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Novak: Russia is confident that it is impossible to disrupt the implementation of Nord Stream 2

Photo: Hannibal Hanschke / Reuters

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak spoke about Moscow's confidence that it is impossible to disrupt the implementation of Nord Stream 2, and gas will be supplied to Europe via it. He stated this in an interview with RBC.

According to Novak, in recent years he has heard many different statements, including that the pipeline will never be completed. However, he stressed that Nord Stream 2 had been completed, both lines had been laid along the bottom of the Baltic Sea. The Deputy Prime Minister noted that there were many oppositions, but “the caravan is on its way,” and gas will be supplied to Europe.

Novak also commented on the situation with gas in Europe and named the main reasons due to which high prices for this type of fuel were established in the region. He said that the gas crisis in Europe was influenced by several factors, including the deliberate refusal of the European Commission from long-term contracts in favor of spot contracts, the cold winter of last year and the risks of a recurrence of cold weather this winter.

Figure skater Elizaveta Tuktamysheva published a photo with wings and delighted fans

Photo: Tatiana Sozonova / @ sozonova.ru

World figure skating champion Elizaveta Tuktamysheva published footage from a photo shoot on the ice and delighted subscribers. The post is available on the athlete's Instagram.

The figure skater appeared in the pictures in a gray dress with wing sleeves. In the dark on the ice, the girl is illuminated by a searchlight. “One of my most unusual shootings this year. A bird, a flower, a wave … What do you see here? “

Fans admired the new pictures of the skater. In four hours, the post got more than 18 thousand likes. “I see the queen of ice”, “Empress”, “There is something mysterious in her,” fans of Tuktamysheva wrote in the comments.

At the Russian Championship that ended on December 26, Tuktamysheva set a record. She went to the start of the 14th national championship in her career and became the record holder for the number of performances at the main domestic Russian tournament.

At the Russian Championship, Tuktamysheva took seventh place. In total, for two programs, she scored 224.40 points. This result did not allow her to qualify for the national team for the European Championship and the Olympic Games in Beijing.

Tuktamysheva trains under the guidance of Alexei Mishin. The athlete became the world and European champion in 2015. She also has the bronze of the continental championship and the silver of the world championship. Tuktamysheva became the champion of Russia in 2013.

Nature: antibodies have been identified that effectively fight the omicron strain of coronavirus

Photo: Thilo Schmuelgen / Reuters

An international team of scientists has identified antibodies that neutralize the omicron variant and other strains of the coronavirus. These antibodies target those regions of the S-protein that remain practically unchanged during the evolution of the virus. This is reported in an article published in the journal Nature.

The Omicron variant has 37 mutations in the S-protein of the coronavirus, which plays a key role in infecting human cells. In a new study, the researchers tried to figure out how the entire set of mutations affects the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to effectively bind to cells and evade neutralizing antibodies that target specific regions of the S-protein. To do this, they created a weakened virus that is incapable of reproduction (pseudovirus), which has S-proteins on the surface of the envelope, characteristic of the early strains of SARS-CoV-2 and the omicron variant.

It turned out that the S-protein “omicron” binds to the cellular receptor ACE2 2.4 times better than the earliest variants of coronavirus “spike” proteins. The scientists also confirmed that antibodies from people who were infected with earlier strains and from those who received one of the six most commonly used vaccines have a reduced ability to block infection.

Antibodies in people who had previously been infected and in those who received Sputnik V, Sinopharm vaccines, or a single dose of Johnson & Johnson had little or no ability to block the entry of the omicron variant into cells. The antibodies of people who received two doses of Moderna, Pfizer / BioNTech and AstraZeneca vaccines retained some neutralizing activity, although it decreased 20-40 times. In people who underwent revaccination with the third dose of RNA vaccines, the activity decreased fourfold.

The results of testing a large panel of antibodies showed that there are four large classes of antibodies that retained a high ability to neutralize the omicron. Members of each class target one of four S-protein regions that are present not only in SARS-CoV-2 strains, but also in the related group of coronaviruses. The discovery will help develop new vaccines and drugs to treat COVID-19.

Deputy Prime Minister Novak: Long-term contracts are needed to increase gas supplies to the EU

Alexander Novak. Photo: Evgenia Novozhenina / Reuters

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak commented on the situation with gas in Europe and named the main reasons due to which high prices for this type of fuel have been established in the region. He told about this in an interview with RBC.

Causes of the gas crisis

Novak noted that several factors influenced the gas crisis in Europe, including the deliberate refusal of the European Commission from long-term contracts in favor of spot contracts, the cold winter of last year and the risks of a recurrence of cold weather this winter. Novak explained that the spot assumes the satisfaction of bids in the near future and does not allow predicting the mid-term and long-term prospects in the market. As a result, in the summer of 2021, European countries were faced with a situation where they were unable to fill storage facilities, as gas went to economically more favorable markets.

The deputy prime minister also added that Europe has begun to produce less of its own gas, thereby refusing long-term investments in the industry. In addition, banks are advised not to finance traditional hydrocarbon projects, including oil and gas production. Due to the fact that the development of new fields is not underway, an even greater gas shortage should be expected in the future, he explained.

Supplies can be increased

In an interview, Novak announced Russia's readiness to increase gas supplies to Europe. He stressed that the country has a resource base that will meet the demand of European countries in any volume.

At the same time, the Deputy Prime Minister stressed that this requires long-term contracts. This is due to the fact that in order to increase production, large investments are required, which should pay off in a long period.

But, of course, this is not a quick process, because the policy that was carried out in the EU was aimed at reducing demand.

Alexander Novakwitse-Prime Minister of Russia

Nord Stream 2 certification

In addition, in an interview, the Deputy Prime Minister called the end of the first half of 2022 the maximum deadline for completing the certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. At the same time, he noted that, if the European colleagues so desire, deliveries can begin earlier than the middle of the year.

According to him, Moscow also hopes that Europe will not put forward new requirements for the launch of the project. However, no one is immune from this, Novak added.

No drop in prices is foreseen

In an interview, Novak found it difficult to answer when gas prices in Europe will fall, since the supply must be sufficient for this. He noted that reserves must be created in underground storage facilities, necessary in order to “reliably pass the winter period.” According to his forecast, this year world oil demand will grow by 4.5-5 million barrels per day, and next year it will increase by about 4 million more.

Earlier, Novak said that the cost of gas in Europe in 2022 will remain at high levels. At the same time, he stressed that Russia has always adhered to the position that long-term gas contracts are the most reasonable solution.

Gas reserves in Europe have depleted after the Russian supplier stopped booking additional capacities for gas transit via the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline to Germany from 21 December. According to Gazprom, European buyers do not make bids themselves. As a result, the cost of fuel in the region at the end of December set another historical maximum.

2187 dollars per thousand cubic meters – the historical maximum of gas prices in Europe

Specialist Biesbardis: it is better to receive a one-time payment of a funded pension in 2022

Photo: Nikolay Gyngazov / Global Look Press

The funded pension can be received in the usual format of monthly payments or, in some cases, as a lump sum. Such advice to the Russians in an interview with the agency “Prime” was given by the specialist of the non-state pension fund (NPF) “Future” Evgeny Biesbardis.

According to him, if the amount of the calculated monthly payment is less than five percent of the total pension, then it can be received immediately in full. The specialist noted that if a person wants to receive all the money at a time, but at the same time the calculation is slightly higher than five percent, then it is worth waiting for 2022. So, the required ratio may change due to the forthcoming indexation of insurance pensions, he added.

Earlier, the Russians were reminded of the new rules for pension payments approved by the Ministry of Labor and coming into force on January 1, 2022. The most significant change in the law envisages the protection of a pensioner from deductions from his pension if he is declared bankrupt.

Daily Mail: Julia Roberts rented a house in Australia for $ 14 thousand a week during filming

Photo: ImagePressAgency / Globallookpress.com

American actress Julia Roberts rented a luxury house in Australia during the filming of the new film Ticket to Paradise. Details of the property are reported by the Daily Mail.

The mansion overlooking the beach is located in New South Wales. According to realtors, this house can be purchased for eight million dollars (about 588.7 million rubles), and the actress and her family rents a living space for 14 thousand dollars (more than a million rubles) per week.

The three-storey building is nestled among tropical trees and offers scenic views. The mansion can accommodate up to nine people. The property has six en-suite bedrooms, an open-plan living room with fireplace, a luxury kitchen and many terraces. There is also an outdoor pool and barbecue area on site.

Julia Roberts has been living in Australia since October 2021, where they are filming the melodrama Ticket to Heaven, in which George Clooney will play one of the main roles. In late December, Roberts was spotted in Sydney while relaxing on the beach with her husband and three children. Her appearance has sparked controversy on social media.

Chukotka, Komi and Sakhalin became the most drinking regions of the Russian Federation

Photo: Pixabay

Experts named the most drinking regions of Russia at the end of 2021, RIA Novosti reports.

According to the publication, the last position in the anti-rating was taken by the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, 84th place (of the total number of regions of the Russian Federation) in the Republic of Komi and 83rd in the Sakhalin Region. Also, the Nenets Autonomous Okrug and the Kirov Region were included in the “anti-rating” of non-drinking regions at the end of 2021.

State Duma Deputy Sultan Khamzaev, who is the leader of the Sober Russia project, said that this rating is a scientifically grounded, independent report of specialists: psychologists, journalists, sociologists, lawyers, economists, historians. It was based on data on the number of deaths from alcohol poisoning, the number of patients registered in medical institutions with a diagnosis of alcoholism and alcohol psychosis, crimes committed by drunk Russians, as well as the regional volume of alcohol products sold in the region in liters pure alcohol.

Earlier it was reported that a therapist of a clinical hospital, deputy chief physician for the medical department of Russian Railways-Medicine Ivanovo, Anton Arsenyev, assessed the effect of alcohol on the state of those behind the wheel. According to him, alcohol reduces the driver's concentration and dulls his vigilance, and also slows down the speed of reaction on the road. The Russian physician stressed that even a minimal dose of alcohol is harmful to the nervous system and can cause an accident.

Political scientist Yilmaz: the conflict in Ukraine will become an important trump card of the United States in the confrontation with Russia

Photo: Valentin Ogirenko / Reuters

Salih Yilmaz, a professor at Yildirim Beyazit University in Ankara, pointed to the disinterest of the United States in the world in Ukraine. In a commentary to Lente.ru, the political scientist explained that the hot conflict in Ukraine, albeit limited in scale, could become an important trump card for the United States in its confrontation with Russia.

According to him, this will allow the United States to implement its plans to change the leadership in those countries that continue to cooperate with Russia. Yilmaz recalled that first in Austria, then in Germany, the governments left, which maintained good relations with Russia.

Earlier, US President Joe Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan promised that Washington would protect its NATO allies in Eastern Europe in the event of a Russian attack.

It was also reported that against the background of growing tensions around the situation in Ukraine, NATO increased the combat readiness of the rapid reaction forces. According to Die Welt, the North Atlantic Alliance has reduced the readiness period for the deployment of the Joint High-Readiness Task Force (VJTF) in the crisis zone from seven to five days. The specified group consists of 6.4 thousand military personnel, it is headed by Turkey. The level of readiness was also increased among the special operations forces and logistics services.

The Guardian: Pets were offered to feed insects to save the planet

Photo: Shutterstock

Meat-based cat and dog food production has proven to be as harmful to the atmosphere as the annual emissions from 13.6 million cars. For the sake of saving the planet from global warming, experts interviewed by The Guardian suggested switching pets to food from insects.

Scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles estimate that pet food accounts for about 25 percent of the meat industry's carbon footprint – 64 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. A significant part of emissions is associated with raising and keeping livestock.

Experts advised to replace cows, chickens and pigs with insects – grasshoppers, mealworms and black flies. Preliminary research has shown that farming these species on a farm would harm the planet less and that feed based on them is rich in protein, healthy fats, oils, vitamins and minerals.

The Dutch company Rabobank predicts that the insect-based cat and dog food market will grow 50-fold by 2030 as more pet owners begin to change their lifestyle for the sake of the environment. But Andrew Knight, a professor of veterinary medicine at the University of Winchester, believes that traditional consumer aversion to food from insects may be a barrier to the spread of less dangerous food for animals. In addition, these feeds tend to be more expensive.

A survey by the manufacturer of Lovebug, a new type of cat food line, found that 47 percent of respondents are willing to consider insect food for their pets. About 87 percent of those surveyed noted that they pay attention to environmental friendliness when choosing food for pets.

Lovebug assured that cats do not hesitate to eat insects, for them it is normal food. However, experts advised owners to smoothly transfer pets to a new type of feed. Initially, the diet should be 75 percent of the usual food and 25 percent of insects. Then you should gradually increase the proportion of organic food, but it is better to consult a veterinarian first.

Previously, representatives of the food industry predicted the popularity of insect dishes in the human diet. Experts predicted the greatest growth in demand for chicken and canned tuna from larvae and grasshoppers.

Deputy of Rada Kiva: Ukraine and Russia should be in a single union state

Photo: Valentyn Ogirenko / Reuters

The deputy of the Verkhovna Rada from the party “Opposition Platform for Life” (Opposition Platform for Life) Ilya Kiva called for the creation of a unified state of Ukraine and Russia. He stated this on the air of the TV channel “Russia 1”, reports RIA Novosti.

According to him, Moscow has a “right to territory” which is now Ukrainian. The parliamentarian noted that Ukraine and Russia should be in a single Slavic union state. In addition, he said that peoples close to each other should unite and oppose the West together.

Earlier, the Ukrainian political scientist Alexander Kochetkov considered it reasonable to send teenagers to the front in case of aggression from Russia. He expressed the opinion that in a war, the average level of training of fighters is not so important. The only thing that matters is the number of defenders who are able to shoot towards the enemy. “In case of mass shooting, the theory of probability will work, and the bullets with shells will find the target,” the expert is sure. He added that both men and women and teenagers are suitable for such a defense.