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Coronavirus pandemic

WHO reports over 656,000 new daily cases of COVID-19

Coronavirus-related deaths increased by over 11,800 in past day

© EPA-EFE/CIRO FUSCO

GENEVA, December 12. /TASS/. More than 656,000 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus have been recorded globally in the past day, pushing a total number of infections to 69.8 million, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in its daily bulletin on Saturday.

According to the WHO updates, the coronavirus-related deaths increased by over 11,800 to exceed 1.58 million.

As of 20.46 Moscow time on December 12, as many as 69,808,588 coronavirus cases and 1,588,854 coronavirus-related deaths were registered across the globe. The number of confirmed cases grew by 656,181 in the past 24 hours and the number of fatalities increased by 11,868.

The WHO statistics are based only on officially confirmed data provided by countries.

South and North America account for more than 46% of single-day COVID-19 cases submitted to the WHO in the past 24 hours (303,063). Europe goes second (265,334cases) followed by South East Asia (40,396).

Most COVID-19 cases are recorded in the United States (15,404,889), followed by India (9,826,775), Brazil (6,781,788), Russia (2,625,848), France (2,310,701), the UK (1,809,459), Italy (1,805,873), Spain (1,730,575), Argentina (1,483,376), Colombia (1,399,911), Germany (1,300,516) and Mexico (1,217,126).

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Russia knows French military instructors working in Ukraine — Lavrov

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Israel to not take responsibility for attack on Iran — newspaper

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Kazem Jalali noted that Iran had demonstrated its ability to ensure security and nudge the region toward a de-escalation

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Wang Wen stated that it’s still very hard to achieve a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

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"We have not received any external attack, and the discussion leans more towards infiltration than attack," a senior Iranian official reported

Ukrainians abroad storming embassies to avoid mobilization, Russian diplomat says

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Hezbollah warns Israel it will fight back if attacks on Lebanon continue

The Lebanese Shiite organization "would not accept that the Israelis transgress the rules of engagement that are currently set in the south" of Lebanon

Russia won’t allow NATO to move closer in Ukraine — Lavrov

There is still no full clarity regarding the future of Ukraine's western regions, the Russian foreign minister went on to say

Colombian president displays interest in country’s entry into BRICS

Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva welcomed Gustavo Petro’s initiative, "being committed to promotion of Colombia’s candidacy"

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

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Israeli Air Force attacks airfield in southern Syria during strike on Iran

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North Korean leader arrives at public event in Aurus luxury car gifted by Putin

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MiG-31I fighters receive air refueling system

Another source said MiG-31I differs from previous MiG-K option by "different engines, avionics and missiles"

West close to sending military to Ukraine, this would 'drag Europe to bottom' — Orban

"This military whirlpool can drag Europe to the bottom. Brussels is playing with fire and angering God," the Hungarian prime minister said

Nord Stream AG's refusal to pay compensation destroys Western insurance system — diplomat

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Russia, Iran maintain contacts on nuclear security - deputy foreign minister

Sergey Ryabkov said that "very soon, Russia and Iran will have new additional opportunities to discuss the situation in the Middle East in general, as well as details of what is going on there at this point"

West wants to make Transnistria hotbed of tension — Lavrov

According to the top Russian diplomat, the leaders who rule countries where they claim to be from while holding foreign passports "will not enjoy support and authority for long"

Sounds in Isfahan due to air defense work to repel attacks by suspicious objects — general

According to Iranian media reports, three drones were downed by air defenses in the skies over the city of Isfahan

US gives nod to Israeli operation in Rafah in exchange for canceling major attack on Iran

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Argentina’s NATO partnership bid to let US tighten its grip — expert

According to Andrey Pyatakov, the Argentinian authorities' decision is both a declarative step and evidence of the wish to close economic gaps by expanding military-technical cooperation

Russia’s defense chief inspects production of tanks, flamethrowers at Siberian enterprise

Sergey Shoigu handed down an instruction for the defense enterprise to ramp up the production of T-80BVM tanks, the Defense Ministry said

Final statement by G7 top diplomats to call for supplying more air defenses to Kiev

Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister said Kiev required US-made Patriot systems and Italian-French Samp-T theatre antimissile systems

US blackmails other countries at United Nations — Russian mission

Dmitry Polyansky said "this shameful neocolonial tactics are fully exposed now in the context of Gaza War"

Lavrov speaks of West’s agony, Russia’s approach to any future talks with Kiev

The Russian foreign minister also described Armenia and Russia as more than formal allies