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Coronavirus pandemic

Omicron coronavirus variant’s emergence in Russia is a matter of time — Kremlin

Last Friday, the WHO designated the B.1.1.529 variant discovered in South Africa as a "Variant of Concern" and assigned it the Greek letter Omicron

MOSCOW, December 1. /TASS/. Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that there are no clear-cut predictions on the emergence of the new Omicron coronavirus variant in Russia because it is a matter of time.

"No one can provide clear-cut forecasts regarding its [Omicron] spread because it is simply impossible," Peskov told journalists.

"There is no question of whether Omicron reaches Russia, but there is a question of when it erupts in Russia," he added.

Last Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated the B.1.1.529 variant discovered in South Africa as a "Variant of Concern" and assigned it the Greek letter Omicron. This variant has a large number of mutations some of which alarm the WHO.

Several changes at once in the spike protein can potentially hinder the neutralization of the pathogen by antibodies which may impact the effectiveness of vaccines. Additionally, according to preliminary reports, the strain has a heightened ability to spread. As a precautionary measure, a number of countries suspended air service with southern African countries.

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Foreign agent Ilya Yashin wanted under changes of criminal offense — database

The database does not disclose the specific article

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Russian forces gain control over road between Gulyaypole, Velikaya Novosyolka — official

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It is confirmed that two children were injured

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Russia not closing its border with Estonia — MFA

Russian border crossings near the Estonian border are functioning as usual, Maria Zakharova said

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Maria Zakharova noted that "under such a scenario, the Russian peacekeeping presence in the region will be jeopardized"

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Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov said earlier that Washington had not contacted Moscow in order to discuss the possibility of a visit by Trump’s Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg and communication with him

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Pope Francis opens Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica

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Syria’s new authorities rename hospitals named after ex-president’s family members

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Russian expert suspects Ursa Major sank due to act of sabotage

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Russia says Su-35S fighter jets provide cover to Aerospace Forces in Kursk Region

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Iran should not interfere in Syria's internal affairs, the minister of foreign affairs in Syria’s transitional government Asaad Hassan al-Shibani said

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Oboronlogistics company blames loss of its ship Ursa Major on terrorist attack

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Russian embassy refutes reports on Sudan’s refusal to host Russian base

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Ukrainian deserters abroad are hunted through Interpol — parliament member

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An informal meeting before the New Year is a long-standing tradition of the Commonwealth

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Ukraine’s General Staff reports tense frontline situation

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov highlighted that Vladimir Putin's June 14 comments "by and large did not impose conditions"

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At the same time, Oleg Bondarenko said, without affordable energy resources, the decline of the German economy will continue with no chance of stopping in the foreseeable future

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According to Karin Kneissl, Russia doesn’t want to trigger any nuclear war

Trump’s presidency could influence global economy — Russian finance chief

The Republican candidate secured sufficient Electoral College votes in the November 5 presidential election, according to state-by-state vote counts

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According to Waldemar Skrzypczak, Russian troops' daily advances amount to 1-2 kilometers (0.6-1.2 miles)

United Kingdom’s defense expenditures up by 14% in past decade — The Times

According to the article, Iran’s military budget grew by 57%, China’s - by 60% and Russia’s - by 34% in the reported period

Russia’s 2,000th R-7 rocket delivers Resurs-P remote sensing satellite into orbit

Resurs-P satellites are designed for the Earth’s remote sensing and for regional and local monitoring of its surface

IN BRIEF: What is known about passenger plane crash in Kazakhstan

According to the Kazakh Transport Ministry, the plane belonged to Azerbaijan Airlines

Biden considers new sanctions against Russian energy sector — The Washington Post

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Serious conflict between Israel, Turkey possible — Russian expert

"It’s important to note that the primary development in this context is the markedly increased role of non-Arab states in the region, particularly two key players," Vitaly Naumkin said

Shopping mall in Russia’s North Caucasus city of Vladikavkaz catches fire after explosion

Regional head Sergey Menyailo said that the blast had killed a woman inside the building

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Azerbaijan publishes list of passengers on board crashed plane in Kazakhstan

Media reports say that at least 28 people have survived

Houthis strike military facility near Tel Aviv with hypersonic missile

Earlier, the Israeli army press office reported that air-raid sirens sounded in several areas of central Israel following the launch of a missile from Yemen

Russia has no illusions that Ukraine conflict can be resolved easily — top diplomat

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Zelensky defines essence of next summit on Ukraine in four-letter explicit word — Lavrov

The first Kiev-initiated conference on Ukraine was held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, on June 15-16

Only Western countries present nuclear war scenarios, says Lavrov

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Over 100 people involved in extinguishing jet fire at drilling rig in southern Urals

The accident posed no threat to nearby settlements

Pentagon has nothing to announce on possible talks between Russia, US defense chiefs

Belousov and Austin had a phone call on July 12

Russia not to deviate 'one bit' from its main conditions in talks on Ukraine — speaker

"Certainly, the negotiation process will begin next year, without any doubt, but in my opinion it will be very complex," Valentina Matviyenko stressed

Russian forces increasing pressure on Ukrainian troops near Belogorovka in LPR — expert

Unfavorable weather has made things worse for the enemy in that sector of the line of engagement, Andrey Marochko said

Putin's principles of Ukrainian settlement stem from international law — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat drew attention to the fact that "the Kiev regime plays into the hands the West, which needs to remove such a strong competitor as Russia from the international scene"

Scientists present Russia's first 50-qubit cold atom quantum computer — MSU

The experiment that allowed testing the supercomputer prototype took place on December 19, the Moscow State University said

Azerbaijan Airlines operated passenger plane that crashed in Kazakhstan

According to the ministry, the circumstances of the crash are being established and a special investigation will be carried out

US ramping up biological warfare presence in Africa — Russia’s top brass

Major General Aleksey Rtishchev said that branches of the US National Naval Military Medical Center are stationed in Ghana and Djibouti where active work is carried out in natural disease foci, isolation and sequencing of pathogens

Assassination attempt on defense executive thwarted near Moscow — FSB

The attackers’ activities were coordinated by Ukrainian special service agents through foreign internet messengers, as evidenced by data retrieved from seized communication devices, the FSB added

Without Ukrainian transit, gas to become much more expensive for Europe — expert

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Armenian premier says will skip CIS meeting in St. Petersburg due to COVID-19

His participation in the upcoming meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council of the Eurasian Economic Union is unclear

Azerbaijani president on his way back home from Russia after AZAL plane crash

According to the press service, Ilham Aliyev has ordered the relevant government agencies to investigate the causes of the crash and take urgent action

Russia continues special military op because Ukraine refuses talks — Kremlin

"It is important for us to achieve all the goals that we face in ensuring the security of our country," Dmitry Peskov emphasized