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Number of refugees arriving in Germany is still too high - Merkel

According to the German Interior Ministry, nearly 1.1 million refugees were registered in Germany in 2015, more than 400,000 of them from Syria

© EPA/FREDRIK VON ERICHSEN

BERLIN, January 9. /TASS/. The number of refugees arriving in Germany has decreased, but it is still too high, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday evening at a meeting of the federal board of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Mainz.

They are currently arriving in much smaller numbers than before, but still there are too many of them, she said.

According to the German Interior Ministry, nearly 1.1 million refugees were registered in Germany in 2015, more than 400,000 of them from Syria. The Interior Ministry said that 1,091,894 people in total were registered between January and December. Syrians were by far the biggest single group, accounting for 428,468 people. They were followed by Afghans, 154,046 of whom were registered, and 121,662 Iraqis.

Germany has seen more refugees and other migrants arrive than any other European country. In the early part of 2015, that included large numbers of people from Balkan countries who have very little chance of winning asylum. The fourth-and fifth-biggest groups of asylum-seekers last year came from Albania and Kosovo.

Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Nearly 80 people killed in Gaza over past 24 hours — health ministry

According to the ministry, the number of dead in the Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip rose to 34,262, with another 77,229 people wounded

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

Destroyed TV tower in Kharkov carried Ukrainian air defense coordination device — official

Digital TV signal interruptions are now observed in the city

Energy facilities catch fire in Russia’s Smolensk Region following drone attacks

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Israel retaliates missile launches from Gaza Strip — IDF

A warning had been issued before the attack calling on people to temporarily evacuate from the area

Four women killed in Zaporozhye Region in Ukrainian drone attack

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Putin informed about detention of Deputy Defense Minister Ivanov

Minister Sergey Shoigu was also informed beforehand, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

Russia presents world’s first hydrogen-fueled luxury car at Innoprom exhibition

The unique vehicle was built on the basis of the Aurus Senat luxury car

All those linked to Crocus terrorist attack must be punished — Putin

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Russia’s UN envoy, Serbian leader discuss coordination on Kosovo at UN

They "exchanged opinions on a wide range of pressing bilateral and international issues while focusing on the situation in the Balkans," the Russian diplomatic mission to the UN said

Mexicans, Colombians recruited in US jails to be deployed in Ukraine — SVR

Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service said that in case the inmates agree to this "mission," "they are promised full amnesty, reckoning they would never come back"

Weapons for new US package for Kiev yet to be found — Ukrainian ambassador

Oksana Markarova explained that $4 billion worth of weapons that was to be provided under the previous decisions still remained undersupplied

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Top Russian security official praises Republika Srpska’s principled position on Ukraine

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Gagauzian leader on unity of Moldova’s opposition, ability to watch Russian TV channels

Yevgenia Gutsul underlined that Gagauzia plans to start exporting products to Russia in the near future

Republika Srpska president praises Moscow-Banja Luka relations, favors strengthening them

Milorad Dodik also touched upon the topic of sanctions mentioned by Patrushev earlier

Canada allows Airbus to use Russian titanium despite sanctions — Reuters

"Airbus is aware of the Canadian government imposing sanctions on VSMPO and has obtained the necessary authorization to secure Airbus operations in compliance with the applicable sanctions," the company said

Press review: GOP tussles over Ukraine bill and Putin, Aliyev talk partnership

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, April 23rd

Baku cannot turn blind eye to France, India, Greece arming Armenia — President Aliyev

"If we see a serious threat to us, we will have to take serious measures," the Azerbaijani President warned

US Senate approves aid bills for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan

As many as 79 senators backed the initiative and 18 voted against

Switzerland unblocks Russia-related assets worth 290 mln Swiss francs

The total amount of blocked assets of the Russian Federation decreased by 150 million Swiss francs (about $165 million) due to the fact that a number of individuals "were removed from the EU sanctions lists"

Russia recovers black boxes from crashed Tu-22M3 bomber

According to the law enforcement, the search for the fourth crew member is ongoing

EU may sanction 10 firms for allegedly shipping weapons tech to Russia — Bloomberg

According to the agency, the companies being assessed for potential sanctions are based outside Russia but have links to Russian and Belarussian individuals and firms

Biden administration raking it in from Ukrainian conflict — North Korean diplomat

According to Im Chon Il, Washington's goal is to use the Ukrainian conflict to serve the interests of the US military monopolies and at the same time to subjugate the "puppet regime" of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky

Ukrainian presidential office confirms London’s agrement to Zaluzhny as ambassador

Verkhovna Rada legislator Alexey Goncharenko said on Monday that the UK had granted its agrement to the Ukrainian former Commander-in-Chief

37 Russian, Ukrainian children receive treatment in Qatar — diplomat

Qatari Foreign Ministry Spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said that ten families from Ukraine, including 16 children, and ten families from Russia, including 21 children, arrived in Doha on April 18

Russia’s top brass reports destroying US-made Hawk air defense system in Ukraine operation

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted casualties on personnel and equipment of two Ukrainian army brigades and improved its tactical position over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Gaza settlement crucial for Islamic world, Erdogan believes

In his opinion, it would be a mistake to view the Gaza issue solely from the perspective of October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian-Israeli conflict sharply escalated

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

The tactics employed by these criminals are becoming increasingly complex and barbaric, the Russian leader pointed out

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

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

US stops hiding true purpose of sanctions on Moscow, Russian envoy says

"It’s not about any mythical aspirations to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, but about banal opportunistic and predatory ambitions," Anatoly Antonov said

Hamas threatens that hostages remaining in Gaza may go missing

Spokesman for the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades Abu Ubaida emphasized that at the moment "the ball is in the court of Israel's allies," but "time and opportunities are limited"

US can ship weapons to Ukraine within few days if funding approved — Pentagon

US expert says more ATACMS won't alter battlefield dynamics in Ukraine

"There is no magic weapon, there is no series of weapons that could change this" situation for the Ukrainian armed forces, Scott Ritter said

Speakers of EU parliaments back idea of creating rapid response forces

The speakers praised the EU initiative to have its own military capability to "defend the security of its people, their interests and democratic values"

Calls for joint use of nuclear weapons with US dangerous — ICAN

The organization believes that the states that deploy nuclear weapons on their territory are "consenting to be party to mass murder of civilians"

Azerbaijanian leader says reaching peace with Armenia by November 'quite realistic'

According to Ilham Aliyev, the option of coordinating a basic agreement is also being considered

No damage, casualties after drone attack over Russia’s Kursk Region

Roman Starovoit thanked air defense troops and the regional crisis center and cautioned residents against approaching the drone wreckage if found

Top Swiss diplomat reiterates need for Russia’s involvement in resolving Ukraine issue

However, Ignazio Cassis declined to comment on Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s recent statement that Switzerland had turned from a neutral country "into an openly hostile one"

West battlegroup destroys two Ukrainian drones, hit over 170 Ukrainian army’s facilities

The battlegroup’s spokesman Ivan Bigma said that a Gvozdika self-propelled system, nine mortar squads, two Furiya fixed-wing type unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed

Moscow court arrests Deputy Defense Minister Ivanov over bribery case

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North Korea’s economic delegation leaves for Iran — agency

According to Yonhap news agency, the trip may be related to the two countries’ plans to boost military ties

Drone crashes in industrial zone in Russian city of Lipetsk

There were no casualties, egional Governor Igor Artamonov said

US authorities prepare military aid for Ukraine worth $1 bln — Reuters

The aid package includes vehicles, Stinger man-portable air defense system munitions, HIMARS rockets, 155-mm artillery shells, TOW and Javelin anti-tank missiles and other weapons that could be "used at the battlefield immediately"

Russia scraps plans to hold Immortal Regiment march in 2024 amid security threats

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Biden to sign Ukraine aid bill on April 24

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Russian envoy, authorities of Afghanistan call for unfreezing of Afghan assets

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Kremlin vows legal action against US bill on seizing Russian assets

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UN chief describes current state of climate as ‘preview of disaster’

Antonio Guterres stressed that the world community must reduce global greenhouse emissions by 43% by 2030 compared to 2019

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US using human rights topics to shake political situation in Russia — embassy

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

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Development of Sino-Russian cooperation to be main topic of AmurExpo forum

AmurExpo is the off-site venue of the Eastern Economic Forum

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Senior Russian diplomat, Chinese special envoy discuss Israeli-Palestinian conflict — MFA

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Russian presidential envoy visits Afghanistan to discuss political cooperation

Russian presidential envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov met with Deputy Prime Minister for political issues Abdul Kabir, Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, and Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani

Over 14,700 residential houses remain flooded in Russia

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Conflict in Ukraine can be over by end of 2025, Hungary’s Orban believes

Prime Minister said that it is possible if proponents of peace, not war, win the June elections to the European Parliament and the US Presidential elections in November

Russia to incorporate US nuke scenario in Poland in its military planning — diplomat

"Poland’s authorities make no secret of their striving to lean closer on the US nuclear weapons deployed in Europe and are actively using these ambitions in their hostile Russian policy," Maria Zakharova stressed

Top Russian security official pledges continued push toward global justice

Nikolay Patrushev added that Moscow is happy that its position is received well by most countries, whose delegates are attending a meeting in St. Petersburg

Russia has significant amount of West’s funds in case of confiscation of its assets

Russia views the West’s encroachment on its assets as "a blatant and shameless theft for the purpose of lining its pockets," Maria Zakharova noted

One more Ukrainian drone shot down over Belgorod Region — defense ministry

The Kiev regime’s attempted terrorist attack on facilities in Russia’s territory with the use of a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle was thwarted

Mobilization law condition for new supplies of arms to Kiev by NATO — source

Arms supplies are only reasonable if a large number of military personnel able to use those weapons in defense and assault operations is available

Armenia’s decision on CSTO membership its sovereign choice — secretary general

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Ukrainian army loses 444,000 troops during military operation — Shoigu

According to the Russian defense minister, the liberation of several residential settlements in Donbass, disclosed Kiev attempts to prevent the collapse of the front

Beijing condemns US hypocrisy around Ukraine conflict

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Wang Wenbin reiterated that China "is not an instigator or a party to the Ukrainian crisis and has never fanned the flames of the conflict, not to mention, used the situation for its own purposes"

Ukraine lost best fighters near Artyomovsk, retired general says

Sergey Krivonos added that relocation of troops from one direction to another will not solve Ukrainian forces’ problems, and that each fighter should be used according to their specialization

NATO makes Russia its neighbor by expanding eastward, Russian envoy says

Earlier, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg claimed that increased payments to the bloc’s budget were the cost of having Russia as a neighbor

Russia seeks to break down barriers for its food exports — MFA

Sergey Vershinin recalled that Russia suspended its participation in the Black Sea initiative for the export of grain and food due to the fact that it could not be implemented in the original volume

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

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"

US 'not forgetting' to help itself with aid to Ukraine — Kremlin

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Russian troops destroy four boats with Ukrainian assault force on Dnieper River

Russia’s Dnepr Battlegroup inflicted casualties on the 141st, 65th and 128th brigades of Ukrainian armed formations, delivered strikes on temporary deployment sites, military hardware and artillery positions of the Ukrainian army on the right bank of the Dnieper River, Vladimir Saldo said

Modern weapons make up 82% in Russian air defense troops — Shoigu

"The Kiev regime has failed to achieve the goals of its counteroffensive prepared by NATO instructors," the defense minister said

Most agents at Security Service of Ukraine set on war with Russia — former officer

Vasily Prozorov said that "it is extremely difficult to count on any better judgement on their part"

Russia tasked with 'building new world' — Putin

Speaking at a plenary session of the Valdai Discussion Club, the Russian leader also highlighted "the role and responsibility" of its members

Ukrainian troops in Kharkov Region lift antennas with kites to get better signal

Military expert Andrey Marochko speculated that the Ukrainian army had to resort to this tactic because the TV tower in Kharkov was damaged

Ukrainian connection to Crocus terrorist attack undeniable — ex-SBU officer

Vasily Prozorov noted that the perpetrators could have been eliminated once they crossed the border

Russia and friendly countries produce almost 90% of components for Aurus cars — NAMI

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Network of international conspirators plotted Crocus terrorist attack — watchdog

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

Russia invites all countries to develop North - South transport corridor — Putin

"The North-South transport corridor should become an example of the broadest international cooperation," the Russian leader said

France preparing contingent of 2,000 troops to be sent to Ukraine — intelligence chief

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NATO has no plans to deploy nuclear forces in Poland — Stoltenberg

NATO Secretary General did not immediately understand the reporter’s question, forcing the reporter to explain that they were referring to the idea of deploying nuclear weapons in Poland

Russian deputy defense minister detained on suspicion of bribe-taking

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Russian forces take Ukrainian strongholds near Klescheyevka under control

Apty Alaudinov posted a drone video footage of elimination Ukrainian personnel and Russian forces capturing enemy trenches

MGIMO to host third international forum ‘Russia - Africa: What Next?’

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Musk concurs that civil war looming in West

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Detained deputy defense minister suspected of taking grand bribe of over $10,000

This charges carries a punishment of up to 15 years behind bars

Russian-Kazakh commission discusses border demarcation issues

The next meeting of the commission will be held in Moscow in May

US has no idea what to do about Zelensky — Seymour Hersh

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