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Crisis in Belarus

Belarus to submit draft Constitution for nationwide discussion in few days — president

Amid the protests in Belarus, which engulfed the country after the presidential elections on August 9, 2020, Alexander Lukashenko said about the need to amend the Constitution

MINSK, December 23. / TASS /. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said that the draft Constitution is going to be submitted for nationwide discussion in a few days.

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Belarus to hold constitutional referendum second half of February — Lukashenko

"In a couple of days, we are correcting mistakes, placing commas, and then submitting the draft Constitution for nationwide discussion," the BelTA news agency quoted Lukashenko as saying during a meeting with the working group on the constitutional amendments.

According to the head of state, if the constitution is amended, the country’s system of government is going to be rebuilt. "After the [new] constitution is adopted, if the people support, we, the current leadership, including the president and parliament, will have to rebuild the system of [government] in line with [the amendments]," Lukashenko noted.

Amid the protests in Belarus, which engulfed the country after the presidential elections on August 9, 2020, Lukashenko said about the need to amend the Constitution, delegating some of the presidential powers to other branches of government. It is also planned to establish the All-Belarusian People's Assembly as constitutional body, providing it with some additional functions. Earlier, it was reported that the referendum on the new constitutional amendments was scheduled for February 2022.

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Belarus Alexander Lukashenko

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Russia’s UN envoy, Serbian leader discuss coordination on Kosovo at UN

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Russia has significant amount of West’s funds in case of confiscation of its assets

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EU may sanction 10 firms for allegedly shipping weapons tech to Russia — Bloomberg

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NATO makes Russia its neighbor by expanding eastward, Russian envoy says

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Ukrainian army loses 444,000 troops during military operation — Shoigu

According to the Russian defense minister, the liberation of several residential settlements in Donbass, disclosed Kiev attempts to prevent the collapse of the front

North Korea stages first combined tactical drill simulating nuclear counterattack — KCNA

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Ukrainian forces refuse to obey Commander-in-Chief Syrsky — CIA ex-analyst

Larry Johnson also noted that the Russian forces manage to advance recently despite the slush on the roads

FSB raids terrorist cell in Dagestan that funded, armed Crocus City Hall attackers

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US military aid for Kiev cannot stop Russian army’s advance — North Korean diplomat

The US Congress House of Representatives earlier passed bills on military aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan

Beijing condemns US hypocrisy around Ukraine conflict

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Wang Wenbin reiterated that China "is not an instigator or a party to the Ukrainian crisis and has never fanned the flames of the conflict, not to mention, used the situation for its own purposes"

Russia’s advanced radar in Kaliningrad to monitor entire territory of Europe — source

The first Konteiner radar went on combat duty in the Volga area region of Mordovia on December 1, 2019

Israel retaliates missile launches from Gaza Strip — IDF

A warning had been issued before the attack calling on people to temporarily evacuate from the area

Ukraine lost best fighters near Artyomovsk, retired general says

Sergey Krivonos added that relocation of troops from one direction to another will not solve Ukrainian forces’ problems, and that each fighter should be used according to their specialization

One more Ukrainian drone shot down over Belgorod Region — defense ministry

The Kiev regime’s attempted terrorist attack on facilities in Russia’s territory with the use of a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle was thwarted

Hamas threatens that hostages remaining in Gaza may go missing

Spokesman for the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades Abu Ubaida emphasized that at the moment "the ball is in the court of Israel's allies," but "time and opportunities are limited"

Ukrainian army strikes own surrendering soldiers — POW

Andrey Babenko said that after a crash course in Britain he had been sent to the frontline near Liman

US has no idea what to do about Zelensky — Seymour Hersh

According to the journalist, the decision to conduct the operation was made by US President Joe Biden personally, following nine months of discussions with White House national security advisers

Most agents at Security Service of Ukraine set on war with Russia — former officer

Vasily Prozorov said that "it is extremely difficult to count on any better judgement on their part"

Russia and friendly countries produce almost 90% of components for Aurus cars — NAMI

"We developed this car in close cooperation with European, Korean and other foreign partners, but due to certain events we had to abandon this cooperation," Alexander Lebedev pointed out

Switzerland unblocks Russia-related assets worth 290 mln Swiss francs

The total amount of blocked assets of the Russian Federation decreased by 150 million Swiss francs (about $165 million) due to the fact that a number of individuals "were removed from the EU sanctions lists"

UN chief describes current state of climate as ‘preview of disaster’

Antonio Guterres stressed that the world community must reduce global greenhouse emissions by 43% by 2030 compared to 2019

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The source also said that 38,302 Russians have been evacuated from flooded areas and settlements potentially falling into these zones since the beginning of the spring floods

US 'not forgetting' to help itself with aid to Ukraine — Kremlin

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US Senate approves aid bills for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan

As many as 79 senators backed the initiative and 18 voted against

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US using human rights topics to shake political situation in Russia — embassy

"Attacks against Russia mainly focused on challenging the legality of the special military operation in Ukraine", the Russian embassy said

Turkey will not join sanctions against Russia — Erdogan

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Polish opposition party calls for country to host nuclear weapons

Mariusz Blaszczak also urged Prime Minister Donald Tusk to discuss the issue with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who is in Warsaw on a visit

Russian-Kazakh commission discusses border demarcation issues

The next meeting of the commission will be held in Moscow in May

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There were no casualties, egional Governor Igor Artamonov said

Russian envoy, Sudan's intelligence chief discuss military-political situation in republic

Director of Sudan's General Intelligence Service Ahmed Mufadda is currently in Russia to attend the 12th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues

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The local emergencies services stressed that the car was targeted deliberately

Republika Srpska president praises Moscow-Banja Luka relations, favors strengthening them

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Destroyed TV tower in Kharkov carried Ukrainian air defense coordination device — official

Digital TV signal interruptions are now observed in the city

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The website underscores the great importance of the port of Alexandroupolis for the US and NATO

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Current Russian turn eastward possible owing to Baikal-Amur railway — Putin

BAM personifies giant labor and courage of two million very young people from across the entire Soviet Union, the Russian leader said

Russian forces take Ukrainian strongholds near Klescheyevka under control

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UNRWA chief plans to visit Russia soon

Philippe Lazzarini plans to hold talks with BRICS member nations

Speakers of EU parliaments back idea of creating rapid response forces

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Putin’s inauguration to take place on May 7, senator says

According to the law, the president-elect takes office for six years

Russia tasked with 'building new world' — Putin

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US can ship weapons to Ukraine within few days if funding approved — Pentagon

Leader of Moldova’s region of Gagauzia supports turning country into federation

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Ukrainian military’s shelling leaves two civilians wounded in DPR in past day

The Ukrainian armed forces carried out 22 attacks on residential areas in the Donetsk People’s Republic

Putin signs law on holding World Friendship Games

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Russia to incorporate US nuke scenario in Poland in its military planning — diplomat

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Continued threats to Pyongyang to put US, allies in danger, Kim Jong Un’s sister warns

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West balancing on edge of direct military confrontation between nuclear powers — Lavrov

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Russia’s top brass reports destroying US-made Hawk air defense system in Ukraine operation

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted casualties on personnel and equipment of two Ukrainian army brigades and improved its tactical position over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Azerbaijanian leader says reaching peace with Armenia by November 'quite realistic'

According to Ilham Aliyev, the option of coordinating a basic agreement is also being considered

MGIMO to host third international forum ‘Russia - Africa: What Next?’

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Russia invites all countries to develop North - South transport corridor — Putin

"The North-South transport corridor should become an example of the broadest international cooperation," the Russian leader said

Ukraine no longer sovereign state, says Hungarian Prime Minister Orban

Viktor Orban also stated that it was imperative to return to the negotiating table as peace talks represent the only means of saving lives

Putin informed about detention of Deputy Defense Minister Ivanov

Minister Sergey Shoigu was also informed beforehand, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

Russia scraps plans to hold Immortal Regiment march in 2024 amid security threats

This year, the May 9 festivities will take the form of other events, Yelena Tsunayeva noted

Top Swiss diplomat reiterates need for Russia’s involvement in resolving Ukraine issue

However, Ignazio Cassis declined to comment on Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s recent statement that Switzerland had turned from a neutral country "into an openly hostile one"

Energy facilities catch fire in Russia’s Smolensk Region following drone attacks

Governor Vasily Anokhin added that rescuers from the Russian Emergencies Ministry were dealing with the aftermath of the Ukrainian drone attacks

Major exercise involving over 3,000 German troops kicks off in Lithuania

According to the report, Lithuanian forces will also take part in the exercise, which will involve over 3,000 German troops, as well as 200 military vehicles, including Leopard tanks and armored personnel carriers

West battlegroup destroys two Ukrainian drones, hit over 170 Ukrainian army’s facilities

The battlegroup’s spokesman Ivan Bigma said that a Gvozdika self-propelled system, nine mortar squads, two Furiya fixed-wing type unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed

Mexicans, Colombians recruited in US jails to be deployed in Ukraine — SVR

Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service said that in case the inmates agree to this "mission," "they are promised full amnesty, reckoning they would never come back"

Calls for joint use of nuclear weapons with US dangerous — ICAN

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Gaza settlement crucial for Islamic world, Erdogan believes

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Ukrainian presidential office confirms London’s agrement to Zaluzhny as ambassador

Verkhovna Rada legislator Alexey Goncharenko said on Monday that the UK had granted its agrement to the Ukrainian former Commander-in-Chief

Ukrainian connection to Crocus terrorist attack undeniable — ex-SBU officer

Vasily Prozorov noted that the perpetrators could have been eliminated once they crossed the border

Putin proclaims Odessa Russian city, challenges Ukraine's historical narrative

At the same time, the president noted that once upon a time "Vladimir Lenin gave away the whole of Ukraine when he created the Soviet Union"

US authorities prepare military aid for Ukraine worth $1 bln — Reuters

The aid package includes vehicles, Stinger man-portable air defense system munitions, HIMARS rockets, 155-mm artillery shells, TOW and Javelin anti-tank missiles and other weapons that could be "used at the battlefield immediately"

Detained deputy defense minister suspected of taking grand bribe of over $10,000

This charges carries a punishment of up to 15 years behind bars

Raisi doubts 'Israeli regime' to exist in case of its attack on Iran

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Throughput capacity of Baikal-Amur Mainline surging threefold in twelve years

Shipments over the Eastern Range uniting BAM and the Trans-Siberian railroad is to reach 270 mln metric tons per year over the ten-year period, the head of state said