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Coronavirus pandemic

Turkey in talks with Russia for purchasing coronavirus vaccine

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan did not rule out that the Turkish authorities would have to tighten measures to combat the infection if the coronavirus situation in the country deteriorated

© Alexei Nikolsky/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

ANKARA, November 27. /TASS/. Ankara continues talks with Moscow for purchasing a coronavirus vaccine, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters on Friday.

"We are in talks for purchasing the vaccine. I have discussed it with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, while our health minister has held talks on the matter with his Chinese counterpart. Discussions continue," Erdogan pointed out.

Erdogan did not rule out that the Turkish authorities would have to tighten measures to combat the infection if the coronavirus situation in the country deteriorated.

On November 25, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said that toxic trials of a Russian vaccine would begin in the country in the near future.

On August 11, Russia became the first country to register a coronavirus vaccine, which was named Sputnik V. The vaccine was developed by the Gamaleya Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology and underwent clinical trials in June and July.

Military operation in Ukraine

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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TASS has gathered the main information about the incident

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US Navy cruiser mistakenly downs F/A-18 fighter over Red Sea

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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

Civilian industrial complex supplies Russian army with over 65 types of units — top brass

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

Kremlin mum on reports about Slovakian prime minister's plans to visit Moscow

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Yemen’s Houthis announce hypersonic missile strike at military facility near Tel Aviv

Israel’s Ynet media outlet reports that at least 30 people suffered injuries after a missile fired from Yemen fell in central Israel

Almost 20 drones downed over four Russian regions, Black Sea last night

According to Russia's Defence Ministry, attempts to conduct attacks against facilities on Russian soil were thwarted

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

Ukrainian shelling of Russia’s Rylsk damages 12 buildings — governor

Three of them are not subject to restoration, Alexander Khinshtein said

Trump appoints TV producer Burnett as special envoy to UK

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Magnitude 5.3 earthquake rocks South Africa

No injuries or damage were reported

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Eight people killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza Strip — TV

According to Al Jazeera, Israeli forces shelled a residential building in Deir al-Balah and a downtown Khan Yunis

An-2 plane missing in Kamchatka located, survivors found — regional emergencies ministry

According to the press service of the regional Emergencies Ministry, all three people onboard the plane survived the emergency landing

Four new Russian regions moving toward self-sufficiency at a rapid pace — Putin

According to the head of state, tax revenues have seen a consistent increase in absolute figures

Russia to invite World War II allies to next year’s Victory Day parade

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova made the comment following a statement on the subject by Vladimir Putin

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

Meanwhile, Scholz will visit Magdeburg to assess the situation later on Saturday

Ukraine loses over 300 troops, two Bradley vehicles in Kursk Region in past day

Eight motor vehicles and two electronic warfare stations were also destroyed? the ministy added

Possible arrival of new Russian envoy before Trump’s inauguration depends on US — diplomat

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Russia ready to normalize relations with US without detriment to its interests — Putin

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What is known about Russia’s retaliatory strike on Ukraine after attack on Rostov Region

Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko reported the fires in Solomensky and Shevchenkovsky districts

Moscow lets US media freely work in Russia, despite opposite situation in US, Putin says

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Syrian armed groups to merge into one under auspices of the country's Defense Ministry

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Russia to raise issue of Ukrainian strikes on Rylsk at UNSC meeting on Friday — diplomat

Acting Kursk Region Governor Alexander Khinshtein said earlier that the town of Rylsk, located some 120 kilometers west of Kursk, had come under Ukrainian fire

Airborne troops from Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr wipe out enemy position in Kherson region

A Russian airborne crew hit the target by firing a 120-mm mortar gun on a Ukrainian temporary position

Mother of missing US reporter thanks Putin for promising help in locating her son

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Russia-US dialogue on Ukraine can be conducted on different platforms — senior diplomat

Everything depends on its content and the approach of the team of US President-elect Donald Trump are important, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said

‘Arkhangelsk, ’ ‘Knyaz Pozharsky’ nuclear submarines to join Russian Navy soon — commander

Admiral Alexander Moiseyev noted that the construction of nuclear submarines is Sevmash’s main purpose, which is performs successfully

Syria's new authorities appoint Asaad Hassan al-Shibani as foreign minister

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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

Mourhaf Abu Qasra becomes top Syrian defense official in transitional government — TV

According to Al Watan newspaper, Abu Qasra was the commander of the military wing of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham movement

Turkish president calls on West to stop Israel in Syria before it’s too late

"All international mechanisms need to be effectively employed in order to prevent Israel from exploiting the situation in Syria," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said

Artyom military plant reportedly on fire after explosions in Kiev

The Artyom plant is known for producing air-to-air missiles, as well as equipment for aircraft

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Russian cancer vaccine to be free of charge — top oncologist

It is planned to launch it in general circulation in early 2025

Russian troops liberate 10 communities in Donbass region over week — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted more than 3,610 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed six enemy ammunition depots in its area of responsibility over the week

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

Ukrainian lawmaker slams Zelensky for trying to bribe Slovak PM

The lawmaker believes that the bribe money wasn’t meant to come from Russia’s frozen funds but Zelensky "could have brought it in a suitcase"

US confirms strikes on Houthi command posts in Yemen

CENTCOM forces also shot down several Houthi unmanned aerial vehicles and an anti-ship cruise missile over the Red Sea

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A protest broke out during the chancellor's and minister's visit, with demonstrators whistling and shouting "Get out!"

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

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Aleppo taken by 350 militants while 30,000 gov’t troops retreated without fight — Putin

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Embassies of 12 countries closed in North Korea amid shortage of goods

All foreign personnel of international humanitarian organizations have also left, the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang said

Putin meets with Federation Council Speaker Matviyenko in Kremlin

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Putin suggests Zelensky may flee abroad, says Russia would take him in

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Brazil unveils BRICS logo for 2025

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Biden signs bill to fund US government until March 14, 2025

The US Senate and House of Representatives approved the bill a day before

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Project 885M nuclear-powered submarines carry Oniks and Kalibr-PL cruise missiles as their basic strike weapons

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

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Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov also stressed that the recent developments had shown that the US policy of establishing a system of increasingly layered missile defenses was wrong

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Kremlin spokesman clarifies Putin’s statement about Oreshnik 'duel'

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Putin challenges West to try to intercept Oreshnik missile in Kiev

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NATO spies study damage from Oreshnik at Yuzhmash — expert

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US defense companies capitalize the most on Ukraine conflict — Russia’s UN envoy

Vasily Nebenzya referred to data from the SIPRI which put last year’s revenues from sales of arms by the world’s top 100 largest businesses in the industry at $632 billion

Trump wants NATO countries to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP — FT

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Ukrainian troops struggling to escape being trapped in Lozovaya in Kharkov region — expert

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ISS orbit raised ahead of launching Soyuz manned spacecraft

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BRICS is approaching G20 format, Brazilian foreign minister says

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Ukraine to halt Russian gas transit on January 1, 2025 — Ukrainian PM

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Gaza peace deal closer than ever, Palestinian radicals say

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Russian missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov to become world’s strongest warship after upgrade

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Putin to extend New Year greetings to peoples of several unfriendly countries — Kremlin

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Hungarian PM highlights need to lift sanctions on Russia once Ukraine conflict is resolved

Viktor Obran added, however, that only a couple of EU countries shared Hungary’s position

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

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Press review: Putin outlines Russia's future goals and Tehran faces energy blackout riots

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, December 20th

Three of eight drones that attacked Kazan targeted defense industry facilities — head

The Tatarstan head Rustam Minnikhanov also noted that all operational services worked well when dealing with the aftermath of the drone attack

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

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, December 18th

Zelensky actually flips the bird to Trump by insulting Putin, Medvedev says

The politician emphasized that "the president of a major country should be extremely polite and amiable"

Series of explosions rock central Kiev — eyewitnesses

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Novak assumes price of US LNG at least 30-40% higher than of Russian pipeline gas for EU

Russia’s Energy Minister adding that the US LNG is "uncompetitive as of today"

Oreshnik test launch forces London to take a step back — Russian ambassador

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Maximal costs of Nord Stream pipeline repair to be 633 mln euro

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

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Press review: South Korean president impeached as Ukraine turns to foreign mercenaries

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, December 16th

Russian sleeper agents open up about secret trip to 2018 World Cup

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Putin responds to question about Russia's weakness by quoting Mark Twain

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

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

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Russia’s international reserves up by $3.8 bln to $618.2 bln over week — Central Bank

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Two freight trains collide at Trans-Baikal Railways, traffic suspended

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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