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Global WHO forum on coronavirus to open in Geneva

The event will bring together over 400 experts, leading scientists and senior health officials from various countries

GENEVA, February 11. /TASS/. A two-day global forum to discuss measures against the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), organized by the World Health Organization (WHO), will begin its work in Geneva on Tuesday.

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WHO to convene global forum on coronavirus research on February 11-12

The event will bring together over 400 experts, leading scientists and senior health officials from various countries.

The main goal of the forum is to identify knowledge gaps and research priorities in order to produce scientific information and medical products most needed to minimize the impact of the 2019-nCoV outbreak.

The participants will try to determine the primary source of the infection, exchange biological samples and genome sequences. They are expected to lay down the global program for 2019-nCoV research.

"Harnessing the power of science is critical for bringing this outbreak under control," WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said last week. "There are questions we need answers to, and tools we need developed as quickly as possible. WHO is playing an important coordinating role by bringing the scientific community together to identify research priorities and accelerate progress."

Russia will be represented by a delegation of the Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare (Rospotrebnadzor).

On December 31, Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan - a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 11 million people. On January 7, Chinese experts identified the infecting agent - coronavirus 2019-nCoV. The virus spread to 24 more countries apart from China - Australia, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, India, Italy, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam. WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak in China a global health emergency.

Currently, the total number of people infected with coronavirus reached 42,638 in China, 1,016 of them have died. Meanwhile, almost 4,000 people are said to have recovered from it.

Israel may have used banned white phosphorus munitions while shelling Lebanon — TV

On Wednesday night, the Israel Defense Forces press office reported that Israeli fighter jets struck "significant Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure used by the terrorist organization’s aerial defense system" in Lebanon

DPR leader reports heaviest fighting near Avdeyevka, Chasov Yar

According to Denis Pushilin, it is too early to say when the city could be liberated

VTB CEO calls for SWIFT to be fully abandoned in payments

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Decision on peacekeepers’ pullout made by top leadership of Azerbaijan, Russia — official

"The defense ministries of Azerbaijan and Russia are taking the necessary measures to implement the decision," Hikmet Hajiyev added

Iranian president warns of 'terrible response' to any action against country

Ebrahim Raisi opined that the UN Security Council and the organization as a whole "failed to fulfill their minimum legal obligations to condemn the [Israeli] attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus"

Funding needs to be restored to UNRWA before end of investigation — Russia’s UN envoy

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EU isolated in its 'blossoming garden,' reluctant to let strangers in — Russian diplomat

Vasily Nebenzya also pointed at the European Union’s double standards with regard to refugees from Ukraine and the Global South

Ukraine to lose at least 10 mln citizens over mobilization law — political scientist

According to Andrey Zolotarev, domestically, the population’s confidence level in President Vladimir Zelensky and state authorities will plummet

Russia restores gasoline production after decline — Energy Ministry

The increase in motor gasoline production in mid-April is associated with production recovery after a local drop due to unscheduled repairs at refineries

US assured Israel that Iranian drones will be intercepted — US journalist Hersh

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

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Annual inflation in Russia gearing up to 7.83% over week — Economy Ministry

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Ovechkin may beat legendary Gretzky’s goal record starting next NHL season

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Slovakia to oppose Ukraine’s NATO membership bid — PM

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US believes that Russia tested 9M729 missile for range beyond 500 km

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Russian state companies invested almost $10.72 bln into digitalization — Minister

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Nuclear field turns into dangerous tool of psychological war, Russian diplomat warns

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Former Ukrainian MP sees Zelensky turning into 'usurper' after his term expires

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Hezbollah fires rockets at Israeli barracks in Shebaa Heights

Anti-tank guided missiles hit an artillery battery in Al-Samak in the Kfarchouba hills

Ukrainian president signs law tightening mobilization rules

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Kiev’s attacks on Zaporozhye nuke plant result of impunity encouraged by US

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Shoigu calls to urgently launch production of medical robots

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New US bill calls for $26 bln in assistance to Israel

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Hamas grateful to Erdogan for his support — TV

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Envoy reports dozens of Russians killed in Ukrainian attacks in past week

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Russian security chief urges measures against 'ethnic enclaves' in Russia

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Ukrainian president admits Russian troops’ advancement

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EU leaders urge to adopt proposal on using incomes from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine

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Russia, CIS partners to hold air defense exercise in 2024

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EU vows new sanctions against Iran, calls on Mideast conflict parties to show restraint

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The Turkish leader slammed Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide and said that the only way to ease tension in the region is to stop it

Press review: Iran fires back at Israel and Russia, West spar over AI rulebook

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Israel told the US administration about the decision to wait, according to a US official

Humanitarian efforts in Gaza doomed without durable ceasefire — Russia’s UN envoy

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The statistics service does not provide the year-on-year dynamics of gasoline production

Iran says it won’t prevent return of Russian sailor from seized ship — MFA

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

Romania now hosts as many as 11 F-16 jets for training of Ukrainian pilots

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G7 countries to prevent Iran from producing, purchasing weapons

The G7 finance ministers and Central Bank chiefs also condemned "the unprecedented attack against Israel by Iran"

Crimea, Donbass to forever remain within Russia, Slovak PM tells national parliament

Robert Fico believes Moscow will win in its confrontation with Kiev

Georgia’s parliament approves first reading of foreign agent bill

Protests against the bill have been held outside the parliament building since Monday

US deliberately fuels tensions in Asia — Russian envoy to Washington

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Russia assumes that Security Council will soon return to Gaza ceasefire issue — diplomat

"Ramadan has passed, and the question of a long-term ceasefire is once again very acute," Vasily Nebenzya said

Iran withdraws officers out of Syria due to Israel’s potential strike — newspaper

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No snap elections before delimiting borders with Azerbaijan, Armenian PM says

Nikol Pashinyan said about it, replying to a question from a resident of the borderline village of Berkaber about the necessity to hold snap elections before delimiting the border with Azerbaijan

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Russian forces pummel Ukrainian army, equipment in 133 areas over past day

Russian troops took better frontline positions in the Donetsk area over the past day, the ministry reported

Avtostat revises new car sales forecast to 1.5 mln in Russia this year

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Russian Aerospace Forces destroy three militant hideouts in Syria’s Homs

No shelling attacks on Syrian troops were registered over the past 24 hours

Russian software sales soaring over last four years — Minister

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Russia says its forces repel four Ukrainian counterattacks in Kupyansk area

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Russia bans 235 Australian local government officials from entering country — MFA

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