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After striking Iran, Israel announces closure of its airspace

The goal of the closure is to reduce the risk for passengers and planes

TEL AVIV, June 13. /TASS/. Following a series of strikes on Iran, the Israeli authorities announced that the country’s airspace will be closed until further notice.

"The transport ministry announces that the airspace of the State of Israel is closed for takeoffs and landings until further notice. The goal of the closure is to reduce the risk for passengers and planes," the ministry said in a statement.

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Fifth drone shot down near Moscow — mayor

Earlier in the day, Sergey Sobyanin reported the elimination of four drones flying toward Moscow

Russian, Turkish leaders discuss recent escalations in Syria over phone — Kremlin

The situation in Syria aggravated on July 13 when clashes between Arab tribal militias and Druze self-defense groups broke out in the heavily Druze-populated Sweida governorate

FACTBOX: What we know about EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia

The 18th package includes an expanded blacklist of individuals and legal entities, restrictions on tankers transporting Russian oil, measures targeting several banks, and new export controls on dual-use goods and technologies

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US has couple more major trade deals in pipeline — Trump

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Russia’s anti-tank missile system gets ‘top attack’ capability similar to US Javelin

As its specific feature, a Javelin missile climbs above using an arched flight trajectory and then strikes down the turrets of tanks and other armored vehicles where the armor is the thinnest

EU lowers price ceiling for Russian oil to $47.6 per barrel

The EU also imposed further sanctions across the shadow fleet value chain

Britain may join Trump plan to buy US weapons for Ukraine — Bloomberg

According to the report, Defense Secretary of the United Kingdom John Healey and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius intend to discuss this on July 21

Western arms makers likely to support Kiev’s idea to test weapons versus Russia — expert

According to the expert, it is rather difficult to mock up actual battlefield conditions and weapons that were tested and entered into service in peacetime may turn out to be not that effective on the battlefield as expected

Brazilian president accuses Trump of attack on country’s sovereignty

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Russia treats Ukraine, bilateral relations as separate lines in dialogue with US — Kremlin

"One topic is the Ukrainian settlement, and another one is our bilateral relations, all irritants in our ties, problematic issues, which we have a lot of," Dmitry Peskov said

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The British newspaper reported that Xi wants the US and Russian leaders to meet for war commemorations in September

Ukrainian officer says Zelensky's demobilization comments spell doom for scores of troops

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Israel to allow limited presence of Syria’s 'internal security forces' in Sweida — media

According to a newspaper’s source, the Syrian "Internal security forces" will be allowed to enter Sweida for 48 hours

EU makes ‘concessions’ for Slovakia to approve sanctions against Russia — DPA

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Trump demands Germany transfer Patriot from its stocks to Kiev — Bild

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West’s push for rare-earth metals access borders on robbery — Russian MFA

"Rare-earth metals are the prize in the trade wars underway between the key suppliers of AI solutions to the market," Maria Zakharova pointed out

Complicated effort underway to pull Russia-US ties from deplorable state — Kremlin

"The process itself is very complicated and time-consuming," Dmitry Peskov added

Paris prosecutor’s office to make statement on Durov’s detention on Monday

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UK to lower price cap for Russian oil, following EU — Chancellor

Rachel Reeves said that the UK and its EU allies are turning the screw on

West’s threats of secondary sanctions to benefit multipolar world — Russian diplomat

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EU Council approves 18th sanctions package against Russia — Danish EU Presidency

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Trump calls Biden cruel, incompetent

US leader said that the previous American administration "tried to crush the industry" of cryptocurrencies

Russia, US discuss plans for deorbiting International Space Station — Roscosmos

The commission’s experts discussed among other issues, measures to reduce risks stemming from air leaks from the transfer module

Russia nixes defense cooperation agreement with Germany

The agreement was signed in 1996

Trump calls Netanyahu over Israeli shelling of Gaza church

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Air defense system shoots down three Ukrainian UAVs flying to Moscow

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Russian ballistic missiles evade Ukrainian radars, hinder Patriots — paper

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Hamas threatens to take back offer to release ten hostages if Gaza talks stall

Hamas "has repeatedly offered to release all the hostages in recent months" and hopes that the current talks in Doha "will lead to an agreement that would guarantee the end of the war" in Gaza

Fifth drone shot down near Moscow — mayor

Earlier in the day, Sergey Sobyanin reported the elimination of four drones flying toward Moscow

Russia must respond to West’s treachery and even act preemptively — Medvedev

According to the Russian security council deputy chairman, Russia has learned the lessons of Potsdam and no longer has any illusions about relations with the West

Russia says EU’s 18th package of sanctions not to have desired effect

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Russian troops liberate three communities in Ukraine operation over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted roughly 160 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy armored combat vehicle in its areas of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

WhatsApp must comply with Russian laws — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov noted that WhatsApp remained the most popular messaging service in many countries, including Russia

Russia to treat 'coalition of the willing' forces in Ukraine as military target — MFA

"The Russian side has repeatedly stated that a deployment of armed forces of other countries in Ukraine under any pretense would be absolutely unacceptable and it would regard this as preparations for foreign military intervention," Maria Zakharova stated

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According to Ralph Bosshard, the US leader now has “little time left” to help Ukrainian forces stabilize the front before he and Vladimir Zelensky present new proposals to Russia aimed at resolving the conflict

Russia must respond to West’s treachery and even act preemptively — Medvedev

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Ukraine sees three deaths to every birth since start of year

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Press review: Trump’s Ukraine stance raises doubts as EU states opt out of US arms funding

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Kiev prepping provocation with ammonia detonation in Donetsk region — Russia’s top brass

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TASS has put together the highlights from the news conference

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Russian forces destroy two groups of Ukrainian soldiers in Dnepropetrovsk Region

Among the enemy personnel destroyed, there were soldiers of recently deployed rear units

Moscow dismisses media reports that North Korean resort closed to Russians as fake news

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RDIF calls for dialogue instead of sanctioning spiral — chief executive

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NATO strategy aimed at preparing for war with Russia — Deputy Russian Foreign Minister

Alexander Grushko stressed that Ukraine, in the eyes of the West, is an instrument of "fighting the Russian Federation to inflict a strategic defeat on it"

Thousands of Bedouins flee Syria’s Sweida amid clashes - TV

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Company of Russian businessman will invest in Musk’s deal with Twitter — Bloomberg

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Russian envoy hopeful for ties reset after Moldova’s elections

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Putin reaffirms commitment to peace deal on Ukraine in call with Erdogan

On June 2, the second round of Russia-Ukraine talks took place in Istanbul

Gabbard accuses Obama administration of fabricating data on Russian interference in 2016

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Two Chinese banks included in EU sanctions package

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Russian forces capture foreign mercenaries in DPR, scout says

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Russian lawmaker reminds US general of nuclear doctrine

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Bulgaria denies smuggling arms from Ukraine

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EU’s rejection of Russian gas leading to adverse consequences — Putin

Huge restrictions have already been introduced for EU countries

Israeli strike on church in Gaza leaves three dead, nine wounded — patriarchy

Casualties include the community’s parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, who sustained light injuries

Zelensky wants to sack Zaluzhny because of his secret talks with West — Hersh

Commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces, says journalist, talks about the possibility of a ceasefire and peace process

Russia seeks to prevent fragmentation of Eurasian space — Foreign Ministry

According to Alexander Grushko, many influential players, primarily the United States, the European Union, China and Turkey are trying to play an increasingly active role in the region

India cautions EU against double standards in energy trade — Foreign Ministry

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Times says Trump may meet with Putin, Xi in China

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Russia set to protect its interests in Arctic from other countries' pressure — Kremlin

The French Defense Ministry earlier published its Arctic defense strategy, under which Paris plans to deploy armed forces in the region and strengthen the influence of the EU and NATO

Trump believes Ukraine should go on offensive — media

The US president also asked "if Ukraine could bomb Moscow or St. Petersburg"

Russia not ruling out countermeasures against new EU sanctions — Foreign Ministry

"We will take measures supporting our interests in case of necessity," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko stressed

Russia to give decisive response if attacked by Taurus — MFA

Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also noted that Germany’s assistance in the production of long-range systems in Ukraine could mask plans to localize the assembly of Taurus missiles at Ukrainian defense industry facilities

PM says Ukraine agrees in principle to sell UAVs to US

Yulia Sviridenko said Defense Minister Denis Shmygal will develop this proposal with the American side

Russian banks’ profit in June rises by one third, reaching $5 bln — Bank of Russia

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Israel has no objection to Russia supplying nuclear materials to Iran — envoy in Moscow

Simona Halperin added that same goes for the removal of spent materials

Ukrainian attack on Energodar, regional power equipment fails to disrupt ZNPP's operations

The plant noted that all safety protocols remain intact and operational conditions have not been compromised

Erdogan says Syria's disintegration inadmissible, calls Israel terrorist country

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Russia’s Medvedev proposes fourth 'D' for Ukraine as deparasitization

Exactly 80 years ago, on July 17, 1945, the Potsdam Conference began, bringing together the heads of government from the Soviet Union, the United States, and Great Britain. The meeting laid the foundation for the post-war world order.

Medvedev calls Western actions against Russia a full-out war

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Germany cannot recognize Taliban as Afghanistan’s leadership — Chancellor Merz

Germany, according to Friedrich Merz, does not recognize the de facto government of Afghanistan but has never severed diplomatic ties with that country

Russia’s Medvedev responds to Trump by saying 'one really bad thing' would be WWIII

Donald Trump said earlier on Tuesday that if it weren’t for him "really bad things would have already happened to Russia"