tass--2020-05-14--About 10 Russian schoolchildren expected to return aboard Thursday’s flight from New York

NEW YORK , May 14 .
/TASS/ .
At least ten Russian schoolchildren are expected to return to their home country aboard a special Aeroflot flight from New York to Moscow on Thursday , President of the Russian Youth of America organization Igor Kochan told TASS .
According to the website of JFK Airport , the Aeroflot plane is scheduled to take off at 19:20 local time ( 02:20 Friday Moscow time ) .
The estimated time of arrival to Moscow is 11:45 local time .
The Russian Embassy in the US earlier said that only residents of Moscow , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian regions ( namely Vladimir , Ivanovo , Kaluga , Ryazan , Tver , Tula , Yaroslavl , Oryol , Lipetsk , Tambov , Voronezh , Kursk , Nizhny Novgorod ) and some of western and northwestern Russian regions ( Leningrad Region , Kostroma , Penza , Smolensk , Bryansk , Novgorod , Vologda and Pskov ) will be allowed to register for the flight .
The Russian Embassy in the US has repeatedly expressed its gratitude to the Russian Youth of America organization for `` timely aid to citizens of Russia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' in the United States .
This organizations helped Russians , including schoolchildren , to get to the airport in time and provided them with accommodation and basic necessities .
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a briefing on April 29 that the Russian Foreign Ministry managed to establish the whereabouts of the majority of Russian schoolchildren , who went to study in the United States under various educational programs .
On April 23 she said the US was reluctant in helping Moscow find its school students who were stuck in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel restrictions .
Zakharova said that the ministry would draw conclusions from the inadequate help of the US authorities in locating the Russian schoolchildren .
In her words , American officials are distancing themselves from resolving this problem , turning a blind eye to the appeals of the Russian embassy .

NEW YORK, May 14. /TASS/. At least ten Russian schoolchildren are expected to return to their home country aboard a special Aeroflot flight from New York to Moscow on Thursday, President of the Russian Youth of America organization Igor Kochan told TASS.
According to the website of JFK Airport, the Aeroflot plane is scheduled to take off at 19:20 local time (02:20 Friday Moscow time). The estimated time of arrival to Moscow is 11:45 local time.
The Russian Embassy in the US earlier said that only residents of Moscow, the surrounding Moscow Region, several Central Russian regions (namely Vladimir, Ivanovo, Kaluga, Ryazan, Tver, Tula, Yaroslavl, Oryol, Lipetsk, Tambov, Voronezh, Kursk, Nizhny Novgorod) and some of western and northwestern Russian regions (Leningrad Region, Kostroma, Penza, Smolensk, Bryansk, Novgorod, Vologda and Pskov) will be allowed to register for the flight.
The Russian Embassy in the US has repeatedly expressed its gratitude to the Russian Youth of America organization for "timely aid to citizens of Russia, who found themselves in a difficult situation" in the United States. This organizations helped Russians, including schoolchildren, to get to the airport in time and provided them with accommodation and basic necessities.
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a briefing on April 29 that the Russian Foreign Ministry managed to establish the whereabouts of the majority of Russian schoolchildren, who went to study in the United States under various educational programs.
On April 23 she said the US was reluctant in helping Moscow find its school students who were stuck in the country amid the coronavirus pandemic and related travel restrictions. Zakharova said that the ministry would draw conclusions from the inadequate help of the US authorities in locating the Russian schoolchildren. In her words, American officials are distancing themselves from resolving this problem, turning a blind eye to the appeals of the Russian embassy.


tass--2020-05-14--Next missions to ISS scheduled for July 23, October 14 — source

MOSCOW , May 14 .
/TASS/ .
The next unmanned mission to the International Space Station ( ISS ) is scheduled for July 23 , and the manned mission - for October 14 , a rocket and space industry source told TASS on Thursday .
`` The launch of the Progress MS-15 space freighter to the orbit is due on July 23 , '' the source said , adding the Soyuz 2.1a rocket is scheduled to take the Soyuz MS-17 spacecraft to the ISS `` on October 14 , according to plans . ''
The Soyuz MS-17 crew will comprise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On May 12 , the press service of Russia ’ s state space corporation Roscosmos announced it had signed a contract for a Soyuz MS seat for a US astronaut in the autumn 2020 with United States ’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA ) .
According to NASA ’ s Stephanie Schierholz , NASA will pay more than 90 million US dollars for a Soyuz seat and corresponding services .
The United States stopped its own manned spaceflights in 2011 when the Space Shuttle program was closed .
Since then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ISS by Russian Soyuz spaceship .
Currently , a number of US companies are developing new spacecraft for manned programs .

MOSCOW, May 14. /TASS/. The next unmanned mission to the International Space Station (ISS) is scheduled for July 23, and the manned mission - for October 14, a rocket and space industry source told TASS on Thursday.
"The launch of the Progress MS-15 space freighter to the orbit is due on July 23," the source said, adding the Soyuz 2.1a rocket is scheduled to take the Soyuz MS-17 spacecraft to the ISS "on October 14, according to plans."
The Soyuz MS-17 crew will comprise two Russian cosmonauts and one US astronaut.
On May 12, the press service of Russia’s state space corporation Roscosmos announced it had signed a contract for a Soyuz MS seat for a US astronaut in the autumn 2020 with United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). According to NASA’s Stephanie Schierholz, NASA will pay more than 90 million US dollars for a Soyuz seat and corresponding services.
The United States stopped its own manned spaceflights in 2011 when the Space Shuttle program was closed. Since then, NASA astronauts have been taken to the ISS by Russian Soyuz spaceship. Currently, a number of US companies are developing new spacecraft for manned programs.


tass--2020-05-14--Expert sees possibility of second, third coronavirus wave in Russia

MOSCOW , May 14 .
/TASS/ .
The second and even the third surge of the novel coronavirus infection are possible in Russia as long as it has neither a vaccine nor herd immunity to the disease , said Alexander Gorelov , director of the Russian sanitary watchdog ’ s central epidemiology research institute .
`` In the case of any respiratory viral infection we hope for herd immunity .
It is clear that it would be impossible to bring the infection rate to zero , that ’ s why I am absolutely convinced that there will be a second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a third one unless we are protected by herd immunity or an efficient vaccine , '' he said in a Channel One broadcast .
At the same time , the expert added that the upcoming surges will not be that steep .
On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .
According to the latest statistics , over 4,355,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 293,000 deaths have been reported .
To date , a total of 242,271 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates 2,212 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, May 14. /TASS/. The second and even the third surge of the novel coronavirus infection are possible in Russia as long as it has neither a vaccine nor herd immunity to the disease, said Alexander Gorelov, director of the Russian sanitary watchdog’s central epidemiology research institute.
"In the case of any respiratory viral infection we hope for herd immunity. It is clear that it would be impossible to bring the infection rate to zero, that’s why I am absolutely convinced that there will be a second surge, and, possibly, even a third one unless we are protected by herd immunity or an efficient vaccine," he said in a Channel One broadcast.
At the same time, the expert added that the upcoming surges will not be that steep.
On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. According to the latest statistics, over 4,355,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 293,000 deaths have been reported.
To date, a total of 242,271 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 48,003 patients having recovered from the virus. Russia’s latest data indicates 2,212 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-05-14--Venezuela requests emergency UN Security Council session over attempted mercenaries raid

UNITED NATIONS , May 14 .
/TASS/ .
Venezuela has requested the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the purported incursion of mercenaries , which Caracas says was organized by the United States and Colombia to topple the incumbent government .
In his 14-page request , Venezuela ’ s envoy to the UN Samuel Moncada notifies the Security Council that `` between 03 and 04 May 2020 , armed groups of mercenaries and terrorists , organized , trained , financed and protected by the governments of the Republic of Colombia and the United States of America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` In that order , I would like to respectfully request hereby , through you , in your capacity as President of the Security Council of the United Nations , that said body urgently holds the discussions that may be necessary in order to : i ) recognize that the aggression perpetrated by the Governments of Bogota and Washington against Venezuela , between 03 and 04 May 2020 , was an armed attack that attempted against the peace and security of both my nation and the region ; and ii ) issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use or threat of use of force in all its forms and manifestations against Venezuela , '' the statement says .
On May 3 , the Venezuelan authorities announced that they had successfully foiled an attempt to infiltrate the country by a mercenary group travelling from Colombia looking to stage a coup in Venezuela and murder President Nicolas Maduro .
Among those detained were two US citizens .
Maduro showed on national television that the passports belonged to Airan Berry and Luke Denman .
The first of them said during the interrogation that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the airport and bringing the Venezuelan leader there in order to then send him to the US .
US President Donald Trump said Washington had no relation to the group of persons arrested in Venezuela and that the US would not hide the fact of carrying out an operation against the country if it planned it .

UNITED NATIONS, May 14. /TASS/. Venezuela has requested the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the purported incursion of mercenaries, which Caracas says was organized by the United States and Colombia to topple the incumbent government.
In his 14-page request, Venezuela’s envoy to the UN Samuel Moncada notifies the Security Council that "between 03 and 04 May 2020, armed groups of mercenaries and terrorists, organized, trained, financed and protected by the governments of the Republic of Colombia and the United States of America, illegally entered the Venezuelan territory."
"In that order, I would like to respectfully request hereby, through you, in your capacity as President of the Security Council of the United Nations, that said body urgently holds the discussions that may be necessary in order to: i) recognize that the aggression perpetrated by the Governments of Bogota and Washington against Venezuela, between 03 and 04 May 2020, was an armed attack that attempted against the peace and security of both my nation and the region; and ii) issue a clear statement condemning and prohibiting the use or threat of use of force in all its forms and manifestations against Venezuela," the statement says.
On May 3, the Venezuelan authorities announced that they had successfully foiled an attempt to infiltrate the country by a mercenary group travelling from Colombia looking to stage a coup in Venezuela and murder President Nicolas Maduro. Among those detained were two US citizens.
Maduro showed on national television that the passports belonged to Airan Berry and Luke Denman. The first of them said during the interrogation that he had been tasked with taking control of the airport and bringing the Venezuelan leader there in order to then send him to the US.
US President Donald Trump said Washington had no relation to the group of persons arrested in Venezuela and that the US would not hide the fact of carrying out an operation against the country if it planned it.


tass--2020-05-14--Russian government earmarks over $316 mln to support domestic air carriers

MOSCOW , May 14 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian government has allocated 23.4 billion rubles ( about $ 329 million at the current exchange rate ) to compensate for air carriers ’ losses entailed as a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic , according to the government ’ s website .
`` Domestic air carriers will receive 23.4 billion rubles in compensation for losses entailed as a result of the novel coronavirus infection outbreak .
This decree has been approved by the government , '' says a statement on the government ’ s website .
The measures were taken upon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The subsidies can be spent on wages for air industry personnel ( no less than 60 % from the overall amount of the installment ) , leasing payments ( not more than 30 % from the overall amount ) , payments for aircraft parking ( not more than 10 % of the overall amount ) , as well as operating activities and property maintenance , '' the government said .
In order to obtain a subsidy , an air carrier should file a request to Russia ’ s Federal Air Transport Agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The final decision is made within 20 working days after receiving the request , '' the government ’ s press service said .
Air transport was among the hardest-hit economic sectors , affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic .
Russia fully halted regular and charter international flights since March 27 and airlines can only perform flights to deliver cargo and mail , as well as flights for sanitary and humanitarian purposes .
Some air carriers currently use their fleet for delivery of medical items .
According to the Russian Federal Air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some 771,200 passengers in April , down 91.8 % year-on-year .

MOSCOW, May 14. /TASS/. The Russian government has allocated 23.4 billion rubles (about $329 million at the current exchange rate) to compensate for air carriers’ losses entailed as a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic, according to the government’s website.
"Domestic air carriers will receive 23.4 billion rubles in compensation for losses entailed as a result of the novel coronavirus infection outbreak. This decree has been approved by the government," says a statement on the government’s website.
The measures were taken upon instructions from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"The subsidies can be spent on wages for air industry personnel (no less than 60% from the overall amount of the installment), leasing payments (not more than 30% from the overall amount), payments for aircraft parking (not more than 10% of the overall amount), as well as operating activities and property maintenance," the government said.
In order to obtain a subsidy, an air carrier should file a request to Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency and submit a package of necessary documents.
"The final decision is made within 20 working days after receiving the request," the government’s press service said.
Air transport was among the hardest-hit economic sectors, affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Russia fully halted regular and charter international flights since March 27 and airlines can only perform flights to deliver cargo and mail, as well as flights for sanitary and humanitarian purposes. Some air carriers currently use their fleet for delivery of medical items.
According to the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency, Russian air carriers transported some 771,200 passengers in April, down 91.8% year-on-year.


tass--2020-05-14--Plane that landed in Moscow due to Turkey’s actions eventually delivers aid to Cyprus

NICOSIA , May 14 .
/TASS/ .
A plane delivering medical equipment from China to Cyprus , which had to land for refueling in Moscow after Turkey refused to allow it to fly through its airspace , has successfully arrived to Larnaca on Wednesday night , Cyprus ’ s Minister of Transport , Communications and Works Yiannis Karousos said in a Twitter post .
`` 36 tonnes of medical items for protection against the coronavirus have been delivered to Cyprus from China .
The flight did not proceed smoothly , because the Turkish authorities did not allow the plane to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
On Wednesday , Karousos said the decision to change the plane ’ s course has been made , considering that the aircraft does not have enough fuel to bypass the Turkish airspace .
The minister also said that now the Cypriot authorities would lodge a diplomatic protest over Ankara ’ s actions .
According to the data of the aviation web portal Flightradar24.com , the plane flew off from China 's Binhai airport for Cyprus at 03:38 local time .
It made two circles over the Black Sea and set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 14:02 Moscow time .
After refueling , the plane continued its flight to Cyprus via the airspace of Bulgaria .
It delivered to Cyprus face masks , shoe covers , disposable surgical suits and other protective clothing weighing a total of 36 tonnes .

NICOSIA, May 14. /TASS/. A plane delivering medical equipment from China to Cyprus, which had to land for refueling in Moscow after Turkey refused to allow it to fly through its airspace, has successfully arrived to Larnaca on Wednesday night, Cyprus’s Minister of Transport, Communications and Works Yiannis Karousos said in a Twitter post.
"36 tonnes of medical items for protection against the coronavirus have been delivered to Cyprus from China. The flight did not proceed smoothly, because the Turkish authorities did not allow the plane to fly through the Turkish airspace," he said.
On Wednesday, Karousos said the decision to change the plane’s course has been made, considering that the aircraft does not have enough fuel to bypass the Turkish airspace. The minister also said that now the Cypriot authorities would lodge a diplomatic protest over Ankara’s actions.
According to the data of the aviation web portal Flightradar24.com, the plane flew off from China's Binhai airport for Cyprus at 03:38 local time. It made two circles over the Black Sea and set off for Vnukovo airport where it landed at 14:02 Moscow time. After refueling, the plane continued its flight to Cyprus via the airspace of Bulgaria. It delivered to Cyprus face masks, shoe covers, disposable surgical suits and other protective clothing weighing a total of 36 tonnes.


tass--2020-05-15--Coronavirus death toll in Moscow hits 1,358

MOSCOW , May 15 .
/TASS/ .
Sixty eight more people , who have been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus and concurrent diseases , died in Moscow in the past 24 hours , bringing the overall death toll from COVID-19 in the Russian capital to 1,358 , the anti-coronavirus crisis center said in a statement on Friday .
`` A total of 68 patients diagnosed with pneumonia , who tested positive for the novel coronavirus , died in Moscow , '' the statement reads .
According to the anti-coronavirus crisis center , the overall number of people diagnosed with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14 stood at 130,716 .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials notified 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 4,511,000 people have been infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been reported .
In addition , so far , over 1,697,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe .
To date , over 252,250 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , with more than 53,530 patients having recovered from the virus .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates over 2,300 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, May 15. /TASS/. Sixty eight more people, who have been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus and concurrent diseases, died in Moscow in the past 24 hours, bringing the overall death toll from COVID-19 in the Russian capital to 1,358, the anti-coronavirus crisis center said in a statement on Friday.
"A total of 68 patients diagnosed with pneumonia, who tested positive for the novel coronavirus, died in Moscow," the statement reads.
According to the anti-coronavirus crisis center, the overall number of people diagnosed with the novel coronavirus in Moscow as of May 14 stood at 130,716.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified 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 4,511,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 302,500 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 1,697,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.
To date, over 252,250 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with more than 53,530 patients having recovered from the virus. Russia’s latest data indicates over 2,300 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-05-14--Russian ambassador demands NYT refute article about COVID-19 fatalities in Russia

WASHINGTON , May 14./TASS/ .
Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov has sent a message to the NYT executive editor with a demand to refute the article about COVID-19 death rates in Russia , the press service of the Russian embassy said .
`` We confirm that the ambassador sent a letter to the NYT editor-in-chief demanding that a retraction be published , '' it said .
Earlier , Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the ministry would send letters to the Financial Times and The New York Times editorial offices demanding their reports about allegedly understated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Also , she said that a similar message was dispatched to the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Desir and UNESCO Secretary-General Audrey Azoulay .
On May 12 , The Financial Times claimed that the real death toll from the novel coronavirus-related disease allegedly exceeds the official statistics by 70 % .
The New York Times also published a story about the pandemic death rate in Russia .
Meanwhile , WHO Representative to the Russian Federation Melita Vujnovic said there were no facts of deliberate underreporting the coronavirus deaths in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 252,245 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , with 53,530 patients having recovered from the virus .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates 2,305 fatalities nationwide .

WASHINGTON, May 14./TASS/. Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov has sent a message to the NYT executive editor with a demand to refute the article about COVID-19 death rates in Russia, the press service of the Russian embassy said.
"We confirm that the ambassador sent a letter to the NYT editor-in-chief demanding that a retraction be published," it said.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the ministry would send letters to the Financial Times and The New York Times editorial offices demanding their reports about allegedly understated coronavirus-related death statistics should be refuted. Also, she said that a similar message was dispatched to the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Desir and UNESCO Secretary-General Audrey Azoulay.
On May 12, The Financial Times claimed that the real death toll from the novel coronavirus-related disease allegedly exceeds the official statistics by 70%. The New York Times also published a story about the pandemic death rate in Russia. Meanwhile, WHO Representative to the Russian Federation Melita Vujnovic said there were no facts of deliberate underreporting the coronavirus deaths in the country.
To date, a total of 252,245 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 53,530 patients having recovered from the virus. Russia’s latest data indicates 2,305 fatalities nationwide.


tass--2020-05-14--New Prime Minister of Iraq invites Vladimir Putin to visit Baghdad

MOSCOW , May 14 .
/TASS/ .
The newly elected Prime Minister of Iraq Mustafa al-Kadhimi handed over an invitation @ @ @ @ @ to visit Baghdad through Russian Ambassador to Iraq Maksim Maksimov , Iraq ’ s INA @ @ @ @ @ citing the Prime Minister ’ s office .
`` Al-Kadhimi hosted the Russian Ambassador to @ @ @ @ @ the Ambassador handed over written congratulations from Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail @ @ @ @ @ an invitation to visit Moscow , '' the PM ’ s office said in a @ @ @ @ @ the Iraqi Prime Minister relayed an invitation `` for the Russian President to visit Baghdad @ @ @ @ @ he would be glad to visit Moscow .
He thanked the Russian top officials , @ @ @ @ @ pride in close relations with Russia '' and seeks `` to strengthen them in political @ @ @ @ @ and in the field of security .
`` .

MOSCOW, May 14. /TASS/. The newly elected Prime Minister of Iraq Mustafa al-Kadhimi handed over an invitation for Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit Baghdad through Russian Ambassador to Iraq Maksim Maksimov, Iraq’s INA news agency announced Thursday, citing the Prime Minister’s office.
"Al-Kadhimi hosted the Russian Ambassador to Iraq Maksim Maksimov, and the Ambassador handed over written congratulations from Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, which also included an invitation to visit Moscow," the PM’s office said in a statement.
In response, the Iraqi Prime Minister relayed an invitation "for the Russian President to visit Baghdad," and noted that he would be glad to visit Moscow. He thanked the Russian top officials, adding that Iraq "takes pride in close relations with Russia" and seeks "to strengthen them in political, economic, cultural fields and in the field of security.".


tass--2020-05-14--Putin, Vucic discuss joint projects on energy, transport

MOSCOW , May 14 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic spoke in favor @ @ @ @ @ partnership and discussed projects on energy , railroad transport and high technologies , Kremlin press @ @ @ @ @ The sides expressed mutual intent for further strengthening of Russian-Serbian strategic partnership and multifaceted cooperation @ @ @ @ @ projects on energy , railroad transport and high technology , '' the press service said @ @ @ @ @ state also congratulated each other with the 75th Anniversary of Victory in the World War @ @ @ @ @ attitude of the people of both nations to the anniversary , the press service said @ @ @ @ @ his gratitude for assistance provided by the Ministry of Defense ’ s joint team in @ @ @ @ @ underscored the importance of further coordination of efforts on countering the infection spread .

MOSCOW, May 14. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic spoke in favor of further strengthening of strategic partnership and discussed projects on energy, railroad transport and high technologies, Kremlin press service announced Thursday.
"The sides expressed mutual intent for further strengthening of Russian-Serbian strategic partnership and multifaceted cooperation, including development of joint projects on energy, railroad transport and high technology," the press service said,
The two heads of state also congratulated each other with the 75th Anniversary of Victory in the World War II and noted the special attitude of the people of both nations to the anniversary, the press service said.
Besides, Vucic expressed his gratitude for assistance provided by the Ministry of Defense’s joint team in fighting the coronavirus pandemic and underscored the importance of further coordination of efforts on countering the infection spread.


tass--2020-05-14--Serbian president thanks Putin for help in battle against coronavirus

BELGRADE , May 14 .
/TASS/ .
In a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday , Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic thanked the Russian leader for aid granted by Moscow to help Serbia battle the coronavirus pandemic , the press service of the Serbian leader reports .
According to the press service , Vucic plans state awards for Russian military .
`` President Vucic extended condolences to President Putin in connection with COVID-19 fatalities in Russia , as well as expressed hope that the virus will be successfully defeated owing to resolute actions , '' the press service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirming exclusive strategic relations between Russia and Serbia through demonstrating care and dispatching medical aid , '' the press service cited the Serbian president .
`` Serbia is privileged to have such a sincere friend as Russia , and our relations of mutual respect and trust are an honor for me , '' the press service quoted Vucic .
The president told the Russian leader that if Russia agreed , he was planning awards for Russian military specialists `` who stanchly helped in the fight against the spread of coronavirus '' .
Within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specialists `` took under control the situation in major centers '' of the infection .
The presidents expressed hope that the circumstances would soon allow an exchange of visits at the top level and continuation of the earlier planned contacts .
Aleksandar Vucic also said he was glad that although the Red Square parade had been canceled , the Victory anniversary was marked properly , adding that the Russian and Serbian people respected their heroes and prevented attempts to falsify history .
Serbia earlier requested Russia ’ s assistance in the fight against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Russian Aerospace Forces ’ planes transported to Serbia Russian military medics , including virologists , radiation , chemical and biological protection specialists , special medical equipment , protection gear and sixteen military vehicles .
The Russian specialists provided assistance in the capital and a number of other regions .
They have disinfected hundreds of thousands of meters at the leading health centers and extended medical aid to patients across the country .

BELGRADE, May 14. /TASS/. In a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic thanked the Russian leader for aid granted by Moscow to help Serbia battle the coronavirus pandemic, the press service of the Serbian leader reports.
According to the press service, Vucic plans state awards for Russian military.
"President Vucic extended condolences to President Putin in connection with COVID-19 fatalities in Russia, as well as expressed hope that the virus will be successfully defeated owing to resolute actions," the press service said. "Vucic thanked Putin for confirming exclusive strategic relations between Russia and Serbia through demonstrating care and dispatching medical aid," the press service cited the Serbian president.
"Serbia is privileged to have such a sincere friend as Russia, and our relations of mutual respect and trust are an honor for me," the press service quoted Vucic.
The president told the Russian leader that if Russia agreed, he was planning awards for Russian military specialists "who stanchly helped in the fight against the spread of coronavirus". Within a short period of time, Russian specialists "took under control the situation in major centers" of the infection.
The presidents expressed hope that the circumstances would soon allow an exchange of visits at the top level and continuation of the earlier planned contacts. Aleksandar Vucic also said he was glad that although the Red Square parade had been canceled, the Victory anniversary was marked properly, adding that the Russian and Serbian people respected their heroes and prevented attempts to falsify history.
Serbia earlier requested Russia’s assistance in the fight against the epidemic. On April 3-4, the Russian Aerospace Forces’ planes transported to Serbia Russian military medics, including virologists, radiation, chemical and biological protection specialists, special medical equipment, protection gear and sixteen military vehicles. The Russian specialists provided assistance in the capital and a number of other regions. They have disinfected hundreds of thousands of meters at the leading health centers and extended medical aid to patients across the country.


tass--2020-05-14--Ammo and weapons stash discovered in Russia’s Novorossiysk

KRASNODAR , May 14 .
/TASS/ .
A weapons and ammo stash was discovered by the transport police officers in cooperation with the Federal Security Service Directorate on the Krasnodar Region , Russian Interior Ministry ’ s South Federal District Transport Department ’ s press service told TASS Thursday .
`` The transport police officers have discovered an ammo stash in Novorossiysk .
[ … ] The law enforcement officers seized over 1,500 rounds of various calibers , 15 grenades with 10 detonators , a Kalashnikov rifle with three magazines , a Browning pistol , a revolver and a pistol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message says .
According to the Department , the stash has been discovered during searches within a different criminal proceeding on charges of fraud .
The press service added that documents , also discovered in the suspect ’ s apartment , provide evidence on the fraud case , which also involves the suspect ’ s father .
`` A criminal proceeding has been initiated on evidence of [ illegal purchase , sale , storage , transportation or carrying of weapons , its main parts and ammo ] , '' the press service said @

KRASNODAR, May 14. /TASS/. A weapons and ammo stash was discovered by the transport police officers in cooperation with the Federal Security Service Directorate on the Krasnodar Region, Russian Interior Ministry’s South Federal District Transport Department’s press service told TASS Thursday.
"The transport police officers have discovered an ammo stash in Novorossiysk. […] The law enforcement officers seized over 1,500 rounds of various calibers, 15 grenades with 10 detonators, a Kalashnikov rifle with three magazines, a Browning pistol, a revolver and a pistol with a sound suppressor," the message says.
According to the Department, the stash has been discovered during searches within a different criminal proceeding on charges of fraud. The press service added that documents, also discovered in the suspect’s apartment, provide evidence on the fraud case, which also involves the suspect’s father.
"A criminal proceeding has been initiated on evidence of [illegal purchase, sale, storage, transportation or carrying of weapons, its main parts and ammo]," the press service said.


tass--2020-05-14--Russian defense minister proposes exchanging combat ship visit to French counterpart

MOSCOW , May 14 .
/TASS/ .
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has had a phone call with his French counterpart Florence Parly on Thursday and proposed exchanging a visit of the two countries ’ combat ships and also invited French military officials to the Army forum and the International Army Games , the Russian defense ministry ’ s press service told reporters .
`` Army General Sergei Shoigu proposed to set up work of Russian-French inter-agency expert groups for security , plan exchanging students to develop military education ties as well as make preparations for a visit of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ports and send a Russian navy ship to a French port , '' the agency noted .
Shoigu confirmed that French experts are invited to take part in the Army international technical forum and the International Army Games in August-September 2020 .
The sides also discussed `` measures to combat COVID-19 spread , bilateral military cooperation and arms control issues , '' the Russian ministry underlined .
Moreover , the ministers exchanged opinions on the current situation in Europe , the Middle East and North Africa and compared opinions on implementation of agreements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting of defense and foreign ministers in September 2019 .
The Russian military agency clarified that the top defense officials agreed to continue dialogue on issue of mutual interest .

MOSCOW, May 14. /TASS/. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has had a phone call with his French counterpart Florence Parly on Thursday and proposed exchanging a visit of the two countries’ combat ships and also invited French military officials to the Army forum and the International Army Games, the Russian defense ministry’s press service told reporters.
"Army General Sergei Shoigu proposed to set up work of Russian-French inter-agency expert groups for security, plan exchanging students to develop military education ties as well as make preparations for a visit of a French navy ship to one of Russian ports and send a Russian navy ship to a French port," the agency noted.
Shoigu confirmed that French experts are invited to take part in the Army international technical forum and the International Army Games in August-September 2020. The sides also discussed "measures to combat COVID-19 spread, bilateral military cooperation and arms control issues," the Russian ministry underlined.
Moreover, the ministers exchanged opinions on the current situation in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa and compared opinions on implementation of agreements reached during a ‘2+2’ format meeting of defense and foreign ministers in September 2019.
The Russian military agency clarified that the top defense officials agreed to continue dialogue on issue of mutual interest.


Brent prices add 6.1%

MOSCOW , May 14 .
/TASS/ .
Brent oil futures with delivery in July 2020 surged by 6.1 % to @ @ @ @ @ the London-based ICE on Thursday , according to trading data .
The dollar dropped by @ @ @ @ @ to 73.83 rubles at the same time .
The euro fell 0.4 % to 79.62 @ @

MOSCOW, May 14. /TASS/. Brent oil futures with delivery in July 2020 surged by 6.1% to $30.98 a barrel on the London-based ICE on Thursday, according to trading data.
WTI futures soared 8.9% to $27.53 a barrel.
The dollar dropped by 0.2% against the ruble to 73.83 rubles at the same time. The euro fell 0.4% to 79.62 rubles.


tass--2020-05-14--Russian, Armenian foreign ministers discuss Karabakh settlement, bilateral issues

MOSCOW , May 14./TASS/ .
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Armenian counterpart Zograb Mnatsakanyan discussed bilateral issues and @ @ @ @ @ phone call on Thursday , the Foreign Ministry reported .
The two diplomats `` discussed @ @ @ @ @ , cooperation within the framework of the CIS , the Eurasian Economic Union and the @ @ @ @ @ as well as the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement , '' the ministry said .
The Armenian foreign @ @ @ @ @ all parties in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to provisions of the five-way statement that was passed @ @ @ @ @ mediation and participation of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group .
The conflict between @ @ @ @ @ sparked in February 1988 , when the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region declared its secession from the @ @ @ @ @ During the armed conflict of 1992-1994 , Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabah and seven neighboring @ @ @ @ @ negotiations on a peaceful settlement to the conflict under the OSCE Minsk Group headed by @ @ @ @ @ US and France ) in place since 1992 .

MOSCOW, May 14./TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Armenian counterpart Zograb Mnatsakanyan discussed bilateral issues and the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement in a phone call on Thursday, the Foreign Ministry reported.
The two diplomats "discussed key issues of bilateral relations, cooperation within the framework of the CIS, the Eurasian Economic Union and the Collective Security Treaty Organization, as well as the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement," the ministry said.
The Armenian foreign minister emphasized absolute commitment of all parties in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to provisions of the five-way statement that was passed on April 21 with the mediation and participation of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group.
The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh sparked in February 1988, when the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region declared its secession from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. During the armed conflict of 1992-1994, Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabah and seven neighboring areas. There have been negotiations on a peaceful settlement to the conflict under the OSCE Minsk Group headed by the co-chairs (Russia, US and France) in place since 1992.


tass--2020-05-14--Russians to return home from South Africa, Zanzibar, Mauritius, Spain on May 14

MOSCOW , May 14 .
/TASS/ .
Russian citizens are returning to Russia on May from Mauritius , Zanzibar , South Africa and Spain aboard special flights , spokeswoman for Russia ’ s foreign ministry Maria Zakharova told a briefing on Thursday .
`` A plane of the Royal Flight airline left last night .
He is expected to return home our citizens from Mauritius , Zanzibar and a whole group of our citizens from South Africa , '' she said .
Speaking of South Africa , the diplomat underlined that it is technically impossible to bring back all Russians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destination is in the works for an additional flight . ''
`` Today , our compatriots from [ India ’ s ] Goa will return to Russia .
The flight is heading to Moscow with a stopover in Rostov-on-Don for those living in the Southern Federal District , '' Zakharova added .
The foreign ministry spokeswoman said a new flight from Spain is expected to bring back tourists from two touristic centers at once - Tenerife and Barcelona .
Zakharova recalled that Russia ’ s air travel agency data shows that around 1,300 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past week .
Overall , 16,000 people were brought home since early April .

MOSCOW, May 14. /TASS/. Russian citizens are returning to Russia on May from Mauritius, Zanzibar, South Africa and Spain aboard special flights, spokeswoman for Russia’s foreign ministry Maria Zakharova told a briefing on Thursday.
"A plane of the Royal Flight airline left last night. He is expected to return home our citizens from Mauritius, Zanzibar and a whole group of our citizens from South Africa," she said.
Speaking of South Africa, the diplomat underlined that it is technically impossible to bring back all Russians at once, however, "this destination is in the works for an additional flight."
"Today, our compatriots from [India’s] Goa will return to Russia. The flight is heading to Moscow with a stopover in Rostov-on-Don for those living in the Southern Federal District," Zakharova added.
The foreign ministry spokeswoman said a new flight from Spain is expected to bring back tourists from two touristic centers at once - Tenerife and Barcelona.
Zakharova recalled that Russia’s air travel agency data shows that around 1,300 people were brought back to Russia in the past week. Overall, 16,000 people were brought home since early April.


tass--2020-05-14--Opening EU borders for Russian nationals not on agenda for now, says EU envoy

MOSCOW , May 14./TASS/ .
The opening of European Union borders for Russian nationals is not discussed in practical terms at the moment , Russian Permanent Envoy to the EU Vladimir Chizhov told Rossiya-24 television on Thursday .
`` Opening the external border of the European Union , and respectively the Schengen space , is not discussed in practical terms at this point with regard to the Russian nationals , '' the diplomat said .
The heads of state and government of the European Union member countries approved on March 17 the closure of the external borders for 30 days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of coronavirus .
A month later , the European Commission recommended the EU nations to extend this measure until May 15 .
At the moment , the borders remain closed to non-essential travel .
The exception has been made for the diplomats , medical workers , researchers engaged in coronavirus fight projects , workers of the transport sector , citizens and residents of the EU returning home as well as the members of their families .
According to the latest statistics , over 4,442,000 people have been infected with coronavirus worldwide and more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In addition , so far , over 1,668,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe .

MOSCOW, May 14./TASS/. The opening of European Union borders for Russian nationals is not discussed in practical terms at the moment, Russian Permanent Envoy to the EU Vladimir Chizhov told Rossiya-24 television on Thursday.
"Opening the external border of the European Union, and respectively the Schengen space, is not discussed in practical terms at this point with regard to the Russian nationals," the diplomat said.
The heads of state and government of the European Union member countries approved on March 17 the closure of the external borders for 30 days with an aim to battle the spread of coronavirus. A month later, the European Commission recommended the EU nations to extend this measure until May 15. At the moment, the borders remain closed to non-essential travel. The exception has been made for the diplomats, medical workers, researchers engaged in coronavirus fight projects, workers of the transport sector, citizens and residents of the EU returning home as well as the members of their families.
According to the latest statistics, over 4,442,000 people have been infected with coronavirus worldwide and more than 298,000 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 1,668,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.


tass--2020-05-14--Moscow fulfills watchdog’s criteria for first stage of restriction withdrawal

MOSCOW , May 14 .
/TASS/ .
Moscow fulfills all mandatory criteria put forth by the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing ( Rospotrebnadzor ) , which allow the region to proceed to the first stage of softening of restrictions imposed over the coronavirus infection , TASS calculations , based on official data and statements on incidence , testing coverage and bed occupation , indicate .
On May 8 , Rospotrebnadzor sent recommendations for the regions which contain criteria that act as a basis for gradual withdrawal of the restrictive measures .
To commence the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be met : infection transmission coefficient must not exceed 1 , at least 50 % of bed fund for the coronavirus patients must be free and the amount of daily coronavirus tests per 100,000 residents must be at least 70 per day .
The decision on gradual withdrawal of restrictions will be taken by each region ’ s governor individually , based on recommendations and instructions of the regional chief sanitary medic .
To define the spread dynamics , Rospotrebnadzor recommends using the so-called transmission coefficient , which indicates the average number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are isolated .
According to TASS calculations based on the coronavirus prevention operational HQ data , this indicator in Moscow stays under 1 for four days in a row .
On Thursday , it reached the record low level of 0.88 .
In later April , Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin announced that Moscow hospitals tend to 17,000 patients coronavirus patients .
On May 11 , Sobyanin said that the number of admittances does not increase for the third week in a row , and on May 14 , he noted that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Deputy Mayor Pyotr Biryukov , by May 5 , 30,000 beds were repurposed for coronavirus patients and that 10,000 more were planned for retooling in the upcoming days .
Therefore , even if we presume that , after three weeks of zero growth and the following decrease , the bed load stays at 17,000 , this is still less than 50 % occupied beds out of 40,000 .
From a testing coverage standpoint , Moscow also complies with the Rospotrebnadzor criteria .
On May 2 , Sobyanin announced that Moscow ramped lab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests per day .
According to the Russian Federal State Statistic Service data , there were 12,678 million people in Moscow by January 1 , 2020 .
Therefore , at least 315 coronavirus tests per 100,000 residents are performed in Moscow every day .
By this criterion , Moscow actually fulfills requirements for the third stage of restrictions withdrawal .
On Thursday , Sobyanin announced that Moscow plans to increase the testing rate to 200,000 tests per day .
If the necessary criteria are met , Rospotrebnadzor considers it possible to restore operation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retail at sites with area of up to 400 square meters , to allow outdoors physical training and walks of groups of up to two people with social distancing measures .
However , children playgrounds must stay closed .
During all stages of restrictions withdrawal , self-isolation regime remains for people aged over 65 and people with chronic diseases .
Wearing medical masks and gloves in public places and social distancing are mandatory .
Besides , Rospotrebnadzor suggests taking fatality rate , non-hospital pneumonia incidence and the rate of people with immunity to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

MOSCOW, May 14. /TASS/. Moscow fulfills all mandatory criteria put forth by the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor), which allow the region to proceed to the first stage of softening of restrictions imposed over the coronavirus infection, TASS calculations, based on official data and statements on incidence, testing coverage and bed occupation, indicate.
On May 8, Rospotrebnadzor sent recommendations for the regions which contain criteria that act as a basis for gradual withdrawal of the restrictive measures. To commence the first stage, the following conditions must be met: infection transmission coefficient must not exceed 1, at least 50% of bed fund for the coronavirus patients must be free and the amount of daily coronavirus tests per 100,000 residents must be at least 70 per day.
The decision on gradual withdrawal of restrictions will be taken by each region’s governor individually, based on recommendations and instructions of the regional chief sanitary medic.
Transmission coefficient
To define the spread dynamics, Rospotrebnadzor recommends using the so-called transmission coefficient, which indicates the average number of people infected by a single infected until they are isolated.
According to TASS calculations based on the coronavirus prevention operational HQ data, this indicator in Moscow stays under 1 for four days in a row. On Thursday, it reached the record low level of 0.88.
Bed fund
In later April, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin announced that Moscow hospitals tend to 17,000 patients coronavirus patients. On May 11, Sobyanin said that the number of admittances does not increase for the third week in a row, and on May 14, he noted that the coronavirus hospitals’ load decreases.
According to Deputy Mayor Pyotr Biryukov, by May 5, 30,000 beds were repurposed for coronavirus patients and that 10,000 more were planned for retooling in the upcoming days.
Therefore, even if we presume that, after three weeks of zero growth and the following decrease, the bed load stays at 17,000, this is still less than 50% occupied beds out of 40,000.
Tests
From a testing coverage standpoint, Moscow also complies with the Rospotrebnadzor criteria. On May 2, Sobyanin announced that Moscow ramped lab testing for coronavirus up to 40,000 PCR tests per day. According to the Russian Federal State Statistic Service data, there were 12,678 million people in Moscow by January 1, 2020.
Therefore, at least 315 coronavirus tests per 100,000 residents are performed in Moscow every day.
By this criterion, Moscow actually fulfills requirements for the third stage of restrictions withdrawal. On Thursday, Sobyanin announced that Moscow plans to increase the testing rate to 200,000 tests per day.
The first stage
If the necessary criteria are met, Rospotrebnadzor considers it possible to restore operation of the services industry and the non-grocery retail at sites with area of up to 400 square meters, to allow outdoors physical training and walks of groups of up to two people with social distancing measures. However, children playgrounds must stay closed.
During all stages of restrictions withdrawal, self-isolation regime remains for people aged over 65 and people with chronic diseases. Wearing medical masks and gloves in public places and social distancing are mandatory.
Besides, Rospotrebnadzor suggests taking fatality rate, non-hospital pneumonia incidence and the rate of people with immunity to the coronavirus as additional indicators for decision-making.


tass--2020-05-14--Russian embassy in UK demands FT refute article about COVID-19 death rates in Russia

LONDON , May 14 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian embassy in Britain has addressed The Financial Times with a request for refuting its own article claiming the real number of deaths caused by the novel coronavirus-related disease ( COVID-19 ) in Russia is allegedly well above the official statistics , Ambassador Andrei Kelin told TASS .
`` Firstly , we sent a message to the FT Editor-in-Chief Roula Khalaf .
Secondly , I ’ ve just had a word with her in person to say the materials they published must be refuted , because they do not reflect the reality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , what is most important , they do not reflect the efforts the government and all other branches of power exert to fight against the coronavirus , '' Kelin said .
`` It looks like she reacted with understanding .
We will have more discussions .
Some steps will be taken .
There was an explanation of the methodology The Financial Times uses , but this does not change the situation .
In general , I am very upset and surprised by the coverage our efforts to fight against the coronavirus receive here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 , The Financial Times claimed that the real death toll from the novel coronavirus-related disease allegedly exceeds the official statistics by 70 % .
In its calculations the British daily compared Moscow ’ s and St. Petersburg ’ s death rates in April 2020 and the past five year ’ s average .

LONDON, May 14. /TASS/. The Russian embassy in Britain has addressed The Financial Times with a request for refuting its own article claiming the real number of deaths caused by the novel coronavirus-related disease (COVID-19) in Russia is allegedly well above the official statistics, Ambassador Andrei Kelin told TASS.
"Firstly, we sent a message to the FT Editor-in-Chief Roula Khalaf. Secondly, I’ve just had a word with her in person to say the materials they published must be refuted, because they do not reflect the reality and the events happening in Russia and, what is most important, they do not reflect the efforts the government and all other branches of power exert to fight against the coronavirus," Kelin said.
"It looks like she reacted with understanding. We will have more discussions. Some steps will be taken. There was an explanation of the methodology The Financial Times uses, but this does not change the situation. In general, I am very upset and surprised by the coverage our efforts to fight against the coronavirus receive here," Kelin said.
On May 12, The Financial Times claimed that the real death toll from the novel coronavirus-related disease allegedly exceeds the official statistics by 70%. In its calculations the British daily compared Moscow’s and St. Petersburg’s death rates in April 2020 and the past five year’s average.


tass--2020-05-14--UK reports 428 new coronavirus deaths in past 24 hours

LONDON , May 14 .
/TASS/ .
The number of infections in the United Kingdom has topped 233,000 , while the number of fatalities has climbed to 33,600 after 428 people died over the past 24 hours , the national health department said in a statement Thursday .
`` 1,593,902 people have been tested , of which 233,151 tested positive .
As of 5pm on 13 May , of those tested positive for coronavirus in the UK , 33,614 have died , '' the agency said , adding `` This new figure includes deaths in all settings , not just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities reported 494 newly confirmed deaths .
Tuesday ’ s figures showed 627 fatalities .
In the last three days , 210 , 269 and 346 fatalities were identified correspondingly .
On Tuesday afternoon , British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke in parliament , revealing that 144 medical staff and 131 social service workers died from coronavirus-related causes in the country since the pandemic broke out .
British authorities claim that the death rate has been steadily decreasing since mid-April .
The number of newly confirmed cases and hospitalized coronavirus patients is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours , 3,446 people tested positive for the virus , an increase of 204 cases compared to yesterday ’ s figures .
The United Kingdom started to slowly roll back lockdown measures imposed on March 23 to curb the spread of coronavirus .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the epidemiological reports allow the government to take these steps since the risk of an infection spike in minimal .
At the same time , the opposition and British trade unions slam this decision of the authorities as premature and not properly thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citizens are allowed to exercise and do sports outside more than once as well as sunbathe and drive to remote places for leisure .
Construction workers and employees of many industries who can not work from home were cleared to go back to work .
Garden centers will also reopen .
Johnson conceded that many other shops could welcome customers back in June as well as partially schools , while certain hotels and other public spaces could be cleared to reopen .
The new guidelines and easing of restrictions only apply to England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland still recommend their citizens stay home without a relevant reason to leave .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe .
On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .
According to the latest statistics , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and more than 298,000 deaths have been reported .
In addition , so far , over 1,668,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe .

LONDON, May 14. /TASS/. The number of infections in the United Kingdom has topped 233,000, while the number of fatalities has climbed to 33,600 after 428 people died over the past 24 hours, the national health department said in a statement Thursday.
"1,593,902 people have been tested, of which 233,151 tested positive. As of 5pm on 13 May, of those tested positive for coronavirus in the UK, 33,614 have died," the agency said, adding "This new figure includes deaths in all settings, not just in hospitals."
Yesterday, the authorities reported 494 newly confirmed deaths. Tuesday’s figures showed 627 fatalities. In the last three days, 210, 269 and 346 fatalities were identified correspondingly. On Tuesday afternoon, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke in parliament, revealing that 144 medical staff and 131 social service workers died from coronavirus-related causes in the country since the pandemic broke out.
British authorities claim that the death rate has been steadily decreasing since mid-April. The number of newly confirmed cases and hospitalized coronavirus patients is also gradually declining. In the past 24 hours, 3,446 people tested positive for the virus, an increase of 204 cases compared to yesterday’s figures.
The United Kingdom started to slowly roll back lockdown measures imposed on March 23 to curb the spread of coronavirus. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the epidemiological reports allow the government to take these steps since the risk of an infection spike in minimal. At the same time, the opposition and British trade unions slam this decision of the authorities as premature and not properly thought out.
Starting with May 13, citizens are allowed to exercise and do sports outside more than once as well as sunbathe and drive to remote places for leisure. Construction workers and employees of many industries who cannot work from home were cleared to go back to work. Garden centers will also reopen. Johnson conceded that many other shops could welcome customers back in June as well as partially schools, while certain hotels and other public spaces could be cleared to reopen.
The new guidelines and easing of restrictions only apply to England, as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland still recommend their citizens stay home without a relevant reason to leave.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe.
On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. According to the latest statistics, over 4,442,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 298,000 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 1,668,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.


tass--2020-05-14--West shuns open discussion of OPCW attribution mechanism’s activities — diplomat

MOSCOW , May 14 .
/TASS/ .
The fact that Western countries reject the idea of considering the so-called Syrian chemical dossier in public in the UN Security Council indicates that they shun an open discussion of the attribution mechanism they illegitimately created within the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons , Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a news briefing on Thursday .
She recalled that `` in accordance with the UN Security Council ’ s approved agenda on May 12 there was to be an interactive session devoted to the so-called Syrian chemical dossier '' with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking part .
Zakharova specified that at that meeting the Western counterparts were going `` to continue to impose on the UN Security Council the falsified conclusions of the first report produced by the Investigation and Identification Team , which was created within the OPCW as a result of political and juridical manipulations by the Western countries in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention . ''
`` Aware of how relevant the problem of chemical weapons being used in Syria — not by government forces , but by the terrorists — really is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and frank discussion , '' Zakharova noted .
`` We demanded that the meeting should be open and make it possible to clear up directly with the OPCW director-general certain fundamental aspects concerning the Investigation and Identification Team and the OPCW special mission in general .
The Western countries rejected this proposal .
Contrary to their own speculations about the need for increasing the UN Security Council ’ s transparency they merely refused to consider in public certain issues they find undesirable . ''
`` All this indicates that the chiefs of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who never stop declaring their full and unconditional trust towards the IIT , in fact are afraid of a meaningful and professional discussion of the activity and the main tasks and goals of the so-called attribution mechanism they created , whose anti-Syrian conclusions , as experience shows , are predetermined well in advance , '' Zakharova stressed .

MOSCOW, May 14. /TASS/. The fact that Western countries reject the idea of considering the so-called Syrian chemical dossier in public in the UN Security Council indicates that they shun an open discussion of the attribution mechanism they illegitimately created within the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a news briefing on Thursday.
She recalled that "in accordance with the UN Security Council’s approved agenda on May 12 there was to be an interactive session devoted to the so-called Syrian chemical dossier" with the director-general of the OPCW Technical Secretariat taking part. Zakharova specified that at that meeting the Western counterparts were going "to continue to impose on the UN Security Council the falsified conclusions of the first report produced by the Investigation and Identification Team, which was created within the OPCW as a result of political and juridical manipulations by the Western countries in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention."
"Aware of how relevant the problem of chemical weapons being used in Syria — not by government forces, but by the terrorists — really is, we were prepared for a meaningful and frank discussion," Zakharova noted. "We demanded that the meeting should be open and make it possible to clear up directly with the OPCW director-general certain fundamental aspects concerning the Investigation and Identification Team and the OPCW special mission in general. The Western countries rejected this proposal. Contrary to their own speculations about the need for increasing the UN Security Council’s transparency they merely refused to consider in public certain issues they find undesirable."
"All this indicates that the chiefs of the OPCW Technical Secretariat and our Western counterparts, who never stop declaring their full and unconditional trust towards the IIT, in fact are afraid of a meaningful and professional discussion of the activity and the main tasks and goals of the so-called attribution mechanism they created, whose anti-Syrian conclusions, as experience shows, are predetermined well in advance," Zakharova stressed.


tass--2020-05-14--Siberian virology research center to register coronavirus vaccine in September

MOSCOW , May 14 .
/TASS/ .
The Vector state research center in Novosibirsk will complete pre-clinical studies of vaccine prototypes against the novel coronavirus in June and expects to register the ready-made vaccine in September , Center CEO Rinat Maksyutov said at a meeting with the Russian president on genetic technologies on Thursday .
`` In June , we are completing the pre-clinical studies of the efficiency and safety of the finished pharmaceutical form of vaccines in a minimum amount sufficient for switching to clinical studies : the first and second phase involving 300 volunteers , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 this year to cut the term of introducing the vaccine for the prevention of the novel coronavirus infection , we expect to register this vaccine already in September this year , '' the Vector head said , addressing the Russian president .
The Vector research institute has completed the laboratory tests of vaccine prototypes on sensitive animals .
Following their results , three promising preparations have been determined , Maksyutov explained .
Thus , one synthetic vaccine and the vaccine based on the flu virus will be produced by Vector while the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus will be developed by the center ’ s industrial partner , he said .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials notified 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been infected worldwide and more than 298,000 deaths have been reported .
In addition , so far , over 1,668,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe .
To date , a total of 252,245 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , with 53,530 patients having recovered from the virus .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates 2,305 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, May 14. /TASS/. The Vector state research center in Novosibirsk will complete pre-clinical studies of vaccine prototypes against the novel coronavirus in June and expects to register the ready-made vaccine in September, Center CEO Rinat Maksyutov said at a meeting with the Russian president on genetic technologies on Thursday.
"In June, we are completing the pre-clinical studies of the efficiency and safety of the finished pharmaceutical form of vaccines in a minimum amount sufficient for switching to clinical studies: the first and second phase involving 300 volunteers," he said.
"Following your instruction of April 15 this year to cut the term of introducing the vaccine for the prevention of the novel coronavirus infection, we expect to register this vaccine already in September this year," the Vector head said, addressing the Russian president.
The Vector research institute has completed the laboratory tests of vaccine prototypes on sensitive animals. Following their results, three promising preparations have been determined, Maksyutov explained.
Thus, one synthetic vaccine and the vaccine based on the flu virus will be produced by Vector while the third vaccine based on the vesicular stomatitis virus will be developed by the center’s industrial partner, he said.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified 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 4,442,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 298,000 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 1,668,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.
To date, a total of 252,245 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 53,530 patients having recovered from the virus. Russia’s latest data indicates 2,305 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-05-14--More than 300 Russians, including school students, to fly home from New York — diplomat

`` The plane has already left for New York .
We expect back home more than 300 compatriots , including @ @ @ @ @ in the United States under so-called exchange programs that sparked a row lately , '' @ @ @ @ @ Zakharova told a news briefing that the Foreign Ministry would derive proper conclusions from the @ @ @ @ @ in tracking down Russian school children .
She said that earlier high school students had @ @ @ @ @ from Russia under various educational and travel programs only to find problems with getting back @ @ @ @ @ US officials preferred to distance themselves from this problem and ignored messages from the Russian @ @ @ @ @ About 80 Russian school students were staying in the United States since last autumn .
@ @ @ @ @ back home already .

"The plane has already left for New York. We expect back home more than 300 compatriots, including our teenagers, who stayed in the United States under so-called exchange programs that sparked a row lately," she said.
Earlier, Zakharova told a news briefing that the Foreign Ministry would derive proper conclusions from the US authorities’ insufficient assistance in tracking down Russian school children. She said that earlier high school students had gone to the United States from Russia under various educational and travel programs only to find problems with getting back home amid the pandemic. US officials preferred to distance themselves from this problem and ignored messages from the Russian embassy, Zakharova stressed. About 80 Russian school students were staying in the United States since last autumn. About 40 of them are back home already.


tass--2020-05-14--Number of coronavirus cases in Portugal surpasses 28,300

MOSCOW , May 14 .
/TASS/ .
The number of coronavirus cases in Portugal increased by 187 per day and @ @ @ @ @ Directorate of Health said on Thursday .
The number of deaths due to coronavirus in @ @ @ @ @ per day to 1,184 .
Meanwhile , 3,198 people recovered .
The largest number of @ @ @ @ @ north of the country .
The state of emergency ended in Portugal on May 2 @ @ @ @ @ the country 's authorities started to gradually lift restrictive measures imposed due to the pandemic @

MOSCOW, May 14. /TASS/. The number of coronavirus cases in Portugal increased by 187 per day and reached 28,319, the General Directorate of Health said on Thursday.
The number of deaths due to coronavirus in the country increased by 9 per day to 1,184. Meanwhile, 3,198 people recovered. The largest number of infected were detected in the north of the country.
The state of emergency ended in Portugal on May 2. Since May 4, the country's authorities started to gradually lift restrictive measures imposed due to the pandemic.


tass--2020-05-14--Putin orders to ensure control of genetic technology use

NOVO-OGARYOVO , May 14 .
/TASS/ .
Russia must ensure control of the use of genetic technologies to both provide for their development and protect citizens ’ interests , President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting on genetic technology development on Thursday .
`` We are well aware of the tremendous power of genetic technologies , '' the head of state said .
`` It is necessary to develop a system of control of their use and find a balance together with the program ’ s participants between the freedom of the scientific quest and technological development on the one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people and the issues of ethics on the other hand , '' Putin stressed .
Russia is open for scientific and technological cooperation , the Russian leader said .
He noted the importance of providing the possibilities in Russia for all those who are ready to seek breakthroughs .
`` I expect the company Rosneft represented here by its head to take an active and direct part in this work as well as other companies engaged in other areas , '' Putin said .
As the Russian leader explained , this related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work and assistance to research teams in launching demanded and commercially successful products .
The Russian president requested the Council for Genetic Technologies to keep in close contact with scientists and companies and timely remove restrictions for their work in this sphere .
`` This relates , first of all , to the personnel , scientific infrastructure , financing and the convenience of the legal environment , '' the president said .

NOVO-OGARYOVO, May 14. /TASS/. Russia must ensure control of the use of genetic technologies to both provide for their development and protect citizens’ interests, President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting on genetic technology development on Thursday.
"We are well aware of the tremendous power of genetic technologies," the head of state said.
"It is necessary to develop a system of control of their use and find a balance together with the program’s participants between the freedom of the scientific quest and technological development on the one hand and the protection of the interests of people and the issues of ethics on the other hand," Putin stressed.
Russia is open for scientific and technological cooperation, the Russian leader said. He noted the importance of providing the possibilities in Russia for all those who are ready to seek breakthroughs. "I expect the company Rosneft represented here by its head to take an active and direct part in this work as well as other companies engaged in other areas," Putin said. As the Russian leader explained, this related to investments in personnel training, scientific work and assistance to research teams in launching demanded and commercially successful products.
The Russian president requested the Council for Genetic Technologies to keep in close contact with scientists and companies and timely remove restrictions for their work in this sphere.
"This relates, first of all, to the personnel, scientific infrastructure, financing and the convenience of the legal environment," the president said.


tass--2020-05-14--Russia considers issue of China’s accession to New START treaty ‘completely contrived’

Russia reports less than 10,000 new COVID-19 cases for first time since May 2 The daily growth in cases has @ @ @ @ @ a record low of 4.1 %

It would be US ‘golden dream’ to have nuclear weapons in Ukraine — diplomat
Maria Zakharova recalled that Italy and many other countries possess the US nuclear weapons but do not have access to them
Read more


tass--2020-05-14--Moscow meets watchdog’s criteria for first stage of restrictions withdrawal — TASS

Head of Office of Kosovo and Metohija : Serbs and Albanians should decide on Kosovo fate President Vucic has long @ @ @ @ @ of our peoples can come up with the best solution for reconciliation and resolve the @ @ @ @ @ Albanian peoples , '' Marco Djuric said


tass--2020-05-14--Moscow mayor cautions lifting quarantine prematurely could lead to second wave of pandemic

MOSCOW , May 14 .
/TASS/ .
Withdrawing the coronavirus restrictive measures too early may lead to a second wave of COVID-19 in the Russian capital , Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has forewarned .
Russia reports less than 10,000 new COVID-19 cases for first time since May 2 '' Decisions on the introduction and withdrawal of restrictions , connected to the coronavirus pandemic are the most difficult ones I had to make in my entire life .
The cost of these decisions is people ’ s lives and health .
A premature withdrawal of the restrictions carries a genuine risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unjustified prolongation [ of restrictions ] would also impact people in the roughest way , '' the mayor wrote in his blog .
Positive or negative coronavirus incidence dynamics after the May holidays will be noticeable in Moscow in several weeks , city Mayor Sergei Sobyanin told Rossiya 24 TV Thursday .
`` The effect of the May holidays will be noticeable not today and not tomorrow , but in a week or two , because , if something happened during the holiday period , an incubation period is needed for the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specialists , '' Sobyanin said .

MOSCOW, May 14. /TASS/. Withdrawing the coronavirus restrictive measures too early may lead to a second wave of COVID-19 in the Russian capital, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has forewarned.
Russia reports less than 10,000 new COVID-19 cases for first time since May 2
"Decisions on the introduction and withdrawal of restrictions, connected to the coronavirus pandemic are the most difficult ones I had to make in my entire life. The cost of these decisions is people’s lives and health. A premature withdrawal of the restrictions carries a genuine risk of another wave of the pandemic. Unjustified prolongation [of restrictions] would also impact people in the roughest way," the mayor wrote in his blog.
Positive or negative coronavirus incidence dynamics after the May holidays will be noticeable in Moscow in several weeks, city Mayor Sergei Sobyanin told Rossiya 24 TV Thursday.
"The effect of the May holidays will be noticeable not today and not tomorrow, but in a week or two, because, if something happened during the holiday period, an incubation period is needed for the virus to manifest iselft, according to the specialists," Sobyanin said.


tass--2020-05-14--Diplomat slams West’s biased ‘coronavirus disinfo’ claims against Russia, China

MOSCOW , May 14./TASS/ .
Accusations hurled at Russia and China for spreading ‘ disinformation ’ about COVID-19 is nothing but the West demonstrating its anti-Russian and anti-Chinese prejudice , Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an online report to the Valdai International Discussion Club on Thursday .
`` An attempt to paint the medical aid provided by Russia and the People ’ s Republic of China as a bid to use humanitarian assistance as means for strengthening geopolitical influence '' is a new manifestation of Russophobic and Sinophobic sentiment that has been actively cultivated by certain Western countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We can once again hear the hastily reshaped accusations of some hybrid operations , engaged in disseminating misinformation about coronavirus , '' the diplomat stressed .
Ryabkov said that he was surprised to watch certain states looking for culprits instead of teaming up in the face of the pandemic .
According to the diplomat , what really raises alarm bells is a bid to use the coronavirus issue as a pretext for disregarding international law to settle accounts with undesirable governments and geopolitical rivals .
`` In our opinion , the loss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ geopolitical leadership by the Atlantic camp encourages sheer temptation to proverbially settle their internal problems through external enemies , '' Ryabkov said .
According to the latest statistics , over 4,442,000 people have been infected with coronavirus worldwide and more than 298,000 deaths have been reported .
In addition , so far , over 1,668,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe .

MOSCOW, May 14./TASS/. Accusations hurled at Russia and China for spreading ‘disinformation’ about COVID-19 is nothing but the West demonstrating its anti-Russian and anti-Chinese prejudice, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an online report to the Valdai International Discussion Club on Thursday.
"An attempt to paint the medical aid provided by Russia and the People’s Republic of China as a bid to use humanitarian assistance as means for strengthening geopolitical influence" is a new manifestation of Russophobic and Sinophobic sentiment that has been actively cultivated by certain Western countries of late," he specified. "We can once again hear the hastily reshaped accusations of some hybrid operations, engaged in disseminating misinformation about coronavirus," the diplomat stressed.
Ryabkov said that he was surprised to watch certain states looking for culprits instead of teaming up in the face of the pandemic. According to the diplomat, what really raises alarm bells is a bid to use the coronavirus issue as a pretext for disregarding international law to settle accounts with undesirable governments and geopolitical rivals.
"In our opinion, the loss of political, economic, humanitarian and geopolitical leadership by the Atlantic camp encourages sheer temptation to proverbially settle their internal problems through external enemies," Ryabkov said.
According to the latest statistics, over 4,442,000 people have been infected with coronavirus worldwide and more than 298,000 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 1,668,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.


tass--2020-05-14--Number of IT crimes in Russia rises by over 82% in four months

MOSCOW , May 14 .
/TASS/ .
The number of IT crimes committed in Russia in the four months of @ @ @ @ @ 82 % , press center of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs told TASS .
@ @ @ @ @ crime amounted to 82.4 % , which significantly affected the increase in the total number @ @ @ @ @ country over 4 months by 0.8 % , '' the press center said .
The @ @ @ @ @ in the field of information and communication technologies in Russia remains high .
Earlier , @ @ @ @ @ center reported that over three months of 2020 , compared with the same period in @ @ @ @ @ crimes in Russia using IT technologies increased by almost 84 % , and their share @ @ @ @ @ total figure .

MOSCOW, May 14. /TASS/. The number of IT crimes committed in Russia in the four months of 2020 increased by more than 82%, press center of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs told TASS.
"The growth of IT crime amounted to 82.4%, which significantly affected the increase in the total number of detected crimes in the country over 4 months by 0.8%," the press center said.
The ministry emphasized that criminal activity in the field of information and communication technologies in Russia remains high.
Earlier, the ministry’s press center reported that over three months of 2020, compared with the same period in 2019, the number of crimes in Russia using IT technologies increased by almost 84%, and their share reached 19.9% of the total figure.


tass--2020-05-14--Growth in coronavirus cases across Russia stopped, says watchdog

MOSCOW , May 14./TASS/ .
The growth in coronavirus cases in Russia has been stopped , the growth rate has @ @ @ @ @ 11 days , the head of the Russian consumer rights watchdog , Anna Popova , @ @ @ @ @ Moscow .
Kremlin .
Putin program , an excerpt from which was uploaded to the @ @ @ @ @ , Pavel Zarubin .
`` I would be very careful in making assessments here .
@ @ @ @ @ have stopped the growth for now .
For today , yes , of course .
@ @ @ @ @ days we have no further growth , the growth is meager , '' the chief @ @ @ @ @ Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing , Popova said .

MOSCOW, May 14./TASS/. The growth in coronavirus cases in Russia has been stopped, the growth rate has been insignificant for the past 11 days, the head of the Russian consumer rights watchdog, Anna Popova, said in an interview with Moscow. Kremlin. Putin program, an excerpt from which was uploaded to the Instagram page of its host, Pavel Zarubin.
"I would be very careful in making assessments here. I would say that we have stopped the growth for now. For today, yes, of course. Ten days, already 11 days we have no further growth, the growth is meager," the chief of Russia’s Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, Popova said.


tass--2020-05-14--Moscow mayor seeks to conduct up to 100,000 coronavirus antibody tests daily

MOSCOW , May 14./TASS/ .
Moscow ’ s municipal authorities plan to step up the number of enzyme immunoassay ( EIA ) antibody tests to 100,000 a day .
In the future , the number of these antibody tests carried out in Moscow may climb to 200,000 a day , Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said Thursday .
`` Today , we are facing the next task : achieving a new level of quality and the number of testing through the use of EIA systems .
Moscow has a technical opportunity to boost these EIA tests to 100,000 a day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Moscow clinical committee for the novel coronavirus .
Subsequently , up to 200,000 tests can be conducted in Moscow daily , he added .
`` Moscow is already the leader among the world ’ s cities with regards to the number of tests .
A mass introduction of the enzyme immunoassay ( EIA ) tests will make Moscow the paramount leader in this respect , '' Sobyanin stressed .
He said that for the past two weeks , the capital has been testing the new system , installing equipment .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put this program into practice .
As early as this week , 30 of the city ’ s outpatient clinics will begin taking blood samples for screening research .
Up to 70,000 Muscovites will be invited to outpatient clinics for EIA testing weekly , '' he explained .
He also added that the city would also be working on PCR testing for COVID-19 .
The mayor noted that these EIA tests would be carried out at the city enterprises and organizations that must regularly check their staff for coronavirus .
This , first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , municipal housing and utilities services and transport , as well as law enforcement agencies .
The mayor emphasized that an agreement had been reached with Moscow Regional Governor Andrey Vorobyov to launch EIA diagnostic tools in the region .
`` Our task is not to conceal anything , not to mix these processes , but on the contrary , to quickly and efficiently as possible detect people who were infected with coronavirus and those who had the disease and are now immune to coronavirus , '' the mayor specified .
This will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moscow ’ s healthcare system in order to adequately make decisions related to restrictive measures in Moscow .
The program that is being launched in Moscow envisages mass screening of city residents for antibodies to the novel coronavirus .
To date , a total of 252,245 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , with 53,530 patients having recovered from the virus .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates 2,305 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, May 14./TASS/. Moscow’s municipal authorities plan to step up the number of enzyme immunoassay (EIA) antibody tests to 100,000 a day. In the future, the number of these antibody tests carried out in Moscow may climb to 200,000 a day, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said Thursday.
"Today, we are facing the next task: achieving a new level of quality and the number of testing through the use of EIA systems. Moscow has a technical opportunity to boost these EIA tests to 100,000 a day," Sobyanin told a meeting with members of the Moscow clinical committee for the novel coronavirus. Subsequently, up to 200,000 tests can be conducted in Moscow daily, he added.
"Moscow is already the leader among the world’s cities with regards to the number of tests. A mass introduction of the enzyme immunoassay (EIA) tests will make Moscow the paramount leader in this respect," Sobyanin stressed.
He said that for the past two weeks, the capital has been testing the new system, installing equipment. "This week, we are beginning to put this program into practice. As early as this week, 30 of the city’s outpatient clinics will begin taking blood samples for screening research. Up to 70,000 Muscovites will be invited to outpatient clinics for EIA testing weekly," he explained.
He also added that the city would also be working on PCR testing for COVID-19.
The mayor noted that these EIA tests would be carried out at the city enterprises and organizations that must regularly check their staff for coronavirus. This, first of all, refers to medical establishments, municipal housing and utilities services and transport, as well as law enforcement agencies.
The mayor emphasized that an agreement had been reached with Moscow Regional Governor Andrey Vorobyov to launch EIA diagnostic tools in the region. "Our task is not to conceal anything, not to mix these processes, but on the contrary, to quickly and efficiently as possible detect people who were infected with coronavirus and those who had the disease and are now immune to coronavirus," the mayor specified.
This will help determine the tactics and strategy of Moscow’s healthcare system in order to adequately make decisions related to restrictive measures in Moscow.
The program that is being launched in Moscow envisages mass screening of city residents for antibodies to the novel coronavirus.
To date, a total of 252,245 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 53,530 patients having recovered from the virus. Russia’s latest data indicates 2,305 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-05-14--Putin suggests creating national genetic database

NOVO-OGARYOVO , May 14 .
/TASS/ .
Russia should create the national genetic database , Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday .
`` I suggest creating the national genetic database , using our considerable competences and the potential developed in bioinformatics , '' the head of state said at a meeting on the development of genetic technologies in Russia .
As the Russian leader noted , `` the success of genetic researches is largely determined by digital technologies and the access to data sets - the larger their amount , the more authentic and reliable the results are .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientific instrument-making , we must also ensure our sovereignty in these issues , '' Putin stressed .
`` This means using uniform standards as the basis for protecting data , providing for their storage and transfer , developing the software of information search , analysis and modelling , '' the Russian president said .
Putin instructed the government `` to organize financing of this project through federal budget funds . ''
The head of state emphasized : `` It is necessary to reliably protect citizens ’ personal data and other sensitive information .
@ @

NOVO-OGARYOVO, May 14. /TASS/. Russia should create the national genetic database, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
"I suggest creating the national genetic database, using our considerable competences and the potential developed in bioinformatics," the head of state said at a meeting on the development of genetic technologies in Russia.
As the Russian leader noted, "the success of genetic researches is largely determined by digital technologies and the access to data sets - the larger their amount, the more authentic and reliable the results are."
"As in the sphere of scientific instrument-making, we must also ensure our sovereignty in these issues," Putin stressed.
"This means using uniform standards as the basis for protecting data, providing for their storage and transfer, developing the software of information search, analysis and modelling," the Russian president said.
Putin instructed the government "to organize financing of this project through federal budget funds." The head of state emphasized: "It is necessary to reliably protect citizens’ personal data and other sensitive information.".


tass--2020-05-14--Number of new coronavirus cases in Bangladesh top 1,000 for second day running

TASS , May 14 .
Medical staff in Bangladesh have identified 1,041 new coronavirus cases in the country , bringing the totak number of infections to 18,863 , national Dhaka Tribune daily reported Thursday , citing senior health ministry official Nasima Sultana .
According to her , in the past 24 hours the country identified 14 coronavirus-related deaths , while the total number of fatalities reached 283 .
At the same time , no new recoveries were reported , while it is noted that 3,361 patients recovered from COVID-19 since the epidemic broke out .
Nasima Sultana also revealed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laboratories across the country in one day .
Bangladesh confirmed its first coronavirus case on March 8 .
On May 13 , the country reported a record high number of newly confirmed infections ( 1,162 ) .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials notified 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .
According to the latest statistics , over 4,442,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 298,000 deaths have been reported .
In addition , so far , over 1,668,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe .

TASS, May 14. Medical staff in Bangladesh have identified 1,041 new coronavirus cases in the country, bringing the totak number of infections to 18,863, national Dhaka Tribune daily reported Thursday, citing senior health ministry official Nasima Sultana.
According to her, in the past 24 hours the country identified 14 coronavirus-related deaths, while the total number of fatalities reached 283. At the same time, no new recoveries were reported, while it is noted that 3,361 patients recovered from COVID-19 since the epidemic broke out.
Nasima Sultana also revealed that 7,392 coronavirus tests were carried out in laboratories across the country in one day.
Bangladesh confirmed its first coronavirus case on March 8. On May 13, the country reported a record high number of newly confirmed infections (1,162).
In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe.
On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. According to the latest statistics, over 4,442,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 298,000 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 1,668,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.