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Israel strikes Hamas sites in Gaza Strip in response to missile launch

The Israel Defense Forces informed on Thursday that Palestinian radicals fired a missile from the Gaza Strip at the Israeli territory which set off air defense alarms in the city of Sderot and its neighborhoods

© EPA-EFE/MOHAMMED SABER, archive

TASS, April 16. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has attacked military facilities of Palestine’s Hamas radical movement in the Gaza Strip in response to a missile launch aimed at the Israeli territory.

"In response to the rocket fired from Gaza at Israel earlier tonight, IDF fighter jets and attack helicopters just struck a Hamas weapons manufacturing site, a weapon smuggling tunnel and a military post. We will not tolerate any threat to Israeli civilians," the IDF reported via its Twitter page.

The IDF press service informed on Thursday that Palestinian radicals fired a missile from the Gaza Strip at the Israeli territory which set off air defense alarms in the city of Sderot and its neighborhoods.

Middle East conflict

Lives of several hostages depend on IDF’s advance in northern Gaza — Hamas

According to spokesman for Hamas’ armed wing Abu Ubaida, areas where these hostages are held allegedly come under regular Israeli bombardments

Ukraine's refusal to transit Russian gas will hit EU economies hard — French expert

According to Jacques Sapir, the decision not to extend transit contracts was no surprise given the political landscape

Trump's plan to seize Panama Canal to cause migration, poverty — Colombian president

Gustavo Petro emphasized Colombia's backing for Panama in defending its sovereignty

Is Gaddafi's gloom prophecy in regard to Europe bound to be fulfilled?

As Europe’s migrant crisis grows far and wide, many Russian media are recalling the late Libyan leader Muamar Gaddafi’s gloom prophecy made several months before his violent death

Greenland's parliament reminds Trump that island not for sale

However, Greenlandic MP Aaja Chemnitz is not averse to enhanced cooperation with the US

Kiev’s shelling kills 61 civilians in Russia-controlled part of Kharkov Region in 2024

According to the report, 35 civilians suffered injuries

Russia considers launching direct flights with Brazil, Malaysia, Pakistan — Minister

Roman Starovoyt noted that Russia is holding negotiations with many airlines from friendly countries

Proposal to duel with West response to claims of Oreshnik missile vulnerability — Kremlin

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin thus meant that the Oreshnik missile is a generation ahead of all existing weapons, while not being a nuclear weapon itself

Kiev to face more destruction after its UAV attack on Kazan, Putin warns

"We will not only restore the damage that some attempt to cause to us but will also move forward even at a faster pace as we are doing now," Russian President said

Putin opens new transport infrastructure sites in Russian regions via video link

Putin also took part in the ceremony of opening international airports in Magadan, Cheboksary, and Stavropol

Lukashenko announces upcoming meeting with Putin and official visit to China

The Belarusian president pointed out that the coming year is expected to be difficult for a number of reasons

Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger take armies to maximum alert — declaration

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Greenland PM tells Trump island not for sale

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Hungary wants to maintain ties with Russia under its economic neutrality policy — PM

Victor Orban also said that hopes for the development of economic cooperation with the United States after President-elect Donald Trump takes office

Expert calls countries benefiting most from anti-Russia sanctions

"For some post-Soviet countries, the sanctions imposed against Russia served as a strong impetus for economic growth," Alexey Bobrovsky said

Russian forces liberate one more settlement in Donetsk People’s Republic

According to the report, battlegroup Center made Ukraine suffer roughly 610 casualties and lose two tanks in the Donetsk People’s Republic

Contracts worth over $286 million signed at Vietnam Defense Expo 2024

The exhibition attracted more than 260,000 visitors, while more than 1,800 bilateral meetings and negotiations were held on the sidelines

PREVIEW: Putin expected to unveil several transport facilities

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Putin holding talks with visiting Slovak PM

According to Putin’s press secretary, the meeting is being held one-on-one

Press review: Who benefits from Russian general's murder as Trump lacks Kremlin strategy

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Trump appoints TV producer Burnett as special envoy to UK

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Houthis say attacked US aircraft carrier in Red Sea, shot down US fighter jet

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

Russian cancer vaccine to be free of charge — top oncologist

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

Russian 'soldier of the future' combat gear tested in Syria

The Ratnik is a system of advanced protective and communication equipment, weapons and ammunition

50,000-year-old mammoth calf carcass revealed in Yakutsk

The mammoth calf is female, with a shoulder height of 120 cm and a total weight of approximately 180 kg

Hungary wants to preserve relations with Russia as part of economic neutrality — Orban

The prime minister underscored that, "the more serious the problems in Europe are, the more decisively the economic relations in all other markets should be promoted"

Serbia will never joint anti-Russian sanctions, deputy prime minister vows

Aleksandar Vulin noted that he is "not optimistic about prospects for the United States changing its policy toward Serbia" after the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump

Oreshnik’s launch is sudden, undetectable by satellites — analyst

The range of the Oreshnik system is up to 5,500 kilometers

Assad allegedly hands list of military targets over to Israel before leaving Syria — media

According to the Turkish newspaper, the former Syrian president did it to ensure his own safety

Moldovan president plans military operation in Transnistria — Russian intel agency

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Air raid alert issued in six Ukrainian regions

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Explosion rocks premises of former plant in Russia’s Abakan, killing two

Regional head Valentin Konovalov said that the explosion occurred due to safety violations

Russia no threat to Finland, Sweden, but ready to counter threats from them — diplomat

Addressing a news conference after the BRICS summit in Kazan earlier this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West of seeking to expand unfairly and warned that Russia would spare no effort to reverse the situation

Putin to extend New Year greetings to peoples of several unfriendly countries — Kremlin

The Russian president will not congratulate leaders of unfriendly countries, but he will congratulate some individuals and people of several ones, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

Trump’s election victory changed Western approach to Ukrainian conflict, adviser says

According to Mike Waltz, Trump has made it clear that the war must end

Germany does not keep substantive contacts with Russia on Nord Stream case — envoy

"How much longer it will last remains to be seen," Sergey Nechaev noted

Ukraine’s General Staff admits tense situation along entire frontline

The Ukrainian military also admitted the Russian army’s supremacy in terms of military equipment and the size of personnel

Russia starts humanitarian electricity supplies to Abkhazia — minister

Abkhazia’s state-run energy company Chernomorenergo said that there will be just two two-hour shutdowns

An-2 plane missing in Kamchatka located, survivors found — regional emergencies ministry

According to the press service of the regional Emergencies Ministry, all three people onboard the plane survived the emergency landing

Putin’s talks with visiting Slovak PM over — Kremlin spokesman

Dmitry Peskov added that it is not planned to issue any joint statements

Kiev takes out its anger for military defeats on Russian people — diplomat

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also emphasized that Moscow is outraged by the hypocritical silence of the West and its media on the terrorist attacks in Russia

Kalashnikov improves combat capabilities of Vikhr-1 aviation missile

"I will not comment on that in any further detail, it is our client’s prerogative," Kalashnikov CEO Alan Lushnikov said

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The operation involves 366 units of equipment, including 270 items of special equipment actively utilized on the site of work to eliminate the oil spill

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Russian forces take control of Severny neighborhood in Chasov Yar — Donbass region head

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No real impulses for organization of Putin-Trump meeting so far — Kremlin spokesman

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R-7 is a family of Soviet and Russian launch vehicles

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Ukraine may cease to exist by 2034 — Russian security official

Dmitry Medvedev noted that Ukraine will never join NATO

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Press review: Putin outlines Russia's future goals and Tehran faces energy blackout riots

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, December 20th

Berlin’s any aggressive action will not remain unanswered — Russian ambassador

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Syria’s new government wants to build strategic relations with Turkey

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Baltic states threaten mass deportation of Russians, take lead in Russophobia — statement

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Slovak PM thanks Putin in Russian for meeting with him

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Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger reaffirm withdrawal from ECOWAS irreversible

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Ukraine shells city hosting Zaporozhye NPP — politician

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Russia ready to normalize relations with US without detriment to its interests — Putin

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Damage to Portuguese Embassy in Kiev caused by Ukrainian air defense — Russian diplomats

Reporters are ramping up Russophobia, distorting the facts while writing on this matter, the Russian Embassy in Portugal said

Strike on SBU control center response to Russian general’s assassination, expert says

The ministry clarified that Ukraine launched a missile strike against the Kamensky Integrated Plant in the Rostov Region using six US-made ATACMS missiles and four Storm Shadow cruise missiles

Two-thirds of Russians dissatisfied with 2024, survey reveals

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Ukraine launches over 18 strikes on Russia’s Belgorod Region in past day

Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said that the Borisovsky district was attacked by a UAV, with the roof of a private house being damaged

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IN BRIEF: What is known about drone attack on residential buildings in Kazan

TASS has gathered the main information about the incident

Group of foreign mercenaries taken out in Velikaya Novosyolka in Donbass region

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Ukrainian army launches long-range missiles at Donetsk

Air defenses are in operation, and at least six aerial targets have been shot down

Zelensky actually flips the bird to Trump by insulting Putin, Medvedev says

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Moldovan authorities say they are committed to peaceful solution to Transnistrian problem

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US Navy cruiser mistakenly downs F/A-18 fighter over Red Sea

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Trump wants to rename North America's tallest mountain Denali

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

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Trump nominates billionaire Feinberg as US Deputy Secretary of Defense

The president-elect called Feinberg an "extremely successful businessman"

Top Turkish diplomat calls for listing anti-Syrian sanctions

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Russia declassifies intel about France’s plans to send 2,000 troops to Ukraine

SVR Director Sergey Naryshkin said on March 19 that Paris was already preparing to send some 2,000 troops to Ukraine

Aleppo taken by 350 militants while 30,000 gov’t troops retreated without fight — Putin

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Press review: Kiev escalates attacks as payments ease for Russian raw material buyers

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, December 23rd

Gazprom to replace European sales market with new export destinations, says Italian expert

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Envoy blasts Berlin’s move to declare Russian TV reporters security threat as politicized

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Ukrainian conflict will end when Kiev’s sponsors see need for peace — Russian diplomat

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Germany fails to admit its policy of support to Ukraine falters — Russian envoy

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Iraqi militias suspend military operations against Israel

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Georgian president demands appointing snap elections within week

Salome Zourabichvili also promised to announce her further plans on Monday

Russian drone operators use air ramming to down 4 Ukrainian copters in Kharkov Region

UAV operators of the battle group North continue to be on round-the-clock duty in the sky over Kharkov Region and identify reconnaissance and strike drones of the Ukrainian militants