tass--2020-10-30--Austrian Chancellor speaks against closing EU borders amid COVID-19

VIENNA , October 30 .
/TASS/ .
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said it was inadmissible to close borders within the member states of the European Union during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic , Austria Press Agency reported on Friday .
`` The borders in Europe must remain open , '' Kurz was quoted as saying by the agency .
According to the Austrian Chancellor Kurz , it is necessary to avoid the closure of borders , just like it was done in the spring of 2020 , because the current situation in EU member states is almost similar to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a difference of one-or two-week gap .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials informed the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe , including Russia .
On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .
According to the latest statistics , over 45,312,680 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,185,730 deaths have been reported .
In addition , so far , over 32,985,500 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe .

VIENNA, October 30. /TASS/. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said it was inadmissible to close borders within the member states of the European Union during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic, Austria Press Agency reported on Friday.
"The borders in Europe must remain open," Kurz was quoted as saying by the agency.
According to the Austrian Chancellor Kurz, it is necessary to avoid the closure of borders, just like it was done in the spring of 2020, because the current situation in EU member states is almost similar to the previously developing situation, but only with a difference of one-or two-week gap.
Global coronavirus crisis
In late December 2019, Chinese officials informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia.
On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. According to the latest statistics, over 45,312,680 people have been infected worldwide and more than 1,185,730 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 32,985,500 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.


tass--2020-10-29--FSB charges scientist suspected of spying for Asian power

MOSCOW , October 29 .
/TASS/ .
Investigators of Russia ’ s Federal Security Service ( FSB ) charged Tomsk scientist Alexander Lukanin with high treason in favor of an Asian country , a source in law-enforcement agencies told TASS on Thursday .
`` Alexander Lukanin was pressed with the charges under article 275 of Russia ’ s Criminal Code ( ‘ High Treason ’ ) in favor of an Asian country , '' the source said .
Lawyer Dmitry Myltsyn told TASS he did not know whether his defendant had been pressed with charges .
Myltsyn earlier said Lukanin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Siberian city of Tomsk arrested Lukanin following his apprehension in the criminal probe of high treason .
A source in law-enforcement agencies specified for TASS that Lukanin had been detained on suspicion of handing over to China secret Russian developments `` related to alternative power sources . ''
The source did not disclose details of the case , citing the ‘ strictly confidential ’ status of the criminal case .
Later , Lukanin was taken to the Lefortovo pre-trial detention facility in Moscow .
As the data of open sources suggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Polytechnic University and later at the Institute of Strength Physics and Materials Study within the Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences where he was developing jointly with a group of scientists high-voltage power sources and was invited to Shenyang University in China after his retirement .

MOSCOW, October 29. /TASS/. Investigators of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) charged Tomsk scientist Alexander Lukanin with high treason in favor of an Asian country, a source in law-enforcement agencies told TASS on Thursday.
"Alexander Lukanin was pressed with the charges under article 275 of Russia’s Criminal Code (‘High Treason’) in favor of an Asian country," the source said.
Lawyer Dmitry Myltsyn told TASS he did not know whether his defendant had been pressed with charges. Myltsyn earlier said Lukanin had rejected his services.
A court in the Siberian city of Tomsk arrested Lukanin following his apprehension in the criminal probe of high treason.
A source in law-enforcement agencies specified for TASS that Lukanin had been detained on suspicion of handing over to China secret Russian developments "related to alternative power sources." The source did not disclose details of the case, citing the ‘strictly confidential’ status of the criminal case. Later, Lukanin was taken to the Lefortovo pre-trial detention facility in Moscow.
As the data of open sources suggest, 64-year-old Lukanin worked at the Tomsk Polytechnic University and later at the Institute of Strength Physics and Materials Study within the Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences where he was developing jointly with a group of scientists high-voltage power sources and was invited to Shenyang University in China after his retirement.


tass--2020-10-31--Russia completes concept design of rocket for flights to Mars

MOSCOW , October 31 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s Makeyev State Rocket Center , known for its prospective Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile ( ICBM ) , has designed the concept of Leader , a super-heavy space rocket to be used for missions to the Moon and Mars , according to the company ’ s documents obtained by TASS .
In line with the document , the company registered `` the concept of creating a family of super-heavy rockets on the basis of the Leader rocket . ''
The basic variant of the space rocket - the Leader rocket - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boosters with RD-171M oxygen-kerosene engines and one second-stage central booster featuring RD-0120 hydrogen-burning engine .
The upper stage will include a booster , an orbital transfer vehicle and the Orel manned spacecraft .
The rocket will be capable of delivering 53 tonnes of payload to the low-Earth orbit .
Its total weight is estimated at 1,143 tonnes .
The rocket for a Moon mission will be built on the basis of two Leader rockets , or four side boosters and two central cores on the first and second stages .
It will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the low-Earth orbit .
The rocket ’ s total weight is estimated at 2,284 tonnes .
This modification of the rocket is not planned for use in manned space missions .
The rocket for a mission to Mars will comprise three basic Leader rockets .
It will be capable of delivering 160 tonnes of payload to the low-Earth orbit .
The rocket ’ s total weight is 3,430 tonnes .

MOSCOW, October 31. /TASS/. Russia’s Makeyev State Rocket Center, known for its prospective Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), has designed the concept of Leader, a super-heavy space rocket to be used for missions to the Moon and Mars, according to the company’s documents obtained by TASS.
In line with the document, the company registered "the concept of creating a family of super-heavy rockets on the basis of the Leader rocket."
The basic variant of the space rocket - the Leader rocket - will be equipped with two first-stage side boosters with RD-171M oxygen-kerosene engines and one second-stage central booster featuring RD-0120 hydrogen-burning engine. The upper stage will include a booster, an orbital transfer vehicle and the Orel manned spacecraft.
The rocket will be capable of delivering 53 tonnes of payload to the low-Earth orbit. Its total weight is estimated at 1,143 tonnes.
The rocket for a Moon mission will be built on the basis of two Leader rockets, or four side boosters and two central cores on the first and second stages. It will be capable of delivering 106 tonnes of payload to the low-Earth orbit. The rocket’s total weight is estimated at 2,284 tonnes. This modification of the rocket is not planned for use in manned space missions.
The rocket for a mission to Mars will comprise three basic Leader rockets. It will be capable of delivering 160 tonnes of payload to the low-Earth orbit. The rocket’s total weight is 3,430 tonnes.


tass--2020-10-31--At least 20 killed, almost 800 injured in Turkish earthquake — rescuers

ANKARA , October 31 .
/TASS/ .
At least 20 people were killed and almost 800 were injured as a result of a powerful earthquake that struck Turkey ’ s western province of Izmir on Friday , the country ’ s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency said on Saturday .
As a result of the earthquake in Turkey , the death toll has risen to 20 , and the number of those injuried - to 786 , '' the governmental agency said in a statement .
According to the governmental agency ’ s previous bulletin , 17 people were killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The earthquake of a magnitude of 6.7 occurred on Friday in the sea 19 kilometers to the northeast of the island of Samos , it was felt in Athens and Istanbul .
Shocks led to a destruction of at least 20 houses in Turkey ’ s Izmir , some buildings in the Greek town of Neon Karlovasi were also destroyed .
Rescuers are sifting through the rubble looking for survivors .
There have been casualties , hundreds of people were injured .
At least 70 people have already been rescued from the rubble @

ANKARA, October 31. /TASS/. At least 20 people were killed and almost 800 were injured as a result of a powerful earthquake that struck Turkey’s western province of Izmir on Friday, the country’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency said on Saturday.
As a result of the earthquake in Turkey, the death toll has risen to 20, and the number of those injuried - to 786," the governmental agency said in a statement.
According to the governmental agency’s previous bulletin, 17 people were killed and 709 injured in the disaster.
The earthquake of a magnitude of 6.7 occurred on Friday in the sea 19 kilometers to the northeast of the island of Samos, it was felt in Athens and Istanbul. Shocks led to a destruction of at least 20 houses in Turkey’s Izmir, some buildings in the Greek town of Neon Karlovasi were also destroyed. Rescuers are sifting through the rubble looking for survivors. There have been casualties, hundreds of people were injured. At least 70 people have already been rescued from the rubble.


tass--2020-10-31--Baku, Yerevan agree to avoid strikes on civilian areas — OSCE

VIENNA , October 31 .
/TASS/ .
During Friday ’ s talks in Geneva , Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed to take a series of measures to promote the ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh , such as to avoid deliberate strikes on civilian population and non-military facilities , the press service of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe ( OSCE ) said .
Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Igor Popov of Russia , Stephane Visconti of France , and Andrew Schofer of the United States ) met separately and jointly with Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Azerbaijani Foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 .
The Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson in Office ( PRCiO ) Andrzej Kasprzyk also participated in the meetings .
They also held consultations with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi and ICRC President Peter Maurer .
`` Without prejudice to the implementation of the ceasefire or other commitments , the sides agreed to take a number of steps on an urgent basis : the sides will not deliberately target civilian populations or non-military objects in accordance with international humanitarian law , '' the OSCE press service said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engage in the implementation of the recovery and exchange of remains on the battlefield by providing the ICRC and PRCiO the necessary safety guarantees for facilitation , '' the statement reads .
`` The sides will deliver to the ICRC and PRCiO , within one week , a list of currently detained prisoners of war for the purposes of providing access and eventual exchange . ''
Besides , Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to provide written comments and questions related to possible ceasefire verification mechanisms in accordance with the October 10 joint statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sides had an open and substantive exchange of views aimed at clarifying their negotiating positions on core elements of a comprehensive solution to the crisis .
`` The Co-Chairs will continue working with the sides intensively to find a peaceful settlement of the conflict , '' OSCE said .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launched mobilization efforts .
Both parties to the conflict have reported casualties , among them civilians .
On the evening of October 25 , Azerbaijan and Armenia approved a third humanitarian ceasefire for Nagorno-Karabakh brokered by the US , which was set to enter into force in the morning of October 26 .
However , both sides accused each other of violating the agreement immediately after the ceasefire came into effect .
Moscow brokered a humanitarian ceasefire that took effect at 12 noon local time on October 10 but was violated .
Later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Azerbaijan announced plans to declare another ceasefire at midnight on October 18 , but the hostilities continued and the warring parties kept blaming each other for violating the truce .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .

VIENNA, October 31. /TASS/. During Friday’s talks in Geneva, Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed to take a series of measures to promote the ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh, such as to avoid deliberate strikes on civilian population and non-military facilities, the press service of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said.
Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of Russia, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States) met separately and jointly with Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov in Geneva on October 30. The Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson in Office (PRCiO) Andrzej Kasprzyk also participated in the meetings. They also held consultations with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi and ICRC President Peter Maurer.
"Without prejudice to the implementation of the ceasefire or other commitments, the sides agreed to take a number of steps on an urgent basis: the sides will not deliberately target civilian populations or non-military objects in accordance with international humanitarian law," the OSCE press service said in a statement.
"The sides will actively engage in the implementation of the recovery and exchange of remains on the battlefield by providing the ICRC and PRCiO the necessary safety guarantees for facilitation," the statement reads. "The sides will deliver to the ICRC and PRCiO, within one week, a list of currently detained prisoners of war for the purposes of providing access and eventual exchange."
Besides, Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to provide written comments and questions related to possible ceasefire verification mechanisms in accordance with the October 10 joint statement.
Co-chairs of the Minsk Group stressed that the sides had an open and substantive exchange of views aimed at clarifying their negotiating positions on core elements of a comprehensive solution to the crisis.
"The Co-Chairs will continue working with the sides intensively to find a peaceful settlement of the conflict," OSCE said.
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.
On the evening of October 25, Azerbaijan and Armenia approved a third humanitarian ceasefire for Nagorno-Karabakh brokered by the US, which was set to enter into force in the morning of October 26. However, both sides accused each other of violating the agreement immediately after the ceasefire came into effect.
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 continued and the warring parties kept blaming each other for violating the truce.
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.


tass--2020-10-31--Armenia once again accuses Azerbaijan of using prohibited weapons

YEREVAN , October 31 .
/TASS/ .
The Foreign Ministry of Armenia on Friday once again accused Azerbaijan of shelling civilian areas in the unrecognized republic of Nagorno-Karabakh with prohibited cluster munitions .
`` Throughout the entire period of hostilities , the Azerbaijani side shelled the civilian population and infrastructure .
In the course of bombings , medical facilities were attacked even despite the pandemic .
The attacks were carried out mostly with the use of prohibited cluster munitions .
The goal of them is to inflict as much damage as possible to the civilian population , first of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the frontline , '' Armenian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Anna Naghdalyan said in the ministry ’ s official Telegram channel .
`` Outrageous violations of the Geneva convention have also taken place in the Hadrut district , where we witnessed execution of prisoners , '' she added .
According to Naghdalyan , Azerbaijani servicemen have been deliberately destroying infrastructure in the populated areas under their control to prevent local residents from returning to their homes .
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27 , with intense battles raging in the disputed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .
Ceasefire agreements have been reached three times , but the hostilities continue , and the warring parties keep blaming each other for violating the truce .
Baku and Yerevan have disputed sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh since February 1988 , when the region declared secession from the Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjoining districts .

YEREVAN, October 31. /TASS/. The Foreign Ministry of Armenia on Friday once again accused Azerbaijan of shelling civilian areas in the unrecognized republic of Nagorno-Karabakh with prohibited cluster munitions.
"Throughout the entire period of hostilities, the Azerbaijani side shelled the civilian population and infrastructure. In the course of bombings, medical facilities were attacked even despite the pandemic. The attacks were carried out mostly with the use of prohibited cluster munitions. The goal of them is to inflict as much damage as possible to the civilian population, first of all to women and children far away from the frontline," Armenian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Anna Naghdalyan said in the ministry’s official Telegram channel.
"Outrageous violations of the Geneva convention have also taken place in the Hadrut district, where we witnessed execution of prisoners," she added.
According to Naghdalyan, Azerbaijani servicemen have been deliberately destroying infrastructure in the populated areas under their control to prevent local residents from returning to their homes.
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.
Ceasefire agreements have been reached three times, but the hostilities continue, and the warring parties keep blaming each other for violating the truce.
Baku and Yerevan have disputed sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh since February 1988, when the region declared secession from the Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic. In the armed conflict of 1992-1994 Azerbaijan lost control of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjoining districts.


tass--2020-10-31--Armenian, Azerbaijani top diplomats conclude their meeting in Geneva

YEREVAN , October 30 .
/TASS/ .
Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Jeyhun Bayramov concluded their meeting in Geneva , Armenian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Anna Naghdalyan told TASS on Friday .
`` The meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers with OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs ended in Geneva .
The meeting lasted six hours , the details of talks are yet unknown , '' Naghdalyan said .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .
Ceasefire agreements have been reached three times , but the hostilities continue , and the warring parties keep blaming each other for violating the truce .
Baku and Yerevan have disputed sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh since February 1988 , when the region declared secession from the Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic .
In the armed conflict of 1992-1994 Azerbaijan lost control of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven @ @ @

YEREVAN, October 30. /TASS/. Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Jeyhun Bayramov concluded their meeting in Geneva, Armenian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Anna Naghdalyan told TASS on Friday.
"The meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers with OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs ended in Geneva. The meeting lasted six hours, the details of talks are yet unknown," Naghdalyan said.
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.
Ceasefire agreements have been reached three times, but the hostilities continue, and the warring parties keep blaming each other for violating the truce.
Baku and Yerevan have disputed sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh since February 1988, when the region declared secession from the Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic. In the armed conflict of 1992-1994 Azerbaijan lost control of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjoining districts.


tass--2020-10-31--Russian, Japanese scientists discover how COVID-19 affects red bone marrow

MOSCOW , October 30 .
/TASS/ .
Scientists of the Far Eastern Federal University together with Russian and Japanese colleagues think that the coronavirus may attack red bone marrow , not only damaging the red blood cells but also preventing the formation of new ones .
The results of the study were published on Archiv EuroMedica , the press service of Russia ’ s Education and Science Ministry reported on Friday .
`` The researchers think that the risk group includes people with low hemoglobin count since erythrocytes , red blood cells responsible for transfer of the iron-saturated hemoglobin protein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus .
These conclusions were made by the international research group that studied the mechanism of development of the coronavirus infection ( COVID-19 ) , '' the statement said .
Scientists think that the risk group includes everyone with a low hemoglobin count .
Above all , these are the elderly , people with elevated blood pressure , obesity , diabetes , pregnant women , people with immunodeficiency , cancer patients , and so on .
According to professor of the department of fundamental medicine of the School of Biomedicine of the Far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus proliferates on skin and then enters blood and attacks targets which may include both internal systems ( digestive tract , lungs , genitourinary system ) and red blood cells .
`` We presume that the main aim of the virus is the red blood marrow where it damages endothelium which normally regulates the migration of growing cells to blood .
This is precisely why strange things occur with immunity cells , and in the tissues of various organs megakaryocytes , very large bone marrow cells , were found .
Normally , megakaryocytes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blood clotting ability but with COVID-19 they thicken the blood in vessels without need , '' the press service quoted her as saying .

MOSCOW, October 30. /TASS/. Scientists of the Far Eastern Federal University together with Russian and Japanese colleagues think that the coronavirus may attack red bone marrow, not only damaging the red blood cells but also preventing the formation of new ones. The results of the study were published on Archiv EuroMedica, the press service of Russia’s Education and Science Ministry reported on Friday.
"The researchers think that the risk group includes people with low hemoglobin count since erythrocytes, red blood cells responsible for transfer of the iron-saturated hemoglobin protein, are the key target for the virus. These conclusions were made by the international research group that studied the mechanism of development of the coronavirus infection (COVID-19)," the statement said.
Scientists think that the risk group includes everyone with a low hemoglobin count. Above all, these are the elderly, people with elevated blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, pregnant women, people with immunodeficiency, cancer patients, and so on.
According to professor of the department of fundamental medicine of the School of Biomedicine of the Far Eastern Federal University Galina Reva, the virus proliferates on skin and then enters blood and attacks targets which may include both internal systems (digestive tract, lungs, genitourinary system) and red blood cells.
"We presume that the main aim of the virus is the red blood marrow where it damages endothelium which normally regulates the migration of growing cells to blood. This is precisely why strange things occur with immunity cells, and in the tissues of various organs megakaryocytes, very large bone marrow cells, were found. Normally, megakaryocytes are the source of platelets responsible for blood clotting ability but with COVID-19 they thicken the blood in vessels without need," the press service quoted her as saying.


tass--2020-10-31--55 COVID-19 patients die in Moscow in 24 hours, total fatalities rising to 6,768

MOSCOW , October 30 .
/TASS/ .
The number of fatalities caused by the coronavirus infection in Moscow has increased @ @ @ @ @ , the anti-coronavirus crisis center reported on Friday .
`` In Moscow , 55 patients @ @ @ @ @ confirmed diagnosis of pneumonia and a positive result of a test for the presence of @ @ @ @ @ the crisis center said .
In all , during the pandemic 6,768 people with the @ @ @ @ @ the capital .
Moscow is in the first place in Russia by the number of @ @ @ @ @ of detected cases has been growing recently .
In all , 419,196 cases of the @ @ @ @ @ the city , 5,268 of them - over the past 24 hours .
307,816 patients @ @ @

MOSCOW, October 30. /TASS/. The number of fatalities caused by the coronavirus infection in Moscow has increased over 24 hours by 55, the anti-coronavirus crisis center reported on Friday.
"In Moscow, 55 patients died, all had a confirmed diagnosis of pneumonia and a positive result of a test for the presence of the coronavirus infection," the crisis center said.
In all, during the pandemic 6,768 people with the confirmed coronavirus infection died in the capital.
Moscow is in the first place in Russia by the number of coronavirus infections, the number of detected cases has been growing recently. In all, 419,196 cases of the infection have been detected in the city, 5,268 of them - over the past 24 hours. 307,816 patients have recovered.


tass--2020-10-31--Donbass contact group agreed to observe ceasefire — Kiev

KIEV , October 30 .
/TASS/ .
Members of the Contact Group on settling the situation in Donbass at the emergency meeting of the security subgroup on Friday initiated by Ukraine discussed measures to prevent violations of ceasefire in the region , the statement on the results of negotiations posted on the Facebook page of the Ukrainian delegation said .
`` The parties discussed incidents that took place and led to tragic consequences .
The parties agreed to observe the silence regime .
The parties discussed measures to prevent further cases of ceasefire violations , '' the statement noted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the conflict which occurred earlier had `` signs of being premeditated . ''
Additionally , the statement pointed out that Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine , moderator of the working subgroup on security Yasar Halit Cevik who participated in the negotiations `` supported the intention of the parties to observe the ceasefire regime . ''
The delegation reiterated that the consultations will continue on November 10 .
At the same time , representative of the Lugansk People ’ s Republic at the Minsk talks , Foreign Minister Vladislav @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting stated that the Ukrainian representatives blocked the discussion of additional measures to control the ceasefire regime .
He thinks that Kiev was not going to coordinate the additional measures to enhance the ceasefire regime since `` for the Ukrainian delegation , only the publicity opportunity on this subject was important , the justification of their further provocations . ''
In her turn , representative of the Donetsk People ’ s Republic to the Contact Group , Foreign Minister Natalia Nikanorova reported that the meeting of the working group on security was fruitless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy of the Ukrainian delegation at the Minsk talks Alexei Arestovich stated that Kiev initiated the emergency session of the security subgroup of the Contact Group on settling the situation in Donbass .
Kiev said that it was caused by recent deaths of two servicemen in the area of the military operation in the eastern part of the country .

KIEV, October 30. /TASS/. Members of the Contact Group on settling the situation in Donbass at the emergency meeting of the security subgroup on Friday initiated by Ukraine discussed measures to prevent violations of ceasefire in the region, the statement on the results of negotiations posted on the Facebook page of the Ukrainian delegation said.
"The parties discussed incidents that took place and led to tragic consequences. The parties agreed to observe the silence regime. The parties discussed measures to prevent further cases of ceasefire violations," the statement noted. The delegation stated that the escalation of the conflict which occurred earlier had "signs of being premeditated."
Additionally, the statement pointed out that Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, moderator of the working subgroup on security Yasar Halit Cevik who participated in the negotiations "supported the intention of the parties to observe the ceasefire regime." The delegation reiterated that the consultations will continue on November 10.
At the same time, representative of the Lugansk People’s Republic at the Minsk talks, Foreign Minister Vladislav Deinego after the subgroup’s emergency meeting stated that the Ukrainian representatives blocked the discussion of additional measures to control the ceasefire regime. He thinks that Kiev was not going to coordinate the additional measures to enhance the ceasefire regime since "for the Ukrainian delegation, only the publicity opportunity on this subject was important, the justification of their further provocations." In her turn, representative of the Donetsk People’s Republic to the Contact Group, Foreign Minister Natalia Nikanorova reported that the meeting of the working group on security was fruitless.
On Thursday, advisor on information policy of the Ukrainian delegation at the Minsk talks Alexei Arestovich stated that Kiev initiated the emergency session of the security subgroup of the Contact Group on settling the situation in Donbass. Kiev said that it was caused by recent deaths of two servicemen in the area of the military operation in the eastern part of the country.


tass--2020-10-31--WHO registers record high of over 505,000 new COVID-19 cases in one day

GENEVA , October 30 .
/TASS/ .
The number of the confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection worldwide has approached 44.9 mln , rising over 24 hours by more than 505,000 , which is a new record high of incidence in one day .
According to the data of the World Health Organization ( WHO ) published on Friday , the number of fatalities has increased by more than 7,000 , approaching 1.18 mln .
As of 18:28 Moscow time on October 30 , the WHO received reports of 44,888,869 infections and 1,178,475 fatalities .
The number of infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while the fatalities rose by 7,009 .
The previous record high of 490,298 daily infections was registered on October 24 .
The WHO statistics takes into account only officially confirmed data on incidence and fatalities submitted by the states .
In Europe , over 24 hours , the WHO recorded 258,628 new cases of COVID-19 .
North and South America are in the second place ( 152,211 cases ) with Southeast Asia in the third place ( 58,212 ) .
According to the WHO , as of October 30 , the majority of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - 8,763,682 , followed by India ( 8,088,851 ) , Brazil ( 5,468,270 ) , Russia ( 1,599,976 ) , France ( 1,250,705 ) , Spain ( 1,160,083 ) , Argentina ( 1,130,533 ) , Colombia ( 1,041,935 ) , Great Britain ( 965,344 ) , Mexico ( 906,863 ) , Peru ( 894,928 ) and South Africa ( 721,770 ) .

GENEVA, October 30. /TASS/. The number of the confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection worldwide has approached 44.9 mln, rising over 24 hours by more than 505,000, which is a new record high of incidence in one day. According to the data of the World Health Organization (WHO) published on Friday, the number of fatalities has increased by more than 7,000, approaching 1.18 mln.
As of 18:28 Moscow time on October 30, the WHO received reports of 44,888,869 infections and 1,178,475 fatalities. The number of infections over 24 hours has increased by 505,756 while the fatalities rose by 7,009. The previous record high of 490,298 daily infections was registered on October 24.
The WHO statistics takes into account only officially confirmed data on incidence and fatalities submitted by the states.
In Europe, over 24 hours, the WHO recorded 258,628 new cases of COVID-19. North and South America are in the second place (152,211 cases) with Southeast Asia in the third place (58,212).
According to the WHO, as of October 30, the majority of the infections were recorded in the US - 8,763,682, followed by India (8,088,851), Brazil (5,468,270), Russia (1,599,976), France (1,250,705), Spain (1,160,083), Argentina (1,130,533), Colombia (1,041,935), Great Britain (965,344), Mexico (906,863), Peru (894,928) and South Africa (721,770).


tass--2020-10-31--Tastes of Russian consumers changed due to pandemic — VTB lender

MOSCOW , October 30 .
/TASS/ .
The coronavirus pandemic has changed consumer tastes and preferences much in Russia , @ @ @ @ @ country ’ s second-biggest lender VTB Dmitry Snesar told a forum on Friday .
`` @ @ @ @ @ phenomenon of an exodus of urban citizens from large cities .
It is too early @ @ @ @ @ will influence employee compensation .
Though we can say already now that our consumer tastes @ @ @ @ @ , same as the way we make purchases , '' he said .
VTB press @ @ @ @ @ households ’ expenses shrank by 34 % during the lockdown period in April year-on-year .
@ @ @ @ @ the strongest decline in April - by 35 % in annual terms , according to @ @ @ @ @ dropped by 30 % , though their share in the total amount of transactions gained @ @ @ @ @ % .

MOSCOW, October 30. /TASS/. The coronavirus pandemic has changed consumer tastes and preferences much in Russia, Senior Vice President at the country’s second-biggest lender VTB Dmitry Snesar told a forum on Friday.
"We currently evidence a certain phenomenon of an exodus of urban citizens from large cities. It is too early now to say how that will influence employee compensation. Though we can say already now that our consumer tastes and preferences have changed much, same as the way we make purchases," he said.
VTB press service said earlier that Russian households’ expenses shrank by 34% during the lockdown period in April year-on-year. Purchases in offline stores posted the strongest decline in April - by 35% in annual terms, according to the bank. Online purchases dropped by 30%, though their share in the total amount of transactions gained 11 percentage points to 34%.


tass--2020-10-30--Greek PM expresses condolences to Turkish President after earthquake

`` I just called President Erdogan to offer my condolences for the tragic loss of life from the earthquake that struck both our countries .
Whatever our differences , these are times when our people need to stand together , '' the statement said .
ATHENS , October 30 .
/TASS/ .
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday in order to express condolences over the death of people as a result of a strong earthquake that rocked the Greek island of Samos and Turkey ’ s Izmir .
He wrote about this on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nikos Dendias contacted his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu .
According to the statement of Greece ’ s Foreign Ministry on Twitter , `` Nikos Dendias reached out to his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu expressing Greece ’ s readiness to immediately send to Turkey members of the disaster relief unit , in order to help in extracting people trapped in buildings . ''
The Greek top diplomat also wrote on his own Twitter page that his thoughts are with residents of Samos and those who participate in the rescue effort in the aftermath of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s ERT1 TV channel , the Turkish side has not requested yet the deployment of Greek rescuers in Turkey .
In previous years Greece and Turkey helped each other rescue people buried under the rubble as a result of destructive earthquakes .
This aid was even called in Greece `` the earthquake diplomacy .
`` .

"I just called President Erdogan to offer my condolences for the tragic loss of life from the earthquake that struck both our countries. Whatever our differences, these are times when our people need to stand together," the statement said.
ATHENS, October 30. /TASS/. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday in order to express condolences over the death of people as a result of a strong earthquake that rocked the Greek island of Samos and Turkey’s Izmir. He wrote about this on his Twitter page.
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias contacted his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu. According to the statement of Greece’s Foreign Ministry on Twitter, "Nikos Dendias reached out to his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu expressing Greece’s readiness to immediately send to Turkey members of the disaster relief unit, in order to help in extracting people trapped in buildings." The Greek top diplomat also wrote on his own Twitter page that his thoughts are with residents of Samos and those who participate in the rescue effort in the aftermath of the earthquake.
According to Greece’s ERT1 TV channel, the Turkish side has not requested yet the deployment of Greek rescuers in Turkey.
In previous years Greece and Turkey helped each other rescue people buried under the rubble as a result of destructive earthquakes. This aid was even called in Greece "the earthquake diplomacy.".


tass--2020-10-30--Israeli general highlights need to prevent Iran, Hezbollah from entering southern Syria

NAFAH BASE /Golan Heights/ , October 30 .
/TASS/ .
Preventing Iran and the Hezbollah movement from entering Syria is in the interests of both Israel and Russia , the commander of the Israel Defense Forces 210th Division stationed on the Golan Heights , Brigadier General Roman Gofman , said in an interview with TASS .
Gofman , who was talking to a foreign reporter for the first time in his military career , pointed out that he was `` responsible for the Israeli border with Syria and partially , for the border with Lebanon . ''
`` Strategically , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the presence of Iran and Hezbollah in Syria in general and in the country ’ s south in particular , '' he said .
`` Preventing the presence of Iran and Hezbollah in southern Syria is in the interest of both Israel and Russia , '' the general noted .
`` Russia helped Syria end the war and now it seeks to restore the country ’ s economy and receive economic benefits , '' he went on to say .
`` Iran has different goals , it wants a war with Israel , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Golan Heights into a war zone , '' Gofman noted , adding : `` In this regard , Israel and Russia have a common interest . ''
The Golan Heights , which belonged to Syria since 1944 , were seized by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War .
In 1981 , the Israeli parliament passed a law unilaterally declaring sovereignty over the Golan Heights .
The UN Security Council declared the annexation null and void in its Resolution 497 on December 17 , 1981 .

NAFAH BASE /Golan Heights/, October 30. /TASS/. Preventing Iran and the Hezbollah movement from entering Syria is in the interests of both Israel and Russia, the commander of the Israel Defense Forces 210th Division stationed on the Golan Heights, Brigadier General Roman Gofman, said in an interview with TASS.
Gofman, who was talking to a foreign reporter for the first time in his military career, pointed out that he was "responsible for the Israeli border with Syria and partially, for the border with Lebanon." "Strategically, we should do everything possible to prevent the presence of Iran and Hezbollah in Syria in general and in the country’s south in particular," he said.
"Preventing the presence of Iran and Hezbollah in southern Syria is in the interest of both Israel and Russia," the general noted. "Russia helped Syria end the war and now it seeks to restore the country’s economy and receive economic benefits," he went on to say. "Iran has different goals, it wants a war with Israel, which means that it wants to turn the Golan Heights into a war zone," Gofman noted, adding: "In this regard, Israel and Russia have a common interest."
The Golan Heights, which belonged to Syria since 1944, were seized by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War. In 1981, the Israeli parliament passed a law unilaterally declaring sovereignty over the Golan Heights. The UN Security Council declared the annexation null and void in its Resolution 497 on December 17, 1981.


tass--2020-10-30--Antibody cocktail helps overcome COVID-19 only in early stages, expert says

MOSCOW , October 30 .
/TASS/ .
An antibody cocktail can only be effective against the novel coronavirus during the early stage of the disease , professor of the School of Systems Biology of George Mason University ( Virginia , USA ) Ancha Baranova said at the VTB Capital Investment Forum `` Russia Calling ! ''
`` If an individual is tested using the PCR method for the presence of the coronavirus and the result is obtained in a week , then for some methods of treatment [ it is ] already a rather meaningless test .
I will give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probably heard about an antibody cocktail US President Donald Trump was treated with .
Well , this antibody cocktail can only work effectively in the early stage of the disease , '' she said .
The scientist noted that if there is a delay in the detection of the disease , then after seven days , when the results of some PCR tests arrive , this medicinal treatment can not be used anymore .
The number of the coronavirus infections in Russia , according to the latest data , has increased by 18,283 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The total number of infections has risen to 1,599,976 .

MOSCOW, October 30. /TASS/. An antibody cocktail can only be effective against the novel coronavirus during the early stage of the disease, professor of the School of Systems Biology of George Mason University (Virginia, USA) Ancha Baranova said at the VTB Capital Investment Forum "Russia Calling!"
"If an individual is tested using the PCR method for the presence of the coronavirus and the result is obtained in a week, then for some methods of treatment [it is] already a rather meaningless test. I will give a simple example: you’ve probably heard about an antibody cocktail US President Donald Trump was treated with. Well, this antibody cocktail can only work effectively in the early stage of the disease," she said.
The scientist noted that if there is a delay in the detection of the disease, then after seven days, when the results of some PCR tests arrive, this medicinal treatment cannot be used anymore.
The number of the coronavirus infections in Russia, according to the latest data, has increased by 18,283, the highest during the entire pandemic. The total number of infections has risen to 1,599,976.


tass--2020-10-30--Russia ranks second by oil exports to China in September

MOSCOW , October 30 .
/TASS/ .
Oil supplies from Russia to China increased to 1.83 mln barrels daily as @ @ @ @ @ 2020 , Argus price agency says on Friday .
`` Russia ranks second with 1.83 @ @ @ @ @ '' Argus says .
This is the highest import figure since June .
`` CNPC @ @ @ @ @ [ Russian export oil blend - TASS ] blend to their refinery in Daqing ( @ @ @ @ @ capacity of 190,000 barrels daily , where the upgrade has been completed recently .
China @ @ @ @ @ per day of ESPO blend , '' Argus says .
Saudi Arabia remains the top @ @ @ @ @ China , with deliveries amounting to 1.9 mln barrels daily or 53 % above August @ @ @ @ @ crude oil to China soared sevenfold in annual terms to 952,000 barrels per day in @ @ @ @ @ ’ s import of crude oil totaled 11.85 mln barrels daily in September 2020 , @ @ @ @ @ and 17.6 % higher than the last-year figure , Argus reports .

MOSCOW, October 30. /TASS/. Oil supplies from Russia to China increased to 1.83 mln barrels daily as of the end of September 2020, Argus price agency says on Friday.
"Russia ranks second with 1.83 mln barrels per day," Argus says. This is the highest import figure since June. "CNPC started pipeline deliveries of ESPO [Russian export oil blend - TASS] blend to their refinery in Daqing (Heilongjiang Province) with the capacity of 190,000 barrels daily, where the upgrade has been completed recently. China in total purchased 504,000 barrels per day of ESPO blend," Argus says.
Saudi Arabia remains the top supplier of crude oil to China, with deliveries amounting to 1.9 mln barrels daily or 53% above August figures.
Deliveries of US crude oil to China soared sevenfold in annual terms to 952,000 barrels per day in September 2020.
Total China’s import of crude oil totaled 11.85 mln barrels daily in September 2020, up 5.6% against August and 17.6% higher than the last-year figure, Argus reports.


tass--2020-10-30--Military factories in Central Russia involved in over 250 national projects

MOSCOW , October 30 .
/TASS/ .
Military-industrial enterprises in Central Russia actively joined the implementation of the national projects @ @ @ @ @ their production diversification , Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said Friday .
According to @ @ @ @ @ of civilian produce at military factories in the Central Federal District of Russia increased to @ @ @ @ @ which exceeds the 17 % goal .
In order reach the 30 % goal by @ @ @ @ @ Russian President Vladimir Putin , regional governors and military enterprise directors must `` maintain the @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We will continue to keep these matters under special control , '' the @ @ @ @ @ Patrushev , the current result has been achieved thanks to implementation of preferences and benefits @ @ @ @ @ active involvement of the military-industrial enterprises in the national projects . ''
`` Currently , @ @ @ @ @ over 250 projects in education , medicine , ecology and science , '' Patrushev said @ @ @ @ @ of promotion of civilian and dual-purpose products .

MOSCOW, October 30. /TASS/. Military-industrial enterprises in Central Russia actively joined the implementation of the national projects and should not slow down their production diversification, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said Friday.
According to the official, the share of civilian produce at military factories in the Central Federal District of Russia increased to 21.3% last year, which exceeds the 17% goal. In order reach the 30% goal by 2025, as defined by Russian President Vladimir Putin, regional governors and military enterprise directors must "maintain the tempo," Patrushev said.
"We will continue to keep these matters under special control," the Secretary underscored.
According to Patrushev, the current result has been achieved thanks to implementation of preferences and benefits during state procurement and "active involvement of the military-industrial enterprises in the national projects."
"Currently, these enterprises are involved in over 250 projects in education, medicine, ecology and science," Patrushev said, also noting increased efficiency of promotion of civilian and dual-purpose products.


tass--2020-10-30--Putin expresses condolences to Erdogan over earthquake victims in Izmir province

MOSCOW , October 30 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a telegram to his Turkish counterpart Recep @ @ @ @ @ casualties and destruction caused by an earthquake in Izmir province .
The telegram was published @ @ @ @ @ website .
`` Accept the deepest condolences in relation to human victims and large-scale destruction @ @ @ @ @ in Izmir province .
Please convey words of sympathy and support to families and friends @ @ @ @ @ as wishes of the soonest recovery to all those affected as a result of this @ @ @ @ @ President noted in the telegram .

MOSCOW, October 30. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a telegram to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressing condolences over casualties and destruction caused by an earthquake in Izmir province. The telegram was published on Friday on the Kremlin website.
"Accept the deepest condolences in relation to human victims and large-scale destruction caused by a powerful earthquake in Izmir province. Please convey words of sympathy and support to families and friends of those killed as well as wishes of the soonest recovery to all those affected as a result of this disaster," the Russian President noted in the telegram.


tass--2020-10-30--Belarus to maintain multidimensional foreign policy, Lukashenko says

`` Our foreign policy has always been and will remain multidimensional , '' he said , as cited by the @ @ @ @ @ Geographically , we are the heart of Europe so what else can we do ?
@ @ @ @ @ , '' Lukashenko added .
According to him , there are some who don ’ @ @ @ @ @ `` Even now , they criticize me a bit , '' the president noted .
@ @ @ @ @ would never turn away from Russia .
`` If they treat us as a younger @ @ @ @ @ us - like [ Russian President Vladimir ] Putin did in these difficult times - @ @ @ @ @ stones at Russia , '' Lukashenko said .

"Our foreign policy has always been and will remain multidimensional," he said, as cited by the BetTA news agency. "Geographically, we are the heart of Europe so what else can we do? Russia needs to understand us," Lukashenko added.
According to him, there are some who don’t like this approach. "Even now, they criticize me a bit," the president noted.
The president emphasized that Belarus would never turn away from Russia. "If they treat us as a younger brother, protect and support us - like [Russian President Vladimir] Putin did in these difficult times - then we will never throw stones at Russia," Lukashenko said.


tass--2020-10-30--Turkey ready to provide aid to Greece after earthquake, Erdogan’s administration says

ANKARA , October 30 .
/TASS/ .
Turkey is ready , if necessary , to provide aid to Greece after @ @ @ @ @ Sea , Turkish Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun said on Friday .
`` We pray @ @ @ @ @ loss of [ life due to earthquake ] in Turkey or Greece and we send @ @ @ @ @ those affected on both sides of the earthquake .
This tragedy reminds us once again @ @ @ @ @ our differences over policy .
We ’ re ready to help if Greece needs it @ @ @ @ @ his Twitter page .

ANKARA, October 30. /TASS/. Turkey is ready, if necessary, to provide aid to Greece after an earthquake in the Aegean Sea, Turkish Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun said on Friday.
"We pray that there is no further loss of [life due to earthquake] in Turkey or Greece and we send our best wishes to all those affected on both sides of the earthquake. This tragedy reminds us once again how close we are despite our differences over policy. We’re ready to help if Greece needs it," he wrote on his Twitter page.


tass--2020-10-30--Military alliance with China to tie Russia’s hands, scare off partners, says expert

MOSCOW , October 30 .
/TASS/ .
Signing formal military alliance with China would be impractical for Russia , it will tie Russia ’ s hands and force other traditional partners of Russia , India in particular , to cooperate closer with the US , says Carnegie Moscow Center director Dmitry Trenin .
`` Russia has no need to strike a formal military alliance with China against the United States now .
Such union would tie hands of both parties , and would scare the neighbors , India in particular , who would be forced to abandon partnership with Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Trenin pointed out .
Besides , a formal alliance would raise question of hierarchy within the allied structures .
According to the expert a true military alliance of Russia and China would be feasible only in case of the US attack on both countries at the same time .
`` It is possible to speculate that , in case of the US ’ s [ military ] aggression against Russia , China , while supporting Russia politically , would refrain from taking part in the war .
In my opinion , this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ react to a military clash between the US and China , which seems to become more and more probable , '' the expert said .
On October 22 , Russian President Vladimir Putin speculated that a military alliance between Moscow and China is possible , although both sides `` in general '' have no need for it .
According to the president , military relations between Russia and China make it possible to regularly hold ground and naval drills and exchange the best technologies and practices in military building .

MOSCOW, October 30. /TASS/. Signing formal military alliance with China would be impractical for Russia, it will tie Russia’s hands and force other traditional partners of Russia, India in particular, to cooperate closer with the US, says Carnegie Moscow Center director Dmitry Trenin.
"Russia has no need to strike a formal military alliance with China against the United States now. Such union would tie hands of both parties, and would scare the neighbors, India in particular, who would be forced to abandon partnership with Russia and cooperate closer with the US," Trenin pointed out.
Besides, a formal alliance would raise question of hierarchy within the allied structures. According to the expert a true military alliance of Russia and China would be feasible only in case of the US attack on both countries at the same time.
"It is possible to speculate that, in case of the US’s [military] aggression against Russia, China, while supporting Russia politically, would refrain from taking part in the war. In my opinion, this is exactly how [we] should react to a military clash between the US and China, which seems to become more and more probable," the expert said.
On October 22, Russian President Vladimir Putin speculated that a military alliance between Moscow and China is possible, although both sides "in general" have no need for it.
According to the president, military relations between Russia and China make it possible to regularly hold ground and naval drills and exchange the best technologies and practices in military building.


tass--2020-10-30--Russian sovereign wealth fund files documents to register Sputnik V vaccine in Brazil

MOSCOW , October 30 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian Direct Investment Fund ( Russia ’ s sovereign wealth fund - RDIF ) and the Brazilian company Uniao Quimica Farmaceutica Nacional have submitted documents to Brazil ’ s National Health Surveillance Agency ( ANVISA ) to register Russia ’ s Sputnik V anti-coronavirus vaccine , the RDIF said in a press release on Friday .
According to the press release , RDIF , Uniao Quimica Farmaceutica Nacional and the Government of the State of Parana `` announce the pre-submission of preliminary documents '' to ANVISA , in order to register Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in conformity with the Brazilian regulatory procedures . ''
`` RDIF and Uniao Quimica , with the support of the Government of the State of Parana , are proactively cooperating with Brazil ’ s National Health Surveillance Agency ( ANVISA ) , which has played a fundamental and sensible role until this moment in order to ensure the registration of the Sputnik V vaccine in the country as soon as possible .
The registration will enable the start of the production and distribution of the vaccine in Brazil , '' Kirill Dmitriev , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the press release .
The documents were filed to the Brazilian regulator on October 29 , 2020 , RDIF said .
On August 11 , Russia became the first country in the world to register a coronavirus vaccine named Sputnik V , which was developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Health Ministry .
The injection passed clinical trials in June-July .
The vaccine is based on an already known platform that was used to create a number of other injections .
The Russian Health Ministry underlined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such vaccines , they are capable of providing a long-term immunity for up to two years .
The post-registration trials of Sputnik V began in Moscow on September 7 , volunteers received the first vaccine already on September 9 .
Overall , the trials include 40,000 people , 10,000 of them had placebo instead of the vaccine .

MOSCOW, October 30. /TASS/. The Russian Direct Investment Fund (Russia’s sovereign wealth fund - RDIF) and the Brazilian company Uniao Quimica Farmaceutica Nacional have submitted documents to Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) to register Russia’s Sputnik V anti-coronavirus vaccine, the RDIF said in a press release on Friday.
According to the press release, RDIF, Uniao Quimica Farmaceutica Nacional and the Government of the State of Parana "announce the pre-submission of preliminary documents" to ANVISA, in order to register Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine, "in conformity with the Brazilian regulatory procedures."
"RDIF and Uniao Quimica, with the support of the Government of the State of Parana, are proactively cooperating with Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), which has played a fundamental and sensible role until this moment in order to ensure the registration of the Sputnik V vaccine in the country as soon as possible. The registration will enable the start of the production and distribution of the vaccine in Brazil," Kirill Dmitriev, head of RDIF said as quoted by the press release.
The documents were filed to the Brazilian regulator on October 29, 2020, RDIF said.
On August 11, Russia became the first country in the world to register a coronavirus vaccine named Sputnik V, which was developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Health Ministry. The injection passed clinical trials in June-July. The vaccine is based on an already known platform that was used to create a number of other injections. The Russian Health Ministry underlined that judging by the experience of using such vaccines, they are capable of providing a long-term immunity for up to two years. The post-registration trials of Sputnik V began in Moscow on September 7, volunteers received the first vaccine already on September 9. Overall, the trials include 40,000 people, 10,000 of them had placebo instead of the vaccine.


tass--2020-10-30--Islamist radicals step up youth recruitment in central Russia, says security chief

MOSCOW , October 30 .
/TASS/ .
Radical Islamist fundamentalists have stepped up their activity for recruiting young people in Russia ’ s Central Federal District to involve them in committing crimes , Secretary of the Security Council Nikolai Patrushev said at a meeting on the District ’ s security on Friday .
`` For the purpose of drawing the youth into the unlawful activity , representatives of radical Islamist fundamentalists have intensified their work for prompting individuals traditionally unrelated to the peoples of the Muslim culture adopt Islam , '' the security chief said .
`` The extremist associations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Russian Federation and the Church of Scientology International are making attempts to strengthen their positions in Russia , '' the Security Council secretary said .
A special risk group includes young people among migrants who do not accept the social and cultural norms of Russian society and are the carriers of extremist beliefs of religious nature , Patrushev said .
`` They constitute the resource base for terrorist and extremist organizations , '' the security chief stressed .
`` Security forces exposed and neutralized over 60 ‘ sleeper ’ cells of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ territory in 2019 , '' Patrushev said .
Problems in the system of upbringing , unemployment , corruption and difficulties in resolving social safety net issues and getting education are the basic factors that contribute to the spread of radical ideology among the youth , the secretary of Russia ’ s Security Council said .
`` The ideology of subcultures that negate the existing norms of morality and ethics in society and contribute to establishing extremist and terrorist communities are becoming increasingly widespread , '' he said .
`` The tendencies of involving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organizations untraditional for Russia and totalitarian sects that are advocating the ideas of neo-paganism , occultism and Satanism persist , '' Patrushev said .

MOSCOW, October 30. /TASS/. Radical Islamist fundamentalists have stepped up their activity for recruiting young people in Russia’s Central Federal District to involve them in committing crimes, Secretary of the Security Council Nikolai Patrushev said at a meeting on the District’s security on Friday.
"For the purpose of drawing the youth into the unlawful activity, representatives of radical Islamist fundamentalists have intensified their work for prompting individuals traditionally unrelated to the peoples of the Muslim culture adopt Islam," the security chief said.
"The extremist associations that include Jehovah’s Witnesses outlawed in the Russian Federation and the Church of Scientology International are making attempts to strengthen their positions in Russia," the Security Council secretary said.
A special risk group includes young people among migrants who do not accept the social and cultural norms of Russian society and are the carriers of extremist beliefs of religious nature, Patrushev said.
"They constitute the resource base for terrorist and extremist organizations," the security chief stressed.
"Security forces exposed and neutralized over 60 ‘sleeper’ cells of such organizations on the district’s territory in 2019," Patrushev said.
Problems in the system of upbringing, unemployment, corruption and difficulties in resolving social safety net issues and getting education are the basic factors that contribute to the spread of radical ideology among the youth, the secretary of Russia’s Security Council said.
"The ideology of subcultures that negate the existing norms of morality and ethics in society and contribute to establishing extremist and terrorist communities are becoming increasingly widespread," he said.
"The tendencies of involving young people into the activity of religious organizations untraditional for Russia and totalitarian sects that are advocating the ideas of neo-paganism, occultism and Satanism persist," Patrushev said.


tass--2020-10-30--Zelensky’s move to dismiss Constitutional Court bears signs of coup — court head

KIEV , October 30 .
/TASS/ .
The bill on dissolution of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine ( CCU ) , introduced by President Vladimir Zelensky , bears signs of a coup d ’ etat , CCU head Alexander Tupitsky said Friday .
`` Zelensky ’ s bill on dissolution of the CCU bears signs of a constitutional coup , '' he said .
`` A draft bill appeared today , that was hacked together overnight , which bears signs of a constitutional coup in Ukraine .
I state this responsibly , because it is a violation of Clause 149 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tupitsky said .
He expressed bewilderment at both the idea to dismiss the Constitutional Court judges and at the proposed mechanism .
`` What will happen in the parliament Tuesday ?
Cancelling a CCU ruling via a law or a decision ?
Why not by a presidential order ?
Why involve the parliament in such an unconstitutional business ? ''
he quipped .
`` One man took responsibility .
There is no need to tie it in to collective responsibility which will make no-one responsible , '' the head of the court said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill implies dismissal of the CCU membership .
`` I would not be surprised , because such ideas have already been floated by [ head of the National Reform Committee ] Mikhail Saakashvili - to turn the CCU into a Supreme Court chamber .
This is an option , but for underdeveloped countries .
One can not make a chamber out of the Constitutional Court , he said .
He pointed out that the Verkovna Rada ( parliament ) can approve the decision `` swiftly . ''
`` They have the ‘ monomajoriy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Tupitsky underscored .
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky introduced a bill to the Verkhovna Rada , which proposes to terminate powers of the CCU judges ; to void the Court ’ s ruling on the anti-corruption law ; and to cancel the corresponding amendments to the law without legal repercussions .
Zelensky made this step after the CCU ruled on October 27 that the bulk of the anti-corruption law violates the constitution .
In particular , the court pointed out the clause that requires the officials to publish electronic declarations ; the clause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , check and publish declarations and to supervise the lifestyle of the subjects ; and the clause on the financial control measures .
The National Agency on Corruption Prevention stated that the Constitutional Court made its decision `` in its own interest , '' arguing that the agency discovered signs of declaration of false information by two of its judges .
However , after the court ’ s ruling , the agency was forced to shut down access to the registry of electronic declarations of state officials and lawmakers .
President Zelensky subsequently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Security and Defense Council of Ukraine .

KIEV, October 30. /TASS/. The bill on dissolution of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine (CCU), introduced by President Vladimir Zelensky, bears signs of a coup d’etat, CCU head Alexander Tupitsky said Friday.
"Zelensky’s bill on dissolution of the CCU bears signs of a constitutional coup," he said. "A draft bill appeared today, that was hacked together overnight, which bears signs of a constitutional coup in Ukraine. I state this responsibly, because it is a violation of Clause 149 of the Constitution of Ukraine," Tupitsky said.
He expressed bewilderment at both the idea to dismiss the Constitutional Court judges and at the proposed mechanism. "What will happen in the parliament Tuesday? Cancelling a CCU ruling via a law or a decision? Why not by a presidential order? Why involve the parliament in such an unconstitutional business?" he quipped.
"One man took responsibility. There is no need to tie it in to collective responsibility which will make no-one responsible," the head of the court said.
According to Tupitsky, the same bill implies dismissal of the CCU membership. "I would not be surprised, because such ideas have already been floated by [head of the National Reform Committee] Mikhail Saakashvili - to turn the CCU into a Supreme Court chamber. This is an option, but for underdeveloped countries. One cannot make a chamber out of the Constitutional Court, he said.
He pointed out that the Verkovna Rada (parliament) can approve the decision "swiftly." "They have the ‘monomajoriy,’ therefore they have votes," Tupitsky underscored.
The CCU ruling
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky introduced a bill to the Verkhovna Rada, which proposes to terminate powers of the CCU judges; to void the Court’s ruling on the anti-corruption law; and to cancel the corresponding amendments to the law without legal repercussions.
Zelensky made this step after the CCU ruled on October 27 that the bulk of the anti-corruption law violates the constitution.
In particular, the court pointed out the clause that requires the officials to publish electronic declarations; the clause that authorizes the anti-corruption agency to obtain, check and publish declarations and to supervise the lifestyle of the subjects; and the clause on the financial control measures.
The National Agency on Corruption Prevention stated that the Constitutional Court made its decision "in its own interest," arguing that the agency discovered signs of declaration of false information by two of its judges. However, after the court’s ruling, the agency was forced to shut down access to the registry of electronic declarations of state officials and lawmakers. President Zelensky subsequently called an emergency meeting of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.


tass--2020-10-30--Six dead, 202 injured in earthquake in western Turkey

ANKARA , October 30 .
/TASS/ .
At least six people have been killed and 202 injured as a result of an earthquake in Izmir province in the west of Turkey , the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency ( AFAD ) reported on Friday .
`` The number of casualties rose to six people .
202 people were injured , '' the agency ’ s statement said .
Earlier four dead and 152 injured had been reported .
Turkish rescuers pulled at least 70 people from the rubble of destroyed houses on Friday , according to governor of the province @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 70 people were pulled from the rubble , the rescuers continue to work .
We are asking all citizens not to use private transportation without a sound reason in order not to interfere with the rescue workers and other services , '' he said to the TRT TV channel .
Turkish seismologists registered on Friday over 20 aftershocks of the earthquake in the Aegean Sea , professor of the Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute Haluk Ozener said .
`` During an hour and a half after the earthquake no less than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most powerful having a magnitude of 4.9 , '' the expert told the TRT TV channel .
Greek specialists warned of a possibility of new shocks with a magnitude of up to 6.2 .
In all , according to them , the seismic activity in the region may last from two weeks to a month .
The earthquake of a magnitude of 6.7 occurred on Friday in the sea 19 kilometers to the northeast of the island of Samos , it was felt in Athens and Istanbul .
Shocks led to a destruction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Izmir , some buildings in the Greek town of Neon Karlovasi were also destroyed .

ANKARA, October 30. /TASS/. At least six people have been killed and 202 injured as a result of an earthquake in Izmir province in the west of Turkey, the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) reported on Friday.
"The number of casualties rose to six people. 202 people were injured," the agency’s statement said. Earlier four dead and 152 injured had been reported.
Turkish rescuers pulled at least 70 people from the rubble of destroyed houses on Friday, according to governor of the province Yavuz Selim Kosger.
"No less than 70 people were pulled from the rubble, the rescuers continue to work. We are asking all citizens not to use private transportation without a sound reason in order not to interfere with the rescue workers and other services," he said to the TRT TV channel.
Turkish seismologists registered on Friday over 20 aftershocks of the earthquake in the Aegean Sea, professor of the Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute Haluk Ozener said.
"During an hour and a half after the earthquake no less than 21 aftershocks were recorded, with the most powerful having a magnitude of 4.9," the expert told the TRT TV channel.
Greek specialists warned of a possibility of new shocks with a magnitude of up to 6.2. In all, according to them, the seismic activity in the region may last from two weeks to a month.
The earthquake of a magnitude of 6.7 occurred on Friday in the sea 19 kilometers to the northeast of the island of Samos, it was felt in Athens and Istanbul. Shocks led to a destruction of at least 20 houses in Turkey’s Izmir, some buildings in the Greek town of Neon Karlovasi were also destroyed.


tass--2020-10-30--This week in photos: Macron in Nice, Biden caught in downpour, Beijing faces mask fashion

Hundreds of people are seen during a take over of Plaza Italia , in the hours prior to the result of the constitutional plebiscite , in Santiago , Chile , October 25 .
People defied the police presence and shouted slogans against the Government , chanting 'Chile woke up ' and 'The united people will never be defeated ' , turned into slogans of the serious wave of protests that broke out in 2019 © EPA-EFE/Alberto Valdes Luanda 's Police of dog brigades and rapid intervention arrive to control the dozens of youths , concentrating at the provincial court in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The tension worsened among the youths , who demanded the release of about a hundred demonstrators arrested on October 24 , during the anti-government protests in Angolan capital © EPA-EFE/AMPE ROGERIO UK Prime Minster Boris Johnson holds up a roll in the canteen during a visit to the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading as part of a review of hospital food in Reading , England , October 26 .
Celebrity chef Prue Leith and a group of advisers have been tasked with reviewing hospital food and setting out ways NHS trusts can improve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jeremy Selwyn - WPA Pool/Getty Images Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden concludes his remarks as a downpour begins during a drive-in campaign rally at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa , USA , October 29 © Drew Angerer/Getty Images The scene of a fire at an industrial area in the village of Dorokhovo , 95 km west of Moscow , Russia , October 29 .
The fire covered the area of 2,500 sq m. © Russian Emergencies Ministry/TASS Taxi drivers and drivers of tourist buses and school minibuses protesting against the latest government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Naples , Italy , October 28 .
The Italian government announced a relief package of five billion euros for the most affected professions in the country due to the coronavirus restrictions including restaurants and taxi drivers .
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced new nationwide COVID-19 restrictions that include the closure of restaurants and bars by 6pm and shutting down gyms , cinemas and swimming pools © EPA-EFE/CIRO FUSCO

Lukashenko says Putin promises he would regard attack on Belarus as attack on Russia
The Belarusian leader pointed out that NATO was quickly building up forces on the border with Belarus in Poland and in the Baltic countries
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tass--2020-10-30--Georgia’s ruling party says Saakashvili backers plotting provocations

TBILISI , October 30 .
/TASS/ .
Representatives of the United National Movement party , established by Mikhail Saakashvili , arm themselves with batons and electric shockers ahead of the Parliamentary elections that will take place on October , Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia party Irakli Kobakhidze said Friday .
`` We ’ ve just discovered that they [ the opposition ] mobilize crews , armed with batons and electric shockers .
A portion of these people are former military or police , they have carrying permit .
We have obtained the list of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offices of the National Movement , '' Kobakhidze said .
He called on the police and the international observers to pay special attention to the activities of the United National Movement leaders - former General Staff head Devi Chankotadze , former Minister of Education Dmity Shashkin and former lawmaker Nika Melia .
Kobakhidze noted that the ruling party expects destabilization of situation in Bolnisi , Dmanisi , Marneuli , Batoumi , and in the capital district of Gldani .
On Thursday , Kobakhidze also accused the opposition of plans to destabilize the situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the official , the opposition plans to file huge number of complaints on the same issues in order to artificially inflate the negative statistics .
He noted that the opposition also plans to steal equipment required for proper elections from the polling stations .
A total of 48 political parties and two political blocs were registered for he upcoming elections .
The 150-seat parliament of Georgia will be elected via a mixed system : 30 seats via the majority system , and 120 - via the proportional system .
In order to dominate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secure at least 40.54 % of votes .

TBILISI, October 30. /TASS/. Representatives of the United National Movement party, established by Mikhail Saakashvili, arm themselves with batons and electric shockers ahead of the Parliamentary elections that will take place on October, Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia party Irakli Kobakhidze said Friday.
"We’ve just discovered that they [the opposition] mobilize crews, armed with batons and electric shockers. A portion of these people are former military or police, they have carrying permit. We have obtained the list of people, mobilized for destructive actions, from offices of the National Movement," Kobakhidze said.
He called on the police and the international observers to pay special attention to the activities of the United National Movement leaders - former General Staff head Devi Chankotadze, former Minister of Education Dmity Shashkin and former lawmaker Nika Melia. Kobakhidze noted that the ruling party expects destabilization of situation in Bolnisi, Dmanisi, Marneuli, Batoumi, and in the capital district of Gldani.
On Thursday, Kobakhidze also accused the opposition of plans to destabilize the situation during the elections day. According to the official, the opposition plans to file huge number of complaints on the same issues in order to artificially inflate the negative statistics. He noted that the opposition also plans to steal equipment required for proper elections from the polling stations.
A total of 48 political parties and two political blocs were registered for he upcoming elections. The 150-seat parliament of Georgia will be elected via a mixed system: 30 seats via the majority system, and 120 - via the proportional system. In order to dominate the government, a political party must secure at least 40.54% of votes.


tass--2020-10-30--Roscosmos says premature to blame external impact for crack aboard space station

MOSCOW , October 30 .
/TASS/ .
Specialists continue studying the fracture found in Russia ’ s Zvezda module of the International Space Station ( ISS ) but it is premature to blame a possible external impact for its emergence , the federal space agency Roscosmos told TASS on Friday .
`` Specialists are currently considering various versions of the fracture ’ s origin and that is why it is premature to make conclusions about its causes , including an external impact on the module , '' Roscosmos said .
Specialists of the main flight control team of the space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crack in the Zvezda module jointly with the orbital outpost ’ s crew , Roscosmos stressed .
Cosmonaut Sergei Ryzhikov currently working aboard the ISS earlier said in a talk with ISS Russian Segment Flight Director Vladimir Solovyov that the crack could have emerged due to an external object hitting the space station .
The cosmonaut suggested examining the external impact area from the outside of the module during a spacewalk scheduled for November 18 under the Russian flight program .
Solovyov said , however , it would be difficult to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August that the space station ’ s Russian-American crew was working on tracing an air leak aboard the orbital outpost .
Later , Russia ’ s State Space Corporation Roscosmos confirmed this information .
The ISS crew reported to Russia ’ s Flight Control Center on the morning of October 15 that the cosmonauts had found the possible air leak spot in the inter-section compartment of the Zvezda module with the help of a tea bag .
As the cosmonauts said , the air was possibly leaking through a fracture .
The crack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and posed no threat to the space station ’ s safety , Roscosmos specified .
Cosmonaut Anatoly Ivanishin later said at a post-flight press conference the air leak spot looked more like a curvilinear scratch 2-3 cm long .
A source familiar with the matter earlier told TASS specialists were considering impact of a micro-meteorite or micro-debris as a possible cause of the air leak from the ISS .

MOSCOW, October 30. /TASS/. Specialists continue studying the fracture found in Russia’s Zvezda module of the International Space Station (ISS) but it is premature to blame a possible external impact for its emergence, the federal space agency Roscosmos told TASS on Friday.
"Specialists are currently considering various versions of the fracture’s origin and that is why it is premature to make conclusions about its causes, including an external impact on the module," Roscosmos said.
Specialists of the main flight control team of the space station’s Russian segment continue studying the crack in the Zvezda module jointly with the orbital outpost’s crew, Roscosmos stressed.
Cosmonaut Sergei Ryzhikov currently working aboard the ISS earlier said in a talk with ISS Russian Segment Flight Director Vladimir Solovyov that the crack could have emerged due to an external object hitting the space station. The cosmonaut suggested examining the external impact area from the outside of the module during a spacewalk scheduled for November 18 under the Russian flight program. Solovyov said, however, it would be difficult to do that.
A source told TASS in August that the space station’s Russian-American crew was working on tracing an air leak aboard the orbital outpost. Later, Russia’s State Space Corporation Roscosmos confirmed this information.
The ISS crew reported to Russia’s Flight Control Center on the morning of October 15 that the cosmonauts had found the possible air leak spot in the inter-section compartment of the Zvezda module with the help of a tea bag. As the cosmonauts said, the air was possibly leaking through a fracture. The crack was no more than 4 cm wide and posed no threat to the space station’s safety, Roscosmos specified.
Cosmonaut Anatoly Ivanishin later said at a post-flight press conference the air leak spot looked more like a curvilinear scratch 2-3 cm long.
A source familiar with the matter earlier told TASS specialists were considering impact of a micro-meteorite or micro-debris as a possible cause of the air leak from the ISS.


tass--2020-10-30--Yerevan says Karabakh forces capture terrorist from Syria fighting for Azerbaijan

YEREVAN , October 30 .
/TASS/ .
The defense army of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic captured a terrorist from the Syrian city of Hama fighting as a mercenary for Azerbaijan in Karabakh , Armenian Defense Ministry Press Secretary Shushan Stepanyan wrote on Facebook on Friday .
Erdogan says Turkey has right to take part in Nagorno-Karabakh settlement process The Armenian Defense Ministry press secretary also uploaded a video of the captured mercenary ’ s interrogation .
`` The defense army units have captured a terrorist and his first interrogation leaves no doubts that mercenary terrorists are present on the frontline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Islamist ’ s name is Mehred Muhammad Alshkher .
He comes from the Syrian city of Hama , '' she said .
The captive admitted during interrogation he had come to the engagement line in Karabakh on October 19 together with 250 other terrorists who had been sent to the area by Turkey , Stepanyan said .
`` They were promised $ 2,000 but were not paid .
After he was wounded , his fellow fighters left him on the battlefield .
He says they are the first to fight on the frontline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second and third echelons , '' the Armenian Defense Ministry spokeswoman said .
The captive said that `` before going to the frontline , they were gathered in a camp where Turkish military instructors worked with them , '' Stepanyan said .
The Armenian authorities have numerously accused Turkey of its involvement in the military conflict in Karabakh .
Yerevan says Turkish servicemen are fighting for the Azerbaijani army while Turkey has assumed command of aerial battles and is also redeploying terrorists from the Middle East , in particular , from Syria and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .
Ceasefire agreements have been reached three times but the hostilities continue and the warring parties keep blaming each other for violating the truce .
The conflict between Armenia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States .

YEREVAN, October 30. /TASS/. The defense army of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic captured a terrorist from the Syrian city of Hama fighting as a mercenary for Azerbaijan in Karabakh, Armenian Defense Ministry Press Secretary Shushan Stepanyan wrote on Facebook on Friday.
Erdogan says Turkey has right to take part in Nagorno-Karabakh settlement process
The Armenian Defense Ministry press secretary also uploaded a video of the captured mercenary’s interrogation.
"The defense army units have captured a terrorist and his first interrogation leaves no doubts that mercenary terrorists are present on the frontline of the Azerbaijani army. The captured Islamist’s name is Mehred Muhammad Alshkher. He comes from the Syrian city of Hama," she said.
The captive admitted during interrogation he had come to the engagement line in Karabakh on October 19 together with 250 other terrorists who had been sent to the area by Turkey, Stepanyan said.
"They were promised $2,000 but were not paid. After he was wounded, his fellow fighters left him on the battlefield. He says they are the first to fight on the frontline while the Azerbaijani forces come in the second and third echelons," the Armenian Defense Ministry spokeswoman said.
The captive said that "before going to the frontline, they were gathered in a camp where Turkish military instructors worked with them," Stepanyan said.
Turkey’s involvement in the Karabakh conflict
The Armenian authorities have numerously accused Turkey of its involvement in the military conflict in Karabakh. Yerevan says Turkish servicemen are fighting for the Azerbaijani army while Turkey has assumed command of aerial battles and is also redeploying terrorists from the Middle East, in particular, from Syria and Libya, to Karabakh.
Conflict escalation
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.
Ceasefire agreements have been reached three times but the hostilities continue and the warring parties keep blaming each other for violating the truce.
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.


tass--2020-10-30--Police detain over 20 protesters near French embassy in Moscow

Several dozen Muslims earlier gathered in front of the embassy to protest against French President Emmanuel Macron ’ s statements @ @ @ @ @ are resisting the officers , the police have to use force .
One of the @ @ @ @ @ to the police van by four policemen .
On Thursday , a knife-wielding man attacked @ @ @ @ @ Notre-Dame cathedral .
Three were killed and several others suffered injuries .
The attacker was @ @ @ @ @ was shot several times and taken to hospital .
Soon after that , knife attacks @ @ @ @ @ city of Avignon and outside the French consulate in the Saudi city of Jeddah .
@ @ @ @ @ Paty , a history and geography teacher , was decapitated after exhibiting Charlie Hebdo ’ @ @ @ @ @ Muhammad during a class , dedicated to freedom of expression .
After the killing , @ @ @ @ @ campaign against followers of radical ideologies and related organizations and promised that France would not @ @ @ @ @

Several dozen Muslims earlier gathered in front of the embassy to protest against French President Emmanuel Macron’s statements on Islam.
Some protesters are resisting the officers, the police have to use force. One of the protesters had to be carried to the police van by four policemen.
French attacks
On Thursday, a knife-wielding man attacked people in Nice’s Notre-Dame cathedral. Three were killed and several others suffered injuries. The attacker was apprehended by police, he was shot several times and taken to hospital. Soon after that, knife attacks took place in the French city of Avignon and outside the French consulate in the Saudi city of Jeddah.
On October 16, Samuel Paty, a history and geography teacher, was decapitated after exhibiting Charlie Hebdo’s caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad during a class, dedicated to freedom of expression. After the killing, French President Macron announced a campaign against followers of radical ideologies and related organizations and promised that France would not renounce publishing the caricatures.


tass--2020-10-30--Novosibirsk scientists develop neural network detecting COVID-19

NOVOSIBIRSK , October 30 .
/TASS/ .
Scientists from Novosibirsk have developed a neural network for detecting the coronavirus infection using X-ray and computer tomography images .
The network has a database of 10,000 images , head of the department of applied informatics of the Novosibirsk State University of Economics and Management Sergei Tereshchenko said on Friday at a forum on urban technologies .
`` Using the images , doctors need to identify whether there are some pathological changes there [ in lungs - TASS ] .
The second issue is , if there is pneumonia , it is necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , because the pneumonia caused by COVID is a little different from the pneumonia caused by other factors .
In order to solve this task we decided to use the method of computer vision , '' he said .
The developer explained that the method of computer vision implies the creation of a neural network which will identify the lung damage using data-sets - the data consisting of a large number of different images of lungs .
`` We used the data that were in open access .
First of all , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ society and some data we collected at clinical hospitals in Novosibirsk , '' he said , adding that the total number of images came to more than 10,000 .
According to the scientist , the training of the neural network was conducted with the participation of doctors who submitted to the developers a map of signs identifying the development of the coronavirus pneumonia .
The precision of measurements came to 91 % .
For convenience the scientists developed an open-access internet service where anyone can check his X-ray or computer tomography chest image @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the future the scientists plan to teach the neural network to recognize not only pneumonia but also other lung diseases .
According to the latest statistics , about 45 mln people have been infected worldwide and more than 1.18 mln deaths have been reported .
To date , 1,599,976 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , with 1,200,560 patients having recovered from the disease .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates 27,656 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated @ @ @ @ @

NOVOSIBIRSK, October 30. /TASS/. Scientists from Novosibirsk have developed a neural network for detecting the coronavirus infection using X-ray and computer tomography images. The network has a database of 10,000 images, head of the department of applied informatics of the Novosibirsk State University of Economics and Management Sergei Tereshchenko said on Friday at a forum on urban technologies.
"Using the images, doctors need to identify whether there are some pathological changes there [in lungs - TASS]. The second issue is, if there is pneumonia, it is necessary to define the nature of this pneumonia, because the pneumonia caused by COVID is a little different from the pneumonia caused by other factors. In order to solve this task we decided to use the method of computer vision," he said.
The developer explained that the method of computer vision implies the creation of a neural network which will identify the lung damage using data-sets - the data consisting of a large number of different images of lungs. "We used the data that were in open access. First of all, there is the data of the US radiology society and some data we collected at clinical hospitals in Novosibirsk," he said, adding that the total number of images came to more than 10,000.
According to the scientist, the training of the neural network was conducted with the participation of doctors who submitted to the developers a map of signs identifying the development of the coronavirus pneumonia. The precision of measurements came to 91%. For convenience the scientists developed an open-access internet service where anyone can check his X-ray or computer tomography chest image for the presence of the coronavirus pneumonia. In the future the scientists plan to teach the neural network to recognize not only pneumonia but also other lung diseases.
According to the latest statistics, about 45 mln people have been infected worldwide and more than 1.18 mln deaths have been reported. To date, 1,599,976 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 1,200,560 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 27,656 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.