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Middle East conflict

Iranian leader believes Netanyahu deserves ‘death penalty,’ ICC warrant insufficient

Israel "will never prevail, either in Gaza or in Lebanon," the Iranian leader emphasized

DUBAI, November 25. /TASS/. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei stated that the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is insufficient and that he should face the death penalty.

"The foolish should not think that bombing civilian homes is a victory. Instead of being a victory, it is a war crime. The ICC issued an arrest warrant for them. However, this is not enough. Netanyahu should be executed," Khamenei said during a meeting with members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Basij militia.

The attendees of the meeting, including the commander of the IRGC, Lieutenant-General Hossein Salami, responded by chanting, "Death to America, death to England, death to Israel."

Israel "will never prevail, either in Gaza or in Lebanon," the Iranian leader’s press service quoted him as saying.

On November 21, the ICC announced it had issued arrest warrants for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed between October 8, 2023, and May 20, 2024, in Palestine, including the Gaza Strip. According to the court’s pretrial chamber, they are accused of acts such as murder, persecution, and other inhumane actions, as well as deliberately causing civilian starvation as a method of warfare.

Middle East conflict

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UN Secretary-General condemns escalation between Israel, Yemen

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Biden tasks Pentagon with boosting military aid to Kiev

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Israel’s army intercepts missile fired from Yemen

"Following the sirens that sounded in several areas in central Israel, one missile that was launched from Yemen was intercepted before crossing into Israeli territory," the press service says

France made several requests to Russia on Ukraine topic through private channels — Lavrov

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CIA station in Kiev targeted in recent Russian attack, military expert reveals

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Russian fighters control about 40% of Terny in Donetsk region, military expert says

Andrey Marochko added that Russian servicemen have advanced east of Yampolovka, bringing the distance between that village and Russia’s frontline positions to less than 1.2 miles

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Egypt lost more than 60% of Suez Canal revenues in 2024 — administration

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Russian prime minister approves list of countries imposing destructive attitudes

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Cooperation between Russia, North Korea meets vital interests of their peoples — KCNA

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It is planned to launch it in general circulation in early 2025

Zelensky defines essence of next summit on Ukraine in four-letter explicit word — Lavrov

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Ex-Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh died at age of 92

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Termination of transit of Russian gas to kill Ukraine’s gas transport system — experts

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Oboronlogistics company blames loss of its ship Ursa Major on terrorist attack

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Russia imposes state of federal-level emergency due to fuel oil spill in Black Sea

Alexander Kurenkov noted that "this classification will enable the deployment of additional resources and personnel from federal executive authorities and state corporations, as well as provide necessary financial assistance to the affected entities from the Russian government’s reserve fund"

Russian forces break through Ukrainian defense lines in Kharkov Region — expert

Marochko added that the operation allowed Russian troops to "expand their zone of control" in the area

EU to impose new sanctions on ‘Russian shadow fleet’ over Baltic Sea incident

In addition, the European Union is strengthening protection of the bloc's undersea cables

Sandu regime may seize Moldavan power plant in Transnistria — Russian Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova noted that "under such a scenario, the Russian peacekeeping presence in the region will be jeopardized"

Kremlin admits legal action over transfer of $1 bln from Russian assets to Ukraine

"Such illegal actions, including the transfer of this billion, may surely prompt legal action. And we will surely use all possibilities in the future to protect our rights and the rights to our property," Dmitry Peskov noted

Emigration of 5.3 million Ukrainians a serious blow, Ukrainian expert says

According to Alexey Poznyak, problems are to be expected in the labor market

Press review: Putin outlines Russia's future goals and Tehran faces energy blackout riots

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

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"What has happened in Tartus, gives us even more resolve to eradicate the remains of Assad’s regime," Mohammad Abdul Rahman said

Over 25 countries want to take part in Intervision Song Contest, Lavrov says

Russia is ready to welcome tourists from Latin American countries in every possible way, to show them Moscow and St. Petersburg, Lake Baikal, Kamchatka, Sochi, Suzdal, and Altai, the top Russian diplomat said

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The Belarusian leader believes that Germany should restore relations with Russia for the sake of its own economy

Plane crash in Kazakhstan claims 38 lives

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"But the political dialog at a summit and high level is actually frozen to date," Dmitry Feoktistov added

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According to Dmitry Feoktistov, at the same time "a freeze is observed at political and economic level"

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"We are open to any negotiations, provided they essentially discuss the core causes [behind the Ukraine crisis] and the key principles put forward by Russian President Vladimir Putin in June," the top diplomat said

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Azerbaijan Airlines plane tried to land twice at Aktau airport before crash

The Aktau air traffic controller promptly performed all necessary measures for the aircraft’s landing

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Biden’s last aid package to Kiev won’t contribute to Ukraine’s security — Russian diplomat

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Canadian ministers going to US for consultations with Trump’s administration — TV

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Dutch citizen remanded in custody in Moscow on charges of assaulting police officer

Harry Johannes van Wurden should be taken into custody for two months, until December 3

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The experiment that allowed testing the supercomputer prototype took place on December 19, the Moscow State University said

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There is always something new at certain sections of the front, the head of state emphasized

Finnish police detain oil tanker on suspicion of damaging communication cables

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Two families with children return to Russia from Syria — commissioner

An aircraft landed in the Moscow Region, Maria Lvova-Belova said

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This is another example of a harmful impact of unlawful restrictive measures, the ministry said

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The agenda comprises issues pertaining to support of regions, road and transportation networks and other topics

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Thailand accepts invitation to become BRICS partner state — MFA

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Israeli jets pummel cities of Sanaa, Hodeidah in Yemen — source

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Kremlin will not speculate about causes of plane crash near Aktau — spokesman

Dmitry Peskov recalled that the day before during the informal summit of the CIS, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered deep condolences to the families and friends of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured

Russian-Iranian partnership agreement to be inked on January 17 — ambassador

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Georgian president demands appointing snap elections within week

Salome Zourabichvili also promised to announce her further plans on Monday

Lavrov sees ceasefire in Ukraine as road to nowhere, calls for reliable agreements

The top Russian diplomat pointed out that those accords should first and foremost address the root causes of the Ukraine crisis

WHO chief says unhurt in Israeli air attack on Yemen airport

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus explained that he had arrived in the Yemeni capital to negotiate the release of UN staff and to assess the humanitarian situation in the country

Crew of plane that crashed in Kazakhstan lost control due to system failure

Kazakh Transport Minister Marat Karabayev noted that the information was also received that "after providing data on the weather in Makhachkala and Baku, the crew decided to fly to Aktau"

Kazakhstan’s Aktau Airport was aware of oxygen cylinder blast before plane’s crash

KazAeroNavigation’s flight director immediately notified all emergency services

Continued terror attacks by Kiev to be met with increasingly tougher response — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat expressed disappointment that virtually none of the Western nations have joined Russia’s condemnation of these attacks, including the leaders of international organizations like the UN, OSCE, or UNESCO

Yemeni ports of Hodeidah, Ras Isa put out of service by Israeli strikes — source

Damage also came from sweeping fires that were set off by strikes on oil tanks in both ports

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Earlier, the Israel Defense Forces’ press office said that Israeli Air Force fighter jets struck military targets of the Houthi regime on the west coast and in the interior regions of Yemen

Russian emergencies minister expects more natural disasters due to climate change

The Russian emergencies minister, Alexander Kurenkov, added, that weather anomalies are becoming more and more frequent

Ukrainian agents attempted to deliver booby-trapped documents to Archangel Project head

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Two people preparing attempts on Russian military officials' lives recruited in Ukraine

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Bosphorus transit suspended due to malfunction of tanker en route to Russia

The Cordelia Moon is 274 meters long and 50 meters wide

US-made Abrams tanks in Taiwan won’t help island — China’s defense ministry

The Chinese People's Liberation Army will comprehensively strengthen military training to prevent a separatist plot by supporters of Taiwan independence and interference by outside forces, according to Spokesman Zhang Xiaogang

Turkey to help new Syrian authorities create regular Armed Forces — Defense Ministry

The defense ministry also noted that the experience of Turkey, which has an "exemplary army" and a powerful defense industry infrastructure, will significantly contribute to strengthening Syria’s security and defense capability

Decision-making centers in Kiev may be targets of Russia’s strikes, says Lavrov

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Lukashenko, Putin discuss regional security, bilateral relations

The presidents also talked about cooperation between the countries in a variety of areas, including economy

EAEU leaders approve 17 documents following summit in Leningrad region

These include an agreement on the single customs transit system, a decision on the entry into force of the free trade agreement with Iran, and an order on the functioning of the single services market within the EAEU

Contract for gas transit to EU cannot be renewed before New Year — Putin

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Voting on acting president’s impeachment expected in South Korea

The voting is expected to take place on December 27

Russia practically eliminates remnants of Ukraine’s Air Force — source

The source said that attempts to recruit more pilots in Poland and other Eastern European countries were not particularly successful

Russian stock market closes with growth in leading indices

By the of the trading session, the MOEX index rose by 1.23%, while the RTS index rose by 1.63%

Russia’s Chechnya ships 200 ‘Jihad mobile’ vehicles for special military operation

The authorities of Chechnya handed over 200 "Jihad mobile"

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The cause of the damage is still unknown, with operators currently investigating it and conducting repair operations

Putin says Biden in 2021 proposed to postpone Ukraine's admission to NATO

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Expert sees the collective West behind Ursa Major terrorist attack

Alexander Stepanov emphasized that "the goal of the enemy’s terrorist campaign on international shipping routes was to disrupt trade and economic cooperation"

Armored vehicle with Israeli commanding officers blown up in West Bank

The rest of the passengers in the vehicle did not get injured

Russia’s still paying for gas transit through Ukraine — Putin

Pumping also continues through the Sudzha station, where military activities are ongoing

Death toll in Israel’s strike against Yemen growing to six

Forty more were injured