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Syrian air defenses repel Israeli air attack on Damascus — agency

According to SANA, there were no casualties reported as a result of the attack

BEIRUT, March 19. /TASS/. The Syrian air defenses downed several Israeli rockets launched in the direction of the country’s capital of Damascus, Syria’s news agency SANA reported on Tuesday.

According to the agency, the attack was aimed against a number of military facilities located in rural areas.

There were no casualties reported as a result of the attack, which was carried out at about 2:10 a.m. local time (23:00 GMT, March 18), the news agency added.

Tags

Military operation in Ukraine

Polish general expects Russia to continue wiping out Abrams tanks in Ukraine

Waldemar Skrzypczak underlined that "no tank is invincible"

IAEA chief to have working contacts with Rosatom, no meeting with Putin is planned

Rafael Grossi may visit Russia in late May

Taiwan says 22 Chinese aircraft approach island

The Taiwanese army said that 12 aircraft had crossed the so-called median line of the Taiwan Strait

Dollar up to 91.77 rubles, euro down to 98 rubles at Moscow Exchange opening

The yuan exchange rate remains at 12.574 rubles

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

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Previously, the media reported that the Russian Health Ministry registered the first treatment for the Bekhterev’s disease in the world

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"

Lukashenko invites South Africa’s Ramaphosa to visit Belarus

The Belarusian President noted that, in the three last decades, Minsk and Pretoria supported each other at multilateral platforms, developed trade, industrial and scientific cooperation, expanded the contacts between businessmen

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

US’ Blinken to visit Israel amid rising tensions between two countries — NYT

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

Ukraine’s army leaves first defensive line in Berdychi near Avdeyevka, says DPR

The Ukrainian military has suffered heavy casualties among personnel and military hardware in that community, Igor Kimakovsky said

Shoigu talks about ties with NATO, attacks on Zaporozhye NPP as he attends SCO meeting

TASS has put together the highlights of Shoigu's speech

Russia has many questions for UN chief, Russia’s envoy says

Vasily Nebenzya said that he has "good personal relations" with the secretary general

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

Russian draft UNSC statement on Nord Streams sabotaged by West — Russian diplomat

According to Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya, the Russian draft was "very balanced"

Medvedev warns that Russia’s default may entail Europe’s default

Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council added that the European Union’s financial system is not very stable and people are losing confidence

Worst human rights situation currently observed in US, North Korean Foreign Ministry says

The spokesman also pointed out the claims of US officials about the "necessity of informational infiltration of Korea"

Hungary sees Ukraine conflict entering new phase, NATO involvement rising

According to the minister Gergely Gulyas, the North Atlantic Alliance "wants to provide financial assistance, as well as supply weapons and train Ukrainian soldiers"

Russia-Europe relations require fresh approach — Kremlin

Russia and Europe are geographically close anyway, Dmitry Peskov noted

Regulators close US’ Republic First Bank — FDIC

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation signed an agreement with Fulton Bank to assume all of the closed bank’s deposits and on purchase of all its assets.

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"

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

Ukrainian forces trapped on outskirts of Berdychi near Avdeyevka, says DPR official

Igor Kimakovsky reported that the enemy "experiences problems with logistics and the supply of ammunition and essentials"

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

Polish leader cautions NATO allies against provoking Russia

Andrzej Duda slammed the reported instances of Russian missiles entering Poland's airspace as "a Russian provocation"

Russia grateful to DPRK for unconditional support of special operation in Ukraine — MFA

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

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The detention was reported earlier by the media, which said that police had captured Tajik national Djumokhon Kurbonov

Russia puts forward serious disarmament initiatives at UN, says envoy

Earlier, Russia vetoed a draft resolution at the UN Security Council prepared by the United States and Japan on the non-deployment of nuclear weapons in space

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

Putin calls impending formation of new cabinet ‘crucial step’

The Russian leader pointed out that it is important to ensure stability and transparency in the Russian socio-political system

Network of international conspirators plotted Crocus terrorist attack — watchdog

Yury Chikhanchin pointed out that the perpetrators of the attack were provided with money, weapons, transportation and ammunition

UN bound to stay as unique world organization — Russian ambassador

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

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

The report hasn’t been officially confirmed

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

According to the news agency Tasnim, when speaking about NATO eastward expansion, Mohammad Reza Ashtiani emphasized that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states should utilize the SCO potential in order to neutralize common threats

NATO bears direct responsibility for Ukraine crisis — Chinese Foreign Ministry

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

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"

Russia strikes major thermal power plant in western Ukraine — underground resistance

Five missiles hit Dnepropetrovsk while a strong blow with the subsequent detonation was registered in Krivoi Rog, the spokesman specified

Alrosa may leave Catoca project in Angola — Finance Ministry

Alrosa is working in Angola since 1992

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

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

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

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

Global community changing tune about how Ukraine conflict started — security official

According to Nikolay Patrushev, these countries "understand perfectly well who is financing" the Kiev regime

Russia may cut oil production by 1.2% in 2024 — Economy Ministry

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There is confirmed evidence of his connections with French secret services

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Russia fights West’s sanctions at UN for the sake of developing countries — envoy to UN

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DPRK supports Russia in defending sovereignty, security — ambassador

The North Korean ambassador Sin Hong Chol praised the "sincere and excellent friendly relations" between Russian President Vladimir Putin and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un

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US nukes in Poland to become target for Russia should confrontation with NATO occur — MFA

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

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Polish general expects Russia to continue wiping out Abrams tanks in Ukraine

Waldemar Skrzypczak underlined that "no tank is invincible"

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Kremlin spokesman addresses WSJ article about Putin’s non-involvement in Navalny’s death

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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

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

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Kremlin spokesman describes European Parliament as 'Russophobic machine'

Dmitry Peskov added that the EP "has turned into a machine brimming with internal contradictions that keeps generating boorish statements"

Tourists discover fragment of Iranian missile in Israeli desert

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Pelosi's remarks about US protesters undemocratic, Russian diplomat says

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

Ship receives damage in missile attack off Yemeni coast — UKMTO

The Master has reported two attacks

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

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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

Injury toll in Kiev’s strikes on DPR rises to three civilians over past day

Local Administration Head Ivan Prikhodko said that "a female resident of Gorlovka was injured as a result of yesterday’s shelling of the Stroitel residential compound in the Nikitovsky district of Gorlovka"

Poland practices transfer of mechanized brigade to Lithuania's Suwalki Corridor area

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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

Ukrainian troops fire 57 rounds at DPR over 24 hours

According to the statement, a civilian fatality was reported, and two civilians sustained wounds

Scholz asks allies to find additional air defense capabilities for Ukraine

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

Russia warns US, NATO against harming its security — diplomat

Maria Zakharova stressed that "the level of nuclear risks have risen dramatically as a result of the West’s destructive policy, which is fraught with a direct military confrontation between nuclear powers"

Court places Forbes reporter under house arrest for discrediting Russian armed forces

The press service specified that investigative and procedural actions are underway in coordination with Russia’s Federal Security Service

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

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

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

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

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

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West prepares puppet structures in case of coup in Belarus — KGB

Ivan Tertel said various methods were being considered, up to "instigating a forceful seizure by illegal armed groups" being trained in the West and Ukraine

US intel finds no proof of Russian leadership’s involvement in Navalny’s death — newspaper

"Some European intelligence agencies have been told of the US view," The Wall Street Journal added

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

The countries will jointly announce the time of this trip, Dmitry Peskov said

Israel ready to accept release of fewer than 40 hostages in deal’s first phase — newspaper

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