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Beirut explosion aftermath: destruction, chaos and search for survivors

At least 100 people were killed and 4,000 wounded in a massive explosion that shook Beirut on August 4

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Scene of an explosion that hit the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon

© AP Photo/Bilal Hussein

A man triying to walk in the mud near the scene of explosion at the Beirut Port, Lebanon

© EPA-EFE/IBRAHIM DIRANI

Smoke is seen after a large explosion rocked the harbor of Beirut, Lebanon

© EPA-EFE/WAEL HAMZEH

Shockwaves from the explosion destroyed and damaged dozens of buildings and cars in Beirut

© EPA-EFE/WAEL HAMZEH

According to the latest data, the explosion killed over 100 people and left more than 4,000 injured

© AP Photo/Hassan Ammar

A man passing a house destroyed by massive explosion in the seaport of Beirut

© AP Photo/Hussein Malla

A two-week state of emergency has been declared in the Lebanese capital

© EPA-EFE/WAEL HAMZEH

Lebanese soldiers searching for survivors after a massive explosion in Beirut

© AP Photo/Hassan Ammar

The authorities announced that August 5 would be a national day of mourning

© AP Photo/Hassan Ammar

A damaged hospital is seen after a massive explosion in Beirut

© AP Photo/Hassan Ammar

A general view of the destroyed port a day after a massive explosion in Beirut

© EPA-EFE/WAEL HAMZEH

Workers removing debris from a damaged restaurant in Beirut

© AP Photo/Hussein Malla

A woman is seen in damaged church, after an explosion in Beirut

© AP Photo/Hussein Malla

A destroyed port after a massive explosion in Beirut

© AP Photo/Hassan Ammar

A powerful blast rocked Beirut’s port area near on August 4. Shockwaves from the explosion destroyed and damaged dozens of buildings and cars. Local authorities say that the blast was caused by the detonation of 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, seized by customs officials in 2015. According to the latest data, the explosion killed over 100 people and left more than 4,000 injured. A two-week state of emergency has been declared in the Lebanese capital. The authorities announced that Wednesday would be a national day of mourning.

Trump’s victory brings hope for peace in Europe by 2025 — Hungarian government

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

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ISS orbit raised by almost 5 km before launch of Progress MS-29 spacecraft — Roscosmos

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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

Kiev's Western allies begin to acknowledge need for territorial concessions — report

The diplomats see this approach as "land in exchange for Ukraine’s security"

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

Not all Republicans support Trump in refusing further military aid to Kiev — newspaper

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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

Russian forces gain foothold near Kupyansk as Kiev begins to retreat

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted two significant blockages of Ukrainian troops near Kupyansk, involving more than 15,000 military personnel

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

Japan remains ready to sign peace treaty with Russia — top diplomat

After Tokyo imposed anti-Russian sanctions over the situation in Ukraine, Russia halted consultations with Japan on a peace treaty

Businessmen in Germany, Russia again eager to interact more, says executive

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Finnish government requests EU sanctions exemption for Russian owners of sports arena

Finland's Foreign Ministry will need to obtain unanimous approval from EU countries

Russia open for contacts with Trumps’ team on Syria — Russian diplomat

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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"

Damascus may count on joining BRICS after Syrian crisis is settled — Russian diplomat

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Scholz calls for doing everything to prevent escalation of Ukraine conflict

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Medvedev warns that EU behavior in struggle with Russia fraught with 'bad scenario'

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Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

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

At least ten Ukrainian troops were killed

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Russia’s Vityaz, Viking air defense systems attract major attention at Airshow China

Russian surface-to-air missile systems have demonstrated their value in the special military operation in Ukraine, Vyacheslav Dzirkaln noted

Kiev wants to mobilize 160,000 people to survive until Trump's inauguration — MP

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US State Department insists DPRK troops engaged in Russia’s borderline Kursk Region

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Tetsuo Kotani also argued that, if Moscow and Kiev reach a ceasefire agreement, Washington will push for a negotiated settlement of the conflict

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Legioner fixed-wing type drones with a hybrid powerplant are designed for aerial photo survey, cargo carriage, airborne laser scanning, video monitoring, fire patrolling, detection of violations in security areas and ice reconnaissance, the press service said. Systems resist the poor weather

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African countries realized that "this pressure contradicts their own national interests", Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said

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

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The foreign minister pointed out that the Americans had long declared the idea that "there should be no country in the world more influential than the United States"

Russian Su-34 bomber strikes Ukrainian troops in borderline Kursk area

Russian tactical aircraft pilots conduct sorties at any time of day or night in any weather conditions, using various armament

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Santa noted that the medic’s red cross draws the attention of Ukrainian troops, so affiliation patches on uniforms must blend in, and identifying marks are also not applied to evacuation vehicles

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Ukraine and Germany also discussed further defense cooperation

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"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

Elections can be held in various ways, Lavrov on Ukrainian situation

"We can only assess the legitimacy of an electoral process once it has taken place and we observe how it was organized," the top Russian diplomat emphasized

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Mikhail Bogdanov added that it allows using those debts "to implement socio-economic projects directly in the country"

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The ministry provided live-recording footage showing direct hits on Ukrainian military vehicles

US shells for handful of Kiev’s Pion howitzers no game-changer — expert

Ukraine ran out of the Soviet-made ammunition for this type of artillery pieces back in 2022

DPR head Pushilin visits Ugledar, says town badly destroyed

Denis Pushilin added that "it is almost impossible to find an undamaged building"

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

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"It is too early to talk about this because we should wait at least for the president’s inauguration," Alexander Lavrentyev noted

Discussion of coal export quotas continues — Russian Energy Ministry

"We would like to note that the rise in any tariffs adversely affect profitability during the period of low international coal prices," the ministry said

Lebanon deal won't happen unless Israel given right to eradicate Hezbollah — Katz

Israel Katz pointed out that the goals of the war in the north are to disarm Hezbollah, to push its forces past the Litani River deep within Lebanese territory, and to make it possible for the residents of Israel’s north to come back to their homes

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

Press review: Trump forms foreign policy team and Europe sets course for militarization

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, November 13th

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Maria Zakharova pointed out that military experts had praised the "unmatched capabilities" the plane displayed at the Airshow China in Zhuhai

Iraqi Shiites say they attacked ‘vital targets’ in Israel

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Clear Zelensky won't be the one to decide about talks with Russia, says Lavrov

"Russian President Putin has repeatedly said that we have never refused to negotiate," the Russian foreign minister reiterated

West to face 'devastating' response if it allows Kiev to strike deep into Russia — MFA

According to Maria Zakharova, Ukrainian social media accounts are meanwhile speculating that the Zelensky regime plans to present the received Western missiles as Ukrainian, changing the labels to use the weapons to attack Russia

Man who died in blast in Brasilia tried to carry bomb into court building

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Zelensky will lead Ukraine to civil or nuclear war rather than surrender power, legislator

Alexander Dubinsky explained that Zelensky would by no means benefit from the end of the conflict, because in that case, its net effects would have to be assessed

Explosion of Kurakhovo reservoir dam disrupts water supply

Roman Pukalov noted that the blast killed many fish in the reservoir, washed away fertile soil, and inundated potentially hazardous sites, including cemeteries, cattle burial grounds, and fertilizer depots

Too early to talk about meeting between Assad, Erdogan — Russian diplomat

"Certain communication is maintained between the defense ministers, in the four-lateral format," Alexander Lavrentyev said

Borrell calls on EU to play ‘military role’

"Trump's re-election should make it clear to us that Europe should bolster its security and take its destiny into its own hands," EU’s outgoing top diplomat said

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"

Israel delivering strikes on refugee camps in Gaza — TV

At least ten people have been killed, Al Jazeera reported

Turkey invited to join BRICS as a partner state, says minister

Omer Bolat recalled that at the last BRICS summit in Kazan, the sides "considered the applications of Turkey and several other countries"

Trump’s victory to make Seoul reconsider shipping arms to Ukraine — news agency

It is reported that Seoul is also looking at how Trump’s approach to the war will affect support for Ukraine among a range of countries

US missile defense base in Poland to defend US, Europe alike — Polish foreign minister

Radoslaw Sikorski also expressed hope that the base will never go into action

Trump to end NATO’s obsession to get on Russian territory — White House ex-strategist

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Russian diplomat hails Odessa woman as defender of truth after flag protest

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Russia to hold Astana-format summit in 2025 — Russian diplomat

Alexander Lavrentyev noted that despite the fact that the exact date of the summit has not yet been agreed upon, meetings in the Astana format are held regularly at other levels

First S-550 air defense systems enter service in Russia — source

The source described the new system as "an absolutely new and unrivalled mobile system of strategic missile defense"

Russia keeps building defense capacity despite conflict in Ukraine — Polish general

According to Wieslaw Kukula, if the conflict in Ukraine ends soon, Russia will be able to build up its defense capacity to the point that it could take on all of NATO

Ukrainian artillery attack on Energodar, home to Zaporozhye nuke plant, kills one

Also, two cars were destroyed as the Ukrainians fired four projectiles on downtown Energodar, with the facades and balcony glazing in buildings being damaged, according to the statement

Countries will line up for Russian gas when US stops exporting LNG — Serbian president

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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

White Helmets remain serious factor of instability in Syria — Russian MFA

Maria Zakharova pointed to a report by the Foundation for Research of Democracy Issues, titled "The White Helmets. Terrorist Accomplices and a Source of Disinformation"

IAEA chief pushes against attacks on nuclear facilities amid escalation in Middle East

Earlier, Israel’s new Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Iranian nuclear facilities were more vulnerable than ever which he said could help remove the threat of annihilation hanging over Israel

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

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

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

Russian Battlegroup North artillery units hit Ukrainian weapons, manpower in Kursk Region

"Crews of D-30 122mm howitzers of the Battlegroup North’s artillery unit struck Ukrainian artillery and mortar systems and manpower in a Kursk Region’s border area," the Russian defense ministry said