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People’s Front criticizes government

A two-day conference of the All Russia People’s Front opened in Rostov-on-Don on Thursday

A two-day conference of the All Russia People’s Front opened in Rostov-on-Don on Thursday. Participants in the discussions on "Construction of social justice" expressed their complaints and put forth proposals on social issues. Proposals formulated as a result of the round table discussions will be presented to President Vladimir Putin on Friday. As experts note, it is obvious that there will be criticism toward the government, since it was voiced in almost all the round table discussions.

The section on "Decent labour and the prestige of a working man " discussed the need to raise the minimal wage, the Vedomosti notes. Education Minister Dmitry Livanov was criticized at various discussion grounds.

It is a new format of work with authorities. Experts and officials, who take decisions on the basis of forecasts, have finally seen how they are implemented – microbusiness has serious problems, fishing becomes paid, maternity hospitals are closed, noted the head of the organizing committee for Front congress preparation, Andrei Bocharov. According to him, at present representatives will propose measures to Putin to carry out tasks he set in his pre-election articles.

Party members and Front members well remember that Putin positively takes criticism of Dmitry Medvedev. They do not even need an order to begin complaining against the premier, political analyst Igor Bunin said.

All appearances, Vladimir Putin is ready to reformate the next Duma with the shifting of the centre of gravity from the ruling party to Front members, the Nezavisimaya Gazeta believes. Thus, the People’s Front will become the second ruling party operating on various grounds. The Front becomes a serious support of Putin against the background of weakening United Russia, which is more and more associated with Premier Dmitry Medvedev. Thursday's conference, according to observers, leaves no doubts that Putin is ready to run for the next presidential term – at the head of his "national guard".

According to the head of the Centre of Political Information, Alexei Mukhin, with the unchanged general conception of the Front, United Russia members' worst fears are confirmed. United Russia most likely will be a part of the People's Front, performing certain functions not as a ruling party, but as its part. Vladimir Putin creates a coalition of party structures before the 2016 elections to give the society a spectrum of ideological platforms able to win sympathies of the population.

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Kiev ordered mandatory evacuation from Kharkov Region to accommodate mercenaries

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

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Hezbollah warns Israel it will fight back if attacks on Lebanon continue

The Lebanese Shiite organization "would not accept that the Israelis transgress the rules of engagement that are currently set in the south" of Lebanon

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

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"

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

Shoigu orders additional tank protection sets for Ukraine operation

The minister also inspected the training process in Omsk Armor Engineering Institute

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

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Iran threatens to attack Israel's "nuclear centers" in case of aggression on its part

Ahmad Haqtalab argued that Israel had been conducting "subversive and terrorist activities" against the Islamic republic's nuclear infrastructure for year

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

Russia views the West’s encroachment on its assets as "a blatant and shameless theft for the purpose of lining its pockets," Maria Zakharova noted

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

William Burns said "there is a very real risk that the Ukrainians could at least put Putin in a position where he could essentially dictate the terms of a political settlement"

Russia always prefers talks to fighting, wars, says Lavrov

The first Russian-Ukrainian negotiations after the launch of Moscow’s special military operation in Ukraine took place in Belarus in early March 2022 but the talks yielded no tangible results

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"I think that the decision has been taken by the member-states - all 27 have agreed that we use the windfall profits following our proposal," Ursula von der Leyen said

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

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

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Tasnim refuted foreign media reports about an incident at a nuclear site in Isfahan

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

"This military whirlpool can drag Europe to the bottom. Brussels is playing with fire and angering God," the Hungarian prime minister said

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According to the media outlet, "the US administration will support the plan for a military operation in Rafah put forward earlier," which provides for dividing the city into numbered sectors that will be mopped up one by one

Military base near Iran’s Isfahan hit following attack — newspaper

The sources said that Iranian forces managed to destroy several small drones near the city of Tabriz, about 800 kilometers from Isfahan

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

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

Lavrov describes Georgia’s bill on foreign agents as 'mildest of all'

The top Russian diplomat stressed that the Georgian bill on foreign agents suggested only the need to declare funds, if the organization in question received more than 20% of its funding from abroad

West can’t comprehend Russia’s resilience — Lavrov

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

Ukrainian front may collapse this summer — newspaper

According to the newspaper’s assessments, Russia "has never been closer to its goals" in the special military operation zone

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

Moscow-based embassies of NATO countries helped anti-government groups, Lavrov says

The top Russian diplomat also spoke about the detention in Germany of two people suspected of spying for Russia

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

Romania tries to cancel Russian culture by banning films — diplomat

"The National Film Archive of Romania, for political reasons, broke the lease agreements for cinema halls with Russian embassy in Bucharest, which provided for the private screening of the Russian films "The Time of the First" and "The Challenge," Maria Zakharova said

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

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

UN Security Council vote exposes practically full isolation of US — Russia’s UN mission

Vasily Nebenzya described the US veto as a "fruitless attempt to stop the inexorable course of history"

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

The changes were attributed to reconstruction works on the Russian side of the checkpoint Ivangorod

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Earlier, the media reported, citing a US official, that Israel had launched a missile strike on a site in Iranian territory

Israel assesses effectiveness, consequences of strike on Iran — media

A spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces declined to comment on the reports of the strike

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

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Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad International Airport suspended their operations until 10:30 a.m. local time

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

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According to Iranian media reports, three drones were downed by air defenses in the skies over the city of Isfahan

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

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US blackmails other countries at United Nations — Russian mission

Dmitry Polyansky said "this shameful neocolonial tactics are fully exposed now in the context of Gaza War"

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It cannot be ruled out that the House of Representatives may pass this package as early as Saturday

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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"

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Dmitry Peskov underscored that Moscow has already made its position clear on this matter

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Maria Zakharova also pointed to the fact that Ukraine's special services do not give up attempts to "massacre their former compatriots"

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Sergey Ryabkov said that "very soon, Russia and Iran will have new additional opportunities to discuss the situation in the Middle East in general, as well as details of what is going on there at this point"

Argentina’s NATO partnership bid to let US tighten its grip — expert

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

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West wants to make Transnistria hotbed of tension — Lavrov

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Israel to not take responsibility for attack on Iran — newspaper

Israeli sources also said that they did not understand why the Pentagon had leaked information about Israel's involvement in the attack to the media

Security guarantees on Ukraine did not apply to Crimea, Donbass — Lavrov

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

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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

Russia knows French military instructors working in Ukraine — Lavrov

At the same time, the top Russian diplomat pointed out that "there is information that not only French mercenaries, but also instructors, maybe even together, but along with some other representatives of military and special services of European countries are working there [in Ukraine]"

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

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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

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

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Vehicles, equipment participating in Victory Day parade depart for Moscow — ministry

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Chinese analyst sees US veto on Palestine as reflection of arrogance, double standards

Wang Wen stated that it’s still very hard to achieve a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Major Western investor accuses Zelensky's office of extorting millions of euros

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