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Russian border guards dismiss reports of detaining Japanese fishermen near Kurils

© Sergei Krasnoukhov/TASS

YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK, January 17. /TASS/. Russian border guards on Thursday dismissed reports about the detention of Japanese fishing vessels near Russia’s Kuril Islands earlier in the day.

"All formal procedures were carried out at sea, without detaining the fishing schooner or convoying it to a Russian port," the border guards service of Russia’s Sakhalin Region said.

According to border guards, five vessels were stopped for inspection in the vicinity of the Kuril Islands, and the crew of one of them - Kasuga Maru No. 18 - failed to provide the required documents. An administrative case was launched.

Earlier on Thursday, Japan’s Kyodo news agency reported, citing the Japanese Foreign Ministry, that Tokyo had voiced its protest over a fine imposed on Japanese fishing vessels near the Kuril Islands. A Japanese Foreign Ministry official told TASS later in the day that two ships were reportedly detained and convoyed to the Russian port of Yuzhno-Kurilsk.

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Maria Zakharova noted that Moscow would not be surprised if it turned out that the US and the EU had imposed their plans on Yerevan

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

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

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Ukrainians abroad storming embassies to avoid mobilization, Russian diplomat says

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

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

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

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Ukrainian trace obvious in Crocus City Hall attack — Russian prosecutor general

The law enforcement employees exert efforts to identify the instigators of this crime, Igor Krasnov said

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Ukraine convicts 12th world chess champion for recognizing Donetsk, Lugansk republics

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Kiev lacks both troops and equipment near Chasov Yar in DPR, says retired general

Military commanders of Ukrainian army brigades "lack both personnel and the required amount of equipment" while Russian troops enjoy a considerable superiority, especially in artillery, Sergey Krivonos noted

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"

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

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Sergey Aksenov noted that the increase in budget revenues helped use a large amount of funds on the development of priority areas, including environmental protection, education, health care, and road construction

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"

Yerevan's refusal to delimit borders with Baku to escalate regional tensions — PM

Nikol Pashinyan pointed out that the demarcation process also involves risks, but they are manageable, after which "Armenia will become ten times stronger"

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Fu Cong denied claims that direct talks with Israel are a vital precondition for Palestine’s UN membership

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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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

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Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, April 15th

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

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US names lack of reforms as reason to block Palestinian membership resolution

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West, Kiev indulge in nuclear blackmail by demanding control of ZNPP — Russian MFA

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US deploying missiles in Philippines to endanger global security — Russian envoy

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