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UN General Assembly

High-level UN General Assembly week opens in New York

The high-level week will begin with addresses by President of the 78th session of the General Assembly Dennis Francis and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as part of the general political debates that will form the core content of the event

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

UNITED NATIONS, September 19. /TASS/. The high-level week of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly opens in New York. This event traditionally brings together world leaders, including heads of state, prime ministers, foreign ministers, and members of international organizations. The high-level week will be held on September 19-23 and September 26.

A high-level week is being held without sanitary limitations for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, participants are obliged to speak in person at all events, video messages are not permitted.

The high-level week will begin with addresses by President of the 78th session of the General Assembly Dennis Francis and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as part of the general political debates that will form the core content of the event. Then, as is customary, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will speak. US President Joe Biden will be the only P5 (permanent members of the UN Security Council) leader to attend the General Assembly this year. The leaders of the United Kingdom, China, Russia, and France have no plans to visit New York this year.

At the same time, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky is scheduled to speak on September 19.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov leads the Russian delegation at the high-level week. His address is scheduled for September 23. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that the minister intends to hold approximately 20 bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the General Assembly session.

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Israeli-Palestinian conflict

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Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez stressed that Palestine is an example of the struggle for "self-determination, independence and sovereignty"

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According to the governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, a car shelter and a passenger car caught fire after the attack

Putin arrives in Great Hall of the People in Beijing for talks with Chinese leadership

The talks were preceded by an official welcoming ceremony

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According to Zamir Kabulov, relations between Russia and the Taliban are on the rise but "there are certain political limits"

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At least three civilians killed in Israel’s air strike on Gaza City — TV

Casualties were also reported after Israel’s air raid on Gaza’s Daraj neighborhood

Several airborne targets downed approaching Belgorod — governor

Vyacheslav Gladkov added that three houses were damaged in the settlement of Petrovka

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Ukrainian drone shot down over Bryansk Region — governor

No one was hurt, no damage was reported, the region’s governor Alexander Bogomaz said

Slovak PM Fico’s life out of danger — deputy PM

Fico was wounded in a shooting incident that happened after a government meeting in the city of Handlova in the western part of Slovakia

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US discusses deployment of Patriot systems in Kharkov with Ukraine — Blinken

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Four Palestinians killed in Israel’s strike on Rafah neighborhood

Several more people were wounded, the Al Jazeera television channel said

Czech president speaks out in favor of halting hostilities in Ukraine

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Europeans go for broke seeing risk of collapse for Kiev in special op situation — Kremlin

According to Peskov, currently, "the moment is crucial."

Putin signs law banning foreign agents’ participation in elections

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"Lieutenant General Viktor Khrenin, Minister of Defense of Belarus, and Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov held a telephone conversation," the Belarusian Defense Ministry's press service reported

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Robert Kalinak said that the prime minister had been undergoing surgery for more than 3.5 hours

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Ukraine’s military has about 2,000-strong garrison in Kherson — resistance fighters

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US to allocate $2 bln to Ukraine through new defense industry fund — Blinken

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Russia, OIC to combat Islamophobia, Russophobia worldwide — top diplomat

Sergey Lavrov asserted that Russia is a consistent supporter of shaping a more fair and democratic multipolar world order based on the principles of the UN Charter

Ukrainian troops shelling civilians in Kharkov Region villages they were driven from

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Putin asks Belousov to "open" Defense Ministry as much as possible

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Aleksandar Vucic met with Moscow’s Ambassador to Belgrade Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko

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US Congress has evidence of Biden family’s involvement in terrorism — Ukrainian politician

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Ukrainian commanders flee Kupyansk, leaving covering force — Russian lawmaker

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Putin thanks outbound Russian defense minister for his work

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US did not enable Ukrainian strikes beyond Ukrainian territory — Blinken

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Russia’s onslaught on Kharkov may compel Ukraine to truce — NYT

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Russian troops liberate three communities in Ukraine operation over past day — top brass

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Blinken says Ukraine may engage in talks if Russia shows 'interest'

Antony Blinken noted that in terms of negotiations, these are "decisions for Ukraine to make"

Attack on Fico targets friendship with Russia — former Slovak prime minister

"The assassination attempt can be blamed only on a political madman, brainwashed by Slovakia's opposition media," Jan Carnogursky stressed

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As the post on the prime minister’s profile specifies, he was rushed by helicopter to a hospital of the city of Banska Bystrica in central Slovakia

President of Slovakia confirms PM Fico’s assailant detained — report

Zuzana Caputova called the attack on Fico an "attack on democracy," adding that such crimes are being motivated by the "hateful rhetoric"

US imposes sanctions against Russian police training center in Nicaragua

According to Washington, the training center "contributes to anti-democratic actions and repressions from the Ortega-Murillo regime"

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Slovak PM Robert Fico wounded in shooting — portal

The suspected shooter has been apprehended

Russia hails any peace initiatives for Ukraine — Kremlin spokesman

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Russian tech firm develops portable EW system to shield assault teams from drones

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Russian MFA sees Western media focus on Georgian protests, silence on Armenian rallies

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Nooruddin Azizi also said that he will work to ensure that exports from Afghanistan are subject to tariff preferences provided for least developed countries

Discussing Ukrainian settlement without Russia to be empty scholasticism — Kremlin

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Slovakia’s PM allegedly suffers chest, abdominal wounds — newspaper

The condition of Slovakia’s prime minister, who was rushed to hospital by helicopter, is estimated as extremely serious

Several people injured in knife attack in Switzerland’s Zofingen — report

The attacker has been detained, AFR reported

Political motives behind assassination attempt on Fico

The shooter made a statement right after his detention, saying that he had opposed the government’s policy limiting media freedom

Blinken says current special military operation stage critical for Kiev

According to the US secretary of state, Russia is "ramping up another offensive against Ukraine, at Kharkov and across the east"

Nord Stream saboteurs prepped in Ukraine, Romania — Ukrainian politician

According to Andrey Derkach, they trained on the South Stream, rented a large yacht, and then they were taken to Poland

Prime Minister of Slovakia shot by 71-year-old assailant — report

The man reportedly owned his weapon legally

Erdogan says government knows 'puppet master' behind reported conspiracy

The Turkish leader said it is unacceptable to break laws, and warned that "anyone who goes beyond the limits will be held accountable"

World’s largest copter Mi-26 engaged in firefighting efforts at concert hall near Moscow

The aircraft scoop water from the Moskva River

Russia knows how to achieve large-scale goals, Putin says

Moscow prioritizes increasing people’s well-being in terms of economic development, the Russian President said in an interview with the Chinese news agency Xinhua

Russian forces advancing daily in special op, everything going according to plan — Putin

The Russian leader opened his meeting with commanders of troops of military districts by extending his greetings on the occasion of Victory Day

Israel hits Hezbollah targets in eastern Lebanon, casualties among civilians reported

One of the missiles hit a three-storey house, killing two civilians, the Al Mayadeen television channel reported

General Lapin to command Leningrad Military District, General Kuzovlyov Moscow district

Colonel-General Alexander Lapin previously served as first deputy commander and chief of staff of the Ground Forces

Liberation of Rabotino to accelerate Russian advance in Zaporozhye Region — politician

Vladimir Rogov said Ukraine still holds the heights to the north of the village, and fierce battles are underway to control them

Press review: Putin keeps government core intact and Blinken gives Kiev NATO assurances

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, May 15th

Israeli losses surpass 620 troops since Gaza conflict escalated

It is reported that since the onset of the ground operation in Gaza the Israeli army has lost 273 troops

State Duma approves Mikhail Mishustin as Chairman of Russian Government

Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin thanked State Duma lawmakers for approving his candidacy for the prime minister’s office

Afghanistan ready to sign agreement on transit of goods with 3 countries, including Russia

Acting Industry and Trade Minister Nooruddin Azizi noted that Afghanistan could become a convenient point for the transit of goods to the states of South Asia

Russian president’s visit to Vietnam to propel deepening of bilateral ties — envoy

The exact dates of the visit are yet to be coordinated