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Coronavirus pandemic

Singapore’s coronavirus cases top 12,000

The key outbreak hotspots turned out to be dormitories where migrant workers from South Asia live, only 2.5% of whom were tested for the virus

© AP Photo/Yong Teck Lim

SINGAPORE, April 24. /TASS/. Singapore’s Health Ministry has announced 897 more coronavirus cases on Friday, the total has now exceeded 12,000.

"Overall, 12,075 infections were recorded in the country since the pandemic broke out," the daily statement reads.

Read also

Coronavirus count in Singapore surpasses 10,000

Singapore ranks first in Southeast Asia in coronavirus cases. The key outbreak hotspots turned out to be dormitories where migrant workers from South Asia live. According to the ministry, around 2.5% of the workers were tested for the virus, while there are more than 323,000 South Asian workers in the country.

The healthcare agency also underscored that 12 people died from coronavirus-related causes in Singapore.

Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday extended the partial lockdown introduced on April 7 by four more weeks until June 1. The lockdown measures imply closure of all businesses and services that are not of social importance and are not essential in maintaining stable life of the country. Schools and universities are employing distance learning.

At the same time, grocery stores and pharmacies are still open, while cafes and restaurants switched to takeaways only. There has not been any ban placed on city travel, with public transport and taxis still working. However, the government strongly advised citizens to stay at home, only venture into shops alone and observe social distancing when in public places. The authorities also introduced mandatory wearing of face masks outside except for children aged under two.

In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus — named COVID-19 by the WHO — have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia.

On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. According to the latest statistics, over 2,700,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 191,000 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 750,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.

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Ukrainian forces refuse to obey Commander-in-Chief Syrsky — CIA ex-analyst

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West steps up aerial reconnaissance near Russia-Belarus borders — security official

"Today, 20-30 reconnaissance planes fly in the airspace of the Baltic states and Poland weekly," Pavel Muraveiko added

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Timur Ivanov was removed from the office of deputy defense minister of the Russian Federation of the federal government’s civil service

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Belarus responds to threats with preventive deterrence measures — defense minister

Viktor Khrenin emphasized that provocations by Western countries could become a catalyst for unleashing a military conflict

Ukraine says Western systems ineffective against Russia's electronic warfare

Maria Berlinskaya emphasized that the real effectiveness was determined in real combat conditions, and not at "some training ground in Texas"

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Sergey Ryabkov noted that such problems exist for Russians using Turkish Airlines flights to other Latin American countries

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Ukraine exhausted, needs constant money flow from outside — defense official

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US arms supplies unable to change situation in Kiev's favor — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov pointed out that a year ago the opponents "were telling everyone that they were waiting for the moment Russia would be defeated on the battlefield"

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Alexander Pankin noted that during his visit to New York he did not have any talks with UN officials on the Russian-UN memorandum

US incapable of replicating Cold War-era arms race — Valdai club expert

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Potential nuclear facilities in Poland to be military target for Russia — senior diplomat

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Russian court blocks JPMorgan’s funds in VTB lawsuit

The court also blocked any securities held by JPMorgan’s entities in Russia

Blinken’s visit to China meant to shatter Russian-Chinese ties — senior Russian diplomat

"I think that Beijing understands this perfectly well and will not even pretend being ready to reach any agreements with the Americans to the detriment of Russia’s interests," Sergey Ryabkov said

IAEA chief to have working contacts with Rosatom, no meeting with Putin is planned

Rafael Grossi may visit Russia in late May

Agreements on security with Iran, Myanmar, Ethiopia to come into force in 2024 — MFA

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All the existing Hugo Boss stores will be reopened in July - August 2024, Russian Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Viktor Evtukhov said

AUKUS expansion to turn Asia-Pacific region into 'nuclear minefield' — news agency

According to the report, "the danger of Japan's participation in AUKUS is making the whole international community tense, not to mention the regional countries"

Kiev may use ATACMS missiles to hit Crimean Bridge — Russian defense ministry official

Russian military will do its utmost to repel such attacks, Apty Alaudinov said

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Waldemar Skrzypczak also said it was "a matter of hours" until Kiev received the weapons allocated by the US as part of its latest military aid package

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

At the same time, the president noted that once upon a time "Vladimir Lenin gave away the whole of Ukraine when he created the Soviet Union"

Ukrainian troops in Kharkov Region lift antennas with kites to get better signal

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Russian children’s commissioner holds first face-to-face talks with Ukrainian counterparts

Maria Lvova-Belova thanked Qatar for setting up a venue for dialogue between Russia and Ukraine regarding children’s interests

Niger would like Russia to train its troops — interior minister says

Mohamed Toumba noted that the training of troops could help in the fight against terrorism

Ukraine’s draft dodger makes attempt to cross Dniester into Moldova on air mattress

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Press review: NATO flexes muscles near Russian border and South China Sea runs hot

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, April 24th

US State Department confirms secret shipments of long-range ATACMS missiles to Kiev

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According to Major General Yury Popov, nine violations of the deconfliction protocols of December 9, 2019

Global community changing tune about how Ukraine conflict started — security official

According to Nikolay Patrushev, these countries "understand perfectly well who is financing" the Kiev regime

No response from West to killing of Izvestia war reporter Eremin — diplomat

The Russian war correspondent died of wounds suffered from a strike by a Ukrainian FPV drone on April 19

Continued threats to Pyongyang to put US, allies in danger, Kim Jong Un’s sister warns

"We will keep building up overwhelming and strong military capacity to protect our sovereignty and security, as well as peace in the region," Kim Yo Jong said

Crocus City Hall attack funded using cryptocurrency, Russian finance watchdog says

Russia’s Federal Financial Monitoring Service head added that the act of terrorism was intricately planned and it took an international network of conspirators to carry it out

Iran denies reports it pulled some military advisers from Syria — Al Mayadeen

The source denied news media reports on the subject, which appeared earlier

Reinforced Ukrainian battlegroup fails to break through Russian defenses in DPR — expert

Andrey Marochko added that the Ukrainians have also intensified artillery and drone attacks at Russian positions

US effectively dooms Ukraine by its new decisions, Russian envoy says

"The American aid won’t save Zelensky. New weapons will be destroyed, and the special military operation goals will be achieved," Anatoly Antonov stressed

Russia discourages use of UN sanctions for interference in African affairs — envoy

Vasily Nebenzya underscored that Russia continues to "make an important contribution to strengthening of African countries’ potential, including UN Security Council and General Assembly"

Press review: Dissecting US aid package to Ukraine and sands of global economy shifting

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, April 22nd

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Mikhail Bogdanov noted that "the African continent is a dynamically developing part of the world with an enormous growth potential, attractive domestic market and expanding export prospects"

Russian forces take Ukrainian strongholds near Klescheyevka under control

Apty Alaudinov posted a drone video footage of elimination Ukrainian personnel and Russian forces capturing enemy trenches

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According to Anatoly Antonov, "the further it goes, the more America corners itself into a zugzwang"

Russia to submit its own resolution on nuclear weapons in outer space to UNSC

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Ukrainian army strikes own surrendering soldiers — POW

Andrey Babenko said that after a crash course in Britain he had been sent to the frontline near Liman

Kremlin vows to resolve situation with Turkish Airlines refusing service to Russians

Russia has "very constructive and friendly relations" with Turkey, Dmitry Peskov stressed

Modern weapons make up 82% in Russian air defense troops — Shoigu

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Switzerland unblocks Russia-related assets worth 290 mln Swiss francs

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Release of new tranche for war to Ukraine by US escalation factor — Lukashenko

"The fact that ATACMS long-range missiles were financed is very dangerous," the Belarusian president noted

Mongolia to enter into free trade agreement with EAEU by year-end

Counsellor Delgertsetseg Unubilegt noted that Mongolia and Russia have "a rich history of solidarity and cooperation," though the countries "are under great influence of political and social factors"

Senior Russian MP dubs pervasive gender reassignment in West 'human tragedy'

Vyacheslav Volodin pointed to a law recently passed by Sweden’s parliament enabling minors to transition without surgery that a national survey showed was disapproved by 59% of citizens

Russia presents world’s first hydrogen-fueled luxury car at Innoprom exhibition

The unique vehicle was built on the basis of the Aurus Senat luxury car

ATACMS shipment proves ‘Zelensky’s formula’ needed in US as ‘smoke and mirrors’ — diplomat

"Washington’s plan is sickeningly simple, as it means dragging everyone under the pretext of ‘peace intentions’ to an empty gathering, while bolstering Zelensky’s terrorist potential," Maria Zakharova said

Attempts are made to turn Moldova into ‘second Ukraine’, Lavrov warns

The Russian foreign minister also said that Chisinau's behavior resembles role-playing

Bolivarian Alliance countries stand for multipolar world — Maduro

"ALBA can be among the founders of a new world, a new international multipolar order," the Venezuelan president stressed

US shifted conflict in Europe onto EU, NATO shoulders to weaken Russia, says Lukashenko

The Belarusian leader specified that the US had organized the conflict in Europe, in this case in Ukraine, and "shifted it onto the shoulders of the European Union and NATO, promising to help with money"

Putin stays in daily contact with Sergey Shoigu, Kremlin spokesman says

Timur Ivanov was arrested by Moscow’s Basmanny Court

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Russia maintains position on 'buffer zone' in Ukraine to counter missile threats

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Moscow slams NATO drills near Russian borders as inflammatory

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Network of international conspirators plotted Crocus terrorist attack — watchdog

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Ukraine could send special forces to capture Zaporozhye NPP — politician

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Musk concurs that civil war looming in West

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Russian troops wipe out Ukrainian UAV production workshop over past day

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Kiev violates diplomatic relations convention by recruiting mercenaries abroad — diplomat

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Russia vetoes US-backed UNSC resolution on banning nuclear weapons in outer space

The resolution gained 13 votes

Russia ready to cooperate with all interested partners to ensure security — Putin

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Nearly 70 Israeli hostages killed in Gaza, Hamas says

A day earlier, Abu Ubaidah, a spokesman for the Hamas' Izz ad-Din al-Qassam military wing, threatened that hostages held in the Gaza Strip could repeat the fate of Israeli pilot Ron Arad, who was kidnapped 36 years ago