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Coronavirus pandemic

Measures against COVID-19 to be implemented until global vaccination — WHO representative

The official emphasized that vaccination in itself is not a panacea capable of stemming the pandemic but it will alleviate the burden of the disease

© Sergei Bobylev/TASS

MOSCOW, January 26. /TASS/. The observance of social and medical measures against the coronavirus is necessary until everyone is protected by inoculation, Melita Vujnovic, World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Russia, told TASS.

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She emphasized that in itself the vaccination is not a panacea capable of stemming the pandemic but it "will decrease the burden of diseases and will save many lives." "Time is needed in order to include everyone in the inoculation, as well as comprehensive planning, recognition and demand on the part of the society. Until everyone is protected by the inoculation, we should adhere to all known medical and social measures introduced in every country to fight the infection," the representative noted.

Thus, the WHO representative pointed out that only the initial phase of vaccination was launched in the majority of countries, aimed at priority groups of population. "The procedure of official reporting at the WHO and a system to track the inoculation progress by country are at the development stage," she added.

"Countries continue to enhance their public health measures and social measures responding to the local epidemic situation and to mitigate the risk of importing various strains," she concluded, noting that the situation with growth in incidence varies in the countries of the WHO European region.

On January 18, mass vaccination against the coronavirus began in Russian regions. Russians can get inoculated free of charge with one of the two registered vaccines - Sputnik V or EpiVacCorona.

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

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Trump 'demonstrates affinity' for Russian President Vladimir Putin — newspaper

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Ukraine's Kurakhovo Reservoir dam blast to help, not hurt Russian troops — expert

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US missile defense base in Poland to defend US, Europe alike — Polish foreign minister

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Russia elected to UN Committee for Program and Coordination

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Russian troops secure ground near Novodarovka, Rovnopol in Zaporozhye Region — official

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Ukrainian forces ready to withdraw from Kurakhovo, but no order yet — serviceman

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Explosion of Kurakhovo reservoir dam disrupts water supply

Roman Pukalov noted that the blast killed many fish in the reservoir, washed away fertile soil, and inundated potentially hazardous sites, including cemeteries, cattle burial grounds, and fertilizer depots

Russia has written off $20 bln worth of African debts — MFA

Mikhail Bogdanov added that it allows using those debts "to implement socio-economic projects directly in the country"

Kiev's Western allies begin to acknowledge need for territorial concessions — report

The diplomats see this approach as "land in exchange for Ukraine’s security"

Ukrainian intel officers in Syria to be eliminated as terrorists’ accomplices — diplomat

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West criticizes Russia's growing ties with Caspian region countries — presidential aide

Nikolay Patrushev emphasized that the United States and the European Union are making "efforts to dismantle relations between these states, undermine their political and trade cooperation”

Erdogan praises Russia, China for backing arms embargo on Israel

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Tehran to retaliate against anti-Iran resolutions at IAEA — official

Tehran views the approach of the United States and the European troika to the situation surrounding Iran's nuclear program as hostile

Grossi oversteps authority by talking about freeze of Ukraine conflict — Russian MFA

The Russian diplomats also said that IAEA experts will stay at the ZNPP as long as Russia deems their presence there necessary

US plans to remove 'arrogant' Zelensky and stage 2025 elections in Ukraine — SVR

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Too early to talk about meeting between Assad, Erdogan — Russian diplomat

"Certain communication is maintained between the defense ministers, in the four-lateral format," Alexander Lavrentyev said

Finnish government requests EU sanctions exemption for Russian owners of sports arena

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Lukashenko tells Putin situation is "starting to get tense with Wagner"

The Belarusian leader noted that they want to go to Warsaw

Borrell calls on EU to play ‘military role’

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Chancellor Scholz opposes assistance to Ukraine at expense of Germany’s future

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Zelensky will lead Ukraine to civil or nuclear war rather than surrender power, legislator

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Bulgarian president calls for using all diplomatic opportunities to end Ukraine conflict

According to Rumen Radev, Europe wants the conflict in Ukraine "to finish as soon as possible"

Israel achieves its goals in conflict with Hamas, time to 'end the war' — Blinken

"Israel, by the standards it set itself, has accomplished the goals that it set for itself," the US Secretary of State noted

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

South Korea to support Ukraine in response to Russia-North Korea alliance — president

As Yoon Suk Yeol said, the reported dispatch of North Korean servicemen to participate in Russia’s special military operation "poses a serious security threat not only to the Korean Peninsula and Europe but also to the entire world"

US administration always seeks to weaken Russia — Lavrov

The foreign minister pointed out that the Americans had long declared the idea that "there should be no country in the world more influential than the United States"

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Russia to collaborate with Arab nations for Middle East de-escalation — diplomat

"A call was made to the international community to contribute to the achievement of this goal," Maria Zakharova added

Putin discussed Ukraine with Saudi crown prince — Kremlin

"The sides indeed touched upon the topic of the conflict. We have nothing more to say," Dmitry Peskov said

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Trump plans to appoint special envoy on Ukraine to hold peace talks with Russia — TV

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Russia to hold Astana-format summit in 2025 — Russian diplomat

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Trump to rely on forces that brought him to power — Russian presidential aide

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ISS orbit raised by almost 5 km before launch of Progress MS-29 spacecraft — Roscosmos

According to preliminary information, the ISS’s average orbit was increased by 4.9 km to 417.2 km above Earth

Countries will line up for Russian gas when US stops exporting LNG — Serbian president

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Ukraine targets medics and journalists as priorities — military doctor

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Omer Bolat recalled that at the last BRICS summit in Kazan, the sides "considered the applications of Turkey and several other countries"

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Russian researchers discover previously unknown ancient tomb near Great Pyramid in Egypt

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

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Su-57 fighter jet shows exceptional performance in Russia’s special op, senior official

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

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Lavrov likens proposals to freeze Ukraine crisis to worse version of Minsk agreements

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There is chance to stop war in Middle East under Trump — Russian diplomat

"It is too early to talk about this because we should wait at least for the president’s inauguration," Alexander Lavrentyev noted

Trump’s return to power unlikely to change US approach to Ukraine crisis — Lavrov

Washington will always seek to control everything that is happening within NATO’s orbit, especially on NATO territory, the Russian foreign minister said

Russian forces liberate Voznesenka community in Donbass region over past day

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First S-550 air defense systems enter service in Russia — source

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Trump’s victory to make Seoul reconsider shipping arms to Ukraine — news agency

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US views Russia as present-day threat, Trump may prioritize containing China — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister stressed that reputation matters the most to the United States which does not care about the real fates of peoples, in particular the Ukrainian one

Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

Over the day, the enemy lost more than 430 troops, ten tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, 19 armored combat vehicles, 33 motor vehicles, one Anklav-N electronic warfare station

Scholz promises to transfer sixth IRIS-T system to Kiev by yearend

Ukraine and Germany also discussed further defense cooperation

Russian Battlegroup North artillery units hit Ukrainian weapons, manpower in Kursk Region

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Russia's newest Su-57 fighter jet superior to China's new J-35 — test pilot

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Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

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Violence against Kupyansk residents refusing to evacuate reported in Kharkov Region

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Elections can be held in various ways, Lavrov on Ukrainian situation

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

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Russia ready for contacts with Trump administration, ball is in US court — Lavrov

At the same time, he emphasized that Russia has no expectations from the new US administration, but will assess its concrete steps

Next-gen Su-57 shows strength of Russia’s defense sector — diplomat

Maria Zakharova pointed out that military experts had praised the "unmatched capabilities" the plane displayed at the Airshow China in Zhuhai

Press review: US to maintain aid to Israel while Kiev regime faces challenge to retain it

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, November 14th

Russian president himself deals with issue of Ukraine, there is no special envoy — Kremlin

"We have no special envoy for this," Dmitry Peskov responded to a question about Russia’s plans to appoint a special envoy on Ukraine, similar to the United States

US denies possession of extraterrestrial technologies

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Russia, US have many annoyances, it is hard to pick worst one — Kremlin spokesman

Earlier, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Baku

People evacuated from Brazil’s Supreme Court after blast nearby — agency

According to Reuters, Brasilia’s military police confirmed that a body was found near the court building

Kiev may offer Trump resources, partial rotation of US troops in Europe — official

Mikhail Podolyak also expressed Kiev's hopes that the newly elected US president would impose stricter economic sanctions on Russia, particularly in the oil industry, if not provide direct military support

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

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Russian Marines destroy Challenger 2 tank with FPV drone in Kursk Region

Previously, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the enemy lost 10 tanks in the Kursk region in the past 24 hours

Iraqi Shiites say they attacked ‘vital targets’ in Israel

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Russia open for contacts with Trumps’ team on Syria — Russian diplomat

Alexander Lavrentyev stressed that all parties to the conflict must be involved in talks so that a lasting peace in Syria could be achieved

Medvedev characterizes Great Britain as eternal adversary of Russia

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Trump's planned key appointments

Trump appointed Congressman Michael Waltz (Republican, Florida) as national security adviser

Businessmen in Germany, Russia again eager to interact more, says executive

Ulf Schneider expressed his gratitude to representatives of the Russian business community for their continued efforts to involve Western businessmen in work in Russia despite the challenging political climate

Russia keeps positive dynamics of agricultural production — ministry

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Russian politician condemns destruction of dam on Kurakhovo reservoir as Kiev’s terror act

Earlier, military sources told TASS that Ukrainian forces sank their own positions in a low-lying area near Kurakhovo as they blew up the dam, killing at least 10 Ukrainian soldiers