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New CSTO secretary general announced

"Within the framework of planned rotation, the heads of state decided to appoint Kazakhstan’s representative Imangali Tasmagambetov as the CSTO Secretary General beginning on January 1, 2023, for a three-year term," the statement says

Imangali Tasmagambetov REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov

Imangali Tasmagambetov

© REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov

ASTANA, November 23. /TASS/. The participants of a session of the Collective Security Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in Yerevan decided to designate Imangali Tasmagambetov as the CSTO Secretary General effective January 1, 2023, the press service of Kazakhstan’s president reported on Wednesday.

"Within the framework of planned rotation, the heads of state decided to appoint Kazakhstan’s representative Imangali Tasmagambetov as the CSTO Secretary General beginning on January 1, 2023, for a three-year term," its statement said.

Middle East conflict

Hamas ready for ceasefire in Gaza following truce in Lebanon

Earlier, the Israeli war cabinet approved a plan for a ceasefire in Lebanon

Russia’s Medvedev warns Europe could face 'catastrophic damage' from Oreshnik missile

The Russian Security Council deputy chairman also commented on Vladimir Zelensky’s "resilience plan"

Intel chief calls on West to embrace Putin's vision for resolving Ukraine conflict

"The sooner Western capitals realize [the need to accept] the Russian president’s conditions for a peace agreement and talks, the better it will be for Ukraine, Europe and Russia, too," Sergey Naryshkin noted

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Russian Agriculture Ministry weighs idea of growing bananas domestically

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Lebanese premier approves roadmap for ceasefire with Israel

The implementation of the agreement will help to bring stability to the region, Najib Mikati said

Israeli warplanes strike checkpoints on Syrian-Lebanese border — SANA

Information about potential damage or casualties is now being verified

Putin notes impressive trade turnover between Russia, Kazakhstan

President reiterated that Moscow and Astana have actively supported Eurasian economic integration and were among the founders of the Eurasian Economic Union

Press review: Israel approves US ceasefire agreement and Georgia's new parliament convenes

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Russian forces entrap Ukrainian troops near Svatovo in LPR — military expert

Ill-thought-out command and control of Ukrainian troops has demoralized enemy forces and increased the number of desertions among its personnel in that frontline area, Andrey Marochko said

Talk of halting Ukraine conflict related to Russia’s initiative on battlefield — SVR

Sergey Naryshkin added that the Western capitals "stopped thinking about strategically defeating Russia and shifted to thinking about how to avoid such a defeat themselves"

Biden team may escalate global tensions to highest level, FSB chief warns

According to Alexander Bortnikov, the United States, the United Kingdom, and their allies will continue trying "to blatantly interfere in allied relations within the CIS, hinder integration processes, and undermine our joint efforts to ensure security and stability across the Commonwealth"

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According to the report, his team believes that this step could reduce the risk of an armed conflict

Emergence of new weapons changed canons of war, Medvedev says

According to Russian security council deputy chairman, this primarily concerns drones

US base in Syria’s Dei ez-Zor governorate comes under missile attack — TV

No further details were provided

Zelensky shook up by Russia’s response to permission to attack it — Lavrov

According to the Russian foreign minister, the West is directly involved in the use of long-range weapons against Russia, as not a single missile could be launched without its involvement

Launch of Oreshnik caused no negative reaction from Central Asia — Russian MFA

Alexander Sternik noted that Moscow was closely watching how relations among NATO, the European Union and the states directly adjacent to Russian territory were developing

No existing missile defense system can counter Oreshnik — US expert

Theodore Postol also vehemently rejected suggestions that the Oreshnik system represents previous outdated developments of Moscow

Proposal to give Kiev nuclear arms highly extremist — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov noted that this is an absolutely irresponsible line of reasoning from those with a poor grasp of reality

Russia’s top diplomat says ‘still a long way to go’ to diplomatic solution in Ukraine

According to Sergey Lavrov, 'carrying out strikes deep inside Russian territory contributed to this escalation'

Russia rejects Korean scenario for freezing Ukraine conflict — foreign intel chief

Sergey Naryshkin recalled that the only way to ensure peace is to eliminate the root causes that triggered the Ukrainian conflict

Ukraine launches second strike on Novaya Kakhovka after emergency services arrive

According to Governor Vladimir Saldo, two vehicles have been damaged

EU Commissioner for Justice calls on members states to step up assistance to Ukraine

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US gives Ukrainian servicemen guidance on selecting targets for ATACMS — White House

The Ukrainian servicemen "are able to use ATACMS to defend themselves on an immediate need basis," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said

Russian diplomat doesn’t rule out missile deployment in Asia as response to US’ actions

Sergey Ryabkov warned Russia’s adversaries against settling into a "false sense of security"

Lithuania open to sending European troops to Ukraine — foreign minister

"It may become necessary for European soldiers to be deployed on Ukrainian soil, and Lithuania is always ready to consider such options," Gabrielius Landsbergis stated

Majority of Americans oppose further military support for Ukraine, poll shows

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Israeli warplanes deliver seven powerful strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs

Air raid warnings were issued for the Dahieh neighborhood in the south and the Bachoura district in the heart of the capital

Israeli-Lebanese ceasefire deal enters force — newspaper

According to Al Nahar, the Lebanese government will undertake the commitment to act against illegal armed groups on its territory and to curb their ability to arm themselves through arms trafficking and illegal production of weapons

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Erik Prince noted that it was necessary to end the Ukrainian conflict as soon as possible

Lebanon to regain control over its territory within 60 days — Biden

According to the US President, civilians on both sides will soon be able to safely return to their communities

US no longer objects to use of S-400 air defense systems by Turkey, Defense Minister says

According to the Pentagon, these missile air defense systems could help revealing certain specifications of jet fighters and thus negatively affect their combat capabilities

France, UK may deploy troops to Ukraine following ceasefire — expert

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Iran challenges US, UK, France military capabilities, IRGC general says

"The entire military potential of the US, UK, and France was mobilized to prevent Iran's operation, but the IRGC completed its mission," Ali Fadavi said

Two Ukrainian infantry groups eliminated near Velikaya Novosyolka in Donbass region

Another enemy group was destroyed several hours later

Zaluzhny, not Zelensky, would become president if Ukraine held election today — poll

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Russia designs Titan rifle for commandos

The rifle is reliable with precise and dense fire

Ukrainian front collapsing due to lack of willing soldiers, Russian offensive — magazine

Additionally, Ukraine "does not have enough weapons, munitions or hardware," the news outlet said

British mercenary claims he was sent to Russia’s Kursk Region against his will

The captive explained that he had served as a private in a battalion for four months

NATO disregards all etiquette in discussing possible preemptive strikes on Russia — Lavrov

NATO Military Committee Chairman Rob Bauer earlier called for producing more weapons for precision strikes inside Russia in case a conflict broke out

NATO spies study damage from Oreshnik at Yuzhmash — expert

Alexander Stepanov emphasized that both Kiev and its Western allies are closely scrutinizing the consequences of the strike on the plant

FACTBOX: Overview of Ukraine's ATACMS strikes on Kursk Region

The Ukrainian armed forces have delivered two strikes using Western-made long-range missiles on sites in the Kursk Region over the past three days

Key energy facility in Ternopol Region almost completely destroyed

Vyacheslav Negoda noted that a power shortage will remain in the region for a long time

Oreshnik becomes serious problem for Ukraine — Polish general

According to Waldemar Skrzypczak, satellite reconnaissance failed to detect the launch and flight of this missile

Trump focused on solution to Ukrainian conflict — national security adviser

Mike Waltz compared the scope of the tragedy to World War One, describing it as "trench warfare" with hundreds of thousands of victims

Kremlin explains why Oreshnik missile came as surprise

"I am sure that neither of us is even aware right now of any new future developments," Dmitry Peskov said

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US needs Ukraine's rare earth metals, including lithium — Lavrov

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Ukraine requests UN Security Council meeting on November 27 — Russian mission

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Anglo-Saxon special services involved in Nord Stream blasts, SVR chief says

Sergey Naryshkin recalled that Nord Stream was a joint Russian-European project "aimed at ensuring the uninterrupted supply of inexpensive Russian gas to Europe"

Trump’s team, Biden administration sign memorandum of understanding

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Press review: Russia to mass-produce Oreshnik missiles and EU gas prices reach record high

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, November 25th

West beginning to realize only part of Ukraine will remain — Lavrov

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US launches promotion of Armenia’s pro-Western parties — Russian intel agency

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Russian forces strike Ukrainian drone control centers near ZNPP

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Europe bracing for influx of Ukrainian troops after conflict is over — agency

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UK ambassador to Russia gets note of protest over false info on embassy’s officer

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Serbian film director Kusturica announces plans to get Russian citizenship

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Putin has high hopes for cancer vaccine being developed in Russia

Head of the Federal Medical-Biological Agency Veronika Skvortskova briefed the Russian President on the vaccine's development

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Public tribunal releases more testimonies exposing Kiev forces' atrocities in Selidovo

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Ukraine is a failed state, Russian foreign intelligence chief says

Sergey Naryshkin stressed that Moldova is "following in its footsteps"

Kremlin confident Putin’s warning about strikes inside Russia was well heard in West

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Kiev failed to inform Ottawa Convention signatories about its plans to violate it

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NATO pledges to continue supporting Ukraine following Russia’s launch of Oreshnik missile

NATO said in the statement that Russia’s deployment of the missile called the Oreshnik will not change the course of the conflict

British military instructor captured, Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

In total, the enemy has lost more than 35,510 troops since the fighting began in the region

US continues to plunder Afghanistan with impunity, says Shoigu

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PREVIEW: Russia to hand over BRICS presidency to Brazil

The meeting in Yekaterinburg will provide an opportunity to sum up the results of Russia’s presidency and outline future plans

Iran ready to escort foreign ships in Red Sea — navy commander

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West seeks to destabilize global order, Russia’s intelligence chief says

"Euro-Atlantic elites are trying to convince the rest of the world that the only alternative to Western power is chaos, and for this purpose, they deliberately seek destabilization in key regions of the planet," Sergey Naryshkin said

Retreating Ukrainian troops leave dozens of bodies behind in Chasov Yar

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Donbass was in danger of genocide from Ukraine, Serbian expert says

Dr. Predrag Ceranic pointed out that in Republika Srpska, everyone understands very well that Russia was compelled "to make this move in order to protect its people in Donbass"

Ceasefire deal does not envisage US military presence in Lebanon’s south — Biden

A high-ranking US administration official confirmed the information at a special briefing, adding that Washington will provide military support to Lebanon’s armed forces

Russia may soon push Kiev troops out of Kursk Region — Ukrainian battalion commander

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Russia, Saudi Arabia and Iraq discuss oil market, compensations

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Putin publishes article on Russian-Kazakh relations ahead of visit to Astana

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Pentagon not yet assessed damage caused by use of Russia’s newest Oreshnik missile

"When we have more to provide, we will," Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said

Ukrainian forces attempt to assassinate Novaya Kakhovka head, his deputy with drones

Ukraine tracked two service cars and dropped munitions on them after the vehicles approached the administration building

Moscow, Astana working to expand branch of North-South route via Kazakhstan — Putin

The list of parties to the agreement expanded to 14

Defense contractor delivers new batch of Su-34 bombers to Russia’s Aerospace Forces

The new fighter-bombers have undergone necessary testing and have been sent to the places of their operation, Vadim Badekha noted

US sanctions against Gazprombank leading to energy price growth in Europe — investor

The new round of US sanctions has become the most notable lately "but generally not critical for the Russian financial system, which has already passed through much worse time," Kyle Shostak said