Vladimir Lukin steps down as Russia’s human rights ombudsman

Zhang Ming noted that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has transformed from a regional to transregional multifaceted association at this point

Iran’s Bavar-373 long-range mobile air defense system, believed to be an equivalent of Russia's S-300 systems, will become operational by the year-end

Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani described the Israeli attack on the Iranian embassy’s consulate department in Syria on April 1 as a strategic mistake

"We are continuing our efforts to prevent further escalation," the US official said

Yoav Gallant held discussed with the participants in the meeting a number of measures that need to be taken as part of the preparations for the operation in Rafah with a focus on the evacuation of civilians and expanding activities linked with the delivery of food and medical equipment to the Gaza Strip

The ministry hopes "that the people of France will ultimately learn the truth about the actual scope of France’s involvement in the conflict"

The Russian foreign minister also said the two countries would bring absolutely nothing new to the Security Council discussions as they "obediently do Washington's bidding, just like virtually every other Western country"

Vladimir Zelensky admitted that Ukraine had no chance of winning victory without support from the West

"We, both sides, and you can take it from me - as I meet with colleagues from NASA, would hate to lose this cooperation," Yury Borisov noted

The Russian president has ordered that migration policy be overhauled taking into account the national interests and security of the population, and the importance of preserving Russia’s culture and language, Nikolay Patrushev reiterated

The Chinese leader had an in-depth exchange of views on the Ukrainian crisis with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is on an official visit to Beijing

According to Yair Lapid, Israeli allies "smell this weakness," too

According to Grigory Karasin, many BRICS members share the opinion that the association should be in no hurry to adopt a strict charter, "seeing how counterproductively and even provocatively the European Union is acting"

According to the draft agreement, seen by the agency, the parties would have extended security guarantees to merchant vessels in the Black Sea, as they committed not to strike or search them as long as they had declared a non-military cargo

Guido Crosetto didn’t specify whether the currency he meant was dollars or euros

The personnel and equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were also defeated in 129 districts

Russian troops took better frontline positions in the Donetsk area over the past day, the ministry reported

"If Western missions were attacked, you would not hesitate to retaliate and prove your case in this room. Because for you, everything that concerns Western missions and Western citizens is sacred and must be protected," Vasily Nebenzya said

The spacecraft’s first flight is planned for 2028, Yury Borisov said

Russian troops suffered no casualties, the Russian Defense Ministry reported

Earlier, the Federation Council’s budget and financial markets committee recommended that the amendment on an increase in MET on gold from June 1 to December 31, 2024 be approved

The report did not specify which facilities in Israel had been attacked with hypersonic missiles

It is noted that US officials believe the military benefits of Ukraine’s air raids on Russian oil refineries are "of questionable value," since "the strikes do little to diminish Russia’s war-fighting abilities"

According to the sources, Israel is now focused on how to respond to the Iranian attack

The Russian Foreign Ministry has repeatedly emphasized previously that similar drills and patrols are held in strict compliance with international law

The hearing took place amid a heated debate between representatives of the ruling Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia party and the opposition

Like the ICBM, the carrier rocket is intended for launches from a mobile launching platform

The traditional event of lighting the Olympic flame was attended by Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach, President of the Greek National Olympic Committee Spyros Capralos and other officials

"The strike was carried out with ODAB-500 high-explosive aerial bombs with a universal planning and correction module," the Russian Defense Ministry reported

Vasily Nebenzya said Russia was calling on the International Atomic Energy Agency to name the source of attacks

Ebrahim Raisi opined that the UN Security Council and the organization as a whole "failed to fulfill their minimum legal obligations to condemn the [Israeli] attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus"

Three violations of the deconfliction protocols of December 9, 2019 linked with the flights by the US-led coalition unmanned aerial vehicles were reported in Syria in the past 24 hours

The London Metal Exchange’s ban on Russian aluminum, copper and nickel produced after April 13, 2024 leaves the Shanghai Futures Exchange as the only major commodities bourse in the world to accept Russian shipments of the three metals

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, April 15th

According to Herzi Halevi, the Israeli military was well-prepared for the Iron Shield operation to counter the Iranian attack

Meanwhile, Slovakia supports Ukraine’s accession to the European Union

"Azerbaijan increasingly characterizes human rights disputes with Armenia as attempts to challenge Azerbaijani sovereignty or territorial integrity and claims that this case is an obstacle to peace between the two countries," Yeghishe Kirakosyan stressed

According to the IDF, "the military exercise was planned in advance as part of the IDF's annual military training program for the year of 2024, and as part of the IDF's increased preparedness for possible threats in all spheres"

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the statement as he spoke by phone with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Joe Biden had made it clear that the United States would not take on a combat role in Ukraine

"If Iran ends up with the number of missiles and drones necessary to sustain this level of action for a week, they will have exhausted Israel's ability to defend itself," Scott Ritter said

According to Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, more damage was detected in the Dubovskoye rural settlement where two private residences, three apartment buildings and two outbuildings were damaged

Rafael Grossi reminded the Security Council that last year he outlined the principles of ensuring safety at the ZNPP to avert the danger of a nuclear incident and called on Russian and Ukraine to observe them

According to the Defense Ministry, Russian troops took better positions in the Donetsk area over the past day

"Such actions harm the intra-Yemeni settlement, undermining the efforts of international and regional mediators," Dmitry Polyansky noted

Previously, former US Secretary of Defense Advisor Douglas Macgregor said that the failure of the US Administration in the Ukrainian conflict has already disrupted the balance in Europe, strengthening Russia’s positions

According to Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik, over that period, Ukrainian troops fired "at least 1,362 munitions" at civilian facilities

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in turn, said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has not yet received an official invitation

The complex of measures (plan) to stimulate Russian investment activity in Belarus was also signed

Yury Borisov noted that SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket was used no more than ten times

According to Christelle Neant, French specialists are engaged to operate these howitzers in Ukraine as Ukrainian mobilized soldiers lack relevant skills and time to learn how to use them

Alexander Kharlov also specified that the provision of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and the bilateral Consular Convention on the need for foreign diplomats to comply with the laws and rules of the host country had been reiterated to Kotecha

US House Speaker Mike Johnson announced the plans in a private meeting with GOP lawmakers on Monday, Politico said

Stanislav Beryozkin was taken to a hospital to undergo thorough examination, with all the required tests made

According to preliminary information, the suspect was interacting with unknown individuals in Ukraine and agreed to set fire to relay boxes on the Trans-Siberia Railway for money

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

Izzat al-Rishq noted that Israel’s attempts to release its hostages held by radicals in the Gaza Strip have failed and "there is no alternative to a real deal on this matter with Palestinian groups"

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin added that the record-high indicator of mutual trade turnover is $45.2 bln

Dmitry Peskov stated that China "maintains quite high diplomatic activity" on the Ukrainian track

Vladimir Saldo added that troops use at their discretion the possessions of the people who used to live in these apartments

According to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko, many of such measures have already been announced

The Russian Foreign Minister added that these countries "are firmly committed to the principles of the UN Charter, advocate respect for the cultural and civilizational diversity of the world's peoples and their right to determine their own destiny"

According to the source, the owner of the drone is being questioned by law enforcement

The IAEA director general said he plans to visit Tehran in the next few weeks

Sergey Ryabkov pointed out that the West "is ignoring elementary and, as a matter of fact, absolutely obvious principles," such as the idea that a nuclear power "can never be defeated"

According to the FSB, the detainee had departed for Ukraine after the launch of the special military operation where he was recruited by an SBU officer in October 2023

The French leader stressed that Israel was responding to a terrorist attack

The Russian Defense Ministry pointed out that immediately after the award ceremony, the servicemen returned to their units to continue performing their assigned tasks in the special military operation zone.

Nine Ukrainian paratroopers of the airborne platoon of the elite brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces seized the opportunity to surrender near Vodyanoye, turned to Russian soldiers and laid down their arms, the ministry said

On the evening of April 13, Iran launched dozens of drones and missiles toward Israel in response to what it called "repeated crimes" from Tel Aviv, including the attack on the consular office of the Iranian Embassy in Damascus ascribed to Israel

Sales volumes depend on the demand for it, Liang Bin stated, noting that this refers not merely to sales of the Jetour Dashing crossover but also to other brand models, including X70 and X90 crossovers and the T2 SUV

The report said the Israeli retaliation will be "limited in scope"

"They not only completely gave away Zelensky's regime, but also confessed to their own complicity in these irresponsible bombardments," said Vasily Nebenzya

According to the report, Israel’s war cabinet will meet on April 16 for a third straight day

Vyacheslav Volodin cited data from the US Treasury Department, according to which the country's budget deficit in March amounted to $236 bln

This figure includes frozen assets of individuals and legal entities included in the sanctions list, such as cash, corporate investments, and yachts

According to German Galushchenko, the value of the damage is being verified and could reach billions of dollars

Meanwhile, almost half of all Ukrainians view the authorities’ attempts to control the information on the web negatively, according to polls

Rustaveli Avenue has been opened for traffic

"The Biden administration on the eve of the presidential election does not need this at all," Alexander Maryasov noted

According to Vladimir Saldo, during the night there was a strike on the Ukrainian troops' landing zone on the right bank of the Dnieper River, nine boats and up to 20 militants were destroyed

"Iran will face the consequences for its actions," IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said

"If Israel and its Western supporters want to further escalate the conflict, we are ready to take additional defensive measures to protect our legitimate interests," Hussein Maliki said

According to German Galushchenko, the issue has been discussed, and "everyone is quite positive about it"

Igor Kimakovsky said that the Ukrainian combat group in Chasov Yar is suffering heavy casualties

According to Wei Dongxu, Tehran's firepower can cover most of the Middle East region, representing a fierce and precise long-range retaliatory means

The talks are being held within the framework of a letter sent earlier by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to the presidents of Turkey, Russia and Ukraine

The Georgian Interior Ministry said that one police member was injured

It was possible to establish that the Ukrainian servicemen were tasked with hitting Orthodox sites in the region aide to the head of the Donetsk People's Republic Igor Kimakovsky said

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, April 16th

The presidential certificate is a 100x70mm maroon leather-bound booklet inscribed with the Russian emblem and the words "President of the Russian Federation" in gold on its cover

Rafael Grossi calls for attacks on ZNPP to stop as they raise safety risks

"Undoubtedly, everything that is going on today, carries a direct threat to nuclear safety," Renat Karchaa reiterated

This was reported by a representative of law enforcement agencies

The German chancellor is in China on an official visit from April 14-16

It was reported eaerlier that Turkey had negotiated for two months with Russia and Ukraine on a deal to ensure the safety of merchant vessels in the Black Sea

"There has to be painstaking work from behind the scenes that is not seen or known, then it makes sense," the former Austrian foreign minister

The drones neutralized by the air defenses included a Mavic-3 UAV and three Baba-Yaga drones carrying improvised explosive devices manufactured with the use of anti-tank aerial bombs and mines

General agreement includes organizing the production of the brand’s products in Russia and gradually increasing the level of localization

"There are increasingly fewer people willing to discuss this subject with Kiev’s envoys, let alone going there," Rodion Miroshnik stressed