Russia

MOSCOW, June 14. /TASS/: The number of wounded as a result of explosions and a fire at a gas filling station in Russia's Novosibirsk has risen to 16 people, a source in emergencies services told TASS.

Earlier reports said that six people were wounded, of which two were firefighters.

"Medical help was provided to 16 people," the source said, adding that "two of them are firefighters, both have been taken to hospitals."

MOSCOW, June 13. /TASS/: The Russian Pacific Fleet’s ships and vessels have completed their deployment in the Pacific for drills, Commander of the Pacific Fleet’s Primorye Flotilla of All-Arms Forces Rear Admiral Konstantin Kabantsov announced on Sunday.

"The Pacific Fleet’s ships and vessels have completed their deployment in the area of an operational exercise and have started accomplishing tasks today under the scenario of tactical maneuvers as part of the Pacific Fleet’s distant maritime zone taskforce," the commander said.

MOSCOW, June 13. /TASS/: New confirmed coronavirus cases in Russia grew by 14,723 in the past 24 hours, registering a 50% increase since the start of the week and a new high since February 13, the federal anti-coronavirus crisis center reported on Sunday.

The coronavirus growth rate equaled 0.28%. Overall, 5,208,687 people have been infected with the novel coronavirus in Russia since the start of the pandemic, the latest data show.

A day before, Russia registered a new high of 13,510 coronavirus cases since February 15.

(Reuters) --- President Vladimir Putin has said Russia would be ready to hand over cyber criminals to the United States if Washington did the same for Moscow and the two powers reached an agreement to that effect.

Putin made the comments in an interview aired in excerpts on state television on Sunday ahead of a June 16 summit with U.S. President Joe Biden in Geneva. Ties between the powers are badly strained over an array of issues.

MOSCOW, June 12. /TASS/: The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Russia increased by 13,510 per day to 5,193,964. This is the biggest increase since February 15, according to the data published on Saturday by the federal operational headquarters to combat coronavirus.

In relative terms, the increase in the number of cases was 0.26%.

The lowest growth rates were recorded in Russia’s Tuva Republic (0.04%), the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (0.05%).

MOSCOW, June 12. /TASS/: The number of people vaccinated against coronavirus in Russia has reached 18 mln people, while no cases of serious complications have been recorded. This suggests that vaccination in the country should be wider, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday.

"It seems to me that this is quite convincing proof that vaccination should be wider," Putin said.

The volume of manufactured coronavirus vaccines in Russia makes it possible to vaccinate everyone who wants it, Putin said.

MOSCOW, June 12. /TASS/: The absence of plans to hold a joint press conference of the presidents of Russia and the United States - Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden - following the summit in Geneva on June 16 does not mean low expectations from this meeting, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told TASS.

"No, it absolutely does not," he said.

MOSCOW, June 11. /TASS/: The defense ministries of Russia and Vietnam will continue developing military and military-technical cooperation, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said at talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Colonel General Phan Van Giang held via a video conference at Vietnam’s initiative on Friday.

ST. PETERSBURG, June 11. /TASS/: Achilles, St. Petersburg’s Hermitage oracle cat, has prophesied that Italy will win over Turkey in the opening match of Euro 2020. The cat delivered the first prediction on Friday in the St. Petersburg championship press center.

"The match outcome has been predicted, Italians will win in a blowout," the ceremony presenter said.

Bowls with cat food were traditionally placed before Achilles next to flags of Italy and Turkey, and the cat made his choice.

MOSCOW, June 11. /TASS/: Children who are born by surrogate mothers for foreigners or stateless persons in Russia will be granted Russian citizenship by birth, reads the draft bill banning surrogacy for foreigners in Russia, which was submitted to the lower house of parliament by a group of lawmakers headed by Deputy Speaker Pyotr Tolstoy on Friday.

"A child both in Russia by a surrogate mother receives Russian citizenship by birth if both potential parents or a single woman are not Russian citizens," the bill notes.