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Cyprus starts second round of presidential elections

1,113 polling stations opened for voting

NICOSIA, February 12. /TASS/. The second round of presidential elections started on Cyprus at 7 am on Sunday as 1,113 polling stations opened for voting.

Nikos Christodoulides, a former foreign minister, and Andreas Mavroyiannis, a former Cypriote envoy to the UN, are facing off in the runoff. Christodoulides is backed by centrist and pro-Greece parties, while Mavroyiannishas the support of leftist forces.

More than 561,033 people are registered as voters for the elections, which will last until 6 pm. Vote counting will take about 2 hours and the ceremony of announcing the winner is scheduled for 10 pm.

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West steps up aerial reconnaissance near Russia-Belarus borders — security official

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Kremlin vows to resolve situation with Turkish Airlines refusing service to Russians

Russia has "very constructive and friendly relations" with Turkey, Dmitry Peskov stressed

IN BRIEF: Russian deputy defense minister, entrepreneur arrested for taking bribes

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Russian tourists flock to North Korea — embassy

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US waging hybrid war against Serbs to snuff them out for good — Republika Srpska head

"Republika Srpska comes under direct pressure and under constant US sanctions; and we are looking for ways to solve this problem," Milorad Dodik said

Putin stays in daily contact with Sergey Shoigu, Kremlin spokesman says

Timur Ivanov was arrested by Moscow’s Basmanny Court

Ukrainian forces refuse to obey Commander-in-Chief Syrsky — CIA ex-analyst

Larry Johnson also noted that the Russian forces manage to advance recently despite the slush on the roads

Potential nuclear facilities in Poland to be military target for Russia — senior diplomat

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Russia, Africa united by common vision on global issues — senior diplomat

Mikhail Bogdanov noted that "the African continent is a dynamically developing part of the world with an enormous growth potential, attractive domestic market and expanding export prospects"

Russia to retaliate immediately if Kiev gets ATACMS missiles — diplomat

Konstantin Gavrilov also noted that the "manic efforts" of some Western OSCE member countries to isolate Russia "are futile and will backfire on their initiators"

Proper humanitarian assistance to Gaza impossible amid hostilities — Russian diplomat

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Russian and Belarusian athletes will be able to compete only under a neutral status, provided that they are not associated with security agencies and do not represent team sports

AUKUS expansion to turn Asia-Pacific region into 'nuclear minefield' — news agency

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The resolution gained 13 votes

Top Russian security official meets with counterparts at international security meeting

Nikolay Patrushev met with the heads of delegations from BRICS states

Houthis attack two commercial ships, US destroyer — statement

Simultaneously, the Air Force conducted two more military operation using a huge number of drones to target a US destroyer in the Gulf of Aden

Transfer of US ATACMS missiles to Ukraine cannot be justified — Russian ambassador

"Neither these missiles nor other weapons can help defeat the Russian Federation," Anatoly Antonov said

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Gagauzia against Chisinau’s policy of severing ties with Russia

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The court also blocked any securities held by JPMorgan’s entities in Russia

US military aid for Kiev cannot stop Russian army’s advance — North Korean diplomat

The US Congress House of Representatives earlier passed bills on military aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan

US incapable of replicating Cold War-era arms race — Valdai club expert

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The total amount of blocked assets of the Russian Federation decreased by 150 million Swiss francs (about $165 million) due to the fact that a number of individuals "were removed from the EU sanctions lists"

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Stockmann company to buy Russian business of Hugo Boss — Industry Ministry

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Senior Russian MP dubs pervasive gender reassignment in West 'human tragedy'

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Modern weapons make up 82% in Russian air defense troops — Shoigu

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UNSC rejects amendment by Russia, China to resolution on nuclear weapons in outer space

The amendment gained seven votes from countries including Russia and China

Dust from Sahara turns rain in Ukraine yellow

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Ukrainian army short about 150,000-200,000 troops, says Polish general

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Ukraine says Western systems ineffective against Russia's electronic warfare

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Russians not let to Turkish Airlines flights to Mexico due to US pressure on it — diplomat

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Press review: Dissecting US aid package to Ukraine and sands of global economy shifting

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, April 22nd

Central African Republic expects Russia to supply weapons, munitions — defense minister

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Russian troops wipe out Ukrainian UAV production workshop over past day

The Russian forces improved their frontline positions and inflicted casualties on five Ukrainian army brigades in the Donetsk area over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Russian deputy defense minister detained on suspicion of bribe-taking

"Russian Deputy Defense Minister Timur Vladimirovich Ivanov was detained on suspicion of committing a crime under part 6, article 290 of the Russian Criminal Code," the Russian Investigative Committee said

Putin informed about detention of Deputy Defense Minister Ivanov

Minister Sergey Shoigu was also informed beforehand, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

Russian defense minister dismisses his deputy Ivanov

Timur Ivanov was removed from the office of deputy defense minister of the Russian Federation of the federal government’s civil service

Niger would like Russia to train its troops — interior minister says

Mohamed Toumba noted that the training of troops could help in the fight against terrorism

Ukrainian troops in Kharkov Region lift antennas with kites to get better signal

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West’s unwillingness to give up hegemony escalates tensions in world — security official

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Radioactive cloud from Ukraine’s eliminated munitions drifts to Europe — Security Council

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Ukraine’s draft dodger makes attempt to cross Dniester into Moldova on air mattress

Men of conscription age try to leave the country in every possible way, often putting their lives at risk

Ukraine turns into testing ground for future world order, says Belarus president

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Kiev may use ATACMS missiles to hit Crimean Bridge — Russian defense ministry official

Russian military will do its utmost to repel such attacks, Apty Alaudinov said

Russian forces take Ukrainian strongholds near Klescheyevka under control

Apty Alaudinov posted a drone video footage of elimination Ukrainian personnel and Russian forces capturing enemy trenches

Ukrainian army strikes own surrendering soldiers — POW

Andrey Babenko said that after a crash course in Britain he had been sent to the frontline near Liman

Some people in 2021 Kabul terror attack were killed by gunfire, not explosion, CNN reports

According to the report, the source said he heard "a mass volume of gunfire" after the blast from where US Marines were standing

Russia discourages use of UN sanctions for interference in African affairs — envoy

Vasily Nebenzya underscored that Russia continues to "make an important contribution to strengthening of African countries’ potential, including UN Security Council and General Assembly"

Reinforced Ukrainian battlegroup fails to break through Russian defenses in DPR — expert

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Iran denies reports it pulled some military advisers from Syria — Al Mayadeen

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Russia’s top brass reports destroying US-made Hawk air defense system in Ukraine operation

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13 violations by US-led international coalition’s aircraft recorded in Syria

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Russian children’s commissioner holds first face-to-face talks with Ukrainian counterparts

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White House alleges that Russia working on satellite carrying nuclear device

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Russia’s new Supreme Court chief justice doesn’t plan drastic changes

Irina Podnosova said courts have been receiving an increasing number of complaints, attributing it to the rising trust that people have to the judicial system

Blinken’s visit to China meant to shatter Russian-Chinese ties — senior Russian diplomat

"I think that Beijing understands this perfectly well and will not even pretend being ready to reach any agreements with the Americans to the detriment of Russia’s interests," Sergey Ryabkov said

US will have to take Russia into account and find common ground with it — Putin

Russian President said in an interview with Rossiya-1 TV channel journalist Pavel Zarubin

Putin proclaims Odessa Russian city, challenges Ukraine's historical narrative

At the same time, the president noted that once upon a time "Vladimir Lenin gave away the whole of Ukraine when he created the Soviet Union"