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Russia bans media from publishing materials about special services without their permission
The Russian parliament, the State Duma, approved in the third reading amendments to the law on the Federal Security Service (FSB), prohibiting the publication and distribution of materials about the FSB without the permission of the agency's leadership, reports Novoye Vremya news outlet.
The law outlines the measures for the observance of professional confidentiality by military personnel, federal civil servants, current and former employees of the FSB.
According to the law, protected …
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Iran expresses interest in buying latest Russian weapons
Tehran is interested in purchasing latest Russian weapons, Russia is Iran's priority partner in military cooperation, said Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali.
"We will consult with Russia on what we need to strengthen our defense capability. The Russian government and the Russian people have been and remain with us in tough times. In this regard, Russia is a priority partner for us," he said in an interview with the Russian newspaper Kommersant.
Jalali noted that Russia has great …
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Turkey decides to stop TurkStream pipeline
Turkey continues to reduce purchases of Russian gas, and in August for the first time since the early 2000s Gazprom may not supply Turkish customers with a single cubic meter of fuel.
On July 27, for the second time in two months, gas flow through the Turkish Stream pipeline will be stopped, Interfax reports, citing the state-owned Turkish company Botas, which is the buyer of gas delivered through the pipeline launched in January.
The $7 billion pipeline will be down for two weeks - until …
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EU to impose sanctions against Russia, China and North Korea for cybercrimes
The European Union has prepared sanctions against Russia, China and North for cybercrimes against a number of countries. The security agencies of Russia, China and North Korea fell under the EU restrictions.
“EU ambassadors have today decided to adopt asset freezes against Russia's GRU military intel & the intel services of China and NorthKorea over the cyberattacks WannaCry, NotPetya & Cloud Hopper. there will also be visa bans & asset freezes on 6 Russian & Chinese officials,” reported …
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U.S. puts head of Chechnya Kadyrov on sanctions list
The U.S. State Department has put the head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, on the sanctions list for "gross human rights violations," stated the U.S Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Restrictions on Kadyrov are imposed under section 7031 of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2020.
Under this provision, the U.S. Department of State must prohibit entry to a foreign civil servant if there is credible information that he was directly or …
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After phone conversation of Russian and Israeli Defense Ministers Israel launches air attacks on Syria
Syrian air defense systems "responded to the Israeli missile aggression carried out from the town of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights,” Syrian news agency Sana reported. Sana states, citing "army sources”, that anti-aircraft systems “responded to the shelling and shot down most enemy missiles and limited the material damage they could cause".
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (an opposition to the Assad regime, based in London and with knowledgeable sources among the Syrian population) …
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U.S. House of Representatives approves additional sanctions against Nord Stream 2
The U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of an amendment to impose additional sanctions on participants of the Nord Stream 2 and Turkish Stream gas pipelines. The session was broadcast on Monday, July 20, on the website of the lower house of the American Parliament.
The amendment is for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2021 (begins on October 1.). It was approved unanimously.
"Russia is trying to develop the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to exert undue control on …
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Russia boosts Armenia’s air defense capabilities in ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan
Russian air surveillance system has provided cover to the entire territory of Armenia from air strikes as part of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), under which member states of this organization can turn to each other for help in the event of a threat.
According to the Telegram channel "Armenian Vendetta", the Russian radar "covered" the entire territory of Armenia and is tracking any activity in the airspace of this country.
Russia also provides operational data on air …
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Top manager of German payment provider Wirecard flees to Russia
Jan Marsalek, the former management board member of the German payment operator Wirecard AG, which “lost” almost 2 billion euros, allegedly fled to Russia. He is now west of Moscow under the supervision of employees of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service of the General Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, also known as GRU, writes the German newspaper Handelsblatt, citing sources in business, judicial and diplomatic circles.
According to the newspaper, before his …
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Putin announces construction of two helicopter carriers in annexed Crimea
On Monday, July 20, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in the annexed Crimea, where at Zaliv shipyard in Kerch announced the start of construction of helicopter carriers, TASS reports.
"Today, six new long-distance ships are being laid down at the three leading shipyards of Russia. Two universal amphibious ships will be built here, in Kerch. Two frigates are at Severnaya Verf shipyard in St. Petersburg, and two nuclear submarines are in Severodvinsk at Sevmash Shipyard," Putin said.
The …