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European Council approves plans to bolster EU defenses, military sector — Polish premier

"Defense plans accepted,".Donald Tusk said

BRUSSELS, June 28. /TASS/. The European Council has approved plans to bolster the European Union’s defenses and boost its defense industry, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.

"Defense plans accepted. Satisfaction. For Poland and Europe," Tusk wrote on the X social network.

Earlier, the EUobserver wrote, citing the draft document, that security and defense issues will come at the forefront of the European Union’s strategic agenda for the next five years.

Member countries are poised to increase their military spending, integrate defense markets, promote joint procurement of weapons and develop new projects in this sphere.

Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Death toll from Israeli strikes on Gaza Strip nears 37,900 — health ministry

Some 87.000 people being wounded

First round of snap parliamentary election kicks off in France Sunday

A total of 577 seats are up for grabs for the centrist presidential coalition, the right-wing National Rally and the leftist New Popular Front

IDF confirms two more military deaths in northern Gaza

The death toll among Israeli troops killed during the new round of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict totaled 670

Nine drones downed over Lipetsk industrial area — governor

It’s not been a simple and calm night for all again, the region’s head Igor Artamonov said

Russia to continue supplying energy and food to global market despite EU sanctions — MFA

Maria Zakharova reiterated that although the EU sanctions are formally aimed against Russia, they are equally harmful and undermine the security of developing countries

Ukrainian army attacks refugees trying to evacuate from Toretsk — DPR official

Kimakovsky said earlier that the first group of refugees from Toretsk had been evacuated to a rear area in the Donetsk People’s Republic

Arresting foreign officials may trigger declaration of war — Medvedev

Dmitry Medvedev made this statement at a plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum

Liberation of Razdolovka to help Russian army expand bridgehead in Seversk area — expert

"Razdolovka is yet another settlement on the way to liberating Seversk," Igor Kimakovsky pointed out

Ukrainian military thrown from left bank in Kherson Region, fighting underway on islands

The fighting has moved to the islands, with the Russian army having ramped up activities

Tanks playing major role in Russian army’s advance in south Donetsk area — top brass

The T-80BVM tank was engineered to operate in a tense environment under heavy enemy fire

Biden confuses Italy and France in recent remarks

The president said that former President Donald Trump would not go to a cemetery in Italy, while referring to the French cemetery of soldiers fallen in the world wars

Ukrainian troops withdraw from some important areas near Toretsk — DPR official

Igor Kimakovsky specified that the Ukrainian armed forces had lost dozens of troops in the Toretsk area in recent days

Democratic donors hope to exclude Biden from presidential race — NYT

Other donors are hoping that the US president "would have an epiphany and decide to exit on his own."

Russia strikes Ukrainian military airfields by precision weapons — top brass

Russian troops struck massed Ukrainian manpower and military hardware in 117 areas over the past day, the ministry reported

Putin highly appreciates projects for production of PD-14 and PD-35 aircraft turbo engines

The Russian leader has no doubt "that these plans will be implemented, and then we will have our own engine for wide-body long-haul aircraft"

Orban sees EU leaders seeking to drag Europe into Ukraine conflict to defeat Russia

Europe is increasingly dragged into a war in which the continent has nothing gain and can easily lose everything, Hungarian Prime Minister noted

Russian forces strike Swedish-made CV90 combat vehicle near Artyomovsk

"Whereas an Abrams tank costs about 8.5 million US dollars, the price of an CV-90 is more than 10 million US dollars," the deputy commander of the Burevestnik unit of the Battlegroup South said

FSB detains CEO of hypersonic systems research company in high treason case

According to the source, the investigators plan to ask court to put Alexander Kuranov under arrest for two months

Press review: US, Russian defense chiefs touch base and new sheriff in town at NATO

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, June 27th

Russian Defense Minister tasks General Staff with measures to respond to US drone missions

The ministry pointed to the increased intensity of activities of US strategic unmanned aerial vehicles over the Black Sea, which are conducting reconnaissance and targeting of precision weapons supplied by Western countries to the armed forces of Ukraine for attacks on Russia

Russian envoy sees Tanzania’s closer ties with BRICS as inevitable

According to him, the BRICS group's ties with East Africa will continue growing, opening up new opportunities for Tanzania’s cooperation with the countries that share common development goals, civilizational values and political views

US analyst says Biden, Trump misinformed about situation in Ukraine

Both politicians appear to be incompetent about some important issues, according to the professor of political science at the University of Rhode Island Nicolai Petro

Jill Biden believes 90-minute debate cannot define her husband’s four years in office

Biden told his wife "I don’t know what happened" during the debate

Belarusian military warns of rising tensions on border with Ukraine

The Ukrainian army has also deployed electronic surveillance systems near the Belarusian border and is widely using unmanned aerial vehicles, Lukashevich said

Ukraine’s top diplomat discusses ways to resolve crisis with Chinese envoy in Croatia

Dmitry Kuleba told the Wu Hongbo envoy about the recent conference in Switzerland, after which the two sides "exchanged opinions regarding further efforts toward a fair and long-lasting peace in Ukraine"

Ukraine working on own peace plan, to be ready before year-end — Zelensky

The Ukrainian president reiterated that Kiev wanted to see the conflict over and hoped "to achieve a fair peace as soon as possible"

India to build first phase of its own space station by 2028

We have completed or rather engineered the detailed design, which is capable of being launched by the LVM3, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Chairman Sreedhara Panicker Somanath said

Press review: Putin receives Congolese president and rumors fly after failed Bolivia coup

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, June 28th

Russia’s UN envoy incensed about drills US, South Korea held as Putin visited Pyongyang

It was the four-day Air Force exercises, which engaged fighter jets and an American fire support aircraft to practice live firing over the Yellow Sea

North Korea blames US, Japan, South Korea for creating ‘NATO of Asian version’

The North Korean Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the Freedom Edge trilateral military exercise held in the region, describing it as an attempt to "escalate regional military tensions, exert pressure upon the Far East of Russia and lay siege to China"

Two children wounded in Yasinovataya in DPR in Kiev’s attack using HIMARS rocket

The wounded received necessary medical help

Taiwan detects approach of 23 Chinese aircraft, 5 ships

Taiwan responded by engaging aircraft, ships, and land-based surface-to-air missile systems to track targets

Iran threatens ‘obliterating war’ if Israel attacks Lebanon

"Iran deems as psychological warfare the Zionist regime’s propaganda about intending to attack Lebanon", the Iranian mission to the UN said

Russian researcher believes West will have to reach compromise with world majority

Kirill Babayev said Asia hold special importance in building new Eurasian security architecture where Russia and China will play a key role

Georgian PM says Tbilisi will under no circumstances become second Ukraine

Irakli Kobakhidze emphasized that Georgia has dealt with similar threats in the past and the government will not let anyone bring the country "to such a dire condition" as Ukraine has been put in

Xi Jinping to pay state visit to Kazakhstan on July 2-4

The Chinese president will also take part in the 24th meeting of the SCO Heads of State Council

Ukrainian MP demands Supreme Court oblige parliament to call presidential election

"The latest polls also reveal that people want changes," Alexander Dubinsky said

Musk assesses US presidential election debate as preparation to replace Biden

Atlanta was the site of the first-ever televised election debate between a sitting president and a former president in US history

Israeli Air Force jets break sound barrier over Beirut, creating sonic boom

The fighter jets took to the skies over the Beqaa Valley and the eastern mountain ridge in Lebanon

Trump says Putin’s conditions for peace in Ukraine ‘not acceptable’

"Look, this is a war that never should have started if we had a leader," former US President said

By delaying Nord Stream 2, US harms German companies, says Russian envoy to Berlin

To start pumping gas, Nord Stream 2’s operator has to obtain the green light from the German regulator

Rapper Kanye West has arrived in Moscow — producer

In early May citing organizers of the concert at the Luzhniki venue that Kanye West would perform on his birthday, June 8, though the information was not confirmed

Hundreds of protesters light bonfires in Tel Aviv, demanding elections

The protests are taking place amid massive police presence

Germany advances to Euro 2024 quarterfinals

The match was suspended for about 25 minutes after torrential rain with claps of thunder and lightning poured down on Dortmund

Kiev demands that NATO establish no-fly zone over Western parts of Ukraine — AFP

"I do not understand what NATO cannot deploy air defense systems along the Polish border," Verkhovna Rada lawmaker Alexey Goncharenko said

Russian PM gives instructions to set up organizing committee to celebrate TASS’s 120 years

The State Academic Bolshoi Theater of Russia and the Moscow-based World Trade Centr business center will be involved in preparations for the celebrations

Biden’s participation in election race depends on his wife’s decision — NBC

Biden is expected to discuss the future of his re-election campaign with family at Camp David on Sunday

Ombudsperson reports return of two Ukrainian Orthodox Church clerics to Russia

Tatyana Moskalkova also lauded exchanges of POWs between Russia and Ukraine which she said became possible "only through enormous efforts on Russia’s part

Disrespect for immunity of countries could be step toward war — Medvedev

"Russia, like most countries of the world, including, incidentally, the United States of America and the largest countries - China, India - is not a party to this theatrical institution called the ICC," the official stressed

One killed, four injured in Ukrainian shelling of Donetsk, DPR head says

Another woman was wounded

Israel’s army sprays tear gas during West Bank raids — Al Jazeera

It was also reported that the troops used concussion grenades during their raid near the old city of Al-Khader

Arabs remove Hezbollah from list of terrorist organizations — senior Arab League official

"The military escalation in the south poses a severe challenge to security and stability not only in Lebanon, but also across the Middle East, especially if the conflict spills over," Hossam Zaki said

Russian top brass report their fighter jet, US drone making hazardous proximity over Syria

The Russian pilot demonstrated high professionalism and took timely measures to prevent a collision

Non-participation in policy of illegal sanctions seen as criterion of BRICS membership

This position, according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, "is met with full understanding" and Russia hopes that "it [this position] will preserve its pivotal character in the future"

Dogs gifted to Putin by North Korean leader adapting to life in Moscow — Kremlin spokesman

Two rare Pungsan breed hunting dogs would be given names after they arrived in Moscow and underwent quarantine procedures

Trump to eventually see there is no alternative to Putin's proposals on Ukraine — diplomat

Commenting on US politicians' perception of Vladimir Putin's proposal, Sergey Ryabkov pointed out that "Trump is not the entire US elite"

British Navy reports incident in Red Sea

No details were provided

Trump says Kiev not winning in conflict with Russia

At the same time, Trump also claimed that Russia "is going to take [entire] Ukraine"

Armenia confirms its participation in NATO summit in Washington

The summit will look at establishing a new structure for helping Ukraine

No EU sanctions can undermine Russian economy — MFA

Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova recalled that the new sanctions provide for illegal measures against the Russian energy sector, designed to limit or completely block the supply of Russian oil and gas to the world market

Russia taking measures in response to US involvement in strikes on Sevastopol — diplomat

Commenting on the likelihood of the Russian side using tactical nuclear weapons in response to the shelling of Sevastopol, Sergey Ryabkov pointed out that "the Russian president, as the supreme commander-in-chief, makes such fateful decisions"

Air defenses destroy 36 Ukrainian drones over central Russia last night

Of those, 15 were brought down over the borderline Kursk Region

EU expands some anti-Russian economic sanctions to Belarus

The restrictions include an export ban on dual-use/advanced goods and technologies, as well as introducing further export restrictions on goods which could contribute to the enhancement of Belarusian industrial capacities

Russia opens criminal probe in last night’s terrorist attack on Kursk Region village

The Investigative Committee is currently looking into the incident to identify the people behind the attack

Russian army liberates Spornoye, Novoaleksandrovka in Donetsk People’s Republic

Units of Battlegroup Center have liberated the settlement of Novoaleksandrovka as a result of successful actions

Third of Ukrainian troops surrender near Lisichansk, LPR’s envoy to Russia says

According to Rodion Miroshnik, the operation to liberate the LPR would be brought to an end as soon as the operation in Lisichansk was finished

Musk laughs as Democrats comment on Biden’s performance in presidential debate

He commented on the Democrats pronouncing Biden the winner in the debate in a post

Thirty companies ready to be residents of free economic zone in Belgorod region — governor

Vyacheslav Gladkov added that next his administration expects to receive clarifying criteria for the selection of residents of the free economic zone

Ukrainian military fires about 100 rounds at Russia’s Belgorod Region over past day

An industrial facility came under fire in the town of Graivoron; a drone attack caused a home to catch fire in the village of Zamostye

Press review: Russia sees US behind Sevastopol attack and Serbian arms flowing to Kiev

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, 24th

Gas supply by Gazprom for Europe through Ukraine totals 42.05 mcm via Sudzha

The request for Sokhranovka has been rejected

Two aerial targets destroyed in Sevastopol, governor says

Their fragments fell in the coastal area and the Balaklavsky District

Ukrainian drone attack kills five people in Russia’s borderline Kursk Region

Another two members of the family were taken to the Rylsky District Hospital in serious condition

Senior official highlights key role of determined, creative youths in Russia

The youth policy is a key sphere of work for the government, Dmitry Medvedev said

Ukrainian forces attack apartment building in town in borderline Belgorod Region

A car is damaged with shrapnel

Investigative Committee chief for considering abolition of moratorium on death penalty

Alexander Bastrykin said that it should be used "in some cases," citing the terrorist attack on the Crocus City Hall music venue as an example

BRICS countries back Russia’s initiative to create grain exchange — agriculture minister

Oksana Lut also mentioned "the development of the possibility of settlements in national currencies of the BRICS countries"

ISS orbit adjusted by 1.36 km before Soyuz spacecraft reshuffle — Roscosmos

The engines of the Progress MS-26 cargo ship were burned for 536 seconds

Xi Jinping to pay state visit to Dushanbe on July 4-6

Bilateral talks with a small and extended number of participants will be held as part of the visit

Fire area at Bratsk warehouse in Irkutsk Region up to 6,000 sq m

Earlier, the ignition area amounted to 1,800 sq m

US House Speaker Johnson says Biden’s cabinet should remove him from office

"Our adversaries see the weakness in this White House as we all do," Mike Johnson said

Boosting gas supplies to Hungary is under discussion — Kremlin

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia was ready to increase gas supplies to Hungary by 1 billion cubic meters

Biden admits to presidential debate malperformance

He promised that the Democrats would win the November election anyway

Conservative, reformist candidates to face off in Iran’s presidential runoff — official

Voter turnout was about 40%, the lowest level in the country’s history, according to data from Eslami

Houthis say they attacked four commercial ships in Red, Mediterranean Seas

According to the movement’s military spokesperson Yahya Sarea, the Houthis and the Islamic Resistance in Iraq attacked The Waler oil tanker, Johannes Maersk container ship, as well as the Delonix tanker for liquid chemicals and the Ioannis bulk carrier

Burevestnik unit destroys $23.5 mln worth of Ukrainian weapons in two months

According to the report, most of the targets were heavy equipment, weapons, dugouts, and deployment sites

Five people killed, five injured in Ukrainian drone attacks on Kursk Region in past day

The acting governor Alexey Smirnov said that the Ukrainian drone attacks targeted populated localities in the Rylsk, Glushkovo and Korenevo districts

Belarusian air defenses register increased number of Ukrainian drones

The situation in the airspace is tense

Gazprom delivering 42.4 mln cubic meters of gas to Europe through Ukraine via Sudzha

The transit line through Ukraine remains the only route for Russian gas supplies to western and central European countries

State-of-the-art A-100 ‘Premier’ to come as Russia’s response to US AWACS — expert

A-100 ‘flying radars’ will be capable of conducting flights along the borders "to survey" the situation within a range of several hundred or, perhaps, several thousand kilometers as the radar’s exact characteristics are unknown

Reformist candidate leading in Iran's election with votes at most polling stations counted

The election official told the IRIB TV channel that with 19 mln votes counted, Pezeshkian, a reformist candidate, received 8.3 mln votes

Three civilians suffer injuries in missile attack on Sevastopol, governor says

According to preliminary reports, three civilians suffered minor shrapnel injuries and were taken to the hospital

Switzerland gets 2-0 win in Euro 2024, beating Italy

Remo Freuler tapped a pass near the net in for the first Swiss score at the 37 mark and Ruben Vargas scored just 27 seconds into the second half, at the 46 mark

US, German special services attempted to block Nord Stream 2 project, politician reveals

US secret services actively campaigned for environmental associations in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania to prevent Nord Stream 2 and offered their support

Reformist candidate Pezeshkian leads in Iranian presidential election so far

Mohsen Eslami, spokesperson for the country’s election headquarters said that Massoud Pezeshkian mustered 973,052 votes so far, according to preliminary data

Poll shows 60% of Americans want Biden replaced as presidential candidate

Meanwhile, 57% of debate-viewing voters said that Trump outperformed Biden

Russia delivers 17 strikes at Ukrainian military-industrial sites over week

Russia’s Battlegroup West improved its tactical position and inflicted casualties on eight Ukrainian army brigades in its area of responsibility over the past week, the Defense Ministry reported

Ukraine loses up to 270 troops in area of responsibility of Russia’s Battlegroup North

The Ukrainian army also lost a tank, four motor vehicles, a US-made M109 Paladin 155 mm howitzer, a 2A65 Msta-B 152 mm howitzer and three D-30 122 mm howitzers

Polonez MLRS battalion deploys to Belarusian border with full ammunition load

The Belarusian Defense Ministry did not specify the border area that the Polonez MLRS battalion had deployed to

Putin discusses situation around INF Treaty with Russian Security Council

The Russian leader recalled that several years ago the United State had withdrawn from the treaty under an invented pretext and announced its plans to manufacture such missile systems

Moldova may join SCO, BRICS after leadership change — former President Dodon

"The status of an EAEU observer we obtained during my presidency was the right step and this status should be used," Igor Dodon said, adding that Moldova should pursue a balanced foreign policy