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Construction of Bushehr NPP second stage is ahead of schedule — official

Tehran continues cooperating with Russia, China and Europe within the nuclear deal framework, according to the official

TEHRAN, August 13. /TASS/. Construction of the second and the third power units of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) is implemented at a quick pace and even ahead of schedule, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi said on Tuesday.

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"Construction of the second and the third units at the Bushehr NPP is going well and we are even ahead of schedule," Salehi said, cited by the website of the Iranian government. The Organization continues cooperating with Russia, China and Europe within the nuclear deal framework, the official added.

The Russian state-run nuclear corporation Rosatom is currently implementing the project of building the second stage of the Bushehr NPP (second and third power units) with the total capacity of 2,100 MW. Transition to the practical stage of the project implementation took place in October 2017.

Russian Economy Ministry expects trade balance surplus to decline

Exports of goods are expected to drop to $419.7 bln this year. Imports are forecast to grow to $315.7 bln in 2024

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French neo-Nazi ringleader liquidated near Avdeyevka — sources

There is confirmed evidence of his connections with French secret services

Kremlin unconcerned by European Parliament’s resolution on Russian election

The resolution that European Parliament members passed at a plenary session in Strasbourg "urges the member states of the European Union and the international community not to recognize the outcome of the Russian presidential election"

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

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Negative trends still on rise in US-China relations — top Chinese diplomat

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

Chances of Baku-Yerevan conflict settlement higher than ever, Scholz says

The German chancellor emphasized that Berlin's "offer to lend support in finding a long-term and acceptable solution remains valid"

Staff shortage cannot be covered by labor migration — Putin

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

Reinforced Ukrainian battlegroup fails to break through Russian defenses in DPR — expert

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

Security concerns mount as radical Islamists flock to Southeast Asia

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu added that establishing a security framework in Eurasia will be an important goal for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

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

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

Global community condemns use of terrorists in geopolitical struggle — Russian official

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

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

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Russian diplomat accuses US of coordinating Ukraine’s terrorist attacks

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

Russia warns US, NATO against harming its security — diplomat

Maria Zakharova stressed that "the level of nuclear risks have risen dramatically as a result of the West’s destructive policy, which is fraught with a direct military confrontation between nuclear powers"

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

Better situation for peace in Ukraine, threats to Belarus: new statements by Lukashenko

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

Potential nuclear facilities in Poland to be military target for Russia — senior diplomat

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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

US first caused, now purposefully drags out Ukraine conflict — Shoigu

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Russia needs to boost production of goods based on domestic technologies — Putin

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Russian Embassy to Austria denied participation in ceremony at Nazi concentration camp

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Russia to hold next international security meeting in 2025 — top security official

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Cosmonauts complete spacewalk two hours ahead of schedule

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Pelosi's remarks about US protesters undemocratic, Russian diplomat says

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Moscow, Minsk pushing for peace even as 'war in the air' — Belarusian official

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Transfer of US ATACMS missiles to Ukraine cannot be justified — Russian ambassador

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

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

"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

Putin’s trip to China will rivet world’s attention, Kremlin spokesman predicts

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Space station’s orbit raised by 1 km — Roscosmos

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

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

Houthis say they attacked MSC Darwin vessel in Gulf of Aden

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US effectively dooms Ukraine by its new decisions, Russian envoy says

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Top Chinese diplomat calls for creating conditions for talks on Ukraine

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

Hungary sees Ukraine conflict entering new phase, NATO involvement rising

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

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"

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

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Ukraine could send special forces to capture Zaporozhye NPP — politician

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Kiev confirms pulling back US-made Abrams tanks due to vulnerability to Russian UAVs

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

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Russian defense chief points to West’s double standards on right to self-defense

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Armenian police arrests people protesting against demarcation with Azerbaijan

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Russia appreciates Bolivia’s push to defend sovereignty, Lavrov says

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Moscow Zoo gifts animals to North Korea — news agency

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One more suspect in Crocus City Hall terror attack arrested — police

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Kremlin vows to resolve situation with Turkish Airlines refusing service to Russians

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NATO bears direct responsibility for Ukraine crisis — Chinese Foreign Ministry

Spokesman Wang Wenbin stressed that China was not providing weapons to the conflicting parties and strictly controlled dual-use goods, including the export of drones

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

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Bank of Russia keeps key rate at 16% per annum again

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Crocus City Hall attack funded using cryptocurrency, Russian finance watchdog says

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Israel ready to accept release of fewer than 40 hostages in deal’s first phase — newspaper

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Promotion of Russian brands gives good return — Putin

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China, US free to have their own friends, partners — President Xi

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Swiss conference on Ukraine undermines European security — Russian diplomat

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Russian troops destroy 89 Ukrainian UAVs, 5 boats in Kherson area over past day

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

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

US-oriented structures try to reformat security system in Asia-Pacific region

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