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FISU delegation arrives in Kazan to inspect Univesiade sites

It is the last and final inspection before the games

KAZAN, April 16 (Itar-Tass) —— A delegation of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) has arrived in Kazan to check the readiness for the Univesiade 2013, a source at the media department of the Kazan-2013 executive directorate told Itar-Tass on Monday.

It is the last and final inspection before the games, the delegation’s head Marc Vanderplas said.

It will be the largest-scale games of students in history, he noted.

The preparations have entered the finishing line. The main task is to hold the competitions on the highest level, he added.

The FISU representatives at the meetings with the Kazan-2013 management will discuss key issues related to the preparations. Particular attention is paid to the preparedness of the sport facilities, the organization of transport services, the system of accommodation and food for participants, television broadcasting and team centre work.

The World Student Games were held in Russia for the first time in Moscow in 1973. The games in Tatarstan's capital will be held from July 6 to 17, 2013. About 12,000 athletes from 170 countries will participate in the competitions.

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

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According to the agency, the companies being assessed for potential sanctions are based outside Russia but have links to Russian and Belarussian individuals and firms

Top Russian security official meets with counterparts at international security meeting

Nikolay Patrushev met with the heads of delegations from BRICS states

Russia’s new Supreme Court chief justice doesn’t plan drastic changes

Irina Podnosova said courts have been receiving an increasing number of complaints, attributing it to the rising trust that people have to the judicial system

Russian court blocks JPMorgan’s funds in VTB lawsuit

The court also blocked any securities held by JPMorgan’s entities in Russia

Russia, Africa united by common vision on global issues — senior diplomat

Mikhail Bogdanov noted that "the African continent is a dynamically developing part of the world with an enormous growth potential, attractive domestic market and expanding export prospects"

Top US diplomat Blinken arrives in Shanghai

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Kremlin vows to resolve situation with Turkish Airlines refusing service to Russians

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The US Congress House of Representatives earlier passed bills on military aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan

Musk concurs that civil war looming in West

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Ukraine says Western systems ineffective against Russia's electronic warfare

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US effectively dooms Ukraine by its new decisions, Russian envoy says

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Putin proclaims Odessa Russian city, challenges Ukraine's historical narrative

At the same time, the president noted that once upon a time "Vladimir Lenin gave away the whole of Ukraine when he created the Soviet Union"

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No damage, casualties after drone attack over Russia’s Kursk Region

Roman Starovoit thanked air defense troops and the regional crisis center and cautioned residents against approaching the drone wreckage if found

Houthis attack two commercial ships, US destroyer — statement

Simultaneously, the Air Force conducted two more military operation using a huge number of drones to target a US destroyer in the Gulf of Aden

UNSC rejects amendment by Russia, China to resolution on nuclear weapons in outer space

The amendment gained seven votes from countries including Russia and China

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Ukraine exhausted, needs constant money flow from outside — defense official

Apty Alaudinov added that if the Ukrainian army received long-range weapons, it might try to attack Russia's civilian infrastructure due to its powerlessness on the front

ATACMS shipment proves ‘Zelensky’s formula’ needed in US as ‘smoke and mirrors’ — diplomat

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Russia tasked with 'building new world' — Putin

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Russia to submit its own resolution on nuclear weapons in outer space to UNSC

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Switzerland unblocks Russia-related assets worth 290 mln Swiss francs

The total amount of blocked assets of the Russian Federation decreased by 150 million Swiss francs (about $165 million) due to the fact that a number of individuals "were removed from the EU sanctions lists"

Radioactive cloud from Ukraine’s eliminated munitions drifts to Europe — Security Council

"An increase in radiation levels has already been registered in Poland," Nikolay Patrushev warned

Putin informed about detention of Deputy Defense Minister Ivanov

Minister Sergey Shoigu was also informed beforehand, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

Russia dissatisfied with UN’s activity under grain deal — senior diplomat

Alexander Pankin noted that during his visit to New York he did not have any talks with UN officials on the Russian-UN memorandum

Post-Soviet security bloc holds arms control consultations in Moscow

The participants in the consultations "stressed the importance of stepping up efforts to prevent further erosion of the relevant international legal framework"

Russian defense minister dismisses his deputy Ivanov

Timur Ivanov was removed from the office of deputy defense minister of the Russian Federation of the federal government’s civil service

13 violations by US-led international coalition’s aircraft recorded in Syria

According to Major General Yury Popov, nine violations of the deconfliction protocols of December 9, 2019

Agreements on security with Iran, Myanmar, Ethiopia to come into force in 2024 — MFA

"A whole number of similar agreements with Asian, African, Middle Eastern, Latin American countries are being worked out," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin added

Russian Navy’s Bastion missile systems practice massive strike in Baltic drills

The Bastion coastal defense missile system is designated to defend the coastline over 600 km long

Gagauzia against Chisinau’s policy of severing ties with Russia

According to Yevgenia Gutsul, Gagauzia has never experienced such pressure from Chisinau

First regiment of S-500 air defense systems to defend Moscow — source

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Ukrainian forces refuse to obey Commander-in-Chief Syrsky — CIA ex-analyst

Larry Johnson also noted that the Russian forces manage to advance recently despite the slush on the roads

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Russian diplomat thanks Tajik authorities for help in probe into Crocus terrorist attack

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Men of conscription age try to leave the country in every possible way, often putting their lives at risk

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Maria Zakharova pointed out that Russia reaffirms its "strict commitment" to the international legal obligations under space law

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Dmitry Peskov pointed out that a year ago the opponents "were telling everyone that they were waiting for the moment Russia would be defeated on the battlefield"

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Yury Chikhanchin pointed out that the perpetrators of the attack were provided with money, weapons, transportation and ammunition

West balancing on edge of direct military confrontation between nuclear powers — Lavrov

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Ukrainian army strikes own surrendering soldiers — POW

Andrey Babenko said that after a crash course in Britain he had been sent to the frontline near Liman

Proper humanitarian assistance to Gaza impossible amid hostilities — Russian diplomat

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Global community changing tune about how Ukraine conflict started — security official

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US stops hiding true purpose of sanctions on Moscow, Russian envoy says

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Russian tourists flock to North Korea — embassy

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Russian deputy defense minister detained on suspicion of bribe-taking

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Niger would like Russia to train its troops — interior minister says

Mohamed Toumba noted that the training of troops could help in the fight against terrorism

US shifted conflict in Europe onto EU, NATO shoulders to weaken Russia, says Lukashenko

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Anti-Russian measures prove world cannot exist in unipolar diktat, envoy says

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Some people in 2021 Kabul terror attack were killed by gunfire, not explosion, CNN reports

According to the report, the source said he heard "a mass volume of gunfire" after the blast from where US Marines were standing

Top Russian, Iranian security officials discuss Middle East

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Ukraine turns into testing ground for future world order, says Belarus president

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Russian pipeline gas supplies to Europe add a quarter in winter — IEA

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Dust from Sahara turns rain in Ukraine yellow

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Moscow slams NATO drills near Russian borders as inflammatory

"It is obvious that the upcoming combat training on the territory of Finland is part of a hybrid war against our country," Maria Zakharova said

US incapable of replicating Cold War-era arms race — Valdai club expert

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Press review: NATO flexes muscles near Russian border and South China Sea runs hot

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Senior Russian, Tajikistani diplomats talk about fighting terrorists, radicals

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Ukraine attacks ZNPP training center again, drone neutralized

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Russia to retaliate immediately if Kiev gets ATACMS missiles — diplomat

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