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MOSCOW, September 24./TASS/. Within two weeks, the Syrian army will get from Russia S-300 air-defense missiles to strengthen its combat capabilities following the downing of a Russian Ilyushin Il-20 aircraft in Syria, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Monday.

"A modern S-300 air defense missile system will be supplied to the Syrian Armed Forces within two weeks. It is capable of intercepting air assault weapons at a distance of more than 250 kilometers and hit simultaneously several air targets," the minister said.

WELLINGTON, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand government on Monday introduced a bill to give effect to its decision to halt the offering of new offshore oil and gas exploration permits, and has kept its commitment to protect existing permits.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in April announced that the government would not be granting any new offshore oil and gas exploration permits, but that the government would be protecting existing permits and the rights associated with them.

ALGIERS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The 10th OPEC and non-OPEC Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) in Algiers wrapped up on Sunday by maintaining the current oil output level, amid calls from the U.S. to raise oil production in a bid to curb mounting prices.

In fact, OPEC and non-OPEC members in Algiers snubbed the calls of the U.S. President Donald Trump. A couple of days ago, Trump accused OPEC of monopolizing the oil market, and called the cartel to raise production in a bid to reduce prices.

New Delhi, Sep 24; PTI: Petrol Friday crossed the Rs 90-mark in Mumbai as a dip in the value of rupee and rise in international oil prices pushed rates across the country to new all-time high.

Petrol prices were hiked by 11 paise per litre and diesel by 5 paise, according to price notification of state-owned oil firms.

The hike pushed petrol price in Delhi to Rs 82.72 per litre and diesel to Rs 74.02.

New Delhi, Aug 23 (PTI) Continuing its attack on the BJP-led Centre over the Rafale deal, the Congress Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of violating the oath of confidentiality by leaking information to Reliance Defence chief Anil Ambani about the purchase of 36 fighter jets from France.

Anand Sharma, deputy leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, demanded that the prime minister respond to the charges made against him in connection with the controversial deal instead of fielding his ministers.

New Delhi, Sep 24 (PTI) Seeking to calm the nerves of worried investors, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said Monday that the government would take all measures to ensure adequate liquidity for non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and mutual funds.

The minister's remarks come in the wake of stock markets witnessing sudden and stiff fall in intra-day trade on Friday over concerns of liquidity crisis being faced by some of the NBFCs.

NEW YORK, Sept 23 (NNN-PTI) -- External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has arrived here to represent India at the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly and hold several bilateral and multilateral meetings with her global counterparts.  

She will address the General Debate in the morning of September 29.  

RUSSIA LAUNCHES BIGGEST EVER WAR GAMES WITH CHINA. Military vehicles in entering in eastern Siberia take part in "Vostok-2018", on September 11, 2018. Russia has launched its biggest military exercise since the Cold War, involving about 300,000 service personnel, in eastern Siberia. China is sending 3,200 troops to take part in "Vostok-2018", with many Chinese armoured vehicles and aircraft. Mongolia is also sending some units. The week-long manoeuvres come at a time of heightened Nato-Russia tensions. Photo courtesy Agencies 

TEHRAN, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Tehran and Moscow are closely cooperating in various fields of the nuclear industry, the spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) said on Thursday.

"Nuclear cooperation between Iran and Russia is in progress at high level in diverse areas," Behrouz Kamalvandi was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency.

Iran's cooperation with Russia includes the construction of two new power plants, as well as projects on stable isotopes and nuclear fuel, Kamalvandi said.

MOSCOW, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin will discuss Syrian issues with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Russia's Sochi on Monday, the Kremlin said in a statement Sunday.

The meeting will take place at a time when the Syrian government forces backed by Russia and Iran are preparing an offensive against rebels' last major stronghold in Idlib province, although Turkey and the United States have repeatedly warned against any operation.