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US forces shell residential buildings in Iraq by accident - report

According to different reports provided by the website, the six missiles, fired by the Americans

CAIRO, May 11. /TASS/. US servicemen opened fire on residential buildings by mistake during military exercise in Iraq, Baghdad Today reported Tuesday citing authorities of the town of Basrma, Erbil Province.

According to the local authorities, US servicemen deployed at the Al-Harir Air Base, "accidentally fired several shots at houses in the town of Basrma during military exercise on countering drones," which resulted in damage to 11 houses and a car. No casualties or injuries were reported.

According to different reports provided by the website, the six missiles, fired by the Americans, hit residential building in the densely populated area of Basrma, which resulted in numerous injured civilians. Iraqi security services commenced an investigation.

The Al-Harir Air Base is located 70 kilometers northeast of Erbil and 115 kilometers away from Iranian border. It was actively used by US Forces against the deposed president Saddam Hussein during the war in Iraq between 2003 and 2011.

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un wishes to Putin, Russia that 2025 be year of ‘great victory’

The North Korean leader said he was sending the wishes on behalf of himself, the Korean people and all the service personnel of the country’s armed forces

Russia says battlegroups North, Dnepr cause Ukraine to lose up to 160 troops over past day

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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

Musk calls idea of Russian NPP on Moon ‘interesting’

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North Korea’s Kim Jong Un wishes to Putin, Russia that 2025 be year of ‘great victory’

The North Korean leader said he was sending the wishes on behalf of himself, the Korean people and all the service personnel of the country’s armed forces

Putin establishes scholarship for Olympic athletes, coaches

The size of the scholarship depends on its category; its maximum size stands at $555 every month

FACTBOX: It’s all about the tree: How Russia celebrates New Year

The main New Year’s tree celebration takes place in the State Kremlin Palace

Conference on Syria’s future to take place in Damascus in early January — report

The conference will involve 1,200 people, who will represent all segments of the society, as well as various religious and ethnic groups

Putin apologizes for AZAL airliner incident in Russia’s airspace — Kremlin

The Russian leader conveyed his deep and sincere condolences to the families of the plane crash victims

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Russian units attack Ukrainian troops near Kurakhovo power plant in DPR — republic’s head

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Russian chess grandmaster Volodar Murzin wins FIDE World Rapid Championship

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Investigators of Azerbaijan Airlines crash to release findings within 30 days — official

The Kazakh Transport Ministry earlier announced that it sent flight recorders from the plane to the Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center in Brazil

Ukrainian troops attempt unsuccessful counterattack in DPR — republic’s head

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US must make first step to restore ties with Russia — Lavrov

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Public debt back on Europe's agenda for first time in five years — media

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Former Armenian defense minister detained in Moscow

Arshak Karapetyan has been put on the international wanted list under a number of articles of the Criminal Code, law enforcement bodies told TASS

Participants of anti-government rally in Tbilisi block city’s main street again

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US to shut down federal agencies, departments on January 9 to honor Jimmy Carter’s memory

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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"

US, UK carry out airstrikes on Houthi sites in Yemen — report

According to the Houthi-controlled television channel, two strikes hit targets in the Hodeidah province. No further information was provided

Press review: US, Israel aim to curb Turkey’s gains while Moscow, Tehran strengthen ties

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Ankara debunks claims that Erdogan had contacts with Israel on Syria

The Department for combating disinformation in the Turkish Presidential Office pointed out that its policy towards Israel in regards to the "policy of genocide," carried out in the Gaza Strip, remains unchanged, and the two countries do not engage in any contacts

Fighting erupts on border between Afghanistan, Pakistan — report

According to sources, light and heavy weapons were employed in the skirmishes

Jeju Air plane returns to airport after departure due to landing gear problem - media

The plane took off from Gimpo International Airport on Monday

Russia shortens temporary stay term for foreigners to 90 days — Foreign Ministry

In some cases, the temporary stay term is being prolonged in accordance with the abovementioned federal law

Dollar exchange rate surges by almost 6% surpassing 111 rubles on Forex

The euro exchange rate is trading above 109 rubles

Russian cancer vaccine to be free of charge — top oncologist

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Decision-making centers in Kiev may be targets of Russia’s strikes, says Lavrov

Moscow selects targets for strikes on the territory of Ukraine, proceeding solely from threats to Russia, the foreign minister stressed

Biden announces around $2.5 bln in aid for Ukraine

The American president also said the US Department of Defense is in the process of delivering hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds and thousands of missiles to Kiev

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Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, December 26th

RuStore surpasses AppStore in terms of user audience in Russia — minister

Maksut Shadayev noted that Chinese developers have increased investments in promoting their applications in the store fivefold this year and spent 60 million rubles ($590,088)

Russia ready to modernize Belarusian combat helicopters

The Belarusian Army operates 12 Russian-made Mi-8MTV-5-1 military transport helicopters

Russia to react to Ukrainian settlement proposals in line with national priorities — MFA

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov highlighted that Vladimir Putin's June 14 comments "by and large did not impose conditions"

Over 340 military officials’ cars set on fire in Ukraine over year

According to the report, the majority of these crimes occurred between Spring and Summer this year

Syrian ports of Latakia, Tartus fully resume operations — official

Both ports are now serving ships and handling cargo normally

Kazakhstan sends AZAL plane flight recorders to Brazil for decoding

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Kremlin points to a wide range of countries to host negotiations on Ukrainian conflict

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"We do not make assumptions about the plans of the future US administration", Russian Foreign Minister said

Finnish president wants to be more Ukrainian than Ukrainians — Lavrov

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Oreshnik missile systems still few, but they are enough — Putin

According to the head of state, the system's serial production has begun

Bank of Russia sells yuan for $78.5 mln with settlements on December 27

The Bank of Russia carries out foreign currency purchase and sale operations on the domestic market in the currency section of the Moscow Exchange in the "yuan - ruble" instrument

Kiev’s newly built host airfields for F-16s to be wiped out before paint dries — experts

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Press review: Putin discusses EU gas supplies and Russia open to Ukraine talks with Trump

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Russian, Azerbaijani presidents hold telephone conversation on Aktau plane crash

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At the same time, Lavrov noted that Moscow has not received any official signals from the United States on the Ukrainian settlement at the moment

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Ukrainian forces lose up to 310 servicemen in Russia’s Kursk direction

One infantry fighting vehicle was destroyed, the Russian Defense Ministry reported

Georgia expects steps from new US leadership to improve relations — PM

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Russian Su-35S jets cover combat aircraft in air strikes on Ukrainian troops in Kursk area

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Ukrainian troops leave their positions in Shevchenko near Krasnoarmeysk

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Washington to host farewell ceremony for ex-US President Carter — Biden

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Special aircraft brings Kyrgyz citizens injured in plane crash near Aktau to Bishkek

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Russian troops liberate Novoelenovka settlement in Donetsk People's Republic

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Ukrainian Armed Forces attack settlements in Russia’s Belgorod region over 50 times

One person was injured, the region's governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported

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US, UK special services plotting terror attacks on Russia’s bases in Syria — intel agency

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

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The Carter Center confirms death of former US president Jimmy Carter

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Foreign Minister of Syria to make his first foreign visit to Saudi Arabia

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US believes Ukrainian forces to be pushed out of Kursk Region in few months — Bloomberg

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Upgraded T-90M tank to enter service soon

The first consignment will be enough to rearm one battalion

At least 17 killed in Israeli strike on munitions depot in Damascus Governorate — TV

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Illegal migrants must leave Russia or legalize their status until April 30 — decree

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Gazprom supplies 42.4 mln cubic meters of gas to Europe via Ukraine to Sudzha

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Kiev loses nearly 400,000 soldiers on Lugansk’s frontline in 2024

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South Korea to inspect all Boeing 737-800s after Jeju Air plane crash

The country has declared a week of mourning

World Rapid Chess Championship in New York ends with triumph of Russian players

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Russian forces liberate DPR’s Novotroitskoye — top brass

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Fox News includes Biden’s Putin slip-up in top political gaffes of 2024

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US may face bankruptcy if situation with national debt does not change — Musk

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FACTBOX: New Year’s celebrations in Russia

In 2024, according to a government decree, December 29-31 (Sunday through Tuesday) will be days off, while December 28 (Saturday) will be a working day

Russians would ask for success in special military operation, survey reveals

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Azerbaijan toughens rules of stay for Russian citizens

Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov has signed a decree on the matter

Russia updates record for rice harvest surpassing 1.2 mln tons — Agriculture Ministry

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Ukraine’s army reports forced retreat to ‘last defensive line’ in Donbass area

Ukraine’s General Staff admitted earlier that the frontline situation remained tense for the Ukrainian army

Foreign aid to Ukraine a money laundering scheme, head of Chechnya says

Ramzan Kadyrov noted that there is no need to worry about hostilities currently happening on Russian territory

Experts to assess damage to black box following South Korea plane crash

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29,500 square meters of Kerch Strait cleared of oil after tanker incident

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Putin congratulates foreign leaders on New Year and Christmas

The list did not include the leaders of the UK, Germany, the US, France, Japan, and other large states unfriendly to Russia

Trump’s Greenland comments could be part of policy of countering Russia and China — media

Trump’s transition team did not respond to a TASS request for comment

Russia to respond to blocking of media Telegram channels in EU — diplomat

Zakharova noted that blocking a Russian news outlet is seen as the reinforcement of the West’s policy to suppress

Recruitment for unauthorized rallies aims to destabilize Russia — strategy

It is specified that to this end, various ways of manipulating public opinion and spreading unreliable information are being increasingly used