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Coronavirus pandemic

European Development Bank EBRD invests in Russian portfolio company first time since 2014

In 2014, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, where Russia holds a stake of 4.1%, halted funding for new projects in the country due to sanctions imposed by the European Union

MOSCOW, April 7. /TASS/. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will invest in the Russia-based portfolio company Travelata for the first time since 2014, according to the bank’s materials.

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EBRD tones down rhetoric related to Russia — source

Investments in Travelata are made to support the company during the COVID-19 virus outbreak. The bank invested in this company back in 2014.

A spokesperson of EBRD confirms this piece of information, noting that the move is part of the operations of the development bank aimed at supporting existing clients in overcoming the crisis.

Travelata is an aggregator of offers from tour operators. The Russian Direct Investment Fund is also among investors in the project.

In 2014, EBRD, where Russia holds a stake of 4.1%, halted funding for new projects in the country due to sanctions imposed by the European Union.

Russian stock indices rising on Friday

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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

No plans to ‘get involved in combat role’ in Ukraine, White House official says

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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

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

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

Sergey Shoigu handed down an instruction for the defense enterprise to ramp up the production of T-80BVM tanks, the Defense Ministry said

West can’t comprehend Russia’s resilience — Lavrov

"They would have been scared had anyone come down on them with similar ferocity," the Russian foreign minister added

BRICS’ expansion makes it much stronger — senior Russian diplomat

Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia, became full-fledged members of BRICS from January 1, 2024

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

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

Putin signs law on holding World Friendship Games

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

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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

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

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

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

The Russian Foreign Minister noted that "Ukrainian negotiators came and said that, for example, on the issue of maneuvers with the participation of third countries, let's replace the wording 'if all guarantor countries agree' with 'unless the majority agrees'"

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

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

Wang Wen stated that it’s still very hard to achieve a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Russia knows French military instructors working in Ukraine — Lavrov

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Russian economy proves resilience amid large-scale sanctions — IMF

The IMF states that the restrictions led to the need to rebuild the economy

Ukrainians abroad storming embassies to avoid mobilization, Russian diplomat says

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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

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

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

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

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

It is reported that several drones had been intercepted by the national air defense forces over Isfahan

Lavrov labels way West ramping up sanctions against Russia as mindless

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

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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

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

israeli Permanent Representative Gilad Erdan was to address the council after Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour

Ukrainian president admits Russian troops’ advancement

Vladimir Zelensky asked his country’s supporters to provide "everything that helps to hold the frontline," including shells, military vehicles and drones

Izvestia correspondent Semyon Eremin killed in special operation zone

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

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Switzerland does not suit Russia for negotiations on Ukraine — Lavrov

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

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

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

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Proposals on Russian assets confiscation undermine financial system — Finance Minister

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

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US House passes procedural vote on Ukraine aid bill

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

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

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Israel may have used banned white phosphorus munitions while shelling Lebanon — TV

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

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EU ministers to discuss use of Russian assets for Ukraine on April 22 — EU official

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

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Ukrainian drones continue to fly over Zaporozhye NPP — press service

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

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

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Russia handed over draft agreement to Ukraine on April 15, still no response — diplomat

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Russian stock indices rising on Friday

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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

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

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Moscow International Film Festival kicks off

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Kiev ordered mandatory evacuation from Kharkov Region to accommodate mercenaries

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Over 40 nations want to join BRICS — Russian lawmaker

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Baku, Yerevan to approve draft agreement on delimitation commissions by July 1

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

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

He also revealed that some weapon batches contained anti-armor systems whose service life had expired

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

Swiss parliament votes against joining task force on frozen Russian assets

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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

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Ukraine’s military loses positions near Avdeyevka, says DPR

Igor Kimakovsky said that Ukrainian forces suffered heavy casualties among personnel and military hardware, including Western equipment

Two pilots of jet that crashed in southern Russia hospitalized

The plane crashed in a field in the Krasnogvardeysky district of southern Russia’s Stavropol Region

Water in Kurgan above dam, breaking records

More than 100 employees of the Russian Ministry of Emergencies are fencing the shores and filling the least reliable dam segments

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

Russian forces improved their frontline positions and repelled a Ukrainian army counterattack in the Donetsk area where the enemy lost roughly 590 troops over the past day, the ministry reported

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

There is still no full clarity regarding the future of Ukraine's western regions, the Russian foreign minister went on to say

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

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Press review: Ukraine, Israel vie for EU’s attention and Georgia passes controversial bill

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, April 18th

No foreign state attacks Iran — TV

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Unidentified man attempts suicide outside courthouse where Trump trial is underway

The man set himself on fire

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

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

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

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

US President Joe Biden announced on January 25 that Washington would hand over 31 M1 Abrams tanks to the Kiev regime

Ukraine turns from sovereign country into Western protectorate, Hungarian PM says

Viktor Orban noted that there should be a buffer zone between NATO and Russia and Ukraine could serve as one

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

Musk says he will not vote for Biden in presidential election

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

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