitarian aid deliveries to the Palestinian enclave

Russia delivers 34 strikes on Ukrainian military infrastructure over week — top brass

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Armenia has to define CSTO’s zone of responsibility on its territory, says Lavrov

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