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Erdogan declares early elections in Turkey on June 24

According to Erdogan, Turkey’s Supreme Electoral Council will soon start preparations for the elections

© EPA-EFE/TURKISH PRESIDENTAL PRESS OFFICE

ANKARA, April 18. /TASS/. Early presidential and parliamentary elections will be held in Turkey on June 24, the country’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a press conference in Ankara on Wednesday.

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Turkey has no plans to seize Syrian territory — top diplomat

"The government has welcomed [Nationalist Movement Party leader Devlet] Bahceli’s idea to hold early elections. They will take place on June 24, 2018," he said.

According to Erdogan, Turkey’s Supreme Electoral Council will soon start preparations for the elections.

On April 17, Bahceli called for holding snap elections on August 26. On Wednesday, Erdogan held a meeting with Bahceli to discuss the matter.

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Recep Tayyip Erdogan

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

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

Cooperation between Moscow and Beijing in the military-technical sphere contributes to enhancing security of Russia and China and "is not directed against third countries," Maria Zakharova stressed

Palestinian envoy says Israel plans to destroy Palestine

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G7 foreign ministers set to call on all sides to exercise restraint in Middle East

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Israel will "most likely" respond to the recent Iranian attack

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"

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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"

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

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

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Russian forces destroy Ukrainian command post, two S-300 missile launchers over day

Russian forces improved their frontline positions and repelled a Ukrainian army counterattack in the Donetsk area where the enemy lost roughly 590 troops over the past day, the ministry reported

Iran completed operation, to respond with greater force if needed — envoy to Russia

On the evening of April 13, Iran launched drones and missiles toward Israel in response to what it called "repeated crimes" from Tel Aviv, including the attack on the consular office of the Iranian Embassy in Damascus ascribed to Israel

Chief prosecutors of Russia, Venezuela sign cooperation agreement in Caracas

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Palestinian president says US veto immoral, runs counter to global community’s will

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Tehran’s two major airports cancel international flights — Mehr

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

US gives nod to Israeli operation in Rafah in exchange for canceling major attack on Iran

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Moscow International Film Festival to open in Russian capital

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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"

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At least 16 Syrian troops killed in terrorists’ ambush in east Syria — TV

According to the Al Hadath television, a military bus was ambushed by members of the Islamic State terrorist group

France-Russia relations hit rock bottom — ex-envoy to Paris

Alexander Orlov noted that recently French President Emmanuel Macron "has made a number of questionable moves that have increased the divide" between both countries

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

Kremlin condemns 'illegal' seizure of villa from Russian businessman

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

US veto for Palestinian membership proves Washington’s anti-Palestinian stance — Hamas

The movement called upon the international community to "break free from Washington’s influence and support the struggle of the Palestinian people"

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

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Swiss parliament votes against joining task force on frozen Russian assets

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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

MiG-31I fighters receive air refueling system

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Russia, Iran maintain contacts on nuclear security - deputy foreign minister

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"

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Algeria pledges to return to Palestinian membership issue — envoy

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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"

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

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French, US, British nukes all interwoven — Russian diplomat

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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Ukrainian president admits Russian troops’ advancement

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US blocks Security Council resolution granting full UN membership to Palestine

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US blackmails other countries at United Nations — Russian mission

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Putin points to high risk of new epidemic outbreaks

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Russia can join top three countries by lithium reserves — governor

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

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