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Putin talks with Kazakh president about Afghan situation — Kremlin

The presidents touched upon some topical issues on the bilateral agenda, in particular, the joint fight against the COVID-19 pandemic

MOSCOW, September 15. / TASS /. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed the state of affairs in Afghanistan by phone, the Kremlin press service said on Wednesday.

"Amid the upcoming events in Dushanbe in the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Afghan issues have been thoroughly discussed," the Kremlin noted.

The press service stated that during the talks, the presidents touched upon some topical issues on the bilateral agenda, in particular, the joint fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Putin and Tokayev also agreed to continue further cooperation.

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Military operation in Ukraine

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

He also said that the US military contacted Russia and the United Kingdom while evaluating the potential of the Iranian attack

Russian economy proves resilience amid large-scale sanctions — IMF

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

Two pilots of jet that crashed in southern Russia hospitalized

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

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Russia knows French military instructors working in Ukraine — Lavrov

At the same time, the top Russian diplomat pointed out that "there is information that not only French mercenaries, but also instructors, maybe even together, but along with some other representatives of military and special services of European countries are working there [in Ukraine]"

Russia can join top three countries by lithium reserves — governor

Infrastructure is required to implement the investment project, both power transmission lines and the railroad, Andrey Chibis noted

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

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

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About 30 events in 26 countries to be held as part of Russian Film Festival — minister

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Putin signs law on holding World Friendship Games

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FACTBOX: Collective Security Treaty Organization

The Collective Security Treaty came into force on April 20, 1994 to herald the emergence what would eventually become the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The six member-countries are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

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

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

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Polish premier refuses to hand over his country’s Patriot systems to Ukraine

Donald Tusk said that German Chancellor’s call to send more air defense systems to Kiev had no relation to Poland, provided the country's geographical position near the frontline

Unidentified man attempts suicide outside courthouse where Trump trial is underway

The man set himself on fire

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

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Russia bans 235 Australian local government officials from entering country — MFA

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Military base near Iran’s Isfahan hit following attack — newspaper

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Armenia’s relations with Russia not at their highest — top diplomat

Ararat Mirzoyan also said that Yerevan is currently making efforts to expand cooperation with the European Union and the United States

Russian industrial producers’ prices up 2.4% in March — statistics

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

The Ukrainian army lost more than 3,550 troops, four tanks and five armored combat vehicles in battles with Russian forces in the Donetsk area over the past week, the ministry reported

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

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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

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

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US 'not forgetting' to help itself with aid to Ukraine — Kremlin

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Global economy’s condition improving — Russian Deputy PM

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The minister also inspected the training process in Omsk Armor Engineering Institute

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Blast rocks military base south of Baghdad — Reuters

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Three Ukrainian soldiers swim across Dnieper to surrender to Russian troops — governor

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

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Russian investigators start inquiry into financing of terrorism by US, NATO officials

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This measure is not a prohibitive one and will make it possible to make competitive conditions equal for Russian producers, the ministry said

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Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, April 19th

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Ukrainian trace obvious in Crocus City Hall attack — Russian prosecutor general

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Ukraine’s new ethnic minorities law insufficient to protect Magyars — Hungarian president

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The Security Service of Ukraine announced earlier that in a joint operation with law enforcement agencies in Ukraine and Poland it thwarted an attempt to assassinate Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky

Lavrov labels way West ramping up sanctions against Russia as mindless

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Ukrainian drones continue to fly over Zaporozhye NPP — press service

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Participation in ‘Columbine’ movement may result in life sentence — Prosecutor General

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

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Grossi ignores ‘elephant in the room’ in Zaporozhye nuke plant situation — Russian envoy

Dmitry Polyansky noted that the IAEA chief is being very cautious about the issue of attacks on the nuclear facility

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

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Iran may target Israeli nuclear center in Dimona in case of Israel’s attack — TV

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

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

Ivan Paskar is charged with illegally transporting explosive substances, but he does not recognize his guilt

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

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Switzerland does not suit Russia for negotiations on Ukraine — Lavrov

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

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One crew member of jet crashed in Stavropol Region killed, search for another continues

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, an Aerospace Forces’ Tu-22M3 bomber crashed after completing a combat mission while returning to the airfield

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

On March 12, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that Yerevan asked its CSTO partners to answer where the CSTO's zone of responsibility in the republic was

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

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West close to sending military to Ukraine, this would 'drag Europe to bottom' — Orban

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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

Ukrainian drone damages energy infrastructure in Russia’s Kaluga Region

There are no casualties, Governor Vladislav Shapsha said

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

Fox News said the Jewish state delivered a limited strike on Iran

Russia’s export duty on wheat to be $37.42 per metric ton from April 24

The floating duty on Russian grain exports is effective from June 2, 2021

US House passes procedural vote on Ukraine aid bill

It cannot be ruled out that the House of Representatives may pass this package as early as Saturday

Iran has no plans to immediately retaliate to attack on its soil — agency

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Moscow International Film Festival kicks off

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Russian stock indices rising on Friday

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

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Russian Cabinet expands list of perfumery, cosmetic products subjected to import duty

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

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US-led coalition’s aircraft violate Syrian airspace 13 times in past day

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S-500 system to be supplied to Armed Forces after 2015

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