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Russian president congratulates Pope Francis on 10th anniversary of election

It is reported that Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill has also sent a message to the Pope, congratulating him on the 10th anniversary of the election and highlighting the importance of dialogue between religious leaders

© Mikhail Klimentyev/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

VATICAN, March 13. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has passed his congratulations to Pope Francis on the 10th anniversary of his election as Catholic pontiff, Russia’s envoy to the Holy See, Alexander Avdeyev, told TASS on Monday.

"We have today passed a message from Russian President Vladimir Putin," the diplomat said.

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill has also sent a message to the Pope, congratulating him on the 10th anniversary of the election and highlighting the importance of dialogue between religious leaders, according to the Russian Orthodox Church website.

Argentine cardinal Jorge Maria Bergoglio was elected to papacy on March 13, 2013. He is the 266th Pope and the first to take the pontifical name Francis. Over almost all of these 10 years, his predecessor Benedict XVI lived at the Vatican as an honorable Pope, before he died on December 31 last year. Francis in 2014 decided to canonize his two other predecessors, Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II.

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Tourist exchanges between Russia, North Korea gain traction — minister

Russian Natural Resources and Environment Minister Alexander Kozlov also said that the Moscow Zoo and ballet dancers recently paid a visit to North Korea

Israeli military kill about 50 terrorists in Rafah — IDF

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North Korea tested tactical ballistic missile with new guidance system on May 17

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Russia ready for talks with Ukraine, but needs to know who is trustworthy there — Putin

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Shipments of long-range missiles to Kiev may expand ‘buffer zone’ toward Poland — Medvedev

"Once the Kiev regime uses Storm Shadow / SCALP-EG missiles with a range of at least 550 kilometers when the distance between Belgorod and Kiev is 429 kilometers, practically the entire central and most of the western parts of Ukraine fall within this sanitary zone," the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council said

US-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle hit near Avdeyevka — security forces

According to objective control data, the crew members of the armored vehicle were injured

Dedollarization of Russia-China trade will continue — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov also highly praised the cooperation between the regions of Russia and the provinces of China and emphasized its contribution to the development of the Russian territories bordering China

Russia warns US, EU, Kiev they are playing with fire — MFA about Ukrainian strikes

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

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Ukrainian attack on bus in Kherson Region injures 16 civilians, kills one — governor

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Russian air defenses down Ukrainian drone over Crimea

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Islam Khamayseh was involved in organizing a number of terror attacks in the area, the army’s press service reported

US President Joe Biden officially announces re-election bid

US Vice President Kamala Harris also announced plans to run for re-election

Lavrov believes Europe won’t be Russia’s partner for at least one generation

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Mikhail Razvozhaev warned of the danger of falling fragments and submunitions

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Traffic on the Crimean Bridge has been temporarily closed

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At least 28 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza Strip — Al Jazeera

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Christelle Nahan noted that people were tired of the fact that there was not enough money for the development of infrastructure, hospitals and schools, for pensions and benefits for children

Assassination attempt on Slovak PM Fico was planned in advance — defense minister

It is reported that doctors are doing everything possible to stabilize the patient

Putin, Xi Jinping discussed China’s security proposal, Lavrov says

Russian Foreign Minister said that there is great rationale for the practical advancement of the idea of ensuring global security to begin with the formation of the foundations of Eurasian security without any Euro-Atlantic overlay

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The current Kiev regime is to blame for ongoing battles in the Kharkov direction, the Russian leader stressed

Ukrainian boxer Alexander Usik becomes absolute world heavyweight champion

He beat Briton Tyson Fury in a 12-round fight held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Russian Aerospace Forces destroy three militant bases in Syria — Defense Ministry

Strikes by Russian Aerospace Forces destroyed three bases of militants who came out of the (US-controlled) al-Tanf zone

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The environment was very friendly and the leaders were in a good mood, Kremlin Aide Yury Ushakov told TV journalist.

French army train unit of ‘super covert’ scouts in Estonia — radio

This "experimental unit of super covert scouts" is designed to identify enemy strongholds, locate entrances to trenches, and coordinate assault teams to capture them, the RTL reported

European Council suspends broadcasting activity of four Russian media outlets

According to the Council, this ban does not apply to any activities other than broadcasting

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Roman Sinyagovsky added that, according to preliminary information, there were no casualties or damage

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Russian troops use latest Upyr FPV drones in Kharkov push

Russian troops employed the Upyr FPV drone for the first time in the special military operation in Ukraine in May 2023

Russian missile cruiser Varyag enters Mediterranean Sea

The ship's crew continues to fulfill the mission it was given for the long-range voyage

Russian Tor air defense systems effective in destroying Storm Shadow missiles — top brass

Teams of Tor-M2 surface-to-air missile systems of Russia’s Battlegroup East shield first-echelon troops and civilian facilities in the south Donetsk direction

Russian MFA urges France to refrain from use of force against protesters in New Caledonia

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Vitaly Ganchev added that as of today, more than 200 square kilometers of the region had been liberated from the Ukrainian armed forces

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it should be enough to make sure that US, French and British-made long-range weapons don’t reach Russia, including the country’s new regions, Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of Russia’s National Defense magazine told TASS

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Battlegroup North liberates settlement of Staritsa — Russian Defense Ministry

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Georgian president vetoes bill on foreign agents

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Ukrainian drone attack kills civilian in Russia’s Kursk Region — acting governor

One employee died of injuries, Alexey Smirnov said

Russian MFA describes Putin’s China trip as defining for world’s future

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Chairman of Georgia’s ruling party blasts foreign ministers for speaking at protest

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Russia-China relations surpass classical alliances of past era — Lavrov

Talks with President Xi Jinping, meeting with other representatives of the Chinese leadership reaffirmed that our relations of comprehensive partnership, strategic interaction surpass in their quality the traditional interstate alliances of the past era and continue to play a key role in maintaining international security and balanced world development," the minister said at the 32nd Assembly of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy.

Russian air defenses down Ukrainian drone in Russia’s Belgorod Region — top brass

Air defenses on duty destroyed the Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle over the Belgorod Region, the Defense Ministry reported

Energy infrastructure facility suffers damage in Ukraine’s Poltava Region

Ukrainian media outlets reported explosions in the city of Mirgorod

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Over 10,000 Ukrainian fighters surrender since summer using special radio frequency

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Crowd gathered in central Bishkek agrees to disperse after talks with top police officer

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