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Nord Stream gas leak investigation

UNSC meeting on Nord Stream incidents postponed for indefinite period

A TASS source in the United Nations confirmed the postponement of the meeting.

UNITED NATIONS, February 20. /TASS/. The United Nations Security Council’s meeting on the explosions at the Nord Stream gas pipelines, which was initially scheduled for Tuesday, has been postponed for an indefinite period, according to the Council’s updated program released on Monday.

A TASS source in the United Nations confirmed the postponement of the meeting.

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Nord Stream gas leak investigation

Middle East conflict

Israel wants no war with Lebanon — ambassador to UN

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Up to 62 flights of Ukrainian drones reported near ZNPP every day — Russian diplomat

Mikhail Ulyanov recalled that Ukraine had been shelling the ZNPP practically non-stop from mid-July to November 20, 2022

Medvedev allows use of nuclear weapons by Russia when ‘patience runs out’

The politician underscored that no one really needs a nuclear conflict - it is "a very bad story with a very difficult outcome."

Strikes at Beirut and shelling of Lebanon: escalation on Lebanese-Israeli border

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Russia is committed to Israel’s security, but not at others’ expense — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat noted that he had good relations with many of his Israeli counterparts

Russia fully ready to defend its interests in Arctic — Lavrov

The minister to say that NATO is becoming increasingly interested in the Arctic region

Businessman probably related to exploding gadgets in Lebanon missing in Norway

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Gazprom warns Naftogaz about possible Russian sanctions if transit trial continues

Gazprom also believes that the current circumstances deprive it of its fundamental right to a fair and impartial hearing in court

Florida court rules to arrest Russian citizen Postovoy, take him to Washington

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Russia to explain risks of cooperation with NATO to post-Soviet countries — MFA

"No doubt, such voyages of representatives of the aggressive military bloc do not contribute to regional stability and security," Maria Zakharova said

North Korea convinced Russia to win special military operation in Ukraine — top diplomat

"The North Korean people express their support for the Russian people in their just struggle," Choe Son Hui stressed

Senior Russian lawmaker warns that calls for long-range strikes open way to nuclear war

Vyacheslav Volodin commented on a recent resolution of the European Parliament to allow strikes inside Russia with Western weapons

Gas reserves in European USG facilities approach 93.5%

Gas injections into UGS facilities slowed significantly in September to the lowest level since 2011

Explosions in Lebanon pose interest for Russian intelligence — Kremlin spokesman

According to Dmitry Peskov, Moscow has not discussed the events in Lebanon with regional actors

Russian Federation Council Speaker calls detonations in Lebanon a 'heinous attack'

Valentina Matviyenko noted that Russia’s position regarding the ongoing escalation in the Middle East was "clearly stated by the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Russian Representative to the UN"

Ukrainian forces create concentration camps in Russian border areas — diplomat

Maria Zakharova pointed out that one of the Ukrainian prisoners of war reported an attack on a passenger train being prepared in the Kursk Region

Russia’s Akhmat special force destroys military storage facility in Kursk direction

Akhmat also eliminated one armored personnel carrier and one self-propelled artillery weapon, the deputy chief of the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces Apty Alaudinov said

Twenty Hezbollah commanders killed in Israeli strike on Beirut — Axios

The news website cited a senior Israeli official who confirmed that Israel had not informed the US in advance of the preparations for the attack on Beirut, "but briefed senior US officials on the matter immediately after it was carried out"

Some 101 Ukrainian drones intercepted in Russian regions, Azov Sea overnight — ministry

Air defenses eliminated UAVs over eight regions, Defense Ministry said

Russia-Africa summit to be held in 2-3 years on African continent — Lavrov

There is a plan of action developed by the commission of the African Union and the government of the Russian Federation through 2026, Russian Foreign Minister said

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Senior Hezbollah commander killed in Beirut was injured in Sep 18 walkie-talkie blast — TV

Ibrahim Aqil was appointed to replace Fuad Shukr, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the southern suburb of Beirut on July 30

Zelensky may be overthrown if Ukraine fails to hold elections — Ukrainian MP

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Russia cautions Chisinau against involvement in Ukrainian conflict — Foreign Ministry

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Kadyrov send two more Cybertucks to special military operation zone

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EP resolution regarding strikes on Russia madness, EU seeks war — French politician

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Tver region governor says no serious injuries in drone attack on Toropets

Earlier reports said a fire occurred at the scene where drone fragments fell in Toropets

Over 30 foreign leaders invited to BRICS summit in Kazan, 18 RSVP — Kremlin

"We have not organized such a large-scale international event in quite a long time," Yury Ushakov underlined

Report on alternative payment systems will be prepared by BRICS summit in Kazan — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister also drew attention to the growth of trade in national currencies between Russia and other countries

Battlegroup North liberates two settlements in Kursk Region this week

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Evacuation starts in Kuban settlement due to explosion after drone fragments fall

Two unmanned aerial vehicles have been downed near Tikhoretsk

Russia, China do not need to create military alliance — Lavrov

Those relations are the best in the whole history of ties that existed between two countries, Foreign Minister added

Russian forces take control of two settlements in Kursk Region

According to Major General Apty Alaudinov, the entire frontline in moving forward, with Ukrainian soldiers surrendering

Ukrainian troops attack two settlements in Russia’s Belgorod region, leaving no casualties

Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov added that in the settlement of Murom, the Shebekinsky district, the windows of a private house were broken out, the roof and fence were damaged due to a drone attack

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Serbian citizens sincerely appreciate Putin - deputy PM

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There are no casualties or damage

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Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, September 20th

Ukraine's budget deficit next year will reach 19.4% of GDP

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Theft of Russian assets to nullify trust towards EU — MFA

Maria Zakharova pointed out that the European Union had lost independence

Russia delivers urgent assistance to Mali — portal

The delivery was organized as part of military cooperation between Russia and Mali to boost defense and security ties

Hezbollah commanders wanted to repeat October 7 in northern Israel — General Staff

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Ukrainian troops captured: situation in Kursk Region

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Ukrainian drones attack Kamenka-Dneprovskaya in Zaporozhye Region

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Kremlin slams Poland's idea to revise Crimea's status 'absurd'

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Russia's international reserves up by $2.5 bln over week to $616 bln

Russia’s international reserves are highly liquid foreign assets available with the Bank of Russia and the Russian government

Attempts made to provoke Hezbollah with aim of US interference in war — Lavrov

Lavrov pointed put that without this, recurrent outbreaks of violence will never stop in the Middle East

Israel wants no war with Lebanon — ambassador to UN

Unless de-escalation is reached through diplomacy, Israel will have no other choice except to use all means for protection of its citizens, Danny Danon said

Russia sanctions likely to dilute US dollar’s dominance, IMF says

Radical restrictive measures imposed by Western countries may contribute to the emergence of small currency blocs based on trade between certain groups of states, IMF’s first deputy managing director Gita Gopinath pointed out

Ukrainian forces in difficult situation in Kursk Region, try gain foothold — commander

Major General Apty Alaudinov added that, on Thursday, he visited the rightmost flank of the Russian troops on the Kursk direction - near cities of Rylsk and Lgov

UN human rights commissioner slams blasts in Lebanon as war crime

The UN official called for bringing those behind these blasts to responsibility under international law and protecting civilians in conflict zoes

Hezbollah confirms death of its commander in airstrike on Beirut

Together with Ibrahim Aqil at least six commanders of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force died in the airstrike

Ukraine’s forces in Ugledar virtually encircled — sources

"Most positions around the city, including those at the most important sites and heights are Russian, the whole city is exposed to fire," the sources explained

Hezbollah attacks Israeli military headquarters in Ein-Zeitim

The statement said that the Shiite units conducted these operations in response to the Israeli Air Force strikes on Lebanese populated localities

Sixteen drones eliminated over Russia’s Bryansk Region

Governor Alexander Bogomaz said earlier that the Russian Defense Ministry’s air defense forces were repelling a massive drone attack

Ukrainian breakthrough attempts thwarted: developments in Kursk Region

The Russian military repelled three attempts by the Ukrainian military to break through the border near Novy Put, Malaya Obukhovka and Medvezhye

Scholz says Germany not to send Kiev missiles ‘capable of reaching as far as Moscow’

German Chancellor emphasized the need to explore ways in order to peacefully resolve the Ukraine conflict

US carries out mock electronic launch of Minuteman III ICBM

Such test deployments of Minuteman III missiles without an actual launch are being carried out twice a year at various air bases, the statement says

Russia welcomes normalization of Iran’s relations with Arab countries — Lavrov

It is in the interests of both Iran and its Arab countries to establish "friendly, normal, goods relations," Russian Foreign Minister added

Turkish banks want to stop transactions with Russia, transfer them to one bank — source

The issue reportedly concerns private and state-owned Turkish banks that do not have foreign partners, mainly Western ones

Over 6,200 Kursk Region residents evacuated from border areas over week

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US’ new military aid package for Ukraine to be worth $375 mln — agency

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Two-thirds of Abrams tanks in Ukraine already destroyed — Russia’s deputy OSCE envoy

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West is persuading Ukraine to give up claims to 1991 borders — legislator

Yegor Chernev shared a "feeling" that the Western world is ready to declare as a victory for Ukraine at least the fact that "Kiev has not fallen" and that it "has not lost its sovereignty"

Only Lebanese hospitals, kindergartens used exploded pagers — Iranian ambassador

Multiple explosions of communication devices occurred in Lebanon on September 17 and 18