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RF, EU may sign agt on visa-free travel for service passport holders in Jan.

MOSCOW, November 30, 21:02 /ITAR-TASS/. Moscow hopes that an agreement on visa-free travel for the holders of biometric service passports may be signed at the upcoming Russia-EU summit in January.

“As for the visa-free travel regime [for all others] with the EU, there will be none for the time being because our partners in the European Union are not prepared for it. Regarding service passports, we will see. A draft agreement is ready and is being studied by the European Commission. We hope that we will be able to sign the document at the Russia-EU summit in January 2014,” Deputy Foreign Minister Vasily Nebenzya told ITAR-TASS.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier urged the ambassadors of 28 EU countries to speed up the transition to visa-free travel. Russia is ready to abolish visas for EU citizens and it is now the European Union’s turn to act, he said.

Lavrov assured the audience that Russia sincerely wished the European Union success and prosperity. “We are interested in our own development and the EU is our largest partner in investment and cultural cooperation,” the minister said, adding that Moscow would like to have even more intensive ties with the EU.

Moscow hopes that the visa facilitation agreement with the European Union will be ready shortly, Russian Permanent Representative to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov said earlier.

“Only one question remains - visa-free travel for the holders of service passports,” he said. “The overall mood among the EU members, and this is a political decision, was not in favour of a positive solution. The situation changed only recently and the supporters of the positive outcome gained a qualified majority in the EU Council.”

“This is not the final result yet, but I would say that negotiations have resumed. This is why I hope that we will bring this process to completion in the next several months,” Chizhov said.

Terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall

Afghan Foreign Ministry condemns terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall outside Moscow

The ministry’s Spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi said, that considers it a blatant violation of all human standards

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

The President undescored that Russia did not plan to produce absolutely everything domestically

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

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Russia says its battlegroup West seized better positions

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

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US nukes in Poland to become target for Russia should confrontation with NATO occur — MFA

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Russia’s advanced technology helps use unguided munitions as precision bombs

Gefest system analyzes data of the Glonass satellite navigation grouping on the mutual location of the aircraft and the target

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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

Armenian police arrests people protesting against demarcation with Azerbaijan

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Positive trends in Russian economy become stronger — Putin

"Despite unprecedented challenges we face in recent years, positive trends are becoming stronger in national economy," the head of state said

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Russian Embassy to Austria denied participation in ceremony at Nazi concentration camp

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Global community condemns use of terrorists in geopolitical struggle — Russian official

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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Transfer of US ATACMS missiles to Ukraine cannot be justified — Russian ambassador

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

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"

North Korea to take part in SPIEF — Embassy in Russia

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Israel Defense Forces delivers more strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon

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Bolivarian Alliance countries stand for multipolar world — Maduro

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

Kiev troops may strike targets in Crimea with ATACMS missiles — newspaper

The goal "is to put more pressure on Crimea," The New York Times said

Russia’s US-born boxer Johnson to star in TV reality show — promoter

He will be the mentor of the so-called World Team, while the Team Russia will be led by prominent boxer]Kostya Tszyu

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

According to Sergey Ryabkov, discussions around the deployment of NATO nuclear facilities in Poland are an "unfolding story"

Russia’s strategic bombers get latest data transfer systems

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All-Belarusian People's Assembly adopts new military doctrine, security concept

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Cosmonauts complete spacewalk two hours ahead of schedule

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West again tried to obstruct international security meeting in Russia — security official

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Around ten shopping malls in Moscow evacuated over bomb threats

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

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US nuclear facilities in Northern Europe to become targets in Russia-NATO clash — MFA

Maria Zakharova warned that if US nuclear weapons were deployed to Northern Europe, "the security of the countries hosting these weapons will by no means get stronger, but on the contrary be harmed"

Russian cosmonauts begin first spacewalk in 2024

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Government, business to continue dialog — Kremlin

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There is confirmed evidence of his connections with French secret services

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Ukraine to cease to exist unless it enters into talks, Belarusian president warns

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

Cosmonauts complete spacewalk two hours ahead of schedule

The cosmonauts fulfilled their tasks way faster than planned, spending four hours and 36 minutes in space

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European Parliament urges EU states to regard Russian presidential vote as illegitimate

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

Azerbaijan, Armenia have installed 20 border markers so far

Expert groups from the two countries continue their work

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Over 3,100 foreign mercenaries fight for Ukraine, most of them from US

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US-led coalition’s aircraft violate Syrian airspace 13 times in past day

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Detained deputy defense minister suspected of taking grand bribe of over $10,000

This charges carries a punishment of up to 15 years behind bars

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EAEU preliminary discussing terms of free trade agreement with India — official

"There is a preliminary stage of agreeing that both sides are ready to enter into negotiations," Roman Chekushov specified

Swiss conference on Ukraine undermines European security — Russian diplomat

In Maxim Buyakevich words, neither the talks nor their outcome can change the existing political and territorial realities

Houthi leader says group attacked more than 100 ships in Red, Arabian seas so far

Ansar Allah strikes one ship every two days, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said

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

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Russian court arrests in absentia four foreign agents charged with terrorism

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

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Right to secession from USSR was ‘time bomb’ under its statehood — Putin

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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

First-ever South Korean citizen arrested for espionage in Russia

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Iran calls on BRICS states to facilitate ceasefire in Gaza Strip

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani called for a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza

Kiev violates diplomatic relations convention by recruiting mercenaries abroad — diplomat

Maria Zakharova pointed to media reports, according to which Ukrainian embassies in a number of countries are openly campaigning local citizens to join the so-called International Legion of Ukrainian Territorial Defense

Russia ready to cooperate with all interested partners to ensure security — Putin

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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

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

Fatah accuses Hamas of actions that led to Israeli control of Gaza — report

Fatah also said Hamas is currently seeking to become part of the Palestine Liberation Organization, but is doing this "only to preserve itself and survive"

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

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Dardanelles temporarily closed due to fire on board of dry cargo carrier

Rescue craft were promptly sent to the ship, fire extinguishing started, the crew was evacuated

Kremlin announces creation of blockchain-based payment system in BRICS

Work will continue to develop the Contingent Reserve Arrangement, primarily regarding the use of currencies different from the US dollar," the Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov pointed out

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

Bolivian leader decries fresh US military aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan

According to Luis Arce, instead of pursuing "the policy of diplomacy and dialogue," the United States opts for "continued war and militarism"

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

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, April 24th

Network of international conspirators plotted Crocus terrorist attack — watchdog

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

Senior Russian MP dubs pervasive gender reassignment in West 'human tragedy'

Vyacheslav Volodin pointed to a law recently passed by Sweden’s parliament enabling minors to transition without surgery that a national survey showed was disapproved by 59% of citizens

Staff shortage cannot be covered by labor migration — Putin

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

Reinforced Ukrainian battlegroup fails to break through Russian defenses in DPR — expert

Andrey Marochko added that the Ukrainians have also intensified artillery and drone attacks at Russian positions

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

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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

Some 4,500 tickets sold in only two days for 2024 BRICS Games in Russia’s Kazan

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Kiev may use ATACMS missiles to hit Crimean Bridge — Russian defense ministry official

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

Russia to hold next international security meeting in 2025 — top security official

The date and location will be announced later