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Putin presents condolences over death of Saudi Crown Prince Nayef

He died in Geneva on June 16 while receiving medical treatment

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, June 17 (Itar-Tass) —— President Vladimir Putin has presented condolences to King Abdallah Bin Abd Al-Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia in connection with the death of Crown Prince Nayef.

Prince Nayef, who was also deputy prime minister and interior minister, will be buried in the holy city of Mecca. He died in Geneva on June 16 while receiving medical treatment. He was 78 years old.

Prince Nayef became the Saudi Interior Minister in 1975, and led the crackdown on al-Qaeda's offshoot in the country. Being a committed follower of Saudi conservative traditions based on the Wahhabi doctrine of Islam, he was less conservative than King Abdullah. The Crown Prince even permitted the women’s team to take part in the upcoming London Olympic Games.

His possible successor is 76-year-old brother, Prince Salman. The new crown prince needs approval by the Allegiance Council.

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

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Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin said in February that the Russian side had agreed with WADA to pay the membership fee for the year of 2023

Senior Chinese official to take part in conference on security in Russia — diplomat

The conference will take place from April 23 to 25 in St. Petersburg

US blocks Security Council resolution granting full UN membership to Palestine

A total of 12 countries, including Russia and China, voted in favor of the document

EU ministers to discuss use of Russian assets for Ukraine on April 22 — EU official

Earlier, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that the European Union intends to invest the first 2.5-3 billion euros of profits raised from seized Russian assets in military assistance for Ukraine

Russia ready for Ukraine talks, but not with Zelensky — Lavrov

The first negotiations between Russia and Ukraine after the start of the special military operation took place in early March 2022 in Belarus, but they did not bring tangible results

French, US, British nukes all interwoven — Russian diplomat

Maria Zakharova described France’s decision to place its aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, directly under NATO control as a symbolic move marking the end of "the era of an independent Paris in the international arena"

Russian stock indices rising on Friday

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Ukraine’s military loses positions near Avdeyevka, says DPR

Igor Kimakovsky said that Ukrainian forces suffered heavy casualties among personnel and military hardware, including Western equipment

Russian military base may appear in CAR’s eastern region — President Touadera

According to the president, this step will help strengthen his country’s defense potential and contribute to bolstering the national armed forces’ capabilities

Russian investigators start inquiry into financing of terrorism by US, NATO officials

Investigators have established that the funds that were received through commercial organizations, such as the oil and gas company Burisma Holdings operating in Ukraine, have been used to carry out terrorist acts in Russia and abroad

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Ukrainian president admits Russian troops’ advancement

Vladimir Zelensky asked his country’s supporters to provide "everything that helps to hold the frontline," including shells, military vehicles and drones

French president says creating Israeli-type air defense network for Ukraine impossible

Emmanuel Macron added that Europe’s resources are limited, and the European Union will continue helping Kiev keeping in mind its own reserves

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US volunteer Russel Bentley missing in Donetsk killed — RT editor-in-chief

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Proposals on Russian assets confiscation undermine financial system — Finance Minister

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"We have not received any external attack, and the discussion leans more towards infiltration than attack," a senior Iranian official reported

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Ukrainian POW exposes poor battlefield performance of NATO-supplied Javelins, NLAWs

He also revealed that some weapon batches contained anti-armor systems whose service life had expired

Russia not to go for settlement on Ukraine based on 'Zelensky formula' — Lavrov

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Russian economy proves resilience amid large-scale sanctions — IMF

The IMF states that the restrictions led to the need to rebuild the economy

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Moscow International Film Festival kicks off

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Russian Cabinet expands list of perfumery, cosmetic products subjected to import duty

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Russian economy positively influences neighboring countries — Deputy PM

In 2023 the Russian economy has demonstrated remarkable resilience and growth, Alexey Overchuk said

Russian forces destroy Ukrainian command post, two S-300 missile launchers over day

Russian forces improved their frontline positions and repelled a Ukrainian army counterattack in the Donetsk area where the enemy lost roughly 590 troops over the past day, the ministry reported

Russian government increases customs duties on beer from unfriendly countries

This measure is not a prohibitive one and will make it possible to make competitive conditions equal for Russian producers, the ministry said

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"They would have been scared had anyone come down on them with similar ferocity," the Russian foreign minister added

FACTBOX: Collective Security Treaty Organization

The Collective Security Treaty came into force on April 20, 1994 to herald the emergence what would eventually become the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The six member-countries are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

Participation in ‘Columbine’ movement may result in life sentence — Prosecutor General

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Armenia’s relations with Russia not at their highest — top diplomat

Ararat Mirzoyan also said that Yerevan is currently making efforts to expand cooperation with the European Union and the United States

Unidentified man attempts suicide outside courthouse where Trump trial is underway

The man set himself on fire

Russia can join top three countries by lithium reserves — governor

Infrastructure is required to implement the investment project, both power transmission lines and the railroad, Andrey Chibis noted

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This is for the age group of 6 to 11 years old

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Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, April 19th

Russia’s advanced radar in Kaliningrad to monitor entire territory of Europe — source

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Arnulf Damerau said that he provided details of the meeting, along with evidence and a list of names of those involved, to US and European intelligence agencies

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US 'not forgetting' to help itself with aid to Ukraine — Kremlin

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American Abrams tanks vulnerable even to Soviet-era weapons, says expert

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Three Ukrainian soldiers swim across Dnieper to surrender to Russian troops — governor

Vladimir Saldo called on other Ukrainian servicemen to switch to the Russian side and request the corresponding assistance

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In chemicals production, prices edged up by 26.8% for ethers, organic peroxides, epoxides, acetals and semiacetals and their derivatives

S-500 system to be supplied to Armed Forces after 2015

Victor Gumenny said the advanced systems may solve the tasks of air-space defence and may fight hypersonic weapons

Polish premier refuses to hand over his country’s Patriot systems to Ukraine

Donald Tusk said that German Chancellor’s call to send more air defense systems to Kiev had no relation to Poland, provided the country's geographical position near the frontline

Founder of neo-Nazi cell in Crimea flees to Georgia — source

According to the official, the investigation established that Mikhail Maurov planned to travel to Ukraine to join the ranks of a right-wing Ukrainian organization called the Freedom of Russia Legion

Russia won’t allow NATO to move closer in Ukraine — Lavrov

There is still no full clarity regarding the future of Ukraine's western regions, the Russian foreign minister went on to say

West wants to make Transnistria hotbed of tension — Lavrov

According to the top Russian diplomat, the leaders who rule countries where they claim to be from while holding foreign passports "will not enjoy support and authority for long"

Iran may target Israeli nuclear center in Dimona in case of Israel’s attack — TV

Ahmad Haghtalab said on April 18 that Tehran has identified the location of Israel's "nuclear centers" and will be ready to destroy them in case the Jewish state responds to the recent Iranian attack on Israeli military facilities

Ukrainian trace obvious in Crocus City Hall attack — Russian prosecutor general

The law enforcement employees exert efforts to identify the instigators of this crime, Igor Krasnov said

Lavrov labels way West ramping up sanctions against Russia as mindless

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Drones downed over Isfahan cause no damage, says Iranian foreign minister

It is reported that several drones had been intercepted by the national air defense forces over Isfahan

Putin signs law on holding World Friendship Games

Funding will be provided from the federal, regional and local budgets, as well as taxes from gambling transferred to the organizer

Russia knows French military instructors working in Ukraine — Lavrov

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Lavrov speaks of West’s agony, Russia’s approach to any future talks with Kiev

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Fox News said the Jewish state delivered a limited strike on Iran

Izvestia correspondent Semyon Eremin killed in special operation zone

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Switzerland does not suit Russia for negotiations on Ukraine — Lavrov

The Foreign Minister pointed to the fact that Switzerland is on board with all Western sanctions

West close to sending military to Ukraine, this would 'drag Europe to bottom' — Orban

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One crew member of jet crashed in Stavropol Region killed, search for another continues

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, an Aerospace Forces’ Tu-22M3 bomber crashed after completing a combat mission while returning to the airfield

Water in Kurgan above dam, breaking records

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US gives nod to Israeli operation in Rafah in exchange for canceling major attack on Iran

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Crimea, Donbass to forever remain within Russia, Slovak PM tells national parliament

Robert Fico believes Moscow will win in its confrontation with Kiev

Ukraine’s new ethnic minorities law insufficient to protect Magyars — Hungarian president

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Armenia has to define CSTO’s zone of responsibility on its territory, says Lavrov

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Hungarians in western Ukraine should get their rights back, Budapest says

"The Hungarian community’s opportunities to use its native language in the fields of education, culture, media and self-governance have been significantly limited," Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto specified

West frightens voters by 'Russian threat' to win elections — Lavrov

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Court arrests another man accused of blowing up car of former SBU officer in Moscow

Ivan Paskar is charged with illegally transporting explosive substances, but he does not recognize his guilt

North Korean leader arrives at public event in Aurus luxury car gifted by Putin

On April 10, the vehicle was also spotted when the North Korean leader visited Kim Jong Il Military and Political Academy

Final statement by G7 top diplomats to call for supplying more air defenses to Kiev

Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister said Kiev required US-made Patriot systems and Italian-French Samp-T theatre antimissile systems

Lavrov says Borrell let it slip that Europe ‘fighting against Russia’

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Russia open to help resolve situation in Sudan — ambassador

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Russia delivers 34 strikes on Ukrainian military infrastructure over week — top brass

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Russia’s defense chief inspects production of tanks, flamethrowers at Siberian enterprise

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Russia has significant amount of West’s funds in case of confiscation of its assets

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NATO discussing transfer of ‘deep precision strike capabilities’ to Ukraine — Stoltenberg

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