Death toll in South Korean ferry Sewol crash rises to 64

Maria Zakharova pointed to media reports, according to which Ukrainian embassies in a number of countries are openly campaigning local citizens to join the so-called International Legion of Ukrainian Territorial Defense

The 12th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues took place in St. Petersburg on April 23-25

Maria Lvova-Belova thanked Qatar for setting up a venue for dialogue between Russia and Ukraine regarding children’s interests

According to the investigation, Timur Ivanov and Sergey Borodin "criminally conspired with third parties" in order to receive a bribe "as providing monetized services when conducting contracted and subcontracted work" for the Defense Ministry

Yury Chikhanchin pointed out that the perpetrators of the attack were provided with money, weapons, transportation and ammunition

Expert groups from the two countries continue their work

Timur Ivanov was arrested by Moscow’s Basmanny Court

"It is very difficult to negotiate with those who are unable to make decisions, even if they want, they can’t, and only act as a side to a difficult conflict," Vladimir Medinsky explained

The President undescored that Russia did not plan to produce absolutely everything domestically

"Despite unprecedented challenges we face in recent years, positive trends are becoming stronger in national economy," the head of state said

The head of state stressed that companies implementing projects can already use special support measures, and the state will expand these business opportunities

Each fourth transaction made via the system from January to March 2024 was associated with payments for goods and services, the regulator said

According to the report, Israel is willing to acceprt the release of women, men over 50 years old and those seriously ill

"Washington’s plan is sickeningly simple, as it means dragging everyone under the pretext of ‘peace intentions’ to an empty gathering, while bolstering Zelensky’s terrorist potential," Maria Zakharova said

"An increase in radiation levels has already been registered in Poland," Nikolay Patrushev warned

Comprehensive mechanisms require to be worked out, the head of state noted, responding to a proposal to add new tools to support of congress and exhibition activities

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

State trials of S-500 are under way at a testing range in southern Russia

Oleg Kononenko and Nikolay Chub are expected to spend 6 hours and 52 minutes outside the orbital outpost

Ansar Allah strikes one ship every two days, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said

The top diplomats are to discuss bilateral ties, political dialogue, ways of broadening cooperation in various sectors and improving the legislative and contractual framework

According to Nikolay Patrushev, this creates conditions for the devaluation of international law and its institutions and the erosion of the UN's central role in resolving global and regional conflicts

The adoption of a new military doctrine instead of the one that has been in force since July 2016 stems from the need for adaptation to the changed military-strategic situation

Country’s leader Kim Jong Un said the systems feature advanced technologies and "will contribute to strategic changes in the process of strengthening the artillery forces."

"The American aid won’t save Zelensky. New weapons will be destroyed, and the special military operation goals will be achieved," Anatoly Antonov stressed

The US businessman commented on remarks by Gad Saad, a Canadian professor of Lebanese origin, who insisted that "the path that the West is taking will result in civil war"

"The catastrophe in Gaza proves once again that the inability of the Palestinian people to implement their legitimate national rights is the root of the Palestinian-Israeli contradictions and the essence of the Middle East issue," Wang Yi stressed

The cosmonauts fulfilled their tasks way faster than planned, spending four hours and 36 minutes in space

Apart from that, IDF fighter jets delivered strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in the area of Kfarchouba in southern Lebanon and in Markaba

Russian military will do its utmost to repel such attacks, Apty Alaudinov said

The cosmonauts fulfilled their tasks way faster than planned, spending four hours and 36 minutes in space

Russia’s Federal Financial Monitoring Service head added that the act of terrorism was intricately planned and it took an international network of conspirators to carry it out

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

"I think that Beijing understands this perfectly well and will not even pretend being ready to reach any agreements with the Americans to the detriment of Russia’s interests," Sergey Ryabkov said

Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev noted that the heads of foreign delegations expressed sincere condolences to the Russian people over the casualties of the attack on a concert hall outside Moscow

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

During the questioning, the detainees gave confessionary evidence that sharing the ideas of racial and religious supremacy, they established contact with the ringleaders of the pro-Ukrainian terrorist organization

Fatah also said Hamas is currently seeking to become part of the Palestine Liberation Organization, but is doing this "only to preserve itself and survive"

The text of the Declaration of the Creation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the subsequent 1924 USSR Constitution contained the right of free secession from the Union, the Russian President pointed out

The Russian leader expressed confidence that the the 12th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues "will bolster cooperation for the mutual benefit of our countries and peoples"

Rescue craft were promptly sent to the ship, fire extinguishing started, the crew was evacuated

The event brought together almost 200 diplomats, foreign ministry staffers and experts in international relations

The 27th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum will be held on June 5-8, 2024

The President ordered to expand the public finance planning level to cover six instead of three years

According to the article, the United States "is putting the finishing touches" on one of its largest Ukraine military aid packages to date, which may be announced on Friday

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

Russia’s international reserves are highly liquid foreign assets available with the Bank of Russia and the Russian government

According to the head of state, such risks still exist

Labor productivity requires a significant increase in all sectors of the economy, the President stressed

Andrey Babenko said that after a crash course in Britain he had been sent to the frontline near Liman

According to Sergey Ryabkov, discussions around the deployment of NATO nuclear facilities in Poland are an "unfolding story"

The situation can take a sudden turn for the worse from one minute to the next, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said

"The impression is that Warsaw is maniacally seeking to attract even more attention from military planners in the Russian General Staff," Maria Zakharova added

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"

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

Earlier, demonstrators in several regions of Armenia tried to block highways, including international ones

In Maxim Buyakevich words, neither the talks nor their outcome can change the existing political and territorial realities

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

The goal "is to put more pressure on Crimea," The New York Times said

According to Nikolay Patrushev, some representatives planned to attend the meeting, but later succumbed to pressure and refused

"We have heard President Putin say publicly that Russia has no intention of deploying nuclear weapons in space. If that were the case, Russia would not have vetoed this resolution," Jake Sullivan stressed.

"United States has no intent of conducting combat operations inside of Ukraine, nor are these forces going to be anywhere near the frontlines," Patrick Ryder said

Positive agenda promotion mechanisms should appear in Russia, SMI2 CEO Yury Belousov said

According to the minister Gergely Gulyas, the North Atlantic Alliance "wants to provide financial assistance, as well as supply weapons and train Ukrainian soldiers"

"ALBA can be among the founders of a new world, a new international multipolar order," the Venezuelan president stressed

There is confirmed evidence of his connections with French secret services

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

Work will continue to develop the Contingent Reserve Arrangement, primarily regarding the use of currencies different from the US dollar," the Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov pointed out

According to Vladimir Rogov, the Ukrainian troops are holding drills to cross the Dnieper from the right bank to the left bank and capture a large industrial site

Rafael Grossi may visit Russia in late May

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

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani called for a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza

GDP growth is 6% in average over the first two months, the Russian leader noted

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"

According to Nikolay Patrushev, these countries "understand perfectly well who is financing" the Kiev regime

The Houthis also confirmed that the movement will "continue its military operations, impeding the navigation of Israeli vessels in the Red Sea, the Arab Sea and the Indian Ocean"

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

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

"Russian Deputy Defense Minister Timur Vladimirovich Ivanov was detained on suspicion of committing a crime under part 6, article 290 of the Russian Criminal Code," the Russian Investigative Committee said

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

According to Dmitry Stefanovich, in order to prevent a new unbridled arms race, it is necessary to work on strategic stability as well as the sphere of arms control

"The court has selected a measure of restraint for Garry Kasparov, Gennady Gudkov, Yevgenia Chirikova and Ivan Tyutrin, charged with establishing and heading a terrorist society, funding terrorist activity and justifying it publicly," the court said

Russia has "very constructive and friendly relations" with Turkey, Dmitry Peskov stressed

The embassy said that the Austrian Mauthhausen Committee had also cautioned the organizations of Russian compatriots in Austria against participating in the event

The head of state accused Washington of preparing a "Belarusian liberation army" and reiterated Minsk's readiness to "defend its country"

The United States should not cross the red lines with regard to China’s sovereignty and security, Wang Yi added

The resolution passed in a 493-11 vote, with 18 abstentions

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

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

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, April 25th

Earlier, US President Joe Biden signed a package of bills approved by Congress, which total some $95 bln and include about $61 bln to help Ukraine and $26 bln to support Israel

On April 25, US police said at least 127 people were arrested during large-scale protests on American university campuses against Israeli actions in the Palestinian enclave

"In any case, whatever the modality of providing this aid, de facto it is about provoking Ukraine into further hostilities down to the last Ukrainian, putting guarantted money in the pockets of the US," Dmitry Peskov said

Wang Yi also called for "resolutely opposing attempts to take advantage of the chaos and add fuel to the fire"

The date and location will be announced later

The speaker’s shocking remarks sparked outrage among the public

Tensions "have reached a peak where the slightest imbalance can lead either to a serious, high-profile and large-scale provocation or a conflict," Pavel Muraveiko stressed

"Neither these missiles nor other weapons can help defeat the Russian Federation," Anatoly Antonov said

The unemployment rate went down in regions and settlements where it was historically high, the head of state stressed

According to preliminary information, the average altitude of the orbital outpost was increased to 414.8 km above the Earth’s surface