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Far-right National Rally leads first voting round in France — Interior Ministry

It is reported that voter turnout hit 66.71%, or the highest since 2002

© AP Photo/Louise Delmotte

PARIS, July 1. /TASS/. France’s far-right National Rally and allied right-wing parties won the first round of a snap legislative election with 33.15% of the vote, the final results released by the republic’s Interior Ministry show.

The New Popular Front, a left-wing alliance of parties, came in second with 27.99%, while the president’s centrist coalition scored 20.04%.

Voter turnout hit 66.71%, or the highest since 2002, Le Parisien reported.

According to France Bleu radio, the results may change slightly after a vote recount in some districts.

On June 9, French President Emmanuel Macron announced his decision to dissolve the National Assembly and organize early parliamentary elections following the crushing defeat of the presidential Renaissance Party at the elections to the European Parliament. The last time the lower house was dissolved was in 1997 by President Jacques Chirac.

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Lukashenko gives vote of confidence to military on country’s Independence Day

The Belarusian leader explained that today’s parade was in recognition of the professionalism and dedication on the part of soldiers, border guards and special service officers

Explosions rock Kiev-controlled city of Kherson

Earlier, air raid sirens went off in the Kiev-controlled part of the Kherson Region

Iran ready to strike Israel again once 'conditions are ripe' — senior IRGC commander

According to Amir Ali Hajizadeh, Tehran "is sad to see that [Israel] has been committing crimes in Palestine for nearly nine months with the support of the US and its European allies"

Russia considers SCO, BRICS backbones of new international order — Kremlin aide

Yury Ushakov described SCO and BRICS as "locomotives in the context of establishing genuine multilateralism in global affairs"

Russian president submits protocol on e-commerce in EAEU for State Duma’s ratification

It stipulates registering goods acquired within foreign electronic commerce as a separate category of goods with determination of peculiarities of its regulation

Russian forces strike nine Ukrainian Su-27, MiG-29 fighter jets over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup North repelled two Ukrainian army counterattacks in the Kharkov area over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Russian government approves list of unfriendly countries

There are two countries on the list

Russian official highlights growing threat coming from Ukraine's jet-powered drones

According to Andrey Tabekin, experts are currently working on ways to jam such drones

Ukraine’s irretrievable losses five-times higher than Russia’s, Putin says

According to him, this is the reason behind attempts to carry out an all-out mobilization campaign in Ukraine

218 candidates withdraw ahead of second round of France’s snap parliamentary elections

They did this in favor of stronger candidates in a bid not to let Marine Le Pen’s right-wing National Rally Party win the elections

Russia bans entry to 99 Canadian citizens — Foreign Ministry

According to the statement, the list includes the individuals "who are involved in the elaboration and implementation of Ottawa’s Russophobic course"

Russian President Putin arrives in Astana for SCO Summit

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the leaders of several international organizations were also invited

Press review: Kiev puts out negotiation feelers and Moscow to put OSCE membership on ice

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, July 2nd

Xi arrives in Astana to attend SCO summit

Xi Jinping is making state visits to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan during this international trip, which will last until July 6

Russian, UK diplomats discussed Eurasian common security issues — Russian envoy

"One of them is the settlement with Ukraine," Andrey Kelin said

Kremlin spokesman unaware of satellite tampering allegations

"We need to find out whether this is the competence of any UN structures," Dmitry Peskov said

Russia develops single-use combat drone to intercept enemy UAVs

It is noted that before destroying an enemy UAV, the Vogan must get a corresponding command from an operator who makes a decision based on the image from the drone’s video camera

Russia Services PMI Business Activity index declines to 47.6 points in June — research

The corresponding seasonally adjusted index was at its lowest level since January 2023, the study noted

Iran sees no obstacles to military-technical cooperation with Russia

Kamal Kharrazi also refuted repeated accusations of Iran selling drones to Russia, stressing that they were false

Ukraine fears harsh debt restructuring terms from West

Alexey Kushch noted that back in 2022 he cautioned that Kiev was losing a "historic window of opportunity" in order to cast off the "debt noose"

Russian forces destroy another US-made Abrams tank in Ukraine

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, it was destroyed in the Avdeyevka area with the use of a Msta-S self-propelled gun

Russian troops create ZVeraBoi counter-drone buggy in Ukraine operation

The vehicle’s front part features a turret with two mounted PKT machine-guns and an improvised six-barrel muzzle-loading shotgun placed between them

Trump’s sentencing under paper falsifying case postponed to September 18

Judge Juan Merchan postponed the sentencing date from July 11 for over two months and satisfied Trump’s lawyers’ request to file an application to cancel the guilty verdict

Israeli minister’s suggestion of nuclear strike on Gaza raises questions — Russian MFA

Maria Zakharova stressed that such statements by Israeli officials shed light on the true reasons why Tel Aviv was opposing the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East

US-led coalition aircraft violate Syrian airspace over 320 times in June

Syria’s authorities and the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria have helped 29 refugees leave the Rukban camp in the al-Tanf area, where the humanitarian situation is on the edge of catastrophe

Turkey ousts Austria from 2024 UEFA Euro Cup with 2-1 win in Last 16 stage

Turkey is now set to play against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals of the 2024 UEFA Euro Cup

Kanye West leaves Moscow

Designer Gosha Rubchinskiy was seeing him off

UK’s attempts to isolate Moscow failed — Russian envoy

According to Andrey Kelin, London’s efforts to isolate Russia are "very detrimental for the UK itself"

US set to announce $2.3 bln arms package for Ukraine — media

The new arms package will reportedly include anti-tank weapons, as well as interceptor missiles for air defense systems

Russian Embassy in London attacked

A large group chanting slogans against the Syrian government threw stones at the building, breaking windows

One killed, seven injured in gas explosion in apartment building in Bashkortostan

According to the report, a crisis center was established at the site

Share of domestic production of vital medicines in Russia to rise to 90% — PM

The move "will facilitate the formation of technological sovereignty in the area of pharma and medical industry," Mikhail Mishustin stressed

Over 90% of Donbass, Zaporozhye and Kherson voters favor joining Russia — first results

Counting has already begun at a number of polling stations in the territory, and the final results may be known by Wednesday morning

Lukashenko sounds alarm on Ukrainian troop movements near Belarusian border

Earlier, Minsk reported Ukrainian troops amassing on the border with Belarus. General Chief-of-Staff Pavel Muraveiko noted the active movement of Ukrainian forces, periodic drone flights across the border and the activization of reconnaissance of Belarusian territory

US surveillance drones can be stopped by MiG-31 jets, air defense systems — analyst

Igor Korotchenko said the most effective way to fight such targets is to use long-range surface-to-air missile systems, such as the S-400 or S-300V, which are armed with long-range SAMs, as well as use air-to-air missiles carried by MiG-31s

Le Pen accuses Macron of preparing 'administrative coup'

The politician expressed hope that this information is nothing more but rumors, but noted that even before the first round of elections, last Wednesday, "many more appointments were made than during usual cabinet meetings"

Loss of five Su-27s unaffordable for Ukrainian forces — Forbes

According to the business magazine, the attack may have inflicted one of the costliest losses on the Ukrainians since Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine

Naval aircraft hammer enemy targets during drills in Russia’s westernmost region

The naval aviation pilots are accomplishing combat training objectives both in the daytime and at night and about 50 sorties have been planned, the Baltic Fleet’s press office specified

Over 800 kg of drugs seized in CSTO countries during anti-drug operation

According to the report, a total of 536 websites that disseminated prohibited information on drugs were identified

No expectations from Hungarian PM’s visit to Kiev, says Kremlin spokesman

Dmitry Peskov stressed, however, that "Orban is well known as a politician who knows how to defend his country’s interests in quite a tough manner"

Beijing criticizes NATO for shifting blame in Ukraine conflict, urges self-reflection

According to Mao Ning, "NATO continues to outright challenge China as it interferes in its domestic affairs, distorting and discrediting China’s domestic and foreign policy and creating a major threat to its interests"

EU needs change, because instead of peace and order there is war and migration — Orban

Hungarian Prime Minister expressed the hope that right-wing conservative forces will be able to bring about changes in the EU

Russia, China, Kazakhstan have reached agreement on creation of single digital corridor

The document was signed by Slavtrans-Service JSC, Xi'an Free Trade Port Construction and Operation Co., Ltd. and КTZ Express JSC

Yevpaty Kolovrat icebreaker handed over to customer

She will operate in the Pacific fleet, the United Shipbuilding Corporation said

Retired Ukrainian general says Zelensky could pin his failures on Syrsky, fire him

Sergey Krivonos also said the political leadership failed to pivot the economy on a war footing to provide the military with munitions, drones, fuel, and to recruit and equip brigades

Russian military vows to prevent recurrence of Transnistrian conflict

"The operation group is cooperating with all law enforcement structures of Transnistria," Colonel Dmitry Zelenkov reported

World Bank recognizes Russia as high income country

It follows from the document that the gross national income per capita in Russia is $14,250

Houthis, Islamic Resistance in Iraq deliver missile strikes on Haifa

They used cruise missiles, the movement’s military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said

Orban arrives in Kiev to discuss ways toward resolving Ukraine conflict

It is Viktor Orban’s first visit to Kiev since hostilities broke out in Ukraine

Russian senior diplomat notes West’s responsibility for escalation in Ukraine — statement

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko also discussed the settlement in Kosovo during negotiations with Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Duric

Two Russian Northern Fleet warships call at Venezuelan port

During the port call, the crews of the Russian ships will be given an opportunity to rest after the long-distance voyage and see local sights

SCO summit in Astana to approve initiative on world unity for just peace

According to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry, in general, the heads of state will review a wide range of issues facilitating the further bolstering of multifaceted cooperation within the SCO

Sales of new cars in Russia up 63% in 1H 2024 to over 844,000 units — ministry

Sales of new electric vehicles amounted to 11,200 units in the period (+137%)

Chisinau turns down Tiraspol’s terms for peaceful settlement — Transnistrian leader

Considering that talks in the 5+2 format (Moldova, Transnistria, the OSCE, Russia, Ukraine and observers from the United States and the European Union) are frozen, "one cannot use this as an excuse not to come to terms," Vadim Krasnoselsky said

Ukraine deploys more troops to Karlovka in DPR to hold defenses — security official

It is reported that Ukraine has sustained heavy losses in terms of personnel and equipment as Karlovka is under fire control from several directions

Belarus’ southern, western borders safely protected — Lukashenko

"I guarantee that there will be no clashes on the border with Ukraine," the Belarusian leader underlined

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

Beijing opposes hegemony, ready to promote multipolar world — Chinese leader

Xi Jinping said that Beijing is ready to promote equal multipolarity of the world

Ukraine turns down Hungarian PM’s ceasefire proposal

According to the statement, Ukraine’s position is that the crisis settlement could be reached through the Kiev-initiated peace summits

Senior Russian diplomat discusses escalation in Red Sea with Houthi delegation

The sides exchanged views on the problems of comprehensive settlement of the nine-year-long military-political crisis in Yemen, the Russian Foreign Ministry added

Russian sniper reports elimination of Ukrainian serviceman wearing helmet with SS emblem

He specified that his group took the helmet as proof of the elimination

Cyprus negotiations stalled, no compromise in sight — Russian envoy

Vasily Nebenzya added that the UN Security Council is now seeing that the sides to the conflict are becoming more entrenched in their positions

New security architecture in Eurasia to exclude external military presence — Russia’s MFA

Maria Zakharova recalled that the initiative to create a new continent-wide security architecture in the Eurasian space had been put forward by Russian President Vladimir Putin

Kiev shifts rhetoric on negotiations, but not its position on them — ex-Ukrainian PM

Nikolay Azarov believes that the decision on the settlement of the conflict is not up to Kiev

Over 900 radicals eliminated during Israel’s operation in Rafah — General Staff

According to Halevi, the Israeli military inRafah "is now focused on the destruction of the terrorist infrastructure and the destruction of the underground infrastructure, which takes time."

Somalia appreciates Moscow’s contribution to food security — Russian envoy

According to Mikhail Golovanov, in February 2024, the Russian embassy received a letter from Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, addressed to the Russian president

BRICS goals in line with Thailand’s foreign political line — ex-ambassador to Russia

"Thailand has always supported the interests of developing countries at multisided forums," Thanatip Upatising pointed out

New Pantsir-S1M upgraded after Syria to be able to hit any drones — designer

The new missile’s range has been increased to 30 kilometers

Russian commander predicts Ukraine conflict will end this fall

According to Apty Alaudinov, officials in Kiev have figured out that the war is nearing an end

Russian oil industry will be independent of foreign equipment by 2027 — Gazprom Neft CEO

According to Alexander Dyukov, digital technologies are also important for the industry, which can significantly increase the efficiency of working with both hard-to-recover reserves and traditional reserves

Lithuania protests to Russia over airspace violation

The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said that "the incident took place on June 30, when an airplane owned by the Russian airline Pobeda, as it was heading from Moscow to Kaliningrad illegally entered Lithuanian airspace over the Baltic Sea"

Former US President Trump can 'hardly' resolve Ukrainian conflict within 24 hours

Russian Ambassador to London Andrey Kelin noted that Russia was "not going to stop with its offensive actions" even if negotiations on the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine were launched

Russia’s battlegroup West thwarts Ukraine’s attempts to strengthen its positions

Over the past 24 hours, up to 120 enemy military personnel, two towed FH-70 howitzers, seven units of car equipment, five aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles and two ammunition supply points were destroyed

Aide to Iranian leader stressed possibility of changing Tehran’s nuclear doctrine

Kamal Kharrazi noted that "up to now, we have not decided to go further than 60% enrichment"

Putin to hold series of bilateral meetings on SCO summit margins — Kremlin aide

According to Yury Ushakov, Moscow considers the summit in Astana as an "opportunity to organize bilateral contacts with the country leaders who will attend it"

Ukraine losing whole battalions every day in special-op zone — DPR adviser

Igor Kimakovsky noted that currently Russian forces are registering tactical success practically everywhere in the DPR

Biden’s team thwarts calls for his replacement after debate failure — Washington Post

According to the report, Biden’s campaign made private calls to campaign donors and Democratic lawmakers

At least 12 die in Israeli strike on residential house in central Gaza — TV

According to the report, several more people were wounded

Belarusian volunteer corps was involved in recent attack on Belgorod Region — Lukashenko

There are fewer than one hundred people, true, but a corps nonetheless, said Belarusian President

Russian troops liberate two communities in Kharkov Region, DPR over past day — top brass

Russian troops destroyed Ukrainian Air Force aircraft at a military airfield and an armament repair center over the past day, the ministry reported

West cares little about human lives, is interested in Russia’s resources — Serbian leader

Vucic stressed earlier that the Ukrainian conflict cannot be ended right now

Serbian president lauds robust relations with Russia

On Monday, the Russian deputy foreign minister held talks with Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Dacic, who also serves as the country’s interior minister, and Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin

Ukrainian commander-in-chief describes situation in Pokrovsk area as difficult

According to Alexander Syrsky, troops in this area need more munitions and weapons

Putin arrives in Astana a day ahead of SCO summit to hold bilateral meetings

According to Yury Ushakov, Moscow considers the summit in Astana as an "opportunity to organize bilateral contacts with the county leaders who will attend it"

Russia’s import of medical products down 4.5 pp in 2023 — deputy PM Golikova

Tatyana Golikova added that the average annual growth of the volume of industrial production of pharmaceuticals and medical products is higher than in other sectors of the economy

Pentagon considers use of US weapons against Crimea admissible

Don't have any specifics to provide on that front, other than to say you know our policy as it relates to the use of long-range weapons into Russia has not changed, said Pentagon Spokesman

Lavrov, Szijjarto say Kiev must ensure rights of all ethnic minorities — Foreign Ministry

The ministry noted that the sides praised the achieved level of the Russian-Hungarian political dialogue

Russia 'will never forget' Odessa events of 9 years ago, will punish those responsible

The ministry expressed its indignation at the lack of any probe into the incident

Russian diplomat blasts Kiev’s reaction to Orban’s peace initiative as smokescreen

After his talks in Kiev on Tuesday, Viktor Orban proposed that Ukraine consider a ceasefire as a step toward starting talks with Russia to settle the armed conflict at a press briefing

Russian envoy calls for re-establishing Euro-Atlantic security

According to Konstantin Gavrilov, Russia will have to develop its own ways of ensuring global and regional security jointly with its partners and all interested players

Belarus not going to get involved into any hostilities — Lukashenko

According to the Belarusian president, NATO doesn’t want the war in Ukraine to be ended, instead, it is seeking to drag Belarusians into it

Russian forces overwhelming Ukrainians in northern Volchansk, military leader says

"And, certainly, we are pushing forward every day while squeezing the enemy out of all their positions," Major General Apty Alaudinov stressed

Press review: Dems scramble to replace Biden and Russia continues to feed the world

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, July 1st

Russia’s pharma production up almost 8% in 5M 2024 — PM

Mikhail Mishustin noted that five federal projects that are aimed at developing medical science, creating pharmaceutical forms and new generation platforms will be included in the national project

Roscosmos chief approves schedule of creating Russian orbital station through 2033

Russia is set to launch the future orbital outpost’s first research and energy module in 2027, the space corporation said

US intends to ship air defense missiles to Ukraine via accelerated procedure — Pentagon

The United States will soon announced a new military aid package for Ukraine worth $2.3 billion, which will include anti-tank weapons, air defense interceptor missiles and other weapons

Biden’s family implores him to stay in presidential race — CNN

According to the sources, the president’s close ones implore him to keep fighting and expressed their "unequivocal support" during the family get-together at Camp David

China’s Xi arrives at Kazakh leader’s residence for talks with Tokayev

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Xi Jinping held a friendly meeting at a dinner on July 2

Belarus to respond to Ukraine if it ventures provocations on border — Lukashenko

"We will spare no effort to prevent the slightest escalation," the Belarusian leader stressed

Several Ukrainian pilots finish training on F-16 fighter jets in US — Pentagon

Pentagon Spokesman refused from specifying how many pilots are undergoing training and its timelines

Putin to discuss his upcoming visit to Turkey with Erdogan on sidelines of SCO summit

"We maintain constant dialogue with the Turkish side, constantly in touch over the phone," Kremlin Aide Yury Ushakov underlined