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US Congress members demand data on Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan

The committee said the administration’s decisions resulted in a "national security and humanitarian catastrophe"

WASHINGTON, February 17. /TASS/. Republicans from the United States House Committee on Oversight and Accountability have started an investigation of the actions of Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration related to the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan and have requested data from several agencies, according to a statement that was published on the committee’s website on Friday.

The republicans sent out "letters calling for documents, communications, and information related to the botched Afghanistan withdrawal, evacuation, and vetting and screening of Afghans relocating to the US," the statement said. The said letters have been sent to the White House National Security Council, the Department of State, the Pentagon, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Department of Homeland Security and the US Agency for International Development.

The committee said the administration’s decisions resulted in a "national security and humanitarian catastrophe". The Republicans said the Taliban (banned in Russia) gained access to the US military equipment that was left behind in Afghanistan.

Some other Republican lawmakers in the Congress have also previously requested information about the said events from US government agencies.

Police checks reports of bomb allegedly planted at Russian embassy in Brazil — newspaper

The Russian embassy has not yet commented on the situation

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Israel’s military upcoming operation in Rafah will also be on agenda, the New York Times reported

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Swiss conference on Ukraine undermines European security — Russian diplomat

In Maxim Buyakevich words, neither the talks nor their outcome can change the existing political and territorial realities

Insurers refuse to pay compensation for Nord Stream — Russian envoy to UN

Vasily Nebenzya stressed that insurers conclude on their own that the "explosion at the gas pipelines was made using an explosive devices, willfully and due to political motives," thereby confirming its terroristic nature

US can send Ukraine Patriot air defense systems currently deployed in other regions

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan added that the his country had doubled artillery production in order to help Kiev

Bolivia supports Russia in efforts to build multipolar world — foreign minister

Celinda Sosa remarked that her visit to Moscow "aims to strengthen the political dialogue" between Russia and Bolivia "in accordance with the principles shared" by both countries

Better situation for peace in Ukraine, threats to Belarus: new statements by Lukashenko

The head of state accused Washington of preparing a "Belarusian liberation army" and reiterated Minsk's readiness to "defend its country"

Staff shortage cannot be covered by labor migration — Putin

Labor productivity requires a significant increase in all sectors of the economy, the President stressed

Most countries in Global South wary of growing NATO influence — Lavrov

"Those may be right who, instead of playing this geopolitical game which NATO views as a zero-sum game, prefer to handle their domestic affairs," the Russian foreign minister noted

UN bound to stay as unique world organization — Russian ambassador

"If the UN did not exist, it should have been created," Vasily Nebenzya said

Russian subsidiary of JP Morgan scaling up Russian assets

The company tops the list of foreign investment banks in Russia in terms of the asset size

China, US free to have their own friends, partners — President Xi

Beijing sticks to the principle of non-alignment with any blocs, the Chinese leader said and called on Washington "to refrain from teaming up in small groups"

About 70% of businesses indicate staff shortage — Bank of Russia

The labor market is also affected by other long-term trends, particularly the demography and the labor productivity lagging behind the rise in salaries, Elvira Nabiullina noted

Russian defense minister dismisses his deputy Ivanov

Timur Ivanov was removed from the office of deputy defense minister of the Russian Federation of the federal government’s civil service

Space station’s orbit raised by 1 km — Roscosmos

According to preliminary information, the average altitude of the orbital outpost was increased to 414.8 km above the Earth’s surface

US stops hiding true purpose of sanctions on Moscow, Russian envoy says

"It’s not about any mythical aspirations to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, but about banal opportunistic and predatory ambitions," Anatoly Antonov said

Russia ready to cooperate with all interested partners to ensure security — Putin

The Russian leader expressed confidence that the the 12th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues "will bolster cooperation for the mutual benefit of our countries and peoples"

US-oriented structures try to reformat security system in Asia-Pacific region

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu underlined that this is being done by strengthening "military-political structures such as QUAD, AUKUS and the US-Japan-Philippines triad"

US effectively dooms Ukraine by its new decisions, Russian envoy says

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Israel eliminates one of al-Jamaa al-Islamiya commanders in Lebanon — IDF

The strike was conducted by Israel Air Force’s aircraft in the area of Meidoun in Lebanon

Press review: US tries to strong-arm China and Zelensky's bid to bring men home

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Russian diplomat accuses US of facilitating chemical warfare in Ukraine

According to Russian Permanent Representative to the OPCW Vladimir Tarabrin, Russian troops have repeatedly recorded incidents where the Ukrainian army’s used chemical weapons, including riot control agents as means of warfare

Terrorist attacks occur in Iran, Russia due to US support for terrorism — Iran’s top brass

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The US businessman commented on remarks by Gad Saad, a Canadian professor of Lebanese origin, who insisted that "the path that the West is taking will result in civil war"

Negative trends still on rise in US-China relations — top Chinese diplomat

The United States should not cross the red lines with regard to China’s sovereignty and security, Wang Yi added

Russian troops destroy 89 Ukrainian UAVs, 5 boats in Kherson area over past day

"Battlegroup Dnepr units conducted active counterbattery warfare and destroyed enemy drones, manpower and equipment on the right bank of the Dnieper River," Governor Vladimir Saldo said

Russian defense firm to show latest versions of Taifun armored vehicles at Army forum

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Police checks reports of bomb allegedly planted at Russian embassy in Brazil — newspaper

The Russian embassy has not yet commented on the situation

Bank of Russia does not rule out keeping key rate at current levels until year's end

The Bank of Russia also does not rule out raising the estimate of the neutral key rate in the near future

Chances of Baku-Yerevan conflict settlement higher than ever, Scholz says

The German chancellor emphasized that Berlin's "offer to lend support in finding a long-term and acceptable solution remains valid"

Charles III to return to public duties soon — Buckingham Palace

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Russia appreciates Bolivia’s push to defend sovereignty, Lavrov says

The Russian foreign minister said that the sides would exchange opinions on how to develop bilateral relations along the path outlined by Bolivian President Luis Arce and Russian President Vladimir Putin

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

Bolivarian Alliance countries stand for multipolar world — Maduro

"ALBA can be among the founders of a new world, a new international multipolar order," the Venezuelan president stressed

Hamas fighters have destroyed more than 400 Israeli vehicles — group’s senior member

Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, said the brigades had completely or partially destroyed 135 units of Israeli military equipment over the past three days

Russian defense chief points to West’s double standards on right to self-defense

In this regard, Sergey Shoigu mentioned the operation that Tehran carried out "in retaliation for a blatant attack on the Iranian consulate building in Damascus"

Annual inflation in Russia gearing down to 7.82% over week — Economy Ministry

"Inflation in the consumer market slowed down to 0.08% over the week from April 16 to 22, 2024," the ministry informed

Gazprom Export files lawsuits against European energy companies

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International cooperation needed to investigate Nord Stream incidents — Russian diplomat

According to Nebenzya, the real goal of the West, which is seeking to persuade the world of the futility of international efforts, is "to keep on telling the tale of lost time" as long as possible in a hope that "international community will forget about this terrorist attack"

Moscow reports 1,773 daily coronavirus hospitalizations

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"The largest nuclear powers, albeit indirectly, are actually fighting on Ukrainian territory. And not indirectly," the president of Belarus noted

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Splav Head Rinat Idrisov reported to the minister that the enterprise was carrying out technical retooling and large-scale construction and reconstruction of production capacities on the minister’s assignment

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"The impression is that Warsaw is maniacally seeking to attract even more attention from military planners in the Russian General Staff," Maria Zakharova added

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Flights will be carried out on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays

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Dmitry Polyansky said that some of the weapons supplied to Kiev are "in the darknet, which means that it is available to anyone"

Russia may abolish gold export duty from June 1 — Finance Ministry

The law, introducing an extra coefficient to the mineral extraction tax for gold totaling 78,000 rubles ($848.8) per kilogram, will become effective at the same day

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On April 25, US police said at least 127 people were arrested during large-scale protests on American university campuses against Israeli actions in the Palestinian enclave

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Spokesman Wang Wenbin stressed that China was not providing weapons to the conflicting parties and strictly controlled dual-use goods, including the export of drones

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Miguel Salgado’s ‘Shame’ wins main prize at Moscow International Film Festival

The film is focused on two teenagers Pedro and Lucio, who are forced to fight each other to the death in order to survive after being abducted

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There is confirmed evidence of his connections with French secret services

Ship receives damage in missile attack off Yemeni coast — UKMTO

The Master has reported two attacks

Russian stock indices rising on Friday

The MOEX Russia Index edged up by 0.44%, the RTS Index surged by 1.13%

Scholz asks allies to find additional air defense capabilities for Ukraine

Germany is the second largest arms supplier to Ukraine after the US

Kiev's attacks on ZNPP may trigger another Chernobyl — Zaporozhye governor

Tensions in the area of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant and in Energodar, where the nuclear power plant is located, escalated at the beginning of the month

Crocus City Hall attack funded using cryptocurrency, Russian finance watchdog says

Russia’s Federal Financial Monitoring Service head added that the act of terrorism was intricately planned and it took an international network of conspirators to carry it out

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Ivan Zhelokhovtsev said that the agreements that were reached during the DPRK leader's visit to Russia represent "evidence of the mutual desire of the sides to consistently implement and expand the rich heritage" that was passed down from previous generations

Iran announces establishment of Basij voluntary naval force

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Erdogan’s May 9 visit to US postponed to more convenient date — Foreign Ministry

"The high-level dialogue between Turkey and the US will continue," the spokesman Oncu Keceli said

Russia, India plan to launch ‘green corridor’ project in trade shortly

The sides supported the early launch of the green corridor project aimed at the simplification of customs operations

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According to Dmitry Kuzyakin, "as long as there is a lack of direct communication between those who make the tanks and who use them, the Abrams will not evolve to meet modern warfare requirements"

West reluctant to punish those responsible for Nord Stream blasts — Russian diplomat

According to Vasily Nebenzya, the situation is as though a year-long probe into a murder yielded a conclusion that "the victim was murdered"

West bends sanctions rules when it suits them — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov noted that, "according to some parameters, companies in Europe and other regions can hardly maintain their competitiveness if they completely abandon our products"

Russian aerospace forces hit two terrorists base in Syria’s Homs governorate

Yury Popov, deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria, also said that one shelling attack on the positions of government forces was reported in the Idlid de-escalation zone from positions of the Jabhat al-Nusra

Network of international conspirators plotted Crocus terrorist attack — watchdog

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Press review: NATO flexes muscles near Russian border and South China Sea runs hot

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, April 24th

Zelensky's presidential powers to expire May 21 — Ukrainian legislator

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According to the report, Israel is willing to acceprt the release of women, men over 50 years old and those seriously ill

Over 3,100 foreign mercenaries fight for Ukraine, most of them from US

The Russian Investigative Committee added that measures are underway to locate their whereabouts and bring them to criminal liability

Europe should be prepared to build relations with Russia post-Ukraine conflict — Macron

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Ukraine exhausted, needs constant money flow from outside — defense official

Apty Alaudinov added that if the Ukrainian army received long-range weapons, it might try to attack Russia's civilian infrastructure due to its powerlessness on the front

SCO expects Belarus to join the organization very soon — Shoigu

The Russian defense chief is certain that "this is an important moment in strengthening security in the SCO space"

Kiev troops may strike targets in Crimea with ATACMS missiles — newspaper

The goal "is to put more pressure on Crimea," The New York Times said

Blinken’s visit to China meant to shatter Russian-Chinese ties — senior Russian diplomat

"I think that Beijing understands this perfectly well and will not even pretend being ready to reach any agreements with the Americans to the detriment of Russia’s interests," Sergey Ryabkov said

Kiev may use ATACMS missiles to hit Crimean Bridge — Russian defense ministry official

Russian military will do its utmost to repel such attacks, Apty Alaudinov said

TotalEnergies expects gas price hike if Russian LNG falls under sanctions

Patrick Pouyanne expressed confidence that the European leaders understood that security of gas supplies depended on LNG and would not like to see a price crisis in Europe again until 2027

Wreckage of US MQ-9 Reaper drone is of interest to Russian defense industry — Rostec

According to the US version of events, a pair of Russian Su-27 aircraft intercepted the MQ-9 while it was on a recon mission and dumped their fuel several times toward the drone

Erdogan moves back from May 9 his trip to US — report

The report hasn’t been officially confirmed

Press review: Belarus' new national security strategy and Russia, US butt heads at UN

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TotalEnergies to announce force majeure for Yamal LNG in case of EU sanctions

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Over 60% of Russian companies continue using Microsoft services

57% of companies replaced at least one foreign service with a Russian one over the past few years, the analysts noted

EU remains unreliable partner for Russia for now — Lavrov

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Istanbul accords could have stopped hostilities in Ukraine — German newspaper

The deal still looks advantageous even after two years of war, Welt am Sonntag said

Putin’s trip to China will rivet world’s attention, Kremlin spokesman predicts

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Kremlin spokesman describes European Parliament as 'Russophobic machine'

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Ukraine had to negotiate agreements with Russia with ‘three masters’ — Russian envoy

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Putin calls impending formation of new cabinet ‘crucial step’

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Russian troops wipe out military train with Western armaments in DPR over past day

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