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Austrian chancellor to speak at SPIEF plenary session in videoconference format

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum will be held from June 2 to 5 of this year in a live format with adherence to all epidemiological safety measures

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MOSCOW, April 30. /TASS/. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz will speak at the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Format (SPIEF) in June 2021 via a video link, the Kremlin’s press service said on Friday. Kurz made such a statement in the phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Sebastian Kurz appreciated the earlier conveyed invitation to attend the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June of this year and confirmed his participation in the video format at the main plenary session as one of the main guests," the press service said.

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum will be held from June 2 to 5 of this year in a live format with adherence to all epidemiological safety measures.

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Russia to retaliate immediately if Kiev gets ATACMS missiles — diplomat

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Maria Zakharova pointed out that Russia reaffirms its "strict commitment" to the international legal obligations under space law

Central African Republic expects Russia to supply weapons, munitions — defense minister

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Dust from Sahara turns rain in Ukraine yellow

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US shifted conflict in Europe onto EU, NATO shoulders to weaken Russia, says Lukashenko

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Mongolia to enter into free trade agreement with EAEU by year-end

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Ukraine’s draft dodger makes attempt to cross Dniester into Moldova on air mattress

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All-Belarusian People's Assembly adopts new military doctrine, security concept

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Russia vetoes US-backed UNSC resolution on banning nuclear weapons in outer space

The resolution gained 13 votes

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

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

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West steps up aerial reconnaissance near Russia-Belarus borders — security official

"Today, 20-30 reconnaissance planes fly in the airspace of the Baltic states and Poland weekly," Pavel Muraveiko added

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

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

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

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

Ukraine could send special forces to capture Zaporozhye NPP — politician

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13 violations by US-led international coalition’s aircraft recorded in Syria

According to Major General Yury Popov, nine violations of the deconfliction protocols of December 9, 2019

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

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

Russian court arrests in absentia four foreign agents charged with terrorism

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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"

Armenian police arrests people protesting against demarcation with Azerbaijan

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

Russia, Africa united by common vision on global issues — senior diplomat

Mikhail Bogdanov noted that "the African continent is a dynamically developing part of the world with an enormous growth potential, attractive domestic market and expanding export prospects"

Over 330 bodies recovered from mass grave at hospital in Khan Yunis — TV

According to the Al Mayadeen, more mass graves continue to be found following the withdrawal of Israeli troops

Russia to submit its own resolution on nuclear weapons in outer space to UNSC

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Press review: Dissecting US aid package to Ukraine and sands of global economy shifting

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Russian troops wipe out Ukrainian UAV production workshop over past day

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Stockmann company to buy Russian business of Hugo Boss — Industry Ministry

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Windmill wings of Paris' Moulin Rouge cabaret collapse, no casualties reported — TV

According to the report, firefighters and police quickly arrived at the scene, and there are currently no risks of further collapse

Russian Foreign Ministry denies report of consular services ban abroad

"The ministry's detailed commentary on this outright piece of disinformation will follow in a short while," the Consular Department said

Bolivarian Alliance countries stand for multipolar world — Maduro

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

Senior Russian MP dubs pervasive gender reassignment in West 'human tragedy'

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

Release of new tranche for war to Ukraine by US escalation factor — Lukashenko

"The fact that ATACMS long-range missiles were financed is very dangerous," the Belarusian president noted

No response from West to killing of Izvestia war reporter Eremin — diplomat

The Russian war correspondent died of wounds suffered from a strike by a Ukrainian FPV drone on April 19

US arms supplies unable to change situation in Kiev's favor — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov pointed out that a year ago the opponents "were telling everyone that they were waiting for the moment Russia would be defeated on the battlefield"

Lukashenko sees Ukraine conflict posing risks to Belarus

According to the Belarusian leader, the likelihood of armed incidents on the border between Belarus and Ukraine is quite high with around 120,000 Ukrainian troops being deployed there

White House alleges that Russia working on satellite carrying nuclear device

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Top brass posts video of Leopard tanks, Bradley combat vehicles seized by Russian troops

The video shows Russian troops examining the enemy tanks and infantry fighting vehicles seized in battles

Kiev violates diplomatic relations convention by recruiting mercenaries abroad — diplomat

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

German defense minister says Russia making more arms than it needs for its op in Ukraine

"A larger part of what is being manufactured is not sent to the frontline but goes to warehouses," Boris Pistorius said

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

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

Russian defense minister dismisses his deputy Ivanov

Timur Ivanov was removed from the office of deputy defense minister of the Russian Federation of the federal government’s civil service

Russians not let to Turkish Airlines flights to Mexico due to US pressure on it — diplomat

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Network of international conspirators plotted Crocus terrorist attack — watchdog

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

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Bolivian leader decries fresh US military aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan

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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

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Khalil al-Hayya said that Hamas would like to see "a fully sovereign Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and the return of Palestinian refugees in accordance with the international resolutions"

Russia says its battlegroup West seized better positions

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Belarusian KGB reports thwarting attempted drone strikes on Minsk from Lithuania

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Russia maintains position on 'buffer zone' in Ukraine to counter missile threats

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Belarus has no intentions of launching mobilization, says President Lukashenko

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Gagauzia against Chisinau’s policy of severing ties with Russia

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The source denied news media reports on the subject, which appeared earlier

Ukraine exhausted, needs constant money flow from outside — defense official

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

Ukrainian forces refuse to obey Commander-in-Chief Syrsky — CIA ex-analyst

Larry Johnson also noted that the Russian forces manage to advance recently despite the slush on the roads

Ukrainian army short about 150,000-200,000 troops, says Polish general

Waldemar Skrzypczak also said it was "a matter of hours" until Kiev received the weapons allocated by the US as part of its latest military aid package

West prepares puppet structures in case of coup in Belarus — KGB

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

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Rafael Grossi may visit Russia in late May

US nukes in Poland to become target for Russia should confrontation with NATO occur — MFA

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

Agreements on security with Iran, Myanmar, Ethiopia to come into force in 2024 — MFA

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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

Press review: US tries to strong-arm China and Zelensky's bid to bring men home

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

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

Proper humanitarian assistance to Gaza impossible amid hostilities — Russian diplomat

"We are tired to repeat over and over again - amid the US-backed Israeli military operation, which has been going on for more than six months already, adequate assistance to the enclave’s population is simply impossible," Vasily Nebenzya said

Russia discourages use of UN sanctions for interference in African affairs — envoy

Vasily Nebenzya underscored that Russia continues to "make an important contribution to strengthening of African countries’ potential, including UN Security Council and General Assembly"

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

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Ukraine says Western systems ineffective against Russia's electronic warfare

Maria Berlinskaya emphasized that the real effectiveness was determined in real combat conditions, and not at "some training ground in Texas"

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

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

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Russian children’s commissioner holds first face-to-face talks with Ukrainian counterparts

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