tass--2020-10-28--Press review: Has Pakistan entered the Karabakh conflict and why Pompeo is touring S. Asia

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has brought Azerbaijan , Turkey and Pakistan much closer together , boosting their efforts to create a new strategic troika in Eurasia , Kommersant writes .
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview with the Indian media that `` there is information that militants from Pakistan are involved in the war against Karabakh . ''
He earlier told Russian reporters about Pakistan ’ s active role in the conflict .
In response , Azerbaijan ’ s President Ilham Aliyev stated that Turkey and Pakistan supported Baku `` but military assistance is out of the question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make no secret of their political and diplomatic support for each other .
`` The main reason why Islamabad has joined the Karabakh game is rooted in the special relations between Pakistan and Turkey .
The Pakistani military leadership has always highly valued its alliance with Ankara , '' said Andrei Serenko , who heads the Center for Contemporary Afghan Studies .
`` There have recently been reports about militants being recruited in Pakistan to fight in the Karabakh conflict , which is another move the Pakistani military is making in favor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interest in the Karabakh issue itself , it is important for Pakistan primarily in relation to Turkey ’ s interests and in terms of boosting its strategic partnership , '' Serenko added .
Meanwhile , Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has visited Kazakhstan , Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes .
Russian political scientist Arkady Dubnov believes that Turkey seeks to secure the support of Turkic nations in future talks on Nagorno-Karabakh .
According to Kazakh political expert Zamir Karazhanov , Ankara is acting rather independently , without regard for NATO .
It seeks to defend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expand its area of interest to all Turkic countries .
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is currently on a visit to India and is scheduled to travel to Sri Lanka , the Maldives and Indonesia afterwards .
The goal of his trip is to clarify ways to jointly combat threats coming from China .
However , not all countries are ready to take an anti-Chinese stance .
Despite its rapprochement with the US , India is unlikely to join a military alliance with Washington , Izvestia writes .
New Delhi has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years and began to show even more interest in cooperation with the US after a border conflict with China had broken out in May .
As a new world order is emerging , countries will increasingly seek to harmonize their national interests with the interests of states that can be helpful in this regard , Observer Research Foundation President Samir Saran told the newspaper .
According to Chaitanya Giri , an expert at India ’ s Gateway House think tank , Moscow has always understood New Delhi ’ s doctrine of strategic autonomy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stability in the Indo-Pacific region .
After India , Pompeo will visit Sri Lanka , a country that received multibillion loans from China in the past years , which turned its leadership into Beijing ’ s loyal ally .
Assistant Professor with the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at Birla Institute of Technology and Science Shamshad Ahmad Khan says that by spreading its economic influence , China has gained a foothold in Bangladesh , Sri Lanka and the Maldives , which have always been India ’ s close friends .
But now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assistance in the implementation of various development projects and it won ’ t be easy to draw them away from Beijing .
Nezavisimaya Gazeta : Lukashenko may get support from Union State military integration Moscow and Minsk seek to demonstrate unity in defense integration matters amid the ongoing political unrest in Belarus .
The outcome of a joint conference of the two countries ’ defense ministries is more proof of it , Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes .
In a way , Lukashenko ’ s national problems are Russia ’ s problems too since Belarus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s hard to say whether a Union Army will be formed in the coming years but both Moscow and Minsk have shown their intention to create unified armed forces as domestic instability mounts in Belarus .
The two countries made their position clear on Tuesday by greenlighting the plan for the Zapad-2021 joint strategic drills .
`` Approaches to repelling potential aggression against Russia and Belarus were developed at the time of the Zapad-2017 exercise , when NATO countries were relocating troops to the Baltic states and Poland .
Now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a rotation basis , '' military expert Lieutenant General Yuri Netkachev told the paper .
Meanwhile , there is no specific information about the future of defense integration between Russia and Belarus .
According to military expert Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Ovchinninkov , Moscow is not demanding that more Russian military bases should be set up in Belarus in return for the supply of advanced weapons .
`` I don ’ t think that the Lukashenko regime will hinge on joint Russian-Belarusian forces .
However , it will be a deterrent for internal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be one of the major premises for forming a Union Army that will protect the Union State from the border with Poland in the West to the border with Japan in the East , '' Ovchinnikov emphasized .
Izvestia : Hurricanes in US to cause oil price fluctuations Hurricane Zeta hitting the US Gulf of Mexico will cause oil price fluctuations but won ’ t bring major changes , said analysts interviewed by Izvestia .
The hurricane will have a short-term impact and no significant price fluctuations should be expected , Deputy Director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Milchakova pointed out .
According to her , oil prices would be hovering between $ 40 and $ 42 per barrel over the next few days .
Vygon Consulting Senior Consultant Ekaterina Kolbikova stressed that there were many other factors that could push prices down .
They include , in particular , expectations of declining oil demand due to the return of coronavirus restrictions and a potential rescheduling of the move to ease quotas within the OPEC+ deal , the expert explained .
`` Following the declaration of a ceasefire in Libya and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily oil output to 600,000 barrels , the hurricane ’ s impact takes a back seat , '' QBF Portfolio Manager Tural Gadirli noted .
He believes that the inflow of Libyan oil may worsen the oversupply on the oil market .
At the same time , the OPEC+ output cut deal is what continues to keep oil prices from falling , Milchakova stressed .
Specific decisions are expected to be made at the OPEC and OPEC+ summits in December , the analyst added .
Izvestia : Only quarter of Russians know what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can correctly answer the question as to what COVID-19 is , a poll conducted by Izvestia indicates .
At the same time , 45 % of those surveyed understand that people need to self-isolate in case of contact with an infected person .
However , experts point to a low level of COVID-19 awareness .
`` Our fellow citizens don ’ t always have enough trust in official information .
Besides , official data , as well as information about the coronavirus in general , is sometimes contradictory .
For instance , WHO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was ineffective but later they called for restrictions and demanded that masks should be mandatory at all times , '' Assistant Professor at Tyumen State University ’ s Department of General and Social Psychology Olga Andreyeva pointed out .
According to her , another reason behind the low coronavirus awareness is the human defense mechanism of denial .
It is partly child-like behavior based on the idea that if you don ’ t believe in the coronavirus it won ’ t affect you .
And if you start thinking about the threat , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s impossible to endure fear and anxiety for long , Andreyeva says .
Psychoanalyst Maxim Kozhemyakin , in turn , noted that `` there are too many so-called experts and too much information . ''
`` Often times , unqualified people claim to be experts and people fall victim to the misconceptions that these incompetent specialists spread , '' he stressed .
On the other hand , this is how people show their fatalistic tendencies , believing that it ’ s all fate and they can ’ t control the situation , Kozhemyakin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the material quoted in these press reviews .

Media: Armenia claims Pakistan joining Karabakh conflict on Azeri side
Read also Erdogan says Turkey has right to take part in Nagorno-Karabakh settlement process
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has brought Azerbaijan, Turkey and Pakistan much closer together, boosting their efforts to create a new strategic troika in Eurasia, Kommersant writes. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview with the Indian media that "there is information that militants from Pakistan are involved in the war against Karabakh." He earlier told Russian reporters about Pakistan’s active role in the conflict. In response, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev stated that Turkey and Pakistan supported Baku "but military assistance is out of the question." However, Baku and Islamabad make no secret of their political and diplomatic support for each other. "The main reason why Islamabad has joined the Karabakh game is rooted in the special relations between Pakistan and Turkey. The Pakistani military leadership has always highly valued its alliance with Ankara," said Andrei Serenko, who heads the Center for Contemporary Afghan Studies. "There have recently been reports about militants being recruited in Pakistan to fight in the Karabakh conflict, which is another move the Pakistani military is making in favor of its Turkish ally. Islamabad has little interest in the Karabakh issue itself, it is important for Pakistan primarily in relation to Turkey’s interests and in terms of boosting its strategic partnership," Serenko added. Meanwhile, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has visited Kazakhstan, Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes. Russian political scientist Arkady Dubnov believes that Turkey seeks to secure the support of Turkic nations in future talks on Nagorno-Karabakh. According to Kazakh political expert Zamir Karazhanov, Ankara is acting rather independently, without regard for NATO. It seeks to defend its own interests in the region and expand its area of interest to all Turkic countries. Izvestia: Pompeo tours South Asia in bid to bolster anti-China alliance
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is currently on a visit to India and is scheduled to travel to Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Indonesia afterwards. The goal of his trip is to clarify ways to jointly combat threats coming from China. However, not all countries are ready to take an anti-Chinese stance. Despite its rapprochement with the US, India is unlikely to join a military alliance with Washington, Izvestia writes. New Delhi has been boosting defense cooperation with Washington in recent years and began to show even more interest in cooperation with the US after a border conflict with China had broken out in May. As a new world order is emerging, countries will increasingly seek to harmonize their national interests with the interests of states that can be helpful in this regard, Observer Research Foundation President Samir Saran told the newspaper. According to Chaitanya Giri, an expert at India’s Gateway House think tank, Moscow has always understood New Delhi’s doctrine of strategic autonomy because even Russia-India trade depends on geopolitical stability in the Indo-Pacific region. After India, Pompeo will visit Sri Lanka, a country that received multibillion loans from China in the past years, which turned its leadership into Beijing’s loyal ally. Assistant Professor with the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at Birla Institute of Technology and Science Shamshad Ahmad Khan says that by spreading its economic influence, China has gained a foothold in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, which have always been India’s close friends. But now they depend on China’s financial assistance in the implementation of various development projects and it won’t be easy to draw them away from Beijing. Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Lukashenko may get support from Union State military integration
Read also Russia’s defense chief highlights tension along borders with NATO countries
Moscow and Minsk seek to demonstrate unity in defense integration matters amid the ongoing political unrest in Belarus. The outcome of a joint conference of the two countries’ defense ministries is more proof of it, Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes. In a way, Lukashenko’s national problems are Russia’s problems too since Belarus is part of the Union State. It’s hard to say whether a Union Army will be formed in the coming years but both Moscow and Minsk have shown their intention to create unified armed forces as domestic instability mounts in Belarus. The two countries made their position clear on Tuesday by greenlighting the plan for the Zapad-2021 joint strategic drills. "Approaches to repelling potential aggression against Russia and Belarus were developed at the time of the Zapad-2017 exercise, when NATO countries were relocating troops to the Baltic states and Poland. Now, their troops are present there constantly, on a rotation basis," military expert Lieutenant General Yuri Netkachev told the paper. Meanwhile, there is no specific information about the future of defense integration between Russia and Belarus. According to military expert Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Ovchinninkov, Moscow is not demanding that more Russian military bases should be set up in Belarus in return for the supply of advanced weapons. "I don’t think that the Lukashenko regime will hinge on joint Russian-Belarusian forces. However, it will be a deterrent for internal and external enemies. It may also be one of the major premises for forming a Union Army that will protect the Union State from the border with Poland in the West to the border with Japan in the East," Ovchinnikov emphasized. Izvestia: Hurricanes in US to cause oil price fluctuations
Read also Recovery of global economy and oil demand may start in 2021 — Rosneft CEO
Hurricane Zeta hitting the US Gulf of Mexico will cause oil price fluctuations but won’t bring major changes, said analysts interviewed by Izvestia. The hurricane will have a short-term impact and no significant price fluctuations should be expected, Deputy Director of Alpari’s Analytical Department Natalya Milchakova pointed out. According to her, oil prices would be hovering between $40 and $42 per barrel over the next few days. Vygon Consulting Senior Consultant Ekaterina Kolbikova stressed that there were many other factors that could push prices down. They include, in particular, expectations of declining oil demand due to the return of coronavirus restrictions and a potential rescheduling of the move to ease quotas within the OPEC+ deal, the expert explained. "Following the declaration of a ceasefire in Libya and the recovery of the country’s daily oil output to 600,000 barrels, the hurricane’s impact takes a back seat," QBF Portfolio Manager Tural Gadirli noted. He believes that the inflow of Libyan oil may worsen the oversupply on the oil market. At the same time, the OPEC+ output cut deal is what continues to keep oil prices from falling, Milchakova stressed. Specific decisions are expected to be made at the OPEC and OPEC+ summits in December, the analyst added. Izvestia: Only quarter of Russians know what COVID-19 is


tass--2020-10-28--Russia to start deploying new cluster of Sfera next-generation satellites from 2021

MOSCOW , October 28 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s State Space Corporation Roscosmos will start establishing a new cluster of over 600 satellites under the Sfera ( Sphere ) program from 2021 , Roscosmos Chief Dmitry Rogozin announced on Wednesday .
`` From 2021 , we are beginning to deploy the Sfera multi-satellite constellation that will include next-generation , multi-spectrum satellites , '' Rogozin said at the business forum of the Eurasian Economic Union ( EAEU ) titled : ‘ Integration .
Advanced Development Strategy.
’ Special attention will be paid to providing broadband Internet access and communications , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with the help of the Sfera satellite grouping , the Roscosmos chief said .
From next year , Russia will also have radar vision devices `` that will make it possible to see both at night and through the fog and clouds , '' Rogozin said .
`` We are ready to share this information with our partners in the Eurasian Economic Union , '' the Roscosmos chief said .
The Sfera program was highlighted by Russian President Vladimir Putin during his annual Q & A session on June 7 , 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communications and Earth ’ s remote sensing satellites in the next few years , he said .
The deployment of Russia ’ s new multi-satellite cluster was stipulated in the ‘ Digital Economy ’ national program until 2024 approved in the summer of 2017 .
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov earlier said in an interview with the daily Vedomosti that the government had set aside over 10 billion rubles ( about $ 130 million ) in the 2020-2022 budget for the project of establishing the Sfera orbital satellite grouping .

MOSCOW, October 28. /TASS/. Russia’s State Space Corporation Roscosmos will start establishing a new cluster of over 600 satellites under the Sfera (Sphere) program from 2021, Roscosmos Chief Dmitry Rogozin announced on Wednesday.
"From 2021, we are beginning to deploy the Sfera multi-satellite constellation that will include next-generation, multi-spectrum satellites," Rogozin said at the business forum of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) titled: ‘Integration. Advanced Development Strategy.’
Special attention will be paid to providing broadband Internet access and communications, particularly, along the Northern Sea Route, with the help of the Sfera satellite grouping, the Roscosmos chief said.
From next year, Russia will also have radar vision devices "that will make it possible to see both at night and through the fog and clouds," Rogozin said.
"We are ready to share this information with our partners in the Eurasian Economic Union," the Roscosmos chief said.
The Sfera program was highlighted by Russian President Vladimir Putin during his annual Q&A session on June 7, 2018. Russia plans to launch over 600 communications and Earth’s remote sensing satellites in the next few years, he said.
The deployment of Russia’s new multi-satellite cluster was stipulated in the ‘Digital Economy’ national program until 2024 approved in the summer of 2017. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov earlier said in an interview with the daily Vedomosti that the government had set aside over 10 billion rubles (about $130 million) in the 2020-2022 budget for the project of establishing the Sfera orbital satellite grouping.


tass--2020-10-28--Georgia records over 1,700 coronavirus cases in the past day

TBILISI , October 28 .
/TASS/ .
Georgia ’ s coronavirus cases rose by 1,731 in the past 24 hours , taking the total case tally to 33,858 , the government ’ s website informing about the infection ’ s spread said on Wednesday .
On Tuesday , 1,824 new cases were reported , as preceded by 1,872 cases on October 26 and 1,928 on October 25 .
October 24 saw a record high number of 1,941 COVID-19 cases during the entire pandemic .
Georgia reported a record high number of recoveries - 2,197 - in the past 24 hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 43.8 % of all those infected ) .
The number of those quarantined in the past day dropped by 250 to 3,507 .
Some 2,344 people are undergoing treatment in special hotels under medical supervision , which is 106 more than a day earlier .
In the past eight days the coronavirus spread rate remained at 1.1 .
Some 0.91 % of Georgia ’ s 3.7 mln population got infected .
Fifteen people died in the past day , bringing the total COVID-19 death toll to 253 .
A total of 860,418 tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the republic , covering some 23.15 % of Georgian citizens .

TBILISI, October 28. /TASS/. Georgia’s coronavirus cases rose by 1,731 in the past 24 hours, taking the total case tally to 33,858, the government’s website informing about the infection’s spread said on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, 1,824 new cases were reported, as preceded by 1,872 cases on October 26 and 1,928 on October 25. October 24 saw a record high number of 1,941 COVID-19 cases during the entire pandemic.
Georgia reported a record high number of recoveries - 2,197 - in the past 24 hours. The total recoveries reached 14,829 (43.8% of all those infected). The number of those quarantined in the past day dropped by 250 to 3,507. Some 2,344 people are undergoing treatment in special hotels under medical supervision, which is 106 more than a day earlier.
In the past eight days the coronavirus spread rate remained at 1.1. Some 0.91% of Georgia’s 3.7 mln population got infected.
Fifteen people died in the past day, bringing the total COVID-19 death toll to 253. A total of 860,418 tests for the coronavirus were carried out in the republic, covering some 23.15% of Georgian citizens.


tass--2020-10-28--Air leak spot aboard orbital outpost looks more like a scratch, says cosmonaut

MOSCOW , October 28 .
/TASS/ .
The air leakage place discovered aboard the International Space Station ( ISS ) looks more like a scratch 2-3 cm long , Cosmonaut Anatoly Ivanishin said at a post-flight press conference on Wednesday .
`` What we see is what I would describe as a scratch .
I am not inclined to use the word ‘ crack ’ because we can not look deep into the metal ’ s structure .
This scratch is several centimeters long , about 2-3 cm , '' the cosmonaut said .
The scratch is curvilinear , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August that the space station ’ s Russian-American crew was working on tracing an air leak aboard the orbital outpost .
Later , Russia ’ s State Space Corporation Roscosmos confirmed this information .
The ISS crew reported to Russia ’ s Flight Control Center on the morning of October 15 that the cosmonauts had found the possible air leak spot in the inter-section compartment of the Zvezda module with the help of a tea bag .
As the cosmonauts said , the air was possibly leaking through a fracture .
The crack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and posed no threat to the space station ’ s safety , Roscosmos specified .
The air leak spot has now been sealed with temporary means .
Meanwhile , a source in the space industry told TASS that the air leak would be fully eliminated after the Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft ’ s landing .
As the source explained , this measure was required to make some measurements with the closed hatches .
The scratch the air is leaking through aboard the ISS was spotted by cosmonaut Ivan Vagner , Ivanishin said .
Tea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leak spot , he explained .
`` We tried this in the evening before closing the hatch and then we opened the hatch and it was only in the evening that my colleague Ivan discovered that a large amount of tea leaves had amassed in a certain place , '' Ivanishin noted .
When Vagner stirred the tea leaves , those that flew to a distance of over half a centimeter would fly away while those that moved away to a shorter distance would be drawn back .
This could be observed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Later , the ISS crew made an experiment with extra tea , taking photos and video , including close-ups of that particular place , Ivanishin said .
Air leak aboard orbital outpost to be sealed with something 'more serious' Specialists of Russia ’ s Energia Space Rocket Corporation are working on how to eliminate the scratch that caused the air leak on the International Space Station , Ivanishin said .
`` My understanding is that Energia specialists are working on this problem and do not want to rush .
They are working on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This will not be Kapton tape , this will be something more serious .
But it is early to speak about that , '' the cosmonaut said .
After the cosmonauts plugged the scratch on the ISS with the Kapton tape , the air pressure continued falling aboard the orbital outpost but the air leak rate dropped , Ivanishin said .
Ivanishin and Vagner recently discussed the air leak with their colleagues who had come across the same problem in the habitation module of the Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft .
`` They told us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the ultra-sound detector all the same registered the leakage , '' Ivanishin noted , stressing that the Kapton tape could not fully seal the air leak but could reduce the pressure drop .
The descent capsule of the Soyuz MS-16 manned spacecraft landed in Kazakhstan on the morning of October 22 .
The re-entry vehicle delivered Roscosmos cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner and NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy back to Earth .
Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov and Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and NASA astronaut Kathleen Rubins continue working aboard the ISS .

MOSCOW, October 28. /TASS/. The air leakage place discovered aboard the International Space Station (ISS) looks more like a scratch 2-3 cm long, Cosmonaut Anatoly Ivanishin said at a post-flight press conference on Wednesday.
"What we see is what I would describe as a scratch. I am not inclined to use the word ‘crack’ because we cannot look deep into the metal’s structure. This scratch is several centimeters long, about 2-3 cm," the cosmonaut said.
The scratch is curvilinear, he added.
A source told TASS in August that the space station’s Russian-American crew was working on tracing an air leak aboard the orbital outpost. Later, Russia’s State Space Corporation Roscosmos confirmed this information.
The ISS crew reported to Russia’s Flight Control Center on the morning of October 15 that the cosmonauts had found the possible air leak spot in the inter-section compartment of the Zvezda module with the help of a tea bag. As the cosmonauts said, the air was possibly leaking through a fracture. The crack was no more than 4 cm wide and posed no threat to the space station’s safety, Roscosmos specified.
The air leak spot has now been sealed with temporary means. Meanwhile, a source in the space industry told TASS that the air leak would be fully eliminated after the Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft’s landing. As the source explained, this measure was required to make some measurements with the closed hatches.
Air leak spotted by cosmonaut Vagner
The scratch the air is leaking through aboard the ISS was spotted by cosmonaut Ivan Vagner, Ivanishin said.
Tea leaves helped the crew find the air leak spot, he explained.
"We tried this in the evening before closing the hatch and then we opened the hatch and it was only in the evening that my colleague Ivan discovered that a large amount of tea leaves had amassed in a certain place," Ivanishin noted.
When Vagner stirred the tea leaves, those that flew to a distance of over half a centimeter would fly away while those that moved away to a shorter distance would be drawn back. This could be observed for several seconds, the cosmonaut explained.
Later, the ISS crew made an experiment with extra tea, taking photos and video, including close-ups of that particular place, Ivanishin said.
Air leak aboard orbital outpost to be sealed with something 'more serious'
Specialists of Russia’s Energia Space Rocket Corporation are working on how to eliminate the scratch that caused the air leak on the International Space Station, Ivanishin said.
"My understanding is that Energia specialists are working on this problem and do not want to rush. They are working on the systemic solution to this problem. This will not be Kapton tape, this will be something more serious. But it is early to speak about that," the cosmonaut said.
After the cosmonauts plugged the scratch on the ISS with the Kapton tape, the air pressure continued falling aboard the orbital outpost but the air leak rate dropped, Ivanishin said.
Ivanishin and Vagner recently discussed the air leak with their colleagues who had come across the same problem in the habitation module of the Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft. "They told us that when they used the Kapton tape, the ultra-sound detector all the same registered the leakage," Ivanishin noted, stressing that the Kapton tape could not fully seal the air leak but could reduce the pressure drop.
Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft’s landing
The descent capsule of the Soyuz MS-16 manned spacecraft landed in Kazakhstan on the morning of October 22. The re-entry vehicle delivered Roscosmos cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner and NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy back to Earth.
Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov and Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and NASA astronaut Kathleen Rubins continue working aboard the ISS.


tass--2020-10-28--Moscow registers lowest number of coronavirus cases since October 8

MOSCOW , October 28 .
/TASS/ .
Coronavirus cases in Moscow grew by 3,670 in the past twenty-four hours , Moscow Chief Sanitary Doctor Yelena Andreyeva said during an online session of the Moscow legislature on Wednesday .
`` As of today , the figure for new infections that will be announced by the anti-coronavirus crisis center will be 3,670 people , '' she said .
This is the lowest level of new daily coronavirus cases in Moscow since October 8 when 3,323 infections were identified .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials informed the World Health Organization ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe , including Russia .
On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .
According to the latest statistics , over 44,285,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 1,172,130 deaths have been reported .
In addition , so far , over 32,467,180 individuals have recovered from the illness across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , with 1,171,301 patients having recovered from the disease .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates 26,935 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, October 28. /TASS/. Coronavirus cases in Moscow grew by 3,670 in the past twenty-four hours, Moscow Chief Sanitary Doctor Yelena Andreyeva said during an online session of the Moscow legislature on Wednesday.
"As of today, the figure for new infections that will be announced by the anti-coronavirus crisis center will be 3,670 people," she said.
This is the lowest level of new daily coronavirus cases in Moscow since October 8 when 3,323 infections were identified.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia.
On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. According to the latest statistics, over 44,285,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 1,172,130 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 32,467,180 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.
To date, 1,563,976 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 1,171,301 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 26,935 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-10-28--Ukraine records 7,474 new daily coronavirus cases

KIEV , October 28 .
/TASS/ .
As many as 7,474 coronavirus cases were identified in Ukraine in the past @ @ @ @ @ 's National Security and Defense Council said in a statement on Wednesday .
`` As @ @ @ @ @ cases were confirmed in Ukraine on Wednesday , October 28 .
The total number of @ @ @ @ @ '' the statement reads .
A total of 6,677 cases were recorded in Ukraine on @ @ @

KIEV, October 28. /TASS/. As many as 7,474 coronavirus cases were identified in Ukraine in the past 24 hours, the country's National Security and Defense Council said in a statement on Wednesday.
"As many as 7,474 new coronavirus cases were confirmed in Ukraine on Wednesday, October 28. The total number of cases has reached 363,075," the statement reads.
A total of 6,677 cases were recorded in Ukraine on October 27.


tass--2020-10-28--Russia’s coronavirus spread rate hits record low since early September

In ten regions with the biggest case tally the situation has relatively stabilized and in the majority of them the rate has been gradually declining .
In two regions this rate does not exceed 1 .
Besides Moscow , where for the first time since October 15 less than 4,000 new cases were recorded , this is the Khanty Mansi Autonomous Region , where a 1 rate was registered .
In St. Petersburg the coronavirus spread rate hit a record low of 1.02 since September 25 .
On the contrary , in the Rostov Region , in southern Russia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reached 1.03 for the first time in the past five days .
In the Moscow Region and the Nizhny Novgorod Region the rate plunged to 1.06 .
The figure stood at 1.08 in the Sverdlovsk Region , 1.09 in the Krasnoyarsk Region , 1.1 in the Voronezh Region and 1.13 in the Irkutsk Region .
High coronavirus spread rates indicate the growing number of COVID-19 cases in Russia in the past few weeks .
Since early September , Russia has been registering over 5,000 new coronavirus infections daily .
On October 26 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new coronavirus cases .
The coronavirus spread rate shows the number of people one patient can infect before being isolated .
Along with other criteria , it was used to define the regions ’ readiness for a step-by-step removal of restrictions introduced this spring to combat the epidemic .
Now this rate is used to adopt decisions on resuming regular passenger service with foreign countries .
In accordance with the Federal Service for Surveillance of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing ’ s recommendations , the borders with a country may be opened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exceed 1 for a week .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials informed the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe , including Russia .
On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .
According to the latest statistics , over 44.2 mln people have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mln deaths have been reported .
In addition , so far , over 32.4 mln individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe .

In ten regions with the biggest case tally the situation has relatively stabilized and in the majority of them the rate has been gradually declining. In two regions this rate does not exceed 1. Besides Moscow, where for the first time since October 15 less than 4,000 new cases were recorded, this is the Khanty Mansi Autonomous Region, where a 1 rate was registered.
In St. Petersburg the coronavirus spread rate hit a record low of 1.02 since September 25. On the contrary, in the Rostov Region, in southern Russia, the coronavirus spread rate exceeded 1 and reached 1.03 for the first time in the past five days. In the Moscow Region and the Nizhny Novgorod Region the rate plunged to 1.06. The figure stood at 1.08 in the Sverdlovsk Region, 1.09 in the Krasnoyarsk Region, 1.1 in the Voronezh Region and 1.13 in the Irkutsk Region.
High coronavirus spread rates indicate the growing number of COVID-19 cases in Russia in the past few weeks. Since early September, Russia has been registering over 5,000 new coronavirus infections daily. On October 26, Russia registered a record high of 17,347 new coronavirus cases.
The coronavirus spread rate shows the number of people one patient can infect before being isolated. Along with other criteria, it was used to define the regions’ readiness for a step-by-step removal of restrictions introduced this spring to combat the epidemic. Now this rate is used to adopt decisions on resuming regular passenger service with foreign countries.
In accordance with the Federal Service for Surveillance of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing’s recommendations, the borders with a country may be opened if the coronavirus spread rate does not exceed 1 for a week.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia.
On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. According to the latest statistics, over 44.2 mln people have been infected worldwide and more than 1.1 mln deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 32.4 mln individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.


tass--2020-10-28--Russia documents record-high 346 deaths from COVID-19 in past 24 hours

MOSCOW , October 28 .
/TASS/ .
Russia has documented 346 deaths from COVID-19 , a disease caused by the novel coronavirus , in the past 24 hours , which is a record daily high since the start of the pandemic , the anti-coronavirus crisis center informed on Wednesday .
Coronavirus cases hit all-time high weekly number of over 2.8 million — WHO The day before , 320 deaths were documented .
The overall death toll from COVID-19 in Russia stands at 26,935 .
The preliminary lethality rate ( the final figure can be determined only after the epidemic ends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s coronavirus cases grew by 16,202 in the past day to 1,563,97 .
The average growth rate in cases dropped to 1 % .
The lowest growth rates were registered in the Chechen Republic ( 0.4 % ) and the Dagestan Republic ( 0.5 % ) .
Some 3,670 new cases were confirmed in Moscow , 727 in St. Petersburg , 377 in the Nizhny Novgorod Region , 317 in the Arkhangelsk Region and 314 in the Rostov Region .
Currently , 365,740 people are undergoing treatment for the coronavirus in Russia @

MOSCOW, October 28. /TASS/. Russia has documented 346 deaths from COVID-19, a disease caused by the novel coronavirus, in the past 24 hours, which is a record daily high since the start of the pandemic, the anti-coronavirus crisis center informed on Wednesday.
Coronavirus cases hit all-time high weekly number of over 2.8 million — WHO
The day before, 320 deaths were documented.
The overall death toll from COVID-19 in Russia stands at 26,935. The preliminary lethality rate (the final figure can be determined only after the epidemic ends) remains at 1.72%.
Russia’s coronavirus cases grew by 16,202 in the past day to 1,563,97.
The average growth rate in cases dropped to 1%.
The lowest growth rates were registered in the Chechen Republic (0.4%) and the Dagestan Republic (0.5%).
Some 3,670 new cases were confirmed in Moscow, 727 in St. Petersburg, 377 in the Nizhny Novgorod Region, 317 in the Arkhangelsk Region and 314 in the Rostov Region.
Currently, 365,740 people are undergoing treatment for the coronavirus in Russia.


tass--2020-10-28--Over 300,000 people recover from COVID-19 in Moscow

MOSCOW , October 28 .
/TASS/ .
In the past 24 hours , 3,577 people have recovered from COVID-19 , @ @ @ @ @ novel coronavirus , in Moscow , the capital ’ s deputy mayor Anastasia Rakova told @ @ @ @ @ The number of recoveries in Moscow keeps rising .
In the past day , another @ @ @ @ @ treatment .
The total number of people who recovered from the infection has grown to @ @ @ @ @ .
All patients will remain under medical supervision after being discharged from hospitals and will @ @ @ @ @ Moscow citizens have been asked to donate their plasma to treat coronavirus patients .
People @ @ @ @ @ have recovered from COVID-19 can become blood plasma donors , provided they don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ negative for HIV , Hepatitis B and C .

MOSCOW, October 28. /TASS/. In the past 24 hours, 3,577 people have recovered from COVID-19, a disease caused by the novel coronavirus, in Moscow, the capital’s deputy mayor Anastasia Rakova told reporters on Wednesday.
"The number of recoveries in Moscow keeps rising. In the past day, another 3,577 patients recovered after undergoing treatment. The total number of people who recovered from the infection has grown to 300,051," Rakova said.
All patients will remain under medical supervision after being discharged from hospitals and will receive recommendations.
The recovered Moscow citizens have been asked to donate their plasma to treat coronavirus patients. People aged 18 to 55 who have recovered from COVID-19 can become blood plasma donors, provided they don’t have chronic illnesses and test negative for HIV, Hepatitis B and C.


tass--2020-10-28--Russian restaurants, bars losing 22% year-on-year in revenues in October

MOSCOW , October 28 .
/TASS/ .
Russian restaurants and bars lost almost a quarter in revenues over the first @ @ @ @ @ in annual term , the largest Russian fiscal data operator Platforma OFD says in its @ @ @ @ @ `` Sales of restaurants and bars turned out to be 22 % lower within the @ @ @ @ @ 2020 against the like period in 2019 .
The average purchase amount is 933 rubles @ @ @ @ @ 9 % above the last-year figure , '' the research says .
The decline in @ @ @ @ @ was 20 % year-on-year .
The average purchase amount totaled 350 rubles ( $ 4.5 @ @ @ @ @ against the like period of the last year .
Restaurants and cafes also experienced the @ @ @ @ @ year-on-year in September 2020 .
The average bill was 950 rubles ( $ 12.3 ) @ @ @ @ @ 10 % above the last-year level .
Sales in cafes and canteens dropped by 17 @ @ @ @ @ gained 13 % annually to 368 rubles ( $ 4.5 ) .

MOSCOW, October 28. /TASS/. Russian restaurants and bars lost almost a quarter in revenues over the first three weeks of October 2020 in annual term, the largest Russian fiscal data operator Platforma OFD says in its research available with TASS.
"Sales of restaurants and bars turned out to be 22% lower within the period of October 1-20, 2020 against the like period in 2019. The average purchase amount is 933 rubles ($12.1), 9% above the last-year figure," the research says.
The decline in cafes and canteens’ sales was 20% year-on-year. The average purchase amount totaled 350 rubles ($4.5), up 9% against the like period of the last year.
Restaurants and cafes also experienced the sales drop by 15% year-on-year in September 2020. The average bill was 950 rubles ($12.3) in restaurants, which is 10% above the last-year level. Sales in cafes and canteens dropped by 17% but the average bill gained 13% annually to 368 rubles ($4.5).


tass--2020-10-28--Shanghai Electric is Welding Boiler of Thar Coal Block-1 2x660MW Power

SHANGHAI , October 28 .
/PRNewswire/ .
Shanghai Electric ( the `` Company '' ) ( SEHK : 02727 , SSE : 601727 ) , the world 's leading manufacturer and supplier of electric power generation equipment , industrial equipment and integration services , has reached another milestone with the start of the soldering process of the heating surface of a boiler of Thar Coal Block-1 2x660MW Power Plant Project in Pakistan .
The Company also held a soldering competition among welders to encourage and empower local workers to demonstrate their professional expertise under the guidance spirit of pursuing perfection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of 8 Chinese and Pakistani welders on-site was conducted as part of the ongoing training , and the top three places were taken by a Chinese welder and two Pakistani welders .
`` We 're glad to see our welders accomplish difficult soldering tasks in the contest , and we see this as a part of our ongoing training for workers to deliver quality results , '' Qian Xiaolei , PR Manager of the project , said .
The participants were required to complete multiple missions within 40 minutes , including tasks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debugging , plate splicing and plate vertical welding .
The participants were evaluated by 12 key aspects such as weld forming , weld residual height , width difference , angular deformation and root forming , which is in line with international welding regulations .
The Project has entered the stage of equipment installation as the Company began the soldering process of the heating surface of the boiler .
The contest comes as Shanghai Electric further builds its presence in Pakistan .
The Company has overcome challenges in constructing the project as the industrial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the supply of equipment and construction materials were lacking amidst the Covid-19 pandemic .
To ensure a smooth construction process , the Company actively coordinated personnel and supplies , and flew a team of installation professionals to the site .
The team carefully checked the conditions of the construction , planned the heating surface installation , and ensured welders are qualified to conduct such work .
After thorough evaluation , Shanghai Electric successfully carried out the soldering work of the unit 1 boiler with 29 welded junctions of The Project , that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Company Limited ( SEHK : 02727 , SSE : 601727 ) is principally engaged in the designing , manufacturing and sale of power equipment and industrial equipment .
It focuses on Energy Equipment Business including manufacturing and sale of coal-fired power generation equipment , gas-fired power generation equipment , nuclear power equipment , wind power equipment , energy storage equipment , high-end chemical equipment , power grid and industrial intelligent power supply system solutions , Industrial Equipment Business including production and sale of elevators , medium and large-sized electric motors , intelligent manufacturing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protection equipment , construction industrialization equipment and the Integrated Services Business including energy , environmental protection and automation engineering and services , industrial internet services , financial services , international trade services , high-end property services , etc .

SHANGHAI, October 28. /PRNewswire/. Shanghai Electric (the "Company") (SEHK: 02727, SSE: 601727), the world's leading manufacturer and supplier of electric power generation equipment, industrial equipment and integration services, has reached another milestone with the start of the soldering process of the heating surface of a boiler of Thar Coal Block-1 2x660MW Power Plant Project in Pakistan. The Company also held a soldering competition among welders to encourage and empower local workers to demonstrate their professional expertise under the guidance spirit of pursuing perfection.
A soldering contest with a total number of 8 Chinese and Pakistani welders on-site was conducted as part of the ongoing training, and the top three places were taken by a Chinese welder and two Pakistani welders.
"We're glad to see our welders accomplish difficult soldering tasks in the contest, and we see this as a part of our ongoing training for workers to deliver quality results," Qian Xiaolei, PR Manager of the project, said.
The participants were required to complete multiple missions within 40 minutes, including tasks such as switching welding machines, welding debugging, plate splicing and plate vertical welding. The participants were evaluated by 12 key aspects such as weld forming, weld residual height, width difference, angular deformation and root forming, which is in line with international welding regulations.
The Project has entered the stage of equipment installation as the Company began the soldering process of the heating surface of the boiler.
The contest comes as Shanghai Electric further builds its presence in Pakistan. The Company has overcome challenges in constructing the project as the industrial environment in Pakistan is less developed and the supply of equipment and construction materials were lacking amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
To ensure a smooth construction process, the Company actively coordinated personnel and supplies, and flew a team of installation professionals to the site. The team carefully checked the conditions of the construction, planned the heating surface installation, and ensured welders are qualified to conduct such work. After thorough evaluation, Shanghai Electric successfully carried out the soldering work of the unit 1 boiler with 29 welded junctions of The Project, that is qualified for use.
About Shanghai Electric
Shanghai Electric Group Company Limited (SEHK: 02727, SSE: 601727) is principally engaged in the designing, manufacturing and sale of power equipment and industrial equipment. It focuses on Energy Equipment Business including manufacturing and sale of coal-fired power generation equipment, gas-fired power generation equipment, nuclear power equipment, wind power equipment, energy storage equipment, high-end chemical equipment, power grid and industrial intelligent power supply system solutions, Industrial Equipment Business including production and sale of elevators, medium and large-sized electric motors, intelligent manufacturing equipment, industrial basic parts, environmental protection equipment, construction industrialization equipment and the Integrated Services Business including energy, environmental protection and automation engineering and services, industrial internet services, financial services, international trade services, high-end property services, etc.
Related Link
www.shanghai-electric.com
Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1320934/Shanghai_Electric.mp4
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1159638/LOGO_Logo.jpg
CONTACT: Shen Jin, +86(21)23196217, Email: shenjin@shanghai-electric.com


tass--2020-10-28--Amazfit is launching smartwatches Amazfit GTR 2 and Amazfit GTS 2

SHENZHEN , China , October 28 .
/PRNewswire/ .
Amazfit is launching the two latest editions of its smartwatches from its popular Fashion series of wearables this season .
The Amazfit GTR 2 blends traditional watch design with extensive fitness and health tracking features and will launch in the UK and the US on 30 October ; the sleek and stylish Amazfit GTS 2 will launch in the US on 1 November and will be available in the UK on 15 November .
Voice control + Amazon Alexa built-in [ 1 ] makes life easier , more efficient and more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steel or black aluminum alloy case , the Amazfit GTR 2 has a classic look , featuring a round 1.39-inch AMOLED display with crafted 3D curved glass that 's clear and easy to read .
The slim Amazfit GTS 2 has a rectangular 1.65-inch AMOLED screen and is available with either a midnight black , desert gold or urban grey aluminum alloy case plus matching strap .
Both watch displays are made from 3D Corning Gorilla glass with optical Diamond-like Carbon ( oDLC ) and anti-fingerprint coatings , which makes the screen exceptionally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easy to keep clean .
A fully rotatable screen makes the watches equally comfortable whether you are lefthanded or righthanded .
The Amazfit GTR 2 and Amazfit GTS 2 offer high-precision heart rate monitoring .
Equipped with the BioTracker™ 2 PPG optical sensor , which tracks your heart rate 24/7 , it monitors your resting heart rate , heart rate zones and provides you with abnormal heart rate warnings , to better understand your heart health .
The BioTracker™ 2 PPG also supports OxygenBeats™ [ 3 ] to measure blood-oxygen saturation .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physical activity such as participating in marathons or high-intensity outdoor sports , if you feel uncomfortable then you can measure your current blood-oxygen level in order to quickly understand your physical state , and keep your health firmly in your hands .
Sleep quality monitoring [ 4 ] ensures optimal performance and these Amazfit smartwatches monitor your sleep and makes it easier to understand your sleep patterns and improve sleep quality .
Once synchronized to the app you can learn more about how long you spend in light and deep sleep stages , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) sleep stage , and even daytime naps [ 5 ] .
Both smartwatches feature the innovative PAI™ Health Assessment System [ 6 ] that turns your heart rate data , tracked activities and other health data into a PAI score that lets you understand your physical well-being at a glance .
Both the Amazfit GT 2 series watches support stress monitoring that help you balance your stress levels .
Staying healthy means staying active , so the Amazfit GTR 2 and Amazfit GTS 2 include 12 popular sports modes [ 7 ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you start exercising .
Record distance , speed , heart rate changes , calories burned , and other exercise data during your workouts .
The Amazfit GT 2 watches have about 3GB of local music storage so you can listen to music without your phone .
With the addition of haptic vibration that delivers customizable haptic feedback when you receive calls or get notifications .
When you take your watch off a wear detection function will lock the watch to protect your privacy and you can add a password for extra security .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ these smartwatches let you take phone calls thanks to its Bluetooth call feature .
New Generation GT Watches Make Life Smarter , More Efficient and More Fun Now you 've got voice control , here 's where the GT 2 watches get super smart .
With Amazon Alexa built-in you can ask questions , search for information , get translations , create shopping lists , set alarms , timers and reminders , check the weather , control smart home devices and more .
You can talk to the Amazfit GTR 2 and Amazfit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your voice commands with text responses on screen .
For example , just say , Alexa lives in the cloud , so it 's always getting smarter , adding new capabilities that are delivered to your device .
An offline voice control feature also lets you perform voice operations on your watch even without Internet access , including turning on sports modes , heart rate tracking and more .
The long battery life of the GT 2 series watches means they will be with you on your journey every day of the week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 will launch on 30 October and costs GBP159 , while the Amazfit GTS 2 will launch on 15 November and will retail for GBP159 .
In the US the Amazfit GTR 2 will launch on 30 October and costs USD179 , while the Amazfit GTS 2 costs USD179 and will launch on 1 November .
For high-resolution product images [ 8 ] please download from here .

SHENZHEN, China, October 28. /PRNewswire/. Amazfit is launching the two latest editions of its smartwatches from its popular Fashion series of wearables this season. The Amazfit GTR 2 blends traditional watch design with extensive fitness and health tracking features and will launch in the UK and the US on 30 October; the sleek and stylish Amazfit GTS 2 will launch in the US on 1 November and will be available in the UK on 15 November.
Voice control + Amazon Alexa built-in[1] makes life easier, more efficient and more fun.
Elegant Design with Impressive Technology
Available with either a stainless steel or black aluminum alloy case, the Amazfit GTR 2 has a classic look, featuring a round 1.39-inch AMOLED display with crafted 3D curved glass that's clear and easy to read. The slim Amazfit GTS 2 has a rectangular 1.65-inch AMOLED screen and is available with either a midnight black, desert gold or urban grey aluminum alloy case plus matching strap.
Both watch displays are made from 3D Corning Gorilla glass with optical Diamond-like Carbon (oDLC) and anti-fingerprint coatings, which makes the screen exceptionally strong, more resistant to scratches and easy to keep clean. A fully rotatable screen makes the watches equally comfortable whether you are lefthanded or righthanded.
All-round Health & Fitness Management [2] Features
The Amazfit GTR 2 and Amazfit GTS 2 offer high-precision heart rate monitoring. Equipped with the BioTracker™ 2 PPG optical sensor, which tracks your heart rate 24/7, it monitors your resting heart rate, heart rate zones and provides you with abnormal heart rate warnings, to better understand your heart health.
The BioTracker™ 2 PPG also supports OxygenBeats™[3] to measure blood-oxygen saturation. When engaged in long-term mental work, or physical activity such as participating in marathons or high-intensity outdoor sports, if you feel uncomfortable then you can measure your current blood-oxygen level in order to quickly understand your physical state, and keep your health firmly in your hands.
Sleep quality monitoring[4] ensures optimal performance and these Amazfit smartwatches monitor your sleep and makes it easier to understand your sleep patterns and improve sleep quality. Once synchronized to the app you can learn more about how long you spend in light and deep sleep stages, including the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep stage, and even daytime naps[5].
Both smartwatches feature the innovative PAI™ Health Assessment System[6] that turns your heart rate data, tracked activities and other health data into a PAI score that lets you understand your physical well-being at a glance.
Both the Amazfit GT 2 series watches support stress monitoring that help you balance your stress levels.
Staying healthy means staying active, so the Amazfit GTR 2 and Amazfit GTS 2 include 12 popular sports modes[7] that are easy to activate any time you start exercising. Record distance, speed, heart rate changes, calories burned, and other exercise data during your workouts.
The Amazfit GT 2 watches have about 3GB of local music storage so you can listen to music without your phone. With the addition of haptic vibration that delivers customizable haptic feedback when you receive calls or get notifications.
When you take your watch off a wear detection function will lock the watch to protect your privacy and you can add a password for extra security.
With a built-in microphone and speaker, these smartwatches let you take phone calls thanks to its Bluetooth call feature.
New Generation GT Watches Make Life Smarter, More Efficient and More Fun
Now you've got voice control, here's where the GT 2 watches get super smart. With Amazon Alexa built-in you can ask questions, search for information, get translations, create shopping lists, set alarms, timers and reminders, check the weather, control smart home devices and more. You can talk to the Amazfit GTR 2 and Amazfit GTS 2 and Alexa will respond to your voice commands with text responses on screen. For example, just say,
"Alexa set a timer."
"Alexa add eggs to my shopping list."
"Alexa turn on the living room lights."
"Alexa how's the weather today?"
Alexa lives in the cloud, so it's always getting smarter, adding new capabilities that are delivered to your device.
An offline voice control feature also lets you perform voice operations on your watch even without Internet access, including turning on sports modes, heart rate tracking and more.
The long battery life of the GT 2 series watches means they will be with you on your journey every day of the week.
Pricing and availability
In the UK the Amazfit GTR 2 will launch on 30 October and costs GBP159, while the Amazfit GTS 2 will launch on 15 November and will retail for GBP159.
In the US the Amazfit GTR 2 will launch on 30 October and costs USD179, while the Amazfit GTS 2 costs USD179 and will launch on 1 November.
For high-resolution product images[8] please download from here.
[1] The Built-in Alexa of Amazfit GTR 2 and GTS 2 will be available by OTA upgrade soon. When available, notifications will appear via the Zepp APP (formerly known as Amazfit APP) and device. The OTA release time may vary by markets. [2] This product is not a medical device. The measurement data is intended for reference purposes only and should not be used to diagnose or monitor medical conditions. Additionally, data accuracy will be affected if the sensor area makes contact with skin that is tattooed, pigmented or deep-toned. [3] SpO 2 level can affect the oxygen level to various organs. If the level is too low, it could lead to dizziness, headaches, or cardiac arrest. This product is not medical equipment. The test data is meant solely for reference purposes and cannot be used to diagnose or monitor any medical conditions. [4] Sleep monitoring: can record evening sleep and naps. When it detects that the wearer is asleep between midnight and 6AM, the sleep time between 6PM of the previous day and 11AM can be recorded as night sleep time; sleep between 11AM and 6PM lasting more than 20 minutes is recorded as a nap. Sleep lasting less than 20 minutes is not recorded. [5] To monitor the REM cycle, the Sleep Assistant heart rate tracking mode must be enabled. During REM sleep, your eyes move quickly in different directions. Dreams typically happen during REM sleep. [6] The HUNT Fitness Study indicates that people who maintain a PAI™ score of 100 or higher show lower risk of hypertension, heart disease, and type-2 diabetes. HUNT Fitness Study: This study was conducted by Professor Ulrik Wisloff of the Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology. It lasted for more than 35 years and had more than 230,000 participants. [7] Outdoor running, treadmill, trail running, walking, outdoor cycling, indoor cycling, pool swimming, open water swimming, elliptical, free training, climbing, skiing. [8] The product images and screen content shown above are for reference purpose only. The actual product (including but not limited to its appearance, color and size) and screen display content (including but not limited to the background, UI and graphics) may differ slightly.
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1319796/PRN_Amazfit_GTR_2__Amazfit_GTS_2__classic_and_fashionable_smartwatches_with_a_comprehensive_range_of.jpg
CONTACT: Yunya Liu, liuyunya@huami.com, +86-15999658480


tass--2020-10-28--Coronavirus found on cargo from three Russian ships in China

SHANGHAI , October 28 .
/TASS/ .
Sanitary services of China ’ s eastern province of Shandong detected coronavirus on @ @ @ @ @ three Russian and one Dutch reefer ships , China ’ s main customs directorate said @ @ @ @ @ .
According to the Chinese authority , testing revealed the presence of coronavirus nucleic acid @ @ @ @ @ frozen food .
In line with Chinese regulations , import declarations for cargo delivered by @ @ @ @ @ Darlallcsevnaush Flot and Guldran Gursaami LTD , and Dutch ship Daalimpex Harlingen BV , will @ @ @ @ @ the country for a period of one week , starting October 28 .
About two @ @ @ @ @ outbreak of COVID-19 was registered in the city of Qingdao , Shandong province , after @ @ @ @ @ carriers of the virus .
On October 20 , city authorities ordered all imported frozen @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus because live virus was detected on a package of frozen fish several days before @ @ @

SHANGHAI, October 28. /TASS/. Sanitary services of China’s eastern province of Shandong detected coronavirus on packages of frozen seafood from three Russian and one Dutch reefer ships, China’s main customs directorate said on its website on Wednesday.
According to the Chinese authority, testing revealed the presence of coronavirus nucleic acid on several packages of imported frozen food.
In line with Chinese regulations, import declarations for cargo delivered by Russian vessels Proekt-1Gela LTD, Darlallcsevnaush Flot and Guldran Gursaami LTD, and Dutch ship Daalimpex Harlingen BV, will not be received all over the country for a period of one week, starting October 28.
About two weeks ago, a local outbreak of COVID-19 was registered in the city of Qingdao, Shandong province, after the discovery of several asymptomatic carriers of the virus. On October 20, city authorities ordered all imported frozen food be tested for novel coronavirus because live virus was detected on a package of frozen fish several days before the outbreak.


tass--2020-10-28--Cuba registers its second coronavirus vaccine — agency

HAVANA , October 28 .
/TASS/ .
Cuba has officially registered another vaccine against the novel coronavirus , with trials @ @ @ @ @ the Agencia Cubana de Noticias ( ACN ) reported on Tuesday .
The vaccine was @ @ @ @ @ previous vaccine , Soberana 01 , is already undergoing trials on about 700 volunteers .
@ @ @ @ @ are expected to be published in January 2021 .
A total of 6,678 coronavirus cases @ @ @ @ @ in Cuba , 128 of them fatal .
More than 6,000 patients have already recovered @

HAVANA, October 28. /TASS/. Cuba has officially registered another vaccine against the novel coronavirus, with trials expected to begin soon, the Agencia Cubana de Noticias (ACN) reported on Tuesday.
The vaccine was named Soberana 02. The previous vaccine, Soberana 01, is already undergoing trials on about 700 volunteers. Final results of the research are expected to be published in January 2021.
A total of 6,678 coronavirus cases have so far been registered in Cuba, 128 of them fatal. More than 6,000 patients have already recovered.


tass--2020-10-28--Ex-president Morales to return to Bolivia on November 9

BUENOS AIRES , October 28 .
/TASS/ .
Bolivia ’ s ex-president Evo Morales , forced to resign and flee amid large-scale protests last year , will return to the country on November 9 , senator-elect Andronico Rodriguez said .
`` Our brother , the ex-president , will enter [ Bolivia ] on November 9 , the day after [ president-elect Luis Arce ] is sworn in , '' Rodriguez said in an interview with the Telesur TV channel .
Earlier , a court in Bolivia cancelled the arrest warrant for Moralez , charged with terrorism after the interim government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interim government vowed that Morales would be arrested immediately after returning to the country .
Morales , however , said that he would return to Bolivia when he gets the opportunity .
Bolivia held a presidential election on October 20 , 2019 , which showed then-incumbent president Evo Morales grabbing most of the votes , according to the Bolivian Supreme Electoral Tribunal .
Carlos Mesa , his key opponent , announced that he did not concede the election and would not recognize the victory of Morales in the first round .
After the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opponents organized protest rallies and the country plunged into unrest and turmoil .
After three weeks of chaos , Morales stepped down branding the developments as coup d ’ etat .
He left for Mexico , and then arrived in Argentina , where he received refugee status .
On October 18 , Bolivia held presidential and parliamentary elections .
Former Minister of Economy of Bolivia and the candidate for Evo Morales ’ s Movement Towards Socialism ( MAS ) party Luis Arce won the election .

BUENOS AIRES, October 28. /TASS/. Bolivia’s ex-president Evo Morales, forced to resign and flee amid large-scale protests last year, will return to the country on November 9, senator-elect Andronico Rodriguez said.
"Our brother, the ex-president, will enter [Bolivia] on November 9, the day after [president-elect Luis Arce] is sworn in," Rodriguez said in an interview with the Telesur TV channel.
Earlier, a court in Bolivia cancelled the arrest warrant for Moralez, charged with terrorism after the interim government took power in the country. The interim government vowed that Morales would be arrested immediately after returning to the country. Morales, however, said that he would return to Bolivia when he gets the opportunity.
Bolivia held a presidential election on October 20, 2019, which showed then-incumbent president Evo Morales grabbing most of the votes, according to the Bolivian Supreme Electoral Tribunal. Carlos Mesa, his key opponent, announced that he did not concede the election and would not recognize the victory of Morales in the first round. After the results were officially released, Morales’ opponents organized protest rallies and the country plunged into unrest and turmoil. After three weeks of chaos, Morales stepped down branding the developments as coup d’etat. He left for Mexico, and then arrived in Argentina, where he received refugee status.
On October 18, Bolivia held presidential and parliamentary elections. Former Minister of Economy of Bolivia and the candidate for Evo Morales’s Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party Luis Arce won the election.


tass--2020-10-28--Europe launches design work for space junk removal project

MOSCOW , October 28 .
/TASS/ .
Design work on systems of Clearspace-1 , a mission to remove space debris from the orbit , began in Europe this summer , the head of the European Space Agency ( ESA ) ’ s Moscow office , Rene Pischel , told TASS .
`` Technical work on the project began in July 2020 , with joint meetings of ESA and ClearSpace technical specialists , design of systems , work on the flight segment and so on , '' he said .
A private consortium led by ClearSpace SA , an affiliate of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( EPFL ) , won the tender to design the spacecraft .
The consortium also includes Airbus , OHB , Deimos , APCO , RUAG and other companies .
The signing of the development contract is scheduled for November 2020 .
The ceremony was expected to take place this summer , but was postponed due to the novel coronavirus pandemic .
The text of the document was approved during a ministerial meeting of the project ’ s donor countries back in November 2019 .
The Clearspace project is aimed at removing from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of space junk , which have the potential of generating thousands of small shards in case of disintegration .
The mission ’ s first target is Vespa ( Vega Secondary Payload Adapter ) , the upper stage left in orbit after the second flight of ESA ’ s Vega launcher back in 2013 .
It is now located at the altitude of approximately 660-800 km above the ground .

MOSCOW, October 28. /TASS/. Design work on systems of Clearspace-1, a mission to remove space debris from the orbit, began in Europe this summer, the head of the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Moscow office, Rene Pischel, told TASS.
"Technical work on the project began in July 2020, with joint meetings of ESA and ClearSpace technical specialists, design of systems, work on the flight segment and so on," he said.
A private consortium led by ClearSpace SA, an affiliate of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), won the tender to design the spacecraft. The consortium also includes Airbus, OHB, Deimos, APCO, RUAG and other companies.
The signing of the development contract is scheduled for November 2020. The ceremony was expected to take place this summer, but was postponed due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. The text of the document was approved during a ministerial meeting of the project’s donor countries back in November 2019.
The Clearspace project is aimed at removing from the orbit inactive satellites and other large pieces of space junk, which have the potential of generating thousands of small shards in case of disintegration. The mission’s first target is Vespa (Vega Secondary Payload Adapter), the upper stage left in orbit after the second flight of ESA’s Vega launcher back in 2013. It is now located at the altitude of approximately 660-800 km above the ground.


tass--2020-10-28--Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan agree to resume Renaissance Dam talks after lengthy break

CAIRO , October 28 .
/TASS/ .
Egypt , Ethiopia and Sudan agreed to resume negotiations on the Renaissance Dam project on the Blue Nile almost three months after the talks were put on hold , the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation said .
The agreement was reached during a video conference of irrigation ministers from the three countries on Tuesday .
It was held on the initiative of the African Union ’ s current chair , South Africa , and observed by envoys of the United States , the European Union and the African Union .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ importance of reaching a legally binding agreement on the principles of filling [ the reservoir ] with water and using the dam .
The document will protect the common interests of the three states and meet their demand for water , '' the Egyptian ministry said in a statement .
The sides agreed that Sudan , which will chair the new round of the talks , will organize week-long consultations during which the sides will focus on reviewing the final agreement .
The exact date of the talks is yet to be announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talks on August 4 , citing Addis Ababa ’ s controversial stance as a reason .
Since 2011 , Ethiopia has been implementing a project on construction of the Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile .
The dam is supposed to become the largest in Africa , consisting of 15 radial-axis hydraulic units .
The capacity of the hydroelectric power station will be 5,250 MW .
Addis Ababa intends to put it into operation in 2022-2023 .
The project cost is $ 4.6 billion .
Implementation of this huge project would enable Ethiopia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also to export to neighboring states .
Egypt and Sudan suspect that the project might cause the level of water in the river to go down , affect fair water distribution and even cause drought .

CAIRO, October 28. /TASS/. Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan agreed to resume negotiations on the Renaissance Dam project on the Blue Nile almost three months after the talks were put on hold, the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation said.
The agreement was reached during a video conference of irrigation ministers from the three countries on Tuesday. It was held on the initiative of the African Union’s current chair, South Africa, and observed by envoys of the United States, the European Union and the African Union.
"During the meeting, Egypt reaffirmed the importance of reaching a legally binding agreement on the principles of filling [the reservoir] with water and using the dam. The document will protect the common interests of the three states and meet their demand for water," the Egyptian ministry said in a statement.
The sides agreed that Sudan, which will chair the new round of the talks, will organize week-long consultations during which the sides will focus on reviewing the final agreement. The exact date of the talks is yet to be announced.
Cairo announced the suspension of the talks on August 4, citing Addis Ababa’s controversial stance as a reason.
Since 2011, Ethiopia has been implementing a project on construction of the Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile. The dam is supposed to become the largest in Africa, consisting of 15 radial-axis hydraulic units. The capacity of the hydroelectric power station will be 5,250 MW. Addis Ababa intends to put it into operation in 2022-2023. The project cost is $4.6 billion. Implementation of this huge project would enable Ethiopia to provide the country with electricity and also to export to neighboring states. Egypt and Sudan suspect that the project might cause the level of water in the river to go down, affect fair water distribution and even cause drought.


tass--2020-10-28--Lukashenko admits he ordered crackdown on October 25 protests

MINSK , October 28 .
/TASS/ .
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko admitted ordering to disperse a protest in the capital Minsk on October 25 during a speech aired by the STV channel .
`` They [ protestors ] wanted to seize the city center , but were not allowed to do so .
At dusk they marched to [ seize ] police stations , and , worse , to residential districts .
It was already dark , and people were terrified , '' he said .
`` What was the police supposed to do in this case ? ''
Lukashenko @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , issued for the purpose of keeping ordinary people safe .
They [ protestors ] started to break into apartments < … > .
This is not normal , and can not be tolerated . ''
Belarus held its presidential election on August 9 .
According to the Central Election Commission ’ s data , incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko received 80.1 % of the vote .
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , who garnered 10.12 % , refused to recognize the election ’ s results and left Belarus .
Protests erupted in the country 's capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the presidential vote , leading to clashes between protesters and law enforcement officers .
The deadline for the opposition-led People ’ s Ultimatum expired on October 25 , put forward by Tikhanovskaya to Lukashenko .
The demands included the resignation of the incumbent president , the release of political prisoners and an end to violence .
On Sunday , an eponymous rally took place in Minsk and other cities .
The event in the Belarusian capital was among the most-attended protests during the entire period of the ongoing political crisis in the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people during Sunday protests , including 160 in Minsk , with 352 currently remaining in custody , Belarusian Interior Ministry Spokesperson Olga Chemodanova said on Monday .

MINSK, October 28. /TASS/. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko admitted ordering to disperse a protest in the capital Minsk on October 25 during a speech aired by the STV channel.
"They [protestors] wanted to seize the city center, but were not allowed to do so. At dusk they marched to [seize] police stations, and, worse, to residential districts. It was already dark, and people were terrified," he said.
"What was the police supposed to do in this case?" Lukashenko continued. "It was my order, issued for the purpose of keeping ordinary people safe. They [protestors] started to break into apartments <…>. This is not normal, and cannot be tolerated."
Belarus held its presidential election on August 9. According to the Central Election Commission’s data, incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko received 80.1% of the vote. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who garnered 10.12%, refused to recognize the election’s results and left Belarus. Protests erupted in the country's capital of Minsk and several other cities following the presidential vote, leading to clashes between protesters and law enforcement officers.
The deadline for the opposition-led People’s Ultimatum expired on October 25, put forward by Tikhanovskaya to Lukashenko. The demands included the resignation of the incumbent president, the release of political prisoners and an end to violence. On Sunday, an eponymous rally took place in Minsk and other cities. The event in the Belarusian capital was among the most-attended protests during the entire period of the ongoing political crisis in the country.
Belarusian law enforcement bodies detained 523 people during Sunday protests, including 160 in Minsk, with 352 currently remaining in custody, Belarusian Interior Ministry Spokesperson Olga Chemodanova said on Monday.


tass--2020-10-28--Russian health ministry rules out commercial coronavirus vaccination for foreigners

MOSCOW , October 28 .
/TASS/ .
A senior Russian health ministry official on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of offering paid vaccination against the novel coronavirus , including to foreign tourirsts .
Alexei Kuznetsov , an aide to the Russian health minister , told TASS that Russians will be vaccinated on a first-priority basis .
The comment came in response to foreign media reports that travel agencies in certain countries have already started to offer `` coronavirus vaccination tours '' to Russia to their clients .
`` This is nothing but ordinary fraud .
COVID-19 vaccination on commercial basis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign ] tourists .
The vaccination is already under way , and it is free of charge for citizens .
Vaccination of Russians is our absolute priority , '' the official said .
`` Any form of commercial vaccine supply can be discussed only after the domestic demand is satisfied , '' Kuznetsov added .
According to a Czech TV report , a local entrepreneur started offering tours to Russia for people willing to get vaccinated with Russia ’ s Sputnik V vaccine .
The tours were offered at the price of over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional courier fee of about 170 euro .
On August 11 , the Sputnik V vaccine developed by the Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology was registered by Russia ’ s Health Ministry and became the world ’ s first registered vaccine against COVID-19 .
Post-registration trials began in Moscow on September 7 .
First doses of the vaccine were administered on September 9 .
Overall , the program involves some 40,000 people , including 10,000 people who received placebo instead of the vaccine .
More than 50 countries in CIS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Latin America have applied for Sputnik V. RDIF announced earlier supply agreements with Mexico for 32 mln doses , with Brazil for up to 50 mln doses , India - 100 mln doses , as well as Uzbekistan for up to 35 mln doses and Nepal - 25 mln doses .

MOSCOW, October 28. /TASS/. A senior Russian health ministry official on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of offering paid vaccination against the novel coronavirus, including to foreign tourirsts.
Alexei Kuznetsov, an aide to the Russian health minister, told TASS that Russians will be vaccinated on a first-priority basis. The comment came in response to foreign media reports that travel agencies in certain countries have already started to offer "coronavirus vaccination tours" to Russia to their clients.
"This is nothing but ordinary fraud. COVID-19 vaccination on commercial basis is ruled out, especially for [foreign] tourists. The vaccination is already under way, and it is free of charge for citizens. Vaccination of Russians is our absolute priority," the official said.
"Any form of commercial vaccine supply can be discussed only after the domestic demand is satisfied," Kuznetsov added.
According to a Czech TV report, a local entrepreneur started offering tours to Russia for people willing to get vaccinated with Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine. The tours were offered at the price of over 1,170 euro and higher, with an additional courier fee of about 170 euro.
On August 11, the Sputnik V vaccine developed by the Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology was registered by Russia’s Health Ministry and became the world’s first registered vaccine against COVID-19. Post-registration trials began in Moscow on September 7. First doses of the vaccine were administered on September 9. Overall, the program involves some 40,000 people, including 10,000 people who received placebo instead of the vaccine.
More than 50 countries in CIS, Europe, Asia, Middle East and Latin America have applied for Sputnik V. RDIF announced earlier supply agreements with Mexico for 32 mln doses, with Brazil for up to 50 mln doses, India - 100 mln doses, as well as Uzbekistan for up to 35 mln doses and Nepal - 25 mln doses.


tass--2020-10-28--Lavrov reiterates Moscow’s support for constitutional reform in Belarus

MOSCOW , October 28 .
/TASS/ .
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Belarusian counterpart Vladimir Makey , discussed the current situation in Belarus over the phone , and the Russian top diplomat reiterated Moscow ’ s support for the constitutional reform initiative in Belarus , the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday .
`` The ministers exchanged views on the current situation in Belarus .
The Russian side reiterated its support for the Belarusian leadership ’ s initiative to carry out constitutional reform in the interests of normalizing the situation in the country as soon as possible , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Russian and Belarusian top diplomats discussed preparations for a joint meeting of collegiums of the Russian and Belarusian foreign ministries , due to be held in the Belarusian capital Minsk in November .
The sides also `` touched upon pressing issues of cooperation within the framework of key international organizations , first of all at the UN [ United Nations ] and the OSCE [ the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe ] . ''
Belarus held its presidential election on August 9 .
According to the Central Election Commission ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received 80.1 % of the vote .
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , who garnered 10.12 % , refused to recognize the election ’ s results and left Belarus .
Protests erupted in the country 's capital of Minsk and several other cities following the presidential vote , leading to clashes between protesters and law enforcement officers .
The deadline for the opposition-led People ’ s Ultimatum expired on October 25 , put forward by Tikhanovskaya to Lukashenko .
The demands included the resignation of the incumbent president , the release of political prisoners and an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on workers at industrial enterprises to go on strike starting on October 26 , if these demands are not met .
However , the country ’ s authorities say that all facilities continue to operate normally .
Meanwhile , several protest activities took place in Minsk and some other cities on Monday and Tuesday .
Lukashenko claimed the need to amend the constitution amid the continuing , expressing his readiness to relegate some presidential powers .
According to Lukashenko , the amendment process should be brought as close to ordinary people as possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ platforms in the republic ’ s regions .
In this regard , Lukashenko noted the importance of the Nationwide people ’ s gathering , planned for late December - early January .
On October 2 , the lower chamber of the Belarusian parliament began accepting proposals on Constitutional amendments .

MOSCOW, October 28. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Belarusian counterpart Vladimir Makey, discussed the current situation in Belarus over the phone, and the Russian top diplomat reiterated Moscow’s support for the constitutional reform initiative in Belarus, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
"The ministers exchanged views on the current situation in Belarus. The Russian side reiterated its support for the Belarusian leadership’s initiative to carry out constitutional reform in the interests of normalizing the situation in the country as soon as possible," the ministry said.
Besides, the Russian and Belarusian top diplomats discussed preparations for a joint meeting of collegiums of the Russian and Belarusian foreign ministries, due to be held in the Belarusian capital Minsk in November.
The sides also "touched upon pressing issues of cooperation within the framework of key international organizations, first of all at the UN [United Nations] and the OSCE [the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe]."
Belarus held its presidential election on August 9. According to the Central Election Commission’s data, incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko received 80.1% of the vote. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who garnered 10.12%, refused to recognize the election’s results and left Belarus. Protests erupted in the country's capital of Minsk and several other cities following the presidential vote, leading to clashes between protesters and law enforcement officers.
The deadline for the opposition-led People’s Ultimatum expired on October 25, put forward by Tikhanovskaya to Lukashenko. The demands included the resignation of the incumbent president, the release of political prisoners and an end to violence. The opposition called on workers at industrial enterprises to go on strike starting on October 26, if these demands are not met. However, the country’s authorities say that all facilities continue to operate normally. Meanwhile, several protest activities took place in Minsk and some other cities on Monday and Tuesday.
Lukashenko claimed the need to amend the constitution amid the continuing, expressing his readiness to relegate some presidential powers. According to Lukashenko, the amendment process should be brought as close to ordinary people as possible, which led to establishment of dialogue platforms in the republic’s regions. In this regard, Lukashenko noted the importance of the Nationwide people’s gathering, planned for late December - early January. On October 2, the lower chamber of the Belarusian parliament began accepting proposals on Constitutional amendments.


tass--2020-10-28--Egyptian foreign minister arrives in Moscow for talks with Russian leadership

CAIRO , October 28 .
/TASS/ .
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry arrived in Moscow on Tuesday for talks with the Russian leadership , the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said .
According to the ministry , during the visit Shoukry will discuss bilateral cooperation and `` the two states ’ coordination on most pressing regional issues of highest concern , including the Middle Eastern reconciliation efforts and the situation in Libya , Syria , Yemen and Lebanon . ''
`` As Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had to self-isolate after a contact with a coronavirus carrier , Sameh Shoukry will meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Manturov , Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev , State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Leonid Slutsky and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov , '' the Egyptian foreign ministry said .
Upon his arrival to Moscow , Egypt ’ s top diplomat took part in an online conference of foreign ministers of Egypt , Sudan and Ethiopia to discuss re-launching the talks on the Renaissance Dam issue .
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will self-isolate over a contact with a COVID-19 carrier , the Ministry press service said on Tuesday , adding that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visits and meetings will be postponed .

CAIRO, October 28. /TASS/. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry arrived in Moscow on Tuesday for talks with the Russian leadership, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said.
According to the ministry, during the visit Shoukry will discuss bilateral cooperation and "the two states’ coordination on most pressing regional issues of highest concern, including the Middle Eastern reconciliation efforts and the situation in Libya, Syria, Yemen and Lebanon."
"As Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had to self-isolate after a contact with a coronavirus carrier, Sameh Shoukry will meet with Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Leonid Slutsky and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov," the Egyptian foreign ministry said.
Upon his arrival to Moscow, Egypt’s top diplomat took part in an online conference of foreign ministers of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia to discuss re-launching the talks on the Renaissance Dam issue.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will self-isolate over a contact with a COVID-19 carrier, the Ministry press service said on Tuesday, adding that the Minister feels well. Previously planned visits and meetings will be postponed.


tass--2020-10-29--Around 650 criminal cases opened following riots in Belarus

MINSK , October 29 .
/TASS/ .
About 650 criminal cases were opened in Belarus on the facts of riots and protest actions , 70 of them have already been sent to courts , Prosecutor General of Belarus Andrei Shved said in an interview with Belarus 1 TV channel .
`` At the beginning of October , about 400 criminal cases were initiated on the facts of mass riots , violent actions against law enforcement officers and officials .
In mid-October there are already more than 500 of them [ cases ] .
Today we are talking about 657 criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This practice will continue , everyone who has infringed on life , health , public safety will be convicted .
And sentenced to maximum terms of imprisonment , '' Shved warned .
According to him , the significant increase in the number of criminal cases initiated is `` an indicator of the radicalization of what is happening in our society . ''
`` The whole movement that is presented to us as peaceful has long ceased to be peaceful .
In fact , there is a war going on , a war that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past few weeks , '' he added .
Belarus held its presidential election on August 9 .
According to the Central Election Commission ’ s data , incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko received 80.1 % of the vote .
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , who garnered 10.12 % , refused to recognize the election ’ s results and left Belarus .
Protests erupted in the country 's capital of Minsk and several other cities following the presidential vote , leading to clashes between protesters and law enforcement officers .
The deadline for the opposition-led People ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 , put forward by now exiled , former presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya to President Alexander Lukashenko .
The demands included the resignation of the incumbent president , the release of political prisoners and an end to violence .
The opposition called on workers at industrial enterprises to go on strike starting Monday , October 26 , if these demands are not met .

MINSK, October 29. /TASS/. About 650 criminal cases were opened in Belarus on the facts of riots and protest actions, 70 of them have already been sent to courts, Prosecutor General of Belarus Andrei Shved said in an interview with Belarus 1 TV channel.
"At the beginning of October, about 400 criminal cases were initiated on the facts of mass riots, violent actions against law enforcement officers and officials. In mid-October there are already more than 500 of them [cases]. Today we are talking about 657 criminal cases," he said.
"This practice will continue, everyone who has infringed on life, health, public safety will be convicted. And sentenced to maximum terms of imprisonment," Shved warned.
According to him, the significant increase in the number of criminal cases initiated is "an indicator of the radicalization of what is happening in our society." "The whole movement that is presented to us as peaceful has long ceased to be peaceful. In fact, there is a war going on, a war that has taken extremely radical forms in the past few weeks," he added.
Belarus held its presidential election on August 9. According to the Central Election Commission’s data, incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko received 80.1% of the vote. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who garnered 10.12%, refused to recognize the election’s results and left Belarus. Protests erupted in the country's capital of Minsk and several other cities following the presidential vote, leading to clashes between protesters and law enforcement officers.
The deadline for the opposition-led People’s Ultimatum expired on Sunday, October 25, put forward by now exiled, former presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya to President Alexander Lukashenko. The demands included the resignation of the incumbent president, the release of political prisoners and an end to violence. The opposition called on workers at industrial enterprises to go on strike starting Monday, October 26, if these demands are not met.


tass--2020-10-29--France returns to self-isolation amid coronavirus pandemic

PARIS , October 29 .
/TASS/ .
France goes into a second self-isolation regime on the night of October 30 amid an increase in the number of cases of coronavirus infection , President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday .
The self-isolation regime that previously helped contain the virus will be reinstated from Friday , Macron said .
This measure will operate throughout France until at least December 1 , with the goal to reduce the number of infections per day from 40,000 to 5,000 , he noted .
Macron acknowledged that the rate of spread of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He confirmed the statements of leading epidemiologists that the country was in a critical situation .
According to the French leader , if the rise in the number of cases is not stopped now , hospitals will quickly overflow .
This time , the authorities , unlike the first wave of the pandemic , will no longer be able to transport patients from one region to another , since the virus is present everywhere , Macron warned .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials informed the World Health Organization ( WHO ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe , including Russia .
On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .

PARIS, October 29. /TASS/. France goes into a second self-isolation regime on the night of October 30 amid an increase in the number of cases of coronavirus infection, President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday.
The self-isolation regime that previously helped contain the virus will be reinstated from Friday, Macron said. This measure will operate throughout France until at least December 1, with the goal to reduce the number of infections per day from 40,000 to 5,000, he noted.
Macron acknowledged that the rate of spread of the virus outstripped the most pessimistic forecasts. He confirmed the statements of leading epidemiologists that the country was in a critical situation.
According to the French leader, if the rise in the number of cases is not stopped now, hospitals will quickly overflow. This time, the authorities, unlike the first wave of the pandemic, will no longer be able to transport patients from one region to another, since the virus is present everywhere, Macron warned.
The borders
The external borders of the Schengen area will remain closed for now due to the coronavirus pandemic, Macron announced.
The borders within the EU space will remain open. The external borders of the EU, however, will remain closed, Macron said. He stressed that the French who are abroad will be able to return to their homeland.
At the same time, Macron explained that upon arrival in the EU, everyone must be tested for coronavirus. No traveler should enter European territory before it becomes clear that they do not carry the virus, the French president said. He appealed to the French with a request to stay at home during quarantine if possible and take all necessary precautions.
In late December 2019, Chinese officials informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia. On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.


tass--2020-10-29--Hurricane Zeta makes landfall in Louisiana

MOSCOW , October 29 .
/TASS/ .
Hurricane Zeta hit the coast of the US state of Louisiana on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ National Hurricane Center .
According to the statement , the hurricane hit the coast 100 @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles ( 55 km ) from @ @ @ @ @ extend outward up to 150 miles ( 240 km ) .
Shell Beach Louisiana recently @ @ @ @ @ mph ( 130 km/h ) with a gust to 101 mph ( 163 km/h ) @ @ @ @ @ .
The cyclone continues to move in a northeast direction at a speed of 39 @ @

MOSCOW, October 29. /TASS/. Hurricane Zeta hit the coast of the US state of Louisiana on Wednesday, according to the US National Hurricane Center.
According to the statement, the hurricane hit the coast 100 km southwest of New Orleans. "Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 150 miles (240 km). Shell Beach Louisiana recently reported sustained winds of 81 mph (130 km/h) with a gust to 101 mph (163 km/h)," the center said.
The cyclone continues to move in a northeast direction at a speed of 39 km/h.