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FACTBOX: 2024 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum

Oman will be the guest country at this year’s forum

© Vladimir Smirnov/TASS

TASS-FACTBOX. The 27th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) will take place on June 5-8, 2024. This year, SPIEF’s theme is "The Foundations of a Multipolar World - The Formation of New Areas of Growth."

About 200 business events are scheduled to be held during the forum, which will be divided into four main groups: "The Transition to a Multipolar World Economy," "Goals and Objectives of Russia’s New Economic Cycle," "A Healthy Society, Traditional Values and Social Development: The Priority of The State," and "Technologies for Leadership." Just like at previous forums, thematic spaces will be set up; the forums of small, medium-sized and creative businesses will take place, along with meetings of the Business G20 group, the SPIEF Academy and the SPIEF Junior forum.

The activities of the International Youth Economic Forum, the Roscongress Foundation’s Urban Hub discussion platform for urbanism and the VinoGrad thematic platform will also be held on the sidelines of SPIEF.

Oman will be the guest country at this year’s forum.

TASS is the information partner of the forum.

As usual, Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to address the forum’s plenary session.

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Bolivian President Luis Arce and President Milorad Dodik of Republika Srpska (one of the two constituent entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina) will be among the foreign leaders at the event.

The Petersburg Seasons cultural festival will take place on the sidelines of the SPIEF forum, with an art fair dubbed "1703," a gala concert featuring opera and ballet luminaries, the Swan Lake ballet at the Mikhailovsky Theater and a gala concert dedicated to the 225th anniversary of Russian poet Alexander Pushkin at the St. Petersburg Shostakovich Academic Philharmonia being the highlights of the festival. The Commandant's House at the Peter and Paul Fortress will host a Russian fashion show dubbed "The Concept Fashion Day." Famous Russian rock musician Vyacheslav Butusov will perform for free on Palace Square in St. Petersburg on June 7.

Sporting events will also take place during SPIEF, including races titled "Towards the Friendship Games" and "SPIEF Run," the White Nights 2024 Aikido Festival, ice hockey, tennis, basketball, squash and other sports tournaments organized by Roscongress, the SPIEF show jumping cup, the Ladoga Gold international cycling race, along with other activities.

Gazprom opens its representative office in Uzbekistan — Russian trade mission

In May, the Uzbek energy ministry and Russia’s Gazprom Neft passed a roadmap on expansion of cooperation, the trade mission noted

Russian troops should scale up FAB-3000 bomb strikes at key Ukrainian army sites — expert

"Considering a substantial strike effect of this munition, its use can be recognized as successful," Igor Korotchenko underlined

Russian diplomat lambasts Kiev’s statement about Crimea as Nazism 2.0

"All they have done is dress this Nazism up with US-supplied weapons," Maria Zakharova stressed

Kenyan President orders to send military to suppress riots

The troops will be sent to protect your property and your peace, so that the people of Kenya could go to bed without worries for their property," he said

France not to send troops to fight in Ukraine in near future — Macron

The French president said that he understands concerns of those who "are afraid that the conflict might spread into France"

Trump team's plan on Ukraine should factor in situation on battlefield — Kremlin

According to Dmitry Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putin "has repeatedly said that Russia has been and remains open to negotiations, taking into account the real state of affairs on the ground"

Confiscation of Helsinki Hall from Russian owners ahead 'with 99% certainty' — newspaper

The sellers of the arena through the company Arena Events are Russian owners Gennady Timchenko and the Rotenberg family, the media clarifies

Lavrov says attacks in Crimea, Dagestan were possibly synchronized — BelTA

On June 23, a group of terrorists attacked two Orthodox churches and two synagogues in Derbent and Makhachkala

Russian army starts active use of motorcycles to seize Ukrainian positions

These bikes helped five Russian servicemen take control of a Ukrainian strongpoint

Russian tech firm upgrading Post-3M radio-electronic reconnaissance system

"The equipment instantly scans military hardware and its analysis helps determine exactly the type of an emitting source and the nature of its activity," the Rostec press office said

US ambassador expressed regret over civilian deaths in Ukrainian conflict, official says

US State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller said the US gives weapons to Kiev "so it can defend its sovereign territory," which Washington believes includes Crimea

Russian troops advance near Ugledar as Ukrainian army decreases activity

According to the report, Russian forces retained the initiative in the south Donetsk area

US defense secretary speaks over phone with Russian defense minister — Pentagon

Secretary Austin also spoke by phone today with Russian Minister of Defense Andrey Belousov

BRICS to suspend admitting new members for a while — Lavrov

"By the overwhelming majority, the ten nations decided to ‘take a pause’ with new members to ‘take in’ the new members who have doubled the association," he said at a meeting with speaker of Belarus

Is Gaddafi's gloom prophecy in regard to Europe bound to be fulfilled?

As Europe’s migrant crisis grows far and wide, many Russian media are recalling the late Libyan leader Muamar Gaddafi’s gloom prophecy made several months before his violent death

Washington’s role in Sevastopol terror attack indisputable — MFA

"Four people died, among them a two-year-old playing on the city beach and a nine-year-old girl," while as many as 151 people sought medical help, 82 of them were hospitalized, according to the statement

ICC’s claim of intent to cooperate with Russia absurd, Kremlin spokesman tells TASS

Kremlin says no conditions needed to revive Russia-France dialogue

According to Dmitry Peskov, the Russian president has repeatedly said that he is open to talks, especially toward making common cause

Russian jet stops US drone from crossing border over Black Sea – Defense Ministry

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that a US Air Force RQ-4B Global Hawk was approaching the Russian border

Plane carrying Wikileaks founder lands in Saipan

The court hearing is set to take place on Saipan at 9:00 a.m. local time on June 26

Russian troops wipe out two Ukrainian military equipment depots over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup West gained better ground and inflicted about 445 casualties on the Ukrainian army over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

State Duma ratifies protocol to agreement between Russia, Laos on settlement of debts

The protocol was signed in Moscow on November 23, 2023

Russian production of semiconductors to grow in coming years — expert

"Background the growth of the Russian market is estimated at around 15% in coming several years, though the growth of Russia’s production in particular is expected to reach at least 20%," CEO of Mikron Gulnara Khasyanova said

Serbia selling weapons to legitimate users, not going to apologize — President Vucic

According to the Serbian leader, the hype around this topic in the Western and regional mass media is geared to complicate Serbia’s relations with Russia

Gasum to stop buying Russian LNG from July 26

"Gasum complies with all sanctions imposed by the EU and will not purchase or import Russian LNG as of 26 July," the company informed

India’s Modi to visit Moscow on July 8 — newspaper

It is reported that India’s strategic interests will dominate Modi’s visit as the two countries seek new partnerships amid a fast-changing world

Kremlin aide condemns Sevastopol missile attack as act of murder

According to Yury Ushakov, the world is becoming increasingly wary that it is simply impossible to resolve the Ukraine conflict without Russia

Missile strike on Sevastopol 'act of war' by Washington — Ritter

"Had the Russians done something similar to us, we would be at war with Russia already," the former US intelligence officer and UN inspector said

Russian, US defense chiefs exchange views on situation around Ukraine in first phone call

Andrey Belousov highlighted the danger of further escalation due to continued US weapons supplies to the Ukrainian armed forces

Human potential in Ukraine not exhausted yet — Russian presidential aide

It is reported that the West is going to fight together with Ukraine until the last Ukrainian

China is against economic ties’ rupturing — PM

Li Qiang also urged the international community to deepen scientific and technological exchanges

Pentagon rapidly expanding its military-biological presence in Africa — top brass

Igor Kirillov drew attention to the fact that Metabiota’s activity in Africa was wound up after "too many questions about its methods arose from national governments"

West's underestimation of Russia’s ability to use nuclear weapons could be fatal — MFA

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov is certain that Russia has the resource to convey signals to the West in the sphere of nuclear deterrence even despite its opponents' reluctance to conduct a sober dialogue

Militants involved in attacks on religious sites in Dagestan identified

According to the statement, the criminal case on Dagestan attacks is being investigated under three articles of the Russian Criminal Code

Lavrov keeps hope alive that trust can be rebuilt with West

According to the top Russian diplomat, the West is an untrustworthy partner, as history has shown

Russian-North Korean treaty has defensive nature — senior Russian diplomat

"When we sign a new framework treaty with North Korea, I am sure, the collective West doesn’t even know its essence," Sergey Ryabkov said

Russia sees no conditions for normalizing dialogue with West — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov stressed that restoring ties "depends on the stance of our counterparts"

Assange released from British prison, left UK by plane

WikiLeaks also confirmed information from a US court about a plea bargain between Assange and US prosecutors

Assange plea deal hearing gets underway — agency

The Associated Press points out that dozens of media workers from all over the world have gathered near the court building to cover the hearing

Conflict in Ukraine fraught with extension, use of nuclear weapons — top Turkish diplomat

Hakan Fidan stressed that from the very beginning of the conflict in Ukraine his country has been making efforts to settle it diplomatically and will continue doing so

Russia summons US ambassador to Moscow over Sevastopol attack

"Response measures will definitely follow," the Russian Foreign Ministry underscored

Security should be built on Eurasian models — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat does not expect this realization to come any time soon, as NATO, along with the Americans, are "fiercely trying to justify their penetration into the Asia-Pacific region"

Russia knows well who is behind attack on Crimea, who aims missiles — Kremlin

"It is not the Ukrainians who provide for these launches," Dmitry Peskov said

Russia not holding any ‘backdoor talks’ about Ukraine — Lavrov

Lavrov also mentioned that Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 14 laid out proposals that are "the result of a sober and constructive analysis of the current realities"

Bill Gates believes US business environment can face uncertainty if Trump wins — Bloomberg

Former US leader Donald Trump has already garnered the necessary number of primary votes to clinch the Republican nomination

Russia, Oman stand for establishing collective security system in Gulf — foreign ministry

The two senior diplomats discussed measures to promote the development of bilateral relations, including trade-and-economic and cultural-and-humanitarian cooperation

Putin praises T-90 tank as the best in world

The president noted that any hardware got outdated with time

Putin’s initiative, ties with DPRK: what Kremlin aide talked about at Primakov Readings

The military frenzy incited by the West is taking such "monstrous forms" as the murder of vacationers at a Sevastopol beach

Ukrainian authorities begin forced evacuation from Toretsk in DPR

On June 22-24, about 500 out of 6,000 residents remaining in Toretsk left the town, Vadim Filashkin said

Probe shows Il-76 carrying Ukrainian POWs downed by Ukraine

Also, Svetlana Petrenko said, the Investigative Committee has obtained data on exactly which Ukrainian units are equipped with Patriots

Ex-US official involved in WMD activities in Ukraine — Russian military

Igor Kirillov also mentioned Sergey Komisarenko, who interacted with the Pentagon on behalf of the National Academy of Sciences and supervised dual-use research, conducted on the basis of subordinate organizations

Russian Security Council dismisses ICC’s decision about Shoigu as 'hot air'

The agency said that "the ICC does not have jurisdiction in Russia, and it was taken as part of the West's hybrid war against our country"

Russia should be part of European security system — Orban

"Russia is different, its system and its society are not European," the Hungarian prime minister noted

US doesn’t want civilian deaths in Ukrainian crisis — Pentagon

Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder commented on the Russian side's statements on the terrorist attack in Sevastopol

Putin calls T-90M Proryv world’s best main battle tank

"The tank fires to a longer range and more accurately. It also has better protection," the head of state noted

US coalition's drone flies too close to Russian plane in Syria &mdash — top brass

According to Yury Popov, a pair of the coalition’s F-15, a pair of F-16 and a pair of Rafale fighter jets violated Syria’s airspace in the al-Tanf area, across which international air routes run, six times during the day

Avangard complex to ensure Russian security for decades to come

Sergey Ivanov also listed Burevestnik cruise missile with unlimited range and Poseidon nuclear-powered torpedo, as well as Peresvet laser

Russian troops wipe out large Western-supplied armament depot in Ukraine operation

The Ukrainian army lost more than 610 troops, a tank and seven ammunition depots in battles with Russian forces in the Donetsk area over the past day, the ministry reported

All those suspected of committing murder on border with Russia detained in Abkhazia

Abkhazian Interior Minister Robert Kiut said earlier that three of the seven suspects had been put on a wanted list

Available nuclear deterrents to ensure Russia's security for decades to come — MFA

"This does not mean that we should ignore what is happening around us," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov added

EU waging economic war against Moscow with 'suicidal fanaticism' — Russian mission to EU

"The EU no longer seems to care what price will be paid for its ambition to damage Russia," the statement reads

Reports about armed man in central Makhachkala prove to be false — interior ministry

"Police checked operational information," the Dagestani interior ministry said

Former US intel officer says Russia-DPRK partnership treaty surprised US

Scott Ritter said the US lost a chance to prevent Russia and North Korea from getting closer

Documents show Kiev took interest in weapons of mass destruction — Russian ministry

The research was conducted under an agreement that was signed in 2005 between the US Department of Defense and the Ukrainian Health Ministry for cooperation in preventing the spread of technologies, pathogens, and information that could be used to develop biological weapons

Press review: Russia sees US behind Sevastopol attack and Serbian arms flowing to Kiev

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, 24th

Wikileaks founder pleads guilty in deal with US that secures his freedom — agency

Julian Assange pleaded guilty to a single felony charge for publishing US military secrets in federal court in Saipan

Russia-Romania trade takes tumble — Russian envoy

"If Romania no longer views Russia as attractive in terms of mutual trade, so be it," Vladimir Lipaev emphasized

ICC issues arrest warrants for Russia’s Shoigu, Gerasimov

According to the International Criminal Court, Sergey Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov are "allegedly responsible" for directing attacks at objects in Ukraine

NATO to name Rutte as future secretary general on June 26 — AFP

EU leaders previously greenlit Mark Rutte's candidacy at a summit in Brussels on June 17, which was convened to discuss appointments to key EU and NATO posts

Russia demands immediate release of blogger Kirill Fedorov in Latvia — diplomat

Moscow considers the arrest of the blogger a violation of human rights

Softening of sanctions on Russian diamonds inevitable — deputy finance minister

Alexey Moiseev pointed to "the manifestation of a kind of a neocolonial policy of these countries, which infringes upon not merely Russia but also all the Western market players"

Senior Russian diplomat calls for preventing 'nuclear chaos'

"The multipolar nuclear world and the role of multilateral treaties in the realm of arms control and non-proliferation is a very interesting issue that deserves in-depth discussion," Sergey Ryabkov added

Press review: EU hits Russia with new sanctions and IDF all systems go for Lebanon op

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, June 25th

Russia makes another real peace proposal to Kiev — Putin

Vladimir Putin emphasized that Russia's plan would mean ending the conflict once and for all, not freezing it

Moldova begins accession talks with EU

The first meeting of the EU-Moldova Intergovernmental Conference in Luxembourg was broadcast by the European Union External Action Service

Republic of Congo president arrives in Moscow

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited the Republic of the Congo on June 3-4 and held talks with the country’s president

Russia not dodging dialogue with West but wants it to be equal — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat recalled that around 30 countries want to join cooperation with BRICS

Police withdraws cordon at Universitetskaya Square in downtown Makhachkala

The Ministry of the Interior press office also said that the report about an armed man in downtown Makhachkala, received by the police, has not been confirmed

Restrictions on gas exports and media access: EU’s 14th package of anti-Russian sanctions

The package includes restrictions on access to Russian media, new technological and export restrictions, a blacklist of 116 people

IT, telecom sector boosts share in Russian GDP to 3.5% in 4 years — minister

Russia’s online economy soared 3.5-fold over the past four years, Maksut Shadayev added

US 'confrontational hysteria' led to Sevastopol terrorist attack — media

According to the agency, a continuous chain of defeats in the military confrontation with Russia has caused "Ukrainian puppets to resort to reckless terrorism"

Macron says ready for dialogue with Putin

The French leader pointed out that he "believes in the power of dialogue"

No such strikes as in Sevastopol should be — US lawmaker

"The only border our American military should be defending is our own border," Marjorie Taylor Greene said

Senior Russian diplomat sees risks of direct armed clash between nuclear powers as high

Sergey Ryabkov also said Western opponents deliberately make unacceptable conditions for security talks with Moscow

Russia to handle sanctions, deal with attempts to harm it — Medvedev

According to the politician, with the exception of sanctions against the Artek international children’s center, "it is boring even to list" the new sanctions

Ukraine conflict fraught with risk of nuclear weapons use — Turkish foreign minister

Hakan Fidan stressed that Turkey was ready for mediation on Ukraine and favored an early peaceful settlement of the conflict

Houthis, Islamic Resistance in Iraq attack commercial vessels in Israel’s Haifa

The movement reported that its drones attacked Haifa-bound cattleship

Some of attackers in Dagestan killed, others to be punished — Dagestani interior minister

Abdurashid Magomedov confirmed that fifteen police officers were killed in shootouts

Gazprom opens its representative office in Uzbekistan — Russian trade mission

In May, the Uzbek energy ministry and Russia’s Gazprom Neft passed a roadmap on expansion of cooperation, the trade mission noted

Ukraine embarks on lengthy talks to join EU

"While today we celebrate a significant step forward, we must also recognize that the road ahead will require sustained effort, dedication, and further substantial reforms," Charles Michel noted

Talks on Ukraine need to start with clean slate — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat said Moscow's position on the issue was laid out by Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 14 as he met with the Foreign Ministry leadership

Politician blames former British PM for Ukrainian battle casualties

The Reform UK leader Nigel Farage did not rule out that Ukraine would have to give up some of its territories in order to put an end to fighting

Press review: China in NATO crosshairs over Russia support and Kiev eyes ZNPP return

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, June 19th

Trump suggests Biden take drug test

This idea was supported by Congressman Ronny Jackson, who worked as a doctor for Trump and former US President Barack Obama

Wikileaks confirms founder’s arrival on US territory at Saipan Island

"Julian Assange has arrived on US territory at Saipan Island to formalize the plea deal that should never have had to happen," Wikileaks said

Putin not planning to speak to Vucic for now, Kremlin aide says

The Primakov Readings international forum is being held in Moscow on June 25-26

Russia to block access to 81 EU media outlets — MFA

The ministry noted that the Russian side has repeatedly and at various levels warned that "politically motivated harassment of domestic journalists and unfounded bans on Russian media in the EU will not go unanswered"

MAKS airshow rescheduled for 2025 — organizers

Earlier in the day, the Russian government released a resolution canceling the airshow in 2024

US reaction to Putin's initiative means it doesn't need peace in Ukraine — ambassador

Anatoly Antonov stressed that the initiative outlined by the Russian president "will require colossal efforts and political determination"

Russia backs Syria’s demand for withdrawal of illegal troops, envoy says

According to Vasily Nebenzya, Russia believes that "it’s only possible to achieve sustainable unity in the Syrian Arab Republic by putting an end to foreign military presence."

West crosses its own red line — Chinese expert on strikes on Russia

Zheng Runyu called these attacks unacceptable and drew attention to the fact that such actions "have no strategic or practical military significance"