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Russia’s Northern Fleet monitors NATO drills in Atlantic Ocean, Norwegian Sea

The active phase of the exercise is taking place on July 1-9

MOSCOW, July 1. /TASS/. Russia’s Northern Fleet is monitoring NATO’s drills in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean and the Norwegian Sea, the National Defense Management Center said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The Northern Fleet is carrying out a series of activities to track the movement of ships and aircraft from NATO naval forces involved in the exercise, in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean and the Norwegian Sea," the statement reads.

According to the National Defense Management Center, the drills involve seven NATO countries: Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The active phase of the exercise is taking place on July 1-9.

Russian military base may appear in CAR’s eastern region — President Touadera

According to the president, this step will help strengthen his country’s defense potential and contribute to bolstering the national armed forces’ capabilities

Russian investigators start inquiry into financing of terrorism by US, NATO officials

Investigators have established that the funds that were received through commercial organizations, such as the oil and gas company Burisma Holdings operating in Ukraine, have been used to carry out terrorist acts in Russia and abroad

Lavrov says Borrell let it slip that Europe ‘fighting against Russia’

Russia’s top diplomat noted that Josep Borrell may made the statement in a moment of weakness

Ukrainians abroad storming embassies to avoid mobilization, Russian diplomat says

On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky signed the mobilization law passed by the Verkhovna Rada (parliament) in the second and final reading on April 11

Russia to begin next week clinical trials of anti-COVID-19 vaccine for children

This is for the age group of 6 to 11 years old

Russia bans 235 Australian local government officials from entering country — MFA

"Taking into account the fact that Canberra does not intend to give up its anti-Russian course and continues to introduce new sanctions, work on updating the Russian stop list will continue," the ministry said

Izvestia correspondent Semyon Eremin killed in special operation zone

The tragedy occurred near the village of Priyutnoye located on the border of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Zaporozhye Region

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

Kiev ordered mandatory evacuation from Kharkov Region to accommodate mercenaries

Evacuation campaigns are regularly organized by the Kiev government, under the pretext of security issues

Major Western investor accuses Zelensky's office of extorting millions of euros

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

US assured Israel that Iranian drones will be intercepted — US journalist Hersh

He also said that the US military contacted Russia and the United Kingdom while evaluating the potential of the Iranian attack

West wants to make Transnistria hotbed of tension — Lavrov

According to the top Russian diplomat, the leaders who rule countries where they claim to be from while holding foreign passports "will not enjoy support and authority for long"

Russian stock indices rising on Friday

The MOEX Russia Index edged up by 0.44%, the RTS Index surged by 1.13%

FACTBOX: Collective Security Treaty Organization

The Collective Security Treaty came into force on April 20, 1994 to herald the emergence what would eventually become the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The six member-countries are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

MTS Bank IPO double oversubscribed — source

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US gives nod to Israeli operation in Rafah in exchange for canceling major attack on Iran

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Indonesia cancels forty flights due to volcano eruption — Internet portal

The Mount Ruang volcano erupted five times on April 17, ejecting an ash column to the height of about three kilometers during its strongest eruption

West frightens voters by 'Russian threat' to win elections — Lavrov

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Russia delivers 34 strikes on Ukrainian military infrastructure over week — top brass

The Ukrainian army lost more than 3,550 troops, four tanks and five armored combat vehicles in battles with Russian forces in the Donetsk area over the past week, the ministry reported

Lavrov speaks of West’s agony, Russia’s approach to any future talks with Kiev

The Russian foreign minister also described Armenia and Russia as more than formal allies

Russian industrial producers’ prices up 2.4% in March — statistics

In chemicals production, prices edged up by 26.8% for ethers, organic peroxides, epoxides, acetals and semiacetals and their derivatives

Global economy’s condition improving — Russian Deputy PM

The process is largely driven by increasing contribution of developing countries, Alexey Overchuk said

NATO discussing transfer of ‘deep precision strike capabilities’ to Ukraine — Stoltenberg

Stoltenberg said NATO believes Ukraine has the right to strike "legitimate military targets" inside Russia

Russian military closely monitors all Ukrainian 'novelties' — Kremlin on UAVs

Earlier, it was reported that Ukraine had developed a UAV with a range of up to 3,000 kilometers

Language policy of Moldovan government is Russophobic — head of Gagauzia region

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Founder of neo-Nazi cell in Crimea flees to Georgia — source

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Ukraine’s military loses positions near Avdeyevka, says DPR

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Chinese analyst sees US veto on Palestine as reflection of arrogance, double standards

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Russian economy positively influences neighboring countries — Deputy PM

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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

North Korean leader arrives at public event in Aurus luxury car gifted by Putin

On April 10, the vehicle was also spotted when the North Korean leader visited Kim Jong Il Military and Political Academy

S-500 system to be supplied to Armed Forces after 2015

Victor Gumenny said the advanced systems may solve the tasks of air-space defence and may fight hypersonic weapons

Iran may target Israeli nuclear center in Dimona in case of Israel’s attack — TV

Ahmad Haghtalab said on April 18 that Tehran has identified the location of Israel's "nuclear centers" and will be ready to destroy them in case the Jewish state responds to the recent Iranian attack on Israeli military facilities

Moscow International Film Festival kicks off

MIFF President Nikita Mikhalkov, a celebrated Russian film director, declared the festival open, praising the bravery of foreign cultural figures who are visiting Russia at this time

Final statement by G7 top diplomats to call for supplying more air defenses to Kiev

Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister said Kiev required US-made Patriot systems and Italian-French Samp-T theatre antimissile systems

Military base near Iran’s Isfahan hit following attack — newspaper

The sources said that Iranian forces managed to destroy several small drones near the city of Tabriz, about 800 kilometers from Isfahan

Russia ready for Ukraine talks, but not with Zelensky — Lavrov

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Senior Chinese official to take part in conference on security in Russia — diplomat

The conference will take place from April 23 to 25 in St. Petersburg

Russia knows French military instructors working in Ukraine — Lavrov

At the same time, the top Russian diplomat pointed out that "there is information that not only French mercenaries, but also instructors, maybe even together, but along with some other representatives of military and special services of European countries are working there [in Ukraine]"

BRICS looking at creating common digital payment platform

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said that BRICS nations have already established a special channel for information exchange between their central banks

Crimea, Donbass to forever remain within Russia, Slovak PM tells national parliament

Robert Fico believes Moscow will win in its confrontation with Kiev

Ukraine’s new ethnic minorities law insufficient to protect Magyars — Hungarian president

According to Katalin Novak, Hungary’s call for the rights of the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia to be respected should be viewed as a common European demand

US House passes procedural vote on Ukraine aid bill

It cannot be ruled out that the House of Representatives may pass this package as early as Saturday

No foreign state attacks Iran — TV

Earlier, the media reported, citing a US official, that Israel had launched a missile strike on a site in Iranian territory

Blast rocks military base south of Baghdad — Reuters

According to the news agency, one PMF fighter was killed and six were wounded

Armenia’s relations with Russia not at their highest — top diplomat

Ararat Mirzoyan also said that Yerevan is currently making efforts to expand cooperation with the European Union and the United States

Two people killed in borderline Belgorod Region in Ukrainian drone attack — governor

According to Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, a private residence in the village of Poroz caught fire when the unmanned aerial vehicles dropped two explosive devices

Russian Cabinet expands list of perfumery, cosmetic products subjected to import duty

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Polish premier refuses to hand over his country’s Patriot systems to Ukraine

Donald Tusk said that German Chancellor’s call to send more air defense systems to Kiev had no relation to Poland, provided the country's geographical position near the frontline

Over 40 nations want to join BRICS — Russian lawmaker

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Russian economy proves resilience amid large-scale sanctions — IMF

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Proposals on Russian assets confiscation undermine financial system — Finance Minister

Russia urges the International Monetary Fund to resume the effort of improving the global monetary and financial system, Anton Siluanov noted

Kremlin declines to comment on alleged assassination attempt on Zelensky in Poland

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Lavrov labels way West ramping up sanctions against Russia as mindless

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Ukrainian drone damages energy infrastructure in Russia’s Kaluga Region

There are no casualties, Governor Vladislav Shapsha said

G7 leaders to decide on Russian assets use — Italian Deputy PM

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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

American Abrams tanks vulnerable even to Soviet-era weapons, says expert

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French, US, British nukes all interwoven — Russian diplomat

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Death toll in Gaza Strip since tensions escalated exceeds 34,000 — Health Ministry

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Russian military base may appear in CAR’s eastern region — President Touadera

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Russian instructors help train over 10,000 Central African troops — CAR president

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Nearly half of those present in UN Security Council hall walk out before Israel’s address

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Three Ukrainian soldiers swim across Dnieper to surrender to Russian troops — governor

Vladimir Saldo called on other Ukrainian servicemen to switch to the Russian side and request the corresponding assistance

Russia to scrap moratorium on intermediate missiles if US deploys them anywhere — MFA

Sergey Ryabkov said the US seeks to maintain military superiority in a great variety of areas

Court arrests another man accused of blowing up car of former SBU officer in Moscow

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Russia won’t allow NATO to move closer in Ukraine — Lavrov

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Drones downed over Isfahan cause no damage, says Iranian foreign minister

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Security guarantees on Ukraine did not apply to Crimea, Donbass — Lavrov

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West can’t comprehend Russia’s resilience — Lavrov

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Shoigu orders additional tank protection sets for Ukraine operation

The minister also inspected the training process in Omsk Armor Engineering Institute

US blocks Security Council resolution granting full UN membership to Palestine

A total of 12 countries, including Russia and China, voted in favor of the document

Hungarians in western Ukraine should get their rights back, Budapest says

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Putin signs law on holding World Friendship Games

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Russian forces destroy Ukrainian command post, two S-300 missile launchers over day

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One crew member of jet crashed in Stavropol Region killed, search for another continues

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Russia can join top three countries by lithium reserves — governor

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Two pilots of jet that crashed in southern Russia hospitalized

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Russia not to go for settlement on Ukraine based on 'Zelensky formula' — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat referred to a swindling trick used by a thimblerigger who puts a small round object, such as a ball or pea, under one of three thimbles or cups and asks the player to guess under which the object is, while unfairly manipulating this object

Iran suspends flights above several cities amid reports of air attack — IRNA

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Russia’s advanced radar in Kaliningrad to monitor entire territory of Europe — source

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Iran has no plans to immediately retaliate to attack on its soil — agency

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No plans for pauses in fighting if talks on Ukraine begin, Lavrov says

The Russian foreign minister emphasized that the situation on the ground had changed significantly

World’s anti-doping agency WADA still waits for Russia’s 2023 financial contribution

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Ukrainian POW exposes poor battlefield performance of NATO-supplied Javelins, NLAWs

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US-led coalition’s aircraft violate Syrian airspace 13 times in past day

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Russia’s defense chief inspects production of tanks, flamethrowers at Siberian enterprise

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West close to sending military to Ukraine, this would 'drag Europe to bottom' — Orban

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

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Armenia has to define CSTO’s zone of responsibility on its territory, says Lavrov

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French president says creating Israeli-type air defense network for Ukraine impossible

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Ukrainian drones continue to fly over Zaporozhye NPP — press service

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Unidentified man attempts suicide outside courthouse where Trump trial is underway

The man set himself on fire

North Korea conducts new anti-aircraft missile test — KCNA

A power test of a super-large warhead designed for "Hwasal-1 Ra-3" strategic cruise missile was held as well

BRICS’ expansion makes it much stronger — senior Russian diplomat

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Press review: Biden backs aid to Israel, Ukraine and Russia assets giving West legal fits

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, April 19th

Swiss parliament votes against joining task force on frozen Russian assets

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Russian government increases customs duties on beer from unfriendly countries

This measure is not a prohibitive one and will make it possible to make competitive conditions equal for Russian producers, the ministry said

US volunteer Russel Bentley missing in Donetsk killed — RT editor-in-chief

Bentley came to Donbass from the United States in 2014

Switzerland does not suit Russia for negotiations on Ukraine — Lavrov

The Foreign Minister pointed to the fact that Switzerland is on board with all Western sanctions