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Coronavirus pandemic

Around 89 million medical masks required each month to fight coronavirus — WHO

The World Health Organization has called "on industry and governments to increase manufacturing by 40 per cent to meet rising global demand"

© EPA-EFE/Marcos Pin

GENEVA, March 4. /TASS/. An estimated 89 million medical masks and 76 million examination gloves are required each month for the response to the new coronavirus outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a news release on Tuesday.

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Coronavirus: Situation in China stabilizes, while global cases are on the rise

"WHO calls on industry and governments to increase manufacturing by 40 per cent to meet rising global demand," the statement said. "The World Health Organization has warned that severe and mointing disruption to the global supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) — caused by rising demand, panic byuing, hoarding and misuse — is putting lives at risk from the new coronavirus and other infectious diseases," the statement added.

"Based on WHO modelling, an estimated 89 million medical masks are required for the COVID-19 response each month. For examination gloves, this figure goes up to 76 million, while international demand for goggles stands at 1.6 million per month," the statement continued.

The statement quoted WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as saying: "Without secure supply chains, the risk to healthcare workers around the world is real. Industry and governments must act quickly to boost supply, ease export restrictions and put measures in place to stop speculation and hoarding. We can't stop COVID-19 without protecting health workers first."

The Chinese authorities registered an outbreak of the new coronavirus 2019-nCoV in the city of Wuhan. Cases of new coronavirus were confirmed in more than 70 other countries, including in Russia. The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. Outside of China, most cases of the new coronavirus were reported in South Korea and Italy.

According to latest reports, over 2,900 people died from the coronavirus, while the total number of confirmed cases surpassed 90,000, and around 47,200 people recovered. Outside of China, over 120 people died from the new coronaivurs, and the number of confirmed cases is almost 9,000.

APEC Summit declaration takes Russia’s interests into account — Deputy Prime Minister

He said that the document was adopted by a consensus, and the Peruvian presidency "even twice made sure" that it has been achieved, and was told in response: "yes, the consensus has been achieved."

Putin, Roscosmos chief outline vision for Russia’s space program

Yury Borisov provided a brief report about what the National Project consisted of, its main objectives, tasks and expected outcomes

Polish foreign minister confirms meeting with European counterparts to discuss Ukraine, US

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski added that apart from the top diplomats from France and Germany, Warsaw also invited Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga

Zelensky’s new plan for Ukraine is ‘an attempt to imitate’ busy activities — politician

Vitaly Ganchev noted that Zelensky's plans "pose no particular interest anymore to anyone and they the proposals are certainly not taken seriously"

Finland seizes over 30 more real estate properties owned by Russian government

The value of these confiscated apartments is more than ten million euros, the agency said

FACTBOX: Putin, Scholz hold phone talks first time in two years

The talks were initiated by Berlin

RFK Jr. calls for immediate US-Russia talks on Ukraine

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin put forward his latest peace proposal for the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict, which envisages the recognition of the status of Crimea, the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics, the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions as Russian constituencies

Lukashenko tells Putin situation is "starting to get tense with Wagner"

The Belarusian leader noted that they want to go to Warsaw

Russian Rubicon drones strike Ukrainian trench shelters

"Upon detecting enemy positions and equipment, the data was immediately relayed to the strike force," the Russian Defense Ministry reported

Russian troops organizing logistics, ammo delivery in Kupyansk outskirts — military expert

"Logistics is being organized to enable our troops to retain their positions they are trying to secure," Andrey Marochko explained

Abkhazian president’s office says investment agreement with Russia not revoked

Aslan Bzhania has not signed the document

Participants in Sir Bani Yas forum in UAE understand causes of Ukrainian crisis — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister arrived in Abu Dhabi to take part in the Sir Bani Yas international peace and security forum and has already held a series of bilateral meetings

Putin states degradation of Russian-German relations due to Berlin’s policy — Kremlin

After 2022, Berlin has been pursuing an openly unfriendly policy against Russia, supporting the anti-Russian sanctions

Abkhazia’s defense capability unaffected by protests — security official

The Abkhazian capital of Sukhum remains the sole place of protest activity in the South Caucasus republic, he added

Ukrainian troops surrender as Russian forces advance — captive

Alexander Rapolyuk noted that they had originally been sent to the Kursk Region under the pretext of replacing their comrades, but upon arrival, they found that the servicemen they were meant to replace had already been killed

China hopes for Canada's respect for 'one China' principle — Wang Yi

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Lebanon receives draft ceasefire agreement with Israel from US — newspaper

According to Asharq Al-Awsat, the 13-point document provides, among other things, for the transition of the country’s southern areas after the withdrawal of Israeli troops under the control of the Lebanese army

Opposition in Abkhazia demands early presidential election

A Central Election Commission official has told TASS that if the president agrees to resign today, an early election should be held within three months

Putin tells Scholz agreements on Ukraine should proceed from realities on ground — Kremlin

"Possible agreements should take into account Russia’s interests in the security sphere, proceed from the new territorial realities and, above all, eliminate the causes of the conflict," the Russian leader said

Abkhazian opposition urges citizens to gather for rally near parliament building

"We responsibly state that all the bodies providing for the republic’s everyday operations continue working in normal mode," it said

Clear Zelensky won't be the one to decide about talks with Russia, says Lavrov

"Russian President Putin has repeatedly said that we have never refused to negotiate," the Russian foreign minister reiterated

Police detain several protesters near CEC building in Tbilisi

Security forces drove the protesters away, cleared the road and detained several people

Foreign mercenaries fighting on Ukraine’s side near Kupyansk, says military expert

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China receives first batch of Russian S-400 missile systems — source

Russia’s S-400 Triumf is designed to destroy aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, including medium-range missiles, and surface targets

Russia's liberation of Stepanovka in DPR spells trouble for Ukrainian troops in Kurakhovo

Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the Russian Armed Forces had liberated the settlement of Stepanovka in the DPR

Russia routs Brunei 11:0 in friendly football match

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Scholz, Biden have nothing to offer Putin — German expert

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Phone conversation between Putin, Scholz lasted one hour — Kremlin

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, marking their first phone conversation since December 2022

Russia's newest Su-57 fighter jet superior to China's new J-35 — test pilot

Sergey Bogdan emphasized that the newest Russian fighter was a "magnificent platform for a future generation of configurations, just as the Su-27 aircraft in its heyday"

Russian troops liberate DPR's Leninskoye, Makarovka

Russian army hits Ukrainian energy facilities

Scholz's call to Putin speaks of intention to learn Russia's position firsthand — Kremlin

The conversation took place at the initiative of the German side

Swedish minister in charge of gender equality suffers from bananaphobia

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One third of Mariupol residents, who fled to Ukraine, already returned

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Musk doubles down on his opinion about 'endless war' in Ukraine

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Georgia’s ruling party scores 53.93% in elections, wins 89 mandates — CEC results

Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia party has won the parliamentary elections with 53.93% of the vote

Russian missile frigate enters Mediterranean Sea in long-distance deployment

In the Mediterranean Sea, the missile frigate’s crew will accomplish missions as part of the Russian Navy’s standing taskforce

Ukrainian battlegroup deprived of regular supplies in Kurakhovo in Donetsk area — expert

The Ukrainian battlegroup’s supplies have been impaired in the Kurakhovo area after Russian forces placed a road section west of that community under their gunfire control, Andrey Marochko clarified

Russia open to Ukraine talks based on June proposals, Putin tells Scholz

"Russia's proposals are well known and outlined, in particular, in a June speech at the Russian Foreign Ministry," the Russian president said

Developments in Kursk Region: Ukrainian fighters suffer losses, face charges in Russia

Ukraine lost more than 100 servicemen, a tank, an armored fighting vehicle, four motor vehicles, two D-30 122-mm howitzers, a mortar and an electronic warfare station over the past day

Zelensky tried to dissuade Scholz from telephone talks with Putin — news agency

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Putin congratulates Gazprom on completion of work on Nord Stream 2

The gas pipeline is ready for operation, the Russian President said

APEC Summit declaration negotiated, contains no politicized narratives — Russian envoy

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116 countries, including Azerbaijan, Algeria, Armenia, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Cuba, Serbia, and Syria, supported the document

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TASS compiled main facts about the situation in the country

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German government confirms death of ten Germans in Ukraine since February 2022

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Russia, China eyeing new gas route via Kazakhstan — Novak

Consideration of the route is at the initial phase, the Russian official said

Abkhazian President Aslan Bzhania refuses to step down amid riots

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Eight killed, 17 injured in knife attack in China

No further details have been provided

UAE’s accession to BRICS to strengthen coordination with Russia on global problems

Russian foreign ministet Sergey Lavrov visited the United Arab Emirates and talked with his colleague Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Russian troops liberate five communities in Donbass region, Kharkov area over week

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted more than 4,715 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed 10 Western-made artillery guns in its area of responsibility over the past week, the Defense Ministry reported

Putin proclaims Odessa Russian city, challenges Ukraine's historical narrative

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Bzhania to run for president in case of early resignation

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German chancellor calls for peace talks with Ukraine in phone call with Putin

Olaf Scholz also highlighted "Germany’s unwavering determination" to support Kiev "for as long as it takes”

Japanese foreign minister to visit Ukraine

No announcements on the issue were made previously

Russia introduced temporary restrictions on enriched uranium exports to the US

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Release of 23 Russians taken to Ukraine from Kursk Region being discussed — ombudswoman

The documents are currently being considered by the Verkhovna Rada’s commissioner for human rights, Dmitry Lubinets and his office

European politicians repeat their position on Ukraine like mantra, says Kremlin

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All hostages held in restaurant near Paris released — TV

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Lavrov outlines Moscow’s approach to Ukrainian crisis during visit to UAE — ministry

Lavrov arrived in Abu Dhabi to take part in the Sir Bani Yas international peace and security forum

Ukrainian intel officers in Syria to be eliminated as terrorists’ accomplices — diplomat

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Armenia’s statements indicate its reluctance to take part in CSTO events — diplomat

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Abkhazia’s ministries, agencies switched to reinforced mode over riots

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Trump picks campaign spokesperson for White House press secretary

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Ukrainian people don't need support promised by Scholz after talks with Putin — Lavrov

Commenting on the Russian side's assessment of the conversation, the top diplomat emphasized that there is already a corresponding comment from the Kremlin

Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand become BRICS partner countries — Russian MFA

"The BRICS Summit in Kazan demonstrated the desire of the global majority to establish a fair world order, reform global institutions and build equitable economic ties," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin said

Israel hits nuclear research facility in Iran, Axios claims

In October, Axios reported that an Israeli strike on Iran had disabled a crucial component of Iran's ballistic missiles production program

Russian forces capture 10 km of LPR border — military expert

On October 16, Andrey Marochko informed TASS that Ukrainian forces were still operating near three key towns in the LPR’s west: Svatovo, Kremennaya, and Lisichansk

Situation at OSCE security forum worsens under Danish chairmanship — Foreign Ministry

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Hostages taken in restaurant in Paris suburb — TV

Meanwhile, Le Figaro reported that the perpetrator stated his intention to commit suicide

France wraps up training of new Ukrainian brigade — minister

The brigade is equipped with French weapons

Scholz, Putin agree to maintain contact — source in German cabinet

It is reported that Scholz expressed concern over reports about the alleged deployment of North Korean servicemen to Russia

Only plan Zelensky should be thinking about is 'plan of surrender' — opinion

In a video address on November 14, the Ukrainian president unveiled a ten-point plan covering the issues of security, energy, weaponry, production in Ukraine, and cooperation with allies

Russia inks first deals to deliver Su-57 fifth-generation fighter to foreign customers

Alexander Mikheyev also explained the expectations and effect of the demonstration of Russian military hardware at Airshow China in Zhuhai

Opposition halts talks with officials in Abkhazia, plans to build up forces

Protesters seized control of key government buildings in the country’s capital earlier

Musk says Trump, himself have public mandate for change

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Abkhazian president leaves capital after opposition’s ultimatum

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