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Coronavirus pandemic

Moscow’s COVID-19 spread rate hits new low since late May — TASS estimates

The spread rate of infection still surpasses 1 in nine out of ten Russian regions with the highest COVID-19 incidence

MOSCOW, June 30. /TASS/. The COVID-19 spread rate in Moscow decreased to 0.83, a record low since May 21, 2021, according to TASS estimates based on the anti-coronavirus crisis center’s data.

Russia’s coronavirus spread rate dropped to 1.05, reaching a new low since June 8.

The spread rate of infection still surpasses 1 in nine out of ten Russian regions with the highest COVID-19 incidence. In the Moscow Region, the figure hit 1.08, in the Nizhny Novgorod Region, it stood at 1.11, in the Irkutsk Region, the spread rate reached 1.13, in the Voronezh and Rostov Regions - 1.16. In Russia’s second largest city St. Petersburg, where the daily COVID-19 caseload surpassed 1,500 for the first time since February, the spread rate hit 1.18.

Meanwhile, in the Samara Region, the figure continued to decline rapidly, on Wednesday, it was 1.21 (versus 1.59 a day earlier). In the Krasnoyarsk Region, on the contrary, the spread rate surged to 1.25, while in the Sverdlovsk Region, it stood at 1.27.

The coronavirus spread rate indicates the average number of people that one person can infect before isolation. Along with other criteria, this figure is used to determine, whether the regions are ready to lift the restrictive measures introduced last spring to combat the pandemic. Currently, the spread rate is applied in terms of the decisions on the resumption of regular international passenger traffic. According to Russia’s sanitary watchdog’s recommendations, the country can open the borders for a particular state if the COVID-19 spread rate there does not exceed 1 within a week.

Military operation in Ukraine

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First engine for Voronezh ultralight space rockets unveiled at Technoprom

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Leonid Pasechnik stated that the Ukrainian armed forces’ strike was targeted

Malva howitzer shells strike targets simultaneously along different trajectories — Rostec

The state corporation specified that the howitzer is designed to engage command posts, defensive fortifications, artillery and missile batteries, air defense positions, and armored vehicle convoys

Iranian attacks cause billions in damage to US surveillance hardware in Middle East — TV

The Iranian attacks raise doubts about whether the Department of State, the Pentagon and the US intelligence community are sufficiently prepared to guarantee due protection to US sites in the region, the TV channel said

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According to the news portal, Washington will focus on putting more economic pressure on Iran through the sanctions and naval blockade

Iranian president expects to meet with Putin at SCO summit

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State Duma promises Russia will strip Armenia of all 'gifts' if it pivots to West

Alexey Chepa said it will be impossible for Yerevan to "sit on two stools" simultaneously

Moscow court orders in-absentia arrest of FAZ journalist Martens

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Martens’ calls for the murder of Russians were unacceptable and criminal

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Russia could approach India in terms of purchasing power parity — expert

Anton Sviridenko said it is necessary for Russia to expand access to credit resources for business, ensure the conversion of citizens’ savings into investment, and enhance the stock market’s role

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Six civilian infrastructure facilities, three residential buildings, a shuttle bus, and trucks were damaged in the attacks

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In case of catastrophe on Earth the Moon could be humanity's salvation — Roscosmos CEO

Dmitry Bakanov emphasized the utmost importance of developing all life support technologies on the Moon

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Dodon does not rule out provocations at Russia-protected ammunition depots in Transnistria

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Kazakhstan to cut 2026 oil output target due to CPC attacks

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West seeks to create flashpoints along Russia’s borders, Medvedev says

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US-Iran talks on settling conflict reach impasse — Egyptian Foreign Ministry

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty emphasized that Egypt "continues to maintain contact" with Tehran and advocated for a swift end to the conflict

Western countries hosting largest number of Ukrainian refugees significantly cut their aid

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The authority works with foreign governments, law enforcement agencies and the private sector

Syrian Kurd leader says armed groups to be dissolved — agency

Commander of the Kurd’s Syrian Democratic Forces Mazloum Abdi also said that the Kurdish autonomous administration in northeastern Syria will become part of the government

Ukraine’s ex-Defense Minister Fyodorov says Kiev losing in conflict with Russia

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Economic war against Iran could end in defeat for US allies — expert

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Battlegroup North captures Ukrainian soldier, destroys 133 fixed-wing UAVs over past day

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Russian troops liberate two communities in Ukraine operation over past day — top brass

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The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service questioned whether the German authorities have the political will "to draw impartial conclusions and officially announce them"

What is known about detention of eleven terrorist suspects in Russia’s North Caucasus

The arrests took place at the detainees' places of residence

Russia still open to international cooperation in science — deputy PM

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Tehran's condition for resuming dialogue is US compliance with Islamabad agreement

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Employee injured in fire at Wildberries logistics center outside Tambov after drone attack

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Ukrainian armed forces drop explosives disguised as children’s toys from drones

The Ukrainian military often uses eye-catching objects to disguise improvised explosive devices

Press review: Vatican eyes Ukraine peace role as Slovakia keeps Russian energy contracts

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, August 26th

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Firefighters extinguish blaze at Amur Gas Chemical Complex construction site

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Top Iranian diplomat hails agreement with Oman of Hormuz as example of regional solutions

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Russia wants Vatican to denounce Kiev’s actions against Ukrainian Orthodox Church

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Ukraine is definitely losing in conflict — Kremlin

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Ukrainian tactics in Zaporozhye Region resemble medieval siege methods — Russian diplomat

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Another ten troops returning to Russia today from captivity — human rights commissioner

Yana Lantratova clarified that the swap process in Belarus is currently being finalized using a ten-for-ten formula

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Vyacheslav Volodin called Western aid to Ukraine a bondage for the Ukrainian people

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Sweden wants to expropriate plot belonging to Russian, allegedly over "security threat"

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IN BRIEF: Kremlin Spokesman Peskov on US aircraft in Moscow, Ukrainian settlement terms

TASS has compiled the key statements by the Kremlin spokesman

Armenia cynically exploits Eurasian Economic Union in its bid to join EU — Duma speaker

Vyacheslav Volodin urged Armenia to clarify its foreign policy course

Up to 70 vessels queue near Danube ports to load Ukrainian grain — media

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European leaders cut off their own path to participation in negotiations — legislator

European countries are openly involved in the Ukrainian conflict, granting Kiev permission to produce long-range missiles for attacks on civilians, Leonid Slutsky said

CIA chief arrived in Russia for contacts between special services, Kremlin tells WP

Dmitry Peskov declined to provide any further details

ICRC delegates visit Wildberries facilities targeted by Ukraine near St. Petersburg — MFA

During the visit, ICRC experts could verify the complete absence of military facilities both at and around the warehouses

What to know about Amur Gas Chemical Complex fire that left one dead

According to reports, 19 people were hospitalized

Zelensky regime, Western countries are exterminating Ukrainian people — Duma speaker

Vyacheslav Volodin stressed that the Zelensky regime understood perfectly well that no one would need it, should it end the war with Russia

Russian stocks down as main trading session opens

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No contacts between Kremlin, US representatives planned — spokesman

Russia’s contacts with Ratcliffe were conducted through special services, Dmitry Peskov added

Russia’s Il-76 aircraft prevents fire from spreading to populated areas in Serbia

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic emphasized Russia's rapid response to the request for firefighting assistance

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US suspends immigrant visa application processing worldwide — FT

The State Department did not say when immigrant visa appointments would resume

Russian authorities will decide on extending ban on diesel exports soon

Fully meeting domestic fuel needs, including those of agricultural producers during seasonal field operations, remains a prior task, the Russian Energy Ministry noted

Russia’s Uran-6 ground robotic system proves effective in demining Mariupol — DPR head

According to Denis Pushilin, demining of the city was a very serious task

Russia, Ukraine working toward new large POW exchange — ombudswoman

Lists are being agreed, Russian human rights commissioner Yana Lantratov said

Russia not to forget Ukraine’s terror attack on Starobelsk, to seek justice — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister said the Kiev regime continues demonstrating its utter brutality by targeting children

Kiev ignores UN reports on Ukrainian Orthodox Church persecution — Russia’s MFA

The topic of persecution against the UOC is "increasingly being raised, which is encouraging, in the media, including abroad, and the legal community is addressing it," Mikhail Melekh said

Turkey has no hidden agenda in Middle East, Erdogan says

According to the Turkish president, the republic's goal is to ensure an atmosphere of peace

West won’t allow Kiev to produce Patriot systems, fearing backfire — expert

According to Alexander Pataman, the Kiev regime is capable of turning this ‘handout’ against his master

Kiev regime is collapsing from within — Kremlin

There is a quasi-political fuss underway deep inside the Kiev regime and it is becoming increasingly intense, Dmitry Peskov said

Energy ministry assesses diesel fuel situation on Russian market as stable

The ministry reported that additional volumes following export restrictions were redirected to the domestic market

One civilian killed, seven wounded in Ukraine’s attacks on DPR during day

Three dwelling houses, six civilian infrastructure facilities, a bus, and eight trucks were damaged

Iran to hold talks on managing Hormuz with Oman within a timeframe of 60 days — diplomat

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabad confirmed that the waterway will remain closed and that Iran has full control of the area

Ukrainian terrorist elements to spread around world after Russia’s win in special op

Denis Pushilin added that the sea routes, which are a priority in the area of cargo transportation, must be protected because the risk of terrorist threats will persist for decades to come

Israel expels Netherlands officials from Gaza support center — Foreign Ministry

The Dutch representatives have been instructed to leave Israel within one week

Flood in Nepal: At least 95 killed, some 400 tourists missing and $1.3 billion in damage

The Russian embassy in Kathmandu has told TASS that the diplomatic mission has no information about the presence of Russian citizens in the affected areas.

Ombudswoman reports return of 10 Russian soldiers from Ukrainian captivity

Yana Lantratova the most important thing now is for the veterans to receive all the necessary assistance

Research directions for North Pole·43 expedition outlined

Director of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute Alexander Makarov noted that the scientific program will primarily include oceanology, geophysics, and atmospheric research

Iran, Oman agree to share shipping revenues from Strait of Hormuz — IRGC

IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebbi emphasized that the waterway would be opened if the US abided by the agreements that had been previously reached

Russia, Serbia agree to continue consultations on security challenges — foreign ministry

The sides spoke in favor of continuing the practice of holding regular consultations and maintaining close contacts in the area of combating international terrorism