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WHO’s position on Sputnik V remains unchanged

The organization awaits more data

GENEVA, September 16. /TASS/. The World Health Organization (WHO) process of reviewing the application for approval of Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine has not changed as the organization is awaiting additional data from the applicant and producers, the WHO told TASS on Thursday.

"There is no new development - we are still waiting for the completion of submissions by the applicant and manufacturers. These are required before comprehensive corrective and preventive action to address inspection findings and remaining parts of the dossiers can be reviewed, so that the process can continue," the organization noted.

Earlier, Assistant Director at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO, WHO regional office for the Americas) Jarbas Barbosa said that the organization had suspended the process of authorizing the Sputnik V jab. He called on the producers of the Russian vaccine to inspect the process of the shot’s production.

Elon Musk denies rumors that he uses drugs

The billionaire explained, that he agreed to do 3 years of random drug testing after a puff with Joe Rogan and there were no traces of any narcotics or alcohol

TotalEnergies to announce force majeure for Yamal LNG in case of EU sanctions

The company has two contracts for LNG supplies to Europe from the Yamal LNG project and one for Asia that requires closer consideration, CEO of the French energy company Patrick Pouyanne said

Russian troops destroy 89 Ukrainian UAVs, 5 boats in Kherson area over past day

"Battlegroup Dnepr units conducted active counterbattery warfare and destroyed enemy drones, manpower and equipment on the right bank of the Dnieper River," Governor Vladimir Saldo said

US nukes in Poland to become target for Russia should confrontation with NATO occur — MFA

"The impression is that Warsaw is maniacally seeking to attract even more attention from military planners in the Russian General Staff," Maria Zakharova added

Russia puts forward serious disarmament initiatives at UN, says envoy

Earlier, Russia vetoed a draft resolution at the UN Security Council prepared by the United States and Japan on the non-deployment of nuclear weapons in space

Network of international conspirators plotted Crocus terrorist attack — watchdog

Yury Chikhanchin pointed out that the perpetrators of the attack were provided with money, weapons, transportation and ammunition

Erdogan moves back from May 9 his trip to US — report

The report hasn’t been officially confirmed

Bolivarian Alliance countries stand for multipolar world — Maduro

"ALBA can be among the founders of a new world, a new international multipolar order," the Venezuelan president stressed

Diplomatic relations with Canada may be downgraded if Russian assets seized — ambassador

"All options are on the table, we will be guided by common sense and Russia’s interests," Russian Ambassador to Canada Oleg Stepanov said

Russian troops wipe out military train with Western armaments in DPR over past day

Russian troops improved their tactical position and repelled eight Ukrainian army counterattacks in the Avdeyevka area over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Russia, India plan to launch ‘green corridor’ project in trade shortly

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Musk concurs that civil war looming in West

The US businessman commented on remarks by Gad Saad, a Canadian professor of Lebanese origin, who insisted that "the path that the West is taking will result in civil war"

EU remains unreliable partner for Russia for now — Lavrov

Moscow hopes that Brussels will pay attention to its vital interests in the end, Russia's top diplomat said

Lithuania’s prime minister warns US may curtail aid to Ukraine

Ingrida Simonyte called for getting ready for such a turn of events right away, and not just watch and wait

West prepares puppet structures in case of coup in Belarus — KGB

Ivan Tertel said various methods were being considered, up to "instigating a forceful seizure by illegal armed groups" being trained in the West and Ukraine

Putin calls impending formation of new cabinet ‘crucial step’

The Russian leader pointed out that it is important to ensure stability and transparency in the Russian socio-political system

Most countries in Global South wary of growing NATO influence — Lavrov

"Those may be right who, instead of playing this geopolitical game which NATO views as a zero-sum game, prefer to handle their domestic affairs," the Russian foreign minister noted

Alrosa may leave Catoca project in Angola — Finance Ministry

Alrosa is working in Angola since 1992

Press review: NATO flexes muscles near Russian border and South China Sea runs hot

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Blinken’s visit to China meant to shatter Russian-Chinese ties — senior Russian diplomat

"I think that Beijing understands this perfectly well and will not even pretend being ready to reach any agreements with the Americans to the detriment of Russia’s interests," Sergey Ryabkov said

Hungary sees Ukraine conflict entering new phase, NATO involvement rising

According to the minister Gergely Gulyas, the North Atlantic Alliance "wants to provide financial assistance, as well as supply weapons and train Ukrainian soldiers"

Ship receives damage in missile attack off Yemeni coast — UKMTO

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Global community changing tune about how Ukraine conflict started — security official

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Kiev may use ATACMS missiles to hit Crimean Bridge — Russian defense ministry official

Russian military will do its utmost to repel such attacks, Apty Alaudinov said

Tourists discover fragment of Iranian missile in Israeli desert

According to the report of the IDF press office, the discovered missile was of "surface-to-surface" type

Police checks reports of bomb allegedly planted at Russian embassy in Brazil — newspaper

The Russian embassy has not yet commented on the situation

Abrams tanks easy targets for drones — Russian expert

According to Dmitry Kuzyakin, "as long as there is a lack of direct communication between those who make the tanks and who use them, the Abrams will not evolve to meet modern warfare requirements"

Athens hold official hand-over ceremony of 2024 Olympic Flame to France

"Exactly three months before the Olympic Games begin, the Olympic flame has been handed over, transitioning from its Greek origins to the French stage, signifying the next chapter in its journey towards Paris," the statement reads

Chances of Baku-Yerevan conflict settlement higher than ever, Scholz says

The German chancellor emphasized that Berlin's "offer to lend support in finding a long-term and acceptable solution remains valid"

Kremlin spokesman describes European Parliament as 'Russophobic machine'

Dmitry Peskov added that the EP "has turned into a machine brimming with internal contradictions that keeps generating boorish statements"

Russian draft UNSC statement on Nord Streams sabotaged by West — Russian diplomat

According to Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya, the Russian draft was "very balanced"

Builders from Azerbaijan participate in BAM upgrade — Putin

"Design engineers and construction workers from Azerbaijan built two settlements with terminal facilities during BAM construction - Ulkan and Angoya," the Russian President said

International cooperation needed to investigate Nord Stream incidents — Russian diplomat

According to Nebenzya, the real goal of the West, which is seeking to persuade the world of the futility of international efforts, is "to keep on telling the tale of lost time" as long as possible in a hope that "international community will forget about this terrorist attack"

Press review: Belarus' new national security strategy and Russia, US butt heads at UN

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, April 26th

Over 3,100 foreign mercenaries fight for Ukraine, most of them from US

The Russian Investigative Committee added that measures are underway to locate their whereabouts and bring them to criminal liability

Regulators close US’ Republic First Bank — FDIC

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation signed an agreement with Fulton Bank to assume all of the closed bank’s deposits and on purchase of all its assets.

China, US free to have their own friends, partners — President Xi

Beijing sticks to the principle of non-alignment with any blocs, the Chinese leader said and called on Washington "to refrain from teaming up in small groups"

Russian subsidiary of JP Morgan scaling up Russian assets

The company tops the list of foreign investment banks in Russia in terms of the asset size

Worst human rights situation currently observed in US, North Korean Foreign Ministry says

The spokesman also pointed out the claims of US officials about the "necessity of informational infiltration of Korea"

Press review: US tries to strong-arm China and Zelensky's bid to bring men home

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, April 25th

EAEU trade turnover reaches record high level of $8.7 bln in 2023 — Russian Prime Minister

The trade turnover between Russia and Belarus reached 4 trillion rubles ($43.8 bln)

Israel ready to accept release of fewer than 40 hostages in deal’s first phase — newspaper

According to the report, Israel is willing to acceprt the release of women, men over 50 years old and those seriously ill

Russia appreciates Bolivia’s push to defend sovereignty, Lavrov says

The Russian foreign minister said that the sides would exchange opinions on how to develop bilateral relations along the path outlined by Bolivian President Luis Arce and Russian President Vladimir Putin

Scholz asks allies to find additional air defense capabilities for Ukraine

Germany is the second largest arms supplier to Ukraine after the US

Russia invites all countries to develop North - South transport corridor — Putin

"The North-South transport corridor should become an example of the broadest international cooperation," the Russian leader said

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US-oriented structures try to reformat security system in Asia-Pacific region

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu underlined that this is being done by strengthening "military-political structures such as QUAD, AUKUS and the US-Japan-Philippines triad"

Polish leader cautions NATO allies against provoking Russia

Andrzej Duda slammed the reported instances of Russian missiles entering Poland's airspace as "a Russian provocation"

Russian aerospace forces hit two terrorists base in Syria’s Homs governorate

Yury Popov, deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria, also said that one shelling attack on the positions of government forces was reported in the Idlid de-escalation zone from positions of the Jabhat al-Nusra

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Putin’s trip to China will rivet world’s attention, Kremlin spokesman predicts

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About 20% of weapons sent to Kiev end up on black market – Russia’s UN mission

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Pelosi's remarks about US protesters undemocratic, Russian diplomat says

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According to the news agency Tasnim, when speaking about NATO eastward expansion, Mohammad Reza Ashtiani emphasized that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states should utilize the SCO potential in order to neutralize common threats

NATO bears direct responsibility for Ukraine crisis — Chinese Foreign Ministry

Spokesman Wang Wenbin stressed that China was not providing weapons to the conflicting parties and strictly controlled dual-use goods, including the export of drones

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Over 60% of Russian companies continue using Microsoft services

57% of companies replaced at least one foreign service with a Russian one over the past few years, the analysts noted

Russian diplomat accuses US of facilitating chemical warfare in Ukraine

According to Russian Permanent Representative to the OPCW Vladimir Tarabrin, Russian troops have repeatedly recorded incidents where the Ukrainian army’s used chemical weapons, including riot control agents as means of warfare

US can send Ukraine Patriot air defense systems currently deployed in other regions

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Wreckage of US MQ-9 Reaper drone is of interest to Russian defense industry — Rostec

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Medvedev warns that Russia’s default may entail Europe’s default

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Erdogan’s May 9 visit to US postponed to more convenient date — Foreign Ministry

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Ukraine’s army leaves first defensive line in Berdychi near Avdeyevka, says DPR

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UN bound to stay as unique world organization — Russian ambassador

"If the UN did not exist, it should have been created," Vasily Nebenzya said

Russian Economy Ministry expects trade balance surplus to decline

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Ukraine had to negotiate agreements with Russia with ‘three masters’ — Russian envoy

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Poland practices transfer of mechanized brigade to Lithuania's Suwalki Corridor area

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Russia fights West’s sanctions at UN for the sake of developing countries — envoy to UN

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TotalEnergies expects gas price hike if Russian LNG falls under sanctions

Patrick Pouyanne expressed confidence that the European leaders understood that security of gas supplies depended on LNG and would not like to see a price crisis in Europe again until 2027

Russia-Europe relations require fresh approach — Kremlin

Russia and Europe are geographically close anyway, Dmitry Peskov noted

Bank of Russia does not rule out keeping key rate at current levels until year's end

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Russian gas production to gain 4.6% in 2024 — Economy Ministry

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Russia grateful to DPRK for unconditional support of special operation in Ukraine — MFA

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Miguel Salgado’s ‘Shame’ wins main prize at Moscow International Film Festival

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Staff shortage cannot be covered by labor migration — Putin

Labor productivity requires a significant increase in all sectors of the economy, the President stressed

US stops hiding true purpose of sanctions on Moscow, Russian envoy says

"It’s not about any mythical aspirations to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, but about banal opportunistic and predatory ambitions," Anatoly Antonov said

Damaged energy facilities not to be repaired in several months, says Ukrainian PM

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US’ Blinken to visit Israel amid rising tensions between two countries — NYT

Israel’s military upcoming operation in Rafah will also be on agenda, the New York Times reported

Official hand-over ceremony of 2024 Olympic Flame kicks off in Athens

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French neo-Nazi ringleader liquidated near Avdeyevka — sources

There is confirmed evidence of his connections with French secret services

Russia says its battlegroup West seized better positions

The Russian forces also foiled a counterattack of an assault group of the Ukrainian 80th mechanized brigade in the vicinity of the Krasnoye settlement in the Donetsk People’s Republic

Russia may cut oil production by 1.2% in 2024 — Economy Ministry

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Russia has many questions for UN chief, Russia’s envoy says

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Kiev troops may strike targets in Crimea with ATACMS missiles — newspaper

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Hamas fighters have destroyed more than 400 Israeli vehicles — group’s senior member

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Charles III to return to public duties soon — Buckingham Palace

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West reluctant to punish those responsible for Nord Stream blasts — Russian diplomat

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Better situation for peace in Ukraine, threats to Belarus: new statements by Lukashenko

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Insurers refuse to pay compensation for Nord Stream — Russian envoy to UN

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