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Anti-pandemic measures cost Russian regions $15.565 bln in 2020 - Accounts Chamber

According to the Accounts Chamber, most of these expenditures were covered by governmental assistance in 2020 but regional debt grew by 380 billion rubles

MOSCOW, October 28. /TASS/. Anti-coronavirus measures cost Russian regions 1.1 trillion rubles (15.565 billion US dollars) in 2020, Russia’s Accounts Chamber said on Thursday.

"The coronavirus pandemic seriously complicated the situation in Russian regions, with the expenditure line supplemented with measures to prevent the pandemic consequences. The cost Russian region nearly 1.1 trillion rubles," it said.

According to the Accounts Chamber, most of these expenditures were covered by governmental assistance in 2020 but regional debt grew by 380 billion rubles (5.375 billion US dollars) in 2020, to 2.5 trillion rubles (35.375 billion US dollars).

"In general, the government’s measures helped to considerably diminish the negative impact of the pandemic’s economic consequences on the regions’ public debt. The aggregate regional debt would have increased much more but for these measures," the Accounts Chamber quoted its auditor Alexei Savatyugin.

Russian ministry offers new standard of reporting on sustainable development to business

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Death toll from Brazilian floods rises to 56 - report

The deluge hit 281 municipalities in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, affecting more than 370,000 people

Russia, Turkey discuss situation around Ukraine and Gaza

The talks took place in Istanbul on May 3

Over 10,000 women killed in Gaza — UN agency

According to the agency, "37 children lose their mother every single day"

NATO seriously prepares for conflict with Russia — diplomat on Steadfast Defender exercise

Maria Zakharova said that NATO practice coalition actions against Russia

Sale potential of new Chinese electric cars in Russia is low — Russian car dealer

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Weapons delivered to Kiev end up in West, Russian diplomat says

Maria Zakharova emphasized that all Western projects similar to Ukraine "ended the same way"

Russian President Putin attends Easter service at Christ the Savior Cathedral

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin attended the service together with Putin

Israeli military says it killed one of Islamic Jihad commanders in Rafah

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US fails to shoot down Iranian missiles, drones in strike on Israel — IRGC general

Ali Belali described Iranian weapons as "an important factor of strength and the exercise of power in the world"

Talks on Gaza in Cairo achieve little progress so far — Hamas spokesman

The indirect talks will resume on May 5

Russia not depending on foreign gas turbines anymore — Rostec

"Two plants were constructed in Crimea and one in the Taman Peninsula - the Udarnaya, which we will launch in full as early as in this year," Sergey Chemezov noted

Russia not initiating severing of relations with Baltic States — diplomat

"It is highly undesirable to come to this point," Maria Zakharova said, adding that Russia would continue to use diplomatic measures of influence

US mercenaries let their fighting skills 'atrophy,' one of them says after trip to Ukraine

It is reported that a lot of Western soldiers struggle in Ukraine as things were not as they had expected

Extinguishing fire at Berlin metal factory halted

Firefighters have suspended extinguishing a blaze due to the threat of contaminating local water with chemicals, Bild reported

Criminal case opened against Zelensky, arrest warrant issued — police database

According to the entry, Zelensky is wanted over a Russian Criminal Code article

Trinidad and Tobago recognizes State of Palestine

As of today, 141 out of the 193 UN member states, including Russia, recognize Palestine as an independent nation

US official supports continued cooperation between Russia, US on space

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Fire at German plant won’t affect production of IRIS-T air defense systems — Spiegel

It is reported that the defense unit has not been affected

Fire gutting German plant of industrial group making IRIS-T air defense systems

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Any aggression against Crimea to be met with crushing retaliation — Russian MFA

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Reaching agreement on Gaza in Cairo could take several more days - report

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Russian upper house speaker sends Easter congratulations to Patriarch Kirill

Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko noted that this holiday, "which fills millions of hearts with love, hope and faith in the triumph of life, encourages [people to] good deeds," is an integral spiritual component of Russian society, a symbol of its moral strength

Kremlin slams Macron's statement about possible sending troops to Ukraine 'very dangerous'

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Russia launches production of smartphones with protection against data leakage

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Russia says its forces destroyed two militant bases in Syria’s Homs province

In the area of al-Tanf, nine violations were registered over the past day, said Major General Yury Popov

Putin expresses gratitude to Patriarch Kirill for work towards strengthening Fatherland

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Russian ministry puts former Ukrainian President Poroshenko on wanted persons list

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Cuban president plans to visit Russia, attend May 9 parade — diplomatic source

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Qatar likely to accept US request on expulsion of Hamas leaders from Doha — report

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NATO accuses Russia of being behind 'hybrid, malign' activities on alliance’s territories

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Two people wounded in Ukrainian shelling attack on Donetsk

The region’s emergency services told TASS that those injured had been hospitalized

Kiev loses 18 observation posts on right bank of Dnieper in past day — Russian official

The Russian army carried out active defensive operations on the left bank of the Dnieper, conducting precise strikes on enemy military facilities, equipment and artillery weapons on the right bank

Ukrainian authorities talk about negotiations guided by public sentiments — experts

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Trump develops plan on peaceful resolution in Ukraine — Telegraph

Former US President will not reveal it until the election, the Daily Telegraph reported

Russian ambassador slams Germany’s supplies of lethal weapons to Kiev as mistake

Neither Russia nor Germany will disappear from the European map, Sergey Nechayev noted

Holy Fire from Jerusalem delivered to Christ the Saviour Cathedral

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Infrastructure facilities damaged in Ukrainian city of Dnepr

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Wounded Ukrainian soldiers have to pay ambulances to take them to hospital — US expert

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Final report on 2019 Aeroflot Superjet 100 crash in Sheremetyevo complete — IAC

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Sides achieve consensus on many issues during meetings on Gaza in Cairo — TV

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Dutch ambassador to Russia wraps up his term — embassy

Gilles Beschoor Plug started his tenure as ambassador to Moscow in 2021

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