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Coronavirus pandemic

Russian vaccines are effective against Kraken subvariant, says Health Ministry expert

"Studies have shown that all the vaccines that we have continue to be effective in terms of reducing the risk of a severe course of the disease," Vladimir Chulanov stressed

MOSCOW, January 12. /TASS/. Russian coronavirus vaccines remain effective against a new variant of the Omicron strain XBB.1.5, dubbed Kraken, the lead infectious diseases specialist of the Russian Health Ministry, Vladimir Chulanov, reported on Thursday.

"Studies have shown that all the vaccines that we have continue to be effective in terms of reducing the risk of a severe course of the disease," he said during a Rossiya-24 TV broadcast.

In this regard, Chulanov called on people to revaccinate against COVID-19 every six months. He also emphasized that Russian vaccines were safe and could do no harm.

Russia’s Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) earlier reported the new Omicron subvariant, dubbed Kraken, has been recorded in the country for the first time in the Penza Region. The sanitary watchdog stressed that there were no plans to impose restrictions. Chulanov noted that according to the available information, the Kraken subvariant did not entail a severe course of the disease.

Mexican president-elect refuses to visit Ukraine

"I will attend certain international events, which we consider important, but we will not travel much - our responsibility lies here," Claudia Sheinbaum said

Brent oil price rises on London’s ICE to $74 per barrel, first time since September 5

WTI futures for November delivery grew by 1.81%, rising to $71.83 per barrel

Four Chinese warships to enter Vladivostok after drills with Russia — Foreign Ministry

The flotilla consists of the destroyers Xining and Wuxi, the frigate Linyi, and the support vessel Taihu

NATO not to become conflict side if West authorizes Kiev to strike at Russia — Stoltenberg

According to the Secretary General, NATO closely monitors what Russia is doing in its nuclear posture

Ukrainian forces lost up to 520 troops in Battlegroup West zone of responsibility

The enemy also lost six vehicles, a UK-made 155-mm Braveheart self-propelled howitzer, two 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer and two electronic warfare stations

Current situation in world much more dangerous than during Cold War — envoy to Germany

According to Sergey Nechayev, at that time there were certain rules that were observed by both sides

Some European countries echo WWII pro-German line — Russian intel chief

Sergey Naryshkin stated that today, as Russia is engaged in a challenging struggle against Nazism, "preserving the memory of the anti-fascist resistance in Europe" is especially important

Rising number of dead foreigners in Ukraine proves West's involvement — envoy to UN

"We have warned from the beginning that those who help the Zelensky clique stay afloat will become our legitimate targets," Vasily Nebezya reminded

Georgian parliament adopts in final reading bill banning LGBT propaganda

The bill, which will now be sent to the country’s president Salome Zourabichvili for signing, was approved by 84 lawmakers

Financing of Russian fishing industry in 2025 planned at this year’s level

"Around 34 bln rubles ($371 mln) is suggested," Head of the Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries Ilya Shestakov said

Palestine sits as state for first time at 79th session of the UN General Assembly

Palestine will be able to include its representatives in the list of speakers at meetings on Middle East issues, propose amendments and make procedural proposals on behalf of a group of countries

Press review: Kiev may get nod for long-range strikes and Israel-Hamas truce hope fades

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

Ukraine's military intelligence is part of terrorist network in Middle East — expert

Alexander Stepanov noted that after the completion of the special military operation more hotbeds of destabilization would emerge around the world, "which will include ex-representatives of paramilitary groups and intelligence structures who escaped from Ukraine"

Exhibition of captured NATO military hardware kicks off in Moscow

In all, there are 32 items

Random regrouping of Ukraine’s troops stems from shortage of manpower, arms — opinion

According to Vladimir Rogov, the Kiev regime’s hasty actions along the combat engagement line can also be explained by Russia’s decision to increase the number of army personnel

Suspect in assassination attempt on Trump did not have time to open fire — Secret Service

Acting Director Ron Rowe also noted that Trump "is aware that he has highest levels of protection that the Secret Service is providing him"

Dynamics of special op are positive, everything is going according to plan — Putin

"The dynamics are positive. Everything is developing within the plan of the Defense Ministry and the General Staff. And I hope that our fighters will please us more than once again with the results of their combat work," Putin said, answering questions from journalist Pavel Zarubin

Russia’s red caviar production to fall to 11,000-13,000 tons in 2024 — fisheries agency

The agency projects fish catch at around 5 mln tons by the end of 2024

US lawmakers call for helium sanctions against Russia — Politico

According to the report, the aim is to limit Russia's ability to become a global supplier of the substance

Many Europeans 'on the right side of history' — Russian intel chief

Sergey Naryshkin expressed confidence that "the memory of the heroic participants of the Slovak Uprising unites Russians and Slovaks"

Russian Army gets one of world’s most powerful self-propelled guns after upgrade

The 2S7M ‘Malka’ upgraded gun has received new running gear and electronics, according to the state hi-tech corporation Rostec

Establishing Routh's ties with Kiev should be US secret services’ headache — Kremlin

"In any case, playing with fire has its consequences," Dmitry Peskov said

Russian Railways increases eastern shipments by 2% to 195.5 mln tons

Russian Railways added that exports to the East grew by 0.6% to 102.5 mln tons

West already involved in Ukrainian conflict, issue needs to be formalized — Kremlin

"We see a lot of information fiddling around this, a lot of rumors, a lot of predictions by different analysts," Dmitry Peskov noted

BRICS platforms alternative to dollar, euro attract increasing number of states — Lavrov

"Many are attracted by the fact that payment platforms are being developed within BRICS, which allow trading, investing, carrying out other economic operations without being dependent on those that decided to weaponize the dollar and the euro," the foreign minister said

Germany to deliver 6 PzH 2000 artillery guns to Ukraine within 2 months — Pistorius

Germany is the second largest arms supplier to Ukraine after the US

Press review: Russia moves to boost its army and Zelensky to present victory plan to Biden

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, September 17th

Austrian military analyst predicts Ugledar will likely fall as Russian forces gain ground

Colonel Markus Reisner said Russian troops are trying to strengthen their strikes on the flanks of Krasnoarmeysk

Russian fish export volume in 2024 to remain at last year's level — expert

In terms of volume, we will reach last year's figures, I have no doubt about it, Chairman of the Fish Union Alexander Panin said

Ukrainian shelling cuts Energodar off from water, power

Eduard Senovoz added that there is still a threat of repeated attacks on the city

Bank of Russia raises dollar exchange rate for September 18 to 91.43 rubles

The official euro exchange rate was increased by 23 kopecks to 101.5057 rubles

West is persuading Ukraine to give up claims to 1991 borders — legislator

Yegor Chernev shared a "feeling" that the Western world is ready to declare as a victory for Ukraine at least the fact that "Kiev has not fallen" and that it "has not lost its sovereignty"

DPRK launches suspected ballistic missile — Japan Coast Guard

The missile was launched eastward and it fell outside of Japan’s exclusive economic zone, NHK reported

Slovaks care about remembrances of struggle against Nazis — intel chief

The Russian Historical Society recalled that the uprising, which broke out on August 29, 1944, was one of the major episodes of popular resistance to the Nazi invaders

White House taking Putin’s words about NATO’s involvement in Ukrainian conflict seriously

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that by allowing Ukraine to use its weapons to strike deep inside Russia the West will get directly involved in the Ukrainian conflict

Russia’s battlegroup West repels three Ukrainian counterattacks in past day

The Ukrainian army losses in the responsibility zone of the group include a tank, three armored combat vehicles, six vehicles, a Bogdana 155mm self-propelled artillery mount and roughly 600 servicemen

Suicide drones Kub destroy Ukrainian MLRS, self-propelled gun, howitzer over weekend

The Kub guided barrage munitions, designed to defeat armored vehicles and enemy manpower, have proven very effective in the course of the special military operation in Ukraine

Iranian ambassador to Beirut receives minor injuries in pager blast — agency

According to earlier reports, pager explosions occurred practically at the same time across Lebanon

Drug supplies to Ukrainian army come from US — POW

It is reported that under some psychotropics a person can stay awake for a week

Hamas puts responsibility for consequences of pager blasts in Lebanon on Israel

This action "is a challenge to all laws and rules" and will "only escalate tension" in the region, it added

NATO making plans of sending its troops to Ukraine — Russian deputy defense minister

According to Alexander Fomin, this may lead to a direct military confrontation of nuclear powers

Snowden said exploding pagers in Lebanon likely to be stuffed with explosives

Former NSA employee and whistleblower blamed Israel for this, slamming its actions as reckless, bordering on terrorism

Finland's shutdown nuclear power plant will restart in October

Plant’s owner Teollisuuden Voima clarified that the plan for repairing the generator malfunction has been updated and that’s why the date of commissioning of the NPP has also changed

West needs to sacrifice Zelensky to avoid World War III — politician

Viktor Medvedchuk emphasized that Russia may intensify its attacks on Ukraine which practically lacks its own air force or nuclear weapons

Georgia could reconsider US ties if Washington imposes more sanctions — prime minister

The previous sanctions brought the US to "a critical point," the prime minister’s office said in a statement following the meeting

West downplays threats to nuclear plants posed by Ukraine — Rosatom

Alexey Likhachev said Russia would defend its point of view and communicate to the world community "the authors of the real threats to the nuclear power industry"

High technologies important for strengthening Russia’s industrial sovereignty — Putin

The Russian leader highlighted "the popularization of professions related to high technologies, which are especially in demand today"

Meta blocking accounts of Russian media to complicate normalization of relations — Kremlin

"Such selective actions with regard to Russian media are unacceptable," Dmitry Peskov stressed

International journalistic organization can be created based on BRICS

"It is necessary to create an information dimension within the framework of BRICS, here we can cooperate, many people from other countries will join this," Alexey Pushkov noted

Russian forces advance in Stepnogorsk area in Zaporozhye Region — politician

According to Vladimir Rogov, the advance was under constant strikes by Ukrainian tube artillery, drones and multiple launch rocket systems

Press review: BRICS challenges existing security concepts and Europe's economy in trouble

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, September 13th

Medecins sans Frontieres terminates its activities in Russia

MSF points out that in August it received a letter from the Russian Ministry of Justice with a decision to withdraw the organization from the register of affiliate and representative offices of foreign NGOs

Ukrainian troops captured: situation in Kursk Region

In total, the enemy has lost over 11,800 servicemen since fighting began in the region

Georgia under Saakashvili went to war in 2008 on orders from abroad — prime minister

According to Irakli Kobakhidze, "it is not the issue of starting a war that has enraged the radical opposition, but the topic of mutual forgiveness and reconciliation" with Ossetians

FBI has no info about accomplices of suspect in assassination attempt on Trump — agent

Special agent Jeffrey Veltri said that the investigation will determine that

Brussels' attempting to attract more migrants to Europe — top Hungarian diplomat

Peter Szijjarto added that "there are conscientious African countries that keep migration under control"

Two more settlements liberated: developments in Russia's Kursk Region

Over the day, Ukraine lost over 350 servicemen and 13 armored vehicles, including two tanks and 11 armored fighting vehicles, as well as two artillery pieces, three mortars, two multiple rocket launchers, including one US-made M270 MLRS, and eight vehicles

IN BRIEF: Ex-Ukrainian intel officer’s car blown up in northern Moscow

The explosion occurred in a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado off-road vehicle parked on Korovinskoye highway in the north of Moscow, when the driver started the SUV

Russia calls to show US it is on wrong side of history — UN envoy

"We also hope that the UN Security Council, which has effectively been taken hostage by the United States and its Israeli allies, will be able to fulfill its role on maintaining international peace and security," Vasily Nebenyza said

Russian armed forces consolidating in settlement of Borki in Kursk region — army

Apty Alaudinov said that the Arbat unit worked there together with the 810th brigade

Russia’s response to long-range weapons supplies to Kiev will be brutal — MFA

"The opponents in Washington, London, and other places clearly underestimate the degree of danger of the game they continue to play," Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Ryabkov said

Medvedev allows use of nuclear weapons by Russia when ‘patience runs out’

The politician underscored that no one really needs a nuclear conflict - it is "a very bad story with a very difficult outcome."

Russia destroys key Ukrainian highways leading to DPR’s Krasnoarmeysk — security forces

As a result, according to the security services, Krasnoarmeysk has been virtually cut off from supplies

In case of deep strikes Russia to respond with more powerful weapons — Duma speaker

According to Vyacheslav Volodin, it is crucial for the parliaments of the United States and European countries to "understand and realize what can happen"

Zaluzhny objected to attacking Russia’s Kursk Region — media

Russia’s tactical successes and ongoing offensive in Donbass cause big losses in the Ukrainian army, Politico said, citing the Ukrainian military

Head of Chechnya denies reports of 'black market' to swap prisoners of war

Ramzan Kadyrov said Levitsky's legs were broken and his hands frostbitten when he surrendered

US uses sanctions to show off harsh stance toward strategic rival Russia — ambassador

Anatoly Antonov said sound-minded US analysts and journalists repeatedly questioned the effectiveness of sanctions against Russia

Operation with pagers in Lebanon approved by Netanyahu, his cabinet — media

According to Axios, citing to US officials that Israel had not informed the United States about its plans

Relations between Iran, Russia to develop on permanent basis — Iranian president

According to Masoud Pezeshkian, closer cooperation between the two countries will help them alleviate the sanction pressure from Western states

Russia appreciates Egypt's sensible stance on Ukraine — Lavrov

"We outlined our vision of the challenges currently emerging, including within the international community, and our view on how to overcome these difficulties while considering Russia's legitimate interests," the Russian foreign minister said

Suspect in Trump attempted assassination visited Ukraine in 2022 — TV

Ryan Wesley Routh previously said he was disappointed with the West's "limited response" to the Ukrainian conflict, saying that it was "extremely disappointing"

Ukrainian military carry out at least five artillery strikes on Energodar — politician

Earlier, the mayor of Energodar, Eduard Senovoz, said that as a result of the Ukrainian bombardment there was an emergency power outage

Ukrainian leadership appointed from outside, as was Saakashvili in 2003 — Georgian PM

In Georgia, it resulted in total racketeering of businesses, murders of people in the streets, prisons, Irakli Kobakhidze said

Venezuelan President believes Russia will put an end to surge of Nazism in Ukraine

Nicolas Maduro said that "there are very balanced, very calm, very strong people, such as President Vladimir Putin"

Solutions to problem of payments with China exist, work in hand — MFA

Earlier, the media reported of Russian entrepreneurs complaining about conducting transactions with Chinese partners

Russian envoy to Germany warns of consequences of strikes on Russia

"This would be a completely new situation for us and President Putin highlighted this a couple of days ago. For us, this will be a completely new situation with all ensuing consequences," the diplomat noted

Kennedy Jr., Trump Jr. call for direct talks with Russia on Ukraine

"Nuclear war would mean the end of civilization as we know it, maybe even the end of the human species," they said

Kiev's allies discuss possible end to conflict in Ukraine — report

According to Bloomberg, as the conflict drags on without significant changes on the battlefield, some Western officials started to consider using diplomacy to break the stalemate

At least 8 people killed, some 2,800 injured in pager explosions across Lebanon — official

Firas Abiad said that more than 170 injured people are in serious condition, and about 100 medical institutions are providing assistance to the wounded

Musk points to absence of assassination attempts on Biden, Harris

The American billionaire responded to a subscriber's comment on X "Why do they want to kill Donald Trump?"

Ukrainian troops complain about poor fortifications, lack of men — report

According to the report, the 110th mechanized brigade numbered less than 40% of required staff as of July 2024

Over half of Russians trust election results, poll reveals

"Russians generally appreciate the transparency and fairness of the elections: 37% of those surveyed are convinced that the results can be fully trusted, as many as 23% admit minor violations that do not affect the vote outcome," the survey said

RTS, MOEX indices rise by 0.77-1.09% at the end of trading session on Tuesday

The exchange rate of the yuan to the ruble fell by 0.29% over the day to 12.88 rubles

Top Russian, North Korean diplomats discuss developing ties, strategic partnership

According to the statement, Sergey Lavrov warmly congratulated Choe Son Hui on the traditional Chuseok harvest festival celebrated in the country today and wished her a fruitful and busy trip to St. Petersburg

EU’s overall assistance to Kiev amounts to €118 bln — EC

The EU and its Member States have so far mobilized around €43.5 billion in military support to Kiev, of which €6.1 billion comes from the European Peace Facility

Lebanese government puts blame for mass pager explosion on Israel

The press service also said that the Lebanese government contacted the United Nations and a number of countries to call on them to bring Israel to responsibility for its actions

Ukraine suffers major infantry losses in Sudzha area — Chechen commander

Major General Apty Alaudinov specified that the Akhmat fighters shot down several drones and eliminated one motor vehicle and one self-propelled artillery system

Russian units, advancing toward Seversk in DPR, force Ukrainian troops out — expert

North-west of Zolotarevka, an enemy stronghold located at a strategic high point was eliminated, Andrey Marochko said

Israel won’t dare to invade Lebanon for fear of heavy losses — parliament speaker

"Our enemy knows he will pay dearly if he tries to move forward by land, so I rule out that he will resort to such a scenario," Nabih Berri said

Helicopter carrying three people gone missing in Amur region — Emergencies ministry

About 20 people and seven pieces of equipment involved in the search

Russia's successor to McDonald's prepares to enter foreign markets

The chain's owner Alexander Govor said in early September that Vkusno I Tochka was ready to open restaurants in the Chinese city of Heihe and is waiting for the US company's decision on this issue

US coalition's drones fly too close to Russian fighter jet in Syria — top brass

A pair of the coalition’s F-15, a pair of F-16, and a pair of Rafale fighter jets, as well as a pair of A-10 Thunderbolt attack bombers violated Syria’s airspace in the al-Tanf area, across which international air routes run, twelve times during the day

Procedure to enter Russia for foreigners not sharing Western values simplified

Such visitors will be issued three-month visas based on the decision by the head of a Russian diplomatic mission or a consulate

UK Foreign Secretary offends memory of fallen, accusing Russia of fascism — embassy

The embassy said that it took note a long time ago of "propensity for inappropriate and provocative statements"

No specific proposals from Scholz on Ukraine talks, Russian envoy says

Sergey Nechaev stressed that the proposals should be valid and completely clear in essence

Pager exploding near Iranian ambassador to Lebanon did not belong to him — TV

According to the television channel, the ambassador doesn’t have such a device

Ukrainian breakthrough attempts thwarted: developments in Kursk Region

According to the report, the Russian military repelled five attempts of the enemy to break through the border towards the settlements of Veseloye and Medvezhye

Three more Ukrainian missiles shot down in Kursk Region

Governor Alexey Smirnov warned people against touching missile fragments and called on them to report any suspicious-looking objects to the police

Three civilians wounded in Ukraine’s attacks on DPR during day

Apart from that, DPR head Denis Pushilin said that seven residential houses were damaged in Donetsk and Gorlovka

Size of Russian army increased due to threats to country — Kremlin

"This is triggered by an extremely hostile situation on western borders and instability on eastern borders," Dmitry Peskov pointed out

400 people injured in mass pager detonation in Lebanon currently in severe condition

According to Health Minister Firass Abiad, a total of 4,000 people were injured in the incident, 11 of them died