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Japan’s first lunar lander separates from carrier rocket

The Lunar Module separated 47 minutes after launch from the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan

TOKYO, September 7. /TASS/. Japan’s first lunar probe Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon (SLIM) has successfully separated from the H2A carrier rocket, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said.

The lunar module separated routinely 47 minutes after the launch from the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan. According to Japanese specialists, SLIM will reach the lunar orbit in three to four months to land on the Moon in January or February 2024.

The H2A carrier rocket is put in orbit the X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM), which was built in collaboration with NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency.

The launch of the lunar module was postponed several times due to unfavorable weather conditions.

The 2.4-meter, 200-kilogram SLIM probe is designed to explore the Moon's craters and topography using technologies similar to those used in facial recognition systems. SLIM is also equipped with a special camera that can measure the amount of iron and other elements in rocks on the lunar surface. The data obtained by the spacecraft will be used in particular as part of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) lunar program Artemis.

The H2A carrier rocket is also carrying the X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM), which was built in collaboration with NASA.

Japan originally planned to send a module to the Moon in May, but the launch was postponed following an abortive launch of Japan's new H3 heavy-lift rocket. If the mission is successful, Japan will become the fifth country in the world after the Soviet Union, the United States, China, and India to land its module on the Moon.

In April 2023, the Japanese company Ispace launched the Hakuto-R module, which was supposed to be the world's first privately developed vehicle to land on the Moon. However, communication with it was lost as it probably crashed while hitting the lunar surface.

Russian cosmonauts Kononenko and Chub mark one year in space

The two cosmonauts were sent to the orbit aboard the Soyuz MS-24 manned spacecraft, which blasted off from the Baikonur space launch center on September 15, 2023

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According to Jeremy Bowen, if Ukraine is allowed to hit Russia with Western missiles, it might add another layer to the conflict and certainly give the Ukrainians another means to hit Russia with, but it will not bring Ukraine victory in the war

North Korea shows off enriched uranium production facility for first time — media

The news agency noted that this was the first time that North Korea had publicly disclosed any details about its uranium enrichment site via state media

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The Russian side gave a principled assessment of the current state and prospects of bilateral relations "which have degraded to an unprecedently low level," the Russian Foreign Ministry said

Hungary has more unexpected peace initiatives on Ukraine in stock, PM Orban says

Budapest plans to "continue to have unexpected initiatives that will each take us one step closer to peace," the Hungarian Prime Minister said

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

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Ukrainian withdrawal from Kursk Region to deal 'symbolic blow' for Kiev — newspaper

At the same time, a Ukrainian military officer told the newspaper that the situation in the area was difficult for Ukrainian forces

German jets scrambled over Baltic Sea over Russian Tu-142, Su-30 planes

Such mutual checks are mostly routine

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Maria Zakharova cited Germany, which portrays itself as a democratic state with a well-developed legal system, as an example

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"The opponents in Washington, London, and other places clearly underestimate the degree of danger of the game they continue to play," Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Ryabkov said

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According to Vasily Prozorov, the attack might be a result of infighting between Kirill Budanov and Alexander Syrsky

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White House taking Putin’s words about NATO’s involvement in Ukrainian conflict seriously

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

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Ukrainian saboteur who prepared Dugina’s murder facing four criminal charges

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Ukrainian breakthrough attempts repelled: developments in Kursk Region

Over the day, the enemy lost up to 300 troops and seven tanks, the Russian Defense Ministry reported

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According to the official, Berlin "has nothing to add" to its earlier statements about German weapons supplied to the Kiev regime

No weapon can become game changer for Kiev — Pentagon

In Washington’s opinion, Ukraine should focus on employing capabilities currently at its disposal

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Bank of Russia’s chief names main disadvantages of high inflation for Russia

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"The President spoke very clearly on this topic. We know that the corresponding decisions were made some time ago, and signals of this kind have been transmitted to Kiev," the high-ranking diplomat said, answering a question on the matter

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Western companies still working in Russia, despite promises to leave — Bloomberg

It was noted that most of these companies rebranded instead of leaving the country

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Russia will not tolerate activities of undeclared British secret service officers — MFA

"Our uncompromising stance on this issue will be formulated in accordance with the interests of national security," Maria Zakharova stated

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Anatoly Antonov stressed that it could happen any moment

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Several pieces of hardware and ammunition were also destroyed in the area

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According to the statement, "any diplomatic etiquette has been thrown completely out the window"

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Chen Xiaodong emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation in this field jointly with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Latin American countries "to help form a crucial community that would seek peace and prosperity.".

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NATO has been prepping Ukraine for war with Russia for eight years, Ukrainian POW says

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Russian diplomat slams plans to simulate nuclear blast aftermath in Russia as absurd

Mikhail Ulyanov noted that such rhetoric is irresponsible

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Witnesses confirm Ukrainian citizen’s involvement in journalist Dugina’s assassination

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NORAD reports tracking two Russian military aircraft near Alaska

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FIDE Ethics Commission cancels suspension of Russian Chess Federation membership

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Finland’s territory not to be used to attacks against Russia — General Staff

Finnish Defense Forces General Staff noted that it monitors the situation around the attack of Ukrainian drones in the Murmansk Region

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Radoslaw Sikorski added that "the Americans had advance knowledge of it and didn’t stop it"

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No decision on strikes deep into Russia expected after Biden-Starmer meeting — Kirby

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UK has enough malice to make decision on use of its weapons for strikes at Russia — envoy

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Ten settlements liberated by Russian forces in Kursk Region in past week

Ukraine's losses stood at 3,520 troops in the operational area of the battlegroup North

Moscow’s verbal signals to West about escalation need to be changed — senior diplomat

Ryabkov called on "the political and military leadership of Russia's opponents to weigh the severity of the consequences that could arise as a result of their irresponsible, extremely dangerous actions."

Russian army hits airfields, Ukrainian military’s energy facilities

Russia’s battlegroup West has repelled three Ukrainian counterattacks over the past day, eliminating up to 445 enemy servicemen, the Defense Ministry emphasized

US not to be able to sit nuclear conflict in Europe out — Russian ambassador

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier that nuclear terrorists is the Kiev regime’s hallmark

West's decision to attack deep into Russia won’t change situation on front — commander

"For us, nothing will change directly on the front, because the front is moving and will continue to move until Russia wins," Apty Alaudinov emphasized

Russia communicates messages to US to avert uncontrollable crisis — senior diplomat

Communication with the United States is conducted through embassies and occasionally at other levels, Sergey Ryabkov said

Russian envoy says he received calls from US ex-officials following Putin’s statements

Earlier Russian president warned that a potential decision to allow Ukraine to deliver long-range strikes inside Russia may have consequences

Break of diplomatic relations with UK would be extreme measure — Russian mission

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BRICS is not a platform for settling political scores — Russian Deputy Foreign Minister

The Deputy Foreign Minister stressed that the platform is designed to "be closer to people, closer to normal life, to healthy values"

German chancellor calls for unbiased investigation into Nord Stream sabotage

"If we manage to catch them, we want to try them in Germany," Olaf Scholz said

US not ready for dialogue with Russia on Ukraine, Russian ambassador says

"The Americans are unwilling to negotiate. They are uncomfortable discussing that. They say they do not control the Ukrainians," Anatoly Antonov said

Attacks with Western weapons on Russia can backfire on NATO — expert

"It may even come to nuclear strikes, but I hope this won't happen," Sergey Karaganov said

Russian aviation hit formations of 7 Ukrainian brigades in Kursk region — Defense Ministry

It also struck reserves of 11 brigades in the Sumy region, the ministry reported

Israel reports projectiles crossing from Lebanon

No injuries were reported

North Korea’s Kim lauds relations with Moscow as rapidly developing at meeting with Shoigu

"He gave his assurances that the North Korean government will continue to expand cooperation with Russia in the spirit of a comprehensive strategic partnership," the state-owned radio broadcaster said

Six UK diplomats working in Moscow engaged in intelligence, subversive activities — FSB

"The revealed facts give grounds to consider the activities of UK diplomats sent to Moscow by the Directorate as a threat to Russia’s security," the report said

Orban says EU countries start thinking about settlement in Ukraine after his initiative

The Hungarian prime minister added that he was preparing new events as part of the peace initiative, expected "in the coming weeks"

Putin's statement on consequences of strikes deep into Russia reaches addressees — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov pointed out that Putin's statement admitted of no dual interpretations