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Coronavirus pandemic

Serbian leader Vucic says ready to be first to take Russian coronavirus vaccine

On Monday, President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte also volunteered to test the Russian vaccine against the coronavirus on himself

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic EPA-EFE/ANDREJ CUKIC

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic

© EPA-EFE/ANDREJ CUKIC

BELGRADE, August 11. /TASS/. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that he is ready to be the first person to be injected with the coronavirus vaccine developed in Russia, he told reporters Tuesday when asked about registration of the world's first coronavirus vaccine in Russia.

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First registered COVID-19 vaccine worldwide is named Sputnik V

"I will be the first to take the vaccine when Serbian specialists say it’s good. I am happy if Russians created a vaccine that was expected before November. Our specialists must just confirm to us that it is safe and reliable. It is important that the vaccine appears as soon as possible because it will save our economy," he noted.

Earlier on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia had registered the first vaccine against the novel coronavirus worldwide. Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko informed that the vaccine was developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology.

On Monday, President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte also volunteered to test the Russian vaccine against the coronavirus on himself during a televised address to the nation.

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. More than 20 million people contracted the virus worldwide, while more than 736,000 patients died. Serbia has currently reported 28,497 infections and 652 coronavirus-related deaths.

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The date and location will be announced later

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Top Chinese diplomat calls for creating conditions for talks on Ukraine

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Russian diplomat accuses US of coordinating Ukraine’s terrorist attacks

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The unemployment rate went down in regions and settlements where it was historically high, the head of state stressed

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Kremlin announces creation of blockchain-based payment system in BRICS

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US government prepares to sign $6-bln contract for arms deliveries to Ukraine — Politico

According to the article, the United States "is putting the finishing touches" on one of its largest Ukraine military aid packages to date, which may be announced on Friday

European Parliament urges EU states to regard Russian presidential vote as illegitimate

The resolution passed in a 493-11 vote, with 18 abstentions

West bends sanctions rules when it suits them — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov noted that, "according to some parameters, companies in Europe and other regions can hardly maintain their competitiveness if they completely abandon our products"

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Oleg Kononenko and Nikolay Chub are expected to spend 6 hours and 52 minutes outside the orbital outpost

Radioactive cloud from Ukraine’s eliminated munitions drifts to Europe — Security Council

"An increase in radiation levels has already been registered in Poland," Nikolay Patrushev warned

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US nukes in Poland to become target for Russia should confrontation with NATO occur — MFA

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Kiev troops may strike targets in Crimea with ATACMS missiles — newspaper

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Ukraine turns into testing ground for future world order, says Belarus president

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Cosmonauts complete spacewalk two hours ahead of schedule

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