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Middle East conflict

Three tunnels shafts destroyed near hospital in Gaza, says Israeli army

"The tunnel also served as a command and control center for conducting combat in the northern Gaza Strip and for carrying out terrorist attacks," the IDF press service said

TEL AVIV, December 27. /TASS/. Three tunnel shafts belonging to radicals near the al-Rantisi hospital in the Gaza Strip have been spotted and destroyed, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported.

"The IDF located and destroyed three terror tunnel shafts belonging to the Hamas terror organization near the Rantisi Hospital and in the nearby High School," the statement said. "The tunnel shafts, dozens of meters deep, are connected by an underground network passing under the hospital and leading to the heart of Gaza City."

"The tunnel also served as a command and control center for conducting combat in the northern Gaza Strip and for carrying out terrorist attacks," the IDF press service said.

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Palestine Israel

Actions by Abkhazia’s opposition suggest attempt to seize power

Justice Minister Anri Bartsits emphasized that President Aslan Bzhania had already proposed a perfectly legal solution to resolve the current political crisis

RFK Jr. calls for immediate US-Russia talks on Ukraine

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin put forward his latest peace proposal for the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict, which envisages the recognition of the status of Crimea, the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics, the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions as Russian constituencies

Georgia’s ruling party scores 53.93% in elections, wins 89 mandates — CEC results

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US is now at war with Russia, Ritter says

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Scholz, Biden have nothing to offer Putin — German expert

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Trump vows to settle conflict in Ukraine before his inauguration

He also pledged to prevent World War Three

Russia, China eyeing new gas route via Kazakhstan — Novak

Consideration of the route is at the initial phase, the Russian official said

China receives first batch of Russian S-400 missile systems — source

Russia’s S-400 Triumf is designed to destroy aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, including medium-range missiles, and surface targets

Ukrainian people don't need support promised by Scholz after talks with Putin — Lavrov

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Hostages taken in restaurant in Paris suburb — TV

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Erdogan to present proposal to freeze Ukraine conflict on current lines at G20 — Bloomberg

The Turkish proposal envisages establishing a demilitarized zone in eastern Donbass and placing international troops there

West to face 'devastating' response if it allows Kiev to strike deep into Russia — MFA

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Chechen leader reports eliminating Ukrainian troops in Sumy Region

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

The Belarusian leader noted that they want to go to Warsaw

German defense minister calls for trying to build dialogue with Russia on Ukraine

Boris Pistorius, however, noted that he sees no changes in Moscow’s course

Russia awaits Trump’s proposals on Ukrainian settlement — Lavrov

"Russia's position was clearly worded by the Russian president on June 14, 2024," Sergey Lavrov stressed

Musk doubles down on his opinion about 'endless war' in Ukraine

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German government confirms death of ten Germans in Ukraine since February 2022

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Kremlin says Putin spoke with Scholz in Russian through interpreter

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Biden sets stage for WW3 by letting use US weapons to attack deep into Russia — senator

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Talks on Iran Nuclear Deal to resume soon, Iranian foreign minister says

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Relations with Russia to improve for mutual benefit, says Finnish President Stubb

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Phone conversation between Putin, Scholz lasted one hour — Kremlin

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, marking their first phone conversation since December 2022

IAEA inspectors notified of high voltage power supply line shutdown at ZNPP

The reason for the shutdown remains unknown

Actions of those seeking to stage coup in Abkhazia harming relations with Russia

Abkhazia should rely on the union with Russia and build its own state, Abkhazian President Aslan Bzhania said

Swedish minister in charge of gender equality suffers from bananaphobia

The phobia is so strong that special precautions need to be taken before her meetings

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Lack of due support, and accommodation issues, are the reason

G20 summit in Brazil brings together over 40 countries — president

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov represents Russia at the event

Russia inks first deals to deliver Su-57 fifth-generation fighter to foreign customers

Alexander Mikheyev also explained the expectations and effect of the demonstration of Russian military hardware at Airshow China in Zhuhai

Trump to zero in on fragmenting BRICS, Ukraine to take back seat — expert

According to the political scientist Boris Mezhuyev, in all likelihood attempts to replace the presidents of Brazil and Venezuela, and pit India, Russia and China against each other are coming

Lavrov outlines Moscow’s approach to Ukrainian crisis during visit to UAE — ministry

Lavrov arrived in Abu Dhabi to take part in the Sir Bani Yas international peace and security forum

Abkhazia’s opposition agrees that vice president will act as head of state

Adgur Ardzinba, Leader of the Abkhazian Popular Movement, said that the entire cabinet is to resign

Bzhania says he remains Abkhazia’s elected president

"There is the law, and from the viewpoint of the law I am an elected president," he said

US military industrial complex seeks to unleash World War III — Donald Trump Jr.

"The Military Industrial Complex seems to want to make sure they get World War 3 going before my father has a chance to create peace and save lives," he said

Russia’s hypersonic Zircon anti-ship missile reaches eight times speed of sound

The source noted that Zircon missiles can be launched from universal launching platforms 3C14 which are also used for the Onyx and Caliber missiles

German envoy doubts time is ripe for talks on Ukraine ceasefire

"It’s quite clear that Europe will play its part in resolving" the conflict, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff said

US should not get involved in disputes in South China Sea — Xi

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Poland may hand Russian consulate’s building in Poznan over to Ukraine — minister

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Russia's newest Su-57 fighter jet superior to China's new J-35 — test pilot

Sergey Bogdan emphasized that the newest Russian fighter was a "magnificent platform for a future generation of configurations, just as the Su-27 aircraft in its heyday"

US State Department insists DPRK troops engaged in Russia’s borderline Kursk Region

Patel also insisted that "Russian forces have trained the DPRK soldiers in artillery, in UAV, and basic infantry operations, including trench clearing, which are critical skills for frontline operations"

Foreign mercenaries fighting on Ukraine’s side near Kupyansk, says military expert

Most of the intercepted talks deal with military issues, using a special talk chart, Andrey Marochko specified

Damage to infrastructure reported in southeastern Ukraine

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Russia’s top diplomat Sergey Lavrov to participate in G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro

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Japan may toughen sanctions against Russia, North Korea over their cooperation — NHK

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Houthis say they attacked Tel Aviv, Ashkelon

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Situation at OSCE security forum worsens under Danish chairmanship — Foreign Ministry

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Macron doesn’t rule out phone call with Putin — TV

The French leader said that a conversation with Putin is possible "when relevant conditions and circumstances appear," the BFMTV television channel reported

Pentagon chief believes Ukraine conflict will be resolved through talks

Pentagon chief said that following a meeting with his Australian and Japanese counterparts

Clear Zelensky won't be the one to decide about talks with Russia, says Lavrov

"Russian President Putin has repeatedly said that we have never refused to negotiate," the Russian foreign minister reiterated

Decision to allow use of long-range weapons against Russia is ‘insane’ — Maduro

"The American imperialism has entered a phase of madness and revenge," the Venezuelan president noted

Fico’s adviser says special military operation underway between US, Russia

Military and financial support provided to Ukraine is not a way of solving the crisis, Mazgut said

US permission to strike deep into Russia unlikely to change Ukrainian conflict — NPR

US-based NPR broadcaster notes that the stock of such missiles in Ukraine is limited, since they have already been used during the conflict

Ukraine loses almost 10,100 troops while trying to counterattack in LPR last week — expert

According to Andrey Marochko, from November 9 to November 15, the battlegroups North, West and South destroyed 32 Ukrainian tanks, 75 field artillery guns and over 320 different combat vehicles

Turkey does not consider pullout from NATO — Erdogan’s party

Earlier, on Wednesday, the deputy leader of the Turkish Motherland Party, Ethem Sancak, said that Turkey might leave NATO in five to six months due to provocative actions against Ankara

Paris, London authorize strikes inside Russia — newspaper

According to Le Figaro, Kiev "will be able to use SCALP/Storm Shadow missiles for these purposes"

Finland seizes over 30 more real estate properties owned by Russian government

The value of these confiscated apartments is more than ten million euros, the agency said

Russian court issues arrest warrant in absentia for neo-Nazi Panovsky

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Press review: UK and French leaders discuss Ukraine as the dollar continues to climb

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, November 12th

Russia inflicts damage on gas production facilities used for Ukraine’s defense industry

Energy facilities backing Ukrainian defense industry extensively attacked

Putin congratulates Gazprom on completion of work on Nord Stream 2

The gas pipeline is ready for operation, the Russian President said

Ukrainian troops surrender as Russian forces advance — captive

Alexander Rapolyuk noted that they had originally been sent to the Kursk Region under the pretext of replacing their comrades, but upon arrival, they found that the servicemen they were meant to replace had already been killed

Russia open to Ukraine talks based on June proposals, Putin tells Scholz

"Russia's proposals are well known and outlined, in particular, in a June speech at the Russian Foreign Ministry," the Russian president said

Scholz describes his phone call with Putin as important and detailed

"The conversation was detailed but revealed that little has changed in the Russia president’s views. This is not good news," Scholz said

Scholz's call to Putin speaks of intention to learn Russia's position firsthand — Kremlin

The conversation took place at the initiative of the German side

Top Hungarian diplomat blames West for trying to expand war in Ukraine

Peter Szijjarto pointed out that "the supporters of war in Washington and Brussels have launched a final, desperate attack on the new reality"

Ukraine is running low on Storm Shadow missiles — The Daily Telegraph

Reports on whether Kiev is authorized to use the UK-supplied missiles for deep strikes on Russia have been controversial over the past few months

Press review: Trump forms foreign policy team and Europe sets course for militarization

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, November 13th

Putin has already voiced his position strikes inside Russia with US weapons — diplomat

Earlier The New York Times reported that US President Joe Biden has allowed to use US-supplied long-range missiles, known as the Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS, to strike inside Russia

Putin-Scholz phone conversation was arranged promptly — Kremlin spokesman

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday

China stands against any steps aimed at Ukrainian conflict escalation — diplomat

Spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the United States Liu Pengyu stressed that Beijing stood for a peaceful and diplomatic settlement of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine

Canadian PM on Putin-Scholz talks: Ending Ukraine crisis requires `a level of engagement’

Ottawa is continuing to engage closely with Kiev, Justin Trudeau added

Georgian opposition blocks road near Tbilisi State University

The protesters have also begun to pitch tents

Eight killed, 17 injured in knife attack in China

No further details have been provided

Russian missile frigate enters Mediterranean Sea in long-distance deployment

In the Mediterranean Sea, the missile frigate’s crew will accomplish missions as part of the Russian Navy’s standing taskforce

54 countries vote against resolution on combating ne-Nazism

116 countries, including Azerbaijan, Algeria, Armenia, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Cuba, Serbia, and Syria, supported the document

US, West use Ukraine as ‘strike force’ against Russia, says North Korean leader

"The global situation is approaching the dangerous threshold," Kim Jong Un said

Biden authorizes use of US long-range weapons to strike inside Russia — media

According to the report, it is not ruled out that Joe Biden may allow to use American missiles to deliver strikes not only on the Kursk Region but also elsewhere in Russia

Press review: Switzerland open to hosting Putin-Trump talks as NATO and EU back Ukraine

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, November 15th

European politicians repeat their position on Ukraine like mantra, says Kremlin

"Russian President Vladimir Putin told Olaf Scholz in detail about Russia's vision of what is happening, about possible prospects for the development of the situation," Dmitry Peskov said

Five Ukrainian drones downed over Bryansk, Kursk Regions — defense ministry

Russian air defense systems destroyed three Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the Kursk Region and two - over the Bryansk Region

Pilot lauds thrust, aerodynamics of smooth-flying Su-57 fighter jet

According to Sergey Bogdan, this fighter jet flies smoother than anything out there today

Lavrov arrives in Rio de Janeiro to take part in G20 summit

On November 18, the top Russian diplomat is expected to speak at plenary session on issues of fighting against poverty and famine, as well as of reforming global institutions

US using Ukraine as instrument for fighting against Russia — Kremlin

Russia still urges the Kiev regime to stop sending its citizens to death and killing Russians in Ukraine, Peskov noted

IN BRIEF: What is known about situation in Abkhazia

In order to stabilize the situation, President Aslan Bzhania decided to withdraw from the parliament a bill on the ratification of the agreement with Russia on the implementation of investment projects by Russian legal entities on the territory of the republic

Trump team fears negative impact of allegations against Hegseth — media

According to sources, many in Trump's team are reportedly disappointed

Blast occurs at Udmurtia facility, preliminarily due to drone

The blast did not cause serious damage, the staff have been evacuated

Ukrainian intel officers in Syria to be eliminated as terrorists’ accomplices — diplomat

According to Alexander Lavrentyev, there are "in fact Russian troops stationed" in Syria

Developments in Kursk Region: Ukrainian fighters suffer losses, face charges in Russia

Ukraine lost more than 100 servicemen, a tank, an armored fighting vehicle, four motor vehicles, two D-30 122-mm howitzers, a mortar and an electronic warfare station over the past day

US-led coalition aircraft violate Syrian airspace 12 times in past day

Apart from that, two violations of the deconfliction protocols of December 9, 2019 linked with the flights by the US-led coalition unmanned aerial vehicles were reported

Kremlin says tone of Putin-Scholz conversation was businesslike, quite frank

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Russian President Vladimir Putin on November 15

Trump may review Biden’s decision on strikes inside Russia with US missiles

"I suspect most everything will be under review," a member of Trump’s transition team said

US communicates its decision to authorize Kiev to strike inside Russia 3 days ago — Axios

These weapons were authorized for use in the Kursk Region only, the news outlet said

Turkey plans to commission first unit of Akkuyu NPP in 2025

According to the development program, in 2025, the country plans to generate an extra of 1,200 MW of electricity, including up to 64 GW by the nuclear plant

Russian forces capture 10 km of LPR border — military expert

On October 16, Andrey Marochko informed TASS that Ukrainian forces were still operating near three key towns in the LPR’s west: Svatovo, Kremennaya, and Lisichansk

Putin proclaims Odessa Russian city, challenges Ukraine's historical narrative

At the same time, the president noted that once upon a time "Vladimir Lenin gave away the whole of Ukraine when he created the Soviet Union"

Russia introduced temporary restrictions on enriched uranium exports to the US

This is a tit-for-tat measure against the restriction of Russian uranium products imports introduced by the US for 2024-2027 and the ban to be imposed by it since 2028 onward

Russian troops liberate DPR's Leninskoye, Makarovka

Russian army hits Ukrainian energy facilities