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Economic growth in Russia expected in 2017 - VTB CEO

According to the forecasts of the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs, Russia’s GDP will demonstrate a 1.2% growth in the next two years

MOSCOW, January 24. /TASS/. Economic growth in Russia may resume in 2017, CEO of one of Russia’s biggest banks, VTB, Andrei Kostin said on Sunday in an interview with the Rossiya-1 television channel after the World Economic Forum in Davos.

"We feel absolute support. All the businesses are on our side. We have been working for many years and our partnership has never been stopped. And we should be optimistic. The year 2016 will be uneasy. The year 2017, I think, will see economic growth," he said.

Russia’s economic growth in the past six months was slightly above zero. Negative growth rates on the fourth quarter 2015 are expected in the first quarter of 2016, Russian Deputy Finance Minister Maxim Oreshkin said earlier.

According to the forecasts of the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs, Russia’s GDP will demonstrate a 1.2% growth in the next two years.

Russian court blocks JPMorgan’s funds in VTB lawsuit

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

Russian children’s commissioner holds first face-to-face talks with Ukrainian counterparts

Maria Lvova-Belova thanked Qatar for setting up a venue for dialogue between Russia and Ukraine regarding children’s interests

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

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Putin stays in daily contact with Sergey Shoigu, Kremlin spokesman says

Timur Ivanov was arrested by Moscow’s Basmanny Court

US arms supplies unable to change situation in Kiev's favor — Kremlin

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"

Russians not let to Turkish Airlines flights to Mexico due to US pressure on it — diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov noted that such problems exist for Russians using Turkish Airlines flights to other Latin American countries

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

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

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

The Belarusian leader specified that the US had organized the conflict in Europe, in this case in Ukraine, and "shifted it onto the shoulders of the European Union and NATO, promising to help with money"

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

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

"The American aid won’t save Zelensky. New weapons will be destroyed, and the special military operation goals will be achieved," Anatoly Antonov stressed

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"

Stockmann company to buy Russian business of Hugo Boss — Industry Ministry

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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

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

According to Anatoly Antonov, "the further it goes, the more America corners itself into a zugzwang"

Bolivarian Alliance countries stand for multipolar world — Maduro

"ALBA can be among the founders of a new world, a new international multipolar order," Venezuelan President stressed

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"

Houthis attack two commercial ships, US destroyer — statement

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Blinken’s visit to China meant to shatter Russian-Chinese ties — senior Russian diplomat

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West’s unwillingness to give up hegemony escalates tensions in world — security official

According to Nikolay Patrushev, this creates conditions for the devaluation of international law and its institutions and the erosion of the UN's central role in resolving global and regional conflicts

North Korean film shown in Moscow to mark anniversary of Putin-Kim meeting

Minister Plenipotentiary of the North Korean Embassy in Russia Lee Yeong Jin emphasized that "today's screening will contribute to further intensifying cultural exchanges, deepening mutual understanding and friendly relations between the peoples of North Korea and Russia"

Ukrainian troops in Kharkov Region lift antennas with kites to get better signal

Military expert Andrey Marochko speculated that the Ukrainian army had to resort to this tactic because the TV tower in Kharkov was damaged

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

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US military aid for Kiev cannot stop Russian army’s advance — North Korean diplomat

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

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

According to the top Russian diplomat, it is especially concerning that the three Western nuclear powers are among the key sponsors of the Kiev regime and the main initiators of various inflammatory moves

Top US diplomat Blinken arrives in Shanghai

A State Department spokesperson told a special briefing previewing Blinken’s trip earlier that the Secretary of State would visit Shanghai and Beijing to "build on our intensive diplomacy [with China] over the past year"

US waging hybrid war against Serbs to snuff them out for good — Republika Srpska head

"Republika Srpska comes under direct pressure and under constant US sanctions; and we are looking for ways to solve this problem," Milorad Dodik said

US draft on nukes in space seeks to go beyond legal framework Russia adheres to — MFA

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

Russia to retaliate immediately if Kiev gets ATACMS missiles — diplomat

Konstantin Gavrilov also noted that the "manic efforts" of some Western OSCE member countries to isolate Russia "are futile and will backfire on their initiators"

US State Department confirms secret shipments of long-range ATACMS missiles to Kiev

Joe Biden directed to send ATACMS to Ukraine in February, the Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State Vedant Patel said

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

According to Dmitry Stefanovich, in order to prevent a new unbridled arms race, it is necessary to work on strategic stability as well as the sphere of arms control

US will have to take Russia into account and find common ground with it — Putin

Russian President said in an interview with Rossiya-1 TV channel journalist Pavel Zarubin

EU may sanction 10 firms for allegedly shipping weapons tech to Russia — Bloomberg

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

Russian athletes have right to decide on Olympic participation — aide

Russian and Belarusian athletes will be able to compete only under a neutral status, provided that they are not associated with security agencies and do not represent team sports

Russian tourists flock to North Korea — embassy

"Today, under the two countries’ leaders’ special attention, political contacts, exchanges, cooperation in the economic, culture, science and other areas are developing with renewed momentum," Minister Plenipotentiary of the republic's embassy in Russia Lee Yong Zin said

Russia discourages use of UN sanctions for interference in African affairs — envoy

Vasily Nebenzya underscored that Russia continues to "make an important contribution to strengthening of African countries’ potential, including UN Security Council and General Assembly"

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

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

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Russia maintains position on 'buffer zone' in Ukraine to counter missile threats

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Ukrainian army strikes own surrendering soldiers — POW

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Russia vetoes US-backed UNSC resolution on banning nuclear weapons in outer space

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

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

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

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Russian troops wipe out Ukrainian UAV production workshop over past day

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Radicals, intel services behind terror attacks in various countries, says Putin

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Gagauzia against Chisinau’s policy of severing ties with Russia

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Senior Russian, Tajikistani diplomats talk about fighting terrorists, radicals

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

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Russia presents world’s first hydrogen-fueled luxury car at Innoprom exhibition

The unique vehicle was built on the basis of the Aurus Senat luxury car

Russian court blocks JPMorgan’s funds in VTB lawsuit

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

Dust from Sahara turns rain in Ukraine yellow

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

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Drone crashes in industrial zone in Russian city of Lipetsk

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

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

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Lukashenko says US rues giving rise to Russia-China alliance

"The world has already changed and not the way they dreamed of across the pond," the Belarusian president emphasized

German defense minister says Russia making more arms than it needs for its op in Ukraine

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Ukraine could send special forces to capture Zaporozhye NPP — politician

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Russian court arrests in absentia four foreign agents charged with terrorism

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Switzerland unblocks Russia-related assets worth 290 mln Swiss francs

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Proper humanitarian assistance to Gaza impossible amid hostilities — Russian diplomat

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Iran denies reports it pulled some military advisers from Syria — Al Mayadeen

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Ukraine’s draft dodger makes attempt to cross Dniester into Moldova on air mattress

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

Top Russian security official meets with counterparts at international security meeting

Nikolay Patrushev met with the heads of delegations from BRICS states

White House alleges that Russia working on satellite carrying nuclear device

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Ukraine’s EU accession to require 20% increase in union’s budget — European Commissioner

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Modern weapons make up 82% in Russian air defense troops — Shoigu

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Russia’s top brass reports destroying US-made Hawk air defense system in Ukraine operation

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Attempts are made to turn Moldova into ‘second Ukraine’, Lavrov warns

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Russia’s Viner vows to set up International League of Rhythmic Gymnastics Clubs

Gymnasts from the world’s strongest clubs will be able to participate in this league