tass--2020-07-30--Press review: Belarus arrests dozens of Russian ‘mercenaries’ and Turkey curbs tech titans

The arrest of 33 Russians in Belarus , who were allegedly linked to PMC Wagner , a Russian private military company , dominated Thursday ’ s newspaper headlines across Russia .
This scandal could seriously whip up tensions between Moscow and Minsk , as Belarus is due to hold its presidential election on August 9 .
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stressed that the country ’ s authorities had no goal of defaming their neighbor .
Meanwhile , political scientists note that the Russians ’ detention could serve as a political card played during the final stage of the Belarusian presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia has repeatedly been branded “ the bad guy , ” Kommersant business daily writes .
Belarusian political scientist Alexei Dzermant attributed the events to `` heightened anxiety '' among security forces ahead of the election .
However , in his words , this incident can not be called a new low in bilateral relations .
`` The Belarusian authorities have already requested explanations from their Russian colleagues and everything should be clarified soon , '' he told the paper .
`` I doubt that the Wagner private military company could have meddled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most likely , this is a false alarm . ''
The expert does not expect that this detention will be followed by the introduction of a state of emergency and the cancellation of the election .
`` The situation is rather stable and rumors of large-scale rallies after the August 9 vote are unjustified .
So , the authorities don ’ t have any reasons to take extreme measures . ''
Artem Shraybman , a Minsk-based political analyst , shared this opinion saying : `` The first reaction of the Belarusian authorities does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancel the election or opt for a head-on confrontation with Moscow . ''
First Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma ’ s ( lower house ) Committee on CIS Affairs , Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots , Viktor Volodatsky , told Izvestia that Moscow had not meddled in its neighbor ’ s domestic affairs and had no plans of doing this .
The arrests could have been plotted by certain circles in the republic , who are trying to mislead Lukashenko , he noted .
Someone seeks to show that ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elements had planned to intervene in the domestic affairs of Belarus , the analyst said .
`` I ’ m sure that the Russian citizens will be soon released and the situation will be ironed out .
It won ’ t have any negative impact on the solid relationship between Russia and Belarus , and Moscow and Minsk will keep building the Union State because both parties are interested in this , '' the MP stressed .
Meanwhile , the lower house of parliament , the State Duma , has called on Russians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this incident , the paper writes .
The route to third countries via Minsk became popular during the pandemic and any tourist could face arrest now , Volodatsky cautioned .
Kirill Koktysh , an associate professor of political theory at MGIMO University , ruled out the scenario that Moscow could have plotted any military intervention in Belarusian affairs , stressing that this runs counter to Russian doctrine and politics as well as its interests .
All this seems to be `` a set-up , '' the expert noted .
July 2020 became one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dollar in all the past years .
The greenback lost 5-7 % against most national currencies of developed countries in less than four weeks .
By July 27 , the dollar plunged to a minimum in the currency basket ( of US key trade partners ) in the past two years .
The euro reached $ 1.18 to the US currency , a maximum level since September 2018 .
The first and foremost reason why the dollar is weakening against other currencies now is related to the coronavirus pandemic ’ s unequal spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the stock market , Izvestia writes .
The United States has the world ’ s highest coronavirus caseload and death toll and market players believe that America is coping with the crisis far worse than other countries .
So , the restrictions around the US economy are bound to remain in place or even be tightened , thus worsening the crisis .
`` At the moment , amid bad data on the US labor market and the ongoing growth in the number of COVID-19 cases , global investors are raising doubts over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Sergei Drozdov , an analyst at Finam , told the paper .
`` Moreover , ahead of the upcoming Federal Reserve meeting , set for this week , players believe that Jerome Powell ’ s agency will stick to a mild monetary policy for a long time and once again assure markets of boosting upbeat measures should it be necessary .
These factors create pressure on the US currency , and major beneficiaries of this weakness are the euro , the Japanese yen , the Swiss franc and the British pound .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive outlook because its members managed to adopt a joint plan on restoring the economy , said Arseny Dadashev , director of the Academy of Finance and Investment Management .
Besides , the trade war between China and the United States is gaining steam .
Beijing is increasing trade tariffs on American goods , and China is expanding sanctions and even banning certain items from America .
`` Certainly this policy has a negative impact on the dollar rate , '' said Yuri Mazur , who heads data analysis department at CEX.IO .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ media , following Russia 's footsteps The Turkish parliament approved a bill imposing serious restrictions on the work of social media in the country .
Now foreign tech giants , such as Twitter and Facebook , will be forced to open local representative offices in Turkey and store domestic user data on Turkish servers .
The opposition is sure that the administration of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seeks to `` make the Internet part of a totalitarian regime . ''
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has warned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The new provisions practically follow in the footsteps of Russia , Kommersant writes .
For example , this concerns the requirement to store domestic user data in the Russian Federation .
On July 16 , a bill was submitted to the State Duma , the lower house of parliament , which allows the authorities to delete information .
However , Turkish law is harsher , especially in terms of fines , the newspaper notes .
In particular , the representatives of a foreign social network are required to respond to a complaint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face a fine of 5 mln liras ( $ 717,000 ) .
The companies could also face penalties of up to 10 mln liras ( $ 1.5 mln ) if they fail to open a representation office within 30 days after notification .
In the event of a repeated refusal , the fine will climb to 30 mln liras ( $ 4.3 mln ) .
This is not the first attempt by the Erdogan administration to curb foreign media and Internet companies , the newspaper writes .
`` The polarization of political issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scale that the authorities understand : this won ’ t generate anything good , '' Head of the Center for Modern Turkish Studies Yuri Mavashev pointed out .
Nezavisimaya Gazeta : Iran missile launch near US Persian Gulf base warning over airliner incident The active phase of annual drills by Iran ’ s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Strait of Hormuz , which fired a missile targeting a mock US aircraft carrier , forced the United States Armed Forces Command to put troops on combat alert at its bases in Qatar and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind the move was that Iranian missiles had landed in close proximity to the military facilities .
Experts believe that this incident was a response to a recent dangerous situation , when American F-15 fighter jets buzzed an Iranian airliner , Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes .
The Pentagon has branded these maneuvers by Tehran as dangerous behavior .
The drills also coincided with the shelling of US positions on Iraqi soil .
Meanwhile , experts noted that the ‘ Great Prophet ’ drills in the Strait of Hormuz did not come as a surprise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are held regularly and are on the one hand , an inevitable part of military training , and on the other hand , a warning to potential enemies in the event of a flare-up , '' military expert Yuri Lyamin told the newspaper .
`` However , the launch of ballistic missiles during the drills , which landed in the Persian Gulf next to US bases in Qatar and the UAE , could be viewed as a response to the recent incident with the Iranian passenger plane . ''
According to Lyamin , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Iran viewed the incident , when a US F-15 flying in Syria ’ s skies intercepted an Iranian passenger jet , headed to the Lebanese capital , as a new element of US pressure and intimidation .
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani labeled it aerial terrorism , '' the expert noted .
Izvestia : Second COVID-19 wave in Russia could start at universities Russian scientists predict a second wave of COVID-19 in September , linking it to the start of the school year .
They fear that students from other cities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moscow and St. Petersburg , could bring the disease .
Experts say that students coming from the regions with an unfavorable epidemiological situation should self-quarantine for two weeks and undergo compulsory tests .
If these measures fail to yield a result , a return to distance learning is not ruled out , Izvestia writes .
According to forecasts relying on math modelling methods , made by the Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University , by September 10-14 , COVID-19 cases in Moscow and St. Petersburg could rise 15-20 % .
Meanwhile , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set off by the start of the school year won ’ t be that massive as the March outbreak , said Alexei Borovkov , vice-rector for advanced projects at the university .
However , the dangerous epidemiological situation at universities will deal a heavy blow to their staff , he warned .
`` Most teachers at the universities are in the risk group : they are above 65 and we will face greater risks of losing a significant group of teachers unless we take measures , '' Borovkov said , noting that senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learning .
Professor at Skoltech ( the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology ) , virologist Egor Bazykin points out that the key problem is that the number of contacts will sharply rise with the start of the school year .
Earlier , the Russian Ministry of Education and Science said educational institutions nationwide were preparing for standard learning , but other options were also possible .
Universities are free to delay the start of the school year for up to two months if the situation in their region does not allow launching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the material quoted in these press reviews

Media: Belarus arrests dozens of Russians ahead of presidential election The arrest of 33 Russians in Belarus, who were allegedly linked to PMC Wagner, a Russian private military company, dominated Thursday’s newspaper headlines across Russia. This scandal could seriously whip up tensions between Moscow and Minsk, as Belarus is due to hold its presidential election on August 9. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stressed that the country’s authorities had no goal of defaming their neighbor. Meanwhile, political scientists note that the Russians’ detention could serve as a political card played during the final stage of the Belarusian presidential campaign.
Read also Belarus law enforcement suspects detained Russians of terrorist activity
During this election campaign, Russia has repeatedly been branded “the bad guy,” Kommersant business daily writes. Belarusian political scientist Alexei Dzermant attributed the events to "heightened anxiety" among security forces ahead of the election. However, in his words, this incident cannot be called a new low in bilateral relations. "The Belarusian authorities have already requested explanations from their Russian colleagues and everything should be clarified soon," he told the paper. "I doubt that the Wagner private military company could have meddled in the domestic affairs of Belarus and most likely, this is a false alarm." The expert does not expect that this detention will be followed by the introduction of a state of emergency and the cancellation of the election. "The situation is rather stable and rumors of large-scale rallies after the August 9 vote are unjustified. So, the authorities don’t have any reasons to take extreme measures." Artem Shraybman, a Minsk-based political analyst, shared this opinion saying: "The first reaction of the Belarusian authorities does not show that they are planning to cancel the election or opt for a head-on confrontation with Moscow." First Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma’s (lower house) Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots, Viktor Volodatsky, told Izvestia that Moscow had not meddled in its neighbor’s domestic affairs and had no plans of doing this. The arrests could have been plotted by certain circles in the republic, who are trying to mislead Lukashenko, he noted. Someone seeks to show that ahead of the August 9 election some foreign elements had planned to intervene in the domestic affairs of Belarus, the analyst said. "I’m sure that the Russian citizens will be soon released and the situation will be ironed out. It won’t have any negative impact on the solid relationship between Russia and Belarus, and Moscow and Minsk will keep building the Union State because both parties are interested in this," the MP stressed. Meanwhile, the lower house of parliament, the State Duma, has called on Russians to refrain from trips to Belarus following this incident, the paper writes. The route to third countries via Minsk became popular during the pandemic and any tourist could face arrest now, Volodatsky cautioned. Kirill Koktysh, an associate professor of political theory at MGIMO University, ruled out the scenario that Moscow could have plotted any military intervention in Belarusian affairs, stressing that this runs counter to Russian doctrine and politics as well as its interests. All this seems to be "a set-up," the expert noted. Izvestia: Dollar losing luster as safe haven currency July 2020 became one of the worst months for the US dollar in all the past years. The greenback lost 5-7% against most national currencies of developed countries in less than four weeks. By July 27, the dollar plunged to a minimum in the currency basket (of US key trade partners) in the past two years. The euro reached $1.18 to the US currency, a maximum level since September 2018. The first and foremost reason why the dollar is weakening against other currencies now is related to the coronavirus pandemic’s unequal spread, which is having a major impact on the stock market, Izvestia writes. The United States has the world’s highest coronavirus caseload and death toll and market players believe that America is coping with the crisis far worse than other countries. So, the restrictions around the US economy are bound to remain in place or even be tightened, thus worsening the crisis.
Read also Global economy may drop more than 5% in case of second pandemic wave
"At the moment, amid bad data on the US labor market and the ongoing growth in the number of COVID-19 cases, global investors are raising doubts over the quick restoration of US economy," Sergei Drozdov, an analyst at Finam, told the paper. "Moreover, ahead of the upcoming Federal Reserve meeting, set for this week, players believe that Jerome Powell’s agency will stick to a mild monetary policy for a long time and once again assure markets of boosting upbeat measures should it be necessary. These factors create pressure on the US currency, and major beneficiaries of this weakness are the euro, the Japanese yen, the Swiss franc and the British pound." Meanwhile, the EU has a positive outlook because its members managed to adopt a joint plan on restoring the economy, said Arseny Dadashev, director of the Academy of Finance and Investment Management. Besides, the trade war between China and the United States is gaining steam. Beijing is increasing trade tariffs on American goods, and China is expanding sanctions and even banning certain items from America. "Certainly this policy has a negative impact on the dollar rate," said Yuri Mazur, who heads data analysis department at CEX.IO. Kommersant: Turkey cracks down on social media, following Russia's footsteps The Turkish parliament approved a bill imposing serious restrictions on the work of social media in the country. Now foreign tech giants, such as Twitter and Facebook, will be forced to open local representative offices in Turkey and store domestic user data on Turkish servers. The opposition is sure that the administration of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seeks to "make the Internet part of a totalitarian regime." The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has warned Ankara about negative consequences of this move. The new provisions practically follow in the footsteps of Russia, Kommersant writes. For example, this concerns the requirement to store domestic user data in the Russian Federation. On July 16, a bill was submitted to the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, which allows the authorities to delete information. However, Turkish law is harsher, especially in terms of fines, the newspaper notes. In particular, the representatives of a foreign social network are required to respond to a complaint within 48 hours, otherwise they will face a fine of 5 mln liras ($717,000). The companies could also face penalties of up to 10 mln liras ($1.5 mln) if they fail to open a representation office within 30 days after notification. In the event of a repeated refusal, the fine will climb to 30 mln liras ($4.3 mln). This is not the first attempt by the Erdogan administration to curb foreign media and Internet companies, the newspaper writes. "The polarization of political issues in Turkish society has reached such a scale that the authorities understand: this won’t generate anything good," Head of the Center for Modern Turkish Studies Yuri Mavashev pointed out. Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Iran missile launch near US Persian Gulf base warning over airliner incident The active phase of annual drills by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Strait of Hormuz, which fired a missile targeting a mock US aircraft carrier, forced the United States Armed Forces Command to put troops on combat alert at its bases in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The reason behind the move was that Iranian missiles had landed in close proximity to the military facilities. Experts believe that this incident was a response to a recent dangerous situation, when American F-15 fighter jets buzzed an Iranian airliner, Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes.
The Pentagon has branded these maneuvers by Tehran as dangerous behavior. The drills also coincided with the shelling of US positions on Iraqi soil. Meanwhile, experts noted that the ‘Great Prophet’ drills in the Strait of Hormuz did not come as a surprise. "The exercises in this region are held regularly and are on the one hand, an inevitable part of military training, and on the other hand, a warning to potential enemies in the event of a flare-up," military expert Yuri Lyamin told the newspaper. "However, the launch of ballistic missiles during the drills, which landed in the Persian Gulf next to US bases in Qatar and the UAE, could be viewed as a response to the recent incident with the Iranian passenger plane." According to Lyamin, the Iranian leadership took this incident hard. "Iran viewed the incident, when a US F-15 flying in Syria’s skies intercepted an Iranian passenger jet, headed to the Lebanese capital, as a new element of US pressure and intimidation. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani labeled it aerial terrorism," the expert noted. Izvestia: Second COVID-19 wave in Russia could start at universities Russian scientists predict a second wave of COVID-19 in September, linking it to the start of the school year. They fear that students from other cities, who will resume studies at universities in Moscow and St. Petersburg, could bring the disease. Experts say that students coming from the regions with an unfavorable epidemiological situation should self-quarantine for two weeks and undergo compulsory tests. If these measures fail to yield a result, a return to distance learning is not ruled out, Izvestia writes.


tass--2020-07-30--Belarus’ Security Council claims 'militants' are trained in Russia to infiltrate country

MINSK , July 30 .
/TASS/ .
State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Andrey Ravkov during a meeting with presidential candidates informed about the training in Russia of `` certain groups '' of `` militants '' who are allegedly preparing to infiltrate the republic 's territory , presidential candidate Andrey Dmitriev told reporters after the meeting on Thursday .
`` We were told that right now in the country there are 170 militants trained in sabotage and sniper activities .
Certain groups are being formed near Pskov and Nevel [ according to Ravkov - TASS ] , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Security Council of Belarus also said that the detained Russians tell different stories , the presidential candidate revealed .
`` Some of them say openly : `` We came to make a revolution , '' he quoted the state secretary .
`` It has also been said that the GRU [ former name of the Main Directorate of the Russian General Staff - TASS ] and the FSB did not inform in advance that this group [ of Russians whom the Belarusian side calls the employees of the `` private Wagner military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he added .
He called the information made public by the Belarusian authorities `` incredibly serious . ''
According to him , it constitutes grounds for the interaction of the intelligence services of Minsk and Moscow .
As the Belarusian side reported , on the night of July 29 near Minsk 32 Russian citizens were detained who , according to the Belarusian law enforcement , are affiliated with a foreign private military company .
One more individual was apprehended in southern Belarus .
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on Wednesday held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Security Council after which the Security Council ’ s state secretary reported about the enforcement of operational control of state border , including the border with Russia , and about security measures during mass events , including election campaign ones , prior to the August 9 vote .
On Thursday , he told journalists that the detained Russians are suspected of plotting a terrorist act .
According to the Belarusian security agencies , in all , there are `` up to 200 militants '' on the republic ’ s territory .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notice of the detention of Russians from the Foreign Ministry of Belarus .
Ambassador Dmitry Mezentsev was invited to a meeting at the Foreign Ministry in the afternoon of July 30 .

MINSK, July 30. /TASS/. State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Andrey Ravkov during a meeting with presidential candidates informed about the training in Russia of "certain groups" of "militants" who are allegedly preparing to infiltrate the republic's territory, presidential candidate Andrey Dmitriev told reporters after the meeting on Thursday.
"We were told that right now in the country there are 170 militants trained in sabotage and sniper activities. Certain groups are being formed near Pskov and Nevel [according to Ravkov - TASS]," he said.
The state secretary of the Security Council of Belarus also said that the detained Russians tell different stories, the presidential candidate revealed. "Some of them say openly: "We came to make a revolution," he quoted the state secretary.
"It has also been said that the GRU [former name of the Main Directorate of the Russian General Staff - TASS] and the FSB did not inform in advance that this group [of Russians whom the Belarusian side calls the employees of the "private Wagner military company"] should be in Belarus," he added.
He called the information made public by the Belarusian authorities "incredibly serious." According to him, it constitutes grounds for the interaction of the intelligence services of Minsk and Moscow.
The detention of Russians
As the Belarusian side reported, on the night of July 29 near Minsk 32 Russian citizens were detained who, according to the Belarusian law enforcement, are affiliated with a foreign private military company. One more individual was apprehended in southern Belarus.
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on Wednesday held an emergency meeting with the members of the Security Council after which the Security Council’s state secretary reported about the enforcement of operational control of state border, including the border with Russia, and about security measures during mass events, including election campaign ones, prior to the August 9 vote. On Thursday, he told journalists that the detained Russians are suspected of plotting a terrorist act. According to the Belarusian security agencies, in all, there are "up to 200 militants" on the republic’s territory.
The Russian embassy in Minsk received an official notice of the detention of Russians from the Foreign Ministry of Belarus. Ambassador Dmitry Mezentsev was invited to a meeting at the Foreign Ministry in the afternoon of July 30.


tass--2020-07-30--COVID-19 dies in room temperature water in 72 hours, study says

MOSCOW , July 30 .
/TASS/ .
Experts of the Vektor State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology have conducted @ @ @ @ @ in water .
About 99.9 % of its particles die in room temperature water in @ @ @ @ @ service of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing told @ @ @ @ @ proven that in dechlorinated and salt water the virus doesn ’ t proliferate but can @ @ @ @ @ , the time of deactivation of the novel coronavirus directly depends on the water temperature @ @ @ @ @ room temperature 90 % of the COVID-19 virions died during 24 hours , and 99.9 @ @ @ @ @ '' the statement said .

MOSCOW, July 30. /TASS/. Experts of the Vektor State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology have conducted studies of the coronavirus viability in water. About 99.9% of its particles die in room temperature water in 72 hours, the press service of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing told TASS.
"It was proven that in dechlorinated and salt water the virus doesn’t proliferate but can be preserved. At that, the time of deactivation of the novel coronavirus directly depends on the water temperature. In the water at room temperature 90% of the COVID-19 virions died during 24 hours, and 99.9% during 72 hours," the statement said.


tass--2020-07-30--Nornickel to overhaul double-span rail bridge near Norilsk

KRASNOYARSK , July 30 .
/TASS/ .
Nornickel ( the Norilsk Nickel Company ) will invest 20 million rubles ( $ 273,000 ) in the overhaul of a bridge over the Kayerkansky Brook on the Norilsk-Dudinka railway , which is the northernmost railway line in the world .
The works will be completed in October 2020 , the company ’ s Polar Division told TASS .
`` Following an inspection of the railway bridge , which is on the 72nd kilometer of the road between Dudinka and Norilsk , and which is over the Kayerkansky Brook , the company will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The cost is estimated at 20 million rubles .
According to the plan , the works are due to be completed in October , '' the Polar Division ’ s press service said .
The double-span bridge with a pier in the middle was built in 1953 .
Engineers have decided to convert the bridge into a single-span one .
Contractors will dismantle the pier and two spans , each of which is 17.5 meters long and weighs 200 tonnes .
The weight of the new bridge will be 75 tonnes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ railway networks .
It is used to transport cargo between the Dudinka port and the Norilsk Industrial District .
The railway ’ s construction began in 1935 , and until 1998 it provided passenger services .

KRASNOYARSK, July 30. /TASS/. Nornickel (the Norilsk Nickel Company) will invest 20 million rubles ($273,000) in the overhaul of a bridge over the Kayerkansky Brook on the Norilsk-Dudinka railway, which is the northernmost railway line in the world. The works will be completed in October 2020, the company’s Polar Division told TASS.
"Following an inspection of the railway bridge, which is on the 72nd kilometer of the road between Dudinka and Norilsk, and which is over the Kayerkansky Brook, the company will invest in the bridge’s overhaul. The cost is estimated at 20 million rubles. According to the plan, the works are due to be completed in October," the Polar Division’s press service said.
The double-span bridge with a pier in the middle was built in 1953. Engineers have decided to convert the bridge into a single-span one. Contractors will dismantle the pier and two spans, each of which is 17.5 meters long and weighs 200 tonnes. The weight of the new bridge will be 75 tonnes.
The Norilsk Railway is isolated from other railway networks. It is used to transport cargo between the Dudinka port and the Norilsk Industrial District. The railway’s construction began in 1935, and until 1998 it provided passenger services.


tass--2020-07-30--Russian citizens detained in Belarus testify

MINSK , July 30 .
/TASS/ .
Russian citizens detained in Belarus are testifying in due course of the investigation @ @ @ @ @ Security Council of Belarus Andrey Ravkov told journalists on Thursday .
`` They are testifying @ @ @ @ @ The state secretary of the Security Council arrived at the Central Election Committee headquarters on @ @ @ @ @ presidential candidates is held .
The detention of 33 Russian citizens in Belarus who are @ @ @ @ @ military company occurred on the night of July 29 .
According to the Belarusian side @ @ @ @ @ people were apprehended at a sanitarium near Minsk , while one more individual was arrested @ @ @ @ @ probe was launched .

MINSK, July 30. /TASS/. Russian citizens detained in Belarus are testifying in due course of the investigation, State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Andrey Ravkov told journalists on Thursday.
"They are testifying," he said.
The state secretary of the Security Council arrived at the Central Election Committee headquarters on Thursday where a meeting with presidential candidates is held.
The detention of 33 Russian citizens in Belarus who are allegedly employees of a private military company occurred on the night of July 29. According to the Belarusian side, on Wednesday night 32 people were apprehended at a sanitarium near Minsk, while one more individual was arrested in southern Belarus. A probe was launched.


tass--2020-07-30--Russia reports over 5,500 new COVID-19 cases

According to its data , the daily growth rate in the past nine days did not exceed 0.7 % .
@ @ @ @ @ /TASS/ .
Russia ’ s coronavirus cases grew by 5,509 in the past day to @ @ @ @ @ center told reporters on Thursday .
Some new 678 cases were recorded in Moscow , @ @ @ @ @ , 172 in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Region , 162 in St. Petersburg and 158 in @ @ @ @ @ The lowest growth rate in the past day was recorded in the Chukotka Autonomous Region @ @ @ @ @ the Karachay-Cherkess Republic ( 0.2 % ) , the Moscow Region ( 0.2 % ) @ @ @ @ @ ) , the Kaluga Region ( 0.3 % ) , the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic ( 0.3 @ @ @ @ @ ( 0.3 % ) , the Lipetsk Region ( 0.3 % ) , the Trans-Baikal @ @ @ @ @ and Sevastopol ( 0.3 % ) .
To date , 191,042 people are undergoing treatment @ @ @ @ @

According to its data, the daily growth rate in the past nine days did not exceed 0.7%.
MOSCOW, July 30. /TASS/. Russia’s coronavirus cases grew by 5,509 in the past day to 834,499, the anti-coronavirus crisis center told reporters on Thursday.
Some new 678 cases were recorded in Moscow, 215 in the Sverdlovsk Region, 172 in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Region, 162 in St. Petersburg and 158 in the Nizhny Novgorod Region.
The lowest growth rate in the past day was recorded in the Chukotka Autonomous Region (0%), the Karachay-Cherkess Republic (0.2%), the Moscow Region (0.2%), Moscow (0.3%), the Kaluga Region (0.3%), the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (0.3%), North Ossetia (0.3%), the Lipetsk Region (0.3%), the Trans-Baikal Region (0.3%) and Sevastopol (0.3%).
To date, 191,042 people are undergoing treatment for COVID-19 in Russia.


tass--2020-07-30--Belarus law enforcement suspects detained Russians of terrorist activity

MINSK , July 30 .
/TASS/ .
Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Andrey Ravkov has reported that the Russians taken into custody in Minsk are suspected of plotting a terrorist act , therefore , a criminal case has been opened .
The Secretary of the Security Council said that the law enforcement in Belarus is searching for up to 200 militants that haven ’ t been detained yet .
`` 33 are detained , and up to 200 are on Belarusian territory , according to the operative information .
The search is ongoing , it ’ s like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
Due to that , the presidential candidates in Belarus received `` certain information '' to enhance the security measures during the electoral campaign , he noted .
He specified that the campaign events will be conducted `` with heightened security measures . ''
The Belarusian state news agency BelTA reported on Wednesday citing the republic ’ s law enforcement that overnight on Belarusian territory 33 Russians had been detained who were the employees of a foreign private military company .
The alleged arrival in Belarus of over 200 people `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the electoral campaign '' was also reported .
The presidential candidates arrived on Thursday morning at the Central Election Committee where on Wednesday night they were suddenly invited to meet with its chairperson Lydia Yermoshina .
The Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Andrey Ravkov also participated in the meeting .

MINSK, July 30. /TASS/. Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Andrey Ravkov has reported that the Russians taken into custody in Minsk are suspected of plotting a terrorist act, therefore, a criminal case has been opened.
The Secretary of the Security Council said that the law enforcement in Belarus is searching for up to 200 militants that haven’t been detained yet. "33 are detained, and up to 200 are on Belarusian territory, according to the operative information. The search is ongoing, it’s like a needle in a haystack," he said.
Due to that, the presidential candidates in Belarus received "certain information" to enhance the security measures during the electoral campaign, he noted. He specified that the campaign events will be conducted "with heightened security measures."
The Belarusian state news agency BelTA reported on Wednesday citing the republic’s law enforcement that overnight on Belarusian territory 33 Russians had been detained who were the employees of a foreign private military company. The alleged arrival in Belarus of over 200 people "in order to destabilize the situation during the electoral campaign" was also reported.
The presidential candidates arrived on Thursday morning at the Central Election Committee where on Wednesday night they were suddenly invited to meet with its chairperson Lydia Yermoshina. The Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Andrey Ravkov also participated in the meeting.


tass--2020-07-30--Highest daily COVID-19 growth recorded in Ukraine

KIEV , July 30 .
/TASS/ .
The number of new coronavirus infections in Ukraine has increased compared to the @ @ @ @ @ and is at 1,197 , Ukraine ’ s National Security and Defense Council reported on @ @ @ @ @ recoveries over the past 24 hours , according to this data , is at 760 @ @ @ @ @ value was at 650 .
23 patients died , a day earlier 21 patients died @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus infection .
Since the beginning of the pandemic in the country 68,794 cases of @ @ @ @ @ with 37,394 people having recovered and 1,673 fatalities .
Currently the number of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @

KIEV, July 30. /TASS/. The number of new coronavirus infections in Ukraine has increased compared to the previous day by 17% and is at 1,197, Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council reported on Thursday.
The number of recoveries over the past 24 hours, according to this data, is at 760, the day before this value was at 650. 23 patients died, a day earlier 21 patients died in Ukraine due to the coronavirus infection.
Since the beginning of the pandemic in the country 68,794 cases of the coronavirus infection were recorded with 37,394 people having recovered and 1,673 fatalities. Currently the number of the coronavirus infections is at 29,727.


tass--2020-07-30--Global COVID-19 cases surpass 17 mln

Global COVID-19 cases surpass 17 mln

MOSCOW , July 30 .
/TASS/ .
The number of novel coronavirus cases across the globe exceeded 17 million on @ @ @ @ @ US-based Johns Hopkins University , which relies on data provided by international organizations , federal @ @ @ @ @ to the university , a total of 17,029,206 people have contracted COVID-19 and 667,011 have @ @ @ @ @ 9,948,163 patients have recovered .
The biggest number of infections ( 4,426,982 ) has been @ @ @ @ @ .
A total of 150,713 coronavirus patients have died there , 1,389,425 people have recovered @ @ @ @ @ with 2,552,265 confirmed cases , 90,134 fatalities and 1,922,802 recoveries .
It is followed by @ @ @ @ @ 1,581,963 cases , 34,955 deaths and 1,019,735 recoveries .
Russia comes in fourth in the @ @ @ @ @ .
To date , 828,990 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , with 620,333 @ @ @ @ @ disease .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates 13,673 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the @ @ @ @ @ Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, July 30. /TASS/. The number of novel coronavirus cases across the globe exceeded 17 million on Thursday, according to the US-based Johns Hopkins University, which relies on data provided by international organizations, federal and local authorities.
According to the university, a total of 17,029,206 people have contracted COVID-19 and 667,011 have died. So far, 9,948,163 patients have recovered. The biggest number of infections (4,426,982) has been recorded in the United States. A total of 150,713 coronavirus patients have died there, 1,389,425 people have recovered. Brazil is ranked second with 2,552,265 confirmed cases, 90,134 fatalities and 1,922,802 recoveries. It is followed by India, which has reported 1,581,963 cases, 34,955 deaths and 1,019,735 recoveries.
Russia comes in fourth in the number of recorded coronavirus cases. To date, 828,990 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 620,333 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 13,673 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-07-30--Outreach Extends European Presence with Office in Prague Tech Hotspot

PRAGUE , July 30 , 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- , the number one sales engagement platform , today announced the opening of a new product development centre in Prague , Czech Republic , which further extends its footprint in Europe .
From its new office in one of Europe 's five growing tech hubs , Outreach will continue to modernise the European sales industry .
The company is already the largest sales engagement company in Europe .
The opening of the Prague office follows closely on and appointing Melissa Fisher as Chief Financial Officer earlier in June .
The opening of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Outreach opened its first international office in London .
The local team will be led by Tomas Bergl , who is responsible for driving innovation for Outreach 's European operations .
Bergl has more than 15 years of experience working on technical challenges and designing cutting-edge collaboration products and services during his time at Microsoft , Skype , and Opera .
Bergl joins Outreach 's growing AI team including Abhi Abhishek and Eugene Ho , both Microsoft veterans with extensive experience in AI and communication platforms .
`` Prague is a natural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward-thinking city , a leader in artificial intelligence research , and it is a place that is full of technical talent , '' said Manny Medina , chief executive officer and co-founder at Outreach .
`` Tomas brings invaluable experience creating products that bring people together and help them collaborate .
His insights and experience will be invaluable as Outreach looks to further expand its footprint in customer engagement . ''
`` I 'm excited to join Outreach and help further develop the technology solutions that are creating and leading the sales engagement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our Prague-based team plays a crucial role in developing the next generation of artificial intelligence-driven solutions that will define the future of customer engagement .
We have some of the best technical talent right here in Prague and I ca n't wait to continue building our team . ''
The Prague team will be hosting an `` open doors '' event on August 13th at 18:00 CEST at the .
This will be an opportunity to network and meet the Outreach team in-person while learning more about what the team is building .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ register .
Outreach 's fast-paced growth was recognised by Deloitte , receiving the prestigious 2019 Technology Fast 500 award , which ranked Outreach the fourth fastest-growing technology company in North America .
Outreach was also named to the 2019 Forbes ' Cloud 100 and LinkedIn 's Top Startups list .
Outreach 's great workplace culture was recognised by Inc. 's Best Places to Work , Seattle Business Magazine 's 100 Best Companies to Work For , and the Puget Sound Business Journal 's Best Places to Work in Washington .
About Outreach Outreach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the largest customer base and industry-leading usage .
Outreach helps companies dramatically increase productivity and drive smarter , more insightful engagement with their customers .
The company commissioned a recent Forrester study which highlights how Outreach provides an industry-leading ROI of 387 percent over three years and a payback period of fewer than three months since initial investment .
More than 4,500 companies such as Adobe , Tableau , DoorDash , Splunk , DocuSign , and SAP depend on Outreach 's enterprise-scale , unparalleled customer adoption , and robust AI-powered innovation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Seattle , Washington .
To learn more , please visit www.outreach.io .

PRAGUE, July 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Outreach , the number one sales engagement platform, today announced the opening of a new product development centre in Prague, Czech Republic, which further extends its footprint in Europe. From its new office in one of Europe's five growing tech hubs, Outreach will continue to modernise the European sales industry. The company is already the largest sales engagement company in Europe. The opening of the Prague office follows closely on Outreach closing a $50 million funding round and appointing Melissa Fisher as Chief Financial Officer earlier in June.
The opening of Outreach's Prague office comes six months after Outreach opened its first international office in London. The local team will be led by Tomas Bergl, who is responsible for driving innovation for Outreach's European operations. Bergl has more than 15 years of experience working on technical challenges and designing cutting-edge collaboration products and services during his time at Microsoft, Skype, and Opera. Bergl joins Outreach's growing AI team including Abhi Abhishek and Eugene Ho, both Microsoft veterans with extensive experience in AI and communication platforms.
"Prague is a natural fit for Outreach - it's a forward-thinking city, a leader in artificial intelligence research, and it is a place that is full of technical talent," said Manny Medina, chief executive officer and co-founder at Outreach. "Tomas brings invaluable experience creating products that bring people together and help them collaborate. His insights and experience will be invaluable as Outreach looks to further expand its footprint in customer engagement."
"I'm excited to join Outreach and help further develop the technology solutions that are creating and leading the sales engagement category," said Bergl. "Our Prague-based team plays a crucial role in developing the next generation of artificial intelligence-driven solutions that will define the future of customer engagement. We have some of the best technical talent right here in Prague and I can't wait to continue building our team."
The Prague team will be hosting an "open doors" event on August 13th at 18:00 CEST at the Visionary Building . This will be an opportunity to network and meet the Outreach team in-person while learning more about what the team is building. Space is limited. Interested parties can register here .
Outreach's fast-paced growth was recognised by Deloitte, receiving the prestigious 2019 Technology Fast 500 award, which ranked Outreach the fourth fastest-growing technology company in North America. Outreach was also named to the 2019 Forbes' Cloud 100 and LinkedIn's Top Startups list. Outreach's great workplace culture was recognised by Inc.'s Best Places to Work, Seattle Business Magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For, and the Puget Sound Business Journal's Best Places to Work in Washington.
About Outreach
Outreach is the number one sales engagement platform with the largest customer base and industry-leading usage. Outreach helps companies dramatically increase productivity and drive smarter, more insightful engagement with their customers. The company commissioned a recent Forrester study which highlights how Outreach provides an industry-leading ROI of 387 percent over three years and a payback period of fewer than three months since initial investment. More than 4,500 companies such as Adobe, Tableau, DoorDash, Splunk, DocuSign, and SAP depend on Outreach's enterprise-scale, unparalleled customer adoption, and robust AI-powered innovation. Outreach is a privately held company based in Seattle, Washington. To learn more, please visit www.outreach.io.
PR Contact:
Amanda Woolley
pr@outreach.io
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/563661/Outreach_Logo.jpg


tass--2020-07-30--Hainan to promote amateur and recreational fishing

HAIKOU , July 30 .
/TASS/ .
The Hainan authorities this year plan to promote recreational and amateur fishing , which should give a boost to the intensive development of the entire regional industry for the extraction of aquatic biological resources , inspector of the regional department for agriculture Chen Liang said at a press conference .
“ For a long time , the fishing industry in our province has developed extensively : the increase in the corresponding share of the gross regional product was seen due to the quantitative factor , due to the increase in the volume of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more fish , ” he said .
“ However , this led to the depletion of resources and environmental pollution along the coastline .
< ... > Recreational and amateur fishing is an important area , thanks to which the transformation of the entire industry will take place , and the income of fishermen will increase.
`` According to the official , traditional fishing on Hainan has already exhausted its possibilities , therefore it is necessary to stimulate its development at the expense of the resources of the domestic and inbound tourism industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , < ... > at the same time an international consumption zone will be set up on the island .
This will bring more stability to Hainan 's free trade port port , '' stressed the official .
He specified that the government intends to draft new measures for the accelerated development of recreational fishing .
`` We will ensure balanced growth , as well as security , remove obstacles to development , fill in the lack of strategic support , '' the inspector concluded .
According to official statistics , Hainan companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the market in 2019 , by 1.9 % less than in the previous 12 months .
However , this has so far insignificantly affected the growth of the agricultural sector , which includes forestry and fisheries .
Its added value over the corresponding period increased by 2.7 % , amounting to 111.9 billion yuan ( about $ 15.9 billion ) .

HAIKOU, July 30. /TASS/. The Hainan authorities this year plan to promote recreational and amateur fishing, which should give a boost to the intensive development of the entire regional industry for the extraction of aquatic biological resources, inspector of the regional department for agriculture Chen Liang said at a press conference.
“For a long time, the fishing industry in our province has developed extensively: the increase in the corresponding share of the gross regional product was seen due to the quantitative factor, due to the increase in the volume of catches and the cultivation of more and more fish,” he said. “However, this led to the depletion of resources and environmental pollution along the coastline. <...> Recreational and amateur fishing is an important area, thanks to which the transformation of the entire industry will take place, and the income of fishermen will increase. "
According to the official, traditional fishing on Hainan has already exhausted its possibilities, therefore it is necessary to stimulate its development at the expense of the resources of the domestic and inbound tourism industry. "This direction has great potential, <...> at the same time an international consumption zone will be set up on the island. This will bring more stability to Hainan's free trade port port," stressed the official.
He specified that the government intends to draft new measures for the accelerated development of recreational fishing. "We will ensure balanced growth, as well as security, remove obstacles to development, fill in the lack of strategic support," the inspector concluded.
According to official statistics, Hainan companies supplied about 1.72 million tonnes of fish to the market in 2019, by 1.9% less than in the previous 12 months. However, this has so far insignificantly affected the growth of the agricultural sector, which includes forestry and fisheries. Its added value over the corresponding period increased by 2.7%, amounting to 111.9 billion yuan (about $ 15.9 billion).


tass--2020-07-30--Kazakhstan’s COVID-19 cases surpass 87,600

NUR-SULTAN , July 30 .
/TASS/ .
Kazakhstan ’ s doctors recorded 1,472 coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours .
The total number of infected people in the country has reached 87,664 , the government ’ s interagency commission on coronavirus response said on Thursday .
Over 215,000 coronavirus cases recorded worldwide in 24 hours , says WHO '' Another 1,472 coronavirus cases were recorded , including 828 patients showing symptoms and 644 symptomless patients .
A total of 87,664 cases have been confirmed nationwide , '' the commission said .
Infected individuals account for 0.4 % of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to the commission , 57,815 people have recovered by now , 1,177 recoveries were reported in the past 24 hours .
The Ministry of Healthcare provides information about coronavirus fatalities once a week .
Kazakhstan reported 208 COVID-19 deaths from July 20 to July 26 .
The death toll has thus climbed to 793 .
So far , Kazakhstan has conducted 2,079,540 coronavirus tests .
On July 17 , Kazakhstan ’ s Healthcare Minister Alexei Tsoi said that the ministry would use another method to count coronavirus patients .
In addition to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now also include cases of viral pneumonia with symptoms similar to COVID-19 .
According to the Russian Ministry of Health , about 100 Russian doctors have been sent to Kazakhstan to help it tackle the coronavirus outbreak .
Russia also provided humanitarian aid to Kazakhstan to fight the pandemic .

NUR-SULTAN, July 30. /TASS/. Kazakhstan’s doctors recorded 1,472 coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours. The total number of infected people in the country has reached 87,664, the government’s interagency commission on coronavirus response said on Thursday.
"Another 1,472 coronavirus cases were recorded, including 828 patients showing symptoms and 644 symptomless patients. A total of 87,664 cases have been confirmed nationwide," the commission said.
Infected individuals account for 0.4% of the population (18.7 mln people). According to the commission, 57,815 people have recovered by now, 1,177 recoveries were reported in the past 24 hours.
The Ministry of Healthcare provides information about coronavirus fatalities once a week. Kazakhstan reported 208 COVID-19 deaths from July 20 to July 26. The death toll has thus climbed to 793. So far, Kazakhstan has conducted 2,079,540 coronavirus tests.
On July 17, Kazakhstan’s Healthcare Minister Alexei Tsoi said that the ministry would use another method to count coronavirus patients. In addition to confirmed coronavirus cases, the tally will now also include cases of viral pneumonia with symptoms similar to COVID-19.
According to the Russian Ministry of Health, about 100 Russian doctors have been sent to Kazakhstan to help it tackle the coronavirus outbreak. Russia also provided humanitarian aid to Kazakhstan to fight the pandemic.


tass--2020-07-30--US administration extends permit for LNG export until 2050

WASHINGTON , July 30 .
/TASS/ .
The US administration has extended the permit for the export of liquefied natural gas ( LNG ) until 2050 , US President Donald Trump said in Texas on Wednesday .
His speech was broadcast by national news broadcasters .
`` My administration is announcing today that export authorizations for American liquefied natural gas can now be extended through the year 2050 , '' Trump said .
US Department of Energy ( DOE ) explained that the permit concerns the sale of American LNG to countries the US has no bilateral free trade agreements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US authorities extended this permit for only 20 years .
`` This policy to utilize export terms through 2050 is the latest of several measures DOE , under President Trump , has taken to support US LNG exports and the benefits they bring both to the United States and to our allies around the world , '' US Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette said as quoted by his department ’ s press service .
`` Just this year , LNG exports from the United States will reduce our trade deficit by over $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the United States are providing tens of thousands of jobs and have led to the investment of billions of dollars in infrastructure , '' he said .
The US exports LNG to 38 countries on five continents , according to the Department of Energy .
Also on Wednesday , the US President signed several permits related to infrastructure projects in Texas .
Two of them , according to the President , will facilitate the export of Texas oil to Mexico .
`` I will sign four critical permits granting approval to vital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s border , '' he said prior to signing .
`` This will include two permits allowing the export of Texas crude to Mexico , '' he said .

WASHINGTON, July 30. /TASS/. The US administration has extended the permit for the export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) until 2050, US President Donald Trump said in Texas on Wednesday. His speech was broadcast by national news broadcasters.
"My administration is announcing today that export authorizations for American liquefied natural gas can now be extended through the year 2050," Trump said.
US Department of Energy (DOE) explained that the permit concerns the sale of American LNG to countries the US has no bilateral free trade agreements with. Prior to this, the US authorities extended this permit for only 20 years.
"This policy to utilize export terms through 2050 is the latest of several measures DOE, under President Trump, has taken to support US LNG exports and the benefits they bring both to the United States and to our allies around the world," US Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette said as quoted by his department’s press service.
"Just this year, LNG exports from the United States will reduce our trade deficit by over $10 billion. Furthermore, LNG exports in the United States are providing tens of thousands of jobs and have led to the investment of billions of dollars in infrastructure," he said.
The US exports LNG to 38 countries on five continents, according to the Department of Energy.
Infrastructure projects in Texas
Also on Wednesday, the US President signed several permits related to infrastructure projects in Texas. Two of them, according to the President, will facilitate the export of Texas oil to Mexico.
"I will sign four critical permits granting approval to vital pipeline and railway infrastructure on our nation’s border," he said prior to signing.
"This will include two permits allowing the export of Texas crude to Mexico," he said.


tass--2020-07-31--Russian Baltic Fleet artillery forces strike enemy targets in drills

KALININGRAD , July 31 .
/TASS/ .
Over 500 artillery personnel of the Baltic Fleet ’ s army corps delivered @ @ @ @ @ ’ s targets during drills in the westernmost Kaliningrad Region , the Fleet ’ s @ @ @ @ @ .
The battalion-level tactical artillery drills took place at the Pravdinsky training range in the @ @ @ @ @ practiced inter-operability of a reconnaissance artillery battalion with a gun battalion and a battery of @ @ @ @ @ press office said in a statement .
`` During the drills , the teams of @ @ @ @ @ at a distance of 9 kilometers while the personnel of Akatsiya self-propelled howitzers practiced striking @ @ @ @ @ a distance of 800 meters , '' the press office specified .
Overall , the @ @ @ @ @ troops of the Baltic Fleet ’ s army corps and about 50 items of military @ @ @ @ @

KALININGRAD, July 31. /TASS/. Over 500 artillery personnel of the Baltic Fleet’s army corps delivered strikes against a notional enemy’s targets during drills in the westernmost Kaliningrad Region, the Fleet’s press office reported on Friday.
The battalion-level tactical artillery drills took place at the Pravdinsky training range in the Kaliningrad Region. The troops practiced inter-operability of a reconnaissance artillery battalion with a gun battalion and a battery of self-propelled artillery guns, the press office said in a statement.
"During the drills, the teams of Giatsint-B guns struck the targets at a distance of 9 kilometers while the personnel of Akatsiya self-propelled howitzers practiced striking targets by direct fire at a distance of 800 meters," the press office specified.
Overall, the exercise involved more than 500 troops of the Baltic Fleet’s army corps and about 50 items of military hardware, it said.


tass--2020-07-31--Troops in central Russia receive over 100 latest vehicles

MOSCOW , July 31 .
/TASS/ .
/TASS/ .
Over 100 various vehicles arrived for units of Russia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ , Chief of the District ’ s Automobile and Armor Service Colonel Khanif Beglov said @ @ @ @ @ 100 advanced vehicles of various designation replenished the military district ’ s auto pool in @ @ @ @ @ included Mustang army trucks , specialized platforms for transporting tanks , AS4350 sanitary vehicles for @ @ @ @ @ battlefield and advanced ATs-14-63501 eight-wheel fuel tankers , '' the press office quoted him as @ @ @ @ @ that arrived for the troops of the Central Military District will provide logistics support for @ @ @ @ @ will run in mid-August and involve the armies stationed in Siberia and the Volga area @ @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, July 31. /TASS/. /TASS/. Over 100 various vehicles arrived for units of Russia’s Central Military District in July, Chief of the District’s Automobile and Armor Service Colonel Khanif Beglov said on Friday.
"Over 100 advanced vehicles of various designation replenished the military district’s auto pool in July this year. They included Mustang army trucks, specialized platforms for transporting tanks, AS4350 sanitary vehicles for evacuating the wounded from the battlefield and advanced ATs-14-63501 eight-wheel fuel tankers," the press office quoted him as saying.
The new vehicles that arrived for the troops of the Central Military District will provide logistics support for the largest force-on-force drills that will run in mid-August and involve the armies stationed in Siberia and the Volga area, the statement says.


tass--2020-07-31--EU court to decide on Nord Stream 2 AG’s appeal within 12 months

MOSCOW , July 31 .
/TASS/ .
Nord Stream 2 AG , the operator of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline construction project , expects responding arguments of the EU court for its appeal in respect of application of the Gas Directive norms .
The court will issue the final judgment on the appeal within 12 months , the company ’ s press service told TASS .
`` The EU will present counter-arguments for the appeal as the next step .
The European Court will make the decision within the next 12 months .
This decision will be confined to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for consideration , '' the press service said .
Nord Stream 2 AG filed an appeal against the General Court of the European Union ’ s decision to dismiss the company ’ s claim against the EU Gas Directive , the press service of Nord Stream 2 AG told TASS on July 28 .
On July 25 , 2019 , Nord Stream 2 AG initiated an action at the General Court of the European Union against Directive 2019/692 , which extends certain rules of the internal market in natural gas to pipelines from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this directive constitutes an infringement on the EU law principles of equal treatment and proportionality .
On May 20 , the court ruled to dismiss the lawsuit for procedural reasons , but stopped short of rejecting it on merits .
Earlier , Nord Stream 2 told TASS it might file an appeal against the ruling until July 30 .
In line with the amendments , Nord Stream 2 should be operated by a company independent from Russia ’ s energy giant Gazprom .
Moreover , 50 % of the pipeline ’ s capacity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from other suppliers .
On May 15 , the Federal Network Agency of Germany refused Nord Stream 2 AG in withdrawing the Nord Stream 2 project from the rules of the updated EU Gas Directive .
The agency noted that the necessary condition for removing the pipeline from the rules of the updated Gas Directive was its implementation before May 23 , 2019 .
On June 15 , Nord Stream 2 AG appealed against the decision of the Federal Network Agency of Germany to the court in Dusseldorf , the company said earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the construction of two pipeline strings with a total capacity of 55 bln cubic meters per year from the coast of Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany .
To date , 93 % of Nord Stream 2 has been finished .

MOSCOW, July 31. /TASS/. Nord Stream 2 AG, the operator of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline construction project, expects responding arguments of the EU court for its appeal in respect of application of the Gas Directive norms. The court will issue the final judgment on the appeal within 12 months, the company’s press service told TASS.
"The EU will present counter-arguments for the appeal as the next step. The European Court will make the decision within the next 12 months. This decision will be confined to the issue of admissibility of the claim for consideration," the press service said.
Nord Stream 2 AG filed an appeal against the General Court of the European Union’s decision to dismiss the company’s claim against the EU Gas Directive, the press service of Nord Stream 2 AG told TASS on July 28.
On July 25, 2019, Nord Stream 2 AG initiated an action at the General Court of the European Union against Directive 2019/692, which extends certain rules of the internal market in natural gas to pipelines from third countries. The company argued that this directive constitutes an infringement on the EU law principles of equal treatment and proportionality. On May 20, the court ruled to dismiss the lawsuit for procedural reasons, but stopped short of rejecting it on merits.
Earlier, Nord Stream 2 told TASS it might file an appeal against the ruling until July 30.
In line with the amendments, Nord Stream 2 should be operated by a company independent from Russia’s energy giant Gazprom. Moreover, 50% of the pipeline’s capacity is to be reserved for pumping gas from other suppliers.
On May 15, the Federal Network Agency of Germany refused Nord Stream 2 AG in withdrawing the Nord Stream 2 project from the rules of the updated EU Gas Directive. The agency noted that the necessary condition for removing the pipeline from the rules of the updated Gas Directive was its implementation before May 23, 2019. On June 15, Nord Stream 2 AG appealed against the decision of the Federal Network Agency of Germany to the court in Dusseldorf, the company said earlier.
The Nord Stream 2 project includes the construction of two pipeline strings with a total capacity of 55 bln cubic meters per year from the coast of Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany. To date, 93% of Nord Stream 2 has been finished.


tass--2020-07-31--Russia to tender for supply of protective means to Europe, says minister

MOSCOW , July 31 .
/TASS/ .
Russian companies are starting the delivery of pilot batches and samples of protective means , including masks , to Europe , Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said in an interview with TASS , adding that after certification they will participate in tenders for supply to European countries .
`` We are working with the Slovenian , Polish and Slovak certification labs on the issue of certifying our products .
Depending on the product , the certification terms will range from several weeks to several months .
After being certified in Europe , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
Russia has already sent samples of masks and suits to a number of states , for example , to Finland , for exploration by potential buyers .
`` At the end of this or the beginning of next year a pilot batch of protective masks will be sent to Greece , '' the minister said , adding that samples of disinfectants have been delivered for certification to Slovenia .
Russian producers boast competitive terms and prices , particularly concerning companies with complete production cycle , Manturov noted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus test systems to Egypt and is negotiating deliveries with Pakistan , he added .
In mid-July Russian companies sent 30,000 protective suits and other means to Turkmenistan ’ s health ministry .
Export of protective means during the pandemic is only possible with the Industry and Trade Ministry ’ s permission .

MOSCOW, July 31. /TASS/. Russian companies are starting the delivery of pilot batches and samples of protective means, including masks, to Europe, Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said in an interview with TASS, adding that after certification they will participate in tenders for supply to European countries.
"We are working with the Slovenian, Polish and Slovak certification labs on the issue of certifying our products. Depending on the product, the certification terms will range from several weeks to several months. After being certified in Europe, we plan to participate in respective tenders," he said.
Russia has already sent samples of masks and suits to a number of states, for example, to Finland, for exploration by potential buyers. "At the end of this or the beginning of next year a pilot batch of protective masks will be sent to Greece," the minister said, adding that samples of disinfectants have been delivered for certification to Slovenia.
Russian producers boast competitive terms and prices, particularly concerning companies with complete production cycle, Manturov noted.
Russia has also supplied commercial batches of coronavirus test systems to Egypt and is negotiating deliveries with Pakistan, he added. In mid-July Russian companies sent 30,000 protective suits and other means to Turkmenistan’s health ministry.
Export of protective means during the pandemic is only possible with the Industry and Trade Ministry’s permission.


tass--2020-07-31--Putin discusses Belarus groundless detention of Russians with Security Council

MOSCOW , July 31 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin and permanent members of the national Security Council have discussed unfounded detention of Russian citizens in Minsk , expressing hope that they will be released , Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Friday following the meeting .
`` A detailed conversation took place about the incident involving the detention of Russian citizens in Belarus , '' he said .
`` Hope was voiced that this story will be clarified soon , and the groundlessly detained Russian citizens will be released , '' the spokesman noted .
The Russian leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Kremlin representative , the meeting also traditionally focused on social and economic issues on the domestic agenda .
Earlier , Belarus reported that 33 Russian citizens were detained in the early hours of July 29 , Minsk described most of them as employees of a foreign private military company .
The Belarusian foreign ministry demanded explanations from Russian Ambassador Dmitry Mezentsev regarding the aims for their arrival in the country .
The ministry also invited acting head of the Ukrainian embassy in Minsk Pyotr Vrublevsky `` considering the confirmed information that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Donetsk and Lugansk Regions .
Following the meeting , the sides agreed to boost monitoring over the border section between the two states .
Meanwhile , Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that Moscow was yet to receive full information about the events , including any illegal actions that prompted the detentions .
According to him , Moscow does not recognize Ukrainian citizenships of some of these people .
Additionally , Peskov slammed claims of any links between these events and the upcoming presidential election in Belarus as speculations .

MOSCOW, July 31. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and permanent members of the national Security Council have discussed unfounded detention of Russian citizens in Minsk, expressing hope that they will be released, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Friday following the meeting.
"A detailed conversation took place about the incident involving the detention of Russian citizens in Belarus," he said. "Hope was voiced that this story will be clarified soon, and the groundlessly detained Russian citizens will be released," the spokesman noted.
The Russian leader held the meeting via videoconference. According to the Kremlin representative, the meeting also traditionally focused on social and economic issues on the domestic agenda.
Detention of Russians
Earlier, Belarus reported that 33 Russian citizens were detained in the early hours of July 29, Minsk described most of them as employees of a foreign private military company.
The Belarusian foreign ministry demanded explanations from Russian Ambassador Dmitry Mezentsev regarding the aims for their arrival in the country. The ministry also invited acting head of the Ukrainian embassy in Minsk Pyotr Vrublevsky "considering the confirmed information that some detainees were fighting in Ukraine’s Donetsk and Lugansk Regions. Following the meeting, the sides agreed to boost monitoring over the border section between the two states.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that Moscow was yet to receive full information about the events, including any illegal actions that prompted the detentions. According to him, Moscow does not recognize Ukrainian citizenships of some of these people. Additionally, Peskov slammed claims of any links between these events and the upcoming presidential election in Belarus as speculations.


tass--2020-07-31--Russia bashes baseless US media hysteria of Moscow running COVID-19 ‘fake news’ campaign

MOSCOW , July 31 .
/TASS/ .
Reports of a number of US media outlets about Russia ’ s alleged dissemination of fake news regarding the COVID-19 situation in the US are cynical and groundless , the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement published Friday .
`` We noted that the ungrounded allegations of connections of certain websites ( in particular , InfoRos.ru , Infobrics.org and OneWorld.press ) with the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces cite ‘ anonymous officials ’ and a classified report - that is , the kind of information , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' the Russian Foreign Ministry pointed out .
This trick , which has become a know-how of US elites , is now widely used in Western journalist practice , the Ministry added .
`` The authors of these publications and the very concept of ‘ Russian meddling in everything ’ untie their hands by not providing specific facts or at least somewhat substantial proof , '' the statement runs .
`` Allegations that Russia conducts a ‘ systematic and focused work on spreading fake news and therefore sowing chaos ’ sound especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US and in the context of campaign race revving up , '' the Ministry said .
`` We are certain that the notorious ‘ Russian card ’ will now be played without any reason . ''
Earlier , respected US editions published reports , alleging that the Russian intelligence uses English-language websites to spread fake news about the COVID-19 epidemic in the US .

MOSCOW, July 31. /TASS/. Reports of a number of US media outlets about Russia’s alleged dissemination of fake news regarding the COVID-19 situation in the US are cynical and groundless, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement published Friday.
"We noted that the ungrounded allegations of connections of certain websites (in particular, InfoRos.ru, Infobrics.org and OneWorld.press) with the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces cite ‘anonymous officials’ and a classified report - that is, the kind of information, that could not be checked for credibility," the Russian Foreign Ministry pointed out.
This trick, which has become a know-how of US elites, is now widely used in Western journalist practice, the Ministry added.
"The authors of these publications and the very concept of ‘Russian meddling in everything’ untie their hands by not providing specific facts or at least somewhat substantial proof," the statement runs.
"Allegations that Russia conducts a ‘systematic and focused work on spreading fake news and therefore sowing chaos’ sound especially cynical amid the internal political situation in the US and in the context of campaign race revving up," the Ministry said. "We are certain that the notorious ‘Russian card’ will now be played without any reason."
Earlier, respected US editions published reports, alleging that the Russian intelligence uses English-language websites to spread fake news about the COVID-19 epidemic in the US.


tass--2020-07-31--Wizz Air to resume flights from St. Petersburg to London from August 19

ST. PETERSBURG , July 31 .
/TASS/ .
Wizz Air plans to restart schedule flights between the Pulkovo Airport of @ @ @ @ @ Airport ( London ) with up to four flights per week , press service of @ @ @ @ @ Pulkovo Airport told reporters on Friday .
`` Wizz Air UK lowcoster plans to resume @ @ @ @ @ and London from August 19 , 2020 .
Flights from the Pulkovo Airport to the @ @ @ @ @ with the rate up to four times per week , '' the press service says @ @ @ @ @ 29,000 passengers between St. Petersburg and London as of 2019 year-end .
The air carrier @ @ @ @ @ the Pulkovo Airport to London from October 1 of the last year .
Wizz Air @ @ @ @ @ Central and Eastern Europe .
The company ’ s fleet comprises 124 Airbus A320 and @ @ @ @

ST. PETERSBURG, July 31. /TASS/. Wizz Air plans to restart schedule flights between the Pulkovo Airport of St. Petersburg and the Luton Airport (London) with up to four flights per week, press service of the management company of the Pulkovo Airport told reporters on Friday.
"Wizz Air UK lowcoster plans to resume scheduled flights between St. Petersburg and London from August 19, 2020. Flights from the Pulkovo Airport to the Luton Airport will be made with the rate up to four times per week," the press service says.
Wizz Air carried over 29,000 passengers between St. Petersburg and London as of 2019 year-end. The air carrier launched the direct flights from the Pulkovo Airport to London from October 1 of the last year.
Wizz Air is the largest lowcoster in Central and Eastern Europe. The company’s fleet comprises 124 Airbus A320 and A321 passenger jets.


tass--2020-07-31--Russia’s defense procurement plan unaffected by pandemic, says industry minister

MOSCOW , July 31 .
/TASS/ .
The coronavirus pandemic had no impact on the timeframe of Russia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ defense orders , Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov told TASS on Friday .
`` @ @ @ @ @ impact .
This is because we timely formed all cooperation chains both with regions and @ @ @ @ @ manual mode so that they could not be destroyed , '' the minister said , @ @ @ @ @ .
In some instances , the timeframe can be only slightly adjusted , he said @ @ @ @ @ of fourth-level producers somewhere faced certain restrictions and failed to provide the timely delivery , @ @ @ @ @ very insignificant in terms of the timeframe , '' Manturov explained .
Russian Defense Minister @ @ @ @ @ was confident that the defense procurement plan would be fulfilled despite the pandemic .

MOSCOW, July 31. /TASS/. The coronavirus pandemic had no impact on the timeframe of Russia’s defense procurement plan and new defense orders, Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov told TASS on Friday.
"Actually, it had no impact. This is because we timely formed all cooperation chains both with regions and with integrated structures in the manual mode so that they could not be destroyed," the minister said, replying to the corresponding question.
In some instances, the timeframe can be only slightly adjusted, he said.
"A small number of fourth-level producers somewhere faced certain restrictions and failed to provide the timely delivery, which caused some adjustment but very insignificant in terms of the timeframe," Manturov explained.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu earlier said he was confident that the defense procurement plan would be fulfilled despite the pandemic.


tass--2020-07-31--Major US laboratories admit short delays with COVID-19 test results

On Thursday , LabCorp spokeswoman told TASS that it `` continues to be committed to doing everything it can to respond to the health crisis and is focused on reducing the time it takes for a patient to receive their result . ''
The lab says it conducted about 8.5 million tests since March , and that currently , about 180,000 tests are in processing .
`` We have reduced the average time to deliver results to 2-3 days from specimen pickup .
For hospitalized patients , the average time for results is faster , '' the spokeswoman said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ founder Bill Gates that most COVID-19 tests are useless because they take too long to produce results .
Quest Diagnostics and BioReference also acknowledged delays of four to six days .
According to The Washington Post , in the capital , Americans have to wait for results for seven working days on average , while sometimes it takes up to three weeks .
Besides , the newspaper says , many residents have to wait in line outdoors , for hours , amid temperature of about 30 degrees Celsius .
According to Admiral Brett @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the opinion that COVID-19 tests take too long throughout the US is unfounded .
According to the official , half of all tests are conducted in laboratories of hospitals and specialized facilities , where results are usually provided within 24 hours .
However , the CNN report says that many US medics do not consider actions of the Trump Administration in regards to testing to be adequate to the complicated situation .
On Tuesday , Bill Gates said it is `` insane '' that COVID-19 tests take over 48 hours to produce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Human Services refrained from commenting on his opinion .
According to Johns Hopkins University statistics , over 4.47 million cases were registered in the US , while over 151,500 people died .

On Thursday, LabCorp spokeswoman told TASS that it "continues to be committed to doing everything it can to respond to the health crisis and is focused on reducing the time it takes for a patient to receive their result."
The lab says it conducted about 8.5 million tests since March, and that currently, about 180,000 tests are in processing.
"We have reduced the average time to deliver results to 2-3 days from specimen pickup. For hospitalized patients, the average time for results is faster," the spokeswoman said, commenting on earlier remarks made by Microsoft founder Bill Gates that most COVID-19 tests are useless because they take too long to produce results.
Quest Diagnostics and BioReference also acknowledged delays of four to six days. According to The Washington Post, in the capital, Americans have to wait for results for seven working days on average, while sometimes it takes up to three weeks. Besides, the newspaper says, many residents have to wait in line outdoors, for hours, amid temperature of about 30 degrees Celsius.
Reaction of the authorities
According to Admiral Brett Giroir, US Assistant Secretary for Health, the opinion that COVID-19 tests take too long throughout the US is unfounded. According to the official, half of all tests are conducted in laboratories of hospitals and specialized facilities, where results are usually provided within 24 hours.
However, the CNN report says that many US medics do not consider actions of the Trump Administration in regards to testing to be adequate to the complicated situation.
On Tuesday, Bill Gates said it is "insane" that COVID-19 tests take over 48 hours to produce results. The US Department of Health and Human Services refrained from commenting on his opinion.
According to Johns Hopkins University statistics, over 4.47 million cases were registered in the US, while over 151,500 people died.


tass--2020-07-31--EU economy falls record 14.4% in second quarter

MOSCOW , July 31 .
/TASS/ .
The European Union GDP , according to preliminary estimates , fell by 14.4 @ @ @ @ @ to the same period in 2019 , according to European statistical office Eurostat .
Global @ @ @ @ @ 5 % in case of second pandemic wave According to the report , this decline @ @ @ @ @ the beginning of observations in 1995 .
The GDP of the main countries of the @ @ @ @ @ - fell by 19 % and 11.7 % , respectively .
The largest decline was @ @ @ @ @ the same period last year , the kingdom 's GDP decreased by 22.1 % .
@ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic affected the economic indicators of Lithuania , which , on the Q2 of @ @ @ @ @ 3.7 % .
It was reported in late April that all 27 EU states and @ @ @ @ @ Commission , the European Central Bank and the European Investment Bank ) have allocated a @ @ @ @ @ to support the community ’ s economy amid the coronavirus pandemic .

MOSCOW, July 31. /TASS/. The European Union GDP, according to preliminary estimates, fell by 14.4% in the Q2 compared to the same period in 2019, according to European statistical office Eurostat.
Global economy may drop more than 5% in case of second pandemic wave
According to the report, this decline was the most serious since the beginning of observations in 1995. The GDP of the main countries of the community - France and Germany - fell by 19% and 11.7%, respectively.
The largest decline was observed in Spain - against the same period last year, the kingdom's GDP decreased by 22.1%. Least of all, the coronavirus pandemic affected the economic indicators of Lithuania, which, on the Q2 of 2019, decreased by only 3.7%.
It was reported in late April that all 27 EU states and EU institutions (the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the European Investment Bank) have allocated a total of 3.3 trillion euro to support the community’s economy amid the coronavirus pandemic.


tass--2020-07-31--Putin to hold Security Council meeting Friday

Trump says he does not understand why US should defend Germany from Russia He also reproached Berlin for not spending @ @ @ @ @ support NATO ’ s collective defense

Biden says alternative to sanctions against Russia would be Third World War
"Russia will pay a serious price for this short term and long term, particularly long term," the US leader stressed
Read more


tass--2020-07-31--The 9th China Suzhou Cultural & Creative Design Cultural Industry Expo started in Suzhou

NANJING , China , July 31 , 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 31 , 2020 , the 9th China Suzhou Cultural & Creative Cultural Industry Expo opened at the Suzhou International Expo Center as scheduled .
11 branch venues , 43 theme exhibition halls , 40,000 square meters area are all prepared for the great show .
From July 31 to August 2 , the three-day exhibition attracted more than 400 exhibitors from across the country .
More than 20,000 products will be displayed .
At the launching ceremony , the `` 2020 New Handicraft Movement Award '' was also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Cloud Expo - a never-ending cultural and creative trading platform '' was also launched .
People who love cultural and creative ideas can join this `` carnival '' of cultural tourism by staying home , according to the organizing committee of China Suzhou Cultural & Creative Design Cultural Industry Expo .
Suzhou is `` The Capital of Handicrafts and Folk Arts of the UN '' and `` Model City of World Heritage '' .
`` Su Zuo '' has a profound technical heritage and excellent production .
With the theme of `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paradise '' , the 9th expo will showcase and present the four major sections of `` international creative design works , international new handicraft movements , cultural and tourism integration , and creative future industries '' .
Three highlights : first of all , the theme exhibition of `` 8:30 in Gusu '' appeared in the expo , comprehensively showing the mode of promoting the night economy development in Suzhou , and showing the achievements of `` Cultural Tourism+ '' leading the high-quality development of night economy .
Secondly , this year 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' with the `` China-Foreign Design Dialogue '' , and promote the construction of Suzhou `` Modern International Metropolis '' through an international perspective .
At the expo , visitors can see that in conjunction with the 2020 global anti-epidemic theme , artists use `` Masks '' as the main material to create `` Social Isolation Hall '' and `` Social Gathering Hall '' to reflect different feelings in the global environment .
In addition , works by top artists and designers from different cultural backgrounds and fields around the world shine together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can also be `` Meeting in the Cloud '' .
An online platform brings together exhibitions , information , investment promotion , studios , shopping malls and other functions to create a `` Never-Ending Expo '' .
What 's more , the `` New Handicraft Movement Award '' , the professional awards event of the expo , was particularly eye-catching .
In 2015 , `` New Handicraft Movement '' was launched with the rediscovery , rethinking and redesign of traditional handicrafts , calling on traditional handicrafts to rejuvenate and show the vitality of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement , the 10 major brand awards and the 10 major works awards were selected .
These works have injected new momentum and set a new benchmark for the innovative development of traditional handicrafts .

NANJING, China, July 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 31, 2020, the 9th China Suzhou Cultural & Creative Cultural Industry Expo opened at the Suzhou International Expo Center as scheduled. 11 branch venues, 43 theme exhibition halls, 40,000 square meters area are all prepared for the great show.
From July 31 to August 2, the three-day exhibition attracted more than 400 exhibitors from across the country. More than 20,000 products will be displayed. At the launching ceremony, the "2020 New Handicraft Movement Award" was also hosted, and the ceremony of the "Cloud Expo - a never-ending cultural and creative trading platform" was also launched. People who love cultural and creative ideas can join this "carnival" of cultural tourism by staying home, according to the organizing committee of China Suzhou Cultural & Creative Design Cultural Industry Expo.
Suzhou is "The Capital of Handicrafts and Folk Arts of the UN" and "Model City of World Heritage". "Su Zuo" has a profound technical heritage and excellent production. With the theme of "New Design, New Life, New Paradise", the 9th expo will showcase and present the four major sections of "international creative design works, international new handicraft movements, cultural and tourism integration, and creative future industries". Three highlights: first of all, the theme exhibition of "8:30 in Gusu" appeared in the expo, comprehensively showing the mode of promoting the night economy development in Suzhou, and showing the achievements of "Cultural Tourism+" leading the high-quality development of night economy. Secondly, this year's expo will show the "International Style" with the "China-Foreign Design Dialogue", and promote the construction of Suzhou "Modern International Metropolis" through an international perspective. At the expo, visitors can see that in conjunction with the 2020 global anti-epidemic theme, artists use "Masks" as the main material to create "Social Isolation Hall" and "Social Gathering Hall" to reflect different feelings in the global environment. In addition, works by top artists and designers from different cultural backgrounds and fields around the world shine together. Thirdly, this year's expo can also be "Meeting in the Cloud". An online platform brings together exhibitions, information, investment promotion, studios, shopping malls and other functions to create a "Never-Ending Expo".
What's more, the "New Handicraft Movement Award", the professional awards event of the expo, was particularly eye-catching. In 2015, "New Handicraft Movement" was launched with the rediscovery, rethinking and redesign of traditional handicrafts, calling on traditional handicrafts to rejuvenate and show the vitality of the times. In this new handicraft movement, the 10 major brand awards and the 10 major works awards were selected. These works have injected new momentum and set a new benchmark for the innovative development of traditional handicrafts.
Image Attachments Links: Link: http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=368393
Caption: Launching ceremony of "Cloud Expo - a never-ending cultural and creative trading platform"
CONTACT: Ms. Shen, Tel: +86-10-63074558


tass--2020-07-31--Number of unemployed in Russia to start declining in October 2020, says minister

MOSCOW , July 31 .
/TASS/ .
The number of officially unemployed in Russia currently stands at 3.2 mln people @ @ @ @ @ Social Protection Anton Kotyakov told TASS , adding that the peak number of the unemployed @ @ @ @ @ , after which it will start declining in October as the labor market will stabilize @ @ @ @ @ of the unemployed will be reached in the third quarter , namely August-September .
Stabilization @ @ @ @ @ quarter as the number of unemployed citizens will decline , '' he said .
The @ @ @ @ @ country is 6.2 % , or 4.6 mln people ( unemployment calculated by Rosstat , @ @ @ @ @ Service , using the methodology of the International Labor Organization ) .
As many as @ @ @ @ @ registered by employment centers , whereas the unemployment rates have dropped two-fold since the beginning @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, July 31. /TASS/. The number of officially unemployed in Russia currently stands at 3.2 mln people, Minister of Labor and Social Protection Anton Kotyakov told TASS, adding that the peak number of the unemployed is expected in August-September 2020, after which it will start declining in October as the labor market will stabilize.
"The peak number of the unemployed will be reached in the third quarter, namely August-September. Stabilization will start in the fourth quarter as the number of unemployed citizens will decline," he said.
The current unemployment level in the country is 6.2%, or 4.6 mln people (unemployment calculated by Rosstat, or the Federal State Statistics Service, using the methodology of the International Labor Organization). As many as 3.211 mln unemployed have been registered by employment centers, whereas the unemployment rates have dropped two-fold since the beginning of the pandemic.


tass--2020-07-31--Moscow expects Russian citizens apprehended in Belarus to be released soon

According to the spokesman , information that would justify their apprehension has still not been provided .
MOSCOW , July 31 .
/TASS/ .
Moscow expects that the Russian citizens , apprehended in Belarus on July 29 , will be released shortly , Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists Friday .
`` But we hope , certain even , that our Belarusian colleagues will deals with this incident and release the Russian citizens , '' Peskov said .
`` Without doubt , unfounded apprehension of Russian citizens , and 33 citizens at that , does not quite fit the parameters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two ways about it . ''
`` This is why we hope that this incident will be clarified by our Belarusian allies as shortly as possible , and our citizens will be released , '' Peskov reiterated .
He refrained from commenting whether Moscow considers this incident politically motivated .
According to Peskov , Kremlin is `` highly concerned that consular access to the apprehended Russians has still not been provided . ''
`` We hope that this will happen shortly , '' the spokesman said .
`` Now we can say with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belarus ; they were supposed to fly to a third country , and their stay is connected neither to Belarus itself , nor its internal affairs , '' Kremlin spokesman said , adding that the apprehended Russians are employees of a private security company , who were late to their plane and expected another flight .
`` They had plane tickets to Istanbul , '' Peskov said .
`` They had no illegal items and they violated no laws . ''
According to the spokesman , Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet .
On July 29 , 32 Russian citizens were apprehended near Minsk , and one more was apprehended in Southern Belarus .
They are claimed to be involved in a private military company .
Following the incident , Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko conducted an emergency meeting with the national Security Council .
After the meeting , Council Secretary Andrey Ravkov announced that border control will be tightened , including on border with Russia ; besides , security measures will be taken during the campaign for August 9 presidential elections .
On Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case was initiated against the Russians , who are suspected of preparing a terror attack .
He added that , according to Belarusian national security agencies , `` up to 200 militants '' stay on Belarusian territory , searches are underway .

According to the spokesman, information that would justify their apprehension has still not been provided.
MOSCOW, July 31. /TASS/. Moscow expects that the Russian citizens, apprehended in Belarus on July 29, will be released shortly, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists Friday.
"But we hope, certain even, that our Belarusian colleagues will deals with this incident and release the Russian citizens," Peskov said. "Without doubt, unfounded apprehension of Russian citizens, and 33 citizens at that, does not quite fit the parameters of allied relations, there is no two ways about it."
"This is why we hope that this incident will be clarified by our Belarusian allies as shortly as possible, and our citizens will be released," Peskov reiterated.
He refrained from commenting whether Moscow considers this incident politically motivated.
Nothing illegal
According to Peskov, Kremlin is "highly concerned that consular access to the apprehended Russians has still not been provided."
"We hope that this will happen shortly," the spokesman said.
"Now we can say with certainty that the Russian citizens were transiting Belarus; they were supposed to fly to a third country, and their stay is connected neither to Belarus itself, nor its internal affairs," Kremlin spokesman said, adding that the apprehended Russians are employees of a private security company, who were late to their plane and expected another flight.
"They had plane tickets to Istanbul," Peskov said. "They had no illegal items and they violated no laws."
According to the spokesman, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko have not spoken directly yet.
The incident
On July 29, 32 Russian citizens were apprehended near Minsk, and one more was apprehended in Southern Belarus. They are claimed to be involved in a private military company. Following the incident, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko conducted an emergency meeting with the national Security Council. After the meeting, Council Secretary Andrey Ravkov announced that border control will be tightened, including on border with Russia; besides, security measures will be taken during the campaign for August 9 presidential elections.
On Thursday, Ravkov told journalists that a criminal case was initiated against the Russians, who are suspected of preparing a terror attack. He added that, according to Belarusian national security agencies, "up to 200 militants" stay on Belarusian territory, searches are underway.