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Conflict in Syria

Syrian government's delegation disappointed with first round of Geneva II talks

GENEVA, January 30. /ITAR-TASS/. Syrian government delegation is disappointed with the first round of negotiations in the Geneva II format, First Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Al-Mekdad told reporters Thursday.

The government delegation believes the opposition was represented at the talks at an insufficient level. Its members represented only a small section and not the entire spectrum of opposition forces, he said.

The only purpose of the opposition’s presence at the conference was to mark time. The oppositionist negotiators were demonstrating all the time their disagreement with the government on all the items of the agenda, Al-Mekdad said.

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The President noted that the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, together with other business associations, is doing a lot to relieve the business environment from red tape, helping to simplify or convert administrative procedures and approvals into electronic form, and helping the government improve legislation and control and supervisory activities

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There is confirmed evidence of his connections with French secret services

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

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

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

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

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Casualties reported after Ukrainian strike on residential house in Zaporozhye Region city

The rescuers are involved in efforts to clear the rubble of a five-story house on Kuibyshev Street

White House alleges that Russia working on satellite carrying nuclear device

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

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

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

China vows decisive response to US move to deploy intermediate missiles in Asia-Pacific

The Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson stressed that "US steps are posing a major threat to security and stability of regional players"

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IAEA chief to have working contacts with Rosatom, no meeting with Putin is planned

Rafael Grossi may visit Russia in late May

Russia to retaliate immediately if Kiev gets ATACMS missiles — diplomat

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"

US shifted conflict in Europe onto EU, NATO shoulders to weaken Russia, says Lukashenko

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Armenian police arrests people protesting against demarcation with Azerbaijan

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Bank of Russia keeps key rate to prevent inflation from being double-digit, Putin says

According to the head of state, such risks still exist

Network of international conspirators plotted Crocus terrorist attack — watchdog

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

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

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West views Europe as potential theater of military operations — Lukashenko

The number of operational and combat training activities in Poland and the Baltic states increases every year, the Belarusian President noted

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

The Russian Investigative Committee added that measures are underway to locate their whereabouts and bring them to criminal liability