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Conflict in Syria

Turkey carries out retaliatory airstrikes on Kurdish positions in Syria — TV

According to CNN Turk TV, the airstrikes are carried out in the Syrian region of Kobani in retaliation to the shelling of the Turkish cities of Onjupinar and Karkamis

ANKARA, November 21. /TASS/. Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter jets resumed strikes Monday on the positions of Kurdish formations from the Kurdistan Workers' Party and the People’s Defense Units (recognized by Ankara as terrorist organizations) in Syria.

According to CNN Turk TV, the airstrikes are carried out in the Syrian region of Kobani in retaliation to the shelling of the Turkish cities of Onjupinar and Karkamis.

The border town of Onjupinar was bombarded on Sunday, leaving three Turkish security forces officers wounded. On Monday, at least five missiles exploded in the town of Karkamis, with bombs falling on a high school and residential buildings. Three people were killed, including a child.

Turkish media blame members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party and the People’s Defense Units, outlawed in the country, for the shelling of the Turkish city, which could be their response to Turkey's new air operation in Syria and Iraq on Sunday.

More than 50 aircraft and 20 drones are taking part in Turkey’s ‘Operation Claw Sword’. Turkish air power is getting ground support from artillery. The strikes were carried out against sites where the Kurdistan Workers' Party and its Syrian branch (People’s Defense Units), outlawed in Turkey, are said to be located. The Turkish National Defense Ministry reported that the operation was successfully conducted in northern Iraq in the districts of Qandil, Asos and Hakurk, as well as in the districts of Kobani, Tal Rifat, Cizire and Derik in northern Syria.

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Syrian conflict

China adheres to non-intervention policy with regard to South Korea — Wang Yi

The Chinese Foreign Minister expressed Beijing’s readiness to cooperate with Seoul "to jointly maintain the stability of global industrial and supply chains"

Putin travels to St. Petersburg for informal CIS summit

On Tuesday, the Russian leader is scheduled to meet with President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon

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Four Ukrainian UAVs destroyed over Russia’s Rostov and Voronezh regions overnight

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Russia continues special military op because Ukraine refuses talks — Kremlin

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Moldovan president plans military operation in Transnistria — Russian intel agency

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

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

Israeli Defense Minister admits his country's involvement in assassination of Hamas Leader

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Greenland PM tells Trump island not for sale

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"We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly," the Ministry of National Defense reported

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Dmitry Medvedev noted that Ukraine will never join NATO

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Ukraine’s military attempts six UAV attacks on Melitopol in Zaporozhye Region overnight

Falling debris from one UAV damaged the roof of the central marketplace building

Russia not to deviate 'one bit' from its main conditions in talks on Ukraine — speaker

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Two-thirds of Russians dissatisfied with 2024, survey reveals

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Biden refuses to commute Boston Marathon terrorist's death sentence — media

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Roscosmos, NASA synchronize timeframes for completion of ISS — CEO

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

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

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Ukrainian deserters abroad are hunted through Interpol — parliament member

"The percentage of those who have left their newly formed brigades is the highest," Ruslan Gorbenko said

Russia and Pakistan to be connected by direct railway line — minister

"By the end of March, we are planning the first train - the first cargo train to leave Russia for Pakistan," Awais Leghari said

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

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, December 24th

Around 4,400 Russian injured by Ukrainian strikes since January, around 800 killed

Russian Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik said that the enemy has fired nearly 82,700 various types of ammunition at Russian regions

Israel attacks Kamal Adwan hospital in Gaza with suicide robots

There are about 400 civilians in the medical facility, including newborn babies Al Jazeera reported

US ramping up biological warfare presence in Africa — Russia’s top brass

Major General Aleksey Rtishchev said that branches of the US National Naval Military Medical Center are stationed in Ghana and Djibouti where active work is carried out in natural disease foci, isolation and sequencing of pathogens

Kremlin sums up Russia’s presidency in BRICS

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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

Russian cancer vaccine to be free of charge — top oncologist

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

Ukrainian army launches long-range missiles at Donetsk

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

Germany's new chancellor may lead the West in standoff with Moscow — expert

At the same time, Oleg Bondarenko said, without affordable energy resources, the decline of the German economy will continue with no chance of stopping in the foreseeable future

Russian Defense Ministry identifies over 30 more people connected to US biolabs in Africa

The Major General noted that among these individuals are: servicemen of the US Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, employees of regional branches of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, disease control and prevention centers in Africa, as well as members of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria

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

Shelling on Donetsk decreases as frontline shifts — DPR head

Denis Pushilin noted that shelling in Donetsk’s Kirovsky and Petrovsky districts is expected to diminish further once Kurakhovo is liberated

Russia not closing its border with Estonia — MFA

Russian border crossings near the Estonian border are functioning as usual, Maria Zakharova said

Russian gas imports by Czech Republic soaring — news agency

The Czech Republic is receiving Russian pipe gas indirectly via Slovakia and Hungary

Putin bestows order upon Hermitage director general

The head of the State Hermitage Museum now has the full set of Orders for Merit to the Fatherland

Information on US military-biological activities in Africa heard by foreign media

Major General Alexey Rtishchev said that relevant comments were posted in the European and American media, as well as on information portals in the Middle East region

Ukraine intensifies shelling of Kremennaya fourfold due to Russian successes — expert

As Andrey Marochko noted, the enemy's indiscriminate attacks on Kremennaya's civilian targets are ruled out, since Ukraine is attacking the city with drones, and "drone operators see the target"

IN BRIEF: What is known about blast at former plant in Russia’s Khakassia Region

According to the latest data, two people were killed

Initiative along entire frontline in Russian forces’ hands — Polish general

According to Waldemar Skrzypczak, Russian troops' daily advances amount to 1-2 kilometers (0.6-1.2 miles)

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

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

Russia has every right to protect its interests in Ukraine — Republika Srpska leader

"Moscow has a legitimate right to defend its interests and the interests of the 15 million Russians who formerly lived in Ukraine and now reside in the four regions that have joined the Russian Federation," Milorad Dodik said

Trump’s son posts image showing father buying Canada, Greenland on Amazon

"We are so back," Eric wrote for a caption

Kiev considers negotiations with Russia inevitable, Ukrainian official says

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France announces new cabinet, with foreign and defense ministers keeping their jobs

Bruno Retailleau also stayed on as interior minister

Almost 440,000 Russians sign up for military service this year — Medvedev

"The results of work over the year can already be assessed," the politician said

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

"This concerns both the potential use of Taurus and plans for stationing US mid-range and short-range missiles on German soil," Sergey Nechayev stressed

Kremlin announces countries to become BRICS partners from January 1

According to Yuri Ushakov, the confirmations of readiness to become a BRICS partner country have been received from Belarus, Bolivia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan

US system on biological risks tested in Ukraine works in Africa — Russian ministry

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Russia to continue helping Sahel countries boost their armies’ combat capacities

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Meeting of Putin with Slovakia’s Fico lasted for two hours — presidential aide

According to Yuri Ushakov, the meeting was substantial