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Middle East and North Africa

Russian Science, Culture Center in Damascus suspends activities temporarily

Photo courtesy of Rossotrudnichestvo's press service

Photo courtesy of Rossotrudnichestvo's press service

MOSCOW, September 6 (Itar-Tass) - Activities of the Russian Science and Culture Center in Damascus were suspended in April but hopes remain for its reopening in quieter times, head of the Federal Agency for the CIS, Compatriots Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation Konstantin Kosachev said on Friday.

"The problem is that our centers have no diplomatic immunity. They are open for the population so they are easy targets for terrorist attacks," he said.

"Consulting with our foreign ministry and other departments, we decided in the spring to seal up the center in Damascus to ensure its security,” Kosachev said. "The staff returned to Moscow but the center is not closed, it is conserved. There are just no operational activities. We hope the situation will calm down sooner or later, and our activities will resume there."

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

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Russians not let to Turkish Airlines flights to Mexico due to US pressure on it — diplomat

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"Today, 20-30 reconnaissance planes fly in the airspace of the Baltic states and Poland weekly," Pavel Muraveiko added

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Radicals, intel services behind terror attacks in various countries, says Putin

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Konstantin Gavrilov also noted that the "manic efforts" of some Western OSCE member countries to isolate Russia "are futile and will backfire on their initiators"

Dust from Sahara turns rain in Ukraine yellow

According to the agency, dust from the Sahara will be observed in Ukraine for two more days on April 25 and 26

Bolivarian Alliance countries stand for multipolar world — Maduro

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

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Lukashenko sees Ukraine conflict posing risks to Belarus

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Proper humanitarian assistance to Gaza impossible amid hostilities — Russian diplomat

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US seeking to 'drive wedge' between Russia, China — Russian Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova noted that the quality of bilateral cooperation between Russia and China "surpasses Cold War-era monocentric blocs, where one party dictates to everyone else"

Europe should be prepared to build relations with Russia post-Ukraine conflict — Macron

According to the French leader, when building relations with Russia, Europe needs to rely upon its own strong security system

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West’s unwillingness to give up hegemony escalates tensions in world — security official

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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"

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

German defense minister says Russia making more arms than it needs for its op in Ukraine

"A larger part of what is being manufactured is not sent to the frontline but goes to warehouses," Boris Pistorius said

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

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Ukraine could send special forces to capture Zaporozhye NPP — politician

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Blinken’s visit to China meant to shatter Russian-Chinese ties — senior Russian diplomat

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West prepares puppet structures in case of coup in Belarus — KGB

Ivan Tertel said various methods were being considered, up to "instigating a forceful seizure by illegal armed groups" being trained in the West and Ukraine

Russia, Africa united by common vision on global issues — senior diplomat

Mikhail Bogdanov noted that "the African continent is a dynamically developing part of the world with an enormous growth potential, attractive domestic market and expanding export prospects"

US arms supplies unable to change situation in Kiev's favor — Kremlin

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Ukraine turns into testing ground for future world order, says Belarus president

"The largest nuclear powers, albeit indirectly, are actually fighting on Ukrainian territory. And not indirectly," the president of Belarus noted

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

Russia says its battlegroup West seized better positions

The Russian forces also foiled a counterattack of an assault group of the Ukrainian 80th mechanized brigade in the vicinity of the Krasnoye settlement in the Donetsk People’s Republic

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

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

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Ukrainian army short about 150,000-200,000 troops, says Polish general

Waldemar Skrzypczak also said it was "a matter of hours" until Kiev received the weapons allocated by the US as part of its latest military aid package

Russian troops wipe out Ukrainian UAV production workshop over past day

The Russian forces improved their frontline positions and inflicted casualties on five Ukrainian army brigades in the Donetsk area over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Houthis attack two commercial ships, US destroyer — statement

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

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Belarus responds to threats with preventive deterrence measures — defense minister

Viktor Khrenin emphasized that provocations by Western countries could become a catalyst for unleashing a military conflict

Russian defense minister dismisses his deputy Ivanov

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Russia’s victory in Ukraine to change course of history in Europe — von der Leyen

Ukraine "is carrying a heavy burden" for the benefit of the EU, and therefore EU member states must "provide Ukraine with means to defend themselves," European Commission president said

Russia maintains position on 'buffer zone' in Ukraine to counter missile threats

Dmitry Peskov added that the issue of fighting against long-range weapons being supplied to Ukraine and potential strikes on the areas where they are concentrated "is rather under the purview of <…> the armed forces"

Ukraine says Western systems ineffective against Russia's electronic warfare

Maria Berlinskaya emphasized that the real effectiveness was determined in real combat conditions, and not at "some training ground in Texas"