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This week in photos: Putin’s address, the Colosseum’s snowball fight and drones in fashion

The world in pictures in a photo gallery by TASS

Photo {{sliderIndex+1}} from 13

A fan of the Olympic athletes from Russia cheers before the men's gold medal hockey game against Germany at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, February 25

© AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

Figure skaters Alina Zagitova and Evgenia Medvedva, coach Eteri Tutberidze talk to Russia's President Vladimir Putin at a reception after a ceremony to present state decorations to Russian medallists of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics, at the Moscow Kremlin, Russia, February 28

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

A snowball fight in progress in front of the snow-covered Colosseum in Rome, Italy, February 2

© EPA-EFE/ANGELO CARCONI

Great tits (Parus major) are spotted near Pomaz, 23 kms north of Budapest, Hungary, February 27

© EPA-EFE/Attila Kovacs

A baby Francois-langoer monkey in between his parents at the Diergaarde Blijdorp zoo in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, February 26

© EPA-EFE/LEX VAN L

Dancers perform during the closing ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, February 25

© AP Photo/Chris Carlson

Russia's President Vladimir Putin delivers the State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly at Moscow's Manezh Central Exhibition Hall, Moscow, Russia, March 1

© Alexei Nikolsky/Russian Presidential Press Service/TASS

An urban explorer inside the abandoned fort No 10 of the Vladivostok Maritime Fortress built at the beginning of the 20th century on Russky Island, Russia, February 25

© Yuri Smityuk/TASS

Nepalese people painted with colored powder dance during celebrations of the Holi Festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, March 1

© EPA-EFE/NARENDRA SHRESTHA

Drones carrying bags from the Dolce & Gabbana Autumn/Winter 2018 women's collection during Milan Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, February 25

© REUTERS/Tony Gentile

US Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman plays a piano at the Ziferblat Anti-Cafe in the city of Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia, February 25

© Yegor Aleyev/TASS

A parishioner with the Sanctuary Church holds onto her AR-15, which churchgoers were encouraged to bring to a blessing ceremony to rededicate their marriages at the World Peace and Unification Sanctuary in Newfoundland USA, February 28

© EPA-EFE/JIM LO SCALZO

The Soyuz MS-06 spacecraft descent capsule carrying the ISS Expedition 53/54 prime crew members, NASA astronauts Joseph M. Acaba, Mark T. Vande Hei, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin descends to land in Kazakhstan, February 28

© Alexander Ryumin/TASS

Vladimir Putin's annual State of the Nation Address, a snowball fight in front of the Colosseum, drones at Milan Fashion Week and other photographs of the week. The world in pictures in a photo gallery by TASS

No data about another blast at military test site near Severodvinsk, local authorities say

Reuters said earlier, citing Norway’s Seismic Array, that another blast had occurred at the test site on August 8

Russia's Vostochny space center construction on schedule despite heavy rains

Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin said in July that heavy rains inundate foundation pits and complicate the work of heavy-duty vehicles

Second package of Skripal Case sanctions to come into force on August 26

US President Donald Trump signed the relevant executive order on August 1

Several Russian delegations to visit Venezuela soon — vice president

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said that representatives of Russia's mining and agricultural sectors will visit Caracas in the next few weeks

Bound to get much better: Kremlin upbeat on future of Superjet-100

Recently, concerns were raised over Mexican airline Interjet's plans to sell its SSJ-100s

Russian S-400 teams go on high alert to repel enemy missile strike in Baltic Fleet drills

The drills involve over 200 personnel and more than 20 items of military and special hardware

US to get hypersonic weapons in next two years — Pentagon

US Army Secretary Ryan D. McCarthy said earlier his country was looking into possibility of developing all types of rockets previously prohibited under INF treaty

Russian fighter jets scrambled 20 times on interception missions in past week

The Russian Defense Ministry said that violations of the Russian airspace were prevented

Russian cutting-edge missile frigate enters final stage of shipbuilders’ trials

The Project 22350 first serial-produced frigate Admiral Kasatonov displaces 5,000 tonnes and is 135 meters long

No possibility of G8 being reinstated — Eurasia Group president

President of Eurasia Group Ian Bremmer said that this is not the first time US President Donald Trump has brought up the idea of reinstating the G8 format with Russia's participation

Russian, Mongolian troops employ new tactic in Selenga-2019 joint drills

A new tactic, ‘A Stealth Attack,’ is based on the experience of modern armed conflicts

CIS top brass approve draft proposal to bolster military cooperation to 2025

This was learnt from Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces

Russia vows to thwart pressure against Venezuela

Russia's top diplomat decried the methods applied to Venezuela as "blackmail and pressure"

Press review: Idlib attack tests Russia-Turkey ties and Moscow beefs up Arctic air defense

Top stories in the Russian press on Wednesday, August 21

Russia sends humanoid robot to International Space Station on unmanned Soyuz spacecraft

The rocket lifted off from the Gagarin Start launch pad at 6:38 Moscow time

Russia in contact with Turkey on situation in Syria’s Idlib — Russian diplomat

According to Anadolu Agency, a Turkish observation station came under shelling by Syrian government troops who are fighting against militants

All G7 states need to be consulted before renewing G8, says Kremlin

US President Donald Trump said earlier hat "it’s much more appropriate to have Russia in" the G8

UN Security Council to hold emergency session on US missile projects on August 22

The emergency session of the UN Security Council was requested by Russia and China

Future of humankind depends on arms control dialogue with US — Russian diplomat

Russia's acting Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dmitry Polyansky warned the UN Security Council members about the risks of an uncontrolled arms race

Russia’s latest reconnaissance drone makes debut flight

The Altius-U is the drone’s final conceptual design after the tests of several prototypes

Russia to finance modernization of Abkhazia’s Armed Forces

Russia and Abkhazia enjoy common defense and security space

Press review: Putin’s visit to Finland and Trump’s G8 revival bid

Top stories in the Russian press on Thursday, August 22

China does not have as many nukes as the US or Russia, says ambassador

There is no replacement for the Iran nuclear deal, China's ambassador to Russia believes

Russia’s cutting-edge missile corvette enters shipbuilders’ final trials

The trials will last about three months

Su-24MR reconnaissance plane enters service with air regiment in Russia’s Central Command

It is fitted out with radar reconnaissance equipment and the image-recording capability

Russian hi-tech firm to export latest multiple launch rocket system with smart shells

The Tornado-S is a heavy upgrade of the Smerch multiple launch rocket system

Air France flight Moscow-Paris requested landing in Luxembourg, due to emergency on board

No one was injured, according to the airport's press service

Chief of Russian General Staff and Chief of US Joint Chiefs of Staff discuss military ties

The previous talks between the two took place in March

Pentagon: If extended, New START should include Russia’s advanced weaponry

The document can be extended for no more than five years by mutual consent of the parties

What’s on the presidential menu in Helsinki?

After concluding talks in the Finnish presidential palace, the two leaders headed to Restaurant Walhalla on the historic grounds of the Suomenlinna fortress

Russian diplomat warns New START at risk of collapse following INF’s demise

Russia's acting UN envoy Dmitry Polyansky said that key figures in the current US administration have repeatedly said that they are not interested in keeping the New START Treaty in its current format

Belarusian paralympic rower drowns during training in Austria — paper

The 33-year-old athlete, who is a wheelchair user, drowned when his boat capsized on the Danube River

Five-year-old Russian girl found alive after 3 days in forest

The region’s healthcare authority said the child was "in serious condition" and severely dehydrated

Russia vows to beef up western border amid rising tensions with NATO

Defense chief Sergei Shoigu pointed to NATO ongoing military buildup in Eastern Europe, the deployment of US missile defenses to Poland and Romania, as well as growing cooperation with Finland, Sweden

Putin expressed confidence in implementation of Nord Stream 2

The Russian leader emphasized that it is theoretically possible "to imagine a situation where the United States will convince Europe to replace Russian gas with American gas"

Kremlin unaware of radiation poisoning of those injured at Severodvinsk testing range

Earlier, reports were circulated by a number of media outlets claiming that doctors in the Arkhangelsk Region were not warned about the radiation poisoning of the patients

Russian Navy to get six submarines in 2020 for first time over past 28 years

Last time, the Russian Navy received the same number of submarines in 1992

Russia not desperate for G8, thinks G20 format is more efficient — Kremlin spokesman

The Kremlin spokesperson pointed out that discussing global problems in geopolitics, security or economy without China and India is "not very efficient"

Kremlin spokesman calls US’ plans to buy Greenland international shopping

The press secretary pledged Russia would not interfere in the affair

Syrian army retakes city of Kafr Zita in Hama province — media

According to the Al-Hadath TV channel, the Syrian army has also seized the Wadi al-Anaz area east of the town of Morek

Putin hands down orders to work on symmetric response to US new cruise missile’s test

The Russian leader stated this at a meeting with permanent members of Russia’s Security Council

Russian tennis player Medvedev’s game is impressive, says Nadal

The Spanish athlete also lauded the results of the 23-year-old Russian Karen Khachanov

G7 wants Russia back in the club due to stiff competition with G20, says source

The diplomat characterized the proposal to resume the G8 format as "wise"

Statements on Germany meddling in Russia’s affairs unfathomable, top diplomat says

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman informed of the attempts by the US and German media to interfere in Russia’s domestic affairs through their coverage of unsanctioned protests in Moscow

Russia’s Baltic Fleet S-400 teams thwart massive air strike in drills

The combat teams conducted over 30 simulated launches against the notional enemy’s real air targets

Russian diplomat warns against making a show out of G8 reinstatement discussions

Russian Foreign Ministry's official spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Moscow is ready to look at the Group of Seven’s initiatives to reinstate the G8 format

Three Russian citizens in Ukraine undergoing legal procedures for swap

In July, human rights commissioners exchanged lists of detainees that included 35 Russians and 150 Ukrainians

Press review: What’s behind Trump’s G8 revival and dashed Greenland purchase bid

Top stories in the Russian press on Friday, August 23

Rosneft signs agreements on offshore gas field development with Mozambique

The ceremony of exchanging copies of the agreements was held in the Kremlin following the talks between the presidents

Ukraine's president makes bold statement on Moscow’s possible return to G8 — diplomat

"Professionals should do things they are trained to do," the Russian Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman stated

Russia’s Northern Fleet warships enter Mediterranean in long-distance deployment

The drills will involve other Fleets within the Russian Navy