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No one knew in advance about decision announced at URP congress

"I did not think that that would happen so early. It seemed to me that that would be done closer to the elections," the Premier's press secretary said

MOSCOW, October 5 (Itar-Tass) — The governing tandem's decision made public by President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin at the recent congress of the United Russia party (URP) was an absolute surprise to everyone, Dmitry Peskov, the Premier's press secretary, told the Dozhd (rain) television channel on Tuesday night in a live broadcast, acknowledging that he was "dumbfounded" by such a decision.

"No one knew about that. If someone asserts that he knew that in advance, he tells you a lie. I did not think that that would happen so early. It seemed to me that that would be done closer to the elections," the press secretary said, assuring the TV channel audience that he, just as all his colleagues, had learned about the decision only at the moment of its being made public.

At the end of September, at the URP congress, Putin suggested that Medvedev head the URP Federal list at the State Duma elections and later on head the country's government. The President, for his part, stated that the now Premier must be a URP candidate at the forthcoming presidential elections.

Bombs with power of 13 kilos of trotyle found in Russia’s Kabardino-Balkaria

An active accomplice of bandits was detained in the search operation and gave confessing testimony

Russian, Tajik troops kick off joint military drills in Tajikistan

The joint bilateral exercise is running on April 15-18, 2024

Russian paratroopers seize Ukrainian stronghold on tanks, combat vehicles

Russian troops suffered no casualties, the Russian Defense Ministry reported

Russian air defenses suppress up to 400 Ukrainian UAVs in DPR over week

The drones neutralized by the air defenses included a Mavic-3 UAV and three Baba-Yaga drones carrying improvised explosive devices manufactured with the use of anti-tank aerial bombs and mines

Netanyahu a threat for Israel, opposition leader says

According to Yair Lapid, Israeli allies "smell this weakness," too

New generation Amur-LNG rocket to be reused 50-100 times — Roscosmos CEO

Yury Borisov noted that SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket was used no more than ten times

Russian Ocean Way vessel docks at Socotra, captain needs medical aid

Stanislav Beryozkin was taken to a hospital to undergo thorough examination, with all the required tests made

US, UK strikes harm Yemeni settlement prospects — Russian mission to UN

"Such actions harm the intra-Yemeni settlement, undermining the efforts of international and regional mediators," Dmitry Polyansky noted

Iran to retaliate for any new Israeli attack 'within seconds,' senior diplomat warns

Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani described the Israeli attack on the Iranian embassy’s consulate department in Syria on April 1 as a strategic mistake

Russia, Belarus sign aircraft production agreement

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China’s Jetour plans to sell up to 50,000 cars in Russia this year

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Deflecting Iran attack cost billions, Israel, US can't repeat it — former UN inspector

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Servicemen of Russia’s battlegroup West receive certificates for destroyed Leopard-2 tanks

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Russian skiers unlikely to return to int’l competition before 2028 — sports official

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Dollar falls to 93.52 rubles, euro drops to 99.65 rubles

The Chinese yuan rose by 0.95 kopecks to 12.89 rubles

Ukraine uses GLSDB munitions to hit city in Zaporozhye Region

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Police detain 14 people at rally in Georgia

The Georgian Interior Ministry said that one police member was injured

Italy’s minister estimates Israeli capability to defend from Iranian attack at one billion

Guido Crosetto didn’t specify whether the currency he meant was dollars or euros

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White House effectively rules out option for US forces to intercept Russian missiles

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Russian envoy calls UN Security Council meeting on Iran strike parade of hypocrisy

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Igor Kimakovsky said that the Ukrainian combat group in Chasov Yar is suffering heavy casualties

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The killing of civilians visiting a cemetery is shocking in its cruelty and cynicism Putin said

Volume of frozen Russian assets in Germany reaches around €3.9 bln

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US House could consider separate bills on aid to Israel, Ukraine this week — report

US House Speaker Mike Johnson announced the plans in a private meeting with GOP lawmakers on Monday, Politico said

Russian forces find coordinates of DPR churches at former Ukrainian positions in Avdeyevka

It was possible to establish that the Ukrainian servicemen were tasked with hitting Orthodox sites in the region aide to the head of the Donetsk People's Republic Igor Kimakovsky said

Iran detains MSC Aries ship over violation of maritime law — Foreign Ministry

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Russian forces suppress nearly 80% of Ukrainian drones in island zone of Dnieper River

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Russia’s UN envoy says IAEA too cautious as it doesn’t name culprit behind attacks on ZNPP

Vasily Nebenzya said Russia was calling on the International Atomic Energy Agency to name the source of attacks

US-led coalition’s aircraft violate Syrian airspace eight times in past day

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Iran sought to ‘graduate’ scale of damage during attack on Israel, EU’s Borrell says

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Russia to furnish advanced Korsar drones with electronic warfare systems

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Georgian parliament passes bill on foreign agents in first reading

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'Iron Dome' can't fully protect from UAV swarms — Chinese expert

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Russia urges Middle East nations to show restraint amid escalation — Kremlin spokesman

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Russia to continue boosting cooperation with countries of Global South, East — Lavrov

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Israel considering retaliatory steps following Iranian attack — top brass

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Macron draws distinction between Israeli, Russian Olympic participation

The French leader stressed that Israel was responding to a terrorist attack

Israel may strike Iranian territory to demonstrate its capabilities — TV

"We are continuing our efforts to prevent further escalation," the US official said

Roscosmos committed to continued collaboration with NASA — CEO

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Russian foreign ministry blames Paris for death of French mercenaries in Kharkov

The ministry hopes "that the people of France will ultimately learn the truth about the actual scope of France’s involvement in the conflict"

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Russia open to help resolve situation in Sudan — ambassador

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Georgian protesters end rally in Tbilisi over foreign agents bill

Rustaveli Avenue has been opened for traffic

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Journalist Hinkle agrees with Carlson that Moscow is cleaner and safer than US cities

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New sanctions against Moscow to push supplies of Russian metal to China up — Bloomberg

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Russia’s UN envoy says statements by West expose Kiev’s responsibility for attacks on ZNPP

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Russian investors in Belarus interested in logistics, oil refining — minister

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Ukrainian paratroopers surrender in Avdeyevka area — Russian Defense Ministry

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Moscow shooter identified as European boxing champion Nikita Ivanov

This was reported by a representative of law enforcement agencies

Iran plans negotiations with Russia on purchase of Sukhoi fighters

Iran's Ministry of Defense the country needs to strengthen its air force

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Vilde Hernes stressed that the protection permits for Ukrainian migrants contain many restrictions "such as fewer integration measures, less financial assistance, and no path to permanent residency"

Russians are first to make stratospheric jump onto North Pole — RuVDS

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Ukraine offers to use neighbors' air defense systems to protect its gas storage facilities

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Russian Armed Forces hit IRIS-T air defense system launcher, Ukrainian ammunition depot

The personnel and equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were also defeated in 129 districts

Zelensky irked by US’ request to stop attacking Russian energy infrastructure — media

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Negotiations on safety of navigation in Black Sea continue — source

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Russian stock indices rising on Monday — market data

The dollar surged by 0.32% to 93.75 rubles, while the euro edged up by 0.22% to 99.83 rubles

Israel to soon retaliate Iranian attack, no exact date yet — media

The Wall Street Journal did not specify the exact day

Arbitration rules for recovering 114.8 mln from Glencore in favor of Sber

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Ukraine announces blocking of 83 TikTok channels, including 'tass_agency'

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Hamas not to make any concessions on Israeli troops’ withdrawal from Gaza

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Putin signs decree on spring draft to armed forces

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Israel Defense Forces announce planned military drills in country’s north on April 16

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Attacks on ZNPP raise risks for nuclear safety — IAEA chief

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Senior Russian diplomat warns about proportional response to threats coming from Finland

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