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Coronavirus pandemic

Russia’s Aeroflot brings over 68,000 people from Europe amid coronavirus restrictions

The highest number of people has been brought home from London, Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam and other European cities, according to the company spokesperson

MOSCOW, March 25. /TASS/. Russia’s national air carrier Aeroflot has brought over 68,000 passengers from European countries amid coronavirus restrictions, Aeroflot Spokesperson Yuliya Spivakova told the Rossiya-24 TV channel on Wednesday.

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Russia's Aeroflot to close flights to Vietnam, Thailand, Cuba until end of April

"We brought the highest number of people from London, Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam, Prague and Budapest. If we take the entire period of bans and restrictions, our company has brought more than 68,000 people from these cities, including foreign nationals," she pointed out.

According to Spivakova, Aeroflot brought over 48,000 Russians home on March 14-28. "Today, we have flights from Delhi, Dubai and Tashkent," she added.

Read also

Aeroflot suspends flights to 7 more countries over coronavirus

On March 21, the Russian Coronavirus Control and Prevention Center moved to temporarily suspend flights to and from Italy, Germany, Spain and France. On March 16, more flights were halted. Air carriers are only allowed to operate flights to the capitals of EU countries, as well as to London, Geneva and Oslo, from Terminal F of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport. At the same time, charter flights continue from European cities to bring Russians home.

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The European Commission suggested introducing duties on agricultural products from Russia and Belarus earlier

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Iran to review nuclear doctrine in case of Israeli aggression — IRGC

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UK imposes sanctions against leading Iranian military figures — Foreign Office

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French president says creating Israeli-type air defense network for Ukraine impossible

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Ukraine convicts 12th world chess champion for recognizing Donetsk, Lugansk republics

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Nikol Pashinyan pointed out that the demarcation process also involves risks, but they are manageable, after which "Armenia will become ten times stronger"

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Maria Zakharova noted the need to "wait for official information from the investigation"

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US 'not forgetting' to help itself with aid to Ukraine — Kremlin

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Ukrainian president admits Russian troops’ advancement

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Earlier it was reported that the German automobile concern Mercedes-Benz plans to sell its enterprise located in the Solnechnogorsk district of the Moscow region

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Polish premier refuses to hand over his country’s Patriot systems to Ukraine

Donald Tusk said that German Chancellor’s call to send more air defense systems to Kiev had no relation to Poland, provided the country's geographical position near the frontline

G7 foreign ministers set to call on all sides to exercise restraint in Middle East

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Israel will "most likely" respond to the recent Iranian attack

Colombian president displays interest in country’s entry into BRICS

Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva welcomed Gustavo Petro’s initiative, "being committed to promotion of Colombia’s candidacy"

Swiss parliament votes against joining task force on frozen Russian assets

The group contains US finance and justice ministers, representatives of Australia, the UK, Germany, Italy, Canada, France, Japan, as well as the European Commission

Russian investigators start inquiry into financing of terrorism by US, NATO officials

Investigators have established that the funds that were received through commercial organizations, such as the oil and gas company Burisma Holdings operating in Ukraine, have been used to carry out terrorist acts in Russia and abroad

Ukraine turns from sovereign country into Western protectorate, Hungarian PM says

Viktor Orban noted that there should be a buffer zone between NATO and Russia and Ukraine could serve as one

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Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, April 17th

Over 40 nations want to join BRICS — Russian lawmaker

According to Grigory Karasin, many BRICS members share the opinion that the association should be in no hurry to adopt a strict charter, "seeing how counterproductively and even provocatively the European Union is acting"

French, US, British nukes all interwoven — Russian diplomat

Maria Zakharova described France’s decision to place its aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, directly under NATO control as a symbolic move marking the end of "the era of an independent Paris in the international arena"

Major Western investor accuses Zelensky's office of extorting millions of euros

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Kazakhstan to sign new agreement with Russia on border checkpoints

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The Ukrainian army losses were up to 70 servicemen, three motor vehicles, a D-30 howitzer, 2 Plastun-3000 electronic reconnaissance stations and a Nota electronic warfare station

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Georgian protests against foreign agent bill reek of US influence — Medvedev

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Russia-China military-technical cooperation not directed against other states — diplomat

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Russia can join top three countries by lithium reserves — governor

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Court arrests man accused of blowing up car of former SBU officer in Moscow

According to materials in the case, the accused man has a residence permit in Ukraine, where his wife lives, and Kyrgyz citizenship

German MFA summons Russian ambassador after detention of espionage suspects — newspaper

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Iran done with retaliation, calls for efforts to stop Israel from reckless steps — MFA

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Gazprom CEO and Belarus’ Ambassador to Russia discussed Russian gas supplies — company

OJSC Gazprom Transgaz Belarus is a 100% subsidiary of PJSC Gazprom in the Republic of Belarus

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Crimea’s revenues rise to $1.12 bln over past ten years

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Founder of neo-Nazi cell in Crimea flees to Georgia — source

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Argentina applies for status of NATO’s global partner

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EU leaders urge to adopt proposal on using incomes from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine

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Ukrainian drone attack damages four houses in Russia’s Voronezh

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Crimea, Donbass to forever remain within Russia, Slovak PM tells national parliament

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Number of applications in RuStore surpasses 37,000

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Exports of Chinese goods to Ukraine rise by 50% to $783 mln in January - March

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Russian Aerospace Forces strike five militant hideouts in Syria’s Homs

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Ceasefire necessary for implementation of UN humanitarian resolution on Gaza — UN envoy

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Pipeline explodes in Kharkov Region

The exact location of the damaged pipeline or the causes of the incident is not reported

Russia will not 'shake up' relations with Argentina due to its partnership with NATO — MFA

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Kiev ordered mandatory evacuation from Kharkov Region to accommodate mercenaries

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Ukrainian trace obvious in Crocus City Hall attack — Russian Prosecutor General

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German Foreign Ministry confirms summoning of Russian ambassador

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Russia expects Armenia to clarify 'military, political accords' with US, EU — diplomat

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China to act over possible US measures for alleged support of Russian defense sector

"China always opposes the illegal unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States and will continue to take necessary measures to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises," Liu Pengyu said

Ukrainian military under constant gunfire by Russian troops near Urozhainoye, says POW

Yevgeny Pogrebnyak said that he was treated well by Russian troops in his captivity

Kiev continues to openly announce terrorist attacks on Russia — diplomat

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Water in Kurgan above dam, breaking records

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Russian forces destroy Ukrainian command post, two S-300 missile launchers over day

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Serial production of missiles for S-500 air defense systems begins in Russia — source

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Agents in Ukrainian, Poland foil attempt to kill Zelensky, security officials in Kiev say

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Ukrainian front may collapse this summer — newspaper

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EU border checkpoint closest to Russia’s St. Petersburg to cut its working hours

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