Russian general killed by car bomb 

An explosive device ripped through a parked car near Moscow on Friday killing a senior Russian general.

The officer, General-lieutenant Yaroslav Moskalik, was expected to be appointed as the national defence management centre.

His killing could cast shadow over a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff hours later, and further antagonise US President Trump against Ukraine, the likely aggressor.

Investigators said they had opened a probe into murder and smuggling explosives after the Volkswagen Golf blew up outside a block of flats in the town of Balashikha, east of Moscow.

Images from the scene posted on social media showed a blaze that gutted a car.

The Agentstvo investigative news site, citing leaked information, said Moskalik lived in Balashikha, but the Volkswagen was not registered to him.