Russia

This test launch marked the conclusive phase of the state testing program for the Emperor Alexander III, paving the way for its imminent integration into the Russian Navy.

The statement was made following a group of Muslims waving Palestinian flags barged into Makhachkala airport in Dagestan region of Russia. The protestors had reached the airport amid reports that a Russian airline 'Red Wings' had arrived at the airport from Tel Aviv carrying Jewish refugees.

Four resolutions on Gaza have failed at the Council in the last ten days, with Russia and the US vetoing one each, illustrating the inefficacy of the UN’s highest decision-making body when national interests of the permanent members collide. Russia and the US will have to appear before the General Assembly to explain their vetoes under a resolution adopted by it last year.

That tableau on Wednesday at the Security Council captured the shifting mood at the UN where Russia had been on the defensive and a solid Western alliance had stood together on Ukraine, which has been the main polarising factor. Britain abstained on the resolution, while France voted for it.

Lavrov arrived at in Pyongyang on Wednesday at the invitation of North Korea's Foreign Ministry "amid the enthusiasm of friendship growing higher than ever", the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a report.

Like most of the world, save the Western powers and their allies, Russia has avoided taking a maximalist position in apportioning the blame for the new spiral of violence, while stressing that there could not be peace in the region without Palestinian statehood. Aiming at a key role itself, it also sought revival of the multilateral approach - the 'Quartet' - to organise negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.

The report comes against the backdrop of rising tensions with China over Taiwan and worsening frictions with Russia over its "invasion" of Ukraine. The Strategic Posture Commission released its long-awaited report on US nuclear policy and strategic stability. 

China and Cuba, however, were elected to the Council by the General Assembly in secret ballots despite their questionable human rights records. Both countries are on the Council with terms ending this year and will serve another three-year term starting next year till 2026 end.

He purged senior military leaders of suspect loyalty, including General Sergey Surovikin, a close Prigozhin ally who once commanded Russian forces fighting in Ukraine. He compelled most Wagner fighters to join the Ministry of Defence. Prigozhin’s death in an airplane crash in August was -- rightly or wrongly -- seen as Putin’s retribution, underscoring the stiff price of disloyalty.

The answer depends on the resiliency, but not only of the two sides to the conflict.