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Roscosmos says signed contract with NASA on Soyuz seat for US astronaut

The Soyuz spaceship will be launched to the ISS in the autumn

© Sergei Savostyanov/TASS

MOSCOW, May 12. /TASS/. Russia’s state space corporation Roscosmos and the United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have signed a contract for a Soyuz MS seat for a US astronaut in the autumn 2020, Roscosmos press service told TASS on Tuesday.

"A contract was signed today on providing a seat for a US astronaut onboard a Soyuz MS manned spaceship to be launched to the ISS in the autumn of 2020," the press service said, refusing however to disclose the contract’s sum, saying it is "a commercial secret."

NASA said earlier it had finished consultations with Roscosmos on purchasing a seat onboard a Soyuz spaceship to be launched to the ISS in the autumn.

According to NASA’s Stephanie Schierholz, NASA will pay more than 90 million US dollars for a Soyuz seat and corresponding services.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said on May 1 the sides were close to an agreement on the purchase of a Soyuz seat. The launch is planned for October 2020. He did not rule out that NASA could buy one more seat.

The United States stopped its own manned spaceflights in 2011 when the Space Shuttle program was closed. Since then, NASA astronauts have been taken to the ISS by Russian Soyuz spaceship. Currently, a number of US companies are developing new spacecraft for manned programs.

Russia sees possibilities for expansion of equipment supplies for Indian Gaganyaan program

Denis Manturov also mentioned projects in the area of satellite navigation that are being implemented

UN Climate Change Conference in Baku goes off without a hitch — top diplomat

The 29th UN Climate Change Conference is being held in Baku on November 11 and 12

Climate policy should be based on common sense, not ideology — Orban

The Hungarian prime minister noted that the problem of climate preservation held a prominent place in the Budapest Declaration on the New European Competitiveness

Extension of conflict not in Ukraine’s interest — analyst

According to Sean Bell, the West provided a "huge amount" of weapons to Ukraine, but that didn’t help the government in Kiev

Russian forces strike Ukrainian military airfields, energy sites over past day

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Ukraine imposes sanctions on maintenance services of two Moscow airports

The decree, which lists a total of 63 legal entities, sets the restrictions for a period of 10 years

54 countries vote against resolution on combating ne-Nazism

116 countries, including Azerbaijan, Algeria, Armenia, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Cuba, Serbia, and Syria, supported the document

Medvedev warns that EU behavior in struggle with Russia fraught with 'bad scenario'

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Russian PM to attend UN Climate Change Conference in Baku

The greater part of Mikhail Mishustin’s visit will be devoted to Russian-Azerbaijani ties

Russia keeps building defense capacity despite conflict in Ukraine — Polish general

According to Wieslaw Kukula, if the conflict in Ukraine ends soon, Russia will be able to build up its defense capacity to the point that it could take on all of NATO

US military strikes car carrying Houthi rebel leaders — TV

According to the source, the US also carried out strikes at Houthi military targets in this area

Kremlin spokesman denies media reports of phone call between Putin, Trump

Dmitry Peskov described the Washington Post and Reuters reports about the alleged telephone conversation as "the most remarkable example of the quality of the information that is published nowadays, sometimes even by quite respected outlets"

Over 3,800 people cross into Syria from Lebanon in past day — Russian military

As many as 3,849 people crossed Syria’s border from Lebanon

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Trump appoints Florida Rep. Mike Waltz National Security Advisor

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Ruslan Kalinchuk noted that Russia "will not negotiate on Donbass and Novorossia," while Vladimir Zelensky will not do any deals unless Russia makes concessions because "he would immediately be ousted in such an event"

Russian forces steadily advance on Boguslav direction — Belousov

The Russian Defense Minister congratulated the command and the personnel of the 153rd Armored Regiment with the liberation of the settlement of Kolesnikovka

Medvedev characterizes Great Britain as eternal adversary of Russia

"At least until such time as their arrogant, despicably dank island sinks into the abyss of the sea from a wave triggered by a cutting-edge Russian weapons system," the politician said

Ukraine admits to mismanagement of military personnel

Maria Berlinskaya recounted how Ukraine’s army received tens of thousands of people, including "the smartest managers, the smartest economists, and very good businessmen, for free"

Trump to reverse Biden’s executive orders in first week in office — press secretary

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Defense enterprises in Ukraine hiding their employees from mobilization

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Japan remains ready to sign peace treaty with Russia — top diplomat

After Tokyo imposed anti-Russian sanctions over the situation in Ukraine, Russia halted consultations with Japan on a peace treaty

Czech intelligence warns of crime surge after Ukraine conflict ends

More than 380,000 people, mostly women and children, have fled Ukraine to the Czech Republic since February 24, 2022

Putin orders to simplify foreign tourists’ entry to Far Eastern regions

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Russia initiates creation of Eurasian multipolarity charter — top Russian diplomat

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Russian engine maker unveils cutting-edge aircraft engine

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Mi-171A3 helicopter draws interest from partners in China — Russian Helicopters

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US State Department insists DPRK troops engaged in Russia’s borderline Kursk Region

Patel also insisted that "Russian forces have trained the DPRK soldiers in artillery, in UAV, and basic infantry operations, including trench clearing, which are critical skills for frontline operations"

Lukashenko calls for support to developing nations in accessing green technologies

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Markus Reisner noted that many of the Ukrainian units on this section of the frontline are understaffed by 50%

IAEA chief urges Iran to find diplomatic solution on nuclear program

Rafael Grossi acknowledged that the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran’s nuclear program, which the US later abandoned, had become an "empty shell"

Ukraine aims to call up 1 mln people in eastern areas by end of 2024 — official

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Death toll from Israeli strikes on Lebanon nears 3,300 — health ministry

As many as 88 civilians received wounds during the past day, bringing the overall number of those wounded up to 14,222, including 1,280 children

Russian troops secure supply route to Plekhovo in Kursk Region — commander

It is reported that fighting in the settlement itself is taking place at the moment

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Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya noted that Resolution 2735 was only a tool to gain time for Israel

Talks between Putin, Trump before inauguration possible — Kremlin

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The source described the new system as "an absolutely new and unrivalled mobile system of strategic missile defense"

Russian advances, Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

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UAC delivers Su-57, Su-35S fighter jets

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Houthis say they attacked US aircraft carrier in Arabian Sea

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Ukrainian General Staff reports difficult situation along entire frontline

It also acknowledged the supremacy of the Russian army in equipment and personnel

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The reconnaissance teams managed to get to the damaged vehicle, inspect it and retrieve all the necessary equipment

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Combat experience distinguishes Su-57 among fifth-generation fighters

The Russian Defense Ministry said it excellently performed in combat

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Russia for the first time displays Su-57 jet at China show

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Frank Giletti asked to speed up the commissioning of previously ordered Rafale planes to the armed forces

Israeli foreign minister says preparations underway for annexing some West Bank areas

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Over 1,000 dead seals found on Caspian coast in Kazakhstan

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Amount of Russian assets frozen in Switzerland unchanged since August — agency

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Russia, China reach historic level of economic cooperation — lawmaker

"New ventures are being launched, and exciting projects, including interregional ones, are being implemented," Nikolay Zhuravlev noted

Ukraine offers up to 750,000 dollars to Russian pilot for hijacking helicopter — TV

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Russia’s Su-57 fifth-generation fighter debuts at Airshow China

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Ukraine issue gets more attention at UN after Trump’s election win — Russian diplomat

"People started actively commenting behind the scenes, making forecasts about where things could go now," Dmitry Polyansky noted

Kiev been pushed by West toward aggression against own population for 8 years — diplomat

According to Oleg Gavrilov, these actions are geared to form a source of threats to Moscow at the Russian borders

Russian stock indices falling on Tuesday — market data

The ruble-denominated MOEX Russia Index dropped by 1.03% to 2,756.76 points, while the dollar-denominated RTS Index also plunged by 1.03% to 886.56 points

Russian emergencies chief visits Cuba

The Russian Embassy in Cuba said on its Telegram channel that "the visit aims to strengthen Russian-Cuban cooperation in the sphere of alleviating the aftermath of natural disasters"

Russia's AI industry ready to thrive with proper support, expert says

Artificial intelligence is a kind of mass media that communicates messages to users, giving answers to hundreds of thousands of queries daily, Ruslan Yunusov noted

Police say Russian-made drone without explosives fell down in Moldovan territory

On the same day, the Moldovan foreign ministry accused Russia of violating its air boundaries, slamming this incident as an "unfriendly step"

Thailand receives invitation to become BRICS partner country — diplomatic source

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Russian senator slams candidate for German chancellorship’s remarks as irresponsible

Konstantin Kosachev also emphasized that talking to Russia in the language of ultimatums "is not only counterproductive, but also short-sighted, especially for Germany"

Group plotting violent coup detained in Kyrgyzstan — interior ministry

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Russia to equip 290 landing sites for drone operations by 2030 — regulator

The agency also plans to place landing sites in 16 constituent entities of Russia in 2025

Trump may be set to change US course on global conflicts, Russian envoy believes

Alexander Lavrentyev also pointed to the potential withdrawal of US troops from Syria

Some 300 Germans eager to move to Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod Region — authorities

Among those who are ready to move are technical professionals in the metalworking industry

Russia demonstrates Il-76MD-90A(E) airlifter to 11 foreign customers this year

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Top Russian security official hails strategic cooperation with China

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Musk doubles down on his opinion about 'endless war' in Ukraine

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Medvedev suggests that Elon Musk launch campaign to amend US Constitution

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Russia, China sign cooperation memorandum — Xinhua

According to the article, Presidential Aide Dmitry Mironov led the Russian delegation, while China was represented by a Politburo member, Head of the CCP Organization Department Li Ganjie

Ukraine retreating fast, delaying peace to result in lost territories — entrepreneur

"The simplest path to peace in Ukraine is to go back to the draft deal signed in Istanbul," David Sacks said

Ukrainians play 'radio games' with Russian recon to spread disinfo on attacks — LPR expert

It is reported that Ukrainian fighters have recently been sending false signals about an impending offensive or strikes allegedly being planned on unconfirmed targets

Houthis attack two US destroyers — Pentagon

Earlier, the Houthi movement’s military spokesman Yahya Saree said that the rebels had delivered rocket and drone strikes on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea

Russian lower house passes third reading of bill banning child-free propaganda

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The prosecutor general stated that following the incident, four Abkhazian residents were detained: Garry Kokaya, Almaskhan Ardzinba, Omar Smur, and Ramaz Dzhopya

Trump vows to sit down with Russia, Ukraine at negotiating table on first day in office

Donald Trump defeated Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in the November 5 election

Trump’s election win inspires with hope of Ukrainian conflict settlement – US expert

This could involve a cease-fire in place, an Armistice agreement along the lines of the Korean War Armistice of 1953,a professor of international law at the University of Illinois College of Law said

Russia’s Rubikon unmanned technology center team destroys Ukrainian armor in Kursk area

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