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Coronavirus pandemic

Sputnik V vaccine almost equally effective across all age groups, developer says

The Lancet, one of the world's oldest and most respected medical journals, earlier published interim results of a phase 3 trial of Sputnik V

MOSCOW, February 2./TASS/. Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine against coronavirus has proved almost equally effective across different age groups, the head of the Gamaleya Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Alexander Gintsburg, said on Tuesday.

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The Lancet publishes results of Phase Three trials of Sputnik V vaccine

"One of the main achievements demonstrated in phase 3 [trial] is that the vaccine showed almost equal epidemiological efficiency among all groups," the head of the center that had developed the vaccine, told a news conference.

Earlier, The Lancet, one of the world's oldest and most respected medical journals, published interim results of a phase 3 trial of Sputnik V, confirming that the vaccine candidate "appears safe and effective." Sputnik V, which is based on a well-studied human adenoviral vectors platform, is the world’s first registered vaccine against the coronavirus. Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19 showed strong efficacy during a phase 3 clinical trial: 91.6%, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said in a press release on Tuesday. The efficacy in the age group of over 60 was 91.8%, RDIF added.

RDIF also noted that 98% of volunteers had developed antibodies.

The Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine’s effectiveness in terms of developing a cell-mediated immunity is 100%. "The level of virus neutralizing antibodies of volunteers vaccinated with Sputnik V is 1.3-1.5 times higher than the level of antibodies of patients who recovered from COVID-19," RDIF said.

Putin sends greetings on Russia’s Energy Industry Worker’s Day

Russian leader stressed that, thanks to their dedication, 'the industry is becoming more and more high-tech with every new year'

Eight people killed in Israeli strike on school in Gaza Strip

According to the TV channel Al Jazeera, the refugees were housed at a school in the Al-Daraj neighborhood

Proposal to duel with West response to claims of Oreshnik missile vulnerability — Kremlin

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin thus meant that the Oreshnik missile is a generation ahead of all existing weapons, while not being a nuclear weapon itself

Kremlin spokesman clarifies Putin’s statement about Oreshnik 'duel'

"It is very important to talk about these statements by the president in the context of the question he was asked," Dmitry Peskov pointed out

IN BRIEF: Magdeburg Christmas market attack kills 11, injuring roughly 80 others

TASS has compiled the key facts behind the deadly attack

Russia-US dialogue on Ukraine can be conducted on different platforms — senior diplomat

Everything depends on its content and the approach of the team of US President-elect Donald Trump are important, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said

Russia manages situation in Ukraine, while West in big trouble — US political scientist

According to John Mearsheimer, Russia has become much stronger over the past two to three years because it has managed to become "a truly sovereign country"

Russia’s international reserves up by $3.8 bln to $618.2 bln over week — Central Bank

Russia’s international reserves are highly liquid foreign assets available with the Bank of Russia and the Russian government

Russia’s first two helicopter carriers to be laid down in Crimea in spring 2020 — sources

The first helicopter carrier will be delivered to the Russian Navy by the end of 2027

Russia to raise issue of Ukrainian strikes on Rylsk at UNSC meeting on Friday — diplomat

Acting Kursk Region Governor Alexander Khinshtein said earlier that the town of Rylsk, located some 120 kilometers west of Kursk, had come under Ukrainian fire

Russian missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov to become world’s strongest warship after upgrade

The heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov has been under repairs at the Sevmash Shipyard since 1999; real work on the warship has been carried out since 2013

NATO prepares for war with Russia, Moscow takes these risks into account — senior diplomat

According to Alexander Grushko, NATO's general course poses a danger both to Russia and to the entire architecture of global and regional security

Ukraine to halt Russian gas transit on January 1, 2025 — Ukrainian PM

The restart of transit via the Ukrainian gas transportation system is possible at a request of the European Commission if this is not Russian gas, Denis Shmygal said

Two freight trains collide at Trans-Baikal Railways, traffic suspended

Both freight trains loaded with coal collided at the Bushulei-Zhireken railway section

Russia to retaliate against Ukrainian strikes, just as Putin said — Kremlin

"Russia’s position is well known, it was voiced by Putin back in St. Petersburg," Dmitry Peskov stressed

Magnitude 5.3 earthquake rocks South Africa

No injuries or damage were reported

Magdeburg attacker may be charged with murder of 5, attempted murder of 205 — prosecutor

The motive for committing the crime could have been dissatisfaction with the treatment of Saudi refugees in Germany, Dr. Horst Nopens, Head of the Magdeburg Public Prosecutor’s office, said

Press review: Putin outlines Russia's future goals and Tehran faces energy blackout riots

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Brazil unveils BRICS logo for 2025

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Russia is at war not only with Ukraine, but with collective West — Shoigu

Russian Defense Minister stressed that Ukraine had almost run out of its own weapons of Soviet manufacture

US confirms strikes on Houthi command posts in Yemen

CENTCOM forces also shot down several Houthi unmanned aerial vehicles and an anti-ship cruise missile over the Red Sea

Eight people killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza Strip — TV

According to Al Jazeera, Israeli forces shelled a residential building in Deir al-Balah and a downtown Khan Yunis

Trump appoints TV producer Burnett as special envoy to UK

The new special envoy will be in charge of trade and investment issues, as well as the cultural exchange between the two countries

Almost 20 drones downed over four Russian regions, Black Sea last night

According to Russia's Defence Ministry, attempts to conduct attacks against facilities on Russian soil were thwarted

West should consider Putin's words on Oreshnik missile duel — diplomat

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova emphasized that the rhetoric about "inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia" is firmly rooted in the mentality of the NATO regimes not at all as hypothetical assumptions

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Assad allegedly hands list of military targets over to Israel before leaving Syria — media

According to the Turkish newspaper, the former Syrian president did it to ensure his own safety

An-2 plane missing in Kamchatka located, survivors found — regional emergencies ministry

According to the press service of the regional Emergencies Ministry, all three people onboard the plane survived the emergency landing

Arkhangelsk nuclear submarine ready to join Russian Navy — Sevmash Shipyard CEO

Project 885M nuclear-powered submarines carry Oniks and Kalibr-PL cruise missiles as their basic strike weapons

Ukrainian troops struggling to escape being trapped in Lozovaya in Kharkov region — expert

In general, "quite active hostilities" are taking place near Dvurechnaya and Lozovaya in the Kupyansk sector of the line of engagement, Andrey Marochko noted

Syria's new authorities appoint Asaad Hassan al-Shibani as foreign minister

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Perm sub with Tsirkon hypersonic missiles to enter service with Russian Navy in 2026

Test launches of the Tsirkon missiles from the Project 885 Sverodvinsk submarine were conducted in the White Sea on October 4, 2022

Musk believes Germany’s Scholz should step down after car drives into crowd in Magdeburg

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Putin responds to question about Russia's weakness by quoting Mark Twain

The president noted that Russia had become much stronger over the past two or three years as it became a truly sovereign country

Ukraine's refusal to transit Russian gas will hit EU economies hard — French expert

According to Jacques Sapir, the decision not to extend transit contracts was no surprise given the political landscape

Ukrainian lawmaker slams Zelensky for trying to bribe Slovak PM

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US defense companies capitalize the most on Ukraine conflict — Russia’s UN envoy

Vasily Nebenzya referred to data from the SIPRI which put last year’s revenues from sales of arms by the world’s top 100 largest businesses in the industry at $632 billion

Yemen’s Houthis announce hypersonic missile strike at military facility near Tel Aviv

Israel’s Ynet media outlet reports that at least 30 people suffered injuries after a missile fired from Yemen fell in central Israel

German chancellor exasperated by idea of spending frozen Russian assets to help Kiev

According to the Financial Times, the idea was promoted by the US and UK but resisted by Germany, France and Italy

Ukrainian shelling of Russia’s Rylsk damages 12 buildings — governor

Three of them are not subject to restoration, Alexander Khinshtein said

Russian cancer vaccine to be free of charge — top oncologist

It is planned to launch it in general circulation in early 2025

Biden signs bill to fund US government until March 14, 2025

The US Senate and House of Representatives approved the bill a day before

Scholz, German Interior Minister booed during visit to terrorist attack site — newspaper

A protest broke out during the chancellor's and minister's visit, with demonstrators whistling and shouting "Get out!"

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Slovak PM to visit Moscow for talks with Putin, Serbian president says

"Robert Fico will travel to visit Putin as a European countries leader," Aleksandar Vucic said

Putin meets with Federation Council Speaker Matviyenko in Kremlin

The upper chamber of the parliament wrapped up its autumn session

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TASS has gathered the main information about the incident

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CIA station in Kiev targeted in recent Russian attack, military expert reveals

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Putin to extend New Year greetings to peoples of several unfriendly countries — Kremlin

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US Navy cruiser mistakenly downs F/A-18 fighter over Red Sea

According to US Central Command, the incident occurred during airstrikes on Houthi facilities

Series of explosions rock central Kiev — eyewitnesses

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Embassies of 12 countries closed in North Korea amid shortage of goods

All foreign personnel of international humanitarian organizations have also left, the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang said

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NATO spies study damage from Oreshnik at Yuzhmash — expert

Alexander Stepanov emphasized that both Kiev and its Western allies are closely scrutinizing the consequences of the strike on the plant

Three of eight drones that attacked Kazan targeted defense industry facilities — head

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Russia’s Energy Minister adding that the US LNG is "uncompetitive as of today"

Moscow lets US media freely work in Russia, despite opposite situation in US, Putin says

The Russian President stressed that, judging by the questions coming from the Western media as well as those who pay their salaries in the US, there is a clear desire to portray Russia as being in bad shape

Russia’s Battlegroup South liberates settlement of Ostrovskogo in DPR — Defense Ministry

"The enemy lost up to 285 troops, two armored combat vehicles, two motor vehicles, a D-30 122 mm howitzer, a US-made M119 105 mm howitzers and five field ammunition depots," the ministry added

Airborne troops from Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr wipe out enemy position in Kherson region

A Russian airborne crew hit the target by firing a 120-mm mortar gun on a Ukrainian temporary position

Drone attack triggers fire at fuel infrastructure facility in Russia’s Oryol Region

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Mourhaf Abu Qasra becomes top Syrian defense official in transitional government — TV

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Oreshnik test launch forces London to take a step back — Russian ambassador

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Russian forces control more than half of Chasov Yar in DPR — expert

Andrey Marochko noted that Russian forces had "slightly advanced" in the northern and southern parts of Chasov Yar

Four new Russian regions moving toward self-sufficiency at a rapid pace — Putin

According to the head of state, tax revenues have seen a consistent increase in absolute figures

Kremlin mum on reports about Slovakian prime minister's plans to visit Moscow

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Strike on SBU control center response to Russian general’s assassination, expert says

The ministry clarified that Ukraine launched a missile strike against the Kamensky Integrated Plant in the Rostov Region using six US-made ATACMS missiles and four Storm Shadow cruise missiles

Artyom military plant reportedly on fire after explosions in Kiev

The Artyom plant is known for producing air-to-air missiles, as well as equipment for aircraft

Turkish president calls on West to stop Israel in Syria before it’s too late

"All international mechanisms need to be effectively employed in order to prevent Israel from exploiting the situation in Syria," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said

Ukraine loses over 300 troops, two Bradley vehicles in Kursk Region in past day

Eight motor vehicles and two electronic warfare stations were also destroyed? the ministy added

Civilian manufacturers ramp up drone production to 40,000 units per month

The Russian Defense Ministry has also purchased more than 100,000 units from small design bureaus and civilian manufacturers, the statement said

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Vasily Nebenzya warned as he denounced the attack as yet another unambiguous step by the Kiev regime toward escalation

Civilian industrial complex supplies Russian army with over 65 types of units — top brass

Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov praised the new mechanisms for accelerating the introduction of advanced weapons and equipment developed by the civilian defense industrial complex in the interests of the Russian army

Putin suggests Zelensky may flee abroad, says Russia would take him in

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Maximal costs of Nord Stream pipeline repair to be 633 mln euro

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Hungarian PM highlights need to lift sanctions on Russia once Ukraine conflict is resolved

Viktor Obran added, however, that only a couple of EU countries shared Hungary’s position

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Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko reported the fires in Solomensky and Shevchenkovsky districts

Kiev takes out its anger for military defeats on Russian people — diplomat

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also emphasized that Moscow is outraged by the hypocritical silence of the West and its media on the terrorist attacks in Russia

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Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, December 18th

Mother of missing US reporter thanks Putin for promising help in locating her son

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Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, December 16th

Putin challenges West to try to intercept Oreshnik missile in Kiev

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Russian sleeper agents open up about secret trip to 2018 World Cup

The married couple, Artyom Dultsev and Anna Dultseva, returned home as a result of an exchange

Aleppo taken by 350 militants while 30,000 gov’t troops retreated without fight — Putin

The Russian president recalled that no Russian land troops had been deployed to Syria, with Russia having only an airbase and a naval base

ISS orbit raised ahead of launching Soyuz manned spacecraft

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Syrian armed groups to merge into one under auspices of the country's Defense Ministry

Ahmed al-Sharaa, the militant leader of the main group driving the Syrian armed opposition, met with the leaders of the armed groups and discussed with them the new format of the Syrian army

Gaza peace deal closer than ever, Palestinian radicals say

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Putin sends greetings on Russia’s Energy Industry Worker’s Day

Russian leader stressed that, thanks to their dedication, 'the industry is becoming more and more high-tech with every new year'

Possible arrival of new Russian envoy before Trump’s inauguration depends on US — diplomat

"However, since he is a very prominent and experienced diplomat, I think the host country should have no doubt that he will show a high level of professionalism and his efforts will aim to at least slightly improve bilateral relations," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov noted

Damage to Portuguese Embassy in Kiev caused by Ukrainian air defense — Russian diplomats

Reporters are ramping up Russophobia, distorting the facts while writing on this matter, the Russian Embassy in Portugal said

‘Arkhangelsk, ’ ‘Knyaz Pozharsky’ nuclear submarines to join Russian Navy soon — commander

Admiral Alexander Moiseyev noted that the construction of nuclear submarines is Sevmash’s main purpose, which is performs successfully

Zelensky actually flips the bird to Trump by insulting Putin, Medvedev says

The politician emphasized that "the president of a major country should be extremely polite and amiable"

Trump wants NATO countries to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP — FT

The sources also told the Financial Times that Donald Trump intends to continue the military aid to Ukraine despite the statements he made during his presidential campaign

Russia has confidence in its weapons, senior diplomat says

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov also stressed that the recent developments had shown that the US policy of establishing a system of increasingly layered missile defenses was wrong

BRICS is approaching G20 format, Brazilian foreign minister says

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