Outbreak of incurable virus in India transmitted by bats. News for January 24

Every day many events happen in the world, and it is simply impossible to keep up with the news flow. Therefore, we gather the main stories in this digest. Today we summarize the events of January 24.

Russian Federation Council states pension amount for those who never worked

A person who has never worked officially still has access to a pension. This refers to the old-age social pension.

«A citizen who has never worked, meaning they have no service record or individual pension coefficient, is granted a social old-age pension five years later than the old-age insurance pension (women at 65, men at 70). The amount of the social pension is a fixed sum that is indexed every year. Starting from January 1, 2026, it amounts to 8,824 rubles (approximately $100 at current rates),» noted Senator Natalya Melnikova, former head of the Social Fund branch in the Pskov region.

According to Melnikova, if the social pension amount does not reach the subsistence minimum, a supplement is provided. It allows the pension to be raised to the level of the subsistence minimum established for pensioners in a specific region.

The subsistence minimum is the monetary value of the minimal set of food products, goods, and services necessary for maintaining health and ensuring human life. It serves as the main criterion for assessing need and determines the right to receive many social payments.

«The supplement will be established if the pensioner does not work,» the senator explained.

State Duma calls for fighting dog hunters as an «extremist group»

Dog hunters should be fought on par with extremists. This is the opinion of Vladimir Burmatov, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Ecology, Natural Resources, and Environmental Protection.

In his opinion, such people pose a threat not only to animals but also to children, as they might «put in their mouths» poison scattered on the street. It is scary to imagine what could happen if dog poison enters a child«s body.

Burmatov stated that the police show «passivity» on this issue and do not identify the criminals via surveillance cameras, as is done in other crimes.

«In my view, this is an extremist group that creates a threat to everyone»s life. They should be fought like extremists. Today we have severe penalties for mass killing of animals, but I do not see any zeal from the police on this matter,« he stated in an interview with the radio station »Govorit Moskva« (Moscow Speaks).

Scammers steal data from Russians via ads for free application

Free VPN services can collect and sell user data to malicious actors. This warning was issued by financial advisor and founder of Rodin.Capital, Alexey Rodin.

He noted that VPNs outside the country«s jurisdiction are not obligated to comply with data protection laws and can transfer information without consequences. According to the expert, when the service is organized correctly, all user data should be encrypted and inaccessible to anyone, RIA Novosti reports.

It is also not advisable to make payments with VPN turned on or to access online banking. Scammers can intercept user traffic and use the obtained information for their own purposes. The risks include:

• password theft;
• keylogging;
• screen capture.

Employers may be required to pay for employee taxis

Employers should be required to pay for employee taxi rides from home to work and back during severe frosts. This primarily concerns cases where in-person presence at the workplace is required. This statement was made by State Duma deputy Amir Khamitov.

«In a number of regions, frosts below -25°C (-13°F) are a common occurrence, and the commute to work under such conditions can pose a direct threat to health. If the employer insists on the employee»s in-person presence, such demands should be accompanied by additional guarantees. In particular, it is logical to provide compensation for safe travel, for example, payment for a taxi there and back,« said Khamitov.

He called this a fair approach that distributes responsibility and reduces risks for employees. The employee should also be given the opportunity to work remotely during extremely low temperatures, as it is a matter of safety and common sense, not comfort.

«Modern digital solutions allow many specialists to work effectively remotely, and flexibility in organizing labor during severe frosts serves the interests of both employees and employers,» the deputy added in a conversation with RIA Novosti.

Director Alexander Oleynikov passes away

Well-known TV host, producer, director, and journalist Alexander Oleynikov has died at the age of 60. This was announced on Channel One.

«He came to television when he was 20 and realized: this is his calling,» was said on air.

The cause of his death could have been a blood clot, TASS writes. However, his daughter Daria neither confirmed nor denied this information in a conversation with MSK1.RU.

«No [the cause is unknown], we are still waiting because it was a sudden death,» she said.

Oleynikov was born on October 21, 1965, in Moscow. He studied by correspondence at an institute of culture but did not complete his studies. He began his television career in 1985, working on various channels, including MTK, TV-6, NTV, Rossiya, TVC, and Channel One. In 1993 he became secretary of the Union of Cinematographers, and from 2001 he was a member of the Russian Television Academy.

Furthermore, he spent several years abroad but always returned, devoted to his country. Oleynikov also dedicated much time to working with students, passing on his experience and knowledge.

Two-day negotiations of Russia, US, and Ukraine conclude in Abu Dhabi

Tricilateral negotiations between delegations from Russia, the United States, and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi took place in two stages. During the second round, the countries communicated for almost three hours. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed details of these discussions.

«Over two days, unprecedented trilateral consultations took place in Abu Dhabi between representatives of the US, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine as part of ongoing efforts to promote a peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian conflict. The discussions took place in a constructive and positive atmosphere and included direct contact between representatives of the Russian Federation and Ukraine regarding unresolved elements of the US-proposed framework for a peaceful settlement, as well as confidence-building measures aimed at supporting progress towards a comprehensive agreement,» stated a representative of the UAE Foreign Ministry«s government communication office.

He also emphasized that the conflict between the countries cannot be resolved without dialogue, and progress is achieved through interaction.

«We will continue to support all efforts aimed at establishing peace in all crisis situations,» noted the UAE Foreign Ministry.

After the negotiations concluded, the Russian delegation returned to the hotel, and US representatives headed to the airport. Typically, following such confidential meetings, the parties hold internal consultations and later announce the results in their respective capitals.

Furthermore, the Ukraine dialogue in the trilateral format in Abu Dhabi may continue in the coming days.

Driver rams entrance of Detroit airport

A serious incident occurred at the McNamara Terminal of Detroit Metropolitan Airport. The driver of a Mercedes crashed into the terminal building, ending up in the departure hall after ramming through the entrance area and ticket counters. Six people were injured as a result of the incident, CBS News reports.

According to information from the airport administration, the incident occurred around 7:30 PM local time, which corresponds to 3:30 AM Moscow Time. Police detained the driver; his motives are being investigated. All injured received medical assistance.

People killed during wedding ceremony in Pakistan

A terrorist attack during a wedding ceremony in the Pakistani city of Dera Ismail Khan claimed several lives. According to local services and police, at least five people were killed and another ten injured. However, the number of victims may increase, Tribune Express writes.

The explosion occurred in the house of a local community leader; the terrorist died at the scene. Seven ambulances and one fire truck are working at the scene. Ten of the injured have been hospitalized.

The investigation continues, and data on the victims is being clarified.

Outbreak of dangerous virus in India

An outbreak of the dangerous «Nipah» virus, which is capable of causing an epidemic, has occurred in India. Moreover, there is no treatment or vaccine for it, The Metro reports.

Five cases of the disease have already been identified in the country. This week, a doctor, a nurse, and a medical facility employee contracted the virus.

«It is believed that the nurse, who is in a coma, contracted the infection while treating a patient with severe respiratory illness,» the newspaper reports.

Authorities checked 180 people who had contact with the sick and placed 20 of them in quarantine.

The Nipah virus can be transmitted from animals to humans and between humans. In India, it is most often contracted through contact with bats. In humans, it can be asymptomatic or cause acute respiratory illness. Main symptoms include fever, headache and muscle pain, nausea, and sore throat.

In severe cases, the infection can lead to brain inflammation and coma within two days.