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Coronavirus pandemic

Russian health minister hopes coronavirus pandemic to be over in 2022

He reiterated that prevention is the best way to contain the pandemic

MOSCOW, December 29. /TASS/. Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko hopes that the novel coronavirus pandemic will be over in 2022.

"I do want to believe that everything will be over. But we should not have a false impression that everything can be reversed back to normal with a wave of a magic wand," he said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 TV channel when asked whether the virus would eventually be stopped next year.

He reiterated that prevention is the best way to contain the pandemic, and called upon everyone to make their contribution.

Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Israeli forces face resistance in West Bank raids

According to the Al Jazeera TV channel, the raids took place mainly in the cities of Silwan, Tubas, Tulkarem and Hebron

Algeria requests UNSC session on mass graves in Gaza — source

Earlier UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for an independent investigation into the tragedy

‘Peace formula’ on Ukraine to succeed if West halts arms supplies — Russian diplomat

Maria Zakharova noted remarks by Josep Borrell who asserted that without Western arms supplies Kiev would capitulate in two weeks

Russia puts former former Ukrainian Interior Minister on wanted list

The Russian Interior Ministry’s database does not specify under which article Arsen Avakov is wanted

Russian citizen Vinnik pleads guilty in US court in money-laundering case

His attorney said that his jail term should be less than 10 years

UAE deliver 400 tons of food to Gaza Strip

UAE has delivered more than 31,000 tons of humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, to the Palestinian enclave since October 2023 when the current spiral of escalation began

Dollar will be worth nothing unless issue of country’s national debt solved, Musk says

Earlier, Vitor Gaspar, director of the International Monetary Fund’s Fiscal Affairs Department, said that the growth of the US national debt spurred side effects across the globe

Russia not initiating severing of relations with Baltic States — diplomat

"It is highly undesirable to come to this point," Maria Zakharova said, adding that Russia would continue to use diplomatic measures of influence

Top Turkish diplomat warns about more wars in Gaza if two-state solution is not reached

Turkey has repeatedly stressed that the only way of settling the conflict between Israel and Palestine is to establish an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with the capital city in East Jerusalem

Talks on Gaza in Cairo achieve little progress so far — Hamas spokesman

The indirect talks will resume on May 5

Russia not depending on foreign gas turbines anymore — Rostec

"Two plants were constructed in Crimea and one in the Taman Peninsula - the Udarnaya, which we will launch in full as early as in this year," Sergey Chemezov noted

Ukraine lost best fighters near Artyomovsk, retired general says

Sergey Krivonos added that relocation of troops from one direction to another will not solve Ukrainian forces’ problems, and that each fighter should be used according to their specialization

Europe does not create preconditions for interest-based dialogue with Russia — Lavrov

"If they are ready to base their cooperation not on the balance of power, but on the balance of legitimate interests, then a promising conversation can take place," the minister said

Hamas confirms its readiness to reach ceasefire agreement with Israel

According to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas delegation has arrived at the current talks "with a positive mood and flexible positions"

Ukrainian authorities talk about negotiations guided by public sentiments — experts

Political researcher Oleg Posternak noted that the authorities constantly carry out sociological public opinion surveys, see the dynamic and adjust their statements in accordance with the poll results

Death toll in Israeli army attack on Rafah up to 21

Children were among the victims, Al Jazeera reported

Chinese President Xi Jinping embarks on European tour to France, Serbia, Hungary

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian stated that these visits would boost global peaceful development

US creating NATO bases in Ukraine under guise of training centers — Belarusian president

"Unfortunately, the Ukrainian authorities don't care a bit about their own people and they don't hear our concerns," Alexander Lukashenko noted

Retaking Chasov Yar is just a matter of time for Russia — Ukrainian intelligence

Vadim Skibitsky admitted that the Russian forces now operate as a "single body, with a clear plan, and under a single command"

French President Macron says dialogue with Russia must be continued

Emmanuel Macron also said that technical capabilities and the striking range of Russian ballistic missiles endangered European countries

Lavrov characterizes Europe's economic problems due to US pressure as ‘monstrous’

Using Germany as an example, the minister recalled that the prosperity of the European industrial complex is largely based on Russian energy resources

Swiss president does not confirm Pope Francis’ participation in meeting on Ukraine

According to the Swiss president, she was received by the pontiff on May 4 and they had "an interesting conversation in a cordial atmosphere"

Israel ready for pause in fighting to free hostages — Netanyahu

"Israel has been, and still is, ready for a pause in the fighting in order to free our hostages. This is what we did when we freed 124 hostages, and resumed fighting - and this is what we are ready to do today as well," the prime minister’s Office quoted his statement

Talks on Gaza end in Cairo, Hamas delegation returning to Doha — TV

The movement’s delegation is returning to Doha, no further details were gven

Kremlin vows to resolve situation with Turkish Airlines refusing service to Russians

Russia has "very constructive and friendly relations" with Turkey, Dmitry Peskov stressed

Russia engages TOS-2 flamethrowers in Ukraine

220mm TOS-2 is a successor to TOS-1A with improved characteristics

Ukraine's intelligence recognizes impossibility of victory on battlefield

According to Vadim Skibitsky, "meaningful negotiations can begin only in the second half of 2025 at the earliest"

Our Lady of Kazan icon transferred to Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral

On November 4, 2023, when Russia celebrated National Unity Day, the patriarch declared that the oldest copy of the Our Lady of Kazan icon, which was believed lost, had been found

Patriarch Kirill thanks Putin for supporting Orthodox Church endeavors

In his congratulatory message to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, the patriarch also expressed the hope that their interaction would continue to promote the ideals of mercy and love in people's lives, and would contribute to peace and harmony in society

Russian President Putin attends Easter service at Christ the Savior Cathedral

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin attended the service together with Putin

Infrastructure facilities damaged in Ukrainian city of Dnepr

In addition, two enterprises were damaged in Nikopol in the Dnepropetrovsk region

Air raid warning issued in four Ukrainian regions

Sirens are on in the Dnepropetrovsk, Poltava, Sumy and Kharkov regions

Two Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers perform flight over Bering Sea near Alaska

The crews of Su-30SM aircraft of the Aerospace Forces provided fighter support

Niger says Russia supplied military equipment, humanitarian aid

According to the Tele Sahel TV channel, Russia has sent several instructors as well

Ukrainian president loses one-third of Telegram subscribers

According to TGStat, 10,372 people unsubscribed from the channel in the past week

After drone attack on Kremlin Russia has no choice but to eliminate Zelensky — Medvedev

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, according to Dmitry Medvedev, "is not even needed for signing an instrument of unconditional surrender"

Russia adds another former Ukrainian minister to its wanted list

The Russian Interior Ministry’s database does not specify under which article Yury Stets is wanted

President of Guinea-Bissau to attend Victory Day parade in Moscow - embassy

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said more than 9,000 people, aircraft and 75 units of military equipment will take part in the parade on Red Squar

FSB eliminates Ukrainian saboteur who arrived in Russia from Lithuania

The saboteur was caught emptying yet another cache full of weapons outside Gatchina in the Leningrad Region which he was planning to use in an attack at a fuel depot in the Tosno District in the same region

Putin congratulates Orthodox Christians on Easter Sunday

Russian President also emphasized the "constructive, productive activity of the Russian Orthodox Church and other Christian confessions" that preserve Russia's historical, cultural and spiritual heritage

Swiss conference to be showcase for Zelensky's failed peace plan — Medvedev

"It will allow our armed forces to continue cleaning the territory of Novorossiya from neo-Nazis without interference and without looking back at someone's moronic 'peace initiatives,' and all of us - to carry out meticulous work on the speedy return of our ancestral territories to Russia," Dmitry Medvedev pointed out

Russia holds final rehearsal of Victory Day Parade on Moscow’s Red Square

Participants in the special military operation in Ukraine will also march across Red Square

France preparing contingent of 2,000 troops to be sent to Ukraine — intelligence chief

According to Sergey Naryshkin, the French military "fears that such a large military unit cannot be transferred and stationed in Ukraine unnoticed"

Xi says hopes his visit to France will help strengthen trust between countries

The two leaders last met in April 2023, when Macron visited China

Military attaches visit trophies exhibition on Poklonnaya Hill

The Russian Defense Ministry opened an exhibition of trophy equipment in front of the Victory Museum on May 1

Blasts reported in Kharkov

An air raid alert has been declared in the Kharkov Region

Russia puts Ukraine’s former top security official, ex-top diplomat on wanted list

The Russian Interior Ministry’s database does not specify the crime of which Alexey Danilov is suspected

Any aggression against Crimea to be met with crushing retaliation — Russian MFA

In recent days, Maria Zakharova continued, Ukrainian forces "have been seen using several US-made ATACMS long-range missiles, which were secretly received a month ago, against Crimea"

Al Jazeera to continue covering Gaza conflict despite Israeli ban

The network also said that following searches by Israeli police at its offices in Jerusalem, "the channel went dark"

Almost 34,600 Palestinians killed in Gaza since last October — Health Ministry

77,765 people have been injured

Cuba opts to scrap visa regime for Chinese nationals, says Cuban tourism minister

Juan Carlos Garcia Granda announced this decision in view of the fact that China will be the guest of honor during the next International Tourism Fair

Criminal case opened against Zelensky, arrest warrant issued — police database

According to the entry, Zelensky is wanted over a Russian Criminal Code article

Russian missile cruiser Varyag enters Mediterranean Sea

The ship's crew continues to fulfill the mission it was given for the long-range voyage

Russia says its forces destroyed two militant bases in Syria’s Homs province

In the area of al-Tanf, nine violations were registered over the past day, said Major General Yury Popov

West recognizes deteriorating situation in Ukraine — Lavrov

Western countries need to think how not to lose to Russia in the conflict, the minister said

Russian envoy slams US accusations of Russia’s involvement in cyberattacks on Europe

"According to statistics, the vast majority of computer attacks in the world occur from the territory of the United States," Anatoly Antonov stressed

Russia not to take part in any events on 'Zelensky's formula' — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova emphasized that Switzerland cannot serve as a platform for a settlement dialogue

Ukrainians trying to leave country into Moldova — border guard service

Andrey Demchenko from the State Border Guard Service added that the border guard service is trying to thwart such escape attempts in cooperation with Moldovan counterparts

Holy Fire from Jerusalem delivered to Christ the Saviour Cathedral

The service is conducted by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill

Lavrov slams Europe’s striving to isolate Russia as silly

It demonstrates the quality of decisions passed by European politicians in the west of the continent, Russian Foreign Minister said

Russia launches production of smartphones with protection against data leakage

A special feature of AYYA T1 is the impossibility of unauthorized data collection by cameras and microphone thanks to the option of their hardware shutdown

Israel not to accept Hamas reestablishing control over Gaza — Netanyahu

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed that his government is doing its best to see the release of the hostages held in the enclave, maintaining that it is Palestinian radicals who are blocking the talks by making unacceptable demands

US election results to not affect desire to inflict strategic defeat on Russia — Lavrov

No matter who wins the election, Russia is "by and large the enemy," the minister said

Ukraine presumably used US-made Excalibur shell for strike at Tokmak

Ministry of Emergency Situations employees continue to remove the debris

Abramovich not taking part in distribution of Chelsea FC sale funds — press office

"After the club was sold, the money was not transferred to Abramovich’s account, and has since remained at the disposal of the British authorities," Russian businessman's press office says

Kenya flood death toll reaches 228

The situation is expected to worsen in lowland and coastal areas, and landslides and mudslides may also occur in areas with steep slopes and ravines, the country's Interior Ministry said

Russian upper house speaker sends Easter congratulations to Patriarch Kirill

Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko noted that this holiday, "which fills millions of hearts with love, hope and faith in the triumph of life, encourages [people to] good deeds," is an integral spiritual component of Russian society, a symbol of its moral strength

US, Britain, Ukraine behind Crocus City Hall attack — FSB chief

Alexander Bortnikov believes that Ukraine has been trying to prove it is capable enough

UN stands up for press freedom, spokesman says

A free press provides an invaluable service to ensure that the public is informed and engaged, Stephane Dujarric said

Mexicans, Colombians recruited in US jails to be deployed in Ukraine — SVR

Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service said that in case the inmates agree to this "mission," "they are promised full amnesty, reckoning they would never come back"

US confirms Russian troops enter US base in Niger

News of the Russian deployment to the airbase follows after Niger’s military rulers told Washington in March that it must withdraw the nearly 1,000 US military personnel stationed in the country

Top UK diplomat knows nothing of repentance, Lavrov says

David Cameron "reiterated his position that British weapons can be used by the Ukrainians to attack any target on Russian territory," the minister emphasized

Shiite units clam to have attacked Israel’s Haifa

Israel neither confirmed nor refuted this information

Russian troops seize Ukrainian T-64 tank near Ugledar in DPR

The Ukrainian crew had the time to leave the vehicle while the tank was evacuated and is currently under repairs

South Korea-Russia relations were not doomed to worsen because of Ukraine, says expert

According to Park Byung-hwan, director of the Eurasian Strategy Research Institute, countries in their relations with each other are not guided by morals, but only pursue state interests

Putin’s trip to China will rivet world’s attention, Kremlin spokesman predicts

The countries will jointly announce the time of this trip, Dmitry Peskov said

Trump develops plan on peaceful resolution in Ukraine — Telegraph

Former US President will not reveal it until the election, the Daily Telegraph reported

Russian troops wipe out German-made IRIS-T air defense system over past day

The Ukrainian army lost over 350 personnel and several items of military hardware in battles with Russian forces in the Kupyansk area over the past day, the ministry reported

Sending NATO troops to Ukraine to lead to dangerous escalation — top UK diplomat

David Cameron opined that Ukraine's defeat in a conflict with Russia would create a "very dangerous future" because it would signal to China and Iran that aggression against their neighbors is acceptable

Press review: Biden losing traction amid student protests and EU's right-wing prospects

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, May 3rd

Israel hits back on Hamas targets in southern Gaza Strip

Approximately 10 projectiles were fired from the area adjacent to the Rafah Crossing toward the area of Kerem Shalom

Final report on 2019 Aeroflot Superjet 100 crash in Sheremetyevo complete — IAC

The Committee underscored that, during the investigation, all hazard factors are being forwarded to the Russian Federal Agency for Air Transport (Rosaviatsiya), the designers, the producers and the users of this type of aircraft

Russia urges partners not to take part in conference on Ukraine in Switzerland — diplomat

Bern had invited more than 160 delegations to the conference on Ukraine

Turkey does not intend to transfer S-400 to any country — defense minister

Britain and Spain are not against the sale of fighter jets to Ankara, while Germany, as a member of the consortium that produces the Eurofighter, has not yet approved the deal

Involvement of US nuclear potential in drills around DRPK affects Russia’s interests

Vasily Nebenzya noted the militarization of the region with direct involvement of Washington and other NATO member states, "located tens of thousands of kilometers away from North Korea"

Ukraine’s Zelensky warns troops about 'new round of war' coming

Previously, Russian Defense Minister Sergey announced, that, in 2024, the Ukrainian armed forces lost over 111,000 troops and 21,000 weapons and vehicles

Russia’s Rublev wins 2024 Madrid Open title

Russian tennis star has defeated Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime

Macron denies death of French troops in Ukraine out of fear of protests — SVR head

According to Sergey Naryshkin, the French Army is "visibly concerned" over the growing number of French citizens killed in Ukraine

Estonian prime minister declared wanted for desecration of historical memory — Kremlin

Earlier, Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and Secretary of State Taimar Peterkop, as well as Lithuanian Culture Minister Simonas Kairys appeared on the wanted list of the Russian Interior Ministry

Czech government officially recalls ambassador from Russia — news agency

The foreign minister also said that Jan Ondrejka will not take part in the upcoming inauguration of Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 7, citing the current state of bilateral relations

Russian mortars destroy Ukrainian stronghold in Donetsk area — top brass

After the first round, the drone operator made an adjustment, followed by the second and third rounds, and the target was hit, the Russian Defense Ministry said

China to look for ways of settling Ukrainian crisis jointly with France — Xi

Xi arrived on a state visit in France on Sunday

Fire gutting German plant of industrial group making IRIS-T air defense systems

The Diehl Group also makes ammunition and communications systems

Russian troops liberate Ocheretino community in DPR — top brass

The Ukrainian army’s losses in the Avdeyevka area over the past 24 hours amounted to 380 personnel, a US-made Abrams tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, including a US-manufactured Bradley

Ruling party wins parliamentary election in Togo

Prior to the election, the parliament adopted a new constitution that changes the country's form of state rule from presidential to parliamentary

Israeli army detects launch of 40 munitions from Lebanon

In response, the IDF struck the sources of the fire

Russian forces carry out 25 group strikes at energy, military industrial facilities

The Russian Defense Ministry noted that the strikes also hit temporary deployment locations of Ukrainian neo-Nazi militias and foreign mercenaries, as well as concentrations of military vehicles

At least 20 missiles fired by Hamas, Hezbollah at Israel, several people hurt — media

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed reports about the shelling attack on Kerem Shalom

NATO wants 'hot war' with Russia which may destroy US, Carlson says

According to the journalist, everything that Washington does shows that it wants this war

Al Jazeera Media Network condemns ban on its operation in Israel

The Israeli government earlier made a decision to shut down the Al Jazeera television channel in the country

Hamas doesn’t want to reach agreement with Israel — Israeli defense minister

According to the minister, the Israeli army is ready to continue combat operations in the entire Gaza Strip, including in Rafah