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Coronavirus pandemic

Belarus suspends entry for citizens over COVID situation by Lukashenko’s order

Following the meeting with the president, the Border Control Committee recommended the citizens not to leave country due to the pandemic

MINSK, November 5. /TASS/. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko ordered the State Border Control Committee not to let Belarusian citizens who travelled abroad during the pandemic back in the country, Lukashenko announced at a meeting, aired by Belarusian TV Thursday.

"I ordered the commander of the border control forces to forbid entry not only to people with alien passport, but also to those smart Belarusians who travelled abroad a these trying times. We have no need for imported infection, no matter what passport," Lukashenko said. "[If] they went there to study, let them study; to work - let them work. We didn’t stop them. So let them work and heal there."

Following the meeting with the president, the Border Control Committee recommended the citizens not to leave country due to the pandemic. Starting on November 1, Belarus temporarily suspended entry for foreigners and people without citizenship through ground checkpoints. This restriction does not cover Russians transiting through Belarus to Russia. The restrictions also do not cover people arriving in Belarus via the Minsk Airport.

In the past 24 hours, 982 COVID-19 cases were registered in Belarus, bringing the total case count to 103,295.

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Roscosmos chief notes high quality of Vostochny space center’s construction

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Russian PM signs off on plan for regions to accommodate evacuees from Palestine

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Hezbollah fires rockets at Israeli barracks in Shebaa Heights

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Robert Fico believes Moscow will win in its confrontation with Kiev

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Lavrov states West’s growing concern about BRICS plans to develop own financial tools

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Number of people convicted of high treason in Russia last year revealed

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Israel plans to send 'painful message' to Iran in response to attack — newspaper

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Russian government approves list of unfriendly countries

There are two countries on the list

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The Russian president has ordered that migration policy be overhauled taking into account the national interests and security of the population, and the importance of preserving Russia’s culture and language, Nikolay Patrushev reiterated

Russia bans 235 Australian local government officials from entering country — MFA

"Taking into account the fact that Canberra does not intend to give up its anti-Russian course and continues to introduce new sanctions, work on updating the Russian stop list will continue," the ministry said

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Ukraine turns from sovereign country into Western protectorate, Hungarian PM says

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Ukrainian front may collapse this summer — newspaper

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Over 40 nations want to join BRICS — Russian lawmaker

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Nuclear field turns into dangerous tool of psychological war, Russian diplomat warns

"Basically, attempts to question the maximum security of nuclear facilities must be completely ruled out everywhere in the world," Sergey Ryabkov stressed

VTB CEO calls for SWIFT to be fully abandoned in payments

The banker stressed that VTB is working as part of a pilot project for the digital ruble, including in the field of cross-border settlements

US not going to be in armed conflict with Russia — official

The President of the United States has made that very clear

Russia to scrap moratorium on intermediate missiles if US deploys them anywhere — MFA

Sergey Ryabkov said the US seeks to maintain military superiority in a great variety of areas

Iran may break through Israel’s air defenses in major attack by drones, missiles — expert

Iran has the region’s largest arsenal of ballistic missiles, estimated to number in the low thousands, Behnam Ben Taleblu noted

Russian, Turkish senior diplomats discuss situation in Gaza

"The meeting focused on the situation in the region," said in the statement

New US bill calls for $26 bln in assistance to Israel

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Russia, CIS partners to hold air defense exercise in 2024

The participants in the exercises will practice interaction in getting ready for and conducting combat operations by aviation and air defense forces that are part of the unified regional air defense system of Russia and Belarus

Peacekeepers fully accomplish mission in Karabakh, Russian senator says

According to a statement signed by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia on November 9, 2020, a Russian peacekeeping contingent was deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh

'Iron Dome' can't fully protect from UAV swarms — Chinese expert

According to Wei Dongxu, Tehran's firepower can cover most of the Middle East region, representing a fierce and precise long-range retaliatory means

Georgia’s parliament approves first reading of foreign agent bill

Protests against the bill have been held outside the parliament building since Monday

US believes that Russia tested 9M729 missile for range beyond 500 km

"All NATO allies agree that the 9M729 is not compliant with the INF Treaty," the US embassy’s spokesperson said

Russian software sales soaring over last four years — Minister

The number of employees in IT companies increased by 1.5 times over four years, Maksut Shadaev said

Russian security official vows 'well-deserved' punishment for those behind Crocus attack

On the evening of March 22, a terrorist attack targeted the Crocus City Hall music venue in Krasnogorsk, Moscow Region

Georgian president says she will veto law on foreign agents

According to Salome Zourabichvili, she is certain that the parliamentary majority will override her veto

Shoigu tests commando vehicle, calls for additional machineguns

The Russian defense minister "personally tested the special transportation vehicle and its running qualities"

Ukrainian president signs law tightening mobilization rules

According to Rada Deputy Speaker Alexander Korniyenko, some of the law’s provisions will take effect after its publication, while most of them will enter into force in a month

Russian industrial producers’ prices up 2.4% in March — statistics

In chemicals production, prices edged up by 26.8% for ethers, organic peroxides, epoxides, acetals and semiacetals and their derivatives

G7 countries to prevent Iran from producing, purchasing weapons

The G7 finance ministers and Central Bank chiefs also condemned "the unprecedented attack against Israel by Iran"

Hamas grateful to Erdogan for his support — TV

The Turkish leader also announced talks with Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh in Turkey on April 20

Slovakia to oppose Ukraine’s NATO membership bid — PM

Meanwhile, Slovakia supports Ukraine’s accession to the European Union

Ukrainian drone attack damages four houses in Russia’s Voronezh

According to Governor Alexander Gusev, last night the air defenses on duty in the Voronezh Region detected and destroyed several air targets, including three weather probes

EU isolated in its 'blossoming garden,' reluctant to let strangers in — Russian diplomat

Vasily Nebenzya also pointed at the European Union’s double standards with regard to refugees from Ukraine and the Global South

Russian Aerospace Forces destroy three militant hideouts in Syria’s Homs

No shelling attacks on Syrian troops were registered over the past 24 hours

Situation with air service between Russia and Dubai stabilizing — air transport agency

Domestic airlines completed about 30 flights between airports in Russia and Dubai

Israel says its jets attacked Hezbollah air defense site in eastern Lebanon

I"DF soldiers recently carried out strikes to eliminate "an immediate threat" in the Qawqaba area in southern Lebanon," Israel Defense Forces said

No snap elections before delimiting borders with Azerbaijan, Armenian PM says

Nikol Pashinyan said about it, replying to a question from a resident of the borderline village of Berkaber about the necessity to hold snap elections before delimiting the border with Azerbaijan

Decision on peacekeepers’ pullout made by top leadership of Azerbaijan, Russia — official

"The defense ministries of Azerbaijan and Russia are taking the necessary measures to implement the decision," Hikmet Hajiyev added