tass--2020-07-19--Moscow vows to penalize those imposing sanctions against Russians - envoy to UK

LONDON , July 19 .
/TASS/ .
Moscow has vowed to find a way to punish those who slap personal sanctions on Russian citizens as part of the Magnitsky case , Russia ’ s Ambassador to the United Kingdom Andrei Kelin said in an interview with the BBC on Sunday .
`` Believe me as for Magnitsky we will find the way to punish those who are making this type of sanctions .
Because sanctions are illegal .
There is only one body who can impose sanctions and this is the United Nations , '' Kelin told the Andrew Marr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a permanent member of the UN Security Council .
In comment on the anchor ’ s question whether this means that Moscow would target individuals who are involved in the Magnitsky process on the UK and US side , the ambassador noted : `` I haven ’ t said that , this is you who have said that .
But probably it ’ s a good idea . ''
On July 6 , UK Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Dominic Raab announced the so-called `` Magnitsky Amendment '' to the Sanctions and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the House of Commons in May 2018 , and was supposed to come into effect immediately after the UK ’ s withdrawal from the European Union .
The amendment is named after Hermitage Capital lawyer Sergey Magnitsky , who died in 2009 in the Matrosskaya Tishina detention facility in Moscow .
London believes that people in the sanctions list were involved in his torture and death .
Among them are Chief of Russia ’ s Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin , Deputy Prosecutor General Viktor Grin , former Deputy Interior Minister Alexei Anichin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Interior Ministry officials .
These persons are barred from entering the United Kingdom , as well as from doing business both in that country and with British go-betweens .
Apart from that , their assets in the United Kingdom , if any , will be frozen .
The list is not limited only by Russia and comprises a total of 49 individuals and entities , including from Saudi Arabia , Myanmar and North Korea .
The Russian Foreign Ministry rejected this as a politically motivated decision , stressing that Moscow reserved the right @ @ @ @ @ @

LONDON, July 19. /TASS/. Moscow has vowed to find a way to punish those who slap personal sanctions on Russian citizens as part of the Magnitsky case, Russia’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom Andrei Kelin said in an interview with the BBC on Sunday.
"Believe me as for Magnitsky we will find the way to punish those who are making this type of sanctions. Because sanctions are illegal. There is only one body who can impose sanctions and this is the United Nations," Kelin told the Andrew Marr Show, recalling that the UK is a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
In comment on the anchor’s question whether this means that Moscow would target individuals who are involved in the Magnitsky process on the UK and US side, the ambassador noted: "I haven’t said that, this is you who have said that. But probably it’s a good idea."
On July 6, UK Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Dominic Raab announced the so-called "Magnitsky Amendment" to the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill. It was adopted by the House of Commons in May 2018, and was supposed to come into effect immediately after the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. The amendment is named after Hermitage Capital lawyer Sergey Magnitsky, who died in 2009 in the Matrosskaya Tishina detention facility in Moscow. London believes that people in the sanctions list were involved in his torture and death.
Among them are Chief of Russia’s Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin, Deputy Prosecutor General Viktor Grin, former Deputy Interior Minister Alexei Anichin, judges, investigators, and the Interior Ministry officials. These persons are barred from entering the United Kingdom, as well as from doing business both in that country and with British go-betweens. Apart from that, their assets in the United Kingdom, if any, will be frozen. The list is not limited only by Russia and comprises a total of 49 individuals and entities, including from Saudi Arabia, Myanmar and North Korea. The Russian Foreign Ministry rejected this as a politically motivated decision, stressing that Moscow reserved the right to impose adequate retaliatory measures.


tass--2020-07-20--Kremlin contends Khabarovsk rallies not bankrolled from overseas or by governor’s team

`` No , we are not talking about that .
If we answer that question , the answer is no , '' Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked whether the presidential administration believed that those rallies had been organized by outside elements .
MOSCOW , July 20 .
/TASS/ .
The Kremlin does not think that the rallies in Khabarovsk demonstrating support for Sergei Furgal , Governor of Russia ’ s Far Eastern Khabarovsk Region , who is charged with organizing murders , were financed from abroad or by the governor ’ s team .
He stressed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essential to ensure that the regional authorities function smoothly and efficiently .
`` Despite the situation surrounding Furgal , the authorities must work impeccably so that no development programs are disrupted , and make sure that all necessary services are provided to the population and so on .
[ Thus ] , everything that the regional authorities are obliged to do , '' Peskov specified .
He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin had no plans now to visit Khabarovsk .
`` Vladimir Putin always has a desire and need to communicate with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nonetheless , in the near future , a trip of that sort [ to Khabarovsk ] is not in the offing , '' the Kremlin spokesman stated .
Responding to the question on which politicians should talk to the protesters , Peskov said , `` In general , any politician must talk with citizens .
There should be a permanent , uninterrupted dialogue between the regional authorities and local residents . ''
At the same time , he declined to give any specific names of those who , according to the Kremlin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s residents under the circumstances .
Peskov recalled that the president had obtained the information on the situation in the region , including the rallies , from various sources .
He refrained from commenting on remarks from reporters that national TV channels practically failed to cover the gatherings in Khabarovsk .
`` The president regularly receives video digests of newscasts on Russian television .
However , I will not comment on the editorial policy of TV channels , we never do that , '' he stressed .

"No, we are not talking about that. If we answer that question, the answer is no," Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked whether the presidential administration believed that those rallies had been organized by outside elements.
MOSCOW, July 20. /TASS/. The Kremlin does not think that the rallies in Khabarovsk demonstrating support for Sergei Furgal, Governor of Russia’s Far Eastern Khabarovsk Region, who is charged with organizing murders, were financed from abroad or by the governor’s team.
He stressed that, at this stage, it is essential to ensure that the regional authorities function smoothly and efficiently. "Despite the situation surrounding Furgal, the authorities must work impeccably so that no development programs are disrupted, and make sure that all necessary services are provided to the population and so on. [Thus], everything that the regional authorities are obliged to do," Peskov specified.
He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin had no plans now to visit Khabarovsk. "Vladimir Putin always has a desire and need to communicate with people, he does that a lot. Nonetheless, in the near future, a trip of that sort [to Khabarovsk] is not in the offing," the Kremlin spokesman stated.
Responding to the question on which politicians should talk to the protesters, Peskov said, "In general, any politician must talk with citizens. There should be a permanent, uninterrupted dialogue between the regional authorities and local residents." At the same time, he declined to give any specific names of those who, according to the Kremlin, could maintain a dialogue with Khabarovsk’s residents under the circumstances.
Peskov recalled that the president had obtained the information on the situation in the region, including the rallies, from various sources. He refrained from commenting on remarks from reporters that national TV channels practically failed to cover the gatherings in Khabarovsk. "The president regularly receives video digests of newscasts on Russian television. However, I will not comment on the editorial policy of TV channels, we never do that," he stressed.


tass--2020-07-20--US citizen Paul Whelan convicted for spying in Russia can be swapped in September

MOSCOW , July 20 .
/TASS/ .
The swap of US national Paul Whelan who was found guilty of spying @ @ @ @ @ 16 years behind bars can take place in September , Whelan ’ s defense attorney @ @ @ @ @ `` Whelan can be swapped in September , '' he noted .

MOSCOW, July 20. /TASS/. The swap of US national Paul Whelan who was found guilty of spying against Russia and sentenced to 16 years behind bars can take place in September, Whelan’s defense attorney Vladimir Zherebenkov told TASS.
"Whelan can be swapped in September," he noted.


tass--2020-07-20--Putin sacks Governor Furgal due to ‘loss of trust’

`` To dismiss Sergei Furgal from the office of the Governor of the Khabarovsk Region due to loss of trust of the Russian President , '' the document reads .
`` To appoint Mikhail Degtyarev interim Governor of the Khabarovsk Region before a person elected as the Governor of the Khabarovsk Region assumes the office . ''
MOSCOW , July 20 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed an order to dismiss Sergei Furgal from the office of Khabarovsk Region governor due to `` loss of trust '' , the Kremlin press service said Monday , adding that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Duma ( lower house of parliament ) member from the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia , as interim governor for the region in the same order .
Earlier , Putin held a video conference with Degtyarev , he agreed to head the region .
`` I thank you for the trust you put in me .
I am ready to leave for the Khabarovsk Region immediately , '' he told the Russian leader , saying that he will report back to Putin about the state of affairs in the region in a month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Khabarovsk on July 9 , was transferred to Moscow and indicted on charges of organization of murders and attempted murders .
Moscow ’ s Basmanny Court put him in custody until September 9 .
According to Russian Investigative Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko , the man masterminded the killings of businessmen committed and attempted by a criminal group in the Khabarovsk Territory and the Amur Region back in 2004-2005 .
Those accused of committing these crimes , as well as witnesses and the aggrieved parties testified against him .
Furgal ’ s four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member of the Khabarovsk territorial legislature , Dalpromsnab Co. director and Furgal ’ s former partner , Marat Kadyrov , security inspector at Yuzhno-Kurilsk ’ s airport , Andrei Karepov , an unemployed , and Andrei Paley , Alteza Co director general , were arrested in November 2019 .
According to a source in law enforcement agencies , Furgal organized an assassination attempt on a businessman and the murder of his two business rivals , Yevgeny Zorya , who was shot and killed in 2004 , and Oleg Bulatov , who was shot @ @ @ @

"To dismiss Sergei Furgal from the office of the Governor of the Khabarovsk Region due to loss of trust of the Russian President," the document reads. "To appoint Mikhail Degtyarev interim Governor of the Khabarovsk Region before a person elected as the Governor of the Khabarovsk Region assumes the office."
MOSCOW, July 20. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed an order to dismiss Sergei Furgal from the office of Khabarovsk Region governor due to "loss of trust", the Kremlin press service said Monday, adding that Putin named Mikhail Degtyarev, Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) member from the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, as interim governor for the region in the same order.
Earlier, Putin held a video conference with Degtyarev, he agreed to head the region. "I thank you for the trust you put in me. I am ready to leave for the Khabarovsk Region immediately," he told the Russian leader, saying that he will report back to Putin about the state of affairs in the region in a month’s time.
Furgal was detained in Khabarovsk on July 9, was transferred to Moscow and indicted on charges of organization of murders and attempted murders. Moscow’s Basmanny Court put him in custody until September 9. According to Russian Investigative Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko, the man masterminded the killings of businessmen committed and attempted by a criminal group in the Khabarovsk Territory and the Amur Region back in 2004-2005. Those accused of committing these crimes, as well as witnesses and the aggrieved parties testified against him. Furgal’s four presumable accomplices, Nikolai Mistryukov, a member of the Khabarovsk territorial legislature, Dalpromsnab Co. director and Furgal’s former partner, Marat Kadyrov, security inspector at Yuzhno-Kurilsk’s airport, Andrei Karepov, an unemployed, and Andrei Paley, Alteza Co director general, were arrested in November 2019.
According to a source in law enforcement agencies, Furgal organized an assassination attempt on a businessman and the murder of his two business rivals, Yevgeny Zorya, who was shot and killed in 2004, and Oleg Bulatov, who was shot dead in 2005.


tass--2020-07-20--Russia’s COVID-19 mortality rate much lower than in other countries, says Putin

KERCH /REPUBLIC OF CRIMEA/ , July 20 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia had so far been able to cope with the coronavirus outbreak with minimum losses .
During a conversation with workers of the Zaliv shipyard in the city of Kerch , the head of state noted that `` in some countries with good , well-developed healthcare systems , in rich European countries , the mortality rate is 8 , 10 , 11 , 13 , and in some countries it is more than 15 % '' `` In our country , it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you like , you may trust it or not , but it is obvious that this figure is significantly lower in our country , '' the president stressed .
He explained that Russia ’ s low mortality rate stemmed from several factors , first and foremost , the flexibility of the healthcare system , the training of specialists and `` the state ’ s ability to mobilize resources when it is necessary for the country . ''
`` In general , we have so far been able to turn over that difficult page @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He added though that the coronavirus threat still persisted .
The president recalled several major events held recently , the Victory Parade and the constitutional amendments vote .
`` None of these events led to the outbreaks of the epidemic .
On the contrary , the situation is improving day by day , because we strictly comply with all requirements of sanitary doctors , scientists , specialists and the World Health Organization , '' he stressed , adding that more than 20 million COVID-19 tests have been conducted in Russia .
Referring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted that the participants in the parade had been tested for COVID-19 all the time .
`` Military medics did a good job , '' he said .
According to Putin , all requirements of sanitary doctors were observed during the vote on the amendments to Russia ’ s Constitution .

KERCH /REPUBLIC OF CRIMEA/, July 20. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia had so far been able to cope with the coronavirus outbreak with minimum losses.
During a conversation with workers of the Zaliv shipyard in the city of Kerch, the head of state noted that "in some countries with good, well-developed healthcare systems, in rich European countries, the mortality rate is 8, 10, 11, 13, and in some countries it is more than 15%" "In our country, it is 1.5% You may treat statistics as you like, you may trust it or not, but it is obvious that this figure is significantly lower in our country," the president stressed. He explained that Russia’s low mortality rate stemmed from several factors, first and foremost, the flexibility of the healthcare system, the training of specialists and "the state’s ability to mobilize resources when it is necessary for the country."
"In general, we have so far been able to turn over that difficult page with minimum losses," Putin said. He added though that the coronavirus threat still persisted.
The president recalled several major events held recently, the Victory Parade and the constitutional amendments vote. "None of these events led to the outbreaks of the epidemic. On the contrary, the situation is improving day by day, because we strictly comply with all requirements of sanitary doctors, scientists, specialists and the World Health Organization," he stressed, adding that more than 20 million COVID-19 tests have been conducted in Russia.
Referring to the Victory Parade, the president noted that the participants in the parade had been tested for COVID-19 all the time. "Military medics did a good job," he said. According to Putin, all requirements of sanitary doctors were observed during the vote on the amendments to Russia’s Constitution.


tass--2020-07-20--Playing it again Sam? Envoy slams fake news Russian ‘hackers’ tried to swipe Covid vaccine

MOSCOW , July 20 .
/TASS/ .
Bogus rumors churned out by Western media that Russian hackers had tried to @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus vaccine are baseless and politically motivated , Russian Special Presidential Envoy for International Cybersecurity @ @ @ @ @ an interview with the International Affairs magazine published on Monday .
`` Obviously , those @ @ @ @ @ and politically motivated .
Sadly , our American partners are not the only ones joining @ @ @ @ @ the US and the UK perform their solos , some states took on the ungrateful @ @ @ @ @ else ’ s game : the voices of Georgia , the Czech Republic , and @ @ @ @ @ chorus .
Who else will get to compose the sheet music for this phony tune @ @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, July 20. /TASS/. Bogus rumors churned out by Western media that Russian hackers had tried to steal information about a novel coronavirus vaccine are baseless and politically motivated, Russian Special Presidential Envoy for International Cybersecurity Cooperation Andrei Krutskikh said in an interview with the International Affairs magazine published on Monday.
"Obviously, those fake news reports are baseless and politically motivated. Sadly, our American partners are not the only ones joining the incitement bandwagon. While the US and the UK perform their solos, some states took on the ungrateful role of extras in someone else’s game: the voices of Georgia, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands formed a real chorus. Who else will get to compose the sheet music for this phony tune?" Krutskikh mused.
The diplomat pointed out that "disinformation campaigns, especially in the sphere of healthcare, are held to manipulate public opinion." "We find it suitable to mention that in accordance with the 2015 report by the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) and the UN General Assembly Resolution № 70/237 that approved its recommendations, any accusations of organizing and committing crimes against states must be justified," he said.
He added that the coronavirus pandemic had highlighted the risks and consequences of harmful activity aimed to find vulnerabilities during a period when society goes through enormous difficulties.
The Russian diplomat stressed that Russia supports the stance of other countries on the need to protect cyber infrastructure in the sphere of healthcare. Russia will work in this area within UN negotiation platforms on international information security, within the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) and the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE).


tass--2020-07-20--Russia lays down two universal helicopter carriers for first time

KERCH , July 20 .
/TASS/ .
Two latest universal amphibious assault ships were laid down for the first time @ @ @ @ @ Kerch on Monday .
The ceremony was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin who attached @ @ @ @ @ Project ’ s first ship .
`` Today three leading Russian shipyards are simultaneously laying @ @ @ @ @ .
Here , in Kerch , these are two universal amphibious assault ships .
At @ @ @ @ @ Petersburg , these are two frigates and at the Sevmash Shipyard in Severodvinsk , these @ @ @ @ @ , '' the president said .

KERCH, July 20. /TASS/. Two latest universal amphibious assault ships were laid down for the first time at the Zaliv Shipyard in Kerch on Monday.
The ceremony was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin who attached the keel-laying plaque to the Project’s first ship.
"Today three leading Russian shipyards are simultaneously laying down six new ocean-going ships. Here, in Kerch, these are two universal amphibious assault ships. At the Severnaya Shipyard in St. Petersburg, these are two frigates and at the Sevmash Shipyard in Severodvinsk, these are two nuclear-powered underwater cruisers," the president said.


tass--2020-07-20--Pirates kidnap 7 Russians from tanker in Gulf of Guinea

PRETORIA , July 20 .
/TASS/ .
Seven Russian citizens are among the Curacao Trader tanker crewmembers kidnapped by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea , the Russian embassy in Nigeria said Monday .
`` There are seven Russians among the 13 crewmembers kidnapped in a pirate attack on the Curacao Trader vessel on July 17 210 [ nautical ] miles away from Benin ’ s coast , '' reads the statement published via the embassy ’ s Twitter page .
On July 18 , Alison Management Corp. , the ship operator , revealed that pirates took 13 hostages in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian and Ukrainian crewmembers in total .
The company noted in a statement that its `` vessel was attacked by pirates approx .
210 miles off the coast of Benin at 1100 hrs local time on 17th July . ''
On July 17 , Dryad Global , a portal specializing in maritime security issues , reported the pirate assault on Curacao Trader .
According to the portal , eight armed people climbed aboard .
It is also noted that the Gulf of Guinea has never seen hostage situations so far from the coast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vessel could have taken part in the criminal operation .
The Liberia-flagged chemical or oil tanker left Togo ’ s Lome before it was attacked 230 nautical miles from Nigeria ’ s Lagos .
Curacao Trader Shipping owns the vessel .
Africa ’ s Gulf of Guinea stretching from Senegal in the north to Angola in the south has become the most dangerous region in the world in terms of pirate attacks .
The first quarter of 2020 saw 45 % of all global piracy assaults taking place there .
Ships sailing through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pirates often kidnap crewmembers and take them as hostages for ransoms in the future .
According to the International Maritime Bureau , more than 90 % of sailor kidnappings in 2019 took place in the Gulf of Guinea .

PRETORIA, July 20. /TASS/. Seven Russian citizens are among the Curacao Trader tanker crewmembers kidnapped by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea, the Russian embassy in Nigeria said Monday.
"There are seven Russians among the 13 crewmembers kidnapped in a pirate attack on the Curacao Trader vessel on July 17 210 [nautical] miles away from Benin’s coast," reads the statement published via the embassy’s Twitter page.
On July 18, Alison Management Corp., the ship operator, revealed that pirates took 13 hostages in an attack on the tanker with 19 Russian and Ukrainian crewmembers in total. The company noted in a statement that its "vessel was attacked by pirates approx. 210 miles off the coast of Benin at 1100 hrs local time on 17th July."
On July 17, Dryad Global, a portal specializing in maritime security issues, reported the pirate assault on Curacao Trader. According to the portal, eight armed people climbed aboard. It is also noted that the Gulf of Guinea has never seen hostage situations so far from the coast. The portal suggests that a major vessel could have taken part in the criminal operation.
The Liberia-flagged chemical or oil tanker left Togo’s Lome before it was attacked 230 nautical miles from Nigeria’s Lagos. Curacao Trader Shipping owns the vessel.
Africa’s Gulf of Guinea stretching from Senegal in the north to Angola in the south has become the most dangerous region in the world in terms of pirate attacks. The first quarter of 2020 saw 45% of all global piracy assaults taking place there. Ships sailing through the gulf are endangered even more as pirates often kidnap crewmembers and take them as hostages for ransoms in the future. According to the International Maritime Bureau, more than 90% of sailor kidnappings in 2019 took place in the Gulf of Guinea.


tass--2020-07-20--No contacts on Afghanistan planned due to delays in prisoner exchange process

MOSCOW , July 20 .
/TASS/ .
No contacts on Afghanistan are currently being planned in any format as the process of prisoner exchange between Kabul and the Taliban radical movement ( outlawed in Russia as a terrorist organization - TASS ) has stalled , Russian president ’ s special envoy for Afghanistan and director of the Russian foreign ministry ’ s second Asia department , Zamir Kabulov , told TASS on Monday .
`` No such plans so far , as the prisoner exchange process is being protracted .
Any contacts are senseless unless it [ prisoner exchange ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The United States and the Taliban movement signed a peace deal on February 29 in Qatar ’ s capital city Doha .
Under the terms of the deal , Washington and its allies commit to withdrawing their forces from Afghanistan in next 14 months .
The Taliban , in turn , undertakes not to use Afghanistan ’ s territory to stage actions jeopardizing the United States ’ and its allies ’ security .
Before the launch of intra-Afghan talks that were initially supposed to begin on March 10 , up to 5,000 Taliban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taliban was to release up to 1,000 people it keeps prisoner as a trust-building measure .
However US special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad said on June 11 that Kabul had released more than 3,000 Taliban supporters and the Taliban had released more than 300 Afghan soldiers and policemen .

MOSCOW, July 20. /TASS/. No contacts on Afghanistan are currently being planned in any format as the process of prisoner exchange between Kabul and the Taliban radical movement (outlawed in Russia as a terrorist organization - TASS) has stalled, Russian president’s special envoy for Afghanistan and director of the Russian foreign ministry’s second Asia department, Zamir Kabulov, told TASS on Monday.
"No such plans so far, as the prisoner exchange process is being protracted. Any contacts are senseless unless it [prisoner exchange] is over," he said.
The United States and the Taliban movement signed a peace deal on February 29 in Qatar’s capital city Doha. Under the terms of the deal, Washington and its allies commit to withdrawing their forces from Afghanistan in next 14 months. The Taliban, in turn, undertakes not to use Afghanistan’s territory to stage actions jeopardizing the United States’ and its allies’ security. Before the launch of intra-Afghan talks that were initially supposed to begin on March 10, up to 5,000 Taliban supporters were to be released and the Taliban was to release up to 1,000 people it keeps prisoner as a trust-building measure.
However US special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad said on June 11 that Kabul had released more than 3,000 Taliban supporters and the Taliban had released more than 300 Afghan soldiers and policemen.


tass--2020-07-20--Russian hi-tech firm develops shipborne version of new combat module

MOSCOW , July 20 .
/TASS/ .
The Burevestnik Central Research Institute ( part of the Uralvagonzavod defense manufacturer ) has developed the seaborne version of the 57mm AU-220M artillery combat module , Burevestnik CEO Georgy Zakamennykh told TASS on Monday .
`` Using the scientific-technical potential of the Derivatsiya-PVO experimental design work , we have created the shipborne version of the 57mm artillery module .
Navy specialists positively assess the possibilities of its use on ships and boats with small displacement , '' the chief executive said .
The AU-220M is an unmanned cannon and machine-gun module .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for various combat vehicles , first of all , infantry fighting vehicles both operational ( upon their upgrade ) and new hardware based on the Armata , Kurganets-25 and Bumerang platforms .
The module can be used as the armament of small-displacement ships and boats .
The gun mount has a circular rotation and a firing range of up to 14.5 km with a maximum rate of fire of 80 rounds per minute .
The ammunition load includes 80 unitary 57mm munitions : multifunctional remote-controlled , armor-piercing and guided projectiles , which allows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low-flying aircraft and helicopters , and also land-based light-armored hardware and field fortifications .
The gun mount has a circular rotation and a firing range of up to 14.5 km with a maximum rate of fire of 80 rounds per minute .
The ammunition load includes 80 unitary 57mm munitions : multifunctional remote-controlled , armor-piercing and guided projectiles , which allows effectively striking small-size unmanned aerial vehicles , low-flying aircraft and helicopters , and also land-based light-armored hardware and field fortifications .
The possibility of the weapon ’ s remote control through communications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of combat assignments in a robotized manner without the crew ’ s direct participation .
The AU-220M combat module mounted on light-and medium-category armored vehicles will help considerably boost their combat potential .

MOSCOW, July 20. /TASS/. The Burevestnik Central Research Institute (part of the Uralvagonzavod defense manufacturer) has developed the seaborne version of the 57mm AU-220M artillery combat module, Burevestnik CEO Georgy Zakamennykh told TASS on Monday.
"Using the scientific-technical potential of the Derivatsiya-PVO experimental design work, we have created the shipborne version of the 57mm artillery module. Navy specialists positively assess the possibilities of its use on ships and boats with small displacement," the chief executive said.
The AU-220M is an unmanned cannon and machine-gun module. It is designed to serve as the armament for various combat vehicles, first of all, infantry fighting vehicles both operational (upon their upgrade) and new hardware based on the Armata, Kurganets-25 and Bumerang platforms. The module can be used as the armament of small-displacement ships and boats.
The gun mount has a circular rotation and a firing range of up to 14.5 km with a maximum rate of fire of 80 rounds per minute. The ammunition load includes 80 unitary 57mm munitions: multifunctional remote-controlled, armor-piercing and guided projectiles, which allows effectively striking small-size unmanned aerial vehicles, low-flying aircraft and helicopters, and also land-based light-armored hardware and field fortifications.
The gun mount has a circular rotation and a firing range of up to 14.5 km with a maximum rate of fire of 80 rounds per minute. The ammunition load includes 80 unitary 57mm munitions: multifunctional remote-controlled, armor-piercing and guided projectiles, which allows effectively striking small-size unmanned aerial vehicles, low-flying aircraft and helicopters, and also land-based light-armored hardware and field fortifications.
The possibility of the weapon’s remote control through communications channels allows coping with a whole range of combat assignments in a robotized manner without the crew’s direct participation. The AU-220M combat module mounted on light-and medium-category armored vehicles will help considerably boost their combat potential.


tass--2020-07-20--Russia hopes for urgent settlement of Armenia-Azerbaijan border situation, Kremlin says

`` We hope that as soon as possible this situation will be settled , and thus , the emotional background will also return to the normal track , '' the Kremlin representative said .
MOSCOW , July 20 .
/TASS/ .
Russia hopes that the situation on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan will settle as soon as possible , and the emotional background around this conflict will return to normal , Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Monday , commenting the information of the influence of this conflict on the Moscow ’ s commercial sphere .
He noted that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many Azerbaijanis and Armenians with Russian passports reside , `` and all of them are law-abiding citizens of the Russian Federation , they all are the respected members of our community . ''
`` Yet it is obvious that the escalation on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border can not leave those citizens of ours indifferent , and , of course , they show their emotional reaction , '' the spokesman noted .
He reiterated that Russia urged both sides to demonstrate restraint , to return immediately to the ceasefire regime and to halt all expressions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Azerbaijan-Armenia border escalated on July 12 .
Azerbaijan reported of the attempt of the Armenian armed forces to attack the positions of Azerbaijan ’ s army using artillery , while Yerevan reported that the border situation has aggravated after a breakthrough attempt on the part of Azerbaijan .
On July 18 , Armenian ambassador to Russia Vardan Toganyan told TASS that the embassy had been receiving complaints from Armenian fruit exporting companies and shipping agents about `` administrative problems in the Food City trading center - the impossibility for large-load vehicles to enter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A day late the ambassador reported that the situation with the Moscow sales of the Armenian fruit has in general normalized .

"We hope that as soon as possible this situation will be settled, and thus, the emotional background will also return to the normal track," the Kremlin representative said.
MOSCOW, July 20. /TASS/. Russia hopes that the situation on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan will settle as soon as possible, and the emotional background around this conflict will return to normal, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Monday, commenting the information of the influence of this conflict on the Moscow’s commercial sphere.
He noted that in Moscow and in Russia in general many Azerbaijanis and Armenians with Russian passports reside, "and all of them are law-abiding citizens of the Russian Federation, they all are the respected members of our community." "Yet it is obvious that the escalation on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border cannot leave those citizens of ours indifferent, and, of course, they show their emotional reaction," the spokesman noted.
He reiterated that Russia urged both sides to demonstrate restraint, to return immediately to the ceasefire regime and to halt all expressions of violence.
The situation on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border escalated on July 12. Azerbaijan reported of the attempt of the Armenian armed forces to attack the positions of Azerbaijan’s army using artillery, while Yerevan reported that the border situation has aggravated after a breakthrough attempt on the part of Azerbaijan.
On July 18, Armenian ambassador to Russia Vardan Toganyan told TASS that the embassy had been receiving complaints from Armenian fruit exporting companies and shipping agents about "administrative problems in the Food City trading center - the impossibility for large-load vehicles to enter the premises of the organization." A day late the ambassador reported that the situation with the Moscow sales of the Armenian fruit has in general normalized.


tass--2020-07-20--Sechenov University denies allegations about vaccinating Russian elites against COVID-19

MOSCOW , July 20 .
/TASS/ .
Vadim Tarasov , director of the Sechenov Medical University ’ s Institute for Translational Medicine and Biotechnologies , has refuted media allegations that Russian elites were inoculated against the novel coronavirus infection back in April as rumors and speculations .
`` We conducted pre-clinical tests , we conducted clinical tests .
The medicine has not yet been registered .
The Health Ministry is to decide about its registration within days .
It can be accessible for general use only after registration .
So , let these rumors remain on the conscience of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mere speculation , '' he told journalists on Monday .
The press service of the Russian ministry of industry and trade told TASS on June 30 the ministry had received documents for a vaccine registration .
In June , the ministry issued a permit for clinical tests of a liquid and freeze-dried vaccines developed by the Gamalei National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology jointly with the Russian Defense Ministry ’ s research institute No48 .
The liquid vaccine is being tested on 43 volunteers at the Burdenko Main Military Hospital and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sechenov Medical University , also on 43 volunteers .
The second phase of the anti-coronavirus vaccine tests will be finished on August 3 and the national regulator is expected to issue a permit for its use in late August or early September , according to head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriyev .
The third phase of clinical tests will be conducted in Russia and in a number of foreign countries , in particular in the Middle East .

MOSCOW, July 20. /TASS/. Vadim Tarasov, director of the Sechenov Medical University’s Institute for Translational Medicine and Biotechnologies, has refuted media allegations that Russian elites were inoculated against the novel coronavirus infection back in April as rumors and speculations.
"We conducted pre-clinical tests, we conducted clinical tests. The medicine has not yet been registered. The Health Ministry is to decide about its registration within days. It can be accessible for general use only after registration. So, let these rumors remain on the conscience of those who spread them. It may be mere speculation," he told journalists on Monday.
The press service of the Russian ministry of industry and trade told TASS on June 30 the ministry had received documents for a vaccine registration. In June, the ministry issued a permit for clinical tests of a liquid and freeze-dried vaccines developed by the Gamalei National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology jointly with the Russian Defense Ministry’s research institute No48. The liquid vaccine is being tested on 43 volunteers at the Burdenko Main Military Hospital and the freeze dried vaccine is being tested at the Sechenov Medical University, also on 43 volunteers.
The second phase of the anti-coronavirus vaccine tests will be finished on August 3 and the national regulator is expected to issue a permit for its use in late August or early September, according to head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev. The third phase of clinical tests will be conducted in Russia and in a number of foreign countries, in particular in the Middle East.


tass--2020-07-20--Russia at final stage of testing new family of latest artillery systems

MOSCOW , July 20 .
/TASS/ .
A series of latest combat hardware developed by the Burevestnik Central Research Institute to boost the Russian Army ’ s potential in the short-and medium-term perspective is at the final stage of trials , Burevestnik CEO Georgy Zakamennykh told TASS on Monday .
`` These include the 57mm Derivatsiya anti-aircraft artillery system , the 82mm self-propelled Drok mortar and the 120mm Floks self-propelled artillery weapon mounted on the Kamaz and Ural armored trucks , the 120mm Magnolia self-propelled gun based on the chassis of the two-section tracked transporter , the 152mm Koalitsiya self-propelled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its transporter-loader vehicle and the 152mm Malva self-propelled weapon with its artillery gun placed on the wheeled platform , '' the chief executive said .
Also , remote-controlled modules with guns and machine-guns are undergoing trials as part of armored vehicles of various designation , he added .
At the Army-2020 international arms show , specialists will be able to view full-size models of the 30mm 32V01 remote-controlled combat module mounted on the Taifun-VDV armored vehicle and the 152mm Malva self-propelled artillery gun based on the wheeled chassis , he said .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia already demonstrated the Koalitsiya-SV artillery system , the Drok mortar , the Floks artillery gun and the Derivatsiya-PVO anti-aircraft artillery complex .
The 120mm Floks self-propelled artillery gun is mounted on the Ural-4320 6x6 wheeled armored vehicle .
The gun has been developed as part of the ‘ Nabrosok ’ R & D work .
As its main feature , the new self-propelled artillery system carries a combined semi-automatic rifled gun that can fire all types of mortar shells and projectiles .
The weapon can be used as a howitzer and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire .
The Drok self-propelled mortar developed for the Airborne Force is mounted on the Taifun-VDV armored vehicle and is designated to provide support for airborne assault forces .
The mortar can fire both standard munitions and new shells with the enhanced yield and the extended range .
The fire can be delivered from the vehicle ’ s combat compartment and from the ground .
The Drok self-propelled mortar weighs 14 tonnes and has a crew of four .
The mortar can fire to a range of 100 meters to 6 km at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minute and has an ammunition load of 40 shells .

MOSCOW, July 20. /TASS/. A series of latest combat hardware developed by the Burevestnik Central Research Institute to boost the Russian Army’s potential in the short-and medium-term perspective is at the final stage of trials, Burevestnik CEO Georgy Zakamennykh told TASS on Monday.
"These include the 57mm Derivatsiya anti-aircraft artillery system, the 82mm self-propelled Drok mortar and the 120mm Floks self-propelled artillery weapon mounted on the Kamaz and Ural armored trucks, the 120mm Magnolia self-propelled gun based on the chassis of the two-section tracked transporter, the 152mm Koalitsiya self-propelled artillery system on the tracked chassis and its transporter-loader vehicle and the 152mm Malva self-propelled weapon with its artillery gun placed on the wheeled platform," the chief executive said.
Also, remote-controlled modules with guns and machine-guns are undergoing trials as part of armored vehicles of various designation, he added.
At the Army-2020 international arms show, specialists will be able to view full-size models of the 30mm 32V01 remote-controlled combat module mounted on the Taifun-VDV armored vehicle and the 152mm Malva self-propelled artillery gun based on the wheeled chassis, he said.
At its previous Army international arms shows, Russia already demonstrated the Koalitsiya-SV artillery system, the Drok mortar, the Floks artillery gun and the Derivatsiya-PVO anti-aircraft artillery complex.
Nabrosok R&D work
The 120mm Floks self-propelled artillery gun is mounted on the Ural-4320 6x6 wheeled armored vehicle. The gun has been developed as part of the ‘Nabrosok’ R&D work. As its main feature, the new self-propelled artillery system carries a combined semi-automatic rifled gun that can fire all types of mortar shells and projectiles. The weapon can be used as a howitzer and a mortar and can be employed for direct fire.
The Drok self-propelled mortar developed for the Airborne Force is mounted on the Taifun-VDV armored vehicle and is designated to provide support for airborne assault forces. The mortar can fire both standard munitions and new shells with the enhanced yield and the extended range. The fire can be delivered from the vehicle’s combat compartment and from the ground.
The Drok self-propelled mortar weighs 14 tonnes and has a crew of four. The mortar can fire to a range of 100 meters to 6 km at a rate of about 12 rounds per minute and has an ammunition load of 40 shells.


tass--2020-07-20--Putin hasn’t been vaccinated against COVID-19, Kremlin says

MOSCOW , July 20 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin has not been vaccinated against COVID-19 , a disease caused by the novel coronavirus , yet , Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday .
`` No , '' he said , answering a corresponding question .
`` It [ the vaccine ] has not been certified yet .
It wouldn ’ t be good for a head of state to use an uncertified vaccine , I think . ''
The Kremlin spokesman said that as far as he knows , head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the vaccines on himself .
Peskov is not aware of any volunteers in the presidential administration who got a vaccine against COVID-19 .
The spokesman added that he does not need a vaccine himself , as he had already recovered from the disease .
`` When the vaccine arrives , it will first and foremost be available to those who need it the most : people in the risk groups , '' Peskov pointed out .
The Kremlin official noted that the results of Russian researchers working on a vaccine against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work isn ’ t done yet and it is too early to talk about vaccination .

MOSCOW, July 20. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has not been vaccinated against COVID-19, a disease caused by the novel coronavirus, yet, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.
"No," he said, answering a corresponding question. "It [the vaccine] has not been certified yet. It wouldn’t be good for a head of state to use an uncertified vaccine, I think."
The Kremlin spokesman said that as far as he knows, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) Kirill Dmitriev had tested one of the vaccines on himself. Peskov is not aware of any volunteers in the presidential administration who got a vaccine against COVID-19. The spokesman added that he does not need a vaccine himself, as he had already recovered from the disease.
"When the vaccine arrives, it will first and foremost be available to those who need it the most: people in the risk groups," Peskov pointed out.
The Kremlin official noted that the results of Russian researchers working on a vaccine against COVID-19 are promising, however, their work isn’t done yet and it is too early to talk about vaccination.


tass--2020-07-20--Press review: Berlin to hit ‘hackers’ with cyber sanctions and Caucasus clash snags Moscow

Izvestia : EU eyes new anti-Russian sanctions in wake of alleged hacker attacks against Bundestag The European Union is likely to approve sanctions against Russians allegedly involved in cyberattacks against the Bundestag in 2015 , the German parliament told Izvestia .
In mid-July , it was reported that the German government had addressed the EU last month with a request to introduce cyber sanctions against Russia .
The mechanism of cyber sanctions was approved in 2019 , and is set to remain in place until at least 2021 , though it hasn ’ t been used yet .
The restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bans to the EU and freezing their assets .
So far it remains unclear as to when the EU plans to discuss the introduction of cyber sanctions against Russia .
The European Commission told Izvestia that EU members have the right to offer to use this mechanism .
Later , this matter would be debated by the EU Council until a full consensus is reached .
Russia ’ s Mission to the EU shared its stance on the potential sanctions in a statement to Izvestia .
`` Launching such a mechanism as international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UN Security Council .
Any restrictive measures introduced by separate states or organizations , including the European Union , are illegitimate from the get-go , '' the mission said .
The mechanism of the EU cyber sanctions is rather new , and considered by the Europeans to be an adequate measure that can send a strong political message and at the same time punish certain individuals accused of the cyberattacks , Program Director of the Russian International Affairs Council ( RIAC ) and the Valdai Discussion Club Ivan Timofeev told the newspaper .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tit-for-tat response if such sanctions are introduced .
Despite the symbolic nature of the sanctions mechanism , this move could damage relations between Moscow , Berlin and Brussels , Timofeev concluded .
Nezavisimaya Gazeta : Moscow caught in the middle of the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict Clashes on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border , which broke out on July 12 in various settlements along the shared border between both states , rage on , with both sides reporting multiple ceasefire violations daily .
Experts predict that the border clashes will cease soon , with both sides toning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spike in tensions goes on , it will serve as a test to the effectiveness of Russian diplomacy in the region , Nezavisimaya Gazeta notes .
Moscow has found itself between a rock and a hard place due to the armed escalation in the region , the newspaper suggests .
Both Baku and Yerevan are its allies within a post-Soviet system .
Both states form part of the Commonwealth of Independent Nations .
Besides , Moscow becomes implicitly involved in any armed conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia , since both countries import @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supplied to Azerbaijan and Armenia is currently classified .
Vadim Kozyulin , a researcher at the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry , told Nezavisimaya Gazeta that Moscow is carrying out a balanced policy of military-technical cooperation both with Armenia and Azerbaijan .
`` The supply of weapons and military equipment would not give any side the upper hand , which is what is essentially holding them back from a large-scale armed conflict , '' he said .
For his part , Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Caucasian Studies at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 clashes had shown that Azerbaijan ’ s military spending is higher than Armenia ’ s , however , their defense capacity is at the same level .
Nevertheless , the situation may change , as Azerbaijan and Armenia have the opportunity to buy non-Russian weaponry as well .
On July 12 , the second round of Poland ’ s presidential election took place .
Incumbent President Andrzej Duda , representing the Law and Justice Party , won the runoff with 51 % of the vote , while his opponent from the Civic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trzaskowski , came in second with 49 % .
In the wake of this , representatives of the opposition filed a claim to the Supreme Court of Poland in an attempt to challenge the outcome of the election , Vedomosti reports .
Leader of the Civic Platform party Borys Budka claimed that the election was not up to democratic standards , because the president had received active support from the government .
There were serious violations during the election , however , the main issue is not related to bad organization and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of World Economy and International Relations ( IMEMO ) with the Russian Academy of Sciences Dmitry Ofitserov-Belsky told Vedomosti .
The election system had undergone a planned transformation before the vote , he explained .
`` A huge number of people abroad could not cast their ballots .
It is no secret in Poland that Poles living abroad are more liberal , and they are unlikely to vote for the Law and Justice Party .
Several hundred thousand people were unable to vote , which is why Duda ’ s victory is somewhat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who expressed their desire to vote were faced with a lack of ballots , and in some states , embassies were shut down on election day , the expert notes .
`` In any case , Law and Justice does not intend to react to domestic or foreign criticism .
They will fight till the end , as they had planned from the start and they expected a response , '' Ofitserov-Belsky said .
According to him , despite a negative view of Law and Justice from Brussels and Berlin , they will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ representatives , and will pursue constructive cooperation instead .
Kommersant : Russians mulling trips to Turkey over rumors of looming flight resumption Unconfirmed reports of a planned resumption of flights between Russia and Turkey have boosted the demand for tours to Turkey among Russian nationals , as the spike in popularity of Russian resorts has tapered off , Kommersant notes .
In some cases , Russians are attempting to book trips from Minsk .
Despite the closed borders between Russia and Belarus , there isn ’ t full control over border crossings , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anadolu Agency reported on a planned resumption of flights with Russia on July 15 , citing the Turkish Ministry of Transport , however , Russia failed to confirm this report .
A Kommersant source in the tourism industry noted that no decision has been made yet and that the talks are continuing .
`` Turkey expects to resume flights on July 25 , however , they are unlikely to begin earlier than August 1 , '' the source noted , adding that the countries are likely to agree to resume regular flights , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are possibilities for Russians to book flights to Turkey with Belarusian tourist firms .
Igor Blinov , a spokesperson for the OnlineTur.ru tour-booking website , notes however , that a small number of travelers are willing to embark on such tours , but for many , this sort of scheme seems expensive and difficult .
A Kommersant source in the tourist market noted that if Russia and Turkey resume regular flights in the near future , the country will be able to receive about 1 mln-1.5 mln Russian tourists until the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rise to 3.5 mln-4 mln people if charter flights resume as well .
Under a positive scenario , Russia ’ s tourist flow to Turkey will be 50 % lower than in 2019 , when about 7 mln Russians visited Turkey .
Blinov thinks that the recovery of tourist flow will take about two weeks .
If flights resume on August 1 , by mid-August , the countries can reach last year ’ s figures .
Izvestia : Russian Ministry of Finance to maintain public debt at about 20 % of Russia ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will maintain Russia ’ s public debt at about 20 % of the country ’ s GDP or lower over the next five years , Izvestia reports , citing the ministry ’ s draft agenda for 2020-2025 .
The Ministry of Finance considers this level of public debt secure for the country ’ s financial stability , the newspaper notes .
`` The volume of debt for the next three years will be stipulated in the budget bill presented to the government in the fall , '' the governing body responsible for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when asked what the Russian Ministry of Finance will do if public debt nears the stipulated threshold .
Associate Director of ACRA ’ s Sovereign Ratings and Macroeconomic Analysis Group Dmitry Kulikov told Izvestia that due to the increased budget deficit in 2020-2021 , Russia ’ s growth of public debt may reach up to 5 percentage points of the GDP , going up to about 17 % .
If the crisis does not last longer than until next year , the level of public debt will stabilize , which is why the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the next three years , Kulikov insisted .
The expert noted that Russia ’ s public debt levels are generally far from alarming .
Countries with levels of public debt lower than 40-50 % do not generate any doubts in their ability to adhere to their obligations , even during times of crisis , he pointed out .
For its part , Russia ’ s Accounts Chamber stated that public debt reaching 20 % of a country ’ s GDP is considered secure in international practice .
TASS is not responsible for @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Izvestia: EU eyes new anti-Russian sanctions in wake of alleged hacker attacks against Bundestag The European Union is likely to approve sanctions against Russians allegedly involved in cyberattacks against the Bundestag in 2015, the German parliament told Izvestia. In mid-July, it was reported that the German government had addressed the EU last month with a request to introduce cyber sanctions against Russia. The mechanism of cyber sanctions was approved in 2019, and is set to remain in place until at least 2021, though it hasn’t been used yet. The restrictions against the alleged hackers include imposing entry bans to the EU and freezing their assets.
Read also Russia rejects claims it was behind cyberattack on Bundestag in 2015 — diplomat
So far it remains unclear as to when the EU plans to discuss the introduction of cyber sanctions against Russia. The European Commission told Izvestia that EU members have the right to offer to use this mechanism. Later, this matter would be debated by the EU Council until a full consensus is reached. Russia’s Mission to the EU shared its stance on the potential sanctions in a statement to Izvestia. "Launching such a mechanism as international sanctions is the sole prerogative of the UN Security Council. Any restrictive measures introduced by separate states or organizations, including the European Union, are illegitimate from the get-go," the mission said. The mechanism of the EU cyber sanctions is rather new, and considered by the Europeans to be an adequate measure that can send a strong political message and at the same time punish certain individuals accused of the cyberattacks, Program Director of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) and the Valdai Discussion Club Ivan Timofeev told the newspaper. He noted that Russia would provide a tit-for-tat response if such sanctions are introduced. Despite the symbolic nature of the sanctions mechanism, this move could damage relations between Moscow, Berlin and Brussels, Timofeev concluded. Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Moscow caught in the middle of the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict Clashes on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, which broke out on July 12 in various settlements along the shared border between both states, rage on, with both sides reporting multiple ceasefire violations daily. Experts predict that the border clashes will cease soon, with both sides toning down their bellicosity. However, if the spike in tensions goes on, it will serve as a test to the effectiveness of Russian diplomacy in the region, Nezavisimaya Gazeta notes.
Read also Kremlin concerned by clashes on Azeri-Armenian border
Moscow has found itself between a rock and a hard place due to the armed escalation in the region, the newspaper suggests. Both Baku and Yerevan are its allies within a post-Soviet system. Both states form part of the Commonwealth of Independent Nations. Besides, Moscow becomes implicitly involved in any armed conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, since both countries import Russian arms. Information on Russian weapons supplied to Azerbaijan and Armenia is currently classified. Vadim Kozyulin, a researcher at the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry, told Nezavisimaya Gazeta that Moscow is carrying out a balanced policy of military-technical cooperation both with Armenia and Azerbaijan. "The supply of weapons and military equipment would not give any side the upper hand, which is what is essentially holding them back from a large-scale armed conflict," he said. For his part, Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Caucasian Studies at MGIMO University Nikolai Silayev noted that the 2016 clashes had shown that Azerbaijan’s military spending is higher than Armenia’s, however, their defense capacity is at the same level. Nevertheless, the situation may change, as Azerbaijan and Armenia have the opportunity to buy non-Russian weaponry as well. Vedomosti: Polish opposition challenges results of presidential election On July 12, the second round of Poland’s presidential election took place. Incumbent President Andrzej Duda, representing the Law and Justice Party, won the runoff with 51% of the vote, while his opponent from the Civic Platform opposition party, Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, came in second with 49%. In the wake of this, representatives of the opposition filed a claim to the Supreme Court of Poland in an attempt to challenge the outcome of the election, Vedomosti reports.
Read also Andrzej Duda elected to his second term as Poland’s president
Leader of the Civic Platform party Borys Budka claimed that the election was not up to democratic standards, because the president had received active support from the government. There were serious violations during the election, however, the main issue is not related to bad organization and other mishaps, Senior Researcher at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO) with the Russian Academy of Sciences Dmitry Ofitserov-Belsky told Vedomosti. The election system had undergone a planned transformation before the vote, he explained. "A huge number of people abroad could not cast their ballots. It is no secret in Poland that Poles living abroad are more liberal, and they are unlikely to vote for the Law and Justice Party. Several hundred thousand people were unable to vote, which is why Duda’s victory is somewhat controversial. In some countries, those who expressed their desire to vote were faced with a lack of ballots, and in some states, embassies were shut down on election day, the expert notes. "In any case, Law and Justice does not intend to react to domestic or foreign criticism. They will fight till the end, as they had planned from the start and they expected a response," Ofitserov-Belsky said. According to him, despite a negative view of Law and Justice from Brussels and Berlin, they will not clash with the party’s representatives, and will pursue constructive cooperation instead. Kommersant: Russians mulling trips to Turkey over rumors of looming flight resumption Unconfirmed reports of a planned resumption of flights between Russia and Turkey have boosted the demand for tours to Turkey among Russian nationals, as the spike in popularity of Russian resorts has tapered off, Kommersant notes. In some cases, Russians are attempting to book trips from Minsk. Despite the closed borders between Russia and Belarus, there isn’t full control over border crossings, some experts note.
Read also Turkish Airlines to start flying to six Russian cities on August 1


tass--2020-07-20--Russia to use latest anti-aircraft artillery system to develop combat robot

MOSCOW , July 20 .
/TASS/ .
The Derivatsiya-PVO anti-aircraft artillery system will eventually be fully robotized and will get @ @ @ @ @ and various drones for reconnaissance and target acquisition , CEO of the Burevestnik Central Research @ @ @ @ @ on Monday .
`` The level of automatizing the processes of preparing and conducting fire @ @ @ @ @ the armament module from automated workplaces in the combat vehicle ’ s chassis and its @ @ @ @ @ sighting system have brought the Derivatsiya-PVO combat vehicle close to performing the function of a @ @ @ @ @ artillery complex , '' Zakamennykh said .

MOSCOW, July 20. /TASS/. The Derivatsiya-PVO anti-aircraft artillery system will eventually be fully robotized and will get a remote-controlled fire control vehicle and various drones for reconnaissance and target acquisition, CEO of the Burevestnik Central Research Institute Georgy Zakamennykh told TASS on Monday.
"The level of automatizing the processes of preparing and conducting fire, the remote control of the armament module from automated workplaces in the combat vehicle’s chassis and its provision with the advanced optoelectronic sighting system have brought the Derivatsiya-PVO combat vehicle close to performing the function of a key component of a robotized artillery complex," Zakamennykh said.


tass--2020-07-20--Second group of volunteers at Sechenov University responds well to COVID-19 vaccine

MOSCOW , July 20 .
/TASS/ .
The second group of volunteers participating in the testing of a vaccine against the novel coronavirus developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Healthcare Ministry has been discharged from the clinic .
The volunteers tolerated the vaccine well , there were almost no side effects , main researcher , Yelena Smolyarchuk , who heads the Sechenov University Center for Expert Evaluation of Medicinal Products told reporters on Monday .
`` We are discharging the guys today , the second group of 20 people who were inoculated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group of volunteers , just like the first one , had adverse reactions , postvaccinal [ reactions ] , but after the second administration , according to our data , their number was literally minimal .
The severity was mild , no medical intervention was required , '' she said .
The first stage of the vaccine trials at the Sechenov University started on June 18 when the first 18 volunteers were inoculated .
The second group of 20 volunteers was vaccinated on June 23 .
Earlier , Director of the Gamaleya National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Russian Healthcare Ministry Alexander Gintsburg reported that the vaccine may appear in circulation as early as the middle of August .

MOSCOW, July 20. /TASS/. The second group of volunteers participating in the testing of a vaccine against the novel coronavirus developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Healthcare Ministry has been discharged from the clinic. The volunteers tolerated the vaccine well, there were almost no side effects, main researcher, Yelena Smolyarchuk, who heads the Sechenov University Center for Expert Evaluation of Medicinal Products told reporters on Monday.
"We are discharging the guys today, the second group of 20 people who were inoculated. It should be mentioned that this group of volunteers, just like the first one, had adverse reactions, postvaccinal [reactions], but after the second administration, according to our data, their number was literally minimal. The severity was mild, no medical intervention was required," she said.
The first stage of the vaccine trials at the Sechenov University started on June 18 when the first 18 volunteers were inoculated. The second group of 20 volunteers was vaccinated on June 23.
Earlier, Director of the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Healthcare Ministry Alexander Gintsburg reported that the vaccine may appear in circulation as early as the middle of August.


tass--2020-07-20--Trina Solar unveils Vertex 600W series module and expects mass production of 550W series

CHANGZHOU , China , July 20 , 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Trina Solar Co. , Ltd ( 'Trina Solar '' or the `` Company '' ) has announced the launch of two next-generation Vertex series modules with power output of up to 600W .
The company expects to realize the mass production of a 550W series in the final quarter of this year .
Several representatives of upper , middle and lower streams of the industrial value chain of the 600W+ Photovoltaic Open Innovation Ecological Alliance , representing manufacturers of silicon , wafers , cells , modules , trackers , inverters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a launch event and witnessed the new next-generation Vertex series modules .
Dr Zhang Yingbin , Head of Product Strategy and Value Management at Trina Solar , said at the event : `` The next-generation Vertex modules enhanced by a host of forward-looking innovations , including a 210mm silicon wafer , high-density packaging and multi-busbar technologies , deliver photoelectric conversion efficiency of more than 21 percent .
By virtue of low-voltage and high-module string power output , the new Vertex series unlocks huge potential for further reducing balance-of-system costs .
By collaborating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we believe the Vertex modules developed on the basis of a new technology platform will help reduce the levelized cost of energy across various applications and maximize customer value . ''
The next-generation Vertex series modules hold three key advantages , including : the combination of non-destructive cutting , high-density packaging and multi-busbar technologies ; low voltage and improvement in power output of a single module string by more than 35 percent ; and significant value in greatly reducing balance-of-system costs .
Cao Bo , vice general manager and executive vice president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To create a high-quality module product that excels in the market with comprehensive functionalities , we needed to take into account each process across the industry chain , the ultimate goal being to maximize value for customers by improving the power output of the modules and increasing power generation .
We are honored that the next-generation Vertex series , built on the basis of a new and forward-looking technology platform , has been recognized by key partners across the photovoltaic industry chain .
As one of the members of the 600W+ Photovoltaic Open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ devoted to working with others in the industry to promote the sustainable development of the sector . ''
Founded in 1997 , Trina Solar is the world leading PV and smart energy total solution provider .
The company engages in PV products R & D , manufacture and sales ; PV projects development , EPC , O & M ; smart micro-grid and multi-energy complementary systems development and sales , as well as energy cloud-platform operation .
In 2018 , Trina Solar launched Energy IoT brand , established the Trina Energy IoT Industrial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research institutes in China and around the world , and founded the New Energy IoT Industrial Innovation Center .
With these actions , Trina Solar is committed to working with its partners to build the energy IoT ecosystem and develop an innovation platform to explore New Energy IoT , as it strives to be a leader in global intelligent energy .
In June 2020 , Trina Solar listed on the STAR Market of Shanghai Stock Exchange .
For more information , please visit www.trinasolar.com

CHANGZHOU, China, July 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Trina Solar Co., Ltd ('Trina Solar" or the "Company") has announced the launch of two next-generation Vertex series modules with power output of up to 600W. The company expects to realize the mass production of a 550W series in the final quarter of this year.
Several representatives of upper, middle and lower streams of the industrial value chain of the 600W+ Photovoltaic Open Innovation Ecological Alliance, representing manufacturers of silicon, wafers, cells, modules, trackers, inverters, materials and equipment, took part in a launch event and witnessed the new next-generation Vertex series modules.
Dr Zhang Yingbin, Head of Product Strategy and Value Management at Trina Solar, said at the event: "The next-generation Vertex modules enhanced by a host of forward-looking innovations, including a 210mm silicon wafer, high-density packaging and multi-busbar technologies, deliver photoelectric conversion efficiency of more than 21 percent. By virtue of low-voltage and high-module string power output, the new Vertex series unlocks huge potential for further reducing balance-of-system costs. By collaborating with key players across the industry chain, we believe the Vertex modules developed on the basis of a new technology platform will help reduce the levelized cost of energy across various applications and maximize customer value."
The next-generation Vertex series modules hold three key advantages, including: the combination of non-destructive cutting, high-density packaging and multi-busbar technologies; low voltage and improvement in power output of a single module string by more than 35 percent; and significant value in greatly reducing balance-of-system costs.
Cao Bo, vice general manager and executive vice president of Trina Solar, said: "To create a high-quality module product that excels in the market with comprehensive functionalities, we needed to take into account each process across the industry chain, the ultimate goal being to maximize value for customers by improving the power output of the modules and increasing power generation. We are honored that the next-generation Vertex series, built on the basis of a new and forward-looking technology platform, has been recognized by key partners across the photovoltaic industry chain. As one of the members of the 600W+ Photovoltaic Open Innovation Ecological Alliance, Trina Solar is devoted to working with others in the industry to promote the sustainable development of the sector."
About Trina Solar (688599.SH)
Founded in 1997, Trina Solar is the world leading PV and smart energy total solution provider. The company engages in PV products R&D, manufacture and sales; PV projects development, EPC, O&M; smart micro-grid and multi-energy complementary systems development and sales, as well as energy cloud-platform operation. In 2018, Trina Solar launched Energy IoT brand, established the Trina Energy IoT Industrial Development Alliance together with leading enterprises and research institutes in China and around the world, and founded the New Energy IoT Industrial Innovation Center. With these actions, Trina Solar is committed to working with its partners to build the energy IoT ecosystem and develop an innovation platform to explore New Energy IoT, as it strives to be a leader in global intelligent energy. In June 2020, Trina Solar listed on the STAR Market of Shanghai Stock Exchange. For more information, please visit www.trinasolar.com
CONTACT: Ching Wang, +86-21-6057-5302, qing.wang04@trinasolar.com


tass--2020-07-20--Absen Announces Upgrades on Outdoor Mesh LED Display

SHENZHEN , China , July 20 , 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The leading global LED brand , Absen ( SZSE : 300389 ) , announced upgrades on the mesh LED display product , C15-31 Plus .
This range has been recognized in CIS market , China and Europe since its initial launch in 2018 .
With improvements in structure design and visual performance , C15-31 Plus is perfect for outdoor advertising applications including digital billboards and large-scale building façades .
C15-31 was designed with professional requirements on media façade , heat dissipation and load bearing factors in mind .
It comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 31mm ( vertical ) , and the horizontal pixel pitch is 31mm .
The panel has been extended to 500mm×1500mm , with an option of 1000mm×1500mm .
This update makes it easier to create large-scale displays and helps save steel structure , which leads to less cost .
In compliance with Rostest , CE , EMC class B and more international quality and safety standards , Absen 's C15-31 Plus series is a product of robust reliability .
Just like Absen 's other outdoor products , C15-31 adopts LEDs encapsulated by Absen itself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efficiency .
Made of high quality aluminium profile , C15-31 is lightweight and durable .
Besides , the panel and parts including power boxes , LED strips and cables , as well as the aviation plugs are all IP65/IP65 rated , further guaranteeing reliability and long life span .
Able to work in challenging environments of -40°C , it has been utilized in many projects in regions like Serbia .
With a depth of less than 10CM and weighing at only 12KG/m2 , C15-31 Plus series is 60 % -80 % lighter than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simple and quick installation and operation .
The slim and lightweight design of the front & rear maintenance mesh LED product is coupled with a high transparency of up to 67 % , promising strong wind resistance , excellent heat dissipation performance and capability of offering see-through LED solution with no compromise on visual effect .
C15-31 promises to provide high quality images thanks to some impressive specs .
With a high level of brightness of 8000nit and refresh rate of 10000HZ , as well as the 15bit grayscale , this outdoor screen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colours and excellent visibility even under direct sunlight .
C15-31 Plus makes it easier to deliver fantastic results for customers .

SHENZHEN, China, July 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The leading global LED brand, Absen (SZSE: 300389), announced upgrades on the mesh LED display product, C15-31 Plus. This range has been recognized in CIS market, China and Europe since its initial launch in 2018. With improvements in structure design and visual performance, C15-31 Plus is perfect for outdoor advertising applications including digital billboards and large-scale building façades.
C15-31 was designed with professional requirements on media façade, heat dissipation and load bearing factors in mind. It comes in two pixel pitches, 15mm and 31mm (vertical), and the horizontal pixel pitch is 31mm. The panel has been extended to 500mm×1500mm, with an option of 1000mm×1500mm. This update makes it easier to create large-scale displays and helps save steel structure, which leads to less cost.
Rostest and CE Certified – safe and reliable
In compliance with Rostest, CE, EMC class B and more international quality and safety standards, Absen's C15-31 Plus series is a product of robust reliability. Just like Absen's other outdoor products, C15-31 adopts LEDs encapsulated by Absen itself, ensuring solid quality and extreme energy efficiency.
Made of high quality aluminium profile, C15-31 is lightweight and durable. Besides, the panel and parts including power boxes, LED strips and cables, as well as the aviation plugs are all IP65/IP65 rated, further guaranteeing reliability and long life span. Able to work in challenging environments of -40°C, it has been utilized in many projects in regions like Serbia.
Lightweight display with high transparency of 67%
With a depth of less than 10CM and weighing at only 12KG/m2, C15-31 Plus series is 60%-80% lighter than traditional outdoor LED displays, allowing for simple and quick installation and operation.
The slim and lightweight design of the front&rear maintenance mesh LED product is coupled with a high transparency of up to 67%, promising strong wind resistance, excellent heat dissipation performance and capability of offering see-through LED solution with no compromise on visual effect.
Extraordinary visual performance under direct sunlight
C15-31 promises to provide high quality images thanks to some impressive specs. With a high level of brightness of 8000nit and refresh rate of 10000HZ, as well as the 15bit grayscale, this outdoor screen offers outstanding images of vivid and accurate colours and excellent visibility even under direct sunlight.
C15-31 Plus makes it easier to deliver fantastic results for customers.
absen@absen.com
CONTACT: Li Yuchun, +86-138-2355-3631


tass--2020-07-20--Russia reports smallest number of daily COVID-19 deaths since May 4

That was the lowest number of deaths since May 4 .
MOSCOW , July 20 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s COVID-19 fatalities grew by 85 in the past 24 hours reaching 12,427 , the anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Monday .
Fifteen patients died in Moscow in the past 24 hours , the Nizhny Novgorod and Tula regions reported four fatalities each , while the Novosibirsk , Murmansk , Moscow and Khanty-Mansi regions confirmed three deaths each .
Russia has documented 5,940 cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours , the anti-coronavirus crisis center informed on Monday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of daily cases has been lower than 6,000 since April 29 .
The total number of COVID-19 cases documented in Russia has reached 777,486 .
The daily growth rate has not surpassed 0.8 % for the past three days .
The lowest daily increase rate has been documented in Moscow ( 0.2 % ) , the Moscow Region ( 0.2 % ) , the Jewish Autonomous District ( 0.2 % ) , Kalmykia , Ingushetia and Kabardino-Balkaria ( 0.3 % each ) , the Lipetsk Region ( 0.3 % ) , the Bryansk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chechen Republic ( 0.4 % ) .
Moscow has documented 578 cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours , the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District - 236 , the Sverdlovsk Region - 234 , the Nizhny Novgorod Region and the Altai Region - 191 each .
Currently , there are 211,457 people diagnosed with COVID-19 receiving treatment in Russia .
The number of discharged COVID-19 patients reached 3,258 , a total of 553,602 people have been discharged from hospitals by now .
According to the crisis center , recoveries exceed 71 % of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many as 379 patients were discharged from hospitals in Moscow in the past 24 hours , 306 in the Sverdlovsk Region , 218 in the Moscow Region , 170 in the Khanty-Mansi region and 158 in the Krasnoyarsk Region .

That was the lowest number of deaths since May 4.
MOSCOW, July 20. /TASS/. Russia’s COVID-19 fatalities grew by 85 in the past 24 hours reaching 12,427, the anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Monday.
Fifteen patients died in Moscow in the past 24 hours, the Nizhny Novgorod and Tula regions reported four fatalities each, while the Novosibirsk, Murmansk, Moscow and Khanty-Mansi regions confirmed three deaths each.
Russia has documented 5,940 cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the anti-coronavirus crisis center informed on Monday. This is the first time the number of daily cases has been lower than 6,000 since April 29.
The total number of COVID-19 cases documented in Russia has reached 777,486. The daily growth rate has not surpassed 0.8% for the past three days.
The lowest daily increase rate has been documented in Moscow (0.2%), the Moscow Region (0.2%), the Jewish Autonomous District (0.2%), Kalmykia, Ingushetia and Kabardino-Balkaria (0.3% each), the Lipetsk Region (0.3%), the Bryansk Region (0.4%) and the Chechen Republic (0.4%).
Moscow has documented 578 cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District - 236, the Sverdlovsk Region - 234, the Nizhny Novgorod Region and the Altai Region - 191 each.
Currently, there are 211,457 people diagnosed with COVID-19 receiving treatment in Russia.
The number of discharged COVID-19 patients reached 3,258, a total of 553,602 people have been discharged from hospitals by now.
According to the crisis center, recoveries exceed 71% of the total number of infected individuals. As many as 379 patients were discharged from hospitals in Moscow in the past 24 hours, 306 in the Sverdlovsk Region, 218 in the Moscow Region, 170 in the Khanty-Mansi region and 158 in the Krasnoyarsk Region.


tass--2020-07-20--Banks post 50% drop in applications for pandemic-related repayment holidays

MOSCOW , July 20 .
/TASS/ .
Banks posted a 50-percent decline in filings submitted by households for repayment holidays @ @ @ @ @ reasons in June , Director General of the Equifax credit reference agency Oleg Lagutkin told @ @ @ @ @ second half of June the number of restructuring applications halved compared with the first half @ @ @ @ @ applications .
Amid the current environment that trend may be expected to persist in the @ @ @ @ @ said .
Banks have green-lighted 65 % , or 225,000 repayment holiday applications due to @ @ @ @ @ of the pandemic , Lagutkin added .
`` Banks have received 346,000 restructuring applications from @ @ @ @ @ total number of applications , loan repayment holidays have been approved for 65 % of @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .

MOSCOW, July 20. /TASS/. Banks posted a 50-percent decline in filings submitted by households for repayment holidays due to the coronavirus pandemic-related reasons in June, Director General of the Equifax credit reference agency Oleg Lagutkin told TASS.
"In the second half of June the number of restructuring applications halved compared with the first half of June to around 14,000 applications. Amid the current environment that trend may be expected to persist in the coming weeks," he said.
Banks have green-lighted 65%, or 225,000 repayment holiday applications due to coronavirus-related reasons since the beginning of the pandemic, Lagutkin added.
"Banks have received 346,000 restructuring applications from individuals. Out of the total number of applications, loan repayment holidays have been approved for 65% of the applications (225,000)," he said.


tass--2020-07-20--Almost 171,000 people recover from COVID-19 in Moscow

MOSCOW , July 20 .
/TASS/ .
Another 379 patients have recovered from COVID-19 in Moscow after treatment , Deputy @ @ @ @ @ Monday .
`` The number of recoveries in Moscow continues to grow .
Another 379 @ @ @ @ @ the past 24 hours .
The total number of people who had recovered from the @ @ @ @ @ '' she said .
According to Rakova , patients who need to remain under medical @ @ @ @ @ before leaving the hospital .
Those who recover from the disease are offered to become @ @ @ @ @ aged between 18 and 55 who have recovered from COVID-19 can become blood plasma donors @ @ @ @ @ t have chronic illnesses and test negative for HIV , Hepatitis B and C .

"The number of recoveries in Moscow continues to grow. Another 379 patients recovered after treatment in the past 24 hours. The total number of people who had recovered from the disease has reached 170,918," she said.
According to Rakova, patients who need to remain under medical supervision receive the necessary recommendations before leaving the hospital. Those who recover from the disease are offered to become blood plasma donors. People aged between 18 and 55 who have recovered from COVID-19 can become blood plasma donors, provided they don’t have chronic illnesses and test negative for HIV, Hepatitis B and C.


tass--2020-07-20--Russia’s coronavirus tests surpass 25 mln, says watchdog

MOSCOW , July 20 .
/TASS/ .
Russian specialists have conducted more than 25 million coronavirus tests , the press @ @ @ @ @ Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing reported on Monday .
`` @ @ @ @ @ tests have been conducted in Russia , '' the watchdog said , adding that 259,000 @ @ @ @ @ past 24 hours .
On July 16 , it said that the number of coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ 24 million .
According to the watchdog , 272,681 people in Russia remain under medical @ @ @ @ @ of having COVID-19 .

MOSCOW, July 20. /TASS/. Russian specialists have conducted more than 25 million coronavirus tests, the press service of the Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing reported on Monday.
"More than 25.2 million coronavirus tests have been conducted in Russia," the watchdog said, adding that 259,000 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours.
On July 16, it said that the number of coronavirus tests in Russia had exceeded 24 million.
According to the watchdog, 272,681 people in Russia remain under medical supervision due to being suspected of having COVID-19.


tass--2020-07-20--Shanghai Electric's SEunicloud Platform Wins World's First Industrial Intelligence Award

SHANGHAI , July 20 , 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Shanghai Electric ( SHA:601727/HK:02727 ) announced today that its SEunicloud platform has won the world 's first industrial intelligence award at the 2020 World Artificial Intelligence Conference ( WAIC ) Summit .
The platform earned the `` Zhan Lu '' Award in the Best Service sector .
WAIC 2020 was held at the Golden Hall of the Shanghai Expo Center on July 9 .
The Award was jointly established by Forbes China and the Global Industrial Intelligence Summit to recognize achievements in global-oriented industrial intelligence .
Huang Ou , the deputy secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shanghai Electric Group , noted , `` In the future , Shanghai Electric will continue to develop the SEunicloud platform and improve the service model industrial Internet platform within the Yangtze River Delta regional radiation throughout the country and even the world . ''
This year 's event was organized by the committee of the World Artificial Intelligence Congress and co-hosted by the China Institute of Information and Communication and the Industrial Internet Industry Alliance , among others .
The Summit focused on `` Innovation , Integration and Build the Future of Intelligent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the technological frontiers of industrial blockchain , industrial big data and industrial Internet industry platform as well as exploring new models of industrial Internet industry chain finance .
A major topic of WAIC 2020 was the building of a new ecological structure for the industrial Internet .
To this end , in the hope of accelerating the evolution of its work , Shanghai Electric upgraded the company 's digital solution platform SEunicloud .
The platform empowers intelligent wind power operation , remote thermal power operation , machine tool maintenance , energy storage and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been providing efficient solutions , including troubleshooting , remote operations , maintenance , and energy planning to meet demands in various scenarios .
The SEunicloud platform is also equipped with an intelligent supply chain solution that is designed to match factory production with power plant demand directly .
The DES-PSO energy planning solution of the platform features design and planning , investment analysis and risk assessment functions .
These allow customers to evaluate the financial viability of large-scale energy production projects before commissioning their construction .
The Shanghai Electric E-Commerce solution component @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipped with spare parts , maintenance services , transformation optimization and more .
This facilitates the online delivery of more than 22,000 spare parts products and 70 standard repair packages—all at near factory price .
The summit also announced the official launch of the Industry-Finance Integration of Industrial Internet Program .
After the formation of the consortium , Shanghai Electric will jointly promote the construction of a public service platform for industrial Internet finance and build a credible , interoperable and coordinated industrial Internet financial system .

SHANGHAI, July 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Shanghai Electric (SHA:601727/HK:02727) announced today that its SEunicloud platform has won the world's first industrial intelligence award at the 2020 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) Summit. The platform earned the "Zhan Lu" Award in the Best Service sector. WAIC 2020 was held at the Golden Hall of the Shanghai Expo Center on July 9. The Award was jointly established by Forbes China and the Global Industrial Intelligence Summit to recognize achievements in global-oriented industrial intelligence.
Huang Ou, the deputy secretary of the Party Committee and president of Shanghai Electric Group, noted, "In the future, Shanghai Electric will continue to develop the SEunicloud platform and improve the service model industrial Internet platform within the Yangtze River Delta regional radiation throughout the country and even the world."
This year's event was organized by the committee of the World Artificial Intelligence Congress and co-hosted by the China Institute of Information and Communication and the Industrial Internet Industry Alliance, among others. The Summit focused on "Innovation, Integration and Build the Future of Intelligent Industry." The program included sharing the technological frontiers of industrial blockchain, industrial big data and industrial Internet industry platform as well as exploring new models of industrial Internet industry chain finance.
A major topic of WAIC 2020 was the building of a new ecological structure for the industrial Internet. To this end, in the hope of accelerating the evolution of its work, Shanghai Electric upgraded the company's digital solution platform SEunicloud. The platform empowers intelligent wind power operation, remote thermal power operation, machine tool maintenance, energy storage and distribution. Using SEunicloud, Shanghai Electric has been providing efficient solutions, including troubleshooting, remote operations, maintenance, and energy planning to meet demands in various scenarios.
The SEunicloud platform is also equipped with an intelligent supply chain solution that is designed to match factory production with power plant demand directly. The DES-PSO energy planning solution of the platform features design and planning, investment analysis and risk assessment functions. These allow customers to evaluate the financial viability of large-scale energy production projects before commissioning their construction. The Shanghai Electric E-Commerce solution component of the platform is a one-stop platform equipped with spare parts, maintenance services, transformation optimization and more. This facilitates the online delivery of more than 22,000 spare parts products and 70 standard repair packages—all at near factory price.
The summit also announced the official launch of the Industry-Finance Integration of Industrial Internet Program. After the formation of the consortium, Shanghai Electric will jointly promote the construction of a public service platform for industrial Internet finance and build a credible, interoperable and coordinated industrial Internet financial system.
CONTACT: Shen Jin, +86-138-1790-9115, shenjin@shanghai-electric.com


tass--2020-07-20--Russian, Turkish troops conduct joint patrol in Syria’s Al Hasakah province

AL HASAKAH /Syria/ , July 20 .
/TASS/ .
Russian and Turkish troops have carried out a joint patrol mission in Syria ’ s Al Hasakah province in accordance with a memorandum adopted by the presidents of Russia and Turkey , officer from the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Sides in Syria Alexander Kazakov told reporters .
`` Another Russian-Turkish patrol has taken place in accordance with the 2019 memorandum .
Five settlements were inspected , the patrol ’ s route was 55 kilometers long , '' Kazakov said .
The patrol particularly involved two Russian Mil Mi-8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was to make sure that there are no Kurdish militia units along the Turkish border because according to the memorandum , they should keep out of the 30 km buffer zone .
After the mission was over , Russian and Turkish military officers held consultations to discuss the route of the next joint patrol .
On October 22 , 2019 , Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey adopted a memorandum on joint activities aimed at resolving the situation in northeastern Syria .
Under the document , Russian military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas adjacent to the Turkish safe zone .
Russian and Turkish troops launched joint patrols east of the Euphrates River on November 1 .
In addition , Moscow and Ankara agreed on March 5 , 2020 , that a ceasefire would be declared in Idlib and a number of other measures would be taken to improve the situation in the province .

AL HASAKAH /Syria/, July 20. /TASS/. Russian and Turkish troops have carried out a joint patrol mission in Syria’s Al Hasakah province in accordance with a memorandum adopted by the presidents of Russia and Turkey, officer from the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Sides in Syria Alexander Kazakov told reporters.
"Another Russian-Turkish patrol has taken place in accordance with the 2019 memorandum. Five settlements were inspected, the patrol’s route was 55 kilometers long," Kazakov said.
The patrol particularly involved two Russian Mil Mi-8 helicopters. The mission’s goal was to make sure that there are no Kurdish militia units along the Turkish border because according to the memorandum, they should keep out of the 30 km buffer zone. After the mission was over, Russian and Turkish military officers held consultations to discuss the route of the next joint patrol.
On October 22, 2019, Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey adopted a memorandum on joint activities aimed at resolving the situation in northeastern Syria. Under the document, Russian military police and Syrian troops were deployed to areas adjacent to the Turkish safe zone. Russian and Turkish troops launched joint patrols east of the Euphrates River on November 1. In addition, Moscow and Ankara agreed on March 5, 2020, that a ceasefire would be declared in Idlib and a number of other measures would be taken to improve the situation in the province.


tass--2020-07-20--Russian Defense Ministry completes clinical trials of coronavirus vaccine

MOSCOW , July 20 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s Defense Ministry and the Gamaleya Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology @ @ @ @ @ clinical trials of a coronavirus vaccine on volunteers , the ministry said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ the morning of July 20 , the second group of 20 volunteers has been discharged @ @ @ @ @ Before leaving the facility , the volunteers underwent a final medical examination and gave blood @ @ @ @ @ so far shown that all volunteers developed an immune response to the virus as a @ @ @ @ @ '' the statement reads .
The Defense Ministry pointed out that neither side effects nor @ @ @ @ @ the volunteers .
`` In order to confirm the success of the trials , all @ @ @ @ @ checkup on the 42nd day after the vaccination , '' the statement adds .

MOSCOW, July 20. /TASS/. Russia’s Defense Ministry and the Gamaleya Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology have successfully completed clinical trials of a coronavirus vaccine on volunteers, the ministry said in a statement on Monday.
"On the morning of July 20, the second group of 20 volunteers has been discharged from a military hospital. Before leaving the facility, the volunteers underwent a final medical examination and gave blood for testing. Tests have so far shown that all volunteers developed an immune response to the virus as a result of the vaccination," the statement reads.
The Defense Ministry pointed out that neither side effects nor complications had been observed in the volunteers.
"In order to confirm the success of the trials, all volunteers will undergo another medical checkup on the 42nd day after the vaccination," the statement adds.