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Coronavirus pandemic

Use of Sputnik Light as booster jab for all vaccines approved in UAE, RDIF says

Sputnik Light is the first component of the Sputnik V vaccine

MOSCOW, November 30. /TASS/. The UAE has approved the use of the Russian single-component Sputnik Light vaccine against coronavirus as a universal booster shot for all vaccines, a statement by the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said.

"The RDIF announces the approval of the use of the Russian single-component Sputnik Light vaccine against coronavirus as a universal booster injection for all vaccines in the UAE by the country’s Ministry of Health and Prevention," the statement noted.

The fund specified that Sputnik Light as a booster jab would be accessible to all residents aged 18 and older and can be used after 6 months following the injection of the second component of any vaccine used in the inoculation program in the UAE.

Sputnik Light is the first component (a recombinant human adenovirus serotype 26 (rАd26)) of the Sputnik V vaccine. The jab was certified in the UAE this October.

In January 2021, the UAE also approved the two-component Sputnik V vaccine. Both jabs were certified in the country within the framework of the emergency use authorization (EUA).

EU border checkpoint closest to Russia’s St. Petersburg to cut its working hours

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Russia expects Armenia to clarify 'military, political accords' with US, EU — diplomat

Maria Zakharova noted that Moscow would not be surprised if it turned out that the US and the EU had imposed their plans on Yerevan

Russian Aerospace Forces strike five militant hideouts in Syria’s Homs

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Over 40 nations want to join BRICS — Russian lawmaker

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West militarizes South Caucasus, buries hope for region’s peaceful future — Russian MFA

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Russian artillery thwarts Ukrainian army’s rotation near Kupyansk — underground resistance

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Agents in Ukrainian, Poland foil attempt to kill Zelensky, security officials in Kiev say

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Russian government approves draft agreement on military cooperation with DRC

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French, US, British nukes all interwoven — Russian diplomat

Maria Zakharova described France’s decision to place its aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, directly under NATO control as a symbolic move marking the end of "the era of an independent Paris in the international arena"

Iran tells US about April 13 attack on Israel, it does not want escalation — top diplomat

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Kiev continues to openly announce terrorist attacks on Russia — diplomat

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Germany fails to present evidence in case of espionage suspects — Russian embassy

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EU plans to invest first profits from Russian assets in military aid to Kiev

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Ukraine’s military loses positions near Avdeyevka, says DPR

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US deploying missiles in Philippines to endanger global security — Russian envoy

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According to Sergey Ryabkov, Russia and Argentina maintain a good dialogue at various levels

CEC chairperson hands over presidential credentials to Putin

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Russian Railways to triple tourist passenger flow to 3 mln people by 2030

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Russia says its forces repel four Ukrainian counterattacks in Kupyansk area

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Ukrainian trace obvious in Crocus City Hall attack — Russian Prosecutor General

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Robert Fico believes Moscow will win in its confrontation with Kiev

German MFA summons Russian ambassador after detention of espionage suspects — newspaper

Commenting on the men's arrest, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said: "Our security services have prevented possible explosions aimed at undermining our military assistance to Ukraine"

Exports of Chinese goods to Ukraine rise by 50% to $783 mln in January - March

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Russia working on AI-operated border security system

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

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Russian MFA says Russia won’t invade Ukraine, blames US for ‘aggressive plans’

Maria Zakharova said it was "absurd" to say Russia nurtured any aggressive plans about Ukraine

Ukraine turns from sovereign country into Western protectorate, Hungarian PM says

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Russian, Israeli security chiefs discuss current escalation in Middle East

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Russian investigators start inquiry into financing of terrorism by US, NATO officials

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Iran intends to bolster military cooperation with Russia — envoy to Moscow

Kazem Jalali noted that Iran had demonstrated its ability to ensure security and nudge the region toward a de-escalation

Press review: US throws Russia New START curveball and Washington's aid balancing act

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, April 17th

Germany moves to exclude Russia from concentration camp liberation celebrations

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Press review: Ukraine, Israel vie for EU’s attention and Georgia passes controversial bill

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, April 18th

Cuba expects to welcome over 200,000 Russian tourists in 2024 — minister

Juan Carlos Garcia Granda expressed hope that in a short term the number could climb to half a million

Russia can join top three countries by lithium reserves — governor

Infrastructure is required to implement the investment project, both power transmission lines and the railroad, Andrey Chibis noted

German Foreign Ministry confirms summoning of Russian ambassador

Earlier, the German Public Prosecutor’s Office said that two people had been detained on suspicion of spying for Russia

Founder of neo-Nazi cell in Crimea flees to Georgia — source

According to the official, the investigation established that Mikhail Maurov planned to travel to Ukraine to join the ranks of a right-wing Ukrainian organization called the Freedom of Russia Legion

EU border checkpoint closest to Russia’s St. Petersburg to cut its working hours

The changes were attributed to reconstruction works on the Russian side of the checkpoint Ivangorod

Press TV reports all of Iran's hypersonic missiles hit intended targets in Israel

The report did not specify which facilities in Israel had been attacked with hypersonic missiles

Ukrainian nationalists in Mariupol used maternity hospital as their base — Lavrov

Earlier, Russian delegation presented evidence at a session of the UN Security Council that the maternity hospital in question had long been seized by the Azov battalion and other radicals and all expectant mothers and all nurses had been driven out of it

Ukraine attacks ZNPP training center again, drone neutralized

"No one was injured as a result of the attack," the news release said

Ukrainian president signs law tightening mobilization rules

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Ukrainian military reportedly uses HIMARS rocket launcher to attack Gorlovka

Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Denis Pushilin also said that an explosive device had detonated in the Kievsky District of Donetsk, injuring a man born in 1964

Ukraine struggles to garner support for Swiss conference — Russian Foreign Ministry

"There are increasingly fewer people willing to discuss this subject with Kiev’s envoys, let alone going there," Rodion Miroshnik stressed

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

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Lavrov states West’s growing concern about BRICS plans to develop own financial tools

According to the minister, Russia is interested in increasing the role of the BRICS states in the international monetary, financial and trading systems, developing interbank cooperation, expanding the use of national currencies and creating its own exchange

Protesters give Georgian government one hour to revoke foreign agents bill

Earlier on Wednesday, Georgia’s parliament passed the foreign agents bill in the first reading

Krasnodar court orders suspect in slaying of mobilization official held until September 10

Sergey Denisenko is reportedly married with two dependent infants and two underage children, having no previous criminal record

Ceasefire necessary for implementation of UN humanitarian resolution on Gaza — UN envoy

"The Israeli forces carry out strikes at humanitarian forces, block their access, slow down the cargo clearance," Vasily Nebenzya said

Investigation into Crocus terrorist attack underway, traces lead to Ukraine — diplomat

Maria Zakharova noted the need to "wait for official information from the investigation"

Iran to review nuclear doctrine in case of Israeli aggression — IRGC

Ahmad Haghtalab pointed out that the Iranian Army and other security forces protect Iranian nuclear facilities using the most advanced equipment, so "national nuclear centers are completely safe"

Ukrainian front may collapse this summer — newspaper

According to the newspaper’s assessments, Russia "has never been closer to its goals" in the special military operation zone

IMF estimates Kiev needs for this year at $42 bln — Managing Director

"The support for Ukraine remains steady. It is firm," Kristalina Georgieva noted

Pipeline explodes in Kharkov Region

The exact location of the damaged pipeline or the causes of the incident is not reported

Iran completed operation, to respond with greater force if needed — envoy to Russia

On the evening of April 13, Iran launched drones and missiles toward Israel in response to what it called "repeated crimes" from Tel Aviv, including the attack on the consular office of the Iranian Embassy in Damascus ascribed to Israel

EU summit calls to continue work on duties on Russian, Belarusian agricultural produce

The European Commission suggested introducing duties on agricultural products from Russia and Belarus earlier

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

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No plans to ‘get involved in combat role’ in Ukraine, White House official says

Asked if it was because of Russia’s nuclear weapons, Kirby repeated that the circumstances were different

Investments in Subarctic region to be over $32.6 bln in next decade — governor

Murmansk authorities said earlier that the capacity of the port of Lavna under construction on the western coast of the Kola Bay is planned to be involved in transshipping export cargoes from Belarus

Russian diplomat challenges France to stop arming Kiev amid Olympic truce talk

According to Maria Zakharova, in order for Moscow to take Macron’s initiative seriously, "practical steps" are needed

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

The first Konteiner radar went on combat duty in the Volga area region of Mordovia on December 1, 2019

China to act over possible US measures for alleged support of Russian defense sector

"China always opposes the illegal unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States and will continue to take necessary measures to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises," Liu Pengyu said