tass--2020-11-16--Shanghai Electric's MSCI ESG Rating Upgraded to BB

SHANGHAI , Nov. 16 .
/PRNewswire/ .
Shanghai Electric ( the `` Company '' ) , the world 's leading manufacturer and supplier of electric power generation equipment , industrial equipment and integration services , has been granted an upgrade to BB for its MSCI ESG Rating , as the Company has been putting efforts in advancing its new energy solutions and labor management .
Shanghai Electric is focusing on developing its strategy of ESG , which refers to the environmental , social and corporate governance factors in measuring a company 's sustainability and societal impact on investment .
Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ management committee , prioritizing ESG measures among its overall strategy and including the committee in its corporate governance structure .
The MSCI 's move to upgrade Shanghai Electric 's ESG rating to BB reflects the Company 's long-standing value of environmental protection and its engagement in the field of renewable clean technology .
Given its involvement in renewable energy as well as energy storage and smart grids , the Company is `` well poised to benefit from China 's move to boost clean and lower-carbon energy as part of its efforts to cap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mentioned in MSCI 's rating report .
Shanghai Electric 's interim results underscored its efforts in ESG developments .
In the first half of the year , it gained a 40.75 % year-on-year increase in new orders for energy equipment , integration services and industrial equipment combined .
Within new energy equipment , its orders for wind power equipment increased by 505.9 % year-on-year .
MSCI has given a positive assessment toward Shanghai Electric 's business in clean technology .
MSCI stated in the report that the Company attained opportunities to participate in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involvement in advanced nuclear power generation technology ; coal-fired supercritical thermal ; gasturbine IGCC power generators ; wind and solar power generation equipment ; and smart grids , as well as wastewater treatment .
To ensure stable and quality production as well as the physical and mental health of its employees , Shanghai Electric has built a sound labor management system .
Accommodations for overseas staff , which offer them safe places to work efficiently and have proper rests amid the COVID-19 pandemic , were set up .
Shanghai Electric also values the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year , the Company has worked with local partners to establish a specialist virus prevention and control team to protect staff while working on-site such as locally-hired personnel in Dubai and Bangladesh to receive fact sheets and advisory handbooks with on-site safety training in both English and Arabic .
MSCI pointed out in the report that Shanghai Electric is `` less likely to experience workflow disruptions due to labor unrest or reduced productivity due to poor job satisfaction . ''
Meanwhile , Shanghai Electric is making efforts to prioritize its digitalization reform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carrying out internal reforms to go digital and smart as we strive to meet the standards set by our international peers , '' said Cheng Yan , Executive Director and General Manager of Shanghai Electric Digital Technology Co. , Ltd .
The Company 's latest achievements in digitalization include its upgraded SEunicloud platform , which won the world 's first industrial intelligence award at the 2020 World Artificial Intelligence Conference Summit earlier this year .
Equipped with smart supply chain solutions designed to directly match factory production with power plant demands , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wind power operation , remote thermal power operation , machine tool maintenance , energy storage and distribution .
Building upon all its sustainability efforts , Shanghai Electric will further integrate ESG measures into its business operation to comprehensively improve its environmental , social and governance-related practices for the coming years .

SHANGHAI, Nov. 16. /PRNewswire/. Shanghai Electric (the "Company"), the world's leading manufacturer and supplier of electric power generation equipment, industrial equipment and integration services, has been granted an upgrade to BB for its MSCI ESG Rating, as the Company has been putting efforts in advancing its new energy solutions and labor management.
Shanghai Electric is focusing on developing its strategy of ESG, which refers to the environmental, social and corporate governance factors in measuring a company's sustainability and societal impact on investment. Last year, the Company established an ESG management committee, prioritizing ESG measures among its overall strategy and including the committee in its corporate governance structure.
The MSCI's move to upgrade Shanghai Electric's ESG rating to BB reflects the Company's long-standing value of environmental protection and its engagement in the field of renewable clean technology. Given its involvement in renewable energy as well as energy storage and smart grids, the Company is "well poised to benefit from China's move to boost clean and lower-carbon energy as part of its efforts to cap carbon emissions by 2030," as mentioned in MSCI's rating report.
Shanghai Electric's interim results underscored its efforts in ESG developments. In the first half of the year, it gained a 40.75% year-on-year increase in new orders for energy equipment, integration services and industrial equipment combined. Within new energy equipment, its orders for wind power equipment increased by 505.9% year-on-year.
MSCI has given a positive assessment toward Shanghai Electric's business in clean technology. MSCI stated in the report that the Company attained opportunities to participate in clean tech markets mainly due to its involvement in advanced nuclear power generation technology; coal-fired supercritical thermal; gasturbine IGCC power generators; wind and solar power generation equipment; and smart grids, as well as wastewater treatment.
To ensure stable and quality production as well as the physical and mental health of its employees, Shanghai Electric has built a sound labor management system. Accommodations for overseas staff, which offer them safe places to work efficiently and have proper rests amid the COVID-19 pandemic, were set up.
Shanghai Electric also values the safety of its employees. Since January this year, the Company has worked with local partners to establish a specialist virus prevention and control team to protect staff while working on-site such as locally-hired personnel in Dubai and Bangladesh to receive fact sheets and advisory handbooks with on-site safety training in both English and Arabic.
MSCI pointed out in the report that Shanghai Electric is "less likely to experience workflow disruptions due to labor unrest or reduced productivity due to poor job satisfaction."
Meanwhile, Shanghai Electric is making efforts to prioritize its digitalization reform. "We are actively shaping and carrying out internal reforms to go digital and smart as we strive to meet the standards set by our international peers," said Cheng Yan, Executive Director and General Manager of Shanghai Electric Digital Technology Co., Ltd.
The Company's latest achievements in digitalization include its upgraded SEunicloud platform, which won the world's first industrial intelligence award at the 2020 World Artificial Intelligence Conference Summit earlier this year. Equipped with smart supply chain solutions designed to directly match factory production with power plant demands, the one-stop platform is established to empower smart wind power operation, remote thermal power operation, machine tool maintenance, energy storage and distribution.
Building upon all its sustainability efforts, Shanghai Electric will further integrate ESG measures into its business operation to comprehensively improve its environmental, social and governance-related practices for the coming years.
CONTACT: Shen Jin, +86(21)23196217, shenjin@shanghai-electric.com


tass--2020-11-16--Another 4,244 patients recover from COVID-19 in Moscow

MOSCOW , November 16 .
/TASS/ .
Moscow ’ s coronavirus recoveries grew by 4,244 in the past 24 hours @ @ @ @ @ center said on Monday. '' The number of recoveries in Moscow continues to grow .
@ @ @ @ @ treatment in the past 24 hours .
The total number of recoveries has reached 371,857 @ @ @ @ @ Those who recover from the disease are offered to become blood plasma donors .
People @ @ @ @ @ who have recovered from COVID-19 can become blood plasma donors , provided they don ’ @ @ @ @ @ test negative for HIV , Hepatitis B and C. People who have recovered can also @ @ @ @ @ those who are being treated at home .

MOSCOW, November 16. /TASS/. Moscow’s coronavirus recoveries grew by 4,244 in the past 24 hours, Moscow's anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Monday.
"The number of recoveries in Moscow continues to grow. Another 4,244 patients recovered after treatment in the past 24 hours. The total number of recoveries has reached 371,857," it said.
Those who recover from the disease are offered to become blood plasma donors. People aged between 18 and 55 who have recovered from COVID-19 can become blood plasma donors, provided they don’t have chronic diseases and test negative for HIV, Hepatitis B and C.
People who have recovered can also become social volunteers and help those who are being treated at home.


tass--2020-11-16--CGTN: Yangtze River Economic Belt to power China's high-quality development

BEIJING , Nov. 16 , 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With the unveiling of a blueprint for China 's development in the next 15 years , different regions are gearing up for their new roles in the country 's new journey toward modernization .
Provinces and municipalities along the Yangtze River – China 's longest river – have been given important roles to foster an innovation-driven , green development mode for the world 's second-largest economy .
The blueprint – the Communist Party of China ( CPC ) Central Committee 's proposals for formulating the 14th Five-Year Plan ( 2021-2025 ) for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 – called for efforts to promote the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the integration of the Yangtze River Delta and create innovation platforms and new growth poles in the regions .
The roles of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the Yangtze River Delta in the country 's overall development are high on the agenda of Chinese President Xi Jinping 's ongoing tour in Shanghai Municipality and Jiangsu Province .
It is his first domestic inspection tour after the fifth plenary session of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the blueprint was adopted .
Xi , also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee , attended a grand gathering in Shanghai to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Pudong 's development and opening-up on Thursday morning , encouraging the district to `` carry the heaviest load '' and `` crack the hardest nut '' in China 's reform and modernization drive .
Pudong , located east of the Huangpu River in Shanghai , should strive to become a pioneer of reform and opening-up at a higher level and a vanguard in fully building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a speech .
The area should strengthen its role as an engine of innovation and make breakthroughs in key and core technologies , he stressed .
On the other hand , efforts should be made to improve Pudong 's capabilities in global resource allocation so that it will better serve the establishment of a new development pattern , he added .
China vows to nurture a new development pattern that takes the domestic market as the mainstay while letting domestic and foreign markets boost each other .
Xi called on Pudong to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a strategic link to the domestic and foreign markets .
The area should play a leading role in the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region , he said .
On Thursday afternoon , Xi visited Nantong in the neighboring province of Jiangsu .
He first went to Binjiang , a riverside district in Nantong , where he inspected local efforts in improving the overall environment along the shoreline of the Yangtze River , as well as the enforcement of fishing ban policies .
Binjiang , bounded by mountains along the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ green corridor '' of Nantong .
It is a significant source of water for local urban development .
Several projects to restore its ecosystem have been implemented since 2016 .
Recalling his tour to the area in 1978 , Xi hailed the great improvement in the environment during these years .
`` Such a happy life is built by your own hands and worked out by everyone together , '' he said .
Xi then went to Nantong Museum , where he watched exhibits introducing Zhang Jian , a Chinese industrialist and educator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20th century .
The museum , founded by Zhang in 1905 , is the first public museum founded by Chinese .
Xi learned about Zhang 's deeds in developing China 's domestic industries , education , and public welfare undertakings .
While setting up industries , Zhang also actively started educational and public welfare undertakings that benefited villagers and had far-reaching influence .
Hailing Zhang as the sage and model of Chinese private entrepreneurs , Xi said that the museum should be built into a patriotic education base to inspire more people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Xi inspected Yangzhou City – the second stop of his tour in Jiangsu .
Xi visited an ecological cultural park and the Jiangdu water conservancy project to learn about local efforts in environmental improvement as well as cultural protection and inheritance .
`` We need to do well with ecological civilization .
Building ecological civilization directly concerns the happiness of the people and bears on the healthy growth of young people , '' he told locals , adding that the strengthening of ecological civilization is a prerequisite of pushing for the high-quality development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an ecological and cultural park in the Sanwan area , Xi learned about environmental remediation along the Grand Canal , as well as the protection , inheritance and use of its culture .
He urged local authorities to integrate cultural and tourist activities along with the remediation .
That , he said , would help shape the area 's development and thus , better the livelihoods for local residents .
In Jiangdu , he learned about the operations of the country 's south-to-north water diversion project as the district stands as the origin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ project .
China 's densely-populated northern region has long suffered from acute water shortages , leading to groundwater overexploitation and river water diminishing .
To optimize the allocation of water resources and quench the thirsty north , south-to-north water diversion projects , which began in 2002 , have been built to channel water from the water-rich Yangtze River basins through eastern , middle and western routes to the dry areas in the north .
`` China 's water resources are richer in the south than in the north , so it must be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials during his visit .
`` However , people in the north should n't take it for granted just because we have this measure in place . ''
`` We need to plan urban development according to the amount of water resources .
Therefore , we should integrate the south-to-north water diversion project and on-site water conservation and work on them both , '' he continued .
According to official data , the eastern route and middle route have altogether diverted 29.4 billion cubic meters of water to arid areas in the north @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as of 2019 , which turned into an industrial and agricultural boost for cities totaling almost 100 billion yuan per year .
Along with the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the building of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area , the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the integration of the Yangtze River Delta are important national strategies for the coordinated regional development in China .
The Yangtze River Economic Belt consists of nine provinces – Sichuan , Guizhou , Yunnan , Hubei , Hunan , Jiangxi , Anhui @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two municipalities – Chongqing and Shanghai .
It covers roughly one-fifth of China 's land and has a population of 600 million , generating more than 40 percent of the country 's GDP .
In 2016 , China released a development plan of the economic belt that emphasized the priority of ecological conservation and green development .
When addressing the opening ceremony of the first China International Import Expo in Shanghai in November 2018 , Xi announced that the country would support the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region .
An @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CPC Central Committee and the State Council the following year .
The outline , mapping development for a 358,000-square kilometers expanse that encompasses Jiangsu , Zhejiang and Anhui provinces and Shanghai Municipality , said the Yangtze River Delta boasts strategic significance in the country 's modernization and further opening-up , which makes its regional integration crucial for leading the country 's high-quality development and building a modern economic system .
Included in both strategies , Shanghai and Jiangsu are among the most developed regions in China .
Shanghai tops the GDP ranking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second-highest GDP among Chinese provinces .
They are not only at the forefront of the coordinated development along the Yangtze River but also pioneers that explore China 's future in a changing world .

BEIJING, Nov. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With the unveiling of a blueprint for China's development in the next 15 years, different regions are gearing up for their new roles in the country's new journey toward modernization.
Provinces and municipalities along the Yangtze River – China's longest river – have been given important roles to foster an innovation-driven, green development mode for the world's second-largest economy.
The blueprint – the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee's proposals for formulating the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 – called for efforts to promote the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the integration of the Yangtze River Delta and create innovation platforms and new growth poles in the regions.
The roles of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the Yangtze River Delta in the country's overall development are high on the agenda of Chinese President Xi Jinping's ongoing tour in Shanghai Municipality and Jiangsu Province.
It is his first domestic inspection tour after the fifth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, at which the blueprint was adopted.
Read the original article: here.
Pioneer in new reform drive
Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, attended a grand gathering in Shanghai to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Pudong's development and opening-up on Thursday morning, encouraging the district to "carry the heaviest load" and "crack the hardest nut" in China's reform and modernization drive.
Pudong, located east of the Huangpu River in Shanghai, should strive to become a pioneer of reform and opening-up at a higher level and a vanguard in fully building a modern socialist country, he said in a speech.
The area should strengthen its role as an engine of innovation and make breakthroughs in key and core technologies, he stressed.
On the other hand, efforts should be made to improve Pudong's capabilities in global resource allocation so that it will better serve the establishment of a new development pattern, he added.
China vows to nurture a new development pattern that takes the domestic market as the mainstay while letting domestic and foreign markets boost each other. Xi called on Pudong to become a hub of the domestic market and a strategic link to the domestic and foreign markets.
The area should play a leading role in the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region, he said.
Environmental protection, entrepreneurship
On Thursday afternoon, Xi visited Nantong in the neighboring province of Jiangsu. He first went to Binjiang, a riverside district in Nantong, where he inspected local efforts in improving the overall environment along the shoreline of the Yangtze River, as well as the enforcement of fishing ban policies.
Binjiang, bounded by mountains along the Yangtze River, is considered a "green corridor" of Nantong. It is a significant source of water for local urban development. Several projects to restore its ecosystem have been implemented since 2016.
Recalling his tour to the area in 1978, Xi hailed the great improvement in the environment during these years.
"Such a happy life is built by your own hands and worked out by everyone together," he said.
Xi then went to Nantong Museum, where he watched exhibits introducing Zhang Jian, a Chinese industrialist and educator in the late 19th century and early 20th century.
The museum, founded by Zhang in 1905, is the first public museum founded by Chinese.
Xi learned about Zhang's deeds in developing China's domestic industries, education, and public welfare undertakings. While setting up industries, Zhang also actively started educational and public welfare undertakings that benefited villagers and had far-reaching influence.
Hailing Zhang as the sage and model of Chinese private entrepreneurs, Xi said that the museum should be built into a patriotic education base to inspire more people, especially young people.
Ecological civilization, south-to-north water diversion project
On Friday, Xi inspected Yangzhou City – the second stop of his tour in Jiangsu. Xi visited an ecological cultural park and the Jiangdu water conservancy project to learn about local efforts in environmental improvement as well as cultural protection and inheritance.
"We need to do well with ecological civilization. Building ecological civilization directly concerns the happiness of the people and bears on the healthy growth of young people," he told locals, adding that the strengthening of ecological civilization is a prerequisite of pushing for the high-quality development of the Chinese society.
While visiting an ecological and cultural park in the Sanwan area, Xi learned about environmental remediation along the Grand Canal, as well as the protection, inheritance and use of its culture. He urged local authorities to integrate cultural and tourist activities along with the remediation. That, he said, would help shape the area's development and thus, better the livelihoods for local residents.
In Jiangdu, he learned about the operations of the country's south-to-north water diversion project as the district stands as the origin of the east route of this mega project.
China's densely-populated northern region has long suffered from acute water shortages, leading to groundwater overexploitation and river water diminishing. To optimize the allocation of water resources and quench the thirsty north, south-to-north water diversion projects, which began in 2002, have been built to channel water from the water-rich Yangtze River basins through eastern, middle and western routes to the dry areas in the north.
"China's water resources are richer in the south than in the north, so it must be adjusted scientifically," Xi told local officials during his visit. "However, people in the north shouldn't take it for granted just because we have this measure in place."
"We need to plan urban development according to the amount of water resources. Therefore, we should integrate the south-to-north water diversion project and on-site water conservation and work on them both," he continued.
According to official data, the eastern route and middle route have altogether diverted 29.4 billion cubic meters of water to arid areas in the north, benefiting more than 120 million people as of 2019, which turned into an industrial and agricultural boost for cities totaling almost 100 billion yuan per year.
National strategies for regional integration
Along with the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the building of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the integration of the Yangtze River Delta are important national strategies for the coordinated regional development in China.
The Yangtze River Economic Belt consists of nine provinces – Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang – and two municipalities – Chongqing and Shanghai. It covers roughly one-fifth of China's land and has a population of 600 million, generating more than 40 percent of the country's GDP.
In 2016, China released a development plan of the economic belt that emphasized the priority of ecological conservation and green development.
When addressing the opening ceremony of the first China International Import Expo in Shanghai in November 2018, Xi announced that the country would support the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region. An outline of the strategy was issued by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council the following year.
The outline, mapping development for a 358,000-square kilometers expanse that encompasses Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces and Shanghai Municipality, said the Yangtze River Delta boasts strategic significance in the country's modernization and further opening-up, which makes its regional integration crucial for leading the country's high-quality development and building a modern economic system.
Included in both strategies, Shanghai and Jiangsu are among the most developed regions in China. Shanghai tops the GDP ranking of Chinese cities, and Jiangsu has the second-highest GDP among Chinese provinces. They are not only at the forefront of the coordinated development along the Yangtze River but also pioneers that explore China's future in a changing world.


tass--2020-11-16--Another 18 Russian aircraft with peacekeepers arrive in Armenia, Defense Ministry says

MOSCOW , November 16 .
/TASS/ .
Another 18 military transport Il-76 aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Force with peacekeepers aboard have landed at Yerevan ’ s airfields , Russia ’ s Defense Ministry told journalists on Monday .
`` Another 18 Il-76 planes and two An-124 Ruslan aircraft of the military transport aviation of the Russian Aerospace Force with equipment and staff of the 15th peacekeeping brigade sent to Armenia to participate in a peacekeeping operation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone have landed at Yerevan ’ s airfields .
Russian servicemen unloaded material goods , arms , and military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The military agency added that in the past 24 hours , the aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Force have delivered to Armenia 58 units of equipment : armored personnel carriers , off-road cargo trucks , tanker trucks , excavators , and other technical equipment .
On November 9 , Russian President Vladimir Putin , Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10 .
The Russian leader said the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides would maintain the positions that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be deployed to the region .
Besides , Baku and Yerevan must exchange prisoners and the bodies of those killed .
It is planned that in all , 1,960 servicemen with the military equipment will be deployed .
The peacekeeping command center was set up in Stepanakert .

MOSCOW, November 16. /TASS/. Another 18 military transport Il-76 aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Force with peacekeepers aboard have landed at Yerevan’s airfields, Russia’s Defense Ministry told journalists on Monday.
"Another 18 Il-76 planes and two An-124 Ruslan aircraft of the military transport aviation of the Russian Aerospace Force with equipment and staff of the 15th peacekeeping brigade sent to Armenia to participate in a peacekeeping operation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone have landed at Yerevan’s airfields. Russian servicemen unloaded material goods, arms, and military equipment," the statement said.
The military agency added that in the past 24 hours, the aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Force have delivered to Armenia 58 units of equipment: armored personnel carriers, off-road cargo trucks, tanker trucks, excavators, and other technical equipment.
On November 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10. The Russian leader said the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides would maintain the positions that they had held and Russian peacekeepers would be deployed to the region. Besides, Baku and Yerevan must exchange prisoners and the bodies of those killed. It is planned that in all, 1,960 servicemen with the military equipment will be deployed. The peacekeeping command center was set up in Stepanakert.


tass--2020-11-16--Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid Muallem passes away, SANA reports

MOSCOW , November 16 .
/TASS/ .
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem has passed away at the age of 79 @ @ @ @ @ reported on Monday .
`` The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates mourns the death @ @ @ @ @ Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Walid Muallem , '' the statement said .
The @ @ @ @ @ disclosed .
Walid Muallem worked at the Syrian Foreign Ministry since 1964 .
He served @ @ @ @ @ Tanzania , Saudi Arabia , Spain , the UK , was the ambassador to Romania @ @ @ @ @ has led the Syrian Foreign Ministry since 2006 .

MOSCOW, November 16. /TASS/. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem has passed away at the age of 79, the SANA news agency reported on Monday.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates mourns the death of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Walid Muallem," the statement said.
The cause of death was not disclosed.
Walid Muallem worked at the Syrian Foreign Ministry since 1964. He served in Syrian diplomatic missions in Tanzania, Saudi Arabia, Spain, the UK, was the ambassador to Romania and the US. He has led the Syrian Foreign Ministry since 2006.


tass--2020-11-16--Crew Dragon spacecraft with four astronauts aboard launched to ISS

NEW YORK , November 16 .
/TASS/ .
The US SpaceX ’ s piloted Crew Dragon spacecraft with four astronauts aboard was launched to the International Space Station ( ISS ) on Sunday .
Live coverage is provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA ) website .
The Falcon 9 launch vehicle lifted off at 19:27 Eastern Standard Time ( 03:27 Moscow time ) from Cape Canaveral .
The crew dubbed Resilience includes NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins , Victor Glover , and Shannon Walker , as well as Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency ( JAXA ) mission specialist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first stage of the rocket carrier automatically landed on ‘ Of Course I Still Love You ’ drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean .
12 minutes after the launch the spacecraft entered the near-Earth orbit .
The docking of the Crew Dragon spacecraft with the ISS is scheduled for 23:00 Eastern Standard Time on Monday ( 7:00 Moscow time , Tuesday ) .
The crew will spend six months at the ISS .
Currently , the ISS crew includes Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov as well as NASA astronaut Kathleen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from November 14 to November 15 due to inclement weather conditions .
On Sunday , during the launch preparations , the SpaceX experts discovered a small air leak which was eliminated by repeated opening and closing of the hatch and removing small debris from the seal .
The first manned mission of the Crew Dragon spacecraft was conducted this year by astronauts Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken .
The spacecraft entered the Earth ’ s orbit on May 30 and docked with the ISS automatically on May 31 .
Hurley and Behnken dubbed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The launch of the Crew Dragon became the first manned flight in nine years from the US territory aboard a US spacecraft .
NASA stopped crewed flights in 2011 after the Space Shuttle program came to an end .
Subsequently , all astronauts were delivered to the ISS and back by Russia ’ s Soyuz spacecraft .

NEW YORK, November 16. /TASS/. The US SpaceX’s piloted Crew Dragon spacecraft with four astronauts aboard was launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday. Live coverage is provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) website.
The Falcon 9 launch vehicle lifted off at 19:27 Eastern Standard Time (03:27 Moscow time) from Cape Canaveral. The crew dubbed Resilience includes NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover, and Shannon Walker, as well as Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) mission specialist Soichi Noguchi.
After approximately nine minutes the first stage of the rocket carrier automatically landed on ‘Of Course I Still Love You’ drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. 12 minutes after the launch the spacecraft entered the near-Earth orbit.
The docking of the Crew Dragon spacecraft with the ISS is scheduled for 23:00 Eastern Standard Time on Monday (7:00 Moscow time, Tuesday). The crew will spend six months at the ISS. Currently, the ISS crew includes Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov as well as NASA astronaut Kathleen Rubins.
The launch had been postponed from November 14 to November 15 due to inclement weather conditions. On Sunday, during the launch preparations, the SpaceX experts discovered a small air leak which was eliminated by repeated opening and closing of the hatch and removing small debris from the seal.
The first manned mission of the Crew Dragon spacecraft was conducted this year by astronauts Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken. The spacecraft entered the Earth’s orbit on May 30 and docked with the ISS automatically on May 31. Hurley and Behnken dubbed it Endeavour after their first space shuttle. The launch of the Crew Dragon became the first manned flight in nine years from the US territory aboard a US spacecraft. NASA stopped crewed flights in 2011 after the Space Shuttle program came to an end. Subsequently, all astronauts were delivered to the ISS and back by Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft.


tass--2020-11-17--Russia’s lower house bolsters immunity guarantees for ex-presidents

MOSCOW , November 17 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian State Duma ( lower house of parliament ) has passed the bill to change the order of stripping immunity from former presidents in its first reading , ensuring its compliance with the amended constitution .
Immunity of an ex-president can now be taken away if a criminal case is opened to investigate if they committed a serious indictable offence when in office .
The procedure is initiated by the chair of the Russian Investigative Committee by submitting the relevant proposal to the State Duma which agrees to strip the immunity .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Federation Council ( upper house ) which is to consider the issue within three months .
However , the amended constitution reads that president can be impeached , and ex-president can be stripped of immunity by the Federation Council only on the basis of charges of high treason or another grave crime , advanced by the State Duma and confirmed by the conclusion of the Supreme Court and the Russian Constitutional Court .
The proposed amendments stipulate that former president ’ s immunity can be taken away if the State Duma puts forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indictable offence .
They will have to be later confirmed by the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court in accordance with due procedure .
Based on these accusations , the Federation Council will decide whether to strip the immunity .
The State Duma and the Federation Council should secure two-thirds of votes in each chamber to present the accusations and strip immunity .
The upper house will have three months to review the resolution .
If it fails to do so , the accusations are considered rejected .
The former president facing these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the both chambers reviewing the issue .
The bill also clarified that former presidents can not be prosecuted on criminal or administrative charges , detained , arrested , searched or interrogated .
As of now , these restrictions are only linked to actions in office or investigations into cases related to fulfilling presidential duties .

MOSCOW, November 17. /TASS/. The Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) has passed the bill to change the order of stripping immunity from former presidents in its first reading, ensuring its compliance with the amended constitution.
Immunity of an ex-president can now be taken away if a criminal case is opened to investigate if they committed a serious indictable offence when in office. The procedure is initiated by the chair of the Russian Investigative Committee by submitting the relevant proposal to the State Duma which agrees to strip the immunity. The resolution is later referred to the Federation Council (upper house) which is to consider the issue within three months.
However, the amended constitution reads that president can be impeached, and ex-president can be stripped of immunity by the Federation Council only on the basis of charges of high treason or another grave crime, advanced by the State Duma and confirmed by the conclusion of the Supreme Court and the Russian Constitutional Court.
New procedure
The proposed amendments stipulate that former president’s immunity can be taken away if the State Duma puts forward accusations of high treason or other serious indictable offence. They will have to be later confirmed by the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court in accordance with due procedure. Based on these accusations, the Federation Council will decide whether to strip the immunity.
The State Duma and the Federation Council should secure two-thirds of votes in each chamber to present the accusations and strip immunity. The upper house will have three months to review the resolution. If it fails to do so, the accusations are considered rejected.
The former president facing these accusations can take part in the meetings of the both chambers reviewing the issue.
The bill also clarified that former presidents cannot be prosecuted on criminal or administrative charges, detained, arrested, searched or interrogated. As of now, these restrictions are only linked to actions in office or investigations into cases related to fulfilling presidential duties.


tass--2020-11-17--Risks of escalation in Iraq persist, Putin says

NOVO-OGARYOVO , November 17 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin has drawn the attention of the participants in the @ @ @ @ @ risks of an aggravation of the situation in the Middle East and North Africa .
@ @ @ @ @ on the situation in Iraq in his speech at the summit on Tuesday .
`` @ @ @ @ @ of the situation in Iraq , Lebanon , Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf region persist @ @ @ @ @ He noted that the global and regional security situation remained difficult .
`` Dangerous destabilization @ @ @ @ @ East and North Africa , armed standoff continues in Libya and Yemen .
A lot @ @ @ @ @ for a political settlement in Syria , '' the Russian leader stressed .
Putin noted @ @ @ @ @ trafficking continued to pose a serious threat .
He added that the scale of cybercrime @ @ @ @

NOVO-OGARYOVO, November 17. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has drawn the attention of the participants in the BRICS summit to the persisting risks of an aggravation of the situation in the Middle East and North Africa. In particular, he focused on the situation in Iraq in his speech at the summit on Tuesday.
"The risks of an aggravation of the situation in Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf region persist," Putin said.
He noted that the global and regional security situation remained difficult. "Dangerous destabilization is observed in the Middle East and North Africa, armed standoff continues in Libya and Yemen. A lot is yet to be done for a political settlement in Syria," the Russian leader stressed.
Putin noted that international terrorism and drug trafficking continued to pose a serious threat. He added that the scale of cybercrime had increased substantially.


tass--2020-11-17--Russia’s Plesetsk spaceport to conduct 20 Angara rocket launches from 2025

PLESETSK /Arkhangelsk Region/ , November 17 .
/TASS/ .
The Plesetsk spaceport in northern Russia will be able to conduct up to 20 launches of the latest Angara carrier rockets annually after the works planned before 2025 are completed , Defense Minister Army General Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday .
`` The fulfillment of the works for creating the Angara space rocket compound planned before 2025 will make it possible to carry out up to 20 launches of Angara light and heavy carrier rockets annually and to ensure Russia ’ s guaranteed independent access and permanent presence in outer space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspecting the Angara space rocket compound 's readiness for launches and hearing the reports by the command of the Aerospace Force .
The Angara universal launch compound includes over 130 structures and more than 50 technological systems , according to the Defense Ministry ’ s data .
The Angara space rocket compound comprises a family of Angara light , medium and heavy carrier rockets , the multi-purpose launch pad , technical premises for preparing carrier rockets and payload assemblies , the measuring , data gathering and processing center and the associated infrastructure .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian space rockets .
It consists of light , medium and heavy carrier rockets with a lifting capacity of up to 37.5 tonnes .
The new family of rockets uses environmentally-friendly propellant components .
So far , Russia has carried out only two Angara launches , both of them from the Plesetsk spaceport : a light Angara-1.2PP blasted off in July 2014 and its heavy version lifted off in December 2014 .

PLESETSK /Arkhangelsk Region/, November 17. /TASS/. The Plesetsk spaceport in northern Russia will be able to conduct up to 20 launches of the latest Angara carrier rockets annually after the works planned before 2025 are completed, Defense Minister Army General Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday.
"The fulfillment of the works for creating the Angara space rocket compound planned before 2025 will make it possible to carry out up to 20 launches of Angara light and heavy carrier rockets annually and to ensure Russia’s guaranteed independent access and permanent presence in outer space," the defense chief said while inspecting the Angara space rocket compound's readiness for launches and hearing the reports by the command of the Aerospace Force.
The Angara universal launch compound includes over 130 structures and more than 50 technological systems, according to the Defense Ministry’s data.
The Angara space rocket compound comprises a family of Angara light, medium and heavy carrier rockets, the multi-purpose launch pad, technical premises for preparing carrier rockets and payload assemblies, the measuring, data gathering and processing center and the associated infrastructure.
The Angara is a family of next-generation Russian space rockets. It consists of light, medium and heavy carrier rockets with a lifting capacity of up to 37.5 tonnes. The new family of rockets uses environmentally-friendly propellant components. So far, Russia has carried out only two Angara launches, both of them from the Plesetsk spaceport: a light Angara-1.2PP blasted off in July 2014 and its heavy version lifted off in December 2014.


tass--2020-11-17--Aeroflot to restart flights to Hong Kong from November 19

MOSCOW , November 17 .
/TASS/ .
Aeroflot plans to resume flying to Hong Kong from November 19 , the @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday .
`` Aeroflot resumes flights to Hong Kong from November 19 , 2020 , @ @ @ @ @ Flights will be made weekly on Thursdays from Moscow to Hong Kong and back to @ @ @ @ @ adds .

MOSCOW, November 17. /TASS/. Aeroflot plans to resume flying to Hong Kong from November 19, the Russian flag carrier says on Tuesday.
"Aeroflot resumes flights to Hong Kong from November 19, 2020," the airline says. Flights will be made weekly on Thursdays from Moscow to Hong Kong and back to Moscow on Saturdays, it adds.


tass--2020-11-17--Lavrov certain restoration of Russian-German dialogue will improve situation in Europe

MOSCOW , November 17 .
/TASS/ .
The restoration of mutually respectful and good-neighborly dialogue between Russia and Germany meets the interests of the European region , Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in a video address to the organizers of and participants in the Potsdam Meetings forum .
`` We are confident that the restoration of mutually respectful , good-neighborly dialogue between Moscow and Berlin would contribute to the improvement of the situation in Europe .
We are sincerely interested in that .
We proceed from the assumption that we can and should overcome the period of tensions in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Lavrov noted that relations between Russia and the European Union continued to degrade in recent years .
`` It is not our fault , '' he stressed .
`` Unfortunately , our EU counterparts , in a bid to secure unilateral advantages at the expense of others , have made a very short-sighted choice in favor of the ‘ master-slave ’ logic , in favor of archaic ‘ zero sum ’ geopolitical games , in favor of creating new dividing lines . ''
According to Russia ’ s top diplomat , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unconstitutional coup in Ukraine , unilateral sanctions against Russia and the destruction of the entire multi-level system of dialogue between Russia and the EU .
`` As a result , our common continent faced a large-scale crisis of trust , and European businesses , including German , are suffering substantial losses .
Subsequently , the large-scale potential of Russian-German ties remains untapped , '' he went on to say .
Lavrov noted that Berlin was pursuing the policy of containing Russia .
`` Endless accusations , ultimatums and threats against us are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s foreign policy .
The current tensions cost dearly to the peoples of Europe , whose security has become hostage to the selfish political approaches imposed from across the pond .
At the same time , we are confident that the possibility to shape an architecture of peace and equal and indivisible Eurasian and Euro-Atlantic security has been preserved , '' he stressed .
Russia ’ s top diplomat noted that Russia and Europe were facing such common challenges and threats as terrorism , the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It is only possible to deal with these threats effectively by pooling efforts based on the generally recognized international legal basis .
We see the rejection of the philosophy of hegemony and dominance , the ‘ cordon sanitaire ’ and ‘ iron curtains ’ as the guarantee of success along this difficult path .
For its part , Russia is always ready for an honest equal work and search for a balance of interests , '' he concluded .

MOSCOW, November 17. /TASS/. The restoration of mutually respectful and good-neighborly dialogue between Russia and Germany meets the interests of the European region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in a video address to the organizers of and participants in the Potsdam Meetings forum.
"We are confident that the restoration of mutually respectful, good-neighborly dialogue between Moscow and Berlin would contribute to the improvement of the situation in Europe. We are sincerely interested in that. We proceed from the assumption that we can and should overcome the period of tensions in our bilateral relations," he said.
Lavrov noted that relations between Russia and the European Union continued to degrade in recent years. "It is not our fault," he stressed. "Unfortunately, our EU counterparts, in a bid to secure unilateral advantages at the expense of others, have made a very short-sighted choice in favor of the ‘master-slave’ logic, in favor of archaic ‘zero sum’ geopolitical games, in favor of creating new dividing lines."
According to Russia’s top diplomat, the EU’s actions include support for an unconstitutional coup in Ukraine, unilateral sanctions against Russia and the destruction of the entire multi-level system of dialogue between Russia and the EU. "As a result, our common continent faced a large-scale crisis of trust, and European businesses, including German, are suffering substantial losses. Subsequently, the large-scale potential of Russian-German ties remains untapped," he went on to say.
Lavrov noted that Berlin was pursuing the policy of containing Russia. "Endless accusations, ultimatums and threats against us are becoming a routine tool in Germany’s foreign policy. The current tensions cost dearly to the peoples of Europe, whose security has become hostage to the selfish political approaches imposed from across the pond. At the same time, we are confident that the possibility to shape an architecture of peace and equal and indivisible Eurasian and Euro-Atlantic security has been preserved," he stressed.
Russia’s top diplomat noted that Russia and Europe were facing such common challenges and threats as terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the coronavirus pandemic, which require joint efforts. "It is only possible to deal with these threats effectively by pooling efforts on the generally recognized international legal basis. We see the rejection of the philosophy of hegemony and dominance, the ‘cordon sanitaire’ and ‘iron curtains’ as the guarantee of success along this difficult path. For its part, Russia is always ready for an honest equal work and search for a balance of interests," he concluded.


tass--2020-11-17--Number of coronavirus cases in Finland rises to 19,647

HELSINKI , November 17 .
/TASS/ .
The number of coronavirus cases in Finland increased by 228 over the day and reached 19,647 , the Finnish National Institute for Health and Social Development said on Tuesday .
Since the beginning of the pandemic , 371 deaths have been recorded in the country .
Finland closed its borders from March 19 to May 13 to prevent the spread of the virus .
Since September 19 , the country has allowed entry without the need to be in quarantine from countries where the number of coronavirus cases is 25 per 100,000 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ October 1 , for countries with this threshold exceeded , entry can be allowed without a 14-day quarantine with two negative tests for coronavirus - the first must be done before the trip , the second - after arriving in the country .
This measure will affect only the EU countries , the Schengen zone , and states from the list of third countries drawn up by the EU , and will not apply , in particular , to Russia and the United States .
The border of the country for tourists from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November 22 .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials informed the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe , including Russia .
On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .

HELSINKI, November 17. /TASS/. The number of coronavirus cases in Finland increased by 228 over the day and reached 19,647, the Finnish National Institute for Health and Social Development said on Tuesday.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, 371 deaths have been recorded in the country.
Finland closed its borders from March 19 to May 13 to prevent the spread of the virus. Since September 19, the country has allowed entry without the need to be in quarantine from countries where the number of coronavirus cases is 25 per 100,000 people in the last two weeks. From October 1, for countries with this threshold exceeded, entry can be allowed without a 14-day quarantine with two negative tests for coronavirus - the first must be done before the trip, the second - after arriving in the country. This measure will affect only the EU countries, the Schengen zone, and states from the list of third countries drawn up by the EU, and will not apply, in particular, to Russia and the United States.
The border of the country for tourists from Russia will remain closed until at least November 22.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia. On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.


tass--2020-11-17--US calls for explanations of statement on Karabakh result from misunderstanding - Lavrov

MOSCOW , November 17 .
/TASS/ .
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday described as a result of misunderstanding US and French officials ’ claims they lacked information about the November 9 statement by the leaders of Russia , Azerbaijan and Armenia on Nagorno-Karabakh November 9 .
`` It was very strange to hear that , '' Lavrov said when asked for a comment about such statements .
`` From the very beginning of the efforts that Russia exerted for the sake of ending the hot phase of this conflict we worked in tight cooperation with the co-chairs of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Honestly , I believe that such claims either indicate that those who make them lack information or are a result of misunderstanding , '' he added .
Lavrov recalled the telephone conversations between the presidents of Russia and France , during which `` the Karabakh issue was discussed in the most thorough way . ''
`` I spent about an hour discussing the same issue with my French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian , '' Lavrov said .
`` Our American counterparts were informed at the level of the deputy secretary of state , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pompeo was on a foreign tour at the moment . ''
On November 9 , Russian President Vladimir Putin , Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10 .
The Russian leader said the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides would maintain the positions that they had held and Russian peacekeepers would be deployed to the region .

MOSCOW, November 17. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov commented Tuesday on US and French officials’ claims that they lacked information about the November 9 statement by the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, labelling it a result of a misunderstanding.
"It was very strange to hear that," Lavrov said when asked for a comment on the statements in question. "From the very beginning of the efforts that Russia had undertaken for the sake of ending the hot phase of this conflict we worked in close cooperation with the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group."
"Honestly, I believe that such claims either indicate that those who make them lack information or are the result of a misunderstanding," he added.
Lavrov recalled the telephone conversations between the presidents of Russia and France, during which "the Karabakh issue was discussed in the most thorough way."
"I spent about an hour discussing the same issue with my French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian," Lavrov said. "Our American counterparts were informed through the deputy secretary of state, too. US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo was on a foreign tour at the moment."
On November 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10. The Russian leader said the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides would maintain the positions that they had held and Russian peacekeepers would be deployed to the region.


tass--2020-11-17--Bitcoin surpasses $17,000 first time since January 2018

Kremlin says Putin taking ‘ courtesy break ’ by waiting for official results of US election The decision does not @ @ @ @ @ support for Donald Trump , the spokesman stressed

Lukashenko says Putin promises he would regard attack on Belarus as attack on Russia
The Belarusian leader pointed out that NATO was quickly building up forces on the border with Belarus in Poland and in the Baltic countries
Read more


tass--2020-11-17--Russian Navy corvette holds drills in North Sea in long-distance deployment

KALININGRAD , November 17 .
/TASS/ .
The Baltic Fleet ’ s corvette Steregushchiy accomplishing long-distance deployment missions in the Northern Atlantic held drills in the North Sea , the Fleet ’ s press office reported on Tuesday .
`` In the North Sea , the crew of the Steregushchiy held air , anti-ship and anti-submarine defense drills , '' the press office said in a statement .
The drills for the ship ’ s security during the anchorage in an unsafe roadstead involved marines from the corvette ’ s anti-terror units , the statement says .
The main aim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steregushchiy that has been at sea for about two months is to ensure the naval presence and demonstrate the Russian Navy ’ s flag in the area of responsibility of the Baltic Fleet , the press office told TASS .
The Project 20380 corvette Steregushchiy developed by the Almaz Central Design Bureau of Marine Engineering ( St. Petersburg ) is referred to multi-purpose warships .
Project 20380 ships are designed to accomplish green-water escort and strike missions , patrol coastal waters and provide fire support during amphibious assault operations .
Their armament and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in any ocean .
The Project 20380 corvettes carry Uran anti-ship missile systems and Redut surface-to-air missile launchers as their main armament .
They are also armed with 100mm A-190 artillery guns and 30mm AK-630 small-caliber air defense missile systems .
The corvettes can carry a Ka-27 helicopter .

KALININGRAD, November 17. /TASS/. The Baltic Fleet’s corvette Steregushchiy accomplishing long-distance deployment missions in the Northern Atlantic held drills in the North Sea, the Fleet’s press office reported on Tuesday.
"In the North Sea, the crew of the Steregushchiy held air, anti-ship and anti-submarine defense drills," the press office said in a statement.
The drills for the ship’s security during the anchorage in an unsafe roadstead involved marines from the corvette’s anti-terror units, the statement says.
The main aim of the long-distance deployment of the corvette Steregushchiy that has been at sea for about two months is to ensure the naval presence and demonstrate the Russian Navy’s flag in the area of responsibility of the Baltic Fleet, the press office told TASS.
The Project 20380 corvette Steregushchiy developed by the Almaz Central Design Bureau of Marine Engineering (St. Petersburg) is referred to multi-purpose warships.
Project 20380 ships are designed to accomplish green-water escort and strike missions, patrol coastal waters and provide fire support during amphibious assault operations. Their armament and maritime properties allow them to accomplish missions in any ocean.
The Project 20380 corvettes carry Uran anti-ship missile systems and Redut surface-to-air missile launchers as their main armament. They are also armed with 100mm A-190 artillery guns and 30mm AK-630 small-caliber air defense missile systems. The corvettes can carry a Ka-27 helicopter.


tass--2020-11-17--Unprovoked brutality against Belarusian demonstrators impermissible — Kremlin

MOSCOW , November 17 .
/TASS/ .
Police brutality against demonstrators in Belarus , unprovoked by protesters , is impermissible , but the very instances of provocations must not be ruled out , Russian presidential spokesman , Dmitry Peskov told the media on Tuesday .
`` It goes without saying that brutality , unprovoked by some actions of the protesters , is undesirable and impermissible .
But it is impossible to turn a blind eye to the instances of provocations against the law enforcers , which do take place , too , '' he said .
Peskov added that Moscow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It ’ s an allied country .
It ’ s a fraternal people .
We would like to see a calm , stable and prospering Belarus and we hope that it will be so , '' the Kremlin spokesman said .
`` Belarus must be free from any external influence . ''
Nationwide demonstrations have engulfed Belarus following the August 9 presidential election .
According to the Central Election Commission ’ s official results , incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won by a landslide , garnering 80.10 % of the vote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , came in second , with 10.12 % of the ballot .
However , she refused to recognize the election ’ s outcome , and left Belarus for Lithuania .
After the results of the exit polls were announced late on August 9 , mass protests erupted in downtown Minsk and other Belarusian cities .
During the early post-election period , the rallies snowballed into fierce clashes between the protesters and police .
The current unrest is being cheered on by the opposition ’ s Coordination Council , which has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In response , the Belarusian authorities have castigated the ongoing turmoil and demanded that these unauthorized demonstrations be stopped .

MOSCOW, November 17. /TASS/. Police brutality against demonstrators in Belarus, unprovoked by protesters, is impermissible, but the very instances of provocations must not be ruled out, Russian presidential spokesman, Dmitry Peskov told the media on Tuesday.
"It goes without saying that brutality, unprovoked by some actions of the protesters, is undesirable and impermissible. But it is impossible to turn a blind eye to the instances of provocations against the law enforcers, which do take place, too," he said.
Peskov added that Moscow was closely following the events in Belarus. "It’s an allied country. It’s a fraternal people. We would like to see a calm, stable and prospering Belarus and we hope that it will be so," the Kremlin spokesman said. "Belarus must be free from any external influence."
Nationwide demonstrations have engulfed Belarus following the August 9 presidential election. According to the Central Election Commission’s official results, incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won by a landslide, garnering 80.10% of the vote. His closest rival in the race, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, came in second, with 10.12% of the ballot. However, she refused to recognize the election’s outcome, and left Belarus for Lithuania. After the results of the exit polls were announced late on August 9, mass protests erupted in downtown Minsk and other Belarusian cities. During the early post-election period, the rallies snowballed into fierce clashes between the protesters and police. The current unrest is being cheered on by the opposition’s Coordination Council, which has been beating the drum for more protests. In response, the Belarusian authorities have castigated the ongoing turmoil and demanded that these unauthorized demonstrations be stopped.


tass--2020-11-17--Putin’s quotes on social media likely to be fake — Kremlin

MOSCOW , November 17 .
/TASS/ .
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has called on reporters not to believe fake quotes @ @ @ @ @ Putin by social media .
`` I would like to address your European colleagues that @ @ @ @ @ media containing Putin ’ s alleged statements ] - don ’ t believe these publications @ @ @ @ @ reporters on Tuesday .
He noted that Putin does not use social networks .
`` @ @ @ @ @ read on the matter , especially if it ’ s a quote , is likely @ @ @ @ @ if it ’ s not a quote , it ’ s not even worth paying @ @ @ @ @ said , commenting on publications on social networks .
`` You should trust our information @ @ @ @ @ to answer your requests and confirm that a certain publication is accurate , '' the @ @ @ @ @ .
Peskov has dismissed reports of Putin allegedly saying that Germans would blindly follow German @ @ @ @ @ followed Adolf Hitler in 1939 as `` absolute nonsense . ''

MOSCOW, November 17. /TASS/. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has called on reporters not to believe fake quotes attributed to Russian President Vladimir Putin by social media.
"I would like to address your European colleagues that read publications [on social media containing Putin’s alleged statements] - don’t believe these publications," the spokesman told reporters on Tuesday. He noted that Putin does not use social networks. "Any information that you can read on the matter, especially if it’s a quote, is likely to be fake, and if it’s not a quote, it’s not even worth paying attention to," Peskov said, commenting on publications on social networks.
"You should trust our information. We are always ready to answer your requests and confirm that a certain publication is accurate," the Kremlin official told the media.
Peskov has dismissed reports of Putin allegedly saying that Germans would blindly follow German Chancellor Angela Merkel like they followed Adolf Hitler in 1939 as "absolute nonsense."


tass--2020-11-17--‘A friend in need, is a friend indeed’: Lukashenko praises Russia, China for their support

MINSK , November 17 .
/TASS/ .
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has commended the support of Russia and China during this period of extraordinary foreign pressure being put on Belarus .
“ At a time of unprecedented external pressure , Belarus has received wide-ranging support from its traditional allies .
We have received the most tangible assistance and support during this difficult time from Russia , China and other countries .
Thus , once again we ’ ve been reassured that a friend in need is a friend indeed , '' Lukashenko said on Tuesday , quoted by BelTA news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lukashenko spotlighted pertinent issues , discussing the further development of relations with Russia and China and the implementation of agreements reached following top-level meetings and visits by Russian officials to Belarus this year .
Last Friday , Lukashenko said in an interview with foreign media that Belarus would never switch its course from Russia towards other countries .
He stressed that the Belarusian government had never turned its back on Russia and never betrayed the interests of Russian-Belarusian cooperation .
Nationwide demonstrations have engulfed Belarus following the August 9 presidential election .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official results , incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won by a landslide , garnering 80.10 % of the vote .
His closest rival in the race , Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , came in second , with 10.12 % of the ballot .
However , she refused to recognize the election ’ s outcome , and left Belarus for Lithuania .
After the results of the exit polls were announced late on August 9 , mass protests erupted in downtown Minsk and other Belarusian cities .
During the early post-election period , the rallies snowballed into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The current unrest is being cheered on by the opposition ’ s Coordination Council , which has been beating the drum for more protests .
In response , the Belarusian authorities have castigated the ongoing turmoil and demanded that these unauthorized demonstrations be stopped .
Following the protests , the EU , the UK , the US and Canada slapped sanctions on a number of Belarusian officials .

MINSK, November 17. /TASS/. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has commended the support of Russia and China during this period of extraordinary foreign pressure being put on Belarus.
“At a time of unprecedented external pressure, Belarus has received wide-ranging support from its traditional allies. We have received the most tangible assistance and support during this difficult time from Russia, China and other countries. Thus, once again we’ve been reassured that a friend in need is a friend indeed," Lukashenko said on Tuesday, quoted by BelTA news agency.
During a government session, Lukashenko spotlighted pertinent issues, discussing the further development of relations with Russia and China and the implementation of agreements reached following top-level meetings and visits by Russian officials to Belarus this year.
Last Friday, Lukashenko said in an interview with foreign media that Belarus would never switch its course from Russia towards other countries. He stressed that the Belarusian government had never turned its back on Russia and never betrayed the interests of Russian-Belarusian cooperation.
Nationwide demonstrations have engulfed Belarus following the August 9 presidential election. According to the Central Election Commission’s official results, incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won by a landslide, garnering 80.10% of the vote. His closest rival in the race, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, came in second, with 10.12% of the ballot. However, she refused to recognize the election’s outcome, and left Belarus for Lithuania. After the results of the exit polls were announced late on August 9, mass protests erupted in downtown Minsk and other Belarusian cities. During the early post-election period, the rallies snowballed into fierce clashes between the protesters and police. The current unrest is being cheered on by the opposition’s Coordination Council, which has been beating the drum for more protests. In response, the Belarusian authorities have castigated the ongoing turmoil and demanded that these unauthorized demonstrations be stopped.
Following the protests, the EU, the UK, the US and Canada slapped sanctions on a number of Belarusian officials.


tass--2020-11-17--OPEC+ expects deficit on oil market in 2021 if deal extended by 3-6 months

MOSCOW , November 17 .
/TASS/ .
The OPEC+ ministerial monitoring committee that will meet on Tuesday , November 17 , will consider four scenarios of developments on the oil market in 2021 with various options of crude production cuts , according to a report of the OPEC+ technical committee obtained by TASS .
Two scenarios suggest that the oil production cap agreement will be implemented as initially planned , meaning that starting January 1 , 2021 , OPEC+ nations will restore production by 1.9 mln barrels per day .
In this case crude reserves of OECD countries will continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher than the five-year average by 125 mln barrels .
Whereas if the influence of the pandemic is tougher for demand , OPEC+ admits that reserves may exceed the target by 470 mln barrels .
Meanwhile the market may face a glut of 1.9 mln barrels per day .
If restrictions are extended by the end of the first quarter of 2021 crude reserves of developed countries will only be higher than the norm by 73 mln barrels , whereas the market will face a deficit of 0.9 mln barrels per day on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as currently planned - by the end of the first half of 2021 - will bring reserves to the level only exceeding the norm by 21 mln barrels .
Whereas oil deficit on the market may reach 1.4 mln barrels per day on average .
The deal is aimed at bringing oil commercial reserves to a five-year average .
The revised OPEC+ agreement on crude output cuts came into force on May 1 .
The first stage of the deal that envisioned output reduction by 9.7 mln barrels per day , ended in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of this year 7.7 mln barrels per day are to be reduced , while starting January 1 , 2021 , 5.8 mln barrels per day will be cut .
The agreement expires in April 2022 .

MOSCOW, November 17. /TASS/. The OPEC+ ministerial monitoring committee that will meet on Tuesday, November 17, will consider four scenarios of developments on the oil market in 2021 with various options of crude production cuts, according to a report of the OPEC+ technical committee obtained by TASS.
Two scenarios suggest that the oil production cap agreement will be implemented as initially planned, meaning that starting January 1, 2021, OPEC+ nations will restore production by 1.9 mln barrels per day. In this case crude reserves of OECD countries will continue declining, though they will still be higher than the five-year average by 125 mln barrels. Whereas if the influence of the pandemic is tougher for demand, OPEC+ admits that reserves may exceed the target by 470 mln barrels. Meanwhile the market may face a glut of 1.9 mln barrels per day.
If restrictions are extended by the end of the first quarter of 2021 crude reserves of developed countries will only be higher than the norm by 73 mln barrels, whereas the market will face a deficit of 0.9 mln barrels per day on average. A longer reduction of output as currently planned - by the end of the first half of 2021 - will bring reserves to the level only exceeding the norm by 21 mln barrels. Whereas oil deficit on the market may reach 1.4 mln barrels per day on average.
The deal is aimed at bringing oil commercial reserves to a five-year average.
The revised OPEC+ agreement on crude output cuts came into force on May 1. The first stage of the deal that envisioned output reduction by 9.7 mln barrels per day, ended in July. Starting August and by the end of this year 7.7 mln barrels per day are to be reduced, while starting January 1, 2021, 5.8 mln barrels per day will be cut. The agreement expires in April 2022.


tass--2020-11-17--Russia launches post-registration trials of second COVID-19 vaccine

MOSCOW , November 17 .
/TASS/ .
The post-registration trials of the the Epivaccorona vaccine against COVID-19 developed by the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology `` Vector '' have begun in Russia , head of the Russian Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare Anna Popova said on Tuesday during an online symposium dedicated to COVID-19 research .
`` We can only stop the spread [ of COVID-19 ] through vaccination .
There are enough vaccines in the world at high levels of development .
Russia continues to develop and issue vaccines .
On August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ registered , which has proven to be effective on the outcomes of clinical trials < … > and according to the first results of post-registration trials .
On October 13 , the Epivaccorona vaccine based on peptide antigens has been registered , right now , the third stage of post-registration trials is underway , '' she said .
The vaccine dubbed `` EpiVacCorona '' does not contain the live virus and forms immunity due to the use of artificially synthesized peptides .
The Vector Research Center received the approval of the Russian Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vaccine on volunteers on July 24 .
On July 27 , the first volunteer got the vaccine shot .
Popova informed earlier that the clinical trials of the vaccine had ended on September 30 .
The vaccine was registered on October 14 .

MOSCOW, November 17. /TASS/. The post-registration trials of the the Epivaccorona vaccine against COVID-19 developed by the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector" have begun in Russia, head of the Russian Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare Anna Popova said on Tuesday during an online symposium dedicated to COVID-19 research.
"We can only stop the spread [of COVID-19] through vaccination. There are enough vaccines in the world at high levels of development. Russia continues to develop and issue vaccines. On August 11, the Sputnik V vaccine was registered, which has proven to be effective on the outcomes of clinical trials <…> and according to the first results of post-registration trials. On October 13, the Epivaccorona vaccine based on peptide antigens has been registered, right now, the third stage of post-registration trials is underway," she said.
The vaccine dubbed "EpiVacCorona" does not contain the live virus and forms immunity due to the use of artificially synthesized peptides.
The Vector Research Center received the approval of the Russian Health Ministry to carry out clinical trials of the vaccine on volunteers on July 24. On July 27, the first volunteer got the vaccine shot. Popova informed earlier that the clinical trials of the vaccine had ended on September 30. The vaccine was registered on October 14.


tass--2020-11-17--New mutated strain of coronavirus emerges in Russia’s Siberia — watchdog chief

MOSCOW , November 17 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian consumer watchdog is registering certain changes to the novel coronavirus that is circulating in Siberia , head of the agency Anna Popova told a virtual symposium highlighting new scientific data about COVID-19 Tuesday .
`` We are witnessing certain changes < … > in the Siberian Region which allows us to suppose that its own variant [ of coronavirus ] is forming in this region with certain mutations , '' she said .
Popova also said that the virus strains from Western Europe were brought to Russia en masse in early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t see transmissions from China at all .
In other words , there are no strains brought from China early this year circulating in Russia , '' Popova explained .
The Russian consumer watchdog told reporters that this is not some exceptional case limited to Siberia but rather a mutation that is already widely spread abroad .
`` We just detect mutations that are widespread in other countries in the course of close monitoring .
In particular , isolated cases of a mutation that is spread in Japan have been identified in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] European part , '' the agency said , adding that `` research continues . ''
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials informed the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe .
On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .
According to the latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been infected worldwide and more than 1,300,000 deaths have been reported .
To date , 1,971,013 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , with 1,475,904 patients having recovered from the disease .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates 33,931 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, November 17. /TASS/. The Russian consumer watchdog is registering certain changes to the novel coronavirus that is circulating in Siberia, head of the agency Anna Popova told a virtual symposium highlighting new scientific data about COVID-19 Tuesday.
"We are witnessing certain changes <…> in the Siberian Region which allows us to suppose that its own variant [of coronavirus] is forming in this region with certain mutations," she said.
Popova also said that the virus strains from Western Europe were brought to Russia en masse in early spring. "However, we don’t see transmissions from China at all. In other words, there are no strains brought from China early this year circulating in Russia," Popova explained.
The Russian consumer watchdog told reporters that this is not some exceptional case limited to Siberia but rather a mutation that is already widely spread abroad. "We just detect mutations that are widespread in other countries in the course of close monitoring. In particular, isolated cases of a mutation that is spread in Japan have been identified in certain regions of [Russia’s] European part," the agency said, adding that "research continues."
In late December 2019, Chinese officials informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe. On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.
According to the latest statistics, more than 55 million people have been infected worldwide and more than 1,300,000 deaths have been reported. To date, 1,971,013 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 1,475,904 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 33,931 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-11-17--‘Cannons silent, people not dying’: Kremlin lauds key triumphs of Karabakh peace deal

MOSCOW , November 17 .
/TASS/ .
The main achievement of the ceasefire in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh is the fact that `` cannons are silent '' , according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov .
`` We need to ask military experts , '' he said when asked how the Kremlin evaluates the first week of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace .
`` However , we primarily need to focus on the fact that cannons are silent .
This is the main achievement .
People are not dying .
This is the most valuable thing there can be . ''
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment on the US State Department ’ s statement , underlining that Washington and Paris are expecting details on Turkey ’ s role in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict .
`` Naturally , we would not want to comment on the bilateral relations between the [ OSCE Minsk Group ] co-chairs with Turkey in any way .
We have our own bilateral ties which we value , '' Peskov pointed out .
`` If our Minsk Group co-chairing partners need explanations , there is no doubt that these explanations will be provided .
Even more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nagorno-Karabakh affairs through diplomatic agencies , '' he added .
The Kremlin spokesman underlined that the main thing for Russia now is to be interested in how to preserve the recently established peace in the disputed region and secure return of all displaces persons as well as refugees and monitor the preservation of the peace .

MOSCOW, November 17. /TASS/. The main achievement of the ceasefire in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh is the fact that "cannons are silent", according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
"We need to ask military experts," he said when asked how the Kremlin evaluates the first week of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace. "However, we primarily need to focus on the fact that cannons are silent. This is the main achievement. People are not dying. This is the most valuable thing there can be."
At the same time, Peskov declined to comment on the US State Department’s statement, underlining that Washington and Paris are expecting details on Turkey’s role in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "Naturally, we would not want to comment on the bilateral relations between the [OSCE Minsk Group] co-chairs with Turkey in any way. We have our own bilateral ties which we value," Peskov pointed out. "If our Minsk Group co-chairing partners need explanations, there is no doubt that these explanations will be provided. Even more so that we maintain regular contacts on Nagorno-Karabakh affairs through diplomatic agencies," he added.
The Kremlin spokesman underlined that the main thing for Russia now is to be interested in how to preserve the recently established peace in the disputed region and secure return of all displaces persons as well as refugees and monitor the preservation of the peace.