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Trump declares national emergency over COVID-19

The national emergency will allow the US to use federal funds to aid the states in combating the spread of the disease

US President Donald Trump EPA-EFE/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

US President Donald Trump

© EPA-EFE/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

WASHINGTON, March 14. /TASS/. US President Donald Trump has declared a national emergency in the USA over the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Trump has made the corresponding statement during a special press briefing held at the White House.

The national emergency will allow the US to use federal funds to aid the states in combating the spread of the disease. Earlier, the US administration received $8.3 bln from Congress to contain the outbreak.

"To unleash the full power of the federal government to this effort today, I am officially declaring a national emergency - two very big words," Trump said.

In late December 2019, Chinese authorities notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, central China. On March 11, WHO officially characterized the situation with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as a pandemic. The disease has spread to over 110 countries. According to official data, over 134,000 people have been infected with the virus globally, and over 5,000 have died.

Hungary wants to maintain ties with Russia under its economic neutrality policy — PM

Victor Orban also said that hopes for the development of economic cooperation with the United States after President-elect Donald Trump takes office

Baltic states threaten mass deportation of Russians, take lead in Russophobia — statement

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Russian troops liberate two communities in Donbass area, Kharkov Region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicts 480 casualties on Ukrainian army over past day

Putin calls Oreshnik missile development ‘an historic event’ for space rocket industry

Russian President also said that he had handed down direct instructions to produce and test-fire the Oreshnik hypersonic missile

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Oreshnik’s launch is sudden, undetectable by satellites — analyst

The range of the Oreshnik system is up to 5,500 kilometers

Slovak PM thanks Putin in Russian for meeting with him

This was Putin’s first personal meeting with Fico since 2016

Scholz says he intends to continue to speak directly with Putin in future

The German Chancellor claimed he intended to "make clear" to the Russian leader the need for his contribution to ending the conflict and withdrawing troops

Press review: Who benefits from Russian general's murder as Trump lacks Kremlin strategy

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Russian forces control more than half of Chasov Yar in DPR — expert

Andrey Marochko noted that Russian forces had "slightly advanced" in the northern and southern parts of Chasov Yar

Death toll from Israeli strikes on Gaza Strip exceeds 45,200 — health ministry

More than 107,600 people received wounds

Putin’s talks with visiting Slovak PM over — Kremlin spokesman

Dmitry Peskov added that it is not planned to issue any joint statements

Damage to Portuguese Embassy in Kiev caused by Ukrainian air defense — Russian diplomats

Reporters are ramping up Russophobia, distorting the facts while writing on this matter, the Russian Embassy in Portugal said

Syrian development help prevent regional war — Syria’s new leader

Ahmed аl-Sharaa expressed hope for building strategic relations with Lebanon

Lavrov describes attack by insurgents in Syria as carefully planned

"We will oppose this in every possible way. We will support the legitimate Syrian government. And at the same time, of course, we will actively advocate the need to resume dialogue with the opposition, as required by [UN] Resolution 2254," Lavrov continued

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Nandan Unnikrishnan pointed out that Russian President Vladimir Putin "has more than once spoken about Russia’s readiness to discuss an end to the conflict"

Proposal to duel with West response to claims of Oreshnik missile vulnerability — Kremlin

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Kiev to face more destruction after its UAV attack on Kazan, Putin warns

"We will not only restore the damage that some attempt to cause to us but will also move forward even at a faster pace as we are doing now," Russian President said

Musk believes Germany’s Scholz should step down after car drives into crowd in Magdeburg

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CIA station in Kiev targeted in recent Russian attack, military expert reveals

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Ukraine's refusal to transit Russian gas will hit EU economies hard — French expert

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Ukraine’s General Staff admits tense situation along entire frontline

The Ukrainian military also admitted the Russian army’s supremacy in terms of military equipment and the size of personnel

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The Russian Defense Ministry has also purchased more than 100,000 units from small design bureaus and civilian manufacturers, the statement said

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Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov also informed of the death of the deputy commander of the army corps for military-political work, Colonel Yevgeny Brovko, who led the efforts of the personnel

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IN BRIEF: What is known about drone attack on residential buildings in Kazan

TASS has gathered the main information about the incident

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Vasily Nebenzya warned as he denounced the attack as yet another unambiguous step by the Kiev regime toward escalation

Serbia will never joint anti-Russian sanctions, deputy prime minister vows

Aleksandar Vulin noted that he is "not optimistic about prospects for the United States changing its policy toward Serbia" after the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump

Kiev takes out its anger for military defeats on Russian people — diplomat

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also emphasized that Moscow is outraged by the hypocritical silence of the West and its media on the terrorist attacks in Russia

West should consider Putin's words on Oreshnik missile duel — diplomat

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova emphasized that the rhetoric about "inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia" is firmly rooted in the mentality of the NATO regimes not at all as hypothetical assumptions

Putin holding talks with visiting Slovak PM

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Trump appoints TV producer Burnett as special envoy to UK

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Assad allegedly hands list of military targets over to Israel before leaving Syria — media

According to the Turkish newspaper, the former Syrian president did it to ensure his own safety

Israeli delegation discussing in Doha ways of reaching deal om Gaza — TV

The Al Arabiya television channel said that, citing a source

Russian forces destroy two Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jets in 24 hours — defense ministry

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In general, "quite active hostilities" are taking place near Dvurechnaya and Lozovaya in the Kupyansk sector of the line of engagement, Andrey Marochko noted

Russian 'soldier of the future' combat gear tested in Syria

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"Russia’s position is well known, it was voiced by Putin back in St. Petersburg," Dmitry Peskov stressed

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Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov praised the new mechanisms for accelerating the introduction of advanced weapons and equipment developed by the civilian defense industrial complex in the interests of the Russian army

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"We’d better wait for the meeting to end to learn what they discussed," he Dmitry Peskov said

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Russia declassifies intel about France’s plans to send 2,000 troops to Ukraine

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Rostec works on fourth, next generation of Ratnik combat gear

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Putin sends greetings on Russia’s Energy Industry Worker’s Day

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Georgian president demands appointing snap elections within week

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Russia ready for talks on Ukraine without preconditions but based on realities — Putin

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Hungary wants to maintain ties with Russia under its economic neutrality policy — PM

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Drone attack triggers fire at fuel infrastructure facility in Russia’s Oryol Region

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