tass--2020-10-20--Number of COVID-19 infections in Kazakhstan surpasses 109,600

During the last eight days the growth of the new cases of the infection was within 70-115 .
At the ratio of the number of population ( 18.7 mln ) , the share of the infected makes up 0.5 % , and the infection parameter over the past 24 hours in relation to the total number of residents is 0.0005 % .
The coronavirus spread coefficient over the last eight days has been at the mark of 1.1 .
The highest number of the infected over one day ( 1,962 ) was registered on July 9 .
NUR-SULTAN , October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past 24 hours have detected 115 new cases of the coronavirus infection which is 13 more than the day before .
The total number of infections reached 109,623 , the state interagency anti-coronavirus commission reported on Tuesday .
According to the commission ’ s data , in all , 105,145 people have recovered with 115 recoveries recorded over the past 24 hours .
A day earlier , 29 recoveries were reported .
The number of the coronavirus fatalities to date has risen to 1,796 , increasing over the past 24 hours by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the total of 3,175,675 tests for the presence of the coronavirus have been conducted in the republic .
The parameter of detected infections out of those tested is 3.4 % .
16.9 % of the population have been tested .
Kazakhstan ’ s Health Ministry since August 1 began to collect the data on the coronavirus infections in a different way .
The statistics includes separately the COVID-19 cases confirmed by a laboratory and cases of pneumonia with a negative PCR test but with clinical and epidemiological signs of the coronavirus infection .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with this type of pneumonia were detected in the country , 382 patients with this diagnosis have died .
The emergency situation regime due to the spread of the coronavirus was in effect in Kazakhstan since March 16 through May 11 .
On July 5 , the republic ’ s authorities reintroduced a number of additional restrictions due to the worsening epidemiological situation .
They were gradually lifted beginning on August 17 , and since August 31 the second stage of lifting of the quarantine measures began .
At the same time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country as well as in Nur-Sultan and Alma-Ata some restrictions were reintroduced in order to prevent a new wave of the pandemic .

During the last eight days the growth of the new cases of the infection was within 70-115. At the ratio of the number of population (18.7 mln), the share of the infected makes up 0.5%, and the infection parameter over the past 24 hours in relation to the total number of residents is 0.0005%. The coronavirus spread coefficient over the last eight days has been at the mark of 1.1. The highest number of the infected over one day (1,962) was registered on July 9.
NUR-SULTAN, October 20. /TASS/. Kazakh doctors over the past 24 hours have detected 115 new cases of the coronavirus infection which is 13 more than the day before. The total number of infections reached 109,623, the state interagency anti-coronavirus commission reported on Tuesday.
According to the commission’s data, in all, 105,145 people have recovered with 115 recoveries recorded over the past 24 hours. A day earlier, 29 recoveries were reported. The number of the coronavirus fatalities to date has risen to 1,796, increasing over the past 24 hours by four.
As of October 13, the total of 3,175,675 tests for the presence of the coronavirus have been conducted in the republic. The parameter of detected infections out of those tested is 3.4%. 16.9% of the population have been tested.
Kazakhstan’s Health Ministry since August 1 began to collect the data on the coronavirus infections in a different way. The statistics includes separately the COVID-19 cases confirmed by a laboratory and cases of pneumonia with a negative PCR test but with clinical and epidemiological signs of the coronavirus infection. As of October 19, 35,965 patients with this type of pneumonia were detected in the country, 382 patients with this diagnosis have died.
The emergency situation regime due to the spread of the coronavirus was in effect in Kazakhstan since March 16 through May 11. On July 5, the republic’s authorities reintroduced a number of additional restrictions due to the worsening epidemiological situation. They were gradually lifted beginning on August 17, and since August 31 the second stage of lifting of the quarantine measures began. At the same time, last week in several regions of the country as well as in Nur-Sultan and Alma-Ata some restrictions were reintroduced in order to prevent a new wave of the pandemic.


tass--2020-10-20--Tokyo refuses to comment on alleged Russian attempts to derail Olympics

TOKYO , October 20 .
/TASS/ .
Japan 's Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato declined to comment on the UK Foreign Office ’ s claims that Russian special services had allegedly tried to disrupt the Tokyo Olympics using cyber attacks before it was delayed until 2021 over the pandemic .
`` We know about this report of the British side , '' Kato said .
`` The Japanese government is collecting the respective information , however we would like to refrain from any comments on this issue . ''
Japan ’ s chief cabinet secretary stressed that Tokyo would take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from cyber attacks .
`` We don ’ t ignore the threat of malicious cyber attacks , which threaten the foundations of democracy , '' he noted .
`` All concerned agencies of Japan plan to collectively and jointly fight against these threats .
We plan to strengthen the center of cyber security , which will safely protect the upcoming Olympics from such threats . ''
The UK Foreign Office claimed on Monday that Russian intelligence services had tried to carry out cyber attacks in order to derail the Tokyo Olympics before it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
The Foreign Office and the National Cyber Security Center claimed that Russian hackers from the military intelligence service , the GRU , conducted `` cyber reconnaissance '' against officials and organizations at the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo .
The targets included the Games ’ organizers , logistics services and sponsors .
Moscow has repeatedly denied Western accusations of Russian cyber attacks .

TOKYO, October 20. /TASS/. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato declined to comment on the UK Foreign Office’s claims that Russian special services had allegedly tried to disrupt the Tokyo Olympics using cyber attacks before it was delayed until 2021 over the pandemic.
"We know about this report of the British side," Kato said. "The Japanese government is collecting the respective information, however we would like to refrain from any comments on this issue." Japan’s chief cabinet secretary stressed that Tokyo would take all measures to protect the Summer Olympics from cyber attacks.
"We don’t ignore the threat of malicious cyber attacks, which threaten the foundations of democracy," he noted. "All concerned agencies of Japan plan to collectively and jointly fight against these threats. We plan to strengthen the center of cyber security, which will safely protect the upcoming Olympics from such threats."
Accusations against Russia
The UK Foreign Office claimed on Monday that Russian intelligence services had tried to carry out cyber attacks in order to derail the Tokyo Olympics before it was postponed until 2021 due to the pandemic.
The Foreign Office and the National Cyber Security Center claimed that Russian hackers from the military intelligence service, the GRU, conducted "cyber reconnaissance" against officials and organizations at the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo. The targets included the Games’ organizers, logistics services and sponsors. Moscow has repeatedly denied Western accusations of Russian cyber attacks.


tass--2020-10-19--Paris still in the dark about who could have leaked Putin-Macron phone call

PARIS , October 19 .
/TASS/ .
The French authorities continue probing the case opened after Le Monde published supposed fragments of a conversation that took place between French and Russian Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Vladimir Putin , a source in the French diplomatic circles told TASS Monday .
`` The investigation continues and the [ foreign ] ministry intends to bring it to a close , '' the source said .
On September 24 , a spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry told reporters that an investigation was launched in light of a publication of details of a phone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local media outlets .
The diplomat underlined , `` the dialogue that the president of the [ French ] Republic wished to establish with Russia is aimed at resolving all issues < … > in the spirit of frankness and exactingness and it will continue in the same way . ''
On September 23 , Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on the Le Monde publication , saying that Moscow does not think that the French authorities could have disclosed the phone call details to the media .
According to him , the Kremlin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have deliberately handed over the phone call transcript to journalists in violation of diplomatic traditions .

PARIS, October 19. /TASS/. The French authorities continue probing the case opened after Le Monde published supposed fragments of a conversation that took place between French and Russian Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Vladimir Putin, a source in the French diplomatic circles told TASS Monday.
"The investigation continues and the [foreign] ministry intends to bring it to a close," the source said.
On September 24, a spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry told reporters that an investigation was launched in light of a publication of details of a phone call between Macron and Putin in the local media outlets. The diplomat underlined, "the dialogue that the president of the [French] Republic wished to establish with Russia is aimed at resolving all issues <…> in the spirit of frankness and exactingness and it will continue in the same way."
On September 23, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on the Le Monde publication, saying that Moscow does not think that the French authorities could have disclosed the phone call details to the media. According to him, the Kremlin is convinced that the Elysee Palace could not have deliberately handed over the phone call transcript to journalists in violation of diplomatic traditions.


tass--2020-10-19--Hainan authorities gave jobs to 92,900 provincial residents over five years

HAIKOU , October 19 .
/TASS/ .
Since 2016 , the Hainan authorities have contributed to employment of 92,900 poor residents of the region , reported the Hainan Daily .
Over the past five years , as part of a nationwide poverty alleviation campaign , the provincial government has trained 100,000 people free of charge to master new professions .
Local authorities have specially created 18,400 jobs for the poor .
Thanks to this social policy of the Hainan government conducted in 3,800 households , at least one family member found a job .
On October 17 , the Day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China , an event was held in Danzhou to celebrate the province 's achievements in improving the material conditions of local residents .
In particular , they told a story of a woman named Li , whose family in the past had no regular income .
Thanks to the training organized by the Hainan government , she became a cosmetologist , and now her monthly salary reaches 6,000 yuan ( about $ 900 ) , the publication writes .
Since 2012 , the provincial authorities have lifted about 650,000 rural residents from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of 2019 , the provincial government had been able to meet its targets for poverty reduction in rural Hainan ahead of schedule .
The per capita disposable income in rural areas by the indicated period on average increased to 12,800 yuan ( about $ 1,800 ) , which is 1,200 ( about $ 177 ) higher than in 2018 .
By the end of 2019 , the number of people living below the poverty line in China was 5.51 million , up from 98.99 million in 2012 .
According to the World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 850 million people out of poverty over the past 40 years .
According to the government 's plan , in 2020 , China intends to ensure that the people 's well-being is a priority and to win the fight against poverty .

HAIKOU, October 19. /TASS/. Since 2016, the Hainan authorities have contributed to employment of 92,900 poor residents of the region, reported the Hainan Daily.
Over the past five years, as part of a nationwide poverty alleviation campaign, the provincial government has trained 100,000 people free of charge to master new professions. Local authorities have specially created 18,400 jobs for the poor. Thanks to this social policy of the Hainan government conducted in 3,800 households, at least one family member found a job.
On October 17, the Day of Fight Against Poverty, celebrated in China, an event was held in Danzhou to celebrate the province's achievements in improving the material conditions of local residents. In particular, they told a story of a woman named Li, whose family in the past had no regular income. Thanks to the training organized by the Hainan government, she became a cosmetologist, and now her monthly salary reaches 6,000 yuan (about $ 900), the publication writes.
Since 2012, the provincial authorities have lifted about 650,000 rural residents from the state of extreme poverty. By the end of 2019, the provincial government had been able to meet its targets for poverty reduction in rural Hainan ahead of schedule. The per capita disposable income in rural areas by the indicated period on average increased to 12,800 yuan (about $ 1,800), which is 1,200 (about $ 177) higher than in 2018.
By the end of 2019, the number of people living below the poverty line in China was 5.51 million, up from 98.99 million in 2012. According to the World Bank, China has lifted more than 850 million people out of poverty over the past 40 years. According to the government's plan, in 2020, China intends to ensure that the people's well-being is a priority and to win the fight against poverty.


tass--2020-10-19--COVID-19 vaccine plans may stimulate optimism on oil market, says Russian Energy Minister

MOSCOW , October 19 .
/TASS/ .
Statements of many countries about the intention to release the coronavirus vaccine in @ @ @ @ @ lockdown measures and business activity keeping have the positive effect for the oil market and @ @ @ @ @ Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak says on Monday at the OPEC+ Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee @ @ @ @ @ `` There is a range of factors making a positive input to the current situation @ @ @ @ @ countries start declaring the intention to release a vaccine against the new coronavirus infection by @ @ @ @ @ says .
The second Russian COVID-19 vaccine was registered on October 14 , he added @ @ @ @ @ measures introduced earlier at a large scale in many countries are softer by their nature @ @ @ @ @ the global business activity index .
It continued growing steadily in September and amounted to @ @ @ @ @ noted .
OPEC+ member-states should continue honoring their commitments in full scope because the market @ @ @ @ @ Minister said .

MOSCOW, October 19. /TASS/. Statements of many countries about the intention to release the coronavirus vaccine in 2020, lack of large-scale lockdown measures and business activity keeping have the positive effect for the oil market and a cause for optimism, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak says on Monday at the OPEC+ Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) meeting.
"There is a range of factors making a positive input to the current situation. Firstly, continuously more countries start declaring the intention to release a vaccine against the new coronavirus infection by 2020 year-end," Novak says. The second Russian COVID-19 vaccine was registered on October 14, he added.
"We see lockdown measures introduced earlier at a large scale in many countries are softer by their nature, One of indicators is the global business activity index. It continued growing steadily in September and amounted to 52.3%," Novak noted.
OPEC+ member-states should continue honoring their commitments in full scope because the market is still unstable, the Minister said.


tass--2020-10-21--Putin to discuss business issues with Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs

MOSCOW , October 21 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a videoconference meeting with members of the @ @ @ @ @ Entrepreneurs on Wednesday .
Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that part of the conversation would @ @ @ @ @ deems it possible .
Peskov explained that the traditionally closed format of the meeting allows @ @ @ @ @ openly about the problems and issues .
Earlier , the Union noted that on this @ @ @ @ @ regulatory guillotine '' mechanism will be discussed , as well as employment support , support @ @ @ @ @ new and modernized instruments to stimulate investment activity .
Putin has attended the congresses of @ @ @ @ @ and Entrepreneurs before and met with members of the union 's bureau .
As a @ @ @ @ @ , he voiced not only his assessments in the field of economics , but also @ @ @ @ @ specific proposals on various areas of business development and the business environment in the country @

MOSCOW, October 21. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a videoconference meeting with members of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs on Wednesday.
Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that part of the conversation would be public, if Putin deems it possible. Peskov explained that the traditionally closed format of the meeting allows its participants to speak more openly about the problems and issues.
Earlier, the Union noted that on this day implementation of the "regulatory guillotine" mechanism will be discussed, as well as employment support, support mechanisms for industrial companies, new and modernized instruments to stimulate investment activity.
Putin has attended the congresses of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs before and met with members of the union's bureau. As a rule, at such events, he voiced not only his assessments in the field of economics, but also discussed with the participants their specific proposals on various areas of business development and the business environment in the country.


tass--2020-10-21--Armenian Foreign Minister arrives in Moscow

MOSCOW , October 21 .
/TASS/ .
Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan arrived in Russia on a short working visit , press secretary for the Armenian Foreign Ministry Anna Naghdalyan announced on Wednesday .
`` The Armenian Foreign Minister is in Moscow on a short-term working visit , '' she wrote on Facebook .
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh , a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up , but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians , broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them .
Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 under the OSCE Minsk Group , led by its three co-chairs - Russia , France and the United States .
Moscow brokered a humanitarian ceasefire that took effect at 12 noon local time on October 10 but was violated .
Later , the foreign ministries of Armenia and Azerbaijan announced plans to declare another ceasefire at midnight on October 18 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parties keep blaming each other for violating the truce .

MOSCOW, October 21. /TASS/. Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan arrived in Russia on a short working visit, press secretary for the Armenian Foreign Ministry Anna Naghdalyan announced on Wednesday.
"The Armenian Foreign Minister is in Moscow on a short-term working visit," she wrote on Facebook.
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up, but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1992-1994, tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them. Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 under the OSCE Minsk Group, led by its three co-chairs - Russia, France and the United States.
Moscow brokered a humanitarian ceasefire that took effect at 12 noon local time on October 10 but was violated. Later, the foreign ministries of Armenia and Azerbaijan announced plans to declare another ceasefire at midnight on October 18, but the hostilities continue and the warring parties keep blaming each other for violating the truce.


tass--2020-10-20--Ukraine to construct two naval bases in Black Sea, says Zelensky

KIEV , October 20 .
/TASS/ .
Ukraine commence construction of two naval military base in order to protect the Black Sea region , Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensy said in his annual address to the lawmakers .
`` We commence construction of two state Ukrainian naval military bases in order to protect the Black Sea region , '' he said .
Zelensky also added that military ships , such as the Getman Sagaydachniy , continue their upgrades ; Kentavr landing speedboats are being prepared ; and the new Neptun anti-ship missile has entered service .
Zelensky also disclosed plans to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK and the US .
In particular , he noted that Ukraine plans to develop drones and air defense systems with Ankara .
The President also reported on upgrade of military vehicles .
The Ukraine ’ s intent to construct two naval bases in the Black Sea may negatively affect the stability in the region , Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists Tuesday .
`` Of course , considering all existing circumstances , this may have rather negative consequences for stability in the Black Sea region .
This danger potentially exists , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted that the Zelensky ’ s statement needs to be analyzed .
Zelensky did not specify , whose exactly those bases will be , and they can be `` very different , '' Peskov noted .

KIEV, October 20. /TASS/. Ukraine commence construction of two naval military base in order to protect the Black Sea region, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensy said in his annual address to the lawmakers.
"We commence construction of two state Ukrainian naval military bases in order to protect the Black Sea region," he said.
Zelensky also added that military ships, such as the Getman Sagaydachniy, continue their upgrades; Kentavr landing speedboats are being prepared; and the new Neptun anti-ship missile has entered service.
Zelensky also disclosed plans to extend military cooperation with Turkey, the UK and the US. In particular, he noted that Ukraine plans to develop drones and air defense systems with Ankara. The President also reported on upgrade of military vehicles.
Kremlin’s opinion
The Ukraine’s intent to construct two naval bases in the Black Sea may negatively affect the stability in the region, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists Tuesday.
"Of course, considering all existing circumstances, this may have rather negative consequences for stability in the Black Sea region. This danger potentially exists," the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, Peskov noted that the Zelensky’s statement needs to be analyzed. Zelensky did not specify, whose exactly those bases will be, and they can be "very different," Peskov noted.


tass--2020-10-20--Aeroflot is consulting with diplomats on further actions in smuggling case

MOSCOW , October 20 .
/TASS/ .
Aeroflot Airlines is now discussing with Russian diplomats in the United States further actions in connection with the accusation of allegedly Aeroflot employees of smuggling electronics from the United States , the airline ’ s spokeswoman Yulia Spivakova told reporters .
She noted that the published list of citizens who were charged contains neither former nor current employees of Aeroflot .
`` The company 's representative office interacts with the Russian Embassy in the United States and the Consulate General in New York to clarify the essence of possible claims against Aeroflot and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , adding that the company is consistently doing everything possible to prevent cross-border violations and economic crimes .
Earlier , the prosecutor 's office for the Eastern District of New York reported that seven defendants - Akmal Asadov , Sayyuz Daibagia , Anton Perevoznikov , Shokhrukh Saidov , Marat Shadkhin , Kirill Sokhonchuk and Zokir Iskanderov were arrested on Monday in New York and Azamat Bobomurodov was detained in Illinois .
Two more defendants , whose names are not disclosed , are on the wanted list .
They are accused of smuggling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ iPhone , iPad , Apple Watch ) , from the United States to Russia using couriers , many of whom were allegedly current or former Aeroflot employees .
The arrested are charged with `` transportation of stolen property , failure to provide export information , illegal export of electronic devices and conspiracy . ''
The total damage is estimated at $ 50 million .
Russia ’ s Consulate General in New York announced that they are verifying information about the involvement of Aeroflot employees in the smuggling case .

MOSCOW, October 20. /TASS/. Aeroflot Airlines is now discussing with Russian diplomats in the United States further actions in connection with the accusation of allegedly Aeroflot employees of smuggling electronics from the United States, the airline’s spokeswoman Yulia Spivakova told reporters. She noted that the published list of citizens who were charged contains neither former nor current employees of Aeroflot.
"The company's representative office interacts with the Russian Embassy in the United States and the Consulate General in New York to clarify the essence of possible claims against Aeroflot and agree on further actions," she said, adding that the company is consistently doing everything possible to prevent cross-border violations and economic crimes.
Earlier, the prosecutor's office for the Eastern District of New York reported that seven defendants - Akmal Asadov, Sayyuz Daibagia, Anton Perevoznikov, Shokhrukh Saidov, Marat Shadkhin, Kirill Sokhonchuk and Zokir Iskanderov were arrested on Monday in New York and Azamat Bobomurodov was detained in Illinois. Two more defendants, whose names are not disclosed, are on the wanted list. They are accused of smuggling electronic devices, primarily Apple products (iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch), from the United States to Russia using couriers, many of whom were allegedly current or former Aeroflot employees. The arrested are charged with "transportation of stolen property, failure to provide export information, illegal export of electronic devices and conspiracy." The total damage is estimated at $50 million. Russia’s Consulate General in New York announced that they are verifying information about the involvement of Aeroflot employees in the smuggling case.


tass--2020-10-20--EU calls on Russia and USA to prolong New START before February 2021

BRUSSELS , October 20 .
/TASS/ .
The EU is calling on Russia and the USA to prolong the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty ( New START ) before February 2021 , EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell stated on Tuesday during a plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels .
`` We strongly call for the extension by the US and Russia of the New START Treaty before February 2021 , and we will encourage negotiations for a broader future agreement , '' he said .
The New START Treaty will expire at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington agree to renew it .
The Treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms ( the New START Treaty ) entered into force on February 5 , 2011 .
The document stipulates that seven years after its entry into effect each party should have no more than a total of 700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles ( ICBM ) , submarine-launched ballistic missiles ( SLBM ) and strategic bombers , as well as no more than 1,550 warheads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategic bombers , and a total of 800 deployed and non-deployed ICBM launchers , SLBM launchers and strategic bombers .
The New START Treaty will remain in force for 10 years , until February 5 , 2021 , unless it is replaced before that date by a subsequent agreement on the reduction and limitation of strategic offensive arms .
It can also be extended for no longer than 5 years ( that is , until 2026 ) by the parties ’ mutual consent .
Moscow has repeatedly called on Washington not to delay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a golden standard in the area of disarmament .
In an interview with the Financial Times in June 2019 , Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that once the New START Treaty ceased to exist , `` then there would be no instrument in the world to curtail the arms race .
`` .

BRUSSELS, October 20. /TASS/. The EU is calling on Russia and the United States to prolong the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) before February 2021, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell stated on Tuesday during a plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels.
"We strongly call for the extension by the US and Russia of the New START Treaty before February 2021, and we will encourage negotiations for a broader future agreement," he said.
The New START Treaty will expire at the beginning of 2021 unless Moscow and Washington agree to renew it. The Treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (the New START Treaty) entered into force on February 5, 2011. The document stipulates that seven years after its entry into effect each party should have no more than a total of 700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) and strategic bombers, as well as no more than 1,550 warheads on deployed ICBMs, deployed SLBMs and strategic bombers, and a total of 800 deployed and non-deployed ICBM launchers, SLBM launchers and strategic bombers.
The New START Treaty will remain in force for 10 years, until February 5, 2021, unless it is replaced before that date by a subsequent agreement on the reduction and limitation of strategic offensive arms. It can also be extended for no longer than 5 years (that is, until 2026) by the parties’ mutual consent.
Moscow has repeatedly called on Washington not to delay prolongation of the treaty it describes as a golden standard in the area of disarmament. In an interview with the Financial Times in June 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that once the New START Treaty ceased to exist, "then there would be no instrument in the world to curtail the arms race.".


tass--2020-10-20--Gorbachev calls on politicians to pull efforts to rebuild trust between countries

MOSCOW , October 20 .
/TASS/ .
Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev has called on politicians to spare no effort to rebuild trust between countries .
`` Much of what we achieved 30 years ago has been thwarted : disarmament treaties , cooperation programs , and what is most important - trust , '' he said in his video address to the roundtable meeting on 30th anniversary of the 2+4 Treaty .
`` Much effort , political will and wisdom are needed to rebuild trust and get back to the path of cooperation .
It is not easy but I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He noted that the current situation in the world , including in Europe , is `` alarming . ''
`` The causes for that are difficult , but I can not but speak about the responsibility of those who have declared themselves the winner of the cold war , who have arrogated special rights in global politics , '' he said .
`` I am convinced that if they [ politicians ] extend hands to each other , pull their efforts to continue what was started years ago , the peoples of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russians and Germans , will support them sincerely and will help them in this historic endeavor , '' Gorbachev stressed .
The Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany , commonly referred to as the 2+4 Treaty , was signed on September 12 , 1990 in Moscow by the top diplomats from the former Soviet Union , the United States , the United Kingdom , France , the German Democratic Republic , and the Federal Republic of Germany .
The document set the borders of unified Germany , terms of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soviet troops of that country by the end of 1994 .

MOSCOW, October 20. /TASS/. Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev has called on politicians to spare no effort to rebuild trust between countries.
"Much of what we achieved 30 years ago has been thwarted: disarmament treaties, cooperation programs, and what is most important - trust," he said in his video address to the roundtable meeting on 30th anniversary of the 2+4 Treaty. "Much effort, political will and wisdom are needed to rebuild trust and get back to the path of cooperation. It is not easy but I am sure it is possible."
He noted that the current situation in the world, including in Europe, is "alarming." "The causes for that are difficult, but I cannot but speak about the responsibility of those who have declared themselves the winner of the cold war, who have arrogated special rights in global politics," he said.
"I am convinced that if they [politicians] extend hands to each other, pull their efforts to continue what was started years ago, the peoples of the world and Europe, including millions of Russians and Germans, will support them sincerely and will help them in this historic endeavor," Gorbachev stressed.
The Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany, commonly referred to as the 2+4 Treaty, was signed on September 12, 1990 in Moscow by the top diplomats from the former Soviet Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, the German Democratic Republic, and the Federal Republic of Germany. The document set the borders of unified Germany, terms of its sovereignty, and regulated the withdrawal of Soviet troops of that country by the end of 1994.


tass--2020-10-20--Iranian nuclear deal crucial for Persian Gulf security, says UN Secretary General

UNITED NATIONS , October 20 .
/TASS/ .
The issue of nuclear non-proliferation is of crucial importance in the area of the Persian Gulf , UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday during a video session of the UN Security Council ’ s high-level debate on the situation in the Persian Gulf .
The meeting is held on Russia ’ s initiative under the chairmanship of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov .
`` In relation to regional stability , the issue of nuclear nonproliferation is critical .
Since the beginning , I have always seen the Joint Comprehensive Plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an important instrument against nuclear proliferation and for regional security , '' he said .
The enormity of the challenges ahead should not deter us , '' Guterres stressed .
`` Let us work to create a climate of trust and improve the prospects for regional dialogue .
Let us move beyond destructive rivalries and recognize what unites us .
Let us keep the interests of the region ’ s people front and center - their aspirations for freedoms , opportunities , better standards of life and peace .
This , above all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collective efforts . ''
In 2015 , Iran and six major powers ( five member states of the United Nations Security Council - Russia , the United States , France , the United Kingdom and China - and Germany ) agreed on the final Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action , which particularly stipulated the removal of sanctions imposed on Tehran over its nuclear program .
After Donald Trump became the president of the USA , the US pulled out of the agreement , slapping sanctions on Iran .
On October 18 , restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the nuclear deal expired .

UNITED NATIONS, October 20. /TASS/. The issue of nuclear non-proliferation is of crucial importance in the area of the Persian Gulf, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday during a video session of the UN Security Council’s high-level debate on the situation in the Persian Gulf. The meeting is held on Russia’s initiative under the chairmanship of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
"In relation to regional stability, the issue of nuclear nonproliferation is critical. Since the beginning, I have always seen the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action — or JCPOA — as an important instrument against nuclear proliferation and for regional security," he said.
The enormity of the challenges ahead should not deter us," Guterres stressed. "Let us work to create a climate of trust and improve the prospects for regional dialogue. Let us move beyond destructive rivalries and recognize what unites us. Let us keep the interests of the region’s people front and center - their aspirations for freedoms, opportunities, better standards of life and peace. This, above all, should compel us to intensify our collective efforts."
In 2015, Iran and six major powers (five member states of the United Nations Security Council - Russia, the United States, France, the United Kingdom and China - and Germany) agreed on the final Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which particularly stipulated the removal of sanctions imposed on Tehran over its nuclear program.
After Donald Trump became the president of the USA, the US pulled out of the agreement, slapping sanctions on Iran. On October 18, restrictions on deliveries of regular arms to Iran under the nuclear deal expired.


tass--2020-10-20--Cooperation between states required to fight faux terrorists — Russian Security Council

MOSCOW , October 20 .
/TASS/ .
Fighting faux terrorists calls and messages requires cooperation with foreign agencies and with the IT companies , Russian Security Council deputy secretary Yuri Kokov said in an interview for Rossiyskaya Gazeta .
According to the official , anonymous calls happen via Internet phone calls form rented platforms , located in Russia or abroad , in conjunction with IP-concealing measures .
`` This creates certain difficulties in investigation of such crimes .
It is important to develop cooperation with competent agencies of foreign states , where the server hardware is located , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kokov said .
He also noted that Russia proposed to internationally define the procedure of registration and storage of encryption keys for mobile devices , which should make it possible to detect messengers used by the terrorists efficiently .
`` Accepting this proposal will create options for legitimate access to information , sent by terrorists using strong cryptographic mechanisms , as well as information on devices used and their location , '' the deputy secretary said .
He also touched upon the issue of cyberterrorism , noting that such attacks can potentially lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chaos in operation of state and commercial structures .
According to Kokov , `` most computer incidents failed to inflict serious damage '' in Russia thanks to the successful operation of the state system for cyberattack detection , prevention and consequence elimination .

MOSCOW, October 20. /TASS/. Fighting faux terrorists calls and messages requires cooperation with foreign agencies and with the IT companies, Russian Security Council deputy secretary Yuri Kokov said in an interview for Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
According to the official, anonymous calls happen via Internet phone calls form rented platforms, located in Russia or abroad, in conjunction with IP-concealing measures.
"This creates certain difficulties in investigation of such crimes. It is important to develop cooperation with competent agencies of foreign states, where the server hardware is located, as well as with the IT companies," Kokov said.
He also noted that Russia proposed to internationally define the procedure of registration and storage of encryption keys for mobile devices, which should make it possible to detect messengers used by the terrorists efficiently.
"Accepting this proposal will create options for legitimate access to information, sent by terrorists using strong cryptographic mechanisms, as well as information on devices used and their location," the deputy secretary said.
He also touched upon the issue of cyberterrorism, noting that such attacks can potentially lead to significant human losses, and inflict chaos in operation of state and commercial structures. According to Kokov, "most computer incidents failed to inflict serious damage" in Russia thanks to the successful operation of the state system for cyberattack detection, prevention and consequence elimination.


tass--2020-10-20--Moscow denies US allegations about involvement in cyberattacks

MOSCOW , October 20 .
/TASS/ .
Russia strongly dismisses groundless US charges some Russian government agencies were behind alleged malicious activity in the Internet , Russia ’ s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a commentary on Tuesday .
`` The US administration has once again … accused our government structures of malicious activity in the field of information and communication technologies .
We strongly dismiss such speculations .
Russia ’ s government agencies have nothing to do with any malicious activity in the Internet , contrary to what Washington tries to assert .
Apparently , behind this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Russophobic forces in the United States to keep afloat the agenda of a Russian threat at a time when the presidential election campaign has reached its peak , '' the commentary runs .
Zakharova stressed that as usual the American side did not bother to present any proof .
`` There has been another portion of hackneyed cliches about our country ’ s ‘ complicity ’ in a wide range of destructive actions in the cyberspace , '' she said in the wake of statements by the US deputy attorney-general and secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the US reaction to Russian President Vladimir Putin ’ s proposal for cooperation in the sphere of cybersecurity .
`` Statements by a US Department of Justice official , who described Putin ’ s proposal as ‘ cynical propaganda ’ were in fact Washington ’ s first public reaction to our call for cooperation .
It is noteworthy that the Americans preferred to react to the Russian leader ’ s proposal at a level of a deputy chief of a federal agency , moreover , by no means involved with the issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is regretful that judging by the rhetoric of senior US administration officials our approaches are not shared and there is no readiness for cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual respect , '' Zakharova said .
Earlier , the US Department of Justice accused six Russians of complicity in major cyberattacks around the world .
Washington argues that all of them are career Russian military intelligence officers .
The investigators argue that the accused and their accomplices harmed computer networks around the world , including those in France , Georgia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Britain and the United States .
US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo on Monday called upon all countries to pool efforts in bringing to justice the six Russians it suspects of complicity in cyberattacks .
Moscow has repeatedly dismissed the Western countries '' charges of organizing cyberattacks and invited Washington to establish a dialogue over cybersecurity .

MOSCOW, October 20. /TASS/. Russia strongly dismisses groundless US charges some Russian government agencies were behind alleged malicious activity in the Internet, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a commentary on Tuesday.
"The US administration has once again … accused our government structures of malicious activity in the field of information and communication technologies. We strongly dismiss such speculations. Russia’s government agencies have nothing to do with any malicious activity in the Internet, contrary to what Washington tries to assert. Apparently, behind this there are time-serving political considerations and intentions of Russophobic forces in the United States to keep afloat the agenda of a Russian threat at a time when the presidential election campaign has reached its peak," the commentary runs.
Zakharova stressed that as usual the American side did not bother to present any proof.
"There has been another portion of hackneyed cliches about our country’s ‘complicity’ in a wide range of destructive actions in the cyberspace," she said in the wake of statements by the US deputy attorney-general and secretary of state.
Also, Zakharova pointed to the US reaction to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal for cooperation in the sphere of cybersecurity.
"Statements by a US Department of Justice official, who described Putin’s proposal as ‘cynical propaganda’ were in fact Washington’s first public reaction to our call for cooperation. It is noteworthy that the Americans preferred to react to the Russian leader’s proposal at a level of a deputy chief of a federal agency, moreover, by no means involved with the issue," the commentary runs.
"It is regretful that judging by the rhetoric of senior US administration officials our approaches are not shared and there is no readiness for cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual respect," Zakharova said.
Earlier, the US Department of Justice accused six Russians of complicity in major cyberattacks around the world. Washington argues that all of them are career Russian military intelligence officers. The investigators argue that the accused and their accomplices harmed computer networks around the world, including those in France, Georgia, the Netherlands, South Korea, Ukraine, Britain and the United States. US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo on Monday called upon all countries to pool efforts in bringing to justice the six Russians it suspects of complicity in cyberattacks. Moscow has repeatedly dismissed the Western countries" charges of organizing cyberattacks and invited Washington to establish a dialogue over cybersecurity.


tass--2020-10-20--Ukrainian former football player Vasilenko faces court over charges of espionage

MOSCOW , October 20 .
/TASS/ .
Moscow city court commenced hearings on the case of the former Ukrainian football player Vasily Vasilenko , arrested in Moscow earlier over charges of espionage for Ukraine .
The court press service told TASS that some case materials are classified .
`` Today , a hearing took place on the substance of the criminal case of V. I. Vasilenko , charged with Clause 276 of the Criminal Code of Russia [ Espionage ] .
The case materials contain classified documents , '' the press service source said .
He pointed out that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The court will determine during its meetings , in what mode to hear the case : an open or a closed one , '' the press service said .
Between 1992 and 2001 , Vasilenko played for several Ukrainian football teams .
He was born in 1967 and is a Ukrainian citizen .
In October 2019 , he had been arrested in Moscow over charges of smuggling of hazardous substances .
This spring , the case was re-classified as espionage , after Russian Federal Security Service ( FSB ) determined Vasilenko @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Ukraine .
The Vasilenko ’ s case was investigated by the Moscow FSB directorate .
The details of the case are not disclosed .
Vasilenko faces 20 years in prison .

MOSCOW, October 20. /TASS/. Moscow city court commenced hearings on the case of the former Ukrainian football player Vasily Vasilenko, arrested in Moscow earlier over charges of espionage for Ukraine. The court press service told TASS that some case materials are classified.
"Today, a hearing took place on the substance of the criminal case of V. I. Vasilenko, charged with Clause 276 of the Criminal Code of Russia [Espionage]. The case materials contain classified documents," the press service source said.
He pointed out that the next hearing was scheduled for October 29.
"The court will determine during its meetings, in what mode to hear the case: an open or a closed one," the press service said.
Between 1992 and 2001, Vasilenko played for several Ukrainian football teams. He was born in 1967 and is a Ukrainian citizen.
In October 2019, he had been arrested in Moscow over charges of smuggling of hazardous substances. This spring, the case was re-classified as espionage, after Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) determined Vasilenko’s involvement in espionage in favor of Ukraine.
The Vasilenko’s case was investigated by the Moscow FSB directorate. The details of the case are not disclosed. Vasilenko faces 20 years in prison.


tass--2020-10-20--Terrorist cells may get active when COVID-19 restrictions are gone - Security Council

MOSCOW , October 20 .
/TASS/ .
Terrorist cells may get active again after the coronavirus pandemic-related restrictions are lifted , the deputy chief of Russia ’ s Security Council , Yuri Kokov , told the daily Rossiyskaya Gazeta in an interview published on Tuesday .
`` Nobody should be misled by a certain decline in terrorist activity amid the pandemic , '' he warned .
`` When the anti-epidemic restrictions begin to be lifted , terrorist cells may get active again very fast . ''
About the methods of terrorist propaganda Kokov said they widely employed psychological manipulation with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aim of undermining faith in social values , fomenting radical sentiment and breeding alarm , fear and panic .
`` Youth and teen-agers are the terrorists ’ very vulnerable target audience .
Terrorists are keen to brainwash it by using computer games , music videos and cartoons that propagate brutality and violence , '' he warned .
`` Quite often this propaganda and psychological techniques affect young women , who are promised wealthy and happy family lives in a foreign country , '' Kokov said .
`` Instead of marrying rich husbands they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eventually used as suicide bombers . ''
Kokov said that Russia in 2019 within the framework of the struggle against terrorist and extremist ideologies blocked more than 84,000 Internet pages and deleted about 5,000 materials recognized as extremist and prohibited .
In the first half of 2020 31,000 websites were blocked and 3,000 extremist materials deleted .

MOSCOW, October 20. /TASS/. Terrorist cells may get active again after the coronavirus pandemic-related restrictions are lifted, the deputy chief of Russia’s Security Council, Yuri Kokov, told the daily Rossiyskaya Gazeta in an interview published on Tuesday.
"Nobody should be misled by a certain decline in terrorist activity amid the pandemic," he warned. "When the anti-epidemic restrictions begin to be lifted, terrorist cells may get active again very fast."
About the methods of terrorist propaganda Kokov said they widely employed psychological manipulation with individuals and groups of people with the aim of undermining faith in social values, fomenting radical sentiment and breeding alarm, fear and panic.
"Youth and teen-agers are the terrorists’ very vulnerable target audience. Terrorists are keen to brainwash it by using computer games, music videos and cartoons that propagate brutality and violence," he warned.
"Quite often this propaganda and psychological techniques affect young women, who are promised wealthy and happy family lives in a foreign country," Kokov said. "Instead of marrying rich husbands they end up in terrorist gangs and are eventually used as suicide bombers."
Kokov said that Russia in 2019 within the framework of the struggle against terrorist and extremist ideologies blocked more than 84,000 Internet pages and deleted about 5,000 materials recognized as extremist and prohibited. In the first half of 2020 31,000 websites were blocked and 3,000 extremist materials deleted.


tass--2020-10-20--Internet becoming key tool in planning terrorist attacks, says Russia’s Security Council

MOSCOW , October 20 .
/TASS/ .
The Internet is becoming a key instrument in terrorists ’ hands in planning and making preparations for terrorist attacks , the deputy secretary of Russia ’ s Security Council , Yuri Kokov , told the daily Rossiyskaya Gazeta , published on Tuesday .
`` The information openly available in the cyberspace makes the Internet a key instrument in planning and making preparations for terrorist attacks .
This concerns the choice of potential targets , collection of essential information , identification of vulnerabilities , choice of effective methods and means of attack and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Kokov said .
In his opinion the Internet creates logistic advantages in plotting and staging terrorist attacks , narrows the opportunities for their timely prevention , and makes it more difficult to identify masterminds and perpetrators .
`` Online platforms are being used as a virtual teaching aid .
Detailed instructions on how to join terrorist organizations , make explosives and dangerous materials and plot and commit terrorist attacks are published there in easily accessible multi-media formats in different languages , '' Kokov said , when asked in what ways the terrorists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and guides described the techniques of unauthorized access to computer data and for increasing the protection of illegal communications in the worldwide web , such as widely available methods of coding messages .

MOSCOW, October 20. /TASS/. The Internet is becoming a key instrument in terrorists’ hands in planning and making preparations for terrorist attacks, the deputy secretary of Russia’s Security Council, Yuri Kokov, told the daily Rossiyskaya Gazeta, published on Tuesday.
"The information openly available in the cyberspace makes the Internet a key instrument in planning and making preparations for terrorist attacks. This concerns the choice of potential targets, collection of essential information, identification of vulnerabilities, choice of effective methods and means of attack and the acquisition of related goods and services," Kokov said.
In his opinion the Internet creates logistic advantages in plotting and staging terrorist attacks, narrows the opportunities for their timely prevention, and makes it more difficult to identify masterminds and perpetrators.
"Online platforms are being used as a virtual teaching aid. Detailed instructions on how to join terrorist organizations, make explosives and dangerous materials and plot and commit terrorist attacks are published there in easily accessible multi-media formats in different languages," Kokov said, when asked in what ways the terrorists used this resource. The same instructions and guides described the techniques of unauthorized access to computer data and for increasing the protection of illegal communications in the worldwide web, such as widely available methods of coding messages.


tass--2020-10-20--Russian diplomat and German ambassador discuss situation in Nagorno-Karabakh

MOSCOW , October 20 .
/TASS/ .
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko and German Ambassador to Moscow Geza Andreas @ @ @ @ @ situation in Nagorno-Karabakh , Kyrgyzstan and Belarus during a meeting on Tuesday .
`` They @ @ @ @ @ of opinions on the situation in the CIS area , namely on the ongoing hostilities @ @ @ @ @ .
They have stressed that there is no alternative to adhering to all provisions of @ @ @ @ @ outcomes of the meeting between Russian , Azerbaijani and Armenian ministers of foreign affairs on @ @ @ @ @ , '' the ministry informed .
Among other things , they touched upon the situation @ @ @ @ @ as well as the regulation of domestic Ukrainian crisis .
The meeting was held at @ @ @ @ @ diplomat .

MOSCOW, October 20. /TASS/. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko and German Ambassador to Moscow Geza Andreas von Geyr have discussed the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, Kyrgyzstan and Belarus during a meeting on Tuesday.
"They have held a useful exchange of opinions on the situation in the CIS area, namely on the ongoing hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. They have stressed that there is no alternative to adhering to all provisions of the statement approved on the outcomes of the meeting between Russian, Azerbaijani and Armenian ministers of foreign affairs on October 10 of this year," the ministry informed.
Among other things, they touched upon the situation in Kyrgyzstan and Belarus, as well as the regulation of domestic Ukrainian crisis.
The meeting was held at the request of the German diplomat.


tass--2020-10-20--UN’s mediation may help stabilize situation in Gulf, says Russian top diplomat

MOSCOW , October 20 .
/TASS/ .
The United Nations ’ mediation may help stabilize the situation in the Gulf @ @ @ @ @ Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday at UN Security Council online high-level debates on the situation @ @ @ @ @ The United Nations ’ mediation potential may be needed , including as part of the @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
`` Let me remind that United Nations Security Council Resolution @ @ @ @ @ to elaborate , jointly with the regional sides , security and stability building measures in @ @ @ @ @ .
`` .

MOSCOW, October 20. /TASS/. The United Nations’ mediation may help stabilize the situation in the Gulf region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday at UN Security Council online high-level debates on the situation in the Gulf.
"The United Nations’ mediation potential may be needed, including as part of the secretary-general’s good offices," he said. "Let me remind that United Nations Security Council Resolution 598 tasks the secretary general to elaborate, jointly with the regional sides, security and stability building measures in the [Gulf] region.".


tass--2020-10-20--Putin, Macron reiterate commitment to close cooperation in combating terrorism

MOSCOW , October 20 .
/TASS/ .
Russian and French Presidents , Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron , have reiterated @ @ @ @ @ efforts to combat terrorism , the Kremlin press service said on Tuesday after the telephone @ @ @ @ @ offered his condolences over a terror attack in a Paris suburb in which a teacher @ @ @ @ @ this context , the sides reiterated their commitment to closer joint efforts to combat terrorism @ @ @ @ @ ideologies , '' the Kremlin said .
On October 16 , a teacher was attacked @ @ @ @ @ taught in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine , a suburb of Paris .
His throat was slit with a @ @ @ @ @ tried to threaten police officers who arrived at the scene but was shot dead .
@ @ @ @ @ is investigating the attack , which President Emmanuel Macron dubbed as an act of terror @ @ @ @ @ reports , eleven people were detained in the course of investigation .

MOSCOW, October 20. /TASS/. Russian and French Presidents, Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron, have reiterated their commitment to further joint efforts to combat terrorism, the Kremlin press service said on Tuesday after the telephone conversation.
The Russian leader offered his condolences over a terror attack in a Paris suburb in which a teacher was killed.
"In this context, the sides reiterated their commitment to closer joint efforts to combat terrorism and the propagation of extremist ideologies," the Kremlin said.
On October 16, a teacher was attacked outside the school where he taught in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, a suburb of Paris. His throat was slit with a kitchen knife. The assailant tried to threaten police officers who arrived at the scene but was shot dead.
France’s anti-terror prosecutor is investigating the attack, which President Emmanuel Macron dubbed as an act of terror. According to the latest reports, eleven people were detained in the course of investigation.


tass--2020-10-20--Lukashenko promises to restore order in Minsk on Sunday if more protests are organized

`` Order will be restored in Minsk on Sunday .
Because they stage marches typically on Sunday .
Well , they have demonstrated what they want .
You have seen that too .
Well , we will now explain everything one more time , warn them and will not indulge in soothing , '' BelTA news agency quoted him as saying at a meeting with university rectors .
According to the president , students who take part in protests should be face with a choice : either to continue studying or be called up for military service .
`` As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say how many young people don ’ t want to study .
Well , if they don ’ t want it , that ’ s their business .
Let them choose - either the army , or work , or else .
It ’ s their right to choose , especially now , '' Lukashenko said .
He stressed that the authorities are not against opponents but it is inadmissible to violate the law and students should be faced with a choice .
`` If you want to study , do it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ d better go , '' he said .
Nationwide demonstrations have engulfed Belarus following the August 9 presidential election .
According to the Central Election Commission ’ s official results , incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won by a landslide , garnering 80.10 % of the vote .
His closest rival in the race , Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , came in second , with 10.12 % of the ballot .
However , she refused to recognize the election ’ s outcome , and left Belarus for Lithuania .
After the results of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9 , mass protests erupted in downtown Minsk and other Belarusian cities .
During the early post-election period , the rallies snowballed into fierce clashes between the protesters and police .
The current unrest is being cheered on by the opposition ’ s Coordination Council , which has been beating the drum for more protests .
In response , the Belarusian authorities have castigated the ongoing turmoil and demanded that these unauthorized demonstrations be stopped .

"Order will be restored in Minsk on Sunday. Because they stage marches typically on Sunday. Well, they have demonstrated what they want. You have seen that too. Well, we will now explain everything one more time, warn them and will not indulge in soothing," BelTA news agency quoted him as saying at a meeting with university rectors.
According to the president, students who take part in protests should be face with a choice: either to continue studying or be called up for military service. "As rectors, you must be the first to say how many young people don’t want to study. Well, if they don’t want it, that’s their business. Let them choose - either the army, or work, or else. It’s their right to choose, especially now," Lukashenko said.
He stressed that the authorities are not against opponents but it is inadmissible to violate the law and students should be faced with a choice. "If you want to study, do it, if you don’t - you’d better go," he said.
Nationwide demonstrations have engulfed Belarus following the August 9 presidential election. According to the Central Election Commission’s official results, incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won by a landslide, garnering 80.10% of the vote. His closest rival in the race, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, came in second, with 10.12% of the ballot. However, she refused to recognize the election’s outcome, and left Belarus for Lithuania. After the results of the exit polls were announced late on August 9, mass protests erupted in downtown Minsk and other Belarusian cities. During the early post-election period, the rallies snowballed into fierce clashes between the protesters and police. The current unrest is being cheered on by the opposition’s Coordination Council, which has been beating the drum for more protests. In response, the Belarusian authorities have castigated the ongoing turmoil and demanded that these unauthorized demonstrations be stopped.


tass--2020-10-20--Putin, Macron discuss situation in Nagorno-Karabakh

MOSCOW , October 20 .
/TASS/ .
The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh was in focus of a telephone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart , Emmanuel Macron , the Kremlin press service said on Tuesday .
`` Vladimir Putin informed his French counterpart about the steps that are being taken to prevent further escalation of hostilities and resume talks to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh problem by political and diplomatic means as soon as possible , '' it said .
`` It was stressed that the conflicting parties must observe the October 10 and October 17 agreements on cessation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stressed their readiness to continue close coordination between Russia and France as co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and within the United Nations Security Council , '' the Kremlin said .
The presidents also agreed to continue contacts at various levels .
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh , a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up , but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians , broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them .
Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 under the OSCE Minsk Group , led by its three co-chairs - Russia , France and the United States .
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27 , with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014 , in April 2016 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have imposed martial law and launched mobilization efforts .
Both parties to the conflict have reported casualties , among them civilians .
Moscow brokered a humanitarian ceasefire that took effect at 12 noon local time on October 10 but was violated .
Later , the foreign ministries of Armenia and Azerbaijan announced plans to declare another ceasefire at midnight on October 18 , but the hostilities continue and the warring parties keep blaming each other for violating the truce .

MOSCOW, October 20. /TASS/. The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh was in focus of a telephone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, the Kremlin press service said on Tuesday.
"Vladimir Putin informed his French counterpart about the steps that are being taken to prevent further escalation of hostilities and resume talks to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh problem by political and diplomatic means as soon as possible," it said. "It was stressed that the conflicting parties must observe the October 10 and October 17 agreements on cessation of fire."
"The leaders stressed their readiness to continue close coordination between Russia and France as co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and within the United Nations Security Council," the Kremlin said.
The presidents also agreed to continue contacts at various levels.
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up, but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1992-1994, tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them. Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 under the OSCE Minsk Group, led by its three co-chairs - Russia, France and the United States.
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014, in April 2016 and this past July. Azerbaijan and Armenia have imposed martial law and launched mobilization efforts. Both parties to the conflict have reported casualties, among them civilians.
Moscow brokered a humanitarian ceasefire that took effect at 12 noon local time on October 10 but was violated. Later, the foreign ministries of Armenia and Azerbaijan announced plans to declare another ceasefire at midnight on October 18, but the hostilities continue and the warring parties keep blaming each other for violating the truce.


tass--2020-10-20--Russia plans to become world leader in artificial intelligence, says PM

MOSCOW , October 20 .
/TASS/ .
Artificial intelligence is the most promising area in digital technologies development and Russia @ @ @ @ @ leader in this sphere , Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said on Tuesday .
`` Artificial @ @ @ @ @ most promising direction .
Russia plans to capture leading positions there , '' the prime @ @ @ @ @ the sphere of cross-cutting digital technologies make it possible to organize manufacturing processes , financial @ @ @ @ @ new manner , Mishustin noted .
Measures have been taken to create conditions for appearance @ @ @ @ @ foreign IT companies in Russia , including lowering the income tax for such business to @ @ @ @ @ rates to 7.6 % , the prime minister said .
`` Overall , we will @ @ @ @ @ doing business in our country , '' Mishustin noted .
`` This course will continue @ @ @ @ @ in our country and globally , '' he added .

MOSCOW, October 20. /TASS/. Artificial intelligence is the most promising area in digital technologies development and Russia plans to become a global leader in this sphere, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said on Tuesday.
"Artificial intelligence at present is the most promising direction. Russia plans to capture leading positions there," the prime minister said. Developments in the sphere of cross-cutting digital technologies make it possible to organize manufacturing processes, financial services and logistics in a new manner, Mishustin noted.
Measures have been taken to create conditions for appearance and development of domestic and foreign IT companies in Russia, including lowering the income tax for such business to 3% and insurance contribution rates to 7.6%, the prime minister said. "Overall, we will continue creating comfortable environment for doing business in our country," Mishustin noted. "This course will continue, despite the challenging situation in our country and globally," he added.


tass--2020-10-20--Sand paradise: How to live in a village by the White Sea, cut off from civilization

MOSCOW , October 20 .
/TASS/ .
An old village Kuzomen is at the mouth of the Varzuga River , which runs into the White Sea , - in the Murmansk Region .
Getting here is only across sand dunes of the polar desert .
There , behind the desert , live about a hundred people .
Strange : both the locals and visitors call this place the paradise .
We drove about five hours to cover almost 400 kilometers from Murmansk to Umba .
Following 100 kilometers we drove along a narrow road towards Varzuga , and another 50 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - no road at all , only the sand .
This is about how to live in village by the White Sea , which is cut off civilization We look at the road and realize we can not manage it on our own .
We call a local forestry inspector .
Gennady drove an [ off-road ] UAZ to us very soon .
He comes from Tver , and has been living in Kuzomen for 35 years already .
- We live well !
Don ’ t feel sorry for us !
- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remarks .
- Let ’ s move if you want to see the village before it ’ s dark .
Most locals are retirees .
Men are mostly fishers , in summer they work at tourist camps .
Women mostly care about houses , and many of them , being the Pomors , are skilled to manage boats and fishing equipment .
Gennady tells us , scientists suppose the desert developed there in the 1920s .
The sand is a consequence of cut woods and past pastures .
The area is flat , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until sand developed at 1,600 hectares .
The river has got closer to the village , and many houses now balance on the cliff edge .
A few years earlier , a sauna house glided down and was gone in the river .
- Back in 1985 , when I came here , the locals were mostly the Pomors .
It was a big communist-style farm , everyone was employed there .
Now here remain mostly those who have nowhere to go , or those who couldn ’ t find their place in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fishing , - our guide said .
According to history books , in the late 18th century here were boilers to make salt from the White Sea water .
Historic documents quote Kuzomen was founded in 1577 .
Kuzomen is among first Russian settlements on the Kola Peninsula .
Presently , its population is about 100 people .
How Putin helped Kuzomen to get electricity - I have written two letters to Putin , and - here you are - we have the light , - Gennady said with a smile .
- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plants .
In the time of Governor Yevdokimov everything was fine .
And then , all housing issues became the responsibility of the regional authorities .
When they saw how much diesel we consume , they went mad , and the the total-saving time began .
Our elected official , Gennady Popov , told me : well , write a letter to Putin .
He did .
All the locals put their signatures .
- It was in March , and in July Chubais came here .
Inspected all the villages - they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changed for bikes .
In September , work begun and by the New Year our neighbors got electricity , - our guide said proudly .
However , the line to Kuzomen remained due , he added .
- We were happy for our neighbors .
But as for us - we remained waiting… One year passes , another - where ’ s the light ?
We had to write another letter to Putin , again collected signatures and delivered the letter .
This time , Gennady Popov supervised it , and without any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the woods from our side , and those in Varzuga - from their side .
And later on , in the middle on the forest we met .
And here , at last , the electricity line reached us .
We drive into the village , and here are dogs .
They are huge , like big bears , with thick fur and strong paws .
They surround us , noses into our palms , receive treats and immediately lose any interest in us .
The village is just one street .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the sand .
For pedestrians there are wooden bridges - not to sink into the sand .
Interestingly - every house is circled with a strong fence .
Why , we ask ?
From whom ?
- Well , why , from our wild horses , haven ’ t you heard about them ?
- The man said .
- Their big herds are in Chapom , Chavanga , Tetrino .
Here , in Kuzomen , with this feed base they can not survive , they do breed , but then die @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gardens .
Three years ago they broke my fence and were digging out potato in the garden .
By autumn , with good food , they become quite built !
Finding horses was not a problem .
We walk into the village , to the shop - and here they are .
A snow-white mare and a smoky foal , like dogs , paid no attention to us .
They sniffed the air , felt nothing eatable and trotted away .
The horses are not many in the village - five horses and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every year , but babies rarely survive .
Sometimes even one of the horses wouldn ’ t live through the winter .
This is how a tiny herd of six stocky horses , very similar to Yakut horses , lives in the village .
Before the electricity line wa obtained , the locals heated their houses with wood .
Where to take wood , when practically no forests have survived and winters are almost for nine months ?
The wood sails to here , the locals say .
- Just walk to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how many trunks surf there , - Vishnyakov said .
- When the plants in Arkhangelsk were busy , lots of trunks sailed to here - almost all our houses are made of those trunks .
Just imagine what it is like to freeze in the Dvina ’ s mouth hundreds thousands cubic meters of wood !
And then , in spring , the melting ice would bring all those trunks here .
- When I came to live in Kuzomen , I witnessed many trunks here , - Gennady said .
- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wood plants worked here , about only 30 % of wood got to clients , and the rest were losses .
It is the official statistics .
Thus , all the villages on the shore have never cut wood for heating .
The only drawback in those trunks is that they absorb the sea salt , hence all houses are salty .
When this wood is in the oven , people have to watch the heating closely , as salt catches fire and sticks to the pipes .
Some people anyway prefer heating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ locals use boilers and radiators .
However , every household keeps a stock of wood and a generator .
Just in case .
The village has as many as two shops .
We enter a privately-owned one .
Groceries , meat , milk , bread , vegetables , fruit , even watermelons !
The owner , Valentina Dvinina , says she brings in products twice a week .
In summer - by car , and in winter by off-road or snow mobiles with sleds .
In the mud - sometimes by a helicopter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board .
- The helicopter flies to Umba and Pyalitsa , once a week it carries mail , passengers , - she said .
- In the past , between the 30s and the 90s , Kuzomen had its own airport , small planes for 12 passengers made flights three days a week , An-2 ( Antonov ) .
The runway was on a flat passage right next to the sea .
The helicopter is not cheap .
For the locals , a flight from Umba to Kuzomen is almost 2,500 rubles ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - almost 10,000 ( $ 128 ) .
Every family tries to have own off-road car , bikes or boats .
A taxi ride to neighboring Varzuga is expensive - 1,500 rubles ( $ 19 ) .
What ’ s missing here , I ask .
Nothing , the locals say , adding nobody needs here any boutiques or cinemas .
Life is different and values are different .
The people watch 20 television channels for free .
They choose between two cell operators .
As for doctors - they have none .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Before the 1970s , the village had a hospital .
In the 1970s , it was closed .
The only paramedic quit later on , and the premises were closed .
Nowadays , the nearest hospital is almost 150 kilometers away .
Kuzomen ’ s population is 80 adults and 13 children , five of them in the Moshnikovs family - three girls and twin boys .
- My second daughter , Katya , was born here .
She ’ s 8 now , - the mother said .
- With other children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live with my relatives in the city way in advance .
Officials change , and the last promise was that an office for a paramedic would be opened by 2025 , in five years .
The new office ’ s cost is 15 million rubles ( $ 193,000 ) .
Thus , no matter what happens - falling ill is out of question for the next five years .
A teacher from the US The local school has three students : one girl is a first-year student , and two other girls are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ old school burned down , and the farm ’ s director undertook the responsibility to build a new school not to send the kids to a boarding school away from the village .
Yekaterina Dvinina was born in Murmansk , where later on she graduated from the Murmansk Arctic State University .
In 2015 , she posted a CV in response to a published vacancy .
During the first month , she said , it was very tough .
She even thought of fleeing .
Her accommodation was inside the old school - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to start the oven , to bring water .
But the locals supported me greatly - they taught me everything and then checked whether I was doing things correctly .
I was touched .
I couldn ’ t allow saying : well , I quit and you , kids , go to a boarding school .
I couldn ’ t betray the kids , - she said .
Interestingly , Yekaterina could have stayed in the US .
She went to South Colorado on a student exchange program .
But while being there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Why Kuzomen is better than US Everything in Kuzomen - the weather , the nature , the winds , and the people - is real .
Kids know how to be kind , how to make friends , how to believe in people , to be responsible , and , surely , how to work , - the teacher said .
Here , in Kuzomen , Yekaterina met her spouse .
They are a married couple with a son .
He is two years old .
You know , here I can even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like : writing books , walking to the seaside , admiring the wonderful nature and breathing this air .
I realize - a city is fine , but as for me , it probably should be in small portions , - she added .
- Do you know that we do not have the polar night here ?
It is sunny in December , the snow is shimmering - very beautiful !
Why not the paradise ?
To say nothing about the States or even Murmansk - she said with a warm smile @

MOSCOW, October 20. /TASS/. An old village Kuzomen is at the mouth of the Varzuga River, which runs into the White Sea, - in the Murmansk Region. Getting here is only across sand dunes of the polar desert. There, behind the desert, live about a hundred people. Strange: both the locals and visitors call this place the paradise.
We drove about five hours to cover almost 400 kilometers from Murmansk to Umba. Following 100 kilometers we drove along a narrow road towards Varzuga, and another 50 - along a ground road. Then - no road at all, only the sand.
This is about how to live in village by the White Sea, which is cut off civilization
Sooner or later…
We look at the road and realize we cannot manage it on our own. We call a local forestry inspector. Gennady drove an [off-road] UAZ to us very soon. He comes from Tver, and has been living in Kuzomen for 35 years already.
- We live well! Don’t feel sorry for us! - he exclaims in response to our sorrowful remarks. - Let’s move if you want to see the village before it’s dark.
Most locals are retirees. Men are mostly fishers, in summer they work at tourist camps. Women mostly care about houses, and many of them, being the Pomors, are skilled to manage boats and fishing equipment.
Gennady tells us, scientists suppose the desert developed there in the 1920s. The sand is a consequence of cut woods and past pastures. The area is flat, and winds blew the thin soil away until sand developed at 1,600 hectares. The river has got closer to the village, and many houses now balance on the cliff edge. A few years earlier, a sauna house glided down and was gone in the river.
- Back in 1985, when I came here, the locals were mostly the Pomors. It was a big communist-style farm, everyone was employed there. Now here remain mostly those who have nowhere to go, or those who couldn’t find their place in life. The only occupation here is fishing, - our guide said.
According to history books, in the late 18th century here were boilers to make salt from the White Sea water. Historic documents quote Kuzomen was founded in 1577.
Kuzomen is among first Russian settlements on the Kola Peninsula. Presently, its population is about 100 people.
How Putin helped Kuzomen to get electricity
- I have written two letters to Putin, and - here you are - we have the light, - Gennady said with a smile.
- Formerly, electricity was produced at diesel-powered plants. In the time of Governor Yevdokimov everything was fine. And then, all housing issues became the responsibility of the regional authorities. When they saw how much diesel we consume , they went mad, and the the total-saving time began. Our elected official, Gennady Popov, told me: well, write a letter to Putin.
He did. All the locals put their signatures.
- It was in March, and in July Chubais came here. Inspected all the villages - they were sailing from Arkhangelsk, and here changed for bikes. In September, work begun and by the New Year our neighbors got electricity, - our guide said proudly.
However, the line to Kuzomen remained due, he added.
- We were happy for our neighbors. But as for us - we remained waiting… One year passes, another - where’s the light? We had to write another letter to Putin, again collected signatures and delivered the letter. This time, Gennady Popov supervised it, and without any bureaucracy we began cutting a line through the woods from our side, and those in Varzuga - from their side. And later on, in the middle on the forest we met. And here, at last, the electricity line reached us.
Visitors’ face control
We drive into the village, and here are dogs. They are huge, like big bears, with thick fur and strong paws. They surround us, noses into our palms, receive treats and immediately lose any interest in us.
The village is just one street. The road is a line of wheel tracks in the sand. For pedestrians there are wooden bridges - not to sink into the sand. Interestingly - every house is circled with a strong fence. Why, we ask? From whom?
- Well, why, from our wild horses, haven’t you heard about them? - The man said. - Their big herds are in Chapom, Chavanga, Tetrino. Here, in Kuzomen, with this feed base they cannot survive, they do breed, but then die. They love to peep into the gardens. Three years ago they broke my fence and were digging out potato in the garden. By autumn, with good food, they become quite built!
Finding horses was not a problem. We walk into the village, to the shop - and here they are. A snow-white mare and a smoky foal, like dogs, paid no attention to us. They sniffed the air, felt nothing eatable and trotted away.
The horses are not many in the village - five horses and one mare, she brings a foal every year, but babies rarely survive. Sometimes even one of the horses wouldn’t live through the winter. This is how a tiny herd of six stocky horses, very similar to Yakut horses, lives in the village.
Why houses are salty
Before the electricity line wa obtained, the locals heated their houses with wood. Where to take wood, when practically no forests have survived and winters are almost for nine months? The wood sails to here, the locals say.
- Just walk to the sea, and you’ll see how many trunks surf there, - Vishnyakov said. - When the plants in Arkhangelsk were busy, lots of trunks sailed to here - almost all our houses are made of those trunks. Just imagine what it is like to freeze in the Dvina’s mouth hundreds thousands cubic meters of wood! And then, in spring, the melting ice would bring all those trunks here.
- When I came to live in Kuzomen, I witnessed many trunks here, - Gennady said. - The official statistics says when all those wood plants worked here, about only 30% of wood got to clients, and the rest were losses. It is the official statistics. Thus, all the villages on the shore have never cut wood for heating.
The only drawback in those trunks is that they absorb the sea salt, hence all houses are salty. When this wood is in the oven, people have to watch the heating closely, as salt catches fire and sticks to the pipes.
Some people anyway prefer heating with wood, though most often the locals use boilers and radiators. However, every household keeps a stock of wood and a generator. Just in case.
No doctors, cinemas or boutiques
The village has as many as two shops. We enter a privately-owned one. Groceries, meat, milk, bread, vegetables, fruit, even watermelons! The owner, Valentina Dvinina, says she brings in products twice a week. In summer - by car, and in winter by off-road or snow mobiles with sleds. In the mud - sometimes by a helicopter, if it has room left on board.
- The helicopter flies to Umba and Pyalitsa, once a week it carries mail, passengers, - she said. - In the past, between the 30s and the 90s, Kuzomen had its own airport, small planes for 12 passengers made flights three days a week, An-2 (Antonov). The runway was on a flat passage right next to the sea.
The helicopter is not cheap. For the locals, a flight from Umba to Kuzomen is almost 2,500 rubles ($32), and for visitors - almost 10,000 ($128). Every family tries to have own off-road car, bikes or boats. A taxi ride to neighboring Varzuga is expensive - 1,500 rubles ($19).
What’s missing here, I ask. Nothing, the locals say, adding nobody needs here any boutiques or cinemas. Life is different and values are different. The people watch 20 television channels for free. They choose between two cell operators. As for doctors - they have none.
No sickness for five years to go
Before the 1970s, the village had a hospital. In the 1970s, it was closed. The only paramedic quit later on, and the premises were closed. Nowadays, the nearest hospital is almost 150 kilometers away.
Kuzomen’s population is 80 adults and 13 children, five of them in the Moshnikovs family - three girls and twin boys.
- My second daughter, Katya, was born here. She’s 8 now, - the mother said. - With other children I was smarter - I went to live with my relatives in the city way in advance.
Officials change, and the last promise was that an office for a paramedic would be opened by 2025, in five years. The new office’s cost is 15 million rubles ($193,000). Thus, no matter what happens - falling ill is out of question for the next five years.
A teacher from the US
The local school has three students: one girl is a first-year student, and two other girls are second-year students. In 2019, the old school burned down, and the farm’s director undertook the responsibility to build a new school not to send the kids to a boarding school away from the village.
Yekaterina Dvinina was born in Murmansk, where later on she graduated from the Murmansk Arctic State University. In 2015, she posted a CV in response to a published vacancy. During the first month, she said, it was very tough. She even thought of fleeing. Her accommodation was inside the old school - in the gym.
- I had to start the oven, to bring water. But the locals supported me greatly - they taught me everything and then checked whether I was doing things correctly. I was touched. I couldn’t allow saying: well, I quit and you, kids, go to a boarding school. I couldn’t betray the kids, - she said.
Interestingly, Yekaterina could have stayed in the US. She went to South Colorado on a student exchange program. But while being there, she hurried back to Russia.
Why Kuzomen is better than US
Everything in Kuzomen - the weather, the nature, the winds, and the people - is real. Kids know how to be kind, how to make friends, how to believe in people, to be responsible, and, surely, how to work, - the teacher said.
Here, in Kuzomen, Yekaterina met her spouse. They are a married couple with a son. He is two years old.
You know, here I can even imagine what my advanced years will be like: writing books, walking to the seaside, admiring the wonderful nature and breathing this air. I realize - a city is fine, but as for me, it probably should be in small portions, - she added.
- Do you know that we do not have the polar night here? It is sunny in December, the snow is shimmering - very beautiful! Why not the paradise? To say nothing about the States or even Murmansk - she said with a warm smile.


tass--2020-10-20--Russian, Uzbek PMs discuss measures against COVID-19

MOSCOW , October 20 .
/TASS/ .
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has discussed anti-coronavirus measures with his Uzbek colleague @ @ @ @ @ call on Tuesday , the Russian government ’ s press service informed .
`` Heads @ @ @ @ @ measures to combat the novel coronavirus , as well as the current issues of Russian-Uzbek @ @ @ @ @ the CIS , '' the message informs .
Mishustin and Aripov also discussed the schedule @ @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, October 20. /TASS/. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has discussed anti-coronavirus measures with his Uzbek colleague Abdulla Aripov during a phone call on Tuesday, the Russian government’s press service informed.
"Heads of governments have discussed joint measures to combat the novel coronavirus, as well as the current issues of Russian-Uzbek trade-economic cooperation and partnership within the CIS," the message informs.
Mishustin and Aripov also discussed the schedule for upcoming government contacts.


tass--2020-10-20--US ready to meet immediately with Russia to finalize New START agreement

WASHINGTON , October 20 .
/TASS/ .
The United States is ready to hold a meeting immediately with Russia to finalize the agreement to extend the Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms ( New START ) , spokesperson for the US State Department Morgan Ortagus said in a statement Tuesday .
`` We appreciate the Russian Federation ’ s willingness to make progress on the issue of nuclear arms control .
The United States is prepared to meet immediately to finalize a verifiable agreement .
We expect Russia to empower its diplomats to do the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , The Wall Street Journal reported that Russia ’ s willingness to jointly freeze nuclear arsenals with the US will make it possible to reach a New START extension by a year in the coming days , citing its sources in the US administration .
It is expected that US Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control Marshall Billingslea will inform NATO allies Tuesday about the status of talks with Russia .
On Tuesday , the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Moscow is ready to freeze nuclear arsenals along with the US for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extended by the same period and if there are no additional demands from the US .
On October 16 , Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed extending the treaty by at least a year without any additional conditions .
According to him , this additional time gives room for meaningful talks .
However , the US then rejected this proposal .
Moscow and Washington signed the Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms in 2010 .
Under its terms , either country must reduce its strategic offensive arms in such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the seventh year following its entry into force and later on their overall number should not exceed 700 units of deployed inter-continental ballistic missiles ( ICBMs ) , submarine-launched ballistic missiles ( SLBMs ) and heavy bombers , 1,550 warheads and 800 operational and non-operational missile launchers and strategic bombers .
The treaty was concluded for a period of ten years ( until February 5 , 2021 ) .
It can be replaced by a follow-up agreement before the deadline expires , or prolonged for no more than five years ( until 2026 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington to refrain from procrastinating on the treaty ’ s extension , because in its opinion it is the `` gold standard '' in the field of disarmament .

WASHINGTON, October 20. /TASS/. The United States is ready to hold a meeting immediately with Russia to finalize the agreement to extend the Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (New START), spokesperson for the US State Department Morgan Ortagus said in a statement Tuesday.
"We appreciate the Russian Federation’s willingness to make progress on the issue of nuclear arms control. The United States is prepared to meet immediately to finalize a verifiable agreement. We expect Russia to empower its diplomats to do the same," she said.
Earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported that Russia’s willingness to jointly freeze nuclear arsenals with the US will make it possible to reach a New START extension by a year in the coming days, citing its sources in the US administration.
It is expected that US Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control Marshall Billingslea will inform NATO allies Tuesday about the status of talks with Russia.
On Tuesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Moscow is ready to freeze nuclear arsenals along with the US for a year in case the New START is extended by the same period and if there are no additional demands from the US.
On October 16, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed extending the treaty by at least a year without any additional conditions. According to him, this additional time gives room for meaningful talks. However, the US then rejected this proposal.
New START
Moscow and Washington signed the Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms in 2010. Under its terms, either country must reduce its strategic offensive arms in such a way that at the end of the seventh year following its entry into force and later on their overall number should not exceed 700 units of deployed inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and heavy bombers, 1,550 warheads and 800 operational and non-operational missile launchers and strategic bombers.
The treaty was concluded for a period of ten years (until February 5, 2021). It can be replaced by a follow-up agreement before the deadline expires, or prolonged for no more than five years (until 2026) by mutual consent.
Moscow urges Washington to refrain from procrastinating on the treaty’s extension, because in its opinion it is the "gold standard" in the field of disarmament.