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G7 Finance Ministers plan to discuss assistance to Ukraine — Japanese Minister

The ministers plan to discuss a variety of subjects, including assistance for Ukraine

TOKYO, December 19. /TASS/. The heads of the Ministries of Finance and central banks of the Group of Seven (G7) countries will hold online negotiations on Tuesday, Reuters reported with reference to Japanese Minister Shunichi Suzuki, who is chairing the meeting.

The ministers plan to discuss a variety of subjects, including assistance for Ukraine. No specifics are given.

Assistance to Ukraine has been a major topic of discussion during Japan's G7 presidency, which is coming to a close. Tokyo has made it clear time and time again that it will uphold the sanctions against Moscow and assist Kiev. Italy will preside over the G7 in 2024.

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Middle East conflict

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

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Hezbollah fires anti-tank missiles at Israeli positions in Metula

According to the broadcast, at least three of them hit targets

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Stoltenberg's statements on use of long-range missiles against Russia senseless — MFA

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Russia ready to give Uzbekistan access to high-precision GLONASS signal — document

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The newspaper pointed out that the pager blasts have turned daily life in Lebanon into scenes of panic and violence

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Russia wants no nuclear war — Lavrov

The foreign minister still assured that Russia possesses weapons "that will have serious implications for the handlers of the Ukrainian regime"

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

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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

Russian forces take control of two settlements in Kursk Region

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Russian prime minister approves list of countries imposing destructive attitudes

It includes the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan and other states

Kiev still plans to attack Kursk NPP — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova pointed out that the US and the UK were behind all of Kiev's crimes

US citizen Zenkovich, convicted in Belarus, asks Lukashenko for pardon

Zenkovich also addressed the US side

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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"

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Maria Zakharova asserted Russia’s solidarity with the people of Lebanon

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European Parliament calls for arrest warrant for Maduro

The lawmakers recognized Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as the legitimate president of Venezuela and urged EU member countries to do the same

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

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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"

US to step up efforts to limit Russia’s fuel exports, defense imports – White House

Sanctions and export controls are "our tools", US Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics Daleep Singh said

Kadyrov send two more Cybertucks to special military operation zone

"The electric car’s mobility, comfort and maneuverability are what is needed here," the Chechen leader said

Lavrov says he agrees with Trump about destructiveness of sanctions for US dollar

The Russian foreign minister stressed that, despite the continued dependence of many economies on the dollar, the risk of this phenomenon has already been recognized

Israeli air force attacks around 100 Hezbollah sites in Lebanon in past two hours

The strikes were directed by the IDF intelligence units and the IDF Northern Command, the Israel Defense Forces said

Russian aviation wipes out base of Ukrainian militants in DPR — expert

The Russian Aerospace Forces delivered a strike with a glide munition

Mexican president-elect refuses to visit Ukraine

"I will attend certain international events, which we consider important, but we will not travel much - our responsibility lies here," Claudia Sheinbaum said

US carries out mock electronic launch of Minuteman III ICBM

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Press review: US shifts rhetoric on Ukraine and walkie-talkie explosions rock Lebanon

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, September 19th

Russia's military to restore control of all districts of Kursk Region — Kremlin

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Putin instructs authorities to support small producers of drones

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Peace talks between Russia, Ukraine unlikely to happen in near future — DPR head

As Denis Pushilin noted, for now the word "peace" is interpreted in different ways, but everything should end in negotiations sooner or later

Hezbollah fires rockets at seven Israeli barracks

Large-caliber Burkan missiles were used in an attack on the town of Metula and its environs, causing several fires and disrupting power supply to the settlement

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

Iran warns about pending response to Israel after Hamas leader Haniyeh’s killing

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Israeli attacks Hezbollah facilities, red lines: Middle East escalation

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In case of deep strikes Russia to respond with more powerful weapons — Duma speaker

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Businessman probably related to exploding gadgets in Lebanon missing in Norway

At this point, there is no evidence indicating that Rinson Jose had any knowledge about the operation to create the explosive gadgets

European Parliament urges end to restrictions on strikes on Russia with Western weapons

In addition, the EU member states and NATO allies are asked to "collectively and individually commit to supporting Ukraine militarily, with no less than 0.25% of their GDP annually"

Situation on Korean Peninsula becomes tenser because of US — North Korean Foreign Minister

Choe Son-hui underscored that "global peace and security are in jeopardy"

IN BRIEF: Ex-Ukrainian intel officer’s car blown up in northern Moscow

The explosion occurred in a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado off-road vehicle parked on Korovinskoye highway in the north of Moscow, when the driver started the SUV

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

US Treasury sanctions two banks from Russia and South Ossetia

Inclusion in the sanctions list entails the freezing of assets in the US and a ban on American citizens and companies doing business with sanctioned persons and entities

Germany says supplies to Kiev included 22 Leopard 1A5 tanks, 3 Gepard air defense systems

Germany is also preparing to deliver 12 Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled artillery units

Only Lebanese hospitals, kindergartens used exploded pagers — Iranian ambassador

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

Physicists from Russia to be banned from Large Hadron Collider from December 1 — Nature

At the same time, CERN will continue to work on projects already underway with about 270 employees of the Russian Joint Institute for Nuclear Research

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

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

Belarus ready to cooperate with Ukraine on same terms as with DPR

Alexander Lukashenko stressed that by cooperating with the DPR, Belarus "is absolutely not violating any international norms"

Russia cautions Chisinau against involvement in Ukrainian conflict — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova drew attention to the speculations about Romania's plans for redirecting to Moldova the mobile maintenance stations for F-16 fighter jets received by Bucharest for their subsequent deployment at the Marculesti airbase

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

West assists Kiev in striking civilian facilities in Russia — diplomat

In his words, Kiev is not independent from the military point of view, having no material and technical capabilities for independent warfare that involves western weaponry

Cases against Ukrainian servicemen: situation in Kursk Region

Russian investigators have initiated three criminal cases against Ukrainian militants involved in crimes against civilians in the Kursk Region

North Korean balloon carrying trash crashes again near government complex in Seoul

Police cordoned off the scene, military specialists checked the contents for hazardous substances and removed the debris

Battlegroup North liberates two settlements in Kursk Region this week

Apart from that, according to the report, Russian aircraft struck areas of deployment of manpower and weapons of the Ukrainian army’s three mechanized, one tank, and two assault brigades

Press review: Hezbollah pagers attack threatens wider war and Russia ready to test nukes

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, September 18th

EU may cancel visa-free regime with Georgia due to ‘backsliding on democracy' — newspaper

According to the newspaper, under the 2017 agreement, Georgian citizens do not need visas to visit EU countries, where they can stay for six months a year

Rising number of dead foreigners in Ukraine proves West's involvement — envoy to UN

"We have warned from the beginning that those who help the Zelensky clique stay afloat will become our legitimate targets," Vasily Nebezya reminded