tass--2020-10-14--Borrell understands it’s hard to solve vital EU issues without Russia — Lavrov

MOSCOW , October 14 .
/TASS/ .
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell is well @ @ @ @ @ to iron out many vital issues for the European Union without Russia , Foreign Minister @ @ @ @ @ interview with Sputnik , Komsomolskaya Pravda and Govorit Moskva radio stations .
`` I spoke @ @ @ @ @ In my view , he as an experienced person understands very well that it is @ @ @ @ @ issues that concern the EU without Russia , '' Lavrov said .
Russia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ the mere instinct of ensuring its own interests should encourage Europe united in the EU @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` But in my estimate and judging by his [ Borrell ’ s @ @ @ @ @ my questions , the EU is not able to cope with the Russophobic minority , @ @ @ @ @ to developing ties with Russia by flagrantly speculating on the principle of consensus and solidarity @ @ @ @ @ noting that he meant Baltic states and Poland .

MOSCOW, October 14. /TASS/. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell is well aware that it is difficult to iron out many vital issues for the European Union without Russia, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Sputnik, Komsomolskaya Pravda and Govorit Moskva radio stations.
"I spoke with Josep Borrell yesterday. In my view, he as an experienced person understands very well that it is very difficult to solve many issues that concern the EU without Russia," Lavrov said.
Russia’s top diplomat noted that "the mere instinct of ensuring its own interests should encourage Europe united in the EU to foster partnership with Russia." "But in my estimate and judging by his [Borrell’s] reaction to some of my questions, the EU is not able to cope with the Russophobic minority, which blocks some constructive approaches to developing ties with Russia by flagrantly speculating on the principle of consensus and solidarity," Lavrov said, noting that he meant Baltic states and Poland.


tass--2020-10-14--Lucid Motors Expands Luxury EV Lineup with Its Most Attainable Lucid Air

NEWARK , California , Oct. 14 .
/PRNewswire/ .
Lucid Motors , which is setting new standards for sustainable mobility with its advanced luxury EVs , has unveiled new details about the full Lucid Air model range , including the pricing of the elemental model of the range , called simply Lucid Air , a well-equipped version with 406 miles of projected range and 480 horsepower available from just $ 69,9001 .
This new Lucid Air model initiates the full range of high-performance , ultra-efficient luxury EV sedans , which includes Lucid Air Touring , Grand Touring , and Dream @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this new more attainable model of Lucid Air for $ 300 .
`` The Lucid Air is a vehicle that thrills me personally because it delivers a level of performance , efficiency , and luxury that is currently unseen in today 's EVs , '' said Peter Rawlinson , CEO and CTO , Lucid Motors .
`` Our vision from the beginning – what drives this company – is creating the world 's best EV technology while making it progressively more attainable over time .
With the starting price of the Lucid Air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the stage for broader adoption of the latest , game-changing EV technology . ''
The Lucid Air is available to reserve now with a starting price of $ 77,400 – or $ 69,900 after the US Federal Tax Credit of $ 7,500 – with a reservation fee of just $ 300 .
For this , customers can expect2 : • Customers who reserve now will receive three years of complimentary charging at Electrify America 's extensive nationwide network of ultrafast charging stations The Lucid Air is a car that will reimagine the traditional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , performance , spaciousness , and design .
Packaging efficiency capitalizes on Lucid 's advanced miniaturized drivetrain to provide the interior space of a full-size luxury vehicle while maintaining the exterior footprint of a mid-size performance sedan .
This enables unmatched aerodynamic efficiency and increased agility and maneuverability , all while enveloping occupants in a carefully crafted atmosphere with meticulous attention to detail .
Luxurious appointments for the Lucid Air model include PurLuxe animal-free interior trim in the Mojave theme , the 34 '' Lucid Glass Cockpit curved , floating display , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electric sedan .
Furthermore , the Lucid Air model is also available with DreamDrive , a new benchmark in advanced driver-assistance systems ( ADAS ) .
This first-of-its-kind platform is exclusive to the full Lucid Air range , combining the most comprehensive sensor suite on the market with a cutting-edge driver monitoring system .
Alongside the Lucid Air , the Lucid Air Touring model offers yet another paradigm in luxury , performance , and efficiency , available from $ 87,5001 .
Interior appointments include an available Glass Canopy Roof for an extravagant sense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Display , and a wide range of choices for interior materials and finishes .
It also includes a dual-motor , all-wheel-drive drive configuration that takes advantage of an ultra-efficient , energy-dense drivetrain to deliver2 : • Customers who reserve now will receive three years of complimentary charging at Electrify America 's extensive nationwide network of ultrafast charging stations Reservations for Lucid Air and Lucid Air Touring , as well as the other models in the Lucid Air range , are open now and can be placed at the Lucid Motors website or at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including the recently opened Beverly Hills Studio and service center .
Customer deliveries for the first Lucid Air models begins in spring of 2021 .
About Lucid Motors Lucid 's mission is to inspire the adoption of sustainable transportation by creating the most captivating electric vehicles , centered around the human experience .
The company 's first model range , the Lucid Air , is a state-of-the-art luxury sedan with a California-inspired design underpinned by race-proven technology .
Featuring luxurious interior space in a mid-size exterior footprint , certain models of the Air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ range of over 500 miles and 0-60 mph in under 2.5 seconds .
Customer deliveries of the Lucid Air Dream Edition , which will be produced at Lucid 's new factory in Casa Grande , Arizona , will begin in the spring of 2021 .

NEWARK, California, Oct. 14. /PRNewswire/. Lucid Motors, which is setting new standards for sustainable mobility with its advanced luxury EVs, has unveiled new details about the full Lucid Air model range, including the pricing of the elemental model of the range, called simply Lucid Air, a well-equipped version with 406 miles of projected range and 480 horsepower available from just $69,9001. This new Lucid Air model initiates the full range of high-performance, ultra-efficient luxury EV sedans, which includes Lucid Air Touring, Grand Touring, and Dream Edition versions. Customers can now reserve this new more attainable model of Lucid Air for $300.
"The Lucid Air is a vehicle that thrills me personally because it delivers a level of performance, efficiency, and luxury that is currently unseen in today's EVs," said Peter Rawlinson, CEO and CTO, Lucid Motors. "Our vision from the beginning – what drives this company – is creating the world's best EV technology while making it progressively more attainable over time. With the starting price of the Lucid Air range announced today, we are setting the stage for broader adoption of the latest, game-changing EV technology."
The Lucid Air is available to reserve now with a starting price of $77,400 – or $69,900 after the US Federal Tax Credit of $7,500 – with a reservation fee of just $300. For this, customers can expect2:
480 horsepower
A projected EPA estimated range of 406 miles on a single charge
A single-motor powertrain with an optional dual-motor, all-wheel drive configuration
A 900+ ultra-high voltage electrical architecture with DC fast charging capability
Customers who reserve now will receive three years of complimentary charging at Electrify America's extensive nationwide network of ultrafast charging stations
The Lucid Air is a car that will reimagine the traditional luxury sedan with new benchmarks in technology, performance, spaciousness, and design. Packaging efficiency capitalizes on Lucid's advanced miniaturized drivetrain to provide the interior space of a full-size luxury vehicle while maintaining the exterior footprint of a mid-size performance sedan. This enables unmatched aerodynamic efficiency and increased agility and maneuverability, all while enveloping occupants in a carefully crafted atmosphere with meticulous attention to detail.
Luxurious appointments for the Lucid Air model include PurLuxe animal-free interior trim in the Mojave theme, the 34" Lucid Glass Cockpit curved, floating display, and the largest frunk ever fitted to an electric sedan. Furthermore, the Lucid Air model is also available with DreamDrive, a new benchmark in advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). This first-of-its-kind platform is exclusive to the full Lucid Air range, combining the most comprehensive sensor suite on the market with a cutting-edge driver monitoring system.
Alongside the Lucid Air, the Lucid Air Touring model offers yet another paradigm in luxury, performance, and efficiency, available from $87,5001. Interior appointments include an available Glass Canopy Roof for an extravagant sense of space, the Lucid Glass Cockpit Display, and a wide range of choices for interior materials and finishes. It also includes a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive drive configuration that takes advantage of an ultra-efficient, energy-dense drivetrain to deliver2:
620 horsepower
A projected EPA estimated range of 406 miles on a single charge
A 900+ ultra-high voltage electrical architecture with DC fast charging capability
Customers who reserve now will receive three years of complimentary charging at Electrify America's extensive nationwide network of ultrafast charging stations
Reservations for Lucid Air and Lucid Air Touring, as well as the other models in the Lucid Air range, are open now and can be placed at the Lucid Motors website or at an ever-expanding network of retail locations, including the recently opened Beverly Hills Studio and service center. Customer deliveries for the first Lucid Air models begins in spring of 2021.
About Lucid Motors
Lucid's mission is to inspire the adoption of sustainable transportation by creating the most captivating electric vehicles, centered around the human experience. The company's first model range, the Lucid Air, is a state-of-the-art luxury sedan with a California-inspired design underpinned by race-proven technology. Featuring luxurious interior space in a mid-size exterior footprint, certain models of the Air will be capable of an estimated EPA range of over 500 miles and 0-60 mph in under 2.5 seconds. Customer deliveries of the Lucid Air Dream Edition, which will be produced at Lucid's new factory in Casa Grande, Arizona, will begin in the spring of 2021.


tass--2020-10-14--US seeks to sow discord between Russia and post-Soviet states, says Lavrov

MOSCOW , October 14 .
/TASS/ .
Washington is attempting to create friction between Russia and post-Soviet states , Russian @ @ @ @ @ in an interview with the radio stations Sputnik , Komsomolskaya Pravda and Govorit Moskva on @ @ @ @ @ about how the Americans are exploiting the post-Soviet space , in particular , the Central @ @ @ @ @ that they are trying to sow discord in the hope that this is the next @ @ @ @ @ located close to Russia geographically but which is a very close territory to us , @ @ @ @ @ and militarily-politically , '' the Russian foreign minister said , responding to a question about @ @ @ @ @ relations in Kazakhstan , in particular , the issue of taking the interests of Russian-speaking @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, October 14. /TASS/. Washington is attempting to create friction between Russia and post-Soviet states, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the radio stations Sputnik, Komsomolskaya Pravda and Govorit Moskva on Wednesday.
"Speaking again about how the Americans are exploiting the post-Soviet space, in particular, the Central Asian space, we see that they are trying to sow discord in the hope that this is the next territory that is not simply located close to Russia geographically but which is a very close territory to us, our ally historically, politically and militarily-politically," the Russian foreign minister said, responding to a question about the current situation with ethnic relations in Kazakhstan, in particular, the issue of taking the interests of Russian-speaking citizens into account.


tass--2020-10-14--Huawei Launches All-scenario Intelligent Connectivity Solutions

BEIJING , Oct. 14 .
/PRNewswire/ .
Today , the UN Broadband Commission and Huawei held the sixth Ultra-Broadband Forum ( UBBF 2020 ) online in Beijing .
With the theme of `` Intelligent Connectivity , New Value Together '' , this year 's UBBF discussed the challenges and opportunities facing the connectivity industry in the intelligent era .
At the event , David Wang , Huawei Executive Director and Chairman of the Investment Review Board , delivered a keynote speech titled `` Building intelligent connectivity for an intelligent world '' .
Mr. Wang also launched Huawei 's all-scenario intelligent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Through these scenarios , home broadband will enter the experience economy era and the digital transformation of industries will be accelerated .
The connectivity industry is seeing five exciting changes Every upgrade of connectivity has fundamentally changed society .
Now , as we move towards the intelligent era , individuals , homes , and enterprises are placing higher requirements on connectivity than ever before , and new technologies , such as cloud and AI , are quickly integrating with connectivity .
This is leading the connectivity industry to experience five exciting changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligent IoT to connected Intelligent Twins .
In the past , we aimed to connect all people and homes .
This was Internet of everything .
As we pursue a seamless AI life and the intelligent upgrades of enterprises , we must connect more things with intelligence .
This is intelligent Internet of everything .
According to third-party forecasts , the number of connections worldwide will reach one trillion by 2035 , making ubiquitous connectivity and pervasive intelligent a reality .
Change 2 : From office to office + production .
COVID-19 has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In enterprise scenarios , connectivity has gone beyond serving offices to serving both offices and production .
The focus of enterprise digitization has shifted from digital office to digital production , transactions , and operations .
Change 3 : From best effort to differentiated deterministic services .
Industries vary in terms of service scenarios and connectivity requirements .
If differentiated services are the default , then deterministic experience is a must .
Therefore , operators can only open the door to vertical markets by providing differentiated and deterministic services .
Change 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medium .
Multiple access technologies exist , including cellular , Wi-Fi , and optical fiber technologies , and the diversity of service scenarios mean that multiple access technologies will co-exist for many years to come .
Through concerted efforts across the industry , 4G , 5G , Wi-Fi , and fiber technologies can now deliver ubiquitous gigabit connectivity .
Change 5 : From manual O & M to hyper-automation .
5G will make network O & M more complex than that of 4G .
Manual O & M will be inadequate to handle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hyper-automation powered by big data and AI to simplify O & M decision-making .
These five changes are placing new requirements on connectivity .
To meet these requirements and realize greater productivity , connectivity must be upgraded to the next level .
The first requirement is ubiquitous gigabit , as bandwidth is the foundation of connectivity .
Ubiquitous gigabit connectivity is necessary for ultra-HD video , industrial VR/AR applications , AI cameras , and drones .
The second requirement is deterministic experience , which is essential to home scenarios such as telecommuting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enterprise scenarios like safe and reliable production .
The third requirement is hyper-automation .
As networks advance in terms of complexity and scale , big data and AI must be utilized to achieve hyper-automation .
In the intelligent era , intelligent connectivity will take on three major characteristics : Ubiquitous gigabit , deterministic experience , and hyper-automation .
During the event , Mr. Wang launched Huawei 's all-scenario intelligent connectivity solutions , including intelligent distributed access solutions for homes , as well as intelligent campus networks , intelligent premium private lines , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Intelligent distributed access : This solution has comprehensively upgraded home devices , the local end , and network management .
With gigabit Wi-Fi coverage throughout entire rooms , high-quality service experience , and precise user identification , intelligent distributed access will allow operators to benefit more from network experience than from the user base .
• Intelligent campus networks : Thanks to central LAN & WAN management , Gbps access , and AI-based intelligent O & M , intelligent campus networks allow operators to provide one-stop network solutions for enterprises as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ premium private lines : This solution greatly reduces latency thanks to all-optical switching technology , enabling operators to offer high-end enterprise users 1ms ultra-low latency and the ultimate experience .
Built upon Liquid OTN technology , flexible hard pipes support flexible bandwidth access ranging from 2 Mbps to 100 Gbps , and lossless service adjustment .
In addition , intelligent premium private lines connect enterprise customers to wavelength-level private networks through exclusive wavelength or subwavelength resources .
• Intelligent cloud networks : This solution aims to create synergy between the cloud and network @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligent IP networks , intelligent cloud networks will build a high-quality cloud private network , allowing enterprises to access multiple clouds .
`` Over the past 30 years , Huawei has worked with customers and partners to create a seamless AI life for all homes and drive the intelligent upgrades of all industries .
Our ultimate goal is to grow the digital economy and improve people 's lives , '' said Mr. Wang .
`` Through continuous investment in 5G , Optical Network and IPv6 Enhanced innovation , today we launch our all-scenario @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make ultra-broadband networks greener and more efficient , and create a more intelligent world .
Moving forward , we will redouble our efforts in basic research , invest more in next-generation network technologies , and work with all stakeholders to shape a more low-carbon , efficient , and intelligent world . ''
UBBF is a global flagship event for the ICT industry .
At this year 's event , guests from China Mobile , FTTH Council Europe , TechUK , Ernst & Young Advisory Limited , IPv6 Forum , SAMENA Telecommunications Council , @ @ @ @ @

BEIJING, Oct. 14. /PRNewswire/. Today, the UN Broadband Commission and Huawei held the sixth Ultra-Broadband Forum (UBBF 2020) online in Beijing. With the theme of "Intelligent Connectivity, New Value Together", this year's UBBF discussed the challenges and opportunities facing the connectivity industry in the intelligent era.
At the event, David Wang, Huawei Executive Director and Chairman of the Investment Review Board, delivered a keynote speech titled "Building intelligent connectivity for an intelligent world". Mr. Wang also launched Huawei's all-scenario intelligent connectivity solutions for home and enterprise scenarios. Through these scenarios, home broadband will enter the experience economy era and the digital transformation of industries will be accelerated.
The connectivity industry is seeing five exciting changes
Every upgrade of connectivity has fundamentally changed society. Now, as we move towards the intelligent era, individuals, homes, and enterprises are placing higher requirements on connectivity than ever before, and new technologies, such as cloud and AI, are quickly integrating with connectivity. This is leading the connectivity industry to experience five exciting changes:
Change 1: From IoT and intelligent IoT to connected Intelligent Twins. In the past, we aimed to connect all people and homes. This was Internet of everything. As we pursue a seamless AI life and the intelligent upgrades of enterprises, we must connect more things with intelligence. This is intelligent Internet of everything. According to third-party forecasts, the number of connections worldwide will reach one trillion by 2035, making ubiquitous connectivity and pervasive intelligent a reality.
Change 2: From office to office + production. COVID-19 has transformed people's needs for home broadband. In enterprise scenarios, connectivity has gone beyond serving offices to serving both offices and production. The focus of enterprise digitization has shifted from digital office to digital production, transactions, and operations.
Change 3: From best effort to differentiated deterministic services. Industries vary in terms of service scenarios and connectivity requirements. If differentiated services are the default, then deterministic experience is a must. Therefore, operators can only open the door to vertical markets by providing differentiated and deterministic services.
Change 4: From Mbps to Gbps via any medium. Multiple access technologies exist, including cellular, Wi-Fi, and optical fiber technologies, and the diversity of service scenarios mean that multiple access technologies will co-exist for many years to come. Through concerted efforts across the industry, 4G, 5G, Wi-Fi, and fiber technologies can now deliver ubiquitous gigabit connectivity.
Change 5: From manual O&M to hyper-automation. 5G will make network O&M more complex than that of 4G. Manual O&M will be inadequate to handle these new complexities, and give way to hyper-automation powered by big data and AI to simplify O&M decision-making.
Moving towards intelligent connectivity with AI
These five changes are placing new requirements on connectivity. To meet these requirements and realize greater productivity, connectivity must be upgraded to the next level.
The first requirement is ubiquitous gigabit, as bandwidth is the foundation of connectivity. Ubiquitous gigabit connectivity is necessary for ultra-HD video, industrial VR/AR applications, AI cameras, and drones.
The second requirement is deterministic experience, which is essential to home scenarios such as telecommuting and online learning, as well as enterprise scenarios like safe and reliable production.
The third requirement is hyper-automation. As networks advance in terms of complexity and scale, big data and AI must be utilized to achieve hyper-automation.
In the intelligent era, intelligent connectivity will take on three major characteristics: Ubiquitous gigabit, deterministic experience, and hyper-automation.
Huawei's all-scenario intelligent connectivity solutions
During the event, Mr. Wang launched Huawei's all-scenario intelligent connectivity solutions, including intelligent distributed access solutions for homes, as well as intelligent campus networks, intelligent premium private lines, and intelligent cloud network solutions for enterprises.
Intelligent distributed access: This solution has comprehensively upgraded home devices, the local end, and network management. With gigabit Wi-Fi coverage throughout entire rooms, high-quality service experience, and precise user identification, intelligent distributed access will allow operators to benefit more from network experience than from the user base.
This solution has comprehensively upgraded home devices, the local end, and network management. With gigabit Wi-Fi coverage throughout entire rooms, high-quality service experience, and precise user identification, intelligent distributed access will allow operators to benefit more from network experience than from the user base. Intelligent campus networks: Thanks to central LAN & WAN management, Gbps access, and AI-based intelligent O&M, intelligent campus networks allow operators to provide one-stop network solutions for enterprises as they move to the cloud.
Thanks to central LAN & WAN management, Gbps access, and AI-based intelligent O&M, intelligent campus networks allow operators to provide one-stop network solutions for enterprises as they move to the cloud. Intelligent premium private lines: This solution greatly reduces latency thanks to all-optical switching technology, enabling operators to offer high-end enterprise users 1ms ultra-low latency and the ultimate experience. Built upon Liquid OTN technology, flexible hard pipes support flexible bandwidth access ranging from 2 Mbps to 100 Gbps, and lossless service adjustment. In addition, intelligent premium private lines connect enterprise customers to wavelength-level private networks through exclusive wavelength or subwavelength resources.
This solution greatly reduces latency thanks to all-optical switching technology, enabling operators to offer high-end enterprise users 1ms ultra-low latency and the ultimate experience. Built upon Liquid OTN technology, flexible hard pipes support flexible bandwidth access ranging from 2 Mbps to 100 Gbps, and lossless service adjustment. In addition, intelligent premium private lines connect enterprise customers to wavelength-level private networks through exclusive wavelength or subwavelength resources. Intelligent cloud networks: This solution aims to create synergy between the cloud and network in the cloud era. Based on intelligent IP networks, intelligent cloud networks will build a high-quality cloud private network, allowing enterprises to access multiple clouds.
"Over the past 30 years, Huawei has worked with customers and partners to create a seamless AI life for all homes and drive the intelligent upgrades of all industries. Our ultimate goal is to grow the digital economy and improve people's lives," said Mr. Wang.
"Through continuous investment in 5G, Optical Network and IPv6 Enhanced innovation, today we launch our all-scenario intelligent connectivity solutions. These solutions will make ultra-broadband networks greener and more efficient, and create a more intelligent world. Moving forward, we will redouble our efforts in basic research, invest more in next-generation network technologies, and work with all stakeholders to shape a more low-carbon, efficient, and intelligent world."
UBBF is a global flagship event for the ICT industry. At this year's event, guests from China Mobile, FTTH Council Europe, TechUK, Ernst & Young Advisory Limited, IPv6 Forum, SAMENA Telecommunications Council, and Omdia delivered speeches.


tass--2020-10-14--Hainan requires all arrivals from Qingdao to get tested for coronavirus

HAIKOU , October 14 .
/TASS/ .
All arrivals from Qingdao will be required to get tested for the novel coronavirus ( nucleic acid test ) , reported www.hinews.cn citing the order of the provincial center for disease prevention and control .
COVID-19 test , the authorities said , is mandatory for those who transited through Qingdao ( eastern Shandong province ) or were there after September 27 .
Such visitors are required to register at one of the local disease prevention and control centers .
They will be required to provide documents confirming a negative coronavirus test result , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Hainan province .
In the case of a negative result and `` green health code '' in a mobile application , visitors are allowed to move freely around the province while sticking to the established sanitary standards .
Those who do not have such documents will have to take a COVID-19 test already on Hainan .
After receiving the result , even if it is negative , visitors will be required to independently assess their condition for 14 days and , at the first sign of discomfort , alert the authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response to the current epidemiological situation in the city earlier this week after identifying three cases of asymptomatic carriers among local residents .
Mass testing for COVID-19 was launched in the city on Monday .
Currently , 12 cases of infection among local residents have been officially confirmed in Qingdao .

HAIKOU, October 14. /TASS/. All arrivals from Qingdao will be required to get tested for the novel coronavirus (nucleic acid test), reported www.hinews.cn citing the order of the provincial center for disease prevention and control.
COVID-19 test, the authorities said, is mandatory for those who transited through Qingdao (eastern Shandong province) or were there after September 27. Such visitors are required to register at one of the local disease prevention and control centers. They will be required to provide documents confirming a negative coronavirus test result, which was taken seven days before arriving in the Hainan province.
In the case of a negative result and "green health code" in a mobile application, visitors are allowed to move freely around the province while sticking to the established sanitary standards. Those who do not have such documents will have to take a COVID-19 test already on Hainan. After receiving the result, even if it is negative, visitors will be required to independently assess their condition for 14 days and, at the first sign of discomfort, alert the authorities.
The Qingdao authorities introduced an emergency response to the current epidemiological situation in the city earlier this week after identifying three cases of asymptomatic carriers among local residents. Mass testing for COVID-19 was launched in the city on Monday. Currently, 12 cases of infection among local residents have been officially confirmed in Qingdao.


tass--2020-10-14--‘Can’t tango solo': Russia's pursuit for dialogue with West was disregarded, says Kremlin

`` The Kremlin sees the need for and usefulness of this dialogue .
The Kremlin has systematically pressed for resuming and continuing this dialogue , based on mutual respect .
But it is impossible to tango solo , '' Peskov said .
MOSCOW , October 14 .
/TASS/ .
Russia is for continuing a constructive dialogue with the West , but for the time being it has met with no understanding , Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the media on Wednesday .
He stressed that `` Russia was not the initiator of curtailing dialogue with its Western partners on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is blatantly clear that Russia has been met with no understanding in its attempts to somehow resume this dialogue .
It is obvious that Russia is not ready for tolerating the type of attitude it has encountered in the context of the incident with the Berlin patient ( Alexey Navalny - TASS ) , '' the Kremlin spokesman said .
When asked for a comment on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov ’ s remark which some mass media interpreted as a hint at the possibility of curtailing the dialogue with the European Union , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not require extra commentaries .
`` Our foreign policy is formed and formulated by the head of state , but the main actors in implementing this foreign policy are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the foreign minister , '' Peskov said .

"The Kremlin sees the need for and usefulness of this dialogue. The Kremlin has systematically pressed for resuming and continuing this dialogue, based on mutual respect. But it is impossible to tango solo," Peskov said.
MOSCOW, October 14. /TASS/. Russia is for continuing a constructive dialogue with the West, but for the time being it has met with no understanding, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the media on Wednesday.
He stressed that "Russia was not the initiator of curtailing dialogue with its Western partners on all possible tracks."
"It is blatantly clear that Russia has been met with no understanding in its attempts to somehow resume this dialogue. It is obvious that Russia is not ready for tolerating the type of attitude it has encountered in the context of the incident with the Berlin patient (Alexey Navalny - TASS)," the Kremlin spokesman said.
When asked for a comment on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remark which some mass media interpreted as a hint at the possibility of curtailing the dialogue with the European Union, Peskov said that Lavrov’s statements did not require extra commentaries.
"Our foreign policy is formed and formulated by the head of state, but the main actors in implementing this foreign policy are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the foreign minister," Peskov said.


tass--2020-10-15--‘Packing a solid punch’: August drills ‘talked sense’ into foreign forces, Lukashenko says

MINSK , October 15 .
/TASS/ .
The full-scale tactical exercises , which took place in Belarus ’ western regions in August , `` talked sense '' into foreign forces , making them realize that Minsk `` packs a solid punch , '' President Alexander Lukashenko said during his meeting with CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas .
`` We took a look at our western region , took a closer look , and took aim as they say in the military .
Perhaps , this has talked sense into those beyond the border , that we can pack a solid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manner , '' Lukashenko stated , according to the BelTA news agency .
The head of state recalled that , several years ago , Belarus adopted a new military doctrine , accounting for such phenomena as a hybrid war or a color revolution .
`` This is roughly what could have happened in Belarus , so we were compelled to react , and show force , among other things , '' Lukashenko specified .
Earlier , the Ministry of Defense of Belarus stated that there was foreign interference in the country ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full-scale tactical military drills were launched on August 28-31 .

MINSK, October 15. /TASS/. The full-scale tactical exercises, which took place in Belarus’ western regions in August, "talked sense" into foreign forces, making them realize that Minsk "packs a solid punch," President Alexander Lukashenko said during his meeting with CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas.
"We took a look at our western region, took a closer look, and took aim as they say in the military. Perhaps, this has talked sense into those beyond the border, that we can pack a solid punch and respond in a very serious manner," Lukashenko stated, according to the BelTA news agency.
The head of state recalled that, several years ago, Belarus adopted a new military doctrine, accounting for such phenomena as a hybrid war or a color revolution.
"This is roughly what could have happened in Belarus, so we were compelled to react, and show force, among other things," Lukashenko specified.
Earlier, the Ministry of Defense of Belarus stated that there was foreign interference in the country’s internal affairs. In this regard, full-scale tactical military drills were launched on August 28-31.


tass--2020-10-15--Participating is ‘pointless’: Moscow sees no reason to continue trilateral talks on MH17

MOSCOW , October 15 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s further participation in trilateral consultations with the Netherlands and Australia on the Malaysian Boeing that crashed over Donbass in July 2014 is pointless .
The Hague is responsible for sabotaging the consultations , the Russian Foreign Ministry ’ s statement made public on Thursday said .
`` When in 2018 , we agreed to conduct trilateral consultations with Australia and the Netherlands on the entire range of issues related to the crash of flight МН17 , we proceeded from the fact that such consultations would , based on the facts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crash of flight МН17 .
However , it appears that Australia and the Netherlands have never wanted to figure out what had really happened in the summer of 2014 and were only planning to force Russia to admit its guilt and obtain compensation for the relatives of those killed , '' the Foreign Ministry pointed out .
`` As a result , without even waiting for the interim results of the consultations , and there have been only three rounds , The Hague chose another path , filing an intergovernmental complaint against Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Netherlands make the continuation of trilateral consultations and our participation in them pointless .
Therefore , the responsibility for the disruption of the trilateral consultations fully lies on the shoulders of The Hague , '' the statement said .

MOSCOW, October 15. /TASS/. Russia’s further participation in trilateral consultations with the Netherlands and Australia on the Malaysian Boeing that crashed over Donbass in July 2014 is pointless. The Hague is responsible for sabotaging the consultations, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement made public on Thursday said.
"When in 2018, we agreed to conduct trilateral consultations with Australia and the Netherlands on the entire range of issues related to the crash of flight МН17, we proceeded from the fact that such consultations would, based on the facts, establish the true causes of the crash of flight МН17. However, it appears that Australia and the Netherlands have never wanted to figure out what had really happened in the summer of 2014 and were only planning to force Russia to admit its guilt and obtain compensation for the relatives of those killed," the Foreign Ministry pointed out.
"As a result, without even waiting for the interim results of the consultations, and there have been only three rounds, The Hague chose another path, filing an intergovernmental complaint against Russia with the ECHR. Such unfriendly actions by the Netherlands make the continuation of trilateral consultations and our participation in them pointless. Therefore, the responsibility for the disruption of the trilateral consultations fully lies on the shoulders of The Hague," the statement said.


tass--2020-10-15--Russian unemployment problem rising, says Putin

MOSCOW , October 15 .
/ TASS / .
The problem of unemployment is on the rise throughout Russia , @ @ @ @ @ said on Thursday at a meeting with the head of Karachay-Cherkessia , Rashid Temrezov .
@ @ @ @ @ ] there is a fairly high level of unemployment .
You know this problem , @ @ @ @ @ the rise in the whole country , '' President Putin said .
At the same @ @ @ @ @ that both industrial and agricultural production is growing in Karachay-Cherkessia .
`` True , at @ @ @ @ @ the national average , but nevertheless the growth is stable , '' he added .

MOSCOW, October 15. / TASS /. The problem of unemployment is on the rise throughout Russia, said Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday at a meeting with the head of Karachay-Cherkessia, Rashid Temrezov.
"[In the region] there is a fairly high level of unemployment. You know this problem, especially now it is on the rise in the whole country," President Putin said.
At the same time, President Putin noted that both industrial and agricultural production is growing in Karachay-Cherkessia. "True, at a slightly lower rate than the national average, but nevertheless the growth is stable," he added.


tass--2020-10-15--CEOs Tackle Crisis, Resilience And Transformation At GEP Innovate Digital Conference

CLARK , New Jersey , Oct. 15 .
/PRNewswire/ .
GEP , a leading provider of supply chain and procurement solutions to Fortune 500 and Global 2000 enterprises worldwide , announced a compelling lineup of leading global thinkers , innovators and achievers for the company 's flagship annual customer conference – GEP INNOVATE DIGITAL : 2020 VISION .
`` At GEP INNOVATE 2020 , some of the world 's most effective , successful business leaders share their insights into how they and their teams are tackling unprecedented challenges , building more resilient supply chains and driving digital transformation to increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subhash Makhija , co-founder and CEO of GEP .
Now in its sixth year , GEP 's flagship annual customer conference engages leaders at global enterprises on supply chain and operations strategy , digital business operations , new and emerging technologies , and business and financial performance .
GEP SMART™ is the industry 's leading digital procurement platform .
GEP NEXXE™ is an AI-powered supply chain management software platform that provides market-leading enterprises unprecedented levels of supply chain visibility , intelligence , agility and resilience .
Go to GEP INNOVATE DIGITAL : 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virtual sessions and engage with leaders , including : • Ed Breen , executive chairman and CEO , DuPont , in a fireside chat with Raj Gupta , chairman , Aptiv ; former chairman and CEO , Rohm and Haas ; board member , DuPont .
• Jared Diamond , Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Upheaval and Guns , Germs and Steel , on ' . '
• Maggie Wilderotter , former CEO and executive chairman of Frontier Communications ; board member at Costco , Hewlett Packard , Lyft in conversation with Pat Russo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Hewlett Packard Enterprise ; board member at General Motors , Merck , and Arconic .
• Soumaya Keynes , trade and globalization editor , The Economist , moderates a panel discussion on the ' Future of Procurement & Supply Chains in the Age of Uncertainty . '
• Chevron 's CIO Bill Braun and Bill Keillor , ExxonMobil 's vice president of global information technology and digital transformation , share the ' . '
• Chief procurement and supply chain officers from companies including : ABM , Apex Tool Group , Asahi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & General , Oncor and the University of California .
GEP SOFTWARE™ provides award-winning digital procurement and supply chain platforms that help global enterprises become more agile , resilient , competitive and profitable .
With beautifully rendered interfaces and flexible workflows , GEP® provides users fresh , intuitive digital workspaces that yield extraordinary levels of user adoption and meaningful gains in team and personal productivity .
GEP products capitalize on machine learning and cognitive computing , advanced data and semantic technologies , IoT , mobile and cloud technologies , and are designed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's software integrates quickly and easily with third-party and legacy systems , such as SAP , Oracle and all other major ERP and F & A software .
And with superb support and service , GEP is an industry leader in customer satisfaction and loyalty .
A leader in multiple Gartner Magic Quadrants , GEP 's cloud-native software and digital business platforms consistently win awards and recognition from industry analysts , research firms and media outlets , including Gartner , Forrester , IDC , Procurement Leaders and Spend Matters .

CLARK, New Jersey, Oct. 15. /PRNewswire/. GEP, a leading provider of supply chain and procurement solutions to Fortune 500 and Global 2000 enterprises worldwide, announced a compelling lineup of leading global thinkers, innovators and achievers for the company's flagship annual customer conference – GEP INNOVATE DIGITAL: 2020 VISION.
"At GEP INNOVATE 2020, some of the world's most effective, successful business leaders share their insights into how they and their teams are tackling unprecedented challenges, building more resilient supply chains and driving digital transformation to increase competitiveness and shareholder value," said Subhash Makhija, co-founder and CEO of GEP.
Now in its sixth year, GEP's flagship annual customer conference engages leaders at global enterprises on supply chain and operations strategy, digital business operations, new and emerging technologies, and business and financial performance. GEP SMART™ is the industry's leading digital procurement platform. GEP NEXXE™ is an AI-powered supply chain management software platform that provides market-leading enterprises unprecedented levels of supply chain visibility, intelligence, agility and resilience.
Go to GEP INNOVATE DIGITAL: 2020 VISION to register for dozens of interactive virtual sessions and engage with leaders, including:
Ed Breen , executive chairman and CEO, DuPont , in a fireside chat with Raj Gupta , chairman, Aptiv ; former chairman and CEO, Rohm and Haas ; board member, DuPont .
, executive chairman and , in a fireside chat with , chairman, ; former chairman and CEO, ; board member, DuPont Jared Diamond , Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Upheaval and Guns, Germs and Steel, on ' Navigating Upheaval and Building Resilience .'
, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Upheaval and Guns, Germs and Steel, on ' .' Maggie Wilderotter , former CEO and executive chairman of Frontier Communications ; board member at Costco, Hewlett Packard, Lyft in conversation with Pat Russo , former CEO of Alcatel-Lucent; chairman of Hewlett Packard Enterprise; board member at General Motors, Merck, and Arconic.
, former CEO and executive chairman of ; board member at Costco, Hewlett Packard, Lyft in conversation with , former CEO of Alcatel-Lucent; chairman of Hewlett Packard Enterprise; board member at General Motors, Merck, and Arconic. Soumaya Keynes , trade and globalization editor, The Economist , moderates a panel discussion on the ' Future of Procurement & Supply Chains in the Age of Uncertainty .'
, trade and globalization editor, , moderates a panel discussion on the ' .' Chevron's CIO Bill Braun and Bill Keillor, ExxonMobil's vice president of global information technology and digital transformation, share the ' Keys to Digital Transformation .'
CIO and vice president of global information technology and digital transformation, share the ' .' Chief procurement and supply chain officers from companies including: ABM, Apex Tool Group, Asahi Breweries, Ecolab, Exelon, Legal & General, Oncor and the University of California.
ABOUT GEP SOFTWARE
GEP SOFTWARE™ provides award-winning digital procurement and supply chain platforms that help global enterprises become more agile, resilient, competitive and profitable.
With beautifully rendered interfaces and flexible workflows, GEP® provides users fresh, intuitive digital workspaces that yield extraordinary levels of user adoption and meaningful gains in team and personal productivity.
GEP products capitalize on machine learning and cognitive computing, advanced data and semantic technologies, IoT, mobile and cloud technologies, and are designed to incorporate continual innovations in technology.
GEP's software integrates quickly and easily with third-party and legacy systems, such as SAP, Oracle and all other major ERP and F&A software. And with superb support and service, GEP is an industry leader in customer satisfaction and loyalty.
A leader in multiple Gartner Magic Quadrants, GEP's cloud-native software and digital business platforms consistently win awards and recognition from industry analysts, research firms and media outlets, including Gartner, Forrester, IDC, Procurement Leaders and Spend Matters.


tass--2020-10-15--Russian businessman Prigozin blacklisted by EU for violating Libya sanctions

BRUSSELS , October 15 .
/TASS/ .
Russian businessman Evgeniy Prigozhin was added to the EU ’ s updated blacklist on Libya for undermining the country ’ s security and violating sanctions against it , the Council of the European Union said in its regulation published in the Official Journal on Thursday .
According to the document , the Russian businessman allegedly had `` close links , including financially , to the private military company Wagner Group . ''
`` In this way , Prigozhin is engaged in and providing support for Wagner Group ’ s activities in Libya , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , stability and security .
In particular , Wagner Group is involved in multiple and repeated breaches of the arms embargo in Libya established in UNSCR , '' the statement reads .
Prigozhin was banned entry to the EU and his financial assets in Europe were frozen .
Concord company led by the businessmen earlier denied Prigozhin ’ s links to Wagner Group .
The company ’ s press service said on its page in VK social network that Prigozhin had no relation to this private military company and did not sponsor it @

BRUSSELS, October 15. /TASS/. Russian businessman Evgeniy Prigozhin was added to the EU’s updated blacklist on Libya for undermining the country’s security and violating sanctions against it, the Council of the European Union said in its regulation published in the Official Journal on Thursday.
According to the document, the Russian businessman allegedly had "close links, including financially, to the private military company Wagner Group."
"In this way, Prigozhin is engaged in and providing support for Wagner Group’s activities in Libya, which threaten the country’s peace, stability and security. In particular, Wagner Group is involved in multiple and repeated breaches of the arms embargo in Libya established in UNSCR," the statement reads.
Prigozhin was banned entry to the EU and his financial assets in Europe were frozen.
Concord company led by the businessmen earlier denied Prigozhin’s links to Wagner Group. The company’s press service said on its page in VK social network that Prigozhin had no relation to this private military company and did not sponsor it.


tass--2020-10-15--Third Russian COVID-19 vaccine can be registered in a month

MOSCOW , October 15 .
/TASS/ .
The third Russian coronavirus vaccine can be registered in a month ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing Anna Popova said @ @ @ @ @ congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs .
`` I want to say @ @ @ @ @ two vaccines , and the third , I am sure , should be registered in @ @ @ @ @ .
The colleagues who are developing it ( the Chumakov center - TASS ) have @ @ @ @ @ '' she said .

MOSCOW, October 15. /TASS/. The third Russian coronavirus vaccine can be registered in a month’s time, head of the Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing Anna Popova said on Thursday at an online congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.
"I want to say that the Russian Federation has two vaccines, and the third, I am sure, should be registered in a month’s time. The colleagues who are developing it (the Chumakov center - TASS) have extensive experience in vaccinology," she said.


tass--2020-10-15--Kremlin debunks existence of ‘working group to discredit Navalny’

`` This is not true , '' he said , answering a question on existence of such working group in the Kremlin .
Peskov underscored that `` a decision to condition the relations between the EU and Moscow on a person , whom Europe considers a leader of some opposition causes nothing but regret . ''
Answering a question , whether Kremlin ties the new sanctions with the Navalny ’ s persona instead of the alleged use of `` chemical weapons , '' the spokesman redirected this question to the European Union .
Earlier on Thursday , the EU published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which included FSB director Alexander Bortnikov , First Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Administration Sergei Kiriyenko and four more senior Russian officials in the EU blacklist , established over the Navalny incident .
The list also includes the State Research Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology , barring EU businessmen from having any relations with this organization .
The new sanctions include entry ban and suspension of all financial assets in the European banks .
The sanctions have been imposed within the special regime , established by the EU for use of chemical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ motivated as follows : `` it is reasonable to conclude that the poisoning was only possible with the involvement of the Federal Security Service . ''
This language is preceded by individual motivation for each separate official .

"This is not true," he said, answering a question on existence of such working group in the Kremlin.
Peskov underscored that "a decision to condition the relations between the EU and Moscow on a person, whom Europe considers a leader of some opposition causes nothing but regret."
Answering a question, whether Kremlin ties the new sanctions with the Navalny’s persona instead of the alleged use of "chemical weapons," the spokesman redirected this question to the European Union.
Earlier on Thursday, the EU published the European Council’s ruling, which included FSB director Alexander Bortnikov, First Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Administration Sergei Kiriyenko and four more senior Russian officials in the EU blacklist, established over the Navalny incident. The list also includes the State Research Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology, barring EU businessmen from having any relations with this organization.
The new sanctions include entry ban and suspension of all financial assets in the European banks. The sanctions have been imposed within the special regime, established by the EU for use of chemical weapons. The imposition of sanctions is motivated as follows: "it is reasonable to conclude that the poisoning was only possible with the involvement of the Federal Security Service." This language is preceded by individual motivation for each separate official.


tass--2020-10-15--Kremlin: Russia will respond to new EU sanctions in line with its interests

In his view , `` the sad aspect of this issue is that no logic can be seen in such a decision . ''
`` These are probably the aggravating circumstances of the decision made by the Council of the EU , '' Peskov added .
`` Much to our regret , this is a deliberate unfriendly step against Russia .
The Council of the EU harmed relations with our country by making this decision , '' he said .
The new EU sanctions against Russia are a deliberate unfriendly step , which lacks any logic , Dmitry Peskov told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the situation and will act in compliance with its own interests , '' the presidential spokesman said .
MOSCOW , October 15 .
/TASS/ .
Moscow will give a response to the European Union ’ s new sanctions `` that will best serve the interests of the Russian Federation , '' Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday .
Director of Russia ’ s Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov , First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Kiriyenko and four other high-ranking Russian officials were put on the EU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incident with blogger Alexei Navalny , the Council of the European Union said in its regulation published in the Official Journal .
Among those added to the list is also Chief of the Presidential Domestic Policy Directorate in the Presidential Executive Office Andrei Yarin , Deputy Defense Ministers Pavel Popov and Alexei Krivoruchko and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Siberian Federal District Sergei Menyailo .
`` In these circumstances , it is reasonable to conclude that the poisoning of Alexei Navalny was only possible with the consent of '' the above mentioned officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ list also includes the State Scientific Research Institute for Organic Chemistry and Technology ( GosNIIOKhT ) .
EU businessmen will be banned from maintaining any ties with the institute .
The EU restrictions stipulate an entry ban and freezing financial assets in European banks .
Russia ’ s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on October 14 that Moscow would respond in kind to the EU ’ s anti-Russian sanctions over the incident with Navalny .
Russian blogger Alexei Navalny was rushed to a local hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk on August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Tomsk .
He fell into a coma and was put on a ventilator in an intensive care unit .
On August 22 , he was airlifted to Berlin and admitted to the Charite hospital .
He woke up from the coma on September 7 and was released on September 22 .
On September 2 , Berlin claimed that having examined Navalny ’ s test samples , German government toxicologists had come to the conclusion that the blogger had been affected by a toxic agent belonging to the Novichok family .
On October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Chemical Weapons ( OPCW ) confirmed that biomarkers of the cholinesterase inhibitor found in Navalny ’ s blood and urine samples had similar structural characteristics as the toxic chemicals added to the Chemical Weapons Convention ’ s Annex on Chemicals in November 2019 .
At the same time , this cholinesterase inhibitor was not listed in the Annex on Chemicals to the Convention , it said .
Moscow stated on many occasions that Germany and the OPCW had failed to provide any official proofs to Russia .
Kremlin Spokesman Peskov stated numerously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Germany .
He pointed out that no poisonous substances had been detected in Navalny ’ s system prior to his transfer to Berlin .

In his view, "the sad aspect of this issue is that no logic can be seen in such a decision." "These are probably the aggravating circumstances of the decision made by the Council of the EU," Peskov added.
"Much to our regret, this is a deliberate unfriendly step against Russia. The Council of the EU harmed relations with our country by making this decision," he said.
The new EU sanctions against Russia are a deliberate unfriendly step, which lacks any logic, Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
"Moscow will undoubtedly analyze the situation and will act in compliance with its own interests," the presidential spokesman said.
MOSCOW, October 15. /TASS/. Moscow will give a response to the European Union’s new sanctions "that will best serve the interests of the Russian Federation," Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.
Director of Russia’s Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov, First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Kiriyenko and four other high-ranking Russian officials were put on the EU’s blacklist against Russia over the incident with blogger Alexei Navalny, the Council of the European Union said in its regulation published in the Official Journal.
Among those added to the list is also Chief of the Presidential Domestic Policy Directorate in the Presidential Executive Office Andrei Yarin, Deputy Defense Ministers Pavel Popov and Alexei Krivoruchko and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Siberian Federal District Sergei Menyailo.
"In these circumstances, it is reasonable to conclude that the poisoning of Alexei Navalny was only possible with the consent of" the above mentioned officials, the document reads.
The sanctions list also includes the State Scientific Research Institute for Organic Chemistry and Technology (GosNIIOKhT). EU businessmen will be banned from maintaining any ties with the institute.
The EU restrictions stipulate an entry ban and freezing financial assets in European banks.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on October 14 that Moscow would respond in kind to the EU’s anti-Russian sanctions over the incident with Navalny.
Navalny’s ‘poisoning’ saga
Russian blogger Alexei Navalny was rushed to a local hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk on August 20 after collapsing on a Moscow-bound flight from Tomsk. He fell into a coma and was put on a ventilator in an intensive care unit. On August 22, he was airlifted to Berlin and admitted to the Charite hospital. He woke up from the coma on September 7 and was released on September 22.
On September 2, Berlin claimed that having examined Navalny’s test samples, German government toxicologists had come to the conclusion that the blogger had been affected by a toxic agent belonging to the Novichok family.
On October 6, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) confirmed that biomarkers of the cholinesterase inhibitor found in Navalny’s blood and urine samples had similar structural characteristics as the toxic chemicals added to the Chemical Weapons Convention’s Annex on Chemicals in November 2019. At the same time, this cholinesterase inhibitor was not listed in the Annex on Chemicals to the Convention, it said.
Moscow stated on many occasions that Germany and the OPCW had failed to provide any official proofs to Russia. Kremlin Spokesman Peskov stated numerously that Russia was ready for comprehensive cooperation with Germany. He pointed out that no poisonous substances had been detected in Navalny’s system prior to his transfer to Berlin.


tass--2020-10-15--Terrorists conspired to bomb Volgograd’s The Motherland Calls monument

MOSCOW , October 15 .
/TASS/ .
Members of the outlawed terrorist organization who were liquidated in Volgograd had plotted a terrorist attack near The Motherland Calls memorial , as follows from a video released by the Public Relations Center of the Federal Security Service ( FSB ) on Thursday .
On a map of Volgograd confiscated from the terrorists the monument was circled in black as a likely target of an act of sabotage .
The FSB on Thursday released a video of a special operation to neutralize members of the terrorist organization Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been plotting terrorist attacks in Volgograd .
The nighttime operation was held in the woods where the terrorists had kept a cache .
The footage shows bodies of the killed terrorists and containers with explosives , incendiary bottles , nails that were to be used as shrapnel , and hand grenades , as well as a map showing a likely route and sites selected for terrorist attacks .
The FSB ’ s Public Relations Center said two members of a cell of the terrorist organization Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad had been neutralized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coordinated from the territory of Syria .
During the detention the ringleader and his accomplice were trying to retrieve terrorist gear from a cache .
Both offered armed resistance and were neutralized .
Both members of the terrorist cell were from a Central Asian country .

MOSCOW, October 15. /TASS/. Members of the outlawed terrorist organization who were liquidated in Volgograd had plotted a terrorist attack near The Motherland Calls memorial, as follows from a video released by the Public Relations Center of the Federal Security Service (FSB) on Thursday.
On a map of Volgograd confiscated from the terrorists the monument was circled in black as a likely target of an act of sabotage.
The FSB on Thursday released a video of a special operation to neutralize members of the terrorist organization Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad (outlawed in Russia), who had been plotting terrorist attacks in Volgograd. The nighttime operation was held in the woods where the terrorists had kept a cache. The footage shows bodies of the killed terrorists and containers with explosives, incendiary bottles, nails that were to be used as shrapnel, and hand grenades, as well as a map showing a likely route and sites selected for terrorist attacks.
The FSB’s Public Relations Center said two members of a cell of the terrorist organization Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad had been neutralized in Volgograd. Their activity had been coordinated from the territory of Syria. During the detention the ringleader and his accomplice were trying to retrieve terrorist gear from a cache. Both offered armed resistance and were neutralized.
Both members of the terrorist cell were from a Central Asian country.


tass--2020-10-15--Russian cosmonauts trace air leak aboard orbital outpost with tea bag

MOSCOW , October 15 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian cosmonauts have traced a probable air leak aboard the International Space Station ( ISS ) with a tea bag , Cosmonaut Anatoly Ivanishin said during a communications session with Russia ’ s Flight Control Center on Thursday .
The tea bag ’ s sway in zero gravity conditions towards the air leak overboard the space station was registered by cameras , the cosmonaut said .
`` We believe that we have really identified the probable leakage area .
We have distributed a tea bag [ in the Zvezda module ] before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The tea bag ’ s movement was recorded , the Russian cosmonaut said .
`` We have several photos and videos of the direction of the tea bag ’ s flight or where it intended to fly and this precisely shows the direction the air is blowing from the possible air leak , '' the cosmonaut said .
A source told TASS in August that the space station ’ s Russian-American crew was working on tracing an air leak aboard the orbital outpost .
As Russia ’ s State Space Corporation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had come to the conclusion that the air leak was located in the Russian Zvezda module but it posed no threat to the crew ’ s life and health .
Cosmonaut Sergei Ryzhikov said during a pre-flight press-conference on Wednesday that the crew of the Soyuz MS-17 manned spacecraft would bring additional equipment to the orbital outpost to trace the air leak in the transfer compartment of the Russian Zvezda module and a special sealant .
The Soyuz MS-17 manned spacecraft launched from the Baikonur spaceport in Kazakhstan at 08:45 a.m. Moscow time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Space Station at 11:48 a.m. Moscow time on the same day , making a super-fast flight to the orbital laboratory within three hours and three minutes .

MOSCOW, October 15. /TASS/. The Russian cosmonauts have traced a probable air leak aboard the International Space Station (ISS) with a tea bag, Cosmonaut Anatoly Ivanishin said during a communications session with Russia’s Flight Control Center on Thursday.
The tea bag’s sway in zero gravity conditions towards the air leak overboard the space station was registered by cameras, the cosmonaut said.
"We believe that we have really identified the probable leakage area. We have distributed a tea bag [in the Zvezda module] before closing the transfer chamber," Ivanishin said.
The tea bag’s movement was recorded, the Russian cosmonaut said.
"We have several photos and videos of the direction of the tea bag’s flight or where it intended to fly and this precisely shows the direction the air is blowing from the possible air leak," the cosmonaut said.
A source told TASS in August that the space station’s Russian-American crew was working on tracing an air leak aboard the orbital outpost. As Russia’s State Space Corporation Roscosmos later told TASS, the cosmonauts had come to the conclusion that the air leak was located in the Russian Zvezda module but it posed no threat to the crew’s life and health.
Cosmonaut Sergei Ryzhikov said during a pre-flight press-conference on Wednesday that the crew of the Soyuz MS-17 manned spacecraft would bring additional equipment to the orbital outpost to trace the air leak in the transfer compartment of the Russian Zvezda module and a special sealant.
The Soyuz MS-17 manned spacecraft launched from the Baikonur spaceport in Kazakhstan at 08:45 a.m. Moscow time on October 14 docked to the International Space Station at 11:48 a.m. Moscow time on the same day, making a super-fast flight to the orbital laboratory within three hours and three minutes.


tass--2020-10-15--FSB neutralizes two terrorists who plotted attacks in southwestern Russia

MOSCOW , October 15 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s Federal Security Service ( FSB ) has neutralized two members of the international terrorist organization Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad , who had plotted terrorist attacks in Volgograd , the FSB ’ s Public Relations Center told TASS .
The terrorists ’ activity was coordinated from the territory of Syria .
Their targets were buildings of the local authorities , accommodation of military personnel and facilities with a high risk of fire and explosion , the FSB said .
`` At the moment of detention the ringleader and his accomplice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cache in Volgograd .
Both offered resistance and were neutralized . ''
The FSB said both members of the inter-regional cell of the international terrorist organization Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad were migrants from a Central Asian country .
`` The site of the incident and the radical Islamists ’ homes were searched .
FSB operatives seized firearms , ammunition , chemical components and shrapnel for makeshift explosive devices , religious literature and a map of Volgograd with marked sites of possible acts of terrorism and sabotage , '' the FSB said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ufa , Maikop and Volgograd other members of the inter-regional cell were detained .
Procedural decisions are to be made in relation to them , '' the FSB added .
Urgent investigative measures continue .

MOSCOW, October 15. /TASS/. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has neutralized two members of the international terrorist organization Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad, who had plotted terrorist attacks in Volgograd, the FSB’s Public Relations Center told TASS.
The terrorists’ activity was coordinated from the territory of Syria. Their targets were buildings of the local authorities, accommodation of military personnel and facilities with a high risk of fire and explosion, the FSB said. "At the moment of detention the ringleader and his accomplice were trying to recover terrorist gear from a cache in Volgograd. Both offered resistance and were neutralized."
The FSB said both members of the inter-regional cell of the international terrorist organization Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad were migrants from a Central Asian country.
"The site of the incident and the radical Islamists’ homes were searched. FSB operatives seized firearms, ammunition, chemical components and shrapnel for makeshift explosive devices, religious literature and a map of Volgograd with marked sites of possible acts of terrorism and sabotage," the FSB said.
"In Moscow, St. Petersburg, Ufa, Maikop and Volgograd other members of the inter-regional cell were detained. Procedural decisions are to be made in relation to them," the FSB added. Urgent investigative measures continue.


tass--2020-10-15--Aeroflot plans to resume flights to Belgrade, Tokyo

MOSCOW , October 15 .
/TASS/ .
Aeroflot Airlines plans to resume regular flights to Belgrade and Tokyo , said @ @ @ @ @ Spivakova .
`` Aeroflot plans to start operating regular flights to Tokyo and Belgrade , @ @ @ @ @ the Moscow-24 TV channel .
Spivakova also added that Aeroflot is increasing the frequency of @ @ @ @ @ to three times a week , to the Maldives up to four times a week @ @ @ @ @ to three times a week .

MOSCOW, October 15. /TASS/. Aeroflot Airlines plans to resume regular flights to Belgrade and Tokyo, said the airline's spokeswoman Yulia Spivakova.
"Aeroflot plans to start operating regular flights to Tokyo and Belgrade," she said talking to the Moscow-24 TV channel.
Spivakova also added that Aeroflot is increasing the frequency of flights to Minsk from one to three times a week, to the Maldives up to four times a week, and to Switzerland up to three times a week.


tass--2020-10-15--Opera legend Placido Domingo says fighting coronavirus strengthened his will to live

MADRID , October 15 .
/TASS/ .
World-renowned Spanish opera singer and conductor Placido Domingo told a TASS correspondent that overcoming coronavirus has bolstered his will to live .
`` My wife and I had COVID-19 , '' the tenor said .
`` The illness and the isolation helped us appreciate simpler things , gave us new energy and the will to live , and , above all , [ it ] strengthened our bond with [ our ] loved ones , whom we couldn ’ t see or hug during those days , '' he explained .
`` After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started devoting more time to exercise and physical activity every day .
This helped me a lot , '' the 79-year-old Domingo pointed out .
`` And as soon as I could , I began rehearsing piano pieces I ’ d somewhat given up because I didn ’ t have the time due to my work and I am happy because I made significant progress .
And then I concentrated on singing in order to prepare for what I planned for this summer , '' he elaborated .
The opera legend also said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ historic ’ [ soccer ] games . ''
`` I like soccer which is also considered an art form .
And I also found some time for reading , '' he noted .
Domingo specified that despite the restrictions introduced due to the coronavirus pandemic , so far he hasn ’ t performed without an audience .
`` There is no energy , nor adrenalin without an audience .
The audience is part of any performance , which brings the stage alive every evening .
And even though there were fewer people attending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the audience as if it was a sold-out performance , '' the tenor added .

MADRID, October 15. /TASS/. World-renowned Spanish opera singer and conductor Placido Domingo told a TASS correspondent that overcoming coronavirus has bolstered his will to live.
"My wife and I had COVID-19," the tenor said. "The illness and the isolation helped us appreciate simpler things, gave us new energy and the will to live, and, above all, [it] strengthened our bond with [our] loved ones, whom we couldn’t see or hug during those days," he explained.
"After I had recovered from COVID-19, I started devoting more time to exercise and physical activity every day. This helped me a lot," the 79-year-old Domingo pointed out. "And as soon as I could, I began rehearsing piano pieces I’d somewhat given up because I didn’t have the time due to my work and I am happy because I made significant progress. And then I concentrated on singing in order to prepare for what I planned for this summer," he elaborated.
The opera legend also said that during self-isolation he "watched ‘historic’ [soccer] games." "I like soccer which is also considered an art form. And I also found some time for reading," he noted.
Domingo specified that despite the restrictions introduced due to the coronavirus pandemic, so far he hasn’t performed without an audience. "There is no energy, nor adrenalin without an audience. The audience is part of any performance, which brings the stage alive every evening. And even though there were fewer people attending, I felt all the warmth of the audience as if it was a sold-out performance," the tenor added.


tass--2020-10-15--ZTE and China Mobile win Award at Broadband World Forum 2020

SHENZHEN , Oct. 15 .
/PRNewswire/ .
ZTE Corporation ( 0763.HK / 000063.SZ ) , a major international provider of telecommunications , enterprise and consumer technology solutions for the Mobile Internet , and China Mobile have been rewarded Best Enterprise Private Line Solution Award , in recognition of their cloud-managed intelligent OTN enterprise private line , at Broadband World Forum ( BBWF ) 2020 .
ZTE and the Dongguan branch of China Mobile have jointly built up this intelligent OTN enterprise private line solution to provide high-quality networks , so as to satisfy differentiated access demands of users .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make better use of the bandwidth resources .
Moreover , it can implement automatic CPE deployment and PnP ( Plug and Play ) so that the CPE deployment is shortened from days to hours .
Meanwhile , the enterprise private line allows CPE disaggregation through the intelligent management and control platform , enabling end-to-end cross-vendor management .
Also , it supports fast end-to-end deployment and provisioning of the entire network , with the service scheduling shortened from hours to minutes , thereby significantly reducing the TTM ( Time to Market ) and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vertical industries .
By means of real-time latency measurement and alarm , the intelligent OTN enterprise private line has guaranteed that its latency indicators will well meet the requirements of users .
ZTE is a provider of advanced telecommunications systems , mobile devices and enterprise technology solutions to consumers , operators , companies and public sector customers .
The company has been committed to providing customers with integrated end-to-end innovations to deliver excellence and value as the telecommunications and information technology sectors converge .
Listed in the stock exchanges of Hong Kong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : 0763.HK / A share stock code : 000063.SZ ) , ZTE sells its products and services in more than 160 countries .

SHENZHEN, Oct. 15. /PRNewswire/. ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a major international provider of telecommunications, enterprise and consumer technology solutions for the Mobile Internet, and China Mobile have been rewarded Best Enterprise Private Line Solution Award, in recognition of their cloud-managed intelligent OTN enterprise private line, at Broadband World Forum (BBWF) 2020.
ZTE and the Dongguan branch of China Mobile have jointly built up this intelligent OTN enterprise private line solution to provide high-quality networks, so as to satisfy differentiated access demands of users.
The enterprise private line supports 2M-100G tunable granularity to make better use of the bandwidth resources. Moreover, it can implement automatic CPE deployment and PnP (Plug and Play) so that the CPE deployment is shortened from days to hours.
Meanwhile, the enterprise private line allows CPE disaggregation through the intelligent management and control platform, enabling end-to-end cross-vendor management.
Also, it supports fast end-to-end deployment and provisioning of the entire network, with the service scheduling shortened from hours to minutes, thereby significantly reducing the TTM (Time to Market) and enhancing the competitiveness of China Mobile in the vertical industries.
By means of real-time latency measurement and alarm, the intelligent OTN enterprise private line has guaranteed that its latency indicators will well meet the requirements of users.
ZTE is a provider of advanced telecommunications systems, mobile devices and enterprise technology solutions to consumers, operators, companies and public sector customers. The company has been committed to providing customers with integrated end-to-end innovations to deliver excellence and value as the telecommunications and information technology sectors converge. Listed in the stock exchanges of Hong Kong and Shenzhen (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ), ZTE sells its products and services in more than 160 countries.


tass--2020-10-15--Press review: Russia doubts Turkish peace plan and foils Trump’s ploy for election points

Izvestia : Russia skeptical about Turkish proposal for four-way talks on Nagorno-Karabakh On the fifth day after the recent ceasefire in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh came into force de jure it was violated de facto .
Moreover , on October 14 , both Baku and Yerevan admitted that they continued combat actions .
Meanwhile , Turkey offered to join the talks between Moscow , Yerevan and Baku .
However , Russia is skeptical about this proposal , Izvestia writes .
Despite the fact that Moscow maintains a balanced stance on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict , the Turkish plan stipulates that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talks , Chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs , Relations with Compatriots and Eurasian Integration Leonid Kalashnikov explained .
`` Azerbaijan and Armenia have mutual trust in Russia as a balanced partner while Yerevan has no such confidence in Ankara .
It ’ s wrong to try to create a four-way format in which Russia will side with Armenia and Ankara with Baku .
This is an artificial attempt to ruin our ties with both countries and this format definitely won ’ t be effective in Karabakh , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggestion for four-way talks , Vice President of the Armenian Parliament Alen Simonyan said .
`` It is unacceptable for us to alter the existing framework of the Minsk Group .
Turkey is a member of this format , and Russia , the US and France are its co-chairs .
We don ’ t want to change this platform of negotiations , '' the politician noted .
However , Baku believes that the Turkish proposal could solve more problems on the ground than the current large structures .
Azerbaijani MP Sabir Gadzhiyev told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkey did not mean rejecting the Minsk Group ’ s format .
Experts told Izvestia that the key issue is not about who will be engaged in talks .
The major obstacle is the territorial dispute and until Baku and Yerevan come to terms , there is no difference in the way the meetings are arranged .
Nezavisimaya Gazeta : Moscow not going to save Trump with ‘ nuclear deal ’ Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed the prospects of extending Russian-US New START ( Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty ) .
He responded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreement could be extended in the near future .
Some sources in the White House even claimed that the deal with Russia would be signed by the November 3 presidential election .
Meanwhile , Moscow is not satisfied with the terms put forward by the United States .
Russia believes that the treaty , which expires in February 2021 , should just be extended .
Moscow views the attempts to assure the public that a breakthrough was reached at the talks with Russia as Donald Trump ’ s PR stunt , Nezavisimaya Gazeta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New START changed after the recent Russian-US consultations in Vienna , according to the newspaper .
Washington stopped insisting that the treaty should be extended only after China joins it .
Now the US admits that Beijing could join New START after its extension .
`` The Trump administration finally got it that New START is not that bad as it said earlier .
And now , given that the Americans have ruined so much in the global security architecture , the US president is trying to show his voters in the run-up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an agreement in the security field .
But in order to save face , the US said it agreed to extend New START in exchange for a package of terms and reservations .
And the Americans are changing their terms all the time , '' said Alexei Arbatov , who heads the Center for International Security at the Russian Academy of Sciences ’ Institute of World Economy and International Relations ( IMEMO ) .
According to him , there are more chances to prolong the nuclear arms reduction treaty than two weeks ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nuclear arsenals mentioned by Marshall Billingslea , US special envoy for arms control , is unacceptable for Russia .
Moscow has decided to adopt a wait-and-see position .
`` Moscow realized that Trump is interested in the treaty .
He is interested more than Russia is .
So , Moscow decided not to accept the constantly changing US terms , '' Arbatov specified .
Media : Kyrgyzstan set to cooperate with Russia as power struggle deepens A peaceful settlement to Kyrgyzstan ’ s conflict depends on whether new Kyrgyz Prime Minister Sadyr Japarov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jeenbekov , politicians and experts questioned by Izvestia said .
Currently , there is a standoff between the Kyrgyz leader and the head of government .
Japarov insists on his opponent ’ s resignation , while the latter rejects the demand .
However , the crisis is held back from further exploding because of a common foe - both politicians don ’ t want former President Almazbek Atambayev and his supporters to come to power .
According to experts , there is a huge likelihood for demonstrations in this situation because many are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the accrued problems .
Despite a possible change of power , the course towards cooperation with Moscow will remain unchanged , Izvestia writes .
According to Konstantin Zatulin , First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee for the Commonwealth of Independent States ( CIS ) Affairs , Japarov ’ s appointment signals that the country ’ s leadership is ready to form an alliance with any politician in order to prevent Atambayev ’ s return to power .
The new prime minister was backed by various groups , many of which have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interim prime minister and his appointment was the result of diplomatic concessions , which were probably facilitated by deputy head of the Russian president ’ s staff Dmitry Kozak , who recently visited Bishkek , said political scientist Dmitry Fetisov .
The expert noted that the Kyrgyz president would definitely try to replace him with his ally when the opportunity occurs .
`` No one is interested in continuing the crisis .
On the contrary , external actors seek to iron it out .
Moreover , there was no external influence on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alexander Knyazev told Nezavisimaya Gazeta .
According to him , Moscow will be responsible for settling the social and economic crisis in Kyrgyzstan .
`` Russia undertook a commitment to solving this ungrateful task and it should do this and it needs to cooperate with someone , '' Knyazev said .
A similar scheme was used during the recognition of the legitimacy of Kurmanbek Bakiyev in 2005 and the interim government in 2010 .
After a four-year hiatus , Russia was re-elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council along with 14 more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approval at the 193-member UN General Assembly .
Moscow left the Council in November 2016 after more than 80 human rights organizations had called on the UN member-states to vote against Russia ’ s participation over its military support for Syrian President Bashar Assad .
This year , the election of Russia as well as China and Cuba drew fierce criticism from the US , which left the Council in 2018 , Izvestia writes .
`` Criticism from them sounds rather ambiguously .
Since they left the Council why should it bother them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there , '' said Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council Andrei Kortunov .
The United States consistently withdraws from those events and organizations , where it fails to dominate , according to Deputy Director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the National Research University-Higher School of Economics Dmitry Suslov .
`` The UN Human Rights Council is a vivid example .
The US has been criticizing this structure for a long time because it is not controlled by the West , namely Washington , and does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
There are no universal criteria for electing countries to the UN Human Rights Council , Suslov noted .
`` Russia ’ s election shows that the West has not monopolized human rights issues and the international community has a broader and neutral approach to this , while the international community ’ s relation with Moscow is basically positive and in this case the UN General Assembly expresses this opinion , '' the expert said .
According to Suslov , Russia has a serious agenda on human rights issues .
Russians ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record of 20 trln rubles ( $ 257.4 bln ) .
The subsidized mortgage program launched by the government and the Central Bank in April played a vital role here .
Officials will extend mortgage incentives for another year although nearly half of Russians can not afford mortgages even with a zero interest rate , Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes .
Household debt in August was 1.9 % higher than in July and 12.7 % year-on-year .
In the past 12 months , Russians ’ debt rose by 2.3 trln rubles ( $ 30 bln @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the highest in the past 1.5 months , the MMI Telegram channel wrote citing the Central Bank .
`` The Central Bank ’ s milder monetary and loan policy , the decreasing interest rates on borrowing and especially on mortgages contribute to the growing debt of the public .
Borrowing is on the rise as peoples ’ revenues decline but this so-called bubble is definitely smoothed out by declining payments of interest rates , '' analysts said .
The share of households in debt to banks reached 72 % , a record high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the NAFI think-tank reported this August .
`` Fostering mortgages by decreasing mortgage rates while absolute revenues decline leads to growing debt and in theory this should contribute to inflating the mortgage bubble , '' Director of Higher School of Economics ’ Banking Institute Vasily Solodkov pointed out .
`` Naturally , this situation does not contribute to economic growth . ''
TASS is not responsible for the material quoted in these press reviews

Izvestia: Russia skeptical about Turkish proposal for four-way talks on Nagorno-Karabakh On the fifth day after the recent ceasefire in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh came into force de jure it was violated de facto. Moreover, on October 14, both Baku and Yerevan admitted that they continued combat actions. Meanwhile, Turkey offered to join the talks between Moscow, Yerevan and Baku. However, Russia is skeptical about this proposal, Izvestia writes. Despite the fact that Moscow maintains a balanced stance on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Turkish plan stipulates that Russia should side with Armenia at the talks, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Relations with Compatriots and Eurasian Integration Leonid Kalashnikov explained.
"Azerbaijan and Armenia have mutual trust in Russia as a balanced partner while Yerevan has no such confidence in Ankara. It’s wrong to try to create a four-way format in which Russia will side with Armenia and Ankara with Baku. This is an artificial attempt to ruin our ties with both countries and this format definitely won’t be effective in Karabakh," the lawmaker emphasized. Armenia also rejects the suggestion for four-way talks, Vice President of the Armenian Parliament Alen Simonyan said. "It is unacceptable for us to alter the existing framework of the Minsk Group. Turkey is a member of this format, and Russia, the US and France are its co-chairs. We don’t want to change this platform of negotiations," the politician noted. However, Baku believes that the Turkish proposal could solve more problems on the ground than the current large structures. Azerbaijani MP Sabir Gadzhiyev told Izvestia that the four-way talks proposed by Turkey did not mean rejecting the Minsk Group’s format. Experts told Izvestia that the key issue is not about who will be engaged in talks. The major obstacle is the territorial dispute and until Baku and Yerevan come to terms, there is no difference in the way the meetings are arranged. Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Moscow not going to save Trump with ‘nuclear deal’ Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed the prospects of extending Russian-US New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty). He responded to Washington’s claims that the agreement could be extended in the near future. Some sources in the White House even claimed that the deal with Russia would be signed by the November 3 presidential election. Meanwhile, Moscow is not satisfied with the terms put forward by the United States. Russia believes that the treaty, which expires in February 2021, should just be extended. Moscow views the attempts to assure the public that a breakthrough was reached at the talks with Russia as Donald Trump’s PR stunt, Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes.
Read also Russian senior diplomat rejects US proposal to freeze nuclear arsenals, extend New START
Trump’s stance on New START changed after the recent Russian-US consultations in Vienna, according to the newspaper. Washington stopped insisting that the treaty should be extended only after China joins it. Now the US admits that Beijing could join New START after its extension. "The Trump administration finally got it that New START is not that bad as it said earlier. And now, given that the Americans have ruined so much in the global security architecture, the US president is trying to show his voters in the run-up to the election that he has reached an agreement in the security field. But in order to save face, the US said it agreed to extend New START in exchange for a package of terms and reservations. And the Americans are changing their terms all the time," said Alexei Arbatov, who heads the Center for International Security at the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO). According to him, there are more chances to prolong the nuclear arms reduction treaty than two weeks ago. However, the idea of freezing nuclear arsenals mentioned by Marshall Billingslea, US special envoy for arms control, is unacceptable for Russia. Moscow has decided to adopt a wait-and-see position. "Moscow realized that Trump is interested in the treaty. He is interested more than Russia is. So, Moscow decided not to accept the constantly changing US terms," Arbatov specified. Media: Kyrgyzstan set to cooperate with Russia as power struggle deepens A peaceful settlement to Kyrgyzstan’s conflict depends on whether new Kyrgyz Prime Minister Sadyr Japarov is able to compromise with President Sooronbay Jeenbekov, politicians and experts questioned by Izvestia said. Currently, there is a standoff between the Kyrgyz leader and the head of government. Japarov insists on his opponent’s resignation, while the latter rejects the demand. However, the crisis is held back from further exploding because of a common foe - both politicians don’t want former President Almazbek Atambayev and his supporters to come to power. According to experts, there is a huge likelihood for demonstrations in this situation because many are dissatisfied with how the authorities are tackling the accrued problems. Despite a possible change of power, the course towards cooperation with Moscow will remain unchanged, Izvestia writes.
Read also Kyrgyzstan’s new premier unveils plan to stabilize situation
According to Konstantin Zatulin, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee for the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Affairs, Japarov’s appointment signals that the country’s leadership is ready to form an alliance with any politician in order to prevent Atambayev’s return to power. The new prime minister was backed by various groups, many of which have a criminal background. Japarov is an interim prime minister and his appointment was the result of diplomatic concessions, which were probably facilitated by deputy head of the Russian president’s staff Dmitry Kozak, who recently visited Bishkek, said political scientist Dmitry Fetisov. The expert noted that the Kyrgyz president would definitely try to replace him with his ally when the opportunity occurs. "No one is interested in continuing the crisis. On the contrary, external actors seek to iron it out. Moreover, there was no external influence on the current uprising," Central Asian expert Alexander Knyazev told Nezavisimaya Gazeta. According to him, Moscow will be responsible for settling the social and economic crisis in Kyrgyzstan. "Russia undertook a commitment to solving this ungrateful task and it should do this and it needs to cooperate with someone," Knyazev said. A similar scheme was used during the recognition of the legitimacy of Kurmanbek Bakiyev in 2005 and the interim government in 2010. Izvestia: Russia returns to UN Human Rights Council After a four-year hiatus, Russia was re-elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council along with 14 more countries. Russia received 158 votes of approval at the 193-member UN General Assembly. Moscow left the Council in November 2016 after more than 80 human rights organizations had called on the UN member-states to vote against Russia’s participation over its military support for Syrian President Bashar Assad. This year, the election of Russia as well as China and Cuba drew fierce criticism from the US, which left the Council in 2018, Izvestia writes. "Criticism from them sounds rather ambiguously. Since they left the Council why should it bother them who is there and why Russia is there," said Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council Andrei Kortunov. The United States consistently withdraws from those events and organizations, where it fails to dominate, according to Deputy Director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the National Research University-Higher School of Economics Dmitry Suslov. "The UN Human Rights Council is a vivid example. The US has been criticizing this structure for a long time because it is not controlled by the West, namely Washington, and does not promote the US agenda on these issues." There are no universal criteria for electing countries to the UN Human Rights Council, Suslov noted. "Russia’s election shows that the West has not monopolized human rights issues and the international community has a broader and neutral approach to this, while the international community’s relation with Moscow is basically positive and in this case the UN General Assembly expresses this opinion," the expert said. According to Suslov, Russia has a serious agenda on human rights issues. Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Russians’ debt hits record high due to subsidized mortgages Russians’ debt on mortgage loans hit an all-time record of 20 trln rubles ($257.4 bln). The subsidized mortgage program launched by the government and the Central Bank in April played a vital role here. Officials will extend mortgage incentives for another year although nearly half of Russians cannot afford mortgages even with a zero interest rate, Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes. Household debt in August was 1.9% higher than in July and 12.7% year-on-year. In the past 12 months, Russians’ debt rose by 2.3 trln rubles ($30 bln). The recent growth rate is the highest in the past 1.5 months, the MMI Telegram channel wrote citing the Central Bank.
Read also Russia will prevent mortgage market bubbles — Kremlin