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PM Medvedev names Arctic among regions of government’s special attention

The prime minister spoke about the Trans Arctic 2019 expedition, which is underway to study opportunities of the Northern Sea Route

MOSCOW, April 17. /TASS/. The Russian government will continue to pay special attention to Russia’s geostrategic territories - Crimea, Kaliningrad, the Far East and the Arctic, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday in his annual report to the State Duma (the lower house of parliament).

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"The government will continue to pay special attention to national projects and to everyday work in connection with our geostrategic territories, which are Crimea and Sevastopol, Kaliningrad, the Far East and the Arctic zone," he said.

According to the prime minister, in 2018, private investments in the Far East were more than 190 billion rubles ($2.97 billion).

Medvedev named the Arctic a region of special importance for Russia. He spoke about the Trans Arctic 2019 expedition, which is underway to study opportunities of the Northern Sea Route. Besides, construction of the Sabetta sea port has been completed. The Yamal LNG is working at the planned capacity. The prime minister also mentioned construction of the Northern Latitudinal Railway and upgrade of the regional rail lines.

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The European Commission suggested introducing duties on agricultural products from Russia and Belarus earlier

Chief prosecutors of Russia, Venezuela sign cooperation agreement in Caracas

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Germany fails to present evidence in case of espionage suspects — Russian embassy

The Russian embassy has called attempts to probe into the alleged involvement of Russian special services in the development of rumored plans for attacks on military facilities in Germany "absurd and ridiculous"

Iran tells US about April 13 attack on Israel, it does not want escalation — top diplomat

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian added that prior to the attack, Tehran said that it would not target US military infrastructure in the Middle East "except in a situation where the United States wants to take military measures in support of Israel"

Energy prices help US economy to develop better than Europe — IMF

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Nearly half of those present in UN Security Council hall walk out before Israel’s address

israeli Permanent Representative Gilad Erdan was to address the council after Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour

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

Russia will not 'shake up' relations with Argentina due to its partnership with NATO — MFA

According to Sergey Ryabkov, Russia and Argentina maintain a good dialogue at various levels

Both main US parties threatened Telegram, co-founder says

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Investigation into Crocus terrorist attack underway, traces lead to Ukraine — diplomat

Maria Zakharova noted the need to "wait for official information from the investigation"

Nord Stream AG's refusal to pay compensation destroys Western insurance system — diplomat

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Russian artillery thwarts Ukrainian army’s rotation near Kupyansk — underground resistance

The Ukrainian army used the outbuilding as an ammunition depot, which accommodated about 15 fighters at the time of the air strike, spokesman Sergey Lebedev specified

Swiss parliament votes against joining task force on frozen Russian assets

The group contains US finance and justice ministers, representatives of Australia, the UK, Germany, Italy, Canada, France, Japan, as well as the European Commission

Colombian president displays interest in country’s entry into BRICS

Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva welcomed Gustavo Petro’s initiative, "being committed to promotion of Colombia’s candidacy"

Kazakhstan to sign new agreement with Russia on border checkpoints

The previous intergovernmental agreement dated December 23, 1998 on checkpoints through the Kazakh-Russian state border will cease to have effect on the effective date of the new document

Agents in Ukrainian, Poland foil attempt to kill Zelensky, security officials in Kiev say

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Kremlin condemns 'illegal' seizure of villa from Russian businessman

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Ukraine attacks ZNPP training center again, drone neutralized

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According to Grigory Karasin, many BRICS members share the opinion that the association should be in no hurry to adopt a strict charter, "seeing how counterproductively and even provocatively the European Union is acting"

German MFA summons Russian ambassador after detention of espionage suspects — newspaper

Commenting on the men's arrest, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said: "Our security services have prevented possible explosions aimed at undermining our military assistance to Ukraine"

West, Kiev indulge in nuclear blackmail by demanding control of ZNPP — Russian MFA

"Without noticing it themselves, they spoke the language of an ultimatum," Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova underlined

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Ukrainian front may collapse this summer — newspaper

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US deploying missiles in Philippines to endanger global security — Russian envoy

Anatoly Antonov has urged the US "not to open Pandora's Box" and follow Russia’s suit "by taking all necessary steps to ensure global stability and predictability"

Serial production of missiles for S-500 air defense systems begins in Russia — source

State trials of S-500 are under way at a testing range in southern Russia

HIV rate in Russia below 1%, expert says

Dmitry Kireyev noted that the rate of HIV-positive people was different across Russian regions, depending on the number of intravenous drug users

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

Protesters give Georgian government one hour to revoke foreign agents bill

Earlier on Wednesday, Georgia’s parliament passed the foreign agents bill in the first reading

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

The first Konteiner radar went on combat duty in the Volga area region of Mordovia on December 1, 2019

Ukraine struggles to garner support for Swiss conference — Russian Foreign Ministry

"There are increasingly fewer people willing to discuss this subject with Kiev’s envoys, let alone going there," Rodion Miroshnik stressed

Ukrainian military under constant gunfire by Russian troops near Urozhainoye, says POW

Yevgeny Pogrebnyak said that he was treated well by Russian troops in his captivity

Ukraine convicts 12th world chess champion for recognizing Donetsk, Lugansk republics

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Chinese car plant to start production at former Mercedes site in Moscow region in May

Earlier it was reported that the German automobile concern Mercedes-Benz plans to sell its enterprise located in the Solnechnogorsk district of the Moscow region

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

EU summit calls to continue work on duties on Russian, Belarusian agricultural produce

The European Commission suggested introducing duties on agricultural products from Russia and Belarus earlier

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Russia-China military-technical cooperation not directed against other states — diplomat

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CIA chief says Ukraine could lose by end of this year — Politico

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Russian Railways to triple tourist passenger flow to 3 mln people by 2030

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Ceasefire necessary for implementation of UN humanitarian resolution on Gaza — UN envoy

"The Israeli forces carry out strikes at humanitarian forces, block their access, slow down the cargo clearance," Vasily Nebenzya said

Russian Aerospace Forces strike five militant hideouts in Syria’s Homs

Yury Popov said that aircraft of the so-called international anti-terrorism coalition, led by the United States, continue to set dangerous precedents in skies above Syria

Russia expects Armenia to clarify 'military, political accords' with US, EU — diplomat

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Tokyo potentially joining US nuclear missions fraught with danger — Russian diplomat

Maria Zakharova also highlighted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s recent US visit, adding that "it was yet again accompanied by anti-Russian outbursts"

EU plans to invest first profits from Russian assets in military aid to Kiev

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Russia says its forces repel four Ukrainian counterattacks in Kupyansk area

The Ukrainian army losses were up to 70 servicemen, three motor vehicles, a D-30 howitzer, 2 Plastun-3000 electronic reconnaissance stations and a Nota electronic warfare station

MiG-31I fighters receive air refueling system

Another source said MiG-31I differs from previous MiG-K option by "different engines, avionics and missiles"

Water in Kurgan above dam, breaking records

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Press TV reports all of Iran's hypersonic missiles hit intended targets in Israel

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German Foreign Ministry confirms summoning of Russian ambassador

Earlier, the German Public Prosecutor’s Office said that two people had been detained on suspicion of spying for Russia

Iran to review nuclear doctrine in case of Israeli aggression — IRGC

Ahmad Haghtalab pointed out that the Iranian Army and other security forces protect Iranian nuclear facilities using the most advanced equipment, so "national nuclear centers are completely safe"

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

German prosecutors confirm they have two suspected Russian agents in custody

According to prosecutors, Dieter S. asserted his readiness to carry out attacks, above all, against military infrastructure, but also industrial facilities

Putin points to high risk of new epidemic outbreaks

The Russian president pointed out that Moscow’s "program of assistance to the African countries in sanitary and epidemiological well-being provides for the delivery of ten mobile high-containment biological laboratories"

Pipeline explodes in Kharkov Region

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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

EU border checkpoint closest to Russia’s St. Petersburg to cut its working hours

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Number of applications in RuStore surpasses 37,000

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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

Shoigu visits presentation of over 30 promising weapons, including robotic vehicles

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Kiev ordered mandatory evacuation from Kharkov Region to accommodate mercenaries

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Argentina applies for status of NATO’s global partner

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Russian diplomat challenges France to stop arming Kiev amid Olympic truce talk

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EU leaders urge to adopt proposal on using incomes from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine

The EU, the US, Japan and Canada have frozen Russian assets worth a total amount of around $300 bln