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Coronavirus pandemic

No need to impose lockdown in Russia, WHO official says

There are successful examples of ensuring social distancing without imposing lockdown, the World Health Organization's representative in Russia said

MOSCOW, March 26. /TASS/. There is currently no need to impose lockdown in Moscow and other Russian cities due to the coronavirus, the World Health Organization's representative in Russia Melita Vujnovic told the Future of Russia. National Projects web portal operated by TASS.

"If Moscow and the entire Russia prove to be capable of self-discipline, it would be much easer to get through this period, when the virus threatens us all regardless of lockdowns. However, if the need arises, I am sure that this step will be taken, but I don’t think it is necessary at the moment. I completely trust the national authorities and the Moscow authorities who… have the figures, which is important," she said in response to a question.

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Number of coronavirus cases in Russia grows to 840 over past day

According to Vujnovic, there are successful examples of ensuring social distancing without imposing lockdown. "For instance, there is no lockdown in Singapore as self-isolation and efforts to trace the contacts of those infected turned out to be enough. Besides, there is Japan and others," the WHO official pointed out.

Coronavirus pandemic

In late December 2019, Chinese authorities notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in more than 150 countries, including Russia.

The WHO on March 11 declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. As of now, over 457,000 people have been infected around the world and about 21,000 have died.

Russia has identified 840 coronavirus cases so far, 38 patients have recovered and two have died. The Russian government has set up an Internet hotline to keep the country’s people informed about the coronavirus situation.

Moscow International Film Festival kicks off

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

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Musk says he will not vote for Biden in presidential election

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Hungarians in western Ukraine should get their rights back, Budapest says

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Russian government increases customs duties on beer from unfriendly countries

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G7 leaders to decide on Russian assets use — Italian Deputy PM

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Unidentified man attempts suicide outside courthouse where Trump trial is underway

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US blocks Security Council resolution granting full UN membership to Palestine

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American Abrams tanks vulnerable even to Soviet-era weapons, says expert

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Russia knows French military instructors working in Ukraine — Lavrov

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Robert Fico believes Moscow will win in its confrontation with Kiev

Two pilots of jet that crashed in southern Russia hospitalized

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Izvestia correspondent Semyon Eremin killed in special operation zone

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Russia's revenues from oil exports remain high despite price ceiling — IMF

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North Korean leader arrives at public event in Aurus luxury car gifted by Putin

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Russia forms Moscow, Leningrad military districts amid NATO expansion

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Armenia’s relations with Russia not at their highest — top diplomat

Ararat Mirzoyan also said that Yerevan is currently making efforts to expand cooperation with the European Union and the United States

Three Ukrainian soldiers swim across Dnieper to surrender to Russian troops — governor

Vladimir Saldo called on other Ukrainian servicemen to switch to the Russian side and request the corresponding assistance

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Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia, became full-fledged members of BRICS from January 1, 2024

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

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Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Egypt’s Ambassador talk BRICS cooperation, arms control

The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that a discussion on arms control issues also took place as well as "some other aspects of the current international agenda"

Iran suspends flights above several cities amid reports of air attack — IRNA

Fox News said the Jewish state delivered a limited strike on Iran

Russian military base may appear in CAR’s eastern region — President Touadera

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UK imposes sanctions against leading Iranian military figures — Foreign Office

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West frightens voters by 'Russian threat' to win elections — Lavrov

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US volunteer Russel Bentley missing in Donetsk killed — RT editor-in-chief

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Kiev lacks both troops and equipment near Chasov Yar in DPR, says retired general

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NATO discussing transfer of ‘deep precision strike capabilities’ to Ukraine — Stoltenberg

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West wants to make Transnistria hotbed of tension — Lavrov

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Switzerland does not suit Russia for negotiations on Ukraine — Lavrov

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

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Russian instructors help train over 10,000 Central African troops — CAR president

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Iran may target Israeli nuclear center in Dimona in case of Israel’s attack — TV

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Russia delivers 34 strikes on Ukrainian military infrastructure over week — top brass

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Russia’s defense chief inspects production of tanks, flamethrowers at Siberian enterprise

Sergey Shoigu handed down an instruction for the defense enterprise to ramp up the production of T-80BVM tanks, the Defense Ministry said

Russia has significant amount of West’s funds in case of confiscation of its assets

Russia views the West’s encroachment on its assets as "a blatant and shameless theft for the purpose of lining its pockets," Maria Zakharova noted

Russia bans 235 Australian local government officials from entering country — MFA

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No plans for pauses in fighting if talks on Ukraine begin, Lavrov says

The Russian foreign minister emphasized that the situation on the ground had changed significantly

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BRICS looking at creating common digital payment platform

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said that BRICS nations have already established a special channel for information exchange between their central banks

Russia’s sanitary watchdog trains African colleagues on using mobile labs

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Lavrov speaks of West’s agony, Russia’s approach to any future talks with Kiev

The Russian foreign minister also described Armenia and Russia as more than formal allies

FSB declassifies archival evidence on Nazi executions of Poles, Katyn case

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Russia open to help resolve situation in Sudan — ambassador

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Bank of Russia supports accelerating bill on international cryptocurrency payments

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Lavrov labels way West ramping up sanctions against Russia as mindless

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Ukrainians abroad storming embassies to avoid mobilization, Russian diplomat says

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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

Ukrainian trace obvious in Crocus City Hall attack — Russian prosecutor general

The law enforcement employees exert efforts to identify the instigators of this crime, Igor Krasnov said

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

Arnulf Damerau said that he provided details of the meeting, along with evidence and a list of names of those involved, to US and European intelligence agencies

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

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Russia not to go for settlement on Ukraine based on 'Zelensky formula' — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat referred to a swindling trick used by a thimblerigger who puts a small round object, such as a ball or pea, under one of three thimbles or cups and asks the player to guess under which the object is, while unfairly manipulating this object

Russia handed over draft agreement to Ukraine on April 15, still no response — diplomat

"Many things, stated both in public space and at the negotiations table, have been immediately debunked by Kiev, sometimes within an hour or even 15 minutes," Maria Zakharova noted

US, UK refuse to discuss document about Israel’s strike on Syria — Russian mission to UN

"The United States and the United Kingdom were reluctant to even discuss it, citing lack of unified approach to the incident during the session," Dmitry Polyansky said

Russia to scrap moratorium on intermediate missiles if US deploys them anywhere — MFA

Sergey Ryabkov said the US seeks to maintain military superiority in a great variety of areas

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

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Nearly half of those present in UN Security Council hall walk out before Israel’s address

israeli Permanent Representative Gilad Erdan was to address the council after Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour

US-led coalition’s aircraft violate Syrian airspace 13 times in past day

Two shelling attacks on the positions of Syrian government army by the Jabhat al-Nusra groups were reported in the Idlib de-escalation zone

Russia’s advanced radar in Kaliningrad to monitor entire territory of Europe — source

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Ukrainian president admits Russian troops’ advancement

Vladimir Zelensky asked his country’s supporters to provide "everything that helps to hold the frontline," including shells, military vehicles and drones