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One killed and three injured in oil rig explosion in Gulf of Mexico

No possible oil leaks have been reported

© AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini/Archive

NEW-YORK, November, 21. /TASS/. One person is dead and three others injured following an explosion on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, 20 km off the coast of Louisiana on Thursday, according to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.

The Echo Platform where the explosion happened is owned by Fieldwood Energy.

The platform wasn't in production at the time of the explosion, said the Bureau, so the environmental damage was limited to the explosion area. No pollution was yet reported.

The cause of the exposion remains under investigation.

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United States Oil & Gas Accidents

Georgian president unable to become opposition leader — prime minister

Irakli Kobakhidze recalled that Salome Zourabichvili’s presidential term expires on December 29

South Korean president declares emergency martial law — Yonhap

In turn, the South Korean opposition has called a meeting of its delegates

Lavrov’s interview with Tucker Carlson turns out very interesting — Russian diplomat

According to Maria Zakharova, the interview is currently being translated and will be released in a couple of days

Settlement of Nadiya in LPR up for grabs as Kiev retreats — Russian expert

Andrey Marochko noted that the Ukrainian army was fighting with all its might to beat back Russian forces near the settlement of Belogorovka, hoping to prevent them from making gains and increasing Russia’s pressure on the northern section of the frontline

Top German diplomat says Berlin could send peacekeepers to Ukraine — agency

Annalena Baerbock also believes that along with security guarantees for Ukraine in the form of NATO membership, "international presence aimed at ensuring a ceasefire" could be considered

Russia 'making gains' along entire frontline, NATO chief says

Mark Rutte once again called on NATO countries to increase weapons supplies to Kiev

Zelensky says Ukraine tested new types of missiles

The Ukrainian president did not specify what types of missiles he was referring to, at what stage the tests were, or how successful they were

Russian forces take up positions in downtown Kurakhovo in DPR — activist

Vladimir Rogov told TASS earlier that Russian troops had moved past the city center in Kurakhovo to fight in the city’s west

West seeks to shift blame for its Ukrainian madness onto Ukrainians — Russian diplomat

"The West is gradually trying to prepare the ground to blame Ukraine, the Ukrainian people, and perhaps Vladimir Zelensky and some other political figures for their own recklessness, crimes, and crazy criminal philosophy of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia, as they put it," Maria Zakharova said

Thirteen more global brands to enter Russian market

The companies have confidentiality clauses when they make deals, so sparse details can be offered, including timelines for market entry, Marina Malakhatko said

Syrian government forces counterattacking southeast of Aleppo

According to the source, government troops have advanced along the Atraya-Aleppo highway and approached the town of Khanasir, which was seized by Jabhat al-Nusra militants

Trump tells Trudeau Canada to become 51st US state if it doesn’t stop migration

According to media, the comment prompted the Canadian delegation, including the prime minister, to "laugh nervously"

Ukraine leaves first line of defense due to risk of encirclement of Nadiya in LPR — expert

Andrey Marochko noted that the enemy units have begun to rapidly reinforce their positions near the Pershotravnevoye-Raigorodka motor road

IN BRIEF: What is known about the situation in South Korea

Earlier, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced the imposition of martial law

Strategic defeat would mean destruction for Russia, Putin says

The head of state thanked the troops participating in Russia’s special military operation for rising up to defend the country this time

Iraq sends tank units to reinforce border with Syria

The spokesman Yahya Rasul denied reports alleging that some PMF units crossed into Syrian territory

Kiev allows territorial concessions due to Ukraine's fatigue from conflict — media

Vladimir Zelensky said in an interview with Sky News on November 29 that the "hot phase" of the conflict could be concluded if Kiev-controlled territories were placed under the NATO umbrella

Ukrainian army to draft all men soon, officer warns

It is reported that employees of recruitment centers are being reassigned to army positions at the home front

Yoon Suk Yeol’s non-compliance with resolution lifting martial law to be deemed criminal

Chairman of the opposition Rebuilding Korea Party Cho Kuk urged to check the legitimacy of the South Korean leader’s actions when declaring martial law

Developments in Russia’s Kursk Region: arrest of mercenary in absentia, Ukrainian losses

The Ukrainian army lost a total of more than 37,935 servicemen since the start of the hostilities

Georgian ruling party leader Garibashvili quits his party — TV

No further details were provided

Russian forces mopping up Stariye Terny community in Donbass region, says official

Vladimir Rogov said earlier that the liberation of that settlement would deny the Ukrainian army the possibility to relocate units directly between Solntsevka in the north and Kurakhovo

Georgian mercenary hit with criminal charges, POWs: situation in Kursk Region

Strikes by operational-tactical aircraft and artillery fire hit enemy manpower and hardware in the Kursk and Sumy regions

Trump reportedly has three plans for Ukraine, one drafted by VP-elect Vance — Reuters

According to the report, alongside Vance's plan, Donald Trump is reviewing settlement proposals from Keith Kellogg, whom he proposed as his assistant and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia

Nearly third of those identified at protests in Tbilisi are foreigners — ruling party

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Authorities order evacuation from 180 settlements in Ukraine Sumy Region — official

According to Vladimir Artyukh, three evacuation waves have taken place in the Sumy Region since February 2022

Ukraine has lost its chance for NATO membership, a ‘normal’ peace treaty with Russia — MP

"Such things are done from a strong position. Now, Zelensky has led the country to a state where such a position has been lost, regrettably," the Ukrainian lawmaker said

Russians to receive a record $66.7 bln in 2024 — VTB

The tax on gains from deposit interest will remain at the level of 13-15%, Dmitry Breitenbikher noted

Escalation in Syria clearly involves Ukrainians — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova ighlighted reports suggesting that the Kiev regime's security services are collaborating with terrorists, supplying them with drones and sharing expertise in their use

NATO countries want Ukraine to fight until the last young soldier — Szijjarto

The minister noted that the meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels will continue on Wednesday

Zelensky softens rhetoric on territorial concessions to Russia — web portal

According to the report, the rhetoric has changed as Russian troops break through Ukrainian defenses on their increasingly rapid westward advance

IN BRIEF: What is known about introduction of martial law in South Korea

The ruling party and the opposition condemned this decision

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On November 28, members of the Abkhazian parliament adopted a resolution on setting an early presidential election for February 15, 2025

Russia traps Ukrainian forces at Kurakhovo pipe plant — security services

The report clarified that the Ukrainian armed forces in this frontline area are being pressured by Russian troops from the north, south, and east

CSTO to hold drills in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan in 2025 — bloc’s chief

"I should also note that the Kyrgyz Defense Ministry takes a very responsible approach towards holding such drills and I am deeply convinced that the exercises which will run on the territory of Kyrgyzstan in 2025 will also be held at a very high organizational level," Imangali Tasmagambetov said

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According to the Armenian Prime Minister, Yerevan suspended its participation in CSTO because of the absence of the "appropriate reaction" to the "external aggression at the borders of sovereign Armenia in 2021 and 2022"

South Korean government agrees to lift martial law — Yonhap

In a televised address, the President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged to support the corresponding ruling of the parliament

Syrian army takes control of Hama city’s outskirts — TV

According to the broadcaster, there are no militants left in the area and security is fully ensured by Syrian forces

Russia hammers Ukrainian military airfield infrastructure over past day — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup West repelled 10 Ukrainian counterattacks and inflicted roughly 500 casualties on enemy troops in its area of responsibility over the past day

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The newspaper said the Global Connect fiber optic network suffered a massive failure in Finland

Russian FPV drone team destroys Ukrainian tank in Kharkov area

Live-recording images showed the combat drone accurately hitting the Ukrainian tank, it said

Russia strongly condemns terrorist incursion in Syria — envoy to UN

Vasily Nebenzya said that the Syrian military, with support from Russia and other allies operating at the request of the legitimate Syrian authorities, is repelling the militants

Syrian forces push militants back from city of Hama — newspaper

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Andrey Marochko said that in order to take full control of the LPR, Russian forces had to push Ukrainian troops out of five more settlements

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Alexander Dynkin described the "the first minimal but extremely necessary steps" for Washington

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Russian army captures soldiers of Ukrainian presidential brigade

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Russia develops new-generation Kedr strategic missiles system

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Syrian forces break through encirclement in coordination with Russian military

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US seeks to preserve its occupation of northeast Syria — Russia’s UN envoy

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Russian Navy, Aerospace Forces launch precision missiles in Mediterranean drills

All the designated targets were engaged by direct hits

Tucker Carlson says US embassy in Kiev barred Zelensky from doing interview with him

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NATO infrastructure near Russia’s borders could lead to any scenario, says CSTO chief

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US journalist Carlson says he arrived in Moscow for interview with Russia’s top diplomat

The interview is "absolutely fascinating," the journalist said

South Korea’s defense minister apologizes to citizens, resigns — media

According to media reports, it was Kim Yong Hyun who advised the president to impose martial law

Russia ready to bury the hatchet with Georgia, needs to see desire from Tbilisi — diplomat

According to Maria Zakharova, Moscow hopes that traditional Georgian wisdom will win out

South Korea’s largest trade union to go on indefinite strike until president resigns

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Russian Embassy in UK brands Starmer’s hints at talks on Ukraine as hypocritical

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Russia's test of Oreshnik missile proves lack of trust in West — diplomat

Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier emphasized that the West’s provocative policies could have dire consequences if they further escalate the conflict

Bank of Russia assumes possibility of key rate lifting in December

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South Korean opposition tells president to resign, threatens to impeach him — Kyodo

The Democratic Party, which controls 170 seats in the 300-seat parliament, threatened to impeach Yoon Suk Yeol otherwise