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Coronavirus pandemic

Russian single-component Sputnik Light vaccine authorized in Iran — RDIF

Sputnik Light vaccine is the first component of the Sputnik V vaccine, which was also approved in Iran in January 2021

© AP Photo/Vahid Salemi

MOSCOW, September 15. /TASS/. Russian single-component Sputnik Light vaccine has been approved in Iran, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) announced on Wednesday.

"RDIF today announced the Russian single-component Sputnik Light vaccine against coronavirus has been approved by the Ministry of Health of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the fund said in a press release.

Sputnik Light vaccine is the first component of the Sputnik V vaccine. Immunization with Sputnik Light will help to speed up the vaccination of the population and create herd immunity in a shorter time frame. In January 2021, the two-dose Sputnik V vaccine was also approved in Iran, RDIF said.

According to the press release, Sputnik Light is safe and highly effective as demonstrated by real-world vaccination data in a number of countries. In particular, the data from the Ministry of Health of the Buenos Aires province (Argentina) shows 78.6-83.7% efficacy among the elderly. In Paraguay, Sputnik Light is 93.5% effective during the ongoing vaccination campaign according to the country’s Ministry of Health.

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Ukrainian army strikes own surrendering soldiers — POW

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Potential nuclear facilities in Poland to be military target for Russia — senior diplomat

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FSB nabs Neo-Nazi group members in Volgograd Region plotting high-profile terror act

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Iran calls on BRICS states to facilitate ceasefire in Gaza Strip

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani called for a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza

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Good GDP growth results showed in first months of 2024 — Putin

GDP growth is 6% in average over the first two months, the Russian leader noted

More than 2.5 bln transactions made via Faster Payments System in Q1 — Central Bank

Each fourth transaction made via the system from January to March 2024 was associated with payments for goods and services, the regulator said

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

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Swiss conference on Ukraine undermines European security — Russian diplomat

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West bends sanctions rules when it suits them — Kremlin

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Russian Embassy to Austria denied participation in ceremony at Nazi concentration camp

The embassy said that the Austrian Mauthhausen Committee had also cautioned the organizations of Russian compatriots in Austria against participating in the event

French neo-Nazi ringleader liquidated near Avdeyevka — sources

There is confirmed evidence of his connections with French secret services

Putin vows maximal predictability for doing business in Russia

The President ordered to expand the public finance planning level to cover six instead of three years

Ukraine had to negotiate agreements with Russia with ‘three masters’ — Russian envoy

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Russian court arrests in absentia four foreign agents charged with terrorism

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Russia says its battlegroup West seized better positions

The Russian forces also foiled a counterattack of an assault group of the Ukrainian 80th mechanized brigade in the vicinity of the Krasnoye settlement in the Donetsk People’s Republic

IAEA chief to have working contacts with Rosatom, no meeting with Putin is planned

Rafael Grossi may visit Russia in late May

Reinforced Ukrainian battlegroup fails to break through Russian defenses in DPR — expert

Andrey Marochko added that the Ukrainians have also intensified artillery and drone attacks at Russian positions

Russian children’s commissioner holds first face-to-face talks with Ukrainian counterparts

Maria Lvova-Belova thanked Qatar for setting up a venue for dialogue between Russia and Ukraine regarding children’s interests

Kiev violates diplomatic relations convention by recruiting mercenaries abroad — diplomat

Maria Zakharova pointed to media reports, according to which Ukrainian embassies in a number of countries are openly campaigning local citizens to join the so-called International Legion of Ukrainian Territorial Defense

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

North Korea to take part in SPIEF — Embassy in Russia

The 27th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum will be held on June 5-8, 2024

Blinken’s visit to China meant to shatter Russian-Chinese ties — senior Russian diplomat

"I think that Beijing understands this perfectly well and will not even pretend being ready to reach any agreements with the Americans to the detriment of Russia’s interests," Sergey Ryabkov said

Kiev may use ATACMS missiles to hit Crimean Bridge — Russian defense ministry official

Russian military will do its utmost to repel such attacks, Apty Alaudinov said

Serial production of missiles for S-500 air defense systems begins in Russia — source

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Cosmonauts complete spacewalk two hours ahead of schedule

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Staff shortage cannot be covered by labor migration — Putin

Labor productivity requires a significant increase in all sectors of the economy, the President stressed

Russia to retaliate immediately if Kiev gets ATACMS missiles — diplomat

Konstantin Gavrilov also noted that the "manic efforts" of some Western OSCE member countries to isolate Russia "are futile and will backfire on their initiators"

US-oriented structures try to reformat security system in Asia-Pacific region

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu underlined that this is being done by strengthening "military-political structures such as QUAD, AUKUS and the US-Japan-Philippines triad"

Russian diplomat accuses US of coordinating Ukraine’s terrorist attacks

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Europe should be prepared to build relations with Russia post-Ukraine conflict — Macron

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Russian foreign minister to meet with Bolivian counterpart in Moscow

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