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African ambassadors ask Russia to support South Africa’s bid to host Summer Olympics 2024

South African city of Durban, Rome, Paris, Doha and Dubai are named among applicant cities for the Summer Olympics in 2024

Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Benin in Russia Aniset Gabriel Kochofa ITAR-TASS/Donat Sorokin

Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Benin in Russia Aniset Gabriel Kochofa

© ITAR-TASS/Donat Sorokin

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YEKATERINBURG, February 12. /ITAR-TASS/. Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Benin in Russia Aniset Gabriel Kochofa and Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Gabon in Russia Rene Makongo asked Russia to support South Africa’s bid to host the Summer Olympic Games in 2024. These African ambassadors arrived in the Russian Ural city of Yekaterinburg to participate in a youth forum.

“We would like to ask Russian residents to support South Africa’s bid to host the Summer Olympics in 2024. This is an important event for all Africa. If South Africa wins, during preparation to the Olympics we will use experience of the Sochi Olympics, which won the hearts of residents of our countries,” the ambassadors told Itar-Tass.

In the view of Kochofa, the Winter Olympics in the southern Russian city of Sochi showed to the whole world that sport can show a country to the world from a new angle with all its well-being and prosperity.

“Africa needs such large-scale projects. People should discover this continent for themselves. I believe that the Olympics is the best project,” Kochofa noted.

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In the view of Makongo, the Olympics is a holiday for the whole world. “What if this holiday is held in the Republic of South Africa? The Winter Olympics in Sochi showed to the whole world that impossible can be possible. South Africa needs experience and support of Russia, which hosts the Winter Olympics in Sochi,” Makongo said.

The South African city of Durban bids to host the Summer Olympics in 2024. This African country also plans to hold the Commonwealth Games in 2022. Durban was named among applicant cities for the Summer Olympics in 2020, but the country’s government found the project too costly.

Rome, Paris, Doha and Dubai are named among applicant cities for the Summer Olympics in 2024. A city to host these Summer Olympic Games will be named in 2017.

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The Russian defense chief is certain that "this is an important moment in strengthening security in the SCO space"

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

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Venezuelan foreign ministry, Russian embassy hold joint conference in Caracas

The event brought together almost 200 diplomats, foreign ministry staffers and experts in international relations

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"Neither these missiles nor other weapons can help defeat the Russian Federation," Anatoly Antonov said

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West reluctant to punish those responsible for Nord Stream blasts — Russian diplomat

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North Korea tests multiple rocket launchers produced at new defense enterprise

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The countries will jointly announce the time of this trip, Dmitry Peskov said

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The United States should not cross the red lines with regard to China’s sovereignty and security, Wang Yi added

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Ukraine’s army leaves first defensive line in Berdychi near Avdeyevka, says DPR

The Ukrainian military has suffered heavy casualties among personnel and military hardware in that community, Igor Kimakovsky said

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The resolution passed in a 493-11 vote, with 18 abstentions

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

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Russia warns US, NATO against harming its security — diplomat

Maria Zakharova stressed that "the level of nuclear risks have risen dramatically as a result of the West’s destructive policy, which is fraught with a direct military confrontation between nuclear powers"

Swiss conference on Ukraine undermines European security — Russian diplomat

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Crocus City Hall attack funded using cryptocurrency, Russian finance watchdog says

Russia’s Federal Financial Monitoring Service head added that the act of terrorism was intricately planned and it took an international network of conspirators to carry it out

Top Chinese diplomat calls for creating conditions for talks on Ukraine

Wang Yi also called for "resolutely opposing attempts to take advantage of the chaos and add fuel to the fire"

Ukraine had to negotiate agreements with Russia with ‘three masters’ — Russian envoy

"It is very difficult to negotiate with those who are unable to make decisions, even if they want, they can’t, and only act as a side to a difficult conflict," Vladimir Medinsky explained

Insurers refuse to pay compensation for Nord Stream — Russian envoy to UN

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Russia needs to boost production of goods based on domestic technologies — Putin

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Thirty-one American tanks have become "unfit for the classical deployment," Maxim Buzhansky said

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Russian military will do its utmost to repel such attacks, Apty Alaudinov said

Moscow, Minsk pushing for peace even as 'war in the air' — Belarusian official

Pavel Muraveiko stressed that "the leaders of Belarus and Russia are doing everything possible and impossible to ensure peace and security on western borders"

US first caused, now purposefully drags out Ukraine conflict — Shoigu

The Russian top defense official added that in order to achieve its goals, Washington is exerting unprecedented pressure, including on its partners

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China, US free to have their own friends, partners — President Xi

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

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Apart from that, IDF fighter jets delivered strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in the area of Kfarchouba in southern Lebanon and in Markaba

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According to Russian Energy Minister Nikolay Shulginov, the ministry will return to this issue later, as hydro resources accumulate after the rainy season

Kremlin spokesman describes European Parliament as 'Russophobic machine'

Dmitry Peskov added that the EP "has turned into a machine brimming with internal contradictions that keeps generating boorish statements"

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Ukrainian opposition demands parliament speaker's resignation over pro-Hitler remarks

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Alexander Lukashenko stressed that his Ukrainian counterpart Vladimir Zelensky should have realistic expectations

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Labor productivity requires a significant increase in all sectors of the economy, the President stressed

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Russian, Chinese militaries interacting stabilizes world processes — top defense official

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun noted that he wanted to discuss "the most fundamental issues" with his Russian counterpart, given the constraints of time and place

Armenian police arrests people protesting against demarcation with Azerbaijan

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Foreign delegations show great interest in Russian defense products — security official

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Potential nuclear facilities in Poland to be military target for Russia — senior diplomat

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Senior security official points to rising tensions on Belarus’ western border

Tensions "have reached a peak where the slightest imbalance can lead either to a serious, high-profile and large-scale provocation or a conflict," Pavel Muraveiko stressed

Russia appreciates Bolivia’s push to defend sovereignty, Lavrov says

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Putin calls impending formation of new cabinet ‘crucial step’

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US government prepares to sign $6-bln contract for arms deliveries to Ukraine — Politico

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West bends sanctions rules when it suits them — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov noted that, "according to some parameters, companies in Europe and other regions can hardly maintain their competitiveness if they completely abandon our products"

Kiev's attacks on ZNPP may trigger another Chernobyl — Zaporozhye governor

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

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Erdogan moves back from May 9 his trip to US — report

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Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev noted that the heads of foreign delegations expressed sincere condolences to the Russian people over the casualties of the attack on a concert hall outside Moscow

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SCO should unite against foreign attempts to trigger revolutions — Shoigu

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Kiev violates diplomatic relations convention by recruiting mercenaries abroad — diplomat

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