Science, technology and technology news

Developer Lobaev: Russia has created the world's first sniper rifle chambered for NATO

Photo: Lobaev Arms Facebook page

Russia has developed the world's first multi-caliber rifle “Ravager”, which is capable of firing NATO cartridges of 12.7 x 99 millimeters. This was stated by the general director of the developer enterprise Lobaev Arms Vladislav Lobaev, RIA Novosti reports.

According to the specialist, the main advantage of the new rifle is its modularity. “On the Ravager, we were the first to realize the ability of snipers to change barrels for two calibers at once – NATO and domestic, depending on the combat mission facing it. This significantly increases its export prospects, ”he stressed.

Lobaev noted that the new weapon has an accuracy of fire of 0.5 arc minutes, which is unique for the 12.7 caliber – thus, the rifle shoots four times more accurately than the American Barret (2 arc minutes). Such high accuracy will allow her to perform one of the most difficult tasks – the fight against enemy sniper units.

The development company Lobaev Arms owns the most long-range small arms to date. The “Twilight” rifle allows you to hit a target at a distance of 2.5 kilometers with accurate shooting, 4.2 kilometers – with record shooting.

In November 2019, a Russian sniper Sergei Shmakov, using a SVLK-14 “Twilight” rifle, in complete darkness, managed to accurately hit a target at a distance of 1920 meters.

Theater and film actress Titarenko: Putin considers Ukrainians a brotherly people and will not attack

Lyubov Titarenko. Frame: Tarik Nezalejko / YouTube

Theater and film actress, Honored Worker of Culture of Ukraine Lyubov Titarenko urged compatriots not to be afraid of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In her opinion, the Russian leader considers the Ukrainians to be a fraternal people, so there is no need to be afraid of an “invasion.” She stated this in an interview with political scientist Alexander Semchenko on YouTube.

“Putin will not attack, Ukraine, don’t worry. He is not the enemy. And Russia loves Ukraine, our brotherly people live there, the same as the brotherly people live in Belarus, ”Titarenko said. According to her, Putin has raised Russia's prestige on the world stage, and without his participation not a single global problem is solved.

“Biden (President of the United States – approx.” Lenta.ru “ ) decides any issue by phone or at a meeting, primarily not with Macron (President of France – approx.” Lenta.ru “ ) or Scholz (Chancellor of Germany – approx.” Lenta.ru “ ), namely with Putin”, – said the actress.

Since late October, Western and Ukrainian media, as well as a number of high-ranking politicians, have accused Russia of preparing a military invasion of Ukraine. Photos taken from aerial photographs were presented as evidence: they show the movements of Russian troops within the borders of the country. Russia denies accusations of trying to provoke a conflict and notes that all military movements are made at its discretion and without violating international agreements.

Ministry of Emergency Situations: there are no threats to the life of the rescuer Zakovryashin, who survived in the Listvyazhnaya mine

Alexander Zakovryashin. Photo: Kirill Kukhmar / TASS

Rescuer Alexander Zakovryashin, who survived in the Listvyazhnaya mine, is in satisfactory condition and continues treatment at the hospital. This was announced by the Acting Head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation Alexander Chupriyan, reports TASS

“Now he is still in the hospital in a relatively satisfactory condition, we are constantly monitoring the progress of his treatment, and at the present time nothing threatens the life of Alexander Zakovryashin,” the department confirmed.

Earlier, Zakovryashin noted that he was satisfied with the care and nutrition in the hospital. The rescuer emphasized that he would return to work without any problems as soon as the doctors allowed.

A methane explosion in the Listvyazhnaya mine in the Kemerovo region took place on the morning of November 25. 51 people died, including five mine rescuers. According to the latest data, 96 Russians were injured, 41 people are in the hospital. Rescuer Alexander Zakovryashin, who was considered dead, managed to leave the mine – he spent more than a day inside and went to the rescuers the next day after the emergency.

ABC: first time omicron-strain patient dies in USA

Photo: Kai Pfaffenbach / Reuters

The first death from the omicron strain of the coronavirus was recorded in the United States. It is reported by the American TV channel ABC.

State Department spokesman Price: Russian security proposals did not allay US concerns

Ned Price. Photo: Kevin Lamarque / Reuters

State Department spokesman Ned Price said that Russia's proposals for security guarantees in Europe did not take into account the issues of concern to the United States. He is quoted by RIA Novosti.

“We have not yet seen anything to allay our concerns,” he said during a briefing with reporters.

Price said Moscow has highlighted points of concern, but Washington has its own reasons for concern. The State Department spokesman stressed that any dialogue and diplomacy should be based on the principles of reciprocity.

Any dialogue and diplomacy should be based on the principles of reciprocity. They must respond to our concerns about Russian activities

Ned US State Department Representative

List of Concerns

Previously, Price said that the United States will present its own list of concerns about Russia's actions. At the same time, Price expressed his readiness for diplomatic work with the Russian Federation, but added that he could not yet report on specific plans.

Russia presented its list of concerns about US and NATO actions. We intend to work with our European allies and partners to present our concerns about Russia's actions that we believe are detrimental to our common interests and values.

Ned US State Department Representative

Security guarantees

On December 20, aides to the presidents of Russia and the United States, Yuri Ushakov and Jake Sullivan, held a telephone conversation, during which they discussed security guarantees. This was announced by the representative of the Kremlin Dmitry Peskov.

The press secretary of the head of state noted that the conversation was of a business and pragmatic nature. In addition, the Kremlin and the White House agreed to continue contacts.

Ushakov and Sullivan continued their discussion in the context of the well-known Russian proposals set forth in two draft documents and previously transferred to the American side. The discussion was businesslike and pragmatic.

Dmitry Peskov Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation

According to him, the leaders' assistants continued their discussion in the context of the well-known Russian proposals set forth in two draft documents and previously transferred to the American side.

Ukrainian question

A key place in the telephone conversation between Sullivan and Ushakov was given to the situation in Ukraine. According to the US presidential aide, progress around Ukraine requires an atmosphere of de-escalation, the White House press service reports.

He also noted that significant progress can only occur in an atmosphere of de-escalation, not escalation.

White House Press Service

The ministry noted that Sullivan in the conversation indicated the readiness of the United States to participate in diplomatic work through bilateral interaction, the Russia-NATO Council and the OSCE.

What has Russia offered to the United States?

On December 17, the Russian Foreign Ministry published draft agreements between Russia, NATO and the United States on security guarantees. The document, in particular, says that the United States should not create military bases in the territories of the former USSR countries that are not members of NATO.

The United States should not use their infrastructure for any military activity and should not develop bilateral military cooperation with them. NATO countries, according to the document, must refuse to conduct any military activity on the territory of Ukraine, as well as other states of Eastern Europe, Transcaucasia and Central Asia.

Russia also proposed not to admit countries that were previously part of the USSR into NATO. In particular, this requirement applies to Ukraine, whose authorities insist on their desire to become part of the alliance.

On December 20, Konstantin Gavrilov, head of the Russian delegation to the Vienna talks on military security and arms control, said that in the event of continued pressure on Russia from NATO, Moscow would give a military response.

The conversation must be serious, and everyone in NATO perfectly understands, despite all the strength and power, that it is necessary to take concrete political actions, otherwise the alternative is the military-technical and military responses of Russia

Konstantin Gavrilov

The US administration has promised to prevent the emergence of nuclear weapons in Iran

Photo: Jonathan Ernst / Reuters

The US administration does not believe that negotiations with Iran to restore the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the nuclear program are close to failure, but Washington and Israel will not allow the Iranian government to develop an atomic bomb. This statement was made by a high-ranking representative of the Washington administration during a telephone briefing for journalists, he is quoted by TASS.

“I would not characterize them (negotiations with Iran, – approx. Lenta.ru ) as close to failure. The United States and Israel are completely in solidarity in their desire to ensure that Iran can never acquire nuclear weapons, ”he said.

The official noted that the upcoming visit of US National Security Assistant Jake Sullivan to Israel is not directly related to the progress of negotiations on the nuclear deal. According to him, the trip was planned long ago. The administration spokesman added that Sullivan's trip would be “the culmination of a close engagement that has continued for an entire year.”

Earlier, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that the United States is considering further steps with regard to Iran in case of failure of negotiations in Vienna on the nuclear program. She said that US President Joe Biden had instructed the national security team to be prepared for diplomatic failure and to consider other options.

On December 15, Iran announced that it will return to the JCPOA only if the United States completely lifts all sanctions against Tehran and does not withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear program. The United States responded by saying that it was ready to lift sanctions from Iran, but only those that contradict the JCPOA.

Kommersant: Russians asked the Ministry of Health to clarify the list of contraindications for vaccination against COVID-19

Photo: Valery Melnikov / RIA Novosti

Russians with multiple sclerosis asked the Ministry of Health to clarify the list of contraindications for vaccination against COVID-19 and include their disease in the list. Kommersant writes about this with reference to the petition of a group of patients on Change.org.

The publication notes that the list of diseases that are contraindications for vaccination against coronavirus has not yet been published, but has already been formed.

The authors of the appeal noted that vaccination of patients with multiple sclerosis was excluded until the summer of 2021. However, the updated interim guidelines of the Ministry of Health dated October 30, 2021 do not include autoimmune diseases in the list of contraindications for coronavirus vaccination. In the petition, patients also indicate that multiple sclerosis is a severe and not fully understood disease, its course is individual.

Earlier, therapist, immunologist Irina Yartseva named in a conversation with Lenta.ru the main contraindications for vaccination against COVID-19. According to her, the main contraindications are any chronic diseases in the acute stage, for example, decompensation of diabetes mellitus.

In early December, Izvestia, citing sources, reported that the Ministry of Health was preparing an expanded list of contraindications for vaccination against coronavirus.

White House spokesman Psaki on the question of businessman Akhmetov: considering sanctions

Jen Psaki. Photo: Evelyn Hockstein / Reuters

White House press secretary Jen Psaki answered a question about sanctions against Ukrainian businessman Rinat Akhmetov. Her words are quoted by RIA Novosti.

She did not rule out the possibility of imposing sanctions against Akhmetov, adding that the White House is considering the whole range of possible sanctions in connection with the situation between Russia and Ukraine.

“Obviously, we are considering a wide range of sanctions in connection with the Russian military build-up on the border with Ukraine,” she replied.

Psaki added that now she has “nothing to declare.”

On November 26, Zelensky said at a press conference that, according to the information he received, a coup d'etat is planned in the country on December 1, in which oligarch Rinat Akhmetov is involved. According to Zelensky, the businessman's entourage is trying to drag him into a war with the state. Akhmetov himself called it an absolute lie. Several hundred people took part in a protest action in the center of Kiev on December 1.

US President Joe Biden said he had a German Shepherd puppy named Commander

Photo: @POTUS / Twitter

US President Joe Biden has a German Shepherd puppy named Commander. The American leader announced this on his Twitter account.

“Welcome to the White House, Commander,” Biden wrote, accompanying the publication with a photo of the puppy and a video of him playing ball with him. “Meet the new member of the Biden family,” the president signed the video post.

According to CNN, the puppy was presented to the American leader by relatives. The spokesman for the wife of President Jill Biden, Michael Larosa, confirmed that the couple have a new pet. Biden also has a shepherd named Major.

Earlier, White House press secretary Jen Psaki spoke about Joe Biden's leisure time. According to her, the American leader loves to spend time with his family, like most people.

SK: a mother in Kamchatka who went into a binge for several months drove her son to starvation

Photo: kamchatka.sledcom.ru

Investigators in Kamchatka opened a criminal case into the death of a four-year-old boy who died of exhaustion because his mother went into binge drinking for several months and did not look after him. This was reported by the Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia in the Kamchatka Territory.

It is noted that the child suffered from a congenital disease of the mucous membrane of the small intestine and needed a special diet. However, his mother, as the investigators noted, from September to December of this year, abused alcohol and did not show due care and attention to the health of her son, did not ensure that the youngsters followed the necessary diet, which led to the exhaustion of the child and the onset of his death.

A criminal case was initiated under Part 1 of Article 109 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Causing death by negligence”).

The regional prosecutor's office has also started a check. The department reported that the woman had been observing her son's health deterioration for two weeks, but did not go to the hospital.

The prosecutor's office also noted that in May 2019, a woman was brought to administrative responsibility under Part 1 of Article 5.35 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (“Failure to fulfill the obligation to maintain and raise a child”) for drinking alcohol in the presence of a child. It is specified that the issue of responsibility of officials of the police and guardianship authorities will also be resolved.

Earlier it became known that in Dagestan, a five-year-old boy who was undergoing home treatment was mistakenly injected by an antibiotic mixed with lidocaine. So they wanted to cure the inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. The child was urgently taken to the hospital, but the doctors could not save the child.