
Russia, China condemn Israel's actions that violate UN charter, says Kremlin aide
MOSCOW (BERNAMA-SPUTNIK/RIA NOVOSTI): Russia and China adhere to identical approaches, and both condemn Israel's actions that violate the United Nations Charter, Sputnik/RIA Novosti reported, citing Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov on Thursday (June 19).
"Both sides adhere to identical approaches and strongly condemn Israel's actions that violate the UN Charter and other norms of national law," Ushakov told reporters after a phone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping that took place earlier in the day.
Xi told Putin that he believes that Russia's mediation efforts in the conflict between Iran and Israel will contribute to the de-escalation "in the current most important situation," the Kremlin aide added.
"The conversation was mainly devoted to discussing the escalated situation in the Middle East... Both Moscow and Beijing fundamentally believe that there is no military solution to the current situation and issues related to the Iranian nuclear programme," he also said. - Bernama-Sputnik/RIA Novosti
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Austria deports first Syrian since civil war, says more will follow
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US imposes new sanctions targeting Iran oil trade, Hezbollah, Treasury Dept says
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol as Republican lawmakers struggle to pass U.S. President Donald Trump?s sweeping spending and tax bill, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 27, 2025. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo (Reuters) -The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday against a business network that smuggles Iranian oil disguised as Iraqi oil, as well as sanctions targeting a Hezbollah-controlled financial institution, the Treasury Department said. The network of companies run by Iraqi businessman Salim Ahmed Said has been buying and shipping billions of dollars worth of Iranian oil disguised as, or blended with, Iraqi oil since at least 2020, the department said in statement. "Treasury will continue to target Tehran's revenue sources and intensify economic pressure to disrupt the regime's access to the financial resources that fuel its destabilizing activities,' Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. The Treasury Department also sanctioned several vessels that are accused of engaging in the covert delivery of Iranian oil, intensifying pressure on Iran's 'shadow fleet,' it said. The Treasury Department also issued sanctions against several senior officials and one entity associated with the Hezbollah-controlled financial institution Al-Qard Al-Hassan. The officials, the department said, conducted millions of dollars in transactions that ultimately benefited, but obscured, Hezbollah. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu and Brendan O'Brien; Editing by Doina Chiacu)

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Malaysia to buy military assets from Italy to enhance maritime security
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