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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversees new test launches of missiles

Kyodo reported that North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles from the country’s eastern coast into the Sea of Japan

© EPA-EFE/KCNA

MOSCOW, August 17. /TASS/. North Korea conducted more tests of new weapons in the presence of President Kim Jong-un, North Korea’s Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

"Juche shells were fired in the presence of the Supreme Leader," KCNA reported on late Friday.

"The national defense scientists showed a perfect result in the test-fire, too, and helped cement bigger confidence in this weapon system," according to KCNA.

"Our party has strictly maintained the principles of self-reliance and Juche in national defense building, and recently set forth a strategic policy on the direction of the development of the Juche-oriented national defense building based on our own science, technology and strength to meet the needs of the developing situation, he [North Korean leader Kim Jong-un] said," the agency added.

Kyodo news agency reported on Friday that North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles from the country’s eastern coast into the Sea of Japan.

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff announced on Friday that the launches were conducted from Tongcheon County, Gangwon Province. The missiles covered an estimate distance of 230 kilometers, at the altitude of 30 kilometers reportedly reaching the maximum speed of over Mach 6.1.

According to KCNA, new launches on Friday were Pyongyang’s sixth since July 25, seeing the North continue a pattern of regular testing not seen since 2017.

Ukraine opens second front in Africa — envoy

Igor Gromyko noted that in August, Mali's transitional government announced the termination of diplomatic relations with Ukraine

Relative of former Syrian president detained in Lebanon airport — report

Arab news media earlier reported that Rifaat and his family moved to Lebanon after the transitional government took over in Damascus

Expert offers to use navy ships to escort tankers after Eagle S incident

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Ukrainian troops struggling to escape being trapped in Lozovaya in Kharkov region — expert

In general, "quite active hostilities" are taking place near Dvurechnaya and Lozovaya in the Kupyansk sector of the line of engagement, Andrey Marochko noted

US debt to reach limit in mid-January, authorities to take extraordinary measures — Yellen

The national debt of the US currently stands at around $36.2 trillion

IN BRIEF: Putin talks to reporters about Oreshnik missile, natural gas transit

The president noted that the most important thing in the coming year is "the well-being of the Russian people, standard of living, stability"

Kazakhstan’s Aktau Airport was aware of oxygen cylinder blast before plane’s crash

KazAeroNavigation’s flight director immediately notified all emergency services

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

Nikolay Patrushev agreed that Trump, when he was still a candidate, "made many statements critical of the destructive foreign and domestic policies pursued by the current administration"

Taiwan records approach of seven Chinese PLA warplanes, five vessels

According to the statement, one of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern ADIZ air defense identification zone

Georgian PM sees US sanctions on party founder as reward for protecting national interests

"This is just a reward for the defense of our country's national interests," Irakli Kobakhidze said

NATO to boost military presence in Baltic Sea following cable incidents — Rutte

Earlier, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas attributed responsibility for the Baltic Sea incidents to the tanker fleet transporting Russian oil, even before the investigation concluded

Number of homeless people in US up to record 770,000

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Turkish transport ministry’s experts to join AZAL plane crash investigation

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Spanish coordination center orders Norwegian captain not to take Ursa Major sailors

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Putin forms scientific advisory board under Russian Security Council

Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu will lead the board

Russia says it carried out 38 strikes with high-precision weapons over past week

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FSB foils series of assassination attempts on senior Russian defense officials

The bombs intended for killing high-placed Russian Defense Ministry officials were disguised as a power bank and a document folder, the FSB press office specified

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It is planned to launch it in general circulation in early 2025

Norwegians who refused to rescue sailors from Ursa Major acted like non-humans — senator

Konstantin Kosachev noted that the West was in the habit of discussing values, but the true Western values are not about legalizing same-sex marriage or overthrowing unwanted regimes or supporting Ukraine

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Flydubai advised passengers to contact the airline's contact center or relevant travel agents for information on rebooking or refund options for cancelled flights

Investigative Committee opens case against US mercenary who invaded Kursk Region

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CIA station in Kiev targeted in recent Russian attack, military expert reveals

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Almost 37,000 tons of contaminated soil removed from Black Sea beaches

"Almost 8,000 people were employed in this work today," according to a statement by the region’s crisis center

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"We will continue to effectively assist Bamako in stabilizing the internal situation, including addressing the existing socio-economic challenges," Igor Gromyko emphasized

Finnish police detain oil tanker on suspicion of damaging communication cables

It is also reported that the Eagle S "noticeably slowed down" presumably at the moment when the cable between Finland and Estonia was damaged

Houthis report attacking Santa Ursula vessel in Arabian Sea

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Azerbaijan Airlines states its passenger jet crashed due to external mechanical damage

Azerbaijan Airlines earlier announced the suspension of flights to several Russian cities

Russian fighters advance in Volchansk in Kharkov Region, force Volchya River — expert

Andrey Marochko added that Russian servicemen "start preparing the way for further advancement southwest of this locality"

Bank of Russia raises dollar exchange rate for December 28 to 100.53 rubles

At the same time, the official yuan exchange rate was reduced by 3 kopecks to 13.4434 rubles

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According to Oleg Kononenko, there was no forbidden issues for the crew on board of the ISS

New Syrian authorities do not intend to annul agreements on Russian military bases

According to the source, the parties are holding negotiations to ensure that circumstances of force majeure, including military actions and regime changes in the republic, do not become a pretext for canceling the agreements

Astana, Baku to closely cooperate in investigating plane crash in Kazakhstan

According to the statement, Tokayev assured the Azerbaijani president that the Kazakh side would make every effort to ensure a thorough and objective investigation of all circumstances of the incident, and briefed him on the progress of the work of the special state commission tasked with investigating the crash

Archaeologists discover fossilized remains of palm-sized cat in China

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Two families with children return to Russia from Syria — commissioner

An aircraft landed in the Moscow Region, Maria Lvova-Belova said

Carbon quota diktat tantamount to attempt to limit Russia's progress — Kurchatov Institute

Russia's energy sector, Mikhail Kovalchuk said, is the "greenest" because "everybody uses coal or something else, while Russia burns gas"

Russia persuades most states it is essential to address causes of Ukrainian crisis — MFA

"This position was conveyed to the leadership of a number of NATO and EU countries, including Austria, Hungary, Malta, Slovakia, the United States, Turkey, and Germany, as well as the Vatican and Switzerland in direct contacts with them at the highest and highest levels," the commentary says

Foreign powers seek to provoke mass riots in Syria — source

On December 27, security forces formed by the new Syrian government blocked districts of the city of Tartus, where Alawites organized riots

Russian security official says Poland gave Ukraine unusable helicopters

It is reported that corrupt Ukrainian officials will probably get their kickback from Poland, in another move that helps Ukraine’s downfall

New Syrian authorities do not intend to annul agreements on Russian military bases

On December 9, a TASS source said that Russia has commenced the negotiations with the new Syrian authorities on the continued presence of its military bases

German president dissolves parliament, schedules early elections for February 23

Frank-Walter Steinmeier also said that he had consulted with the leaders of all the parties represented in the Bundestag before making the decision and concluded that neither the current nor the new government, in any composition, would win a majority in the current parliament

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The impeachment was supported by 192 delegates with at least 151 votes required

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Osamu Suzuki joined the company in 1958, when he married the daughter of one of its founders and took her last name

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Bild said the German Foreign Ministry commissioned an internal government analysis on defense from ballistic missiles

Russian MFA denies reports of talks with Baku, Astana on plane crash near Aktau

It also indicated that specialized agencies are investigating the causes of the crash

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According to the Houthi spokesman, the strike on US vessels was delivered with the use of "eight cruise missiles and 17 drones"

Russian forces break through Ukrainian defense lines in Kharkov Region — expert

Marochko added that the operation allowed Russian troops to "expand their zone of control" in the area

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Vietnamese defense minister advocates for strengthening partnership with Russia

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Russian-Iranian partnership agreement to be inked on January 17 — ambassador

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Russian Railways tests robodogs for work on dangerous railway sections

The iron dogs are equipped with cameras and lidars that automatically transmit data to the operator's computer

Plane crash in Kazakhstan claims 38 lives

29 people had been hospitalized

Russia practically eliminates remnants of Ukraine’s Air Force — source

The source said that attempts to recruit more pilots in Poland and other Eastern European countries were not particularly successful

Kazan airport in Russia’s Tatarstan suspends service — regulator

"The air harbor is temporarily not accepting or sending flights," the statement reads

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Finnish president says situation 'under control' after cables damage in Baltic Sea

According to Alexander Stubb, the cables were "significantly damaged"

Azerbaijan Airlines to continue flights to six Russian cities

Azerbaijan Airlines announced the suspension of flights to Mineralnye Vody, Sochi, Volgograd, Ufa, Samara, Grozny, and Makhachkala from December 28 following the crash of its plane near Aktau on December 25

Ukraine receives first 100 mcb of LNG from United States

It was noted that this delivery was aimed at ensuring Ukraine's energy security and took place several days before the end of Russian gas transit through the country's territory

Pentagon mum on F-16 fighter jet downed in Zaporozhye Region

The US Department of Defense "has no statement or information to provide," a department’s spokesperson said

Ukraine’s General Staff admits tense situation along entire frontline

The Ukrainian army reported earlier on Friday that its forces were retreating to the border of the Dnepropetrovsk Region from the Kiev-controlled territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic "to the last defensive line" in that area

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Powerful explosions are going off in the city, a Houthi source told TASS

Biden administration to send $1.25 bln in military assistance to Kiev — AP

The new package of aid to Kiev includes a significant amount of munitions, including for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and the HAWK air defense system, the agency said

Scholz could make unexpected steps in relations with Russia amid German crisis — analyst

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Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet returns back to Baku shortly after takeoff

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Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko reported the fires in Solomensky and Shevchenkovsky districts

Zelensky defines essence of next summit on Ukraine in four-letter explicit word — Lavrov

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Trump's words on Greenland escalate tensions in the Arctic — Russian ambassador to Norway

Nikolay Korchunov pointed out that Greenland and Denmark are not the only Arctic Council members feeling pressure on their sovereignty, and are in a difficult position in light of possible moves by the incoming Trump administration

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Scholz says he would like to hold phone talks with Putin again

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Russia to build new aircraft carrier no sooner than 2030 — expert

No less than a decade will be required to build it, given favorable conditions, the expert said

Mobilized Ukrainian troops poorly trained, army chief admits

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Russian sailors from Ursa Major freighter departed from Spain to Russia

Earlier, the embassy’s consular department provided them with all necessary papers

Russia to press for progress on line of engagement — Putin

The President stressed that Moscow would move on in accordance with the plans it had outlined

Syrian army’s weapons seized by terrorists — Iraq’s PM

Mohammed Al Sudani stressed that Baghdad respects the will of the Syrian people, hoping for progress toward a comprehensive political process

Russia offers safe haven for people trying to escape Western liberal ideals

Under the document, such foreign nationals will have the right to apply for temporary residence in Russia "outside the quota approved by the Russian government and without providing documents confirming their knowledge of the Russian language, Russian history and basic laws"

MOEX, RTS indices fall by 0.33-1.62% on Friday

The yuan exchange rate rose by 0.37% over the day to 13.45 rubles

Slovakia ready to host peace talks on Ukraine — Prime Minister

Robert Fico noted that Bratislava would be ready and hospitable

Grozny airport was closed due to Ukrainian UAVs when AZAL plane crashed in Aktau

Dmitry Yadrov stressed that the plane’s commander tried to land in Grozny twice

France made several requests to Russia on Ukraine topic through private channels — Lavrov

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Russia to convene UNSC meeting in January to discuss Ukraine’s crimes against civilians

The report on Ukrainian atrocities in Selidovo will be presented

Project 885M latest nuclear-powered submarine Arkhangelsk joins Russian Navy

During the ceremony, the Russian Navy chief handed in the St. Andrew’s naval flag to the submarine commander, Captain First Rank Alexander Gladkov

Armenia's opposition intends to prevent Pashinyan's participation in 2026 elections

Leader of the opposition Sacred Struggle movement Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan stated that the PM doesn't have the courage to run in the elections

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Ukraine opens second front in Africa — envoy

Igor Gromyko noted that in August, Mali's transitional government announced the termination of diplomatic relations with Ukraine

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Kremlin says no comment on 'highly specialized' issue of Finland’s seizure of oil tanker

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Russian Guardsmen destroy Ukrainian UAV team in Chernigov Region

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Ukraine's national debt reaches record $159.74 bln

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