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Hunter Biden to appear before court in California on January 11

Hunter Biden was indicted in early December on nine counts of tax evasion

Hunter Biden AP Photo/ Julio Cortez

Hunter Biden

© AP Photo/ Julio Cortez

NEW YORK, December 19. /TASS/. Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, will appear in a federal district court in California on January 11 in a $1.4 mln tax evasion case.

According to the court schedule, the first hearing in the case is scheduled for January 11 at 13:00 local time (00:00 Moscow time on January 12).

Hunter Biden was indicted in early December on nine counts of tax evasion. Specifically, he is accused of participating in a scheme to evade at least $1.4 mln in federal taxes owed for the period from 2016 to 2019. He is also charged with filing false tax returns. He could face up to 17 years in prison, according to Fox News.

He was previously charged with three weapons offenses. The president's son is accused of lying when purchasing firearms and providing false information to a licensed dealer. The third charge was for violating a law that makes it illegal for drug addicts to own firearms.

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Netanyahu convenes security cabinet amid talks on Lebanon

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Potential deployment of intermediate-range missiles depends on US moves — Russian diplomat

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Russian national Nikita Zhuravel sentenced to 14 years in prison for high treason

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Many experts believe this is the best tank of our time, compared to Western counterparts in particular, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council said

Ukrainian commander-in-chief reports threats to troops in Zaporozhye Region

Earlier, it was reported that the Russian forces had advanced for over 2 km near Malaya Tokmachka in the Zaporozhye Region

Explosion occurs at oil refinery in western Turkey, cause being investigated — TV

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Russia acted responsibly in warning US about Oreshnik missile launch, Kremlin says

The US was notified automatically 30 minutes before the launch by Russia's Nuclear Risk Reduction Center

Ciolacu, Lasconi to face off in presidential runoff in Romania next month — exit polls

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Russian forces eliminate Ukrainian MiG-29 on ground

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Ukrainian army mercenaries from Colombia linked to US-controlled drug cartels — expert

Commenting on the motivation of Colombian fighters to join the hostilities in Ukraine, Alexander Stepanov explained that it is linked to the situation in the South American drug trafficking market

Retreating Ukrainian troops leave dozens of bodies behind in Chasov Yar

According to the sources, some of these makeshift morgues were destroyed by retreating Ukrainian troops

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

Netanyahu may accept ceasefire in Lebanon to stop Hezbollah bombings — diplomat

According to al-Maliki, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is the only obstacle to a ceasefire in Gaza

Russia’s launch of new missile illustrated assured retaliation capability, lawmaker says

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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

Ukraine sustains almost 65,000 casualties from Russia’s Battlegroup North since May

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Ukraine’s military loses nearly 10,000 troops at LPR borders over week — military expert

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Kremlin spokesman says missiles like Oreshnik are developed in secrecy

Dmitry Peskov said that he himself did not know about this work before Russian President Vladimir Putin announced it

Conflict in Ukraine no longer regional war — German defense minister

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

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

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The company also noted that Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller and Moldovan Energy Minister Victor Parlicov discussed cooperation in the gas sector at a working meeting

Russian forces pound Ukrainian military airfields, energy sites over day — top brass

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US did not contact Russia after use of Oreshnik missile — Deputy Foreign Minister

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One of the pilots reportedly survived the crash, while no information is currently available about the other people on board

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

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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"Based on the tasks and the range of this weapon, it can hit targets across entire Europe, which sets it apart from other high-precision long-range weapons," Sergey Karakayev said

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Senior envoy sees Putin’s statement as signal of Russia’s readiness for military responses

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Twelve local residents have been evacuated from the scene

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The Russian foreign minister noted that American companies had already bought up most of the fertile land

Europe resumes talks of troop deployment to Ukraine — newspaper

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

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The UN Secretary-General urged world leaders to join the Ottawa Convention

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Putin appoints envoy for international criminal and legal cooperation

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

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The Turkish side will also provide information on the progress of the investigation

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Independent candidate Georgescu leading first round of presidential election in Romania

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US missile defense base in Poland long among Russian army’s targets — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova stated that the US-NATO construction project, ongoing for nearly a decade with complete disregard to Russian security concerns, has consistently been a focus of Russia's attention

Kiev has ‘no chance’ of retaking lost territories — Blackwater founder

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

No int’l restrictions on deployment of Oreshnik systems — senior Russian diplomat

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Russia will respond 'in every way' to Seoul’s arms supply to Kiev — MFA

Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Andrey Rudenko called on South Korean to soberly assess the situation and refrain from "reckless steps"

Press review: Russian air defenses can down Western missiles as EU conducts live exercise

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, November 19th

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

According to Elie Tenenbaum, European countries may send troops to east Ukraine to ensure the observation of a ceasefire regime and guarantee Kiev’s security

Romanian presidential candidate vows to end military aid to Ukraine

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Rome plans to arrange Ukraine conference with Russia's participation

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

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

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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"

'Western vector' leaves Ukraine poorest country in Europe — politician

Ukrainians have never seen the promised freedom, Viktor Medvedchuk noted

Russia gave OPCW over 30 reports proving Ukraine used banned substances, official says

Kirill Lysogorsky noted that "the Kiev regime continues to systematically use toxic chemicals and chemical riot control agents"

Putin, Turkish president hold phone talks — Kremlin

The leaders also discussed some international issues

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

Moscow to announce new Russian ambassador to US after relevant decree is signed — Kremlin

Previously, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed Anatoly Antonov from the office of Ambassador of Russia to the United States

Russia to develop bilateral cooperation with Afghanistan — Shoigu

He pointed out that to this end, Russia will continue to support Kabul's integration into regional structures and associations

Citizens of Poland, Germany, Italy apply for residence permit in Lugansk Republic

The decisions will be made in response to these applications in the near future

Diplomat mocks US Senator for talking about invading Netherlands

Maria Zakharova quoted the US Senator, who called the ICC a "Kangaroo court" and ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan a "deranged fanatic"

Russia encircles largest Ukrainian fortification in southern DPR — security services

"The enemy positioned in the fortified area in Velikaya Novoselka in the south of the DPR is already trapped in a kill zone," the source said

Scholz vows to continue supporting Ukraine following his chancellor nomination

The German chancellor listed supporting Ukraine at the top of his priorities should the SPD win and form a government

Ukraine abandons Selidovo, laying mines in wells — security services

The Ukrainian armed forces used various modified Western-made mines and improvised explosive devices during the process

Fire at warehouse in southern Moscow completely extinguished

The firefighters were able to stop the fire from spreading to the adjacent building, where freon is stored

Western air defense systems unlikely to intercept Russian missiles — France’s Le Monde

According to the French military source, Russia's recent use of the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile should be taken in the context of possible negotiations regarding the ongoing Ukrainian conflict

Lukashenko tells Putin situation is "starting to get tense with Wagner"

The Belarusian leader noted that they want to go to Warsaw

UK mercenary taken prisoner in Russia’s Kursk area — source

"A mercenary from Britain has been taken prisoner in the Kursk area," the person said

Lebanon wary of reports of potential ceasefire with Israel

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Europe unable to wage war attrition on Russia — Ukraine’s ex-commander-in-chief

According to Zaluzhny, European countries lack munitions to shoot down air bombs

US-led coalition aircraft violate Syrian airspace 16 times in past day

Apart from that, one violation of the deconfliction protocols of December 9, 2019 linked with the flights by the US-led coalition unmanned aerial vehicles was reporte

Timing for commissioning entire Akkuyu NPP needs to be clarified — Russian ambassador

Alexey Erkhov also recalled Russia's interest in participating in the implementation of the second NPP in Turkey

US, European officials suggest returning nukes to Ukraine — NYT

US officials believe that ramping up weapons supplies to Ukraine is unlikely to change the situation in the combat zone short term, but it may help Kiev strengthen its stance in case a truce is reached

Western countries to ignore ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu — expert

Asked whether the ICC warrant might cause a rift among Western countries with different approaches to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Andrey Baklanov replied he was skeptical this might ever happen

Ukrainian strikes inside Russia impossible without Western support — newspaper

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on September 12 that Ukraine was unable to strike inside Russia without the West’s assistance because it would require intelligence data from satellites and flight assignments