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Putin appoints Rinat Alyautdinov as new Russian envoy to UNESCO

The President also dismissed Alexander Kuznetsov from his post of the Permanent Representative to UNESCO, which he had held since 2016

MOSCOW, January 12. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed Rinat Alyautdinov as Russia's Permanent Representative to UNESCO, according to the decree published on the official website of legal information on Thursday.

Previously, Alyautdinov headed the Humanitarian Cooperation and Human Rights Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

By another decree, the president dismissed Alexander Kuznetsov from his post of the Permanent Representative to UNESCO, which he had held since 2016.

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Military operation in Ukraine

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All weapons pledged by Biden to Kiev to be delivered before he leaves office — Pentagon

Department’s Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh expects that for the 'next coming months of this administration'

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US denies possession of extraterrestrial technologies

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The circumstances of the incident are being established at the moment

Authorities of southeastern Ukrainian region report ‘infrastructure damage’

In addition, a power transmission line was reportedly damaged in the Dnepropetrovsk Region

Lavrov arrives in UAE to take part in Sir Bani Yas Forum

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US views Russia as present-day threat, Trump may prioritize containing China — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister stressed that reputation matters the most to the United States which does not care about the real fates of peoples, in particular the Ukrainian one

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Israeli practices ‘consistent with characteristics of genocide’ — UN committee

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The brigade is equipped with French weapons

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Putin proclaims Odessa Russian city, challenges Ukraine's historical narrative

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

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Grossi oversteps authority by talking about freeze of Ukraine conflict — Russian MFA

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Lack of due support, and accommodation issues, are the reason

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Masoud Pezeshkian accused the US of derailing the agreements around Iran's nuclear program

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"Israel, by the standards it set itself, has accomplished the goals that it set for itself," the US Secretary of State noted

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Alexander Mikheyev also explained the expectations and effect of the demonstration of Russian military hardware at Airshow China in Zhuhai

Zelensky announces work on new action plan

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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"

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

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Israeli strike on southern Lebanese village leaves at least six dead

Four of the victims were rescue workers

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Reuters wrote with reference to anonymous sources that the sides would also discuss what Trump’s return to the Oval Office could mean for the world

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"

Trump suggests Kennedy Jr. as US secretary of health and human services

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Israeli anthem booed before start of football match in Paris

Prior to the event, leftist politicians and activists staged a protest at a square in Paris’ northern suburb of Saint-Denis

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

Trump's participation in the next US election would be against the Constitution

Colombia would like to join BRICS — foreign minister

The top Colombian diplomat went on to say that his country has been following the BRICS expansion and activities carefully

Over 7,400 attacks on healthcare facilities registered worldwide since 2018 — WHO

Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that over the past three years frequency, scale and impact of attacks on healthcare has increased

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

According to Reuters, Brasilia’s military police confirmed that a body was found near the court building

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

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Russia to collaborate with Arab nations for Middle East de-escalation — diplomat

"A call was made to the international community to contribute to the achievement of this goal," Maria Zakharova added

Ukrainian forces shell Energodar in Zaporozhye Region, five hits registered — official

Vladimir Rogov noted that data about injuries is currently being updated, and called on residents to seek shelter

South Korea to support Ukraine in response to Russia-North Korea alliance — president

As Yoon Suk Yeol said, the reported dispatch of North Korean servicemen to participate in Russia’s special military operation "poses a serious security threat not only to the Korean Peninsula and Europe but also to the entire world"

IN BRIEF: What is known about drone attack on Russia’s Krasnodar Region

Damage will be assessed, and local authorities will provide assistance with restoring the damaged buildings

Swedish minister in charge of gender equality suffers from bananaphobia

The phobia is so strong that special precautions need to be taken before her meetings

Most Ukrainian soldiers drafted against their will, from rural areas

According to Miroslav Borisenko, there are "almost no" residents of major cities among the forcibly mobilized, although in 2022 the "social composition was entirely different" in the Ukrainian armed forces

Pilot lauds thrust, aerodynamics of smooth-flying Su-57 fighter jet

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54 countries vote against resolution on combating ne-Nazism

116 countries, including Azerbaijan, Algeria, Armenia, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Cuba, Serbia, and Syria, supported the document

Erdogan praises Russia, China for backing arms embargo on Israel

According to the Turkish leader, Israel "will become more and more aggressive if arms and ammunition supplies continue"

Two injured in bridge collapse in Crimea

"A car and a truck were on the bridge at the moment of collapse. Russian Emergencies Ministry rescuers retrieved two injured people," the ministry said

Most Russians say special op doesn't bleed into their daily life

While public anxiety remains high, the percentage of Russians who view the situation as catastrophic or as a crisis has noticeably decreased, and the share of citizens who accept the current circumstances as a new normal is rising

Trump picks ex-congressman Collins for veterans’ affairs secretary

Doug Collins is a former lawmaker representing Georgia in the House of Representatives

What is known about Sevastopol car blast

Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev did not rule out the possibility that the incident was the result of sabotage

Demographic crisis threatens Ukraine’s viability as state — think tank

Ukraine’s "overall population had declined to 29 million people in 2023 - compared to 48.5 million in 2001," Responsible Statecraft writes

No plans for major government reshuffle after parliamentary election — Georgian PM

According to Irakli Kobakhidze, increasing national GDP by some $14.6 bln will be the Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia ruling party’s goal for the next four years

Trump to nominate North Dakota governor Burgum as interior secretary

The official announcement will be made on Friday

Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

Over the day, the enemy lost more than 450 troops, two tanks, three IFVs, two M113 armored personnel carriers, 33 armored combat vehicles, five artillery pieces, including a Krab self-propelled howitzer, a Crotale multiple rocket launcher, and 49 motor vehicles

Trump nominates his lawyers to key Justice Department jobs

Emil Bove will be nominated to be principal associate deputy attorney general and Todd Blanche to the post of the US deputy attorney general

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

Ukraine and Germany also discussed further defense cooperation

Security Service of Ukraine operated ‘concentration camp’ in Kiev in 2022, lawmaker says

"This concentration camp was organized by SBU Head Ivan Bakanov and his first deputy Vasily Malyuk," Alexander Dubinsky claims

Russian air defenses down multiple aerial targets over Belgorod, with one injury reported

Vyacheslav Gladkov noted that the windows of 11 apartments in six apartment buildings were damaged in Belgorod

Kalashnikov concern trains first group of operators for Bars-Sarmat UAV unit

The soldiers studied the hardware, including the drones’ electronics, internal systems and rules of operation

Israeli military vows to keep Syrian-made weapons out of Hezbollah’s hands by any means

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Biden to discuss support to Kiev with EU colleagues before Trump’s inauguration

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Russian troops secure ground near Novodarovka, Rovnopol in Zaporozhye Region — official

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

Washington will always seek to control everything that is happening within NATO’s orbit, especially on NATO territory, the Russian foreign minister said