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Coronavirus pandemic

Parliament to discuss expediency of government-initiated bills on QR codes

Earlier, the government submitted to the State Duma bills on the use of QR codes on transport and in public places

MOSCOW, November 12. /TASS/. Russia’s parliament will discuss the expediency of the anti-coronavirus measures suggested by the government in the bills on the use of QR codes nationwide, Andrei Klishas, chairman of the constitutional legislation committee of Russia’s Federal Council, or upper parliament house, told TASS on Friday.

"The expediency of these measures are subject to discussion by parliament," he said.

Earlier in the day, 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. The final decision on the use of QR codes and the list of places where they will be needed will be up to regional authorities.

Protests in Kenya leave at least 39 dead and more than 350 injured

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According to the report, seven vehicles and a motorcycle were also damaged

Russia, Lebanon call for containing Gaza conflict, not letting it spread to region — MFA

According to the statement, "the Russian side reaffirmed its unwavering position in support of the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon"

Western sanctions against Russia are complete fiasco — Russia's Permanent Representative

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Russia sees good prospects for cooperation between countries under Western sanctions

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DPR security agencies emphasize strategic importance of liberating Novopokrovskoye

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Russia ‘big winner’ in conflict with US, NATO — Dutch MEP

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Kremlin condemns refusal to accredit Russian media for NATO summit in US

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Ukrainian intel service foils plot to overthrow government

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US analyst says Biden, Trump misinformed about situation in Ukraine

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Evo Morales accuses Bolivia’s Luiz Arce of staging coup attempt

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Russian troops use tunnel to take large Ukrainian stronghold in Kirov — defense ministry

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Beijing opposes hegemony, ready to promote multipolar world — Chinese leader

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Russia’s Justice Ministry adds CSIS research center to list of undesirable organizations

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Ukrainian military thrown from left bank in Kherson Region, fighting underway on islands

The fighting has moved to the islands, with the Russian army having ramped up activities

Election outcome in France won’t significantly alter Russia policy, says expert

"The situation is critical," Andrey Bystritsky continued, saying that the results of the election were vulnerable to some clever spin-doctoring

Duma Committee approves amendments to increase in Russian budget deficit for 2nd reading

As the head of the State Duma Committee on Budget and Taxes Andrey Makarov explained, six amendments were proposed for the bill, one of which was withdrawn

West’s actions discrediting key market institutes — diplomat

Distrust in the financial system based on European reserve currencies is growing, Konstantin Gavrilov added

Kazakhstan eyeing nuclear power as alternative to coal — Kazenergy

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Russian military vows to prevent recurrence of Transnistrian conflict

"The operation group is cooperating with all law enforcement structures of Transnistria," Colonel Dmitry Zelenkov reported

US Supreme Court rules Trump has partial immunity from prosecution

"At least with respect to the president’s exercise of his core constitutional powers, this immunity must be absolute," the ruling said

Biden’s team thwarts calls for his replacement after debate failure — Washington Post

According to the report, Biden’s campaign made private calls to campaign donors and Democratic lawmakers

Fico gets set to return to office after assassination attempt — defense minister

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Russia develops single-use combat drone to intercept enemy UAVs

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Kanye West leaves Moscow

Designer Gosha Rubchinskiy was seeing him off

Philadelphia Flyers sign three-year contract with Russian national Matvei Michkov

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Macron expects his coalition to secure at least 150 seats in 577-seat parliament — radio

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Crisis in Ukraine cannot be resolved overnight — Russian diplomat

Trump has repeatedly said that he would be able to promptly settle the Ukrainian conflict if he takes the presidential office again

Moscow court recovers $113 mln from Google in favor of its Russian subsidiary

The activities of 12 of the 13 defendants relate to advertising or marketing, and the maximum amount of one claim was $34 mln

Helsinki to attempt to buy out arena owned by Russians

The sellers believe that the voluntary stocks sale transaction is possible even after expiry of the period set by the EU, the source said

Russian embassies overflowing with requests to relocate to country — MFA

Maria Zakharova also drew attention to the fact that the Russian Foreign Policy Concept touches upon the topic of traditional values 11 times

Hungary becomes chair of European Council amid sharp disagreements with EU

Hungary begins its six-month presidency in the European Council amid serious disagreements with the EU management

Air defenses destroy 36 Ukrainian drones over central Russia last night

Of those, 15 were brought down over the borderline Kursk Region

NATO looks to appoint official in charge of support for Ukraine — WSJ

The decision is expected to be announced at the upcoming NATO summit in Washington

Russian forces destroy over 34,000 Ukrainian soldiers at LPR borders in June

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US plotting against Chinese electric car industry — Chinese Ambassador to Moscow

Zhang Hanhui noted that such actions will result in a slowdown in the global "green transformation" and a shaken faith in international cooperation in combatting climate change

Protests in Kenya leave at least 39 dead and more than 350 injured

The country’s national human rights commission "continues to strongly condemn the unjustified violence against the protesters, medical personnel, lawyers, journalists, churches, first-aid centers and ambulances"

Russia, China request fish products safety information from Japan

The Japanese side again attempted to convince WTO members of radiation safety of their foods after elimination of consequences of the incident at the Fukushina Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in 2011

Western partners drove Kiev to abandon neutrality — Hungarian expert

As Gyorgy Varga noted, the Budapest memorandum that was signed by neutral Ukraine and the guarantees this memorandum envisaged were not observed

Biden’s family implores him to stay in presidential race — CNN

According to the sources, the president’s close ones implore him to keep fighting and expressed their "unequivocal support" during the family get-together at Camp David

Peresvet combat lasers enter duty with Russia’s armed forces

Russian military personnel operating those systems underwent special training at the Mozhaysky Military Space Academy

China launches rail service with Europe via Russia — Xinhua news agency

The freight train with construction materials, household electronics and other goods department from the Beijing’s logistical hub in Pinggu district to Moscow

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French election results reflect broader European trends — Kremlin

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Turkish troops kill 25 opposition fighters in firefight in northern Syria

Al Mayadeen TV reported that the most violent clashes took place in Afrin

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Russian army liberates Spornoye, Novoaleksandrovka in Donetsk People’s Republic

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Russian troops liberate two communities in Kharkov Region, DPR over past day — top brass

Russian troops destroyed Ukrainian Air Force aircraft at a military airfield and an armament repair center over the past day, the ministry reported

West cares little about human lives, is interested in Russia’s resources — Serbian leader

Vucic stressed earlier that the Ukrainian conflict cannot be ended right now

US bases in Europe put on alert amid terror attack threat — TV

A potential terror attack may target US military personnel or facilities

Bank of Russia increases dollar rate to 87.3 rubles for July 2

The official euro rate was increased by 1.54 rubles to 93.9582 rubles

Russian troops create ZVeraBoi counter-drone buggy in Ukraine operation

The vehicle’s front part features a turret with two mounted PKT machine-guns and an improvised six-barrel muzzle-loading shotgun placed between them

Houthis say they attacked four ships related to UK, US, Israel

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Israeli military says it destroyed kilometer-long tunnel in Gaza

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New security architecture in Eurasia to exclude external military presence — Russia’s MFA

Maria Zakharova recalled that the initiative to create a new continent-wide security architecture in the Eurasian space had been put forward by Russian President Vladimir Putin

Relations between Serbia, Russia maintained at exclusive level — deputy PM

Aleksandar Vulin "thanked Russia for its principled support for Serbia in its efforts to defend its national interests and territorial integrity"

Head of Presidential Administration of Belarus met with Lavrov in Moscow

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Seven people including child wounded in Ukrainian shelling of Belgorod, surrounding area

All necessary assistance is provided

Russia bans entry to 99 Canadian citizens — Foreign Ministry

According to the statement, the list includes the individuals "who are involved in the elaboration and implementation of Ottawa’s Russophobic course"

Russian diplomat warns Israel’s potential transfer of Patriots to Ukraine could backfire

Vasily Nebenzya fielded numerous questions as reporters from around the world packed full the UN press conference room

Iran threatens ‘obliterating war’ if Israel attacks Lebanon

"Iran deems as psychological warfare the Zionist regime’s propaganda about intending to attack Lebanon", the Iranian mission to the UN said

EU needs change, because instead of peace and order there is war and migration — Orban

Hungarian Prime Minister expressed the hope that right-wing conservative forces will be able to bring about changes in the EU

Kremlin criticizes Stoltenberg’s comments about China

"We are confident that our Chinese friends can themselves provide a proper evaluation of such statements," Dmitry Peskov stressed

International community set to continue engagement with Afghanistan — UN

There was the third UN-brokered meeting on Afghanistan since May 2023

Ukraine moving troops to border with Belarus cause of concern for Russia, too — Kremlin

According to Dmitry Peskov, Moscow and Belarus have special formats of dialogue between all relevant agencies, including special services

Lavrov to chair ministerial debates at UNSC on July 16-17

"In general, the UN Security Council’s program will be quite busy," the Russian Foreign Ministry said

Hezbollah drones strike Israeli tank force’s base

A command center and a barrack of soldiers of tank battalions were struck

Russian official highlights growing threat coming from Ukraine's jet-powered drones

According to Andrey Tabekin, experts are currently working on ways to jam such drones

Head of the Cuban military department arrives on visit to Belarus

It is expected that the head of the Cuban military department will participate in the parade that will be held in Minsk on July 3

Committee recommends Federation Council suspend Russia's OSCE PA membership

According to the draft statement, Russian senators and State Duma MPs are adamant that restricting parliamentarians who represent the people from taking part in OSCE PA events is unacceptable

Italy’s UniCredit applied to EU court for clarification of ECB instructions

Since February 2022 UniCredit adopted a number of strategies to significantly reduce its Russian presence "resulting in a reduction of its cross-border exposure by 91%"

NATO won’t be part of Ukraine conflict, it won’t cross this line, says Scholz

According to the German chancellor, the NATO summit will discuss the strengthening of its role in coordinating support for Ukraine and training the Ukrainian armed forces

Ukraine working on own peace plan, to be ready before year-end — Zelensky

The Ukrainian president reiterated that Kiev wanted to see the conflict over and hoped "to achieve a fair peace as soon as possible"

Russian troops should scale up FAB-3000 bomb strikes at key Ukrainian army sites — expert

"Considering a substantial strike effect of this munition, its use can be recognized as successful," Igor Korotchenko underlined

Stepovaya Novoselovka's liberation to pave way for Russian offensive on Kupyansk — expert

"Deliveries of arms and ammunition still continue to Kupyansk-Uzlovoy, even though we are constantly carrying out strikes on this settlement," Andrey Marochko said

Ukraine’s irretrievable losses five-times higher than Russia’s, Putin says

According to him, this is the reason behind attempts to carry out an all-out mobilization campaign in Ukraine

Russia not to divulge details of possible deployment of short-and medium-range missiles

On June 28, at a meeting with the Russian Security Council, Putin reiterated that, after the US withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019, Russia pledged that it would refrain from manufacturing and deploying such systems as long as the United States refuses to deploy them in any part of the world

Civilian killed in Ukrainian shelling of farm in Russia’s Belgorod Region

According to Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, the number of those wounded in Ukrainian attacks over the past day has risen to nine

UN cannot work with Russian companies for humanitarian purposes due to sanctions

From five to six Russian companies are proactively working with the WFP on the food track on a credit basis - deliveries are made first and then the payment takes place

Armenian PM deems referendum for EU accession unnecessary

Several pro-Western political groups in Armenia have united under one platform and are demanding that the country's authorities hold a referendum on EU accession

Ukraine needs some 200,000 recruits to address troop shortages — newspaper

In order to address its troop shortage, Kiev reportedly needs to recruit at least 50,000 people every quarter

Civilian high-tech production share in defense sector is 27% — Russian first deputy PM

Certain plants have already crossed the level of 50%, particularly Rosatom, the Kazan Helicopter Plant, UEC-Saturn and others, Denis Manturov stressed

Atmosphere in UN Security Council very hostile towards Russia — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov noted that it "will certainly be very difficult" to bring objectivity to the work of the UN Security Council during Russia's one-month chairmanship

Ukraine sets up new artillery positions near Belogorovka in LPR, expert says

While shelling from those positions has not so far been very intensive, "the situation may change soon," Andrey Marochko warned

US coalition's drone flies too close to Russian plane in Syria — top brass

The Russian pilot demonstrated high professionalism and took timely measures to prevent a collision

Orban to visit Kiev and meet with Zelensky

Hungarian Prime Minister will also talk with other Ukrainian officials

Russia assumes July presidency of UN Security Council

Russia convenes its first UNSC meeting on Monday to approve the agenda of the Security Council for the coming month

Xi Jinping to pay state visit to Dushanbe on July 4-6

Bilateral talks with a small and extended number of participants will be held as part of the visit

Ukrainians fail to break through near Dnepryany in Kherson Region — governor

Dnepryany is a township on the left bank of the Dnieper River, situated 15km east from the village of Krynki

Baku, Yerevan may finalize peace treaty in few months — Azerbaijani president

At the same time, Ilham Aliyev emphasized that the peace agreement can be signed only if Armenia changes its constitution