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Coronavirus pandemic

Vietnam to offer medical products including masks as aid to Russia, says embassy

The country has already carried out several such deliveries for free

MOSCOW, May 17. /TASS/. Vietnam plans to continue providing aid to Russia in tackling the coronavirus infection spread by supplying medical masks, a source in the embassy of the republic told TASS on Saturday.

"Due to the complicated situation with the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia, Vietnamese departments, agencies and organizations plan to continue supplies of medical products to the Russian people," the source said.

The country has already carried out several such deliveries for free, he noted, adding that over 5 tonnes of medical products, including 370,000 medical masks, have been supplied to the Russian side.

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. On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. According to the latest statistics, over 4.4 mln people have been infected worldwide and more than 300,000 deaths have been reported. To date, a total of 272,043 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 63,166 patients having recovered from the virus. Russia’s latest data indicates 2,537 fatalities nationwide.

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Arms supplies are only reasonable if a large number of military personnel able to use those weapons in defense and assault operations is available

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

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Russian-Kazakh commission discusses border demarcation issues

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US can ship weapons to Ukraine within few days if funding approved — Pentagon

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Russia’s advanced radar in Kaliningrad to monitor entire territory of Europe — source

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Russia invites all countries to develop North - South transport corridor — Putin

"The North-South transport corridor should become an example of the broadest international cooperation," the Russian leader said

Flow of cargo traffic via North-South transport corridor to reach 60-100 mln tons

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Kremlin vows legal action against US bill on seizing Russian assets

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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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US Senate approves aid bills for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan

As many as 79 senators backed the initiative and 18 voted against

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

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Azerbaijanian leader says reaching peace with Armenia by November 'quite realistic'

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UNRWA chief plans to visit Russia soon

Philippe Lazzarini plans to hold talks with BRICS member nations

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Beijing condemns US hypocrisy around Ukraine conflict

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NATO makes Russia its neighbor by expanding eastward, Russian envoy says

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France preparing contingent of 2,000 troops to be sent to Ukraine — intelligence chief

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The local emergencies services stressed that the car was targeted deliberately

Canada allows Airbus to use Russian titanium despite sanctions — Reuters

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Russian envoy, Sudan's intelligence chief discuss military-political situation in republic

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Russian deputy defense minister detained on suspicion of bribe-taking

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Vasily Prozorov said that "it is extremely difficult to count on any better judgement on their part"

Detained deputy defense minister suspected of taking grand bribe of over $10,000

This charges carries a punishment of up to 15 years behind bars

Putin informed about detention of Deputy Defense Minister Ivanov

Minister Sergey Shoigu was also informed beforehand, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

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Israel retaliates missile launches from Gaza Strip — IDF

A warning had been issued before the attack calling on people to temporarily evacuate from the area

US using human rights topics to shake political situation in Russia — embassy

"Attacks against Russia mainly focused on challenging the legality of the special military operation in Ukraine", the Russian embassy said

North Korea stages first combined tactical drill simulating nuclear counterattack — KCNA

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US military aid for Kiev cannot stop Russian army’s advance — North Korean diplomat

The US Congress House of Representatives earlier passed bills on military aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan

Russia’s UN envoy, Serbian leader discuss coordination on Kosovo at UN

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Republika Srpska president praises Moscow-Banja Luka relations, favors strengthening them

Milorad Dodik also touched upon the topic of sanctions mentioned by Patrushev earlier

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

"The Kiev regime has failed to achieve the goals of its counteroffensive prepared by NATO instructors," the defense minister said

Ukrainian connection to Crocus terrorist attack undeniable — ex-SBU officer

Vasily Prozorov noted that the perpetrators could have been eliminated once they crossed the border

FSB raids terrorist cell in Dagestan that funded, armed Crocus City Hall attackers

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Chinese car plant to start production at former Mercedes site in Moscow region in May

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Leader of Moldova’s region of Gagauzia supports turning country into federation

The idea was proposed by Ilan Shor, the leader of the opposition electoral bloc called Victory

US Abrams tanks, Bradley APCs unloaded in Greece — report

The website underscores the great importance of the port of Alexandroupolis for the US and NATO

West balancing on edge of direct military confrontation between nuclear powers — Lavrov

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UN chief describes current state of climate as ‘preview of disaster’

Antonio Guterres stressed that the world community must reduce global greenhouse emissions by 43% by 2030 compared to 2019

Russia has significant amount of West’s funds in case of confiscation of its assets

Russia views the West’s encroachment on its assets as "a blatant and shameless theft for the purpose of lining its pockets," Maria Zakharova noted

Russia recovers black boxes from crashed Tu-22M3 bomber

According to the law enforcement, the search for the fourth crew member is ongoing

No damage, casualties after drone attack over Russia’s Kursk Region

Roman Starovoit thanked air defense troops and the regional crisis center and cautioned residents against approaching the drone wreckage if found

Russian presidential envoy visits Afghanistan to discuss political cooperation

Russian presidential envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov met with Deputy Prime Minister for political issues Abdul Kabir, Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, and Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani

WADA biased towards Valieva due to anti-Russia stance — renowned coach

"Here is the attitude towards our country, the Russian girl, practically a child," Tatiana Tarasova stressed

US 'not forgetting' to help itself with aid to Ukraine — Kremlin

"In any case, whatever the modality of providing this aid, de facto it is about provoking Ukraine into further hostilities down to the last Ukrainian, putting guarantted money in the pockets of the US," Dmitry Peskov said

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

Larry Johnson also noted that the Russian forces manage to advance recently despite the slush on the roads

One more Ukrainian drone shot down over Belgorod Region — defense ministry

The Kiev regime’s attempted terrorist attack on facilities in Russia’s territory with the use of a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle was thwarted

Drone crashes in industrial zone in Russian city of Lipetsk

There were no casualties, egional Governor Igor Artamonov said

37 Russian, Ukrainian children receive treatment in Qatar — diplomat

Qatari Foreign Ministry Spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said that ten families from Ukraine, including 16 children, and ten families from Russia, including 21 children, arrived in Doha on April 18

Hamas threatens that hostages remaining in Gaza may go missing

Spokesman for the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades Abu Ubaida emphasized that at the moment "the ball is in the court of Israel's allies," but "time and opportunities are limited"

Ukrainian presidential office confirms London’s agrement to Zaluzhny as ambassador

Verkhovna Rada legislator Alexey Goncharenko said on Monday that the UK had granted its agrement to the Ukrainian former Commander-in-Chief

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

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

Armenia’s decision on CSTO membership its sovereign choice — secretary general

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EU may sanction 10 firms for allegedly shipping weapons tech to Russia — Bloomberg

According to the agency, the companies being assessed for potential sanctions are based outside Russia but have links to Russian and Belarussian individuals and firms

Press review: GOP tussles over Ukraine bill and Putin, Aliyev talk partnership

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, April 23rd

Destroyed TV tower in Kharkov carried Ukrainian air defense coordination device — official

Digital TV signal interruptions are now observed in the city

Current Russian turn eastward possible owing to Baikal-Amur railway — Putin

BAM personifies giant labor and courage of two million very young people from across the entire Soviet Union, the Russian leader said

Weapons for new US package for Kiev yet to be found — Ukrainian ambassador

Oksana Markarova explained that $4 billion worth of weapons that was to be provided under the previous decisions still remained undersupplied

Energy facilities catch fire in Russia’s Smolensk Region following drone attacks

Governor Vasily Anokhin added that rescuers from the Russian Emergencies Ministry were dealing with the aftermath of the Ukrainian drone attacks

US stops hiding true purpose of sanctions on Moscow, Russian envoy says

"It’s not about any mythical aspirations to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, but about banal opportunistic and predatory ambitions," Anatoly Antonov said

Russia scraps plans to hold Immortal Regiment march in 2024 amid security threats

This year, the May 9 festivities will take the form of other events, Yelena Tsunayeva noted

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

De Beers cuts diamond mining due to unsold inventories

The average retail price per carats gained 23% annually in the first quarter to $201