tass--2020-12-30--Putin signs law banning funding of rallies from abroad

MOSCOW , December 30 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law banning foreign funding of rallies @ @ @ @ @ to provide details of their funding allocated for the organization of public events .
The @ @ @ @ @ on the official legal information portal .
The law bans organization of public events funded @ @ @ @ @ , citizens and stateless persons , as well as non-commercial organizations listed as foreign agents @ @ @ @ @ of age , anonymous benefactors and legal entities registered less than one year before transferring @ @ @ @ @ public organizations and individuals branded as foreign agents will not be allowed to fund protests @ @ @ @ @ law , protest organizers will now be required to submit information on the funding of @ @ @ @ @ .
This measure will concern events that include over 500 participants .

MOSCOW, December 30. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law banning foreign funding of rallies, which obligates protest organizers to provide details of their funding allocated for the organization of public events. The document was published on Wednesday on the official legal information portal.
The law bans organization of public events funded by foreign states, organizations, citizens and stateless persons, as well as non-commercial organizations listed as foreign agents, Russians under 16 years of age, anonymous benefactors and legal entities registered less than one year before transferring funds or property. Unregistered public organizations and individuals branded as foreign agents will not be allowed to fund protests either.
According to the law, protest organizers will now be required to submit information on the funding of their event to the authorities. This measure will concern events that include over 500 participants.


tass--2020-12-31--Belarus’ population must be twice as big, Lukashenko claims

MINSK , December 31 .
/TASS/ .
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed Thursday that the republic will face a catastrophe @ @ @ @ @ solved and the population increases to 20 million people .
`` The biggest problem in @ @ @ @ @ one .
Therefore , everything is being done for children : the prolongation of the @ @ @ @ @ .
It will be a catastrophe if our population doesn ’ t grow .
They @ @ @ @ @ , that we don ’ t have population .
What is 9.5 or 10 million @ @ @ @ @ ’ s nothing .
The first stage , we need 15 million and then make @ @ @ @ @ will be like Europe in terms of population density , '' he said Thursday .
@ @ @ @ @ has no plans to cut allowances for children .
`` I don ’ t think @ @ @ @ @ , connected to children .
There has been no talk of cutting or removing the @ @ @ @ @ t worry , '' he noted .

MINSK, December 31. /TASS/. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed Thursday that the republic will face a catastrophe unless the demographic problem is solved and the population increases to 20 million people.
"The biggest problem in the country is a demographic one. Therefore, everything is being done for children: the prolongation of the maternity capital, the apartments. It will be a catastrophe if our population doesn’t grow. They say that Belarus is small, that we don’t have population. What is 9.5 or 10 million [people]? It’s nothing. The first stage, we need 15 million and then make it 20. Then we will be like Europe in terms of population density," he said Thursday.
He underscored that the government has no plans to cut allowances for children.
"I don’t think we will touch the allowances, connected to children. There has been no talk of cutting or removing the maternity leave, don’t worry," he noted.


tass--2020-12-31--Oil supplies via Transneft system in January seen at 36.4 mln tonnes

MOSCOW , December 31 .
/TASS/ .
The volume of oil pumped through the Transneft system in January 2021 is @ @ @ @ @ , official spokesman of the national pipeline operator Igor Dyomin told reporters on Thursday .
@ @ @ @ @ plans to pump 3 mln tonnes of oil via the Druzhba pipeline in January 2021 @ @ @ @ @ oil via the ESPO ( Eastern Siberia-Pacific Ocean ) to China and another 0.85 mln @ @ @ @ @ .
The operator plans to supply 1.28 mln tonnes of oil to the refineries of @ @ @ @ @ in January .
Also , in January , 9 mln tonnes will be exported via @ @ @ @ @ 1.5 mln tonnes through Novorossiysk , 2.9 mln tonnes through Primorsk , 2.7 mln tonnes @ @ @ @ @ tonnes through Ust-Luga .
Exports of diesel fuel via Russian ports in January is planned @ @ @ @ @ mln tonnes against 2.09 mln tonnes expected in December 2020 .
It is planned to @ @ @ @ @ oil to Russian refineries in January 2021 .

MOSCOW, December 31. /TASS/. The volume of oil pumped through the Transneft system in January 2021 is planned at 36.4 mln tonnes, official spokesman of the national pipeline operator Igor Dyomin told reporters on Thursday.
In particular, the operator plans to pump 3 mln tonnes of oil via the Druzhba pipeline in January 2021, 2.65 mln tonnes of oil via the ESPO (Eastern Siberia-Pacific Ocean) to China and another 0.85 mln tonnes in transit to Kazakhstan. The operator plans to supply 1.28 mln tonnes of oil to the refineries of Belarus via the Transneft system in January.
Also, in January, 9 mln tonnes will be exported via the Russian ports, including 1.5 mln tonnes through Novorossiysk, 2.9 mln tonnes through Primorsk, 2.7 mln tonnes through Kozmino, 1.9 mln tonnes through Ust-Luga.
Exports of diesel fuel via Russian ports in January is planned at the level of 2.304 mln tonnes against 2.09 mln tonnes expected in December 2020.
It is planned to pump 19.5 million tonnes of oil to Russian refineries in January 2021.


tass--2020-12-31--Outgoing year was difficult, its burden was several years’ worth, says Putin

PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY , December 31 .
/TASS/ .
The outgoing year was difficult for all .
Its burden seems to have @ @ @ @ @ , Russian President Vladimir Putin said in the customary New Year address to the nation @ @ @ @ @ Kamchatka Peninsula were the first audience to hear it minutes before midnight .
`` Dear @ @ @ @ @ friends !
In just several minutes 2020 will be over .
When we saw it @ @ @ @ @ we , just like people around the world , of course looked forward to and @ @ @ @ @ .
Nobody could have imagined then what trials were in store for us .
Now @ @ @ @ @ year ’ s burden was several years ’ worth .
It was hard for all @ @ @ @ @ concerns , great material problems and worries .
Some experienced bitter losses of near and @ @ @ @ @ said .

PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, December 31. /TASS/. The outgoing year was difficult for all. Its burden seems to have been several years’ worth, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in the customary New Year address to the nation. The residents of the Kamchatka Peninsula were the first audience to hear it minutes before midnight.
"Dear citizens of Russia! Dear friends! In just several minutes 2020 will be over. When we saw it in a year ago, we, just like people around the world, of course looked forward to and cherished changes for the better. Nobody could have imagined then what trials were in store for us. Now it seems that the outgoing year’s burden was several years’ worth. It was hard for all of us, it brought concerns, great material problems and worries. Some experienced bitter losses of near and dear ones," Putin said.


tass--2020-12-31--Life’s trials and tribulations reason to shed vanity, focus on crucial matters, says Putin

PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY , December 31 .
/TASS/ .
The trials of life are unavoidable , but they urge one and all to turn an attentive ear to the voice of conscience , to brush off vanity and to focus on the matters of the greatest importance , Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his customary New Year address to the nation .
The residents of the Kamchatka Peninsula were the first audience in Russia to hear his message minutes before midnight .
`` True , the formidable novel coronavirus has changed and turned upside down the customary mode of life , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revision of and amendments to many plans .
In our world , the trials of life are unavoidable .
They urge us to turn an attentive ear to the voice of conscience , to brush off vanity and to focus on the matters of the greatest importance , '' Putin said .
He added that he was referring to `` the gift of human life , the family , our mothers and fathers , our grandpas and grandmas , our children - both little kids and grown-ups - our friends and colleagues , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acts of kindness - large-scale deeds of national importance and small ones , too , within each neighborhood , street and house , but nevertheless no less significant . ''
`` Trials and misfortunes will certainly vanish .
As they always do .
But there will remain with us everything that makes us noble and strong : love , mutual understanding , trust and support , '' Putin said .
`` I would like to wish that all hardships of the outgoing year sink into oblivion , while all the very best that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each person has displayed remains with us forever , '' he added .
Putin said that `` today it is very important to have faith in oneself , not to retreat in the face of hardships , and to take care of our unity , which is the basis for our successes in the future . ''
`` I am certain that together we shall overcome everything , restore and establish normal life , and push ahead with renewed energy to handle the tasks facing Russia in the coming third decade of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @

PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, December 31. /TASS/. The trials of life are unavoidable, but they urge one and all to turn an attentive ear to the voice of conscience, to brush off vanity and to focus on the matters of the greatest importance, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his customary New Year address to the nation. The residents of the Kamchatka Peninsula were the first audience in Russia to hear his message minutes before midnight.
"True, the formidable novel coronavirus has changed and turned upside down the customary mode of life, work and studies, it forced a revision of and amendments to many plans. In our world, the trials of life are unavoidable. They urge us to turn an attentive ear to the voice of conscience, to brush off vanity and to focus on the matters of the greatest importance," Putin said.
He added that he was referring to "the gift of human life, the family, our mothers and fathers, our grandpas and grandmas, our children - both little kids and grown-ups - our friends and colleagues, disinterested assistance and the common energy of acts of kindness - large-scale deeds of national importance and small ones, too, within each neighborhood, street and house, but nevertheless no less significant."
"Trials and misfortunes will certainly vanish. As they always do. But there will remain with us everything that makes us noble and strong: love, mutual understanding, trust and support," Putin said.
"I would like to wish that all hardships of the outgoing year sink into oblivion, while all the very best that we have gained, and the potential each person has displayed remains with us forever," he added.
Putin said that "today it is very important to have faith in oneself, not to retreat in the face of hardships, and to take care of our unity, which is the basis for our successes in the future."
"I am certain that together we shall overcome everything, restore and establish normal life, and push ahead with renewed energy to handle the tasks facing Russia in the coming third decade of the 21st century," he concluded.


tass--2020-12-31--Kiev capitalizes on issue of Donbass to economically hurt Russia — diplomat

MOSCOW , December 31 .
/TASS/ .
Speculations of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky about the Minsk Agreements prove that Kiev wants to inflict economic damage on Russia rather than settle the Donbass conflict , Spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said in a statement Thursday .
`` Kiev is incessantly talking about the alleged incompetence of the Package of Measures and the need to revisit it .
< … > President Vladimir Zelensky was the most outspoken as he said that Ukraine only needs the Minsk Agreements to keep up anti-Russian sanctions .
It turns out that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peace and stability in the country that matters to Kiev the most but rather it seeks to brazenly capitalize on the issue of the unresolved conflict , abusing it to economically hurt Russia and attract Western aid to save the collapsing economy of Ukraine , '' Zakharova noted .
In light of this , Moscow is urging Kiev to `` stop engaging in demagogy '' and start realizing the Package of Measures for the implementation of the Minsk Agreements in full and consistently .
`` Unfortunately , instead of taking practical steps to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukraine is seeking to ignore them in every way , giving the impression of active movement towards the Donbass settlement , '' the comment reads .
Zelensky recently had an interview with Focus magazine in which he noted that Ukraine can not exit the Minsk Agreements because they are tied to sanctions against Russia .
However , he added that he would personally withdraw from the agreements that are considered the cornerstone in the Donbass conflict settlement .

MOSCOW, December 31. /TASS/. Speculations of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky about the Minsk Agreements prove that Kiev wants to inflict economic damage on Russia rather than settle the Donbass conflict, Spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said in a statement Thursday.
"Kiev is incessantly talking about the alleged incompetence of the Package of Measures and the need to revisit it. <…> President Vladimir Zelensky was the most outspoken as he said that Ukraine only needs the Minsk Agreements to keep up anti-Russian sanctions. It turns out that it is not the hypocritically declared achievement of peace and stability in the country that matters to Kiev the most but rather it seeks to brazenly capitalize on the issue of the unresolved conflict, abusing it to economically hurt Russia and attract Western aid to save the collapsing economy of Ukraine," Zakharova noted.
In light of this, Moscow is urging Kiev to "stop engaging in demagogy" and start realizing the Package of Measures for the implementation of the Minsk Agreements in full and consistently. "Unfortunately, instead of taking practical steps to fulfil obligations assumed under the Minsk Agreements Ukraine is seeking to ignore them in every way, giving the impression of active movement towards the Donbass settlement," the comment reads.
Zelensky recently had an interview with Focus magazine in which he noted that Ukraine cannot exit the Minsk Agreements because they are tied to sanctions against Russia. However, he added that he would personally withdraw from the agreements that are considered the cornerstone in the Donbass conflict settlement.


tass--2020-12-31--Russia simplifies entry for families of foreign specialists

MOSCOW , December 31 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian government has simplified rules of entry for families of foreign highly @ @ @ @ @ press service reports Thursday .
`` Foreign highly qualified specialists can travel to Russia with @ @ @ @ @ statement notes .
`` Such an order was signed by head of government Mikhail Mishustin @ @ @ @ @ into force on the day of publication .
Similar measures are applied to families of @ @ @ @ @ .

MOSCOW, December 31. /TASS/. The Russian government has simplified rules of entry for families of foreign highly qualified specialists, the cabinet press service reports Thursday.
"Foreign highly qualified specialists can travel to Russia with their families," the statement notes. "Such an order was signed by head of government Mikhail Mishustin."
The order comes into force on the day of publication. Similar measures are applied to families of athletes, coaches and umpires.


tass--2020-12-31--Over 120 flights delayed at Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport due to freezing rain

MOSCOW , December 31 .
/TASS/ .
More than 120 flights have been delayed or arrived later at Moscow ’ @ @ @ @ @ the consequences of freezing rain , according to data from the airport ’ s online @ @ @ @ @ ’ s friction coefficient was reduced because of glaze ice .
Airport services are working @ @ @ @ @ Six flights have been delayed and 46 cancelled at Sheremetyevo Airport .
Five flights have @ @ @ @ @ at Vnukovo Airport , another 11 flights have been delayed and one cancelled at Zhukovsky @ @ @ @ @ airports did not clarify the cause of delays and cancellations .

MOSCOW, December 31. /TASS/. More than 120 flights have been delayed or arrived later at Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport due to the consequences of freezing rain, according to data from the airport’s online flight schedule.
The runway’s friction coefficient was reduced because of glaze ice. Airport services are working to ensure flight safety.
Six flights have been delayed and 46 cancelled at Sheremetyevo Airport. Five flights have been cancelled and 43 delayed at Vnukovo Airport, another 11 flights have been delayed and one cancelled at Zhukovsky Airport. However, the airports did not clarify the cause of delays and cancellations.


tass--2020-12-31--China’s Xi congratulates Putin on New Year

BEIJING , December 31 .
/TASS/ .
Chinese leader Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory telegram to Russian President Vladimir Putin @ @ @ @ @ Year , China ’ s Central Television reported .
According to the report , the @ @ @ @ @ other during a phone call , dedicated to bilateral cooperation matters .
Previously , the @ @ @ @ @ President Vladimir Putin had sent congratulations to foreign leaders .

BEIJING, December 31. /TASS/. Chinese leader Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory telegram to Russian President Vladimir Putin wishing him a happy New Year, China’s Central Television reported.
According to the report, the two leaders verbally congratulated each other during a phone call, dedicated to bilateral cooperation matters.
Previously, the Kremlin press service disclosed that President Vladimir Putin had sent congratulations to foreign leaders.


tass--2020-12-31--Erdogan hopes that joint Russia-Turkey center on Karabakh will be launched soon

`` I wish success to our military who will monitor ceasefire [ in Nagorno-Karabakh ] .
I hope that the center that is being constructed now will start operating soon , '' Anadolu Agency quoted him as saying to the Turkish officers located in Azerbaijan .
ANKARA , December 31 .
/TASS/ .
Turkey is hopeful that the Russian-Turkish center for monitoring ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh will be launched soon , Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday .
Earlier , Minister of National Defense of Turkey Hulusi Akar reported that 36 officers including a general will serve in the monitoring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Armenia erupted on September 27 in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
On November 9 , Russian President Vladimir Putin , Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10 .
The Russian leader said the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides would maintain the positions that they had held , and Russian peacekeepers would be deployed to the region .
Besides , Baku and Yerevan must exchange prisoners and the bodies of those killed .
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 .
On November 11 , Russia and Turkey agreed to create the Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire monitoring center , the memorandum was signed following videoconference talks between Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar .

"I wish success to our military who will monitor ceasefire [in Nagorno-Karabakh]. I hope that the center that is being constructed now will start operating soon," Anadolu Agency quoted him as saying to the Turkish officers located in Azerbaijan.
ANKARA, December 31. /TASS/. Turkey is hopeful that the Russian-Turkish center for monitoring ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh will be launched soon, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday.
Earlier, Minister of National Defense of Turkey Hulusi Akar reported that 36 officers including a general will serve in the monitoring center.
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27 in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. On November 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10. The Russian leader said the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides would maintain the positions that they had held, and Russian peacekeepers would be deployed to the region. Besides, Baku and Yerevan must exchange prisoners and the bodies of those killed.
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.
On November 11, Russia and Turkey agreed to create the Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire monitoring center, the memorandum was signed following videoconference talks between Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar.


tass--2020-12-31--Winter, spring, summer, fall and winter again with Covid: from quarantine to vaccination

According to the latest statistics , more than 82 million people have been infected with coronavirus worldwide and more than 1.8 million deaths have been reported MOSCOW , December 31 .
/TASS/ .
It ’ s been exactly a year since Chinese authorities reported an outbreak of unknown pneumonia in Wuhan , central Province of Hubei .
In early January , Chinese epidemiologists already identified the novel coronavirus to be the cause of infection .
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) classified it as COVID-19 later .
On January 11 , the news emerged about the first coronavirus-related fatality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known cases .
The WHO data shows that there are more than 80 million infections around the world and 1.77 million deaths .
The coronavirus outbreak changed the normal way of life of the whole humanity in 2020 and is likely to affect it significantly in 2021 as well .
TASS summarized the key moments of the pandemic , its spread around the world and what followed next .
According to the most widespread theory , Wuhan ’ s seafood market is believed to be the point of the very first outbreak of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not come to a definite conclusion about the coronavirus origin a year after the disease onset .
Most specialists are convinced that the virus is of natural origin , even though there are still suggestions out there that COVID-19 is manmade .
In early January 2020 , the WHO claimed that the coronavirus can not be transmitted between humans but can cause serious illness , saying that there should not be any travel restrictions or limitations in trips to or trade with China .
However , the organization recognized its human-to-human transmission already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the COVID-19 epidemic had already become more widespread than the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak , which also originated in China .
On January 30 , the WHO declared the outbreak a healthcare emergency of international concern .
The coronavirus is spreading unevenly around the world .
For instance , China only had one outbreak which ended in mid-April , while Iran is in the middle of a third wave according to local specialists .
India experienced sharp increases in cases in June , reaching peak numbers by September ( around 100,000 cases a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dropping since .
Europe has faced two coronavirus waves , in spring and fall , with the second one being much more powerful than the first .
However , while the infection rates surged a few times in the UK , Italy , Spain and France , the increase in Poland and the Czech Republic is ten-fold .
The United States came to be the main epicenter of the infection , the country is now experiencing a third and most powerful wave .
The US also has the highest number of coronavirus-related deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s WW2 death toll , according to specialists .
Being the first country in the world to face the disease , China initially isolated Wuhan and later declared a nationwide quarantine , shutting down industries , businesses and transport and significantly limiting freedom of movement .
These measures were criticized at first abroad , but later lockdowns were announced almost everywhere in the world , from Japan to the US .
International air travel came to a grinding halt , while conferences , festivals and sporting events were cancelled one after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ en masse .
The spring quarantines dealt a considerable blow to national economies around the world , prompting many governments to soften or lift them altogether as soon as the situation improved .
However , when the second wave hit in fall a lot of states returned to some form of lockdowns .
Most Europeans will celebrate the New Year in quarantine , albeit a softer one than in spring as economies stay open , but with curfews in place , mass gathering bans and limited operation hours of shops , restaurants and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the UK discovered a new and more infectious strain of virus , forcing many states to stop flights to and from this country .
A lot of hope for returning to normality is resting on coronavirus vaccines .
Russia launched efforts to research a potential vaccine almost as soon as the disease emerged .
These efforts came to fruition when Russia became the first country to register a COVID-19 vaccine dubbed Sputnik V , developed by the Gamaleya Center .
In early December , the country started mass inoculation .
Another Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vector Center has also been rolled out for civil circulation .
Following Russia , the US , the UK and EU members have also launched its vaccination programs .
These countries use the jab created by Pfizer and BioNTech .
At the same time , the EU states only received limited supplies of the vaccines - only health workers and care home residents will be inoculated as of now .
China has also started vaccination using the locally produced vaccine .
India , Brazil , Japan and several other states are also researching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the world are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2021 , particularly through COVAX , an international mechanism created by the WHO to ensure access to vaccines .

According to the latest statistics, more than 82 million people have been infected with coronavirus worldwide and more than 1.8 million deaths have been reported
MOSCOW, December 31. /TASS/. It’s been exactly a year since Chinese authorities reported an outbreak of unknown pneumonia in Wuhan, central Province of Hubei. In early January, Chinese epidemiologists already identified the novel coronavirus to be the cause of infection. The World Health Organization (WHO) classified it as COVID-19 later. On January 11, the news emerged about the first coronavirus-related fatality. Back then, Wuhan had 41 known cases. The WHO data shows that there are more than 80 million infections around the world and 1.77 million deaths. The coronavirus outbreak changed the normal way of life of the whole humanity in 2020 and is likely to affect it significantly in 2021 as well. TASS summarized the key moments of the pandemic, its spread around the world and what followed next. Starting with market?
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According to the most widespread theory, Wuhan’s seafood market is believed to be the point of the very first outbreak of COVID-19. Nevertheless, scientists still cannot come to a definite conclusion about the coronavirus origin a year after the disease onset. Most specialists are convinced that the virus is of natural origin, even though there are still suggestions out there that COVID-19 is manmade. In early January 2020, the WHO claimed that the coronavirus cannot be transmitted between humans but can cause serious illness, saying that there should not be any travel restrictions or limitations in trips to or trade with China. However, the organization recognized its human-to-human transmission already on January 14. By late January, the COVID-19 epidemic had already become more widespread than the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak, which also originated in China. On January 30, the WHO declared the outbreak a healthcare emergency of international concern. On March 11, the coronavirus pandemic officially began. Waves and regions
Read also Kremlin says no plans for another lockdown in Russia amid coronavirus pandemic
The coronavirus is spreading unevenly around the world. For instance, China only had one outbreak which ended in mid-April, while Iran is in the middle of a third wave according to local specialists. India experienced sharp increases in cases in June, reaching peak numbers by September (around 100,000 cases a day), which have been gradually dropping since. Europe has faced two coronavirus waves, in spring and fall, with the second one being much more powerful than the first. However, while the infection rates surged a few times in the UK, Italy, Spain and France, the increase in Poland and the Czech Republic is ten-fold. The United States came to be the main epicenter of the infection, the country is now experiencing a third and most powerful wave. The US also has the highest number of coronavirus-related deaths (339,000), outnumbering the country’s WW2 death toll, according to specialists. Lockdown
Read also India registers over 21,800 coronavirus cases in 24 hours
Being the first country in the world to face the disease, China initially isolated Wuhan and later declared a nationwide quarantine, shutting down industries, businesses and transport and significantly limiting freedom of movement. These measures were criticized at first abroad, but later lockdowns were announced almost everywhere in the world, from Japan to the US. International air travel came to a grinding halt, while conferences, festivals and sporting events were cancelled one after the other. Social life moved to online en masse. The spring quarantines dealt a considerable blow to national economies around the world, prompting many governments to soften or lift them altogether as soon as the situation improved. However, when the second wave hit in fall a lot of states returned to some form of lockdowns. Most Europeans will celebrate the New Year in quarantine, albeit a softer one than in spring as economies stay open, but with curfews in place, mass gathering bans and limited operation hours of shops, restaurants and cultural facilities. The situation exacerbated further after the UK discovered a new and more infectious strain of virus, forcing many states to stop flights to and from this country. Vaccinations begin
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tass--2020-12-31--Press review: Is the Kremlin creating spoiler parties and Yemeni cabinet greeted by blast

Terror blasts rocked the airport in Yemen ’ s Aden soon after the arrival of members of a new cabinet , formed following an agreement between the Yemeni government and the Southern Transition Council .
The government blamed the terrorist attack on the pro-Iranian Houthi rebels who denied their involvement , Izvestia writes .
The airport explosions `` are a very serious provocation aimed at undermining the Riyadh agreements , '' orientalist scholar Andrei Ontikov pointed out .
`` The so-called Riyadh agreements were brokered by Saudi Arabia who supports President Hadi , while the Southern Transition Council , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United Arab Emirates .
That said , two close countries - Saudi Arabia and the UAE - were divided by disagreements on Yemen , '' the expert noted .
`` However , in 2019 , an agreement was made on forming a new government , which marked significant progress in efforts towards overcoming the split , '' Ontikov added .
`` The Yemeni authorities have already blamed the attack on Houthi rebels and it would have been strange if they had blamed someone else .
The Houthis would certainly benefit from a rift @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation should be carried out and there is no need to hurl groundless accusations , '' the expert emphasized .
`` The Ansar Allah [ Houthi ] movement has no reason to try to make the situation worse .
Various forces may be interested in undermining the Riyadh agreements , primarily , the hardline wing of the Southern Transition Council , which still seeks the independence of southern Yemen , '' expert with the Russian International Affairs Council Kirill Semenov told Kommersant .
Ontikov was hopeful that `` the blast won ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation '' in the country .
According to him , given the humanitarian crisis in Yemen , it is particularly important to make sure that the situation does not deteriorate in the wake of the incident .
Kommersant : Public turning off the news media over coronavirus bombardment It seems that no global crisis of the 21st century compares to the pandemic in terms of focusing everyone ’ s attention on a single news topic .
News and statistics became an integral part of life even for those who never used to pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information field .
However , it ’ s hard for people to handle the incessant bombardment of apocalyptic news stories , so the audience has begun to grow tired , turning away from news media , Kommersant notes .
Social disturbances always lead to a rise in the audience of media outlets because people tend to read more news , but once the situation stabilizes , they go back to their old ways .
The crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic first seemed to follow the usual scenario .
In March , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the audience of the country ’ s leading news outlets grew by 65,000,000 to 400,000,000 , and the ratings of TV news shows skyrocketed .
After the restrictions were lifted in the summer and fall , the numbers went back to last year ’ s levels .
As a result , this outgoing year will be one of the hardest for the industry .
According to the Association of Communication Agencies of Russia , only online advertising managed to escape a collapse in the first three quarters of 2020 .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of daily newspaper issues plummeted by 70 % in the second quarter and by 51 % in the first six months of the year .
Some newspapers and magazines suspended their printed versions , while others shut down .
As for the audience , it had to deal with an avalanche of bad news .
Given that most of the entertainment facilities were closed , people had more time to surf the Internet .
However , the audience started to grow tired and analysts say that more people are now unsubscribing from news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off push notifications from news outlets ’ mobile apps .
That means that 2021 will be a difficult year for the media since will have to fight for an audience .
In the spring of 2020 , the Russian Justice Ministry registered four new political parties - New People , For Truth , Green Alternative and the Direct Democracy Party .
Three of them entered regional assemblies following the fall elections and gained the right to nominate their candidates in the 2021 Russian parliamentary election without collecting voters ’ signatures .
There is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Russian people ’ s demand for new faces in politics , Kommersant writes .
Rumors started circulating before the inception of these new parties that the presidential administration sought to set up new political parties in order to create an illusion of competition ahead of the 2021 election and splinter protest voters .
All four new projects had no problem registering with the Justice Ministry though no party had had such distinction in the previous two years .
As for the ideas that the new parties proclaim , they suggest that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pinpoint several large groups of voters that are not represented by the old-guard parties in parliament .
The success of these new players seemed to prove the theory that the presidential administration plans to rely on the creation of several pro-government factions following the 2021 parliamentary elections .
Moreover , pollsters have long been pointing to society ’ s demand for new faces in politics and the people ’ s weariness with `` old-guard '' parties .
However , according to a poll conducted by the All-Russia Public Opinion Research Center in November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ willing to support non-parliamentary parties , and four percent of them would prefer to vote for the old-guard , including Yabloko and the Party of Pensioners for Social Justice .
If nothing extraordinary happens , the new startups will manage to snatch two to three percent of votes from the parliamentary opposition and then retreat to the bench .
The manufacturers of weight-loss medications managed to benefit from the coronavirus pandemic .
Russians working from home went to drugstores nationwide in the hope of shedding the extra pounds they had put on .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ supplements and drugs rose by 25 % in money terms compared to the same period last year , said experts interviewed by Izvestia .
In their view , many countries , including Russia , will set a ten-year record for weight gain in 2020 .
The growing sales of weight-loss drugs is directly connected with weight issues caused by the pandemic , Grand Clinic nutritionist Marina Bayandina pointed out .
The outgoing year ( 2020 ) saw a rise in the number of people seeking medical assistance to lose weight , SM-Doctor endocrinologist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , people particularly put on extra weight by unconscious snacking when working on the computer and overeating caused by stress stemming from an unclear epidemiological situation .
Even those who did not have weight issues before the pandemic say that they gained some during the quarantine , Bayandina noted .
Apart from eating to escape stress , people tended to exercise less during the lockdown , the nutrition guru noted .
However , there is no point trying to find a magical pill that will help you maintain or lose weight , Bayandina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improve one ’ s health and appearance by changing one ’ s habits , balancing one ’ s diet and increasing physical activities .
Izvestia : Holiday season may lead to rise in COVID cases The number of coronavirus cases recorded in Russia in the fourth week of December was 7,500 more than the third week of the month .
Excessive social activities during the holiday season may lead to a rise in cases , Izvestia wrote , citing virologists .
Gamaleya Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology Professor Alexander Butenko weighed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the situation .
`` On the one hand , massive gatherings and active travelling will lead to nothing good , health resorts in Krasnodar and Sochi are almost fully booked , '' he pointed out .
`` On the other hand , many intend to spend the holidays in their country houses , [ thereby ] self-isolating in a way , '' the expert added .
According to the virologist , the same situation occurred in the fall , when everyone returned to work after vacations and let down their guard .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may emerge .
It is still poorly studied and it ’ s hard to say what consequences all this will have , '' Butenko noted .
Virus variability is a natural thing so the virus will inevitably mutate , he added .
Deputy Director of the sanitary watchdog ’ s Central Research Institute of Epidemiology Alexander Gorelov ’ s advice is to avoid public places , limit the number of guests and refrain from visiting others .
It would be better to go to a park rather than spend time indoors , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TASS is not responsible for the material quoted in these press reviews .

Media: New Yemeni cabinet welcomed with terrorist attack
Terror blasts rocked the airport in Yemen’s Aden soon after the arrival of members of a new cabinet, formed following an agreement between the Yemeni government and the Southern Transition Council. The government blamed the terrorist attack on the pro-Iranian Houthi rebels who denied their involvement, Izvestia writes. The airport explosions "are a very serious provocation aimed at undermining the Riyadh agreements," orientalist scholar Andrei Ontikov pointed out. "The so-called Riyadh agreements were brokered by Saudi Arabia who supports President Hadi, while the Southern Transition Council, in turn, has the support of the United Arab Emirates. That said, two close countries - Saudi Arabia and the UAE - were divided by disagreements on Yemen," the expert noted. "However, in 2019, an agreement was made on forming a new government, which marked significant progress in efforts towards overcoming the split," Ontikov added. "The Yemeni authorities have already blamed the attack on Houthi rebels and it would have been strange if they had blamed someone else. The Houthis would certainly benefit from a rift among Yemeni forces but still, an investigation should be carried out and there is no need to hurl groundless accusations," the expert emphasized. "The Ansar Allah [Houthi] movement has no reason to try to make the situation worse. Various forces may be interested in undermining the Riyadh agreements, primarily, the hardline wing of the Southern Transition Council, which still seeks the independence of southern Yemen," expert with the Russian International Affairs Council Kirill Semenov told Kommersant. Ontikov was hopeful that "the blast won’t have any serious impact on the political situation" in the country. According to him, given the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, it is particularly important to make sure that the situation does not deteriorate in the wake of the incident. Kommersant: Public turning off the news media over coronavirus bombardment
Read also Last goodbyes: Remembering those we lost in 2020
It seems that no global crisis of the 21st century compares to the pandemic in terms of focusing everyone’s attention on a single news topic. News and statistics became an integral part of life even for those who never used to pay attention to that particular segment of the information field. However, it’s hard for people to handle the incessant bombardment of apocalyptic news stories, so the audience has begun to grow tired, turning away from news media, Kommersant notes. Social disturbances always lead to a rise in the audience of media outlets because people tend to read more news, but once the situation stabilizes, they go back to their old ways. The crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic first seemed to follow the usual scenario. In March, according to the Russian Ministry of Digital Development, the audience of the country’s leading news outlets grew by 65,000,000 to 400,000,000, and the ratings of TV news shows skyrocketed. After the restrictions were lifted in the summer and fall, the numbers went back to last year’s levels. As a result, this outgoing year will be one of the hardest for the industry. According to the Association of Communication Agencies of Russia, only online advertising managed to escape a collapse in the first three quarters of 2020. According to the NSK think tank, the number of daily newspaper issues plummeted by 70% in the second quarter and by 51% in the first six months of the year. Some newspapers and magazines suspended their printed versions, while others shut down. As for the audience, it had to deal with an avalanche of bad news. Given that most of the entertainment facilities were closed, people had more time to surf the Internet. However, the audience started to grow tired and analysts say that more people are now unsubscribing from news pages on social media and are turning off push notifications from news outlets’ mobile apps. That means that 2021 will be a difficult year for the media since will have to fight for an audience. Kommersant: Is the Kremlin creating splinter parties?
Read also Russian parliament approves primacy of Constitution in over 100 laws
In the spring of 2020, the Russian Justice Ministry registered four new political parties - New People, For Truth, Green Alternative and the Direct Democracy Party. Three of them entered regional assemblies following the fall elections and gained the right to nominate their candidates in the 2021 Russian parliamentary election without collecting voters’ signatures. There is optimism that the new parties will meet the Russian people’s demand for new faces in politics, Kommersant writes. Rumors started circulating before the inception of these new parties that the presidential administration sought to set up new political parties in order to create an illusion of competition ahead of the 2021 election and splinter protest voters. All four new projects had no problem registering with the Justice Ministry though no party had had such distinction in the previous two years. As for the ideas that the new parties proclaim, they suggest that the presidential administration carefully eye sociological data and pinpoint several large groups of voters that are not represented by the old-guard parties in parliament. The success of these new players seemed to prove the theory that the presidential administration plans to rely on the creation of several pro-government factions following the 2021 parliamentary elections. Moreover, pollsters have long been pointing to society’s demand for new faces in politics and the people’s weariness with "old-guard" parties. However, according to a poll conducted by the All-Russia Public Opinion Research Center in November, only 16% of voters are willing to support non-parliamentary parties, and four percent of them would prefer to vote for the old-guard, including Yabloko and the Party of Pensioners for Social Justice. If nothing extraordinary happens, the new startups will manage to snatch two to three percent of votes from the parliamentary opposition and then retreat to the bench. Izvestia: Pandemic makes record number of Russians gain weight
Read also 3.5 mln Russians work from home currently
The manufacturers of weight-loss medications managed to benefit from the coronavirus pandemic. Russians working from home went to drugstores nationwide in the hope of shedding the extra pounds they had put on. In mid-March, the sales of weight-loss supplements and drugs rose by 25% in money terms compared to the same period last year, said experts interviewed by Izvestia. In their view, many countries, including Russia, will set a ten-year record for weight gain in 2020. The growing sales of weight-loss drugs is directly connected with weight issues caused by the pandemic, Grand Clinic nutritionist Marina Bayandina pointed out. The outgoing year (2020) saw a rise in the number of people seeking medical assistance to lose weight, SM-Doctor endocrinologist Oksana Mikhaleva said. According to her, people particularly put on extra weight by unconscious snacking when working on the computer and overeating caused by stress stemming from an unclear epidemiological situation. Even those who did not have weight issues before the pandemic say that they gained some during the quarantine, Bayandina noted. Apart from eating to escape stress, people tended to exercise less during the lockdown, the nutrition guru noted. However, there is no point trying to find a magical pill that will help you maintain or lose weight, Bayandina cautions. It is only possible to improve one’s health and appearance by changing one’s habits, balancing one’s diet and increasing physical activities. Izvestia: Holiday season may lead to rise in COVID cases


tass--2020-12-31--Russia’s coronavirus reproduction rate drops to 0.94

MOSCOW , December 31 .
/TASS/ .
The coronavirus reproduction rate in Russia has fallen to 0.94 for the first time since late July , according to a TASS analysis based on data from the national anti-coronavirus crisis center .
Moscow ’ s rate has dropped to 0.8 , the lowest level in six months .
The coronavirus reproduction rate is at or below 1 in all of Russia ’ s top ten regions with the highest number of coronavirus cases .
The rate is 1 in St. Petersburg and the Nizhny Novgorod and Rostov regions , 0.99 in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Arkhangelsk , Voronezh and Sverdlovsk regions and 0.97 in the Khanty-Mansiysk autonomous region .
The coronavirus reproduction rate indicates the average number of people one sick person can infect .
It is one of the criteria to be considered when it comes to removing restrictions introduced in the spring to prevent the infection from spreading .
The country ’ s authorities particularly take the coronavirus reproduction rate into account when making decisions on resuming international flights .
According to the Russian sanitary watchdog , it is possible to reopen the country ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their countries ’ coronavirus reproduction rates remain at or below 1 for a week .

MOSCOW, December 31. /TASS/. The coronavirus reproduction rate in Russia has fallen to 0.94 for the first time since late July, according to a TASS analysis based on data from the national anti-coronavirus crisis center. Moscow’s rate has dropped to 0.8, the lowest level in six months.
The coronavirus reproduction rate is at or below 1 in all of Russia’s top ten regions with the highest number of coronavirus cases. The rate is 1 in St. Petersburg and the Nizhny Novgorod and Rostov regions, 0.99 in the Moscow and Krasnoyarsk regions, 0.98 in the Arkhangelsk, Voronezh and Sverdlovsk regions and 0.97 in the Khanty-Mansiysk autonomous region.
The coronavirus reproduction rate indicates the average number of people one sick person can infect. It is one of the criteria to be considered when it comes to removing restrictions introduced in the spring to prevent the infection from spreading. The country’s authorities particularly take the coronavirus reproduction rate into account when making decisions on resuming international flights. According to the Russian sanitary watchdog, it is possible to reopen the country’s border to foreign nationals in case their countries’ coronavirus reproduction rates remain at or below 1 for a week.


tass--2020-12-31--Inaugural Shanghai Electric Cup 'Industrial App' Awards Given to 16 Outstanding Entries

SHANGHAI , Dec. 31 .
/PRNewswire/ .
Shanghai Electric ( the `` Company '' ) , the world 's leading manufacturer and supplier of electric power generation equipment , industrial equipment and integration services , has recently concluded a five-month industrial innovation application competition .
The inaugural 'Shanghai Electric Cup ' was launched in July this year with the support of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization and the Shanghai Industrial Internet Association .
Aimed at fostering an environment of digital innovation , the competition saw 140 entries from around the world take a total of 16 prizes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event , Shanghai Electric took the opportunity for the company 's internal and external teams to promote industrial innovation and accelerate digital transformation .
The theme of the competition aimed to push applicants to develop practical applications for use in industrial settings , and called for a focus on connecting four concepts – smart cities , smart energy , smart manufacturing and smart transportation – four areas that outline the future direction of Shanghai Electric .
Of the 140 entries from domestic and international teams , the top three prizes were awarded to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Shanghai Electric and six from other companies .
The Company 's Central Research Institute signed project incubation agreements with four of the award-winning external teams .
Shanghai Electric Digital Technology ( SEDT ) and other six companies reached an ecosystem cooperation agreement for SEunicloud , Shanghai Electric 's industrial internet platform .
About the competition and the unveiling of the winners , Shanghai Electric President , Huang Ou said , `` On the path of improving our skills in 3D design and industrial applications , the extraordinary achievements of those participants we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the small steps in accelerating the digital transformation of Shanghai Electric , but those joint efforts have amounted to a huge step forward for the entire company . ''
`` From digitizing product models to business models , this competition has laid the foundation for Shanghai Electric to build a new ecosystem for SEunicloud , as well as gathered a specialized team to speed up the digital transformation of our company , '' he added .
Also unveiled at the awards ceremony , the upgraded SEunicloud Industrial Internet Platform 2.0 revealed improvements in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( AI ) , Business Intelligence ( BI ) , and Creative Intelligence ( CI ) .
With these upgrades , the platform will further accelerate Shanghai Electric 's digital transformation and marks yet another substantial step forward in the construction of Shanghai Electric 's Industrial Internet .
The 2.0 release features a new AI big data module capable of providing data value displays and business analysis for a multitude of industrial scenarios .
The upgraded Business Intelligence module utilizes fast data processing and visualization tools to produce intuitive displays and enable intelligent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , through an inbuilt visual development integrated system , the platform can be used as an InaaS ( Innovation-as-a-Service ) platform .
Shanghai Electric 's focus on digitization and development is reflected in a consistently high R & D investment rate of over 3.4 % .
This number is intended to be higher for development in new industries , predicted at an increase of 6 % from 2019 , and investment in pre-research and development which is expected to see an increase of 11 % .

SHANGHAI, Dec. 31. /PRNewswire/. Shanghai Electric (the "Company"), the world's leading manufacturer and supplier of electric power generation equipment, industrial equipment and integration services, has recently concluded a five-month industrial innovation application competition. The inaugural 'Shanghai Electric Cup' was launched in July this year with the support of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization and the Shanghai Industrial Internet Association. Aimed at fostering an environment of digital innovation, the competition saw 140 entries from around the world take a total of 16 prizes.
The first time to organize this event, Shanghai Electric took the opportunity for the company's internal and external teams to promote industrial innovation and accelerate digital transformation. The theme of the competition aimed to push applicants to develop practical applications for use in industrial settings, and called for a focus on connecting four concepts – smart cities, smart energy, smart manufacturing and smart transportation – four areas that outline the future direction of Shanghai Electric.
Of the 140 entries from domestic and international teams, the top three prizes were awarded to 16 projects, ten of which were from Shanghai Electric and six from other companies. The Company's Central Research Institute signed project incubation agreements with four of the award-winning external teams. Shanghai Electric Digital Technology (SEDT) and other six companies reached an ecosystem cooperation agreement for SEunicloud, Shanghai Electric's industrial internet platform.
About the competition and the unveiling of the winners, Shanghai Electric President, Huang Ou said, "On the path of improving our skills in 3D design and industrial applications, the extraordinary achievements of those participants we see in this year's contest are the small steps in accelerating the digital transformation of Shanghai Electric, but those joint efforts have amounted to a huge step forward for the entire company."
"From digitizing product models to business models, this competition has laid the foundation for Shanghai Electric to build a new ecosystem for SEunicloud, as well as gathered a specialized team to speed up the digital transformation of our company," he added.
Also unveiled at the awards ceremony, the upgraded SEunicloud Industrial Internet Platform 2.0 revealed improvements in terms of the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Business Intelligence (BI), and Creative Intelligence (CI). With these upgrades, the platform will further accelerate Shanghai Electric's digital transformation and marks yet another substantial step forward in the construction of Shanghai Electric's Industrial Internet.
The 2.0 release features a new AI big data module capable of providing data value displays and business analysis for a multitude of industrial scenarios. The upgraded Business Intelligence module utilizes fast data processing and visualization tools to produce intuitive displays and enable intelligent analysis across huge datasets. In addition, through an inbuilt visual development integrated system, the platform can be used as an InaaS (Innovation-as-a-Service) platform.
Shanghai Electric's focus on digitization and development is reflected in a consistently high R&D investment rate of over 3.4%. This number is intended to be higher for development in new industries, predicted at an increase of 6% from 2019, and investment in pre-research and development which is expected to see an increase of 11%.
CONTACT: Shen Jin, +86(21)23196217, Email:shenjin@shanghai-electric.com


tass--2020-12-31--6,566 new COVID-19 cases registered in Moscow in past 24 hours

MOSCOW , December 31 .
/TASS/ .
In the past 24 hours , 6,566 new COVID-19 cases were registered in Moscow , bringing the total case count to 809,769 ; 1,697 patients were hospitalized , the anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Thursday .
`` There are 6,566 confirmed new COVID-19 cases in Moscow .
In the past 24 hours , 1,697 patients were hospitalized , 560 patients remain on ventilators , '' the center said .
One day earlier , Moscow authorities reported 5,105 new cases .
According to statistics , the case growth was 0.8 % .
The crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are children , 39.8 % - are people aged 18 to 45 , 32.5 % - aged 46 to 65 and 13.6 % are aged 66 to 79 .
All patients and their contacts are under medical supervision .
In the meantime , 6,076 patients were released from hospitals , while 73 people died .
Since the beginning of the pandemic , a total of 627,368 have recovered , while 11,209 died .
Currently , 171,192 undergo treatment .
The crisis center recalled that citizens aged above 65 , people with chronic conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must stay at home .
Wearing masks and gloves in public places and maintaining social distance is mandatory .

MOSCOW, December 31. /TASS/. In the past 24 hours, 6,566 new COVID-19 cases were registered in Moscow, bringing the total case count to 809,769; 1,697 patients were hospitalized, the anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Thursday.
"There are 6,566 confirmed new COVID-19 cases in Moscow. In the past 24 hours, 1,697 patients were hospitalized, 560 patients remain on ventilators," the center said.
One day earlier, Moscow authorities reported 5,105 new cases. According to statistics, the case growth was 0.8%.
The crisis center disclosed that 9% of patients are children, 39.8% - are people aged 18 to 45, 32.5% - aged 46 to 65 and 13.6% are aged 66 to 79. All patients and their contacts are under medical supervision.
In the meantime, 6,076 patients were released from hospitals, while 73 people died.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, a total of 627,368 have recovered, while 11,209 died. Currently, 171,192 undergo treatment.
The crisis center recalled that citizens aged above 65, people with chronic conditions and schoolchildren of grades 6 to 11 must stay at home. Wearing masks and gloves in public places and maintaining social distance is mandatory.


tass--2020-12-31--Hainan begins construction of public health center

HAIKOU , December 31 .
/TASS/ .
Hainan begins construction work to establish the infrastructure of a public health center .
According to the Hainan Daily newspaper , the total investment will amount to more than 1.3 billion yuan ( about $ 200 million ) .
As part of this project , the provincial government will build a new branch of the Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention , as well as a clinical public health center .
The new complex will be located in Haikou 's Meilan district ( the administrative center of the province ) , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meters .
According to local government plans , the establishment of a public health center will make a significant contribution to the province 's ability to prevent , control and treat major infectious and chronic diseases .
Moreover , the new center is expected to strengthen Hainan 's ability to respond to public health emergencies .
The construction of a public health center in the province is being carried out in accordance with the master program for the creation of the free port on Hainan .
According to this document , local authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a disease prevention and control system and build a provincial center for disease prevention and control that meets high standards . ''
On June 1 , the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council published the General Development Program for Hainan 's Free Trade Port , according to which an effective mechanism to stimulate sustainable and long-term growth should be finally formed in Hainan by 2025 .
It is expected that thanks to new methods , many of which are being introduced in China for the first time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a number of key socio-economic tasks necessary to form a powerful financial and economic center in the country ’ s south .
It is assumed that by 2035 both the economic and innovative potential of this region will be maximized , and it will become one of the most attractive places for international investors .

HAIKOU, December 31. /TASS/. Hainan begins construction work to establish the infrastructure of a public health center. According to the Hainan Daily newspaper, the total investment will amount to more than 1.3 billion yuan (about $ 200 million).
As part of this project, the provincial government will build a new branch of the Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as a clinical public health center. The new complex will be located in Haikou's Meilan district (the administrative center of the province), the total building area will reach 148,300 square meters.
According to local government plans, the establishment of a public health center will make a significant contribution to the province's ability to prevent, control and treat major infectious and chronic diseases. Moreover, the new center is expected to strengthen Hainan's ability to respond to public health emergencies.
The construction of a public health center in the province is being carried out in accordance with the master program for the creation of the free port on Hainan. According to this document, local authorities need to "boost the establishment of a disease prevention and control system and build a provincial center for disease prevention and control that meets high standards."
On June 1, the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council published the General Development Program for Hainan's Free Trade Port, according to which an effective mechanism to stimulate sustainable and long-term growth should be finally formed in Hainan by 2025. It is expected that thanks to new methods, many of which are being introduced in China for the first time, the province will be able to fulfill a number of key socio-economic tasks necessary to form a powerful financial and economic center in the country’s south. It is assumed that by 2035 both the economic and innovative potential of this region will be maximized, and it will become one of the most attractive places for international investors.


tass--2020-12-31--Russia records 27,747 new daily coronavirus cases

A total of 26,513 cases were identified in the country on Wednesday .
MOSCOW , December 31 .
/TASS/ .
The number of coronavirus cases in Russia rose by 27,747 to 3,159,297 in the past 24 hours , the anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Thursday .
Russia in for 40,000 COVID-19 cases a day after New Year , warns expert In particular , 6,566 cases were recorded in Moscow in the past day ( up from 5,105 the day before ) , 3,758 in St. Petersburg , 1,487 in the Moscow Region ( the lowest number since December 18 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 394 in the Sverdlovsk Region and 392 in the Pskov Region .
There are currently 547,938 active coronavirus cases in Russia .
According to data from the crisis center , the coronavirus growth rate has been at or below 0.9 % for five days .
In the past 24 hours , 28,922 COVID-19 patients were released from hospitals in Russia , pushing the total recovery count to 2,554,340 , the anti-coronavirus crisis center told journalists Thursday .
The recovery count has surpassed the new cases count in the country for the second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate has increased to total 80.9 % of all cases .
In particular , 6,076 patients were discharged in Moscow , 3,573 in St. Petersburg , 1,502 in the Moscow Region , 566 in Crimea , 496 in the Krasnoyarsk Region and 464 in the Rostov Region .
The number of coronavirus-related fatalities in Russia increased by 593 in the past 24 hours , compared to 599 on the previous day , taking the total to 57,019 , according to the national anti-coronavirus crisis center .
The provisional death rate has remained at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Petersburg recorded 84 fatalities followed by the Voronezh Region ( 28 ) , the Rostov Region ( 28 ) , the Krasnoyarsk Region ( 21 ) and the Moscow Region ( 18 ) .

A total of 26,513 cases were identified in the country on Wednesday.
MOSCOW, December 31. /TASS/. The number of coronavirus cases in Russia rose by 27,747 to 3,159,297 in the past 24 hours, the anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Thursday.
Russia in for 40,000 COVID-19 cases a day after New Year, warns expert
In particular, 6,566 cases were recorded in Moscow in the past day (up from 5,105 the day before), 3,758 in St. Petersburg, 1,487 in the Moscow Region (the lowest number since December 18), 501 in the Nizhny Novgorod Region, 394 in the Sverdlovsk Region and 392 in the Pskov Region.
There are currently 547,938 active coronavirus cases in Russia.
According to data from the crisis center, the coronavirus growth rate has been at or below 0.9% for five days.
Recoveries
In the past 24 hours, 28,922 COVID-19 patients were released from hospitals in Russia, pushing the total recovery count to 2,554,340, the anti-coronavirus crisis center told journalists Thursday.
The recovery count has surpassed the new cases count in the country for the second day in a row.
The recovery rate has increased to total 80.9% of all cases.
In particular, 6,076 patients were discharged in Moscow, 3,573 in St. Petersburg, 1,502 in the Moscow Region, 566 in Crimea, 496 in the Krasnoyarsk Region and 464 in the Rostov Region.
Fatalities
The number of coronavirus-related fatalities in Russia increased by 593 in the past 24 hours, compared to 599 on the previous day, taking the total to 57,019, according to the national anti-coronavirus crisis center. The provisional death rate has remained at 1.8%.
In particular, St. Petersburg recorded 84 fatalities followed by the Voronezh Region (28), the Rostov Region (28), the Krasnoyarsk Region (21) and the Moscow Region (18).


tass--2020-12-31--Hainan's Sanya opens three new duty free stores

SANYA , December 31 .
/TASS/ .
Three new duty free stores have opened in the southern Chinese province of Hainan .
All of them are located in the resort city of Sanya , Xinhua reported , citing the provincial department for commerce .
One new duty free store has opened at Phoenix International Airport , the duty free zone is located between gates 206 and 208 .
Passengers will be able to take the goods purchased here on board .
Two other duty free zones — Hailui Town and Zhongfu Shopping Park — have opened within the city area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with about 350 world famous brands represented there .
The area of the Zhongfu park reaches 20,000 square meters , but in the future will be expanded to 90,000 square meters , the agency noted .
Previously , there were four duty free stores on Hainan : two of them are located in the provincial capital , Haikou , and the rest — in Sanya and the coastal town of Boao in Qionghai district in the northeast of the island .
The volume of products they sold this year exceeded 31.58 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Since the beginning of January , more than 10.83 million people have visited Hainan 's duty free stores , where they have purchased about 19 million goods , which is 130 % higher than in 2019 .
According to the local authorities , the opening of new stores in the province is driven by the growing number of tourists and high demand for duty free goods .
Since July 1 , the personal quotas for shopping in duty free shops in the Hainan province were increased from 30,000 to 100,000 yuan ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the current exchange rate ) , as well as the list of goods was expanded from 38 to 45 positions .

SANYA, December 31. /TASS/. Three new duty free stores have opened in the southern Chinese province of Hainan. All of them are located in the resort city of Sanya, Xinhua reported, citing the provincial department for commerce.
One new duty free store has opened at Phoenix International Airport, the duty free zone is located between gates 206 and 208. Passengers will be able to take the goods purchased here on board. Two other duty free zones — Hailui Town and Zhongfu Shopping Park — have opened within the city area. Hailui store occupies 95,000 square meters, with about 350 world famous brands represented there. The area of the Zhongfu park reaches 20,000 square meters, but in the future will be expanded to 90,000 square meters, the agency noted.
Previously, there were four duty free stores on Hainan: two of them are located in the provincial capital, Haikou, and the rest — in Sanya and the coastal town of Boao in Qionghai district in the northeast of the island. The volume of products they sold this year exceeded 31.58 billion yuan (about $ 4.82 billion). Since the beginning of January, more than 10.83 million people have visited Hainan's duty free stores, where they have purchased about 19 million goods, which is 130% higher than in 2019. According to the local authorities, the opening of new stores in the province is driven by the growing number of tourists and high demand for duty free goods.
Since July 1, the personal quotas for shopping in duty free shops in the Hainan province were increased from 30,000 to 100,000 yuan (from $ 4,580 to $ 15,260 at the current exchange rate), as well as the list of goods was expanded from 38 to 45 positions.


tass--2020-12-31--Georgia records over 1,500 new daily coronavirus cases

TBILISI , December 31 .
/TASS/ .
As many as 1,527 coronavirus cases were recorded in Georgia in the past @ @ @ @ @ total to 227,420 , according to the government ’ s coronavirus information website .
Georgia @ @ @ @ @ by 1,282 to 211,727 in the past day .
The death toll increased by 24 @ @ @ @ @ ’ s coronavirus reproduction rate stands at 0.87 .
As many as 431 people remain @ @ @ @ @ 1,167 coronavirus patients are receiving medical treatment in special hotels .
As many as 1,944,930 @ @ @ @ @ in the country so far .

TBILISI, December 31. /TASS/. As many as 1,527 coronavirus cases were recorded in Georgia in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 227,420, according to the government’s coronavirus information website.
Georgia’s coronavirus recoveries rose by 1,282 to 211,727 in the past day. The death toll increased by 24 to 2,502. The country’s coronavirus reproduction rate stands at 0.87.
As many as 431 people remain under quarantine in Georgia and 1,167 coronavirus patients are receiving medical treatment in special hotels.
As many as 1,944,930 coronavirus tests have been conducted in the country so far.


tass--2020-12-31--More than 663,000 remain under medical observation over coronavirus in Russia

COVID-19 rates will depend on how Russia gets through festive period , official warns MOSCOW , December 31 .
/TASS/ @ @ @ @ @ in Russia remain under medical observation over the coronavirus , the Federal Service for Surveillance @ @ @ @ @ Human Wellbeing said in a statement on Thursday .
`` As many as 663,186 people @ @ @ @ @ Russia , '' the statement reads .
According to the watchdog , more than 90.6 @ @ @ @ @ conducted in the country so far with 445,000 tests carried out in the past 24 @ @

COVID-19 rates will depend on how Russia gets through festive period, official warns
MOSCOW, December 31. /TASS/. More than 663,000 people in Russia remain under medical observation over the coronavirus, the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing said in a statement on Thursday.
"As many as 663,186 people remain under medical observation in Russia," the statement reads.
According to the watchdog, more than 90.6 mln coronavirus tests have been conducted in the country so far with 445,000 tests carried out in the past 24 hours.


tass--2020-12-31--Russia in for 40,000 COVID-19 cases a day after New Year, warns expert

MOSCOW , December 31 .
/TASS/ .
The surge in daily coronavirus infections in Russia can make 35,000-40,000 after the New Year , chief physician of the Lider Meditsina center Yevgeny Timakov believes .
`` There will definitely be 30,000 cases a day after the New Year , and maybe 35,000-40,000 in a week or two after the New Year .
Unfortunately , people do not abide by rules during holidays .
They will still gather in apartments , the infection rate will still be on the rise , '' he told TASS .
The expert recalled that much depends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this challenge .
`` The question here is whether the majority of the population can bite the bullet and try to comply with all the necessary measures .
If there is a huge number of infections at one time , no healthcare system can handle it .
If there is understanding that distance should be maintained , it won ’ t happen , '' Timakov concluded .
Russia has never reported more than 30,000 coronavirus cases in 24 hours .
The highest daily number on record was 29,935 seen on December 24 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 83 million people have been infected worldwide and more than 1,800,000 deaths have been reported .
To date , 3,131,550 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , with 2,525,418 patients having recovered from the disease .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates 56,426 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, December 31. /TASS/. The surge in daily coronavirus infections in Russia can make 35,000-40,000 after the New Year, chief physician of the Lider Meditsina center Yevgeny Timakov believes.
"There will definitely be 30,000 cases a day after the New Year, and maybe 35,000-40,000 in a week or two after the New Year. Unfortunately, people do not abide by rules during holidays. They will still gather in apartments, the infection rate will still be on the rise," he told TASS.
The expert recalled that much depends on Russians themselves and their attitude to this challenge. "The question here is whether the majority of the population can bite the bullet and try to comply with all the necessary measures. If there is a huge number of infections at one time, no healthcare system can handle it. If there is understanding that distance should be maintained, it won’t happen," Timakov concluded.
Russia has never reported more than 30,000 coronavirus cases in 24 hours. The highest daily number on record was 29,935 seen on December 24.
According to the latest statistics, more than 83 million people have been infected worldwide and more than 1,800,000 deaths have been reported. To date, 3,131,550 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 2,525,418 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 56,426 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-12-31--Hainan sets up finance development center for free trade port

SHANGHAI , December 31 .
/TASS/ .
The Finance Development Center in the southern Chinese province of Hainan will be an important part of the province 's project to build a free trade port .
The center 's official opening ceremony took place on December 29 in Haikou at the Hainan Free Trade Port Finance and Innovation Forum .
This center is presented as a new platform for the development of innovation in Hainan 's financial sector and the practical promotion of financial services for enterprises in the province .
Conducting research on financial topics for the free trade port @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial cooperation and promoting the financial policy of the free trade port will be on the list of the center 's tasks .
On June 1 , the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council published the General Development Program for Hainan 's Free Trade Port , according to which an effective mechanism to stimulate sustainable and long-term growth should be finally formed in Hainan by 2025 .
It is expected that thanks to new methods , many of which are being introduced in China for the first time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fulfill a number of key socio-economic tasks necessary to form a powerful financial and economic center in the country ’ s south .
It is assumed that by 2035 both the economic and innovative potential of this region will be maximized , and it will become one of the most attractive places for international investors .

SHANGHAI, December 31. /TASS/. The Finance Development Center in the southern Chinese province of Hainan will be an important part of the province's project to build a free trade port. The center's official opening ceremony took place on December 29 in Haikou at the Hainan Free Trade Port Finance and Innovation Forum.
This center is presented as a new platform for the development of innovation in Hainan's financial sector and the practical promotion of financial services for enterprises in the province. Conducting research on financial topics for the free trade port project, training specialized personnel, international financial cooperation and promoting the financial policy of the free trade port will be on the list of the center's tasks.
On June 1, the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council published the General Development Program for Hainan's Free Trade Port, according to which an effective mechanism to stimulate sustainable and long-term growth should be finally formed in Hainan by 2025. It is expected that thanks to new methods, many of which are being introduced in China for the first time, the province will be able to fulfill a number of key socio-economic tasks necessary to form a powerful financial and economic center in the country’s south. It is assumed that by 2035 both the economic and innovative potential of this region will be maximized, and it will become one of the most attractive places for international investors.


tass--2020-12-31--Turkish defense minister holds meeting with Turkish officers in Baku

ANKARA , December 31 .
/TASS/ .
Minister of National Defense of Turkey Hulusi Akar had a meeting with Turkish officers in Baku , who will serve in the ceasefire control center in Nagorno-Karabakh operating jointly with Russia , Anadolu Agency reported Thursday .
`` Our military are ready to carry out their duties .
After the joint center starts its work , out activities will be reinforced , and we will fulfil our mission to protect rights of our Azerbaijani brothers , '' Akar said at the meeting in the Azerbaijani capital .
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
On November 9 , Russian President Vladimir Putin , Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10 .
The Russian leader said the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides would maintain the positions that they had held , and Russian peacekeepers would be deployed to the region .
Besides , Baku and Yerevan must exchange prisoners and the bodies of those killed .
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkey agreed to create the Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire monitoring center , the memorandum was signed following videoconference talks between Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar .

ANKARA, December 31. /TASS/. Minister of National Defense of Turkey Hulusi Akar had a meeting with Turkish officers in Baku, who will serve in the ceasefire control center in Nagorno-Karabakh operating jointly with Russia, Anadolu Agency reported Thursday.
"Our military are ready to carry out their duties. After the joint center starts its work, out activities will be reinforced, and we will fulfil our mission to protect rights of our Azerbaijani brothers," Akar said at the meeting in the Azerbaijani capital.
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27 in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. On November 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10. The Russian leader said the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides would maintain the positions that they had held, and Russian peacekeepers would be deployed to the region. Besides, Baku and Yerevan must exchange prisoners and the bodies of those killed.
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.
On November 11, Russia and Turkey agreed to create the Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire monitoring center, the memorandum was signed following videoconference talks between Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar.


tass--2020-12-31--Algeria to use Russia’s Sputnik V for mass vaccination

RABAT , December 31 .
/TASS/ .
Algeria will use the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine when it will launch mass vaccination of its population scheduled for January 2021 , TSA news portal reports , citing the decision made by the Algerian government following a meeting on Wednesday chaired by Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad .
`` The Algerian health minister has announced the signing of an agreement with a Russian laboratory to purchase the coronavirus vaccine to start vaccination in January , '' spokesperson for the cabinet Ammar Belhimer noted .
According to him , the Pasteur Institute of Algeria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ producer of the Sputnik V vaccine , while simultaneously continuing consultations with other foreign parties . ''
On December 20 , Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune instructed Djerad to pick a vaccine to launch mass vaccination already in January .
On December 14 , Minister of Health , Population and Hospital Reform Abderrahmane Benbouzid revealed that vaccination against COVID-19 would definitely be free of charge for all categories of citizens .
He also highlighted that Algeria would be cautious in choosing the vaccine to use .
On August 11 , Russia became the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus vaccine named Sputnik V , which was developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Health Ministry .
The jab passed clinical trials in June-July .
The post-registration trials of Sputnik V began in Moscow on September 7 , volunteers received the first vaccine already on September 9 .

RABAT, December 31. /TASS/. Algeria will use the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine when it will launch mass vaccination of its population scheduled for January 2021, TSA news portal reports, citing the decision made by the Algerian government following a meeting on Wednesday chaired by Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad.
"The Algerian health minister has announced the signing of an agreement with a Russian laboratory to purchase the coronavirus vaccine to start vaccination in January," spokesperson for the cabinet Ammar Belhimer noted. According to him, the Pasteur Institute of Algeria "carried out consultations with the Russian producer of the Sputnik V vaccine, while simultaneously continuing consultations with other foreign parties."
On December 20, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune instructed Djerad to pick a vaccine to launch mass vaccination already in January.
On December 14, Minister of Health, Population and Hospital Reform Abderrahmane Benbouzid revealed that vaccination against COVID-19 would definitely be free of charge for all categories of citizens. He also highlighted that Algeria would be cautious in choosing the vaccine to use.
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 jab passed clinical trials in June-July. The post-registration trials of Sputnik V began in Moscow on September 7, volunteers received the first vaccine already on September 9.


tass--2020-12-31--One killed, two injured in car explosion in Afghanistan

MOSCOW , December 31 .
/TASS/ .
At least one person has been killed and two more have been injured @ @ @ @ @ one of Kabul ’ s districts , Ariana News TV reported Thursday citing the police @ @ @ @ @ enforcement , the incident took place at around 8 am as an improvised explosive device @ @ @ @ @ was targeting a government vehicle .
The victims were rushed to hospitals .

MOSCOW, December 31. /TASS/. At least one person has been killed and two more have been injured in an explosion that rocked one of Kabul’s districts, Ariana News TV reported Thursday citing the police.
According to the law enforcement, the incident took place at around 8 am as an improvised explosive device was detonated. The blast was targeting a government vehicle. The victims were rushed to hospitals.


tass--2020-12-31--India registers over 21,800 coronavirus cases in 24 hours

NEW DELHI , December 31 .
/TASS/ .
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in India surged by 21,822 over @ @ @ @ @ 10,266,674 .
The Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reported on its website on @ @ @ @ @ recoveries rose by 26,139 to 9,860,280 in the past day .
Russian investment fund , @ @ @ @ @ mln doses of Sputnik V in India The number of new cases gained 6 % @ @ @ @ @ new cases were registered on Wednesday .
The number of coronavirus-related deaths went up by @ @ @ @ @ 148,738 .
India ranks the second in the world in terms of the number of @ @ @ @ @ US ) and the third in terms of the death toll ( after the US @ @ @ @

NEW DELHI, December 31. /TASS/. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in India surged by 21,822 over the past 24 hours reaching 10,266,674. The Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reported on its website on Thursday that the number of recoveries rose by 26,139 to 9,860,280 in the past day.
Russian investment fund, Hetero to produce over 100 mln doses of Sputnik V in India
The number of new cases gained 6% in 24 hours as 20,549 new cases were registered on Wednesday.
The number of coronavirus-related deaths went up by 299 in 24 hours to 148,738.
India ranks the second in the world in terms of the number of coronavirus cases (after the US) and the third in terms of the death toll (after the US and Brazil).


tass--2020-12-31--US expects further cooperation with Russia in war on drugs, says DEA official

WASHINGTON , December 31 .
/TASS/ .
The United States looks forward to continued cooperation with Russia in combating drug trafficking and remains committed to joint efforts in that field , a representative of the US Drug Enforcement Administration ( DEA ) under the Department of Justice told TASS on Wednesday when commenting the information published earlier by the Russian Federal Security Service ( FSB ) about a joint operation on liquidation of a transnational criminal network engaged in trafficking cocaine from South America to Europe .
`` We look forward to continued cooperation on law enforcement issues of mutual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to diminish the global drug threat , '' the official said when asked whether the administration is satisfied with present cooperation with Russian colleagues , and whether US investigators intend to continue cooperating with them when necessary .
Meanwhile he refused to reveal details concerning the Russian-US operation , offering to apply to the Russian authorities for comment on this specific action .
The Russian Federal Security Service together with its American colleagues conducted earlier a special operation to uncover a criminal network that was engaged in trafficking cocaine from South America to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kilograms of cocaine possibly worth 1 bln rubles ( $ 13.56 million ) if sold .

WASHINGTON, December 31. /TASS/. The United States looks forward to continued cooperation with Russia in combating drug trafficking and remains committed to joint efforts in that field, a representative of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) under the Department of Justice told TASS on Wednesday when commenting the information published earlier by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) about a joint operation on liquidation of a transnational criminal network engaged in trafficking cocaine from South America to Europe.
"We look forward to continued cooperation on law enforcement issues of mutual interest and stand committed to working together to diminish the global drug threat," the official said when asked whether the administration is satisfied with present cooperation with Russian colleagues, and whether US investigators intend to continue cooperating with them when necessary.
Meanwhile he refused to reveal details concerning the Russian-US operation, offering to apply to the Russian authorities for comment on this specific action.
The Russian Federal Security Service together with its American colleagues conducted earlier a special operation to uncover a criminal network that was engaged in trafficking cocaine from South America to Russia and Europe. It seized 330 kilograms of cocaine possibly worth 1 bln rubles ($13.56 million) if sold.


tass--2020-12-31--More than 692,000 new COVID-19 cases registered worldwide in past day

GENEVA , December 31 .
/TASS/ .
More than 692,000 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection were recorded globally in the past day , pushing the total case count to 81.47 million , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) said in its daily bulletin on Thursday .
According to the WHO update , coronavirus-related deaths across the globe increased by over 13,900 in the reported period to exceed 1.79 million .
As of 18:11 Moscow time on December 31 , the organization was notified about 81,475,053 cases of the disease and 1,798,050 deaths all over the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by 692,018 in the past 24 hours , and the number of fatalities increased by 13,941 .
The WHO statistics are based only on officially confirmed data provided by countries .
South and North America account for more than 45 % of new COVID-19 cases reported to the WHO in the past 24 hours ( 316,613 ) .
Europe goes second ( 285,777 cases ) followed by South East Asia ( 33,112 ) .
The hardest-hit countries are the United States ( 19,346,790 cases ) , India ( 10,266,674 ) , Brazil ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , France ( 2,556,708 ) , the UK ( 2,432,892 ) , Italy ( 2,083,689 ) , Spain ( 1,893,502 ) , Germany ( 1,719,737 ) , Colombia ( 1,614,822 ) , Argentina ( 1,602,163 ) and Mexico ( 1,401,529 ) .

GENEVA, December 31. /TASS/. More than 692,000 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection were recorded globally in the past day, pushing the total case count to 81.47 million, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in its daily bulletin on Thursday.
According to the WHO update, coronavirus-related deaths across the globe increased by over 13,900 in the reported period to exceed 1.79 million.
As of 18:11 Moscow time on December 31, the organization was notified about 81,475,053 cases of the disease and 1,798,050 deaths all over the world. The number of confirmed cases grew by 692,018 in the past 24 hours, and the number of fatalities increased by 13,941.
The WHO statistics are based only on officially confirmed data provided by countries.
South and North America account for more than 45% of new COVID-19 cases reported to the WHO in the past 24 hours (316,613). Europe goes second (285,777 cases) followed by South East Asia (33,112).
The hardest-hit countries are the United States (19,346,790 cases), India (10,266,674), Brazil (7,563,551), Russia (3,159,297), France (2,556,708), the UK (2,432,892), Italy (2,083,689), Spain (1,893,502), Germany (1,719,737), Colombia (1,614,822), Argentina (1,602,163) and Mexico (1,401,529).


tass--2020-12-31--Serbian regulator issues permit for Sputnik V vaccine

BELGRADE , December 31 .
/TASS/ .
Serbia ’ s National Medicines Agency has issued an authorization to use the @ @ @ @ @ , Tanjug news agency reports on Thursday .
The vaccine conforms to all requirements stipulated @ @ @ @ @ which confirms its quality , efficiency and safety , the news agency says , citing @ @ @ @ @ Delic .
The vaccine has passed all the required checks made in accordance with the @ @ @ @ @ .
The regulator has also issued an official permit for import of the first batch @ @ @ @ @ to 2,400 doses , Tanjug said .

BELGRADE, December 31. /TASS/. Serbia’s National Medicines Agency has issued an authorization to use the Russian coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V, Tanjug news agency reports on Thursday.
The vaccine conforms to all requirements stipulated by laws and regulations, which confirms its quality, efficiency and safety, the news agency says, citing Agency’s spokesman Pavle Delic. The vaccine has passed all the required checks made in accordance with the law, Delic told Tanjug.
The regulator has also issued an official permit for import of the first batch of the Russian vaccine amounting to 2,400 doses, Tanjug said.