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Middle East conflict

Russia condemns indiscriminate attacks on civilian targets in Gaza — diplomat

The Jerusalem Orthodox Patriarchate condemned "the Israeli airstrike that have struck its church compound in the city of Gaza"

MOSCOW, October 20. /TASS/. Russia categorically condemns indiscriminate attacks on civilian objects in the Gaza Strip, Alexey Zaitsev, Deputy Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Information and Press Department, said.

The diplomat was asked to comment on the shelling of the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrios in the Gaza Strip. "We categorically reject the indiscriminate use of force, we categorically do not accept attacks on civilian objects from any side," he said at a briefing.

The Jerusalem Orthodox Patriarchate condemned "the Israeli airstrike that have struck its church compound in the city of Gaza." The Patriarchate called such strikes "a war crime." The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said on its page on the social network X (formerly known as Twitter) that two people, including a child, were killed in the shelling of a Greek Orthodox church in the Gaza Strip. According to the agency, dozens of people received injuries of different severities.

The church of Saint Porphyrios is the oldest Christian parish in Gaza. It is the third oldest Christian church in the world, according to the Palestinian agency WAFA. The church was built in 452 and rebuilt in the second half of the 19th century.

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

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Russian State Duma ratifies agreement on military cooperation with Sao Tome and Principe

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European Commission gives ‘positive assessment’ for payment of 4.1 bln euros to Kiev

The commission concluded that Ukraine had satisfactorily fulfilled the nine agreed reform indicators for this payment

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

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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

Western efforts to vilify Russia climax, Moscow fights back — MFA

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Lukashenko congratulates Trump on winning US presidential election

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Authorities of southeastern Ukrainian region report ‘infrastructure damage’

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

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Negotiations on new European Commission stalled, December 1 deadline at risk — media

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Kamala Harris’s campaign team continues fundraising efforts after election defeat — TV

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"The sides outlined practical steps on strengthening of bilateral partnership in politics, trade, economy, economic, cultural and humanitarian areas," the Russian foreign ministry said

Trump to rely on forces that brought him to power — Russian presidential aide

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Ukrainian intel officers in Syria to be eliminated as terrorists’ accomplices — diplomat

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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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Russia inks first deals to deliver Su-57 fifth-generation fighter to foreign customers

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Europe on the verge of sweeping changes — Hungary’s Foreign Minister

"It is obvious that the European strategy [in respect of Ukraine], which has clearly failed, cannot be continued," Peter Szijjarto said

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Over the day, the enemy lost more than 430 troops, ten tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, 19 armored combat vehicles, 33 motor vehicles, one Anklav-N electronic warfare station

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US does not fulfill LNG contracts for Europe worth tens of billions of dollars — Gazprom

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Bank of Russia sells currency worth $42.6 mln in domestic market

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

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MOEX index falls below 2,700 points, first time since November 6

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Russia supports new UNSC draft resolution on Gaza — envoy

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

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

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

Russia's newest Su-57 fighter jet superior to China's new J-35 — test pilot

Sergey Bogdan emphasized that the newest Russian fighter was a "magnificent platform for a future generation of configurations, just as the Su-27 aircraft in its heyday"

Ukrainian Defense Ministry acknowledges HIV, Tuberculosis patients could be mobilized

According to Spokesperson Dmitry Lazutkin, the mobilization of such individuals depends on the stage of their condition

Hamas ready for immediate ceasefire in Gaza, official says

According to Basem Naim, the last "well-defined, brokered deal was the deal of July 2"

France wraps up training of new Ukrainian brigade — minister

The brigade is equipped with French weapons

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

According to the plan, 360,000 people are to be mobilized in October; 325,000 and 300,000 in November and December, respectively

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

According to Alexander Lavrentyev, the top priority today is to prevent such attempts

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

Ukraine and Germany also discussed further defense cooperation

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

Buran space shuttle celebrates 30th anniversary of milestone flight

The first and only launch of Buran space shuttle took place 30 years ago, on November 15th, 1988

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

US-led coalition's aircraft violate Syrian airspace nine times in past day

In a separate development, a total of 3,516 people crossed into Syria from the territory of Lebanon in the reported period

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

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

According to the source, the job is not expected to be a salaried role

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

On November 13, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the Russian Armed Forces had liberated the settlement of Rovnopol in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), located near the administrative border with the Zaporozhye Region

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

Dmitry Peskov emphasized that by placing the missile defense system in Poland, the United States is bringing its military infrastructure closer to Russia in an attempt to curb its potential

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

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

Explosion heard in Damascus suburb

The circumstances of the incident are being established at the moment

Kremlin comments on possible return of Japanese, European cars to Russia

No official statements have been received so far from European automakers regarding the return to the Russian market, Dmitry Peskov noted

Tens of thousands to march 'on Washington' ahead of Trump's inauguration — newspaper

In January 2017, before the beginning of Trump's first presidential term, hundreds of marches of various sizes took place in many US cities, including Chicago (Illinois), Boston (Massachusetts), New Orleans (Louisiana), Miami (Florida), and Denver (Colorado)

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

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"

Russian Marines destroy Challenger 2 tank with FPV drone in Kursk Region

Previously, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the enemy lost 10 tanks in the Kursk region in the past 24 hours

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

At least ten Ukrainian troops were killed

US missile defense site to defend Poland from Russia too — Polish minister

At the same time, the official evaded a direct question of whether the facility is capable of protecting country from missiles

IEA upgrades outlook on oil demand growth for 2024 to 920,000 bpd

Global oil demand will total 102.8 mln barrels per day (mbd) in 2024

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

Russia ready for contacts with Trump administration, ball is in US court — Lavrov

At the same time, he emphasized that Russia has no expectations from the new US administration, but will assess its concrete steps

Zelensky announces work on new action plan

In terms of weapons, the plan will focus on production in Ukraine and cooperation with partners

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

Russian citizenship approvals down 44% since January — ministry

According to Irina Volk, police are also clamping down on groups and individuals that help bring people into the country illegally, leading to a 2.5-fold increase in the detection and preliminary investigation of such crimes

Iran will never try to build nuclear weapons, president tells IAEA chief

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

Talks out of question: situation in Kursk Region

Over the day, Ukraine lost more than 400 servicemen and 29 armored vehicles

Most Russians believe survey results — pollster

According to VCIOM Director General Valery Fyodorov, 83% of respondents think public opinion polls are fairly necessary

Russia elected to UN Committee for Program and Coordination

Apart from that, director of the Russian foreign ministry’s personnel department Andrey Ivanov, was approved as a member of the International Civil Service Commission in 2025-2027

Climate policy should be based on common sense, not ideology — Orban

The Hungarian prime minister noted that the problem of climate preservation held a prominent place in the Budapest Declaration on the New European Competitiveness

Assassination attempt on Putin mentioned by Budanov prepared with US money — Russian MFA

"Yesterday one of chiefs of the Kiev regime Buganov openly admitted that the Ukrainian intelligence service prepared assassination attempts on the Russian president. This assassination attempt was again prepared with US money," Maria Zakharova wrote on her Telegram channel

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

"At the initial stage, it is planned to encourage entities within the Ukrainian civil society under their control, through US 'democratization' foundations and think tanks, to come up with a corresponding initiative," the statement reads