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US State Department designates Shi’a paramilitary group active in Iraq as terrorists

According to Washington, "AAH is extensively funded and trained by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force"

WASHINGTON, January 3. /TASS/. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has placed the Shi’a paramilitary group Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq (AAH) active in Iraq on the list of foreign terrorist organizations, claiming that the group has ties to Tehran, the US State Department informed in a statement on Friday.

"AAH and its leaders are violent proxies of the Islamic Republic of Iran," Pompeo said. "Acting on behalf of their masters in Tehran, they use violence and terror to further the Iranian regime’s efforts to undermine Iraqi sovereignty," he claimed.

According to Washington, "AAH is extensively funded and trained by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force."

"These designations seek to deny AAH and its leadership the resources to plan and carry out terrorist attacks," the US State Department informed. "AAH, led by Qays and Laith al-Khazali, is an Iran-backed, militant organization that has claimed responsibility for more than 6,000 attacks against U.S. and Coalitions forces since its creation in 2006," the US diplomats claimed.

Middle East conflict

US warns it won’t be able to restrain Israel if Iran attacks — report

An Israeli official said the message was passed from Washington to Tehran through the Swiss

Medvedev says Ukraine’s example stops Georgia from siding with West to oppose Russia

"We are in general a friendly neighbor of Georgia," Russian security council deputy chairman noted

Kalashnikov presents new gear for armored vehicles’ crews at Army-2024 forum

The kit provides protection from exposure to open flame and secondary effects

Kiev's violation of agreements means less territory for Ukraine — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister also recalled the Istanbul agreements

Press review: US election set to shape politics while Kiev seeks 'energy deal' with Moscow

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, October 31st

Western funds for Ukrainian budget being misappropriated — Medvedev

The West will continue to allocate funds to Kiev, the Russian senior official noted

Russia’s latest Lotos artillery gun for paratroopers to receive counter-drone system

After successfully undergoing all preliminary trials, the new self-propelled artillery system was sent for state tests

Former CIA, Pentagon chief describes incursion into Kursk as Kiev’s ‘strategic mistake’

In Robert Gates opinion, Russia is capable of continuing its special military operation in Ukraine until it decides that its goals are met, and underestimating its ability to carry on "is a huge mistake"

Google’s fines in Russia reach stratospheric levels — lawyer

Google can return to the Russian market only if it complies with the court’s decision

Hezbollah says it hit Israeli Hetz missile defense system’s radar south of Tel Aviv

Hezbollah also said that its units shelled the Israeli Glilot military base in the Ramat Hasharon neighborhood north of Tel Aviv and the Zvulun industrial area housing Rafale military enterprises with high-precision missiles

Press review: Putin highlights GDP growth while the Russian military claims top rank

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, October 29th

Russia dismisses allegations of refusing to include Ukrainian marines on lists for swaps

According to Maria Zakharova, Russia has expressed its readiness to exchange many Ukrainian marines more than once

Press review: Lavrov embarks on EU visit and Russia permits individual crypto mining

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, November 1st

Repelling enemy counterattacks, Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

Russian tactical aircraft and artillery hit clusters of manpower and equipment of 13 Ukrainian brigades in the Kursk Region

Iranian leader warns of crushing response to Israel, US

Ali Khamenei noted that the authorities are doing everything to strengthen the state's defense capabilities

Russia strikes Ukrainian General Staff’s unmanned systems command center over week

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted damage on manpower and military hardware of 17 Ukrainian army brigades in the borderline Kursk area over the past week, the Defense Ministry reported

US citizen who shared data on Ukrainian military with Russian army wants to stay in Russia

Daniel Martindale noted that after peace is restored, he would like to go back to farming

Russian figure skating star Valieva plans to come back to ice after suspension expires

"It would be foolish to end my sports career at such a young age. I will do my best to make the audience, myself, my coaches and all my fans happy," she said

French mercenary involved in transporting internal organs of Ukrainian soldiers — official

Maxime Roger Henri Barrat is also under investigation by the civilian-military administration’s department of the interior in connection with the crime against a female civilian from the village of Glubokoye in the Kharkov Region

Sanctions reveal weakness in Western understanding of Russian economy — Medvedev

"These sanctions returned to Europe as a boomerang," the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council added

US warns it won’t be able to restrain Israel if Iran attacks — report

An Israeli official said the message was passed from Washington to Tehran through the Swiss

Russian troops liberate two communities in Donbass region, Kharkov area over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South improved its tactical position and inflicted roughly 800 casualties on Ukrainian troops in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Prosecutor's Office deems activities of US-based business society undesirable in Russia

The international company incorporated in the United States has been engaged in promoting the policies of unfriendly states regarding the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and actively supports the LGBT community, the Russian Prosecutor General's Office explained

Medvedev sees West waging real war on Russia in Ukraine

"Our current adversaries argue that they have a right to send any weapons to Ukraine or that they have a right to dispatch their advisors to consult on how to conduct hostilities," the Russian Security Council deputy chairman said

Russian Soyuz 2.1b rocket with space weather satellites installed at Vostochny launch pad

Four Ionosfera-M satellites and one Zond-M satellite will make part of the Ionozond constellation that Russia is creating to monitor geophysical processes

Russian forces liberate another 20 square kilometers in DPR — politician

"The very fact that tens of square kilometers of DPR territory are being liberated says that the enemy has problems with moral and combat training," Vladimir Rogov said

FACTBOX: Russian government sets up requirements for cryptocurrency mining

The law introduced the definition of mining, a set of security requirements, and the possibility of trading digital financial assets on special platforms

Agreement was possible, but West chose proxy war against Russia — Medvedev

About statements by a number of Western countries about their readiness to support Ukraine further on, the politician said that "by supporting a conflict in another country one can manage one's own quite well"

Battlegroup North’s flamethrower hits Ukrainian manpower near Kharkov

The accuracy of the strike with thermobaric munitions on the shelters of Ukrainian manpower was confirmed by data recorders

Iran’s military response to Israel to involve Axis of Resistance forces — MP

Esmaeil Kousari noted that the Islamic Republic's new operation "will be a lesson" for the Israelis to avoid similar mistakes when striking Iran again

Iran has hundreds of missiles capable of inflicting severe damage Israel — WSJ

The article states that the Israeli attack has compromised the air defense systems protecting key Iranian facilities

US-led coalition’s aircraft violate Syrian airspace 13 times in past day

In the reported period, the center also registered three violations of the December 9, 2019 deconfliction protocols on the part of the coalition

US trying to destabilize situation in India ahead of general election — Russian diplomat

The general election being held in the country from April to June will be the largest voting ever taking place in the world with 968 million registered voters, 14 million election commission employees, and 1.2 million polling booths

Protest rally against parliamentary elections outcome in Tbilisi over

Opposition parties plan to stage a protest near the parliamentary building on November 4 and to announce their future plans

Kremlin aide sees continued Western attempts to drive Russia away from Black Sea

Nikolay Patrushev stressed how important it was "to determine not only the promising tactical-technical characteristics of warships and their weapons but also to ensure the balance of forces that make up the combat power of the fleet and means of supporting them"

Kiev to suffer heavy losses due to Russian advances in east — Newsweek

According to the report, Kiev is struggling with no success to convince its allies to sanction strikes against Russia with long-range Western weapons

BRICS to consider expanding group in 2025 — Lavrov

"Criteria for the partner country category will be agreed upon," the Russian Foreign Minister said

Russia is not going to attack Poland, Baltics, Ukraine through Belarus rule — Lukashenko

The Belarusian President called for building relations in a neighborly manner

Tanker suspected of carrying goods under anti-Russian sanctions detained in Germany

"The tanker was prohibited from continuing moving until loaded materials will be finally inspected," the Kiel police added

Russia to retaliate Romania's decision to declare its diplomat persona non grata — MFA

On Friday, Romania's Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism reported the preliminary detention of a Romanian citizen in the country on charges of treason

Syrsky admits Ukraine faces one of strongest Russian offensives since 2022

"Active combat operations that continue in certain directions require constant renewal of resources," the Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief said

Decisions to seize Russian property made on claims of six Ukrainian companies

The court determined on October 29 that the decision on confidentiality would be made after the defendant informs about its intentions

Basics of new payment platforms founded under Russian presidency in BRICS — Lavrov

"Everybody wants to create alternative payment mechanisms, interbank settlements with the use of national currencies, and insurance mechanisms that will not be directed against the system evolved after World War II around the dollar as the linchpin," the Russian foreign minister said

Kiev wants to exchange only militants from its nationalist battalions — Russian diplomat

According to Maria Zakharova, Kiev is also "interested in the fate of foreign mercenaries who took part in combat operations against Russia"

Nord Stream 2 completed, Trump's statements about its destruction unclear — Kremlin

Earlier, in an interview with journalist Tucker Carlson, Donald Trump strongly denied Democrats' claims that he has ties with Russia, recalling that he blocked the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline

Israel expects Iranian strike ‘in coming days’ — report

Amid expectations of an Iranian strike, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on November 1 announced the US is sending additional forces to the Middle East, including destroyers, fighter jets and bombers

Russian diplomat says Ukraine took back just 279 POWs, although 935 were offered

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called such actions of the Kiev regime "political tourism on the blood of its own citizens, its own servicemen"

NATO undecided on intercepting projectiles over Ukraine — top Polish diplomat

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk earlier said that Warsaw and its NATO partners will discuss the possibility of taking down projectiles over western parts of Ukraine near the Polish border

Ukrainians do not want war with Russia, but US keeps them trapped — expert

According to Professor Ruhollah Modabber, Washington has effectively banned free elections in Ukraine

Xi-Putin meeting seen as key moment of BRICS Summit — top diplomat

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi pointed to the importance of the new cooperation agreements reached by the two heads of state in Kazan

Press review: Russia strengthens nuclear triad while Ukraine awaits US strike approval

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, October 30th

French, German citizens detained for unlawfully entering Baikonur cosmodrome

When questioned, Axel Olivier Robert and Lorenz Julian Karl Jurgen said they wanted to take a look at the Energia rocket at the Baikonur spaceport

EU aid enough to keep Ukraine alive, but not win conflict — lawmaker

According to General Christophe Gomart, Ukraine now finds itself "cornered" amid a lack of resources in Europe

Ukraine abandons Selidovo, but not before planting mines everywhere — security services

According to the security forces, demining the city may take up to several months

Liberation of Kurakhovka in DPR to increase pressure on Ukrainian battlegroup in Kurakhovo

The Russian Defense Ministry reported earlier on Saturday that Russian troops had liberated the settlement of Kurakhovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic

Russia’s Medvedev cautions next US leader against adding fuel to fire in Ukraine

The politician doubted the deep state in the United States wants another global war

PM Mishustin to travel to Uzbekistan with two-day official visit

The sides will review the implementation of agreements, achieved during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Uzbekistan on May 26-28

Yudaeva represents Russia, Syria in IMF from November 1 — spokeswoman

She will represent the Russian Federation and the Syrian Arab Republic, Camila Perez said

Moldovan presidential candidate Stoianoglo says ready for dialogue with Russia

The republic needs to maintain balanced relations with other countries to preserve its independence, Alexandr Stoianoglo said

Turkish Airlines suspends flights to Lebanon — web portal

Turkish Airlines and Turkey’s low-cost airlines canceled flights from Istanbul earlier on a one-off basis due to situation aggravation in the Middle East and greater danger of flights in the region

Barefoot Dutchman ends 5,100 km walk across US in New York

Anton Nootenboom started his barefoot walk in California’s Santa Monica Beach on February 17 in a bid to raise awareness of men's mental health

Mop up operation north of DPR‘s Kurakhovo — official

The enemy is attempting to obstruct it from the neighboring settlement of Zarya, which has not been liberated yet, Vladimir Rogov said

Ukraine fortifies Dnepropetrovsk Region amid fears of losing Krasnoarmeysk — official

According to Igor Kimakovsky, the entry and exit to Kranoarmeysk have been blocked while the Ukrainian armed forces prepare to defend the city

Ukraine admits number of deserted soldiers from Armed Forces of Ukraine surpasses 100,000

Earlier, military lawyer from the Center for Support of Veterans and Their Families Roman Likhachev said that more than 100,000 servicemen had voluntarily left their units

Czech President Pavel imperiling citizens by sending them to Ukraine — Zakharova

Czech President Petr Pavel earlier authorized 60 Czech citizens to join the Ukrainian army

Ukraine introduces military registration for female medical personnel

According to the law, all women between the ages of 18 and 60 who are doctors, dentists, midwives, nurses, and pharmacists must register

Trump holds three-point lead over Harris, latest poll shows

The survey was conducted among more than 12,500 likely US voters from October 10 to 29

Russia liberates 341 DPR residents since special military operation’s launch

"Nearly all of them were subjected to various kinds of torture," DPR human rights ombudswoman Darya Morozova said

Head of Chechnya reports UAV attack on Russian special forces university

Ramzan Kadyrov noted that investigators have already commenced their work to identify the culprits

Russia expresses condolences over tragic aftermath of flooding in Spain — MFA

Earlier, in the southern and eastern parts of Spain, where rainfall has been particularly intense, the danger level was raised to the maximum

IN BRIEF: What we know about Russia's liberation of Selidovo in DPR

According to the report, enemy defenses in the Krasnoarmeysk sector of the line of engagement collapsed after Ukraine lost the locality

Russian diplomat slams US for violating obligations on media pluralism

Maria Zakharova stressed that "the illustrative action was aimed at unambiguously demonstrating the country’s readiness to use its repressive machinery at any moment in order to shut down access to the information that it finds inconvenient"

Russian Ka-52M helicopter wipes out Ukrainian equipment in borderline Kursk Region

The forward air controller confirmed the target’s destruction

Putin plans to discusses rural development with government

The Minister of Agriculture Oksana Lut and the Governor of the Altai Territory Viktor Tomenko will make a report

Medvedev says any new uprising in Ukraine would seek to execute current leaders

The Russian politician said the goal of Zelensky and his team is to stay in power in the country as long as possible

Hezbollah commander captured by Israeli commando unit in Lebanon — TV

According to the television channel, he was taken to Israel and transferred to Israeli military intelligence unit 504 for interrogation

Ukrainian shelling injures two civilians in Gorlovka

According to the DPR Military Investigations Department of the Russian Investigative Committee, Ukrainian troops shelled Gorlovka four times with 155 mm caliber artillery on November 2

Russia ready for possible hurdles during Nord Stream 2’s operation — diplomat

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced earlier that the pipelaying operation for the first string of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline was successfully completed

US to deploy additional forces to Middle East — Pentagon

Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder added that these forces will begin to arrive in the Middle East in coming months

US authorizes energy transactions for Russian banks

Energy-related transactions are understood as all the transactions related to production, refining, processing, transportation and purchase of oil

'Dollar bubble' to burst, cause havoc in economic relations — Medvedev

The Russian senior official supports an increase in the number of reserve currencies and a more active use of digital money

Iraq interested in BRICS, too early to talk about it joining the association

According to ambassador Elbrus Kutrashev, when the US learns that Iraq has begun practical steps to join the association, they will try to prevent this

Russia fully supports North Korea’s actions to curb US aggressive policy — MFA

Sergey Lavrov and Choe Son Hui reaffirmed their firm commitment to the implementation of the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty, which secured "bringing the traditionally friendly Russian-Korean relations to a new level"

Export of Russian pipeline gas to Europe up by 15% over 10 months

Over the same period in 2023, pipeline gas deliveries to Europe amounted to about 23 bln cubic meters

Russia-DPRK strategic partnership treaty to stabilize Eurasia — Lavrov

According to the Russian Foreign Minister, the treaty "has laid a solid foundation" for the further deepening of Moscow-Pyongyang relations

Kiev turns POW exchanges into tool for political games — Russian MFA

"When you hear that Russia allegedly does not want to conduct exchanges with Ukraine, that allegedly Russia does not let POWs go - you should know that this is a lie," Maria Zakharova emphasized

Iran plans to carry out major strike on Israel from Iraq within days — report

The US doesn't know if Tehran has made a decision to go ahead with the strike soon, a US official told Axios

Trump will not dare challenge US 'deep state' — Medvedev

The deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council also pointed out that "it does not even matter how this or that candidate feels about Russia"

Putin signs law to ratify double taxation elimination agreement with Abkhazia

The agreement was developed and signed on May 7, 2024 in accordance with the program of forming common social and economic space of the two countries

Russian diplomat comments on voting machine fraud in early US voting

Maria Zakharova was commenting on reports that said a voting machine at a US polling station assigned a vote cast for Republican Donald Trump to Democrat Kamala Harris

Allowing Czech nationals to go to Ukraine can be seen as death sentence — Russian MP

Leonid Slutsky noted that 60 citizens combatants will not be able to change anything

US is ‘feeding war’, but this order will end — Medvedev

According to Dmitry Medvedev, the Americans are making money on arms supplies, on allocating money to their military-industrial complex

Arms supplies to Kiev will not coerce Russia into anything — ex-German chancellor

Schroeder believes that Putin’s goal is to protect Russia from foreign attacks

Lavrov calls for West’s misconceptions about Ukrainian crisis to be exposed

According to the Russian Foreign Minister, there had been numerous initiatives regarding the Ukrainian crisis, but none of them mentioned that "the principles of the United Nations Charter should be applied not selectively but in their entirety"

Malaysia rejects US call to 'stop being friendly' with Russia — PM

Anwar Ibrahim said the call came during a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the 19th East Asia Summit in Laos

Former Bolivian president goes on hunger strike

Evo Morales added that he decided to go on a hunger strike "until the government begins dialogue on two subjects - the economy and politics"

Press review: Turkey to mediate in Russian-Ukrainian conflict while IDF strikes Gaza

Top stories from the Russian press on Saturday, November 2nd

Russia to deliver New Year’s souvenirs to its cosmonauts on ISS to spread holiday cheer

Earlier, Roscosmos said the space freighter will be launched by a Soyuz-2.1a rocket from the Baikonur spaceport on November 21

Most residents forcibly evacuated from Kupyansk — local authorities

According to Head of the Kharkov Region military-civilian administration Vitaly Ganchev, the Russian soldiers have made serious advances in the Svatovo and Kupyansk areas recently

Russia’s Pacific Fleet ships arrive in Philippines

The Russian ships' visit will last until June 14

Ukrainian lawmaker Bezuglaya calls out ‘catastrophic situation’ in country’s army

Maryana Bezuglaya accused Commander-in-Chief Alexander Syrsky for his alleged failure of the military operation in Russia’s borderline Kursk area and the complicated situation in the southern directions of the frontline