tass--2020-09-25--Press review: Opposition reacts to Lukashenko’s inauguration and Russian-led drills excel

After Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was sworn in as head of state in a hush-hush ceremony , members of the opposition vowed to hold a `` people ’ s inauguration '' of opposition figurehead Svetlana Tikhanovskaya .
Experts quizzed by Izvestia point out that despite the mass unrest on September 23 , it is too early to say that the protests have reached an acute phase .
Meanwhile , the EU , Ukraine and the US officially declared that they do not recognize Lukashenko as president .
However , this does not entail real sanctions that would directly impact the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analysts suggest .
Political expert Yevgeny Preigerman told the paper that the statements made by EU members do not affect the situation in Belarus in any significant manner .
What ’ s important is to understand what those statements could entail in practice , he added .
`` The EU may continue to act in accordance with their refusal to recognize the government as legitimate .
They may refuse to send ambassadors to Minsk or sign contracts with the current leadership of the country .
Similar statements emanated after the outcomes of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was not as tough .
EU members had minimized the contacts for several years , but , there were no legal repercussions from this move .
Ambassadors were still working and agreements were being signed , '' he noted .
For his part , political analyst Vladimir Yevseev told Izvestia that protests in Belarus have a direct correlation with the economic situation in the country .
If the leadership manages to prove that Russia ’ s recent loan of $ 1.5 bln can ensure economic growth , it might soothe the protesters somewhat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second COVID-19 wave in Russia Russia documented over 6,500 daily cases of COVID-19 , a disease caused by the novel coronavirus , on Thursday , with this figure growing for ten days running .
Meanwhile , Moscow recorded over 1,000 daily cases for the first time since late June .
On September 24 , Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that the situation with the spread of COVID-19 in the Russian capital is becoming more difficult , with coronavirus-related hospitalizations on the rise .
He called on Moscow residents to take care of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Experts quizzed by RBC have estimated the risk of the second wave of COVID-19 happening in Russia .
Larisa Popovich , director of the Institute for Healthcare Economics of the Higher School of Economics ( HSE ) , told RBC that COVID-19 waves should be assessed taking into account the ratio between those infected and those recovered .
She noted that so far in Moscow , the number of those recovered surpasses the number of new cases , while in many other regions , like St. Petersburg and Nizhny Novgorod , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in COVID-19 cases detected in Russia , however , this can hardly be called a second wave of the virus , Anatoly Altstein , a virologist , told RBC .
He noted that the first wave of the infection had not ended in the country yet .
`` It [ the infection rate ] went down , however , there is a certain increase noted in Moscow , of about 1,000 people , '' Altstein said , adding that the epidemic is ongoing and that the public must be ready for it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know that the concept of `` a second wave '' is not very definitive .
Supposedly , there should be an epidemic , then it should go down to zero , essentially , remain at that level , and then begin to rise again , '' he explained .
The expert pointed out that such a situation can be seen in Spain and Israel , where where `` the first wave went down and it stayed like this for a couple of months , '' and then the second wave got underway .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 infection rate has remained constantly high , with a small decrease in new cases detected .
`` The post-pandemic syndrome '' that undermined the military capacity and the organizational capabilities of NATO has not affected Russia ’ s preparedness , which has been proven during the strategic command post drills `` Kavkaz-2020 '' , Ivan Konovalov , director for the Development of the Foundation for the Assistance of Technologies of the 21st Century , said in an op-ed published by Nezavisimaya Gazeta .
`` Kavkaz-2020 '' set out its main goals as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia ’ s Southern Military District on a tactical , operative and strategic level , as well as improving the compatibility and the level of cooperation between the armed forces and the military command , the expert informed .
An important aspect of the drills was to improve cooperation with the armed forces of Russia ’ s partner states , namely on joint response to air attacks , reconnaissance and defense activity .
The drills are a multinational endeavor which includes up to 1,000 servicemen from Armenia , Belarus , China , Myanmar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indonesia , Iran , Kazakhstan , Tajikistan and Sri Lanka are participating as observers .
The exercise also became a platform for establishing a new format of cooperation between the Collective Security Treaty Organization ( CSTO ) , the Shanghai Cooperation Organization ( SCO ) and the Commonwealth of Independent States ( CIS ) .
Konovalov pointed out that the West , which usually rings alarm bells throughout the media during any large-scale Russian drills , decided to show restraint this time , possibly realizing that the `` panic approach '' has outlived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be found to continue the smear campaign against the `` Russian threat . ''
For the Russian military leadership , `` Kavkaz-2020 '' provides the information necessary to build new areas of the armed forces and fine-tune the existing ones , the expert pointed out .
Meanwhile , Western military bodies see the drills as a cause for concern and badly hidden irritation by the unexpectedly high level of Russia ’ s military preparedness to hold large-scale military exercises after the coronavirus pandemic , he stressed .
Konovalov added that the upcoming army @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West even more , with 5,000 exercises of various scales planned by Russia .
In this context , `` Kavkaz-2020 '' will become an important event politically and militarily .
Russia will try to use these opportunities to its best extent , taking into account the present situation .
The scenario that Russia will select for its command drills is also significant , the expert concluded .
CRCCI , a Chinese corporation , signed a contract for the construction of a key Russian national highway connecting Moscow and Kazan , the Chinese press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ construct a high-speed railway line to Europe through Russia , however , this project remains on paper so far , Nezavisimaya Gazeta reports .
China Railway Construction Corporation International ( CRCCI ) will be constructing the fifth section of the Moscow-Kazan freeway .
The project is estimated at 58.3 bln rubles ( approximately $ 757 mln ) .
The highway will go through the Moscow , Vladimir and Nizhny Novgorod Regions .
The Moscow-Kazan freeway is a part of the Russian section of the international transport corridor from Europe to Western China .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ significantly decrease the time of land deliveries from China to Central Asia and Europe , and it will stimulate the economic development of countries located along the economic belt of the Silk Road , '' Chinese reporters point out .
Experts interviewed by Nezavisimaya Gazeta think that there is no need to worry about Russian-Chinese teamwork due to the new partnership project .
The risks for all members of the project are minimal so far .
A threat might potentially emerge outside of Russia , China and Kazakhstan .
`` This transport project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so it has caused a bigger stir in the media , '' Ruslan Abramov , who heads the State and Municipal Management Department at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics , told the newspaper .
`` There are a lot of issues in our construction industry right now , and simply no one can build this section quickly , '' Ivan Andriyevsky , chairman of the board of directors of the 2K engineering company , said .
Kommersant : Oil demand may recover no earlier than 2023 The demand for oil , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , may recover no earlier than 2023 , a study conducted by Argus Consulting suggests .
In 2020 , oil consumption is set to drop by 8.3 mln barrels a day , which constitutes about 8 % of the 2019 level .
According to experts , the OPEC+ deal on oil production cuts encourages market stabilization , but the potential second wave of COVID-19 may impede recovery .
The majority of analysts have taken an optimistic stance , noting however that negative scenarios are possible , Kommersant reports .
The pre-crisis level of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier than 2023 , despite it rising by approximately two-thirds compared to a sharp drop in April , Argus Consulting informs .
Experts estimate that this year , oil consumption will reach 92.3 mln barrels a day .
More time may be required for a full recovery than expected due to reported second outbreaks of the novel coronavirus , the company notes .
If large-scale quarantine measures make a comeback , the OPEC+ deal may toughen its conditions , Vasily Tarnukov , an expert with ACRA rating agency , told the paper .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that by the end of 2021 , mass vaccination against COVID-19 will conclude , and oil demand may recover by 2022 .
Meanwhile , Sberbank Commodity Market Strategist Mikhail Sheibe points out that according to the bank ’ s base scenario , `` the level of demand at 100 mln barrels a day may be reached by the second half of 2021 . ''
`` We think that the possible further restrictions related to the second wave of the novel coronavirus pandemic would be much lighter than in the spring and that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in demand , which in turn would entail that OPEC+ would not have an urgent need to go back on the current conditions of the deal , '' the expert stated .
In theory , oil demand may never surpass 100 mln barrels a day ever again , if the pandemic lasts a long time , Dmitry Marinchenko , an expert with Fitch , told Kommersant .
A more likely scenario is that the demand will reach the pre-crisis levels by late 2021 and then will reach a peak in the next five-ten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go down due to the planned ban on the sale of cars with an internal combustion engine in Europe in 2030-2035 .
A lot will depend on the policy of the US and the outcomes of the upcoming presidential election , as Democrats pay more attention to environmental issues , he added .
TASS is not responsible for the material quoted in these press reviews .

Izvestia: Lukashenko’s inauguration may re-ignite fierce demonstrations
Read also EU believes Lukashenko’s inauguration lacks legitimacy
After Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was sworn in as head of state in a hush-hush ceremony, members of the opposition vowed to hold a "people’s inauguration" of opposition figurehead Svetlana Tikhanovskaya. Experts quizzed by Izvestia point out that despite the mass unrest on September 23, it is too early to say that the protests have reached an acute phase. Meanwhile, the EU, Ukraine and the US officially declared that they do not recognize Lukashenko as president. However, this does not entail real sanctions that would directly impact the daily life of the country, political analysts suggest. Political expert Yevgeny Preigerman told the paper that the statements made by EU members do not affect the situation in Belarus in any significant manner. What’s important is to understand what those statements could entail in practice, he added. "The EU may continue to act in accordance with their refusal to recognize the government as legitimate. They may refuse to send ambassadors to Minsk or sign contracts with the current leadership of the country. Similar statements emanated after the outcomes of the 2010 election, however, the rhetoric was not as tough. EU members had minimized the contacts for several years, but, there were no legal repercussions from this move. Ambassadors were still working and agreements were being signed," he noted. For his part, political analyst Vladimir Yevseev told Izvestia that protests in Belarus have a direct correlation with the economic situation in the country. If the leadership manages to prove that Russia’s recent loan of $1.5 bln can ensure economic growth, it might soothe the protesters somewhat. RBC: Virologists assess risk of second COVID-19 wave in Russia
Read also Putin unwilling to return to restrictions imposed in spring 2020
Russia documented over 6,500 daily cases of COVID-19, a disease caused by the novel coronavirus, on Thursday, with this figure growing for ten days running. Meanwhile, Moscow recorded over 1,000 daily cases for the first time since late June. On September 24, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that the situation with the spread of COVID-19 in the Russian capital is becoming more difficult, with coronavirus-related hospitalizations on the rise. He called on Moscow residents to take care of their health and to heed doctors’ recommendations. Experts quizzed by RBC have estimated the risk of the second wave of COVID-19 happening in Russia. Larisa Popovich, director of the Institute for Healthcare Economics of the Higher School of Economics (HSE), told RBC that COVID-19 waves should be assessed taking into account the ratio between those infected and those recovered. She noted that so far in Moscow, the number of those recovered surpasses the number of new cases, while in many other regions, like St. Petersburg and Nizhny Novgorod, the situation differs. There is a rise in COVID-19 cases detected in Russia, however, this can hardly be called a second wave of the virus, Anatoly Altstein, a virologist, told RBC. He noted that the first wave of the infection had not ended in the country yet. "It [the infection rate] went down, however, there is a certain increase noted in Moscow, of about 1,000 people," Altstein said, adding that the epidemic is ongoing and that the public must be ready for it, adhering to preventive measures. "You know that the concept of "a second wave" is not very definitive. Supposedly, there should be an epidemic, then it should go down to zero, essentially, remain at that level, and then begin to rise again," he explained. The expert pointed out that such a situation can be seen in Spain and Israel, where where "the first wave went down and it stayed like this for a couple of months," and then the second wave got underway. Meanwhile, in the US, the COVID-19 infection rate has remained constantly high, with a small decrease in new cases detected. Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Kavkaz-2020 drills launch new format of military cooperation
"The post-pandemic syndrome" that undermined the military capacity and the organizational capabilities of NATO has not affected Russia’s preparedness, which has been proven during the strategic command post drills "Kavkaz-2020", Ivan Konovalov, director for the Development of the Foundation for the Assistance of Technologies of the 21st Century, said in an op-ed published by Nezavisimaya Gazeta. "Kavkaz-2020" set out its main goals as follows: checking the military preparedness of Russia’s Southern Military District on a tactical, operative and strategic level, as well as improving the compatibility and the level of cooperation between the armed forces and the military command, the expert informed. An important aspect of the drills was to improve cooperation with the armed forces of Russia’s partner states, namely on joint response to air attacks, reconnaissance and defense activity. The drills are a multinational endeavor which includes up to 1,000 servicemen from Armenia, Belarus, China, Myanmar and Pakistan. Representatives from Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Sri Lanka are participating as observers. The exercise also became a platform for establishing a new format of cooperation between the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Konovalov pointed out that the West, which usually rings alarm bells throughout the media during any large-scale Russian drills, decided to show restraint this time, possibly realizing that the "panic approach" has outlived itself, and that new reasons must be found to continue the smear campaign against the "Russian threat." For the Russian military leadership, "Kavkaz-2020" provides the information necessary to build new areas of the armed forces and fine-tune the existing ones, the expert pointed out. Meanwhile, Western military bodies see the drills as a cause for concern and badly hidden irritation by the unexpectedly high level of Russia’s military preparedness to hold large-scale military exercises after the coronavirus pandemic, he stressed. Konovalov added that the upcoming army training year is likely to irritate the West even more, with 5,000 exercises of various scales planned by Russia. In this context, "Kavkaz-2020" will become an important event politically and militarily. Russia will try to use these opportunities to its best extent, taking into account the present situation. The scenario that Russia will select for its command drills is also significant, the expert concluded. Nezavisimaya Gazeta: China to join construction of Moscow-Kazan highway
Read also Construction of Moscow-Kazan highway to start in 2020
CRCCI, a Chinese corporation, signed a contract for the construction of a key Russian national highway connecting Moscow and Kazan, the Chinese press reported. Earlier, Beijing planned to construct a high-speed railway line to Europe through Russia, however, this project remains on paper so far, Nezavisimaya Gazeta reports. China Railway Construction Corporation International (CRCCI) will be constructing the fifth section of the Moscow-Kazan freeway. The project is estimated at 58.3 bln rubles (approximately $757 mln). The highway will go through the Moscow, Vladimir and Nizhny Novgorod Regions. The Moscow-Kazan freeway is a part of the Russian section of the international transport corridor from Europe to Western China. "After its opening, it will significantly decrease the time of land deliveries from China to Central Asia and Europe, and it will stimulate the economic development of countries located along the economic belt of the Silk Road," Chinese reporters point out. Experts interviewed by Nezavisimaya Gazeta think that there is no need to worry about Russian-Chinese teamwork due to the new partnership project. The risks for all members of the project are minimal so far. A threat might potentially emerge outside of Russia, China and Kazakhstan. "This transport project is way more important for China, so it has caused a bigger stir in the media," Ruslan Abramov, who heads the State and Municipal Management Department at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, told the newspaper. "There are a lot of issues in our construction industry right now, and simply no one can build this section quickly," Ivan Andriyevsky, chairman of the board of directors of the 2K engineering company, said. Kommersant: Oil demand may recover no earlier than 2023
Read also Situation on oil market will improve by year end — experts


tass--2020-09-25--Russia still not through with first wave of COVID-19, watchdog says

MOSCOW , September 25 .
/TASS/ .
Russia today is witnessing a continuation of the first wave of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ is not the point at issue , the deputy director for science at the Central @ @ @ @ @ consumer rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor , Alexander Gorelov , told the media on Friday .
`` @ @ @ @ @ .
No second wave is on the agenda .
The epidemic curve , the epidemic @ @ @ @ @ continuation of the first wave , '' he said .
What makes the current situation @ @ @ @ @ epidemics of ordinary flu and the novel coronavirus infection may overlap .
`` The real @ @ @ @ @ s guess .
It remains to be seen , if the flu and coronavirus reinforce @ @ @ @ @ effect on each other , or weaken each other .
Time will tell , '' @ @ @ @ @ vaccination against flu remained as important as ever .

MOSCOW, September 25. /TASS/. Russia today is witnessing a continuation of the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic. A second wave is not the point at issue, the deputy director for science at the Central Institute of Epidemiology under the consumer rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, Alexander Gorelov, told the media on Friday.
"The pandemic is still there. No second wave is on the agenda. The epidemic curve, the epidemic process is developing as a continuation of the first wave," he said.
What makes the current situation very unusual is that the epidemics of ordinary flu and the novel coronavirus infection may overlap.
"The real scenario is still anyone’s guess. It remains to be seen, if the flu and coronavirus reinforce each other, have no effect on each other, or weaken each other. Time will tell," he said, adding that vaccination against flu remained as important as ever.


tass--2020-09-25--ISS crew to be isolated inside Russian segment again to expose air leak

MOSCOW , September 25 .
/TASS/ .
The crew of the International Space Station ( ISS ) will be isolated @ @ @ @ @ some time again to identify an elusive air leak , the Russian space corporation Roscosmos @ @ @ @ @ weekend the crew of the ISS will be isolated inside the station ’ s Russian @ @ @ @ @ leak from the station , '' Roscosmos said .
The crew will go ahead with @ @ @ @ @ There are no risks to the crew ’ s safety , '' the corporation said @ @ @ @ @ source told TASS that the Russian-US crew of the ISS was trying to localize an @ @ @ @ @ instruments of the station ’ s Russian segment .
`` Changes in the shares of @ @ @ @ @ dioxide in the air indicated a leak , '' he added .
The ISS crew @ @ @ @ @ modules for three days to monitor pressure in the modules of the US segment .
@ @ @ @ @ believe all of the modules being checked are airtight .

MOSCOW, September 25. /TASS/. The crew of the International Space Station (ISS) will be isolated inside the Russian segment for some time again to identify an elusive air leak, the Russian space corporation Roscosmos told TASS.
"This weekend the crew of the ISS will be isolated inside the station’s Russian segment to expose an air leak from the station," Roscosmos said.
The crew will go ahead with all scheduled tasks.
"There are no risks to the crew’s safety," the corporation said.
In August, a source told TASS that the Russian-US crew of the ISS was trying to localize an air leak, registered by instruments of the station’s Russian segment. "Changes in the shares of nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide in the air indicated a leak," he added. The ISS crew then moved to the Russian modules for three days to monitor pressure in the modules of the US segment.
Roscosmos said on Monday specialists believe all of the modules being checked are airtight.


tass--2020-09-25--Over 3,500 volunteers inoculated with Sputnik V vaccine

MOSCOW , September 25 .
/TASS/ .
Over 3,500 volunteers have already received the Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ trials .
The study proceeds as scheduled , Russian Healthcare Minister Mikhail Murashko told journalists @ @ @ @ @ post-registration clinical studies are conducted .
There are over 3,500 patients who have received this @ @ @ @ @ as normal , '' he said during his visit to the Shumakov Federal Research Center @ @ @ @ @ .

MOSCOW, September 25. /TASS/. Over 3,500 volunteers have already received the Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus within the framework of post-clinical trials. The study proceeds as scheduled, Russian Healthcare Minister Mikhail Murashko told journalists on Friday.
"Today post-registration clinical studies are conducted. There are over 3,500 patients who have received this vaccine. Everything is proceeding as normal," he said during his visit to the Shumakov Federal Research Center of Transplantology and Artificial Organs.


tass--2020-09-25--Putin lauds mutually beneficial partner ties between Moscow and Seoul

MOSCOW , September 25 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a congratulatory telegram to South Korean President @ @ @ @ @ of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two states , the Kremlin press @ @ @ @ @ Putin stressed that over the past decades , `` the Russian Federation and the Republic @ @ @ @ @ experience of fruitful cooperation in the political , trade and economic , scientific and technical @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The Russian leader also lauded `` the dynamically developing interparliamentary dialogue and interregional @ @ @ @ @ joint investment and industrial projects are being implemented .
The coordination of efforts on the @ @ @ @ @ international issues , namely within the UN , APEC , ARF and other multilateral structures @ @ @ @ @ , '' the Russian leader noted , expressing confidence that Moscow and Seoul would continue @ @ @ @ @ partner ties for the good of both countries ’ people and in the interest of @ @ @ @ @ the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia on the whole . ''

MOSCOW, September 25. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a congratulatory telegram to South Korean President Moon Jae-in on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two states, the Kremlin press service informed on Friday.
Putin stressed that over the past decades, "the Russian Federation and the Republic of Korea have accumulated significant experience of fruitful cooperation in the political, trade and economic, scientific and technical, humanitarian and other spheres." The Russian leader also lauded "the dynamically developing interparliamentary dialogue and interregional cooperation."
"Large-scale joint investment and industrial projects are being implemented. The coordination of efforts on the resolution of current regional and international issues, namely within the UN, APEC, ARF and other multilateral structures, is showing good results," the Russian leader noted, expressing confidence that Moscow and Seoul would continue to develop "mutually beneficial partner ties for the good of both countries’ people and in the interest of strengthening security and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia on the whole."


tass--2020-09-25--Moscow reports 1,560 new coronavirus cases, highest since June 12

MOSCOW , September 25 .
/TASS/ .
Moscow recorded 1,560 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours , the highest number since June 12 , the anti-coronavirus crisis center ’ s data shows .
Over the past 24 hours , 1,227 recovered from the virus and 14 more people died from the virus-related causes .
Since the epidemic began Moscow has recorded 281,968 cases of the infection , 242,883 people recovered and 5,129 died .
Currently , the city has 33,956 active cases .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials informed the World Health Organization ( WHO ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe , including Russia .
On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .
According to the latest statistics , over 32,421,800 people have been infected worldwide and more than 987,800 deaths have been reported .
In addition , so far , over 23,934,430 individuals have recovered from the illness across the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been confirmed in Russia , with 934,146 patients having recovered from the disease .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates 20,056 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, September 25. /TASS/. Moscow recorded 1,560 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, the highest number since June 12, the anti-coronavirus crisis center’s data shows.
Over the past 24 hours, 1,227 recovered from the virus and 14 more people died from the virus-related causes.
Since the epidemic began Moscow has recorded 281,968 cases of the infection, 242,883 people recovered and 5,129 died. Currently, the city has 33,956 active cases.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia.
On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. According to the latest statistics, over 32,421,800 people have been infected worldwide and more than 987,800 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 23,934,430 individuals have recovered from the illness across the world.
To date, 1,136,048 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 934,146 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 20,056 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-09-25--Around 6,000 people internationally wanted by Russia

MOSCOW , September 25 .
/TASS/ .
Russia has international arrest warrants issued for around 6,000 people through Interpol channels @ @ @ @ @ made arrest requests for 55 people , half of them are marked red , head @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Interpol national central bureau Alexander Prokopchuk said in an interview with TASS Friday @ @ @ @ @ are around 6,000 people internationally wanted .
Since the beginning of the year , we @ @ @ @ @ people on the wanted list .
Half of them have requests ‘ with a red @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
According to him , Interpol has a special database with @ @ @ @ @ details .

MOSCOW, September 25. /TASS/. Russia has international arrest warrants issued for around 6,000 people through Interpol channels, this year alone Russia made arrest requests for 55 people, half of them are marked red, head of the Russian Interior Ministry’s Interpol national central bureau Alexander Prokopchuk said in an interview with TASS Friday.
"Overall, there are around 6,000 people internationally wanted. Since the beginning of the year, we put a little under 500 people on the wanted list. Half of them have requests ‘with a red corner’ issued for them," he said.
According to him, Interpol has a special database with all wanted people’s details.


tass--2020-09-25--Ukraine reports 3,565 new coronavirus cases

KIEV , September 25 .
/TASS/ .
Doctors in Ukraine recorded 3,565 coronavirus cases in the past day , compared to 3,372 cases a day earlier , the National Security and Defense Council said on Friday .
This is the second time that the country recorded more than 3,500 coronavirus infections over a 24-hour period .
The highest number was reported on September 17 when 3,584 cases were identified .
According to the council , in the past day 70 people who contracted COVID-19 died in Ukraine , bringing the total to 3,827 , while 1,675 patients recovered ( 85,133 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maxim Stepanov told a briefing Friday that in the past 24 hours most cases were recorded in Kiev as well as a number of regions .
`` The biggest number of cases was registered in the past 24 hours in Kiev ( 380 ) , the Kharkov Region ( 297 ) and the city of Kharkov ( 236 ) , the Ternopol Region ( 245 ) , the Dnepropetrovsk Region ( 225 ) and the Lvov Region ( 215 ) , '' he said .
The minister noted that the country in general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severe symptoms .
Stepanov also called on citizens to abide by doctors ' guidelines to curb the spread of the virus , especially those in risk groups , such as seniors and people with chronic conditions .
On Thursday , Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky informed that the country is now experiencing a second wave of the coronavirus epidemic .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials informed the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the world .
On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .

KIEV, September 25. /TASS/. Doctors in Ukraine recorded 3,565 coronavirus cases in the past day, compared to 3,372 cases a day earlier, the National Security and Defense Council said on Friday.
This is the second time that the country recorded more than 3,500 coronavirus infections over a 24-hour period. The highest number was reported on September 17 when 3,584 cases were identified.
According to the council, in the past day 70 people who contracted COVID-19 died in Ukraine, bringing the total to 3,827, while 1,675 patients recovered (85,133 in total).
Ukrainian Health Minister Maxim Stepanov told a briefing Friday that in the past 24 hours most cases were recorded in Kiev as well as a number of regions. "The biggest number of cases was registered in the past 24 hours in Kiev (380), the Kharkov Region (297) and the city of Kharkov (236), the Ternopol Region (245), the Dnepropetrovsk Region (225) and the Lvov Region (215)," he said.
The minister noted that the country in general sees an increase in coronavirus patients with severe symptoms. Stepanov also called on citizens to abide by doctors' guidelines to curb the spread of the virus, especially those in risk groups, such as seniors and people with chronic conditions.
On Thursday, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky informed that the country is now experiencing a second wave of the coronavirus epidemic.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the world. On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.


tass--2020-09-25--Coronavirus deaths in Russia top 20,000

Coronavirus deaths in Russia top 20,000

MOSCOW , September 25 .
/TASS/ .
The number of coronavirus-related fatalities in Russia increased by 108 in the past @ @ @ @ @ a day before , bringing the total to 20,056 , the national anti-coronavirus crisis center @ @ @ @ @ to the crisis center , the share of deaths stands at 1.77 % of all @ @ @ @ @ .

MOSCOW, September 25. /TASS/. The number of coronavirus-related fatalities in Russia increased by 108 in the past 24 hours compared to 149 a day before, bringing the total to 20,056, the national anti-coronavirus crisis center told reporters Friday.
According to the crisis center, the share of deaths stands at 1.77% of all recorded cases in the country.


tass--2020-09-25--Bulgaria registers record COVID-19 daily growth over 2 months

SOFIA , September 25 .
/TASS/ .
Bulgaria ’ s healthcare workers confirmed 290 coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours , 130 more than a day earlier , while the total caseload in the country reached 19,573 , which is the highest in the republic over the past two months , the Health Ministry ’ s United Information Portal said on Friday .
Over the past 24 hours , six coronavirus patients died with the total death toll hitting 785 .
Currently , 744 patients are undergoing treatment in hospitals , with 30 of them in intensive care units @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the country , 14,013 people have recovered .
In the past 24 hours , 4,859 tests for COVID-19 were performed .
According to the Health Ministry , Bulgaria ’ s hospitals lack medical personnel , particularly nurses .
1,095 cases of infection were reported among the healthcare workers .
Bulgaria reported its first coronavirus cases on March 8 .
The authorities declared a state of emergency on March 13 until May 14 .
The emergency epidemiological situation in Bulgaria remains which was extended until the end of November .
Social distancing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public places and transportation .
Protective masks are also recommended at outdoor public events .

SOFIA, September 25. /TASS/. Bulgaria’s healthcare workers confirmed 290 coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours, 130 more than a day earlier, while the total caseload in the country reached 19,573, which is the highest in the republic over the past two months, the Health Ministry’s United Information Portal said on Friday.
Over the past 24 hours, six coronavirus patients died with the total death toll hitting 785. Currently, 744 patients are undergoing treatment in hospitals, with 30 of them in intensive care units. Since the beginning of the pandemic in the country, 14,013 people have recovered. In the past 24 hours, 4,859 tests for COVID-19 were performed.
According to the Health Ministry, Bulgaria’s hospitals lack medical personnel, particularly nurses. 1,095 cases of infection were reported among the healthcare workers.
Bulgaria reported its first coronavirus cases on March 8. The authorities declared a state of emergency on March 13 until May 14. The emergency epidemiological situation in Bulgaria remains which was extended until the end of November. Social distancing and wearing face masks are compulsory in indoor public places and transportation. Protective masks are also recommended at outdoor public events.


tass--2020-09-25--Moscow’s non-resource and non-energy export to Turkey up three-fold in first half of 2020

MOSCOW , September 25 .
/TASS/ .
Moscow ’ s total non-resource and non-energy exports to Turkey soared three-fold in @ @ @ @ @ year-on-year , press service of the city ’ s entrepreneurship and innovative development department reported @ @ @ @ @ Aleksei Fursin on Friday .
`` Total non-resource and non-energy supplies from Moscow to Turkey @ @ @ @ @ ( $ 8.9 mln ) in the first half of the year , a three-fold @ @ @ @ @ period last year .
Turkey was the sixth-biggest exporter of Moscow ’ s non-resource and @ @ @ @ @ of six months after Britain , the US , Kazakhstan , Belarus , and China @ @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, September 25. /TASS/. Moscow’s total non-resource and non-energy exports to Turkey soared three-fold in the first half of 2020 year-on-year, press service of the city’s entrepreneurship and innovative development department reported with reference to its head Aleksei Fursin on Friday.
"Total non-resource and non-energy supplies from Moscow to Turkey amounted to 687.2 mln rubles ($8.9 mln) in the first half of the year, a three-fold increase compared with the same period last year. Turkey was the sixth-biggest exporter of Moscow’s non-resource and non-energy products by the end of six months after Britain, the US, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and China," he said.


tass--2020-09-25--Huawei Launches the FusionServer Pro V6 SAP HANA Solution

SHANGHAI , Sept. 25 , 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- At HUAWEI CONNECT 2020 , Huawei has released the FusionServer Pro V6 SAP HANA solution .
Guests from SAP , Intel , and SUSE have attended the launch event and delivered speeches on their innovative journey with Huawei throughout the years , as well as future expectations of joint projects .
The Huawei FusionServer Pro V6 SAP HANA solution , consisting of the x86-based proprietary FusionServer Pro series and the SAP HANA in-memory database , features high performance , high reliability and smooth expansion , empowering enterprises to scoop data values in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next-generation FusionServer Pro 2488H V6 houses four 3rd Gen Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors , with 48 DDR4 DIMMs , 11 PCIe 3.0 slots , and up to twenty-five 2.5-inch drives for local storage , and runs on the Intel® Optane™ persistent memory ( PMem ) 200 series to provide superior computing power , larger memory capacity , and more flexible configuration .
The Huawei FusionServer Pro 2488H V6 server , which has been SAP HANA tailored data center integration ( TDI ) technically validated and SAP HANA Appliance and SUSE YES certified in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new member to the Huawei FusionServer Pro family with SAP HANA solutions .
Initiating the cooperation with SAP since 2012 , Huawei has accumulated ample experiences with SAP HANA solutions .
The Huawei SAP HANA solutions are currently applied in more than 25 industries , including manufacturing , energy , retail , finance , transportation , and education .
With the popularization of technologies such as 5G , AI , and IoT , mounting demands for data processing are only to be expected .
Huawei will continue to cooperate with its partners , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SUSE , and launch innovative and competitive products and solutions with higher performance and quality , leading the global digital wave and facilitating enterprise digital transformation .

SHANGHAI, Sept. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- At HUAWEI CONNECT 2020, Huawei has released the FusionServer Pro V6 SAP HANA solution. Guests from SAP, Intel, and SUSE have attended the launch event and delivered speeches on their innovative journey with Huawei throughout the years, as well as future expectations of joint projects.
The Huawei FusionServer Pro V6 SAP HANA solution, consisting of the x86-based proprietary FusionServer Pro series and the SAP HANA in-memory database, features high performance, high reliability and smooth expansion, empowering enterprises to scoop data values in time for more business opportunities. The next-generation FusionServer Pro 2488H V6 houses four 3rd Gen Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors, with 48 DDR4 DIMMs, 11 PCIe 3.0 slots, and up to twenty-five 2.5-inch drives for local storage, and runs on the Intel® Optane™ persistent memory (PMem) 200 series to provide superior computing power, larger memory capacity, and more flexible configuration.
The Huawei FusionServer Pro 2488H V6 server, which has been SAP HANA tailored data center integration (TDI) technically validated and SAP HANA Appliance and SUSE YES certified in July and August 2020, is a new member to the Huawei FusionServer Pro family with SAP HANA solutions. Initiating the cooperation with SAP since 2012, Huawei has accumulated ample experiences with SAP HANA solutions. The Huawei SAP HANA solutions are currently applied in more than 25 industries, including manufacturing, energy, retail, finance, transportation, and education.
With the popularization of technologies such as 5G, AI, and IoT, mounting demands for data processing are only to be expected. Huawei will continue to cooperate with its partners, such as Intel, SAP, and SUSE, and launch innovative and competitive products and solutions with higher performance and quality, leading the global digital wave and facilitating enterprise digital transformation.
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1280694/image_5003652_29445765.jpg
CONTACT: Wanni Zhong, zhongwanni@huawei.com


tass--2020-09-25--Moscow authorities recommend people over 65 stay home due to increased COVID-19 incidence

MOSCOW , September 25 .
/TASS/ .
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has recommended to Moscow residents over 65 and those with chronic illnesses to stay at home due to the increased incidence of the coronavirus .
`` Moscow residents over 65 years of age and younger citizens with chronic illnesses shouldn ’ t , unless absolutely necessary , leave their homes or summer retreats , '' the mayor wrote in his personal blog on Friday .
He also added that working Moscow residents over 65 and people with chronic illnesses should switch to working remotely starting on September 28 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ September 28 , 2020 , we are asking you to remain at home .
< ... > Working retirees over 65 and people with chronic illnesses are strongly urged to switch to a remote format or take a vacation .
If necessary , you will receive medical leaves , '' he wrote .
According to the mayor , if it is absolutely necessary to be present at work , one has to observe all precautions .
According to the latest statistics , over 32,126,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 982,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 1,128,836 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , with 929,829 patients having recovered from the disease .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates 19,948 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, September 25. /TASS/. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has recommended to Moscow residents over 65 and those with chronic illnesses to stay at home due to the increased incidence of the coronavirus.
"Moscow residents over 65 years of age and younger citizens with chronic illnesses shouldn’t, unless absolutely necessary, leave their homes or summer retreats," the mayor wrote in his personal blog on Friday.
He also added that working Moscow residents over 65 and people with chronic illnesses should switch to working remotely starting on September 28.
"Thus, starting on Monday, September 28, 2020, we are asking you to remain at home. <...> Working retirees over 65 and people with chronic illnesses are strongly urged to switch to a remote format or take a vacation. If necessary, you will receive medical leaves," he wrote.
According to the mayor, if it is absolutely necessary to be present at work, one has to observe all precautions.
According to the latest statistics, over 32,126,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 982,000 deaths have been reported. To date, 1,128,836 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 929,829 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 19,948 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-09-25--Nuclear submarine Irkutsk may return to Pacific Fleet in 2023 — source

MOSCOW , September 25 .
/TASS/ .
The Project 949A Antey-class multipurpose nuclear-powered submarine Irkutsk , which has been awaiting @ @ @ @ @ than 20 years , may return to tactical composition of the Pacific Fleet in 2023 @ @ @ @ @ shipbuilding industry told TASS .
`` Given the opportunity , the expected return date for @ @ @ @ @ the source said .
Earlier it was expected that Irkutsk submarine will return to the @ @ @ @ @ Then the dates were shifted to 2019 , then to 2022 .

MOSCOW, September 25. /TASS/. The Project 949A Antey-class multipurpose nuclear-powered submarine Irkutsk, which has been awaiting repair and modernization for more than 20 years, may return to tactical composition of the Pacific Fleet in 2023, a source in the shipbuilding industry told TASS.
"Given the opportunity, the expected return date for Irkutsk is 2023," the source said.
Earlier it was expected that Irkutsk submarine will return to the Pacific Fleet in 2017. Then the dates were shifted to 2019, then to 2022.


tass--2020-09-25--Russia should prevent development of US-China conflict - Gorbachev

TOKYO , September 25 .
/TASS/ .
The coronavirus pandemic exacerbated the confrontation between the United States and China , and Russia should diplomatically prevent the development of this conflict , former leader of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev said in an article published by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper on Friday .
`` The pandemic exacerbated a new bipolar conflict that arose as a result of increased tensions between the United States and China .
No scenario for the development of a bipolar conflict can be positive from the point of view of international politics .
In the late 1980s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found its application and proved its effectiveness in ending the cold war , '' he said .
`` Today it would be wise for Russia to return to the new political thinking and set as a goal to diplomatically prevent a bipolar conflict between the United States and China , '' Gorbachev summed up .
Relations between China and the United States have deteriorated in recent years due to disputes over trade duties , among other reasons .
Accusations made by President of the United States Donald Trump against Beijing for a belated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak in Wuhan led to a new aggravation of the situation .

TOKYO, September 25. /TASS/. The coronavirus pandemic exacerbated the confrontation between the United States and China, and Russia should diplomatically prevent the development of this conflict, former leader of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev said in an article published by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper on Friday.
"The pandemic exacerbated a new bipolar conflict that arose as a result of increased tensions between the United States and China. No scenario for the development of a bipolar conflict can be positive from the point of view of international politics. In the late 1980s, the principle of new thinking really found its application and proved its effectiveness in ending the cold war," he said.
"Today it would be wise for Russia to return to the new political thinking and set as a goal to diplomatically prevent a bipolar conflict between the United States and China," Gorbachev summed up.
Relations between China and the United States have deteriorated in recent years due to disputes over trade duties, among other reasons. Accusations made by President of the United States Donald Trump against Beijing for a belated and insufficient response to the initial coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan led to a new aggravation of the situation.


tass--2020-09-25--Moscow sees 14 more coronavirus deaths in 24 hours

MOSCOW , September 25 .
/TASS/ .
The number of deaths due to coronavirus in Moscow increased by 14 in @ @ @ @ @ number of deaths reached 5,129 , the operational headquarters for control and monitoring of the @ @ @ @ @ Friday .
`` In Moscow , over the past day , 14 patients have died @ @ @ @ @ diagnosed with pneumonia and had a positive test result for coronavirus infection , '' the @ @ @ @ @ , during the pandemic , 5,129 people with coronavirus died in the capital .
Since @ @ @ @ @ , over 32 mln people have been infected with the coronavirus in the world , @ @ @ @ @ .
In Russia , according to the federal operational headquarters , 1,128,836 cases of infection @ @ @ @ @ recovered , 19,948 died .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline @ @ @ @ @ on the coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, September 25. /TASS/. The number of deaths due to coronavirus in Moscow increased by 14 in a day, the total number of deaths reached 5,129, the operational headquarters for control and monitoring of the situation with coronavirus reported on Friday.
"In Moscow, over the past day, 14 patients have died, all of them were diagnosed with pneumonia and had a positive test result for coronavirus infection," the headquarters said.
In total, during the pandemic, 5,129 people with coronavirus died in the capital.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, over 32 mln people have been infected with the coronavirus in the world, more than 976,000 have died. In Russia, according to the federal operational headquarters, 1,128,836 cases of infection were registered, 929,829 people recovered, 19,948 died. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-09-25--Accounts Chamber: Rise in poverty jeopardizes Russia’s national goal

MOSCOW , September 25 .
/TASS/ .
The poverty level in the Q2 of 2020 moved up 1 percentage point @ @ @ @ @ and amounted to 13.5 % , which therefore risks not achieving the national goal of @ @ @ @ @ 2030 , according to the economic monitoring of the Russian Accounts Chamber .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ second quarter of 2020 to 13.5 % from 12.5 % in the first quarter of @ @ @ @ @ risk that the national goal of reducing poverty by half by 2030 may not be @ @ @ @ @ said .
The document said that in this regard , the main task should be @ @ @ @ @ pre-crisis indicators of the poverty level , but entering the trajectory of a confident decline @ @ @ @ @ that if favorable trends continue in the economy , the share of the poor population @ @ @ @ @ year is likely to remain within 13-13.5 % .

MOSCOW, September 25. /TASS/. The poverty level in the Q2 of 2020 moved up 1 percentage point higher than in the Q1 and amounted to 13.5%, which therefore risks not achieving the national goal of cutting poverty in half by 2030, according to the economic monitoring of the Russian Accounts Chamber.
"The poverty rate increased in the second quarter of 2020 to 13.5% from 12.5% in the first quarter of 2020. This created the risk that the national goal of reducing poverty by half by 2030 may not be achieved," the report said.
The document said that in this regard, the main task should be not a return to the pre-crisis indicators of the poverty level, but entering the trajectory of a confident decline.
The Accounts Chamber noted that if favorable trends continue in the economy, the share of the poor population at the end of the year is likely to remain within 13-13.5%.


tass--2020-09-25--Interpol notes transition to outsourcing among cybercriminals

MOSCOW , September 25 .
/TASS/ .
Cybercrime has shifted to outsourcing in the past few years , Chief of @ @ @ @ @ Interpol of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia , Major General of Police Alexander @ @ @ @ @ with TASS on Friday .
`` The trend of recent years is the transition of @ @ @ @ @ refers to the ‘ crime as a service ’ scheme .
In particular , proposals @ @ @ @ @ DDoS attacks , renting botnets , selling or renting malicious software codes regularly surface on @ @ @ @ @ said .
According to Prokopchuk , the Interpol International Center for Innovation was opened in @ @ @ @ @ coordinate international efforts in the fight against cybercrime .
`` In fact , this is @ @ @ @ @ focuses on cybercrime .
We are actively working to identify cyber fraudsters and hacker groups @ @ @ @ @ , as well as the European Cybercrime Center of Europol .
There are already some @ @ @ @ @ work , '' Prokopchuk added .

MOSCOW, September 25. /TASS/. Cybercrime has shifted to outsourcing in the past few years, Chief of the National Central Bureau of Interpol of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Major General of Police Alexander Prokopchuk said in an interview with TASS on Friday.
"The trend of recent years is the transition of criminals to outsourcing. This refers to the ‘crime as a service’ scheme. In particular, proposals on organizing ‘commercial’ DDoS attacks, renting botnets, selling or renting malicious software codes regularly surface on the darknet," he said.
According to Prokopchuk, the Interpol International Center for Innovation was opened in Singapore several years ago to coordinate international efforts in the fight against cybercrime. "In fact, this is the second headquarters, which focuses on cybercrime. We are actively working to identify cyber fraudsters and hacker groups together with the Singapore center, as well as the European Cybercrime Center of Europol. There are already some results in this area of work," Prokopchuk added.


tass--2020-09-25--US senators propose sanctions against Russian officials due to Navalny situation

NEW YORK , September 25 .
/TASS/ .
A bipartisan group of US senators has proposed sanctions against Russian officials over the situation with Alexei Navalny , according to the statement on the website of Democratic Senator Chris Coons .
`` U.S .
Senators Chris Coons ( D-Del . )
, Marco Rubio ( R-Fla. ) , Ben Cardin ( D-Md . )
, Mitt Romney ( R-Utah ) , and Chris Van Hollen ( D-Md . )
introduced the bipartisan Holding Russia Accountable for Malign Activities Act of 2020 , a targeted bill that would impose sanctions on Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law including the recent poisoning of opposition leader and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny .
The bill directs the administration to determine if the Kremlin has violated U.S. laws prohibiting the use of chemical and biological weapons , '' the letter said .
`` As Russia continues to meddle in our elections and take other malign actions in countries like Belarus , Ukraine , and Syria that make the world more dangerous , this bipartisan bill seeks to hold Putin and his inner circle accountable , '' Senator Coons said of the draft legislation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Navalny was hospitalized in Omsk on August 20 , after his health deteriorated rapidly during his flight from Tomsk to Moscow .
Upon hospitalization , Navalny was in coma and then hooked up to a ventilator .
On August 22 , he was transferred to the Charite clinic in Berlin .
On September 2 , the German government claimed that Navalny ’ s tests revealed traces of an unidentified poisonous substance from the notorious Novichok group .
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier that Moscow was ready for a comprehensive cooperation with Berlin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been discovered before Navalny ’ s transfer to Germany .
According to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova , Russia has not received a `` single substantial response '' on Navalny from Germany .
On September 7 , Berlin medics announced that Navalny was brought out of a coma and plugged off a ventilator .

NEW YORK, September 25. /TASS/. A bipartisan group of US senators has proposed sanctions against Russian officials over the situation with Alexei Navalny, according to the statement on the website of Democratic Senator Chris Coons.
"U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) introduced the bipartisan Holding Russia Accountable for Malign Activities Act of 2020, a targeted bill that would impose sanctions on Russian officials complicit in brazen violations of international law including the recent poisoning of opposition leader and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny. The bill directs the administration to determine if the Kremlin has violated U.S. laws prohibiting the use of chemical and biological weapons," the letter said.
"As Russia continues to meddle in our elections and take other malign actions in countries like Belarus, Ukraine, and Syria that make the world more dangerous, this bipartisan bill seeks to hold Putin and his inner circle accountable," Senator Coons said of the draft legislation.
Russian blogger and opposition figure Alexei Navalny was hospitalized in Omsk on August 20, after his health deteriorated rapidly during his flight from Tomsk to Moscow. Upon hospitalization, Navalny was in coma and then hooked up to a ventilator. On August 22, he was transferred to the Charite clinic in Berlin.
On September 2, the German government claimed that Navalny’s tests revealed traces of an unidentified poisonous substance from the notorious Novichok group.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier that Moscow was ready for a comprehensive cooperation with Berlin. He noted that no poisonous substances have been discovered before Navalny’s transfer to Germany. According to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Russia has not received a "single substantial response" on Navalny from Germany.
On September 7, Berlin medics announced that Navalny was brought out of a coma and plugged off a ventilator.


tass--2020-09-24--Scientists prove new method of promising materials temperature measurement to be effective

MOSCOW , September 24 .
/TASS/ .
An international group of researchers , which included physicists from Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University , conducted an experiment confirming the effectiveness of the method of contactless temperature measurement of materials which are promising for use in medicine and other fields , the press service of the university told TASS on Thursday .
Compounds with a magnetocaloric effect are `` smart '' materials , the properties of which in the future will make it possible to create on their basis such inventions as new generation implants with controlled release of drugs or eco-friendly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so , scientists need to study the quality of the material in detail , however , the temperature of such compounds is traditionally measured by direct contact of the compounds with an external magnetic field , which is a limitation for conducting research under certain conditions .
The authors of the study were able to improve the temperature measurement process by testing a recently proposed contactless method .
`` Contactless methods of studying the magnetocaloric effect are necessary in cases where it is technically impossible to use standard contact temperature meters - a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially important for studying the magnetocaloric effect in micro- and nanoscale objects .
< ... > A team of researchers from Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University , together with their colleagues from the University of Parma ( Italy ) and the Dresden Laboratory of High Magnetic Fields at the Helmholtz Research Center ( Germany ) , conducted a joint study on one of the promising magnetocaloric alloys using a new contactless method proposed earlier by Italian colleagues , '' the statement reads .
The conceot of the new method is the use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` mirage effect '' , in which deviations of the laser beam passing through a surface close to the object are observed , caused by changes in the temperature of the studied sample .
The authors of the study compared the technique with two other methods of measuring temperature — using a thermocouple and through measuring the heat capacity using well-known thermodynamic relations .
An alloy of iron and rhodium was chosen as an experimental sample .
`` It is important that the proposed method can be successfully implemented to study the smart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from massive samples to tapes and films .
The results obtained using the contactless method do not contradict the results < ... > of using classical methods .
Thus , we have demonstrated that an alternative contactless method of temperature measurement can be successfully applied to conduct our tasks , '' the press service of the university quotes Karim Amirov , a senior researcher at the laboratory of new magnetic materials at Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University .
The results of the study , supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Applied Physics .

MOSCOW, September 24. /TASS/. An international group of researchers, which included physicists from Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, conducted an experiment confirming the effectiveness of the method of contactless temperature measurement of materials which are promising for use in medicine and other fields, the press service of the university told TASS on Thursday.
Compounds with a magnetocaloric effect are "smart" materials, the properties of which in the future will make it possible to create on their basis such inventions as new generation implants with controlled release of drugs or eco-friendly CFC-free refrigerators. In order to do so, scientists need to study the quality of the material in detail, however, the temperature of such compounds is traditionally measured by direct contact of the compounds with an external magnetic field, which is a limitation for conducting research under certain conditions. The authors of the study were able to improve the temperature measurement process by testing a recently proposed contactless method.
"Contactless methods of studying the magnetocaloric effect are necessary in cases where it is technically impossible to use standard contact temperature meters - a thermometer or a thermocouple. This is especially important for studying the magnetocaloric effect in micro- and nanoscale objects. <...> A team of researchers from Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, together with their colleagues from the University of Parma (Italy) and the Dresden Laboratory of High Magnetic Fields at the Helmholtz Research Center (Germany), conducted a joint study on one of the promising magnetocaloric alloys using a new contactless method proposed earlier by Italian colleagues," the statement reads.
The conceot of the new method is the use of a thermo-optical effect, known as the "mirage effect", in which deviations of the laser beam passing through a surface close to the object are observed, caused by changes in the temperature of the studied sample. The authors of the study compared the technique with two other methods of measuring temperature — using a thermocouple and through measuring the heat capacity using well-known thermodynamic relations. An alloy of iron and rhodium was chosen as an experimental sample.
"It is important that the proposed method can be successfully implemented to study the smart composite materials and alloys we obtain — from massive samples to tapes and films. The results obtained using the contactless method do not contradict the results <...> of using classical methods. Thus, we have demonstrated that an alternative contactless method of temperature measurement can be successfully applied to conduct our tasks," the press service of the university quotes Karim Amirov, a senior researcher at the laboratory of new magnetic materials at Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University.
The results of the study, supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation, are published in the Journal of Applied Physics.


tass--2020-09-26--Every 250th person on Earth already contracted coronavirus

MOSCOW , September 26 .
/TASS/ .
The number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases worldwide increased by 2.2 million in the past seven days , to more than 32.2 million or 0.4 % of the Earth ’ s total population .
The number of the so-called active cases - patients who are currently infected - continues to rise rapidly , increasing by about 500,000 this week .
Active cases account for 23.3 % of the overall case count .
The percentage of recoveries remained practically unchanged during the past seven days , increasing from 68 % to slightly less than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million patients recovered in the reported period .
Some 37,000 novel coronavirus-related deaths were registered in the past seven days , bringing the overall death toll to 983,000 .
The fatality rate plunged to its record low of about 3 % .
In relative terms , the spread of the novel coronavirus worldwide has slowed down .
In the past seven days , the case count increased by 6.8 % , compared to 7.4 % the week before .
However , the disease started to spread rapidly in some countries .
The Czech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the reported period .
The overall number of cases in the country reached 58,000 people , and the authorities were forced to introduce a series of restrictions to curb the infection .
Israel also saw the rapid spread of infection in the past seven days , with the number of registered cases increasing by 21 % .
The country ’ s government toughened quarantine restrictions , closing all businesses except groceries and pharmacies , and enterprises whose production cycle can not be stopped .
Overall , the country has 212,000 cases of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the population .
Argentina ’ s daily coronavirus case count stood at about 13,000 people in the past seven days .
In other words , about 77,000 people contracted the disease in the country in just one week .
Overall , the country registered about 678,000 coronavirus cases on its territory since the start of the pandemic .
On the European continent , France is the most-affected country in the moment , reporting a weekly growth of almost 20 % .
The number of hospitalized increased by 34 % and the number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 40 % in the reported period .
The country ’ s overall case count is about to exceed 500,000 people .
On Wednesday , more than 16,000 cases were registered in the country , which is two times as much as the peak figures recorded this spring .
The authorities have declared the `` maximum alert zone '' in Marseille , Aix-en-Provence and the surrounding territories , where all bars and restaurants have been closed .
The United Kingdom reported a 9.1 % increase in new cases this week , compared to 6.6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s overall coronavirus case count now stands at 416,000 .
In a bid to curb the spread of the infection , the government ordered that pubs , bars and restaurants in England and Wales be closed by 10pm and offered table service only .
In Spain , which is the hardest-hit European country in terms of overall number of coronavirus cases , the growth slowed down from 9.4 % to 7.6 % this week .
However , regional authorities continue to reinstate quarantine restrictions amid calls for tougher measures .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 37 coronavirus-hit zones , home to about one million people in total , and introduced partial lockdowns there .
Eight more zones are expected to appear on September 28 .
The region ’ s authorities are set to request assistance from the military , the police and the Civil Guard in an attempt to contain the new outbreak .
In September , the infection in the country is spreading almost 20 times faster than this summer .

MOSCOW, September 26. /TASS/. The number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases worldwide increased by 2.2 million in the past seven days, to more than 32.2 million or 0.4% of the Earth’s total population.
The number of the so-called active cases - patients who are currently infected - continues to rise rapidly, increasing by about 500,000 this week. Active cases account for 23.3% of the overall case count.
The percentage of recoveries remained practically unchanged during the past seven days, increasing from 68% to slightly less than 69%. A total of 1.7 million patients recovered in the reported period.
Some 37,000 novel coronavirus-related deaths were registered in the past seven days, bringing the overall death toll to 983,000.
The fatality rate plunged to its record low of about 3%.
Sharp growth in cases
In relative terms, the spread of the novel coronavirus worldwide has slowed down. In the past seven days, the case count increased by 6.8%, compared to 7.4% the week before.
However, the disease started to spread rapidly in some countries. The Czech Republic reported a 32-percent increase in cases in the reported period. The overall number of cases in the country reached 58,000 people, and the authorities were forced to introduce a series of restrictions to curb the infection.
Israel also saw the rapid spread of infection in the past seven days, with the number of registered cases increasing by 21%. The country’s government toughened quarantine restrictions, closing all businesses except groceries and pharmacies, and enterprises whose production cycle cannot be stopped. Overall, the country has 212,000 cases of the infection, or about 2.3% of the population.
Argentina’s daily coronavirus case count stood at about 13,000 people in the past seven days. In other words, about 77,000 people contracted the disease in the country in just one week. Overall, the country registered about 678,000 coronavirus cases on its territory since the start of the pandemic.
Europe braces for second wave
On the European continent, France is the most-affected country in the moment, reporting a weekly growth of almost 20%. The number of hospitalized increased by 34% and the number of patients in intensive care - by 40% in the reported period. The country’s overall case count is about to exceed 500,000 people.
On Wednesday, more than 16,000 cases were registered in the country, which is two times as much as the peak figures recorded this spring. The authorities have declared the "maximum alert zone" in Marseille, Aix-en-Provence and the surrounding territories, where all bars and restaurants have been closed.
The United Kingdom reported a 9.1% increase in new cases this week, compared to 6.6% the week before. The country’s overall coronavirus case count now stands at 416,000. In a bid to curb the spread of the infection, the government ordered that pubs, bars and restaurants in England and Wales be closed by 10pm and offered table service only.
In Spain, which is the hardest-hit European country in terms of overall number of coronavirus cases, the growth slowed down from 9.4% to 7.6% this week. However, regional authorities continue to reinstate quarantine restrictions amid calls for tougher measures.
In the community of Madrid, the authorities identified the 37 coronavirus-hit zones, home to about one million people in total, and introduced partial lockdowns there. Eight more zones are expected to appear on September 28. The region’s authorities are set to request assistance from the military, the police and the Civil Guard in an attempt to contain the new outbreak. In September, the infection in the country is spreading almost 20 times faster than this summer.


tass--2020-09-26--Russia’s UN envoy warns of rift in international relations

MOSCOW , September 26 .
/TASS/ .
A global rift might emerge in international relations as a result of the ongoing US-China standoff , Russia ’ s Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said on Friday .
Commenting on the tensions between the United States and China , Nebenzya said that the history of international relations already has a precedent of a standoff between two major political systems .
`` However , those systems had some form of interaction back then , '' he said .
`` But the current events suggest a possibility of the world becoming separated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian diplomat said a bipolar world , in which the United States and China would dominate , was possible , but Russia was not eager to see this happen .
`` First of all , we do not ally with anyone against anyone else .
We do not ally with China against the United States , and we don ’ t want to ally with the United States against China .
We want the world to be different .
But , at the moment , it is moving not in the direction that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China and the United States worsened lately , including as a result of the trade tariffs row .
The situation deteriorated further when US President Donald Trump accused China of late and insufficient response to the initial novel coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan .
Later , the US leader also accused Beijing of stealing intellectual property .

MOSCOW, September 26. /TASS/. A global rift might emerge in international relations as a result of the ongoing US-China standoff, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said on Friday.
Commenting on the tensions between the United States and China, Nebenzya said that the history of international relations already has a precedent of a standoff between two major political systems.
"However, those systems had some form of interaction back then," he said. "But the current events suggest a possibility of the world becoming separated by a major rift."
The Russian diplomat said a bipolar world, in which the United States and China would dominate, was possible, but Russia was not eager to see this happen.
"First of all, we do not ally with anyone against anyone else. We do not ally with China against the United States, and we don’t want to ally with the United States against China. We want the world to be different. But, at the moment, it is moving not in the direction that we want."
The relations between China and the United States worsened lately, including as a result of the trade tariffs row. The situation deteriorated further when US President Donald Trump accused China of late and insufficient response to the initial novel coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan. Later, the US leader also accused Beijing of stealing intellectual property.


tass--2020-09-26--French interior minister describes attack on journalists in Paris as terror attack

PARIS , September 26 .
/TASS/ .
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told the France 2 TV channel that the knife attack on two journalists near Charlie Hebdo ’ s former offices in Paris on Friday was an act of terror .
`` This was evidently a terror attack , '' he said .
`` It happened in the street where Charlie Hebdo ’ s office used to be .
They behaved the way terrorists do .
Undoubtedly , this is a new bloody attack against our country , against journalists . ''
The minister added that the terrorists `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
At 11:45 local time ( 12:45 Moscow time ) , two journalists of the Premiere Ligne media production company were stabbed with a machete when they went out to smoke .
An 18-year-old man of Pakistani descent and his possible accomplice , presumably a of Algerian origin , were detained .
According to the BFM TV channel , one of them has already pleaded guilty .
Later , it became known that five more people were detained in connection with the attack .
The five men , born between 1983 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a northern suburb of Paris , where the main suspect lived .
The incident occurred at two streets adjacent to the building which was previously used as the Charlie Hebdo office that came to be tragically known to the word after a terrorist attack in January 2015 .
The 2015 attack claimed the lives of 12 people .
Among them were two police officers , deployed in the building after the satirical magazine started to receive numerous threats .
After the incident , Charlie Hebdo moved to another office .
Its location @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guarded by over 80 police officers .

PARIS, September 26. /TASS/. French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told the France 2 TV channel that the knife attack on two journalists near Charlie Hebdo’s former offices in Paris on Friday was an act of terror.
"This was evidently a terror attack," he said. "It happened in the street where Charlie Hebdo’s office used to be. They behaved the way terrorists do. Undoubtedly, this is a new bloody attack against our country, against journalists."
The minister added that the terrorists "are seeking to destroy the French identity."
At 11:45 local time (12:45 Moscow time), two journalists of the Premiere Ligne media production company were stabbed with a machete when they went out to smoke. An 18-year-old man of Pakistani descent and his possible accomplice, presumably a of Algerian origin, were detained. According to the BFM TV channel, one of them has already pleaded guilty.
Later, it became known that five more people were detained in connection with the attack. The five men, born between 1983 and 1996, were detained in an apartment in a northern suburb of Paris, where the main suspect lived.
The incident occurred at two streets adjacent to the building which was previously used as the Charlie Hebdo office that came to be tragically known to the word after a terrorist attack in January 2015. The 2015 attack claimed the lives of 12 people. Among them were two police officers, deployed in the building after the satirical magazine started to receive numerous threats. After the incident, Charlie Hebdo moved to another office. Its location is kept secret and the building is guarded by over 80 police officers.


tass--2020-09-26--Japanese premier says ready to meet with Kim Jong-un without preconditions

UNITED NATIONS , September 26 .
/TASS/ .
Japan ’ s new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said he was ready to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un without any preconditions .
`` As the new Prime Minister of Japan , I am ready to meet with Chairman Kim Jong-un without any conditions , '' he told the general political debate of the 75th UN General Assembly .
The head of the Japanese government said Tokyo was poised to fully normalize relations with Pyongyang through `` comprehensively resolving the outstanding issues of concern such as the abductions [ of Japanese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , nuclear and missile issues , as well as settlement of the unfortunate past . ''
He went on to say that establishing a constructive relationship between Japan and North Korea will not only serve the interests of both sides but will also greatly contribute to regional peace and stability .
`` I will miss no opportunity to take actions with all my dedication , '' he said .
The issue of abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korean intelligence services remains among the most painful issues in relations between two states , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 2002 , Pyongyang admitted the abduction of 13 Japanese citizens , allowing five of them to return to their homeland .
The rest were declared dead , and their relatives received remains whose identity could not be established .
In May 2014 , Japan and North Korea agreed to carry out a new investigation into the abductions , but a commission established for the purpose was later disbanded on Pyongyang ’ s initiative .
The UN General Assembly ’ s High-Level Week is being carried out between September 22 and 29 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

UNITED NATIONS, September 26. /TASS/. Japan’s new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said he was ready to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un without any preconditions.
"As the new Prime Minister of Japan, I am ready to meet with Chairman Kim Jong-un without any conditions," he told the general political debate of the 75th UN General Assembly.
The head of the Japanese government said Tokyo was poised to fully normalize relations with Pyongyang through "comprehensively resolving the outstanding issues of concern such as the abductions [of Japanese citizens by the North Korean intelligence], nuclear and missile issues, as well as settlement of the unfortunate past."
He went on to say that establishing a constructive relationship between Japan and North Korea will not only serve the interests of both sides but will also greatly contribute to regional peace and stability.
"I will miss no opportunity to take actions with all my dedication," he said.
The issue of abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korean intelligence services remains among the most painful issues in relations between two states, which have no official diplomatic ties. In 2002, Pyongyang admitted the abduction of 13 Japanese citizens, allowing five of them to return to their homeland. The rest were declared dead, and their relatives received remains whose identity could not be established.
In May 2014, Japan and North Korea agreed to carry out a new investigation into the abductions, but a commission established for the purpose was later disbanded on Pyongyang’s initiative.
The UN General Assembly’s High-Level Week is being carried out between September 22 and 29, in the format of pre-recorded video statements.


tass--2020-09-26--Death toll in northeastern Ukraine plane crash rises to 25

KIEV , September 26 .
/TASS/ .
The number of people killed in the An-26 plane crash in northeastern Ukraine ’ s Kharkov region has risen to 25 , the press service of the Ukrainian Prosecutor General ’ s Office said .
`` According to preliminary information at present , 25 people died .
Two were rushed to hospital in serious condition , '' the office said in its Telegram channel .
`` A criminal cause was launched on charges of violating rules of flight safety and flight preparations , which resulted in a disaster and other serious consequences , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s state emergencies service , the plane had 27 people on board , not 28 as was announced earlier .
`` One cadet was not cleared for the flight , '' the service said .
An An-26 military transport plane crashed in the Chuguyev district of northeastern Ukraine ’ s Kharkov region during a landing approach .
Apart from the crew , the plane had cadets of the Ivan Kozhedub National Air Force University on board , and was performing a training flight .
Two cadets managed to jump out of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 90 % of body surface , Kharkov Region Governor Alexei Kucher said .
According to the governor , the tragedy was probably caused by a failure of the plane ’ s left engine .
However , according to the official , `` a failure of one engine is not critical for an experienced pilot . ''
Another version of the disaster was voiced by Ukraine ’ s former chief military prosecutor Anatoly Matios , who said the disaster was caused by the crew ’ s error during landing .
He attributed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defense Ministry of Ukraine .
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said he will arrive to Kharkov on Saturday , September 26 , and called for a thorough investigation into the disaster .
Interior ministry forces , servicemen and civilian rescuers are currently working on the site .
The crash area has been cordoned off by the police .

KIEV, September 26. /TASS/. The number of people killed in the An-26 plane crash in northeastern Ukraine’s Kharkov region has risen to 25, the press service of the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office said.
"According to preliminary information at present, 25 people died. Two were rushed to hospital in serious condition," the office said in its Telegram channel.
"A criminal cause was launched on charges of violating rules of flight safety and flight preparations, which resulted in a disaster and other serious consequences," it said.
According to Ukraine’s state emergencies service, the plane had 27 people on board, not 28 as was announced earlier. "One cadet was not cleared for the flight," the service said.
An An-26 military transport plane crashed in the Chuguyev district of northeastern Ukraine’s Kharkov region during a landing approach. Apart from the crew, the plane had cadets of the Ivan Kozhedub National Air Force University on board, and was performing a training flight. Two cadets managed to jump out of the plane, but they sustained injuries to about 90% of body surface, Kharkov Region Governor Alexei Kucher said.
According to the governor, the tragedy was probably caused by a failure of the plane’s left engine. However, according to the official, "a failure of one engine is not critical for an experienced pilot." Another version of the disaster was voiced by Ukraine’s former chief military prosecutor Anatoly Matios, who said the disaster was caused by the crew’s error during landing. He attributed the information to his own sources in the Defense Ministry of Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said he will arrive to Kharkov on Saturday, September 26, and called for a thorough investigation into the disaster. Interior ministry forces, servicemen and civilian rescuers are currently working on the site. The crash area has been cordoned off by the police.


tass--2020-09-26--Russian diplomats declared persona non grata leave Bulgaria — embassy

SOFIA , September 26 .
/TASS/ .
Russian diplomats , who were declared persona non grata in Bulgaria on espionage charges , left the country on Friday , Russia ’ s embassy in Sofia told TASS .
`` The Russian diplomats left the territory of Bulgaria on Friday evening , '' the source said .
On Wednesday , the Bulgarian Prosecutor ’ s Office accused two employees from the Russian trade mission of espionage .
The authorities insisted that the two had been engaged in alleged spying activities in Bulgaria since 2016 , supposedly collecting data on plans to upgrade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ readiness of military hardware .
The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry declared the two personae non grata , giving them 72 hours to leave the country .
The Russian Embassy castigated the expulsion as baseless , emphasizing that no evidence had been furnished to confirm any sort of activity incompatible with their status .
On Thursday , the Russian Foreign Ministry deplored the Bulgarian move .
`` We express regret over the decision by Sofia to declare employees of the Russian trade mission in Bulgaria as personae non grata based on far-fetched accusations , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this as a deliberate attempt to damage constructive Russian-Bulgarian cooperation , '' the ministry specified .
Tit-for-tat measures will be announced later , Russia ’ s foreign office promised .

SOFIA, September 26. /TASS/. Russian diplomats, who were declared persona non grata in Bulgaria on espionage charges, left the country on Friday, Russia’s embassy in Sofia told TASS.
"The Russian diplomats left the territory of Bulgaria on Friday evening," the source said.
On Wednesday, the Bulgarian Prosecutor’s Office accused two employees from the Russian trade mission of espionage. The authorities insisted that the two had been engaged in alleged spying activities in Bulgaria since 2016, supposedly collecting data on plans to upgrade the Bulgarian army and maintain the technical readiness of military hardware. The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry declared the two personae non grata, giving them 72 hours to leave the country.
The Russian Embassy castigated the expulsion as baseless, emphasizing that no evidence had been furnished to confirm any sort of activity incompatible with their status.
On Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry deplored the Bulgarian move. "We express regret over the decision by Sofia to declare employees of the Russian trade mission in Bulgaria as personae non grata based on far-fetched accusations," the ministry stressed. "We see this as a deliberate attempt to damage constructive Russian-Bulgarian cooperation," the ministry specified.
Tit-for-tat measures will be announced later, Russia’s foreign office promised.


tass--2020-09-26--Seventeen more coronavirus patients die in Moscow in past day — crisis center

MOSCOW , September 25 .
/TASS/ .
Seventeen more coronavirus patients died in Moscow during the past day , with @ @ @ @ @ exceeding 5,140 , the city ’ s anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Friday .
`` @ @ @ @ @ pneumonia have died in Moscow , '' it said , adding the overall number of @ @ @ @ @ reached 5,146 .
The center once again warned that in case of any symptoms of @ @ @ @ @ necessary to stay home and call a doctor .
To date , 1,136,048 coronavirus cases @ @ @ @ @ , with 934,146 patients having recovered from the disease .
Russia ’ s latest data @ @ @ @ @ Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated @ @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, September 25. /TASS/. Seventeen more coronavirus patients died in Moscow during the past day, with the overall number of fatalities exceeding 5,140, the city’s anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Friday.
"Seventeen coronavirus-positive patients diagnosed with pneumonia have died in Moscow," it said, adding the overall number of coronavirus-related deaths in Moscow has reached 5,146.
The center once again warned that in case of any symptoms of a respiratory disease it is necessary to stay home and call a doctor.
To date, 1,136,048 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 934,146 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 20,056 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-09-26--Russian senior diplomat discusses Fatah-Hamas contacts with Palestinian politicians

MOSCOW , September 25 .
/TASS/ .
The results of the Istanbul consultations between Fatah and Hamas representatives on bridging intra-Palestinian gaps were in focus of meeting between Russian president ’ s special envoy for the Middle East and African countries and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov , member of Fatah Central Committee Hussein al-Sheikh , member of the Hamas Political Bureau Mousa Abu Marzook , and Secretary General of the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front Ahmad Majdalani , the Russian foreign ministry said on Friday .
`` The Palestinian representatives informed about the results of the recent contacts between Fatah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of issues to overcome the intra-Palestinian split in the light of agreements reached during the teleconference of the leaders of Palestinian organizations that was chaired by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on September 3 , 2020 , '' the ministry said .
The Russian side reiterated its unfailing readiness to help restore Palestinian unity on the platform of the Palestine Liberation Organization , elaborate a consolidated position of all leading Palestinian parties and movements in the interests of the realization of the legal rights of the Palestinian people , including the right to national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ framework of international law on settling the Palestinian-Israeli conflict .

MOSCOW, September 25. /TASS/. The results of the Istanbul consultations between Fatah and Hamas representatives on bridging intra-Palestinian gaps were in focus of meeting between Russian president’s special envoy for the Middle East and African countries and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, member of Fatah Central Committee Hussein al-Sheikh, member of the Hamas Political Bureau Mousa Abu Marzook, and Secretary General of the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front Ahmad Majdalani, the Russian foreign ministry said on Friday.
"The Palestinian representatives informed about the results of the recent contacts between Fatah and Hamas in Istanbul on the range of issues to overcome the intra-Palestinian split in the light of agreements reached during the teleconference of the leaders of Palestinian organizations that was chaired by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on September 3, 2020," the ministry said.
The Russian side reiterated its unfailing readiness to help restore Palestinian unity on the platform of the Palestine Liberation Organization, elaborate a consolidated position of all leading Palestinian parties and movements in the interests of the realization of the legal rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to national self-determination within an independent state within the framework of international law on settling the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.