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Coronavirus pandemic

Coronavirus situation in Russia quite difficult — deputy PM

According to Tatiana Golikova, the average incidence rate is 191 cases per 100,000 people

MOSCOW, November 12. /TASS/. The coronavirus situation in Russia is quite difficult, with incidence rate being on the rise in 61 regions, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said on Friday.

"The coronavirus situation in Russia is rather difficult. Last week, we had non-working days. In several regions, non-working days were declared earlier to curb the spread of the disease and break infection chains. The measure has yielded certain results, the incidence rates have slowed down, but <…> we continue to observe growth in 61 regions," she said.

According to Golikova, the average incidence rate is 191 cases per 100,000 people, and 254 cases among the elderly.

Earlier, the government submitted to the State Duma, or low parliament house, bills on the use of QR codes on transport and in public places. The measure is supposed to be in force until June 1, 2022 and will not apply to pharmacies, food stores and trading outlets selling articles of daily necessity.

Moscow Zoo gifts animals to North Korea — news agency

Earlier, a delegation from the Moscow Zoo headed by its head Svetlana Akulova arrived in Pyongyang on April 22

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The 12th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues took place in St. Petersburg on April 23-25

White House alleges that Russia working on satellite carrying nuclear device

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Kremlin announces creation of blockchain-based payment system in BRICS

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Ukraine to cease to exist unless it enters into talks, Belarusian president warns

Alexander Lukashenko stressed that his Ukrainian counterpart Vladimir Zelensky should have realistic expectations

Russia to hold next international security meeting in 2025 — top security official

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West views Europe as potential theater of military operations — Lukashenko

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Andrey Marochko added that the Ukrainians have also intensified artillery and drone attacks at Russian positions

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Fatah accuses Hamas of actions that led to Israeli control of Gaza — report

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Russian cosmonauts begin first spacewalk in 2024

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French neo-Nazi ringleader liquidated near Avdeyevka — sources

There is confirmed evidence of his connections with French secret services

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

Armenian police arrests people protesting against demarcation with Azerbaijan

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

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US military advisers, if sent to Ukraine, won’t come close to frontlines — Pentagon

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Putin stays in daily contact with Sergey Shoigu, Kremlin spokesman says

Timur Ivanov was arrested by Moscow’s Basmanny Court

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Swiss conference on Ukraine undermines European security — Russian diplomat

In Maxim Buyakevich words, neither the talks nor their outcome can change the existing political and territorial realities

Top Chinese diplomat calls for creating conditions for talks on Ukraine

Wang Yi also called for "resolutely opposing attempts to take advantage of the chaos and add fuel to the fire"

Russian court arrests in absentia four foreign agents charged with terrorism

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Venezuelan foreign ministry, Russian embassy hold joint conference in Caracas

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TASS, SMI2 to launch positive content aggregator on Internet

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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

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State trials of S-500 are under way at a testing range in southern Russia

Unemployment rate in Russia remains less than 3% — Putin

The unemployment rate went down in regions and settlements where it was historically high, the head of state stressed

Putin vows maximal predictability for doing business in Russia

The President ordered to expand the public finance planning level to cover six instead of three years

Potential nuclear facilities in Poland to be military target for Russia — senior diplomat

According to Sergey Ryabkov, discussions around the deployment of NATO nuclear facilities in Poland are an "unfolding story"

West’s unwillingness to give up hegemony escalates tensions in world — security official

According to Nikolay Patrushev, this creates conditions for the devaluation of international law and its institutions and the erosion of the UN's central role in resolving global and regional conflicts

More than 2.5 bln transactions made via Faster Payments System in Q1 — Central Bank

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

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IAEA chief to have working contacts with Rosatom, no meeting with Putin is planned

Rafael Grossi may visit Russia in late May

Ukrainian army strikes own surrendering soldiers — POW

Andrey Babenko said that after a crash course in Britain he had been sent to the frontline near Liman

Staff shortage cannot be covered by labor migration — Putin

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

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

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

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

Russian foreign minister to meet with Bolivian counterpart in Moscow

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Russia’s international reserves are highly liquid foreign assets available with the Bank of Russia and the Russian government

Russian children’s commissioner holds first face-to-face talks with Ukrainian counterparts

Maria Lvova-Belova thanked Qatar for setting up a venue for dialogue between Russia and Ukraine regarding children’s interests

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Ukrainian opposition demands parliament speaker's resignation over pro-Hitler remarks

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

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Tensions "have reached a peak where the slightest imbalance can lead either to a serious, high-profile and large-scale provocation or a conflict," Pavel Muraveiko stressed

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Kiev violates diplomatic relations convention by recruiting mercenaries abroad — diplomat

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West bends sanctions rules when it suits them — Kremlin

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

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Houthi leader says group attacked more than 100 ships in Red, Arabian seas so far

Ansar Allah strikes one ship every two days, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said

Cosmonauts complete spacewalk two hours ahead of schedule

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Russian Embassy to Austria denied participation in ceremony at Nazi concentration camp

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Russia ready to cooperate with all interested partners to ensure security — Putin

The Russian leader expressed confidence that the the 12th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues "will bolster cooperation for the mutual benefit of our countries and peoples"

FSB nabs Neo-Nazi group members in Volgograd Region plotting high-profile terror act

During the questioning, the detainees gave confessionary evidence that sharing the ideas of racial and religious supremacy, they established contact with the ringleaders of the pro-Ukrainian terrorist organization

Israel Defense Forces delivers more strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon

Apart from that, IDF fighter jets delivered strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in the area of Kfarchouba in southern Lebanon and in Markaba

Russia to retaliate immediately if Kiev gets ATACMS missiles — diplomat

Konstantin Gavrilov also noted that the "manic efforts" of some Western OSCE member countries to isolate Russia "are futile and will backfire on their initiators"

North Korea tests multiple rocket launchers produced at new defense enterprise

Country’s leader Kim Jong Un said the systems feature advanced technologies and "will contribute to strategic changes in the process of strengthening the artillery forces."

Russia needs to boost production of goods based on domestic technologies — Putin

The President undescored that Russia did not plan to produce absolutely everything domestically

Iran calls on BRICS states to facilitate ceasefire in Gaza Strip

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani called for a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza

Transfer of US ATACMS missiles to Ukraine cannot be justified — Russian ambassador

"Neither these missiles nor other weapons can help defeat the Russian Federation," Anatoly Antonov said

Industrial Development Fund will get additional capitalization of 300 bln rubles — Putin

The head of state stressed that companies implementing projects can already use special support measures, and the state will expand these business opportunities

Moscow Zoo gifts animals to North Korea — news agency

Earlier, a delegation from the Moscow Zoo headed by its head Svetlana Akulova arrived in Pyongyang on April 22

US government prepares to sign $6-bln contract for arms deliveries to Ukraine — Politico

According to the article, the United States "is putting the finishing touches" on one of its largest Ukraine military aid packages to date, which may be announced on Friday

Top Chinese diplomat says two states only solution to Middle East situation

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Ukraine could send special forces to capture Zaporozhye NPP — politician

According to Vladimir Rogov, the Ukrainian troops are holding drills to cross the Dnieper from the right bank to the left bank and capture a large industrial site

Good GDP growth results showed in first months of 2024 — Putin

GDP growth is 6% in average over the first two months, the Russian leader noted

China vows decisive response to US move to deploy intermediate missiles in Asia-Pacific

The Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson stressed that "US steps are posing a major threat to security and stability of regional players"

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

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Ukraine turns into testing ground for future world order, says Belarus president

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

"It is very difficult to negotiate with those who are unable to make decisions, even if they want, they can’t, and only act as a side to a difficult conflict," Vladimir Medinsky explained

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

Bank of Russia keeps key rate to prevent inflation from being double-digit, Putin says

According to the head of state, such risks still exist

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"

Global community condemns use of terrorists in geopolitical struggle — Russian official

Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev noted that the heads of foreign delegations expressed sincere condolences to the Russian people over the casualties of the attack on a concert hall outside Moscow

Right to secession from USSR was ‘time bomb’ under its statehood — Putin

The text of the Declaration of the Creation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the subsequent 1924 USSR Constitution contained the right of free secession from the Union, the Russian President pointed out

Russian troops wipe out Ukrainian UAV production workshop over past day

The Russian forces improved their frontline positions and inflicted casualties on five Ukrainian army brigades in the Donetsk area over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

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

European Parliament urges EU states to regard Russian presidential vote as illegitimate

The resolution passed in a 493-11 vote, with 18 abstentions

Europe should be prepared to build relations with Russia post-Ukraine conflict — Macron

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

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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

Negative trends still on rise in US-China relations — top Chinese diplomat

The United States should not cross the red lines with regard to China’s sovereignty and security, Wang Yi added

Dardanelles temporarily closed due to fire on board of dry cargo carrier

Rescue craft were promptly sent to the ship, fire extinguishing started, the crew was evacuated

Russian diplomat accuses US of coordinating Ukraine’s terrorist attacks

Earlier, US President Joe Biden signed a package of bills approved by Congress, which total some $95 bln and include about $61 bln to help Ukraine and $26 bln to support Israel