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SCO and BRICS summits in Ufa

India, Pakistan accession to SCO may change balance of power on world arena — Uzbek leader

The SCO leaders are expected to agree on the accession of India and Pakistan that'll give the organization a non-official and alternative status of an association of the "big eight" countries

© Summit's photo-host agency

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Uzbekistan takes over presidency at Shanghai Cooperation Organization

UFA, July 10. /TASS/. The accession of nuclear powers of India and Pakistan to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will not only change the political map, but may also influence the balance of power on the world arena, Uzbekistan’s President Islam Karimov said on Friday.

"How will the accession process of these two states [India and Pakistan] happen taking into consideration that these are not ordinary states but they possess nuclear weapons? If we look through this lens, then tomorrow their accession to the SCO will not simply change the political map, but I think may change the balance of power," Karimov said at the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Russia’s Ufa.

The Uzbek leader proposed to the Russian leader to discuss the issues linked to the accession of new members to the SCO during the upcoming presidency of Uzbekistan in the organization.

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The Russian president joked saying that "it will be like: Uzbekistan President Karimov has brought India and Pakistan to the SCO and created a new political world reality," adding: "Let’s talk about that."

At the SCO summit on Friday, the leaders are expected to agree on the accession procedure for India and Pakistan what will give the organization a non-official and alternative status of an association of the "big eight" countries. The membership will be finalized in 2016.

Besides, the six-nation bloc has received applications for observer or dialogue partner status from several countries, such as Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Bangladesh, Sri-Lanka, Syria, Ukraine, Maldives, Cambodia and Egypt.

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SCO India Pakistan Uzbekistan SCO and BRICS summits in Ufa

Military operation in Ukraine

Ukraine’s General Staff admits tense situation along entire frontline

The Ukrainian military also admitted the Russian army’s supremacy in terms of military equipment and the size of personnel

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NATO spies study damage from Oreshnik at Yuzhmash — expert

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Russia’s Battlegroup South liberates settlement of Ostrovskogo in DPR — Defense Ministry

"The enemy lost up to 285 troops, two armored combat vehicles, two motor vehicles, a D-30 122 mm howitzer, a US-made M119 105 mm howitzers and five field ammunition depots," the ministry added

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Oreshnik test launch forces London to take a step back — Russian ambassador

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Ukrainian shelling of Russia’s Rylsk damages 12 buildings — governor

Three of them are not subject to restoration, Alexander Khinshtein said

Russia manages situation in Ukraine, while West in big trouble — US political scientist

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Airborne troops from Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr wipe out enemy position in Kherson region

A Russian airborne crew hit the target by firing a 120-mm mortar gun on a Ukrainian temporary position

Oreshnik’s launch is sudden, undetectable by satellites — analyst

The range of the Oreshnik system is up to 5,500 kilometers

Ukraine to halt Russian gas transit on January 1, 2025 — Ukrainian PM

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"It is very important to talk about these statements by the president in the context of the question he was asked," Dmitry Peskov pointed out

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All foreign personnel of international humanitarian organizations have also left, the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang said

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The politician emphasized that "the president of a major country should be extremely polite and amiable"

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Turkish president calls on West to stop Israel in Syria before it’s too late

"All international mechanisms need to be effectively employed in order to prevent Israel from exploiting the situation in Syria," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said

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Russian missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov to become world’s strongest warship after upgrade

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Arkhangelsk nuclear submarine ready to join Russian Navy — Sevmash Shipyard CEO

Project 885M nuclear-powered submarines carry Oniks and Kalibr-PL cruise missiles as their basic strike weapons

ISS orbit raised ahead of launching Soyuz manned spacecraft

As preliminary data suggest, the ISS orbit was raised by 2.3 km to 416.43 km above the Earth’s surface

Slovak PM to visit Moscow for talks with Putin, Serbian president says

"Robert Fico will travel to visit Putin as a European countries leader," Aleksandar Vucic said

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

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‘Arkhangelsk, ’ ‘Knyaz Pozharsky’ nuclear submarines to join Russian Navy soon — commander

Admiral Alexander Moiseyev noted that the construction of nuclear submarines is Sevmash’s main purpose, which is performs successfully

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According to Russia's Defence Ministry, attempts to conduct attacks against facilities on Russian soil were thwarted

Civilian manufacturers ramp up drone production to 40,000 units per month

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Response to Ukrainian attack on Russia’s Rylsk to come shortly — Russia’s UN envoy

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Ukrainian troops struggling to escape being trapped in Lozovaya in Kharkov region — expert

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Yemen’s Houthis announce hypersonic missile strike at military facility near Tel Aviv

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Ukraine's refusal to transit Russian gas will hit EU economies hard — French expert

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Russia to invite World War II allies to next year’s Victory Day parade

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Artyom military plant reportedly on fire after explosions in Kiev

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Two freight trains collide at Trans-Baikal Railways, traffic suspended

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Kremlin mum on reports about Slovakian prime minister's plans to visit Moscow

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said earlier that the Slovak prime minister intended to hold talks with Putin on December 23 amid Vladimir Zelensky's refusal to extend gas transit through Ukraine

Key rate, inflation and criticism of Central Bank: statements by regulator’s chief

The Bank of Russia has taken a pause in raising the key rate, though a long period of tough monetary policy will be required to bring inflation back to the target

Russian troops liberate 10 communities in Donbass region over week — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted more than 3,610 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed six enemy ammunition depots in its area of responsibility over the week

NATO prepares for war with Russia, Moscow takes these risks into account — senior diplomat

According to Alexander Grushko, NATO's general course poses a danger both to Russia and to the entire architecture of global and regional security

Ukraine loses over 300 troops, two Bradley vehicles in Kursk Region in past day

Eight motor vehicles and two electronic warfare stations were also destroyed? the ministy added

Syrian armed groups to merge into one under auspices of the country's Defense Ministry

Ahmed al-Sharaa, the militant leader of the main group driving the Syrian armed opposition, met with the leaders of the armed groups and discussed with them the new format of the Syrian army

Putin suggests Zelensky may flee abroad, says Russia would take him in

"But he will be taken care of by those people whose interests he is serving now," the Russian leader said

What is known about Russia’s retaliatory strike on Ukraine after attack on Rostov Region

Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko reported the fires in Solomensky and Shevchenkovsky districts

Russia to raise issue of Ukrainian strikes on Rylsk at UNSC meeting on Friday — diplomat

Acting Kursk Region Governor Alexander Khinshtein said earlier that the town of Rylsk, located some 120 kilometers west of Kursk, had come under Ukrainian fire

An-2 plane missing in Kamchatka located, survivors found — regional emergencies ministry

According to the press service of the regional Emergencies Ministry, all three people onboard the plane survived the emergency landing

Russian forces control more than half of Chasov Yar in DPR — expert

Andrey Marochko noted that Russian forces had "slightly advanced" in the northern and southern parts of Chasov Yar

Proposal to duel with West response to claims of Oreshnik missile vulnerability — Kremlin

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin thus meant that the Oreshnik missile is a generation ahead of all existing weapons, while not being a nuclear weapon itself

Press review: Who benefits from Russian general's murder as Trump lacks Kremlin strategy

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Putin sends greetings on Russia’s Energy Industry Worker’s Day

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Russia’s international reserves up by $3.8 bln to $618.2 bln over week — Central Bank

Russia’s international reserves are highly liquid foreign assets available with the Bank of Russia and the Russian government

Ukraine’s General Staff admits tense situation along entire frontline

The Ukrainian military also admitted the Russian army’s supremacy in terms of military equipment and the size of personnel

Banks find opportunity to work under sanctions — Central Bank chief

It does not mean there will be no such risks in the future but it is very important in this regard for the financial stable to remain stable, Elvira Nabiullina said

US Navy cruiser mistakenly downs F/A-18 fighter over Red Sea

According to US Central Command, the incident occurred during airstrikes on Houthi facilities

Russia-US dialogue on Ukraine can be conducted on different platforms — senior diplomat

Everything depends on its content and the approach of the team of US President-elect Donald Trump are important, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said

Ukrainian lawmaker slams Zelensky for trying to bribe Slovak PM

The lawmaker believes that the bribe money wasn’t meant to come from Russia’s frozen funds but Zelensky "could have brought it in a suitcase"

Russia to retaliate against Ukrainian strikes, just as Putin said — Kremlin

"Russia’s position is well known, it was voiced by Putin back in St. Petersburg," Dmitry Peskov stressed

Assad allegedly hands list of military targets over to Israel before leaving Syria — media

According to the Turkish newspaper, the former Syrian president did it to ensure his own safety

Brazil unveils BRICS logo for 2025

The emblem is based on the kapok tree growing in the Amazon, painted in the colors of the national flags of the community's states

Biden signs bill to fund US government until March 14, 2025

The US Senate and House of Representatives approved the bill a day before

US defense companies capitalize the most on Ukraine conflict — Russia’s UN envoy

Vasily Nebenzya referred to data from the SIPRI which put last year’s revenues from sales of arms by the world’s top 100 largest businesses in the industry at $632 billion

Maximal costs of Nord Stream pipeline repair to be 633 mln euro

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Musk believes Germany’s Scholz should step down after car drives into crowd in Magdeburg

Meanwhile, Scholz will visit Magdeburg to assess the situation later on Saturday

Perm sub with Tsirkon hypersonic missiles to enter service with Russian Navy in 2026

Test launches of the Tsirkon missiles from the Project 885 Sverodvinsk submarine were conducted in the White Sea on October 4, 2022

Three of eight drones that attacked Kazan targeted defense industry facilities — head

The Tatarstan head Rustam Minnikhanov also noted that all operational services worked well when dealing with the aftermath of the drone attack

Kiev takes out its anger for military defeats on Russian people — diplomat

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also emphasized that Moscow is outraged by the hypocritical silence of the West and its media on the terrorist attacks in Russia

Putin to extend New Year greetings to peoples of several unfriendly countries — Kremlin

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

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

Latest nuclear-powered sub Arkhangelsk to join Russian Navy by yearend

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IN BRIEF: What is known about drone attack on residential buildings in Kazan

TASS has gathered the main information about the incident

Russia ready to normalize relations with US without detriment to its interests — Putin

The previous generation of Russian politicians chose the course towards the country’s destruction for the sake of joining the so-called civilized world but this was what the West wanted, President Vladimir Putin

Trump wants NATO countries to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP — FT

The sources also told the Financial Times that Donald Trump intends to continue the military aid to Ukraine despite the statements he made during his presidential campaign

Four new Russian regions moving toward self-sufficiency at a rapid pace — Putin

According to the head of state, tax revenues have seen a consistent increase in absolute figures

Russian sleeper agents open up about secret trip to 2018 World Cup

The married couple, Artyom Dultsev and Anna Dultseva, returned home as a result of an exchange

Magnitude 5.3 earthquake rocks South Africa

No injuries or damage were reported

Hungarian PM highlights need to lift sanctions on Russia once Ukraine conflict is resolved

Viktor Obran added, however, that only a couple of EU countries shared Hungary’s position